- BMW M says a true supercar isn’t off the table - but it’s not a priority right now.
- Low-volume complexity, electrification demands, and platform focus are keeping a modern M1 on the sidelines.
- Recent coachbuilt hits like the 3.0 CSL show appetite exists, but a bespoke, seven-figure halo car remains a “maybe.”
If you've been holding your breath for a proper BMW supercar, best to exhale now - again.
Despite decades of longing and a few close calls, BMW M has once more confirmed that a flagship halo car isn't on the immediate agenda.
Plenty of dreams, just not the right moment
Speaking at the recent Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este, M division boss Frank van Meel acknowledged ongoing discussions around a modern M1-style model. But as ever, the brand’s current priorities - electrification, volume M models and platform consolidation - take precedence.
“We don’t want to lose focus on our high-performance cars because we do a super sports car,” van Meel explained. “We are always dreaming about it. And maybe some day we find the right window of opportunity… but actually, it’s not here yet.”
That elusive “window” seems unlikely to open soon.
The best supercars, while exciting, demand low-volume, high-investment development cycles. BMW still remembers the pain of building the original M1 in the late ’70s, and a modern version would likely need an entirely bespoke chassis and body - something that doesn’t play well with the current push toward scalable platforms.
Of course, that hasn't stopped BMW from trying. The brand unleashed the M1 Hommage in 2008, but alas, the intriguing concept stayed just that. Some fans are also still hoping for 2019's Vision M Next to come to fruition.
Coachbuilt confidence - but not a cue
BMW hasn’t been idle on the exclusive front, either. Recent coachbuilt specials like the 3.0 CSL and Skytop show what the brand can do when it leans into collectable exotica.
Each one borrowed underpinnings from regular M cars (M4 CSL and M8, respectively) but fetched jaw-dropping prices. The 3.0 CSL reportedly went for around €750,000 (around NZ$1.4 million), while the Skytop is rumoured at €500,000 (NZ$950,000). Both sold out with ease.
Even the Speedtop coupe, based on the same architecture, is getting a larger production run.
Yet these halo cars don’t make the leap to full supercar status. As van Meel pointed out, “We never give up… but it’s not here yet.”
Seven figures for a Bimmer?
The business case remains the key hurdle. A true BMW supercar would need to command a seven-figure price to be viable - and it’s an open question whether the market would bear that, given BMW’s premium-but-not-exotic reputation.
Still, M Design chief Oliver Heilmer is equally keen, having explored the idea alongside van Meel. A production reality remains out of reach for now, but the dream? Very much alive.
