If you’re in the DC area and want to check out an exceptional collection of exotic and immaculate classic rides FOR FREE, I suggest you head over to Great Falls, VA to the Cars and Coffee event that takes place every Saturday.
Not long ago I had the opportunity to flog a BMW 135i Coupe around the streets of northern Pennsylvania. The car was an absolute hoot to drive as it was small, nimble and very, very quick. When first released the 1-Series was met with some opposition from BMW purists because from a price perspective it really was not much cheaper, nor was it that much lighter than a standard 3-series. For the past few months though BMW has been teasing us with spy photos of their upcoming 1 Series M Coupe, a car that promises to be everything the standard 1-Series is, but with a much harder edge thanks to BMW’s coveted “M” division.
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Photo: Bonhams
Want to own A BMW M1 or a BMW 3.0CSL? Do you have a bank account with a number, followed by lots of zeros? If you nodded your head to both questions, book yourself a flight to Dubai for the upcoming Bonhams Auction this October. Per 4 Wheels News, BMW is parting with these Classics Collection vehicles as a way of building their presence in the Middle East collector car market. Both cars are fully restored and have been displayed at selected EU concours d’elegance events. The sale marks the first time that BMW has offered vehicles from its Classics Collection for sale, which gives you an idea of the importance they’re placing on the Middle East market.
I’ll admit to having high hopes for the upcoming BMW 1 Series M Coupe. Early on, I suggested that BMW build the car as a de-contented driver’s car without electronic gizmos like rain sensing wipers and self adjusting headlights. Cloth seats, the nice kind that you can still get in the EU, would be just fine and I’d be happy with a manual climate control. My biggest fear was that BMW would up-content the car and price the 1 Series M beyond the reach of most enthusiasts. Sell it at or below the price of the new Mustang GT (call it $35k, nicely equipped) and I’m interested. Push the price beyond that point and the 1 Series M becomes just another toy for wealthy BMW aficionados.
This shouldn’t really come as a big surprise to anyone, but BMW has announced that it is killing off the M6 and the 505 HP V10 that powers it and the M5. When launched in 2005 the second generation 6-Series was met with mix feelings from critics around the globe. First off it’s actually quite a big automobile and because of this it didn’t do anything particularly well. Sure it was fast and sounded good, but it just never really lived up to the sports sedan status that I think BMW was looking for. The car was also very expensive with a starting price coming in at over $100,000.
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So what do you do when your current generation M5 is no longer fast enough to warm your schnitzel? Autoblog tells us to give G-Power a call, and they’d be happy to build you any flavor of M5 you want, up to and including their M5 Hurricane RR, billed as the fastest sedan in the world. Backing up that claim is a measured top speed of 231 miles per hour, made possible by the 800 or so horsepower the Bavarian beast is putting down.
Paul Walker Races 650hp Mini Cooper in Supercharged BMW M3
Even Paul Walker, Mr. Fast and Furious himself and driver of the AE Performance BMW M3, couldn’t keep up with a 650 horsepower ABF Performance Mini Cooper S at Willow Springs. The Mini is stupid fast and seems to walk away from the M3 at will.
The cars were competing in the Redline Time Attack series and weren’t actually racing against each other, which is why the Mini slows at 3:00 to let the BMW by. Cars run front to back and change positions after each lap, allowing the lead driver to focus solely on reducing his lap times. Cool vid to watch, and I’d much rather be behind the wheel of the M3. A Mini Cooper S with 650 horsepower to the front wheels isn’t exactly my idea of a good time on a racetrack.
I think it was early in 1991 when I saw my first BMW 840i in person. It was a sleek, low-slung wedge shaped coupe with muscular lines and truth be told, I loved it. I’m a huge fan of GT cars like the 8-series because to me, they represent everything that is great about tackling the open road. They’re front engine and rear wheel drive, tend to have a longer wheel base, handle great and just love to chew up as many miles as they can at high speed. That’s what driving is all about in my book. Released in 1989 the BMW 8-series was BMW’s flagship with a wallet-popping top of the line price tag of over $110,000. Unfortunately though it was met with mixed emotions in the United States as buyers thought that the big 8-series may have been a bit too soft for the American market.
Remember the limited edition M3 BMW teased us with earlier in the week? It’s been announced, and I’ve got to say I’m not impressed. First, the basics: it’s a 2011 BMW M3 Coupe, equipped with a Fox Red and Black Novillo leather interior, a 1 cm lower ride height, 19” wheels, revised M Dynamic driving mode and Electronic Damping Control. The motor remains unchanged from a stock M3, putting out 414 horsepower. With the included dual clutch transmission, the M3 will get you to 60 miles per hour in 4.5 seconds.
Finally, we get a car on this side of the pond that you won’t be able to buy in other markets. After recent snubs from Ford (Focus RS 500) and Subaru (Cosworth WRX STI), we Americans were starting to get a bit paranoid.
Details are scarce and photos are scarcer, but here’s what we do know: BMW is showing us the love by building a special edition M3 for the U.S. only. It’s probably going to be a coupe, but there’s a chance it may come in drop top form as well. The pictures show a dual clutch automatic transmission, but we don’t know if a “row it yourself” option will also be available. The interior looks to be two tone leather, but we don’t know if black with red inserts will be the only color combination. In short, we know we’re getting a car and not much else.
