Autoblog

BMW pits M3 against X5 M at Laguna Seca in Zanardi-esque promo

Jeff Sabatini — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 14:59:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Performance, SUV, Marketing/Advertising, Videos, BMW

It's nice to see that someone at BMW apparently has a wry sense of humor when it comes to the X5 M. We are not shy about admitting that we find it hard to take the 550-horsepower SUV seriously - we famously called it a "2.7-ton Miata with a lampshade on its head and a serious coke habit," when we reviewed it back in 2010. But this little 30-second spot pairing it with the M3 has us tickled with nostalgic memories of the 1996 CART finale at Laguna Seca.

Sixteen years ago, there was no Mazda in the storied track's name, just a heck of a battle through all 11 turns of the final lap of the season. Rookie-of-the-year Alex Zanardi made one of the historic racing moves, passing Bryan Herta on the inside of the downhill "Corkscrew" turn, running through the dirt to make the lead change stick.

If you're wondering what this might have to do with the X5 M, click through the jump to see both the BMW ad and the vintage CART footage.

Continue reading BMW pits M3 against X5 M at Laguna Seca in Zanardi-esque promo

BMW pits M3 against X5 M at Laguna Seca in Zanardi-esque promo originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 27 Feb 2012 14:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BMW sharpens its Edge with first M3 DTM livery

Noah Joseph — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 18:58:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Coupe, BMW, Racing

With six cars joining the grid this year in the DTM series, BMW is sure to present wildly different liveries - largely determined by the sponsors brought on board - for each one. And this is the first.

Based on a sponsorship deal with BP, this particular M3 DTM is decked out in the bright green color of Castrol Edge motor oil and the light blue of German gas station network Aral. This car's unveiling is the first time we're seeing the new touring car in anything but flat black or BMW's trademark striped white color scheme.

To pull of its entry into the competitive German racing series and take on its rivals at Mercedes-Benz and Audi, BMW is bringing in four of its proven factory drivers (including three-time World Touring Car Championship winner Andy Priaulx) and has poached longtime Mercedes AMG driver Bruno Spengler and Audi's reigning DTM champ Martin Tomczyk.

All eyes will be focused on Hockenheim where the season kicks off in late April.

Continue reading BMW sharpens its Edge with first M3 DTM livery

BMW sharpens its Edge with first M3 DTM livery originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 01 Feb 2012 18:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BMW hooks DTM up with new M3 safety car

Noah Joseph — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Europe, BMW, Racing

Choosing a safety car to pace a racing series is tricky business that almost invariably results in either a constant flux of vehicles called into duty or playing favorites between the manufacturers taking part in the series. NASCAR changes its pace cars about as quickly as it changes tires. Formula One sticks with Mercedes-Benz machinery, and nobody seems to complain very much. But DTM bridges the gap with a slightly different approach.

In the German touring car series, each of the participating automakers provides safety cars to the series organizers, which alternate between them from one race to another. That was simple enough when it was just Audi and Mercedes-Benz, but now that BMW has thrown its proverbial hat into the ring, DTM is putting a third car into the rotation. And this is our first look at it.

Revealed with a handful of crude snapshots on the BMW Motorsport fan page on Facebook, the BMW M3 DTM Safety Car looks closer to the standard, roadgoing M3 than the DTM racer, but with some extra modifications. Those include special wheels, an emergency light bar and a stripped-out cockpit with full roll cage and Recaro buckets. But there could be something special going on under the hood as well, where a bright orange engine cover lurks under a unique louvered hood. That could mean a more powerful version of the outgoing M3's high-revving V8 engine to help it stay out in front of all that racing machinery.

We'll have to wait for BMW to release additional information to find out, but for now you can check out the low-res images in the gallery above.

