2018 BMW M5
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0-60 time:4 sec.
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Top Speed:190 mph (Est.)
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Price:95000 (Est.)
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AWD brings significant performance increase; still slower than AMG E63 S
The new-generation 5 Series arrived for the 2017 model year, replacing the seven-year-old and rather successful F10 model. Not only redesigned inside and out, the new sedan also lost some weight and gained new engines, including four-cylinder, six-cylinder, and V-8 mills. Now up to 137 pounds lighter, it’s quicker, more dynamic, and returns improved fuel economy. It also features state-of-the-art tech that brings it in line with the latest Mercedes-AMG E-Class. As usual, a high-performance M5 version is set to follow, and BMW just introduced it to the world with loads of new tech and an upgraded V-8 engine.
Arguably the most intriguing fact about the new M5 is that gained all-wheel-drive. The rumor has been circulating for quite a few years, and BMW has confirmed that xDrive will be offered as an option (but standard in the United States). The move is far from surprising, as both Audi and Mercedes-Benz have adopted all-wheel-drive for most of their performance cars. So basically BMW is bringing the M5 in line with its main U.S. rivals, the Mercedes-AMG E63 S and the Audi RS7. The new sedan will go on sale starting September 2017, with deliveries set to commence in the spring of 2018.
Updated 09/19/2017: The new M5 was one of the many cars BMW displayed at the 2017 Frankfurt Motor Show. Check our gallery to see how amazing the car looked on the show’s floor.
Continue reading to learn more about the 2018 BMW M5.
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2018 BMW X4 M
The BMW X4 came to be in 2014 as a coupe version of the popular X3. Although sporting a sloping roofline and a redesigned rear end, the X4 is actually an X3 underneath, using the same chassis and drivetrains. The purpose of this crossover was to offer customers a sportier looking X3, as well as expand the company’s SUV lineup to four models. Unlike most Bimmer, the X4 has yet to gain a proper M version, although BMW did launch an M40i for the 2016 model year. In 2017, rumors that an X4 M might be underway began to turn into reality with more prototypes spotted on public roads. Come 2018 and the first-ever M version of the crossover is getting closer and closer to its official debut.
With the X4 having received a facelift , there’s no doubt that the X4 M will benefit from the same visual cues. It’s still a mystery as to why BMW delayed the X4 M for so long, especially with Mercedes-Benz already offering AMG version of the GLC, but we at least know that the performance-oriented SUV is on its way. An official launch date has yet to be announced, but we gathered all the information we have in a speculative review. We also created a new rendering of the X4 M based on the latest data provided by test cars seen on public roads.
Updated 04/04/2018: Our spy photographers caught the upcoming BMW X4 M during hi-speed testing on the Nürburgring in Germany.
Continue reading to learn more about the BMW X4 M.
BMW is Keeping the Trademark Office Busy with new Designations for Future M Models
Any BMW that wears the “CSL” badge is very much sought-after. In fact, some of the earlier versions of CSL-badged Bimmers have turned into prized collectibles. That list includes the 1975 BMW 3.0 CSL, 2004 BMW M3 CSL, and most recently, the BMW M2 CSL. The M2 CSL, in particular, hasn’t even been released yet. Only 1,000 units of the model are expected to be built with orders scheduled to start in January 2018 and deliveries beginning in May 2018. But, even before the M2 CSL arrives, there is major news regarding the badge and what its future is with BMW.
As it turns out, BMW is serious about protecting the CSL designation to the point that it has registered the trademarks for a whole range of CSL models with the World Intellectual Property Organization, beginning with the M1 CSL and extending all the way to the M8 CSL. There is a caveat to the trademarks as only the M2 CSL, M4 CSL, and M8 CSL have been registered internationally whereas all of the trademarks are registered in Germany. It’s anybody’s guess what this could all mean, but we can at least be sure that BMW is going to be using the CSL moniker a lot more now that it has effectively replaced the GTS badge as the company’s go-to, top-of-the-line track machine.
Continue after the jump to read the full story.
2018 BMW M5
The new-generation 5 Series arrived for the 2017 model year, replacing the seven-year-old and rather successful F10 model. Not only redesigned inside and out, the new sedan also lost some weight and gained new engines, including four-cylinder, six-cylinder, and V-8 mills. Now up to 137 pounds lighter, it’s quicker, more dynamic, and returns improved fuel economy. It also features state-of-the-art tech that brings it in line with the latest Mercedes-AMG E-Class. As usual, a high-performance M5 version is set to follow, and BMW just introduced it to the world with loads of new tech and an upgraded V-8 engine.
Arguably the most intriguing fact about the new M5 is that gained all-wheel-drive. The rumor has been circulating for quite a few years, and BMW has confirmed that xDrive will be offered as an option (but standard in the United States). The move is far from surprising, as both Audi and Mercedes-Benz have adopted all-wheel-drive for most of their performance cars. So basically BMW is bringing the M5 in line with its main U.S. rivals, the Mercedes-AMG E63 S and the Audi RS7. The new sedan will go on sale starting September 2017, with deliveries set to commence in the spring of 2018.
Updated 09/19/2017: The new M5 was one of the many cars BMW displayed at the 2017 Frankfurt Motor Show. Check our gallery to see how amazing the car looked on the show’s floor.
Continue reading to learn more about the 2018 BMW M5.
2019 BMW X3 M
BMW launched the X3 back in 2003 as its second SUV and the market’s first compact luxury crossover. Updated in 2010, the X3 ditched its weird-looking front fascia in favor of a nose that resembled the X5’s. The second-gen crossover also saw production move from Graz, Austria, to BMW’s U.S. factory in Greer, South Carolina. As a result, the X3 entered the North American market as a locally built vehicle with a more affordable sticker. After six successful years on the market, the second-gen X3 was replaced by a brand-new model for 2018. The big news here is that the crossover will finally get a proper M version.
With Mercedes-Benz already offering two AMG versions of the GLC and Audi reportedly working on a beefed-up versions of the Q5, BMW finally green-lighted a high-performance version of the X3 for the third-generation model. Likely to arrive by the end of 2018, the X3 M has been confirmed by BMW M chief Frank van Meel at the 2015 Detroit Auto Show.. Three years have passed and the X3 M has yet to arrive, but BMW is testing the crossover on both public roads and the Nurburgring race track. Let’s find out what it will bring to the table in the speculative review below.
Continue reading to learn more about the upcoming BMW X3 M.
BMW Could Electrify Its M-Car Lineup in the Near Future
BMW’s i division may have brought us the electric BMW i3 and the Plug-in BMW i8, but it also brought fear that BMW would merge the the i and M divisions, potentially taking away from the “Ultimate Driving Machine” image associated with the brand’s M-car lineup. Even still, BMW remained adamant that the two divisions would remain separate for the foreseeable future. Well, until now, that is, as BMW’s Head of Product Management – Alexander Kotouc – has hinted that the two brands could eventually merge: “If we built something like a high-performance car or a supersports electric car, why shouldn’t it be something like an iM car?”
That’s the word that comes from Car Advice, who was on the scene in Australia when the BMW 530e iPerformance made its local debut. Kotouc claims that the reasoning behind this possibility in the future stems from the fact that people are willing to step into a car that is “part-electric,” but they still want all of that M goodness we’ve all grown to love. It’s the main reason why the brand’s plug-in models with the M Sport package sell so well. According to Kotouc, the brand’s cars will always retain that “ultimate driving machine” heritage, regardless of drivetrain, so there are at least some reassurances on the table. But, what does that really mean for future i and M models? Keep reading to find out.
