**2001 Bmw M5 6 Speed Navigation Loaded Stunning Rare** Silver Beautiful on 2040-cars

Auto blog

BMW M3 and M4 CSL not in the cards

We aren't sure whether to file this one under "good news" or "bad news." BMW confirmed to Top Gear that there "are no plans" for lightweight versions of the new M3 and M4, in the same vein as the E46 M3 CSL (despite rumors to the contrary). The reason?
"There wasn't a CSL on the previous generation, and the way we look at it is like this: the CSL was great because it had this real focus on lightweight engineering. But we've already done that with these new cars. We've made them as light as possible - they come in under 1500 kilograms (3,306 pounds), which for a car like this is incredible," said Matt Collins, BMW's product manager for small to medium cars.
Now, as much as we love the idea of a hardcore version of any car, we appreciate BMW's point of view that the newest Ms are already as light and tough as they need to be. Collins elaborated, saying, "Rather than doing a halfway house to begin with and then rolling out a CSL, we thought we'd make the 'real' car as light as we possibly could. So we've no plans whatsoever to make a lighter, harder version just yet."

Weekly Recap: BMW rolls out ambitious plug-in hybrid electric plan

"We believe that for the United States, this is going to be very important." – Julian Arguelles Let there be no doubt, BMW is serious about electric vehicles. The German automaker said this week it will make plug-in hybrid versions of all of its core models, an aggressive move that demonstrates its commitment to electric propulsion systems. BMW did not specify which vehicles will get the plug-in systems or provide a timeline for when they will arrive. But the announcement is clearly more than blustering, and the company revealed a 3 Series plug-in prototype this week at an event in France. BMW said the 3 Series uses a version of its 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine (240 horsepower, 300 pound feet of torque) with an electric motor sandwiched between the engine and transmission in place of the torque converter. It has an all-electric range of 22 miles. A plug-in X5 with the same powertrain was also displayed alongside the 3 Series, though the X5 has been on the auto-show circuit for more than a year, including a recent stop in Los Angeles. Those two vehicles use "eDrive," and BMW's plans represent the first widespread transfer of its technology from development of the i3 and i8 models to more mainstream products. BMW said it's developing electric powertrains so they can be deployed rapidly across its range, and they are flexible enough to be used with fuel cells in future products. Enticingly, BMW is also working on a "Power eDrive" system, which debuted in a 5 Series GT concept at the event in France. This setup has two electric motors powered by a 20-kilowatt-hour battery pack, and when teamed with a four-cylinder turbo, pump out about 670 hp. Reinforcing BMW's commitment, the company will add more than 200 jobs at its factory in Dingolfing, Germany, to support electric-vehicle development. The moves come as BMW and other automakers diversify their portfolios while fuel economy and emissions regulations are getting tighter around the world. The United States has set a 54.5-mpg CAFE requirement for the 2025 model year. BMW said the electric vehicles were developed with an eye toward the US market, its government policies and its wide-ranging commuting styles. "We believe that for the United States, this is going to be very important," spokesman Julian Arguelles said. Ben Scott, a senior analyst in London with automotive research firm IHS, said BMW's moves are expensive – but necessary – to keep pace with the market.

BMW M2 looks even hotter decked out as MotoGP safety car [w/video]

We didn't think the aggressive BMW M2 could look much better. We were mistaken. Just take a look at this safety car. The new M2 safety car is the latest in a long line of vehicles furnished by BMW to the MotoGP racing series that stretches back to 1999. This model is based on the road-going version, but features a number of upgrades to get it ready for the track. As you can see, it has a fresh take on BMW's signature stripes over white, offset by gold trim. It also wears a low-profile LED strobe light bar on the roof, supplemented by blue LEDs in the front grille and red diodes in place of the reversing lights. The stripped-out cockpit incorporates a roll cage (adapted from the M4 GTS), Recaro racing buckets with six-point harnesses, and an on-board fire extinguisher. BMW also fabricated an adjustable rear wing from carbon-reinforced plastic, and fitted it with Michelin Cup tires and carbon-ceramic brakes. Of course you can't buy the safety car and drive it on the road, but most of the rest of the parts come straight out of the M Performance Parts catalog – and those you can buy. There are aero components like side skirts, front blades, and a rear diffuser, trim pieces in carbon or gloss black, all manner of interior parts, and mechanical bits like an upgraded exhaust system with carbon finishers and a coilover suspension. We're waiting on word regarding US pricing and availability of the M Performance Parts. But in the meantime you can check out the action in the pair of image galleries, the video clip below, and the press releases at bottom. BMW M – OFFICIAL CAR OF MotoGP™. BMW M2 MotoGP SAFETY CAR. MotoGP and BMW M Division: these two partners have formed an ideal combination for almost two decades. MotoGP is the pinnacle of motorcycle racing and features the best riders in the world on high-performance racing prototypes, in the development of which the manufacturers implement their latest technological ideas. High-performance and motorsport genes – attributes, with which BMW M Division is also synonymous. Since 1999, BMW M has been a permanent member of the international MotoGP family. The successful partnership with organiser Dorna Sports has grown consistently over the years, and is set to continue to run well into the future. In 2014, Dorna Sports and BMW M Division extended their cooperation up to and including 2020. Partnerships like this, which span decades, are extremely rare in top-class international sport.