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Filed under: Sedans/Saloons , Sports/GTs , Videos , BMW Click above to watch video after the jump We're not quite sure what BMW is up to, but the automaker from Munich is hosting a video on its website (at bmw.com/performance ) that features a fairly normal-looking 3 Series sedan surrounded by a ring of fluorescent light tubes. The few bits and pieces we can make through the epileptic seizure-inducing light show are a small set of blue LEDs right under the headlamps, carbon fiber mirrors, yellow calipers, a rear deck-lid spoiler and sill plates that read "BMW Performance". The rear end looks like it may have a new lower valence, and the wheels are certainly large for a 3 Series sedan. This new BMW Performance model could slot right below the M3 and go about its merry way without drawing attention to itself like the M model does, or else the website could be showing the myriad amount of accessories that are available for the 3 Series sedan from the factory. Either way, the...
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Filed under: Motorsports , Sports/GTs , BMW Earlier this year Rahal Letterman Racing announced its partnership with BMW to bring M3s back to ALMS GT2 in 2009. The Rahal Letterman deal is a new venture for BMW, putting its ALMS race operations in the hands of an unfamiliar crew. While Rahal Letterman is a proven open wheel race team, they are not one of the existing ALMS teams with prior BMW sports car racing experience. It is an interesting match-up that will be exciting to watch next year. To keep in step with this fresh-faced approach, Rahal Letterman Racing has now also announced a partnership with Rays Engineering, which will supply wheels to the RLR ALMS program. Widespread use of Rays' wheels has yet to take hold throughout the world amongst the professional ranks, but they have been tried and tested for years in every type of event found in Japan. Rays Engineering is best known for their Volk Racing wheel line and the lightweight TE37 model in particular. They have established...
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Filed under: Motorsports , Sports/GTs , BMW click above to view more high-res live shots of BMW M3 ALMS race car When it comes to racing, diversity is key. Who doesn't love to root for their favorite brand to win against its fiercest rivals? We hope that BMW gets its latest M3 certified by the FIA in time for a showdown against with the Corvette and others in Le Mans GT racing, which will institute a new set of rules for the 2010 season. There's more than one way to get horsepower from a V8 engine, as clearly demonstrated by these two diametrically opposed class competitors. Team Corvette's brute strength and low-down grunt would go up against finesse and high-strung reviness from BMW. Kinda reminds us of the classic Ford versus Ferrari feuds of the '60s. In any case, BMW now needs to work with the FIA to get its racer properly sanctioned and approved, as it has already done for the American Le Mans racing series. Git 'r done, folks. Gallery: BMW Rahal Letterman Racing...
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Filed under: Concept Cars , Sports/GTs , Euro , BMW , Rumormill Click on the image above for our high-res Concept CS gallery With their scopes aimed squarely at the upcoming Porsche Panamera and Mercedes-Benz CLS , BMW's M performance division is rumored to be working on their own four-door luxury GT for a 2010 launch. With its styling based heavily on the BMW Concept CS (pictured above), the platform for the new flagship will be shared with the new 7 Series. Under the hood, most expect to see a 6.0-liter V12 based on the current M5's V10, or a twin-turbocharged V8 like the one rumored for the next-gen M5. Even though both of those engines promise prodigious amounts of power, and the lightened chassis will be tuned for performance, BMW insists the new car will not be badged an M8. Regardless, we seem to recall that the lack of an M badge on the mid-90's BMW 850CSi didn't seem to deter enthusiasts. Gallery: BMW Concept CS [Source: Drive.com ] Permalink | Email this | Comments
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Filed under: Coupes , Sports/GTs , BMW , Special/Limited Editions There were around 1,400 examples of the BMW e46 M3 CSL built, and by all accounts they were exceptionally well received. However, according to Ludwig Willisch, the boss of the automaker's M division, the current e92 M3 won't get the same treatment. He - or perhaps the accountants - feel that "based on current numbers, there is most likely insufficient demand for the M3 CSL." If a current scorching version of the e92 were to exist, it would have been bumped by anywhere from 36 to 56 horsepower, shed 200 pounds or more, worn some different tires and a set of bigger lungs. In light of the possible volume, though, which would be small, BMW - or again, its accountants - would rather focus on the X6 and X5 for now. Thanks for the tip, Mike! [Source: Car ] Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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Filed