BRM P401 - AllCarIndex

BPM P401

Close attention has been paid to the ‘packaging’ of the BRM P401. The trend in ‘supercars’ has been towards excessive length, width and, in many cases, weight. The new BRM road car will be 163 inches long and 72 inches wide, yet the car will have a spacious cockpit, with headroom for a 6ft 2ins driver. The use of a carbon composites for the monocoque chassis and the bodywork, and the relatively low weight of the V12 engine, will keep its weight down to 22-23 cwt (about 1150 kgs).

The BRM 4.0-litre V12 engine of the P401 will be derived directly from the 3.5-litre unit of the P351 racing car. In the P401, this engine will run at about 5000 rpm less than its racing capability in the P351.

The target power output for the P401 unit is between 375-400 bhp at 7500 rpm, and the engine will develop 350-400 Ibs/ft of torque. In order to achieve high torque and good response, the P401 engine will be fitted with twin superchargers, linked to the engine management system, which will automatically disengage them when they are not required.

The torque-to-weight ratio will be enormous but, so as to enhance safety (particularly on a wet road), the six-speed BRM transaxle transmission will feature a ZF torque control differential.

The BRM P401 will be distinctively and enduringly styled, compact but spacious. Its supercharged V12 engine will deliver its power smoothly, through a six-speed gearbox, and its massive torque will be safely handled by a torque control differential. This car, in short, is projected as the ultimate road car in terms of its driveability and response.

Chassis & Body

Courtaulds carbonfibre composite construction. A-frame location for engine & transaxle package. Twin ground-effect air tunnels. Rear body-mounted wing.

Interior

Two seats (leather), uncluttered cockpit, clear instrumentation, air-conditioning.

Engine

BRM four-cam V12 at 60deg, 48 valves, 4.0 litres, twin superchargers, water-cooled. Frontal air intakes, front-mounted water radiators. Full engine management system. Wet sump. Lead-free, three-way catalyst converters. Flexibly mounted north-south midengine location.

Transmission

BRM six-speed transaxle gearbox with ZF synchromesh gears and torque control differential with mountings for rear suspension wishbones.

Suspension

Unequal length wishbones front and rear, with outboard-mounted Bilstein variable rate spring/damper units.

Wheels & Tyres

OZ magnesium wheels, 16-inch diameter all-round, fitted with Dunlop radial tyres (225/50 ZR16 front, 255/50 ZR16 rear).

Brakes & Steering

Steel discs, AP racing four-pot calipers, servo-assisted. ZF Servotronic variable weighting speed-related power steering.

Dimensions

Wheelbase         2490mm               (98.0ins)

Length overall    4145mm               (163.1ins)

Width overall     1828mm               (72.0ins)

Height overall    1190mm               (46.9ins)

Weight 1150 kgs approx