McLaren rekindles BMW engine partnership
British supercar maker ignores F1 link with Honda to go build high-output engines with German car makerMcLaren and BMW have announced they will once again work together rekindling the alliance they had with the seminal F1 road car.
This time round the German car maker will not be lending a big V12.
Instead, BMW will help the Woking-based supercar maker ramp up power outputs of its next generation engines while reducing CO2 emissions.
BMW will also work alongside the British car maker’s engine manufacturing partner, Ricardo, to help it develop new lightweight casting technology that will slash the weight of its engines.
Another technical partner working alongside BMW is Lentus Composites, which specialises in developing new advanced materials.
The University of Bath, in the west of England, will also lend its expertise, as it is already experimenting with advancing internal-combustion engine technology.
According to McLaren the total investment in developing the new engines will be £28 million (A$46 million) – with half the money coming from a UK government grant set up to cut vehicle emissions.
Commenting on the new investment in a cleaner, more powerful family of engines McLaren boss, Mike Fewitt said: "This is an exciting project that plays to the strengths of all partners. McLaren Automotive has an exceptional reputation for building the world's finest engines, as showcased by our M838T and its previous category wins in the International Engine of the Year awards.
Despite teaming up with BMW, Flewitt maintained that McLaren would continue to independently build and design its own engines, but the cooperation with its new partners would help accelerate the introduction of its next generation of powerplants.
A spokesman from BMW, meanwhile, announced that the new tech developed with McLaren could reappear in future BMWs: “The further development of low CO2 combustion technology is important for the BMW Group as part of our Efficient Dynamics Strategy. The low CO2 combustion technology which will result from this joint project is destined for application in BMW Group engines in the future.”
The announcement of the new engine alliance will be too late to benefit new McLarens like the recently leaked 720S.
Instead, the advanced new engines are likely to come on line in 2020.
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