Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Europe, Videos, Aston Martin, Bentley, BMW, Lamborghini, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Porsche, Ferrari, UK, Luxury

In what must have looked and sounded to motorists on the M6 like an invasion of The Swarm, a parade of 50 enthusiast gems leaving a charity event were caught shooting down the on-ramp and merging into traffic. There were plenty of Porsches joining the 959 and Ducktail above, Aston Martins going back to the badboy V8 of the last millennium, a Ferrari Testarossa, a TVR and numerous other Easter eggs.

There were not, however, plenty of turn signals, with someone counting just five among the fifty engaging in proper use of the blinker. One reason put forth for that is the same reason we’re posting this video, which is from last Summer, below: “because supercar.” Enjoy.

Continue reading Supercar parade entering highway is mesmerizing

Supercar parade entering highway is mesmerizing originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 09 May 2013 12:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Supercar parade entering highway is mesmerizing

Filed under: Sedan, Videos, BMW

An instance of road rage turned mortally dangerous in Beverly Hills, CA, recently, when an incident between a cyclist and a BMW driver took a scary turn in front of a rolling security camera.

LA Weekly reports that the person on the bicycle and the driver of the 2008 BMW 328i in the video had some kind of altercation, resulting in the cyclist punching the driver. The driver then followed the biker to an alley on the 9000 block of Wilshire Blvd and, according to the Beverly Hills Police Department, “Intentionally rammed the bicyclist with his vehicle pinning him to a metal rolling trash bin.”

That the act was intentional is clearly evident in the video footage below, captured on a security camera. Police have published the video in the hopes of tracking down the driver, who is said to be in his mid-30s with dark hair, dark eyes and a thin build. BMW owners across the country can thank him – for reinforcing certain stereotypes – by helping to turn him in. Do your part, Bimmer Nation.

Continue reading Beverly Hills road rage incident ends with BMW driver ramming bicyclist

Beverly Hills road rage incident ends with BMW driver ramming bicyclist originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 26 Apr 2013 16:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Beverly Hills road rage incident ends with BMW driver ramming bicyclist

Filed under: Classics, Videos, BMW

Marc Norris, owner of the Bavarian Workshop in Southern California, recently built a lucky customer their very own BMW “M2″ by combining the chassis of an iconic mid-1970s BMW 2002 with BMW’s celebrated race-bred S14 engine from a late-1980s BMW E30 M3.

Dropping the high-revving 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine under the hood wasn’t an issue, but Norris was forced to make a custom cradle for the transmission and new drive shafts so everything would fit. While the crew was in there, they boxed the chassis for additional strength and upgraded the suspension with custom coil-overs at all four corners. Wilwood brakes and Alpina wheels complete the mechanical package. The interior features Recaro buckets, stolen from an early-1980s E21 320i, and plenty of perforated Nappa leather.

Norris says the 200-horsepower screamer drives like an early M3, but the lighter platform is about a second quicker in the sprint to 60 miles per hour – figure just over five seconds.

This stunning restoration is a one-of-a-kind project, but Bavarian Workshop can build you one too. As owner Norris says with a smile, “…no problem, all it takes is money.” Yeah, lots of it. Watch for yourself below.

Continue reading BMW M2 created by marrying 2002 with M3 drivetrain

BMW M2 created by marrying 2002 with M3 drivetrain originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 19 Apr 2013 15:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BMW M2 created by marrying 2002 with M3 drivetrain

Filed under: Performance, Videos, Hatchback, BMW, Mini

Over the last year, we’ve had the chance to drive two of the most exciting hatchbacks in the BMW family – the BMW M135i and the Mini Paceman John Cooper Works – but Autocar has managed to get the two corporate cousins together for a head-to-head comparison. Just like our initial impressions of the Paceman JCW, Autocar has little to complain about this new 215-horsepower hatchback… until it begins to factor in the faster, better-mannered and similarly priced M135i.

