Video: The Sweet Sound of the New BMW M3 V8
Filed under: Auto Show Videos, BMW, Concept Cars, Geneva Auto Show, Sports/GT
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Here is some footage of BMW’s new 2008 M3 concept revving its engine, from the car’s official launch at the 2007 Geneva auto show. This is the hottest ‘music’ on the web right now, since it’s the first time the car-buying public has heard the M3’s all-new V8 in full song.
This motor is going to light the world on fire. It is rumored to displace four liters and make as much as 420 horsepower, and it will probably rev to at least 8000rpm.
We’ve also heard that the new M3 will be offered with a twin-clutch DSG transmission, replacing the old single-clutch SMG used in the previous generation M3.
BMW calls this M3 a “concept,” but they have a habit of introducing road cars at autoshows and calling them concepts. They did it with the E60 M5, and therefore we expect the production M3 to look just like the car you see here.
Join the discussion of the new 2008 BMW M3 (E92 M3) in the message forums.
Video of the new BMW M3 Concept Revving its V8 Engine.
BMW 335i puts M3 on Notice!
Filed under: BMW, Coupes, New Car Previews
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The launch of BMW’s new twin-turbo 335i is the opening shot in a new German horsepower war. However, this war is not being waged between the major German manufacturers, but within the confines of BMW’s own stable.
The 335i feels very quick to us, and should easily beat BMW’s predicted 0-60 time of 5.4 seconds. Its torque curve is a work of art, with peak torque on tap as early as 1400 rpm! The car boasts 300 horsepower and 300 lb-ft of torque, which BMW touts as a “+75 hp and +86 lb-ft improvement over the 2006 330Ci.” But what’s really got us on the edge of our seats is how the 335i will stack up against the 2007 M3, which will sport a V8 for the first time in 3 Series history. When tuners finally get their paws on the new twin-turbo six, any BMW model not packing a V-10 is going to have a real fight on its hands.
With the V8 M3 evolving into a more direct competitor to Porsche’s 911 and Audi’s RS4 as well as Mercedes-Benz’s CLK550, the 335i is well-positioned to succeed its big brother as the top dog of inline-sixes. The inline-six and the 3 Series have been inseparable longer than this writer has been alive, and we at Roadfly applaud BMW for continuing that tradition with the new 335i.
Follow this link for BMW Car Pictures (Photography by: Alex Stack) Over 100 pictures of the new BMW 3 Series Coupe, the 335i Twin Turbo.
Join the Discussions in the Roadfly - BMW 3 Series Forum. (The largest 3 Series Forum in the world!)
Chevrolet Corvette to pace Allstate 400 in Indianapolis
Filed under: Chevrolet, Sports/GT
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For the first time ever, a Chevrolet Corvette will pace the field at the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard.
Chevrolet vehicles have served as the pace cars of this high-profile NASCAR race for the last twelve years, but this will be the first time that America’s most enduring sports car gets to do the honors.
In a nod to the hardcore enthusiast, the field will be led by a 2006 Corvette Z06, the 7.0 liter, 505-hp beast currently rewriting the sports car rulebook. The only modifications to the car will be strobe lights, safety equipment, and a paint job befitting a pace car.
Full press release follows:
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Corvette to Pace the Field During the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard for First Time
505-horsepower Corvette Z06 Given Pace Car Honors for Historic NASCAR Race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway
INDIANAPOLIS – A new specially-outfitted Corvette Z06 will serve as the official pace car of the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard on August 6. Chevrolet cars have enjoyed the honor of pacing this event for 12 consecutive years, but this year is especially significant for the brand as it’s the first time a Corvette serves as the pace vehicle at the prestigious NASCAR event.
“We’re excited to have the 505-hp Corvette Z06 back at the world-famous Brickyard speedway as the Allstate 400 pace car,” said Ed Peper, Chevrolet general manager. “The Corvette is so racing-ready that all we do is add strobe lights, racing safety belts and a fun paint scheme and it’s ready to pound the bricks at up to 198 mph.”
While all Corvettes are considered high-performance machines, the Corvette Z06 stands out among its counterparts. It is the fastest vehicle ever offered by Chevrolet and General Motors. With 505 horsepower (377 kw) and 470 lb.-ft. of torque (637 Nm) from its 7.0L all-aluminum, racing-inspired engine, the Corvette Z06 leaps from 0-60 mph in 3.7 seconds and has a top speed of 198 mph. It also differs from other production Corvette models with extensive use of lightweight materials, including carbon fiber front fenders and a chassis comprised of aluminum and magnesium. A racing-ready suspension and large, 18-inch front wheels and 19-inch rear wheels help keep it glued to the tarmac.
Nor does the car require drivetrain modifications to satisfy its role in front of the racing pack. With a dry-sump lubrication system, the Z06’s engine is equipped to handle the highest cornering forces when traveling around Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s 12-degree banked turns. In the car’s official capacity, it is outfitted with a variety of safety equipment and highly-visible strobe lights – but is still mechanically identical to those available at Chevrolet dealerships.
