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This 1966 BMW 1600 Neue Klasse lives on the backroads

Among early BMWs, the 2002 gets a lot of love for being a relatively accessible, great-handling little sports coupe. Jim Huff explains in the latest episode of Petrolicious why the slightly earlier BMW 1600 Neue Klasse sedan also offers a fantastic drive – especially with some choice modifications. Huff was a fan of 2002s until his wife gave him a vintage BMW sedan model car as a gift. That toy sparked his interest in the Bavarian automaker's earlier four-door models, and he had to have one to drive. He eventually tracked down his 1966 1600 and started on a project to convert it into a great vehicle for blasting over California's backroads. Huff's 1600 still features the original classic lines, but his now includes a larger 2.0-liter engine with Weber carbs, an upgraded suspension, and improved brakes. As a result of the tuning, the vintage BMW can hang with Huff's buddies in Alfa Romeos and Porsches on curvy roads. It sounds fantastic, too. Petrolicous interviews Huff, and he discusses a little about the history of these sedans. The real highlight is seeing and hearing his BMW in motion, though. Enjoy the ride with him in this video.

BMW already considering four cylinders for next M3

The cylinder count in BMW's M3 has fluctuated over the years. The original M3 debuted in 1985 packing a 2.3-liter inline-four, but subsequent models went with sixes until the outgoing generation upped the cylinder count to eight. With its latest model, BMW has dropped back to six cylinders with a pair of turbos taking the place of the extra pistons. But the next M3 sedan and M4 coupe could go back to the model line's roots with a four-cylinder engine.
Speaking with BMW M product manager Carsten Pries at the launch of the latest M3 and M4 in Portugal, our Aussie compatriots at Motoring.com.au report that "you could see a future [M3] powered by a four-cylinder engine." Offsetting the reduction in cylinders, the lighter engine would benefit the vehicle's weight and balance, thus enhancing performance.
We wouldn't expect the next M3 and M4 to lose any power in the process, though: Output in the M3 has only risen over the generations, from 192 horsepower in the four-pot original to 282 hp in the six-cylinder E36, 338 hp in the six-cylinder E46, 414 hp in the V8 E90 and 425 ponies in the new turbocharged six-cylinder F80 model. With that latter model having just debuted, it'll likely be a good six or seven years before the next version comes along, giving BMW plenty of time to settle on an engine - however many cylinders and turbochargers it has. In the meantime, you'll have to forgive us for taking a romp down M3 memory lane in the fresh gallery of images above.

2014 BMW 3 Series Gran Turismo [w/video]

BMW Gets Much Closer To The GT Look And Feel It Seeks
The 2014 BMW 3 Series Gran Turismo is being launched to a pretty cynical automotive press brigade. You know it. We know it. Heck, even BMW knows it. We've just returned from driving it on the rather unforgiving and sometimes nasty roads of Sicily, and even before we got behind the wheel, many of our media colleagues were busying themselves doubting the 3 GT's very raison d'être. So, despite the always excellent Sicilian hospitality, the day's atmosphere was kind of fragile.
While the press in attendance seemed determined to nail every product expert to the wall for having been even tangentially associated with the larger 5 Series Gran Turismo, it seemed that BMW decided ahead of time to not introduce such a sensitive discussion topic. That strategy would do little to smooth things over as everyone started digging for dirt on BMW's so far clumsy Gran Turismo franchise.