New Swiss supercar arrives

Light and slippery Beck LM800 makes 650bhp

Beck LM800 at the exclusive Venice top car show

Swiss sports car maker Berne Beck Engineering & Composits has just launched a new lightweight, 650bhp supercar. Be prepared to scour your wallet though -- this machine is not cheap.

The Beck LM 800 offers optimal driving characteristics as a result of its electronically-controlled active chassis and power reserves and light weight, said the company, claiming that the vehicle is easy to maintain, due to its modular construction and telescopic jacking system. Its low drag coefficient results from a low frontal cross-section with, said the company, no superfluous material to impede the lines.

The LM 800's basic construction is similar to a Formula 1 car with a central monocoque made of composite materials that protect the driver and provide rigidity. Fixed to this are the engine and gearbox support, as well as the chassis' front transverse control arms.

Materials

The central monocoque is made from an aluminium frame and composite materials. The same mix of carbon, Kevlar and aluminium used for the monocoque is also used for various bodywork parts, helping towards compliance with crash protection legislation.

All suspension parts are made of a high-strength aluminium alloy. They are milled from solid billets, undergo surface treatment and are then power coated. The top four bodywork layers are made of carbon, while the fabric and leather covered components are made of 100 per cent Kevlar.

The car has an electronically controlled, hydraulic active chassis, the wheels are also made from aluminium, milled from solid billets and coated.

Motive power

The engine is a turbocharged 4.2 litre V8 that's the company said has been specially produced for the Beck LM 800. A semi-sequential, seven-speed gearbox ensures smooth power transmission to the wheels via a limited slip differential, with plenty in reserve at 650bhp.

Inside, the ergonomically shaped seats are produced specially and made of several layers of Kevlar which are then well upholstered, and it uses digital instruments. You can specify either a conventional gearshift or rocker switches on the steering wheel.

The built-in pneumatic jacking system, making tyre changing child’s play, is very innovative in a car approved for street use, as it is normally used on racing cars.

The price for the basic version of the Beck LM GTR is 750,000 Swiss francs (£305,375) -- although the company said it'll calculate a price for a special version, depending on engine size up to 1,000bhp.

About Beck

The company is a small Swiss sports car maker which believes in the principle of light weight. The main features of its products are lightweight construction and the associated use of varied low-density materials, such as aluminium, magnesium, titanium, as well as the latest plastic and composite materials – Kevlar. The company says that: "It goes without saying that, according to Swiss tradition, the highest demands in terms of quality apply here as well."

Beck believes that much in the fields of lightweight construction and highly refined aerodynamics has been borrowed from nature, as nature always demonstrates a high level of efficiency. Also, some solutions have their origins in Formula 1 when it comes to both technical components and the construction methods used in the car.

The name comes from owner René Beck, who's been building vehicles for over 20 years. As a schoolboy, in every free minute he was fiddling around with home-made sports cars. His motto has always been: "We start at the point where others have already given up."