Saturday, November 30, 2024

Road & Track Test the 2025 BMW X3 M50


https://www.roadandtrack.com/reviews…x3-m50-tested/

This is one of the better reviews I’ve seen of the X3

BMW M2 Gets the Police Treatment From AC Schnitzer


Article courtesy of Auto Express UK

Wild cop car is the latest addition to Germany’s ‘Tune it! Safe!’ campaign

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Achtung! BMW’s hot M2 is the basis for one of the craziest-looking police cars yet, thanks to German tuning firm AC Schnitzer.

Snappily called the Police BMW M2 by AC Schnitzer, the vehicle is designed to bring attention to the ‘Tune it! Safe!’ initiative which aims to promote responsible but exciting tuning that complies with all necessary regulations.

It’s the eighth time a car has been created for the German campaign, which is under the patronage of the German Federal Ministry of Digital and Transport and the German Police.

Previous iterations from AC Schnitzer have included a BMW i8 and 8 Series, while other contributions have come from Techart, which created the Polizei [Porsche] 911 in 2006 and Brabus, which managed to fashion a German police car out of the Smart ForTwo in 2008.

AC Schnitzer’s latest creation features a whole host of exterior changes, including the firm’s aerodynamic package consisting of a front splitter (which adds 60kg of downforce by itself), a new grille, side skirts, a rear roof spoiler and a motorsport-inspired wing. The reshaped rear diffuser embeds a new AC Schnitzer exhaust, which has valve control with improved gas flow.

The six-cylinder turbocharged 3.0-litre engine under the bonnet has been tweaked as well. While the regular car would keep up with most cars on the autobahn thanks to its 473bhp, AC Schnitzer has upped the output to 552bhp, with torque at 650Nm. The engine also receives a bespoke AC Schnitzer-branded cover.

Performance figures haven’t been revealed, but we suspect a decent improvement on the standard M2’s four-second 0-62mph time will be achievable. However, bearing in mind the extra emphasis on downforce and that big roof light, we’re not sure if it’ll better the M2’s 177mph top speed (which is unlocked with BMW’s M Driver’s Package).

AC Schnitzer says it has tested the Polizei M2 around the Nürburgring, and it even gets a new adjustable suspension kit which lowers the car by 25 to 35mm. The staggered 20-inch front and 21-inch rear wheels are wrapped in Hankook performance tyres, but the brakes look unchanged – although the standard set-up should comfortably provide enough stopping power.

According to the tuner, the interior remains “stylish and functional”. Here you’ll find bespoke AC Schnitzer bucket seats, new aluminium shift paddles, foot pedals and an aluminium cover for the rotary iDrive controller.

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Source: https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/bmw/2-…t-ac-schnitzer

Wednesday, November 27, 2024

15-Month Review of M3 CS G80


The M3CS is my only car and multi-purpose vehicle. I have put 8,900 miles on it with ~500 miles of track miles. Ill share some thoughts on the car and how it is holding up to this mix usage. I imagine most of my comments are equally applicable to all variants of the M3, not just the CS.

Spoiler: The M3 CS has been superb, and exceeded my expectations.

Ownership:

It has been easy to live with through all of the seasons. It is a fun car to drive through town, back roads and certainly at the track. I used it for grocery shopping, hauling people, carrying luggage, for business and personal purposes. Nothing has gone wrong and there are no rattles or unwanted noises inside the cabin. I have been in bumper-to-bumper traffic, the tech helps tremendously while waiting for traffic to open up.

It is docile and comfortable when needed, and a monster when the occasion presents itself. I find the steering and brakes to be much more communicative than some reviewers state. I have no issues sensing what the car is doing, although I have to admit that it took me a couple of autoxes and track days to understand and interpret the signals. After 8 track days and 4 autoxes, I feel I am very much in-tune with the car.

I am good with the compromises inherent to the CS. Not having cup holders, for example, hasnt been an issue, I just use a Yeti and put it in the cup holder of the door. Not having an arm rest hasnt been an issue either for me, even though I have had 2+ hour drives.

