BMW is considering pouring its high-performance ambitions into a “breakthrough green supercar,” according to a company insider. These latest rumors follow a report from late October of a similar nature. The vehicle being described would purportedly be based on the M1 Homage Concept that was considered for production as a conventional supercar but eventually cancelled.
The car, if approved, would be a “puristic two-seater” designed using the latest “lightweight build processes,” the source told AutoWeek. The ultimate goal is to build an exotic sports car with a “whole new level of environmental compatibility.”
The source said BMW feels it can accomplish this goal using technology and materials that are “already in wide use” at present in other industries. The basic structure would be aluminum, but much of the body would be composed of carbon fiber. Total vehicle weight would be under 3,000 lbs.
BMW is said to be exploring both mid- and front-engine proposals. The company is said to be considering a 3.0-liter V6 with variable-vane turbochargers, possibly coupled to an electric motor for added power under heavy acceleration — effectively creating a type of parallel hybrid.
BMW CEO Norbert Reithofer has not given the green light to any such project yet, but it certainly sounds like a green supercar is a serious consideration in Munich.
11/22, 3:23 AM
posted by:
tyler_is_aero_tt
Ok cool, but wow is that concept ugly.
11/22, 5:56 AM
posted by:
AnonymousCoward
Yep, seldom a concept is that ugly. But then again, BMW:s on the market today are not much better…
11/22, 6:56 AM
posted by:
Mutant@DCX
mmmmmmmmmm. that colour lQQks not green but copper
11/22, 11:13 AM
posted by:
Quiet American
A V6 BMW is an awful idea. Their avoidance of this cheap to build but unbalanced layout is the one thing that has kept them a cut above the rest.
11/22, 11:50 AM
posted by:
A4
as long as it doesnt look anything like that rediculous concept ill be happy.
and dont you think that the company would be considering its 3.0l Inline-6 with twin turbos instead of venturing into a V style setup that seems to produce nothing that the current engine doesnt?
11/22, 12:04 PM
posted by:
nickkop
yeah i doubt they are going to develop any V6 when they have such wonderful inline-6’s … that was just a typo I am sure… and what is so green about another hybrid… that its a sports car? great.. but nothing revolutionary… how about hydrogen fuel capability or something new?
11/22, 5:50 PM
posted by:
wideopenthrottle
I just hope it looks nothing like the concept, which looks dated and uninspired. If they are stupid enough to ignore their heritage and put a V-6 in it, why not use the M3 V-8 with twin-turbos?
11/22, 6:22 PM
posted by:
aexcorp
Ya, a V6 would be a weird move coming from BMW. Plus as everyone mentioned, the I6 they have is a pretty impressive engine all in all, and it keeps the weight down too. Put improve turbos on it, with variable vane for no turbo lag, and keep the car’s weight under 2500 lbs using the materials described in the article, and we have all the ingredients for a sick car.
Just think, the 335i gets ~300hp, now using the same block with improved turbos and maybe direct injection, we might get 350 to 380hp. For a car below 2500 lbs, it’ll be a lotus elise with twice the power, and maybe some eco-friendly tech on it too. Which is where I’m worried, as battery + electric motor + control system and pulleys and so forth will add up quickly…
11/22, 7:19 PM
posted by:
Madcapp
They need to spend their time and resources developing green/efficient dynamics technologies on a more accessible and more practical platform, namely the 1 series. The 135i is already a supercar, give it a Volkswagen Beetle style flower holder on the dashboard and there you have it…a green supercar. Nuff said.
11/23, 1:50 AM
posted by:
nickkop
aex corp: the 3.0 twin turbo I6 already has direct injection
11/23, 11:29 AM
posted by:
silviaziz
BMW would be making a huge mistake by placing a V6 into this car. They are known for their inline-6 engines, this is what BMW has built their reputation on. They do not conform to other techniques, and ought not to now.
11/23, 11:05 PM
posted by:
Bimmer
LLN,
are you sure that BMW would use V6 but not In-line6? Since they never ever used V6 in their cars or SAVs.
11/24, 1:49 PM
posted by:
dmlgc
“yeah i doubt they are going to develop any V6 when they have such wonderful inline-6’s … that was just a typo I am sure…”
I suspect the v6 has to do with saving space, takes less for V6 than inline 6.
If they do mid engine inline 6 will not work.
11/24, 2:16 PM
posted by:
nowei
Just for the sake of argument, BMW’s V10 experiment worked out pretty well. So if they build a V6 I don’t think it’s going to be junk.
11/26, 3:48 PM
posted by:
Dante_JoseCuervo
Hmmmm, I do hope they make something reminiscent of the old M1, at least in terms of being a mid-engined supercar, and hey if it ends up being green who can complain? It mean it’s not like they can’t do it.
Who knows they might have lambo finish the car up for them… just like the old M1