Hamann are famous for taking BMW’s best and making them better.
The treatment that Hamann has given the 6-series range makes them look like absolute stunners.
Hamann can modify any model within the 6-series range and give it more power and torque, not to mention some very handsome wheels to fill the lowered arches.
Over the next months, the BMW Group will be carrying out various series of tests on electrically powered vehicles to determine the alternative drive of the future. Several hundred MINI vehicles are being prepared for this.
The cars, built in the Oxford plant, will be modified accordingly in Munich and fitted out for trials.
“This step will allow the BMW Group to gain an initial knowledge of how mobility can be achieved efficiently using purely electrically powered vehicles. Our task here is to combine the ultimate driving experience with an efficient electrified drive with practically no emissions”, underlined Dr. Norbert Reithofer, Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG.
The tests on alternative drives in a MINI body will be used over the next 12-18 months to refine the technology. Details about the drive concept and its marketing will be published towards the end of the year.
Rumours are abound that 500 such MINIs will be leased to members of the public in California for the trials.
The BMW Group and Fiat Group Automobiles (FGA) are considering the possibility of co-operation in the areas of components and architectures for their Mini and Alfa Romeo vehicles.
As part of possible cooperation, BMW Group will provide FGA with support in launching the Alfa Romeo brand in the North American market.
A Memorandum of Understanding to this effect has been signed by Friedrich Eichiner, member of the Board of Management of BMW AG responsible for Corporate and Brand Development, and Alfredo Altavilla, Senior Vice President, Business Development, Fiat Group Automobiles and CEO of Fiat Powertrain Technologies.
“We are currently examining with the Fiat Group possibilities for the joint use of components and systems in Mini and Alfa Romeo vehicles in order to achieve economies of scale and thus cost reductions within the framework of our Number ONE strategy”, Eichiner said on Monday in Munich.
Sergio Marchionne, CEO of Fiat Group and Fiat Group Automobiles, said: “The proposed co-operation with BMW is a significant cornerstone of our strategy of alliances. We are delighted to work with such an esteemed and respected partner in the automotive industry with the clear objective of improving the competitive position of both parties.”
The two partners have agreed not to divulge details of the possible collaboration. The results of the cooperation discussions will probably be achieved by the end of the year.
The flagship of the BMW model range debuts in November with a host of world firsts and will initially be offered with a choice of three powerplants, one diesel and two petrol engines. The two petrol-powered cars will be offered with a long-wheelbase body too. All three engines produce more power yet use less fuel and produce less emissions than the models they replace.
The new BMW 7 Series can be specified with the world’s most advanced Night Vision system in a production car. BMW was the first manufacturer to fit Night Vision to a premium car and it has now upgraded this package to include a pedestrian recognition system in another world first. A control unit analyses video data of human behaviour as part of the Night Vision camera’s reach and can subsequently alert the driver if it detects a human is moving into the path of the vehicle.
A 300 km/h top speed, 0-100 km/h in just 4.9 seconds, 375 hp and peak torque of 420 Nm; These are the characteristics of the latest G-POWER development for the BMW Z4 3.0i.
In addition to the increase in power output of 144 hp for the 6- cylinder engine that normally produces 231 hp, G-POWER offers a complete tuning program for the Bavarian roadster consisting of: Aerodynamic body kit, light-alloy wheels, suspension modifications, high-performance brake system and exclusive interior components.
G-POWER offers supercharger-based systems for increased power output and has 25 years of experience in tuning BMW automobiles.
The new G-POWER EVO III supercharger system is an evolution, based on the well known systems for the Z4 2.2 to 3.0 six- cylinder engines of the BMW Z4. Its core is an ASA T1-12 supercharger from the all new “black-line” edition that features ceramic ball bearings for an increased rpm limit of the charger. Accordingly the boost rises to a higher peak of 0.6 bar and is cooled down by a large air-to-air intercooler and controlled by a Dual Flow bypass system.
On the exhaust side the G-POWER EVO III system features a complete exhaust system with racing-headers and catalysts. This measure optimizes power yield, throttle response and also ensures the engine’s thermal health. Specially developed mapping for engine electronics coordinate the perfect interaction of all new components.