2016 - 2018 BMW M2
BMW needed a successor for the 1 Series Coupe, so it created the 2 Series in 2014. It took a couple of years, but BMW finally graced us with the BMW M2 To put it simply, BMW created a car with some of the 1M’s charm mixed in with the aggressiveness of the BMW M4. The exterior featured a menacing front fascia with large air inlets while the rear featured a sculpted fascia with deep character lines and vertical reflectors in the corners. The interior was driver-focused and littered with M-specific features like exclusive gauge needles, sport seats with adjustable side bolsters, M steering wheel, and an infotainment system that featured a GoPro and M Laptimer app. All told, it was the compact M coupe we’ve been waiting for since the 1M was discontinued in 2012.
It would be hard not to say that the M2 was essentially an M235i on steroids, but that doesn’t change the fact that the M2 is still tied to iconic models like the E30 M3 and the 2002 Turbo from 1973. Even though it’s hard to consider something smaller like the M2, when you could just as easily get an M4, it’s the power that comes with the little coupe that makes it worth its weight in gold. The 3.0-liter engine under the hood features M TwinPower Turbo technology and develops 365 horsepower and 343 pound-feet of torque. That’s enough to send Bimmers smallest M to 60 mph in just 4.4 seconds or 4.2 seconds with DCT.
Updated 05/12/2017: BMW dropped the official details on the facelift M2 sports car, with just a few weeks before its market launch in July 2017.
Continue reading to learn more about the BMW M2.
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BMW Trademarks Point To Family Of Track-Focused CS Models
Trademarks a can be a tricky thing because while they do point to potentially big things for the future, there are no guarantees that these “big things” will pan out. But this one is more than interesting because it involves BMW and the possibility of seeing a whole family of CS models down the road. According to Auto Guide, the German automaker has filed trademarks for a handful of CS-badged models, ranging from the M1 to the M8, with the World Intellectual Property Organization.
Why is this big? Well, the answer goes back a few months ago when reports of BMW introducing an M4 CS model, a performance-oriented version of the coupe that’s rumored to sit between the M4 and the track-focused M4 GTS. If the M4 CS is an indication of what we can expect with these new trademarks, there’s a possibility that the M4 CS won’t be the only CS-badged model we’ll see in the future. Is it possible then that a full family of CS models, beginning with the M1 all the way up to the M8, is on the way? We can dream, right?
Take it a step further and you can even point to the M4 Competition Sport that BMW introduced in Spain as a limited edition model to serve as a precursor to the M4 CS. That or BMW could just build off of what it already has with the M4 Competition Sport and rechristen it as the M4 CS. A lot of possibilities are beginning to come into play here and it all points to a lot of exciting possibilities.
Beyond the ramifications of having an entire lineup of CS-badged M models, the trademarks also provides a hint that BMW may finally give the 1 Series a full-fledged M model. More importantly, an M8 CS model adds another layer of proof that the German automaker is going full steam ahead with bringing back the entire 8 Series family, M models included.
Then again, these trademarks could end up being nothing more than BMW performing its due diligence to prevent other brands to trademark the same names. That’s a possibility, but I think we’re all unanimous in hoping that these trademarks lead to something more than that.
Continue after the jump to read the full story.
1998 - 2002 BMW M Coupe
It’s been called the “clown shoe” on more than one occasion. Personally, I think it looks like a Dutch clog, but that’s just me. Whatever you want to call it, the BMW M Coupe is undeniably unique, and the individuality runs much deeper than simple aesthetics. From a numbers standpoint, it’s one of the lowest production BMWs ever made. Philosophically, the M Coupe was built by engineers for people who want to go fast, completely removed from the velocity-killing forces of branding and marketing. Rather, the approach taken here was more backyard-special than high-gloss advertisement – low weight, high horsepower, lots of rubber, and let the public think whatever it wants.
While at times unbridled and unforgiving, the M Coupe is still whip-smart, with handling that takes finesse and patience to master. A true enthusiast’s vehicle, Car and Driver called it “nerd chic,” while U.S. owners gather every year to share their passion at an event called Dorkfest. Let’s just say appeal is limited, at best.
While rarity and explicit weirdness have pushed the M Coupe into obscurity, car lovers of every stripe would do well to regard it as the fast, unhinged shooting-brake challenge that was never truly answered.
Continue reading to learn more about the 1998 – 2002 BMW M Coupe.
1978 - 1981 BMW M1
Although BMW had been racing its cars since the 1920s, it didn’t develop its first true-blue sports car until the late 1970s. A few years after the M division started making headlines with its beefed-up sedans and coupes, BMW signed an agreement with Italian manufacturer Lamborghini to build a mid-engine sports car in sufficient quantity for racing homologation. The collaboration didn’t go as planned, and BMW eventually decided to produce the car itself with input from its Motorsport division. The M1’s body was designed by Giugiaro, which explains its very Italian cues, while production was handled by Baur. The end result was sold to the public from 1978 to 1981, with only 453 examples built.
To this day, the M1 remains one of BMW’s rarest models. Likewise, it is also one of the company’s most successful race cars, with its track career surpassing that of the road car’s well into the 1980s. Unfortunately, the M1 is also BMW’s first sports car, which makes it that much more important to the Munich’s storied history as an automobile manufacturer.
The M1 Homage Concept launched in 2008 to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the M1 spawned rumors that BMW might build a successor, but a modern-day M1 has yet to arrive as of 2014.
Updated 08/23/2016: RM Sotheby’s auctioned a very well preserved Ferrari Enzo during the 2016 Monterey Car Week. Check out the "Prices" section to see how how much it was auctioned and the "Pictures" tab for some images taken during the event.
Continue reading to learn more about the 1978-1981 BMW M1.
2017 BMW M240i
For the moment, anyone who climbs the BMW 2 Series model ladder will eventually reach the M235i Coupe. Essentially the penultimate step before the top dog M2, the M235i offers copious sporting cues and performance-oriented hardware, but doesn’t bash the sensibilities (or bank account) quite like its hardcore sibling. Now at the halfway mark in its lifecycle, the compact is due for a refresh for the 2017 model year, which means an updated engine, and consequently, a new name – M240i. So far, official details from the Bavarians are limited, but given what we’re hearing from the rumor mill, you should also expect to see new equipment for the headlights and the cabin.
By all accounts, the M240i is exactly what we need from Bimmer, with more ponies, lower fuel consumption, quicker acceleration, and presumably, the latest gadgetry. Further details will drop this summer, but for now, read on for what we’ve learned so far.
Updated 03/23/2016: BMW announced prices for its latest M240i Coupe. Check the prices section to see how much you will have to pay for both the standard and the xDrive versions.
Continue reading to learn more about the 2017 BMW M240i.
Like many high-performance vehicles, the BMW M3 has provided the perfect platform for a dozen special-edition models throughout its history. Who can forget the E36-based GTR and the E46-based CSL, or even the Cecotto and Ravaglia editions of the first-generation M3? Then there’s the GTS, arguably one of the best-performing M3s in history.
Launched for the 2010 model year and with only 250 units built, the GTS was a more powerful and lighter version of the E92 M3. The coupe had a 4.4-liter V-8 rated at 444 horsepower and weighed 300 pounds less than the standard M3. These specs made it incredibly fast in the sprint to 60 mph, which took only 4.2 seconds, and it was quite popular with collectors. All 250 units sold immediately, despite a sticker of €115,000 (more than $130,000 as of 2015). Although the E92 remained the sole GTS-badged Bimmer for half a decade, the nameplate returned for the 2016 model year, this time around on the M4.
Tested for many months camouflaged as a MotoGP Safety Car and then previewed as a concept at Pebble Beach, the production M4 GTS just broke cover ahead of its official public debut at the 2015 Tokyo Motor Show. Granted, the GTS’ debut in Japan is rather exotic, but the Bimmer should debut in the U.S. at the Los Angeles Auto Show this November.
Updated 04/14/2016: BMW dropped a series of new images for its new M4 GTS, images taken during the car’s international press launch in Barcelona, Spain. We also want to remind you that the new M4 GTS will arrive on the U.S. market in the second quarter of 2016.
Click past the jump to read more about the 2016 BMW M4 GTS.
