100k USD though.

BMW Introduces M2 CS Racing As An Affordable Track Machine.

https://www.motor1.com/news/381104/bmw-m2-cs-racing-affordable/amp/

https://www.topgear.com/car-news/frankfurt-motor-show/alpinas-455bhp-b3-touring-m3-wagon-bmw-wont-make

(Flame suit on and exit stage left..)

Lots and lots of photos at the end of the article. 

Motor1.com: 2020 BMW 3 Series Touring Debuts Its Long Roof Lines For Euro Buyers.
https://www.motor1.com/news/354251/2020-bmw-3-series-touring/amp/

M8 Competition convertible..... wat. 

Can you get a DUI on one of these?

BMW’S M division remains committed to offering purely rearwheel-drive variants of select highperformance passenger cars, despite a shift to all-wheel drive on various model lines including the latest M5 super-sedan and the forthcoming all-new M3.

In an interview with Australian journalists last week, BMW M GmbH chairman of the board of management Markus Flasch also confirmed that a broader range of pure CS variants – and potentially the long-awaited return of CSL– were part of the performance brand’s future.

Mr Flasch stopped short of officially confirming that the forthcoming M3 due to be revealed in 2020 would offer both purely reardrive and all-wheel-drive versions, but made it clear that customers of its smaller models, including M2, M3 and M4, were still asking for rear-wheel drive – as well as a manual gearshift.

“With M3, we were able to take over the entire drivetrain concept that we offer in the M5, and we were able to do a rear-wheel-drive version as well plus manual transmission,” he said.

“I won’t disclose today how we configure those opportunities, but we can do whatever the markets globally demand.

“I can’t confirm it, but I’ve driven the cars!”

Mercedes-AMG chief Tobias Moers was recently quoted as saying that a clear AMG customer preference for all-wheel drive will see the threepointed star brand’s performance arm shift towards this drivetrain configuration across its range.

Asked by GoAuto if he could see the day when BMW M no longer offered rear-drive variants, Mr Flasch said: “No, I don’t see the point why this would happen.”

In terms of customer preference for all-wheel over rear-wheel drive, the M chief said there was a clear differentiation between buyers of larger and smaller models.

“In the larger segments, SUV and also sedan, our customers typically drive the cars long distances, they drive them all year, they drive them on dirt roads – for instance, an M5 driver or also the X5 M driver, they clearly go for all-wheel drive,” he said.

“We also know that on the M5, the current model, with the switchable all-wheel drive, people hardly ever switch off AWD because it’s just such a great drive with it.

“On smaller segments, more let’s call it iconic M2, M3, M4 cars, they are typically either ‘entrance’ cars to certain customers or they are second or third cars, and rear-wheel drive makes the most sense for these cars because they are taken out in good weather, for special occasions.

“This is not black and white, but in general there is a differentiation between the bigger cars – longer wheelbase, V8 – smaller cars, straight-six (engine), more like ‘the good weather car’, are still asking for rear-wheel drive and manual stick shift.”

Mr Flasch said the M division would also continue to cater for different customer tastes through the sportier Competition spec and more versions of the CS – and potentially CSL – racetrack-oriented variants.

“We will see more limited editions, especially models like the CS and, I can imagine, the CSL,” he said.

“We won’t do this for every car but I would go as far as to say that we also don’t have to stick to coupes only. I can imagine CS and other special versions also will turn up.

“We won’t see the GTS sub-brand in future. There will be CS and maybe CSL. There won’t be a GTS in parallel with CSL"

In an interview with Australian journalists last week, Mr Flasch confirmed that the M division is working on the three major powertrain alternatives – seriesparallel hybrid, plug-in hybrid and full battery-electric – and while he was not prepared to divulge launch timing for the debutante, he said “it is not too far in the distance”.

“Everything that brings competitiveness and performance to a car is relevant for M and we see a lot of potential in both technologies (hybrid and full-electric),” he said.“There is no dogma in how we equip our cars, so as soon as one of those technologies qualifies for proper M specifications we will make them available.

