BMW Has Too Much Going On to Focus on a Supercar at the Moment.

      Some among us have yet to let go of our disappointment towards BMW for not bringing the 2008 M1 Hommage concept to life.

      Just a month ago, a BMW executive sparked some hope for a new flagship supercar, suggesting that the company was quietly working on such a vehicle and that we would just need to wait for “the right time.” This was somewhat of a minimal corporate response, as the company made no promises and merely conveyed that they share the same aspirations as their fans. However, it also opened the door for someone like M CEO Frank van Meel to dampen expectations, which he did last weekend at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este, introducing the new Concept Speedtop.

      Van Meel remarked during a panel hosted by BMW Blog, “We don’t want to lose focus on our high-performance cars because we do a super sports car. I must be honest; we are always dreaming about it. And maybe someday we will find the right window of opportunity where we can work on a car like that, and the company, BMW Group, says: ‘OK, go for it.’ We never give up, I promise you that, but actually, it’s not here yet.”

      These remarks are noteworthy because, on the surface, van Meel is merely repeating M’s established stance, expressing a desire to eventually create a genuine, standalone supercar. However, his mention of not wanting to lose “focus” on current high-performance models and waiting for the “right window of opportunity” suggests that this aspiration may be further away than hoped.

      BMW has its hands full currently, overhauling its entire lineup with a fresh design philosophy and the capability to produce new vehicles with varying levels of electrification. In particular, M faces the tough challenge of keeping enthusiasts engaged with battery-electric versions of their favorite models, like the M3. Recall the backlash Mercedes-AMG faced when it began installing four-cylinders in cars formerly equipped with V8s. While the electric M3 may not catch fans off guard—given that BMW has been hinting at it for some time—it will still encounter challenges, regardless of whether it is launched alongside an internal-combustion variant.

      When considering the difficulties facing German luxury brands in China, resulting in a 37% drop in net profits compared to last year, along with everything associated with tariffs here, it becomes evident that this is not the “window of opportunity” van Meel has been anticipating.

      These issues must be navigated by BMW before a potential halo supercar transitions from fantasy to reality. Focusing solely on M, the brand must concentrate on establishing itself in the post-Neue Klasse era, with the diverse powertrains it's likely to offer. That should indeed be the priority, even though I would love to see a modern interpretation of the M1.

      Thus, the next major standalone M car appears to be quite distant. For the purists, it might be some comfort to know that it likely won’t resemble the XM, which proved to be a costly blunder that a legacy company like BMW is unlikely to repeat frequently.

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