This report comes via Autocar and claims that BMW is mulling over plans for a 300hp 1 Series sedan M model to take on the likes of the Mercedes CLA45 AMG and Audi S3 sedan.

Per Autocar:

BMW is hatching plans for a hot entry-level M model based around a new saloon version of the second-generation 1-series.

The compact four-door aims to provide BMW with a direct rival to the upcoming Mercedes-Benz CLA45 AMG and Audi S3 saloon. The new BMW has already been earmarked to run a highly strung 2.0-litre turbo engine with at least 300bhp.

However, because of the heavy engineering workload facing BMW on existing new model development, the compact M Performance saloon is unlikely to hit the UK until the latter half of 2015 at … CONTINUED

BMW has pulled off the online wraps off the i concept car making its world debut at the 2012 LA Autoshow this week, and it’s not the rumored i4 Coupe. It is however, a coupe version of the BMW i3 - officially called the BMW i3 Concept Coupe.

The i3 Concept Coupe is built on the same wheelbase/platform as the four-door i3, and likewise features a carbon fiber reinforced plastic body matched to a 170hp / 184 lb-ft torque electric engine driving the rear wheels via a single-speed transmission.

The interior is the most production ready version in any i3 concept model shown yet and features a layered design mimicking the exterior’s layered design. A mixture of leather, wood, wool and other renewable raw materials compose the … CONTINUED

Our member artists continue to give us potential previews of the 2014 BMW 4 Series with some great digital renders. Harold Wood has put together these speculative preview of the F32 4 Series Coupe, F33 4 Series Convertible, F32 4 Series Alpina B4, and F82 M4 coupe.

BMW M is now offering something for the first time ever - custom polo shirts for owners. Per BMW:

The BMW 1 Series M Coupé was only built 6309 times. This means that every owner is a member of a small, exclusive family - and in future these individuals will be able to recognise each other at events etc. more easily by wearing a special polo shirt.

The Manager Design M Automobiles, Pierre Leclercq has created a polo shirt which is to be made available exclusively to the owners of the BMW 1 Series M Coupé. He presents it in the video (see inside).

Each of the Exclusive BMW 1 M Coupé Owner’s Polo Shirts is made especially for the owner. On the left-hand sleeve it bears … CONTINUED

According to the 2012 CarMD Vehicle Health Index, Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc., is the no. 1-ranked manufacturer in the U.S. for the second consecutive year. Toyota earns the top spot with the lowest Index rating of 0.58, which is an improvement from its 0.67 rating in 2011 (the lower the rating score, the better the overall ranking). Rounding out the top five vehicle manufacturers of 2012 are no. 2 Hyundai Motor America, no. 3 BMW USA, no. 4 Honda Motor Co., Inc. and no. 5 Volkswagen of America, Inc.

Manufacturer / Overall CarMD 2012 Index Rating / Average Repair Cost (Parts & Labor)

Toyota / 0.58 / $490.72

Hyundai / 0.67 / $271.86

BMW / 0.84 / $502.48

Honda / 0.98 / $466.77

Volkswagen / 0.99 / $392.00

Nissan / 1.00 … CONTINUED

BMW inside Scott26 has posted the following summary of the upcoming 1 series, 2 series, M2, Z1, Z2, and X2 lineup, as plans stand now.

By 2020. BMW hope to have projected sales of over two million units.

The larger majority of this level of sales will be combined MINI/BMW based upon the UKL architecture of around 600,000 units , then you can factor in another large number of dedicated SAV sales before we get to the regular series models. As I have said before welcome to the automobile industry.

It is easy for the question “if I was in charge this what I would do?” But today you have to take in consideration of growing segments , established segments , established markets , new markets and exploiting … CONTINUED

Seeing the 2014 M3 Sedan (F80) in the harsh winter of northern Sweden this time of the year for cold weather testing is no surprise. Nor is seeing the prototype at a gas station being refueled.

But, the type of fuel that this F80 M3 test car was being filled with by its driver was certainly surprising. An astute witness captured these images at a gas station in Kode, Sweden, while witnessing the test driver of the M3 refueling the car with E85 ethanol fuel (a blend of 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline).

So, is BMW testing an M3 which is powered by ethanol fuel? Very unlikely. Human error seems to be the cause as the witness described the seemingly confused test driver first grab the wrong … CONTINUED

The Stig drives the BMW F10 M5 against Jeremy Clarkson and James May in their American luxury classic cars in an entertaining segment from the Top Gear’s The Worst Car In the History of the World special.

Jeremy Clarkson and James May praise the E92 M3 coupe during a segment in the just released Top Gear special “Top Gear: The Worst Car In The History Of The World.”

While piloting a Santorini Blue M3 coupe around the track, Clarkson declares the E90/E92 M3 as pretty much perfect. Have a looksie inside - the segment starts at 18:15 of the video.