This New Sports Car Is Half the Weight of a Miata and Powered by a Compact BMW Straight-Six | Carscoops

      A startup from Los Angeles, Shoreline Bespoke, is working on the LM Coupe, a lightweight sports car powered by a motorcycle engine that can rev up to 10,000 rpm.

      Founded by two childhood friends who are engineers, Shoreline Bespoke aims to create a two-seat sports car that embodies retro-inspired aesthetics. They utilize a motorcycle engine derived from BMW that produces 250 hp.

      The design of the coupe takes cues from the Porsche 906 racing car.

      Creating a car and a brand that can compete in the fierce automotive industry is quite challenging. Even well-resourced individuals like Elon Musk and RJ Scaringe from Rivian are still navigating this complex landscape.

      Nevertheless, these California engineers aim to persuade car enthusiasts to invest nearly half a million dollars in their creation. So, who are these engineers, and what are they developing?

      Introducing Shoreline Bespoke

      Spencer Beckman and Kyle Krueger are the forces behind Shoreline Bespoke. Established in 2021, the company is focused on developing a lightweight sports car with a design reminiscent of the past. Last year, they showcased a rolling chassis of their car, reminiscent of Lamborghini's Miura reveal in 1965, and have continued to refine their project.

      Modern vehicles have increasingly become larger, heavier, and more complicated. Shoreline Bespoke seeks to change that with the LM Coupe. The design is influenced by classic racing cars, especially the Porsche 906 from the 1960s, providing a refreshing contrast to many contemporary sports car designs by blending timeless sophistication with modern technology.

      At the heart of the LM Coupe is a handcrafted tubular steel spaceframe. It boasts adjustable double-wishbone suspension at all four corners, AP Racing brakes, and a bespoke steering system.

      These features contribute to a potential weight of only 1,400 pounds (635 kg), demonstrating that when it comes to lightweight sports cars, less truly is more. For context, that weight is nearly half of the ND Miata's 2,366 pounds (1073.2 kg)!

      To achieve a lightweight build, Shoreline chose a small but thrilling engine. Positioned behind the seats is a 1.65-liter naturally aspirated straight-six engine, believed to be derived from BMW's K1600 motorcycle engine, but rebuilt and enhanced by Ed Pink to yield up to 250 hp. This compact engine not only offers impressive power but also reaches up to 10,000 rpm.

      Shoreline has decided not to use a conventional H-pattern manual transmission, instead opting for a sequential gearbox paired with a clutch pedal.

      The interior draws inspiration from classic racing prototypes and includes carbon fiber bucket seats fixed in place, alongside an adjustable pedal box and steering wheel. There is no infotainment screen; instead, a simple magnetic phone mount is provided.

      Shoreline Bespoke plans to display the LM Coupe during Monterey Car Week in August and aims to start customer deliveries by late 2026.