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autoevolution's BMW M Month

2022 marks an important moment for German carmaker BMW. It is the year when the brand celebrates the 50th anniversary of the M badge, a letter that over the years has become synonymous with high-performance machines.

Short for BMW Motorsport GmbH, today’s BMW M GmbH traces its roots all the way back to May 1972, when it was set up to advance the Bavarians' racing program, kicked into gear with the introduction of the 3.0 CSL homologation special, meant to open the doors for BMW to enter the European Touring Car Championship.

The immediate success of the model prompted M to quickly expand into the civilian market, and started producing vehicles that need not exist solely as a means for the requirements of some racing series to be satisfied. And this is how we got the M we know and love today.

At the time of writing, the M portfolio includes no less than 14 fully-fledged M models, 24 M-flavored upgrades of series BMW cars and SUVs, and two cooperation vehicles. You can add to that the ones that have stopped being made over the past 50 years, and you get one of the most comprehensive lineups of any high-performance brand out there.

We’ll celebrate them all, and possibly even more, this May, as we run the BMW M Month here on autoevolution.

Editor's note: This special feature by autoevolution was not sponsored or supported by a third-party.
710-HP Infinitas-Tuned 2022 BMW M3 G80 Sniffs 200 MPH on Autobahn Top Speed Test
710-HP Infinitas-Tuned 2022 BMW M3 G80 Sniffs 200 MPH on Autobahn Top Speed Test

9 May 2022, 21:30 UTC · By: Humphrey Bwayo / TopSpeedGermany took a Stage 1 Kit Infinitas-tuned 2022 BMW M3 G80 to the German Autobahn, showcases impressive acceleration, hits 190 mph+

 
The Underrated M Roadster Is One of the Cheapest BMW M Models That You Can Buy Right Now
The Underrated M Roadster Is One of the Cheapest BMW M Models That You Can Buy Right Now

9 May 2022, 13:42 UTC · By: Vlad Radu / Grossly underrated, the M Roadster is one of the most exciting thoroughbred sportscars ever made by BMW and these days, you can have one or a bargain price

 
This BMW M5 List, From Worst To Best, Will Probably Make You Mad
This BMW M5 List, From Worst To Best, Will Probably Make You Mad

9 May 2022, 08:34 UTC · By: Silvian Irimia / The BMW M5 is one of the best sports car nameplates to ever grace the automotive world. It's the car that defined the sports sedan category after all

 
The Factory Sleeper That Conquered the Hearts and Wallets of Many
The Factory Sleeper That Conquered the Hearts and Wallets of Many

7 May 2022, 22:18 UTC · By: Tudor Serban / The E39 M5 was the first with a V8 engine and the last offered with a manual transmission only, and it is considered by many the best M5 ever. Here is why

 
1979 BMW M1 Procar Has Ties to F1 Legends, Probably Costs a Fortune
1979 BMW M1 Procar Has Ties to F1 Legends, Probably Costs a Fortune

7 May 2022, 20:28 UTC · By: Dragos Chitulescu / This iconic BMW M1 Procar is looking for a new owner to continue its motorsport legacy, but it's bound to leave a dent in your bank account!

 
The Story of the South African BMW 745i, the M7 You Never Knew Existed
The Story of the South African BMW 745i, the M7 You Never Knew Existed

6 May 2022, 15:32 UTC · By: Ciprian Florea / Powered by the M88/3 engine derived from the BMW M1, the 745i SA was built in South Africa from knock-down kits. Only 209 cars was built

 
An Eight-Cylinder Legend, the Naturally-Aspirated S62 Was BMW M’s First Production V8
An Eight-Cylinder Legend, the Naturally-Aspirated S62 Was BMW M’s First Production V8

6 May 2022, 13:41 UTC · By: Vlad Radu / The E39 M5 continues to be one of the most beloved M cars of all time and that is in part due to its brilliant engine, the S62 V8

 
BMW 1M Coupe: The Ultimate Driving Machine and One of the Best M Cars of All Time
BMW 1M Coupe: The Ultimate Driving Machine and One of the Best M Cars of All Time

5 May 2022, 15:35 UTC · By: Vlad Radu / A decade ago, the M3 had a V8 and the M5 was available with a V12, yet the most thrilling high-performance BMW was the 1 Series M Coupe

 
1992 BMW M5 Has an Asking Price of $476K, This Is Why
1992 BMW M5 Has an Asking Price of $476K, This Is Why

5 May 2022, 13:04 UTC · By: Dragos Chitulescu / The BMW M5 is one of the most popular sport sedans of all time. We're at the fifth generation so far, but the most expensive one dates back to the '90s!

