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2016 BMW M4 GTS hidden in plain view in Tokyo

We almost missed the 2016 BMW M4 GTS at the Tokyo Motor Show. As you can see in the photos, the car is sort of tucked into a little corner behind a wall, and it's way in the back of BMW's show stand. You'd never see it unless someone told you it's there. And that's a shame. This is one of the coolest cars BMW has launched in quite some time. Only 700 examples of the M4 GTS will be sold globally, with 300 earmarked for the United States. Aside from the aerodynamic and appearance upgrades, the GTS stands out by being the first production road-car to use a water injection system. We detailed this technology when the M4 GTS officially bowed, but the end result is more power. The GTS makes 493 horsepower and 442 pound-feet of torque – gains of 68 hp and 36 lb-ft over a stock M4. The other big news for the M4 GTS is its weight reduction – some 200 pounds have been removed, thanks to the use of carbon fiber-reinforced materials. The car's rear seats are gone, and several interior pieces have been redone in lighter materials, as well. This thing should be a monster out on the track, and we can't wait to get behind the wheel. But first, we're hoping BMW at least lets it out into the spotlight a little. See the car for yourself, live from Tokyo, in the gallery above. The new 2016 BMW M4 GTS an exclusive high-performance special edition M4 available for the first time in the US. - First production road car with a Water Injection System - World-exclusive OLED light technology - Specially designed full three-way adjustable M coilover suspension - Intelligent lightweight body design - Most agile, radical and powerful M4 ever Woodcliff Lake, N.J.: BMW today announced the new 2016 BMW M4 GTS giving BMW M GmbH a new and exclusive technological masterpiece which elevates the potential of the BMW M4 Coupe to an impressive new level. With its powerful, motorsport-inspired looks and high-performance technology, the BMW M4 GTS has its sights set squarely on the race track. Thanks to an innovative water injection system helping boost power to 493 bHP and track ready chassis, this Special Edition M vehicle recorded a lap time of 7 minutes 28 seconds around the legendary Nurburgring-Nordschleife, the world's most challenging race circuit, making a clear statement about this model's exceptional dynamic abilities. At the same time, the sharpest BMW M4 of all can also hold its own on public roads.

As US exports top 2 million, is America becoming the world's source of cheap cars?

North American auto production is booming with 2014 figures just shy of the of the 17.3-million vehicle record set in 2000. With more models being built on the continent, even more are being shipped overseas. Factories in the US exported 2.1 million cars last year – the highest number ever. About half of those went to Canada and Mexico, but more than ever have been heading to places like the Middle East and China. The upswing comes in part from from after-effects from the Great Recession, according to The Wall Street Journal. With a weak dollar and lower production costs after the financial crisis, building vehicles in the US was relatively cheaper and more competitive in the world. At the same time buyers around the world are going crazy for crossovers. According to the WSJ, BMW and Mercedes-Benz are already exporting the majority of their US production of these models overseas. Both automakers have also announced investments to expand production further here to send more vehicles abroad. Even Honda has been shipping more models out of the country than it imported here. There is a concern this international strength could start slowing because the dollar is strengthening against other currencies, though it's too early to know what the actual effect of this could be, according to the WSJ. "Of course, we closely watch currency exchange, but we don't make changes in production or allocation based on temporary fluctuations in the exchange rate," Ford North American boss Joe Hinrichs told the newspaper. Related Video: News Source: The Wall Street Journal - sub. req.Image Credit: BMW Plants/Manufacturing BMW Ford Honda Mercedes-Benz exports us auto production

Florida bikers threatened at gunpoint for beating motorist

A road rage incident in Pinellas County, FL spiraled out of control when a motorist confronted a trio of aggressive bikers at a stop light. According to The Sun, YouTube user known only as DankWheelie posted video on April 8 of a fistfight between a driver and a pack of sportbike riders on a busy Florida highway which ended abruptly when one of the participants pulled a pistol. There is precious little context for the video, which became a near instant viral sensation this week. Little is known about either the motorist or the bikers. The video starts with the bikers riding along an oceanside highway, when a red, older model BMW 5 Series gets into some confused lane changing shenanigans with them on a bridge. At a stop light after the bridge, the bikers and the driver of the BMW get into a fist fight in traffic, which does none of them credit. The bikers knock the driver to the ground and surround him, when a woman passenger in the BMW pops out with a pistol drawn and brandishes the weapon at the bikers. At this point the bikers all attempt to flee and the video ends. While there seems to be no police report filed, a local police official familiar with the incident made a statement to The Sun. "After the first incident, that's when you get on the phone," said Sergeant Mike Lynch, suggesting that all parties involved could have made better decisions. "That's when you call 9-1-1." "We're looking at a woman who looks terrified for either a friend that was in the vehicle or a spouse of some sort maybe," Lynch continued. "We encourage the public to call about that type of reckless driving. It endangers all of us on the road, not just their own lives but everybody else that's out there." Related Video News Source: YouTube, The Sun Weird Car News BMW Driving Safety Motorcycle Videos Sedan road rage biker