BMW CFO says to strengthen ties with Peugeot-paper

German premium carmaker BMW (BMWG.DE) plans to strengthen ties with French carmaker PSA Peugeot-Citroen (PEUP.PA), BMW Chief Financial Officer Friedrich Eichiner told German newspaper Handelsblatt in an interview.
“Talks with PSA are about a cooperation for components,” Eichiner said in an interview to be published on Thursday, referring to, for example, air-conditioning compressors.

Peugeot already supplies diesel engines for BMW’s Mini brand.

Eichiner said BMW was also still working on a purchasing cooperation with Daimler (DAIGn.DE), but he cautioned that such efforts should be limited, so as not to threaten the BMW brand.

“We wouldn’t do ourselves a favour if the cars looked more and more alike,” he was quoted as saying.

BMW has so far refrained from giving an outlook for 2009 and Eichiner said that even though markets had stabilised, a fresh economic downturn was still possible.

Eichiner said he saw a chance to post profits with vehicle sales declines of 10 to 15 percent.

BMW group sales fell 17.7 percent in the period from January to August.

BWM M6 Competition Limited Edition to Debut at Frankfurt

Just as you might have guessed, the M6 Competition will be produced in a limited edition of only 100 units, an exclusivity that will also be highlighted by a “special placard on the roof lining bearing each car’s serial number as a unique achievement in automotive technology.”

The model’s dynamics has been improved thanks to a new setup of the springs, dampers and anti-roll bars, while the body has been lowered by 12 mm at the front and 10 mm at the rear. Of course, a new set of wheels and tires have been added.
The BMW M6 Competition Limited Edition’s exterior color is an Individual matt paintwork in Frozen Grey metallic.

Moreover, BMW worked on the the suspension control systems, the control unit behind the EDC Electronic Damper Control, wheel track and camber, as well as on the map controlling the variable M differential lock.

As for the interior, the limited edition will be available in two variants. BMW Individual all-leather upholstery in Merino comes either in Black with light-grey contrasted seams or in twin-tone Silverstone/Black with light-grey and black seams. Both versions feature footmats with a surrounding bend in Silverstone Merino leather, as well as door cutout trim that bears the “M6 Competition” model designation.

autoevolution will be attending the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show, so stay tuned for some real up close and personal shots of these vehicles, as well as for first-hand details of the motorized contraptions.