Thursday 26th May 2011

Is A New M1 On The Way?

BMW 'insider' claims sketches for a new M1 have caught the attention of senior management

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Rumours have resurfaced that BMW is looking into a spiritual successor to the legendary M1

BMW's i8 hybrid supercoupe (that's essentially the production version of the svelte Vision Efficient Dynamics concept that was unveiled at Frankfurt back in 2009) has already been mooted as a possible basis for the conceptual return of the M1, and now there are more web whispers that BMW is seriously considering an M-car supercar.

"The strategy has just begun and where it is at is a few sketches by the design department and ideas conjured around a conference table. We have no production plans yet," says BMW insider 'Scott27' of the German Car Forums.

"The sketch was developed entirely for a different purpose. But the idea did catch attention and since BMW did not focus on the design angle for the Connected Drive concept car they were taken aback when reaction to the car was very well received," says the mystery insider. "But since the sketch caught senior attention they have added a roof and a higher windscreen to judge reaction and you could see the return of the concept this time as a coupe. But it could form the car/s in question because of its bloodline to the original and hommage of the M1."

It all sounds quite exciting to us and, if it looks anything like the M1 Hommage concept from 2008 (pictured, top), it should be frankly drop-dead gorgeous. If it happens, we won't see any tangible fruit of the project until 2015 - and of course it may not even get the green light - but there are certainly some metaphorical mouths watering here at PH Towers.

[anonymous-user]

Looks very countach. Hope the final one doesn't look like that, doesn't suit BMW.

[Garlick]

Looks like a modern take on the BMW M1 to me

[LuS1fer]

As far as I'm concerned, any "hybrid" is the very antithesis of any supercar ideal.

The M1 didn't do well but the BMW bandwagon is far stronger these days but doesn't seem able to get one over Porsche, dynamically.

[Mermaid]

Garlick said:

Looks like a modern take on the BMW M1 to me

The original is always more pleasing to the eye.

Which specific Porsche/Ferrari would the M1 be aimed at, or would it be the R8-V10 or the MP4-12C?

[anonymous-user]

Whoops, I got the M1 confused with the 8 Series

[ZesPak]

PSBuckshot said:

Looks very countach. Hope the final one doesn't look like that, doesn't suit BMW.

It looks like a BMW supercar should look like imho, the other things they churn out at this time just don't suit a company that once made such good looking cars.

[Prof Prolapse]

Very nice. Love the alloys.

[George H]

I like that, it looks mean.

Those alloys are so much nicer than the usual ones on concept cars.

[Strawman]

PSBuckshot said:

Looks very countach.

Since the original M1 was designed by Guigiaro in 1977 you can see some common design cues with the Countach, but it was based on the BMW turbo car from 1972 designed by Paul Bracq, who may or may not have been influenced by the early Countach prototype from 1971.

[Mermaid]

Strawman said:

Since the original M1 was designed by Guigiaro in 1977 you can see some common design cues with the Countach...

& of course the chassis was built by Lamborghini just before their financial crisis.

[Mermaid]

The names 1M & M1 will of course cause some confusion.

[Dagnut]

These rumours have been doing the rounds for years...hard to see it materialising.. their last 2 attempts at a top end sports car weren't exactly fruitful...are they going to wade into battle with the R8 V10, the SLS, the 911, the 12c, 458? Hard to see how the plan to make a dent in that market, the car would have to be immense on all fronts to compete

[fastgerman]

Concept design looks excellent, especially the wheels!

I thought the original M1 was built to allow BMW to race in that category? If so, is it not more likely that this design could be the new 8 series? I can imagine BMW wanting to create something a step up from the M6 while maintaining comfort and luxury more than a stripped out racer like the original M1.

Either way, looking forward to seeing what happens with this but there have been M1 rumours for quite a while with similar looking concepts.

[Zod]

Strawman said:

PSBuckshot said:

Looks very countach.

Since the original M1 was designed by Guigiaro in 1977 you can see some common design cues with the Countach, but it was based on the BMW turbo car from 1972 designed by Paul Bracq, who may or may not have been influenced by the early Countach prototype from 1971.

The Countach was designed by Gandini, not Giugiaro and that is the M1 Concept, not the production car.

[Mostro]

Pah. I thought Nottingham was getting another bypass for a minute......

[Strawman]

Zod said:

that is the M1 Concept, not the production car.

Which is why I called it the BMW Turbo car from 1972, seemed a bit pointless reposting a picture of the production car when Garlick had already done so above.

[Andrew[MG]]

Dagnut said:

These rumours have been doing the rounds for years...hard to see it materialising.. their last 2 attempts at a top end sports car weren't exactly fruitful...are they going to wade into battle with the R8 V10, the SLS, the 911, the 12c, 458? Hard to see how the plan to make a dent in that market, the car would have to be immense on all fronts to compete

Take the M3, turn it up to 11 and stick a sports car body on it. Easy.

[P4ROT]

If they can keep the basic shape as the car in the 1st pic then it should be stunning on the road...

[mat205125]

Please say that this means that there will be a home for the M5/M6 naturally aspirated V10, and that it's development can continue .... Surely one of the greatest engines ever. Whilst the M5 and M6 are phenomenal cars, the engine really deserves an opportunity to stretch its legs in something smaller, lighter and more focussed.

[pSyCoSiS]

That concept does look tasty, and those wheels are stunning!