French automobile and motorcycle builder Lazareth has managed to shoehorn an entire BMW V12 engine into one of its crazy Wazuma quads. While there isn’t much that’s environmentally friendly about a 500-horsepower supercharged V12 from BMW that’s powering a rather large and impractical quad platform, Lazareth has decided to attempt to give the machine a bit of eco-cred by running the engine on E85.

If you want one, it’ll set you back $283,000.

“The Lexus does a lot of things brilliantly, but the BMW… that does everything brilliantly. In the past you had to be a cock to buy one, now you’re a cock if you don’t!”

Timothy “Tiff” Needell of Fifth Gear has the best job in the world. He gets to test drive and tear the living crap out of the most sought after sports cars for our viewing enjoyment.

In this latest video, Needell drives the car every auto enthusiast has been waiting for, the new BMW M3. The outgoing E46 M3 model which Tami drives, is one of Tiff’s all time favorites.

The new M3 is more powerful and boasts a ‘power’ button to make it even more aggressive. On paper all the indications are good, but there’s really only one way to find out for sure – put the man in the driving seat and let him floor the gas pedal.

BMW launched the E92 M3 on September 8th 2007 in the UK. Looking similar to the 335i BMW Coupe but with a new front air dam, quad exhaust pipes, an aggressive hood bulge, an M6 style carbon fibre-reinforced roof and vents on the front quarter panels reminiscent of the E46 M3.

The E92 M3 is powered by a 4.0 L V8 engine, instead of theinline-6 engine as used in the last generation E46 M3. While the E92 M3 resembles the regular E92 3 series, almost all the body panels are unique to the M3. The engine produces 420 hp at 8,300 rpm, and peak torque is 295 lb-ft at 3,900 rpm, which represents a power increase of 22% over the E46 M3.

The new V8 weighs 33 lbs less than the outgoing six cylinder for a total weight of 445 lbs. The styling follows the trend of slightly more aggressive M cars as started by the E60 M5. A six-speed manual transmission will be standard. While an SMG transmission was initially expected to be available as an option later, BMW is said to be planning the introduction of an all-new double-clutch gearbox, titled DCT, a year after the release of the E92 M3. It is predicted to be sold in the United States starting in the middle of 2008.

I can’t wait to get my hands on one!

Chris Bangle, lead designer at BMW, has designed a sexy new four-door that is redefining the luxury sedan category. With his classic flame surfacing, rear end treatment, and ’shark nose’ front end, this low slung beauty has some of the finest lines of any BMW ever created.

The CS is longer than the 7 Series at 200.8 inches, with a super-size 78-inch width and a 53.5 inch height. In other words, long, low and mean. It rides on typical giant concept wheels, 21-inchers for this car.

The four-door luxury Gran Turismo enters a new dimension of motoring in new style that will finally give the Mercedes-Benz CLS a worthy competitor.

(via Motor Trend)

The first BMW E92 M3 commercial has been released with glimpses of the beast from different angles. Although it’s a great looking car, I still prefer the last generation BMW E46 M3. The bump on the hood is a little out of place and the fenders could’ve been a tad wider.

I’m hoping it’ll look a lot better in person.

The official press photos of the M3 concept have been released and revealed at the 77th Geneva Motor Show. The E92 BMW M3 features a high-revving 4.0L V8 that many speculate will produce close to 420 HP.

The M3 concept car borrows heavily from the lines of the BMW 335ci coupe, but has been enhanced with slightly more aggressive lines.

The new M3 doesn’t look bad to me, but it doesn’t seem to have that instant “wow” factor. Of course it’s still in concept form so my opinion may change when I see the final production car. For now, It’s not quite beefy enough or balanced like the last generation E46 M3. I’d like to see what aftermarket gurus Hamann and AC Schnitzer have in store for this car.

Mwerks M3 Gallery

M3 Post Gallery

Hamann really knows how to tune a BMW. Today, they debuted their BMW E92 335i Twin Turbo Coupe at the 2006 Essen Motor Show in Germany and the car is just pure sex. No word on performance specs yet, but the aerodynamics kit is looking hot!

Story

The E46 BMW M3 currently in it’s third generation, has been refined to be one of the finest and most fun high performance cars on the road today. The M3 is fitted with a 3.2 liter, inline six-cylinder engine that produces 333hp and 262lbs/torque. Apparently that amount of power wasn’t good enough for Ronnie Renaldi, and a Dinan supercharger was installed to boost the power to a whopping 440hp. Definitely enough power to rumble the pants off your next date. The M3 is beautiful in its stock form, but subtle carbon fiber accents and a CSL like transformation has set this M3 apart from its stock counterparts.

