BMW M1
BMW M1 at the BMW Museum
The BMW M1 (internal designation E26 ) was a super sports car from BMW, which was produced by the fall of 1978 until the end of 1981.
History
1972 BMW presented a prototype called BMW Turbo ( E25). This vehicle equipped with hinged doors and four-cylinder mid-engine, was never intended for production, but served as a design study and technology support. In 1973 another copy. The 250- km / h Turbo was the answer to the cumbersome prototypes on safety cars with chunky attachments.
The basic concept of turbos managed for the driver a thick safety cushion: Low center of gravity, wide contact patch and a special chassis. Then there were driver assistance systems such as ABS, radar distance warning and a lateral accelerometer. Additionally, there was a passive safety package with safety belts which close the circuit for the ignition switch, or the safety steering column with three universal joints. The continued into the roof doorposts formed an invisible roll cage and were supplemented by Sicherheitsknautschzonen with hydraulic dampers in front and rear. Even with the color scheme, the security was at the forefront: An eye-popping red with bright orange front and rear sections.
The futuristic styling study of BMW chief designer Paul Bracq set the tone for 1976 following development of the BMW M1. This was according to the specifications of BMW, Lamborghini in Sant'Agata Bolognese, Italy. There, the vehicle should be originally manufactured, but there were problems later in Lamborghini, so that the vehicle was manufactured by Baur in Stuttgart. For the design of the body Giorgio Giugiaro was responsible, the BMW M1 compared to the prototype BMW Turbo objective designed and renounced the doors.
The BMW M1 was presented in 1978 and classified as a car of superlatives. Autotester Gerold Lingnau certified car " sophisticated technology and superior driving characteristics ". In three years, a total of 460 copies were made . For the development and production BMW founded specifically the BMW Motorsport GmbH, the M in the model name thus stands for motorsport.
Body and Technology
The body of the BMW M1 is built on a tube frame. There are many parts of the former car program from BMW use. An outwardly striking feature are the rear lamps used from the former BMW 6 Series. For BMW unusual was the use of pop-up headlights that were necessary because of the then U.S. rules for lamp size with the aerodynamically flat front.
BMW M1 (Street Version)
Engine compartment of the BMW M1
One of the last produced BMW M1 1981
Motors
Study BMW turbo:
- Manufactured in-line engine with four cylinders, two valves per cylinder, 2.0 liter displacement, mechanical ball Fischer- injection system with a central throttle valve and turbo charging, depending on the charge pressure 200 to 280 hp, engine designation BMW M10, base engine for the 1973 to series BMW 2002 turbo ( there 170 hp).
BMW M1 Series Version:
- Line engine with six cylinders, four valves per cylinder, 3.5 liter displacement, mechanical Kugelfischer injection with individual throttle butterflies, 204 kW/277 hp at 6600/min, 330 Nm at 5000 rpm ( street version ), engine code M88, base engine for the with an electronic fuel injection equipped and 1983 presented M 635 CSi and later the BMW M5 ( E28 ).
BMW M1 racing version:
- Line engines with six cylinders, four valves per cylinder, mechanical Kugelfischer injection and output of 345 kW/470 hp naturally aspirated engine with a flat scraper system to 626 kW/850 hp turbocharged.
BMW M1 engine for display purposes, some of Plexiglas
Performance
The road version of the BMW M1 accelerated in about 5.6 seconds from 0 to 100 km / h and reaches a top speed of 262 km / h The Group 4 vehicle accelerates in 4.5 seconds to 100 km / h and reaches a top speed of 310 km / h Until the start of sales of the Porsche 959 in 1986, the BMW M1 was the fastest production sports car from a German manufacturer. Readings from the magazine auto motor und sport:
- 0-100 km / h 6.0 s
- 0-120 km / h 8.3 s
- 0-140 km / h 10.5 s
- 0-160 km / h 13.1 s
- 0-180 km / h 17.5 s
- 0-200 km / h 21.8 s
- 1 km, standing start: 25.4 s
- Maximum speed: 265 km / h
Motorsport
Originally, the BMW M1 was planned for use in motorsport, only a Homologationsserie should be built in small numbers for use on public roads. Due to changes in international regulations prior to the presentation of the BMW M1, however, he proved to be a race car practically superfluous. He was moderately successful, although still used as a racing car in various series, the majority of vehicles produced but was sold, contrary to the original plan as a road-going version to private individuals.
Only in the Procar Series, a support program for Formula 1 in the years 1979 and 1980, the BMW M1 gained more attention in the field of racing. In the Procar Series, the five fastest Formula 1 driver from the training runs came with factory vehicles of the BMW M1 against selected private driver of that vehicle type.
M1 Hommage
To mark the 30th anniversary of the BMW M1, BMW presented in April 2008, the study M1 Hommage. According to official voices from the BMW Group, there should be a one-off design study, which will not go into production. The vehicle was shown at the Dubai International Motor Show and at the Melbourne International Motor Show 2009.
Front view BMW M1 " homage " to the Melbourne International Motor Show 2009
Rear view BMW M1 " homage " to the Melbourne International Motor Show 2009