ECO BIMMER; THE M1 LIVES.(NEWS)

Byline: GREG KABLE

BMW is exploring plans for placing what one high-ranking insider describes as "a breakthrough green supercar into limited production by the end of 2012.

Described as "a puristic two-seater that draws on all the very latest BMW technology and lightweight build processes, the new supercar has been conceived to showcase the German carmaker's "EfficientDynamics program. The effort has ushered in a raft of fuel-saving technologies, including direct injection, brake energy regeneration and stop/start features, applied to its volume-selling 1-, 3-, 5- and 7-series models.

Details remain scarce, but a source privy to early design proposals said that the new BMW supercar would be a modern-day M1, with high levels of performance, lively dynamics and fuel consumption and emissions ratings on par with or better than those of a 5-series. "The idea is to take the supercar to a whole new level of environmental compatibility using technology and materials already in wide use today, the source said.

Drawing on BMW's recent experience in lightweight construction, the supercar would be based on an aluminum spaceframe like that found on the old Z8 and, in a sturdier form, also employed on various Rolls-Royce models. It is also said to use carbon-fiber body-panel technology first applied to the BMW M3 CSL and subsequently the M6 to achieve a target weight of no more than 3,080 pounds.

The layout of the new BMW, which would compete on price directly against the Audi R8 and the upcoming Mercedes-Benz SLC, remains a well-kept secret. AutoWeek's source says that BMW bosses favor a mid-engine configuration like that employed on the original M1 to help set it apart from the rest of the BMW line and to provide it with a connection to its multi-million-dollar Formula One program. Despite this, packaging models have been constructed at BMW's research and development center in Munich using a more traditional front-engine layout.