BMW – Wild Speed

BMW M235i xDrive Breaks Cover

Could this be the BMW that unsettles the CLA45 in its comfort zone? For the first time, BMW’s all-wheel-drive system is coming to their two-door line-up. Heading for the showrooms this summer, the M235i xDrive features a 3.0-liter twin-turbo six-cylinder engine which produces a mega 326hp and 332 lb-ft torque.

This power is brought via an eight-speed Steptronic sport box which helps the M235i xDrive sprint from 0-60 mph in 4.6 seconds (0.2 seconds faster than the RWD). Push hard enough and it’ll hit a cool top speed of 155 mph. However, the AWD system does add some significant weight so it’ll be a close shave between the RWD and AWD.

So, the M235i xDrive, is it crazy enough to worry the guys at AMG?

BMW’s First M-Badged 7 Series

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With the M7 being in BMW’s pipeline, the firm has finally put the sacred M badge on a 7 Series. But, don’t be fooled thinking this is some S65 AMG bashing BMW M7, because it isn’t.

What it is though is a special edition for the Middle Eastern market. The 760Li V12 M Bi-Turbo is the first ever 7 Series to be adorned with M badges.

Boasting a 6.0-liter twin-turbo V12, it produces 536 hp and 553 lb-ft of torque, and a 0-62 mph time of 4.6 seconds.

Interested in buying it? Well you’d better live in Saudi Arabia because the car is being offered through Mohamed Yousef Naghi Motors.

It features eight M-exclusive colors, such as Monte Carlo Blue, Imola Red and Silverstone II as well as lightweight 20-inch alloys.

The interior hasn’t been overlooked either, the limited edition BMW has full a nappa leather interior with contrast stitching and piano black and ceramic trim.

BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe Patents Leak

After countless spies of the BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe, patent images of the upcoming ‘bimmer have been leaked onto the internet.

Is it a longer wheel base 3 Series? Or just a 4 Series Coupe with extra doors? You can be the judge of that.

The 4 Series Gran Coupe will have the same engine variants as its coupe brother including the 435i’s 300-hp 3.0-liter six-cylinder unit. Expect a reveal at the Geneva Motor Show in March.

BMW M3 & M4 Individual Program

BMW has revealed their Individual program for the 2014 BMW M3 & M4 soon to be revealed at the Detroit Motor Show next month.BMW has previewed its Individual program for the 2014 BMW M3 Sedan and M4 Coupe that will be revealed at the Detroit Motor Show next month.

If you don’t fancy any of the colours that the two Bimmers come with, why not an Azurite Black exterior paint job or the M3’s cinnamon leather interior and metal accents? The choice is yours.

BMW M-Division Boss Contemplates M7

Rumour after rumour, thought after thought, the BMW M7 has never made it to even concept form .BMW’s M-Division boss Albert Biermann wants the M7 to be a part of the M Family which will end up being the firm’s flagship performance saloon.

However, even though many are lusting after the M7, a performance 7-Series from a BMW specialist (Alpina) is already on sale called the Alpina B7 which features a 533bhp twin-turbocharged V8 engine.

Biermann says “I would love to compete in this area of the market, the money is just there to pick up. An M7 would be a much different proposition to the B7.” He also said that the M7 was not the M-Division’s plan at present as they concentrate on other projects such as four-wheel-drive systems for the next M5 and M6 models and a M3 GT in 2016.

The X1, X3 and X4 won’t be receiving any M treatment either as it’s specifically for the X5 and X6 model, instead they’ll develop M Performance versions a bit like how Audi uses S for their Q3 and RS for their A6.

2014 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Leaks

Seems like Mercedes-Benz can’t keep their new C-Class under wraps as leaks just keep on appearing on the internet.

Although there has been many leaks of the C-Class, this one seems the most significant as the pictures show its sibling DNA, especially from the S-Class.

