BMW has gone on document a number of occasions to say {that a} supercar is just not a precedence. With Neue Klasse across the nook, the corporate has greater fish to fry. Nonetheless, that doesn’t imply particular fashions separate from the common lineup are off the desk. When the Speedtop was accredited for manufacturing, we speculated that its success might encourage higher-ups to greenlight different limited-run fashions.
We’re now blissful to report that our hunch was legitimate. In an interview with BmwblogSylvia Neubauer, Vice President of Buyer, Model, and Gross sales at M, confirmed that BMW’s small-series staff has secured a slot for an M mannequin:
“We’re discussing issues, however we have to discover the suitable time to do it. Be assured, we share the identical dream and keenness. We’ve got been speaking with Adrian van Hooydonk (Head of BMW Group Design) and the staff who does the small sequence planning, and there’s a slot reserved for BMW M.”
She didn’t present specifics, and it’s unlikely to reach anytime quickly given the aforementioned priorities. However when it does, it must be a correct efficiency automotive. Whereas the Skytop and Speedtop are M8s with the twin-turbo 4.4-liter V8 “S63” engine, each lean extra towards grand touring. Notably, the hanging targa and coupe duo don’t put on M badges.
No matter is within the pipeline is prone to be cheaper than the three.0 CSL, which had an unconfirmed price ticket of €750,000. For comparability, the Skytop and Speedtop weren’t fairly as cost-prohibitive, however at €500,000, they have been removed from reasonably priced. Even so, BMW had no bother discovering consumers for each the three.0 CSL and the Skytop. The order books stay open for the Speedtop capturing brake, although it’s solely been a couple of month because the reveal.
In the identical interview, Sylvia hinted that BMW M is eyeing untapped segments:
“We at all times consider the place there could be potential markets for the long run. Many occasions, we’re doing this along with our (BMW) AG colleagues as a result of we want some base automotive to then flip it right into a high-performance mannequin. There are some concepts we’re discussing with our AG colleagues for the time being.”
It’s too early to say whether or not these concepts are tied to the small-series program, nevertheless it’s clear BMW is cooking up one thing particular to enhance its core M lineup. It in all probability received’t arrive right this moment or tomorrow, so persistence can be key. Logic tells us any future limited-run fashions would even be primarily based on current merchandise.
Growing a brand new car from scratch to promote only some dozen, or perhaps a few hundred, items isn’t financially viable. That’s why BMW stays reluctant to construct one other supercar as a follow-up to the M1. Fanatics are conscious that the mid-engine E26 had a troubled path to manufacturing within the late Nineteen Seventies, following Lamborghini’s withdrawal because of monetary difficulties. The closest BMW got here was with the M Imaginative and prescient Subsequent, nevertheless it in the end axed the electrified supercar.
