Rumormill: BMW proceeding with development on mid-engine Z10?
BMW Vision EfficientDynamics concept – Click above for high-res image gallery
For many, it may seem hard for an automaker to claim the mantle of "The Ultimate Driving Machine" without a truly exhilarating supercar to act as a halo to define the brand. That could explain why, following previous reports that it had canned any plans for a mid-engine supercar, new reports suggest that BMW is proceeding with development of just such a vehicle.
Tentatively dubbed Z10, the most ultimate of driving machines would, according to the latest churns of the rumormill, take advantage of lightweight materials – including carbon fiber, aluminum and magnesium – to keep weight down, while offering more space inside than a Porsche 911. The jury's still out on what engine would find itself placed in the middle of the taut chassis, with the company's award-winning V10 reportedly axed in favor of a twin-turbo six (in either V or inline configuration) delivering somewhere in the vicinity of 450 horsepower and 350 lb-ft of torque through an eight-speed dual clutch gearbox.
Adaptable aerodynamics, a supplemental hybrid electric motor and thermal-dynamics system are also tipped to be part of the package, and we wouldn't be surprised to see some of the styling elements from the new Vision EfficientDynamics concept make their way into the production vehicle. The supercar is supposedly projected to bow with a $110,000 sticker price about five years from now... that is, if it's actually ever produced at all.
Gallery: BMW Vision EfficientDynamics Concept
[Source: Automobile Magazine]
Get a WordPress.com Blog
_opt_thumbnail.jpg)
_thumbnail.jpg "2011 Audi A8: Live from Miami")
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Quattrofan 10:07AM (9/09/2009)
test
Reply
hashiryu 10:14AM (9/09/2009)
About time.
Reply
zamafir 10:39AM (9/09/2009)
you took the words right out of my mouth! looking forward to this, especially if it bests the current m3 on the track (and, the R8 V8 by extension).
sparrk 12:17PM (9/09/2009)
Hell , yeah ! BMW should use their soon out of job F1 engineers for this car , they really need to show what they are capable of.
Alex 10:19AM (9/09/2009)
Before anyone goes bitching that a turbo'd six isn't good enough, just remember the XJ220.
Reply
paul 10:22AM (9/09/2009)
But do I really want my $100k+ car to sounds like a 335i?
Mike7 10:23AM (9/09/2009)
I don't care if it's a six, the idea actually sounds pretty good, I just care whether it's an inline or a V.
vik 10:32AM (9/09/2009)
I think a tt inline six would be ideal if they can keep the weight to around 3000 lbs. After all, that's what the 911 is running in it's ultimate form. I just think it will be difficult for a lot of people who normally would consider purchasing a car for 100k when there are many companies now who are offering cars with similar power and amenities for half the price. Yes, the badge is something people were always willing to pay more for but that's becoming of less importance in the current economic climate. Just look at the latest JD Power polling with regards to how many former Merc and BMW owners who are now visiting and purchasing cars like the Genesis.
Reply
BoxerFanatic 10:33AM (9/09/2009)
Why on earth would a company that has stuck to the I6 design like glue, make their "supercar" wear a V6, likely with an offset crankshaft...
If it were to get a V-anything, maybe a tuned up version of their twin turbo V8... or a V12.
BTW, why does a mid-engined supercar, which will likely be 2-seat only, have more interior room than a Porsche 911, which, technically, is a 2+2, albeit barely...
Color me skeptical, as this is just a the "spit-balling" stage, by the sound of it.
Reply
JDM Life 11:11AM (9/09/2009)
I said it before and i will say it again. That concept car in the pic is ugly as sin.
The Lexus LF-A concept is 100x better then this......and BMW will need to make this car if they want to TRY to stay ahead of Lexus.
Reply
audi_arena 11:32AM (9/09/2009)
Laugh. Out. Loud.
Serge 11:45AM (9/09/2009)
Putting the current M3 Coupe aside... nothing Toyota makes is better than even a 70's 2002 in terms of fun and handling. What makes you think that when BMW will make a mid-engine supercar from the most advanced materials and using their best engineering effort, it will just FAIL? Sometimes you say the stupidest sh!t...
tC 1:27PM (9/09/2009)
http://i32.tinypic.com/vsdrhe.jpg
Better? I know you like plastering your USDM cars with a symbol that means that you don't know how to drive, so I tried to portray the BMW as you would want it to be.
JDM Life 11:00PM (9/09/2009)
@ Serge
The LF-A will destroy this. Period. BMW is not leading ANYTHING anymore. ANYTHING.
Rev Junkie 11:39AM (9/09/2009)
I still think the ideal engine for the car would be the M3's V8. It's close in size and power to the R8 4.2's engine, and I doubt any six will sound as glorious as the M3's V8, and I doubt it would approach the V8's 8400rpm redline, when it screams like a Honda DOHC VTEC engine. Just add direct injection, raise the compression, add a hotter cam, and you should be able to get about 450-500 horses from an engine that size. Another good choice would be the twin-turbo V8 from the X5/X6 M. On the day I took the driving school at BMW's Greenville factory, I heard the X5/6 Ms running their high speed testing circuit, and that engine sounded positively evil. And it apparently has enough torque to move those big pseudo-trucks with surprising alacrity, from what I've seen. Not to mention the turbo V8s could be probably pushed up to around 600 horses. Hopefully BMW does the right thing and offers a proper manual instead of a dual-clutch. I've driven the M3 with the dual clutch, and it is worlds better than the SMG in the M5/6, and it will never upshift for you, only downshift to keep from stalling, but I'd prefer to have a stick for a road car.
Reply
SeanG 11:47AM (9/09/2009)
Yeah if that 6 is a V I'm officially checking out of the BMW fanclub. They've alreadye Bangled the hell out of the classic look, begun to fail miserably on reliability, and dropped out of F1. My patience is about out.
Reply
P.V. 7:53PM (9/09/2009)
It's an interesting idea, and I think they should proceed with it. However, the engine I'd like to see is the M3's V8, not the M5's V10. The V8 is more refined, has a nicer sound, and is just as fun to use as the V10.
Reply