The G80 BMW M3 is among the most aggressive looking sedans the brand has ever built. Its giant grille and flared fenders make it anything but subtle. However, if you want to make it look even sportier, without going too far overboard (which is easy to do), this aero kit from 3D Design could be for you.

What does the aero kit consist of? There are only a handful of items but they all contribute to making the M3 look different from every other. There are front canards, which sort of slice through the front air intakes, a lower front lip spoiler, new side skirts, a rear lip spoiler, a new diffuser, a rear trunk spoiler, and some upgraded wheels. All of the body parts (aside from the wheels) are made from carbon fiber. Being 3D Design, you can also trust that they’re going to fit perfectly and be made of the highest quality.

The wheels seen in these photos are 20-inch, five-spoke wheels that look great on the M3. The M3’s stock wheels are hyper aggressive, which makes the car seem a bit too fussy, but the simpler wheels really tones it down in a good way. It’s also lowered, on coilover suspension, which also aids the look. While that suspension is also available through 3D Design, it’s not part of this specific kit.

If you want to make your BMW M3 look sportier and more aggressive than every other M3 in your local car club, this might be the way to go. It adds some really nice carbon fiber touches, that work incredibly well with the car’s existing design, without making it look too boy-racer, as if it were something out of a Need for Speed video game. Plus, being 3D Design, you know you’re getting the highest of quality. And those who know will know.

This isn’t as extensive of a design upgrade as some other brands’ aero kits but that’s sort of the point of it. This new 3D Design kit is suppose to subtly upgrade the M3’s design with quality parts to make it seem sportier.

“Simplify and add lightness”. The iconic words of Lotus-founder Colin Chapman live on throughout history, as a principle by which so many other brands live by. While Lotus of course still lives by that philosophy, Porsche might be the brand that employs it the most. There have countless Porsche models over the years that live by Chapman’s words, most recently the 911 Carrera T. And BMW should follow suit and do it, too.

What is the Porsche 911 Carrera T? Aside from being the six hundredth variant of the 992-generation 911, it’s Porsche’s attempt to literally simplify and add lightness. It starts off as a base 911 Carrera and uses the base car’s 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged flat-six, so it only makes 379 horsepower and 331 lb-ft of torque. It also brings back the option of a seven-speed manual (eight-speed PDK is also available). But what it really does is strip out the unnecessary.

The Carrera T gets thinner glass, less sound deadening material, no back seat, and even a lighter battery, compared to the standard car. Option it with bucket seat and it gets even lighter. However, what it gets as-standard are things like PASM (Porsche Active Suspension Management), the Sport Chrono package, and a mechanical limited-slip rear differential. So it has the handling goodies of faster Porsches but without the extra power.

Why make something like that? Because it’s still plenty fast enough and it offers customers a way to get the handling benefits of a car like the 911 GTS at a lower price point. It’s a simpler, more focused car that other 911s and the one you want if you only care about handling. Which got me thinking. BMW should do something similar with the M4.

BMW now has its own extreme version of the M4, with the M4 CSL. It can sort of use that car to borrow parts from, to make something that handles better than the standard M4 but without giving it anymore power. While I’d recommend using the M4 Competition, rather than the standard M4 (because the standard car’s engine tune and manual transmission aren’t as good), I would be happy with either.

What BMW could do is take either the standard M4, or M4 Competition, give it the same rear seat delete as the M4 CSL, suspension tech from the CSL, less sound deadening, carbon fiber bucket seats as-standard,  and the brakes from the CSL, just without the engine or the aero upgrades. It would be a CSL-light, so to speak. Now, you might say thats’ what the CS is for. However, we’re not quite sure what the M4 CS is going to be just yet and, whatever it is, it’s likely going to be very expensive. The Porsche 911 T is actually a better deal than speccing a standard 911 with all of the cool kit that it comes with. So this proposed BMW M4 model would have to be a good value as well.

Hopefully the BMW M4 CS (and eventual M3 CS) scratch that itch and give us something close to what the 911 T provides. However, it’d be nice if BMW were to make a variant of the M4—and M3 while its at it—that forgets about power and simply focuses on making it sharper and nicer to drive, that also isn’t limited and comes in at an attractive price. If Porsche can do it, so can BMW.

BMW M’s first ever superbike – the M 1000 RR – takes on the Ferrari SF90 in this new drag race. As you might have guessed, this is far from a fair duel. The two-wheel M 1000 RR has an impressive power-to-weight ratio – 0.91 kilograms per horsepower without the driver. It delivers 212 horsepower and 83 pound-feet (113 Newton-meters) of torque coming from a 999cc inline-four engine. The M 1000 RR weighs only 192 kilograms (423 lbs) with a full tank.

Two-Wheel vs. Four-Wheel Traction

On the other side of the drag strip, you have a plug-in hybrid from Maranello delivering 1,000 horsepower and 590 lb-ft (800 Newton meters) of torque to all four wheels. The weight is relatively low at 1,570 kilograms (3,461 lbs) which translate into a power-to-weight ratio of 1.57 kilograms per horsepower. The Ferrari SF90 runs from 0 to 100 km/h (0-62 mph) in 2.5 seconds.

