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The world horsepower record for the E9X M3 S65 V8 currently stands at 773 wheel horsepower and belongs to Gintani as well as BimmerBoost.com, just do not expect it to stand for very long. At Bimmerfest 2013 Gintani had the BimmerBoost.com project E92 M3 on display. They worked tirelessly to get the car ready for the event and took it to the dyno the night before. On MS109 race gas and 18.5 pounds of boost the car was able to hit 773 wheel horsepower with the completely stock DCT transmission slipping at 7250 rpm. Looking at the dyno graph below it is easy to see where the clutches begin to slip. At about 4750 rpm the clutch slips a bit then grabs as the pull continues up to 7250 rpm where it slips again and is unable to hold the power as the car is run to its 8500 rpm redline. Regardless, 7250 rpm was enough for a new world record on the S65 V8 platform and overall on the E9X BMW platform. Gintani will be rebuilding the cars DCT transmission and once that is complete the car will be back on the dyno for a clean run to redline and another world record. Looking at the graph, the car should conservatively be capable of ~830 wheel horsepower at 18.5 psi with MS109. What will it do on FTW Purple and 24 psi? We will eventually find out. Enjoy the picture and graph below. There is a video included of the car at Bimmerfest 2013. A huge crowd was gathered around it. For some reason the announcer at Bimmerfest never notified the crowd that the world's most powerful E92 M3 was in the house and that a new world record had been achieved on the platform. I waited for hours for the announcement which was hand written and delivered to the announcer but to no avail. Additionally, the car did not win a single award despite being the E92 M3 on display that had the most work done to it. Perhaps it needed some tacky neon green trim and red roundels? Definitely odd and awkward considering the years of engineering that have gone into it and that Gintani was a sponsor of the event. Perhaps if a competitor was not the headline sponsor Gintani and this car would have received the acknowledgement that was deserved and earned? Congratulations to Gintani on raising the bar to where nobody else on the platform is able to tread. This car is just getting warmed up.

Wow. That is exactly what came out of my mouth when I saw this supercharger kit at Bimmerfest. In all honesty, it was my main motivation for attending the event once I heard it would be there. Some people may be reading this and wondering what the big deal is as superchargers already exist for the M3. That is true, superchargers do exist, but they are all centrifugal style blowers. This is the world's first positive displacement supercharger for the S65 V8. Why is that a big deal? Because it's a completely different type of blower with completely different power delivery. This is the solution for those who complain about the M3's torque or for those who do not like the response down low of a centrifgual blower which needs rpm to make boost. This style of supercharger is always making boost, from anywhere in the rev range. That is what makes incorporating it on the S66 V8 difficult with its independent throttle bodies as positive displacement blowers usually are set to pull air through a throttle body not blow into it. The centrifugal blowers send air into a manifold. If a positive displacement were to use a similar setup it would be blowing air in while the throttle bodies attempted to close as it is always making boost. See the problem? The solution Harrop Engineering came up with was a manifold that fits in between the throttle bodies with a bypass valve fit that relieves pressure as needed and makes sure boost is not made as throttles are closing. Pretty trick setup eh? You can see the design in the photos and also how tight the packaging is. I do not even want to know how many hours were put in trying to get this all to fit. The blower employed is a TVS1740 unit from Eaton. This is a roots blower and likely will be set to 5.5 psi or so initially. Boost from this blower is different from a centrifugal and will be harder on the stock rods since it is at full boost right away. Expect horsepower in the low 500's to the wheels. Oh and see that little black box to the left of the manifold off a metal area at the inlet? There will be electronic boost control which is likely the first of its kind on a positive displacement setup although I am not able to confirm this. Different maps with different boost levels for different fuel? A possibility, yes. This is a big deal and an engineering feat for the S65. My complete and utter respect and that of this network to the guys at Harrop. There is still work to be done here. It is not quite ready although pricing is initially set at $12,990. There is still a lot of tuning to be done but this will be coming eventually. Pictures below, much respect Harrop and it was a pleasure meeting you guys at Bimmerfest. You were incredibly nice and answered all my (MANY) questions. Thank you:

