Auto and Cars

Video: Supercharged 650 HP BMW M6 Looks stock, does 300 km/h One of the things that older BMW M cars have going for them is the sleeper look. That’s even more prominent in the E6x models like the V10-powered M5 and M6. The four tailpipes at the back are the only hints that there’s something outrageous lurking under the hood and that makes them perfect sleepers, even in stock guise. The 5-liter heart beating under the hood delivers over 500 HP from the moment it leaves the factory, enough to put a lot of cars to shame. Only those who really know BMW models can tell the difference between an M6 and every other 6 Series in the E63 range and even then, with some tinkering, differentiation can be difficult. The car we’re looking at today goes even one step further. Everythi...

Is the E12 BMW 5 Series the best looking 5 Series of all time? When it comes to famous 5 Series’, the E12-generation often seems to be forgotten. To be fair, many of its successors were absolutely incredible and icons in the industry, so it can be hard to stand out among giants. However, there’s one area where the E12, the original 5 Series, might be better than all of the successors that came before it — design. Back in the early ’70s, the man that headed up BMW’s design team was none other than Paul Bracq, the brilliant French designer that penned countless gorgeously understated cars over the years. While Bracq didn’t lead BMW’s design team for long, only from 1970-1974, he made a big impact on the brand. During his short time with BMW, he de...

What does the BMW M4 Gran Coupe Mean for the BMW M3? Word has just gotten out, claiming that BMW M is working on an M4 Gran Coupe model, due to the popularity of the F36 4 Series Gran Coupe in both America and China. BMW fans around the world are rejoicing, as such a car is something they’ve wanted ever since the launch of the aforementioned F36. While the M4 Gran Coupe is something we’ve all wanted for some time, its existence actually creates a new problem for the brand — what do you do with the BMW M3? The M3 is an absolute, bona fide automotive icon. It’s been around for over three decades and it’s the go-to performance sedan all fans think of. It also invented the segment it competes in, or at least shaped it into what we know it as today. So how could...

G21 BMW 3 Series Touring is the same size as an E34 5 Series Touring To say that cars have been getting bigger over the years seems like a gross understatement. Cars are growing faster than the average Pawnee citizen at a fried bacon-wrapped hotdog festival. Being that BMW sort of invented the current premium sedan size chart, with its 3 Series, 5 Series and 7 Series, it’s always interesting to see how those cars have grown over the years, compared to one another. For instance, Car Throttle just learned that the G21 BMW 3 Series Touring is almost exactly the same size as the E34 BMW 5 Series Touring. Car Throttle’s Alex Kersten owns an E34 5 Series Touring, a sort of beater car that he’s been fixing up. During a recent test with a G21 3 Series Touring, though, Kersten ...

MINI Belux delivers all new John Cooper Works GPs at home The Belgian and Luxembourg MINI dealers offer to all 105 customers who ordered the limited MINI John Cooper Works GP to have the car delivered to their homes. It’s a first for the MINI brand to offer a home delivery. According to MINI Benelux, the first JCW GP reservation from a Belgian customer dates back to September 2017, when the concept version was unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show. The MINI John Cooper Works GP delivers 306 hp and a top speed of 265 km/h, making it the fastest MINI in history. Even the large roof spoiler and the carbon wheel arches immediately catch the eye of non-experts. To save weight, the rear seat has been omitted, which makes the MINI John Cooper Works GP a strict two-seater. The car ca...

Production of BMW M760Li and V12 engine will end in 2020 The end for the BMW M760Li with V12 engine is coming later this year. According to Bimmertoday, the production of the V12-powered luxury sedan will stop in Fall 2020. A direct successor is not planned due to the increasingly stringent exhaust gas standards and the demanding requirements for CO2 emissions in the European new vehicle fleet. Of course, the demand for the V12 BMW M760Li was never large enough, so that played a factor in the decision making process as well. The V12 is also being used by Rolls-Royce in its models, so it remains to be seen what the future looks like for the Goodwood-based automaker. In the U.S., the BMW M760i makes 612 horsepower with a sprint from 0 to 62 mph (100 km/h) in 3.7 seconds. It’s the E...

