Cars Scoopy: AC Schnitzer GP3.10 Concept will debut in 2007 Frankfurt Auto Show

Saturday, September 8, 2007

AC Schnitzer GP3.10 Concept will debut in 2007 Frankfurt Auto Show

One of AC Schnitzer's Frankfurt debuts mixes very high performance with a little bit of a greenish tint. Behold the GP3.10, a 3-Series coupe that has been completely transformed with a full interior and exterior overhaul (which you will either love or hate). The car's name tells you the rest of what you need to know:

GP: Gas-powered, as in Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG)

3: For 3-Series

10: For 10 cylinders

Yes, that's correct. The GP3.10 sheds its stock I6 for a worked-over V10 sourced from an M5/M6, and AC Schnitzer has fitted the motor with an LPG system that turns the car into a dual-fuel monster dishing out 552 horsepower and 398 lb-ft of torque. The driver can switch between fuel sources (gasoline or LPG) at any time, and LPG is readily available in Germany (2,700 filling stations, according to AC Schnitzer). There is the added benefit that CO2 emissions when running on the LPG are 15% lower than when on gasoline. But let's be honest, potential buyers of something like this aren't looking for green-ness. They're probably more interested in the gaudy 4.5 second 0-62 time and 198 mph top speed. As for the equally gaudy multicolor, multi-textured interior and the fully-Schnitzered exterior, we'll leave the judgments to you. We will say that the center-outlet exhaust is pretty nifty, but we are so not crazy about that little F1-style mini roof wing.