Despite laying down an extra 100 hp and delivering a 0-60 time that is almost two seconds quicker, the M135i carries the same price tag of 29,535 pounds in the UK; US pricing for the Paceman starts at $36,200, while it still isn’t even clear if the US will be getting the M135i. Even more surprising is the fact that the Paceman falls short of the M135i in regards to rear seat and cargo volume, and just barely squeaks out a win in the fuel economy department. Scroll down to watch the BMW versus Mini hot hatch battle.

Continue reading Mini JCW Paceman vs. BMW M135i in family faceoff

Mini JCW Paceman vs. BMW M135i in family faceoff originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 15 Apr 2013 20:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mini JCW Paceman vs. BMW M135i in family faceoff

Filed under: Classics, Convertible, Coupe, Sedan, Performance, Videos, BMW, Luxury

BMW’s current reputation of building Ultimate Driving Machines can be traced back through history all the way to 1966, when the German automaker introduced the world to its 1600-2 two-door at the Geneva Motor Show. The car’s name was simplified in 1971 to BMW 1602, and it went on to spawn the 2002, one of the most famous BMW models of all time.

BMW looks back on its past successes in a video that you can see below. As the automaker itself says in the video description, “This series was extraordinarily successful in reinterpreting the concept of the sports saloon and played a major role in motor sport long after production had come to an end.” The 2002 would be replaced in 1975 by another legendary model from BMW: the 3 Series.

We’d be lying if we said we didn’t long for something along the lines of the classic 2002 from BMW today. Since that doesn’t seem likely to happen anytime soon, join us in remembering the cars that helped make BMW a household name by scrolling down below.

Continue reading BMW 02 Series mini-documentary makes us fall in love all over again

BMW 02 Series mini-documentary makes us fall in love all over again originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 24 Mar 2013 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Videos, BMW, Motorcycle

After ninety years in business and first-to-market motorcycle innovations like the one-piece ‘tunnel’ crankcase, hydraulically dampened front forks and full fairings, as well as that trademark boxer engine, BMW Motorrad is celebrating its nonagenarian status with a video: You can follow the ride on BMW motorcycles from 1923 to now in just 90 seconds.

Okay, so there’s more than a video – some anniversary-themed bikes and a new retro boxer model celebrating the R 32 “airhead’ from 1923 also commemorate the occasion. But you can start with the video, and that’s below.

Continue reading Check out 90 years of BMW Motorrad in 90 seconds

Check out 90 years of BMW Motorrad in 90 seconds originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 12 Mar 2013 12:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Check out 90 years of BMW Motorrad in 90 seconds

Filed under: Car Buying, Convertible, Performance, Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Luxury

Here’s a chance to acquire a celebrity-owned vehicles, and this time at a discount instead of a premium. So the celebrity in this case is Consumer Reports, that magazine that could be equally adored and abhored by car enthusiasts. CR buys all of its test vehicles and usually finds willing second owners within its own ranks, but its opening its small used-car lot to the public. On the forecourt are four roadsters: an automatic 2012 Audi TT 2.0 TFSI Quattro S-Tronic with 6,600 miles for $36,500, a manual 2012 BMW Z4 sDrive28i with 8,400 miles for $45,000, a manual 2012 Mercedes-Benz SLK250 for $39,500 and a manual 2013 Porsche Boxster with 7,000 miles for $48,000.

Those numbers mean a savings of $9,000 to $10,000 before haggling – each car is listed with an “Asking price” so there could be some wiggle room if you show up with pockets full of dough and eyes full of serious intent. Since the money CR earns from the sales go back into the magazine’s budget to buy more test cars, however, it probably won’t take any oddball trades, so you can forget about getting any purchasing help from that track-day AMC Javelin project on blocks in the back yard.

The vehicles have been taken care of and spiffed up for sale; buyers will take delivery at the CR test track in East Haddam, Connecticut and get a tour of the facilities. While you’re there they’ll even take you on a lap around the track so you can feel how your car handles when driven by one of its testers. They will probably not help you with advice on which toaster and dehumidifier to buy – you’ll still need to get a subscription for that. Have a look at the video below to see a day in the life of a CR test car.