I have not run into a situation in which I thought another vehicle would be better. The only two negatives I can mention are that it attracts more attention than I prefer, even though I specifically picked the black car, it screams “come get me.” Thankfully, the police have left me alone thus far even though I do not have a front plate.

And, because it is BSM color, I had to wash and detail the exterior more often than I normally do. I learned how to enjoy doing this 3-4 hours of work. Once it is pristine clean, it just looks like a stunner.

Cost of Ownership:

Total costs to date add up to $9,940 for the last 15 months. This includes all maintenance, parts, labor, insurance and track/autox fees. Does not include fuel, or monthly car payments.

Consumables and Damages:

To be on the safer side, I had three engine oil changes thus far, the rear differential oil was changes during break-in service, used Pagid RSL29 track pads (now back to original), and consumed two the front tires, which I replaced with lightly used ones.

Attachment 3609480Attachment 3609481

Front brake pads; RSL29 pads on the right, and original pads on the left:

As careful as I was, I did damage part of the front spoiler. Thankfully, it is one of the smaller pieces that can be replaced separately, but it is still going to cost quite a bit.

Also, sustained a small dent on the front radiator, which does not require any intervention at this time:

Final thoughts:

The car is not a luxury cruiser; thankfully! It is taught, but not uncomfortable or hard core. The shock and spring tuning is just right for this car. The body roll is minimal, while road compliance is more than acceptable. The PS4S tires are really good on the road, dry or wet, and do okay on track, but they heat up a bit too fast. They are nearly perfect for autoxing though.

As a driver, I enjoyed every time I got into the car, and passengers never felt they should have been in another. I had a long drive with my little helper, a.k.a. wife, and we had a great time pacing through farm roads, mountains and villages, listening to music of choice, conversing on many fun and serious topics, stopping by farmers markets along the way. We had a great time in the car.

Next to Do:

Few items to take care of during winter are (1) replace the front spoiler piece, (2) track tires, (3) a new set of RSL29 pads, (4) rebuild the calipers, (5) new alignment, (6) engine and transmission oil changes.

I have no other wants or needs from a car, maybe just a tad less attention. Perfect vehicle, money well spent and a long-termer for sure. I hope you all enjoy yours even more than me.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Nissan Has '12 to 14 Months' Left

The company may sell a majority stake to Honda.

Volkswagen Plans Design Overhaul and More Buttons

It also wants to boost interior quality, leading with the next ID.3 and ID.4.

Bugatti Owners Are Spending Crazy Money on Options

There's no such thing as a standard Bugatti.

Monday, November 25, 2024

2026 BMW iX LCI — New Upgrades, Colors, Changes Info


Upgraded (nothing major, still 400V) drivetrain. Some body rework will add 12mm to the overall length. The new lineup:

  • xDrive45: 400hp / 765Nm (same front motor now as the other models), battery increased to 96kWh usable, curb weight goes up to 2450kg (DIN. w/o driver)
  • xDrive60: 535hp / 765Nm, very close to the pre-LCI xDrive50, just a small bump in usable battery to 109.6kWh and -5kg weight
  • M70 xDrive: 650hp / 1015Nm, same 109.6kWh usable battery, loses 15kg compared to M60, 22" wheels becoming standard.

M Sport Package will become available on the lesser models. Adds Iconic Glow kidneys (of course), many new wheel choices.

Anything not mentioned here – likely not coming.

Paints I see: Alpine White, Sapphire Black, Carbon Black, Aventurin Red, Mineral White, Arctic Race Blue, Storm Bay, Dune Grey, Frozen Deep Grey, Dark Graphite, Tanzanite Blue.

Lamborghini's Supercars Have Electric Power via Mercedes

The Temerario and Revuelto use a technology not even AMGs have yet.