I attended Bimmerfest 2013 and this was my first time at Bimmerfest. Why you ask? Well, because Tim who owns BimmerFest banned me from the BimmerFest forum once I started BimmerBoost. Well, bygones are bygones (plus BimmerBoost is too big to try to freeze out now) and this year BimmerFest invited BimmerBoost to attend as a VIP Media Sponsor. I accepted the invitation and drove down to the Rose Bowl to check it out. I am glad I did and I simply have to admit the event is phenomenal. The sheer size of the event is difficult to capture. It's big, much bigger than I expected. It's bigger than any other BMW event I have ever been to. Honestly, it dwarfs them in the amount of cars, vendors, people, you name it. I was told to go to a special side media only entrance but since I showed up at around 11:30 AM due to all the traffic that entrance was closed by that point. So, I squeezed my way in the side of the general entrance and was told to pay $20 for parking. Tim told me my entrance was free so I promptly told the guy at the gate I'm Sticky from BimmerBoost.com. After signing a few autographs I was in. The event was packed. I mean packed. People everywhere. Cars everywhere. Vendors everywhere. It was an awesome sight to behold. I was impressed and almost a bit jealous. I would be quite satisfied if BimmerBoost or a BimmerBoost event got this big one day. I will be going again but there are some things that can definitely be improved. $5 for a soda? Really? And cash only? That means I had to use the ATM which then on top of that charged me $3.50 to get my own money. So I paid $8.50 for a soda. It's definitely a blatant cash grab which somewhat hurts the grassroots community feel it should have. Perhaps getting a bit too commercial for its good? Then there was the guy on the loudspeaker reminding everyone to buy T-Shirts every 5 seconds. RELAX. How about talking more about the cars? Instead of informing the crowd what cars were where and what to see we were constantly being told to buy merchandise at every second. Gintani and I waited for hours for him to announce that a new E92 M3 horsepower record was achieved which he promised to do but instead all we kept hearing was where the ATM's were. I thought this was a car show? Additionally, the awards were a bit of a farce. The winning modern BMW was, surprise surprise, ESS-Tuning supercharged. Not that there is anything wrong with that but a bit suspect with ESS-Tuning being the headline sponsor. Especially when the BimmerBoost.com M3 which set a new horsepower world record that has been three years in the making does not even get a mention? Or any kind of award? But a dime a dozen ESS supercharged car is rated the best? What kind of judges are these and what do they really know about BMW's, tuning, or the aftermarket? These are my only complaints. Other than that, a fantastic show and I look forward to attending next year with BimmerBoost hopefully playing a bigger role. Thanks for the invite Tim, Bimmerfest has come a long way. Congratulations! Pictures and further details below. Additional articles regarding products and vendors at Bimmerfest will follow. When I say huge I mean huge, tons of cars and people: The classics were representing. The silver E9 is just jaw dropping: I have dreamt about a swap like this and it seems someone had the same idea and beat me to it. A Honda F20 motor with displacement increased to 2.3 liters with a 9500 rpm redline swapped into a 2002 BMW. Props to you good sir. And check out that plate! This guy has a point... Of course 1M's were everywhere: Very impressive matte paint job on this F10: Dakar yellow is a great vintage color but sadly in person on the E92 it is a bit dull. It is just one of those colors that perhaps should stay retired. Still, definitely different and definitely nice to see: An awesome E90 M3 until you see the neon green trim that sticks out like a sore thumb. What was this guy thinking? A tastefully modded car that is then marred with a few elements of poor taste: The red accents are a bit much on a white car. When it starts to look clownish you took it too far: Now this is a beautiful E92 M3 showing sometimes less is more. Ericsson trunk, BBS LM-R's, good looking carbon accents under the sideskirts, well done. The German flag colors on the grille may be a bit much for some people though: A pristine 2002 turbo and a posing "M2" : Lot's of E30 M3's: Self explanatory: The widebody work on this E60 M5 was the best at the show in my opinion. Clean, perfectly fitting, just absolutely gorgeous. The shop that did this body work deserves major respect: This blue foil style wrap was very, very eye catching. Definitely not for someone who does not like attention: Reminded me somewhat of an M3 GTS: Remus was there with an F10 M5 rear section exhaust: Not only BMW's attended: BimmerBoost vendor ModBargains in attendance: Completely original BMW 2002. Flawless: Akrapovic showed off their titanium F10 M5 exhaust which is a beauty to behold: Matte X6: BimmerBoost vendor Vorsteiner in attendance showing off their BMW body pieces available for the F30, F10 M5, and F13 M6: BimmerBoost vendor HRE Wheels in attendance. This car just flat out popped, hard to explain but the effect in person was awesome: Dinan was showing off their N63 intake which seems to be a ram air style for the N63 funneling air in from the grille. Looked great: Never seen fully carbon headlight covers before. Only works on a track car obviously: BimmerBoost vendor IND-Distribution in attendance. You know it's IND from far away when you see the most colorful BMW's. The attention to detail on the yellow M3 is amazing. Tasteful yellow accents everywhere from the stitching to seatbelts. This is why IND is who IND is: Of course there were Active Autowerke blowers representing: N55 and S63 motors on display but somebody switched the labels. The people at the booth were surprised when I pointed it out. Was a rather obvious mistake: Hey! Cameo by BenzBoost vendor Weistec Engineering: This Hamann widebody X5 simply is overdone: Beautiful weather and yes, tons of BMW's: The prices are a bit ridiculous and the show is cash only. Come on now, be reasonable: You look fine sweetheart: Ariel Atom cameo. Need to get me one of these: Cash only food stands and $9.50 hotdogs. Quite the racket: Techno Violet. Quite simply one of the most beautiful colors BMW has ever put on a car: Cameo by my future ex-wife: Interesting E92 M3 widebody: Whatever the hell this is, it's cool: That's all folks:

Great video here of three runs at the PBIR (Palm Beach International Raceway) between a McLaren MP4-12C and a Porsche 911 Turbo S PDK. Oddly enough, the McLaren seems to rip the 911 Turbo out of the hole on the runs despite not having all wheel drive. It's fast, very fast in the first run turning a 10.6@134 to the 911's 11.0@125. On the second run the McLaren gives the 911 Turbo the hit and seems to just barely run it down but the times are similar with a 10.6@133 for the McLaren and 11.0@126 for the 911 Turbo. The 911 Turbo S is a terror on the drag strip having shown a 10.7@127 in stock form and even a 10.6@129. That was in seemingly better weather though and the Florida PBIR strip isn't the fastest when temps start to heat up. This MP4-12C likely has the new software update which bumps output by 25 horsepower. On R-Compound rubber we have seen a 10.3 1/4 mile out of the car completely stock. It's simply quicker and faster than the 911 Turbo S, video below.

Well, no surprise here. Porsche continues to embrace the dual clutch transmission making the PDK standard and the only option on their new GT cars such as the GT3 and GT2. It started with the 991 GT3 getting the PDK transmission only with no manual option and now the 991 GT2 and GT2 RS will take the same route. Even the new 991 Turbo does not have a manual transmission option meaning the PDK dual clutch is the only way to get it. Purists may not like it but the GT2 is going to be a beast with 552 horsepower, rear wheel drive, and a dual clutch transmission. The GT2 RS is set to go up to 620 horsepower. 9 second car stock? With drag radials a high 9 second 1/4 mile certainly sounds within reach. Do not expect it until 2015 though. Source

It is official, Quaife has a limited slip differential upgrade available for the C207 Mercedes-Benz E550 models. With the torque the M278 twin turbo V8 generates a limited slip differential becomes necessary to maintain traction and definitely will improve putting the power down in corners especially as well as the straightline or low traction conditions (rain, snow). The diff is a direct replacement for the factory open differential. It will not interfere with the electronics or cause any malfunction lights. The differential will also eliminate a degree of torque steer from the factory open diff. Quite simply, it's a great upgrade for the rear wheel drive E550 coupes. The diff comes with a lifetime warranty and will be available in July. Great of Quaife to take care of a definite need for C207 E550 owners.