BMW hooks DTM up with new M3 safety car originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 23 Jan 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Autocar gets sideways in the 2012 BMW M5

Zach Bowman — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 20:01:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Performance, Videos, BMW, UK, Luxury

The 2012 BMW M5 is something of an anomaly. Despite its size and weight, the big luxury sedan is actually quicker than its less corpulent sibling, the BMW M3, around a road course. With a 552-horsepower twin-turbo V8 engine capable of sucking down small communities, there's no arguing the M5's power. But fast cars aren't necessarily fun. Take the Jaguar XKR, for example. It's blisteringly quick, but comes saddled with a traction control system that requires an advanced degree in computer science and a thorough comprehension of black magic to completely disengage. Roasting the tires in the big cat hardly seems worth it.

The M5 is no such beast. The goons at Autocar recently took the portly bruiser out for a little parking lot fun to see just how the machine performs once things get sideways. It would seem that the muscle-bound German is a willing dance partner. Hit the jump to watch the video for yourself.

Continue reading Autocar gets sideways in the 2012 BMW M5

Autocar gets sideways in the 2012 BMW M5 originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 01 Jan 2012 20:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BMW M5 quicker than 1 M Coupe quicker than M3

Zach Bowman — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 11:01:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Coupe, Sedan, Performance, Europe, BMW, Luxury

Autobild recently set out to settle the question of which M vehicle is the fastest in the BMW stable at the moment. Not surprisingly, the German enthusiast publication found the BMW M3 CRT to be the quickest around the Sachsenring, setting the magazine's fastest time around the track with a 1:38.37 minute lap time. That's impressive, but not nearly as astounding as the time drummed up by the new BMW M5. The portly sedan did the same deed in 1:38.90, or just three hundredths of a second slower than the special-edition M3.

And what of the sibling rivalry between the BMW 1 Series M Coupe and the standard M3? As it turns out, the magazine's shoes have given the nod to the smaller of the two coupes. The 1 Series M Coupe barely eked out a win over the M3, though the M3 Convertible took nearly two extra seconds to make it around the course than its hardtop twin.

BMW M5 quicker than 1 M Coupe quicker than M3 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 29 Dec 2011 11:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Six-cylinder BMW M3 caught on and around Nürburgring

Zach Bowman — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 19:28:00 EST

Filed under: Spy Photos, Sedan, Performance, Videos, BMW

That Roundel-obsessed crew over at F30post.com has laid its paws on a quick clip of the next-generation BMW M3 turning a few hot laps at the Nürburgring. The video gives us the best look and listen yet to the performance 3 Series under duress, and it certainly sounds as if the vehicle has finally shed its high-winding V8 for six-cylinder power. That feeling? It's just the universe re-aligning itself. Don't worry about it. BMW hasn't said exactly what sort of power the next-generation M3 will produce when it arrives, but we'd guess that the number will land north of the 414-horsepower available from the current model.

The only question is whether or not BMW has abandoned its tried-and-true inline six for a more blasphemous V6 configuration. The automaker has publicly said that it wouldn't embrace the V, but there's a growing tied of rumor that would suggest otherwise. Either way, we'll find out when the M bows in mid-2012. Hit the jump to check out the full video for yourself.

Continue reading Six-cylinder BMW M3 caught on and around Nürburgring

Six-cylinder BMW M3 caught on and around Nürburgring originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 11 Nov 2011 19:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New BMW M3 to come in sedan form first

Noah Joseph — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 13:59:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Sedan, Performance, BMW, Luxury

Typically, when BMW releases a new M3, it launches it in coupe form first. (In fact, sales of the M3 sedan have, in North America at least, slowed to such an extent that BMW NA was tempted to stop bringing it here altogether.) But not the new model - according to the latest intel, the next-gen M3 will arrive in four-door guise first.

Sources indicate a couple of reasons for that: First, the new 3 Series (pictured above in M Sport guise) on which it'll be based has so far has only come out in sedan form. Second, because the next-gen M3 is anticipated to lose some of its edge. Which would be a shame, but there's a far more straightforward reason than either of those two: there will be no coupe or convertible M3 from here on out.

