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, permit us to set the document straight: whereas BMW M has large plans forward, a supercar shouldn’t be one in every of them — at the very least not but.
Right here’s what Neubauer truly mentioned: “[BMW’s] technique is to have a sequence of small-series additions that we provide to the markets. There will probably 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 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 will probably be a part of our future highway map as nicely.”
When requested concerning the concept of a dream automotive, Neubauer added: “That query you requested a couple of 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 possibly can actually make issues occur? Sure, let’s anticipate the suitable 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 right each rumor — the truth is completely different.
The Hypercar That Virtually Occurred (However Didn’t)
First, there isn’t any BMW supercar at the moment in improvement, neither from BMW AG nor from the M division. It’s true that, previously, BMW explored the thought of a hypercar producing round 1,300 horsepower, this isn’t the BMW i16 mission everybody wrote about. We had been informed the hypercar mission was 99% prepared from a enterprise perspective. Nevertheless, with market circumstances shifting — notably within the EV hypercar section the place automobiles priced above a million euros are usually not straightforward to promote — the board finally determined to drag the plug.
Second, inside BMW M itself, there isn’t any energetic supercar mission underway both, at the very 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 up to now have made sufficient sense to greenlight a mission.
What’s Subsequent for BMW M? Suppose Particular Fashions, Not Supercars
What Neubauer most probably hinted at is the inner 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. Due to the flexibleness of the CLAR platform — which helps automobiles ranging in measurement 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 following 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 occurring? That’s a significant leap — and never one supported by present information.
As all the time, 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]