Well, well, well, BMW responds to the criticism as well as the competition to the F10 M5 with a facelift for the 2014 model which includes a Competition Package option. The standard car is 560 horsepower but the Competition Package option boosts this output to 575 horsepower which is a direct response to Mercedes-Benz and AMG with the facelifted E63/CLS63 AMG sporting an all wheel drive option and an optional 585 horsepower. The power boost is one part but the suspension is also revised with the Competition Package. New springs, dampers, and stiffer sway bars. The F10 M5 is lowered by 10mm. The Active M Differential receives revised tuning for better traction. The stability control programs have also been remapped. These are great improvement and it is nice to see BMW forced to acknowledge the F10 M5 was not exactly as good as it could have been out of the box and seemed lacking compared to previous M models. Will these changes improve it greatly? We will see, hopefully the exhaust sound is improved as well as the steering response. Definitely a step in the right direction, press release below. Newly-available Competition Package spearheads subtle refinement for 2014. Woodcliff Lake, N.J. – May 18th 2013, 6:00pm Eastern Time . . . For five generations, the BMW M5 has served as the reference standard in the special business of ultra-high-performance sedans. In each generation since the mid-Eighties, the M5 has joined race-bred chassis components and Olympic levels of power with linear control which can only be developed through years of laps around the legendary Nürburgring Nordschleife in the Eiffel Mountains. Now, paralleling the launch of the 2014 BMW 5 Series Sedan and 5 Series Gran Turismo, BMW M’s hot-rod sedan receives an exciting evolutionary impulse. Subtle styling updates, new color choices, enhancements to interior and lighting, and a new Competition Package with 575 horsepower (preliminary) are the key highlights of the 2014 M5 Sedan update. The essential BMW M5 is driven by a 4.4-liter V-8 engine with patented M TwinPower Turbo technology and a peak output of 560 hp in standard form. This power is managed through the standard 7-speed M Dual-Clutch Transmission (M-DCT) or optional 6-speed manual transmission (North America only), Active M Differential at the rear axle, and aluminum-intensive suspension, all of which are precisely tuned to perfect harmony by BMW M’s 41 years of race-bred experience. Competition Package: New for 2014. There are sport sedans, and then there is the BMW M5. For more than a quarter-century, the M5 has been the four-door sedan which provides levels of performance previously accessible only to super-sports cars. Perhaps this claim was best proven in reality when a production-based, second-generation M5 Sedan won the IMSA Bridgestone Supercar Championship not just once in 1994, but again in 1995. It was, of course, the only 4-door car in the entire field of racers. To celebrate the M5’s competitive driving spirit, BMW M GmbH will offer the new Competition Package as an option for the M5 and its M6 siblings starting with the 2014 model year. The Competition Package specifically distills handling properties under the principle applied to all BMW M automobiles: fine-tune the suspension to match the performance of the engine, and achieve responsiveness that makes the car precise and controllable in all driving situations. The Competition Package boosts output by 15 hp / 11 kW to 575 hp / 423 kW (preliminary) in the high-revving V-8 engine with M TwinPower turbo technology that powers the BMW M5, BMW M6 Coupe, BMW M6 Convertible and BMW M6 Gran Coupe models. At the same time, the developers at BMW M have extensively tuned the chassis set-up. Along with new coil springs and damper calibrations, anti-sway bars have also been stiffened. For the BMW M5, these adjustments have resulted in a lowering of the car by around 10 millimeters, which lowers the center of gravity (CG) and roll center. The potential inherent in the rear axle design – based on the race-derived principle of the rear axle subframe being rigidly bolted to the body – and the even more precisely calibrated bushings for the front axle are exploited with the Competition Package. 0.1 seconds have been shaved from the standstill to 100 km/h (0-62 mph) sprint time and 0.2 seconds are saved when accelerating from zero to 200 km/h (0-124 mph). Cornering dynamics and flexibility are also enhanced – something noticeable in everyday driving but best experienced on the race track. In particular in conjunction with the optional M Carbon Ceramic Brake system, also available on the M5 for 2014, all the driving dynamics attributes associated with BMW M automobiles are experienced at the highest level. The Active M Differential on the final drive – standard on all M5 and M6 models – receives a unique tune when the Competition Package is specified, resulting in further-improved traction. The new rack-and-pinion steering with the M-specific Servotronic variable assist function, moreover, has more-direct programming to enable firm and secure contact with the road while further increasing the agility of the vehicle during cornering. Beyond these enhancements, the M chassis control system has been adapted to the Competition Package suspension profile. With the Competition Package, the M Dynamic Mode (MDM) of DSC (Dynamic Stability Control) is re-mapped for even sportier handling characteristics and higher thresholds of intervention. The Competition Package additionally includes unique 20-inch M light-alloy wheels along with a sport exhaust system featuring M quad tailpipes finished in Black Chrome that lend an unmistakable look and the sound to the car. Design. A striking element in the appearance of every BMW is the “kidney grille”, which now features the M5 model designation and whose slats cite the double-spoke design of the M light-alloy wheels. In addition to standard Xenon Adaptive headlights, there is now the option of Adaptive LED Headlights which emit a particularly bright white light generated by a pair of LED units situated horizontally in the middle of each light ring. A standard feature on the BMW M5 are the new-design 5 Series tail lights with strikingly thin LED light strips that generate a high contrast and add to the unmistakable night-time look. The hallmark M feeling is also conveyed by the M leather steering wheel, whose new design likewise takes visual cues from the double-spoke wheels. The interior of the sedan has also gained an increase in volume of the storage compartment under the armrest in the center console area. The Central Display of the standard-fitted iDrive4.2 Navigation system now features chrome trim on the sides. The iDrive4.2 controller now features a touchpad surface allowing, for example, characters to be entered when programming a destination for the Navigation system. As of July, BMW Individual will be offering a range of new exterior colors for the BMW M5 including Pyrite Brown Metallic, Frozen Blue Metallic, and further BMW Individual Frozen paintwork finishes, as well as exclusive leather shades (Cashmere Beige and Nutmeg). The further extended range of features from BMW ConnectedDrive also ensures that the 2014 BMW M5 is in pole position when it comes to intelligent connectivity. Innovative driver assistance systems and mobility services optimize safety and comfort while driving as well as the use of infotainment programmers. BMW Apps is now standard on all 5 Series models for 2014.

