BMW Planning M Expansion Including M7

BMWBMWGermany, 1918 > present87 models
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America CEO Ludwig Willisch really let out the company's plans during the media drive event for the new M6BMW M6Germany, 2012 > present12 photos
and 6 Series Gran CoupeBMW 640i Gran CoupeGermany, 2012 > present7 photos
. According to Willisch, BMW wants to expand its range of M cars further. It is also investing heavily on developing cheaper, faster ways to mold carbon fiber to make its cars lighter and improve performance. 

Willisch said that an M version of the Gran Coupe would be for sale in the US sometime next year, likely later in the year. Willisch did not talk about the four-door coupe's powertrain, but it will probably be the twin-turbocharged, 4.4l V8 with 560hp and 502lb-ft of torque from the M5BMW M5Germany, 2012 > 200028 photos
1 video
and M6. 

He also hinted that an M7 could come in the future. BMW had always said that there would not be an M7 because M was supposed to stand for motorsports vehicles. Over time, that has become less and less true, and now BMW has M versions of theX5BMW X5 MGermany, 2009 > present3 photos
and X6BMW X6 MGermany, 2009 > present4 photos
that clearly are not design for motorsports. So where an M7 would not have made sense 15 years ago, BMW thinks that a high performance large sedan would sell well in China. 

Willisch said that the brand is not considering M versions of the smaller X1BMW X1Germany, 2009 > present51 versions
110 photos
or X3BMW X3 Gen.2Germany, 2010 > present26 versions
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SUVs, but BMW will offer M Performance parts for them that will make them appear more sporty. 

There are also no plans to bring the new M Performance diesels in the US because it would cost too much to homologate the engine given the sales that BMW expects. 

BMW is also working on making carbon fiber cheaper. BMW knows LotusLotusUnited Kingdom, 1952 > present68 models
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-founder Colin Chapman's axiom 'Add lightness.' It wants to lower its cars' weight to improve fuel economy and plans to have every new model weigh less than its predecessor. 

Source: The Detroit Bureau