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SCOOP - The Green BMW Supercar
25 Mar 2009
Green all-new BMW Z10 set to show way forward to the future supercar |
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Now BMW is chasing the Porsche 911 too – but it plans to do so with a highly efficient new ‘green supercar,’ according to Cars in Action magazine.
Set take the reigns as the company’s next flagship, the revolutionary BMW Z10 ED is also most significant in that it is likely to herald an all-new post-Bangle design era for the Munich carmaker…
Another intriguing bit in the puzzle is that BMW has confirmed that it will not make an M model of the new Z4, which it considers more of a cruiser, leading to speculation that there could be a new model inthe offing to fill that power coupe niche. Could Z10 ED be that car?
The most significant aspect of this car however, is that ED bit of its name – it stands for Efficient Dynamics, the mantra of BMW’s advanced economy and emissions technology.
BMW’s Efficient Dynamics programme is already well entrenched throughout its range, the idea being to offer high performance without unduly burdening the environment. BMW sees no reason why the poles of performance and fuel efficiency should remain mutually exclusive.
Originally slated as a once-off show concept, BMW has now opted put the Z10 ED into production as a green showcase after plans to build a mid-engined direct rival to Audi’s R8 were scrapped.
With Efficient Dynamics being an integral part of Z10 ED’s genealogy, engine downsizing is foremost on the agenda and BMW engineers have taken advantage of recent advances in turbocharging, direct injection and thermal technology to break new ground.
To that end, Z10 ED will boast a revolutionary new 300kW high-pressure turbocharged direct-injection traditional BMW 3-litre straight six featuring a newly developed electronic valve control to enable a variable compression ratio.
That frugal and efficient yet powerful mill will drive BMW’s seven-cog dual-clutch transmission aided and abetted by an integrated starter/generator stop-start system and an improved brake energy regeneration system to optimise efficiency by over 15% while providing ample power to run the car’s various ancillaries.
Among those are electric-powered on-demand power steering, water, oil and air conditioning pumps powered by a brake energy regeneration-charged lithium-ion battery – a system that pretty much makes the Z10 ED a hybrid, too.
Z10 ED is also likely to incorporate certain other new BMW technologies set for future production. Those include engine and transmission pre-heating for an efficient starting cycle courtesy of that battery pack backed by a solar panel in the roof to maintain charge levels; and a new exhaust thermal exchanger that captures and stores latent exhaust heat while on the move…
And while much attention is currently focussed on that advanced new 3-litre petrol unit, it would not surprise us at all if Z10 ED does not also comes in a diesel alternative. BMW has been streets ahead of the opposition with its sequential biturbo diesel and with the market finally creeping back at it, we have no doubt that Munich is ready to unleash its next level of oil burning brilliance – what better way to do that than in a diesel Z10?
A powerful, efficient and light engine tied in to advanced lightweight construction techniques will to see to it that Z10 offers beyond M3 levels of performance as BMW benchmarks its new coupe’s performance envelope on the Porsche 911 Carrera.
To achieve that sub-5 second 0-100, 280km/h (if BMW has the balls to forget he speed limiter, that is) and sublime blend of 911 dynamics, Z10 ED will take advantage of the latest carbonfibre construction techniques in conjunction with advanced aluminium chassis components to keep kerb weight below 1400kg.
BMW engineers have already patented a new composite carbon technique that combines the likes of doorframes and sill panels in an effort to minimise kerb weight while optimising rigidity.
BMW’s secret Technik department has been charged with developing the all-new two-seat coupe. Not only was BMW Technik responsible for preparing the Z1 Roadster and Z8 for production, but certain of that department’s present incumbents need little introduction…
R&D boss Klaus Draeger is responsible for much of BMW’s recent award winning engine and chassis development while the presence of Gerhard Ricther – the man behind the V8 M3, V10 M5 and more recently, the CS concept, should be seen as a significant statement of Munich’s intent in this significant new model…
The other most intriguing aspect of the BMW Z10 ED will be its styling. With Chris Bangle finally off to meddle with the design of non-automotive products, it is likely that incumbent BMW design boss Adrian van Hooydonk will use the clean sheet of Z10 ED’s style to banish his reputation as a Bangle disciple to the history books as well.
Van Hooydonk is the man behind that dramatic but allegedly canned BMW CS concept and it should be expected that the better aspects of that car find a new home on Z10 ED. We can’t wait to see the concept soon, but the exclusive Cars in Action sketch of the yellow car hints at how it may look…
The limited production Z10 ED should sell for around the R1.5-million when it comes to market and its advanced technology can be expected to benefit future volume production BMWs. The car itself however, should point the way toward what we should start expecting from future supercars…
Michele Lupini
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