2017 BMW M7
Rumors of BMW planning to build an M7 have been floating around for quite a few years, but Munich has yet to offer a high-performance version of its range-topping limousine as of 2016. The Germans did launch the M760Li xDrive model for the 2017 model year with 600 horsepower, but the sedan isn’t a full-fledged M car. That may change in the future though, as BMW has announced plans to expand its range for M-branded models in March 2016. And with what appears to be a mule of an M7 already spotted on public roads, and BMW’s competitor for the Mercedes-AMG S63/S65 could be here as soon as 2017.
The big question here is “why now?” Well, BMW has been feeling the heat from the Mercedes S63 for some time now, but it was able to fend that off with its partner in crime, Alpina, and its B7. Now, with Cadillac causing all sorts of hell with its V-Series lineup and the looming CT6-V, BMW has no choice but to remove the sandbags from the 7 Series and create the first high-performance full-size since the limited-edition 745i SA, an actual M7 without the badges, built for the South African market between 1984 and 1987.
While Munich has yet to specifically confirm the upcoming M7, our paparazzi caught a group of M-badged cars out testing that included a 7 Series equipped with bigger, cross-drilled brakes. While the sedan sports the regular 7 Series body kit, the performance brakes and the fact that it was seen alongside two BMW X6Ms and an M5 suggests that BMW is indeed hard at work to bring us the first-ever M7.
With the debut of the M7 all but a certainty, we decided to dive into the rumor mill and fish out some details that will give you a good idea of what the M7 will bring to the table.
Updated 03/21/2016: Our spy photographers caught the first mule of the upcoming BMW M7 out for a testing session somewhere in Sweden.
Continue reading our speculative preview of the 2017 BMW M7 to learn more.
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BMW Touts New X7 And M Performance Models
BMW is in the process of shifting its entire brand strategy towards bringing in a new era for the German automaker. In one of the most comprehensive press releases you’ll ever see, BMW CEO Harald Kruger laid out the company’s plans in setting new profit goals and strengthening its position as a market leader in the premium segment, among other things.
The latter of those two strategies will include a extensive product expansion, which will include the introduction of the BMW X7, which could serve as the brand’s full-size, flagship SUV that will sit above the current X6 coupe-SUV. The introduction of the X7 has been rumored for some time, dating back to 2011. But this is the first indication from BMW itself that the production of the range-topping SUV will proceed. Kruger also added that the company plans to look at “broadening” the SUV segment, which could potentially mean the addition of different variants across the entire range. He didn’t elaborate on those statements, but it could be a reference to a possible expansions of incumbent models like the X1, X3, X4, X5, and X6, as well as additional versions of the upcoming X2 and X7 models.
The other important item about BMW’s aggressive new strategy is its plan for the M Performance division. Again, the company didn’t elaborate on the specifics of its plans, opting only to say that it’s looking into “expanding” the entire range of M Performance models, specifically within the higher volume segments. The phrase “higher volume segments” suggests that BMW is talking about the lower- to mid-ranges of its produce lineup, one that includes the 2, 3, 4, and 5 Series families, as well as the X1, X3, and X4 SUVs. Taking some of these buzzwords into the equation, it appears that the German automaker is looking at introducing new M variants for models in these families, opening the door for the possible return of the M3 Coupe, the introduction of an M4 Sedan, and more M-badged crossovers and SUVs in the future. The BMW M7 is also another model that’ll likely come out from this new business strategy as BMW continues to fill up the M Performance division.
One model that didn’t get a specific mention was the 8 Series. Recent rumors indicate that Kruger himself has been keen on adding a true flagship model that can directly compete against the Mercedes S-Class and the Bentley Continental. AutoCar even reported last month that initial plans for the 8 Series have already made their way to Kruger.
Whatever comes out of this new business strategy, it’s clear that BMW is taking a proactive approach in cultivating a strong foundation for its own future
Continue after the jump to read the full story.
2016 AC Schnitzer ACL2 Concept
AC Schnitzer is known for making statements in some of the biggest auto shows in the business. Over the years, it has used shows like the Geneva Motor Show to introduce provocative tuning projects. Now the German tuner is bringing an incredible concept vehicle to Geneva that has already left the Internet in a frenzy.
The concept vehicle is called the ACL2. It’s a rather simple name for a concept that’s anything but simple. It’s based on the BMW M 235i, arguably the least heralded member of the BMW’s M family. But don’t tell that to AC Schnitzer because the company performed what I can only describe as some serious tuning magic.
It’s too early to tell if this concept will steal the show at Geneva, but judging by how everyone has been reacting to leaked videos of the car being transported to Geneva, it’s a safe bet that a lot of people will be talking about the ACL2 well after Geneva’s closing day. So get the pens and cameras ready, folks. The ACL2 is already causing a ruckus as it prepares to take the Geneva Motor Show by storm.
Continue after the jump to read the full review.
BMW’s long list of vehicles grows yet again with the addition of this, the M40i version of the X4 Sort Activity Coupe. Yep, to compete better with Audi and Porsche, along with the other BMW models already sold, the X4 M40i brings more sport and performance to the table.
More power, better handling, better braking, and some restyled exterior trim work gives the M40i its advantages over the standard X4. Think of the M40i as BMW’s almost an M version of its third smallest crossover.
The X4, like its big brother the X6, is categorized by its sharply sloped rear roof section that gives the vehicle a coupe-like appearance despite its SUV-like proportions. While not the most practical, the design is certainly sportier than the block-ish shape of the X1, X3, and X5,
Like other M Performance models, the X4 has an upgraded version of its original engine. In this case, it’s the familiar 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder with forced induction thanks to turbocharging. The result of BMW’s massaging is an extra 55 horsepower and 43 pound-feet of torque. Matching the extra power are performance-oriented Michelin tires wrapped on your choice of 19- or 20-inch wheels motivated by a standard AWD system. But more on those details later.
The M40i will go on sale in February 2016 in the U.S. for a price BMW has yet to release. Expect that information to come when the M40i gets its formal introduction at the 2015 LA Auto Show.
Updated 01/13/2016: BMW brought the X4 M40i at the 2016 Detroit Auto Show and announced North American prices for the sports SUV. The model will go on sale in February 2016 at a starting price of under $60k.
Continue reading to learn more about the 2016 BMW X4 M40i.
BMW’s M division was originally established in 1972 to oversee the company’s motorsports activities, but on-track success soon translated into customer demand. The 1975 BMW 3.0 CSL didn’t have an ‘M’ in its name, but as a homologation special, it was the first consumer products from the M division. It’s also the first car in this fantastic video that celebrates 40 years of M cars (1972-2012) in the best way possible, driving them on the Nürburgring.
People like to throw around the phrase “race car for the road,” but the 3.0 CSL was the genuine article. With an enlarged engine designed to compete in the over-3.0-liter class, and lightweight body panels, there was little that separated the class-winning cars at Le Mans from the ones available in the showroom. Its giant spoiler and wing over the rear window were so extreme that they weren’t legal on European roads, so BMW M stowed them in the trunk to be fitted at owners’ discretion.
BMW M cars have gotten a bit more road-friendly since then, but they definitely haven’t gotten slower, and this video features most of the more notable ones. The mid-engine M1 follows the 3.0 CSL, and everything from the E30 M3 and 2010 BMW M3 GTS E92 to the 2016 BMW M6 F12 is covered — all on the Nürburgring against the gorgeous backdrop of the Eifel Mountains, and with no goofy dubstep soundtrack.
The the 1998 - 2002 BMW Z3M Coupe is an odd-ball that took its lumps but ended up being incredibly fun; the same can probably be said for the latest Petrolicious video. Normally focusing on rare, low-production vintage and classic cars, Petrolicious switched gears a bit to focus on Alex McCulloch and his interestingly tuned BMW Z3M Coupe.