The new batch of turbo motors from AMG make a lot of torque and those turbos combined with fairly large displacement produce quite a bit of heat. The factory cooling system features a water-air intercooler for this reason to keep temps down but the OEM Mercedes-Benz design has the intercooler system tied into engine coolant system. Not hard to see how this is not the most efficient setup possible and how the cooling system can become overwhelmed. Weistec improves the performance of the factory intercooler by separating it from the engine cooling system. The M157 cooling kit includes a dedicated performance heat exchanger, trunk mounted ice tank reservoir, and all the necessary fittings and lines. Essentially, this leaves the factory system now dedicated to just cooling the engine rather than the engine and intercooler. Also, the factory factory heat exchanger is positioned between the radiator and AC condenser meaning heat radiating from those elements will affect it. The Weistec unit is mounted where it can get cool air from the grille above the bumper beam. Another great performance product from Weistec Engineering for your AMG, get it here for $1999.99: http://www.weistec.com/m157cooling.html Key Features: Separates Intercooler from Engine Coolant High Performance Heat Exchanger Optimal Heat Exchanger Placement Weistec Trunk Ice Tank for Greatly Increased System Capacity All Hardware, Lines, and Fittings Included

This is an interesting development and one that really makes one scratch their head. Porsche obviously has demonstrated hybrid technology can work and work extremely well in sports cars with their 918 Spyder hybrid supercar. A company spokesperson at the recent Panamera Hybrid technology workshop stated Porsche developed a new hybrid module that combines the electric motor and clutches in one unit is capable of fitting in all Porsche models including the 911. Does this mean the race bred GT3 will go hybrid? The GT2? Even the lightweight RS models? It's understandable Porsche wants to push for greater efficiency but the downside here is that it essentially means all future Porsche models will gain weight. The GT3 simply won't be as tossable with electric motors and batteries in it. It's great Porsche is pushing the technology but is it really necessary to put it in every car in the lineup? That just does not make sense for a sports car manufacturer trying to build the best drivers car possible where weight is one of the major enemies. Porsche even complained about the weight a dual clutch transmission would add to the GT3 so it seems odd they would now be willing to put heavy electric drivetrain components in it. Regardless, expect to see a lot more hybrid Porsches. Source

Here are pictures of what an APR Stage III turbo kit setup looks like on a MKVI Golf R. The kit is very impressive and comes with all the hardware necessary obviously. This install was done by APTuning who photographed the process. A dyno is included of what the setup is capable of. On 100 octane race gas the Stage III GTX kit shows 511 horsepower versus a stock 272. Unfortunately this dyno is at the crank and not the wheels. Photos of the install and dynograph below:

Honda will be returning to Formula 1 as an engine supplier in 2015. The will be supplying McLaren with the new turbo motors Formula 1 will be switching to. This apparently has Bernie Ecclestone thinking that BMW will soon follow suit as BMW does have history in Formula 1 as an engine supplier. BMW pulled out as a constructor in the 2008 season and completely out of the sport with engines and all after the 2009 season. Ecclestone stated, "I would be surprised if we don't see BMW again. I think they could come in. The amount of money they spent was not significant in the grand scheme of things. It makes sense for them to return." This basically amounts to nothing more than Ecclestone saying it makes sense for BMW in an effort to push them to acknowledge his comment and hopefully get them in so Formula 1 has even more manufacturers involved. It's really just political maneuvering by Bernie. Will it push BMW to come back? Doubtful. Source

This comes off a bit spiteful and bitter from Audi. A recent press release titled "Not so fast to put Tesla on that particular pedestal" by Audi lobs shots at the electric car maker. Audi even says the automotive industry is giving Tesla way too much credit. The issue Audi takes is with recent articles about Tesla sales beating Mercedes, BMW, and Audi that Audi claims are not accurate. The reasoning behind this is that Audi sales trump Tesla sales. Audi of America is right that their US sales in April alone of 13,157 units trump Tesla's 4,750 units year to date. But the article they are referencing specifically mentioned the A8 which the Tesla Model S is apparently outselling as the A8 only sold 1,462 units in April. Audi also questions Tesla's long term viability. What's with the hate Audi? This seems out of character and completely beneath Audi. Bitter Audi press release below: Not so fast to put Tesla on that particular pedestal Posted on May 17, 2013 2:38 PM Not so fast Investors, press and a lot of front-runners are enthusing over the progress of Tesla in selling all-electric vehicles, and doing so profitably, when other EV brands are faltering. But some reports are giving Tesla too much credit. A headline on CNNMoney.com this week, for instance, said "Tesla sales beating Mercedes, BMW and Audi." But the fact is that Tesla's reported sales of 4,750 units of its Model S electric car in April were less than half of Audi of America sales of 13,157 vehicles in the month, which represented a 16-percent rise from a year earlier. BMW and Mercedes-Benz sold even more than that. The story's misleading headline came from the fact that Model S did outsell at least one of each of the German luxury brands' models that are in the general price range of the Tesla vehicle. Audi A8 sold 1,462 units in the U.S. in April, for instance. And while Model S is Tesla's only nameplate at this point, the Audi A8 is the brand's flagship model and is aimed at consumers in the most exclusive segment of the market. The demand for premium models including the Audi A6, A7 and A8 is growing but remains just one segment for Audi. The CNNMoney.com story did mention that it wasn't making a "perfect comparison," noting that each of the German brands sells "a full range of cars and SUVs" and that pricing of the Tesla S and the comparison models wasn't apples-to-apples. To be sure, Tesla has been riding a boom in investor and consumer interest based on its apparent ability crack the code for EV sales with its $70,000-and-up Model S. But while Tesla founder and CEO Elon Musk has raised Model S sales estimates for 2013 to 21,000 units, the brand faces a number of long-term issues that also were noted this week by American press. "Tesla has to show it can be consistently profitable with a single product that is priced so high that most buyers can't afford it," as USA Today put it. "There are questions, too, about whether it can keep its order books full, or whether the number of people who crave electric cars is limited."

