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It had been a while since I took the M3 out for just a regular old pleasure cruise, so today I headed out for a nice jaunt.

Found a great road up by Lake Whatcom in Bellingham with some nice twisties to really let the M3 stretch its legs.  There was still snow on the ground, but the road was dry, so I was able to open her up quite a bit.  Every time I drive this car like it was meant to be driven, it just astonishes me how comfortable it is in the corners.  The communication and feedback through the steering wheel and brake and gas pedals are fantastic!  To top it off, I did a couple of donuts in an empty parking lot - always amazed how easily this car spins around, even on dry pavement… just a little blip of the throttle and a jack of the steering wheel, and you’re spinning like crazy!  Here’s a vid of another M3 doing donuts:

M3 Addict M3 Addict BMW M3, Video

Okay - I know Robert Graham’s can come off a bit fruity.  They’re intimidating, there’s just no denying that.  But hear me out.  His shirts are the most ridiculously amazing pieces of clothing I’ve ever worn.  Every time I wear a Robert Graham I get compliment after compliment.  The construction quality is about a 9 out of 10, the stitching and embroidery is top notch, and for the most part the color palettes are great.  Occasionally they’re just a bit too far over the top… but you just have to trust that once the shirt is on, it will look solid.  The fact that they’re produced in low volumes and have a wide variety of styles, is also nice - if you’re wearing a shirt like THIS, you don’t want to run into someone else with the same one.  I think it’s about time I pull the trigger again on one of these.

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M3 Addict Cool Stuff Product Reviews, Robert Graham

2006 BMW M Roadster

Today I went out for a spin in an Imola Red 2006 BMW M Roadster. This is the model based on the Z4 Chassis, with the S54B32 Engine - the same silky smooth 8,000 RPM inline-6 cylinder engine that is in my e46 M3. I have to say that BMW has done a great job improving the fit and finish of their interiors. They have always been nice - don’t get me wrong - but the interior components in the new M Roadster just felt a cut above their past interiors. Black Nappa leather and Light Poplar wood trim adorned the interior and the soft leather-wrapped steering wheel felt fantastic in my hands. It’s so thick it made the already thick steering wheel from my M3 feel skinny. It was a sunny day, so the top had to come down. The cloth top came down with ease and didn’t take more than a few seconds. A turn of the key ignited the engine with which I am so familiar. That delicious silky purr filled my ears while the heated seats wrapped a warm blanked around me. I slowly backed out from the BMW lot and took to the street.

Interior: As I mentioned above, the fit and finish in the M Roadster has been improved over previous models and even over my e46 M3. Everything felt solid, the buttons are new, and the leather was soft and supple. I must say that I did notice mostly flat pieces of wood trim on the interior - something that seemed to be a pretty obvious cost reduction. The dials were classic roadster dials, with speedometer on the left and tach on the right - super simple, no frills - this car is about driving. Window controls have been moved from traditional center console location to the door handles, which I think is okay, but was slightly confusing at first. One thing I really like about this M Roadster versus the Z3 based Roadster is the addition of the amber map-lights. To me, these are a must if you’re buying a BMW and although I really respected the simplistic nature of the old M Roadsters, I probably would be driving one today instead of the M3 if it only had the map lights!

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Steering & Feel: As I got out onto the road in the M Roadster the first thing I noticed was a more forgiving suspension than in my M3 - this also translated into a more muted driving experience via the hands. I’m not entirely sure if it’s suspension related or more of a factor of the thick steering wheel with perhaps some extra padding, but I definitely wasn’t feeling the details in road texture the way one would expect from a Roadster. Otherwise, the steering was great. A nice solid feel - very calm and predictable. Although it was quite direct, it was a little tricky to get used to the turn-in because of the long hood sweeping out in front of me - making it hard to see and hit the apex of each corner. Once I got used to it though, it was an awful lot of fun in the esses.

Performance: Acceleration of the M Roadster was almost identical to that of my M3. Being 3,277 lbs, it’s just about the same weight too - even though there’s significantly less car there. The engine revved up to the 8,000 RPM red-line just as readily as in my M3. I love this engine because of how eager it is for speed and performance. First gear was ripped through within just a couple of seconds, a quick short shift to second gear and 60 mph was had in just under 5 seconds. Into third gear and I was approaching jail-time speeds. Definitely a blast with the top down. The nice thing is though, you don’t always have to be driving like you’re on roids - you can drive it very comfortably at city street speeds, but put the sport mode on and never let the revs below 3,500 and the thing is like the Baskersville Beast, menacing and angry with a ferocious snarl at the exhaust pipe.