McCulloch, an airline pilot and avid hang glider, chose the car for its challenging nature, which he says is an “exercise in frustration,” but he has turned the M Coupe into an impressive track car that tackles the NASA Time Trial (TTB) class. Watching him drive around the track shows just how much of a handful the Z3M Coupe can be to drive. Perhaps the best part about his car is that he has tuned it in a way that it can easily be put back to stock in 48 hours, if needed.
The tuning was never an issue with the Z3M Coupe, though. It was the awkward shooting brake design. As McCulloch put it, the Z3M Coupe was “not a product of marketing or branding.” Instead, it was an effort to make a more rigid, track-friendly version of the Z3M leading to the Coupe’s unusual design that has earned the car numerous nicknames over the years including “clown shoe,” which is referenced in the episode title.
Sure, this Petrolicious lacks a gorgeous vintage car and obnoxious, burbling exhaust notes, but it offer some cool aerial videography and colorful viewer comments (hurray, Internet!). Seriously, reading the comments on this one is almost as fun as watching the video itself… go ahead, check them out!
Traditional BMW fans’ heads are likely nearing capacity for change, and now I have one more bit of change to cram in there. I am talking about a report that BMW in considering building an X1 M.
That’s right, not only is BMW swapping its 1 Series and X1 to front-wheel drive, it now wants its M Performance division to operate on this transverse setup. Fortunately, the X1 M would likely be all-wheel drive, so we can give it a little bit of a pass. Still, an M-tuned compact crossover… Ugh…
According to the report, the 2017 BMW X1 M would likely have to live with a retuned version of the existing 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder, which BMW stated could produce as much as 302 horsepower. In years past we’d say “just stuff the 3.0-liter inline-six under the hood and call it a day,” but the transverse setup under the new 2016 BMW X1 eliminates this one-time catchall solution. So, four-cylinder it is!
While that may not sound like the power output we’re all used to from an M vehicle, it is in line with its main competitors: 2015 Audi RS Q3 and 2015 Mercedes-Benz GLA45 AMG.
With the X1 set to hit dealers later in 2015, look for the X1 M to launch midway through 2016 at the earliest.
Continue reading for the full story.
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Of all the new cars and SUVs BMW has launched recently, nothing has generated as much attention as the impending introduction of the 2016 BMW M2. It’s no secret that BMW is working on a hardcore version of the 2 Series to succeed the much-loved 2012 BMW 1 Series M Coupe, and BMW isn’t doing much to hide it. Quite the opposite, in fact.
With an official introduction expected later this year, a prototype for the 2016 BMW M2 was spotted recently being completely flogged around the Nürburgring. Combining the best attributes from the already-exciting 2014 BMW M235i Coupe and the track-scorching 2015 BMW M4, the M2 has no problem negotiating the famed track. Between the screeching tires and the throaty exhaust, the sounds emanating from this car are enough to get any enthusiast’s blood pumping.
There’s still no official word on the M2’s spec sheet, but the expected output should be somewhere in the 365-horsepower range from the twin-turbo 3.0-liter inline-six. The prototype shown in this video is obviously wearing a more aggressive front fascia, wider tires and a quad exhaust outlet, although it’s not clear if the M2 will be getting any carbon-fiber body panels for additional weight savings. What is completely clear, though, is that this sporty coupe turns on a dime with little fuss.
If driving the 2016 BMW M2 is half as fun as watching the professionals tear it up around the ‘Ring, then get ready for one incredible car.
Deep down, we all knew this would happen eventually. BMW’s new M boss, Frank van Meel, has announced that the manual transmission likely won’t be around too much longer on M models. The reasons are the same ones we hear every time this kind of announcement is made: dual-clutch transmissions are faster and better for fuel economy, and of course the big reason: people just aren’t buying enough manuals. It was acknowledged that there are still quite a few fans of manuals on M cars, but with those sales continuing to decline, the future “isn’t bright.”
As a further piece of bad news, Van Meel also announced that M would be putting a 600-horsepower cap on all M models. For the higher-volume models like the M3 and M4, this won’t be much of an issue, at least not for the foreseeable future, but bigger models like the M5 are pretty close to that line already. That’s not to say that BMW won’t be working on ways to make better use of that power in future versions of the car, but the words “horsepower cap” are never something you want to hear in connection to something like the M division.
Continue reading for the full story.
For the 2012 model year, BMW released the fully redesigned sixth-generation 3 Series, but it left the M3 sedan on the shelf until it rebooted the fast four-door for 2015. Equipped with a massively powerful inline-six engine in place of the old V-8, the 2015 M3 was faster and more agile than it had ever been before. As we near the 2016 model year, the 3 Series received a light refresh, and despite the fact that it just launched with a new body, the M3 joined in this redesign.
BMW has been out testing the revised M3 for quite some time now, using plenty of camouflage to cover some of its body panels. Unfortunately, the camo proved to be just a way to build some hype around the 2016 M3, which received only a handful of updates inside and out. Not too upsetting given the M3 is still fresh and has plenty of feats to brag about, but this isn’t what I’d call a facelift.
Updated 06/18/2015: BMW announced prices for the 2016 M3 sedan which will be put on sale later in the summer. For 2016 the M3 is priced from $64,195, including $995 destination and handling. The price represents a significant increase over the previous year’s $62,000.
Continue reading to learn more about the BMW M3.
For the longest time, the M3 and M5 were the only two M cars you could buy, but now the M badge has proliferated across the BMW lineup. What was once the just the M3 has now spawned the M4. The M6 comes in both coupe and four-door coupe flavors. Want a faster SUV or crossover? Look no further than the 2015 BMW X5 M and 2015 BMW X6 M. And that’s not even counting M Performance cars like the 2014 BMW M235i or the upcoming M2 sport coupe and M7 fast full-size sedan. I might need a new “M” key by the time I finish typing this.
For my money the M4 and M6 Coupe are probably the two most desirable M cars in the current range, and the two came together for this half-mile drag race caught on camera by the Bay Area Racing YouTube channel. By the looks and sounds of the two, they’re far from stock. Both wear Vörsteiner body kits and wheels. I’m normally not a body-kit-kind-of-guy, but the kits for both cars land in good place on the understated/obnoxious continuum.
In stock form, the M4’s twin-turbo, 3.0-liter, straight-six engine puts down 425 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque, while the twin-turbo, 4.4-liter V-8 in the M6 produces 560 horsepower and 501 pound-feet of torque. We’re not sure how much power these two are making, but we imagine it’s a good bit more than that. Both drivers stomp the loud pedal after a rolling start, and get on with the job of making it to the other end of the half-mile stretch of runway as quickly as possible. Can the lighter M4 hold off the (presumably) more-powerful M6? Watch and find out.
What qualities would you look for in a getaway car? Obviously, you would want something fast, but you would probably also want something with four doors to make entry and egress easier for your accomplices. You’ll probably also want something inconspicuous that can melt into the background and relatively compact incase you need to maneuver through any tight alleyways.
Whether you’re a secret agent or have just made some bad choices in life, we would recommend the latest F80 BMW M3. Coincidentally, that’s the exact car Tom Cruise and Simon Pegg will use to outrun a pack of armed and angry motorcyclists through the streets of Casablanca, Morocco in this summer’s Mission: Impossible Rouge Nation. The Impossible Missions Force M3 appears to be equipped with a few additional features, including a handprint recognition system on the drivers-side window that can be used to unlock the door. Unfortunately, Tom Cruise’s handprint on the window is the least of this M3’s problems: It gets shot at, driven through a flea market, smashed into motorcycles and then driven off a veranda in reverse.
It’s the second BMW to appear in a Mission: Impossible movie. The first was the BMW VisionEfficient Dynamics (the conceptual predecessor to the i8), which had a brief cameo the in the fourth movie, Mission: Impossible Ghost Protocol.
This is the second trailer for the movie, and it looks like fun!
