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MotorWeek fondly remembers the 2000 BMW M5

The Retro Review series from MotorWeek tends to reminisce about vehicles at are at least 20 years old and often from even further back. However, the show's latest recollection shines the spotlight on a fondly remembered sports sedan that's also a modern classic: the 2000 BMW M5. Years before BMW committed to downsized engines with turbocharging and shortly prior to the introduction of iDrive, the E39 M5 showed the Bavarian brand's engineering talents at their very best. By modern standards, the sedan's powertrain is almost antiquated. Up front, there's a big, naturally aspirated V8 that sends power to the rear wheels, and the only choice of transmission is a six-speed manual. But as MotorWeek explains, the tuning of the whole vehicle comes out to near perfection. This is a model that's definitely worth remembering.

1971 BMW 2002 is a car designer's car

Choosing what car to buy, drive, and love is a difficult decision for anyone. But when you're a car designer, the decision carries that much more weight. Then again, it may be that much easier when your whole decision comes down to the visceral and the aesthetic. Take Radu Muntean, for example, who's profiled in this episode of Petrolicious. Not to be confused with the film director of the same name (and nationality), this Radu Muntean is a car designer by trade. Since moving from his native Romania and graduating from the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, Radu went on to work for the likes of Ford, GM, and Tesla. But his pride and joy is a set of wheels he didn't design himself: it's a 1971 BMW 2002. It's a model that BMW made for the long stretch of time in the 1960s and '70s, and enjoys a cult following to this day. And it's not hard to see why. Radu has customized his vintage Bimmer extensively, but rather than glitzing it up, he's boiled it down to its essence. And like a Lancia Fulvia or Alfa Romeo Giulia of the same era, this 2002 is a thing of simple beauty: squared-off design, slap sides, tall greenhouse, and little more. Related Video:

BMW 1 Series dead for 2014

BMW is temporarily abandoning the increasingly competitive and popular compact luxury segment, as it's announced that its 1 Series Coupe and Convertible will be discontinued for the 2014 model year, marking an ignominious end to a line that spawned a pair of excellent high-performance models during its life. Production on the Coupe officially ended in August, while convertible production was taken offline in June.
And while we're mourning the loss of the 1 Series, we're left wondering about the status of its replacement, the 2 Series. That car, which we've already seen inside and out and know the specs on, is expected to make its debut at the 2014 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, although it's unclear just how quickly BMW will get it to showrooms. Assuming BMW doesn't have a bumper crop of already-built 2013 models to hold them over, that leaves Munich-based manufacturer somewhat vulnerable, particularly as Audi and Mercedes-Benz are both launching new models in the compact-premium space vacated by the 1 Series. Any delay in the arrival of the 2 Series could be bad news for BMW, especially if the public is receptive to the new Audi A3 and CLA-Class (early signs suggest that the baby Benz has traction).
In addition, BMW has made a number of changes across the rest of its lineup which are listed below in the official press release. Some of the notable changes, though, include a revised 445-horsepower twin-turbocharged V8 on the 5 Series, a limited-edition Frozen Brilliant White Edition for the 6 Series and the rollout of a new, touchpad-equipped version of iDrive on a number of BMW models. Scroll down for the full press release from BMW.