The new sports car would co-developed, carrying a BMW badge but manufactured by McLaren, unnamed sources have told CAR magazine. BMW research-and-development head Klaus Fröhlich is said to be spearheading the project after initiating talks with McLaren in January, with support from the company’s new M division boss Frank van Meel.
The companies are allegedly working on a mid-engine configuration powered by a 4.0-liter V8 engine, of BMW’s own design, with two exhaust-driven turbochargers and another two compressors spun by electric motors. The report suggests such a configuration would deliver at least 750 horsepower, though, interestingly, van Meel recently claimed BMW’s M cars would likely be capped around 600 horsepower.
The high-output V8 would reportedly be placed into one of McLaren’s monocoque carbon-fiber chassis, likely sharing its same basic form with the next-generation 650S. BMW is expected to design its own unique bodywork to distinguish the car from McLaren’s own offerings, with additional differentiation possible throughout the interior.
The company was already developing a high-performance adaptation of the i8, referred to internally as the M100, however former BMW chairman Norbert Reithofer allegedly scrapped the project over concerns of brand conflict with the eco-focused i-Series lineup. Sticking with a non-hybrid powertrain and separating the supercar from the ‘i’ brand is said to have been an acceptable resolution, with alleged support from incoming chairman Harald Krüger.
The report claims the project has not yet received a final green light, though chances are said to be favorable for approval. If the supercar does get a nod, production is unlikely to begin until 2018 or later.
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