under: Hybrids/Alternative , Sports/GTs , Green , Supercars , BMW Click for a hi-res gallery of the BMW M1 Hommage It's a sign of the times. After having rolled out the delectable M1 Hommage concept (pictured above), one BMW board member says that the Bavarian automaker has no intention of producing a supercar to compete with the likes of the Audi R8. Instead, BMW will focus on green technologies. The news comes straight from Klaus Draeger, the board member at the helm of the EfficientDymanics initiative. While Audi continues to produce more powerful and more desirable versions of the R8, Mercedes prepares entirely new supercars and Porsche continues to do what Porsche has always done, the company that once hailed itself as the producers of the "Ultimate Driving Machine" is more concerned with hybrids than sportscars. Gallery: BMW M1 Hommage [Source: AutoTelegraaf via AutoblogGreen ] Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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Filed under: Sports/GTs , BMW , Rendered Speculation , Rumormill Lighter means faster. If you have yet to grasp that concept, have a look at the Ferrari 430 Scuderia, Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera or Porsche 911 GT3 RS - each capable of leaving the heavier versions of each lightning-quick sportscar on which they're based in the dust. The performance gap is widened not by more power, but by a higher power-to-weight ratio resulting from an aggressive kilo-trimming program. Another in their ranks: the gone-but-not-forgotten, previous-generation BMW M3 CSL. By removing a bit of excess weight, the CSL was capable of outgunning its heavier counterpart by a considerable margin (how does a 7:22.8 'Ring lap sound?). It's been just under a year since M-guru Gerhard Richter promised us a new M3 CSL based on the new V8 model, but aside from a few spy shots here and there, we've yet to see one materialize so far. To keep our appetites whet, German car mag Autozeitung put out this...
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Filed under: Aftermarket , Tuners , Convertibles , Sports/GTs , BMW Click above for high-res gallery of the G-Power M6 Hurricane We were highly impressed with G-Power's M5 Hurricane . After all, it's twin-supercharged V10 produced nearly 50% more power than stock and it had a top speed of 211 mph, which G-Power claims to be faster than any other street legal Bimmer. With the BMW M6 packing the same 5.0-liter V10, it was only a matter of time before it received the same treatment. Behold the G-Power M6 Hurricane! While the twin blowers are set for lower boost, only 6 psi compared to the M5's 10 psi, the M6 still produces a healthy 635 bhp @ 7300 rpm and 469 lb-ft torque @ 6300 rpm. This is good for a 4.5 second sprint to 60 mph and a top speed of nearly 200 mph. Not one to forget that appearance matters, G-Power also provides a new front and rear fascia, rocker panels, and carbon fiber rear diffuser along with 21-inch wheels that make room for a 15-inch brake system up front...
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Filed under: Aftermarket , Tuners , Coupes , Sports/GTs , Videos , BMW Click above to view the shoot-out between the BMW M3 and the Dinan 335i. This is a head-to-head battle we've been waiting to see: BMW's new M3 versus a Dinan-tuned 335i coupe. But we're only going to talk numbers and let the video tell the tale. The BMW 335i has proven itself as a credible player in the sports coupe segment, particularly with a tweaked ECU to extract maximum output from its twin-turbo'd 3.0-liter inline-six. Dinan announced its Stage 3 package a few months back, which includes a fully-adjustable suspension and a handful of engine mods that bring output up to 406 hp and a kidney-punishing 460 lb.-ft. of torque (at 4,300 RPM). But it doesn't come cheap. All the necessary Dinan kit to get it up to Stage 3 spec (and get that nifty badge on the boot) costs around $14,000. But compared to the $71,000 base price of the new M3, it's still a steal. While the M3 has the peak horsepower...
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Filed under: Coupes , Sports/GTs , Etc. , BMW , Humor Hot on the heels of the recent brandtag exercise that saw BMW drivers labeled as a-holes (and a lot of explanations and justifications in the comments), we have this classified ad from an M3 owner in Peoria, Arizona. Its starts off rather plainly, with a rundown of the aftermarket components with which the seller has graced. And then the listing takes a left turn and heads straight for Mars when the seller writes "This car has gotten me laid so much it is ridiculous." After that, you get a rundown of his success with women, copious use of the word "pimp" as both noun and adjective, his workout routine and testosterone regimen, his success with women, tidbits on his "killer" anatomy, instructions on how to become "a Jedi pimp," and more of his success with women. And in case you didn't realize it, he states explicitly: "I'm a winner." A few subtle clues dropped here and there in...
