2001 Bmw M Roadster & Coupe M Roadster S54 on 2040-cars

Auto blog

BMW bringing two new concepts to Pebble Beach

BMW has announced that it will reveal not one, but two new concept cars during Monterey Car Week next month. The Bavarian automaker released this teaser image in conjunction with the announcement, showing what looks like a rather racy steering wheel to suggest that at least one of those concepts will be focused on performance. The signature red and blue stitching on the wheel and the participation of the M division's R&D chief in the press conference also hint at its nature. We're intrigued, though, by some of the buttons on the wheel with labels like "Flash," "Cool," and "PSL." The Roundel marque has been known to create concept cars to showcase at classic car concours, but they're more often presented at the Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este that BMW has supported for over a decade on the shores of Italy's picturesque Lake Como. That's where BMW revealed in recent years the 3.0 CSL Hommage, the Pininfarina Gran Lusso, and the Zagato Coupe concepts (to name just a few). It did, however, follow up on the latter with Zagato Roadster concept at Pebble Beach that same year. We might project that at least one of the concepts would represent another brand affiliated with BMW – like Mini, Rolls-Royce, or BMW Motorrad. However the announcement below seems to indicate fairly clearly that they'll both be "concept cars" (not bikes), and that they'll be presenting the BMW brand itself (not another from the group). The show cars are also likely to veer more toward the design-study end of the spectrum than previewing any specific upcoming production models, and we wouldn't be surprised if the two arrived as a matching pair of sorts. BMW's California-based Designworks studio is also likely to have played a key role in at least one of the projects. But to find out more, we'll have to wait for the press conference on August 13 in the BMW Villa at Pebble Beach. The concepts will subsequently make the rounds of key Monterey events, including The Quail, the Legends of the Autobahn Concours d'Elegance, the Rolex Monterey Motorsport Reunion, and of course the headline Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance. BMW to Unveil Two World Premier Concept Cars During Monterey Car Week. Media Preview at The BMW Annual Press Conference on Thursday Evening. Woodcliff Lake, N.J. – July 17, 2015... BMW is pleased to invite credentialed media to the 'BMW at the 2015 Monterey Car Week' preview press conference on August 13th at 6:00pm.

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.

BMW says its diesels are above board

BMW got yanked into the riptide of the Volkswagen diesel scandal thanks to a report in Auto Bild, which Auto Bild has now clarified. On Thursday the German magazine said that when the International Council on Clean Transportation tested the X3 xDrive 2.0d, the ICCT discovered the diesel X3's tailpipe emissions exceeded the European limit by more than 1,100 percent. The key detail, though, is that apparently at no time did the ICCT find that BMW cheated on any emissions tests. No one has explained why the X3 diesel had such high emissions and the ICCT wouldn't comment on the Auto Bild report. But the mag has issued a clarification asserting that in spite of the excessive emissions, there is no evidence BMW engaged in regulatory subterfuge. Every other BMW vehicle ICCT tested was within compliance, but the organization's report from October 2014 - that no one paid attention to - found that nitrogen oxide emissions in 15 vehicles it tested averaged seven times the European limit. The brand's stock is still suffering from the taint. It dropped almost ten percent the day the report came out before rallying to close at five percent down. But on Monday BMW stock closed at 84.01 euros, and as of writing on Friday it's still trying to fight its way back above 80 euros. With so many people still just trying to find out how widespread the the issue is, and trust rather low, it's likely BMW won't be the one dragged down, fairly or not. Related Video: