No M1 at Geneva Motor Show - UPDATED

[bluecat]

Unfortunately it appears that the M1 concept will likely not be making its debut here, as previously widely rumored. There have been multiple sources confirming this, as well as two BMW employees we spoke to here this morning.

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=356779

bummer. Still holding out hope that this is incorrect. I'm gonna feel a little cheated if SCOTT has been getting us all worked up for nothing.

[Alumac]

I called several area dealerships and spoke to 4 BMW employees about this and they said they don't know anything about a M1. It must be true!!!!

[BForbes]

Originally Posted by Alumac

I called several area dealerships and spoke to 4 BMW employees about this and they said they don't know anything about a M1. It must be true!!!!

I needed a pick-me up this morning!

[southlight]

Unfortunately it's true that BMW have postponed the debut of the M1 Concept.

I'm able to share some information SCOTT thankfully provided:

It turns out that the BMW board members drove an M1 prototype earlier this week and asked for siginificant changes due to some problems affecting the car as well as changes to the car including more weight reduction and a new Brake Energy Recovery System.

If I understand this correctly, these changes will affect some of the power output of the car (read: it will get more power) which also confirms that an power boost for the M3 will be imminent in 2012.

Another significant factor that played a role to this decision was the current economic climate, which made BMW feel that it should put the focus on products coming to the market soon. There are several production models arriving at Geneva for market introduction, hence it is important for BMW to focus on products which are about to go on sale.

But, there's always an upside to such decisions and in this case, it's that BMW has extra time and an extra budget to do some extra work on the M1 concept before its initial introduction.

When's the M1 concept being shown then, you ask? Well, the most safe bet would be on an appearance at the Paris Motor Show in Autumn with some, but little chances to have an eariler debut at the Beijing Motor Show. An appearance in Beijing would make sense as China has become a growing and important market for M products.

Finally, the production version of the M1 will arrive early in 2011.


It's surely a downer to many of us that the M1 won't make it to the Geneva Motor Show. But, the reasoning sounds valid to me. Some extra time for an even better car is nothing we should complain about. I'm sure Scott will fill us in with more details and I do hope for some more teasers also. It's also my understanding that this decision has little to no effect on the schedule for the production version M1. It was never supposed to come out earlier than Spring 2011.


Best regards,
south

[HondaGoneRogue]

They must be getting their carbon parts from a company I know lol.

[HondaGoneRogue]

So if it is confirmed for Spring 2011, when will we be able to place an order?

[ChrisK]

dang!

[Catahecassa]

and 1 year later we will read news about a new 1-series ... boring.

[HondaGoneRogue]

Good point.

[marvinp]

Awww, man

[ChrisK]

Maybe Scott can give us a few pictures to chew on.

[marvinp]

Originally Posted by ChrisK

Maybe Scott can give us a few pictures to chew on.

Yes! I need my fix for the week

[BrokenVert]

Originally Posted by HondaGoneRogue

They must be getting their carbon parts from a company I know lol.

You really cant be talking about the one of whom we do not speak. It is forbidden to speak his name

[Mark M]

Sounds like a huge downer to me. If the next speculation is Autumn for an unveiling....with Spring 2011 production, does anyone else think that timing sounds too tight?

Isn't calendar 2011, (model year 2012), the final run for the e82 chassis? Meaning the e82 M1 would only have a 9 to 12 month sales window before the next 1 series hits the showrooms?

I hope I am wrong...but this is beginning to shake my confidence as to if we will see a production e82 M1.

However, it is making me think about opening up the wallet to mod my 135. Previously I was on-hold with modding, keeping those pennies for a potential M1.

[BrokenVert]

Originally Posted by Mark M

Sounds like a huge downer to me. If the next speculation is Autumn for an unveiling....with Spring 2011 production, does anyone else think that timing sounds too tight?

Isn't calendar 2011, (model year 2012), the final run for the e82 chassis? Meaning the e82 M1 would only have a 9 to 12 month sales window before the next 1 series hits the showrooms?

I hope I am wrong...but this is beginning to shake my confidence as to if we will see a production e82 M1.

However, it is making me think about opening up the wallet to mod my 135. Previously I was on-hold with modding, keeping those pennies for a potential M1.

