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Ring Taxi BMW M3 chases an Aventador SV and Cayman GT4

On paper, a BMW M3 that's loaded with three passengers probably shouldn't have a chance at keeping up around a track with a Porsche Cayman GT4 and a Lamborghini Aventador LP 750-4 Superveloce. In the real world, driver skill and track knowledge can make all the difference, though. And when the M3 is a Nurburgring Taxi with a driver that knows the course incredibly well, we end up getting a fantastic lap like this one. The 'Ring Taxi driver starts by teasing his passengers that they'll see whether the Lambo is fast. Before the two of them get on track, the GT4 cuts in to join the party. What follows is a fascinating lap of the Nordschleife. It's impressive how the BMW driver's skill allows him to keep up with the two other cars and blow past tons of other traffic. During faster sections, the Porsche and Aventador start to pull away, but as soon as the course gets curvy again, the M3 is right back in the action. As the group pulls back into the parking lot, even the Ring Taxi driver sounds impressed with his performance. See the impressive show in the video above. Related Video:

Car Hacking 101: Here's what motorists should know [w/video]

Cars are nothing more than computers on wheels. As such, they're vulnerable to hackers. Most people who work within the auto industry have understood this for years, but for the broader American public not paying as close attention, three storylines emerged recently that underscored this new vehicular reality. First, German researchers found a flaw in BMWs remote-services system that allowed them to access the telematics units in vehicles. Then, a 60 Minutes report demonstrated that researchers could remotely infiltrate a Chevy Impala and override critical functions, like acceleration and braking. Finally, a US Senator released a critical report (see video above) that found almost all automakers are unprepared to handle real-time hacks of their vehicles. Those reports come on the heels of two previous instances in recent months when researchers demonstrated the capability to hack cars. All this news can be disconcerting. If you're late to the concept of car-hacking and wondering how this is possible, we've got you covered. Here's your quick primer on what you need to know. 1. How Did My Car Become A Computer? On the outside, cars haven't changed all that much over the past couple of decades years. On the inside, however, the amount of electronics and software has dramatically increased. Most new cars contain more than 50 microprocessors known as electronic control units. These ECUs control everything from airbag deployment and navigation systems to throttle control and braking, and they're usually connected to each other on an internal network called the CAN bus. 2. What Exactly Is Car Hacking? Depends who you ask. Automakers might consider anything that alters the car from its state of manufacture as a 'hack.' For example, if you're chipping the engine – re-calibrating those ECUs to increase your horsepower – some people might consider that a hack. But in the context of the recent news reports, security experts are focused on unwanted, unauthorized cyber intrusions into a vehicle. Once inside your car, prospective attacks could range from minor things like eavesdropping on conversations via an infotainment system and unlocking car doors to major concerns, like overriding driver inputs and controlling braking, steering and acceleration. 3. How Is This All Possible? Any part of the car that communicates with the outside world, either via a remote or direct connection, is a potential entry point for hackers.

These are KBB's Top Ten Green Cars for 2015

For the second straight year, the Top Ten Green Cars list from KBB (i.e. the acronym for Kelley Blue Book) should have been retitled KBBimmer. That's because the BMW i3 electric vehicle has topped KBB's list of greenest production vehicles for two years running. That means that having the lowest purchase price wasn't that big of a factor in determining the winner. KBB releases its list about this time of year every year in honor of Earth Day and this year not only praised the Bimmer for its performance and single-charge range, but also noted that its factory is powered by wind turbines, which gives the car and the company a few more treehugger points. Meanwhile, KBB didn't exactly surprise a ton of people by including models like the Chevrolet Volt extended-range plug-in (with a caveat that the next-generation version will be coming out next year), Nissan Leaf and Tesla Model S EVs and the Toyota Prius' four hybrid variants. Other somewhat lower-profile advanced-powertrain models to make the cut were the Honda Accord Hybrid, Toyota Camry Hybrid, Volkswagen e-Golf and Ford C-Max Hybrid. Rounding out the list was the Volkswagen Jetta TDI, the only diesel that KBB recommended as a Top Ten pick. Related Video: Featured Gallery 2014 BMW i3: First Drive View 33 Photos News Source: KBBImage Credit: Drew Phillips Green BMW Electric top 10