BMW X8 M Render with new Grille Design — Doesn’t Look too Bad The BMW X8 M is coming and it will be the first-ever bespoke M model, meaning that it won’t be based on a pre-existing BMW Series production car. Instead, it will be developed from the ground up by the M Division (though, it will have some BMW Group stuff, such as electronics and what not). When it debuts, it will be a huge deal for BMW M, as it could make or break the future of bespoke M models. With it being so important, it’s going to need to look good. This new render of the X8 M looks… well, not too bad, actually. (We don’t own the render but it can be seen here) There are a lot of ways the BMW X8 M can go wrong, style-wise. From what we’ve been told, it’s going to be a coupe-ish SUV,...

The history of BMW Safety Cars: Over 20 years of experience BMW has a rich tradition of supplying Safety Cars for various motorsport competitions such as DTM, MotoGP and Formula E. For over 20 years, BMW has constantly provided sensational Safety Cars to restore the order after intense and unexpected events happened during MotoGP, DTM and Formula E races. The BMW Safety Cars have also made their appearance at the 24-hour race at Le Mans. In Formula E, BMW is setting a premiere by offering the i8 plug-in hybrid supercar as Official Safety Car of the series ever since 2014. The Garching-based high performance division has deployed their pace cars in various competitions as test beds to collect useful data for future powertrain and dynamics developments. We begin our journey back in 1999,...

VIDEO: Check out this Stunning E30 BMW M3 from Enthusiast Auto Group One of the most valuable classic Bimmers is the E30 BMW M3. Famous for its DTM-origins, telepathic communication and stratospheric engine, the E30 M3 is easily one of the most beloved BMWs of all time. Because of its legendary status and desirability, it’s worth a lot of money, especially if it’s mostly original. Which is why this specific model from Enthusiast Auto Group is extra special. The car in this video is an E30 BMW M3 with only around 34,000 miles on it and almost every single component is original. There are minor things replaced, such as a washer fluid bottle, some hoses and a taillight but all the major stuff is the same. However, all of the original parts that were replaced are actually still ...

VIDEO: Check out these BMW Films Remastered in 4K Every BMW enthusiast loves BMW Films. In fact, most car enthusiasts in general love BMW Films, as they were fantastic little short films based entirely around cool cars. It was an incredibly clever way to market cars while also entertaining enthusiasts. Most of which featured big-name celebrities and were almost all directed by top-notch talent. They were great. The only issue with watching them now is that they were made so long ago, in the late ’90s and early ’00s, that the quality is terrible. However, one passionate enthusiast decided to digitally remaster them in 4k and has graciously put them on YouTube. All ten of the BMW Films short films are here, with all the greats that fans love and remember. Even the latest one, ...

BMW Motorsport looked at the 2020 Super GT racing with DTM car According to Motorsport.com, earlier this year, BMW Motorsport held discussions with its Japanese partner team to enter its Class One DTM car in SUPER GT. Back in 2018, DTM and SUPER GT agreed to a common set of regulations. The idea was to allow DTM and SUPER GT cars to race each other in their respective championships. BMW had previously said that it could enter its M4 DTMs in SUPER GT, but only if it were able to scale back its works DTM. Fuji Speedway (JPN) 24th November 2019. BMW M Motorsport, SUPER GT x DTM Dream Race, Marco Wittmann (GER) #11 Schaeffler BMW M4 DTM, BMW Team RBM. The latest report says that that BMW did consider fielding in effort in GT500 by holding talks with long-time Japanese customer Team St...

You can now get a BMW M8 GTE Electric for your kids While your kids might not be able to drive a BMW M8 GTE until later on in their adult life, you can at least plant the seed from the early years. Thanks to the latest BMW Lifestyle collection, a BMW M8 GTE car is available for kids. Yet, this is not your ordinary car toy. The car packs a kid-sized electric motor, along with race-ready elements, like the yellow-tinted lights. Furthermore, it gets genuine BMW engine sounds, lighting effects and opening doors transform children’s rooms and gardens into a racetrack. With the integrated MP3 interface for playing music and audio files, the little ones don’t have to miss out. No official specs were announced, but it’s likely to include a 6-volt battery and a top speed of 2....