There is also a significant price difference between the two super athletes. The Ferrari SF90 comes in at $507,000. BMW Motorrad is asking $36,995 plus $645 destination. ($32,495 + $4,500 50 Years ///M Package) for the anniversary M 1000 RR edition and estimates it will have it on sale in the United States by the end of the third quarter.

In this video, we can see the Ferrari SF90 running the quarter mile in just 9.6 seconds, just slightly faster than the M 1000 RR – 10 seconds. If there is no traction disadvantage due to a rolling start, the BMW M 1000 RR can show its qualities much better. You can see that performance at the 7:20 minute mark. Let’s take a look!

A short car with an extremely long name, the David Brown Automotive Mini Remastered Marshall Edition is celebrating its European debut. On display until December 12 in the CITADIUM complex on the famous Champs-Élysées in Paris, the modernized classic was developed to celebrate Marshall Amplification’s 60th anniversary. The plan is to make only 60 cars with a choice between left- and right-hand drive, with pricing available upon request. For each car sold, both companies will make donations to the UK charity Music Venue Trust.

All will be hand-made at David Brown Automotive’s facility in Silverstone, UK where the posh hatchback is fitted with a Marshall eight-speaker sound system and pull-out amp in the back. All cars come painted in Marshall Black combined with dark chrome brightwork on the outside where there are also contrasting Marshall Gold painted accents.

The music-themed Mini has flashy brake calipers in Marshall Gold combined with 12-inch wheels featuring M-branded center caps and gold accents. One of the most striking changes is at the front where David Brown Automotive installs a mesh grille with a design created to mirror Marshall’s audio equipment. Those swanky hand-made badges are also unique to the car and benefit from Marshall Gold enamel.

Stepping inside, there’s more of that gold for the revamped cabin as the striking color adorns the switchgear, center console, handbrake lever, door handles, and even the pedals where you’ll notice the skip track, pause, and play icons. As for the door cards, they’re covered in a special fabric serving as a visual nod to Marshall’s amplifiers. The seats are hand-trimmed in black leather with gold contrast stitching and “Marshall” logos embroidered on the backrests.

To earn its lengthy name, the classic Mini has a tailor-made Marshall sound system with dashtop-mounted tweeters, extra speakers in the doors, and custom hardware mounted on the rear parcel. Open the glovebox and you’ll find an inductive charging pad to juice up Marshall’s wireless headphones. The leather-lined cargo compartment hosts a slide-out amplifier (with a separate power supply) and a portable Bluetooth speaker.

All 60 cars planned for production will be powered by a 1.33-liter A-series engine hooked up to a five-speed manual gearbox.

Source: David Brown Automotive

The 37^th edition of the BMW Painting Award was held this week in Madrid and served as a great venue to showcase the automaker’s new flagship electric car – the i7. No fewer than five sedans made the trip to the Teatro Real in Madrid. Prior to the beginning of the show, the cars roamed the streets of the city and visited some of the most important tourist attractions.

Already on sale in Spain, the 2023 BMW i7 is sold exclusively as an xDrive60 model with prices starting from €137,900. The first deliveries to customers will be made before the end of the year. Mild-hybrid and plug-in hybrid versions are due in 2023 when the automaker’s Spanish division will also bring the i7 M70 with 660 horsepower on tap.

For the time being, the i7 is offered with a dual-motor setup rated at 544 hp and 745 Nm (550 lb-ft) of torque, enough for a 0 to 62 mph (100 km/h) sprint in 4.7 seconds and a top speed of 149 mph (240 km/h). It can travel for up to 388 miles (625 kilometers) on a single charge according to the WLTP cycle and needs 10 minutes of charging at 195 kW to provide 106 miles (170 km) of range.

Earlier this week, BMW Spain delivered 169 electrified vehicles to the police authorities in Madrid. A third of them consisted of the 2 Series Active Tourer 225xe and the i3 while the other had mild-hybrid engines: 2 Series Active Tourer 220i, 5 Series Sedan 530i, and X5 xDrive30d.

As a refresher, Real Madrid players also got their shiny new cars this month, consisting of the i4 M50 and the iX xDrive40 / xDrive50. In December, the team’s Florentino Pérez will take delivery of an i7 that will serve as Real Madrid’s official car. In the near future, the iX1 and iX3 crossovers will be added to the fleet.

Source: BMW Spain

Whenever an automaker trademarks an exciting name, there’s always the temptation of assuming it’ll be put to good use on an actual production vehicle. However, in many cases, automakers take legal measures to secure a certain moniker for the sole purpose of not losing it to a rival brand. There’s also the risk a certain individual or another company decides to buy the rights to a nameplate just so they can sell it for a profit at a later date.

