Yeah I don't think anyone has put much thought into what happens when the can bus becomes a can't bus.

1/19/2011 5:27:37 AM

The 370Z is an example of the successor getting smaller/lighter but let's be honest the 350Z was pretty overweight to begin with so it shouldn't have been terribly hard to reduce the weight. And given the reduction in size the amount of weight removed isn't anything to write home about.

And that's especially true after you realize that the car is not fit in any way for track duty without significant modification. Overheating engine and overheating brakes FTL.

1/19/2011 9:07:51 AM

Early 350zs weigh the same or less thanthe 370z (3188 was the lightest 350z 3250 is the 370z) so they didn't really lose anything but the bloat they gained during it's production run.

1/19/2011 11:42:25 AM

Good observation.

1/19/2011 11:51:34 AM

looking at the 6-series pics on the previous page and the pics of the new 6-series 'vert at detroit and the spy photos of undisguised of the new 6 coupes, and then seeing the latest 5 starting to pop up around town, I can't help wishing that a production (sedan "coupe") version of the BMW Gran Coupe concept had just completely replaced both the 5 and the 6. That styling works better on the sedan than the coupe and convertible, and the 5 is too big anyway.

1/19/2011 2:35:32 PM

^^^^ I do think that Nissan said that they achieved the weight loss while adding something like 150 lbs of shit to accommodate new and upcoming U.S. federal requirements.

1/19/2011 7:00:00 PM

BMW... yay...?




Alleged BMW 1-Series GT image surfaces - based on next 1er

Quote :

"BMW really wants into every nook and cranny of each sub-segment. According to reliable BMW insider known as Scott27, the 1-Series Gran Turismo is a go for the next-generation 1er and it will look very much like the image published here that was scanned from an unnamed British magazine. It will be "offering a mixture of 5dr hatch and Touring", as Scott27 writes in his posting. The 1-Series GT will be a front-wheel drive that provides rear leg room on par with the current 5-Series sedan. BMW is also planning a 3-Seriet Gran Turismo too. Scott27 also reports that the new 1-Series family will include an additional Family Activity Sport Tourer with MPV-like features but in a unique body style design. By now, there have been reports from multiple sources about how BMW will be expanding the next 1-Series range into several sub-segments. It seems BMW is intent on creating as many niche segments as it can for its models. A strategic trend it began with the rapid expansion of models and model variants over the last decade, including models such as X1, X3 and the 5-Series Gran Turismo."

1/27/2011 12:40:43 PM

Quote :

"BMW is also planning a 3-Seriet Gran Turismo too."

LMAO. They're already having a tough time moving the 5 Series Gran Turismo. Good luck with a 3-Series version

1/27/2011 1:26:18 PM

I hope that thing is an unmitigated disaster for BMW.

Ass-ugly can be pardoned, but FWD is an unforgivable sin against everything that makes BMW what it is (or at least is supposed to be).

1/27/2011 2:00:02 PM

BMW has WAY TOO MANY models in its line up. In fact so many, that it is driving away company's focus from making few.. good quality, focused cars.

For example - there is no need for 528, 535, 550, 550GT and M5. That's 5 models built on the same chassis. 8 models if you include xi versions, or like 10-11 models if you include caravans. Do we need X1, X3, X5, X6 and X5M and X6M and then different engines in X3 and X5. Absolutely retarded.

Instead of focusing on shorter model lineup with more standard features they would also decrease the chance of widespread problems such as HPFP, wastegate actuators, ignition coils and whatever else is plaguing n54 lineup.

[Edited on January 27, 2011 at 2:52 PM. Reason : j]

1/27/2011 2:51:12 PM

5 models is nothing. see

1/27/2011 3:14:26 PM

Oh, I know.. and I think that is equally as ridiculous. Except BMW has 1,3,5,6,7,x1,x3,x5,x6,z4,Ms series and each one has submodels. At least Porsche is somewhat focused on one model customization not across the lineups.

1/27/2011 3:28:51 PM

The "different" 911s are just options. You can have a turbo w/more power and drop top if you want. It's like Taco Bell, you can mix/match engines/drivetrains and chassis' as you'd like. I don't think that's quite as bad as what we're seeing from BMW. :/ oh my beloved BMW, what's happened to you...

1/27/2011 6:21:22 PM

2/14/2011 1:18:28 PM

lmao

2/14/2011 1:48:18 PM

^^ HAHA...awesome!!

but yeah...i've really been disappointed with the direction that BMW has taken since Bangle. But I do like the latest models of 1M, 335i, M3 and M5. everything else they can shit can as far as i'm concerned.

