Latest headlines (like this and this) have stirred pleasure amongst fans, suggesting {that a} BMW M supercar is formally within the works. The spark for this hypothesis got here after an interview with Sylvia Neubauer, Vice President for BMW M clients, model, and gross sales, who shared some perception into the division’s future plans. Nevertheless, permit us to set the document straight: whereas BMW M has huge plans forward, a supercar isn’t considered one of them — a minimum of not but.
Right here’s what Neubauer really mentioned: “[BMW’s] technique is to have a sequence of small-series additions that we provide to the markets. There might be one thing coming at Villa d’Este this 12 months, and possibly some future small-series editions with the ‘M’ designation.” She continued, emphasizing that, “Halo fashions have that optimistic spillover impact on the model and on the product portfolio. You’re making a sure buyer group very, very proud of these dream vehicles. Even people who can’t afford the automobile, they admire the model. This might be a part of our future highway map as properly.”
When requested in regards to the thought of a dream automobile, Neubauer added: “That query you requested a few dream automobile? You possibly can belief us, we’re engaged on it internally to make that occur in the future. Are we dreaming of dream vehicles, and is BMW M a really entrepreneurial firm the place you may actually make issues occur? Sure, let’s watch for the proper time.”
Some publications, nevertheless, jumped the gun and rushed to “affirm” {that a} BMW M supercar is imminent. However in accordance with our sources — and within the spirit of readability, particularly when BMW itself can’t publicly appropriate each rumor — the fact is totally different.
The Hypercar That Nearly Occurred (However Didn’t)
First, there isn’t any BMW supercar at the moment in improvement, neither from BMW AG nor from the M division. It’s true that, previously, BMW explored the thought of a hypercar producing round 1,300 horsepower, this isn’t the BMW i16 challenge everybody wrote about. We had been advised the hypercar challenge was 99% prepared from a enterprise perspective. Nevertheless, with market situations shifting — significantly within the EV hypercar section the place autos priced above a million euros aren’t simple to promote — the board in the end determined to drag the plug.
Second, inside BMW M itself, there isn’t any energetic supercar challenge underway both, a minimum of based mostly on our dependable sources. Enthusiasm for such a halo automobile definitely exists among the many engineers and management, however not one of the enterprise instances proposed thus far have made sufficient sense to greenlight a challenge.
What’s Subsequent for BMW M? Assume Particular Fashions, Not Supercars
What Neubauer most certainly hinted at is the inner want for a dream automobile inside BMW M, a ardour that has surfaced repeatedly through the years. However extra realistically, she was referencing future limited-edition M fashions, like the standard CS and CSL lineup, and/or past. Because of the flexibleness of the CLAR platform — which helps autos ranging in measurement from the M2, to the M3/M4, and even to the M5 and M8 — BMW M may create unique variants utilizing acquainted underpinnings.
If something, we anticipate the following steps to contain smaller, extremely unique editions of their hottest efficiency vehicles, such because the M2, M3, or M4. However from that to declaring {that a} full-blown BMW M supercar is going on? That’s a significant leap — and never one supported by present information.
As at all times, we’ll proceed to observe developments inside BMW M. For now, although, any speak of a brand new BMW M supercar stays simply that — speak. [Top Photo provided by Steve Saxty “BMW by Design” books and BMW]
