Autoblog

Remember the BMW supercar that M Division wanted to build? Not gonna happen

Jonathon Ramsey — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 11:31:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, BMW, Luxury

For at least two years, BMW has been teasing the idea of making a supercar, the kind that would glare with laser headlights at the Audi R8 and say, "Yeah, I'm lookin' at you." Way back in early 2008, the car was rumored to be a twin-turbo V10 with 625 horsepower. A year later, it was going to be the gentler, greener two-seat Z10 ED with a twin-turbo six cylinder and 400 hp. A year later still, the 1.5-liter, three-cylinder, hybrid i8 inherited the green supercar mantle.

But just two months ago, the head of product development at BMW's M division said he wanted a car to fight the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG, a pure M-car developed totally in-house (as was the case with the AMG). But an interview given by M's North American product manager Matthew Russell points to the door having closed on that when he said, "We've discussed these possibilities. But ultimately, we didn't feel the need to make a very exclusive high-end supercar and we still don't." So there.

Perhaps more importantly, in reference to the M3 and M5, Russell believes that M already makes supercars, albeit of a certain type: "we like to build two cars in one: this is what M does. Nobody offers that perfect combination of a driver's car and an executive car that you can use everyday. So technically, we already build supercars." As fellow Autoblog contributor Matt Davis noted, however, we're of the mind that while those are super cars, they're not supercars.

Click the link for the rest of Russell's thoughts, though not before sparing a moment to say auf wiedersehen to the M1 Hommage. It will always live on in our high-res image gallery...

Remember the BMW supercar that M Division wanted to build? Not gonna happen originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 20 Dec 2011 11:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Autoblog Podcast #209: 2011 Chrysler 300, GMC All Terrain HD, Automobile All Stars, 2013 BMW supercar

Dan Roth — Tue, 21 Dec 2010 17:15:00 EST

Filed under: Podcasts, Etc., Acura, Chrysler, Ford, GMC, Infiniti, Subaru, Toys/Games

Click above for the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes, RSS or listen now!

Episode #209 of the Autoblog Podcast has arrived, and the personnel are: Chris Shunk, Dan Roth, Zach Bowman and Chris Paukert. It starts with the Autoblog Garage and then heads for the 2011 Chrysler 300, GMC Sierra All Terrain HD concept vehicle, our thoughts about the 2011 Automobile All Stars, a $200,000 electric supercar from BMW and some car gifts for the Christmas season. We wrap with your questions at the end for an hour and a half total. Thanks for listening!

Autoblog Podcast #209: 2011 Chrysler 300, GMC All Terrain HD, Automobile All Stars, 2013 BMW supercar

In the Autoblog Garage:

2011 Infiniti G37S
2011 Acura ZDX
2011 Subaru STI
2011 Ford F350 SuperDuty

News Topics:

2011 Chrysler 300
GMC Sierra All Terrain HD
Automobile 2011 All Stars
$200,000 BMW Supercar for 2013
Car Gifts for Christmas: Ultimate Edition
Hosts: Dan Roth, Chris Shunk, Zach Bowman, Chris Paukert
Runtime: 1:30:34

Get the podcast:
[iTunes] Subscribe to the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes
[RSS] Add the Autoblog Podcast feed to your RSS aggregator
[MP3] Download the MP3 directly

Feedback:
Email: Podcast at Autoblog dot com
Voicemail: 734-288-8POD (734-288-8763)

Review the show in iTunes and take our survey

Autoblog Podcast #209: 2011 Chrysler 300, GMC All Terrain HD, Automobile All Stars, 2013 BMW supercar originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 21 Dec 2010 17:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: 2013 BMW Vision EfficientDynamics supercar moving toward production

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 16:57:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Hybrid, Performance, BMW, Rumormill, Electric, Diesel

BMW Vision Efficient Dynamics Concept - Click above for high-res image gallery

According to an unnamed "senior BMW authority out of Munich" speaking with InsideLine, the German automaker will indeed build a production version of the Vision EfficientDynamics concept that debuted last year at the Frankfurt Motor Show. BMW is reportedly planning for a model run of between 5,000 and 10,000 units in 2013. We'll get to the details in a moment, but here's the best news: "That name that the marketing people forced on us [is] going to change for sure." Phew.