Well, sorta. There will be, only it won't be called the M3. It'll probably be called the M4, since BMW is said to be spinning the two-door version of the 3 Series off into a 4 Series - more closely mirroring the 5 Series sedan and its coupe/convertible counterpart, the 6 Series. Since BMW has yet to unveil the 4 Series, we're likely to be looking at an M3 sedan first.

We expect it'll have a twin-turbo six-cylinder engine in place of the outgoing model's naturally aspirated V8, but the jury's still out on whether those pistons will be arranged in a V or a straight line.

New BMW M3 to come in sedan form first originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 26 Oct 2011 13:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Is this BMW M3 prototype powered by an inline or V6?

Jonathon Ramsey — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Performance, Videos, BMW, Luxury

It started with a four-cylinder, graduated to six and then eight cylinders, and now might be settling back down to six. The next-generation F80 BMW M3, caught testing around the homeland, has let its voice be heard, and the suspicions are that a V6, not a BMW-traditional inline six, rumbles through those pipes.

Bimmerfile posits that a V6 could be "loosely based on the M5′s S63 twin-turbo V8, but with even greater high-end power and efficiency." Whatever is under that hood - and whatever is handling that lightning-quick gear change, don't quite sound like anything that's come straight from the factory before, at least to our ears. Follow the jump to watch and listen for yourself and make a guess in Comments.

Continue reading Is this BMW M3 prototype powered by an inline or V6?

Is this BMW M3 prototype powered by an inline or V6? originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 30 Sep 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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CLP Automotive gives your BMW M3 race-ready looks

Zach Bowman — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 17:28:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Motorsports, Coupe, Performance, Europe, BMW

Modifying a high-performance vehicle like the BMW M3 is a tricky feat. With all the engineering prowess of one of the world's most successful manufacturers behind every nut and bolt on the car, tweaking the recipe can easily lead to diminished performance. Even so, CLP Automotive has turned out a new widebody kit for the M3 Coupe that the aftermarket company is calling the M3 GT. According to our trusty Google Translator, the total package includes a front apron, hood, front fenders and side skirts. A set of 19-inch wheels are also part of the get up.

But the M3 GT isn't all about looking pretty at the prom. Under the hood, the engine has been tweaked up to around 600 horsepower thanks to the miracle of forced induction, and a set of Bilstein shocks give the vehicle a little more precision on the track. CLP Automotive says the whole conversion will set you back around €69,000, or $97,034 at current conversion rates.

CLP Automotive gives your BMW M3 race-ready looks originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 06 Sep 2011 17:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2014 BMW M3 caught packing new turbocharged inline six

Damon Lavrinc — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 19:27:00 EST

Filed under: Spy Photos, Sedan, Performance, BMW, Luxury

As we reported earlier this year, the current E90/E92 BMW M3 will be the last of the naturally aspirated M cars, and if recent rumors are to be believed, BMW will adapt the single-turbo N55 inline-six for duty in our favorite 3 Series. But how many turbos?

Some reports indicate two, while others say three (two traditional snails and an electric turbo). But no matter the configuration, expect output to be up over 450 horsepower and torque to swell to nearly 400 pound-feet.

Regardless of what's under the hood, development of the next M3 is well underway in Germany as BMW gears up for the release of the standard 3 Series successor.

This first batch of M3 spy shots don't show much aside from blacked-out 19-inch wheels, a widened body sans hood bulge and quartet of exhaust pipes. Stylistically, the next 3er is set to take cues from the recently revealed i brand, including new "angle eye" LED daytime running lamps that are flat on the top and bottom, and fitted to a more upright, angular fascia.

The fully redesigned 3 is set to debut later this year, with sales beginning in early 2012. As for the M3, don't expect it to hit until 2013 as a 2014 model.

2014 BMW M3 caught packing new turbocharged inline six originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 11 Aug 2011 19:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BMW calls M3 DTM Concept to the matte

Jeff Glucker — Sun, 17 Jul 2011 18:03:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, BMW

BMW has revealed the car that marks the automaker's return to DTM racing. The BMW M3 DTM Concept provides a look at what race fans can expect on the DTM starting grid in 2012. Not every bit of matte-finish cool on display above will be carried over to the ready-to-race version, but as with the majority of its concept cars, BMW's finished product will likely look very close to the car you see here.

