BMW Vision M Next: hybrid concept may preview a new M1 supercar

BMW has taken the covers off a new plug-in hybrid supercar concept that could serve as a successor to the iconic M1 supercar.

The concept, dubbed the Vision M Next, is a mid-engined sports model that bears a striking resemblance to the old M1, a six-cylinder supercar built between 1978 and 1981, Autocar reports.

While the motoring magazine claims the Vision M Next will form the basis of a new M1, others believe the concept will instead act as a preview to the next-generation i8 hybrid sports car.

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We’ll find out more about the Vision M Next when the concept makes its public debut at this year’s Frankfurt Motor Show, which runs from 12 to 22 September.

For now, here’s what we know about the M1’s potential successor:

Design

The Vision M Next has several elements of BMW’s iconic sports cars, including the M1 Procar racer from the 1980s and the sleek i8 hybrid from 2014, says Car magazine.

Walk around the concept and you’ll see “strong hints of i8”, the magazine states, “particularly in those wide front grilles, huge bonnet vent and squat wedge-like stance.”

The iconic kidney-style grille, meanwhile, is canted forward in a similar fashion to the old M1. The vented engine cover also serves as a nod to the retro supercar, as do the black vents located just above the rear wheels.

But the Vision M Next isn’t just a homage to BMW’s performance cars. The ultra-thin head and tail lights, as well as the large carbon fibre diffuser at the rear, are new design cues that don’t appear on any other model in the company’s range

Engine and performance

Most of BMW’s recent concept cars have focused purely on all-electric powertrains, but the Vision M Next is an exception.

The concept is powered by a mid-mounted supercharged four-cylinder petrol engine, which is capable of launching the car from 0-62mph in just three seconds, says Auto Express.

BMW hasn’t completely abandoned electric power with its new concept. Coupled to the motor is a battery and electric motor system that delivers a combined power output of 592bhp, says the motoring magazine. The plug-in hybrid system can also power the car for 62 miles on electric energy alone.

Will it make production?

There’s no word on whether the Vision M Next will materialise into a production model, but BMW’s concept cars traditionally make their way into showrooms at some point.

The futuristic Vision EfficientDynamics concept, which first appeared at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 2009, became the radical i8 hybrid sports car in 2014. To the surprise of many, BMW barely changed the concept’s design for the production model.

Meanwhile, the German carmaker’s BMW i Vision Dynamics, which was revealed during the 2017 Frankfurt Auto Show, will form the basis of the company’s upcoming i4 electric saloon.

If the Vision M Next does get the green light for production, with either the M1 or i8 name, it could arrive in 2022 alongside the next-generation i3 electric hatchback, says Car magazine.

How much will it cost?

It’s far too early to estimate prices for the next-generation supercar.

But the car’s mid-engine layout and near-600bhp power output suggests that BMW may be targeting the entry-level supercar tier, a space occupied by the £130,000 Audi R8 and £150,000 McLaren 570S, for its new M1.