BMW resurrected the spirit of its M1 with the recent unveiling of the M1 Hommage concept, and it looks as though the Bavarian supercar is once again headed to production, a new report finds. A time frame for the reborn M1 has yet to be announced, but a few other details have been revealed.

In an interview with Car magazine, BMW board member Herbert Diess revealed that the M1 Hommage concept will indeed make production. "We have the know-how, we have the right engine, we even have the infrastructure to build such a car," he said.

Despite Diess spilling the beans to Car, the British magazine is saving the goods for its July 2008 issue. However, Car's online site did reveal a little bit about the upcoming model.

Although the M1 Hommage concept has a strong connection to the M1 BMW produced between 1978 and 1981, the road-going version of the concept will not wear the M1 nameplate. A mid-engine setup will be part of the equation but, unlike the original, three engine choices will be available — presumably of the six, eight and ten-cylinder variety.

The production car will also sport ‘heron-wing’ doors and a driver-focused interior.

The July issue should hit newsstands in the U.S. later this week.

Report: BMW cancels M1 production plans

The BMW M1 Hommage Concept was one of the most exciting concepts to come out of the German automaker in recent years and, rightfully so, many were enthusiastic about the prospect of an Audi R8 rival from BMW. Following the M1’s unveiling, it was reported that the mid-engine supercar had been green lighted for production, but a new report indicates BMW has reconsidered that plan.

Klaus Draeger, the BMW board member heading the company’s EfficientDynamics program, revealed to AutoTelegraaf that BMW is not moving ahead with its M1 production plans.
Instead, BMW will but a greater focus on the development of green technology. “That is our biggest investment in the coming years,” Draeger said. BMW is slated to launch clean diesels and hybrids in the U.S. in the coming months.
Although car enthusiasts will be disappointed to learn that BMW is not going forward with its R8-rival, the move is probably a smart one by BMW – especially in the wake of $4 gas. The M1 was slated to hit the market in 2012, just one year after more stringent CAFE regulations will take effect. Add in the growing green movement, and BMW might have made a very Honda-esque production decision.

When we think of cars costing nearly, or above, a million dollars, we think of cars like the Bugatti Veyron or the McLaren P1. These cars have horsepower figures of around 1,000 and can do 0-60mph in under three seconds. These are the kinds of cars that can do well over 200mph without sweating.

It’s ludicrous performance territory, but then again, it should be for over $1,000,000. But what about for a car with a 3.5 liter I6 engine, a 5-speed manual gearbox, 277hp and takes a leisurely 5.5 seconds to hit 60 mph from a standstill?

Well, if that’s the kind of car you want to spend $1,000,000 of your hard earned cheddar on, then this 1981 BMW M1 is for you.

Admittedly I undersold this particular M1 a bit back there. The M1 normally goes for insane amounts of money, but I’ve never seen one go for seven-figures. This M1 is no normal M1, however. It’s probably the most special M1 we may ever actually see. It resides in Münster, Germany, it only has 17.500 km on it from new, and is only one of three to ever be painted in its Polaris Silver paint job. That’s right, one of three ever made. The first was a prototype car, the second was this M1, VIN 4301424, and the third was made special for Bernie Ecclestone. Being that one was a prototype and never sold and the other was made special for Bernie, that makes this the rarest paint color for an M1, ever.

The Polaris Silver color is not only extremely rare, but it’s absolutely gorgeous. Silver cars aren’t usually my thing, but this M1 looks the absolute business in it, with the black rear window slats and black side mirrors. The Black leather interior looks as if it was never touched, partly because it basically wasn’t. The pictures of all the mechanicals show zero evidence of wear and tear, with not a drop of oil on a single part. The phrase is a bit cliche, but it looks as if it’s just been driven off the showroom floor. The listing even has matching numbers for the engine and gearbox.

This M1 is absolutely gorgeous and at $965,000 is the most expensive BMW I’ve ever seen. It’s probably worth the money to a big time car collector, but it’s still hard to fathom that kind of dough being shelled out for a BMW from 1981. Having said that, if I was the next internet billionaire, I’d be on a plane to Münster as we speak to get ready to drop a million bucks on the most incredible BMW I’ve ever seen and a ton of Münster cheese.