That brings us to a recent entry into the German Patent and Trade Mark Office (DPMA). As discovered by CarBuzz, BMW applied for the “iX M” trademark on November 18 and it was entered into the registry on November 24. The luxury brand will have ownership of the name from December 20, 2022, until March 30, 2023. During this interval, no other entity will be able to claim it in the country.

Consequently, a trademark filing is not necessarily a promise the name registered will become a badge on a road-going car. We believe that’s the case here with iX M since a purely electric M is still years away. We have it on good authority it won’t happen before the arrival of the Neue Klasse platform. As a refresher, NE will debut in 2025 with a 3 Series EV and a next-generation iX3.

In an interview with BMWBLOG back in September, Frank Weber, Head of Engineering and R&D, did speak about a quad-motor setup with over 1,300 horsepower. However, he refrained from talking about when we’ll see a full-fat M electric car. It is believed an M3-like EV will lead the way for high-performance applications of the Neue Klasse, but nothing is official.

In the meantime, the CLAR-based iX will continue to max out with an M Performance version.  The M60 is nothing to sneeze at given its 619-horsepower output and an astonishing maximum torque of 1,100 Nm (809 lb-ft). It sits alongside the i4 M50, with an i7 M70 slated to arrive next year packing 660 hp.

Source: German Patent and Trade Mark Office (DPMA) via CarBuzz

Of all the new BMW models released in 2022, and there have been more than a few, the X1 has probably been the least controversial. Larger and more sophisticated than its predecessor, the U11-generation compact crossover adopts an evolutionary design that (thankfully) doesn’t take any risks. The interior has been completely revamped and we’d argue the absence of an iDrive controller is one of the few downsides.

With the introduction of the first-ever iX1, BMW now has an indirect successor for the i3 since the fully electric X1 has taken the role of being the automaker’s most affordable EV. However, it’s not coming to North America where the i4 eDrive35 will soldier on as the entry point into the zero-emission lineup. Europeans are getting the whole shebang: gasoline, diesel, plug-in hybrid, and electric.

Austria is the latest market to receive the completely revamped X1, and to celebrate the local launch, BMW organized a photo shoot at the Sölden glacier. The crossover climbed over 2,800 meters (nearly 9,200 feet) above sea level to pose for the camera. As the saying goes, variety is the spice of life, and we can see different configurations of the X1 painted in Utah Orange, Pythonic Blue, and the Individual Frozen Pure Grey.

Some of the crossovers had the M Sport Package while others didn’t. Although diesel engines are gradually falling out of favor on the Old Continent, that didn’t stop BMW from bringing an xDrive23d to sit alongside the purely electric iX1 xDrive30. The latter is currently the only version of the EV available for now, but a cheaper front-wheel-drive eDrive20 is rumored to arrive by late 2023.

Another X1 flavor missing from the lineup because it hasn’t been officially revealed yet is the M35i, the first M Performance version of BMW’s smallest crossover. It’s also due next year and is expected to receive an updated B48 engine with well over 300 horsepower, an automatic transmission, and xDrive.

In the meantime, BMW wishes to point out the X1 represents its most popular model in Austria where about 80 percent of all engines are built at the Steyr factory. In addition, some of the electrical components are being engineered in the country.

Source: BMW Austria

BMW finally did what its fans have been asking it to do for ages with the new 3.0 CSL: build a production version of a concept car. BMW has quite a few excellent looking modern concept cars and, with the debut of each one, fans have begged BMW to make production versions. Now that it finally did it, BMW should do more. But which one should it do next?

There are quite a few good ones to choose from. There’s the stunning BMW 328 Hommage concept, a gorgeous retro-futuristic two-seat roadster. There’s also the BMW M2 2002 Hommage Concept, which is a throwback to the car that turned BMW into the Ultimate Driving Machine that it is today. However, the concept car I think BMW should build most is the BMW M1 Hommage concept.

When BMW M announced it’d be making a standalone M car, something not built on a pre-existing BMW product, the M1 was one of the first things to come to enthusiasts’ minds. They prayed that BMW would build the M1 Hommage concept and turn it into a real car. Not only would it be a special, standalone M car and a concept car come to life but it would also be the supercar that BMW fans have been begging for. It’d be a combination of the three things BMW fans have been asking for. Plus, it would just be awesome.

A few months back, the godfather of the original BMW M1, Jochen Neerpasch, said that his original plan was for BMW M to continuously develop the M1, generation after generation, and sort of make it BMW’s answer to the Porsche 911. Hearing that and knowing BMW never did it is almost painful. Recreating the M1 Hommage could be BMW’s chance to finally make that happen.

BMW could also make it fully electric. Just imagine it now: a fully-electric BMW M1 with styling like the Hommage concept? It would be the coolest car BMW could ever make. And imagine it was priced similar to, say, the Porsche 911 GT3, Audi R8, and Aston Martin Vantage. That would be an astonishingly cool car and one that would cement BMW as at least one of the coolest EV makers in the world. It would also act as a flagship EV, to get customers excited about entry-level EVs. In a way, it’d be the electric Audi R8. That car made the world look at Audi differently and it drove customers into Audi dealerships, so they could buy A4s and Q5s, just to have a car from the same brand that made Tony Stark’s car.