2/14/2011 4:51:05 PM

"BMW NAY"

Quote :

"2012 BMW M5 to be automatic only? by Steven J. Ewing (RSS feed) on Feb 15th 2011 at 11:29AM As enthusiasts, we can't help but get depressed over the near-extinction of the manual transmission. More and more of our favorite performance cars are being offered without three-pedal setups, and if you believe the latest reports, the next car to fall victim to this change of engineering is the 2012 BMW M5. Don't get your hopes up for any sort of dual-clutch setup, either – Motor Trend is reporting that the next-generation M5 will be offered exclusively with an eight-speed automatic. When the 2012 BMW M5 goes on sale, it will be powered by a twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V8 with direct injection. Motor Trend reports that BMW apparently tried to mate its M DCT transmission to this powerplant, a less-powerful version of which is used in both the X5 M and X6 M. The latest reports state that the 2012 M5 will produce over 550 horsepower, and while there's no word about what sort of torque numbers will be on tap, it's obviously too high to be handled by the M DCT unit. Presumably, the eight-speed autobox in question is the ZF unit that's spreading like kudzu throughout the automaker's lineup, and at least we know it to be a very agreeable and quick-shifting unit. Look for the 2012 BMW M5 to debut in concept form at the Shanghai Motor Show this Spring, followed by the production car's debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show this Fall."

BMW, eliminating their sporting characteristics one model change at a time

2/15/2011 1:06:19 PM

/head desk

2/15/2011 1:21:35 PM

BMW meet honda... the other car company that took the soul out of their cars to compete with toyota.

Don't follow that path to try and compete with... lexus?? merc??

Seriously the only reason i consider bmws to be better cars than merc is the fact that they come with manuals... real ones.

2/15/2011 1:25:56 PM

OMG that is disturbing. My guess is that the market is driving this, not the technology. I mean fuck, there are several manual tranny's that can take well over 550 hp and gobs of torque. however, when is the last time that a ferrari came out with a manual tranny. its all this paddle shift shit now.

2/15/2011 4:48:54 PM

I'm not sure if I believe that. 8 forward gears is about 2 too many, and BMW's been at the forefront of both electronic clutch control as well as dual clutch trannies. W/that in mind, I'd be surprised if the above comes to fruition. That said, there's talk of a FWD 1 series. If that ever happens, I won't buy anything newer than an e46... Conveniently that's already where I am (well, maybe an e90 M3 ).

2/15/2011 8:48:18 PM

They trademarked

i1,i2...i8 from what I read presumably for front drive cars.

2/15/2011 8:52:50 PM

E91 M3

great conversion job

http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=492494

2/23/2011 1:02:36 PM

that's pretty creative but seems like a lot of work for an M GT. I would just pony up for the M5 GT and be done with it.

2/23/2011 4:23:28 PM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M81ZY8S9AXo&feature=related

2/23/2011 8:53:53 PM

^ This is how it's done

2/23/2011 9:26:27 PM

Chris Bangle giving Jason Castriota a hard time about a Saab concept the latter has designed
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5fNg9jP66JU

Castriota presenting his Saab concept at the ongoing Geneva Motor Show
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sAJyHLll9sw

Saab PhoeniX Concept is amazingly hot... tail lights reminds me of 80's electronic gadgets/alien spacecraft
http://www.autoblog.com/photos/saab-phoenix-concept-0/full

Sorry Bangle, your designs are shit, and the young Castriota is waaaaaaaaaaaaaaay better than you.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jason_Castriota

While Bangle has designed ugly BMWs, Castriota has designed:

Bertone Mantide (2010)
Ferrari P4/5 by Pininfarina (2006)
Maserati GranTurismo (2007)
SSC Ultimate Aero II (2010)
Lancia new Stratos (2010)
Saab PhoeniX (2011)

3/3/2011 1:52:14 PM

amazing array of museum pictures from BMW, Audi, Benz, Porsche...OP is crazy attentive to detail.

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=494657

3/3/2011 3:27:11 PM

omg omg




full hi-res gallery here: http://www.autoblog.com/photos/spy-shots-bmw-m3-pickup/full/

and that swirly stuff is the paper camouflage that bmw uses on its cars during testing phases in public... sooooooooooooo, are they going to make this coooooool hotness???

3/15/2011 6:35:05 PM

funny commentary in here
http://www.worldcarfans.com/111031531086/bmw-m3-pickup-spied-for-first-time

3/15/2011 8:26:26 PM

^^ i was waiting for you to post that... i wouldn't mind a DAS camino

[Edited on March 15, 2011 at 8:37 PM. Reason : .]