The Bugatti Tourbillon's V-16 Engine Sounds Amazing

Listen to the roar of Cosworth's 8.3-liter engine fitted to a Tourbillon prototype undergoing track testing.

Toyota Executive Confirms Celica Comeback: Report

After years of rumors, we may finally have official confirmation of the Celica's return.

Saturday, November 23, 2024

It's Snowing in America. Here's Proof Even Your 4WD Truck Needs Good Tires

Even the big tow rig at Matt's Off-Road Recovery had trouble pulling this helpless Ram 1500 Hemi off a snowy hill.

You Can Own McLaren's Papaya Orange Barracuda

McLaren built up this very bright Barracuda as a collaboration with eBay Motors for the US Grand Prix. Now, it's for sale.

Thursday, November 21, 2024

INDIV Carbon Fiber Double Slat Grill for G87 M2


Hello guys,

INDIV is located in Korea and manufacture pre-preg carbon with an autoclave. We are relatively a new company that has just entered our fourth year of operation, but we have been successful in our business by making interior and engine room parts.

Today, I would like to introduce our new product; the INDIV G87 M2 CARBON Double Slat Grill. This is our SECOND exterior part after producing many parts for the interior and engine room.

Our carbon products do not deform or discolor easily even under high heat conditions in the engine room and have proven their’ highest quality to many customers.

Based on this, we now want to grow further through the development and move on to produce the external parts.

We thought the M2 grille had a very unimpressive grille compared to the very dynamic lower inlet area.

So we developed a more aggressive design with a DOUBLE SLAT GRILLE that shares the same name as the BMW M2.

The existing grille, which was located deep inside the bumper, was protruded to complete the front appearance of the M2 that I had imagined.

And we can proudly say that the fit of our INDIV products is more perfect than any other products in the current market.

With our DOUBLE SLAT GRILL , the M2 will have a better-looking three-dimensional bumper appearance. And any front lip products to be installed will give a much more fitted look.

Product Details:

  • Includes placement for OE M2 grille emblem
  • Pre-preg Autoclave Carbon
  • Same carbon quality with OEM
  • Same carbon size, direction, and pattern with OEM
  • Need to remove BUMPER to INSTALL

ORDER FROM USA CLICK HERE

Please contact @[IND-Distribution](contact:14903) by phone or email for more information or to place your order.

866.963.4520 l info@ind-distribution.com

ORDER FROM Worldwide CLICK HERE

__________________

www.indiv-c.com
Gogi-ro 163beon-gil 5, Suji-gu, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do, 16824, Korea
indiv-c@outlook.com / (82) +82 10-4484-8100
Instagram:@indiv.official

Jaguar's New EV Doesn't Have a Rear Window

A recent teaser image doesn't show any taillights, either.

The Ioniq 9 Is the First Hyundai without a Roof Antenna

It's also the first Hyundai with aluminum fenders.

Citroen Flunks Another Crash Test with Zero Stars

The C3 Aircross has only two standard airbags in Brazil.

Wednesday, November 20, 2024

TWR Supercat: Jaguar XJS Returns with Dramatic Styling

The all-eyes-on-me restomod features a supercharged V-12 making 660 horsepower.

F1 Meets F80: Ferrari Drivers Praise the New Hypercar

Carlos Sainz Jr. and Charles Leclerc drove the F80 at Ferrari's Fiorano track.

Ram 1500 REV and Ramcharger Delayed to 2025

CEO Carlos Tavares says Stellantis has a lot on its plate and must shuffle things around.

Tuesday, November 19, 2024

Bugatti's Next Target: 310 MPH

Bugatti no longer has access to Ehra-Lessien, VW's high-speed test track. But that won't stop CEO Mate Rimac from pushing even farther.

Special Jeep Wrangler Celebrates the 1941 Willys MB

The army-inspired version is based on the plug-in hybrid 4xe.

This Is Jaguar's New Logo

The new wordmark is a mix of upper- and lower-case letters.