Here is the BMW Gran Lusso Coupe concept with styling courtesy of the famed Pininfarina Italian design house. The coupe is definitely striking in design with led taillights across the the rear of the car and BMW i8 inspired headlights. The squinted headlights, big grille, and front bumper give the car a sort of facial expression. It's an interesting styling take and definitely different while at the same time feeling very BMW. However, this is not Pininfarina's most beautiful work. With a twin turbo V12 borrowed from the 7-Series under the hood the car definitely will have some power. And likely quite a bit of heft as well. This is the closest concept we to what a modern 8-Series would look like that we have ever received from BMW. Do not expect the 8 to come back, this is just a one-off for fun apparently. Pictures and press release below. BMW Pininfarina Gran Lusso Coupé. Cernobbio, 24 May 2013. BMW and Pininfarina are two of the most tradition-swathed names in the motoring world. Each is a byword for cutting-edge technology, style, dynamics and aesthetics. With the BMW Pininfarina Gran Lusso Coupé, the two time-honoured companies are unveiling the outcome of their first collaboration at the Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este 2013. The BMW Pininfarina Gran Lusso Coupé is a one-off and represents the exclusive interpretation of a luxurious BMW Coupé as seen through the eyes of Pininfarina. Working in close consultation, the two design teams have created a new automotive persona brimming with character and ready to join the high-end luxury class – typically BMW while sporting the distinctive signature of Pininfarina. With the BMW Pininfarina Gran Lusso Coupé, the BMW Design team took up exclusive design aspects such as luxury and elegance and fed them into a creative exchange with long-established specialist car designer and manufacturer Pininfarina. In this elaborately created one-off, the renowned companies BMW Group and Pininfarina joined forces to bring an idea to fruition: "The appeal of this collaboration with Pininfarina is that you get another, very different and special angle on facets like luxury and exclusivity," notes Karim Habib, Head of BMW Design. "The Italian company, after all, has always been a byword for these criteria in particular, demonstrating time and again its keen sensitivity and exceptional finesse in these areas. In Pininfarina we have found the ideal partner to lend shape to this vehicle concept." "The result of this cooperative venture is far greater than the sum of its parts," says Fabio Filippini, Head of Design at Pininfarina. "When two such tradition-rich and experienced brands join forces to turn a vision into reality, something utterly new and exciting emerges. From start to finish, this project was defined by a mutual respect for the identity of the other company." Consummate elegance. The BMW Pininfarina Gran Lusso Coupé adds a new dimension to the BMW claim to exclusivity. This painstakingly created one-off captivates the viewer at first glance. Liberal surface areas and taut contours are the distinguishing elements of an elegant car body. Typical BMW proportions – a long wheelbase, stretched bonnet and set-back greenhouse – imbue the BMW Pininfarina Gran Lusso Coupé with imposing dynamics even when stationary. At the same time the car exudes balance and harmony: BMW values such as technology, dynamics and precision are complemented by the skilled craftsmanship of Pininfarina to create a very special holistic experience. "The BMW Pininfarina Gran Lusso Coupé has an extraordinary impact. It expresses hallmark BMW values such as luxury and sheer presence in a highly elegant form," says Adrian van Hooydonk, Senior Vice President BMW Group Design. "I admire the reductive clarity and precision in Pininfarina's design. Their expectations for the end result have been just as high as ours, and their understanding of design perfectly complements the BMW design DNA for a vehicle of this kind." Dynamic presence – the front view. With its broad, wheel-focused stance, the front of the BMW Pininfarina Gran Lusso Coupé radiates sheer presence and dynamics. The hallmark double-kidney grille and the road-focused headlights with their suggested twin circular look reveal at a glance the family bond with BMW. At the same time the distinctive Pininfarina elements have been interpreted with Italian finesse to lend the front end a special flair. The trademark BMW kidney grille forms the central element of the front-end design, and all surfaces and lines take their bearings from it. It symbolically points to the engine at the heart of the vehicle, its size reflecting the power of the V12 unit nestling behind it. The "kidneys" are angled towards the road, citing the typical BMW "shark nose" and lending the front end an even more dynamic look, particularly when seen from the side. Viewed up close it discloses highly accomplished detail work: the front part of the bipartite kidney grille is made of matt-sheen aluminium, while behind it an identically shaped part in high-gloss black adds visual depth and makes for an exciting contrast of materials. Above the kidney grille the bonnet stretches across the front of the car, its subtle contours appearing to emanate from the BMW emblem and lending the bonnet a dynamic elegance. The flat headlights underline the road-focused look associated with a BMW and round off the "face" of the BMW Pininfarina Gran Lusso Coupé. Their dynamic contours are in perfect harmony with the classic BMW twin circular look in an interpretation that leaves them open at the top. The use of LED technology creates a technically premium impression while adding a striking depth to the headlights. The eye-catchingly sporty front apron concludes the front end of the BMW Pininfarina Gran Lusso Coupé as it dips towards the road. The flat, one-piece air intake accentuates the breadth of the front, an impression reinforced by chrome trim that adds a classy touch. The air intake is larger at the wheels and draws attention to the car's wide, sporty track. Just above the road surface, discreet Pininfarina lettering points to the contributing partner from Italy, like a signature on a work of art. Elegant sculpture – the side view. The designers at BMW and Pininfarina set particular store by creating the right proportions. The car's surfaces display the elaborate form language of BMW while being sculpted with a clarity that is hallmark Pininfarina. Within a powerfully present silhouette, convex taperings on the side add a dynamic elegance and give the body a tautly athletic shape. At the same time the reduced, precise contours stretch the vehicle and underline its exclusivity with a contemporary touch. The high shoulder line extends almost horizontally along the entire side of the car, imbuing the BMW Pininfarina Gran Lusso Coupé with stature and presence. Above it the long roof line flows elegantly into the rear to define the short tail end. Below the shoulder line, a striking countersweep to the roof line emanates from the Air Breather behind the