Shell’s Project M Targets Ultra-Efficient City Car

Shell Oil Co. is launching Project M, a plan to merge its special lubricants with advanced engine and vehicle design to create and unveil ultra-efficient piston-powered city car concept by November.

Shell is collaborating with ex-McLaren Formula One team technical director Gordon Murray and engine specialist Osamu Goto. All three partnered in 1988 on the Honda-powered McLaren F1 race car driven by Ayrton Senna to his first championship. Senna and teammate Alain Prost claimed all but one pole and won all but one race that year.

Project M will develop a next-generation version of Murray's T.25 concept car, which was unveiled four years ago primarily to showcase innovative design and manufacturing techniques. Shell says the new project aims to show the efficiencies possible when its advanced lubricants are engineered into a vehicle at the start of development.