There were three vehicles made in total, including the M12. The vehicle was meant to serve as the BMW M1’s official replacement, but after the M1’s failure, BMW hesitated to produce another mid-engined sports car and shelved the project. BMW gave ItalDesign permission to use only their brand and grille on the three concept cars that were produced.
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HEROES GONE FORGETTEN: THE BMW NAZCA M12 (1991).
A BMW super-sports car stole the show in dramatic fashion in March 1991 by shining out from the Geneva Motor Show’s sparkle and elegance. Fabrizio Giugiaro, the son of renowned designer and inventor of Italdesign Giorgetto Giugiaro, produced his first design with the Nazca M12. When he conjured up the breathtaking form of this amazing prototype, Fabrizio was a just 26 years old.
The “M12” moniker on the car provided a hint as to its mode of propulsion. The 300 horsepower five-liter 12-cylinder engine from BMW’s 750i and 850i production cars was hidden beneath the Nazca’s rakish carbon-fibre glitz. The company’s storied V12 was positioned in the middle of the vehicle in a longitudinal configuration and had the power to launch this light bullet car—it weighed just 1.1 tonnes—over the world’s highways and racetracks at incredible speeds.
The BMW Nazca M12 was highly expressive even while not rotating a wheel. The 4.37-meter-long, 1.99-meter-wide speed merchant was made slick-fast by the smooth-surfaced bodywork that was modeled by Formula 1 and Group C machines. With a Cd of 0.26 and a height of just 1.10 m, it was revolutionary at the time. The gullwing side windows that sprang from traditionally hinged doors were just one of many astounding features. Additionally, a glass top structure provided the supercar’s driver and passenger with an unobstructed, panoramic view of the outside world.
Both the Geneva galleries and the worldwide press were in awe of the BMW prototype. Many believed that the BMW Nazca M12 was a worthy M1 replacement. Two other prototypes, the BMW Nazca C2 (Tokyo 1992) and its open-top twin, the C2 Spider, increased speculation even further (1993). However, the BMW Nazca M12 was never put into mass production.
This was regrettable, of course, but it wasn’t a guaranteed trip to obscurity. Because BMW Group Classic has compiled a treasure trove teeming with FORGOTTEN HEROES, and we take great pleasure in sharing the intriguing tales behind these iconic turning points in BMW history.
BMW Italdesign Nazca C2 and M12 history (Gallery)
The Italdesign M12, the company’s first prototype, was created in an effort to break into the Supercar market. A variation of the S70 V12 engine used in the BMW 750i and 850i at the time is installed in the M12. The M12 was designed by the founder of Italdesign, but Giorgetto Giugiaro wanted to make design changes before the vehicle could go into production. Giugiaro totally transformed the M12 style into the Italdesign C2 appearance. The Italdesign C2 included an Alpina tuned version of the S70 V12 seen in the M12 in addition to the revised appearance. This engine is the same one that was used at the time in the Alpina B12 tuned 7 Series.
Only 3 of the Nazca C2 vehicles were ever constructed, and they are still being operated by their owners today. I’m delighted to say that it will go into production between 2014 and 2015 and that its general shape can already be seen in contemporary BMWs like the BMW i8.
The Need for Speed video games’ iconic BMW was once a Bugatti.
Specifications: The M12 used a 5-liter, 300-horsepower V12 from the BMW 850i; the C2 Coupe used the same engine, modified by Alpina to produce 350 hp; and the C2 Spider used a bigger, 5.6-liter, 380-hp V12 from the 850 CSi.
Why We Recall It Today:
The Nazca was one of the greatest cars accessible when I was a youngster playing Need for Speed games.
The Concept We Forgot episode this week is a triple feature as it concentrates on the Nazca trio that began with the M12’s introduction in 1991. This is a fantastic illustration of how BMW and Italdesign work together, and you can be sure that wonderful things will happen when they do. The V12-powered vehicle’s beginnings may be traced to 1990, when the renowned Italian design firm unveiled the rather enigmatic Bugatti ID 90.
Following that, Giorgetto Giugiaro and his son Fabrizio made the decision to convert the Bugatti into a BMW. As a result, the Nazca M12 was created, which was actually the first vehicle Fabrizio signed. The creative team created a low-slung, curvy carbon fiber body by drawing inspiration from Group C and Formula 1 automobiles. For the early 1990s, the frame was also made of carbon fiber, which was amazing. The concept’s weight was limited to just 1,100 kilos thanks to a variety of other lightweight parts (2,425 pounds).
In its wind tunnel, BMW tested the Nazca M12’s aerodynamic effectiveness and recorded an outstanding drag coefficient of just 0.26. The hood and trunk lid of the idea were essentially one piece, and the doors had windows with amazing gullwing opening mechanisms. The mid-mounted unit from the 850i was visible behind the twelve-cylinder powerhouse’s engine cover, which swung backward to display it.
Rare BMW ItalDesign Nazca on the Market for EUR725,000
The ItalDesign series of BMW Nazca supercar research is one of the most intriguing concept automobiles that was never made in the 1990s. Giorgetto Giugiaro, who created the production M1 for BMW, also created this.
Only three were ever produced: the Nazca M12, which made its debut in 1991, the harder-edged Nazca C2, which followed in 1992, and the open-top Spider C2 variant, which appeared in 1993.