front wheel. Ascending towards the rear, it lends the back section of the car a light and dynamic appearance. All the lines have been designed with keen sensitivity: as they trace their course they become stronger or weaker and, through the changing play of light and shadow, show off the surrounding surfaces to their best effect. Numerous details accentuate the elegance of the side view. The matt-sheen embellishment behind the front wheel adds a stylish accent as it integrates the side indicator. Another signature BMW detail is the Hofmeister kink – the eye-catching forward bend in the window graphic that is perfectly integrated into the surrounding play of lines. Behind it the V12 logo indicates the powerful engine within the BMW Pininfarina Gran Lusso Coupé. Pininfarina lettering in the side panel points to the definitive role played by the Italian design company in creating this vehicle, with the Pininfarina logo above it indicating that the BMW Pininfarina Gran Lusso Coupé was also built by Pininfarina. The exclusively designed 21-inch wheels perfectly augment the sporty, elegant statement made by the BMW Pininfarina Gran Lusso Coupé. Five trios of graceful yet powerfully sculpted spokes display a strong visual depth through the application of matt-sheen aluminium, black and black chrome. As such the wheel design blends an elegant multi-spoke style with the sportiness of five-spoke rims. Sophisticated stance – the rear view. The elongated side profile leads to a slender and elegant tail end. Striking horizontal elements imbue the entire rear end with a very broad, flat impression. At the same time, the generous surface design of the rear lends it a powerful presence. Between the surfaces, precise contours and horizontal lines break up the rear aspect, resulting in a clever interplay of light and shadow that partitions the entire design and brings it alive. An eye-catching detail is the transition from the roof to the rear lid: two elaborately shaped struts extend the roof pillar towards the rear, ensuring an elegantly fluid transition of the roof line into the tail section. Extending from the sides, the tail lights embrace the rear end in a single sweeping gesture that brings the side and rear together visually. The tail lights reveal elaborately detailed workmanship and lend the BMW L-shape a slender, almost filigree interpretation. They are set – jewel-like – within high-grade trim in matt-sheen aluminium. A particular highlight is their open design, allowing air to flow through them. A contemporary take on classical values – the interior. The interior of the BMW Pininfarina Gran Lusso Coupé takes up the accomplished fusion of modern elegance and authoritative dynamics as displayed by the exterior. Here the melding of sportiness, exclusivity and comfort makes for a unique interior experience. The fluid underlying geometry of the interior design by BMW takes on an individual character courtesy of the Pininfarina touch. With a special colour concept, choice materials and geometrical details in the doors, centre console and dashboard binnacle, Pininfarina lends further emphasis to signature BMW elements such as the driver focus and layering principle, while accentuating the sporty character of the interior with a fine instinct for cutting-edge and elegant details alike. The four-seater luxury coupé rolls out an exclusive ambience to welcome driver and passengers. The front and rear seats from the Pininfarina drawing board embrace all occupants with sporty side supports while providing the highest levels of comfort. From the driver's seat, a sideward glance will initially reveal the hallmark BMW driver focus: all driving-related functions and controls are slightly angled towards the driver to be within optimal ergonomic reach. The horizontal alignment of the surfaces and lines of the dashboard create an expansive sense of space. The doors take up the flow of lines and invest them with greater dynamics as they follow their course, while the door handles cite the incisive shape of the tail lights as well as the side-panel embellishments as they bring these styling cues into the interior. The rear of the cabin likewise boasts spacious design, with legroom in the back seats of the BMW Pininfarina Gran Lusso Coupé almost on a par with that of a large luxury sedan. Select materials and top-quality craftsmanship. The exclusive colour and material concept is one of the stand-out features of the BMW Pininfarina Gran Lusso Coupé and eloquently reflects its unique character. Extensive handcraftsmanship further enhances the interior ambience. Finest leather and kauri wood aged more than 48,000 years lend the cabin of the BMW Pininfarina Gran Lusso Coupé a special aura. The high-grade leather from the Foglizzo leather factory – in black and a light shade of Tobacco Brown – creates a warm, exclusive ambience. Metal highlights in black chrome set a technical counterpoint to the extensive application of natural materials. All the wood elements in the cabin are sourced from a single piece of kauri wood selected by the Italian timber experts of Riva 1920 exclusively for the BMW Pininfarina Gran Lusso Coupé. Kauri wood has a unique grain and shifts in colour from gold to red to brown, depending on the incidence of light and angle of view. Simply polished and oiled, it exudes a particular warmth and naturalness in league with the exclusive leather surfaces of the interior. Native to New Zealand, kauri wood is among the rarest timbers in the world. Its special character derives from the fact that the toppled kauri trees have been preserved in swamps for millennia and can be processed like fresh timber after being retrieved from the fossil swampland. The roof liner of finest Italian virgin wool features the striking "Principe di Galles" pattern. This grey plaid strikes a bold contrast to the traditional materials used for the doors and dashboard. The brown leather seats also pick up on the pattern in their all-round piping. Allowing extra light into the interior is an oblong aperture in the roof liner which is additionally illuminated by white LEDs. In the footwell areas, a soft deep-pile carpet in dark grey adds to a subtle sense of wellbeing. Another interior detail are the freestanding B-pillars, whose elegant design when viewed from the outside creates a homogeneous glazed area and frameless doors that appear very light. Pininfarina. Pininfarina ranks as one of the most time-honoured names in automotive design. What began in the 1930s as a "carrozzeria" building one-offs and limited editions, alongside the visual refinement of high-end automotive technology, has today become one of Italy's leading design companies. Its operating spectrum stretches far beyond automobiles to include product and industrial design. Through numerous collaborations with a wide range of carmakers, Pininfarina has established itself as a style-defining partner. Simplicity and harmony in look and feel, perfect proportions and innovative functionality are the hallmarks and underlying concept of each and every Pininfarina design.