Interview

K: You chose CSL components for your route of modifications. What was your reasoning behind going with the CSL kit?
R: I chose the CSL kit because it’s not over the top, it has a clean and classy look.

K: The Kinesis F110 is a fabulous looking wheel, not to mention it’s one of the lightest on the market as well. Were there any other wheels you hand in mind before making your final decision?
R: Yes, I was considering to get a set of HRE wheels, especially the HRE 540R with brushed aluminum center. But ultimately I bought the Kinesis F110 wheels instead because they are light for 19″ wheels (18 lbs for 19″x8.5″ and 19 lbs for 19″x10″ compared to HREs that usually weigh around 25 – 26 lbs). And since the spokes on these Kinesis wheels are pretty widely spaced, they show my yellow Brembo calipers nicely.

K: Alot has been put into the car, but if you had to name one mod that stands out from the rest, what would it be?
R: It’s the Dinan supercharger. Not many people have this supercharger kit. It puts down about 110 more hp (at crank/flywheel) than a stock E46 M3 but from outside, you can not tell that my car has a supercharger.

K:What’s next in your mod plan?
R: Some interior mods and ICE. Or maybe skip these and get a new car ;)

Pictures

Modifications List

Exterior:
- Vorsteiner CSL front bumper
- BMW OEM CSL trunk
- CSL style CF rear diffuser
- CF Kidney Grilles
- CF Side Grilles
- CF Headlight trim set
- Smoked front corners
- Black Roundels
- Silvervision turn signal bulbs
- Umnitza Predator Chromium DDE
- ProLumen 6000K HID bulbs (not installed)

Wheels & Tires:
- Kinesis F110 19×8.5 (18 lbs) and 19×10 (19 lbs) wheels
- Bridgestone S03 245/35-19 and 275/30-19 tires
- Turner Motorsport 8mm spacers

Suspension & Braking:
- Brembo GT 4-piston front calipers (custom painted yellow) with 14″ front rotors
- Brembo 4-piston rear calipers (custom painted yellow) with OEM 12.9″ rear rotors
- Goodridge stainless steel braided front brake lines
- Hawk HPS F+R brake pads
- KW Variant 2 coilovers
- Dinan front swaybar
- Quattro CF front strut bar (not installed)

Engine:
- Dinan Vortech Supercharger (4.6 psi Boost Pressure)
- Dinan high flow cold air intake
- Larger capacity fuel injectors
- Racing-Style aluminum radiator
- Dinan engine management System
- Dinan high flow throttle bodies
- Evosport headers with ceramic coating
- Evosport high flow cats
- Milltek section 2
- Milltek exhaust
- UUC Stage II lightweight flywheel
- UUC UltraSmooth Cerametallic clutch kit
- Rogue tranny mounts
- UUC EVO3 SSK
- UUC DSSR
- Defi control unit & BF gauges (Boost, Oil Temp, EGT)
- Modified CDV from Zeckhausen.com
- CF engine cover and other parts

Interior/Audio:
- Silver CF steering wheel
- UUC RK Shadow CF shift knob and CF e-brake
- LeatherZ alcantara shift and e-brake boots with red stiching
- LeatherZ Gauge Panel
- Valentine One radar hardwired
- OEM homelink
- Silver CF interior trim set (not installed)
- Tru Technology T-2.100 amp (not installed)
- Seas Excel 6″ midbass speakers (not installed)
- Phass AT28 tweeters (not installed)
- Custom passive crossovers (not installed)
- JL 10W6v2 subwoofer (not installed)
- JL 500/1 mono amp (not installed)

HAMANN, by trade a top-class tuning specialist for BMW vehicles, is crowning its tuning suite for this brand with its latest creation. It is daring to touch the top model amongst the Bavarian saloons, namely the M5.

The high-revving 5 litre V10 with 507 bhp and 520 Nm is not allowed to show off the full effects of its power in the series version. But just how fast might the M5 be able to race? HAMANN supplies the answer: 327 km/h, which is achieved solely by means of Vmax override.

For those who are not satisfied with this and who desire even more power, HAMANN offers now a solution. The Laupheim-based tuner provides the M5 with a sports-kit composed of high-performance headers, sports metal catalysts, a engine map optimisation and a Vmax-override. The 10-cylinder engine then produces lordly 603 hp and 574 Nm.