3/15/2011 8:37:12 PM

perfect car for rebels out to chop civilians up with machetes



(pic of ivory coast from the recent conflict)

4/3/2011 6:34:36 PM

ohhh here is a new picture i someone else found.

4/3/2011 9:10:57 PM

^^E34 was the best 5 series ever made ...and the last hand built M5 was E34. stellar generation!

also seen in ronin ...

4/3/2011 11:34:00 PM

I like how a full face football helmet will help you stop bullets...

4/4/2011 12:09:47 AM

^^^ dude, what is your problem with me? if you don't like my posts, don't read them. get the block user plugin or something.

as for the pic, i 'found' it on some news website. no one pointed it out to me or emailed it to me. what does it mean to 'find' a pic anyway? the only person who truly 'finds' a pic is the one who takes it. everybody else who sees it afterwards just finds it after it is circulated through the internet.


^^ agreed!


^ lol

4/4/2011 2:45:21 AM

^^ was just thinking, the E39 is pretty hot too, as is the E39 M5.

here is the F10 M5:










official media release on april 7, and public debut on april 19 at Shanghai Auto Show.

4/4/2011 3:33:50 AM

The car is fucking hot. The wheels are fucking not.

4/4/2011 7:42:54 AM

Looks awesome... plz to tell me curb weight is under 3900 lbs???

PLZ?

4/4/2011 9:39:35 AM

The E60 was just over 4k. It's BMW, not Porsche. This one will be heavier.

4/4/2011 11:20:42 AM

i know... technology weighs too much...

I find it funny that you could transplant a stock bmw motor into a dragster and cut sub 10 second 1/4 mile times but since everything weights 2 tons + its only slightly faster than your average sports car.

4/4/2011 11:48:10 AM

Goddamn European Union and their fucking pedestrian crash laws. The front of that car is so bloated. And the back of it doesn't flow well at all, especially with that bumper cut out

4/4/2011 1:03:20 PM

See other thread for more pics/details.

Meanwhile....

BMW unveils M3 GTS Sedan Concept

Quote :

"At the closed-door event on April 1st last week, BMW unveiled the M5 Concept and this M3 pickup joke for select few. Also on hand was this M3 GTS Sedan Concept. The M3 GTS Sedan is, of course, derived from the M3 GTS Coupe but this model is still a concept and is not sporting the full GTS assortment yet. According to Car Magazine, power is unspecified but said to be below the 450 PS (331 kW / 444 bhp) mark of the M3 GTS Coupe and somewhere above the 420 PS (309 kW / 414 bhp) of the standard M3. Whether it's packing the 4.4 liter V8 of the GTS or is simply sporting an up-tuned 4.0 liter from the series M3, we don't know. This M3 GTS Sedan Concept does get some parts from the production GTS, including the 19-inch alloy wheels, larger brakes, rear boot lid spoiler and the black kidney grills. The front splitter is less wide than on the GTS and the car is said to be sporting a lighter exhaust and a tuned suspension too - perhaps identical to the M3 GTS Coupe. The M3 GTS Sedan will go to production - in limited numbers - and may ultimately come to be closer to the GTS Coupe than this concept is hinting at."

4/4/2011 4:56:10 PM

it looks damn-near perfect in that side view.

4/4/2011 5:12:01 PM

^ hi-res for you:

http://cdn1.worldcarfans.co/2011/4/4/large/10041495451370214949.jpg
http://cdn1.worldcarfans.co/2011/4/4/large/789415800203636216.jpg
http://cdn1.worldcarfans.co/2011/4/4/large/1798658155591372947.jpg

4/4/2011 5:16:48 PM

E39 was very cool in it's day, starting to get a bit dated. The new M5 (imho) looks like crap, I have no interest in one, that said the previous generation grew on me in the past few years, maybe this one will too.

I think the E90 M3 is the only thing worth looking at from BMW and I'm afraid it may be the last. :'(

4/4/2011 9:30:45 PM

^^^^4 door GTS? Can you say "overpriced"?

4/4/2011 11:49:31 PM

e39 m5 PICKUP with 460 hp

http://www.autoblog.com/2011/03/17/meet-the-other-bmw-with-a-bed-stuart-applebys-m5-ute/




[Edited on April 6, 2011 at 8:36 PM. Reason : ]

4/6/2011 8:34:01 PM

new m5 is hot

although lately i've been having a hard time telling the new 5 series from a 3 series sedan LCI from a distance

4/6/2011 9:57:21 PM

Eurotrash. ALL OF IT

4/6/2011 9:58:23 PM