[brava09]

http://www.carmagazine.co.uk/Secret-...rcar-for-2016/



By Georg Kacher

27 July 2012 13:06

It’s time for BMW to respond to the R8, SLS and 911 supercars topping the respective ranges Audi, Merc and Porsche. The August 2012 issue of CAR Magazine reveals how BMW is planning to revive the M1 supercar some time around 2016.

The new BMW M1 will be considerably lighter, more powerful and more efficient than its current rivals, thanks to a combination of new tech and old-school low mass. Read on for the details of the first true BMW supercar in a quarter of a century.
Why is BMW resurrecting an old supercar?

The original M1 of 1978-81 was sadly quite a debacle (Lamborghini failed to supply the cars it was contracted to build, then the rules for the racing series it was designed for changed, leaving the M1 in no-mans-land.) BMW eventually built 460 of the wedgy, 277bhp two-seaters, powered by a 3.5-litre in-line six which of course went on to see duty in the E28 M5, albeit slightly modified for its supersaloon application.

As BMW’s first (and only) mass-produced mid-engined car, and arguably the first truly user-friendly supercar, the M1 has acquired cult status as the grandfather of the M-badged motors. Quite a legacy then, for the 2016 M1 to live up to.
The 2016 BMW M1: the spec

BMW is using carbonfibre and exotic metals to target a 1250kg kerbweight for the M1, ambitiously 200kg lighter than a Porsche 991 or McLaren 12C. Like the current M5 and next M3, it’ll shun natural aspiration for bi-turbo power. A 4.0-litre V8 is tipped to produce 600-650bhp, making for a 3.0sec 0-62mph dash and around 206mph flat out.

Unlike the hybrid BMW i8, the M1 is tipped to be the world’s greenest sports car, rather than the world’s sportiest green car. The low weight will be teamed with an eight- or nine-speed dual-clutch gearbox for maximum ‘EfficientDynamics’, plus the engine will be able to meter out its fuel injection when not under load. An advanced V8 was chosen over a straight-six for the double whammies of being more compact and more powerful.
But will the car look like an M1?

Most likely – there’s going to be a lot of inspiration from 2008’s M1 Hommage concept (pictured). LED lamps replace pop-up headlights, but louvred air intakes and a double BMW-roundelled rump return. See our artist's impression in the August 2012 issue of CAR.

Following on from the M1 coupe, there’ll be a drop-top aimed at the US market, where open-top supercars outsell fixed-head versions by two-to-one. Prices for the new 2016 BMW M1 will be upwards of £200,000, right in 458, 12C and even Aventador territory – and their respective successors. Who said the supercar was dead?

[THE TECH]

We shall see.

[jeff@autocouture]

one could hope

[Mr. ///M3 RD]

time will tell ... then again I'm thinking if they wait that long it might be too late ...

[JRV]

I wonder since the M3 has been BMWs "race car", will this new M1 be the focus moving forward or will they still keep giving the M3 the resources and the nod to compete on the race track? I guess we'll find out eventually. It would be sad for BMW to start shifting the M3 away from the responsibility. I mean when you look at the rest of the stable and in the next few years, there are M's everywhere up and down their line-up but in 2016 will build a true super car.

[GOLFFRR]

would be pretty cool

[HotIce]

This is the 1000th time a rumor has been posted that a BMW supercar is on it's way and a couple weeks later, all of a sudden there is magically no business case for it. I will believe it when I see it.

[PrimoM3]

Originally Posted by M3RD

time will tell ... then again I'm thinking if they wait that long it might be too late ...

It should be a flying car by then... "Great Scott!"

[koolaid]

only time will tell, who knows if they decide to shift focus in the next few years.

[PaneristiDriver]

This is laughable for two reasons. (1) in 4 years the car they propose will barely be able to keep up with the supercars out today (458/GT2RS/Aventador,MPC and thats not even considered the 918 Spyder or F12), let alone the ones out in 4 years and (2) I doubt it will happen.

[SCOTT26]

The year 2016 is mentioned because that is when such a project becomes feasable for BMW. To do so now would be a collossal waste of money with no aspect of return.

2016 is the advent of when BMW will be a year-in of full volume production of CFRP and therefore it will be completely cost-effective allowing BMW to not only reduce weight but also cost against competitors.
The first BMW to use CFRP will be the next generation 7er before it filters down across the line allowing BMW to produce cars with not only exotic material technology but with cost-effective material technology normally only limited to exotic high end sports cars and at a level our competitors are nowhere at this current time.

Right now BMW's Sports Car intentions lie with the BMW i8 and BMW i8 Spyder. The whole BMWi venture is not just about cars but developing and implementing the infra-structure that will support the cars , this not only includes sales networks and development of the cars and subsequent technology but also manufacturing and batteries and repair networks. That is the current priority for BMWi

[HotIce]

Scott, this isn't about BMWi. It's about BMW ///M.

[manuelf]

Originally Posted by Rated ///M

Scott, this isn't about BMWi. It's about BMW ///M.

I think you did not get his post correctly?
He simply said: An ///M One will benefit from the CFRP development invented for the BMWi family....
Not until this technology is mass production approved within the BMWi family and afterwards with the upcoming 7series it can be economically used for a pure M hardcore supersportscar ....
He simply pointed out this relation.

[Doctor///M]

...still a glimmer of hope