BMW M1 Concept: Super Car Plans
Evolve
Motoring
Channel Staff - 28/Apr/2008
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BMW M1 Homage Concept
BMW's new M1 concept is powered by the M5's
5.0-litre V10 engine, but with even more power
Is this something that would help improve
BMW's brand image? It certainly is different
Apart from its Alfa-like headlights, the overall
proportions are similar to the 1980s BMW M1
If BMW gives the green-light to a production
version, it would rival the Audi R8 sports car
Is BMW off it's rocker, or is the M1 concept
winning design? Air your thoughts: Mailbox
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Lago de Como,
Italy —
Here's one we didn't see coming - a reinvented BMW super car, the BMW
M1 Homage Concept.
The original M1 was built between 1978
and 1981, powered by a 3.5-litre inline 6-cylinder engine.
In
the '80s, it was was a very attractive vehicle designed by Giugiaro,
and to this day is one of the rarest BMW's ever with less than 500 cars
ever built.
Over the weekend BMW surprised everyone at the
prestigious Concorso D’Eleganza Villa D’Este event
near lake Como in Italy with an intriguing M1 remake.
"For a company as for a product, it is important
to be aware of one's roots," said Chris Bangle, director of design at
BMW.
"In the spirit of Giugiaro and Bracq, the BMW M1
Homage unites the BMW
values of design and technology in a highly emotional and exciting
interpretation."
The
design is wide and ultra-low, with a front end design with a strong
retro look. The headlights have an Alfa Romeo touch, but overall it's a
unique design.
BMW's design team has really gone to town on the
new concept car, which features an amazing rear end, with a sculpted
deck lid with rising edges that lead towards the upturned brake lights.
There
are some aspects of the original 1980s M1 car in the new concept car's
design, particularly in the overall profile. The unorthodox wheel
design is likewise an homage to the first M1 sports car, as is the
vented hood.
The original BMW M1 had a mid-mounted
6-cylinder engine that output just over 200kW of power, but the new
concept BMW M1 is powered by a version of BMW's 5.0-litre V10, which
has been tuned to output more than the standard 378kW of power.
While
there has been talk that the BMW M1 concept car's V10 engine
is
front mounted, the air intakes in the lower rear side skirts
and
the vented slats where the rear window would suggest otherwise.
BMW's
'M' division was responsible for not only the engine tuning, but also
the overall development of the retro concept car, which as the name
suggests is an homage to the original M1 super car, celebrating it's
30th anniversary.
The question on everyone's lips is this:
will it be built?
At the moment it is purely an exercise in styling
for the BMW M division.
But following the Concept
CS,
another long and low concept that's rumoured for deployment in the near
future, there is a small chance that BMW's top brass will be tasking
the accountants to crunch the numbers to ascertain if it could develop
the modern-day M1 super car without taking a serious financial hit.
If
built, the new 10-cylinder BMW M1 would rival vehicles such as the Audi
R8, Ferrari F430, Aston Martin V8 Vantage and Porsche 911 Carrera.
Arch
rival Mercedes-Benz has the SLR super car and when production of the
SLR ceases in 2009, the German car maker plans on releasing a new super
car in 2010. Audi also has the R8 mid-engined sports car which
has
been a huge sales success, and both the Benz SLR and Audi
R8 have
helped improve their respective company's images and badge value among
the super rich.
Is the new M1 Concept a sign that BMW wants to
capitalise on low-volume, ultra high performance super car models in
the future to deliver a similar boost to its international
image? Time will surely tell.
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