The BMW M1 supercar did not get a real successor despite getting the ax in 1981. The BMW Nazca C2 from the early 90s, which was also designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro of Italdesign, would have been a possible candidate but the German marque decided against making it a production vehicle. One would argue that the i8 mid-engine hybrid is a spiritual successor but as we’ve already mentioned, that’s debatable.
The BMW Vision M Next hybrid supercar concept from 2019 sparked some hope for the Bimmer super sports car. The automaker has even said it will make one as long as there is interest in it. Then again, it never happened.
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But that doesn’t mean BMW has closed its doors to making its own supercar, the successor to the M1. In an interview with AutocarBMW M boss Frank van Meel says it’s always something they can see.
“As car lovers, we’ve always dreamed of making a car like that. It’s not that we’re going to make it, but we’re constantly exploring those ideas,” said van Meel.
“I’m always trying to figure out how [would] work,” he added
The Vision M Next concept may not yet reach production, in part because XM is becoming the company’s priority. Van Meel went on to say that BMW M does not need to prove that it is a sporty company and that supercars are not absolutely essential to the M brand.
“Not priority number one, but from the heart is always a high priority, and that’s what we always pay attention to,” concluded van Meel.
The BMW XM is the future of the M brand and a standalone model for the company. It would be interesting to see the slung sibling right beside him, but for now, all we can do is wait. It’s nice to know that the automaker hasn’t closed its doors on the idea.
