Reports regarding a possible reprieve for BMW’s seemingly dead M1 supercar revival have been surfacing on the Internet.
Given the positive reception that such rival offerings as the Audi R8 and Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG have received, it does appear that there’s some thing of a supercar-shaped gap in BMW’s model line-up.
It’s a gap that seemed destined to remain unplugged due to the imminent arrival of the i8 eco-sportscar, but reports now suggest that a red-blooded BMW supercar may yet see the light of day.
The newcomer is reportedly set for a 2016 debut – a move that will grant the i8 enough time to establish itself in the market without the supercar treading on its toes. An all-aluminium construction will keep both the curb weight and production costs in check, while a direct-injection V8 engine developing between 447 and 484 kW could power the car.
BMW has been known to be quite pernickety regarding the naming of such a performance model. The M1 moniker appears to be out of bounds due to its deeply engrained association with the original M1 supercar from the late 70’s. Leaked online patents have, however, revealed an application to copyright the term “M10” – a plausible name for the future car that could give it an alphanumeric connection with the original M1 and possibly influence both its packaging and styling.