In a parallel universe, BMW would’ve adopted up on the M1 with a couple of supercars. Ferrari, Porsche, and Lamborghini launch a brand new one each decade or so. Nonetheless, 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. Nonetheless, the mid-engine hybrid supercar was left on the proverbial slicing room flooring. As journalists and fans, we by no means miss a chance 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 apart 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 “all the time wanting into” the potential of creating a brand new supercar. Nonetheless, the truth is that there are greater priorities. Between electrification and the arrival of recent M automobiles, the corporate is already stretched skinny.
“We don’t wish to lose deal with our high-performance automobiles as a result of we do a brilliant sports activities automobile. I should be sincere; we’re all the time dreaming about it. And perhaps some day we discover the appropriate window of alternative the place we have now the capability to work on a automobile 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 sometimes virtually completely bespoke, requiring 1000’s of distinctive components. BMW possible hasn’t forgotten how a lot of a headache it was to develop the M1 within the 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 patrons for all 50 models. The 50-unit Skytop targa, rumored to hold a €500,000 sticker, was additionally a powerful success. Its coupe sibling, the Speedtop, has a good bigger manufacturing run of 70 automobiles. Nonetheless, all these fashions are primarily based on present platforms.
The three.0 CSL was an M4 CSL beneath its Batmobile-esque retro pores and skin. BMW created the Speedtop and Skytop fashions primarily based on the M8 platform. A real supercar could be virtually completely distinct from the common lineup, except for presumably sharing components of the powertrain. Logic means that profitability would solely be possible if the automobile had been priced within the hundreds of thousands. Would individuals pay seven figures for a BMW supercar?
Oliver Heilmer, Head of M Design, admitted he’s additionally enthusiastic concerning the concept of a halo automobile 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.
