BMW Considering Reviving M1 Name in 2016

If you really think about, BMWBMWGermany, 1918 > present87 models
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43 videos
has only made one supercar. Sure, there was the Z8BMW Z8Germany, 1999 > 20033 photos
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in the late 90s, but that was more of a luxury sports car like the Mercedes SLMercedes-Benz SL-ClassGermany, 1972 > present4 series
82 versions
217 photos
2 videos
. The 8-seriesBMW 8 SeriesGermany, 1989 > 19999 versions
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was great but that was more of a luxury GT. It built the engine for the McLaren F1McLaren F1United Kingdom, 1992 > 19986 versions
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, but it didn't build the entire car. The only traditional supercar, meaning a closed, two-place car with super high performance, is the M1BMW M1Germany, 1978 > 19781 Version
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1 video
.

It appears that BMW aims to change that by launching a car to complete with the Audi R8 and Mercedes SLS AMG in 2016. The reason that it is waiting so long is to give the i8 more breathing room when it launches in the first quarter for 2014. It does not want to have a super high performance car in its ranks luring buyers when it is trying to sell its new, green sports coupe. 

These reports are coming from the German publications Automobilwoche and Auto Bild. According to them, the car could even carry the M1 name and would use a direct-injected, turbocharged V8 engine with between 600ps and 650ps that would give it a max speed around 330km/h (205mph). It would have stop/start tech and regenerative braking. However, the car will not be purely made from carbon fiber because that would compete with the concept for the i-series. Instead, it will use a mix of aluminum, titanium and magnesium. The weight would be around 1250kg and the price around €250k.

Source: Motor Authority and Automobilwoche