TEST DRIVE: 2020 MINI Cooper SE – The City Car For You When the MINI Cooper SE was initially announced, the world let out a rather clear and audible ‘FINALLY’. This car was in the making for about 10 years now, ever since the MINI E took shape. That was a testing product, one meant to literally measure just how much a random person drives every day. This time though, we’re looking at a real-deal electric MINI, one that you can actually buy. The History Of Electric MINIs MINI has been mulling over this idea for quite some time, not just with the MINI E. There have been other hints before of an electric car, such as the MINI Rocketman project, a small city car meant to offer the basics of transportation to its owner. There was also the MINI Superleggera concept which wa...

Maximilian Gunther finishes third on Saturday’s Formula E sim race Maximilian Gunther has been on fire in Formula E so far. Not only in real life racing, but also in the eSim Formula E Race at Home Challenge. He won the first two races and now finished on the podium again this Saturday, albeit two positions down. Nevertheless, the put in a great performance. In qualifying for the race featuring the Formula E drivers, Günther had to settle for sixth place. However, he promptly climbed into third place after an eventful start, and was able to defend the position through to the finish. Victory this time went to Pascal Wehrlein from Mahindra. Günther (65 points) now leads Wehrlein by 21 points in the Drivers’ Championship. Qualifying could also have been better for Sims, who...

Auto Express Test: BMW M235i Gran Coupe vs Mercedes-AMG CLA35 The BMW M235i Gran Coupe and Mercedes-AMG CLA35 are so similar you’d think that they were designed by the same people, in the same room, at the same time. Both cars are four-door “coupes” from Germany with 2.0 liter turbocharged four-cylinder engines, automatic gearboxes, front-wheel drive chassis and all-wheel drive systems. So which flavor is better; the one from Stuttgart or Munich? Auto Express recently found out in this new test. In terms of outright performance, there’s not enough between the two to make any sort of significant difference. Both cars have 302 bhp and get from 0-60 mph within a tenth of each other; the BMW doing the sprint in 5.0 seconds flat and the AMG taking a tenth longer. Wher...

Video: Battle of the old V8s – BMW E90 M3 vs E63 AMG and Audi RS4 It seems like forever since BMW dropped its last naturally aspirated engine from its line-up and what an engine it was. The last car built with an atmospheric engine under the hood, and a blue and white roundel on top of it, was the E90 M3 (and every other iteration of it). It may seem like forever ago but it’s really not, only one generation of M cars stands between that moment in time and today. Some say BMW M cars were never the same after that but turbocharged engines do also have their advantages. Once you get used to them and their extra torque, it can be hard to go back to atmospheric engines. The drag race below, however, shows how these performance cars used to compare in a straight line back in the day. Li...

A Deeper Dive into the History of the BMW M Logo Colors A little while back, we told you the origin story of the M Division’s logo colors. Over the years, there’s been a lot of debate as to how BMW M decided on its colors for the now-iconic three stripes. If you were to ask BMW right now about the meaning behind the M stripe colors, the answer would be that the blue represents BMW, the red represents motorsport and the violet is a mixture of the two, hence why the violet is sandwiched in between the blue and red. However, there’s actually a longer, more interesting story behind how BMW came to use those colors and, while more complex, the aforementioned meaning is still somewhat true. According to the motorsport historian for BMW Group Classic, Marc Thiesbürger, t...

Spec Comparison: BMW M340d vs ALPINA D3 S and Audi S4 TDI Back in the day, if you were buying a premium diesel sedan, you were doing it to economically get to and from work. Now, you can still do that but you also get gut-punching power and sports car performance. Not only is it possible to have your cake and eat it, too in this segment but you’re almost spoiled for choice. So long as you live in Europe, of course. Our good friends at BimmerToday decided to put together a bit of a photo and spec comparison between three such cars — the BMW M340d, ALPINA D3 S and Audi S4 TDI. In BMW’s corner is the M340d, which is essentially the diesel version of the M340i. So it packs a 3.0 liter turbocharged I6 diesel engine with 340 hp and 516 lb-ft of torque, so it’s a punchy...

