Current headlines (like this and this) have stirred pleasure amongst lovers, 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 prospects, model, and gross sales, who shared some perception into the division’s future plans. Nevertheless, permit us to set the file straight: whereas BMW M has large plans forward, a supercar shouldn’t be one in every of them — at the least not but.
Right here’s what Neubauer really mentioned: “[BMW’s] technique is to have a collection of small-series additions that we provide to the markets. There shall be one thing coming at Villa d’Este this 12 months, and doubtless 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 those who can not afford the automotive, they admire the model. This shall be a part of our future highway map as properly.”
When requested in regards to the concept of a dream automotive, Neubauer added: “That query you requested a couple of dream automotive? 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’ll be able to actually make issues occur? Sure, let’s anticipate the best time.”
Some publications, nonetheless, jumped the gun and rushed to “affirm” {that a} BMW M supercar is imminent. However in response to our sources — and within the spirit of readability, particularly when BMW itself can’t publicly appropriate each rumor — the fact is completely different.
The Hypercar That Nearly Occurred (However Didn’t)
First, there isn’t a BMW supercar at present in improvement, neither from BMW AG nor from the M division. It’s true that, up to now, BMW explored the concept of a hypercar producing round 1,300 horsepower, this isn’t the BMW i16 venture everybody wrote about. We have been informed the hypercar venture was 99% prepared from a enterprise perspective. Nevertheless, with market circumstances shifting — significantly within the EV hypercar section the place autos priced above a million euros are usually not simple to promote — the board in the end determined to tug the plug.
Second, inside BMW M itself, there isn’t a lively supercar venture underway both, at the least based mostly on our dependable sources. Enthusiasm for such a halo automotive definitely exists among the many engineers and management, however not one of the enterprise circumstances proposed to date have made sufficient sense to greenlight a venture.
What’s Subsequent for BMW M? Suppose Particular Fashions, Not Supercars
What Neubauer most certainly hinted at is the interior need for a dream automotive inside BMW M, a ardour that has surfaced repeatedly over time. However extra realistically, she was referencing future limited-edition M fashions, like the same old CS and CSL lineup, and/or past. Because of the flexibleness of the CLAR platform — which helps autos ranging in dimension 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 count on the subsequent 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 occurring? That’s a serious 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]
