Autoblog

BMW may be planning AMG Black Series competitors

Zach Bowman — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 09:59:00 EST

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

Word has it BMW has its heart set on giving the Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Black Series a run for its money in the US. According to BimmerBoost.com, the German automaker has been making more and more noise about offering a number of specialty models aimed specifically at enthusiasts. While at the Detroit Auto Show this year, the BMW PR machine revealed 2013 will be "an interesting year" and that buyers can expect one or two products aimed specifically at swiping buyers from the clutches of the C63 AMG Black Series. The news came courtesy of Automobile writer Marc Noordeloos' Twitter machine.

Noordeloos reportedly interviewed several executives familiar with the M models while in Detroit, and says the M division would like to offer hardware like the M3 CSL, GTS or CRT to buyers here in the States. That sounds great to us, but saying something doesn't make it true, and manufacturers rarely find it in their hearts to bring money-losing machines to our green shores. Still, that won't stop us from crossing our fingers.

BMW may be planning AMG Black Series competitors originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 01 Feb 2013 09:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BMW M3 CRT, Frozen Black editions already sold out

Noah Joseph — Mon, 04 Jul 2011 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, BMW

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

Thinking about dropping your kid's college fund on the new B MW M3 CRT? With about 100 pounds of excess weight stripped out, four doors and the a bored-out 4.4-liter, 450-horsepower V8 under the hood, it's bound to be an instant collector's edition. But don't head down to your local dealership with bearer bonds in hand just yet, as reports indicate that all 67 examples sold out almost as soon as they went on sale.

No problem, you figure. You'll just place your order for the slick Frozen Black edition instead. Well, not so fast, bub. Apparently that one sold out just as fast, with the entire run of 20 cars gone in a scant 34 minutes. Don't worry, though, because with sales moving this fast, you can bet BMW will offer another special or two before the car is phased out later this year. Just be on the ready - cash in hand - when it does.

BMW M3 CRT, Frozen Black editions already sold out originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 04 Jul 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BMW M3 CRT gets first official footage

Zach Bowman — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 12:32:00 EST

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

2012 BMW M3 CRT - Click above to watch video after the jump

BMW has been so kind as to give us all a glimpse at the company's upcoming M3 CRT. The engineers behind the German automaker's M performance arm have taken pains to dip their standard M3 into a vat of delicious carbon fiber, and the result is a lightweight version of the menacing sedan. Designed to show off the manufacturer's new carbon fiber technologies, the M3 CRT wears a CF hood that's as strong as conventional steel but with a quarter of the weight. The same methods were applied to the vehicle's seats.

The old muffler has been scrapped for a titanium unit, and lightweight Y-spoke wheels and brake calipers are part of the recipe as well. In an effort to trim fat wherever possible, the M3 CRT even wears less sound deadening than the standard model. BMW also reworked the vehicle's suspension with a more rigid subframe and adjustable coilovers, which means there's plenty of stick on hand.

That's good given that a 450 horsepower version of the company's naturally-aspirated 4.4-liter V8 sits behind the headlights. The grunt gets channeled to the rear tires via a seven-speed dual-clutch cog box.

We hear the very-limited-edition CRT will cost a mint (on the order of 130,000 Euros including taxes - around $185k U.S.), so don't expect to see any examples at your stateside BMW dealer anytime soon. Even so, you can still hit the jump to check out the walk-around for yourself.

Continue reading BMW M3 CRT gets first official footage

BMW M3 CRT gets first official footage originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 24 Jun 2011 12:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BMW M3 CRT introduces lightweight carbon fiber production process

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 17:29:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Performance, Plants/Manufacturing, BMW, Luxury

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

Meet the new BMW M3 CRT. In this case, those letters do not mean cathode ray tube (think old-school computer monitors). According to BMW, CRT is short for Carbon Racing Technologies, and that's the kind of thing we can really get behind. That's especially true when the car being CRT-ized is the M3.

The BMW M3 CRT differs quite a bit from last year's M3 GTS, though both were conceived as lightweight versions of the E90-series car with more power, better brakes and upgraded suspension bits. For instance, unlike the GTS, the CRT comes fully loaded with navigation, a premium stereo system and is based on the four-door sedan with high-tech front and rear seats.

BMW is using the M3 CRT to debut its new carbon fiber production technique, which is used to good effect on both the front seats and a new hood that is as strong as a conventional steel unit with just one quarter the weight. More weight reduction comes from the titanium muffler, 19-inch Y-spoke alloy wheels and less sound deadening material. Even the brake calipers are made from a new lightweight compound.

A fresh set of adjustable coilovers work with a more rigid rear subframe and wide tires (245/35R19 front and 265/35R19 rear) to up the handling quotient. Power comes from a 4.4-liter version of BMW's well-known high-revving V8 engine, producing 450 horsepower (at 8,300 rpm) and 324 pound-feet of torque (at 3,750 rpm). Those ponies are routed to the rear wheels through the automaker's seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox.

Add it all up and you're left with a machine that's capable of terrorizing the race track every weekend while still serving as a perfectly lovely daily driver in between... one that can zip from 0 to 62 miles per hour in what we bet is a conservative 4.4 seconds. Want one? Get in line, as BMW only plans to build 67 units, each painted up in Frozen Polar Silver metallic with Melbourne Red accents and a black and orange interior. And there's no word on any of them making it Stateside, in case you were wondering.

See our high-res image gallery for yourself, and feel free to peruse the complete press release after the break.

Continue reading BMW M3 CRT introduces lightweight carbon fiber production process

BMW M3 CRT introduces lightweight carbon fiber production process originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 23 Jun 2011 17:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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