Report: BMW mid-engined supercar on the verge of approval, to cost around €250,000

Rumors of a successor to the beloved BMW M1 supercar have been surfacing here and there throughout the news sphere, though none of them have actually led to a modern and bonafide mid-engined supercar. And for a while, BMW had been putting any prospects towards one aside for their sustainable i3 and i8 sustainable motoring projects.

Now though, CARandDRIVER confidently reports that BMW is on the verge of giving it the green light as the rumored supercar would be tribute to BMW’s first centennial in existence in 2016.

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What to expect? An upgraded “TU” version of the M5’s S63 twin-turbocharged 4.4L V8 mated to an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic. Around 600 to 650hp is expected with a curb weight target hovering around 2,760lbs.

The low weight would come thanks to the use of carbon fiber, aluminum, magnesium, and possibly titanium. And the platform—as you’ve guessed—will be based off of the incoming i8.

The project is on the teeter-totter because BMW’s head honcho, Norbert Reithofer, is not supportive of this idea because it doesn’t match the Roundel’s newly-founded focus on green motoring and smart connectivity. And yet, hacking away at Reithofer’s inhibitions is BMW Motorsport’s boss, Friedrich Nitschke, who is all about the supercar. But the unfortunate part is that Reithofer can pull the plug anytime he wants to.

All in favor of voting Reithofer out and Nitschke in as the new head of BMW? I’d probably cast my vote for that.

– By: Chris Chin

Source: CARandDRIVER