Rumormill: BMW working on 'green' M1 supercar to rival Audi R8
BMW Vision EfficientDynamics Concept - Click above for high-res image gallery
Will the Vision EfficientDynamics Concept that BMW debuted at the Frankfurt Motor Show earlier this month spawn a production eco-friendly supercar from the German automaker? According to Auto Express, the answer is yes, and the U.K.-based publication is projecting that the new green M1 will be ready for sale in 2012.
Naturally, the heart of this rumor-spec supercar is a hybrid powertrain similar to the one shown off in Frankfurt. A turbocharged three-cylinder diesel engine displacing 1.5 liters would be used in conjunction with a pair of electric motors providing all-wheel drive capabilities. The run to 60 mph would theoretically take less than five seconds and top speed would reportedly be capped at 155 mph.
Other unique bits that were introduced on the Vision Concept that could potentially make it into production include active aerodynamic elements that allow for an excellent .22 coefficient of drag. An unknown source tells AE that the car's hybrid powertrain, dual clutch gearbox and aluminum-intensive chassis are all "ready for the road."
If there's any truth to this rumor, the new eco-friendly M1 successor would be marketed as a rival to the Audi R8 and would potentially hit the market with a price well north of $100,000. We'll see.
Gallery: BMW Vision EfficientDynamics Concept
[Source: Auto Express]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
nrb 5:56PM (9/24/2009)
0-60 in five seconds, with a top speed of 155mph, isn't what I'd call a supercar.
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Nateb123 7:02PM (9/24/2009)
Well, 0-60 in 5 seconds is pretty quick although not blistering but we've all become jaded by Ariel Atoms and GT-Rs that can do it in the 3s and 2s. Also, all German manufacturers limit their products to 155mph electronically. That's not the actual top speed.
nrb 7:18PM (9/24/2009)
I agree that five seconds is pretty darned quick, but they use the term "supercar". Supercars don't have speed limiters. Supercars blow by 200mph.
Perhaps the world has chosen to water down the term "supercar" and I'm being left behind. Maybe we need to coin a new term. Uber-car? :)
skierpage 10:24PM (9/24/2009)
I'm sure there's a German word for "super-duper green-ish car". A Vision on the road would be amazing just to look at. The M6 is only 4.6 seconds 0-60 and limited to the same top speed, and it does well enough in its niche.
The more the Germans look at doing green sports cars, the better Tesla looks. The Tesla Roadster you can buy is faster 0-60 than the Audi étron concept and has greater range, even though the Audi claims 15 times the torque.
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