Apparently, BMW has no plans to ditch the radical plug-in hybrid powertrain, which put out 356 horsepower and a stonkin' 590 pound-feet of torque in the concept. That means we'll get something similar to the turbocharged three-cylinder diesel range extender and twin electric motors powered by a lithium polymer battery pack that was featured in Frankfurt. Sounds great so far, and BMW claims the performance will be even better than the 4.8-second 0 to 60 run quoted for the concept.

Naturally, some of the Vision's more outlandish exterior bits will go the way of the Dodo, but IL reports BMW's target of weight is still under 3,000 pounds, meaning that high-tech composites and construction techniques are a veritable lock. Price for this next-gen eco-friendly supercar? Nothing announced - but if you have to ask... well, you know the rest.

Gallery: BMW Vision EfficientDynamics Concept

[Source: Inside Line]

Report: 2013 BMW Vision EfficientDynamics supercar moving toward production originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 29 Jan 2010 16:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumormill: BMW working on 'green' M1 supercar to rival Audi R8

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 14:26:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Frankfurt Motor Show, Coupe, Hybrid, Performance, BMW, Rumormill

BMW Vision Efficient Dynamics Concept - Click above for high-res image gallery

Will the Vision EfficientDynamics Concept that BMW debuted at the Frankfurt Motor Show earlier this month spawn a production eco-friendly supercar from the German automaker? According to Auto Express, the answer is yes, and the U.K. publication is projecting that the new green M1 will be ready for sale in 2012.

Naturally, the heart of this rumor-spec supercar is a hybrid powertrain similar to the one shown off in Frankfurt. A turbocharged three-cylinder diesel engine displacing 1.5-liters would be used in conjunction with a pair of electric motors providing all-wheel drive capabilities. The run to 60 mph would theoretically take less than five seconds and top speed would reportedly be capped at 155 mph.

Other unique bits that were introduced on the Vision Concept that could potentially make it into production include active aerodynamic elements that allow for an excellent .22 coefficient of drag. An unknown source tells AE that the car's hybrid powertrain, dual clutch gearbox (pulled from the M3) and aluminum-intensive chassis are all "ready for the road."

If there's any truth to this rumor, the new eco-friendly M1 successor would be marketed as a rival to the Audi R8 and would potentially hit the market with a price well north of $100,000. We'll see.

Gallery: BMW Vision EfficientDynamics Concept

[Source: Auto Express]

Rumormill: BMW working on 'green' M1 supercar to rival Audi R8 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 24 Sep 2009 14:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumormill: BMW proceeding with development on mid-engine Z10?

Noah Joseph — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Hybrid, Performance, BMW, Rumormill

BMW Vision EfficientDynamics concept - Click above for high-res image gallery

For many, it may seem hard for an automaker to claim the mantle of "The Ultimate Driving Machine" without a truly exhilarating supercar to act as a halo to define the brand. That could explain why, following previous reports that it had canned any plans for a mid-engine supercar, new reports suggest that BMW is proceeding with development of just such a vehicle.

Tentatively dubbed Z10, the most ultimate of driving machines would, according to the latest churns of the rumormill, take advantage of lightweight materials - including carbon fiber, aluminum and magnesium - to keep weight down, while offering more space inside than a Porsche 911. The jury's still out on what engine would find itself placed in the middle of the taut chassis, with the company's award-winning V10 reportedly axed in favor of a twin-turbo six (in either V or inline configuration) delivering somewhere in the vicinity of 450 horsepower and 350 lb-ft of torque through an eight-speed dual clutch gearbox.

Adaptable aerodynamics, a supplemental hybrid electric motor and thermal-dynamics system are also tipped to be part of the package, and we wouldn't be surprised to see some of the styling elements from the new Vision EfficientDynamics concept make their way into the production vehicle. The supercar is supposedly projected to bow with a $110,000 sticker price about five years from now... that is, if it's actually ever produced at all.

