The overwhelmingly positive response of the ‘Jetsons-esque’ Vision EfficientDynamics may have given BMW the shot in the arm it has long waited for.
Due to the glorious feedback generated by the concept car, BMW is not tinkering with the idea of bringing back the M1 by 2012 where it would be based on the 2+2 coupe concept of the Vision EfficientDynamics.
The rumoured M1 will also come with the same hybrid powertrain that comes with the Vision EfficientDynamics concept, a sign that BMW may be more serious than anyone ever thought about the its efforts in becoming more eco-friendly.
In the event that it does use the hybrid powertrain, the M1 will be expected to carry a 1.5-liter three-cylinder engine that comes with an electric motor. The power output expected to come out of this set-up is expected to reach as much as 350 horsepower and 600 Nm of torque.
As far as aesthetics are concerned, we’re not expecting the M1 to look remotely close to that of the Vision EfficientDynamics concept, although we are anticipating that BMW will take a few styling cues from the concept and adapt it to the M1. After all, what’s the point of basing the car to the concept if it won’t have any resemblance to it?
In any event, if this supposed reincarnation of the M1 is all BMW says it would be, then we can expect it to generate the same type of reaction the Vision EfficientDynamics concept got in Frankfurt. And that’s going to be great news for the boys of BMW.
The initial rumors about a green sports car concept from BMW started appearing just the other day. Now, thanks to the German automotive journal Auto Motor Und Sport, we can reveal a few more details about the upcoming concept. The German Magazine reported that it will be called the M1 Hybrid Concept and that it will feature a hybrid drive train technology and will have the same dimensions as a 3-Series measuring 14.75 ft long. The exterior design will be inspired by the M1 Homage car of course.
Compared to the M1 Homage car, the new hybrid 2+2 model will be powered by an electric motor mounted at the front axle combined with a small internal combustion engine in the back. This will keep emissions under 100 g/km, and thanks of a low curb weight the BMW will offer the same performance as a Porsche 911.
BMW has been teasing the public with the BMW Hommage concept since April. Rumors have confirmed both its production and its demise. Last thing we heard was that is was dead in the cost-cutting of the current market. Now we are hearing buzz that a production version is back on (again), but this time there are some logical details to back it up.
AutoWeek has received some info that says everything except flat-out confirming plans to revive the M1 name. BMW is looking for a place to showcase its new EfficientDynamics (better fuel economy, better performance) program. It wants to use its latest technology to create a "a breakthrough green supercar" according to BMW source.
Like the original M1, the new car would likely be a two-seat, mid-engined six-cylinder coupe. It would use lightweight construction materials and a twin turbocharged 3.0-liter inline six engine making 400+ horsepower. "The idea is to take the supercar to a whole new level of environmental compatibility using technology and materials already in wide use today," Autoweek’s source said.
If all goes well, BMW’s eco-friendly supercar could make it to limited production by 2012.
Thirty years ago, BMW set the world on fire with the 3.5-liter mid-engine M1. BMW built it with racing in mind, and even created the Procar race series exclusively for modified versions of the car. Four years and a little over 450 vehicles later, the dream was over. Now to celebrate the anniversary, BMW is hitting the track with ten of the M1 Procar Championship Series cars at the Hockenheimring in Munich, Germany, on July 19 and 20. Until then enjoy some new footage of the road car taking a few laps at the Nürburgring and some classic footage of the Procar Series in Monaco.
BMW will revive this year at the F1 German Grand Prix programme their M1 Procar series. The event will take place on 19th and 20th July at Hockenheim.
The M1 was unveiled 30 years ago as the first t independently built car by the BMW Motorsport GmbH. The idea of developing the BMW M1, however, was the brainchild of Jochen Neerpasch, the head of BMW Motorsport GmbH at the time, and it was he who initiated the single-make series with Bernie Ecclestone and Max Mosley within the relatively relaxed structure of F1 three decades ago.
Real or not, this M1 Prototype looks amazing, and we only hope that BMW will built it in the near future, or that the production version will look at list as hot as this one!
Only few days after the launch of the M1 Hommage Concept, FreshTarmac claims the thing you see in the picture is the 2008 BMW M1 Prototype.
It looks like its sitting on a stretched chassis of the current BMW M3 incorporating various parts including the front fascia and the hood.
To mark the 30th anniversary of the BMW M1 sports car, BMW Group Design unveiled an ’homage’ version of the model at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este 2008 at Lake Como. The anniversary prompted BMW to devote its 2008 Concorso exhibition to the M1 car that came from the drawing board of Italian stylist Giorgio Giugiaro.
BMW released the first video of the M1 Hommage in action! Enjoy!
Sponsored by Bmw since 1999, the Concorso D’Eleganza Villa D’Este unveiled the renascence of the new Bmw M1. The new Bmw M1 Hommage represents a moder interpretation of the 1978 Bmw M1, which at the moment of its launch was Germany’s fastest street car.
As the old model, the concept presents new design lines that are ahead of their time. The Bmw stylists incorporated in the concept some of the old vehicle’s design such as the lowered rear window, the lateral badge placement and also a little bit of the front end.
There are small chances that the Bmw M1 Hommage could see a limited production in a very small scale, but for the moment this still remains a rumor. For the folks who don’t know the 1978 Bmw M1 was powered by a 3.5 liter engine developing 270 hp and was capable of sprinting from 0-100 km/h in just 5.6 seconds. Although Bmw did not reveal any technical specifications there are sources who admit the existence of a powerful V10 5.0 liter engine capable of delivering 600+ hp.
BMW launched the M1 in autumn 1978 at the 64th Paris Motor Show. Sports car fans and lovers were able to admire a super-low, extremely dynamic new model making it quite clear at very first sight that this was Germany’s fastest road-going sports car: the BMW M1, 277 bhp strong, and well over 160 mph fast. That was indeed quite something, considering that BMW’s super-sports car had a price-tag back then in 1978 of exactly DM 100,000, enough for four BMW 323is plus a couple of optional extras.
Choosing the engine, BMW Motorsport GmbH initially focused on two concepts: Advance studies of Formula engines had led, inter alia, to a ten-cylinder code-named the M81, a V-engine with its cylinders at an angle of 144°. Suitably modified, this engine was also examined for its possible use in a sports car. But then the team around BMW’s Motorsport Director Jochen Neerpasch quickly opted in favour of a new straight-six, an engine concept supported by the excellent experience BMW had gained in the CSI races.
The BMW M1 was built between 1978 and 1981. BMW built only 451 units during its life time. It was powered by a naturally aspirated 3.5-liter straight 6 engine delivering 277 hp. It could reach a top speed of 162 mph.
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