Very strong showing from the SLS GT3 at the 24 Hours of the Nurburgring. You likely already know what a grueling course the ring is and a 24 Hour endurance race on the famous circuit is no joke. The winning Black Falcon SLS GT3 started in sixth and worked its way up to first finishing two minutes and thirty nine seconds ahead of the second place car. Rowe Racing took third and fourth place with their SLS GT3's. The race was red flagged for 9 hours due to rain. A total of 7 SLS GT3's were entered. The Nurburgring 24 Hours is mostly aimed at amateurs who purchase factory race cars. Some of the drivers are professionals. Would be a lot of fun to buy an SLS GT3 and race in something like this. Congratulations to Mercedes and Team Black Falcon. Results below: 2013 Nurburgring 24 Hours selected class winners SP9 – #9 Black Falcon Mercedes – Bleekemolen/Edwards/Schneider/Thiim SP7 – #18 Manthey Racing Porsche – Bernhard/Dumas/Lieb/Luhr (7th overall) SP8 – #81 Corvette – Guttroff/Kiesch/Klasen/Strycek (21st overall) SP4T – #105 Besaplast Racing Audi – Kovac/Lestrup/Thiim/Tshornia (23rd overall) SP3T – #111 Raeder Motorsport Audi – Breuer/Deegener/Schmidtmann/Wohlfarht (25th overall) SP10 – #56 Bonk Motorsport BMW – Akata/Mies/Uebler/’Wolf Silverster’ (28th overall) SP2T – #216 Peugeot Automobiles Peugeot – Frankenhout/Niederhauser/Radermecker/Ricci (32nd overall) Alexander Böhm, Black Falcon General Manager: “The ultra-reliable SLS AMG GT3 was once again the cornerstone for this historic victory. All the drivers did a great job – we were really fast, especially in the wet. A big thank you to all team members!” Hans-Peter Naundorf, ROWE RACING Team Manager: “I am extremely pleased with securing P3 and P4 with #22 and #23, especially as we were forced to retire last year while in the lead. My thanks go to all drivers and team members. Congratulations to the winning team, Black Falcon.” Uli Fritz, Head of AMG Customer Sports: “We were not among the favourites to win, as we are not a works team but simply a customer outfit. We are very excited about this historic success. So far in 2013, we have won every major endurance race with the SLS AMG GT3 – in January, the Dubai (UAE) 24-hour race, in February, the Bathurst 12-Hours (Australia) and now the legendary 24- hour race here at the Nürburgring. My congratulations go to all AMG customer teams, and many thanks to tyre partner Dunlop for the excellent manner in which they have supported our team.” Ola Kaellenius, CEO of Mercedes-AMG GmbH: “A great success for our customer teams Black Falcon and ROWE RACING. I am very pleased that we have succeeded at only the third attempt in taking the top spot in the SLS AMG GT3. This victory is the best confirmation of our customer sports programme.” Toto Wolff, Head of Motorsport at Mercedes-Benz: “This victory in the 24-hour race at the Nürburgring is the just reward for the loyalty of our customer teams. Mercedes-Benz has a magnificent tradition in endurance racing that stretches back as far as the 1950s. The Nürburgring has always had a great importance and symbolic meaning for Mercedes-Benz, because this is where the legend of the Silver Arrow was born, so it is all the more gratifying to witness the success here today of the AMG customer teams. The Mercedes-Benz name stands for performance, quality and reliability – which are the perfect prerequisites for winning such a tough race on the most demanding racetrack in the world. I extend my congratulations to our customer teams, Black Falcon and ROWE RACING. Credit is also due to Mercedes-AMG for their outstanding support without which this success could not have been achieved.” Bernd Schneider, Black Falcon, # 9: “Our car was super to drive, especially in the wet, and even while the surface was drying out, we were always up with the leading group. I’ve attempted the 24-hour race at the Nürburgring on several previous occasions, but this is the first time I’ve ever crossed the finish line. My congratulations and thanks go to the whole team. The guys at Black Falcon did a great job.” Thomas Jäger, ROWE RACING, # 22: “Once again, we have seen what a fabulous car the SLS AMG GT3 is to drive, even under these very difficult conditions here at the Nürburgring. Our third and fourth place finishes represent a great team result for ROWE RACING, and obviously I’m delighted for the guys at Black Falcon on their historic victory.” Lance David Arnold, ROWE RACING, # 23: “I’m very pleased that I was able to finish fourth on my very first outing for the AMG customer team ROWE RACING. This was very tough race, not least because of the heavy rain and the constantly changing conditions. I’d like to express my gratitude and congratulations to the whole team.”

