Ferrari may be planning a greener model to replace its F430, but that new model won’t likely hold the title of greenest supercar for long. BMW is in the midst of developing its own eco-friendly supercar, which could hit the market as soon as 2012.
According to the UK’s Autocar, the new BMW model will be a two-seat model intended to take on the Audi R8 and upcoming Mercedes-Benz SLC. Although that task will require some real high-performance, BMW will stuff the new model with plenty of green tech, including direct-injection, brake energy regeneration and stop/start technology usually reserved for hybrids. BMW’s F1 hybrid technology is also rumored to be on the table.
As far as styling goes, inside sources have indicated that the new super car be a modern-day M1, with overall styling likely previewed by the recently unveiled M1 Homage concept.
True to its M1 roots, the new supercar will have a mid-engine configuration, but will be down a few cylinders compared to the competition. Autocar says the modern-day M1 will feature the same 3.0L turbo six used throughout BMW’s model lineup, albeit tuned for greater horsepower.



10/28, 7:03 PM
posted by:
angryone
Why the v6tt?
I don’t see how effective claiming “we make do with fewer cylinders than the comptetition” is much of a marketing strategy. Sports cars are generally for the power or attention hungry, and that segment rarely thinks much about their carbon footprint.
Claiming “I’m greener than the other egomaniac” is small consolation for getting demolished at the track or between stoplights by the other testosterone-addled prick with the faster car.
For the power levels they’ll need to stay on top of the segment, they already have a v8tt in the x6.
10/28, 7:15 PM
posted by:
Madcapp
Superyawn. How about something relevant like a 120si with all the efficient dynamics wizardry.
10/28, 7:17 PM
posted by:
Madcapp
And ummm, angryone…BMW does not make V6 engines.
10/28, 7:38 PM
posted by:
angryone
Oh, sorry. You’re right, I6. I got too angry and lost my head.
10/28, 7:38 PM
posted by:
928dreamer
Looking forward to the car regardless. I would rather be reading about this than more doom and gloom economic forcasts about layoffs and plants being idle and profits being down. Go BMW and Ferrari, keep making kick @ss sports cars with new green tech so I can have something fun to escape to.
I have enough stress and worry in real life to keep being reminded of it while I am trying to enjoy my hobby.
10/28, 7:43 PM
posted by:
johnnycanuck
If they make that thing in the picture it will undoubtedly be the greenest supercar on the planet because it’s so f*cking ugly no one will buy it.
10/28, 7:56 PM
posted by:
tyler_is_aero_tt
Idk but that concept they came out a while ago looks like a nightmare from the 90’s. This would look so b.a. if they did something like this: http://img113.imageshack.us/img113/8853/smalllllxi8.jpg
10/28, 9:10 PM
posted by:
qpt_dude
That rendering looks like a widebody M5, and I like it. But it has nothing to do at all with keeping the M1 heritage intended.
If they’re going out with one last hurrah at a supercar, it should deserve something much better than a V6. It should be the V10 from the M6. If they’re going eco-friendly, then why have they kept their V8’s and V10’s in their higher model range? A range-topping flagship should have better performance then its next-in-line car. But I wouldn’t mind green tech to make this car more of a daily driver.
Its going to compete with the R8 and SLC? I don’t see that happening, because those two are in different market segments. And I thought BMW crushed any ideas of an M1 successor months ago?
10/28, 10:09 PM
posted by:
Impulsive
‘johnny’, yup.
10/28, 10:28 PM
posted by:
Lau
If this thing will be like anything LLN has reported, I’m looking forward to it. I mean, BMW F1 technology? Sounds good to me, especially if it saves the planet and doesn’t cause the atmosphere to rip and cause the sun’s rays to have a microwave effect on Earth and melting the Golden Gate bridge…
Sorry, Discovery channel documentary ^_^
10/28, 10:40 PM
posted by:
A4
ummm actually BMW has the stop-start feature available on every one of their cars in europe, and i do believe regenerative braking is available to some extent as well
10/29, 12:48 AM
posted by:
atoms
i know that the original m1’s had I6’s but will a modern BMW supercar be accepted with an I6tt even with the power up to maybe 450hp that section is covered by their V8tt with a bit more torque from the bigger displacement and the charging, then again porsche gets gobs of torque and power out of their flat 6’s
10/29, 8:40 AM
posted by:
e46Ne90
im sure horsepower will be somewhere around 500+ since this will be flagship of the performance vehicle for bmw, hence it will have to beat m5/m6 power. it will be easy task to pump out 500+ from inline-6 TT
10/29, 9:35 AM
posted by:
Z06ified
I have absolutely ZERO interest in an eco-friendly supercar. I want a supercar that consumes vast quantities of gasoline (or diesel), wakes the dead with exhaust roar, scares the paint off of Priuses, spits fire from the exhaust, pins your head back with the force of a jet, and just kicks ass.
10/29, 9:53 AM
posted by:
Lau
^Z06, what if you weren’t told this was an eco-freindly supercar and it managed to do all that whilst sneakily consuming very little gasoline?
10/29, 12:23 PM
posted by:
dmlgc
Green sports car , what are you nuts BMW. Sports cars are about performance , and handling, make some other model green. The ford pinto-cobra-mustang was a green sports car but no one wanted to be caught dead in it and even people in VW’s laughed at you at the stop light.
I’m all for green but I bought my tt8 X6 because it goes fast, ridiculously so for a car that weighs that much. If you have to make a green car use the X3, you can feel good and folks that want a green BMW will buy it.
10/29, 2:00 PM
posted by:
Bmacc
Argh don’t make the nsx mistake and put a six in a supercar! I know its an I6 but seriously if BMW wants to compete with other supercars they’re going to have to do better than that. Yes, porsches make do with sixes but the true porsche supercar the Carrera GT used a v10.
10/29, 6:45 PM
posted by:
GTRDONE
@lau
how can you have an eco-friendly supercar that sneakily consumes very little gasoline while still meeting all the requirements of Z06ified’s description of a real supercar. namely “consuming vast quantities of gasoline”..?
10/30, 7:52 AM
posted by:
ozyran
Well, BMW reports that the new supercar will manage fuel economy equivalent to their 5-series midsized sedans.
Their best economy figures report 18 city and 28 highway.
The Corvette Z06 manages 15 city and 24 highway.
Even the ZR1 manages 22 mpg on the highway!
BMW HAS NOT managed to design a fuel-efficient supercar. This thing is a late ’80s/early ’90s styling joke, leaves much to be desired on the lines of so-called “green fuel economy” and is sadly lacking in power. If this thing is a green supercar then my Dodge Dakota 5.9 R/T is a fuel-sipping truck.
If you want a real “green supercar” go get a Tesla. BMW, you need to go back to the drawing board with this one.