More than 1,500 horsepower, seating for 15 adults and all weather capability. This is what happens when you bring together the big guns of the SUV world in a no-holds-barred performance based shootout. All of these family haulers, the 2012 Jeep SRT8, 2011 BMW X5 M and 2011 Porsche Cayenne Turbo, hit 0-60 mph in under 5 seconds and ungoverned would top at at well over 160 mph. So, this begs the question – does the world really need SUV’s that have the ability to take on some of the worlds premier performance cars? Motor Trend Magazine recently gathered these bad boys up to find out the answer to that very question. Click through and enjoy.

Source: MotorTrend.com

You’ve got to admit that watching Vicki Butler-Henderson fling the new 2012 BMW M5 around is pretty damn sexy. First off, both the car and Vicki are easy on the eyes, and secondly they both have the ability to blow your doors off if given the opportunity. Um wait… in Vicki’s case I mean from behind the wheel not from, er, well… you know. Anyway, the new BMW M5 is now in its 5th generation and with that comes more power, more refinement and of course, more performance. For instance, gone is the big V10 mill of the E60 and in it’s place is a more efficient 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 that makes 552-hp and 502 lb-ft of torque. This means a 30-percent increase in fuel economy, a 0-62 mph time of 4.4 seconds and a top end of 190 mph with the optional M package. Combine that with a new more free flowing interior, dynamic damper control and a new multi-plate limited slip differential and you’ve got yourself one helluva car on your hands. But hell, don’t take my word for it – take Vicki’s…

Source: Youtube.com

BMW’s 1 Series M is a modern sport coupe, designed for optimum handling and powered by a twin-turbo inline-six good for 340 horsepower. Brutus is a 1908 American LaFrance truck chassis, stuffed full of a 46-liter (and no, I didn’t miss a decimal point) V-12 BMW aircraft engine, making 500 horsepower at 1,500 rpm. The 1-Series M barks a satisfying exhaust note; Brutus, on the other hand, spits fire and belches enough unspent hydrocarbon to erode a hole in the ozone layer the size of Montana with each quarter mile pass. As Jeremy Clarkson puts it, “This car is the stuff of nightmares… the very embodiment of evil.” We’re not sure about that, but it appears to be a very good way to have fingers amputated, thanks to its exposed mechanicals.

Which is faster in a straight line? Watch the video below to find out.

BMW vs. Brutus!

The BMW M5 is widely considered to be the greatest four-door sports sedan on the planet Earth. It’s elegant, fast and at days end, a helluva’ lot of fun to wring out on your favorite back road. Thus far we’ve seen it powered by an inline-6, a naturally aspirated V8, a V10 and now, in its newest form, a twin-turbo V8 that makes 560 HP and 502 lb-ft. That’s some serious power ladies and gentlemen. The new double-clutch seven speed transmission can be placed in automatic or manual mode and will surely give drivers loads of free-wheeling excitement depending on their mood. Plus the larger fuel tank means they won’t have to stop every 8-minutes for fuel once they finish hooning the crap out of this thing. Chris Harris of EVO Magazine recently took the new M5 out for a spin and came away with the opinion that, not only was this new M5 good, but BMW nailed it.

Source: Youtube.com

There’s plenty to like about the new BMW 1 Series M, including 335 horsepower in a 3,300 pound coupe with an M suspension and M brakes. There’s also something not to like about it, and that’s the fact that production has all but sold out, with the remaining cars being offered by dealers for bend-over-grab-your-ankles-and-squeal-like-a-pig prices. BMW set out to create an affordable car for young enthusiasts, but instead created a pricey toy for the affluent or a museum piece for speculators who believe the car’s $50k asking price will go nowhere but up.

Mike’s driven the 1 Series M, and his take on the car mirrors Matt’s. It’s a superb driver’s car, which only makes its price and unavailability sting that much more. Us common folk won’t be able to enjoy it, but we can enjoy a video review courtesy of Matt Farah and The Smoking Tire.

Chris Pfeiffer is arguably the best stunt rider in the world. The BMW and Red Bull sponsored rider has demonstrated his mad skillz in places like the rooftop of BMW’s Munich headquarters, which doesn’t leave much margin for error. Pfeiffer’s latest adventure has him in visiting Azerbaijan, which most of us on this side of the pond would have a hard time finding on a map. Enjoy a one-wheeled view of a place that most of us won’t ever get to see.

