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The 2015 BMW–McLaren Supercar Story: Rumour, Denial and Aftermath
In September 2015 the British magazine CAR reported that BMW was in talks with McLaren to build a mid-engined V8 supercar. Days later BMW M chief Frank van Meel denied it, saying a car above the i8 made no sense and that BMW had not spoken to McLaren. No joint car followed. The i8 ended in 2020 without a direct successor.
Key takeaways
- CAR's October 2015 issue described a BMW coupé on a McLaren carbon tub, with about 560 kW (750 bhp).
- On 23 September 2015 van Meel said there had been no communication between the two firms.
- McLaren launched its own 720S in 2017; BMW built 20,465 i8s up to June 2020.
- In October 2026 BMW still has no mid-engined supercar in its range.
What CAR claimed in September 2015
The report, published online on 21 September 2015, described a two-seat coupé, with a roadster possible later. McLaren would supply the carbon-fibre monocoque from its next Super Series, codenamed P16, and develop the chassis. BMW would provide the styling and a new 4.0-litre V8 boosted by two turbochargers and two electric compressors.
The magazine linked the plan to the M100, a BMW supercar planned for the company's 2016 centenary. Chairman Norbert Reithofer had reportedly cancelled that project.
| Claim in CAR (Sept 2015) | Detail |
|---|---|
| Layout | Mid-engined two-seater, coupé first |
| Chassis | McLaren carbon tub from the P16 programme |
| Engine | BMW 4.0 V8, two turbos plus two electric compressors |
| Power | about 560 kW (750 bhp) |
| Price | above 150,000 pounds (≈ €207,000 at 2015 rates) |
| Timing | Frankfurt 2017 reveal, production late 2018 |
BMW M's denial
On 23 September 2015 van Meel told Australia's Motoring that "it would make no sense for us to put a car above the i8". He added that there had been no communication between BMW and McLaren. The old 1cars item, written in November, called him "van Mil" and said the i8 had been on sale for six months. In fact German sales had started in June 2014, about seventeen months earlier.
The two firms did share a famous past. BMW Motorsport built the V12 of the 1990s McLaren F1, which made the idea sound plausible.
Why the BMW–McLaren supercar story mattered
In 2015 the i8 was BMW's halo car, a plug-in hybrid with 266 kW (362 PS) of combined output. By our calculation, the rumoured car would have had about 290 kW more. Audi had the R8 and Mercedes-AMG the GT, so a BMW above the i8 would have filled a gap. BMW M's message was that the i8 stayed on top, and that any new flagship would come in its own time.
The i8 and McLaren after the rumour
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 7 Mar 2017 | McLaren 720S revealed in Geneva with its own 4.0 V8 of 530 kW (720 PS) |
| May 2018 | i8 Roadster launched; combined output rises to 275 kW |
| 11 Jun 2020 | Last i8 built: 16,581 coupés and 3,884 roadsters |
| 2023 | McLaren 750S replaces the 720S |
McLaren replaced the 650S with its own 720S in 2017, built around the new Monocage II carbon tub. On the BMW side, the 8 Series and M8 are listed as the i8's successors, and both are front-engined grand tourers. The full i8 story is on our BMW i8 page, and the open version is covered in the 2018 i8 Roadster.
Status in 2026: our verdict
In October 2026 there is still no BMW-badged mid-engined supercar, and no BMW–McLaren road car has appeared. The rumour remains a footnote, and the denial proved accurate.
What to choose today: a used i8 is the closest thing to the BMW supercar that never came. It offers striking design and plug-in hybrid economy rather than outright pace. Buyers who want mid-engine performance should look at McLaren's own range in our supercars section, set the cars side by side in the comparison tool, check power figures in our rankings or browse the BMW catalogue.
FAQ
Did BMW and McLaren build a supercar together?
No. CAR reported talks in September 2015, but BMW M chief Frank van Meel denied them within days. No joint road car has been announced since.
What did the rumoured BMW supercar have under the bonnet?
CAR described a new BMW 4.0-litre V8 with two turbochargers and two electric compressors. The target output was about 560 kW (750 bhp), mounted behind the cabin.
When did BMW stop making the i8?
The last i8 was built on 11 June 2020, after six years of series production. In total 20,465 were produced: 16,581 coupés and 3,884 roadsters. BMW did not replace it with another hybrid sports car.
Have BMW and McLaren ever worked together?
Yes, in the 1990s. BMW Motorsport designed the 6.1-litre V12 that powered the McLaren F1 road car and its racing versions, including the car that won Le Mans in 1995.