The German luxury-car manufacturers have been locked in a horsepower war for the past decade. Between Mercedes-Benz’ AMG models, Audi’s RS cars and BMW’s M Division cars, we’re getting more and more powerful sports cars coming from Europe. The M Division in particular has proven to be particularly adept at crafting impressive performance upgrades for just about any BMW product. According to comments made by BMW M’s CEO Frank van Meel , the next shot to be fired is likely to be an M version of the X3 compact crossover.
It makes perfect sense. The X5 was BMW’s first SUV (or SAV, as BMW likes to call it—a "sport activity vehicle"), and the 567-horsepower X5 M debuted in 2009, to do battle with an AMG-massaged Mercedes ML-Class, among others. The X3 is came along in 2003 as the second member of BMW’s SAV family. Now in its second generation, there’s been speculation that the third generation will bring an X3 M variant. If BMW’s usual model-introduction practice remains the same, an X3 M might debut some time in 2016 in Europe, with a North American intro following soon after.
Because the BMW’s 3.0-liter straight six already fits in the X3, it’s very likely that the X3 M will be powered by the 425-horsepower twin-turbo six that powers the M3 and M4. Of course, other than the confirmation that an X3 M is coming, all of this is speculation.
Continue reading for the full story.
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BMW’s badging for special versions of M products sometimes feels a bit like it’s being made up as they go along. But the upcoming M4 GTS is not only a return of the GTS badge, first used on the 2010 M3 GTS, but it is also shaping up to be quite an impressive car. We’ve been getting piecemeal bits of information about the car for a little while, and the latest news from Bimmerpost tells us a bit about the weight savings we can expect from the car.
The first thing to look for is that there will be no back seat. Rear seat deletes are pretty much standard for all really serious track-focused versions of 2+2 coupes. The body will also be 220 pounds lighter than that of the standard M4, doubtless through the use of carbon fiber, as was the case with the previous GTS. A number of other creature comforts will be deleted, such as the infotainment and climate control systems, and racing seats will replace the remaining two seats. There might be options available in Europe which won’t be available in the US, but this is still undetermined.
Continue reading to learn more about the BMW M4 GTS.
For the first time in its 14-year history, the BMW Car Club of America’s annual Car of Your Dreams Raffle will give away a fully tuned and custom-built Bimmer sporting a huge array of performance parts from one of the world’s leading go-faster shops, Dinan Engineering. The Grand Prize will be a 2015 M4 Coupe Dinan Club Edition with over 20 grand in upgrades, a total package value of $110,000.
Draped in an Alpine White paint job and boasting 530 horsepower, 504 pound-feet of torque, and a slew of tasty carbon-fiber add-ons, the hyper-powered two-door is ostensibly one of the most valuable and powerful M4s in existence.
“This year, we’re proud to present a Grand Prize raffle car engineered by Steve Dinan, rolling on Forgeline metal and gripping the road courtesy of Michelin. Three of the top names in automotive excitement join the Ultimate Drivers’ Club in bringing you the M4 of your dreams,” said Frank Patek, executive director of the BMW CCA.
In addition to the uber-Bavarian sled Grand Prize, the raffle will also give away a brand-new F80 M3 sedan, MSRP $62,000, and a brand-new M235i coupe, MSRP $43,100. There will also be special drawings for every ticket purchased during specific designated periods, with prizes including $1,000 gift cards for IHG Hotels, Michelin Tires, Shell gas, Best Buy, and Amex.
Tickets are currently available for $25 a pop to BMW CCA members only, so you’ll need to join if you want to win. Each ticket offers a 1-in-5,000 chance of winning a car. There is no limit to the number of tickets you can purchase. The entry deadline is September 10.
Continue reading for the full story.
Both the BMW 3 Series and the M3 have just received their facelifts for the 2016 model year, and, as many of you are aware, updates are far from significant. Aside from the new 3.0-liter, inline-six in the 340i model, which replaces the previous 335i, both cars are about new light clusters and slightly revised dashboards. As a result, it was expected prices would see only minor adjustments compared to 2015. Now, an ordering guide that has just hit the Interwebz via Bimmer Post confirms that pricing for the 2016 M3 has seen a modest increase.
According to the guide, customers looking to buy the facelifted M3 would have to pay $63,200 before options. That’s an increase of $1,200 over 2015. Also, bundles such as the Driver Assistance Plus, the Executive Package, and the Lighting Package would cost $1,700, $3,500, and $1,900, respectively. Also, the available double-clutch transmission retails for $2,900, while the Adaptive M suspension fetches $1,000.
Having received similar updates, the M4 coupe is also $1,200 more expensive than last year’s model, meaning it retails from $65,400 for 2016. Likewise, the 2016 M4 Convertible sports a $1,400 premium, taking the new sticker to $74,900.
Pricing for the milder 3 Series and 4 Series have yet to be announced, but BMW should spill the beans later this summer. Stay tuned for updates.
Continue reading for the full story.
Take a look at the original E30 M3 next to the current M3 and M4 twins, and one thing is apparent: the current M cars are huge. The bigger the M3 got over the years, the bigger the gap grew for a smaller (and cheaper) M car in BMW’s portfolio. The fantastic 1 Series M Coupe rectified this to some extent, but it was built in such small numbers that it was nearly impossible to get your hands on one. Even today they’re selling for well over MSRP.
But relief is on the way in the form of the 2 Series-based M2, seen here putting in some hot laps on the Nürburgring. From the looks of these test mules, BMW appears to be in the final stages of M2 development. The psychedelic camouflage hides wider front fenders, similar to the ones seen on the M235i race car, and stylized M-specific front and rear fascias. Of course, there’s also the requisite quad exhaust exits.
Expect to see a detuned version of the same twin-turbo 3.0-liter straight six from the M3/M4 producing around 365 horsepower and 343 pound-feet of torque.The regular 2 Series is actually pretty heavy for its size, so expect the M2 to be put on a diet of carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic body panels and aluminum chassis components. That, combined with a short wheelbase, should translate to some agile handling characteristics too. Look for the M2 to be unveiled later in 2015 and to hit showrooms in 2016.
We’re really looking forward to this one.
For fans of German performance cars, not much can top the sights and sounds of 43 BMW M cars all on a parade around the Nurburgring.f Most of the cars in this video are, as you’d expect, M3s, but there are 1M’s, M4s, M5s, M6s, X5 Ms and X6 Ms. Even the Safety cars are an M4 and an M6. Sadly, there is no M1, but that was going to be a long shot anyway. The footage comes from a parade held as a preliminary event before the 24 Hours Nurburgring race. With BMW fans’ joy being only somewhat diminished when a BMW took second behind an Audi in the actual race.
AMG didn’t come under Mercedes control until 1990, and has only been a wholly owned division of the company for a decade. Audi made its first RS-badged car in 1994, but BMW was well ahead of both of its major competitors in the performance department when it rolled out the first M-badged car in 1978. M heritage therefore stretches a bit further back, and it makes the cars a logical choice for such a storied race track.
If you live in the United States and you’ve been holding out for a hotter BMW M4, then it appears your patience has been rewarded. Newly leaked information suggests that the racier 2016 M4 GTS will make its way across the Atlantic to be sold in North America. You might remember that BMW didn’t think we Americans were cool enough to buy the very fast and very orange E92 M3 GTS.
User MikeBMWVegas at Bimmer Post brought the info to light after he came across the 2016 M4 GTS Coupe in BMW’s North American ordering system. Info on colors, pricing and options isn’t available yet, but it appears sales will begin in March of 2016.
BMW hasn’t released anything official on the GTS or even confirmed its existence, but we have a pretty good idea of what to expect from the lighter, more powerful M4. Our spy shots show some clearly visibly new exterior features, including a jutting front splitter and a fixed rear wing. Power should be bumped up to the 450 horsepower range and weight reduced by around 200 pounds. Look for the M4 GTS at the 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show in September.
