William Maley

Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com

August 27, 2012

If you walk into a BMW dealership and are wondering why certain 1, 3, and Z4 models are wearing the "is" badge, that's BMW distinction for their performance models that sit between the normal and M models. The 'is' badge will soon be going away though.

According to Car and Driver, BMW will be replacing 'is' nomenclature with the M Performance Line. For those who need a quick refresher, the M Performance Line will give BMW vehicles tweaks from BMW's M division under the hood, exterior, and interior.

So vehicles like the 135is and 335is will wear the M135i and M335i. The vehicles that are pegged to become M Performance Line vehicles include the 1-Series ,3-Series, Z4, and the upcoming 2-Series and 4-Series. Car and Driver says expect the first M Performance Line vehicle to arrive possibly next year.

Source: Car and Driver

William Maley is a staff writer for Cheers & Gears. He can be reached at [email protected] or you can follow him on twitter at @realmudmonster.

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Interesting that they seem to be wanting to make the steps from entry to mid to top of the line for each product line clear. This does go with a common sense approach of showing your customers how to move up from their first to a second purchase of a bmw.

I wish more auto company would stream line their product lines to give clear steps of getting from entry to mid to high to performance level models.

GM could use a complete redo on marking their models as it is not that simple to tell which is which.

So vehicles like the 135is and 335is will wear the M135i and M335i.

Just think guys... some MBA with a minor in marketing just got paid $100k or more to come up with that. We're all really in the wrong business.

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So vehicles like the 135is and 335is will wear the M135i and M335i.

Just think guys... some MBA with a minor in marketing just got paid $100k or more to come up with that. We're all really in the wrong business.

Sounds like you need to change careers my friend. It is calling your name.

Looks like BMW is trying to change their image

'I worry that those who are not rabid BMW fans will be confused by 'M Performance' and the true 'M' cars, and be disappointed at how the former cars fall short of the latter.' [/hyperV6]

Balthazar I do see your point and I think some will be confused by this marking. I think Cadillac has done a far better choice by having their CTS, CTS Sport and CTS V editions. This clearly tells you, you have gone from bottom to mid to top in their auto line up.

^ That's not my point, it's someone else's (see closing tag...)

Got it, Sorry HyperV6