This is as close as we’ll ever get to McLaren SUV.
The BMW X5 LM is the most powerful SUV ever built. It features an engine sourced directly from McLaren F1.
The Bavarians created something more powerful long before BMW ever had an M version its X5. The Le Mans (LM), a prototype vehicle, was named after the engine under its vented hood. The engine bay contained a naturally-aspirated 6.0-liter V12, which was also used in the Le Mans-winning McLaren F1 racing car. It was also used by the BMW V12 LMR to make the only X5 with twelve-cylinder horsepower.
The mill produced 700 horsepower (514 kW) with a tremendous torque of 531 lbft (707 Nm) at 5,000 RPM. The mill still produces more horsepower than the $100,700 X5M, which has a biturbo, 4.4-liter V8 that generates 575 hp (423kW)). The unique LM’s torque figure is slightly lower than the beefiest X5 that money can buy. It produces 553 lb-ft (750 nm) thanks its pair of turbos.
There are other differences between the SAVs. Let me give you some examples. The McLaren F1-powered car was rear-wheel-drive and had a six speed manual gearbox, whereas the X5 M has xDrive and an 8-speed Steptronic transmission.
The suspension system on the Le Mans concept was stiffer than the X5 and lowered the ride height by 0.18 inches (30 millimeters). It looked almost identical to the regular production model from the outside, except for the 20-inch wheels with 315/35 tires at both ends. BMW did not release details on the vehicle’s weight but stated that it was distributed 51/49 front/rear. This is almost perfect.
Four bucket seats were installed by engineers with aluminum frames. These frames were also used in the cabin’s center tunnel. The radio was also removed and three dials were installed to provide the driver with different information on the center console.
Performance-wise, the X5 Le Mans took 4.7 seconds to reach 62 mph (100.0 kph), which was half a second slower that the current X5M. However, it later managed to hit 193 mph (312 kph) at the Dottinger Hohe section on the Nurburgring.
Hans-Joachim Stuck was able to complete a lap around the ‘Ring with a time of 7:50 seconds. This is nine seconds faster than the Porsche Cayenne Turbo S, which was the fastest SUV produced. It also achieved a 7;59 lap time. The performance of the LM is impressive considering it was built 17 years ago.
BMW stated that the X5 Le Mans project was purely a one-off, with no plans for series production. BMW will make up the difference by giving the X7 flagship SUV V12 treatment over the next few years.
McLaren stating it won’t ever build an SUV is kind of the closest thing.