The Corvette Z06 for the Allstate 400 wears a unique paint scheme, inspired by an asymmetrical theme that conveys an “empathic sense of motion,” according to Kip Wasenko, the pace car designer. “We’ve used the new sixth-generation Corvette to pace several races recently and its shape is so iconic that we’re comfortable getting a little more abstract and artistic with the pace car theme and not sticking to a design that follows the lines of the car,” Wasenko said. The Corvette Z06 features broad stripes of yellow, white and blue which complement the Allstate 400 logo and resemble banners that accentuate the car’s sense of speed.
The 13 th annual Allstate 400 at the Brickyard will open with a variety of exciting, fan-friendly activities, including NASCAR Nextel Cup driver autograph sessions, with Chevy Day at the Brickyard on Friday, Aug. 4.
Highlights of Chevy Day at the Brickyard will include appearances by Chevrolet-sponsored NASCAR drivers in question-and-answer sessions with Riki Rachtman, the former host of MTV’s “Headbangers Ball,” on the Chevy Stage in the Hall of Fame Museum parking lot, and autograph sessions with Chevy drivers and team owners in the Pagoda Plaza.
The 13 th annual Allstate 400 at the Brickyard starts at 2:30 p.m. (ET) Sunday, Aug. 6 and will be televised live on NBC.
About Chevrolet
Chevrolet is America’s No. 1-selling automotive brand. In addition, Chevrolet delivers more-than-expected value in every vehicle category, offering cars and trucks priced from $9,890 to $78,000. Chevy delivers expressive design, spirited performance and great value with standard features usually found only on more expensive vehicles.
General Motors Corp. (NYSE: GM), the world’s largest automaker, has been the global industry sales leader for 75 years. Founded in 1908, GM today employs about 327,000 people around the world. With global headquarters in Detroit, GM manufactures its cars and trucks in 33 countries. In 2005, 9.17 million GM cars and trucks were sold globally under the following brands: Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, GM Daewoo, Holden, HUMMER, Opel, Pontiac, Saab, Saturn and Vauxhall. GM operates one of the world’s leading finance companies, GMAC Financial Services, which offers automotive, residential and commercial financing and insurance. GM’s OnStar subsidiary is the industry leader in vehicle safety, security and information services. More information on GM can be found at www.gm.com.
Los Angeles Auto Show’s New Dates attract World Premieres
Filed under: Los Angeles Auto Show
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In welcome news for anyone connected to the automotive industry, the 2006 LA Auto Show will take place from December 1st-10th. Cheers to the staff of the LA Auto Show for choosing an earlier date, which has already paid off. At least eight world vehicle debuts will take place in LA this year.
Everybody wins here. Rather than competing for media attention and manufacturer investment, the LA and Detroit auto shows will be able to carve out their own respective niches. Journalists can now devote the proper time and resources to covering both shows thoroughly, and consumers will be treated to a non-stop blitz of debuts and concept cars during the winter months.
Detroit will remain the crown jewel of American auto shows, but LA may gain the edge in hipness due to lower promotional costs and its larger, younger market.
Visit the LA Auto Show’s Website for more information.
Full press release follows:
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Eight Manufacturers Confirm World Debuts for Los Angeles Auto Show
Automakers Respond to Earlier Dates
FOR RELEASE JULY 25, 2006
In a town renowned for its star-studded premieres, the automotive industry’s stars will shine brighter than ever in Hollywood this November. Already, eight manufacturers — Audi, Ford, General Motors, Honda, Hyundai, Mazda, Nissan and Volkswagen — are staging world debuts of production or concept vehicles at this year’s Los Angeles Auto Show. And, some of these companies are planning multiple debuts.
Manufacturers are intensifying their efforts on the LA Auto Show. For example, Nissan is hosting its first world premiere in LA since 1999. And in addition to more debuts, automakers are increasing their off-site evening activities for journalists.
“This is the earliest the show has received such major commitments for world debuts,” said Andy Fuzesi, general manager of the LA Auto Show. “We’re still four months away from the show, and there will be even more debuts announced.”
The stature of the LA Auto Show will be elevated significantly as a result of more world debuts and an increase in media attendance and coverage. Thus, the adopted theme for this year’s show, “A New Beginning,” aptly captures this pivotal point in the show’s history.
The enormity and significance of the Southern California market have long made the LA Auto Show a desirous venue for automakers to stage debuts. However, conflicting dates with the Detroit show made it difficult for automakers and journalists to devote resources simultaneously to both shows. The new November dates resolve that 25-year conflict and allow the LA Auto Show to stand alone on the international auto show calendar.
For the first time in its history, the LA Auto Show has received international sanctioning from the Paris-based Ogranisation Internationale des Constructeurs d’Automobiles (OICA). The international automotive trade association acknowledged the significance of this year’s LA Auto Show by placing it on the official international show calendar.
General Motors Chairman and CEO Rick Wagoner will open press days by delivering a keynote address at the Motor Press Guild Breakfast on Wednesday, November 29. Wagoner is expected to discuss the challenges and opportunities facing GM and other auto manufacturers in the 21st century.
Press days for the LA Auto Show are November 29 and 30, and public days are December 1-10, 2006.
More details on LA Auto Show activities and registration for press days will be provided in the near future.
