BMW supercars

Updated: 26 January 2015

For a company that calls itself a purveyor of ‘ultimate driving machines’, it hasn’t much form in the supercar arena. However, its one real entry is one hell of an effort. The ’70s M1 was a mid-engined brute that mixed a mid-engine straight six with scintillating looks and a razor-sharp drive. Twenty years on, and BMW is considering launching a Mk2 in the shape of the Hommage concept shown earlier in summer 2008.

Make and model

Year

Price

Engine

0-60mph

Top speed

BMW M1

1978 

£26,810 

 3453cc straight six, 277bhp, 239lb ft

 5.8sec

 161mph

BMW M1 supercar

For:

 Spawned the Procar F1 support races: often better than
 the main event 

Against:

 ‘Only’ 277bhp in road trim

Verdict:

 There’s been a supercar-shaped hole in BMW’s range ever since

 

BMW’s only mid-engined supercar nearly never happened: Lamborghini was asked to develop it, then almost went bust. Built in tiny numbers (fewer than 500) but the glorious straight-six lived on in the first M5 and M6.

 

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By Tim Pollard

Group digital editorial director, car news magnet, crafter of words

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