BMW Has Too Much on Its Plate to Worry About a Supercar Right Now
The latest car news, reviews, and features.
Just one month ago, a BMW executive kept the flame of hope for a new halo supercar alive, telling the world that we could trust that the company was working in the background to realize such a car—we'd just have to wait for 'the right time.' It was one of those bare-minimum corporate responses in a way, because the company makes no commitments and keeps fans relatively satisfied by simply saying that it wants the same thing they do. Unfortunately, it also left the door open for someone like M CEO Frank van Meel to come in and burst some bubbles, which is what happened last weekend at the Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este, where the new Concept Speedtop debuted.
'We don't want to lose focus on our high-performance cars because we do a super sports car,' van Meel was quoted during a panel organized by BMW Blog . 'I must be honest; we are always dreaming about it. And maybe some day we find the right window of opportunity where we have the capacity to work on a car like that. And also, the company, BMW Group, says: 'Ok, go for it.' We never give up, I can promise you that, but actually, it's not here yet.'
These comments are interesting because, on the face of it, van Meel is kind of just reiterating M's known position on the matter, which is that he'd love to introduce a true, standalone supercar one day. But the point about losing 'focus' on existing high-performance models, and finding the 'right window of opportunity,' arguably puts that dream further out of reach. The limited-production BMW Concept Skytop and Speedtop. BMW
BMW has its hands full right now, trying to reinvent its entire lineup with a new design ethos and the versatility to build new cars with every degree of electrification. And M, specifically, has the arduous task of keeping enthusiasts interested in battery-electric takes on their favorite models, like the M3. Consider the backlash Mercedes-AMG received when it started putting four-cylinders in cars that used to have V8s. The electric M3 probably won't be quite as surprising a turn—BMW has been teasing it for quite a while now, slowly peeling back the curtain shrouding the car's development—but it's still going to face adversity, regardless of whether it's accompanied by a version with an internal-combustion engine.
Factor in the same headwinds in China that every once-beloved German luxury marque is managing in that region, leading to a 37% dive in net profit over last year and, you know, everything happening with tariffs on this side of the world, and one thing appears to be clear: Now is definitely not the 'window of opportunity' van Meel has been waiting for.
These are all problems BMW will have to address before that eventual halo supercar begins to make the transition from dream to reality. And if we're talking about M's responsibilities alone, it's got to concentrate on establishing itself in the post-Neue Klasse era, with the diversity of powertrains it's likely to offer. That very well should be the priority, as much as I'd love to see a modern take on the M1.
So, the next big standalone M car sounds like it's a ways off. If it's any consolation to the purists out there, I'd at least expect that it won't be anything like the XM. That proved an expensive mistake you just can't see a company as big and old as BMW making more than once.
Got tips? Send 'em to tips@thedrive.com
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
17 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Germany to hire 11,000 more military personnel this year, Bild reports
FRANKFURT (Reuters) -The German government will provide funds for an extra 11,000 military personnel by the end of the year, an increase of around 4%, tabloid Bild reported on Saturday, citing government sources. The money will be provided for 10,000 soldiers and 1,000 civilian employees for the military by end-2025, the newspaper said, adding the move was part of this year's budget planning to be approved by the cabinet next week. The new jobs will cover armed, air, naval and cyber forces, the report said. Germany's Defence Ministry declined to comment. Germany needs up to 60,000 additional troops under new NATO targets for weapons and personnel, Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said earlier this month, as the alliance beefs up its forces to respond to what it sees as an increased threat from Russia.
Yahoo
24 minutes ago
- Yahoo
UBS Says Future Estimates for Freshpet, Inc. (FRPT) Are Too High
Freshpet, Inc. (NASDAQ:FRPT) remains one of the 7 best future food stocks to buy according to analysts, reflecting its strong growth potential in the premium pet food market. Amy Rene/ Citing concerns about overly optimistic growth expectations, UBS gave a 'Sell' rating to Freshpet stock with a $65 price target on June 16, 2025. The analyst called out the company's top and bottom-line estimates as too high, which are in the mid-to-high teens growth range, as implied by its pricing. The analyst believes this will lead to valuation contraction. Based on the company's guidance for 2025, it projects 15%-18% revenue growth, which would result in $190-$210 million in adjusted EBITDA. Meanwhile, Freshpet, Inc. (NASDAQ:FRPT) surpassed analyst estimates in Q1 2025, where it reported an 18% YoY increase in sales and 45.7% growth in its adjusted gross margin. Thus, Freshpet, Inc.'s (NASDAQ:FRPT) short-term performance is one to keep an eye on. The company is a manufacturer and distributor of fresh food and treats for dogs and cats in the U.S., Canada, and Europe. It is one of the best future food stocks. While we acknowledge the potential of FRPT as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock. READ NEXT: 10 Best Marketing Stocks to Buy Right Now and . Disclosure: None. 登入存取你的投資組合
Yahoo
41 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Back like he never left: Denny Hamlin wins pole at Pocono
24 Hours in 24 Minutes: Ferrari Conquers Le Mans 2024 Relive the Prancing Horse's heroic triumph at the 2024 24 Hours of Le Mans, hour by hour, through action on the track and high-adrenaline moments. This chapter-by-chapter retelling combines the events with audio from the FIA WEC's flagship race, along with driver interviews recorded in the months that followed featuring the winning trio: Antonio Fuoco, Miguel Molina, and Nicklas Nielsen. The '24 Hours in 24 Minutes' video captures a legendary chapter in motorsport history – one that saw Ferrari claim victory at Le Mans for the second consecutive year with the 499P. The race also featured a third-place finish for Alessandro Pier Guidi, James Calado and Antonio Giovinazzi, the crew who had triumphed in the Centenary edition. 23:46 Now Playing Paused Ad Playing