The car seems more sculpted and stylish now, the last-gen C-Class became a bit bland 6 years later but this really will spice things up a bit.

The new C-Class is expected to be 100 kilograms lighter than the previous-gen. More aluminum body panels and a Modular RWD (MRA) architecture. With rivals such as the 3-Series boasting more leg room, the new C-Class’s wheel base will probably be stretched by about 8 cm.

Engine choices are plentiful too including a 1.6-liter 4-cylinder turbo with 157 HP (115 kW), a larger 2.0-liter turbo with 186 HP (136 kW) and a 2.2-liter 4-cylinder diesel rated at 170 HP (125 kW). Expect a 5.5-liter Biturbo AMG variant of the C Class to take on the new recently revealed BMW M3 and M4.

Expect the new C-Class to be revealed on Monday.

BMW M3 & M4: Meet The Legends

The long awaited BMW M3 and M4 have now been revealed in their production form. Do they still carry the spark that M cars have portrayed in the past few years? Well, let’s find out shall we.

It’s stupendously fast
Looks the part
Improvement to predecessor
Ready to eat up rivals

PERFORMANCE

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First thing that springs to mind when you think of M Cars is Performance. So how do these ‘new kids on the block’ stack up?

The all-new 2014 BMW M3 and M4 is lighter, feistier and aggressive in the way it delivers its power. The M3 features a 3.0-liter twin turbo inline-six which produces a maximum output of 425-hp and 550Nm of torque to haul this mega power. Combine 425hp with 80kg less weight (thanks to some lightweight materials such as carbon-fibre-reinforced plastic) and a dual clutch gearbox, this will allow you to hit 60mph in 4.1 seconds. Astonishingly fast? We think so.

Compared to the old 4.0-liter naturally-aspirated V8, the new 3.0-liter twin-turbo straight-six consumes 25 perfect less fuel and 25 percent less emissions than its predecessor (E92).

If you opt for the dual-clutch gearbox in the M3/M4, you’ll also get a Launch Control feature integrated in to the gearbox and… Wait for it… ‘Smoky Burnout’ mode. Yes, before you think dafuq, this is a system which will allow you to have the most perfect burnouts every time.

It’s funny actually, people nowadays complain about gimmicky-electronically-controlled-nannies but in reality, all they’re trying to do is help you. Smoky Burnout mode is for the veteran clutch fryers out there.

2014 release

3.0-liter twin-turbocharged I6

550Nm, 431hp

limited 155mph (250kmh)

0-62 4.1 sec

7-speed dual-clutch transmission

EXTERIOR

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BMW has ensured to accentuate the new M3 and M4 from their rivals from Mercedes-Benz and Audi. The M3 and M4 are hugely more aggressive than their rivals (although much can’t be said for the next-gen C63 AMG). The M3 and M4 both display a muscular and low stance on the road. The new models have really got their mojo back. The E92 was a bit soft, a bit hard to tell apart from a regular M Sport 3-Series to the untrained eye but these two, woah.

We can talk about its swooping lines, low splitter, spoiler, blah, but we’d rather just let you drool over them because BMW has finally hit the sweet-spot of many automotive enthusiasts around the world.

INTERIOR

The cabins of these two ‘monsters’, are very driver focused. The interior features sexy carbon-fibre trim and an abundance of ‘M’ badges which hints out to what you’re driving. The seats look incredibly sporty, the sporty sort that can hug you in corner after corner of hard cornering. This is what the old (E92) M3’s interior should’ve been.

WILL IT BE A PROPER M CAR?

Well why not? It features all the right ingredients of M Cars over the past few years; the M4 and M3 are a step forward into the evolution of BMW M. If this is how BMW’s M-Division will be evolving over the next few years, then we can’t wait to see what they have in store for us in the pipeline.

