BMW was about to launch a successor to the iconic M1 with the Vision M Next concept, also known internally as the i16.
The hybrid sports car, planned to replace the i8, was 95% complete and featured an advanced design, very close to the final production model.
Equipped with a four-cylinder plug-in hybrid engine producing over 600 horsepower, it promised acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in 3 seconds, a top speed of 300 km/h, and a range of up to 100 km in electric mode.
Despite the progress, BMW decided to cancel the project in 2022, redirecting resources to another model, the XM. Launched as the official successor to the M1, the plug-in hybrid SUV did not perform as expected in the market, with a 30% drop in sales and rumors of a possible discontinuation in the coming years.
Nevertheless, the idea of a true successor to the M1 has not been completely discarded. According to BMW historian Steve Saxty, the development of a new M1 remains a recurring topic within the company, keeping alive the possibility that this iconic car could be reborn in the future.
Source: Motor1.com | Photo: Instagram @bmw | This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team