You might have seen this picture floating around the internet – seemingly a BMW M3 prototype circling the ‘Ring that was caught by spy photographers. No, you’re eyes aren’t playing tricks on you, that is actually an M3 pick-up truck!

These photos were released last week but I held off blogging about it because something just wasn’t right about it. Why would BMW, a brand obsessed with performance, build a pick-up truck? It doesn’t make any sense.

Well it was confirmed today that this M3 pick-up truck is, as BMW puts it, “Aprilscherz”. If you’re German is a bit rusty, that loosely translates into ‘April fools joke’. Not to toot my own horn, but I’m so glad I didn’t fall for that one, while so many other sites did. Ha! You can’t fool me, BMW! I will admit, however, that there was a very small part of me that thought BMW might have been making a Holden SV6 Ute competitor, but that seemed very unlikely.

Anyway, even though I wasn’t fooled, it was actually pretty smart to get the April fool’s joke rolling early when people are unsuspecting of such things. Don’t think that BMW doesn’t have anything in store on April 1st, however. BMW, along with many other manufacturers love to pull pranks and I have no doubt they may have other tricks up their sleeve. Especially since they also announced that they will officially reveal the M5 concept that day along with other un-produced M3 prototypes. Consider me skeptical about that one.

In any event, it was a pretty funny prank. And just to be clear, BMW has no intention of building this M3 pick-up truck, but they do still have the test mule around which could allow them to enter the Australian V8 Ute racing series. BMW responded to that suggestion saying, “Well, we have the one unit available if they’d be interested, don’t we?”

Hmm, interesting!

[Autoblog]

So we all know it’s a good idea to rotate your tires every now and then, right? Well the owner of this BMW M3 (or perhaps his mechanic) obviously didn’t think it through too much when they decided to rotate his tires.

Most M3′s have a staggered wheel set up, meaning the rear tires are a different width from the front tires. Since the M3 is rear wheel drive, the rear tires are wider than the front. Typically with a staggered set up, you would rotate the rear tires from side to side and the front tires from side to side. This concept obviously escaped the M3 driver (or perhaps he didn’t notice what his mechanic had done).

Still, it is pretty noticeable. There’s no need for wider front tires on a rear wheel drive car, that’s ridiculous!

For that, this M3 gets a pretty big FAIL.

[Inside Line]

Honestly, if you have erectile disfunction forget viagra. Just listen to the exhaust note of BMW’s new performance exhaust system offered exclusively on the M3 sedan, coupe and convertible.

The exhaust is about 20 pounds lighter than the stock exhaust and has perforated inner pipes, polished titanium tips and BMW M logos.

If you are not fortunate enough to actually own an M3, but still want to hear that symphony of sound everyday, don’t worry because BMW actually made it available as a ring tone. Just go to bmwusa.com/news. It’s a bit douchy, but my goodness does it every sound good!

[BMW]

This is pretty much automotive porn. Enjoy.

[BMW via Youtube]

Just days after officially releasing images of the 1-series M, BMW was eager to see how it officially faired on the famous Nurburgring.

The official time of the 1-series M? 8 minutes and 12 seconds. That’s faster than Mercedes’ C63 AMG and even faster than a Porsche Cayman S! In fact that’s even faster than the outgoing BMW M5 and the previous generation E46 M3.

If you’re concerned that it’s faster than the current generation M3, no need to worry. The E92 can go around the ‘Ring in 8 minutes 5 seconds. Hardly surprising considering that big V8 under its hood.

Oh, and in case you were wondering, BMW’s other hotted versions of the M3 also were faster. The M3 CSL recorded a significantly quicker 7 minutes and 50 second lap time, while the M3 GTS did it in 7 minutes and 48 seconds.

[BimmerFile]

Rumours are floating around the internets (from fairly reliable sources too) that the next generation M3 sedan will be replaced by a GT hatchback version similar to the 55oi GT pictured above.

I must say, I really liked the 550i GT that I tested a while back because it blended excellent performance and handling with a luxurious comfortable drive and excellent versatility. But that’s not what M cars are about.

M cars, specifically M3′s are all about raw performance and eff anything else. That means ride quality, luxury, versatility, and reliability even all take a back seat to the raw performance.  Adding some versatility to a vehicle that has traditionally been a raw performance coupe since its inception is a bit like adding a business degree to a porn star’s education.

