BMW M12

Megatron was the name of a turbocharged gasoline engine with four cylinders and 1.5 liters of displacement, which was used in the years 1987 and 1988 in Formula 1. It was an advancement of the employed to 1986 by BMW BMW M10.

BMW was engaged from 1982 to factory as an engine supplier in Formula 1, was, however, in 1986 its withdrawal end of the season known. Jackie Oliver, Team Principal of the British Arrows team, which in 1987 still had no engine contract, then convinced the main sponsor of his achievements, the American Insurance Company United States Fidelity & Guaranty (USF & G), buy the previous engines from BMW and it in-house and under further develop the name of its subsidiary Megatron Inc. can be. The service Heini Mader Racing Components took over, its founder Heini Mader had been mechanics of the former Formula 1 driver Joseph Siffert.

Besides Arrows drove 1987, the Ligier team with Megatron aggregates. The Formula 1 project was completed after announcing the reintroduction of naturally aspirated engines by the FIA ​​and the associated simultaneous prohibition of turbo engines from 1989 onwards.