“We cannot yet disclose whether it will be an M-only car that we will first launch this technology, but it has potential.

“It might also be a standard, as you call it, car that offers thetechnology.”

Mr Flasch said he had “no fear” that M would remain as relevant as it does today as tougher environmental regulations prompt the accelerated development of electrified powertrains.

“It’s like in motorsport, if the rules change, you need to see these changing rules as an opportunity,” he said, pointing to the fact that electric drivetrains can enable much higher outputs.

“When we talk about electric vehicles, this offers a huge opportunity for us because if you think about current systems, you pretty much control the engine output over braking, or brake systems – you destroy energy with it.

“On an electric car, if you think about four independent engines, you can do this type of control on the power side, not on the braking side, and this is where we think we will make a difference when it comes to electric cars.

“This is where we are very strong compared to the rest of BMW and also compared to the competition.

“As long as you get the exact right amount of torque to the wheel in the right situation … then there is no certain number of horsepower or limit to the power, it’s just about how you control it.

“Today’s systems with combustion engines and hydraulic brakes are pretty much on their limit, but we will push that further when it comes to electrification.”

Asked if BMW M was working to a definitive timeframe to have electrified vehicles across its model range, Mr Flasch told GoAuto:“There isn’t, but if there was I wouldn’t disclose it.

“We won’t see a switch, black and white. There won’t be one point in time where combustion engines disappear and hybrid will replace them, and then another point in time where battery-electric vehicles replace hybrid.

“What we might see is that, depending on the market, depending on the segment, we will see different technologies in parallel.”

MW M EV plan

https://www.thedrive.com/accelerator/27667/bmws-new-600-hp-4-cylinder-engine-shows-how-far-engineering-has-come-since-1969

You may need to use a translator, but essentially, this is about BMW and Mercedes working together to develop future platforms. There are several subsequent reports referring to the same thing.

Just the perfect factory shell for @HELLBM to put an even bigger engine in?

FWD and looks like a Daewoo.

This is why they lost the war! 

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/hawkes-bay-today/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503462&objectid=12145897

napier drivers 🙄

https://www.bmwblog.com/tag/2019-bmw-1-series/

May need a Public Service Vehicle endorsement on your driving license...

This thing is huge. The grill covers an area of 1.3 square metres.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/102181890/fleeing-driver-tries-swimming-to-escape-bay-of-plenty-police

BMW is recalling more than 1.4 million cars and SUVs in two U.S. recalls due to the risk of fires under the hood.

The biggest recall includes over 740,000 328i, 328xi, 328i xDrive, 525i, 525xi, 528i, 528xi, 530i, 530xi, X3 3.0si, X3 xDrive30i, X5 xDrive30i, Z4 3.0i, Z4 3.0si and Z4 sDrive30i vehicles from 2007-2011. Also included is the 2008-2011 128i.

Documents posted Friday by the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration show that a heater for the positive crankcase ventilation valve can overheat and cause the valve to melt, increasing the risk of a fire even when the vehicle is not in use. No injuries have been reported. Dealers will replace the heater.

The second recall covers nearly 673,000 cars including the 323i, 325i, 325xi, 328i, 328xi, 330i, 330xi, 335i, 335xi and M3 from the 2006-2011 model years. Also covered are the 2007-2011 328i xDrive, 335i xDrive and 335is, and the 2009-2011 335d.

Wiring for the heating and air conditioning system can overheat and cause connectors to melt, also increasing the fire risk, even when vehicles are unattended. Four drivers reported injuries.

Dealers will replace the wiring and connectors. Both recalls begin Dec. 18.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/101-projects-discussion-forum-bmw-3-series/975285-1985-bmw-e30-only-162-miles.html?utm_source=Pelican+Pit+Stop+Newsletter&utm_campaign=9117207ca2-BMW_SeaSucker_10-25-2017&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_e247719183-9117207ca2-68402337

http://www.driven.co.nz/news/news/victoria-highway-patrol-replace-aussie-fleet-with-new-bmws/?ref=driven_fbpage