Will BMW ever do it? No, absolutely not. And if it did, it would be some limited, ultra-exclusive model that only the world’s richest billionaires could afford, just like the new 3.0 CSL, instead of something that normal BMW customers could aspire to. However, one can dream, right?

For years, every time BMW debuted a great looking concept car, fans would beg the brand to build it. However, that would almost never happened. It admittedly happened with the BMW Vision EfficientDynamics Concept, which turned into the BMW i8, but that was the exception to the rule. Now, there’s another exception—the BMW 3.0 CSL.

The newly revealed BMW 3.0 CSL is essentially just the production version of the 3.0 CSL Hommage concept from a few years back. The latter was beloved when it was first revealed, proving that BMW had the design chops to make a stunning, retro-futuristic looking sports car. And now it’s finally been brought to life.

If you look at the cars back-to-back, they’re almost identical. So many design details from the concept made it to the production car. Is the production version exactly as good looking as the concept? No but it never could be, as the concept needs not adhere to crash or pedestrian safety regulations. But it’s damn close. Even the blade-like edges of the fender flares are carryover.

The concept car is lower, sleeker, and leaner, but that’s because it doesn’t actually have to fit humans inside or protect them in case of a crash. But there are some details from the concept that look better, which could have made it over. The taillights on the concept are much cooler and the Hofmeister Kink is better as well. However, for the most part, BMW did a fantastic job of recreating the concept. It even has the same livery and bronze wheels. It’s lovely.

What’s remarkable is how BMW was able to create this car from the BMW M4, which, let’s face it, isn’t the prettiest of cars. That’s what happens when you hand-make small batches of carbon fiber body panels. Remember, there are only going to be 50 of these 3.0 CSLs made, and they’re likely going to be shockingly expensive, so BMW can afford to completely transform the M4’s body into this. And because almost every body panel is carbon fiber, it’s lighter than every version of the M4, even the M4 CSL.

It will also come with the most powerful six-cylinder engine ever fitted to a BMW, with 556 horsepower, and a six-speed manual transmission. So it will almost certainly be more fun than every M4 variant, including the M4 CSL. Unfortunately, basically zero BMW enthusiasts will ever even see one, never mind drive one. All 50 will be snatched up by rich collectors who will stash them away in hermetically-sealed vaults, never to be seen by the light of day.

BMW has announced plans to increase its investment at the Debrecen car plant to more than €2 billion to include a battery assembly facility as well. Over 500 extra jobs will be created by the end of 2025 when the site in Hungary will become operational. The assembly of high-voltage batteries will take place on the site of the vehicle plant to make it easier in terms of logistics by cutting distances as much as possible.

Rather than making the prismatic cells used for current electric vehicles, the upcoming Debrecen facility will assemble the new round cells tailored to Neue Klasse models. As previously announced, these will increase the charging speed by 30% as well as the vehicle’s range by the same percentage. NE-based cars will have support for 800V tech, enabling an owner to restore the battery from 10% to 80% about 30% quicker compared to existing EVs.

Round cells will have an energy density increased by more than 20% compared to the fifth-generation prismatic cells in use today. BMW estimates costs related to battery production will go down by as much as 50% while CO2 emissions generated during the manufacturing process will be reduced by up to 60%. These next-gen battery cells will have a standard diameter of 46 millimeters and two different heights – one for cars and the other for SUVs.

BMW has previously said the Neue Klasse platform will debut with a sedan and an SUV in the midsize segment, likely meaning a global i3 (the current model is China-only) and a next-generation iX3. NE cars will begin to roll off the assembly line in Munich in 2026, a year after Debrecen. Following a separate $1.7-billion investment, the company’s Spartanburg plant in South Carolina will be making at least six electric SUVs – along with their battery packs – by 2030.

We will get our first taste of the hugely promising Neue Klasse architecture as early as January 2023 at CES in Las Vegas where BMW is going to introduce a new Vision-badged concept car.

Source: BMW

This week may be all about the 3.0 CSL, but here’s another interesting M4-based car. BMW Italy collaborated with Alcantara to dress up a Competiton-spec coupe painted in Sao Paulo Yellow. Unveiled at the House of BMW in Milan, the one-off car was built to celebrate the 50^th anniversary of M and has a fully customized interior covered in (yes, you’ve guessed it) Alcantara.

Made from 68% polyester and 32% polyurethane, the material has been applied just about everywhere you look. The seats, headliner, and pillars have all been wrapped in Alcantara, much like the black door panels with a body-colored upper panel and the typical M stitching for a contrasting effect. Since we mentioned the 2023 3.0 CSL earlier, the caned effect central seat and the weave on the door panel are inspired by the original Coupe Sport Lightweight from 1972.

