BMW M Concept: Independent designer’s idea of an Audi R8 rival

Designer Idries Noah decided to draw his own version of BMW M Supercar, a true Audi R8 competitor in his eyes

Here is what Noah had to say:

I grew impatient waiting for BMW to bring out an R8 rival, so I decided to design my own version of it. The recipe was simple. It needed to look Aggressive, Sleek, Agile and totally different from anything on the road today.

Usually I’d study legendary cars and draw inspiration from that. When designing the Ferrari F250 Concept e.g. I drew inspiration from cars like the Dino and 250GTO. This time however I needed to clear my head and come up with something totally unique while still keeping some BMW details.

So elements like the trademark grille and hockey stick pillar remain. My inspiration for this design however came from nature. More specifically water and the way it flows and ripples. The side detailing was inspired by what’s called in surfing terms “ a Barrel or Tube”. It’s where the wave is hollow when it breaks.

Dimension wise the car is roughly the same as the R8 and would be powered by a tweaked version of the 5L V10 found in the M6. It should be good for 400kw plus. If this car had to go into production in today’s day and age it would probably lose most of its aggressiveness and bold design features.
And that’s sad because imagine pulling up next to an R8 in this…
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dlin - 6/16/2009 2:40:22 PM

0 Boost

BMW is too busy making money from sport sedan that they have no time for the real McCoy.

MPowerDK - 6/18/2009 2:38:55 AM

-1 Boost

BMW made the M1 in the 80s then Mercedes or Audi did not have anything in that league.

B7FAN - 6/16/2009 3:24:05 PM

+2 Boost

yeah whatever i am a HUGE BMW fan but they are more focused on their X-Series than anything else.
I wouldn't be suprised if they make a X0.5 for people who want something not as big as the X1...which would be the 3 series...if you people didnt get my sarcasm i am laying it on pretty thick.

inspirion7 - 6/16/2009 3:27:06 PM

+2 Boost

BMW is in need of an image car. The Z8 was cool, but too retro for most taste and wasn't really on the same plane as the R8. I would be interesting to see something like this...

B7FAN - 6/16/2009 3:28:29 PM

+4 Boost

by the way nice design but it has way too much R8 characteristics rather than a BMW look to it. it looks like it has the S4 wheels instead of the BMW M6 or M5 wheels like most people do in their BMW photochops.....I can dig the whole rear end I think that is unique and beautiful and was well thought out in my opinion.

I think the front fascia needs a little more work maybe a set of fog lights...I am not really sure but over all he did a nice job for a concept drawing

100tnega - 6/16/2009 3:31:54 PM

+1 Boost

A dragon's dragon. Nice work.

_43LE - 6/16/2009 4:29:20 PM

+3 Boost

Doesn't matter, as long as it has a BMW badge people will automatically think so.

Agent00R - 6/16/2009 4:44:46 PM

+1 Boost

Although this is a cute idea, I think it would be foolish of BMW to have a silhouette similar to the R8's.

I would think they would do more of a fastback design like the M1/M1 concept.

Do not get me wrong, this is a helluva design. Why isn't this guy at BMW?

1dott8 - 6/16/2009 4:57:31 PM

+1 Boost

this would be nice if BMW was into cars and not S(something)V's.

Speedoholic - 6/17/2009 5:48:11 AM

+2 Boost

BMW would never produce a beautiful car like that. They're interested in ugly crossovers that can't go off-road.

thstone - 6/17/2009 6:02:51 PM

+2 Boost

With that many air ducts, are you sure its not a Pontiac?

Joking aside, this is a pretty poor design...
(1) The nose/grill is far too cluttered.
(2) The hallowed cheek doors make the car look top heavy (nice for women but not for sports cars).
(3) Extending the extra stout shoulderline from the front wheel fender bulge all the way back past the rear wheel to the wrap around spoiler makes it look more like a shelf than a shoulder.
(4) The air inlet before the rear wheel is ridiculously large.
(5) And last, there is nothing that makes this design stand out as a BMW nor anything that is unique, new, or in any way defines a design standard. Its a nothing more than a generic sports car design with a pair of kidney shaped grills and an M-badge.