hybrid supercar

McLaren Focuses on Efficient Sportscars, Hybrids Possible

McLaren MP4-12C – Click above for high-res image gallery

McLaren seems to think it's possible to have your cake and eat it too. Judging by the company's past and present performances, we wouldn't doubt them. Managing Director Anthony Sheriff sat down with Inside Line at the company's official launch, and plenty of interesting information was gleaned. For instance, McLaren has committed itself to producing the lowest carbon emissions per horsepower of any car on sale.

In order to promote both efficiency and performance, McLaren has set its target on reduced weight. Says Mark Vinnels, McLaren Automotive's program director, "Weight will always be the fundamental enemy of what we're trying to achieve. Our focus will be on achieving the best lightweight solutions at the given price point." That likely means that future models from the sportscar manufacturer will use exotic materials, possibly including heavy doses of carbon fiber and composites in structural areas.

Powertrains won't be neglected when it comes to efficiency either. Last summer, McLaren posted an ad looking for a hybrid powertrain engineer. Sheriff wouldn't rule out hybrid drivetrains, but was coy about their future applications. "We're about applying high technology to make our cars faster and more efficient. And we may make things in a different way to what you expect," he said.

Gallery: McLaren MP4-12C

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BMW Reportedly to Produce 2013 Vision EfficientDynamics Supercar

by Jeremy Korzeniewski (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Green

BMW Vision Efficient Dynamics Concept – Click above for high-res image gallery

According to Inside Line, which is quoting an unnamed "senior BMW authority out of Munich," the German automaker will indeed build a production version of the Vision EfficientDynamics concept that debuted last year at the Frankfurt Motor Show. BMW is reportedly planning for a model run of between 5,000 and 10,000 units for 2013. We'll get to the details in a moment, but here's the best news: "That name that the marketing people forced on us [is] going to change for sure." Phew.

Apparently, BMW has no plans to ditch the radical plug-in hybrid powertrain, which put out 356 horsepower and an impressive 590 pound-feet of torque in the concept. That means we'll get something similar to the turbocharged three-cylinder diesel range extender and twin electric motors powered by a lithium polymer battery pack that was featured in Frankfurt. Sounds great so far, and BMW claims the performance will be even better than the 4.8-second 0 to 60 run quoted for the concept.

Naturally, some of the Vision's more outlandish exterior bits will go the way of the Dodo, but IL reports BMW's target of weight is still under 3,000 pounds, meaning that high-tech composites and construction techniques are a veritable lock. Price for this next-gen eco-friendly supercar? Nothing announced – but if you have to ask... well, you know the rest.

Gallery: BMW Vision EfficientDynamics