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Filed under: Concept Cars , Sports/GTs , Euro , Supercars , BMW , Misc. Auto Shows Click above for a high-res gallery of the BMW M1 Hommage var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/autos/Photo_Gallery_BMW_M1_Homage_concept_at_Villa_d_Este'; BMW's supercar icon, the M1, blew out the candles at the Concorso d'Eleganza at Villa d'Este this weekend. In honor of the car's thirtieth birthday, BMW rolled out the new BMW M1 Hommage, a concept/design study that pays tribute to the original M1 and shows what could be possible if BMW were to produce a new mid-engined sports car. Follow the jump for the breakdown. Gallery: BMW M1 Hommage [Source: BMW] Continue reading Modern Retro: BMW M1 Hommage officially revealed Permalink | Email this | Comments
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Filed under: Concept Cars , Sports/GTs , Supercars , BMW Click above to see more photos at Asphalte.ch This year's Concorso d'Eleganza at Villa d'Este has its public day tomorrow, which is when the world will get its first look at the new BMW M1 concept, a stunning, modern take on Munich's original supercar that is part of Bimmer's 30th anniversary celebration of the classic machine. The private exhibition took place today, however, and the guys at Asphalte.ch -- they were the first with live shots of the Lamborghini LP560-4 earlier this year -- have once again scored a coup, snapping the new, copper-colored M1 concept in all its glory, both alone and alongside its forebears . We expect to have a lot more on this car tomorrow, but for now, head to Asphalte.ch to see more shots of the car under the lights. Hey BMW, just pull the trigger and greenlight a production version already. [Source & Photo: Asphalte.ch ] Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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Filed under: Motorsports , Coupes , Sports/GTs , BMW Click above for a high-res image. Aside from serious enthusiasts and obsessive Bimmerphiles, Alpina isn't as recognized today as it was in the past. The BMW ubertuner and specialty marque has a long history in motorsports that includes wins at the 24 Hours of Spa, the 24 hour at the Nurburgring and three European Touring Car Championships. Alpina will attempt to reinvigorate its image and its motorsports heritage when it enters its 6-series-based B6 GT3 in the 2009 FIA European Championship next year, along with running a handful of high-profile endurance races. The B6 S is the basis for the B6 GT3, and comes packing a supercharged, 4.4-liter V8 dolling out 530 hp and 535 lb.-ft. of torque. That should make it competitive with the rest of the field, including Aston Martins, Ferraris and Lamborghinis. The B6 GT3 isn't strictly for Alpina's own works team, as it plans to sell race-ready versions to privateer teams and wealthy...
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Filed under: Coupes , Sports/GTs , Videos , BMW Click above to view video after the jump If you haven't seen BMW's M3 "Revolution" ad , then you need to do that right now. For those of you who have seen it, no doubt you were wondering how they created such stunning video without the use of CGI. Fortunately, additional cameras were on hand to film some 'behind the scenes' footage, as well as interviews with those responsible for capturing the innermost workings of the BMW M3 V8. A total of six engines were disassembled for the making of the commercial, and miniature HD cameras shooting at 4,000 frames per second were used to ensure that the internal combustion could be seen in high resolution and slow motion. The video can be seen after the jump . [Source: YouTube via zercustoms.com ] Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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Filed under: Aftermarket , Coupes , Sports/GTs , BMW Click above for high-res gallery of the HAMANN-tuned BMW M3 Coupe There's no denying that the new BMW E92 M3 is a superlative automobile, but that doesn't mean experienced tuning houses like HAMANN can't work their magic and make the best even more best. HAMANN has just introduced its tuning package for the new E92 M3 Coupe and Convertible, which includes two stages of performance tune, upgrades for the suspension and brakes and aerodynamic tweaks. The first stage of tuning bumps power from the car's 4.0L V8 by 20 horsepower and 18 pound-feet of torque, while the second stage called the Sportkit HM/M +35 juices the motor by up to 35 hp and 35 pound-feet of torque. The M3 is then lowered by up to 40 mm on a new adjustable coil-over suspension and an upgraded brake system with larger rotors and front six- and rear four-piston calipers are added. The forged, black-laquered rims shown on the vehicle above are called EDITION...
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