Still, there’s something deliciously awesome about the CTS-V Wagon, the C63 AMG wagon and the RS3 hatchback.  And when you think about it, BMW has no high performance car that is also practical. The M3 GT is probably meant to that void. Sure the X5 M and X6 M are options, but let’s get real here. While they are tremendous for SUV’s they are still SUV’s nonetheless. Showing up to a track in your X6 M is pretty ridiculous afterall.

[Inside Line]

Remember the old S60 R? It was quite the sleeper. Douchebags in their Cobalt SS’s didn’t know what hit them when they got schooled by an S60 R. It came with 300 horsepower, 300 pound foot torque, AWD, an advanced suspension altering system and a six speed manual. Oh and it looked damn good too. Yet, despite that delicious combination, Volvo didn’t sell too many S60 R’s. Why? I think it’s because Volvo marketed it to be an ‘M3 killer’. Which it really wasn’t. The S60 R was good, yes, but not nearly as capable as the E46 M3 which it was pitted against.

Volvo then dropped the S60 R from its lineup, which was quite unfortunate. Since then, Volvo has offered ‘R-design’ packages on the C30, XC90 and XC60. While they made the appearance of those models look spectacular, unfortunately that’s all the R-design package was – purely cosmetic.

Now, though, Volvo is offering the R-design package on the redesigned S60 and it’s a bit more than just side skirts and nice alloys. The R-Design will now also get you an upgraded suspension including firmer bushings all the way around, a strut-tower brace, and stiffer coils on all four corners.

You’ll also get torque vectoring. What’s torque vectoring? Well it basically allows for enhanced cornering abilities by sending and appropriate amount of torque to each individual wheel depending on the speed and aggressiveness the driver has in taking the corner.

Sadly, there will be no boost in power from the engine. With the standard S60 T6 making 300 horsepower and 325 pound foot torque however, Volvo probably figured that would be adequate. Um, not if you wanna take on the M3 again Volvo. However, those numbers do put it right in line with the 335i and the Volvo is also significantly cheaper.

Good to see the re-incarnation of the S60 R.

[Volvo]

By Kevin Harrison

There are few things in the world that exude absolute perfection. Much like beauty, perfection can in the eye of the beholder. For instance, the Mona Lisa painted by Leonardo Di Vinci is undoubtedly the most famous painting in the world. The enigmatic facial expression of the portrait however, very much precludes it from being anything but perfect according to some critics. I, on the other hand, would disagree, but then again, I don’t claim to be an art critic.

Is Beyonce Knowles perfect? In terms of physical appearance I would definitely argue in favour, however again, many people have different priorities when it comes to beauty. There are some people that think Ke$ha is perfection after all.

So what exactly is perfection then? In the car world, is it the Bugatti Veyron? The fastest production car in the world can certainly make a case for itself, however at its top speed the tires only last for 37 miles and it chugs ridiculous amounts of fuel. It’s an impressive technological feat, but is it perfection?

Many consider the BMW M3 to be the absolute benchmark when it comes to style & raw performance for every day driving situations. It’s also quite capable of holding its own if you take it to the track. It’s one of the few cars that is capable of doing both. Its competition has been trying for decades to dethrone it as the ultimate performance machine, but the M3 remains resilient even today.

So has it achieved automotive perfection?

For 2011, the M3 takes on a few changes. First, it takes on the updated tail lights from the 2011 Coupe which is LED everything. Very eye catching. It does not, however, get the revised from facia that the 3 series coupe gets. The old front facia carries over. Also new for 2011 is the availability of the Competition Package and it just so happens that the M3 that I tested came with it. The package includes incredible looking 19 inch wheels (which are also incredibly wide), stickier tires as well as a slightly lower stance. Many people have had mixed feelings about the looks of the new M3, but I love it. I think it looks aggressive yet elegant. Sporty yet classy. The power dome, along with other bulges really help the M3 retain some masculinity. The M3 is quite the attention getter, but for all the right reasons. It isn’t shouty look-at-me like most of its American counterparts.

Inside is just right as well. The the steering wheel just might be the most perfect size and chunkiness that I’ve ever experienced. Likewise for the seats. They don’t have the same auto side bolster adjusting feature like the M5 has where it will actually hug you automatically depending on how fast you take a turn. But I’m kind of glad it doesn’t do that. The idea of a car seat automatically hugging you is a bit creepy after all. Besides, why not just set the bolster to your preference and be done with it?

