Every time BMW->ke178 launched a new generation of the 7 Series,->ke323 we got all sorts of reports about how the Germans might finally build an M7.->ke4402 It happened again in 2015, when BMW introduced the sixth-gen, G11/G12 executive. Also, BMW fans have always asked that Munich deliver an M version->ke546 of the 3 Series->ke290 Touring (wagon),->ke143 another model that has yet materialize.

Well, don't hold your breath for any of these cars to happen. BMW has denied (yet again) that either a 2017 BMW M7 or an M3->ke2366 Touring are in the pipeline. That's the word from BMW M boss Frank van Meel, who told De Telegraaf that there is no business case for either model.

When asked about a beefed-up 7 Series, van Meel stated that the current sedan->ke142 is an "upper luxury" model that's not suited for a hardcore M package, adding that developing one would be a "difficult task." For some reason, it seems as if BMW doesn't want a competitor for the 2014 Mercedes-Benz S63 AMG or the 2015 Mercedes-Benz S65 AMG.

As for the M3 Touring, van Meel argues that there's no real demand for it, especially since the wagon version of the 3 Series is only offered in Europe. "People look at what the competition is doing and then call that we need to do that too because we already have a Touring model. We tried to come up with an M3 Touring in the past but there was no demand," he said.

Continue reading for the full story.

Why it matters

Although I'm among those enthusiasts that would love to see an M3 Touring in BMW dealerships, I have to agree with van Meel here. First and foremost because BMW did launch an M3 Touring, I wouldn't actually buy one. And most gearheads that clamor for one wouldn't buy one either.

Van Meel is right. Because some think BMW should build a competitor for the 2015 Mercedes-AMG C63 Wagon doesn't mean BMW needs one. An M3 Touring wouldn't make financial sense to BMW and that's why the Germans won't build it.

The M7, on the other hand, might attract significantly more customers. Though much more expensive, high-performance luxo-barges have greater demand. Heck, Mercedes-Benz->ke187 wouldn't bother to keep making the S63/S65 AMG if they didn't sell. Why BMW won't build an M7 is still a mystery.

I don't really buy the "upper luxury" status that doesn't mix with performance; it probably has something to do with the fact that an M7 might bite into Alpina B7->ke536 sales. Of course, there's always the old argument that BMW wants the 7 Series to stay true to its initial role as a refined luxury sedan.

There is some good news here though. Van Meel confirmed that that the M division will include more products in the future, which basically confirms that BMW is working on M-badged version of the X3 and X4.

2017 BMW M7

Read more about what an M7 might bring to the table in our speculative review here.