The BMW M3 DTM Concept is powered by a 480-horsepower 4.0-liter V8 engine (that's with the required air restrictor in place), mated to a six-speed sequential gearbox. Sprinting to 62 miles per hour takes about three seconds, and the racer's top speed is somewhere around 186 mph. It will be up to British driver Andy Priaulx and Brazilian teammate Augusto Farfus to keep the M3's matte finish looking fresh as they battle for podium spots.

BMW's full press blast is available after the jump.

Continue reading BMW calls M3 DTM Concept to the matte

BMW calls M3 DTM Concept to the matte originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 17 Jul 2011 18:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Next BMW M3 to get triple-turbo six

Noah Joseph — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 16:01:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, BMW, Rumormill

BMW M3 CRT - Click above for high-res image gallery

The BMW M3 has grown cylinders over the years like a pubescent pre-teen grows in height. What started out with an inline-four then grew into a straight-six for two generations before packing a V8 into the current model. The next one is expected to set to drop a couple of combustion chambers and go back to a single bank, but don't think for one minute that'll mean a drop in performance.

According to the rumormongers at AutoExpress, the next-generation M3, due sometime around 2014 after the new 3 Series comes along, will pack - wait for it - a triple-turbo straight-six. The innovative arrangement will reportedly include two conventional spools powered off exhaust gases and a third electric turbocharger. Total output could be around 450 horsepower - a bump over the current V8 model's 414 hp - with even more carbon fiber bits than the CRT edition pictured above to help keep weight down.

Not exciting enough? BMW's M division has plenty more in the cards, potentially including an oft-rumored new M1 supercar and, once the 1 Series M Coupe is done its production run, a lightweight CSL version. An M version of the Z4 is also under consideration, but of course nothing final until the cars make their debuts.

Next BMW M3 to get triple-turbo six originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 07 Jul 2011 16:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BMW offers another special M3 in China with new Carbon Edition

Noah Joseph — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 16:31:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, China, BMW

As much if (not more) than any other automaker, BMW has been carefully cultivating the Chinese market. And the M3 is a big part of that. The Bavarian automaker has already launched two special editions exclusive to China in the M3 Matte Edition and M3 Tiger Edition, and is now offering a third.

Called the M3 Carbon Edition, the car is defined by - anybody? Bueller? - that's right, carbon fiber. The techy material covers the roof, the front splitter, the rear wing, the hood vents and much of the interior, which is decked out in high-contrast white and black. As is the exterior, with black stripes running over white paint, up the front fenders and across the upper flank to the tail, along with Carbon Edition decals on the lower edge of the doors and blacked-out 19-inch alloys.

Only 111 individually-numbered examples will be offered starting in July, exclusively in China, at a price of 1.23 million yuan - equivalent to a whopping $189k at present rates. Nobody ever said exclusivity came cheap.

BMW offers another special M3 in China with new Carbon Edition originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 02 Jun 2011 16:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Is BMW bound to bolt a V6 under the hood of the next M3?

Jeff Glucker — Fri, 20 May 2011 13:01:00 EST

Filed under: BMW, Rumormill

BMW M3 Competition Package - Click above for high-res image gallery

If you're an unapologetic BMW fanboy, the next few words might sting. BMW may be considering a V6 for the next generation BMW M3. No, we didn't mean to type I6 - we're talking about three on one side and three on the other.

According to M3post.com, BMW is likely to go in one of four directions. First up is the suggestion that BMW will take the M3's current S65 V8 and add a pair of turbochargers to it. Now, we're all in favor of adding forced-induction to this engine but this would have the M3 treading heavily on F10 M5 ground.

Another rumor pegs BMW as stuffing either a modified (read: boosted) version of the N54 turbocharged inline-six or a tweaked (read: detuned) version of the F10 M5's twin-turbo V8 S63 motor. The most interesting rumor, however, is that BMW may look into a turbocharged V6 engine. Is BMW HQ ready to hurt the fanboy feelings of folks in love with straight-six engines? If it means a better M3, then anything is possible.