 
New BMW M3 Touring Might Premiere Later Than Expected
New BMW M3 Touring Might Premiere Later Than Expected

5 May 2022, 07:33 UTC · By: Cristian Gnaticov / BMW will, however, unveil the all-new 2023 M4 CSL this month, at the Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este, in case you forgot

 
2023 BMW M4 CSL Teased Ahead of May 20 Unveiling
2023 BMW M4 CSL Teased Ahead of May 20 Unveiling

5 May 2022, 06:51 UTC · By: Cristian Gnaticov / Following in the footsteps of the E92 GTS and E46 CSL, the 2023 BMW M4 CSL will be shown to the world this month, at the Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este

 
The M-badged “Sharknose” Was An Epic Machine That’s Now Cheaper than a E30 M3
The M-badged “Sharknose” Was An Epic Machine That’s Now Cheaper than a E30 M3

4 May 2022, 21:02 UTC · By: Vlad Radu / The first and undoubtedly greatest M version of any 6 Series is BMW icon that is still somewhat affordable, especially when compared to the E30 M3

 
BMW M240i G42 Faces M2 F87 in a Drag Race, Please Mind the Gap
BMW M240i G42 Faces M2 F87 in a Drag Race, Please Mind the Gap

4 May 2022, 11:42 UTC · By: Sebastian Toma / Is the M240i enough to compete to the yet-to-be-replaced M2? Well, we now know the answer to this question, and it is "it depends." Here's why

 
G81 BMW M3 Touring Unofficially Drops Its Camouflage Glasses, Gets Squinty Eyes
G81 BMW M3 Touring Unofficially Drops Its Camouflage Glasses, Gets Squinty Eyes

4 May 2022, 09:53 UTC · By: Aurel Niculescu / The virtual artist better known as “j.b.cars” on social media has done yet another quick makeover that does not make a lot of OEM sense but some people like it

 
BMW M1 – The Forgotten Sports Car Icon That Made History
BMW M1 – The Forgotten Sports Car Icon That Made History

4 May 2022, 08:45 UTC · By: Silvian Irimia / The BMW M1 is one of the most desired old supercars today by car fans. So, we want to share with you some piece of information about the first M car.

 
Paul Rosche Was the Heart and Soul of M Division, Time to Put Respect on the Name
Paul Rosche Was the Heart and Soul of M Division, Time to Put Respect on the Name

3 May 2022, 21:14 UTC · By: Benny Kirk / Rosche laid claim to being one of the most brilliant post-war German engineers. He is a man who should probably have his name enshrined in every gearhead bible

 
This Rare Station Wagon Will Have You Feeling Like a F1 Driver
This Rare Station Wagon Will Have You Feeling Like a F1 Driver

3 May 2022, 21:06 UTC · By: Dragos Chitulescu / The BMW M5 E61 is the perfect family car for anyone who's got racing flowing through his veins and the budget to support such a gas-guzzler.

 
This Car Is Not Only a Blast To Drive but Also an Intelligent Investment
This Car Is Not Only a Blast To Drive but Also an Intelligent Investment

2 May 2022, 22:29 UTC · By: Tudor Serban / While this was not the first M-badged vehicle produced by BMW, it was the first that could be bought with the M6 badge on it. And Europeans couldn't have it

 
2022 BMW M 1000 RR: M Division's Spectacular First Crack at Performance Bikes
2022 BMW M 1000 RR: M Division's Spectacular First Crack at Performance Bikes

2 May 2022, 20:46 UTC · By: Benny Kirk / his is what happens when you take the oldest name in German performance automobiles and merge it with its even more historic motorcycle line

 
A Look Back at the Timeless BMW 3.0 CSL, the Forefather of All M-Badged Bimmers
A Look Back at the Timeless BMW 3.0 CSL, the Forefather of All M-Badged Bimmers

2 May 2022, 15:18 UTC · By: Vlad Radu / Five decades ago, BMW founded a small motorsport division that build one of the most successful touring cars of the 1970s