Quality of materials are superb. BMW has done an excellent job of keeping the M3′s interior sporty yet luxurious. The carbon fiber look on the dash is cool, but it’s actually leather.

Okay now down to the good stuff. How does it drive? A friend of mine asked me the same question and my answer was “picture the best orgasm you’ve ever had. That’s what it’s like driving the M3″. It really is that good.

I was actually lucky enough to be able to drive an E46 M3 (2005) and the E92 M3 (2011) back to back. The E46 M3 is iconic and is thought to be the best version ever made.  People have criticized the E92 M3 as being softer and more forgiving. I’ll say right off the bat that it’s true. Yet, strangely enough the E92 feels like the better car.

Firstly, that power dome in the E92 M3 is quite necessary because it hides that massive V8 which produces 414 horsepower and 295 pound feet of torque. Even though it is quite a large engine, BMW has somehow managed to make it 30 pounds lighter over the straight six of the previous generation M3. The results of all that power are intoxicating. 0-100 takes 4.8 seconds, and the exhaust note is intense. For the E46, power comes from the flat six as mentioned and it had 333 horsepower. The E92 is noticeably faster, but that’s not to say the E46 is a slouch either.

In terms of handling, none of BMW’s competition – and I mean none – can touch the E92 M3′s handling abilities. It’s shockingly good at taking corners. It just takes corners with such grace and ease and it’s quite addictive. All you’ll want to do is take corners as fast as you want all day and the M3 will still leave you begging for more. No doubt the M3′s carbon fiber roof lends a helping hand to keep the M3 planted. And it looks pretty cool too. And the strange thing is, it has a softer ride than my 2008 128i does. Mine has the sport package, but still, the M3 feels just as tight, if not tighter in the corners all while being more comfortable. I’m not sure how BMW has managed to achieve that. That said, I will concede that my car’s steering feels a tad sharper and a hair more precise. But that’s like saying that Beyonce is a tad better looking than Shakira. It really is a close call.

But anyway, I say rubbish to anyone who criticizes the new M3 for being too soft. You need only drive one to know what I’m on about, and if you can’t (which is entirely possible) then check out Top Gear’s comparison of the M3, the Audi RS4 and the Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG. The BMW was five seconds faster than both. FIVE! That’s a complete beat down on the track!

I was disappointed when I saw that my tester M3 came with the DSG transmission. Partly because I’m such a die hard manual transmission fan and a six speed mated to that V8 would be sick, but also partly because the SMG transmission in the E46 M3 was garbage. It was just terrible. But I’m happy to report that BMW’s new DSG transmission is quite good. Brilliant actually. Shifts are crisp, smooth and ever so quick.

I would mention the M3′s fuel economy numbers but that’s pointless because you won’t be able to drive this car frugally. Guaranteed. Let’s just say that Al Gore wouldn’t be impressed, but hey, it’s not like the M3 sells in large enough numbers to have a massive impact on the environment like big SUV’s do.

Anyway, for the first time ever, I was actually hesitant to drive this car. I knew that if I did, I’d instantly want one. And I do. Nothing that I’ve driven so far compares to the experience of driving an M3. God, I love this car.

Is this the perfect performance car? Yes. Audi, Mercedes-Benz, Lexus and Infiniti can try their damnedest to copy the M3, and while they may come up with credible contenders, they are still copies nonetheless.

I’ve driven many cars before in my life, and while some can evoke both negative and positive emotion, only the M3 is able to evoke absolute fun and joy every time you drive it. And that’s why for the first time ever on this site, I’m giving a car a perfect score.

Base Price: $71,300

Pros:

• Comfortable yet incredibly responsive handling
• Can kick ass on the track, yet still a great daily driver
• Intoxicating V8 – buttery smooth
• Ridiculously good looking
• Excellent quality materials
• Usable interior space, can fit four comfortably
• Great DSG transmission
• Nothing else to say except it is the natural cure for depression

Cons:

• None

Overall: 10/10

Special thanks to Rober Akker

Can you believe its been 25 years since the BMW M3 has been gracing our roads?

Many regard the M3 as being the ultimate BMW, sometimes even the ultimate sports car as it blends raw performance, handling and style into one tidy package. This was the concept 25 years ago when BMW’s M division decided to have a go at a regular old 3-series. Little did they know that they would create something that was going to be the benchmark in the performance world for decades. Even today, the M3 is the car to be measured against. Audi, Mercedes-Benz, Infiniti, Lexus, and Jaguar have all tried their hand at dethroning the M3, and while they all came up with some credible copies of the M3, they were still copies nonetheless.

