Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Chicago 2008: BMW back in ALMS with Rahal Letterman Racing M3 [w/VIDEO]]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/06/chicago-2008-bmw-back-in-alms-with-rahal-letterman-racing-m3/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/06/chicago-2008-bmw-back-in-alms-with-rahal-letterman-racing-m3/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/06/chicago-2008-bmw-back-in-alms-with-rahal-letterman-racing-m3/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


click above to view more high-res live shots of BMW M3 ALMS race car

The American Le Mans Series is going to get a dose of Bavarian brilliance in 2009, as Bobby Rahal and David Letterman are teaming up to bring the fourth-generation M3 to the racing series. To properly battle the best competition in ALMS, BMW bumps the power quotient of its high-revving 4.0L V8 from 414 to 485 ponies, but brute force is just one facet of the M3's attack plan. The already outstanding chassis of the M3 has been further enhanced for the track, and weight has been reduced to make the deadly M even more nimble.

BMW also employed its extensive F1 knowledge into the M-racer, including computational fluid dynamics and wind tunnel analyses to make the carbon fiber-winged M3 slip freely through the air. BMW Motorsport is still tweaking the M3 racer in advance of the 2009 season, and the car will be taken through its paces by Andy Priaulx, Jorg Muller and Augusto Farfus of FIA World Touring Car Championship fame. Since the previous two generations of M3 hold six manufacturers championships in nine years of US sports car racing, we're guessing this baddest M3 ever will continue to be a handful for the competition. If it drives as well as it looks, Mr. Rahal should be a happy man.

Gallery: BMW Rahal Letterman Racing M3 ALMS car

Continue reading Chicago 2008: BMW back in ALMS with Rahal Letterman Racing M3 [w/VIDEO]

Chicago 2008: BMW back in ALMS with Rahal Letterman Racing M3 [w/VIDEO] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 06 Feb 2008 17:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>4.0L V84.0lV8ALMSamerican le mans seriesAmerican racing seriesAmericanLeMansSeriesAmericanRacingSeriesBMWBobby RahalBobbyRahalchicagochicago 2008Chicago auto showChicago2008ChicagoAutoShowM3SebringWed, 06 Feb 2008 17:59:00 EST<![CDATA[VIDEO: BMW M3 Sedan doing its thang]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/10/10/video-bmw-m3-sedan-doing-its-thang/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/10/10/video-bmw-m3-sedan-doing-its-thang/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/10/10/video-bmw-m3-sedan-doing-its-thang/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


click above image to view VIDEO of the BMW M3 Sedan

There are plenty of BMW M3 coupes driving around the web, but the newly announced sedan is a much rarer bird, indeed. The four-door M3 is mechanically the same as its coupe sibling, with its 4.0L V8 engine and six speed manual transmission. And from the A-pillar forward, the two Ms are nearly identical. The pair of souped-up 3-Series also have a lot of differences, starting with the door count and ending with the sedan's steel rather than carbon fiber roof, the latter of which helps the four-door tip the scales at over 3,500 lbs.

Judging from the video posted after the jump, the M3 Sedan's extra tonnage doesn't seem to affect its road performance. While the M3 sedan was put through the paces in front of the cameras, the subdued speeds and the absence of an F1-style soundtrack leads us to believe the marketing folks were behind the wheel. Regardless, the BMW M3 is gorgeous, and the scenery and roads picked for the video shoot are just as hot. Check out nearly four minutes of the M3 Sedan riding through the mountains after the jump.

[Source: Motor Authority]

Gallery: 2008 BMW M3 Sedan

Continue reading VIDEO: BMW M3 Sedan doing its thang

VIDEO: BMW M3 Sedan doing its thang originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 10 Oct 2007 10:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2008 BMW M3 Sedan2008BmwM3Sedan4.0L V84.0lV8420 HP420HpBavarian Motor WerksBavarianMotorWerksCoupeWed, 10 Oct 2007 10:03:00 EST