BMW's M1 Homage Concept. Image: BMW
BMW’s supercar, the M1, only saw production from 1979 until 1981. Less than 500 were ever built, making surviving examples rare and expensive. Many were raced, which decreases your odds of finding a street car survivor even further.
In 2008, BMW showed its M1 Homage Concept (pictured above) to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the M1. Rumors that the car would see production turned out to be false, but the upcoming i8 performance hybrid was said to be heavily influenced by the M1 Homage Concept.
Now comes word from Automibilwoche (via Left Lane News) that a new M1 isn’t entirely off the table. BMW, it seems, wants a halo sports car to go head to head with the Audi R8, the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG and the Porsche 911 Turbo, and a new M1 could do wonders for the company’s image.
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Word is that the car will use a unique chassis, likely constructed from aluminum instead of carbon fiber to reduce costs. Expect power to come from a twin-turbo V-8, with output likely to be in the range of 650 horsepower. Since light weight is the key to performance, BMW is said to be shooting for a curb weight of 2,800 pounds, which is ambitious for just about anything with a V-8 under the hood.
We’d love to see a new M1, but question whether or not the global economy can sustain yet another supercar. We’re sure BMW is asking the same questions, which means that the accountants may wind up overruling the engineers.
Kurt Ernst has been passionate about automobiles and driving nearly his entire life. His early years were shaped working in the family service station, though his real passion was auto racing. After graduating from the University of Colorado, Kurt spent a year club racing with the Sports Car Club of America, before focusing on a business career in marketing and project management. Later, his passion for writing and the automotive hobby found him freelancing for a variety of automotive news sites, including Automotive Addicts and Motor Authority, where his work was syndicated and appeared in several national publications. Recognized as an expert in the automotive field, Kurt joined Hemmings Motor News as an Associate Editor in 2013, and in the years since has progressed to Editor, Hemmings Daily; Managing Editor for Hemmings Motor News, Hemmings Classic Car, Hemmings Muscle Machines, and the Hemmings Daily; and now, Managing Editor, Hemmings Auctions. Kurt was instrumental in organizing the Hemmings Motor News Concours d’Elegance from 2013-2019, and has served as a judge at this event and The Vintage Racing Stable Concours d’Elegance. A Skip Barber Racing School graduate and prolific writer, Ernst is also skilled in copyediting, project management, brand development, and public relations.
