It would be great to be the CEO at a company like BMW M, right? You could build the cars that you think enthusiasts really want, instead of more heavy SUVs and plug-in hybrids. You’d show the world who’s boss! The problem is that the current CEO of M and its head of design are both dreaming of a new M supercar – a true successor to the 1970s M1.
That doesn’t sound like a problem at all. Two of the company’s leaders are on-board, but for reasons that are never really specified, the BMW bosses can’t build it. Or won’t build it. But they want to, or at least, that’s what they’re saying out loud.
What Do BMW M’s Top Two Execs Want?
1979 BMW M1 Group 4 Art Car by Andy WarholBMW
At the 24 Hours of Le Mans earlier this month, BMW M CEO Frank van Meel and BMW M Head of Design Oliver Heilmer sat down for a conversational interview and to answer questions from fans. The best question (via BMW Blog) came near the end, when the pair was asked, “If you both had to develop a dream car outside of current vehicle offerings, money no object, you can get it approved tomorrow, what would it be?”
Heilmer answered first. With no pause or hesitation, he immediately said, “M1.” Van Meel looked up and acknowledged Jochen Neerpasch, one of the two founders of BMW M, sitting in the audience. “He knows my answer, because it’s the same as with Oliver. I would say M1, but a new one.”
The CEO clarified that he loves the classic M1 supercar, but that he also likes BMW’s most modern vehicles. That’s why he’d love to see a new one of those created.
“I’m in love with the original M1, but I would love to do a new one.”
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The BMW M1 has popped up in the brand’s story already in the not too distant past. In 2008, BMW marked 30 years since its first and possibly only supercar with a concept called the M1 Homage. The automaker debuted that design study at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este that year.
M1 Might Be The Brand’s Most Impressive Creation
BMW M1 HomageBMW
In hindsight, the M1 Homage was our first look at what would become BMW’s second supercar. Many of the details in the rear quarter, greenhouse, and nose would make the transition from this concept car through to the i8 Concept of 2011, and finally the production i8 of 2012 with a little help from 2009’s Vision EfficientDynamics concept car.
The original M1 (or E26 for BMW chassis code purists) was styled by Giorgetto Giugiaro of Italdesign, with engineering run by Neerpasch. He also created the one-make racing series that helped popularize the car.
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This mid-engine wedge was the very first car developed entirely by M. It was built from 1978 through 1981, but only 453 cars were produced during that time, making it exceptionally rare. The M1 was powered by a derivative of the 3.0-liter I6 created for the BMW 3.0CSi racing cars, and makes 273 horsepower in the M1 or 464 in the M1-based race car.
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So Why Not Build It?
Alas, neither executive really addressed why a new take on the M1 isn’t in the cards, at least right now. If only they were in charge of a division that could build such a thing! It’s likely the words unspoken are the most important ones here – cost. One doesn’t simply build a mid-engine performance car without significant investment. That is, unless you’re crosstown rival Audi. Yeah, that’s awkward.
CarBuzz Insight – Why This Matters:
BMW M1 HomageBMW
M1 is an easy and almost expected answer when it comes to dream BMW projects. It was the first in-house M, the first M supercar, and it is an all-time BMW classic. That makes it a huge part of company history, helping explain why the M bosses would want a new one. Got to give fans the lip service they want.
But they also know it’s not likely to happen. BMW M is busy building other things, and its last fully M project was the XM SUV, which has been a sales flop. BMW M might be better off continuing its fan-focused builds like the M3 Touring the two are standing in front of.
Source: BMW Blog
