BMW: ‘Pure’ performance range to expand
Full-on BMW M cars aren't alone in getting a 'Pure' variant – led by the M550i xDrive, the badge will spread across the range in Australia.
Power-hungry Australians will soon have more lower-cost, high-performance BMW 'Pure' models to choose from.
The badge was reserved for full-on BMW M models like the M3 and M4, before the reveal of the Australian-specific M550i xDrive Pure.
Priced from $134,900 before on-road costs the M550i Pure packs a 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 engine making 390kW and 750Nm, but undercuts the fully-specced M550i xDrive by $15,000 through the exclusion of equipment such as active anti-roll bars, rear-wheel steering, laser lights, and soft-close doors.
"We've had a lot of interest in [in the Pure] ... not only from customers but those who have dealerships have said there's been a really positive response," said Nick Raman, product communications manager at BMW Australia.
"We have such a performance-loving market ... we're catering to the market, also customer demand and feedback."
Raman didn't confirm which BMW models are next in line for the Pure treatment but said "it's being evaluated right now", with more details to follow early in 2020.
BMW won't be the only brand to offer performance-oriented Pure models, with Mini debuting the badge on the just-updated Clubman John Cooper Works (JCW).
Priced from $57,990 before on-road costs, the JCW Pure is $5000 cheaper than the more highly-specced JCW Exclusive, but packs the same 225kW/450Nm powertrain.
If the model is well-received, Mini could also offer a Pure variant of the Countryman JCW SUV.
"I think it's a matter of learning how Pure goes, and making sure that by the time Countryman rolls around ... we have a Pure product that works in the same way," said Marlon De Abreu, head of product planning at Mini Australia.
"It is on the cards, and it is something that we've thought of, but it didn't quite make sense to bring it out at this point in time."
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