The BMW 5 Series has proved to be a class-leading saloon and things have been taken to higher level with the introduction of a very special variant, the BMW 5 Series Security (ballistic protection level B4).

The BMW 5 Series Security successfully rounded off BMW’s existing range of Security vehicles consisting of the BMW 760Li / 745Li High Security and the BMW X5 Security. Both BMW 7 Series models are High Security vehicles complying with the requirements of the ballistic protection level B6//B7. The BMW X5 Security and the new BMW 5 Series Security meet the requirements of the ballistic protection level B4.

With the BMW X5 Security, BMW successfully brought to market the first armoured SAV that has attracted many customers owing to its superior on- and off-road capabilities. With the launch of the 5 Series Security, BMW is now offering an armoured saloon in the premium segment of the upper midrange. Boasting sporting performance and motoring comfort combined with exclusive equipment options and state-of-the-art security technology, this Security vehicle caters for the needs of the most discerning customers worldwide.

Two engine variants available.

In building Security and High Security vehicles, BMW’s engineers give particular significance not only to ballistic security, but also to the vehicles’ dynamic qualities and performance, which must be more or less of the same standard as with the production models.

This is why the BMW 5 Series will be available with a choice of two engine variants: an eight-cylinder engine developing a maximum output of 270 kW/367 bhp (BMW 550i) and a six-cylinder engine with a maximum output of 190 kW/258 bhp (BMW 530i).

The BMW 5 Series Security is BMW’s answer to growing violence and criminal threats involving carjacking and kidnapping in Latin and South America, parts of South-East Asia and the Middle East, as well as some states of the former Soviet Union. This kind of crime committed on the road and often out of pure coincidence is not a direct attempt at the occupants’ life. Rather, the perpetrators seek to steal valuables inside the vehicle or, indeed, the entire car.

The 5 Series Security complies with protection level B4.

Precisely this is why the 5 Series Security is protected against .44 Magnum revolver ammunition and other hand-held weapons in accordance with the requirements of the ballistic protection level B4. BMW Security vehicles of this kind are used by multinational companies and organisations as well as by private individuals.

High-performance fibre composites (aramid, polyethylene) and special-purpose steel is used for armouring the chassis. Glass with a thickness of approximately 21 millimetres is used for the windows. The armoured glass has been provided with a polycarbonate layer that offers passengers additional protection from splinters.

The BMW 5 Series Security is manufactured alongside the series model at BMW’s Dingolfing plant. While on the production line it is prepared for armouring before being shipped to a specialist facility in Toluca, Mexico, where the vehicles (including the BMW X5 Security) complete the final assembly stage. Forming a distinct contrast to production cars retrofitted with security features, the special features especially on BMW’s Security cars are integrated into the car right from the beginning in a process parallel to the industrial standard production.

Moreover, top priority is given not only to security in BMW Security cars, but also to optimally tailoring and adjusting the vehicle to the increased weight. This is achieved by extensive modifications of the suspension, braking system and rear axle.

The high level of security specification does not inhibit the interior design or ergonomics though and occupants can still experience the same generous dimensions and freedom of movement inside the passenger compartment. The choice of special options for the Security vehicle is almost on par with the range of options available for its production counterpart. Furthermore, even BMW Individual packages could be integrated in the car, in order to provide customers with the combination of state-of-the-art security and highest exclusivity. Individual equipment options for authorities (e.g. siren and radio systems as well as LED flashing lights incorporated into the radiator grille) can also be integrated if desired.

The 5 Series Security hardly differs at first sight from its regular production counterpart.

Another important argument also speaks in favour of security made by BMW: All of BMW’s Security and High Security vehicles are built to international standards and are certified by non-partisan, official tests institutes such as the German ballistic authority.

It goes without saying that the 5 Series Security, like all of BMW’s Security and High Security vehicles, comes with nearly all the passive safety attributes of the regular production models. Through its design features and safety items, this is one of the safest vehicles in the world also in the event of an accident.

From outside the BMW 5 Series Security hardly differs from its regular production counterpart. And this is important, since many customers understandably attach great significance to discretion and anonymity. A further equally obvious point is absolute discretion on the groups of customers buying such vehicles as well as comprehensive service provided the world over.

This includes BMW’s own pool of High Security and Security vehicles able to supply the customer with a suitable car whenever necessary at short notice and nearly everywhere the world over.