Continue reading Consumer Reports selling its road-tested roadsters [w/video]

Consumer Reports selling its road-tested roadsters [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 31 Jan 2013 17:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Consumer Reports selling its road-tested roadsters [w/video]

Filed under: Performance, Etc., Videos, Hatchback, BMW, Luxury

The Christmas season is getting more sideways every year. Recently, Mercedes-Benz and its AMG performance division showed us a new way to cook Christmas cookies, and now rival BMW Switzerland is presenting a new way to speed up seasonal caroling. It put four members of the Zurich Acapella Group in an M135i and instructed them to sing Jingle Bells while driver Martin Tomczyk flogged the hot hatch around the Circuit de L’Anneau du Rhin at the same time.

The result is The Fastest Christmas Song in the World, and you can watch it in the video below. And for you Pinterest fans, the behind-the-scenes photos are pinned all over your favorite online photo album site.

Continue reading BMW M135i bids for world’s fastest Christmas song

BMW M135i bids for world’s fastest Christmas song originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 17 Dec 2012 17:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BMW M135i bids for world’s fastest Christmas song

Filed under: Sedan, Performance, Videos, BMW, Cadillac, Mercedes-Benz, Luxury, Comparisons

Motor Trend‘s latest episode of “Head 2 Head” is a battle of the little luxury sixes, looking to see which of these $50,000 sport sedans, all equipped with automatic transmissions, can lay the largest claim to your money: the 321-horsepower, six-speed Cadillac ATS 3.6, the 302-horsepower, seven-speed Mercedes-Benz C350 Sport or the 300-horsepower, eight-speed BMW 335i.

Host Jonny Lieberman doesn’t just look at dynamics. He starts off with an assessment of each car’s interior and its infotainment interface: CUE on the Cadillac, COMAND on the Mercedes and iDrive on the BMW. A bit of a spoiler, CUE doesn’t fare any better here than it did with Consumer Reports, for essentially the same reasons. Thankfully, the ATS has tricks beyond its touchscreen.

The victor and the overall ranking might surprise you. One of the contestants “goes around corners better than it goes in a straight line,” one of them would have won the comparo if it were held a year ago, and one earns more mention of the word “rubbery” than you’ll hear outside of a Kumho factory. Enjoy the episode in the video below.

Continue reading Motor Trend goes head-to-head-to-head in Cadillac ATS 3.6, BMW 335i and Mercedes C350 Sport

Motor Trend goes head-to-head-to-head in Cadillac ATS 3.6, BMW 335i and Mercedes C350 Sport originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 24 Nov 2012 20:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Motor Trend goes head-to-head-to-head in Cadillac ATS 3.6, BMW 335i and Mercedes C350 Sport

Filed under: Aftermarket, Coupe, Performance, Europe, Videos, BMW, Luxury

If you don’t remember the batty G-Power G1 Hurricane RS, here’s a little refresher: imagine 600 horsepower from a supercharged version of the 4.0-liter V8 that powers the BMW M3, shoved into the engine bay of the 1 Series M Coupe. G-Power says the creation is good for a top end of 205 mph, and the crew at Auto Sport recently got the chance to explore the machine’s upper octaves. Fortunately for us, they brought along a camera to capture the ride. While their top-end run didn’t quite manage to break the magical 200 mph barrier, the G1 Hurricane RS did manage to serve up a sprint to 195 mph. Impressive.

Of course, the video also includes all the requisite throttle blips and shots of the car getting sideways on command. Looks like loads of fun, but we feel compelled to remind everyone to keep their antics off of public roads and on the track where they belong. Check out the video below to see the G1 Hurricane RS dash to 195 mph.

Continue reading Watch the G-Power G1 Hurricane RS sprint to 195 mph

Watch the G-Power G1 Hurricane RS sprint to 195 mph originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 04 Nov 2012 18:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Watch the G-Power G1 Hurricane RS sprint to 195 mph