Is BMW bound to bolt a V6 under the hood of the next M3? originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 20 May 2011 13:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BMW M3, S 1000 RR lock horns in The Chase

Zach Bowman — Mon, 02 May 2011 12:32:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Coupe, Performance, Etc., Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Motorcycle

BMW M3 vs. BMW S 1000 RR - Click above to watch video after the jump

Common logic says that where two wheels are good, four wheels are better. That's especially true when the skies open up and the track turns wet. BMW Motorrad wanted to put that logic to the test, so the company recently lined up two of the meanest pieces of machinery in the German manufacturer's stable: the mighty BMW M3 and the sinister S 1000 RR. Thanks to some tinkering by Akrapovic Evolution, the 4.0-liter V8 engine in the M3 now kicks 442 horsepower to the rear wheels with a curb weight of 3,571 pounds.

The BMW S 1000 RR, meanwhile, was strung out to around 198 horsepower while weight was stripped down to a mind-boggling 434 pounds soaking wet. The two were made to square off on opposite ends of the same track. The first racer to catch the other won bragging rights for not just themselves, but the auto or moto faithful as well. How'd it go? We won't spoil it for you, but we will say it took the victor just 15 laps to reel in his adversary. Hit the jump to check it out for yourself. Thanks for the tip, Craig!

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading BMW M3, S 1000 RR lock horns in The Chase

BMW M3, S 1000 RR lock horns in The Chase originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 02 May 2011 12:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BMW won't market an M3 GTS sedan... at least, not in the U.S.

Noah Joseph — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 14:21:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Performance, Europe, BMW

BMW M3 Sedan lightweight concept - Click above for high-res image gallery

You may recall that earlier this month, BMW revealed a unique M3 Sedan that had been stripped of weight and toughened up, packing the same sort of approach applied to the hard-core M3 GTS coupe, albeit with a couple of extra doors. The one-off was made for the M Festival set to take place during the 24 Hours of Nürburgring this coming June, but naturally, speculation on its production potential has ensued.

The good folks over at M3Post pinned down Matt Russell, the guy who handles the M range (along with Alpina) for BMW North America, and asked him about the lightweight M3 sedan's future, and according to him, there are no plans to market such a vehicle in the United States. Naturally, Russell didn't comment on markets outside his purview, neatly avoiding comment on whether the hardcore sedan will be available somewhere. But given the short time remaining in the current M3's lifespan and the stringencies of U.S. regulations, any such vehicle apparently isn't fated for these shores.

Elsewhere in the interview, Russell professed his admiration for the all-wheel drive system developed by Ferrari for the new FF. Could BMW incorporate AWD into future M products? Potentially, but as with the lightweight M3 sedan, the extra heft would be an issue.

Gallery: Lightweight BMW M3 Sedan

[Source: M3Post via Motor Authority]

BMW won't market an M3 GTS sedan... at least, not in the U.S. originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 26 Apr 2011 14:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BMW 1 Series M beats M3 around Hockenheim... by a hair

Zach Bowman — Mon, 25 Apr 2011 14:01:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Europe, BMW

2012 BMW 1 Series M Coupe - Click above for high-res image gallery

There are few things more satisfying for a younger sibling than besting their older kin. Be it a hard-fought round of Stratego or a bare-knuckle brawl, putting an elder brother or sister in their place can be more satisfying than winning the lottery. In this spirit, German magazine Sport Auto just finished pitting the new 2012 1 Series M Coupe up against BMW's venerable M3. The pair locked horns around Hockenheim in a battle for ultimate supremacy that saw the M3 do the deed in 1:14.2. The M Coupe, meanwhile, managed to lap the track a hair quicker at 1:14.1.

