Bmw 135i

The high-revving E92 M3's V8 is good for many things. Putting one under the hood of a 135i, though, might just be the best thing you can do with the old S65 engine.

Audi and BMW have long been enemies on both the road and the track, with their respective M and S/RS lines duking it out to the delight of auto enthusiasts everywhere. In this video from Evo, two of the rivalry's newest combatants take to the track - the Audi S3 and the BMW M135i.

If BMW isn't willing to give us an authentic M-ified 1 Series, we'll have to settle for the next best thing, and that's the M135i, the latest performance package from the marque's motorsport division.

BMW 1 Series M Coupe – Click above to view the video after the jump

2010 BMW 135i – Click above for high-res image gallery

2010 BMW 135i – Click above for high-res image gallery

Much of BMW's U.S. market lineup is making the switch to a 2011 model year designation early this spring with the highlight being a new version of the 3.0-liter inline-six cylinder engine dubbed N55. The N55 has the same 300 horsepower and 300 pound-feet of torque as the previous N54. However, the previous twin turbocharger configuration is now replaced by a single twin scroll turbocharger. The twin scroll has two inlets letting the exhaust gases into the turbine. The inlets are spaced to allow

Click above to watch the video after the jump

In a truly heroic effort that's not only daunting in scope but utterly jealousy-inducing in execution, the hot shoes at Motor Trend have once again teamed up with pro-racer and 24 Hours of Daytona winner Randy Pobst to put ten of the hottest performance cars currently on sale up against each other at Laguna Seca to determine which is best. Last year, the winner was given the title of "Best Handling Car," though this year they are switching the name to "Best Driver's Car." That works.

BMW's equivalent of Deep Throat has divulged a host of information on the marque's coming plans for its premium entry level range incorporating the 1-Series and Z2, and a new line of Y vehicles. According to the mole, Scott26, the 1 will break into three different levels: Traditional, Lifestyle, and Sporting. They will be underpinned by a modular platform that could be differentiated among models and also serve as the basis for the next MINI.

Click above for high-res gallery of the BMW Concept 1-Series tii

When the BMW 335i arrived in 2007, tuners jumped at the chance to boost the boosted 3.0-liter inline-six. After a few ECU tweaks, the new 3 series was putting out an additional 70-80 hp and a commensurate increase in torque, and once the 135i and 535i arrived, the market grew accordingly.

Click above for a high-res gallery of the BMW 1 Series tii concept

BMW's N54 engine has won the International Engine of the Year award for the past two straight years. It has also been listed as one of Ward's 10 Best Engines during the same period. The engine produces 306 hp and 295 ft-lbs of torque in a 3.0L inline six package thanks to the use of twin Mitsubishi turbochargers and direct injection. The N54's quick response and smooth torque curve has been an attraction for many enthusiasts, including myself - I call my Montego Blue coupe the turbo Cookie Monst

Marketing campaigns are always in search of a new hook, and BMW's gotten creative to help keep the 1-Series on boil. Readers of the March 24th edition of Autoweek were treated to a smattering of tiny-Roundel factoids at the bottom of the mag's pages. Some of them might be true, while others seem entirely made up. The hard facts are naturally spot-on, but subjective impressions like back seat comfort, desirability, and a link to the 2002 are all tenuous at best. The effort is charming in its clev

Click above for a few stills from the sham documentary.

It's no secret that the Mercedes-Benz A-class hasn't been a resounding success and that the automaker is looking to revamp its entry-level line-up to better compete with rivals. According to Autocar, M-B boss Dieter "Dr. Z" Zetsche has green-lighted a new model that's taking aim at the BMW 1-series and Audi A3, and will accompany the rest of the revised A-class models when it debuts in 2011.

Click above for a few images leading up to Rampfest.

The 1-Series has officially joined BMW's line up in the United States, having finally been added to the brand's official website. Along with its place among the Ultimate Driving Machines online, the 1-Series also gets officially pricing, which turns out to be exactly what we thought it would be. The 135i will have an MSRP of $34,900 plus a $775 charge for delivery and all the whatnots involved with a purchasing a car. The 128i, meanwhile, will start at $28,600 and carry an identical $775 charge

UPDATE:

Since it's launch in 2004, BMW has sold 470,000 1-series models throughout the world, and with the upcoming 1-series coupe, the automaker expects those numbers to increase, particularly when U.S. sales begin at the end of this month.

You've heard this shtick before, but with oil prices hitting record highs – again – most automakers are making a play at bringing more frugal offerings to market. In the case of BMW though, we're a bit disjointed on the idea. Sure, the 1-series is the company's second best seller in Europe, behind the 3-series, and purchasing a 128i when it goes on sale here in the States next year is the best way to get behind the wheel of a Bimmer on the cheap. But if buyers are supposedly so cost

A new entry-level car from a premium European brand will be washing up on our shores when the BMW 1-Series arrives carrying a price tag slightly under $30,000. Much the same way as Volvo's looking to its bobbed-tail C30 to recruit younger buyers into the fold while offering an appropriately flavored confection of a car, the 1-Series has the task of winning customers who would love a Roundel on the hood, but can't swing the 3-series. Having done the truncated poop deck on the E36 318ti, BMW decid

All off the running around chasing the upcoming BMW 1-Series has culminated in these shots of the car taken completely naked, apparently at a location where it was the subject of a photo shoot. A member of the enthusiast site 1accicts.com scored the one above, a similar rear view, and a phonecam shot of the car obviously inside the photo studio, sporting a clear-as-day "BMW 135i" identifier plate where the usual Euro license tag would go. Click the "Read" link or the photos you see here for larg