For some near 50 years, the BMW M name has come to symbolize the high-performance side of the BMW operation. The M division originally started out as BMW Motorsport GmbH before eventually becoming BMW M GmbH, and the M stands for motorsport. As such, it will be no surprise to learn that it was created to facilitate BMWs racing program, something that it has done too much success. It's remarkable to think that it has been 50 years since the world first laid eyes on that iconic name and logo, and BMW wants to celebrate that.

Officially, the 50th anniversary is on May 24th, 2022, and BMW has just announced it is doing something pretty special to celebrate this fact. Customers who opt for a BMW M model, or a BMW model equipped with an M Sport package from March 2022 onwards will have the option of having the front, rear, and wheel hubs of their car being decorated with some emblems designed and inspired by the classic BMW Motorsport logo, offering an alternative to the conventional BMW emblem. This offer will be available to order from January 2022.

A Brief History Of BMW Motorsport

bmw-m1-procar-stage-teaser-04
via BMW

The BMW M story started out in May 1972, with just 35 employees running the division. The first racing project that the division came out with was the BMW 3.0 CSL, but it wasn’t until 1978 that people really took notice of the M name. This was when the first official M-badged car was launched, and it was none other than the iconic BMW M1, that soon gained its own one-make racing series. Whilst it was more of a racecar for the road, it firmly put the BMW M division on the map.

The direction of the M division changed in 1979 as it launched the M535i, a high-performance version of the 5 Series but one that could also be used as an everyday car as well. The classic examples of this model are often seen as some of BMW’s finest works. Eventually, the BMW M division would come up with some modern classics, such as the BMW M3 and the BMW M5, perhaps two of the most iconic cars of the modern BMW era. As the division heads into its 50th anniversary year, BMW looks to honor its past whilst also looking to the future of the brand.

RELATED: Here's What Made The BMW M Coupe The Perfect Driving Machine

Celebrating 50 Years Of M

BMW M 50th Anniversary Emblem Close uP
via BMW

What can we expect then from this 50th-anniversary redesign? Well, the badge has been inspired by the classic BMW logo, which featured the BMW logo surrounded by two shades of blue, some white and a pale red and violet. The blue stands for BMW, the red for motorsport, and the violet was a combination of the two. This new 50th-anniversary logo is a modern refresh, as since the late 1970s the BMW logo has consisted of three color stripes slanted to the right, and leaning on the letter M.

Remarkably, the BMW M1 was the only BMW M car to ever carry the original motorsport emblem. All subsequent cars had a slanted color design. The violet has given way to dark blue in more recent times, something that is replicated on the new logo. To have the original M logo represented on a modern car might not sound much, but the reality is that this logo is one of the most important in automobile history, and certainly one of the most important in German automobile history. But BMW is not just offering up a snazzy new logo for those celebrating the 50th anniversary.

Iconic M Paint Finishes

BMW M 50th Anniversary Emblem Front Quarter View
via BMW

Knowing the potential behind the 50th anniversary year, BMW is offering so much more. Some 50 iconic and historically significant BMW M paint finishes are going to be offered up onto select BMW M models in the anniversary year of 2022. Some of these colors are Dakar Yellow, Fire Orange, Daytona Violet, Macao Blue, Imola Red, and Frozen Marina Bay Blue. All of these colors, says BMW, refer to the various eras throughout the 50-year history of the BMW M brand. Coupled with the refreshed original logo, and some people might get their hands on some pretty exclusive cars in 2022.

RELATED: Here Is Everything We Know About The 2024 BMW i8 M

Looking To The Future For BMW

BMW M Car Lineup
via Stratstone

It will be very interesting to witness the future of the BMW M brand. The automobile industry is moving quite heavily into electrification, and that is something we can no longer ignore. Many people see BMW M cars as loud, fast, and wild machines that create a spectacular soundtrack. And that is still true today, even with those pretty horrible grilles. One day though, there will probably no longer be an M car from BMW with an internal combustion engine. But until that day comes, we can celebrate 50 incredible years of one of the automobiles' most iconic brands and names.

Sources: BMW, Stratstone