With the Le Mans 24 Hours in full swing, we figured now could be the suitable time to share a number of the nerdy information BMW revealed to us over the weekend. The M Hybrid V8, competing within the LMDh class, have to be constantly quick on Circuit de la Sarthe whereas trying to find racing glory. Onboard telemetry reveals that the electrified machine reaches a pace of 211 mph (340 km/h) on the well-known Mulsanne Straight.
But it surely takes greater than prime pace to win. BMW advised us that for about half the race, the M Hybrid V8 averages greater than 155 mph (250 km/h). It’s value noting that the 4.0-liter twin-turbo engine powering M’s flagship race automotive isn’t shared with any road-legal mannequin. The P66/3 has its roots in DTM, particularly within the M4 used through the 2017 and 2018 seasons. It produces round 640 hp and 650 Nm, although output is proscribed by rules.
The M Hybrid V8’s engine alone has 4,306 components and makes use of 1,006 several types of parts. In its authentic DTM kind, the engine was naturally aspirated earlier than switching to compelled induction. As for the electrical motor, battery, and transmission, these essential components are shared with different race automobiles to adjust to rules. Every part was designed round a bespoke chassis equipped by Dallara. At Le Mans, the closed-cockpit BMW race automotive should have a minimal weight of 1,030 kilograms (2,270 kilos).
BMW didn’t need to construct a street-legal homologation particular. How cool would it not have been if a street automotive had been obligatory? Porsche did it anyway, albeit as a one-off 963 RSP it unveiled just some days in the past. Toyota and Peugeot additionally thought-about road-going variations at one level. Nonetheless, each in the end deserted the thought of placing a license plate on their endurance racers.
The M Hybrid V8 is at the moment solely a factory-backed effort, however BMW M Motorsport chief Andreas Roos isn’t ruling out selling the hybrid endurance race car to private teams. BMW returned to Le Mans final yr to repeat the V12 LMR’s 1999 triumph.
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