BMW Will Not Build Audi R8 Rival
BMW has wavered back and forth since debuting its M1 Hommage Concept on whether or not a successor to the original M1 would ever come to fruition. And even after BMW announced that the M1 revival project had been tossed out the window, rumors continued to fly that BMW’s M-division would still build a supercar to rival Audi‘s R8, Mercedes-Benz‘s SLS and Lexus‘s LFA.
Now those rumors can officially come to rest after an interview by egmCarTech with Matt Russell, product manager for the North America’s M-division. “We’ve discussed these possibilities”, said Russell, “but ultimately, we didn’t feel the need to make a very exclusive high-end supercar and we still don’t. I already firmly believe that we produce supercars, except that they’re two in one: an executive car with supercar performance. They are the essence of BMW M-Cars.”
Russell even went further, stating that BMW’s current-generation M3 is “spot on with the Audi R8 V8 in terms of performance numbers like lateral G’s, braking and acceleration.”
We guess that’s true, but BMW still lacks a super car that can’t be seen everyday on the street. Truth be told, owning an M3 doesn’t exactly make you as unique as owning an R8. Nonetheless, BMW will focus on producing its electric i8 sports car, set to make its debut in 2014.
[Source: Left Lane News]
Jason Siu began his career in automotive journalism in 2003 with Modified Magazine, a property previously held by VerticalScope. As the West Coast Editor, he played a pivotal role while also extending his expertise to Modified Luxury & Exotics and Modified Mustangs. Beyond his editorial work, Jason authored two notable Cartech books. His tenure at AutoGuide.com saw him immersed in the daily news cycle, yet his passion for hands-on evaluation led him to focus on testing and product reviews, offering well-rounded recommendations to AutoGuide readers. Currently, as the Content Director for VerticalScope, Jason spearheads the content strategy for an array of online publications, a role that has him at the helm of ensuring quality and consistency across the board.
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