When BMW introduced us to the idea of M Performance we thought the Bavarians were once again expanding their lineup of exciting models.

We were wrong. Kind of. There have been some new models added to the list and some more will follow but that’s not the entire story.

Some of BMW’s existing models will actually be replaced by M Performance products. Eventually it’s going to be the is models that get this treatment.

It does make a bit of sense. After all, the is models were always near the top of the range and at some point branding got a little complicated.

M550xd doesn’t sound like something very easy to pronounce but it’s considerably better than the Z4 sDrive35is, right?

Speaking of which, the BMW Z4 M Performance model might just be a simple makeover of the sDrive35is rather than a newly spec’d version of the roadster.

All of this M Performance swapping over the is branding should happen sometime next year for the United States and shortly after it should come back to Europe.

That seems like a weird way to do it round but then again it’s not exactly the biggest worry one could have. After all, it’s the new M Performance models we’re concerned with rather than the branding bit.

It seems that the first models to set the pace with these changes will be the 3.0 liter versions of the 3 Series and the soon to be introduced 4 Series.

They’ll be called the M335i and M435i and, sometime throughout of 2014 we’re going to see the 1 Series and Z4 makeover with the rest of the model updates coming in according to the regular release schedule.

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Marcus M.

http://www.bmwcoop.com

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The Bavarians at BMW have come to the 2012 Beijing Motor Show with the i8 Spyder concept that we’ve gotten a bit of a preview of earlier this month.

A motor show debut does usually change the rules of engagement. With the BMW i8 Spyder we find no difference in procedures.

There are changes at hand, but none that are actually relevant to the car. Something is now different about the branding.

All of the underpinnings of the BMW i8 Spyder, actually the entire upcoming i Range, can now be easily referred to as e-Drive.

The new designation sounds about as interesting as peeling potatoes but it does make a certain amount of sense. It makes my job a heck of a lot easier.

For instance, instead of saying the BMW i8 Spyder is powered by a mix of an electric motor and a turbocharged three-cylinder gas engine, I could just say it has e-Drive.

The system is now well detailed and there’s no need to mention what it’s made up of. We could just say BMW’s e-Drive system and then stick to the basics.

The BMW i8 Spyder that was showcased in China has a combined output of 349 horsepower and 406 lb-ft of torque and is rated at 78 MPGe.

Great fuel economy is fun, but BMW isn’t neglecting the fact that we’re wanting for a quick car with this halo hybrid so they promise it will get from 0 to 62 in just under 5 seconds.

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Marcus M.

http://www.bmwcoop.com

The post BMW i8 Spyder unveiled in China as eDrive appeared first on BMWCoop | BMW Blog, BMW News, BMW Reviews.