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BMW may be planning AMG Black Series competitors

Word has it BMW has its heart set on giving the Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Black Series a run for its money in the US. According to BimmerBoost.com, the German automaker has been making more and more noise about offering a number of specialty models aimed specifically at enthusiasts. While at the Detroit Auto Show this year, the BMW PR machine revealed 2013 will be "an interesting year" and that buyers can expect one or two products aimed specifically at swiping buyers from the clutches of the C63 AMG Black Series. The news came courtesy of Automobile writer Marc Noordeloos' Twitter machine.
Noordeloos reportedly interviewed several executives familiar with the M models while in Detroit, and says the M division would like to offer hardware like the M3 CSL, GTS or CRT to buyers here in the States. That sounds great to us, but saying something doesn't make it true, and manufacturers rarely find it in their hearts to bring money-losing machines to our green shores. Still, that won't stop us from crossing our fingers.

BMW X4 M40i leaks ahead of LA Auto Show

Leaked photos of the higher-performance BMW X4 M40i emerged today ahead of its expected debut at the 2015 LA Auto Show. The new model builds on the xDrive35i model, offering an extra 60 horsepower and 43 pound-feet of torque. The hotted-up X4 should use that power well. According to Auto Guide, it will hit 62 miles per hour in 4.9 seconds and should be limited to a top speed of 155 mph – a notable improvement over the existing xDrive35i, which takes 5.2 seconds to hit 60 and has a top speed of 130 mph. Expect the X4 M40i to be followed by an similar version using the X3's more versatile body style, both of which will use an eight-speed automatic and a more aggressive all-wheel-drive setup. Despite the "M" in its name, this is not a full-blown M car. Instead, it takes the same tack BMW has used for the M235i here in America, as well as the M50d models sold in Europe: higher performance over stock, without offering the full enchilada that is a proper M car. That explains the slightly more aggressive body kit, which isn't as sporting as that of a proper M car. On top of the new front and rear clips, there's a set of meaty 19-inch wheels that look to be wrapped in sporty Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires. In the cabin, an oversized M-branded steering wheel is the most notable addition. Naturally, we'll have the full range of details on the X4 M40i when it debuts in a couple of months in LA. Related Video: The video meant to be presented here is no longer available. Sorry for the inconvenience.

Behind the Scenes of BMW's 'Drift Mob,' Part 2 [w/video]

After spending four days practicing about a dozen drift stunt moves in a parking lot for an upcoming BMW "Drift Mob" internet mini-film, Rhys Millen, Sam Hübinette, Dai Yoshihara, Rich Rutherford, and Conrad Grunewald are finally ready for show time. We are brought to the huge urban traffic circle to see the stunts performed midway through the day to observe for a couple of hours.
The undertaking is massive, with multiple cameras set up, scores of crew members, a helicopter filming from above, a rigged pickup for car-to-car shots, sidewalks lined with security and plenty of curious onlookers, and oh, yeah, a major intersection of a top world city shut down for an entire weekend.
The five drifting legends are nestled in their identical red BMW M235i coupes, which have been modified with special handbrakes but essentially nothing else you can't get on a stock version, and are listening to direction from director Mic Rodgers and stunt coordinator Riley Harper. We're basically given free rein of the set, to shoot the cars, the drivers, and at one point, even hopping in with Yoshihara for one of the admittedly more tame stunts. Even then, the g-forces are so severe that they flip our cameraphone's video recording from landscape mode to portrait. Yes, this is a pretty cool day to be reporting on cars, and as we said during our first installment of our behind the scenes coverage of Drift Mob, we're honored to be the only US media outlet here to tell the tale.