Gallery: BMW Vision EfficientDynamics Concept

[Source: Automobile Magazine]

Rumormill: BMW proceeding with development on mid-engine Z10? originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 09 Sep 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BMW preparing new Z10 ED green supercar for production?

Noah Joseph — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 09:58:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Green, Technology, Supercars, BMW, Rendered Speculation

The only thing better than a major automaker rolling out a supercar concept is when they actually put it into production. Usually, if the green light is given, it happens after the show car's public debut. In this case, however, early word from Autocar indicates that things are working backwards. BMW reportedly originally envisioned this effort as a concept car, but instead it has decided to put it into limited production to showcase its high performance and green capabilities.

The car in question, according to AC's latest reports, is a new flagship supercar from BMW to be called the Z10 ED. With a two-seat, front-engine layout, the Z10 ED (for Efficient Dynamics - BMW's term for its green tech) is being prepared by the company's Technik skunkworks department. As you may recall, this is the very same crew that brought the Z1 and Z8 roadsters to showrooms.

As the story goes, after BMW canceled plans to revive the M1 with a mid-engine, R8-eating supercar, Munich's decision-makers apparently gave the go-ahead for another project to highlight the company's tree-hugghing and road-hugging technology. For starters, integrated door frames and extensive use of carbon fiber will be employed to keep curb weight down and rigidity up. Power is tipped to come from a high-output version of the company's 3.0-liter six, with all the bells and whistles: twin turbos, variable valve timing and compression, along with a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox, F1-derived regenerative braking, and start-stop engine management. All of which should yield an anticipated 400 horsepower out of a relatively compact engine.

No telling when we might see the Z10 hit the roads, but sources suggest a $110,000+ price tag when it arrives.

[Source: Autocar]

BMW preparing new Z10 ED green supercar for production? originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 29 Jan 2009 09:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BMW celebrates 30 years of the M1

Noah Joseph — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 09:01:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Supercars, BMW

Click image for a high-res gallery of the BMW M1

In 92 years of business, the creators of "The Ultimate Driving Machine" have produced only one mid-engined supercar. That was the M1, designed by the legendary Giorgetto Giugiaro and developed together with Lamborghini. This year, BMW celebrates the 30^th anniversary of the M1, and to that end is planning a number of events to be held throughout the year to commemorate the occasion. Among them will be a special exhibition organized for this year's Concorso d'Eleganza at Villa d'Este on the shores of 's Lake Como, where BMW will showcase a collection of both roadgoing and racing M1s, of which a little over 450 were made. Retrospectives are fun, but we're looking forward to the M1's successor even more.

Gallery: BMW M1

[Source: BMW]

BMW celebrates 30 years of the M1 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 27 Mar 2008 09:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumormill: twin-turbo V10 BMW supercar coming in 2012

Noah Joseph — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 18:56:00 EST

Filed under: Spy Photos, Supercars, BMW

Mercedes has the SLR McLaren. Audi has the R8. Porsche has the 911 Turbo and GT2. Only BMW is lacking a range-topping supercar, so how does the Bavarian automaker carry the mantle of "the Ultimate Driving Machine"? If the latest reports are to be believed, BMW may finally be coming around and producing a successor to the long gone but not forgotten M1 supercar.

Unlike its predecessor, the anticipated BMW sports car would be more nose-heavy than tail-happy, with a twin-turbo version of the M5's glorious V10 producing an estimated 625 hp from its position up front and, of course, driving the rear wheels. The chassis would draw on BMW's success with the Sauber team in Formula One and feature full carbon-fiber construction, as well as such high-end performance components as carbon-ceramic brakes and Kevlar bucket seats, substantially cutting down weight compared with the gargantuan M6 coupe. Sticker price would be an appropriately exotic €300,000, although a (relatively) lower-end version with a twin-turbo V8 could also be considered for substantially less.

[Source: Auto Zeitung via Motor Authority]

Rumormill: twin-turbo V10 BMW supercar coming in 2012 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 19 Mar 2008 18:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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