Here is our review on the BMW Active Hybrid 3.

Sometimes, we are victims of stereotypes. I, for instance, have always hated the idea of hybrid cars. Surely, a true car fan can’t possibly find anything good about a car which is obviously made for one reason only: Economy. Things are a bit different about the Active Hybrid 3, however. Here’s the story about my first experience with BMW’s latest hybrid.

At first sight, the Active Hybrid 3 [full official info thread] doesn’t look too different from any other F30 3 Series. BMW likes to introduce their hybrid models in a light blue color, but our test car’s Liquid Blue color is also available for other F30 models. Both the exhaust tips and the window trim … CONTINUED

Kelleners has announced its full F30 3 Series tuning program encompassing both cosmetic and performance upgrades.

On the cosmetic front, the aerodynamics parts include a front spoiler lip (for non M Sport F30), a rear bumper skirt with diffuser (for non M Sport F30), and a trunk spoiler. Kellener’s Hamburg and Berlin wheels are available in 19″ or 20″.

On the performance side, Kelleners offers a quad exhaust system, lowering springs (30mm/1.18in Front, 25mm/0.98in Rear), or coilover suspension which allows lowering of up to 60mm / 2.36in.

A range of ECU software tuning systems are also available. They yield the following gains:

316d: increase from 116 hp / 191 lb-ft to 139 hp / 230 lb-ft
318d: increase from 122 hp / 206 lb-ft to 154 hp / 247 lb-ft… CONTINUED

The ///M Flight members from BIMMERPOST cruised together this past weekend to to visit Manhart Racing Zentrale in Wuppertal, Germany during the tuning company’s open house.

They rolled out of Kaiserslautern seven cars deep at around 0730 and spent about 3.5hrs due to traffic and the weather traveling only 190miles (mind you this is Germany and with their autobahns it should be no more than 2 hrs). They were met at the location by another 8 ///M Flight members from other parts of Germany. The weather as can be seen in the pictures was not the greatest, but they still enjoyed themselves. It would rain profusely, and then sun would come out, and then rain and shine on and on throughout the day. ///M Flight meet at … CONTINUED

The 1M is a rather unique short-run car and apparently its owners think that it calls for a rather unique color, as seen in the several custom colors we’ve already see the 1M coupe in.

This one has been painted in Irie Green, fitted with 10mm spacers in the rear, lowered on Bilstein B16 PSS10 coilover suspension and powered by a lightweight titanium exhaust system.

See last week’s ALMS Lime Rock race from right within BMW Team RLL’s race paddock and pit. M3POST member Ivan shares with us this experience through his set of photos from the event.

Here are some photos and a first live look and listen at the F13 M6 Coupe MotoGP Safety Car from the MotoGP race at the Assen circuit in the Netherlands. The M6 joins the M5 and 1M Safety Cars as an official Safety Car for this years MotoGP race series. It’s set to replace the 1M Safety Car halfway through the season, which is coming up shortly.

The F13 M6 Safety Car is equipped with an Akrapovic exhaust system, front spoiler with integrated LED lights, M Performance black kidney grilles, side gills, and mirrors, and a high rear spoiler wing. For stopping power, the M6 safety car is equipped with the factory M carbon ceramic brakes.

BMW has confirmed that two diesel engines will be making their way to the US.

One is a 2.0L single-turbo twinscroll 4 cylinder direct injection diesel engine outputting 180 HP and 280 LB-FT torque, which are identical stats to the N47 engine which currently powers the F30 320d and F10 520. As for consumption and performance, the 320d, for example, achieves an impressive 52.2 combined MPG (US) (40.5 city / 61.8 hwy), with a factory claimed 7.1 secs 0-60 mph.

The other diesel will be a 3.0L twinscroll 6 cylinder turbo diesel outputting 255 HP (no official torque number yet, but expect 400+ lb-ft torque). This will be an all new engine.

These engines will be paired with 8 speed automatics and make use of SCR technology (urea based … CONTINUED

BMW Driving School Instructors Matt Mullins and Mike Renner join BMW M Brand Manager Matt Russell in discussing the BMW Performance Center.

The BMW Performance Center, unveiled in 1999 in Spartanburg, South Carolina is perhaps the best place in the United States to celebrate the BMW spirit, dedication to quality, and commitment to performance.

Home to the BMW Performance Driving School, the BMW Performance Center Delivery Program and a world-class conference center, BMW designed its Performance Center to expand the unique automotive experience into a memorable event. At one location, a visitor can tour a $1.6 billion state-of-the-art manufacturing facility, browse the Zentrum museum showcasing more than 75 years of BMW automotive and motorcycle history, host a successful corporate event, and enroll in one of several driving instruction … CONTINUED

See the many recently announced BMW ConnectedDrive features in action. The videos below are from an online press conference, showing and explaining the new BMW Navigation Professional, iDrive Touch, Voice Dictation, LTE Wifi and 3rd Party Smartphone Apps. Also see the links directly inside for more information on each.

BMW Navigation Pro video

idrive touchpad

The F32 4 Series Coupe and F33 4 Series Convertible have finally shown one of its most important signature design elements (and on any BMW) - the kidney grilles!

As expected, the kidney grilles of the coupe are sportier (thinner, shapelier and wider) than that of the F30 3 Series sedan. A close look reveals a different number of slats and differing designs for the grilles on each side - 11 flatter slats on the driver side versus 9 ‘kinked’ slats on the passenger side. We are likely looking at the separate grille designs for the different ‘lines’ that the F32 and F33 will be offered in (just like the F30 sedan). The closeup image of the hood and front end also reveals extra camouflage panels on … CONTINUED