Alongside a whole fleet of new models on the BMW stand at next month's Geneva motor show will be another attempt by the Blue Propeller Boffins to put the aftermarket industry out of business - the M Performance programme.
Not to be confused with the M Sport packages (this is as well as, not instead of) M Performance is aimed at the more hard-core driver, and includes genuine go-faster goodies such as M Performance exhaust systems, upgraded braking and suspension components, as well as 19 and 20” alloys, carbon-fibre splitters and aero kits.
There are also look-faster components such as black kidney grilles, M Performance steering wheels with 'race display', stainless-steel pedals, gearshift lever knob and handbrake handle with alcantara gaiter.
UNDER ADVISEMENT
But, most important of all, there's a newly-developed power-up kit for the two-litre turbodiesel that makes up the 20d part of the 120d, 320d, and 520d models, including both hardware components and uprated software to boost output from 135 to 150kW and 380 to 420Nm - without, says BMW, compromising fuel-consumption or emissions.
We'll take that last claim under advisement but we can believe it when the Beemer Boys boast: “This is something the driver can clearly feel, including an increase in acceleration to 100 km/h of as much as a second.”
The initial range of components - developed for the 5 Series, the new 3 Series sedan and the new 1 Series hatch, will be released in Europe in the second quarter of 2012 and in the rest of the world, starting with North America, from mid-year - and BMW says there are M Performance power kit for petrol engines in the pipeline, starting with the two-litre TwinPower unit.