New BMW superbike

This is the first official image of the Sportboxer and the closest thing to a Superbike BMW has ever built.

The 140bhp, 195kg (fully-fuelled) Sportboxer is leading BMW’s assault on an all out, no compromises sports machine.

This weekend it will be competing in one of the world’s toughest endurance races, the Le Mans 24-hour. On track the Sport Boxer will be up against Yamaha R1s, Suzuki GSX-R1000s and Honda Fireblades; no small feat for an air-cooled, twin-cylinder giving away the best part of 50bhp.

The final production version of the Sport Boxer will be officially unveiled at the Paris Motorcycle Show in September, it is predicted the bike will cost £12,000 when it hits the showrooms in 2008. Read the full story and see more exclusive images in tomorrow’s MCN out 18/04/2007.

• Thinking of getting a BMW Sportboxer? Save money on your motorcycle insurance with MCN Compare.