Key Points

  • BMW’s M division is celebrating its 50th year
  • Retro-inspired badges to be offered across the model range
  • 50 historically significant colours will return

The high-performance arm of BMW is harking back to its inception for 2022, as the M division announces it will offer retro-inspired badges for its models next year.

Celebrating 50 years of M cars from May 24, 2022, the German manufacturer will include the historic badge on its options list from the start of next year, both on dedicated M models and standard BMW vehicles with the M Sport package.

Still retaining the Bayerische Motoren Werke’s current logo in its centre, the old badge features three layers of semi-circles around it, with the iconic blue, violet and red all tied in with white to create an illusion of movement.

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This particular design was first used on a race car in 1973 before featuring prominently on the M1 – the M division’s first and so far only dedicated vehicle – before the three stripes we now see were adopted in the 1980s.

On top of the retro badges, BMW M will also offer a range of its classic paint finishes from its 50-year history to 2022 models, including Dakar Yellow (E36 M3), Fire Orange (E92 M3 GTS), Daytona Violet (E36 M3), Macao Blue (E30 M3) and Imola Red (E46 M3).

Next year is set to be a big one for BMW M, with the long-awaited M3 Touring joining the line-up alongside the new M2, plus a potential dedicated M model in the form of a high-powered hybrid.

Also rumoured is the BMW iM2 – a special 50th present from BMW M to itself, using four electric motors to deliver more than 1000kW.

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