The door card has a lovely laser-engraved reproduction of the Milan skyline, where both BMW Italy and Alcantara have their headquarters. You’ll also notice the embroidered classic Motorsport logo on the headrests. The optional carbon bucket seats with their illuminated “M4” badge are further adorned by the “50 Jahre BMW M” lettering. Even the steering wheel column appears to have been covered with the fancy material.

BMW doesn’t say anything about putting the car up for sale since the M4 Competition will likely remain a one-off project with the Italian company to mark an important milestone for the M division. Alcantara is typically used in high-end sports cars from virtually all brands. The new 3.0 CSL has black seat surfaces with this material, which is also found on the steering wheel and some of the other surfaces inside the two-seat cabin.

Speaking of new M products, Alcantara is also used inside the recently introduced M2 G87 on the standard seats where the material is combined with Sensatec (artificial leather).

Source: BMW

Taking the plunge to buy a brand-new car or keeping your old one for a bit longer – that’s a conundrum many people have to face every now and then. Rather surprisingly, a BMW official suggests you opt for the latter. Leading the company’s Sustainability and Urban Mobility teams, Monika Dernai believes it’s the right approach to make the world a better place by using fewer precious resources:

“We really need to think about prolonging the life of cars; not having a used car market where you sell cars to each other, but maybe take a car and extend its lifespan.”

Speaking at a panel discussion about developing a circular economy, she went on to suggest a method to spruce up our old cars and make them feel fresh again instead of buying new:

“The idea could be that you could freshen up the interior. We need new skill sets in the aftermarket and to design cars so that the seat can be removed and a fresh seat can be moved in – then it’s a used car that looks like a new car. It can have the same owner, who then doesn’t buy a new car, but we still have a business model as BMW, and the whole of society benefits from that.”

Keeping your current car is the more financially responsible decision, but only up to a certain point considering maintenance costs tend to increase as the cars age. Of course, we’re talking about regular people rather than enthusiasts who are more willing to keep their old vehicles for much longer.

While Monika Dernai’s statement might seem counterproductive since it’s coming from an employee of a company that makes money by selling cars, BMW itself has accelerated its sustainability efforts. On average, a BMW Group car is made by using almost 30 percent recycled and reused materials. The next goal is to increase the percentage to 50, and ideally, reach 100 percent as demonstrated with the fully recyclable i Vision Circular concept. By 2050, the German luxury brand aims to reach climate neutrality.

Efforts are being made to build cars less harmful to the environment. For example, certain BMW and MINI models with completely vegan interiors will be out in 2023. These will cut CO2 emissions generated for those interior components by roughly 85 percent compared to a vehicle equipped with a leather cabin.

Neue Klasse models arriving in 2025 will use trim parts made from plastic featuring a raw material obtained from 30 percent recycled fishing nets and ropes. These next-gen EVs will use round battery cells that are expected to reduce the carbon footprint of battery cell production by up to 60 percent.

Source: Auto Express

I’ve got a few beefs with the BMW M8. It’s too expensive, its interior isn’t anywhere near special enough for the money, and it lacks much driver excitement. However, there are a few things it does really well. It’s great looking, it’s shockingly comfortable, and it’s brutally fast. And that’s bone stock. What happens when you bump the power up from 617 horsepower to 800 horsepower? Check out this new video to find out.

In this new video from AutoTopNL, you get to see a POV drive of an 800 horsepower BMW M8 and see its official performance metrics. All while on the Autobahn, trying to reach its max speed.

Last I drove a BMW M8, full-throttle acceleration felt as close to teleportation as you’ll get in an internal combustion car. It was violently fast and still is, even with its standard power. Bump things up to 800 horsepower and the ballgame changes. But how much does it change the car. Is it too much to handle, does it put its power down, and is it as fast as it sounds? Watch the video find out but it certainly passes the eye test. Cars and trucks pass the side windows of this tuned M8 like quick blurs.

While on the Autobahn, they were able to record an indicated 298 km/h (185 mph), so it’s seriously quick but I have no doubt that a 200 mph run is in it somewhere.

Aside from the power and performance, there are a number of visual upgrades as well, including that wild steering whee. The shift lights and small screen might be cool for a bit but they’ll quickly get old. How do I know that? I’ve tested a few Bimmers with similar steering wheels and that can become annoying after awhile.

If you’re looking for a straight-line cruiser, a leather-lined intercontinental ballistic missile, it’s hard to pass up on the BMW M8.

The BMW 3.0 CSL Batmobile gets to live another day. Earlier today, BMW M has finally unveiled their last anniversary gift – the 2023 BMW 3.0 CSL. The special M car is hardly a surprise. We began reporting on the special model nearly a year ago, but now it’s finally time to see it in real life. Therefore, earlier today, we went to the BMW Welt in Munich to capture the highly limited 3.0 CSL. The 50 units run will begin in early 2023 with a rumored price of 750,000 euros. Clearly, the price tag has been one of the most debated topics around the car, but as it goes with highly limited and exclusive products, there is no “right” price.

