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BMW and Merc to share engines?
23 October 2008
BMW has confirmed that it is talking to rival car manufacturers about selling them engine and gearboxes.
BMW’s head of development, Klaus Draeger, told [i]Auto Motor und Sport[/i] that BMW is in advanced talks about the possibility of licencing its engines to Mercedes.
“We are ready in principle to sell our engines to a competitor. And yes, we are talking openly with Mercedes about several possibilities,” Draeger said.
One strong possibility is for BMW to supply Mercedes with a new V12 engine it plans to unveil next year for use in the 7-series and the new ‘baby’ Rolls-Royce saloon. Based on a stretched version of BMW’s new turbocharged 4.0-litre V8, it could be used by Mercedes in both the S-class and the Maybach.
But Draeger also admitted that Mercedes is not the only car maker interesting in striking a deal with BMW – the company is in talks with Aston Martin and is also ready to sell its diesel engine technology to a US car maker looking for a clean diesel powerplant.
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