VIDEO: We Take a Virtual Tour of the BMW Classic Garage in Munich We’re living through a historic time and not in a good way. The Coronavirus pandemic has put the entire world in a state of lockdown, keeping most people indoors and away from others. However, one of the small silver linings is that we’re all coming up with new and unique ways to connect with each other. In our latest video, our own Horatiu and Nate Rische had the chance to virtually talk to Ben Voss from the BMW Classics center and he took us through a garage filled with legendary cars. The first thing Voss showed us in the video was a few cars on lifts, among them is an E39 BMW M5 which is pristine and lovely, as usual. However, the E39 M5 is pedestrian compared to everything else in the BMW Classics garage....

Here are some Mother’s Day gift suggestions from MINI Mother’s Day is coming up fast and, in case you’re lacking inspiration on what to get your dear mom, MINI has come up with some suggestions, from its very own line of lifestyle products, of course. MINI does this every year, highlighting its product range and it proved to be quite useful, at least for me, as I’m not the greatest gifter in the world. So, what does the British brand have in store for you? Well, you could go with some garments from the MINI Lifestyle Collection. Guaranteeing a fashionable start to the upcoming summer season, the MINI Wordmark T-Shirt for women is available in vivid Coral or in classic Black and White. A great gift for mothers who prefer a stylish retro look can be found in the MINI 60 ...

Car and Driver’s BMW 4 Series Prototype Review — Sounds Promising Back when the BMW 4 Series was first beginning to show itself in pre-production form, there were rumors that it would be more of a small GT car, a miniature 8 Series if you will. Rather than act as the sportier alternative to the 3 Series, it was said that the 4er would be more of a competent but comfortable cruiser. After hearing the responses from pre-production drives, however, it sounds as if those rumors were without merit. According to this recent Car and Driver review, the new 4 Series feels much sportier than its three-door sibling. BMW already released some of the 4 Series’ mechanical info, such as its increased negative camber, slightly sharper steering and lower center of gravity. According to C&D, al...

SPIED: 2021 BMW M5 CS spotted with minimal cladding Spy photographers have recently caught what looks to be a FEP prototype of the new 2021 BMW M5 CS. The CS will be a new addition to the M5 lineup right in time for the refreshed LCI generation. A minimally camouflaged test vehicle of the forthcoming M5 CS was recently scooped in Germany (We don’t own the spy photos but you can see them here). Compared to the standard M5 variant, the CS will likely be equipped with modified front air intakes, also featuring a distinctive spoiler for better engine cooling. Apart from the this, a set of high-performance ceramic/composite brakes with perforated discs will also be available as an option. We also expect a new CFRP roof for the new M5 CS to keep the curb weight as low as possible. To f...

BMW drivers and pro sim racers tips for the perfect sim racing rig As you might’ve noticed, the sim racing phenomenon is really taking off, now that all the tracks are closed. BMW drivers have been a part of this movement for a while now and they are competing with notable success. That’s why they agreed to offer some insight into what you should be looking for, in case you want to get yourself a setup to enter such competitions. Just like it would be the case in real-life racing, the technology at hand plays an important role. Even pro sim-racers agree that you do need a good rig to make sure your skills can be used to their full extent. Therefore, they decided to offer some tips on what you should be aware of, when setting off to search, buy and build yourself a proper sim...

VIDEO: Three BMW’s rank on the Top 15 Least Reliable Cars in UK German engineering has gained a reputation over the years for being durable and reliable. However, as cars become more and more electronic and complicated, that reputation has begun to fade. For instance, just mention a car like the first-gen Audi Q5 or Volkswagen Phaeton and most car enthusiasts shudder at the potential repair costs. However, to think that BMW is immune for poor reliability is misguided at best. In fact, in this new video from Carwow, we learn that three of the top fifteen least reliable cars over the past decade were BMWs. Coming in at number fourteen was the BMW M4, which suffered from common brake issues and infotainment glitches. Interestingly enough, Carwow’s Mat Watson noticed those very brake ...

