Via XCAR: BMW only ever made one proper supercar: The M1. It’s a slice of rare automotive legend and one that we had to have a deeper look at. Caution: features porno music and velvet.

When you think of 70’s supercars you tend to think of Lamborghinis and Ferraris - big, wedgy things that make a lovely noise and go very quickly indeed. You don’t tend to think of BMW, do you?

We can’t blame you for that. It’s a brand that isn’t really synonymous with supercars. Fast saloons, yes, but a supercar? Well, in the late 70’s BMW did indeed produce a supercar, the M1. Very few were made and its development is fraught with delays, financial troubles and moving goal posts.

It’s such a shame … CONTINUED

EVO Track Day at Autodrom Grobnik in Croatia, featuring some sweet rides, including the 1M coupe and M3 coupe.

BMW Insider Scott26 provides a preview of the upcoming F33 4 Series Convertible:

We will shortly be seeing FEP (final evaluation phase) F33 Cabrios very soon as they have arrived for camouflage application at the FIZ , some other new unseen models have arrived in order to begin public testing.

In the meantime we know what the car will bring.
The 4er Cabrio will be launched six months after the Coupe later this Spring.
Which means we will see it later this year with a debut set for the NAIAS in 2014. Before arriving in early 2014.

Instead of a request by the North American market to utilise a soft top so customers could distinguish the Coupe from the Cabrio. BMW responded to the reaction of the Chinese … CONTINUED

The BMW i8 hybrid sports car prototype continues testing throughout the winter, this time spotted in northern Sweden.

The latest prototypes show:

The BMW i8 hybrid sports car prototype continues testing throughout the winter, this time spotted in northern Sweden.

The latest prototypes show:

Classic Hoffmeister kink has now been revealed.
• Kidney grilles now more visible than ever.
• Sideskirts now match the concept i8.
• Side view mirrors are sportier and extend out further, for a more exotic look.
• Door handles have been deleted from the doors and moved to the newly created gap between the rear edge of the door and the rear quarter panel, just like on the i8 Spyder Concept.
• Rear fenders/shoulders and tail lights have been raised for a more aggressive look, to match the look … CONTINUED

Bored at work or home? Burn away hours on this BMW (and other makes) online tuning configurator.

Design Portraits feature on Karim Antonie Habib, Head of Design BMW Automobiles.

Slek Design has released the first photos of their carbon fiber aero kit for the F10 M5, which includes a carbon fiber front lip spoiler/splitter, sideskirts (side diffuser) and rear diffuser.

Watch as M3POST member Lukester gets sideways while drifting his E92 M3 coupe around the Nordschleife (AKA Green Hell AKA Nurburgring).

It’s no secret that the upcoming BMW 4 Series Coupe (F32) has its sights set squarely on competing with the Audi A5 coupe, and we’ve now spotted the F32 being tested directly against the A5.

Seen here is a F32 435i prototype (powered by N55, at least initially upon the model’s introduction) parked next to the Audi A5, following some direct testing and during a lunch break for BMW engineers.

The photos give us a first look at how the 4 Series Coupe looks compared the A5, as well as a glimpse of it next to the F30 3 Series sedan. It’s difficult to judge exact dimensional differences from the photos, but it’s interesting to see the similarities and differences between the two directly competing models - … CONTINUED

BMW M CEO Friedrich Nitschke gave some insight into certain aspects of future M models when speaking recently to Autocar.

AWD vs RWD

While current non-SUV M models all remain RWD, as horsepower numbers climb for each successive generation of models, the question has arisen whether future models would benefit from AWD xDrive offerings, to help with traction and getting all that power down to the ground effectively; especially considering the AWD offerings from competitors - such as the E63/CLS63 AMG 4Matic and upcoming RS6/RS7 Quattro models.

To this, Nitschke reaffirms M’s stance on RWD: “Our philosophy in regards to steering feel and precision is that rear-wheel drive is the best solution,” … “xDrive brings an 80-90kg weight penalty and the M differential is the industry’s best rear-drive … CONTINUED