Brutus is an
aero-engined car. It is powered by a
water-cooled BMW V12 aircraft engine
An aircraft engine, often referred to as an aero engine, is the power component of an aircraft propulsion system. Most aircraft engines are either piston engines or gas turbines, although a few have been rocket powered and in recent years many ...
, which produces between @ 1530 rpm, but can produce a maximum of @ 1700 rpm for shorts bursts of one minute, and is mated to a 1907/1908
American LaFrance chassis.
Background
''Brutus'' made an appearance on the British television program ''
Top Gear'' on 4 March 2012, during the sixth episode of
Season 18.
The Brutus was built in Germany shortly after World War II, when a 1908
American LaFrance car was fitted with a
V12 BMW aircraft engine that dates to 1925. The car was created over several years at a workshop at the
Auto & Technik Museum in
Sinsheim, Germany, which still owns it. According to the Museum, the Brutus can produce at 1,500 rpm, while its
fuel efficiency
Fuel efficiency is a form of thermal efficiency, meaning the ratio of effort to result of a process that converts chemical potential energy contained in a carrier (fuel) into kinetic energy or work. Overall fuel efficiency may vary per device, wh ...
averages .
After driving the car on ''Top Gear'', presenter
Jeremy Clarkson described the experience as akin to "doing a crossword while being eaten by a tiger".
References
External links
Project Car Brutus Technik Museum Sinsheim Germany
Cars powered by aircraft engines
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