The results of the G-POWER treatment are impressive: With 375 hp at 6450 rpm and 420 Nm torque at 4650 rpm the standard 231 hp strong BMW Z4 3.0i becomes a true eli”M”inator. With a sprint time from rest to 100 km/h of 4.9 seconds and to 200 km/h in 15.1 seconds the G-POWER G4 is level with the BMW Z4M and finally outruns it with a top speed of 300-km/h
The G-POWER EVO III supercharger system is available for all BMW Z4 3.0i with manual transmission, along with the numerous items from the extensive G-POWER tuning accessories lineup.
Munich. 30 years, 300 000 vehicles and a BMW M3 Coupe — these are the most significant earmarks of a remarkable anniversary. Three decades after commencing with the assembly of their first series production model, the BMW M GmbH has now delivered its 300 000th vehicle. The alpine white BMW M3 Coupe was handed over to a customer in Regensburg. This East Bavarian town is also the location of the BMW plant in which the high-performance sports car is produced.
The anniversary vehicle marks a further milestone in the success story of the BMW M GmbH. The number of customers who choose to purchase a BMW M model still continues to grow. Nevertheless, driving a car boasting the M logo remains an exclusive experience. In the year 2007, BMW M GmbH automobiles accounted for around one percent of the BMW Group’s overall turnover worldwide.
The tremendous success of the BMW M GmbH began with a limited production car. In 1978 the company, which was established six years previously as the BMW Motorsport GmbH, presented a mid-engine racing car, featuring a straight six-cylinder power unit that was utilised in the newly founded ProCar series. The car was also produced for reasons of homologation with a 204 kW/277 bhp road version. The two-seater car, which had long become a legend and which, in its anniversary year, was recently abundantly honoured at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este 2008 at Lake Como, was the fastest German series production sports car when launched. 445 BMW M1 cars were produced up to 1981, one of them being the Art Car designed by Andy Warhol.
Other models included in the range as from 1984 achieved considerably higher production figures. It was then that the BMW M GmbH corporate philosophy, which is still applicable to this day, was established. The aim was to develop high-performance automobiles, which were suitable for everyday road traffic and would fascinate through discrete aesthetics and drive and suspension technology directly inspired by motor racing. This applied unreservedly to the first BMW M5 with a 210 kW/286 bhp straight six-cylinder power unit for example. Thanks to its performance and its understatement factor, the saloon car was extremely popular amongst business travellers.
Two years later, a further M model laid the foundation stone for a new vehicle category. The BMW M3, ancestor of the current fourth model generation, caused a stir both on the road and on the racetrack. It is the most successful touring car ever utilised in motor sports, also becoming a huge commercial success within a very short time. 17,000 first-generation BMW M3 automobiles alone were sold. To this date, the car, which is currently available as the BMW M3 Coupe, the BMW M3 Saloon and the BMW M3 Convertible, accounts for the largest proportion of overall BMW M GmbH vehicle sales.
During the course of the first ten years, around 35,000 BMW M automobiles were put on the road. In 1994, five-digit figures were achieved for the first time within a year. Since then, record sales figures have been consistently achieved, with sales of all BMW M GmbH models continuing to rise further with each new generation. Worldwide purchases of the new BMW M3 alone exceeded 4,000 in the first four months of the current year — even before the market launch of the BMW M3 Convertible and the new M double-clutch transmission with Drivelogic. The USA is the most important market for BMW M automobiles, and on the European continent the high-performance sports cars are much coveted in the UK, Germany and Italy.
The vehicle portfolio of the BMW M GmbH currently comprises nine models, all featuring engines with individual characteristics derived from the high-revving concept. The BMW Z4 M Roadster and the BMW Z4 M Coupe boast a straight six-cylinder with 252 kW/343 bhp, the BMW M5, and the BMW M5 Touring, the BMW M6 Coupe and the BMW M6 Convertible all feature a 373 kW/507 bhp V10 engine. Both power units are series winners of the “International Engine of the Year Awards”, which the new 309 kW/420 bhp V8 engine utilised in the BMW M3 was also able to seize in its category this year.