The 1978 M1, which Giugiaro designed for BMW, was the company’s first modern supercar, thus his current design was undoubtedly an outgrowth of that. Both vehicles had the same low profile, mid-engine layout, and BMW “kidney” grill. Giugiaro gave the M12 a greenhouse that is entirely spherical, in contrast to the angular lines of the 1970s. Sadly, this also required the installation of split doors because the compound curve of the glass was too steep for standard ones. Furthermore, Italdesign installed mirror-finish tint throughout the entire greenhouse.
However, we didn’t use that magnificent image to get your attention in order to discuss about the past of concept cars. We have some exciting news to share with you: a Czech dealer has listed one of the Nazca concepts for sale. The vehicle in this photo is based on the 1991 Nazca M12 body, but it has a beefy 379 horsepower 5.7-liter V12 engine that has been modified by Alpina and taken from a vintage 750i or 850i. As a result, the peak speed is a reasonable 326 km/h (202 mph).
1.1 million to $3 million in price
Giorgetto Giugiaro created the Nazca M12 concept automobile for Italdesign in 1991, but it was never put into production. It has a carbon fiber body and the V12 engine found in the 750i and 850i, which at the time was BMW’s greatest powerplant.
BMW’s Nazca C2 followed the M12 in 1992, and even though only 3 of them were ever produced, enthusiasts still show the most interest in the first model. An M12 was listed for sale by a collector in 2011 for roughly $1.1 million, and since then, the projected price has only gone up.
BMW Nazca M12 The Fallen Stars
Large manufacturers need to keep their designers and technicians on their toes and working at their best if they want to outperform the competition. Particularly with prominent corporations like BMW that establish a sort of virtual gym where prototypes and concepts are created that, although seldom making it to market, nonetheless serve as a novel way to look toward the future The three iterations of the BMW Nazca that were produced between 1991 and 1993 are a superb illustration of this process.
In this instance, the challenge was accepted by an outside designer, Italdesign, during the years after founder Giorgetto Giugiaro’s son Fabrizio took over management of the business. When given the task of creating a 12-cylinder super sports vehicle, it would have been difficult to ignore the appeal of the 1980s M1, which F1 drivers used to compete in the Pro Car Championships and attend Grand Prix races. Giugiaro had previously created vehicles with similar features utilizing Oldsmobile and Bugatti technology, which was particularly helpful when creating the first Nazca, the M12, which was unveiled in Geneva in 1991. Its 5-liter V12 engine, which at the time produced 300hp, was the same as that found in the 750i and 850i.
A second version, called the C2, was made with a somewhat lighter rear end because the extremely fluid and aerodynamic lines were well appreciated. The C2, which utilized the same engine but had Alpina modify it to produce 350hp, had a stylish integrated rear wing that was made possible by opening up the previously closed upper piece of the tail fascia between the lights. Everything appeared to be in production-ready condition at the Monaco Grand Prix, when the C2 Spider made an appearance. The well designed retractable side and rear windows that could be put in the very roomy baggage compartment and turned the C2 into an open-topped spider were two of the novelties presented with the C2.
able to accept the orders? Nothing! There were only ever 3 made-to-order C2 models created. Back in Munich, they determined that this lovely demonstration for the designers and technicians had served its purpose. In the most recent iteration, the engine had been expanded to 5,600cc and produced 380hp. Oh well. Anyway, kudos to Giugiaro for the inspiration.
Father and son’s joint project
One of the most well-known automotive designers in the world is Giorgetto Giugiaro. No one questions his expertise because everyone is aware of this. Therefore, none of the show attendees could take their eyes off the Nazca M12 with the Italdesign emblem at the BMW stand.
It was an exceptionally beautiful automobile, but it would have been extremely unusual if it hadn’t been. Giorgetto Giugiaro, the founder of Italdesign firm, and his son Fabrizio Giugiaro collaborated to convert the Bugatti ID90 idea into the muscular Nazca M12.
The Nazca M12 was inspired by the fast, fire-breathing automobiles, as the project’s creators did not try to hide. Because of this, the Nazca M12 sports a streamlined body design with carbon fiber body elements. It was an uncommon occurrence that the structure of the car was constructed from the same material.
In-depth testing in a wind tunnel to attain the best air drag coefficient also led to this body design. The BMW Nazca M12 had an air drag coefficient of 0.26, proving that they succeeded.
The 5-liter, 12-cylinder engine, which was then only installed in the 750i and 850i models, was concealed beneath the stylish body and was the pride of the BMW brand.
Can BMW produce a new M1?
A long-awaited replacement for the 41-year-old M1 supercar is being developed by BMW’s M performance car division.
The cutting-edge carbonfibre-bodied coupe, which was previewed by the Vision M Next, is scheduled to go on sale at the start of the next decade. When asked about the likelihood of its manufacturing, BMW’s chief of development Klaus Frohlich responded, “We deliver on what we promise.” A new 591bhp plug-in petrol-electric drivetrain will be debuted with the Vision M Next and is expected to power more traditional, future M models.
The new high-performance driveline is a component of a drivetrain electrification program being oversaw by Markus Flasch, the new CEO of BMW M. It produces significantly more power than the BMW i8’s driveline. The company’s “Strategy One Next” project, which intends to bring up to 25 electrified BMW models on sale by 2025, will be led by the Vision M Next.