Sunday, November 17, 2024

The Next Mercedes-Benz CLA Will Have Impressive New EV Tech

And it will preview new 48-volt hybrid technology coming to future Mercedes models.

My XM Photos and 1/4 Mile Run


ran during hot weather, hopefully will run 10s this week since weather is a little better.

You Can Own This Ultra-Rare Aston Martin Vanquish Zagato Shooting Brake

Zagato only built 99 examples of the 584-horsepower Shooting Brake.

BMW M5 E34 Ring Taxi Driven on Autobahn


Martin from AutoTopNL was lucky enough to spend some time with the BMW M5 E34 Ring Taxi taking it on the Autobahn for a review.

Saturday, November 16, 2024

Hyundai Has a New CEO

Jose Munoz will lead the charge at the Hyundai Motor Company moving forward.

BMW Z4 M40i Manual Review on Autobahn by AutoTopNL


The team from AutoTopNL review the Z4 M40i manual on the autobahn.

You Can Buy The Cutest Ruf Yellowbird Ever Made

The model from Ritter Goods is an officially licensed 1/43rd scale Ruf CTR—and the squished car-chibi art style is adorable.

Friday, November 15, 2024

Black 2025 X3 M50 on 21” Satin Bronze Vossen HF-5s


Just got the car back from the ceramic coat detailer after getting a set of custom Vossen HF-5 wheels made and mounted. Was able to take a couple photos before rain came in yesterday and wanted to share in case folks were thinking about aftermarket wheels on the G45.

Full Wheel Specs:
Front
21×9.5”
Hub: 66.56
Offset: 20
Bolt Pattern: 5×112
Profile: Deep

Rear
21×10.5”
Hub: 66.56
Offset: 35
Bolt Pattern: 5×112
Profile: Deep

Tires:
Michelin Pilot Sport All Season 4s
265/40ZR21 Front
295/35ZR21 Rear

The Audi A4 Sedan Survives in China as the New A5L

Unlike the global A5, the long-wheelbase version for China is a true sedan.

The Nissan N7 Is a Big Electric Sedan You Can’t Buy

Unless you're willing to move to China.

The 2026 Lexus ES Has Fewer Buttons

The luxury sedan receives sharper headlights and a new infotainment.

Wednesday, November 13, 2024

Ford Is Already Cutting Production of Its New EVs

The Blue Oval blames the "rapidly deteriorating market conditions for electric vehicles."

Fiat Is Selling Hybrids that Run on Ethanol

After gasoline and diesel hybrids, Stellantis wants to show ethanol can also improve efficiency.

Volvo Has No Intention to Kill Its Largest Gas SUV

The XC90 will remain in production "for as long as there is demand."

Tuesday, November 12, 2024

Spied! 2026 BMW i3 Sedan (NA0 / NA1, Neue Klasse) – Successor to G20 3-Series


Have a first look at the spied 2026 BMW i3 Sedan (Neue Klasse) prototype test car.

Heres what we know about the NA0 / NA1 i3 so far (from the future BMW models info thread)

  • Chassis code: NA0 Sedan / NA1 Touring
  • In production 11/26-6/35
  • Planned NA0 (i3 sedan) model lineup: 40, 40 xDrive, 50, 50 xDrive, M60 xDrive
  • Model range: 20, 40, 40 xDrive, 50, 50 xDrive, M60 xDrive
  • Other models: 3M, i3M Touring, iX3M, iX4M are now in the official plans.
  • M variants: ZA0 M3 / ZA1 M3 Touring
2026 BMW i3 Sedan (NA0)



The New Porsche Taycan GTS Is Way More Powerful

The 2025 model year brings a Taycan 4 sedan, too.

Audi Says the AUDI Brand Will Attract Different Buyers

AUDI is apparently for those who wouldn't buy an Audi.

Mazda Will Make a RWD, Six-Cylinder Sedan Under One Condition

A new Mazda6 with inline-six engines is possible after all.