That gave the newcomer to the game the overall win and put it just one tenth of a second behind metal like the Porsche Cayman S on the famous track. Is this conclusive evidence that the 1 Series M Coupe is the better performance buy than the legendary M3? Not necessarily. After all, this is just one comparison with one magazine. Still, the fact that the baby BMW can get within striking distance of its predecessor with two fewer cylinders is a testament to the vehicle's prowess.

Gallery: 2012 BMW 1 Series M Coupe

[Source: 1 Addicts]

BMW 1 Series M beats M3 around Hockenheim... by a hair originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 25 Apr 2011 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Vicki from Fifth Gear takes BMW's M3 GTS out for some fun in the rain

Aaron Richardson — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 19:59:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Europe, Videos, BMW, Racing

2011 BMW M3 GTS - Click above to view video after the jump

Vicki Butler-Henderson has driven her fair share of amazing cars. She started racing karts when she was a kid, has been an instructor at Silverstone and has been a TV host and automotive journalist since the mid-1990s. Suffice it to say, it takes a lot to impress Ms. Butler-Henderson.

As the following video shows, the 2011 BMW M3 GTS managed to do just that. She describes exactly what she loves about the GTS while hooning its wheels off around a very wet, very slippery test track, and between guttural sounds and breathless description, Butler-Henderson points out that the M3 GTS's prodigious power, phenomenal brakes and telepathic steering make it "an amazing, amazing car." Click past the jump to check out the footage for yourself.

Gallery: BMW M3 GTS

[Source: Fifth Gear via YouTube]

Continue reading Video: Vicki from Fifth Gear takes BMW's M3 GTS out for some fun in the rain

Video: Vicki from Fifth Gear takes BMW's M3 GTS out for some fun in the rain originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 11 Apr 2011 19:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BMW bringing lightweight M3 sedan to Nürburgring M Festival

Damon Lavrinc — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 05:54:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Sedan, Performance, BMW

Lightweight BMW M3 Sedan - Click above for high-res image gallery

In addition to officially debuting the M3 pickup here in Munich, BMW trotted out a lightweight version of the M3 sedan before its debut at the M Festival at the 24 Hours of Nürburgring race later this year.

BMW is mum on the exact details on this stripped-out sedan, only saying that it's designed to slot in between the standard model and the race-ready GTS coupe. Output should remain close to the standard 420 horsepower, but the brakes, suspension and exhaust will be tweaked for maximum performance. There's no word on how many pounds the M division stripped from the sedan and U.S. availability, but we should have all the details when the big 'Ring race happens this June. And no, this isn't an April Fools joke.

Gallery: Lightweight BMW M3 Sedan

BMW bringing lightweight M3 sedan to Nürburgring M Festival originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 01 Apr 2011 05:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Followup: 'Ring-Taxi reportedly very much alive, just changing to BMW M3 *UPDATE

Jeff Glucker — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: BMW, Rumormill

Ring Taxi fans rejoice, because rumors of its death may have been exaggerated. Sort of. It appears that OK-Speed-Marketing, BMW and other parties involved have different takes on the matter.

Bimmer enthusiast forum M3Post.com states that BMW is merely switching from the M5 to the new M3. BMW will continue to supply driving talent from its Driving Experience program as well. Over on Bridge-to-Gantry, however, it's being reported that OK-Speed-Marketing is moving away from BMWs altogether. It will continue to operate the official Ring Taxi service with a Porsche 911 997 Clubsport and Mini John Cooper Works in its Ring Taxi stable. Either way, it sounds like you'll still be able to pay someone to haul you around the Nordschleife at giggle-inducing velocities, and that's good news no matter how you slice it. Thanks for the tip, Felix!

*UPDATE: Nürburgring-heroine Sabine Schmitz is still suiting up to rocket passengers 'round the 'Ring. It won't be from the cozy-confines of a BMW but rather a Porsche 997 GT3 RS. The cost to get your Teutonic-terror ride on? $730.

[Source: M3Post, Bridge-to-Gantry, SpeedBee via Jalopnik]

Followup: 'Ring-Taxi reportedly very much alive, just changing to BMW M3 *UPDATE originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 09 Mar 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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