- The nearly finished electric hypercar boasted a futuristic design and 1,300 horsepower.
- Profitability concerns and sluggish EV sales caused BMW to halt the hypercar project.
- Previously, BMW had canceled the I16 mid-engined hybrid sports car to prioritize the XM SUV.
It’s only been a few days since we learned BMW shelved the I16, a mid-engined hybrid sports car, in favor of the controversial XM SUV. Now, it’s come to light that the German brand was also developing an all-electric hypercar for a few years that actually came this close to production.
Apparently, this electric hypercar project got far enough to spawn a clay model. According to BMW Blog, which cites inside sources, BMW established a team to develop an electric hypercar that could deliver up to 1,300 horsepower. The model advanced to crafting a prototype, described by unnamed sources as having a “sporty, daring, and unmistakably futuristic” design.
Read: BMW Scrapped A 95% Finished Supercar For The XM SUV
While no images of this electric BMW have been released, it may have been even more dramatic than the I16. BMW Blog reports that the car nearly gained production approval, but the board decided to pause the project due to profitability and feasibility concerns. Additionally, the brand wasn’t convinced the market was ready for such a vehicle, partly due to slowing EV sales growth throughout much of 2024.
Unfulfilled Dreams
It’s been 36 years since the iconic BMW M1 hit the production line, and since then, BMW has contemplated launching a spiritual successor to it numerous times. According to noted BMW historian Steve Saxty, “Every day at BMW, someone is designing a new M1.” Ultimately, the company has been unable to take the leap of faith needed to launch a new supercar and has almost certainly lost the opportunity to launch an ICE-powered supercar.
However, as long as we’re still breathing, we’ll be hoping for a hybrid or electric supercar from the brand sometime in the future. Maybe one day, BMW will pull their heads out of the spreadsheet and take the leap of faith that fans have been begging for since the 1980s. Until then, we’ll just have to settle for wondering what could’ve been—while rolling our eyes at the XM’s massive grille.
For now, BMW is pushing ahead with an all-electric M3 based on its Neue Klasse platform. This new model will feature four electric motors and may deliver over 1,000 hp, enough to push it into hypercar territory.
