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 clients, model, and gross sales, who shared some perception into the division’s future plans. Nevertheless, enable us to set the file straight: whereas BMW M has huge plans forward, a supercar shouldn’t be one among them — at the least not but.
Right here’s what Neubauer truly stated: “[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 possibly some future small-series editions with the ‘M’ designation.” She continued, emphasizing that, “Halo fashions have that constructive spillover impact on the model and on the product portfolio. You’re making a sure buyer group very, very pleased with 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 concerning the thought of a dream automotive, Neubauer added: “That query you requested a couple of dream automotive? You may belief us, we’re engaged on it internally to make that occur at some point. 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 await the precise time.”
Some publications, nonetheless, jumped the gun and rushed to “affirm” {that a} BMW M supercar is imminent. However in line with our sources — and within the spirit of readability, particularly when BMW itself can’t publicly appropriate each rumor — the truth is completely different.
The Hypercar That Virtually Occurred (However Didn’t)
First, there is no such thing as a BMW supercar at present in growth, neither from BMW AG nor from the M division. It’s true that, up to now, 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 circumstances shifting — notably within the EV hypercar section the place autos priced above a million euros will not be straightforward to promote — the board finally determined to tug the plug.
Second, inside BMW M itself, there is no such thing as a energetic supercar challenge underway both, at the least primarily based on our dependable sources. Enthusiasm for such a halo automotive actually exists among the many engineers and management, however not one of the enterprise instances proposed to this point have made sufficient sense to greenlight a challenge.
What’s Subsequent for BMW M? Suppose Particular Fashions, Not Supercars
What Neubauer most definitely hinted at is the interior need for a dream automotive 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 might 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 going on? That’s a significant leap — and never one supported by present details.
As all the time, 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]