50 Units, Not Homologated For The U.S. Market

Most of the BMW 3.0 CSL units are destined for Europe, followed by Asian markets. Unfortunately, the new BMW 3.0 CSL is not homologated for the U.S. market, yet, car collectors could still get their hands on one under the “Show and Display” rule. So we’re betting one at least one unit making it on this side of the ocean.

As we hinted before, the new CSL is based on the previous 30 CSL Hommage. And that’s being reflected also with the front grille approach. Compared to the current M3/M4 models, the new BMW 3.0 CSL gets a toned down kidney grille, yet still larger than on previous BMWs. The yellow laser lights and wire-like taillights are imported from the BMW M4 CSL, while the rest of the body is handmade in Dingolfing.

Total Weight: 1,624 kg (3,580 lbs)

Carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) components can be found throughout the entire body bringing down the weight to 1,624 kg (3,580 lbs). Of course, the CSL rear wing is back as well, same as the roof-mounted spoiler. The Hofmeister Kink has gone through a redesign though, as it’s the case with newer BMW models. A total of 22 individual parts are painted in a process specially designed for the BMW 3.0 CS. All 3.0 CSLs will be painted in Alpine White with the BMW M stripe livery, to honor the original 3.0 CSL’s racing livery.  The special paint process adds an extra 6,700 manual work hours.

There is only one wheel option: 20 inches at the front and 21 at the back, wrapped around Michelin tires. At 930 Nm, the torque applied during the assembly of the centre locks is the highest value for a BMW production series car. The chassis has also been tuned with the Adaptive M Suspension. The standard M carbon ceramic brakes measure 400×38 mm on the front axle with single-piston fixed-caliper brakes and 380×28 mm at the rear and features red-painted brake calipers.

Inside, the M carbon bucket seats are standard and they feature a unique design compared to the BMW M4 CSL, for example. A 3.0 CSL emblem is engraved into aluminum plates of the headrest inserts. The gearshift knob is made exclusively for the BMW 3.0 CSL.

Of course, the heart comes from the regular BMW M3 and M4 family. The S58 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged inline-six makes 560 horsepower. The engine develops a maximum torque of 550 Nm at 7,200 rpm. With its 560 horsepower and relatively low (by modern standards) curb weight, it has a kilogram-to-horsepower ratio of just 2.9, versus the 6.2 of the original car.

To see the details on this new 2023 BMW 3.0 CSL, click the photo gallery below:

[Photos by instagram.com/chrism2f87]

Live from the BMW Welt, we bring you the first real life video of the 2023 BMW 3.0 CSL. The highly limited, bespoke model was unveiled earlier today before it lands in customers’ hands in 2023. With a rumored price of 750,000 euros, the 2023 BMW 3.0 CSL will be sold to 50 customers from around the world, excluding the U.S. market. While it’s likely that some units might end in the U.S., the chances of seeing them on the road are slim to none since the car is not homologated for this market.

Plenty of Carbon Fiber Parts

This new BMW 3.0 CSL revival is a mostly handmade, extremely limited, driver’s car version of a BMW M4. The body of the 3.0 CSL is almost entirely made from carbon fiber. Almost every single body panel is made from CFRP (Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastic) and goes through a meticulous painting process by hand, which takes around six days. The paint process has eight steps, including sanding and different coats, and a specialized assembly line was built just for the construction and finishing of the CSL’s carbon body panels. The aero bits, such as the rear wing, are made from fiberglass.The total curb weight is 1,624 kg (3,580 lbs), slightly lower than the BMW M4 CSL.

6-Speed Manual and RWD

All 3.0 CSLs will be painted in Alpine White with the BMW M stripe livery, to honor the original 3.0 CSL’s racing livery. Inside, the BMW 3.0 CSL gets the same hardcore racing bucket seats that are available on the M4 CSL, carbon fiber door panels and more carbon fiber trim. There is even a very unique shifter for the six-speed manual transmission.

Under the hood of the BMW 3.0 CSL is a slightly tuned version of the M4 CSL’s 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged inline-six. For 3.0 CSL-duty, it makes 560 horsepower, which isn’t up too much from the M4 CSL but is enough to make it the most powerful six-cylinder BMW in history. The engine develops a maximum torque of 550 Nm at 7,200 rpm. With its 560 horsepower and relatively low (by modern standards) curb weight, it has a kilogram-to-horsepower ratio of just 2.9, versus the 6.2 of the original car.

Without any further ado, let’s take a close look at the 2023 BMW 3.0 CSL and please don’t forget to subscribe to our channel!

This isn’t one of those videos where a neglected car that had been collecting dust and grime for years on end is rescued by an enthusiast. Instead, the BMW M3 E90 painted in Melbourne Red Metallic looked great even before professional detailers applied their knowledge and skills to freshen up the sports sedan.