The suspension is indeed softer than in my M3 which makes it more comfortable to drive around town - which is what I suspect most people will be doing with this car. But it does compromise performance in the corners a bit. The body roll was noticable even without pushing the limits. This also made it a little tough to hit the apex of the corners consistently. As compared to the old M Roadster, this new one is sort of the equivalent of the e92 M3 compared to the e46 M3 - unfortunately you can feel the racing heritage being bred out of these beauties. A bit heavier, a bit more numb, and a bit more targeted to the Broadmore silver haired customers who are more interested in taking their wives out for a relaxed drive to the market than taking it into the mountains and destroying the corners. I was a bit sad actually, as the 2001 M Roadster that I drove was firmly connected to the road.

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Vehicle Specs:

M3 Addict Test Drives BMW, M Roadster, S54B32

This is completely insane.  Here’s a vid of the BMW Norma M20 doing a Mountain Run.  It boggles my mind how fast the road is being thrown at this guy.

M3 Addict Cool Stuff, M3 Addict BMW, Motorsport News

My dream is to have a Ferrari … Really multiple Ferraris.  I drive past the Ferrari of Seattle dealer every day and drool in their window.  Keeping my fingers crossed that the F450 delivers on its styling the way other Ferraris have done in the past.  I do hope that they keep the production numbers down, however, as the current F430 is produced in such a high volume that it will never become a collector car.  Perhaps the Scuderia - but not the F430.  In a way that’s almost better, so you can drive the crap out of the car without feeling guilty for putting miles on it and potentially ruining an investment!

Ferrari will unveil its F430 replacement at Frankfurt in October, giving its biggest-selling model a life of just five years.

Code-named Ferrari F142 and expected to be christened Ferrari F450 in production, the new V8-powered car will be largely new, with few carryover components in the chassis or bodywork.

While it was only released in 2004, the Ferrari F430’s chassis was heavily based on the 360 Modena whose parts dated back to 1999.

The new Ferrari F450 will also be the first production Ferrari to reflect the ethos of green materials and weight reduction first seen on the Ferrari Mille Chili eco-concept (pictured) in 2007.

Production of F430s has slowed recently, ahead of the F450’s start-of-production in July. Insiders who have seen the F450 insist it is one of the most beautiful Ferraris in years.

While details on the car are scant, it will run an enlarged version of the F430’s V8, equipped with direct injection giving an output of more than 500bhp from its 4.5-litre capacity, hence the F450 moniker.

The transmission will be a variant of the seven-speed dual-clutch system shared with the new California.

Linked to Ferrari’s steering-wheel mounted ‘manettino’ control, the dual-clutch transmission promises drivers a choice between quick sporty changes and relaxed automatic operation.

Ferrari has been working hard on weight reduction with its suppliers and the F450 is expected to take Alcoa’s advances in aluminium chassis technology to new heights.

Sources also suggest the F450 is already as fast around the Fiorano test track as the compromise-free F430 Scuderia.

But it will also ride more firmly than the Ferrari California, leaving buyers in no doubt about the focus of either car.

European Ferrari F450 sales are expected to begin late this year or early in 2010.

M3 Addict Automobile Press Ferrari

I posted a little while back about the Debut of the BMW M3 GT2 - and here are some fantastic pictures of the BMW Racing Machine.

BMW Rahal Letterman Racing Team M3 GT2 Released in Chicago

Front angle picture of the M3 GT2 at its debut

Rear angle view of the M3 GT2 on stage at the Chicago Auto Show

BMW Rahal Letterman M3 GT2

BMW Rahal Letterman Racing M3 GT2

Front View of the BMW Rahal Letterman Racing Team's all new M3 GT2

I have high hopes for this new M3 GT2 race car.  BMW has always dominated the racing scene with their M3 going back well into the early 1980’s.  Their record should continue with a car as might as this one, based on the e92 BMW M3.  The previous M3 GT car was lighting fast and is highly decorated.

