Latest headlines (like this and this) have stirred pleasure amongst fans, 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. Nonetheless, permit us to set the report straight: whereas BMW M has massive plans forward, a supercar just isn’t one in every of them — not less than not but.
Right here’s what Neubauer really stated: “[BMW’s] technique is to have a collection of small-series additions that we provide to the markets. There might be one thing coming at Villa d’Este this yr, 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 pleased with these dream automobiles. Even those who can not afford the automotive, they admire the model. This might be a part of our future highway map as nicely.”
When requested in regards to the thought of a dream automotive, Neubauer added: “That query you requested a few dream automotive? You’ll be able to belief us, we’re engaged on it internally to make that occur someday. Are we dreaming of dream automobiles, and is BMW M a really entrepreneurial firm the place you may actually make issues occur? Sure, let’s look forward to the precise time.”
Some publications, nevertheless, jumped the gun and rushed to “verify” {that a} BMW M supercar is imminent. However in keeping with our sources — and within the spirit of readability, particularly when BMW itself can’t publicly appropriate each rumor — the truth is totally different.
The Hypercar That Nearly Occurred (However Didn’t)
First, there is no such thing as a BMW supercar at the moment in growth, neither from BMW AG nor from the M division. It’s true that, previously, BMW explored the concept of a hypercar producing round 1,300 horsepower, this isn’t the BMW i16 mission everybody wrote about. We have been advised the hypercar mission was 99% prepared from a enterprise perspective. Nonetheless, 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 drag the plug.
Second, inside BMW M itself, there is no such thing as a energetic supercar mission underway both, not less than primarily based on our dependable sources. Enthusiasm for such a halo automotive definitely 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 mission.
What’s Subsequent for BMW M? Suppose Particular Fashions, Not Supercars
What Neubauer most definitely hinted at is the interior want 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 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 automobiles, 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 info.
As at all times, we’ll proceed to watch 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]