The E82 chassis will more than likely not be retired till 2013. As the replacement 1er coupe and cab wont be released until then.

That gives the M1 a possible production run of 2 to 3 years. So very similar to the run of the E30 M3.

[N54 powered]

This is the best possible delay you can have. They want to make the car lighter and more powerful? That is GREAT news...

[amdmaxx]

In 1 year there gonna be so much more competition..
Let's wait and see.
Hopefully the delay means we getting supercar for M1 money.

[Red Bread]

Originally Posted by N54 powered

This is the best possible delay you can have. They want to make the car lighter and more powerful? That is GREAT news...

Yeah, I fail to see any downside to this. Even if they move back the delivery date, I can't see how less weight and more power with presumably better driving dynamics would be a bad thing. I can say that at 350ish hp and 3,300 pounds, I had little interest in the M1, but this change certainly keeps me interested.

[Robert]

Originally Posted by Primo135

Scott said something to the effect of it being a surprise or that BMW doesn't always "show all their cards" when they list the entrants for a show.

That sounds alike lot bunch of marketing speak. (See below from southlight's comment.)

Originally Posted by southlight

Unfortunately it's true that BMW have postponed the debut of the M1 Concept.

I'm able to share some information SCOTT thankfully provided:

It turns out that the BMW board members drove an M1 prototype earlier this week and asked for siginificant changes due to some problems affecting the car as well as changes to the car including more weight reduction and a new Brake Energy Recovery System.

Another significant factor that played a role to this decision was the current economic climate, which made BMW feel that it should put the focus on products coming to the market soon. There are several production models arriving at Geneva for market introduction, hence it is important for BMW to focus on products which are about to go on sale.

Best regards,
south

I think they should can the M1 on E82 platform and start fresh with the new 1 series chassis. Introducing E82 to NA for practical reasons extended platform's lifetime, (since 2004) and I don't think they will build a new M for one or two build year, meaning it may be 2012 or 2013 until the next update.

[Levi]

If they reveal it in Paris, I hope it won't be the M1 Concept, but the M1 (Production). I wish the concept in Paris to be the Z2 Concept.

[dmboone25]

Wow....what a bummer--it is good to hear that the car is going to be lighter and more powerful, but you could still draw up a TON of buzz by showing how the car is going to look!

Remember, this car was rumored to be a "go" a long time ago....just wonder if this means that there STILL isn't a green light for the project....

I agree with the previous post that speculated that the timeline for this car will now be really tight....like can't be pulled off tight.....

[Advevo]

Originally Posted by southlight

Unfortunately it's true that BMW have postponed the debut of the M1 Concept.

I'm able to share some information SCOTT thankfully provided:

It turns out that the BMW board members drove an M1 prototype earlier this week and asked for siginificant changes due to some problems affecting the car as well as changes to the car including more weight reduction and a new Brake Energy Recovery System.

If I understand this correctly, these changes will affect some of the power output of the car (read: it will get more power) which also confirms that an power boost for the M3 will be imminent in 2012.

Another significant factor that played a role to this decision was the current economic climate, which made BMW feel that it should put the focus on products coming to the market soon. There are several production models arriving at Geneva for market introduction, hence it is important for BMW to focus on products which are about to go on sale.

But, there's always an upside to such decisions and in this case, it's that BMW has extra time and an extra budget to do some extra work on the M1 concept before its initial introduction.

When's the M1 concept being shown then, you ask? Well, the most safe bet would be on an appearance at the Paris Motor Show in Autumn with some, but little chances to have an eariler debut at the Beijing Motor Show. An appearance in Beijing would make sense as China has become a growing and important market for M products.

Finally, the production version of the M1 will arrive early in 2011.


It's surely a downer to many of us that the M1 won't make it to the Geneva Motor Show. But, the reasoning sounds valid to me. Some extra time for an even better car is nothing we should complain about. I'm sure Scott will fill us in with more details and I do hope for some more teasers also. It's also my understanding that this decision has little to no effect on the schedule for the production version M1. It was never supposed to come out earlier than Spring 2011.

Haha great story. The M1 story s getting better day by day.