The Mercedes-Benz Porsche 911 fighter called the SLC appears to be on track. The base model will feature 485 horsepower 4.0 liter twin turbo V8 power. If that is the case, expect to see this motor in the next generation W205 C63 AMG as well. The "S" variant will sport 550 horsepower which will be positioned against the Porsche 991 Turbo. Above this will be a 585+ horsepower track focused SLC Black Series which likely will go against the 991 GT2. Expect pricing for the base SLC around $140,000. The S and Black Series models will likely be pushing in the ~$200k range. Not exactly affordable but the base price comes from directly changing Euros into Dollars which in practice does not work out. Hopefully the SLC can be closer to the $100k mark when it arrives. This is going to be a very fun car and quite tunable. Source

A couple weeks ago an article was posted on PorscheBoost showing a stock 997.2 Turbo S going 10.6@129.8 in the 1/4 mile. Absolutely incredible performance out of a stock car. In case anyone thought that run was a fluke here is a video showing another 997.2 Turbo S at the drag strip this one going 10.71@127.73. This just confirms the Turbo S on street tires is a car that is just short of mid 10 second performance making it a stoplight terror. It also shows the PDK is deadly consistent. Just look at the launch. No fuss, no drama, just insane acceleration. This car is a beast.

BMW is to be commended for creating a niche with the X6 and a successful one at that. Essentially, they took what Mercedes-Benz did with the CLS creating the four door coupe segment and applied to an SUV giving it a lower roofline for sleeker looks. Now everybody else is scrambling to catch up and it seems Audi intends to join the fray with a Q8 to compete. The Q8 of course will be based on the Q7 so just as the X5 and X6 share a platform so will the Q7 and Q8. This also means the Q8 will share the same weight loss as the next generation Q7 which is set to shed about 800 pounds. That means it will be lighter than the X6. If this car comes by 2017 though the X6 will likely be gearing up for a next generation model. Regardless, expect the Q8 as a 2017 model with 4.0 TFSI V8 power. Also expect a Q8 RS to take on the X6 M. Source

Congratulations to Audi for winning the second race of the 2013 DTM season which took place at Brand Hatch in the UK. Audi started the race in a strong position with four cars qualifying in the top five spots. Winning the race is nice but Audi is still in last place in the manufacturer standings with BMW remaining in first due to a strong performance taking second, third, fourth, and fifth place spots to pick up a good amount of points. Audi is getting very strong performance out of driver Mike Rockenfeller who is now the overall leader in the driver standings after his race victory for Audi. He also was sitting on the pole for this race. The other Audi drivers need to step it up though as Rockenfeller is carrying Audi at the moment. Race results and standings below. Brands-Hatch: Position Fahrer Runden Zeit Rückstand 1. Mike Rockenfeller Audi Sport Team Phoenix Audi RS 5 DTM 98 1:11:28.719 1:11:28.719 2. Bruno Spengler BMW Team Schnitzer BMW M3 DTM 98 1:11:36.360 07.641 3. Robert Wickens STIHL Mercedes AMG DTM Mercedes AMG C-Coupé 98 1:11:53.087 24.368 4. Marco Wittmann BMW Team MTEK BMW M3 DTM 98 1:11:53.683 24.964 5. Joey Hand BMW Team RBM BMW M3 DTM 98 1:11:54.795 26.076 6. Gary Paffett EURONICS Mercedes AMG DTM Mercedes AMG C-Coupé 98 1:11:55.790 27.071 7. Mattias Ekström Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline Audi RS 5 DTM 98 1:12:05.242 36.523 8. Christian Vietoris Mercedes AMG DTM-Team DTM Mercedes AMG C-Coupé 98 1:12:07.659 38.940 9. Timo Scheider Audi Sport Team Abt Audi RS 5 DTM 98 1:12:08.238 39.519 10. Pascal Wehrlein Mercedes AMG DTM Mercedes AMG C-Coupé 98 1:12:09.009 40.290 11. Miguel Molina Audi Sport Team Phoenix Audi RS 5 DTM 98 1:12:09.572 40.853 12. Dirk Werner BMW Team Schnitzer BMW M3 DTM 97 1:11:29.832 1 Runde 13. Martin Tomczyk BMW Team RMG BMW M3 DTM 97 1:11:34.364 1 Runde 14. Timo Glock BMW Team MTEK BMW M3 DTM 97 1:11:35.137 1 Runde 15. Jamie Green Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline Audi RS 5 DTM 97 1:11:35.862 1 Runde 16. Roberto Merhi THOMAS SABO Mercedes AMG DTM Mercedes AMG C-Coupé 97 1:11:53.270 1 Runde 17. Filipe Albuquerque Audi Sport Team Rosberg Audi RS 5 DTM 97 1:12:06.978 1 Runde 18. Adrien Tambay Audi Sport Team Abt Audi RS 5 DTM 97 1:12:15.211 1 Runde 19. Andy Priaulx BMW Team RMG BMW M3 DTM 96 1:11:36.646 2 Runden 20. Daniel Juncadella stern Mercedes AMG DTM Mercedes AMG C-Coupé 96 1:12:05.626 2 Runden 21. Edoardo Mortara Audi Sport Team Rosberg Audi RS 5 DTM 87 1:04:30.512 11 Runden Nicht gewertet Augusto Farfus BMW Team RBM BMW M3 DTM 65 47:42.966 33 Runden

The new 2014 Porsche 991 Turbo / Turbo S made its debut earlier this month with pictures and specifications released by Porsche. The coupe models will no doubt be followed by a convertible as they usually are. Expect the Porsche 991 Turbo to mirror the coupe which means the same 3.8 liter turbocharged flat-6 with 520 horsepower routed to all four wheels through a 7-speed PDK transmission. Same goes for the Turbo S Cabriolet model except horsepower will be 560. The car looks great with its top dropped. The convertible should gain a little weight but being a soft top that should not be a huge amount. Pricing will carry about an $11k premium meaning the Porsche 991 Turbo should start somewhere around $160,000. The Turbo S Cabriolet will be closing in on $200k with a price somewhere in the 190's. That is definitely getting expensive but it will be hard to deny that car is not worth it. Renderings below.