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 is just not 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 a long time, 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 reducing room flooring. As journalists and lovers, we by no means miss a chance to ask BMW’s prime 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 aside from the M boss. Frank van Meel instructed us there have been “some concepts prior to now” about an M1-like mannequin and that BMW is “at all times trying into” the potential of creating a brand new supercar. Nonetheless, the truth is that there are larger 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 automotive. I should be sincere; we’re at all times dreaming about it. And perhaps some day we discover the appropriate window of alternative the place we now have 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 surrender, 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 fully bespoke, requiring 1000’s of distinctive elements. 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 hassle discovering patrons 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 a good bigger manufacturing run of 70 automobiles. Nonetheless, all these fashions are primarily based on current 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 can be virtually fully 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 thought 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 “perhaps” for the longer term.
