Latest headlines (like this and this) have stirred pleasure amongst fanatics, 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 document straight: whereas BMW M has massive plans forward, a supercar will not be one in every of them — not less than not but.
Right here’s what Neubauer truly stated: “[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 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 proud of these dream automobiles. Even people who can’t afford the automotive, they admire the model. This will probably 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 automobiles, and is BMW M a really entrepreneurial firm the place you possibly can actually make issues occur? Sure, let’s look ahead to the precise time.”
Some publications, nonetheless, 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 completely different.
The Hypercar That Virtually Occurred (However Didn’t)
First, there isn’t any BMW supercar presently in growth, neither from BMW AG nor from the M division. It’s true that, prior to now, BMW explored the thought of a hypercar producing round 1,300 horsepower, this isn’t the BMW i16 venture everybody wrote about. We have been advised the hypercar venture 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 finally determined to tug the plug.
Second, inside BMW M itself, there isn’t any energetic supercar venture underway both, not less than based mostly on our dependable sources. Enthusiasm for such a halo automotive actually 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 venture.
What’s Subsequent for BMW M? Suppose Particular Fashions, Not Supercars
What Neubauer almost definitely hinted at is the inner 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 pliability 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 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 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]