My favourite generation M3 was the E46 (pictured above). Even today, I’d wager it’s probably the best looking iteration of the M3, but not only that, it evoked a driving experience like no other. There are some cars out there faster than the M3, less expensive than the M3 and maybe even better looking than the M3, but no car to date has been able to evoke such a well-balanced adrenaline inducing driving experience.

Today’s M3 is still carrying on the legacy, even if it has become bigger and heavier, but there is no doubt that the passion of the original M3 is still there.

Happy birthday, M3!

I mean, I’m a big BMW fan too, but I don’t think I would ever go as far as getting a BMW on top of my headstone when the day comes.

Apparently Steve Marsh, who unfortunately died at the young age of 51, was such a huge fan of BMW’s that his family decided to pay homage to his love by contracting a stone mason to create a life sized BMW M3 convertible for Marsh’s headstone.

Even though Marsh was actually an engineer at Ford, the M3 convertible was his favourite BMW ever made. Not a bad choice.

The stone cost $75,000 to make (which ironically is almost enough money to buy a brand new M3) and needed to by shipped in from China and it took 20 operators to lower it into place.

Although we don’t have very many clear shots of what the 2012 BMW 3-series will look like, BMW has let us in on what it has in store for body styles.

All the usual bodystyles will carry over such as the sedan, wagon, coupe and convertible, but there will be yet another addition to the 3 series family. A hactch.

BMW is banking on the 550i GT (which we enjoyed immensely) as being a big success and it is putting its marbles on a GT version of the new 3 series as having similar results for them.

Okay, now that the practicality is out of the way, let’s talk about the big boy: The new M3.

The V8 will be reportedly replaced by a twin turbo inline 6 cylinder engine. BMW makes incredible inline six’s so, we’re not too disappointed. Plus this likely will result in slightly better fuel economy. The V8 is good enough to produce 420 horses, but BMW may be able to push 450 horses out of its tuned inline six.

Also the coupe in general will likely get a lower roofline, and a more vertical windshield. The convertible M3 may even make a return but will have a  hardtop instead of canvass. Expect the sedan version of the M3 to stick around as well.

We’ll keep you up to date as more details arise, but you already knew that. Just something you have to say.

Damn. Look at those wheels. And the overall awesomeness.

Ahem, oh sorry. We have an incredible soft spot for the 1-series and get caught up in our own little world when we see them sometimes, especially the tastefully tuned ones such as the tii version above.

And now we’ll have even more reasons to day dream about them because BMW is reportedly going to up the ante of the 135i which is possibly one of the best driver’s car’s around. It was originally thought that BMW was going to make an ‘M’ version but it has decided against it for two reasons:

a) It would likely have to be called ‘M1′ and that is just blasphemy compared to what the original M1 was

b) Most importantly, it would likely end up being as good or maybe even better than the M3. And it would be cheaper too. Having a model under the M3 in the portfolio that is better than the M3 is a big no-no. It’s a bit like vomiting on the Queen – something you definitely do not want to do.

Therefore, like the 335i, the 135i is expected to get an ‘s’ after its name. Not quite as good as an ‘M’, but better than just a regular ‘i’. Following BMW’s alphanumeric lingo yet? Good.

The 135is will reportedly get 320 horsepower and 332 pound feet of torque from a tuned version of the incredible twin turbo inline six. It may even carry an over boost feature which would up the torque to 370 for selected periods of time. There will obviously be adjustments done to the suspension to cope with the added power.

After just writing the post below, we thought we would share this with you…. in case there was ever any doubt in your mind as to who is still king.

(Oh, and Jeremy Clarkson for President of the World)

We’re going to pull a Kanye West and go on record as saying “The BMW M3 is one of the best cars of all time. OF ALL TIME”. There is just really nothing quite like it. Sure, the competition can offer up some great copies, but they’re still copies nonetheless.

And now comes word that those performance & handling obsessed Germans over at BMW have given the 2011 M3 the ‘Competition Package’ treatment.

How do you make an M3 even better, you say? Well with this package the suspension gets lowered by 10mm, a revised sport traction setting, 19×9 inch light alloy wheels, and a carbon fiber spoiler. It doesn’t seem like much, but every little bit counts.

Check out more pics here.