The problem with most car reviews these days is that they’re filmed on public roads, where the type of behavior that gets a video hits will also get your license suspended. Even on the rare occasion when manufacturers bring their latest wares to a racetrack for some spirited driving, journos are generally told to preserve the tires and brakes; in other words, long, lurid burnouts and smoky drifts through corners are discouraged, as is lapping at anything near a car’s limits of handling.

Not so on the other side of the pond, where using up the tires on a new M5 just gets you a fresh set of rears. Even if you don’t speak Hungarian, you’ll enjoy this Totalcar video review of the latest BMW M5 thanks to its English subtitles. We’re even giving bonus points for using Clutch in the soundtrack towards the end of the video.

Source: YouTube via Carscoop

Motorcycle reviews are something fairly new to The Smoking Tire, but our pal Matt has a lengthy history on two wheels. Like the esteemed Mr. Farah, I once relied on motorcycles as primary transportation, and I can echo his sentiments; living in Colorado, where it can and will snow from September through April, bikes are a poor choice as a daily driver. If you’re lucky enough to have the budget for a bike as a weekend toy, the tough decision becomes which style, then which model, to pick.

If you’re looking for a bike to do the occasional commute on, plus strafe canyons on the weekend and run the occasional track day, BMW’s F800R streetfighter seems like a reasonable choice. Its parallel twin engine makes enough power to be entertaining without being intimidating, and it’s upright riding posture means you’ve got a good view of the road ahead. Like all of BMW’s motorcycles, the price of admission may be on the steep side, but BMW’s bike are normally just broken in about the time that other motorcycles are approaching worn out. If BMW had a better dealer network in the United States, I’m sure they’d sell even more bikes.

So is the BMW F800R the Swiss Army Knife of motorcycles? Is it the best choice for commuting and weekend fun? I won’t spoil Matt’s review, so check out his opinion of the BMW F800R in the video below.

The 2007 Porsche GT3 RS has 415 bhp, 300 lb-ft of torque and tops out at 193 mph. The 2011 BMW S1000RR has 193 bhp, 83 lb-ft of torque and tops out at 189 mph, BUT it only has two wheels. For some, the Porsche will always be the ultimate in terms of automotive expression and performance. For others though, the thrill gained from dragging a knee through a corner on a big-bore liter bike is a feeling that can never be duplicated. Man has been pitting cars and motorcycles against each other since the two were invented, and with each contest the opinion on which is more fun changes. Personally, I’d opt for the Porsche since my reckless days are pretty much behind me, but I can say from experience that riding a super-bike like BMW’s S1000RR is something that will not only invigorate the senses, but cleanse the soul. Click through for the video and let us know what you think.

Source: Youtube.com

Image: BMW AG

Here’s a cold, hard fact of life that most of us try to ignore: if you reflash your car’s ECU, then swallow a valve or put a piston through your engine block, don’t expect that to be covered under your car’s warranty. In fact, any changes to your car’s ECU will generally void the powertrain warranty granted by the automaker, unless there’s some other pre-written arrangement between the automaker and the tuner. That’s not to say that mods will void your entire warranty, but if a manufacturer can prove that a failure is a direct result of modification, you’re on your own.

The best tunes, therefore, are the ones that come directly from a manufacturer. Last July, BMW offered a factory tuning program for buyers of the 2011 335i; for a very-reasonable $550 (plus installation), BMW would reflash the ECU to give you the same level of power as a 335iS. That meant a power increase from 300 horsepower to 320 hp, with a subsequent boost in torque up to 32 ft-lb (automatic transmission) or 17 ft-lb (manual or DCT transmission).

Now BMW is taking what they’ve learned and offering the same tune for owners of any year 335i, as well as any year 135i. For $599 (plus installation), BMW will sell you its Version 1 Power Kit, which consists of an ECU reflash. For those that track their cars, a Version 2 Power Kit gives you the added horsepower, plus added cooling in the form of an auxiliary water cooler and a higher flow fan.

The good news is that the kits retain all applicable BMW warranties, as well as emission certifications and stock fuel economy. The bad new is that the kits should only be installed on cars ordered with BMW’s option code S840, which includes a higher speed limit and an additional oil cooler.

Source: BMW