Report: More details on green BMW supercar

More details on the planned "green" supercar by BMW have emerged.

The new Audi R8/Mercedes SLC rival was described by company insiders as a "puristic two-seater that draws on all the very latest BMW technology and lightweight build processes."

The design development team, the new car would use the styling layout of the M1 hommage concept, presented by BMW a while ago.

AutoWeek now revealed more details on the projected supercar:

“Drawing on BMW's recent experience in lightweight construction, the supercar would be based on an aluminum spaceframe like that found on the old Z8 and, in a sturdier form, also employed on various Rolls-Royce models. It is also said to use carbon-fiber body-panel technology first applied to the BMW M3 CSL and subsequently the M6 to achieve a target weight of no more than 3,080 pounds.

The layout of the new BMW, which would compete on price directly against the Audi R8 and the upcoming Mercedes-Benz SLC, remains a well-kept secret. AutoWeek's source says that BMW bosses favor a mid-engine configuration like that employed on the original M1 to help set it apart from the rest of the BMW line and to provide it with a connection to its multi-million-dollar Formula One program. Despite this, packaging models have been constructed at BMW's research and development center in Munich using a more traditional front-engine layout.

Among the engines proposed to power the new car is a reworked version of BMW's twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six-cylinder gasoline unit. The reason for using a six-cylinder, according to our source, stems from the mechanical makeup of the original M1, which ran a 3.5-liter inline six-cylinder. [..]

Among the changes BMW engineers are seeking to make to the standard engine is the adoption of new variable-vane turbochargers and a more advanced fuel-injection system. This could lift power from today's 306 hp to somewhere near 400 hp. It would be enhanced with a further-developed version of BMW's brake regeneration system, possibly using a small lithium-ion battery to store energy and provide a short but potent boost in reserves under acceleration.

Alternatively, BMW may also look at employing an electric motor and lithium-ion battery pack similar to that proposed for its new 7-series hybrid to lift the new supercar's overall output even more. Other technology under consideration is a kinetic-energy recovery system similar to the setup BMW is developing for use in F1 next year.”



(Source: AutoWeek)