In a parallel universe, BMW would’ve adopted up on the M1 with just a few supercars. Ferrari, Porsche, and Lamborghini launch a brand new one each decade or so. Nonetheless, BMW just isn’t 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 chopping room ground. As journalists and fans, we by no means miss a possibility to ask BMW’s high brass whether or not one thing alongside the strains 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 informed us there have been “some concepts previously” about an M1-like mannequin and that BMW is “all the time trying into” the opportunity of creating a brand new supercar. Nonetheless, the truth is that there are greater priorities. Between electrification and the arrival of recent M vehicles, the corporate is already stretched skinny.
“We don’t need to lose give attention to our high-performance vehicles as a result of we do a brilliant sports activities automotive. I should be trustworthy; we’re all the time dreaming about it. And possibly some day we discover the appropriate window of alternative the place we now have the capability to work on a automotive like that. And likewise, the corporate, BMW Group, says: ‘Okay, go for it.’ We by no means quit, I can promise you that, however truly, 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 hundreds of distinctive elements. BMW possible 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 current 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 hassle discovering consumers 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 fair bigger manufacturing run of 70 vehicles. Nonetheless, all these fashions are based mostly on present platforms.
The three.0 CSL was an M4 CSL underneath its Batmobile-esque retro pores and skin. BMW created the Speedtop and Skytop fashions based mostly on the M8 platform. A real supercar can be virtually completely distinct from the common lineup, other than presumably sharing elements 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 concerning the concept of a halo automotive to cap off BMW M’s in depth 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 “possibly” for the long run.