Continue reading to learn more about the future BMW M4 GTS.
In the 2014 model year here in the U.S., BMW added the Competition Package to the M6 lineup. Now, with the 2016 M6 rolling into dealers, the German automaker has released an updated version of the Competition Package that carries a much bigger stick.
It’s odd to see BMW put this much work into the M6, which fits a pretty narrow niche and doesn’t have a plethora of competitors breathing down its tailpipe. However, the 15-horsepower bump and the slight suspension tweaking of the previous Competition Package likely wasn’t too enticing to buyers, so I assume this is the reason for giving it a significant boost for 2016.
So, what does this faster version of the already super-fast 2016 BMW M6 have to offer and will it finally be worth the added scratch that BMW is asking for it?
Continue reading to learn more about the 2016 BMW M6 Competition Package and find out.
Somewhere in Southern California, there’s a warehouse with over 50 BMWs, spanning from 1960 to 1988. The cars are carefully preserved and restored, parked on double-decker hoists, and the whole collection belongs to just one man, who prefers to remain anonymous.
The unknown BMW aficionado is living the dream of many a car guy, having worked his way up from nothing to amass a hand-selected collection of the cars that captured his imagination when he was young. He was homeless at age 17, and now that he’s successful, he’s built a collection of the cars that he loves. This isn’t an investment so much as a labor of love. The cars in the collection are maintained in running, driveable condition and include examples of just about every significant production model of the 1980s. The collector also has one of two 700 RS racers. A massive parts and literature trove ensures that the cars will remain in good repair for some time to come.
The video, from BMWstories, provides an interesting insight into the mind of an enthusiastic car collector, regardless of his marque of choice. In the six-minute presentation, you’ll catch glimpses of several 2002s, a daily-driver E30 M3, an M6 and even a couple of E21s like the one I used to have.
You’re already imagining what you’d do if you had similar means, aren’t you? What would your warehouse and shop be filled with?
Norbert Reithofer is set to step down as the CEO of BMW on May 13th, but his successor and former production chief, Harald Krueger, is already starting to shake things up with the elimination of the i8S, M8, and other key Bimmer and Mini concepts.
The i8S was all but confirmed just months ago, but now this higher-output version of the already impressive i8 is on the scrapheap. Another high-profile BMW concept turned reject under the new regime is the M8. Initial reports about the M8 claimed it would share most of its styling elements with the i8, but under its hood, it would have a twin-turbo V-8 with about 600 horsepower.
While both the i8S and the M8 were awesome on paper, neither made too much business sense. Both would take away from potential i8 sales, despite the power and price differences, and there just isn’t much room in Bimmer’s customer base for this many supercars.
Also gone are the 9 Series coupe, the Z2 Roadster, and the 2 Series GT. The report from Automobile Magazine goes on to claim that Krueger also sent a few undisclosed Mini concepts packing.
In the midst of all this spring cleaning, there was one concept that remained: the i5. According to the report, the i5 will receive the go-ahead later in 2015 as a traditional, three-box sedan with a pure-electric powertrain or a plug-in hybrid drivetrain. The all-electric model will reportedly use a 225-horsepower motor in the rear and a 135-horsepower motor up front, while the plug-in hybrid would use a 275-horsepower electric motor and either a three- or four-cylinder engine.
Continue reading to learn more about the elimination of these models.
If you were asked to analyze your own personal car, how would you describe it? Would you recommend it to your friends and family? How about if over a hundred thousand netizens looked to you for guidance? That was the task Nick Murray assigned himself after six months behind the wheel of the venerable BMW M4. Thankfully, Murray covers every facet of the vehicle in this exhaustive 36-minute review, throwing in a bit of RWD sliding in the snow for fun.
Murray starts with this brilliant approximation of the stereotypical M performance nut: “I think some M4/M3 owners might tell you ‘I own and M4 or M3 because it’s a fast executive coupe that can also be used for track days on the weekends.’ Don’t listen to those liars! Every M3 or M4 owner is a nine-year-old trapped in an adult’s body. And what’s a nine-year-old want to do? They want to drag race their friends and beat them, they want to do skids and wheelies, and they want to drift their trikes around corners.” Indeed.
Some highway driving, an explanation of interior functions, a discussion of features, and some viewership Q&A follow the powdery hooliganism. There’s even a blooper reel.
All told, Murray covers every aspect of his M4 in exacting detail. Check it out and let us know if you agree with his opinions.
To celebrate 30 years of its mid-size sport sedan, BMW introduced the BMW M5 “30 Jahre M5” special edition last year with just 300 units planned for production globally. Of those, only 30 of those would be making it to the U.S., and only 29 planned for customers; the 30th would remain with BMW for now, with the possibility of being sold off in the future.
Speaking of being sold off, the duPont Registry is listing a 30 Jahre M5 in Heathrow, Florida for $325,000 with 200 miles on the odometer. If you’re wondering, these cars sold brand new for $138,275, and that price included an exclusive M Driving School designed specifically for 30 Jahre M5 buyers, which took place last fall.
While that is something the secondhand buyer definitely won’t be able to experience, the car itself should make up for that. The limited-edition M5 gets unique 20-inch alloy wheels, a Frozen Dark Silver Metallic matte paint job and plenty of “30 Jahre M5” badges, including those embossed onto the seats. This M5 also squeezes an extra 25 horsepower from the 4.4-liter twin-turbo V-8. increasing output to 600 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque.
Continue reading to learn more about the 2015 BMW M5 Special 30 Jahre Edition.
Just like Aston Martin has had a life-long connection with the James Bond franchise – even though Ian Fleming’s Bond actually drove a Bentley – BMW products have been featured in so many Mission Impossible films that they are now almost part of the recurring cast. This feeling should be reinforced with Mission:Impossible – Rogue Nation, the fifth movie from the highly lucrative franchise. Tom Cruise’s character, Ethan Hunt, will benefit from at least two BMWs in the upcoming film, one of which is a Silverstone Metallic M3 sedan, which he proceeds to pretty much destroy during an action-packed car chase.
The car is featured in both the first official teaser seen above and in the movie’s trailer, but that is not the only way you will get to see Tom Cruise man-handling a BMW. At least one S1000 RR supersports bike made by BMW Motorrad will also be featured, thus making Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation hark back to Top Gun from some perspectives, while unconfirmed reports mention that the 2017 BMW 7 Series may also make a surprise appearance.
Set to hit theaters on July 31, 2015, the fifth installment of the Mission: Impossible series comes 19 years after the first movie, and filming was completed earlier this month. As with most of Tom Cruise’s films, most of the action sequences involving the actor were filmed without a stunt double, but I somehow doubt that Cruise is driving in every single BMW M3 scene.
Built between 1985 and 1992, the first M3 model, which is based on the E30 3 Series, is regarded as one of the company’s most exciting products ever. It is also a highly sought-after collectible, especially in its Evolution and Sport Evolution trims, two uprated versions with up to 235 horsepower on tap. BMW is well aware of that and it is planning to use the E30 M3 as inspiration for a future M car project. That’s the word from BMW Group design director Adrian van Hooydonk, who told AutoCar that a production car featuring cues from the E30 M3 is underway.
"The E30 M3 has a really big fan base, and we are going to be taking cues from it for a future product," he said. Van Hooydonk wouldn’t elaborate on which model will be used to pay tribute to the E30 M3, but AutoCar claims the new M2, due to arrive later in 2015, is the likely candidate. Why not the M4 you may ask? Well, as a direct successor to the 1 Series Coupe, the 2 Series benefits from the 1 Series cachet among BMW enthusiasts. You see, the 1 Series Coupe was labeled the best vehicle Munich has made in the 21st century and the 2 Series checks all the right boxes in that regard. Add the fact the 2 Series is considered the spiritual successor to the iconic 2002 model, and it’s obvious why the compact two-door is better suited to represent the E30 M3 than the M4 is.
