In a parallel universe, BMW would’ve adopted up on the M1 with a number of supercars. Ferrari, Porsche, and Lamborghini launch a brand new one each decade or so. Nevertheless, BMW will not be an unique model. It’s a large automotive conglomerate with dozens of fashions to handle and a backside line to guard on the finish of the enterprise day.
Over the many years, there have been makes an attempt to introduce one other flagship efficiency machine. The closest BMW ever got here was in 2019 with the Imaginative and prescient M Subsequent. Nevertheless, the mid-engine hybrid supercar was left on the proverbial chopping room flooring. As journalists and fans, we by no means miss a possibility to ask BMW’s prime brass whether or not one thing alongside the traces of a reborn M1 is within the works.
BMWBLOG organized a panel on the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este over the weekend. Naturally, we introduced up the subject with none aside from the M boss. Frank van Meel advised us there have been “some concepts prior to now” about an M1-like mannequin and that BMW is “at all times wanting into” the potential of creating a brand new supercar. Nevertheless, the truth is that there are greater priorities. Between electrification and the arrival of latest M vehicles, the corporate is already stretched skinny.
“We don’t need to lose concentrate on our high-performance vehicles as a result of we do an excellent sports activities automotive. I should be sincere; we’re at all times dreaming about it. And perhaps some day we discover the suitable window of alternative the place we’ve got the capability to work on a automotive like that. And in addition, the corporate, BMW Group, says: ‘Okay, go for it.’ We by no means hand over, I can promise you that, however really, it’s not right here but.”
The factor about supercars is that, whereas undoubtedly thrilling, they’re low-volume merchandise. These merchandise are usually virtually fully bespoke, requiring hundreds of distinctive components. BMW probably hasn’t forgotten how a lot of a headache it was to develop the M1 within the Nineteen Seventies, so its reluctance to pursue a successor is comprehensible. Then once more, the success of its latest coachbuilt fashions could also be encouraging the corporate to rethink.
Though by no means formally confirmed, the three.0 CSL’s price ticket hovered round €750,000. Even so, BMW had no bother discovering consumers for all 50 items. The 50-unit Skytop targa, rumored to hold a €500,000 sticker, was additionally a convincing success. Its coupe sibling, the Speedtop, has an excellent bigger manufacturing run of 70 vehicles. Nonetheless, all these fashions are primarily based on current platforms.
The three.0 CSL was an M4 CSL underneath its Batmobile-esque retro pores and skin. BMW created the Speedtop and Skytop fashions primarily based on the M8 platform. A real supercar can be virtually fully distinct from the common lineup, other than probably sharing components of the powertrain. Logic means that profitability would solely be possible if the automotive had been priced within the thousands and thousands. Would individuals pay seven figures for a BMW supercar?
Oliver Heilmer, Head of M Design, admitted he’s additionally enthusiastic in regards to the concept of a halo automotive to cap off BMW M’s intensive portfolio. Along with Frank van Meel, they’ve been exploring the idea of a supercar, although nothing has but materialized with manufacturing potential.
Whereas a brand new M1 is a “no” for now, it stays a “perhaps” for the longer term.