Sunday, November 10, 2024

This Wrecked Audi V-10 Engine Only Has Nine Pistons

Eight and a half, actually, since one piston is missing and another is cracked down the middle.

First G90 M5 on Aftermarket Wheels and Suspension Looks Stunning


I think car looks so much better and different than the regular G60, which I dont like…

This Ford F-250 Highboy Reminds Us Why Old Pickups Were Better

Fat Fender Garage tastefully upgraded the truck while retaining its vintage flair, including the original patina.

Friday, November 8, 2024

Jaguar Won't Start Selling New Cars Until 2026

The EV transition is going slower than planned, and F-Pace production ends in a few months.

Ferrari Might Bring Back the F40: Report

Ferrari's Icona series pays homage to past glories. Is the F40 the next source of inspiration?

Oxford Green Metallic G80 M3 Build


Posting this thread to capture my build journey with my 2024 G80 M3 Competition xDrive in individual Oxford Green Metallic over Kyalami Orange.

The build:
Current
– Active Autowerkes non-resonated single midpipe with valve controller
– H&R springs
– BBS LLM
– Unit17 CSL style grill
– Unit17 SPL2 front lip
– OEM carbon ducts
– CSL style DRLs
– 35% ceramic tint on all windows
– front PPF
– Coding: CS transmission, steering, DSC+diff, euro front lights (amber delete), and anti-dazzle.

Planned
– AST springs will be replacing my H&R springs tomorrow
– painted side reflectors are being delivered tomorrow
– spacers being put on tomorrow

Future
– Unit17 carbon side skirt extensions
– Unit17 carbon rear diffuser
– Unit17 carbon rear high kick spoiler
– Exhaust: considering doing a full valvetronic exhaust or keeping my stock exhaust + AA midpipe and adding AA downpipes for a little more sound.
– front mount intakes

Pictures
I will updating this with better pictures soon, but in the interim:

Big thanks to:
– Unit 17
– Kings Automotive
– Lux Auto Detailing
– TSD Motorsports

Dead: Cadillac XT4

Caddy's cheapest crossover is no more.

Sunday, November 3, 2024

Here's Your Chance to Own an Ultra-Rare Nissan GT-R50

This Nissan GT-R50 is one of just 19 built by coach builder Italdesign. And now, it can be yours.

G87 M2 Build With Akrapovic + Comparison


After owning my 2024 Toronto Red G87 for about a year (after owning a 2020 F87), I decided it was time to change it up a bit.

Details:
Akrapovic Exhaust & Link Pipe with Carbon Tips
Akrapovic Carbon Rear Diffuser
SST Exhaust Flap Control
AutoTecknic Carbon Center Bumper Trim V1 in Red
Adro Carbon Front Grill
Indiv Carbon Front Air Inlet Set
Alpha-N Carbon GT Front Lip
Akrapovic Carbon Adjustable Rear Swan Neck Wing
Eventuri Carbon Intake System
Motorsport+ CSL Yellow DRL LED Module
IND Painted Front Reflector Set
IND M2 Gloss Black Painted Front and Trunk Emblem
Rogue Engineering Short Shifter Kit
IND Carbon Floating Wheel Center Cap
IND Carbon BMW Roundel Set
3D Design Aluminum Pedal Set – Manual
CDV Removal
Window Tint

A comparison between the stock exhaust and the Akrapovic can be found here.

In short, I love the change – it can be really quiet when I need to be and loud when I want.

The V-16-Powered Lada Is Real and It's Ridiculous

Watch it hit 37 miles per hour in an agonizing 26 seconds.

Saturday, November 2, 2024

Individual Maldives Blue II G80 M3


I got into a nasty accident at the end of June which forced me to bid farewell to my old Dakar Yellow G80 M3. Long story short – 800whp and RWD with DSC off while trying to flee from car thieves in a plateless Dodge Charger makes for a bad time. The drivers side front was completely caved in and there was significant damage to the structural components, suspension, etc. on top of damage to the actual S58, so it just wasnt salvageable.