Continue reading to learn more about BMW’s future M2 special edition.
Noted for its exotic police vehicles, Abu Dhabi is also home to one of BMW’s busiest dealerships. From the striped 335i M Performance Edition to the flashy M6 Gran Coupe Java Green, BMW Abu Dhabi rolled out an unprecedented number of bespoke cars throughout 2014. And as you might have already guessed, I’m here to tell you the showroom is looking to sell even more bespoke BMWs in 2015. Its most recent delivery is the M4 Coupe Pyrite Brown Edition showcased below, which illustrates the customization potential for the M4, one of BMW’s best-selling models in the Middle East.
Like most bespoke vehicles paraded by BMW Abu Dhabi, the Pyrite Brown Edition is equipped with many optional features, including a custom paint job and an interior trim picked from the Individual catalog. The coupe is also a one-off and not a limited-edition series as its name might suggest. Keep reading for the full run-down.
Continue reading to learn more about the BMW M4 Coupe Pyrite Brown Edition.
Late last month, we took a look at BMW’s M4 MotoGP Safety Car, the vehicle designated to set the pace for the fastest liter-bikes in the world. It has a few upgrades from the stock model, including a new coilover suspension, a lightweight M Performance titanium exhaust system, a simply superb black paint job, a few requisite racing decals, Recaro racing bucket seats, and carbon-fiber aerodynamics front to back.
Most interestingly, though, was that the stock turbocharged inline-six powerplant had been outfitted with a water-injection system. Now, according to Car And Driver, this system will be stock kit for the M4 GTS track model. The news comes from an unidentified insider who spoke to the publication at the Geneva Motor Show.
With the GTS poised as a stripped-down, hardcore, go-faster iteration of BMW’s two-door sports car, it makes sense that the Bavarians would throw a water-injection system into the mix. A bit more power and better reliability will complement the vehicle’s already uncompromising attitude, and although it’s not necessarily ground-breaking technology, every little bit of efficiency from the new forced-induction engine will surely not be wasted on the track. Expect to see this system revealed in August during the Pebble Beach Auto Week.
Continue reading to learn more about the BMW M4 GTS.
Even though the current BMW M3 has only been on the market for about a year, there are already talks about its successor, and a highly speculative report has appeared in that regard. According to known automotive insider Georg Kacher, who recently spilled some beans about the next BMW 3 Series in Automobile Magazine, the new M3 will deliver around 500 horsepower thanks to some pretty advanced technology solutions.
First of all, the engine is expected to remain a twin-turbocharged, inline-six, but with a difference. Its turbochargers may not be connected to the exhaust but take their power from electric motors, like on the Audi RS5 TDI Concept, leaving them to be called electric compressors or superchargers. Second of all, partially previewed by the BMW M4 MotoGP Safety Car, the next M3 may also have a water-injection system, increasing the engine’s efficiency.
With the model about five years away, most speculations are obviously to be taken with a pinch of salt, but Georg Kacher has been known to provide accurate information before, and BMW did mention that the water-injection system may be used on a production model in the future. As far as the electric superchargers are concerned, we will just have to wait for Audi to introduce it first around 2016, and see how it goes. I have a feeling that this technology will do wonders in the BMW M3 or any other turbocharged sports car.
Continue reading to learn more about the next BMW M3.
The BMW 1 Series arrived for the 2012 model year, and the following year, the wild M135i hatch made its debut, giving Bimmer the hot hatchback that Europeans crave so much. As we head into the 2015 model year in Europe – they are one model year behind us – the M135i is receiving a slight update that gives it cues similar to the rest of the BMW lineup. On top of its new looks, the 2015 M135i also gets a slight power bump and the option to send the ponies to all four wheels.
With this refresh, it is obvious that BMW is looking to do more than simply make the M135i look like the rest of its lineup. The extra power and the addition of all-wheel drive is a sign that Bimmer is playing keeping up with the Joneses with the A45 AMG 4MATIC and the upcoming Audi RS3, both of which feature all-wheel drive and quicker acceleration times. So, can the extra power and xDrive all-wheel drive close the gap enough to allow the Bimmer hatch to keep pace with the its Mercedes and Audi competitors?
Click "Continue Reading" to read my full review of the 2015 M135i to find out.
Full disclosure: This article on BMW’s stunning, new M4 MotoGP Safety Car (or "Pace Car," if you’re American) contain references to the German WWII Focke-Wulf 190 fighter. You know, I love BMW as much as anyone, and generally avoid bringing up certain historical associations because of that... But with the Bavarians set to once again bomb around Europe on the power of water injection, there’s kind of no ignoring this snarling Wulf in the room. Read our full review of the 2015 M4 here.
Click "Continue Reading" to learn more about the 2015 BMW M4 MotoGP Safety Car.
Ah yes, the fully-loaded Bimmer. The car that was once affordable turned almost completely unattainable. There are, of course, many levels to this equation. The top trim of the i8, for example, is a mere $11,000 above starting price, but considering that it takes $136,000 just to get in the door, it’s not really indicative of the overall trend.
To see the full power of the BMW options list, we must go a bit deeper into Munich’s catalog, off to a place that looks more conventional, traditional, and relatively affordable. An everyday model, if you will. Something like the new M4. This vehicle starts at $64,200, which is more than I can afford, but hey, someone is buying it. If you happen to be such an individual, be careful with that pen – check too many boxes, and you’re looking at a number quickly approaching six figures.
Thankfully, not all that money is necessarily put towards a concierge service and parking assist. The wiser consumer would instead opt for things like carbon-ceramic brakes, a steering wheel trimmed in Alcantara and leather, a titanium exhaust system, and carbon-fiber aerodynamic enhancements.
That’s the kind of options package that makes sense to me. You can keep the new floor mats and extra storage pockets. As is evident from this video, such extras are inconsequential when setting a personal fastest lap around an industrial park.
Click past the jump to read more about the BMW M4.
In a bid to clean up average emissions numbers, BMW is looking to transform its lineup with a sweeping conversion to electric power over the course of the next 10 years. Spearheading this change will be the 3 Series, one of the German marque’s leading volume sellers. However, despite offering sporty hybrid models like the i8, Bimmer says it’s not quite ready to flip the switch on its performance-oriented M cars.
That’s the word coming from Aussie website CarAdvice, which spoke to Carsten Pries, head of product management at BMW’s M division. In an interview at the international launch for the X6 M crossover, Pries commented on the commercial viability of electric vehicles, stating: “this is the most difficult questions to answer, of when it will be more than just a trend to standout from the crowd, something that is really relevant for the majority of the people in the market. That, from our expectation, is still a few years down the road.”
Pries went on to say that while it’s unlikely you’ll find an M badge on the i8 or i3, an electric M model was still possible at some point in the future: “Would we like to do something else stand alone? You can wake up every one of the 550 employees [of M division] and they will tell you ‘yes’… Whether it’s commercially viable or sensible, that’s a different question.”
Click past the jump to read more about BMW’s electric plans.
The 2016 BMW M2 is just over the horizon, and I couldn’t be more excited. Not only will it reportedly be powered by a 3.0-liter, twin-turbocharged inline-six that puts down between 380 and 400 horses, but it will be as close to the 2002tii as we’ve come in recent years. It will be small, have two doors, and it’ll be much more powerful than it should be. Oh, and it’ll be rear-wheel drive, just to sweeten the pot a little. And now a new report from the folks at the 2addicts forums shows that the M2 may be even more awesome, as it appears as it will borrow some styling cues from the 2014 BMW Vision Gran Turismo Concept.
The folks over at the forum managed to do some Sherlock Holmes-style investigating on the most recent spy shots of the M2, and saw some striking similarities between the M2 and the Vision GT Concept. I must say, some of their sleuthing was downright impressive, but some of it is a tad assumptive, as the camo is so heavy in some sections your eyes can play tricks on you – hence that swirly camo… Some of the cues they saw include the air vents on the outer edges of the rear bumper, the rear diffuser, and the air inlets just in front of the rear wheels.