M3 Addict BMW Motorsport News, M3 Addict BMW, M3 GT2

I drove the 2004 Porsche Cayenne Turbo this weekend up in the Rocky Mountains around Denver while visiting my brother. His Porsche SUV was Basalt Black Metallic which wrapped the Beautiful Havanna/Sand Beige Leather cockpit. Fit an finish of the vehicle are fantastic - with stitched leather throughout (including portions of the dash), illuminated foot wells, illuminated arm-rests, and tons of other amenities. This German people mover is graced with a fantastic engine: a 4.5 Liter 8-cylinder Turbo Charged behemoth, which puts out 450 horsepower and 457 lb-ft of torque. Why a soccer mom would need something like this is beyond me. This is truly a vehicle meant for dads who love driving but had to give up their two-seater to make way for kids. Interior: The leather is soft and supple, the wood is handsome, and the controls are all very simple to use. Porsche has done an excellent job of keeping excess noise (in the way of buttons) out of the cabin. I agree with other reviews that the Bose Sound System was very capable, but not the best available out there. Tiptronic controls on the steering wheel were in the right position and felt great to the touch. Steering & Feel: The steering of the Porsche Cayenne Turbo is fantastic. This is the first Porsche I have actually driven and let me tell you, if they have managed to make steering this accurate and precise on a heavy, long, 4-door SUV, then I can’t wait to drive the GT3! Weight was nice, but a touch on the light side compared to my M3. Road Feel was also good, but felt closer to what it would be in a nice sporty sedan like a 5-series BMW - it was good and you could feel most of what road and tires were trying to communicate, but it did feel a bit numb. Performance: Porsche has produced a monster SUV that is well-deserved of the Porsche Badge.  Acceleration in the Porsche Cayenne Turbo is amazing.  Stomp your foot on the gas, wait until the tachometer reads 3000 RPM and a wave of torque hits you like a ton of bricks.  If you listen carefully you hear the faint whine of the turbo spooling before you’re thrown back in the seat as the Turbo 8-cylinder engine rears its head.  An angry growl from the exhaust lets you know that it is actually feeding on the flock of small children you just roared through while the school bus disappears into vapor in the rear-view mirror.The Cayenne hungrily devours road and children as it dives in and out of the corners.  Amazingly, with the suspension setting in sport, the body has very little roll and is incredibly easy to steer into and out of the corners, the 4 wheel drive kept all 4 wheels firmly planted on the road even though the thermometer read 20 degrees and there were spots of frost and light snow on the pavement.   While the steering and throttle are not as responsive as in my M3 - it was easily dismissed because I was driving a 5,200 lb SUV!  Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) allowed only the faintest of body roll while comfortably absorbing potholes and keeping the tire patch consistent through the corners.  Driving the Cayenne Turbo was truly a joy! If I ever have to give up my two seater to make room for offspring, the choice would be a difficult one between this, the E63 AMG, and the BMW M5. Donuts In Snow Test: passed!

Porsche Badge 2004 Basalt Black Metallic Porsche Cayenne Turbo test drive Cayenne Turbo with quad tipped exhaustTurbo 8-cylinder Cayenne engine, making 450 hp/456 lb-ft of torque 21 inch wheels - similar in style to the GT3 Wheels Handsome Havanna/Sand Beige Leather and Wood Interior of the Porsche Cayenne Turbo Fantastic Leather-wrapped steering wheel Speedometer and Gauge Cluster Intuitive leather-wrapped dash and center console Porsche manual/automatic shifter with leather and aluminum Ride Height and shock stiffness adjustment switches roomy back seats - sat 3 adults comfortably - they're heated too!

M3 Addict Test Drives Cayenne, Porsche, test drive

Okay, so BMW has just revealed a new 5 series hatchback … err.. wagon .. ? This new guy is called the 5-series Gran Tourismo. BMW has always had wagons of various natures and with the release of the 6-series, they went into the sloped-roof hatchback business.  Clearly this is a move to compete with the Mercedes CLS, definitely a sharp looking car which has been successful for Mercedes.

BMW Has officially unveiled their all new 5-series Gran Tourismo.

While this concept hasn’t hit the showrooms yet, it is expected to make its debut a the Geneva Motor Show in March and should be priced at about $60,000 or so.  I’m just not sure what I think about it. Definitely innovated, and definitely takes some of the wuss out of driving a station wagon.

It’s official – the BMW 5-Series is hatching out! This is the all-new Gran Turismo, a striking hatchback crossover that will sit at the very top of the new 5-Series range when sales start later this year.

