Rogue Culture Aficionado

BMW is exploring a plan to build "a breakthrough green supercar" by the end of 2012.

The new car would rival the Audi R8 and forthcoming Mercedes SLC, and has been described by company insiders as ‘a puristic two-seater that draws on all the very latest BMW technology, lightweight build processes and has been rumored to pay homage to the M1 model.


In the late 1970s, Italian manufacturer Lamborghini entered into an agreement with BMW to build a production racing car, under the Motor sport division, in sufficient quantity for homologation. The result was sold to the public, from 1978 to 1981, as the BMW M1. It was the first and only mid-engined BMW to be mass produced. Only 456 production M1s were built, making it one of BMW's rarest models.

It seems the M1's design has remained in Bimmer's sub-conscious waiting for the right time to be unleashed... and boy are they about to unleash a real monster.

As the flagship of BMW’s Efficient Dynamics program, the as-yet-unnamed new model will be capable of combining super car performance and driving dynamics with fuel-saving technology such as direct injection, brake energy regeneration, and stop-start. But the car will still maintain CO2 emissions on a par with, or better than, a mid-range 5-series.

The car will be mid-engined, with power most likely to come from a re-tuned version of the company’s twin-turbocharged, 3.0-litre straight six petrol engine. BMW is also considering introducing it with a kinetic energy recovery system similar to the one that the company’s F1 team will be using next year.

If you are a Car enthusiast, then you know there is not a car more loved by Americans, than the 1969 Chevy Camaro. The first generation design has gone down as one of the most popular in Automobile history. This week at the Texas Motor Speed Way, the production model Camaro was showcased and thankfully it held true to the Concept Car version, while updating the classic lines of the original. GM Chairman and CEO G. Richard Wagoner recently stated:

“The overwhelmingly enthusiastic response to the Camaro Concept continues to remind me of the uniquely iconic place our products can have in customers’ hearts... Camaro is much more than a car; it symbolizes America’s spirit and its love affair with the automobile.”

The Camaro has touched many lives – and graced many garages – with nearly 4.8 million vehicles produced between 1967 and 2002. More than 1,000 Camaro clubs exist globally, and thousands of Camaro web sites pay homage to the sports coupe. A recent report on America Online’s Top Searches of 2007 placed Camaro in the Top 10 car searches for the year. And it looks like this trend will continue with the newest model going on sale in the first quarter of 2009!

The new version has that familiar aggressive front fascia, wide rear fender flares with embossed "vents", and dual exhaust above the twin pairs of tail lights. The very cool, retro-styled interior mixes 1969 aggressiveness, with high-tech refinement. Check out the old-school gauges - complete with center console-mounted pressure and temp - set off against the modern sound system and steering wheel-mounted controls.

The rumor is the base model will feature a 300-hp, injected V6, that will get nearly 26-mpg for about $23k. Tons of bang for the buck, that also won't make you curse your decision every time you pull up to the pump.