Beck LM800 news - Swiss movement - 2007

You can't help but feel the Swiss are a frustrated bunch.

They put up with a government that inflicts draconian, sometimes crazy, legislation on them but they don't even raise a whimper.

Then, every once in a while, the steam of living eco-friendly lives has to escape and they come up with cars like the Beck LM800.

OK, so it looks like it was styled by a schoolboy on the back of a jotter, but the razor-cut lines are inspired by Le Mans racers and hence the name.

Just like Le Mans racers, the chassis and body are made up from Kevlar, carbon fibre and aluminium, with the bodywork shaped to give maximum high-speed stability.

The twin-turbocharged 4.2-litre V8 engine is to Beck's own design, and punts out 650bhp and 663lb ft of torque driving through a seven-speed sequential gearbox.

Beck reckons that's enough to give the LM800 a top speed of 219mph and 0-62mph in three seconds flat.

They also say it will turn in an average of 17.6mpg. But then this is a Swiss supercar, so environmental friendliness was bound to come into it somewhere along the line.

Asking price for the Beck LM800 is 750,000 Swiss Francs, which works out at around £308,000. With a price tag like that, we think the Swiss supercar maker may remain frustrated for some time to come.