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BWM 135i with M3 V8 engine swap combines two things we miss the most

If you've ever listened to the Autoblog Podcast, you've doubtlessly heard my views on the BMW 1 Series M Coupe. I don't much care for it. That's not to say it's bad, so much as it just isn't what an M car should be. Steven Ewing, Seyth Miersma and a number of other Autoblog staffers think I'm crazy (It's true, he is crazy –Ed.), but whatever. My position on the 1M would be dramatically different, however, had it been fitted from the factory with the truly fantastic 4.0-liter V8 from the E92 M3 (the last great M car, in this writer's humble opinion). Matt Farah of Drive took to the wheel of a 135i that's been completely reworked by Performance Technic and is owned by Marco Svizzero. The car required a salvageable E92 and what we imagine is an incalculable amount of wrench time, with the result being, as Farah says, "possibly the best BMW you could build at any price." Oh, and it sounds absolutely delicious. Check out the car in action.

BMW dismisses Tesla tie-up talk

Despite recent rumors to the contrary, don't expect to see much collaboration between Tesla and BMW in the near future. Based on some rather prickly statements from the German automaker, Elon Musk might have even burnt some bridges in Bavaria with his latest proclamations. The spat stems from Musk's recent interview with German magazine Der Spiegel where he discusses future collaboration with BMW on "battery technology or charging stations" and the possibility of a battery factory in Germany. But apparently, any future tie-ups are news to the Bavarian automaker. In an interview with the German business publication Wirtschafts Woche, an unnamed spokesperson for the company claims Musk said it all for PR value and swats down most of the statements. BMW has no intention of acquiring Tesla shares, and they aren't working together on any tech. There's not much chance for future cooperation on a battery factory in Germany, either. BMW believes that the cells can just as easily be purchased from suppliers, like other auto parts. The one slight concession is that the spokesperson said that the German automaker would be willing to supply Tesla with carbon fiber. That's not an exclusive offer, though, and the company is open to negotiate such a deal with any interested automaker.

This is the final BMW M3 Coupe

Pour some out for the BMW M3 Coupe, folks. Production of the two-door, fixed-roof M3 has officially ended, and the orange car you see here is the very last one.
But we don't just meant the last M3 Coupe of this generation - this is the last M3 Coupe ever, since the next-gen car will launch under the name M4, staying true to BMW's revised nomenclature where coupes and convertibles will use even numbers. (Don't forget, the new 3 Series coupe becomes the 4 Series for the 2014 model year.) There will, of course, be a new M3, but that badge will only be found on the four-door version.
BMW first launched the M3 Coupe in 1986, and since then, more than 40,000 examples have been built. Sedan and convertible versions were added later in the car's life, and BMW says that the current 2013 model year convertible will remain in production until September of this year.