BMW deserted M1 supercar growth for the XM SUV

BMW had been engaged on a brand new supercar based mostly on the i8. Codename i16, the brand new mannequin was impressed by the enduring BMW M1 from the late Nineteen Seventies. Nevertheless, the venture was cancelled in favour of the XM SUV.

Based on experiences, the BMW i16 was in its superior phases of growth and was virtually 95% prepared when BMW determined to tug the plug. One of many causes for cancelling the M1 supercar was the Covid-19 pandemic. It’s also stated that BMW prioritized the XM over the i16, as each fashions had been competing for assets on the model’s efficiency division.

In a current interview, creator Steve Saxty revealed that the concept behind the i16 was to take the fundamentals of the i8 and put a 560 hp 4-cylinder plug-in hybrid as a substitute of a 3-cylinder.

The BMW i16 was initially focused to go on sale in 2022. Nevertheless, it appears the mannequin has been dropped for good and is now not in BMW’s product pipeline.

Supply: The Drive