BMW M-division goes Dutch
25 September, 2014 | by Lance Branquinho
http://www.topgear.co.za/news/audi-guy-n...an-either/
![[Image: m1oydaxbpdxi-610x406.jpg]]()
erhaps the most revered division of all automotive divisions, BMW’s M-GmbH, is due for a new boss.
BMW has confirmed that Friedrich Nitschke is retiring at the age of 59, and his position as the boss of M will be a man from, Audi. Yes, Audi. And he isn’t German, but Dutch.
Frank van Meel becomes substantive in his position as M-division boss on 1 January 2014 (and yes, they go to work on New Year ’s Day in Germany), after a career that started at Audi in 1996.
BMW managed to convince van Meel to move to its M-division after the Dutch automotive professional’s clash with other Audi personnel concerning the company’s R8 replacement and R8 e-tron project. Van Meel had been operating in direct competition to the M-division at Quattro GmbH since 2012. His experience in the design and counter-marketing of BMW products makes him extremely M-car literate: an unusual, but pragmatic choice.
Although he will only be confirmed as board member for M-GmbH next year, van Meel is expected to occupy his new office during the first week of October. Audi’s best now building BMW’s M-cars? Stranger things have happened in the automotive world. But not many.
BMW M Division Employs Former Quattro Boss To Prove It's Serious About AWD
Former Audi quattro boss Franciscus Van Meel is taking over from Friedrich Nitschke at BMW M, as the brand moves towards all-wheel drive in its performance models
By Darren Cassey, 24 September 2014
http://www.carthrottle.com/bmw-m-divisio...about-awd/
We’ve known for a while now that BMW’s M Division will be moving away from rear-driven cars in the not-too-distant future - starting with the M5 and likely filtering down eventually - and it seems the Bavarians are serious about getting fast all-wheel drive right. Former Audi quattro boss Franciscus Van Meel will succeed the retiring Friedrich Nitschke as M boss from 1 January.
The appointment comes less than a year after Van Meel left Audi, after reportedly falling out with Audi development boss Ulrich Hackenberg over the direction of the new Audi R8. It appears BMW has jumped at the chance to take advantage of the situation at Audi to snap up a man with the perfect knowledge base for its new direction.
Van Meel had held a number of senior positions in chassis development at Audi since 1996, before he became managing director of quattro in 2012.
25 September, 2014 | by Lance Branquinho
http://www.topgear.co.za/news/audi-guy-n...an-either/
![[Image: m1oydaxbpdxi-610x406.jpg]](http://www.topgear.co.za/wp-content/uploads/m1oydaxbpdxi-610x406.jpg)
erhaps the most revered division of all automotive divisions, BMW’s M-GmbH, is due for a new boss.
BMW has confirmed that Friedrich Nitschke is retiring at the age of 59, and his position as the boss of M will be a man from, Audi. Yes, Audi. And he isn’t German, but Dutch.
Frank van Meel becomes substantive in his position as M-division boss on 1 January 2014 (and yes, they go to work on New Year ’s Day in Germany), after a career that started at Audi in 1996.
BMW managed to convince van Meel to move to its M-division after the Dutch automotive professional’s clash with other Audi personnel concerning the company’s R8 replacement and R8 e-tron project. Van Meel had been operating in direct competition to the M-division at Quattro GmbH since 2012. His experience in the design and counter-marketing of BMW products makes him extremely M-car literate: an unusual, but pragmatic choice.
Although he will only be confirmed as board member for M-GmbH next year, van Meel is expected to occupy his new office during the first week of October. Audi’s best now building BMW’s M-cars? Stranger things have happened in the automotive world. But not many.
BMW M Division Employs Former Quattro Boss To Prove It's Serious About AWD
Former Audi quattro boss Franciscus Van Meel is taking over from Friedrich Nitschke at BMW M, as the brand moves towards all-wheel drive in its performance models
By Darren Cassey, 24 September 2014
http://www.carthrottle.com/bmw-m-divisio...about-awd/
We’ve known for a while now that BMW’s M Division will be moving away from rear-driven cars in the not-too-distant future - starting with the M5 and likely filtering down eventually - and it seems the Bavarians are serious about getting fast all-wheel drive right. Former Audi quattro boss Franciscus Van Meel will succeed the retiring Friedrich Nitschke as M boss from 1 January.
The appointment comes less than a year after Van Meel left Audi, after reportedly falling out with Audi development boss Ulrich Hackenberg over the direction of the new Audi R8. It appears BMW has jumped at the chance to take advantage of the situation at Audi to snap up a man with the perfect knowledge base for its new direction.
Van Meel had held a number of senior positions in chassis development at Audi since 1996, before he became managing director of quattro in 2012.