Video: BMW 235i Racing

BMW Motorsport is expanding its range of cars within the BMW Sports Trophy Customer Racing programme: from 2014, privateer BMW teams and drivers will have the opportunity to line up at events with the new BMW M235i Racing. With a price of 59,500.00 Euros (excl. VAT) and impressive performance figures, the production-based coupé meets all the basic requirements of a successful entry-level racing car.

This car will help to make motorsport affordable on an entry-level basis.

The plan is initially for the car to be used in series and events such as the VLN Endurance Championship and the Nürburgring 24 Hours on the Nürburgring-Nordschleife (DE). Looking ahead, the BMW M235i Racing should also be successful on international stages for BMW Sports Trophy drivers.

“The basis our engineers had to start with when developing the racing version of the BMW M235i Racing was exceptionally good,” said BMW Motorsport Director Jens Marquardt. “The production models from the BMW M Performance Automobiles range are already incredibly sporty. Because of this, we did not have to make many modifications in order to get the BMW M235i Coupé up and running as a racing car. BMW Motorsport can look back on a long tradition of allowing ambitious teams and drivers an affordable way into motor racing – and of offering them an absolutely competitive car. That was the case recently with the BMW M3 GT4, and that is now being superseded with the BMW M235i Racing. While the BMW Z4 GT3 spearheads our range, the new car means we are now also excellently positioned for the coming years in the field of production-based racing cars.”

The racing version is capable of generating 333hp

The motorsport genes are also easily recognisable in the production version of the BMW M235i Coupé, courtesy of the aerodynamically optimised body design. It is propelled by the most powerful petrol engine developed so far for a BMW M Performance Automobile: a six-cylinder in-line engine with M Performance TwinPower Turbo technology. With a capacity of 2,979ccm, the racing version is capable of generating 333hp (245kW).

Motorsport-specific driving aids such as ABS, DSC and traction control ensure that the motorsport newcomers can also handle the BMW M235i Racing surely and safely. The car also comes with mechanical limited-slip differential, which is also available for the BMW M235i Coupé in the original BMW Parts range. The racing car is also fitted with features such as the FIA-certified safety cell and the modern safety tank. On top of this come components from the BMW M Performance Parts range, such as the rear and front spoilers, diffusor and carbon wing mirrors.

Technical Data BMW M235i Racing

Max. width: 1,862mm (without mirrors)
Wheelbase: 2,691mm
Height: 1,380mm (without antenna)
Max. track: 1,608mm
Engine: six-cylinder in-line
Capacity: 2,979ccm
Output: 333hp (245kW)

Alpina B4 BiTurbo

The foundation that Burkard Bovensiepen laid in the 1960s in the form of a performance-enhanced BMW 1500, has since developed into a permanent fixture in the luxury sports car segment.

What were then the first technologically and qualitatively relevant products marketed by ALPINA, namely four-cylinder petrol engines with Weber dual carburettors, are now in modern form high-tech automobiles. Equipped from the outset with the best possible genes by BMW, they currently represent the ultimate in performance, comfort, driving culture and efficiency.

The new BMW ALPINA B3 and B4 Bi-Turbo models combine these characteristics like no other. The modern straight-six 3 litre engine equipped with two turbochargers produces 410hp and a maximum torque of 600Nm. The adaptive ALPINA sport suspension and the 8-Speed Sport-Automatic transmission with ALPINA SWITCH-TRONIC deliver maximum comfort and impressive dynamics. Functional aerodynamics, signature 20” ALPINA CLASSIC wheels and two elliptical double tailpipes are hallmarks of the ALPINA design philosophy.

The perfect interaction of power, torque and high-tech transmission means accelerating from 0 to 100km/h (0 – 62mph) takes just 4.2 seconds and a staggering top speed in excess of 300km/h is possible. At the same time these qualities encourage relaxed cruising and stress-free long distance journeys – during which the real life consumption easily drops below 10l per 100km. In fact the new B4 Bi-Turbo Coupé achieves a class-leading combined fuel economy of just 7.6l/100km and 177g/km CO2*

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