McLaren, BMW Teaming Up on New Supercars?

BMW AG and McLaren Automotive Ltd. are considering a joint supercar platform that could yield a vehicle for each manufacturer by 2019, reports Car. Unnamed sources tell the U.K. enthusiast magazine the program is moving toward final approval.

Klaus Frohlich, who heads BMW's research and development efforts, reportedly initiated talks with McLaren early this year and is leading the joint program.

If approved, the new supercars will be built by McLaren and ride on the company's monocoque carbon fiber chassis, according to the report. Power is expected to come from a BMW 4.0-liter V-8 boosted by four turbochargers two traditional exhaust-driven turbos and two electric units that produce a combined 750 hp in a mid-engine layout.

Car notes that BMW has teamed up with McLaren several times in the past, including the 1992 McLaren F1 that used BMW's 6.1-liter V-12 engine. But other reports are skeptical of the joint supercar program, suggesting that BMW likely would develop such a model in-house.