My job gives me the unique opportunity to spend time with BMW executives – from both BMW AG and BMW M. This is a privilege not only because I get to talk to some of the smartest and most creative people I have ever met, but also because I can address them from two perspectives: as a journalist and as a customer.
And as you can probably guess, sometimes the customer side of me takes over.
It’s no secret that I’m a BMW enthusiast – hence this website you’re reading right now. Although I’ve worked hard to give BMWBLOG an objective, balanced voice when reviewing and analyzing cars, occasionally the subjective side of me breaks through. Especially when it comes to dream projects.
At this year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans, I found myself in a casual conversation with several BMW executives over some excellent French food and a few beers (I know, that doesn’t really go together). This wasn’t an interview – just car people talking about cars. And while I’m usually the one asking the questions, this time the tables have turned.
“What would your ideal BMW M car be if there were no restrictions?”
This question surprised me. I hesitated – partly because I hadn’t thought about it in a while, and partly because I had stopped thinking about dream projects. I know how internal business cases work, what is financially feasible and how rarely passion projects make it through the approval process. However, if you have a unique opportunity to dream out loud, take advantage of it.
The dream: An M2 CSL
After a long pause, which was met with a few curious looks at the table, I went all-in.
“Well,” I said, “if you ask… there’s a car I’ve been dreaming about because I love small, powerful compact cars. Hence my 1M. My dream today would be an M2 CSL.”
But not just any M2 CSL.
First, I want both transmissions – a six-speed manual for purists and an eight-speed automatic for those who prefer the stopwatch to the stick shift. Under the hood, give me a beefed-up version of the S58 engine, ideally paired with a 48-volt mild-hybrid system to reduce turbo lag and improve throttle response.
Then there is xDrive. I love rear-wheel drive as much as the next person, but the M4 CSL’s RWD setup doesn’t fully utilize the car’s potential. Grip and balance are important – but so is weight. Adding xDrive means about 200 extra pounds, and the M2 is already heavy. So I said, “Okay – let’s lose weight wherever we can.”
Give me a carbon fiber hood and trunk, lighter wheels, composite panels, a back seat with a roll cage – whatever it takes. Reduce the curb weight to about 3,100 pounds, which is about the same as the Porsche Cayman GT4 RS, and you’d have a real weapon.
Light, powerful, personal
As greedy as I am, I didn’t stop there. This was my only chance to dream with the people who could actually make it happen.
Inside, I want lightweight bucket seats, the choice of Alcantara or leather, custom stitching, colored seat belts – the details that make a car feel special. And let customers choose any exterior color from BMW Individual, with no restrictions, just like Porsche’s Paint-to-Sample program.
One of the executives looked at me half amused and half amazed and said, “Should we just do a BMWBLOG paint color too?”
I replied, “Of course. There is no other way.”
Perfomance? 550 to 560 horsepower feels perfect – enough for a sub-three-second 0-60 mph time without making it a production car. Add optional carbon ceramic brakes, a subtle aero kit, perhaps an exposed carbon fiber hood and a racing wing. Basically, build the M car that engineers would design if accounting didn’t get in the way.
The suspension dream
Just when they thought I was done, someone smiled and asked, “Is there anything else you would like for your M2 CSL from BMWBLOG?”
I laughed – but I wasn’t done yet.
“I would also like a completely redesigned chassis,” I said. “Proper spring rates, tuned rebound and damping, adjustable ride height with a focus on precision over comfort. Shocks designed specifically for the springs. Add front control arms with roll center correction, camber plates, upgraded bushings and a rear alignment correction kit.”
At this point the laughter was contagious. One of them looked at me like I was secretly starting my own sports car company.
“How much would you pay for it?”
Then came the dangerous question.
“Okay,” said one, “how much would you pay for it – and how many should we build?”
That gave me pause again. I’m financially conservative and don’t have an infinite amount of money, but I tried to think like a collector. “A GT4 RS prize,” I said. “Around $200,000 sounds fair for something really special.”
Production numbers? That’s more difficult. I love limited editions – whether it’s sneakers, watches or cars – but if you make too many of them, it loses its soul. Make too little and no one can actually buy one.
So I said, “Let’s compromise. Build 3,000 to 5,000 units. This is rare enough to be collectible, but not so exclusive that it becomes a ghost. Make it as special as the 1M. Imagine seeing one in 40 years at a BMW Concours d’Elegance.”
At this point everyone was smiling – not because the idea was absurd, but because I had casually added something to the BMW M product roadmap between bites of steak and fries.
Dreaming out loud
Whether my dream car ever becomes a reality is up to BMW M. But for a few hours in France I was able to play designer, engineer and dreamer at the same time. Even though they laughed at how far I pushed it, I think everyone at that table understood where it came from – that pure passion for driving that created BMW M in the first place.
So whether it was ever built or not, I was flattered that they let me dream out loud for an evening. And maybe deep down some of them dream about it too.