What would the BMW M8 look like as a Mid-Engine Supercar? This new BMW M8 is far more uber-GT car than a full-on supercar. Not only is it a front-engine, two-door sports car developed from a GT car but it’s also not as thrilling as a supercar needs to be. It doesn’t give its driver the fizz in the same way a Ferrari or Lamborghini does, despite its 600 hp V8. However, what if the M8 actually was a supercar? What if BMW was bold enough to make the M8 a mid-engine supercar, something to spiritually succeed the legendary M1? This render tries to find out just how that might look. Okay, so maybe this render is just a BMW M8 nose grafted onto the body of an Audi R8 Spyder. However, it actually sort of works. Sure, the R8’s styling is a bit too sharp for the M8’s face ...

Is the BMW i3 really one of the Ugliest Cars from 2010s? There are a few reasons as to why the BMW i3 hasn’t really been a sales success here in the US. Its lack of range compared to its rivals, its lack of meaningful horsepower and its high price are all some of the reasons why the i3 has been a bit of a sales dud. However, the main reason has always been its styling. While some enthusiasts love it for its quirky, strangeness (I’m one of them), most customers just don’t seem to like it at all. In fact, Motor Trend recently named it one of the ugliest cars of the 2010s. Sure, that might sound a bit harsh but it isn’t untrue. The BMW i3 is, by no stretch, a pretty car. Our own Horatiu has owned three (three!) BMW i3s and even he won’t call it a good looking ...

2020 BMW 228i Gran Coupe is featured in the Seaside Blue Metallic color The first Seaside Blue Metallic BMW arrived in 2017, along with the introduction of the current BMW 2 Series Coupe. Now, the flashy and vibrant blue arrives on the first ever BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe. Courtesy of Hendrick BMW in Charlotte, North Carolina, we can now observe from upclose a 2020 BMW 228i Gran Coupe in Seaside Blue. There is a lot of controversy around the 2 Series Gran Coupe. Despite wearing the 2 Series badge, the four-door coupe is a front-wheel drive-based car, with an optional xDrive all-wheel drive system. Of course, when the new BMW 2 Series Coupe arrives in 2021, the power will be then sent to the rear wheels. Could this be confusing for future BMW customers? Likely, but we’re told that th...

Is Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio Facelift a threat to the new BMW M3? In terms of pure driving dynamics, the Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio was a better car than the F80 BMW M3. Its steering was better, its chassis dynamics were better and its engine was more thrilling. It was the better car to drive, straight up. However, when it came to actual ownership, the Alfa fell apart. Its interior quality was lacking, its infotainment system was appalling for a car of its price and its reliability was questionable. So the M3 was the better car to own. Now, though, the Giulia Quadrifoglio has been given a mid-cycle update to remedy a lot of those issues. At the same time, BMW is working on an all-new M3, which should be debuting shortly. Can this facelifted Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio actual...

Video: BMW M8 Competition vs Porsche 911 and Bentley Continental GT BMW’s current M CEO made headlines around the world when the BMW M8 was announced, dubbing it a “Porsche 911 killer.” The reason why this statement took everyone by surprise is the known, incredible performance the 911 manages to deliver generation after generation. And the current Porsche 911 is no exception. Of course, many pundits don’t see the BMW M8 is a competitor to the 911, but rather more along the lines of a Continental GT. But since every theory needs to be tested, the folks at Autocar have put together a comprehensive review featuring the BMW M8 Competition, alongside the Porsche 911 and Bentley Continental GT. Now, what should be mentioned here is that, unlike the M8, which is basic...

BMW’s European Delivery Program is Cancelled and I’m Sad BMW has just recently announced that it’s ending the European Delivery program for the United States market. Personally, this is a sad day. While I haven’t ever been able to afford a brand-new BMW, which meant I could never take part in the program, I’ve always dreamed of doing so. I’ve always had grand visions of what it would be like; what sort of car I’d get, who I’d bring with me to collect it and where we’d take it once it was officially mine. Now, though, those dreams have been squashed before I made them a reality. And that makes me sad. For those of you unaware, BMW’s European Delivery program wasn’t unlike other Euro-based automakers’. If you ordered your car in ...