BMW axed 95% ready M1 to focus on XM

The all-new BMW M1-inspired supercar competed with the XM for resources

According to reports, BMW was close to introducing an all-new i8-based M1-inspired supercar two years back.

The supercar, which was called the i16 was an electric coupe and was in its advanced stages of development before being axed entirely. The company initially cited COVID-19 as the reason for not bringing it into production. However, a recent interview reveals that the all-new BMW M1-inspired supercar competed with the XM for resources, with BMW's M division deciding to go ahead with the SUV eventually.

Author Steve Saxty explained in an interview that the BMW i16 was 95% ready for production, before being axed. He stated, "All of the surfaces are mature, as opposed to cartoon-like, and [BMW had] done much more than that beneath the surface; they’ve done body engineering as well." He further added, "The idea of this car would have been to take the basics of [the] i8 … and putting a four-cylinder, not a three-cylinder."

Saxty further explained BMW's reasoning for going ahead with the SUV, rather than the coupe, stating, "They just had to make a decision of, ‘do we go with that or XM?' Wherever your head is on XM, there’s value in the market in high-end expensive SUVs. What price point does BMW as a sports car brand go with a four-cylinder car?"

When asked if there will ever be an M1?, Saxty replied, "Every day at BMW, someone is designing a new M1."

Source: TheDrive