We not only get to see the experts at work but also learn quite a lot about what it takes to perform a wheels-off detailing job. Pan The Organizer along with Matt Moreman from Obsessed Garage invested no fewer than 10 hours in this project at the latter’s garage in Helen, Georgia. The car belongs to Esteban, the lucky subscriber of Obsessed Garage’s channel who had his prized possession meticulously detailed by the pros.

The 43-minute timelapse video takes us through the whole process, which included washing and applying a protective coat on the wheels. The engine bay where the naturally aspirated 4.0-liter V8 “S65” calls home was cleaned as well, while the body was decontaminated and polished before applying a ceramic coating.

This highly educational video should prove to be quite helpful to those who are determined to keep their cars in pristine condition. Needless to say, you’ll be needing quite a lot of special tools to get the job done, but these are well worth the investment as the M3 E90 looked great in the end. You’ve probably noticed the car has gone through some modifications. For example, the OEM wheels have made way for a white custom set from Volk Racing.

In addition, the front end hosts a prominent spoiler lip while the rear boasts a large trunk lid spoiler and a subtle roof edge spoiler. The M3 appears to be sitting closer to the road than the original, which suggests the suspension has been modified as well.

Source: Pan The Organizer / YouTube

Regardless of how much power a performance vehicle offers in stock form, some people will always crave more. Even the M5 CS – which was BMW’s most potent production car at launch – has been upgraded by a tuner to extract quite a few more ponies for those with an insatiable thirst for power. German aftermarket specialist Manhart has worked on the limited-run super sedan to unleash 788 hp from its overhauled twin-turbo V8.

It’s a massive improvement of 153 hp over the standard M5 CS, but we’re more impressed by the jump in torque of 185 Nm (136 lb-ft) to a mountain-moving 935 Nm (690 lb-ft). Manhart hasn’t made any changes to the transmission, which tells us the ZF eight-speed automatic can handle the extra load without any problems. It also retains the original carbon-ceramic brakes, although an upgrade is available upon request.

Another important modification is the stainless steel exhaust system with valve control and quad carbon tips measuring 100 mm in diameter. You can alternatively have the exhaust finishers with a ceramic coating. Where legal, the M5 CS upgraded by Manhart can get a straight-piped setup without a catalytic converter for a far more aggressive soundtrack.

The MH5 GTR package tailored to the high-performance saloon is further modified with a KW coilover suspension and custom 21-inch wheels wrapped in 265/30 ZR21 front and 305/25 ZR21 rear Michelin tires. The alloys come painted in silver grey with a matte finish as seen here, but Manhart will apply a different color should the customer demand it. White body decals and new floor mats round off the tweaks.

The tuner is not saying anything about performance, but we’ll remind you a standard M5 CS does 0 to 62 mph (100 km/h) in three seconds and 0 to 124 mph (200 km/h) in 10.3 seconds. Flat out, it can reach an electronically governed 189 mph (305 km/h).

Manhart is addressing a limited crowd as the M5 CS had a production run of only 12 months. Recent projects announced by the same tuner include the M2 G87 and M3 Touring, with both packages to be released in 2023.

Source: Manhart

Many enthusiasts raised their eyebrows when BMW unveiled the XM plug-in hybrid SUV. They’ll have a hard time criticizing the new 3.0 CSL because it’s a purist’s wet dream. With M’s most potent inline-six engine ever routing power to the rear wheels via a manual gearbox, it’s hard not to fall instantly in love with the resurrected Batmobile.

BMW M CEO Franciscus van Meel takes us on a tour of the new 3.0 CSL, the pinnacle of the M division’s year-long celebrations marking 50 years of the “world’s most powerful letter.” It may not look as spectacular as the 2015 Hommage concept, but the connection is pretty obvious. We believe the fresh take on the kidney grille won’t spark the controversy the M4 did when the G82-generation model debuted in 2020. Multiple retro touches like the front fins, round air intakes, and the big wing at the back pay tribute to the 1972 model.

Beefier fenders and centerlock gold wheels set it apart from any other M4 out there. The bridge to the past is further strengthened by the Alpine White paint with the famous three M colors and a massive “50” logo on the sides. Other references to the iconic E9-era 3.0 CSL include the classic Motorsport roundels and the roof edge spoiler, along with the model’s designation on the tailgate and “M Power” lettering on the wing.

Not included in the original announcement but mentioned in the video by the M boss is the top speed of over 186 mph (300 km/h). As a refresher, the M4 CSL upon which the new 3.0 CSL is largely based is electronically capped at 191 mph (30 km/h). But while the M4-badged car is sold with an automatic transmission, the car featured here comes only with a six-speed manual featuring a white gear knob.

A birthday gift to the M division and 50 fortunate customers, the 3.0 CSL is believed to cost €750,000.