Mixing a four-door coupe body with raised, sliding rear seats like an MPV and a Skoda Superb-style twin-door hatchback, the Gran Turismo enters a new sector for BMW, targeting buyers who want a flexible luxury car, but one that’s not an estate or an SUV.

This almost showroom-ready concept will make its worldwide debut at the Geneva Motor Show in March, with the finished article arriving in the UK in October, priced at around £40,000. And BMW bosses hope it will attract new customers to the brand.

“The conventional saloon has been around since the car industry started so perhaps now is the time for something new,” said BMW board member Ian Robertson. “The Gran Turismo fills a new niche and is an appropriate alternative to an SUV.”

Debuting the ‘face’ of the next generation 5-Series – which will be revealed in 2010 – with larger kidney grilles and new lights similar to those of the CS concept car, the Gran Turismo sits on a new modular rear-wheel-drive platform that will also underpin the next generation 5-Series.

At the rear, there’s a steeply sloping coupe-style roofline with X6-style tail-lights, while all the doors feature pillarless windows. The tailgate is similar to Skoda’s twin-door, first seen on the Superb, although BMW maintains that it has been developing the boot concept for a number of years.

It can be used as a hatchback, or like a saloon with just the lower section opening up. Two buttons under the bootlid allow owners to switch between the two modes.

Inside, the concept has ample seating for two rear passengers. Each chair is mounted around six inches higher than in a regular 5-Series, and can be individually slid backwards and forwards. The seat backs can tilt too. A body length of five metres, a long wheelbase and wide rear doors aid access.

“The Gran Turismo is easier to get in and out of than either an SUV or a saloon,” explained Chris Bangle, who was present at the Munich unveiling in his final capacity as BMW design boss. “But it has more rear seat space than a 7-Series. This is a car that has been designed from the inside out with rear passenger room similar to that in first class air travel.”

Up front, the driver and passenger also sit higher than they do in a regular 5-Series while Bangle’s design team has brought in a new dashboard with a more prominent centre console that’s covered in high gloss piano black material.

The rear seats also fold down and thanks to a removable bulkhead, the boot’s 430-litre capacity can be expanded to 1,650 litres, giving the Gran Turismo the second largest carrying capacity in the BMW range, after the X5.

The production version will be offered with three rear seats, with the two-seater configuration of the concept available as an option. The extended sunroof, which stretches over the rear passengers’ heads, is likely to be carried over to the finished model too.

BMW expects the Gran Turismo to account for 12-15 percent of 5-Series sales with around 2,500 models sold in the UK each year. Engines will mirror the next generation 5-Series line-up with the range kicking off with 3.0-litre petrol and turbodiesel six-cylinder powerplants.

Expect more powerful turbocharged V8s too, while BMW is also likely to make a hybrid model available in 2010. Although bosses would not comment, it’s expected that the Gran Turismo heralds a new range of BMW models, which could be followed by a 3-Series flagship with a similar combination of style and practicality.

Source: AutoExpressNews

Here Are some more pics:

M3 Addict Automobile Press 5-series, BMW, Gran Tourismo

Updated Look for 2009 BMW 3 Series

BMW has added a new look to the 3 series, and I have to say it’s quite improved!  A new front air dam, New Hood, and a few other features drastically change the look from the old, bland, loooooong-featured 3 series to a much more aggressive, visually shorter, more stylish car. The kidney grilles are slightly larger with a different shape as well - primarily a feature of form rather than function.  The tail lights were modified slightly along with some revisions to the headlights which maintained the BMW signature ‘angel eyes,’ and a few interior updates have also been included.

BMW traditionally does a mid-model review and update and I have to give them props for this.  Well Done BMW, glad to see the design trends going in the right direction over there for a change.

M3 Addict Automobile Press 3-series, BMW, e92

It’s a short video clip, but holy CRAP this thing sounds amazing!  I recommend turning your speakers up as high as you can possibly get them.  Thing sounds like an F1 car - I can’t wait to see the reviews roll out for this beast.

Listen to the sound of that thing downshifting all the way down the straightaway.  This is going to be a formitable machine when it hits the streets.  Probably going to destroy the Nurburgring lap times.

M3 Addict Automobile Press, Cool Stuff Pagani, Test Track, Video, Zonda