It seems the Americans got there first with applying the M3 name to a vehicle. As is the American right to arm bears, the US Military first received the M3 Bradley Fighting Vehicle in 1981 a good five years before the E30 M3 would emerge from Germany in 1986. The M3 was good for carrying seven troops, though that was reduced to six eventually, probably because most Americans are either overweight or carry a lot of luggage.
It’s not just tanks that the US of A has used the M3 moniker with. There’s the M3 Grease Gun (it’s a machine gun, not a lubricating device), the M3 howitzer (a light artillery piece), and the M3 Scout Car (another armoured vehicle), to name a few. But don’t think it’s all explosions and carnage — it’s also a record label, a motorway in several countries including England and Pakistan, a rock band, a measure of the supply of money in the world, and most aptly the name of a documentary series on the History Channel “Man, Moment, Machine” that details a particular man in history, the machine he made, and how it went on to change the world.
Let’s not let the plethora of pretenders steal any glory from the M3. Through the years it’s won more road races than any car in history and the E92 with its four-litre V8 brings that entire heritage and more screaming into the future. I say the future because the BMW’s engine is a technological marvel. F1-derived technology sees the V8 reach its peak power at 8,300rpm, just 100 below the redline. While most V8s are about to fracture into lots of tiny and expensive pieces, the BMW is vapourising 420hp worth of fuel (and yes, that also beats the magical 100hp/litre) on the way to 100kph in just 4.8 seconds. I was caught out at first by this — you get used to changing up based on the engine tone, and I didn’t think the M3 was quick because I wasn’t driving it right. But let it loose above 6,500rpm and skinny people will leave ribcage marks in the seats.
Comfortable seats they are, too. As you would expect, the interior of the M3 is exceptionally executive with the sporty touches in the right places — bucket seats (trimmed in leather), blue and red stitched steering wheel, M3 detailing on the gear stick, the Power button readily accessible near your left hand, the bonnet bulge visible through the windscreen and the carbon fibre-style interior trim.
There’s real carbon fibre in the roof, and this is part of BMW’s philosophy for the E92 M3 to reduce the centre of gravity — alone this feature saves 5kg. Many of the panels are not steel, the engine is 15kg lighter than the outgoing six-cylinder, and there are many weight-optimised parts in the car. This also helps with the fuel economy. BMW’s EfficientDynamics is its program to give the best driving dynamics along with fuel efficiency. BMW claims around 12.4l/100km, but with our spirited driving (and with the power button on all the time) we got nowhere near.
The M3 is capable of being a comfortable cruising car for four adults, though. The stereo is spectacular — 16 speakers delivering 825W of power — and you can even watch TV stations using the dashboard screen when stationary. This screen functions as the navigation device, accurate down to street numbers in New Zealand, and BMW’s iDrive which I still find a bit complicated but am getting used to.
Having had the pleasure of driving an E30 M3 on the same day (you can read my comparison in the next Classic Car magazine) I was initially disappointed in the E92 M3’s performance. In the E30 every corner is an adventure, and the road and you share the steering wheel in a kind of telepathic harmony. This just didn’t happen in the E92. Until I figured out that you have to be going at least 30kph faster. A corner marked 40 is exciting in an E30 at 70kph, but terminally boring in an E92. A corner marked 40 driven at 100, now that’s when the fun starts. Therein lays the greatest problem: where do you drive a car as competent, powerful and devilishly lairy in New Zealand? We don’t have enough race tracks and our speed limits are low.
The M3 is a car packed to the gills with features, and one that turns you into a touring car hero. I could write a book about the E92 M3, but I don’t need to because the press kit given to us pretty much is one. It has lots of words like ‘unparalleled’ and ‘unprecedented’. I have nothing against this because in reality, they’re mostly right. Short of intrusive road noise and a notchy reverse gear you can’t really dislike the M3. It may not have 600hp and anti-tank missiles, but it has the power to dispatch most enemies.
Price: M3 Bradley Fighting Vehicle: NZ$4.1m (average); BMW E92 M3: NZ$169,900; M3 HP $181,900 (derestricted to 280kph, 19-inch wheels, electronic damper control)
Words Darren Cottingham, photos Adam Croy