As a result, I decided to go with something less shouty and more relaxed/classy this time around. Specs as follows:

2025 G80 M3 w/ 6MT
Individual Maldives Blue II Metallic on Tartufo full interior
Executive Package
Parking Assistance Package
19/20" M Dual-Spoke Silver Forged 825M Wheels
Carbon Fiber trim
Drive Recorder
Galvanic controls
M Carbon Bucket Seats
M Drive Professional
M Shadowline Lights

Huge thanks to Bens at BMW of Rockville for getting everything approved! The Tartufo buckets require the CA to put in a specific request in order for it to be considered and approved/denied and Bens was able to do it. There are several other CAs out there that can do it so be sure to ask before being told "no" by your CA simply because they cant put it in through their normal means.

The silver 825Ms look perfectly at home with the Maldives Blue paint. The best way to describe the paint is that it looks like Atlantis Blue but a bit less saturated/less intense hue. It does change colour a bit depending on the sun/lighting condition. The metallic flakes all around look splendid and overall, I wouldnt change a thing on this build.

Thoughts on pre-LCI vs. LCI: The headlight DRLs are less iconic vs. the pre-LCI but they still look good, Id be happy with either tbh. I also prefer the graphics of iDrive 7 but do like the large screen of iDrive 8.5. For example, I feel like the old iDrive 7 heads up display had a better rev counter that looked better/was larger vs. the new one. If I could use the graphics of iDrive 7 on the larger screen of iDrive 8/8.5 – thatd be heaven. The galvanic controls offered on the LCI are an absolute must – they feel and look great. The sound system is also improved to the point where I dont feel like I need to code in the B&W sound profile from BimmerCode to make it sound decent. I do recall needing to dial in the 6-8 band EQ (I forget how many there were) to make it sound decent, no such issues on the 25 as it sounds great out the box; just changing the built in EQ to my music preferences has left me very happy. Its also nice that there is M tri-colour stitching on the shift boot leather as well as the seatbelt, as my old 22 did not have these (perhaps due to being a 6MT or parts shortages). I personally am not the biggest fan of plastering the M tri-colour on everything but its there now whereas it wasnt before – just an observation. I also absolutely love the new steering wheel as it looks so much sleeker than before.

Ive also noticed certain buttons/switches are a bit tighter/more taut. The indicator stalk, buttons everywhere, etc. all feel much tighter and better than my 2022. Maybe my 22 G80 was a Friday afternoon car? Either way, I am 100% enjoying the LCI G80, but should iterate that no one should upgrade to the LCI unless they are forced to as both the pre-LCI and LCI are both great. The only con: theres nowhere to mount my cell phone. I will eventually tune this G80 and would like to keep an eye out for car data displayed on the bootmod3 app, so I need a mount, but there doesnt appear to be any good mounts for the LCI yet.

Enjoy some pics All photos shot on a Canon EOS R8 with either a Sigma Art EF 24-70mm f/2.8 or a Sigma Art EF 50mm f/1.4.

First off: the last shot I took of my old Dakar Yellow G80:

Then the first of the new Maldives Blue II G80!

Listen to This Tiny V-12 Make Glorious Noises (But No Power) on a Dyno

This YouTuber dyno-tested a 50cc V-12 to see if these things make more than noise.

The Torque Wrench Is a Fascinating Piece of Engineering

Torque wrenches are some of the most important tools for working on cars. How they actually function is supremely interesting.

Friday, November 1, 2024

Nissan Built a Supercharged Frontier Drift Truck

The Frontier Tarmac rides on lowered suspension and makes 440 horsepower from a supercharged V-6.

Kia Is Happy with the Tasman Truck's Design

The exterior design boss admits the pickup's styling takes time to grow on you.

Jaguar, a British Car Brand, Stops Selling New Cars in the UK

It's taking one step backward so that it'll (hopefully) take two steps forward.