Click past the jump to read more about the M2 resembling the Vision GT Concept.
Drifting ain’t easy. No, I’m not talking about stuffing plastic lunch trays under the rear wheels of your mom’s Honda CRX (although that is pretty fun). I’m talking about real drifting, with clutch kicks, feint drifts, and good ol’ fashioned power oversteer. You know, the kind of thing you see in Formula Drift or the D1 Pro Series. Maintaining a long, smoky slide across blacktop may look like a breeze when the hot-shoes are behind the wheel, but trust me — such feats are the stuff of superheroes. Stringing together several corners while moving sideways takes incredible car control, experience, and a vehicle capable of handling it.
Throw in another drifter for some tandem action, and the difficulty is ratcheted up exponentially. Now, not only is a driver responsible for keeping his or her tires at maximum boil, but he must also do so without skinning the surface of another car who’s driver is equally as twitchy and nervous.
That’s why head-to-head battles are the quickest way to sort through a collection of potential drift champions. A direct comparison of speed, angle, line, and of course, style, combined with the back-and-forth duel of two cars over the limits of adhesion, make for one of the most challenging trials in motorsports.
Having the right car helps. RWD and an engine in the front is what makes cars like this BMW the correct choice for effective tire-shredding. As for harboring a gigantic turbocharger under the hood… well, that doesn’t hurt either.
Click past the jump to read about this BMW M3 E36.
A full-blown M-version of the BMW 7 Series has long been in the cards as far as certain Bimmer aficionados are concerned, with every new generation of the model having been expected by some to feature such a model as a range-topper. Talks about the possibility of an M7 usually increase when a 7 Series generation is approaching the end of its life-cycle, so with the 2017 model being right around the corner, speculation is at a high level once again. According to an interview he recently gave to AutoGuide, even the director of product at BMW M, Carsteb Pries, kind of acknowledged that demand for an M7 is real.
With that being said, Pries also mentioned that the "real demand" may not actually be significant enough, and stipulated that there should be a good number of potential customers to "make such a project a priority ahead of other potential projects." You can take whatever you like from that phrase, but Pries also admitted to having received multiple emails with photoshopped M7 versions of the 7 Series and accompanying, "This is what I want" texts. If those don’t sound like potential customers, I don’t know what does.
Since the next generation of the 7 Series has already been spied completely undisguised almost a year before normal folks were supposed to see it, BMW’s marketing department has a lot on its mind in 2015. In other words, if an M-version is indeed in the cards, BMW has every reason to take everyone’s mind off of it and keep your attention on the current product line.
Click past the jump to read more about a possible BMW M7.
There are worse ways to make a living than gallivanting around the world driving some of the greatest cars mankind has ever produced, so it’s fair to say that Chris Harris has a job we all want. He calls his latest video “Car of the Year 2014,” but contrary to what the name suggests it’s not so much a contest, but rather a 42-minute celebration of Harris’ favorite cars of the last two years or so.
The setting is the beautiful Autódromo Internacional do Algarve in Portimão, Portugal and the players are the Porsche 918 Spyder, Porsche GT3, Ferrari 458 Speciale, Ferrari F12berlinetta, Renault Megane 275 Trophy-R, Aston Martin V12 Vantage S, and BMW M3. There are no winners or losers, just Harris and a few of his friends who have helped him out along the way, torching Pirellis and leaving long black marks all over the Portuguese tarmac.
Side activities include an impromptu go-kart race, with Harris and his longtime cameraman Neil Carry switching roles and failing miserably, and an unlikely drag race between the Porsche 918, Ferrari F12 and Renault Megane Trophy-R. No prizes for correctly predicting the finishing order for that one.
For some reason, one of the special 2015 BMW M5 30th Jahre Anniversary Edition out of the 30 that were imported in to the U.S. market didn’t find a buyer at first. However, once it went to auction, it unsurprisingly managed to sell for a rather hefty sum of $700,000 on January 15, 2015, with the cash going to the BMW Club of America Foundation, a non-profit charitable organization.
Apparently, the winner is known NASCAR team owner and rare-car hunter Rick Hendrick, of Hendrick Motorsports, who also owns a museum with over 200 cars in North Carolina and who apparently said that the M5 will not be used as a daily driver but as a museum piece since it is a very rare vehicle. Hendrick is also known for having bought the first-ever 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray in both coupe and convertible guises for a cool $1,000,000 each, so he is no stranger to severely overpaying for certain unique cars.
Before the auction, BMW of North America had pledged to provide an M Driving School program for two to the winning bidder, but seeing as Rick Hendrick began his career in auto racing at age 14 and even has four NASCAR races under his belt, I think that the offer may be respectfully turned down. The M5 came in Dark Frozen Silver paint with black-chrome accents and light-alloy wheels, while the interior is adorned in black-and-grey leather with Alcantara accents, and an array of "30 Jahre M5" logos sprinkled both outside and inside the car.
Click past the jump to read more about the BMW M5 "30 Years of M5" Limited Edition.
When BMW took the decision to segment its 3 Series lineup into more body styles, the M3 Coupe disappeared and was replaced by the new M4, one of the many novelties that the latest M-powered sports car surprised everyone with. Another major surprise was the car’s switch to a twin-turbocharged inline-six, which was seen by a lot of purist as a downgrade from the high-revving and naturally-aspirated V-8 found in the previous generation. Set to bring back some of its fans and also gain others, the upcoming 2016 BMW M4 GTS will be the most hardcore variant of the lineup, a direct successor to the track-ready M3 GTS.
While not officially confirmed as of yet, the upcoming GTS version of the BMW M4 is hard at work testing in all types of conditions, with a pre-production prototype having been spied drifting around on the snow in northern Sweden. BMW testers had covered the lower part of the front bumper, but an all-new and rather aggressive front lip is rather evident on the model, as is the small rear wing, the Recaro bucket seats inside and the carbon-ceramic brakes with gold-painted braking pads.
The model is expected to shed quite a lot of weight compared with a standard BMW M4, with the loss mainly being achieved by the removal of the rear seats and even more use of carbon-fiber-reinforced plastics (CFRP). The 3.0-liter, twin-turbocharged inline-six may also get a slight bump in power from the standard 425 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque, but most of the GTS performance additives will follow Colin Chapman’s philosophy of "simplify, then add lightness." Expect the model to be launched sometime in 2015, with a Geneva Motor Show reveal being likely.
Click past the jump to read more about the BMW M4 GTS.
BMW’s already-extensive range of M performance models could expand to include the X3 and X4 crossovers once the upcoming 2016 M2 compact arrives at dealerships. That’s the word from BMW M chief, Frank van Meel, who confirmed the brand’s intentions of developing more high-performance crossovers at the 2015 Detroit Motor Show.
The former boss of Audi’s RS division declined to go into specifics, but he acknowledged that "there might be a business opportunity with the X3/X4." The small crossovers would enable the company to continue the success story that began with the X5 M and X6 M, he added according to Autocar. On the other hand, van Meel rejected the idea of an M3 Touring or M7 sedan: "There are more opportunities than at present, but not on every BMW as it makes no sense."
Speaking of other future products, van Meel confirmed that all-wheel drive would eventually be offered on upcoming M cars, likely starting with the next-generation M5 sedan and M6 coupe. However, he said the cars would still be rear-biased, with AWD technology used mostly to increase traction. “The philosophy will remain rear-wheel drive, even if there is all-wheel drive," he noted.
Van Meel also revealed that the M division is investigating the possibility of electrification for its future range, as well as the introduction of electric turbochargers as a way of improving throttle response. A front-wheel-drive M car on the new UKL1 platform, an M version of either the i3 or the i8, and four-cylinder engines for M cars were among the things van Meel dismissed.
Click past the jump to read more about BMW’s future M models.
