[Mark]

BIMMERPOST NEWS

Long time BMW M man and current VP of Engineering, Albert Biermann, leaves BMW for Hyundai

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More stunning news out of Munich tonight, Albert Biermann, BMW M VP of Engineering will be leaving the brand for Hyundai. It seems none of the current executives at BMW are sure bets anymore. While this does seem to be a shock, maybee it should not be.

We have already reported on BMW's hiring of Roberto Fedelli from Ferrari "for a yet unspecified role/position", but with this departure, maybee it was for this newly vacated position at BMW M. We hope to hear more about this dramatic move in the coming days.

Biermann originally joined BMW in 1983, as part of the E30 M3 Group A race car development team. After several roles at BMW, he is the chief engineer at BMW M and has served as a wealth of information for fans.

In his new role at Hyundai, he will be appointed Head of Vehicle Test & High Performance Development based in Namyang, Korea and will likely have an expanded set of responsibilities, leading the development of new high performance Hyundai and Kia models, as well as oversee engineering projects relating to ride and handling, safety, reliability, and the mitigation of NVH (noise, vibration and harshness).

Bringing in someone of Mr. Biermann's stature into the fold will certainly raise Hyundai-Kia's presence in the performance and luxury segments, but one also has to wonder if this forsages a dedicated performance sub-brand in the future?

In case you were wondering about the other shake-ups we've seen at BMW recently, Franciscus van Meel was brought in from Audi to replace Dr. Friedrich Nitschke and Harald Krüger is set to replace Dr. Norbert Reithofer at BMW Chairman.

Heres a recent interview Albert Biermann had given to Mike Spinelli from /DRIVE tv, which we loved

Source: Hyundai

[Doctor///M]

Wow, does this mean that the current ///M lineup (+ M2) is the last of the generation that helped to develop the brand? Seems like their is a fair amount of job-trading happening at the moment.

[jaehshim]

told ya that turbo M was not gonna work...

[DieGrüneHölle]

Ouch. Nice pick up for Hyundai. I am sure he has a lot to share.

[Downeaster1]

Originally Posted by jaehshim

told ya that turbo M was not gonna work...

rofl

[EzequielR]

well, things definitely just got interesting for Hyundai. Maybe the future generations will be raging about the Hyundai "M". LMAO :

[Zeroblade]

Wow my heart stopped there. The guy at the core of BMW M from the start of building/selling M cars is leaving BMW? Am I understanding this right? Dark times ahead. Even more reason to pickup a F8x now.

[sand99]

Dayam. And GM just announced that the next CTS-V will arrive next year with 640 HP/630 torque...2016 Cadillac CTS-V arrives with 640 hp, 200-mph top speed

[FogCityM3]

Don't think we need more data points to tell us that something is amiss at BMW and M in particular. I actually think that some of this change may be good in addressing key weaknesses of BMWs as seen by many enthusiasts and auto mag reviewers. I also think that ///M division sales have been lagging, because of public perception issues that the best cars made by the division were in prior generations. The M5 in particular has been a big disappointment.

[Savory]

Wonder what the future brings for M.. He was behind the most beloved models. I think most of us are cautiously looking at Ms down the pipeline, faces half covered.

[Das Johnson]

Remind me again who turbo'd Ms?

[991brothers]

This is going to turn into an E9x M vs F8x M thread real quick...

[Teutonic]

If a guy of this stature and experience leaves BMW, then I do belive that something is fishy in Bavaria.
And he leaves M for what? Like really?

I don't even know what to think... Like, there is no pride (from BMW and from him as well)?
I find his gesture very disturbing, close to the treason side, after thirty something years, you are leaving for another company. I thought that guys like this, are bond to a special niche like M, like a priest to a religion...
It is hard for me to believe that the choice was made from thegreed point of view...

On the other side, I wonder if BMW has something to do with it.

When people are moving arround in a company, the products end up to be poor. You need stability, loyalty and dedication to have a successful product. When you have staff moving arround, you will end up with nothing of quality.

Man, what a disappointment...

[Bosozoku]

Maybe Hyundai's performance brand will be ///H.
Just a thought.

[Bosozoku]

Originally Posted by Tracus

... When people are moving arround in a company, the products end up to be poor. You need stability, loyalty and dedication to have a successful product. ...

On the other hand, change can result in innovation and "stability" can lead to stagnation. Maybe it's time for some new thinking among M GmbH management. The "i" division is leaving them behind, technologically.

[Thurman Murch]

No it's ///N power born and bred on the N-ring such that is one letter
Higher in the alphabet and therefore trumps the M

http://www.autospies.com/news/Hyunda...t-First-83191/


I'd rock a soul n w a V8

Now I'm starting to think of the possibilities of flat plane V8 making it's way into the next M3

[ORIGIN M.]

Goodbye

[Danyutz]

Working for BMW wasn't a challenge anymore, raising a brand like Hyundai and Kia to certain standards sure sounds like a challenge.

[giveme5]

nothing gonna happen in Hyundai for at least 5 years.....
another problem: who will buy a Hyundai performance car??

[LDSM]

WOW, this is shocking!

Everyone is jumping ship, something is going on over there

[Qunadry]

Wonder if he drew the line at a M2 Active Tourer?

[JustChris]

Originally Posted by Das Johnson

Remind me again who turbo'd Ms?

The EU.