As the automobile market is dominated by fuel-consuming monsters, BMW tried to ameliorate this picture by creating the i8, which is a hybrid sports-vehicle. The M1 is a supercar based on the i8, but with a traditional engine and different design.
The power comes from a modified M5’s engine: a 4.4-liter V8 with M Power TwinTurbo technology. Power increases to 600 horsepower (from the M5’s 560 hp), and torque will also exceed 700Nm. The gearbox is the famous BMW 7-speed dual clutch automatic transmission. There is also an electronic, lockable differential. The M1 gets BMW’s best technology regarding drivetrain, handling and braking, thus the Bavarians promise both great performance and maneuverability.
This performance is a 3.3 seconds sprint to 62 mph, and a top speed of over 207 mph. Thr speed is partially possible thanks to the vehicles’ small mass: 1350 kg.
The new BMW M1 is scheduled to be released on the market in 2015, the starting price will be around $450,000, and it announces to be quite the rival for the Audi R8 or the Mercedes SLS AMG, but even for other supercars, that don’t even belong in the same category, like the Ferrari 458 Italia or the future Lamborghini Gallardo.
If you plan on buying the M1 though, you’re going to have to order ahead, since the Germans will only produce a limited number of it.
