BMW M Execs Unanimously Want to Revive the M1, Say It’s Top Priority with Unlimited Budget

When asked, "If unconstrained by budget or existing product plans, which model would you most like to create?" Frank van Meel, CEO of BMW M, and Oliver Heilmer, Head of Design, both clearly stated their desire to revive the M1 and develop a new car embodying the spirit of the original M1. Van Meel said he has always been fond of the first-generation M1 and emphasized that the team has never abandoned its dream of creating a high-performance model positioned above current M cars—it simply hasn’t yet secured sufficient resources or approval from the parent company. Previously, BMW M came close to launching an M1 successor. Around 2020, the M Vision Next concept was originally slated for production, but the project was canceled due to the pandemic and high development costs. At the same time, BMW also planned an all-electric supercar with over 1,200 horsepower and a price tag potentially exceeding $100,000, which was later shelved due to limited market demand for current electric high-performance models. In the end, BMW opted to move forward with the XM project instead of reviving the M1, primarily because sales forecasts indicated greater market potential for the XM.