A new round of industry testing is currently underway at the Nürburgring. Bridge to Gantry was on hand to film some of the action and of most note are a couple of clips if BMW’s new F80 M3 prototype. Previously we’d had some concerns over the sound from the inline six cylinder engine, but it seems BMW has been doing some exhaust tuning and we like what we hear.
[Source: Bridge to Gantry]
The Geneva Motor Show is still underway over in Europe and while we’re sure almost all of our readers would love to be there we’re doing the best we can to bring you a little closer to the action. Here is the first installment of over 250 pictures from the show, from Alfa Romeo to Lamborghini, which includes some of the great and not so great models on display.
That Lamborghini’s not getting any prettier is it.
A convoy of F22-based BMW 2 Series models have recently been spied enjoying Europe’s chilly and snowy conditions. Out on the run, it’s speculated, were a 228i and range-topping M235i, with the possibility of one or two other unidentified models as well. There’s a video of the cars to see after the break also, for a brief moment you get to hear BMW’s lovely inline six snorting away as well.
Apparently the M235i will take the place of the expected 235i model, which may leave it as the sole six-cylinder powered car in the 2 Series lineup. Pending confirmation of the engine in the M2, of course.
Production for the F22 coupe and F23 convertible is expected to start in November this year, which probably means we’ll see a full reveal, or concept model at least, at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September.
Here’s a repeat of our earlier list showing what we can expect to see in the full 2 Series range:
Confirmed models
Speculative models
[Source: Bimmerpost | Thanks to Rob for the tip]
Well, it does look a lot better than the 1 Series. That’s probably not the best introduction for the new BMW 3 Series GT, first revealed a couple of weeks ago, but we’re not sure of a better way to introduce this F34 model to you.
To be honest we were ready to embrace this car, to like it, to try and win the inevitable haters over. Now, after seeing these pics and considering them for some time, we’re not so sure. Although, the more we see that image above the more the styling starts to appeal. But the lingering question that remains is, why wouldn’t you just buy an undeniably cool 3 Series Touring instead?
Oddly, to us, the GT is quite a bit larger in dimensions that the Touring. It rides on a wheelbase that is 110mm longer than the wagon, it’s a sizeable 200mm longer overall and some 81mm taller. It’s bordering on being quite a big car, then.
Inside there’s an extra 70mm of rear seat legroom compared with the Touring and 3 Series sedan. While those pretending they don’t actually want an SUV can rest easy sitting 59mm higher than their lower 3 Series brethren.
We can’t deny this should be an immensely capable machine; able to chew up the miles with comfort and driving pleasure. For now, though, we’re just going to have to sit tight and wait until we see one in the flesh before being able to cast a final judgement.
In the meantime we’d love to hear what you, our dear readers, have to say about the 3 Series GT.
YouTube guru Mattzel89 brings us more motor racing joy with his latest Racing in slow motion clip. For his latest installment he has gone back to the glory days of DTM racing in the early 1990s.
We think this video review of the BMW M135i by Autogespot is pretty damn awesome. We especially love the commentary provided, and agree with everything they said.
[Thanks to Matt for the tip]
A round of applause for Australia’s car buying public who achieved an all-time record of 1,112,032 sales in 2012. It’s only the fifth time Australians have bought more than 1 million cars in a calendar year. Last year’s results represent an overall increase of 10.3% (103,595 sales) compared with 2011.
FCAI Chief Executive, Tony Weber, explained demand for a wider range of vehicles helped to fuel the record result. “Reduced tariffs as well as changing consumer preferences have contributed to making the dynamic and innovative automotive industry that we have today,†he said.
“The 2012 sales result bears that out. Customer demand has been high and the industry has responded with a wide range of vehicles powered by a range of different fuels.â€
When you read the material after the break it seems that almost everyone’s a winner except Holden and Ford. The General returned a 9.1% drop in sales compared with 2011, but managed to hold its position as the country’s second-best seller. Although, Mazda is snapping at its heels. Meanwhile, Ford held station, to a degree, returning a 0.9% drop in sales against 2011.
However, when you consider market-leader Toyota increased its annual sales by 20.1%—coupled with strong improvements from other top 10 selling brands like Honda (+18.9%), Mazda (+17.6%), Nissan (+17.4%), Subaru (+18.2%) and Volkswagen (22.6%)—we can’t imagine there’s too many smiles in the boardrooms at Fisherman’s Bend and Broadmeadows.
Individually, the Mazda3 managed to top the charts for 2012, notching up 44,128 sales. Close behind were Toyota’s HiLux (40,646) and Corolla (38,799).
It used to be that one in every four cars sold in Australia was either a Commodore or a Falcon. Not anymore. The Commodore was the fourth-best selling model (30,532 sales), while the Falcon didn’t even make it into the top 10.
Despite 2012’s record result Tony Weber expects a small drop in annual sales for 2013. “During this election year, and with production now having caught up with back orders, FCAI forecasts a national automotive market of 1,075,000 for 2013,†he said.
The BMW M135i has been winning the hearts and minds of the world’s motoring press since its release. Now, German mag Sport Auto has used the 235kW/450Nm offered in the M135i to good effect by lapping the famed Nürburgring Nordschleife in 8 minutes 18 seconds.
It’s understood the car used by Sport Auto was fitted with a 6-speed manual transmission and was rear-wheel drive, rather than an all-paw xDrive model.
Here’s a list of other times achieved by Sport Auto test driver Horst von Saurma that are around the same as the M135i:
[Source: bmwblog.com]
Have you ever wondered what would happen if BMW DTM driver Martin Tomczyk took the Zurich Acapella Group for a drive in an M135i xDrive during the Christmas season? Go on, surely you have. How could you not?
Anyway, even if you haven’t, you can see the results after the break.
Oh yeah, that M135i xDrive is pretty tail happy for an all-wheel drive too.
This is, we’re told, your first look at the new BMW M235i. Which means it’s one of your first looks at the F22 2 Series coupé body as well. Of course, the M235i will be a coupé version of the M135i, which is currently kicking goals all over the world for BMW.
It’s been suggested BMW’s truck full of goodies also carried a 228i and a 235i. Both of which, we expect, will be fine cars in their own right. But it’s the M235i we reckon will be the obvious pick and we look forward to learning more as its development continues.
[Source: 2addicts]
BMW has just revealed images and details for the third model in its M6 range and we reckon this M6 Gran Coupe is easily the best looking. It helps a fair bit when the 6 Series Gran Coupe provides such a great base from which M GmbH can do their thing.
Like the M6 Coupé and Convertible the Gran Coupe is powered by a 4.4 litre V8 featuring BMW TwinPower Turbo technology. At 1875kg it’s a bit of a heavy bugger but thanks the the 412kW/680Nm provided by the V8 engine, and a launch control setting for the 7-speed M double clutch transmission, the M6 Gran Coupe can knock off 100km/h in 4.2 seconds.
Default top speed is limited to 250km/h, but if you ask Mr BMW very nicely for the M Driver’s Package you can top out at 305km/h.
The exposed carbon fibre reinforced plastic roof sets the scene and the rest of the styling from M is now maturing nicely in the post-Bangle era. In side profile view the elongated form looks a little silly, perhaps, but when viewed from a three-quarter angle it looks fantastic.
The M6 Gran Coupe is expected in Australia in the second half of next and you’re going to need around a quarter of a million bucks to buy one. If only!
