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BMW M1 poised to set new records at auction

A rare BMW M1 with exceptionally low mileage is set to break records when it goes up for auction next month. The Bavarian supercar is one of just 450 examples made. It has only 424 miles on the clock after decades in storage, putting it in prime position to draw heavy bidding. The legendary M1 was the first vehicle made by the M division and brought together some of the biggest names in the business. The chassis was designed by Dallara, the body by Giorgetto Giugiaro, and development was carried out (at least initially) by Lamborghini. It was the first mid-engined supercar BMW made. The original idea was to homologate the M1 for racing. But when the FIA changed the rules, BMW started the Procar series that put F1 drivers behind the wheel of racing-spec versions of the M1 ahead of the European grands prix. That put BMW and its M division on the map, earning the M1 a special place in the history books. BMW only made 450 examples, of which 399 were road-going versions like the one you see here. And it's a gem, to be sure. Chassis number WBS59910004301426 was delivered new in Arctic white with black checkered upholstery to a dealer in Italy, which never sold it. A broker in Pennsylvania acquired it for baseball legend Pete Rose, who never took delivery. And so it sat in the dealer's warehouse for over three decades. A friend finally managed to convince that US dealer to part with it. And after replacing a handful of soft components (with only original parts, of course), the current owner is now putting it up for sale at RM Sotheby's upcoming auction in New York. Given the pristine condition of this particular example and its low mileage, the auctioneers expect it will fetch between $800,000 and $1 million. That could stand to make this the most expensive M1 ever sold. According to Sports Car Market, the current record for an M1 stands at $854,000 paid in 2011 for a racing-spec Procar with livery designed by Frank Stella. The most ever paid for a road-going example, however, rests at $605k. This example, then, stands not only to obliterate the M1 auction records, but elevate the iconic supercar into 507 (and even 328) territory among the most valuable BMWs ever made. It may, however, have a tough time getting the attention it deserves, considering some of the other machinery RM has lined up for the Driven By Disruption sale.

BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe caught without cladding

Like it or not, the majority of BMW 3 Series variants are on their way out, and the 4 Series models are hotly embroiled in the testing needed to replace them. We've now driven the basic 4 Series, seen spy photographs of the 4 Series Convertible and both versions of the M4 and today we get a better-than-ever look at the 4 Series Gran Coupe.
And, mostly dependent on your personal disposition towards four-dour coupes, that look should be a pleasant thing. The long, swooping Gran Coupe may be roughly similar in size to the related 3 Series GT, but it has been sculpted with beauty in mind rather than crossover function. We expect that those details still hidden by the body cladding here, mostly front and rear, can be filled in by simply remembering what the standard 4 Series looks like and squinting your eyes a bit. Subtlety is thy name, BMW variants.
As for the mechanicals, well, we expect to have the very same greasy bits under the hood and beneath the car that are found in the 4 Series lineup, too.

Tier 1 suppliers call GM the worst OEM to work with

Among automakers with a big US presence, General Motors is the worst to work for, according to a new survey from Tier 1 automotive suppliers, conducted by Planning Perspectives, Inc.
The Detroit-based manufacturer, which has been under fire following the ignition switch recall and its accompanying scandal, finished behind six other automakers with big US manufacturing operations. Suppliers had issues with trust and communications, as well as intellectual property protection. GM was also the least likely to allow suppliers to raise their prices in the face of unexpected increases in material cost, all of which contributed to 55 percent of suppliers saying their relationship with GM was "poor to very poor."
GM's cross-town competitors didn't fare much better. Chrysler finished in fifth place, ahead of GM and behind Dearborn-based Ford, which was passed for third place this year by Nissan. Toyota took the top marks, while Honda captured second place.