Source: BMW M / YouTube

BMW M needed something big for its 50th anniversary. It couldn’t just trot out some 50 Jahre editions and head to lunch. No, it needed something jaw-dropping, something to blow the minds of enthusiasts. And what better way to do that than to bring back a beloved icon from the past. And here it is—the BMW 3.0 CSL.

This new BMW 3.0 CSL shares nothing but its name with the 1970s classic. The original 3.0 CSL was a race car, born in German Touring car racing, and was highly successful. When it debuted as a road car, it shared a ton with the actual race car but it was also civilized, comfortable, and achingly pretty. This new car, though, isn’t that. The 2023 BMW 3.0 CSL revival isn’t based off of a race car like the original was.

Handmade 50 Units

Instead, this new BMW 3.0 CSL revival is a mostly handmade, extremely limited, driver’s car version of a BMW M4. Only 50 of these new CSLs will ever be made, all of them taking about three months total to make. And while it’s built on the BMW M4, it’s a very different car once it hits the road.

The body of the 3.0 CSL is almost entirely made from carbon fiber. Almost every single body panel is made from CFRP (Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastic) and goes through a meticulous painting process by hand, which takes around six days. The paint process has eight steps, including sanding and different coats, and a specialized assembly line was built just for the construction and finishing of the CSL’s carbon body panels. The aero bits, such as the rear wing, are made from fiberglass.

What’s the benefit of that weight savings? A total curb weight of 1,624 kg (3,580 lbs). Which, shockingly, isn’t too much lighter than an M4 CSL, despite having an entirely carbon fiber body.

One Color – Alpine White

All 3.0 CSLs will be painted in Alpine White with the BMW M stripe livery, to honor the original 3.0 CSL’s racing livery. The big fixed rear wing is also a tribute to the original car.

Speaking of tributes, it’s clear that the BMW 3.0 CSL’s design was heavily inspired by the 3.0 CSL Hommage concept car from a few years back. Its lovely looking kidney grille sits a bit upright, again to honor the original, its hips are wide, and it sits quite low. It’s the best looking thing BMW M has made in a long time and it’s not even close.

Inside, the BMW 3.0 CSL gets the same hardcore racing bucket seats that are available on the M4 CSL, carbon fiber door panels, more carbon fiber trim, and almost no sound deadening to speak of. So it’s going to be loud inside. The back seats were also replaced with a spot to store helmets, just like the M4 CSL.

560 HP, RWD and 6-Speed Manual

Under the hood of the BMW 3.0 CSL is a slightly tuned version of the M4 CSL’s 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged inline-six. For 3.0 CSL-duty, it makes 560 horsepower, which isn’t up too much from the M4 CSL but is enough to make it the most powerful six-cylinder BMW in history. With its 560 horsepower and relatively low (by modern standards) curb weight, it has a kilogram-to-horsepower ratio of just 2.9, versus the 6.2 of the original car. BMW didn’t release power figures just yet but it’s likely going to be quick.

However, don’t expect it to be a drag race-monster, dominating cars off the line. Rather than a rapid-shifting dual-clutch gearbox or even the M4 CSL’s eight-speed automatic, the BMW 3.0 CSL has a six-speed manual transmission. It’s slower than a good automatic but it’s more engaging. The manual’s gear knob, interestingly, is white with the manufacturer number on it.

It also gets re-tuned M Adaptive dampers, revised steering, and tweaked chassis mounts for better feel and feedback through the controls.

With only 50 models ever being made, it’s unlikely you or I will ever see one in person. However, it’s cool to know it exists and that BMW was willing to build it. On paper, its specs aren’t anything to shout about—it’s only a bit lighter than an M4 Coupe and only a bit more powerful than the CSL—but its carbon fiber body and six-speed manual make it special.

Can it live up to the ancestral name? We’ll just have to wait and see.

It still isn’t entirely clear what sort of powertrain will power the next-generation M3 but it’s assumed that it will be purely electric. After BMW teased an i4 quad-motor prototype, it’s starting to look like the current G80 M3 will be the last generation of M3 with an internal combustion engine. Which seems like the right thing for BMW, considering the toughest competitor the M3 has ever faced is doing the same thing. According to Australia’s Car Expert, the next-generation Alfa Romeo Giulia will be entirely electric.

Car Expert spoke with Alfa Romeo’s head of product, Daniel Guzzafame, who said that the next-generation Giulia will “most probably” be fully electric. He spoke about Alfa’s need for a performance vehicle that complies with the strict emissions regulations in many European cities and Alfa won’t be able to do that with a gas engine. And since a hybrid would only be a half-measure and Alfa would have to change to an electric version at some point anyway, why not just go straight to the EV.

If Alfa makes an electric Giulia, that means an electric Giulia Quadrifoglio is coming too. Which gives the BMW M3 a definitive competitor for its upcoming electric M3. And at the moment, those are the only two brands that have semi-public plans for electric performance cars. Audi hasn’t quite revealed what its next RS4 will be and who knows how long Mercedes’ new hybrid C63 AMG will last. So, at the moment, it’s only BMW and Alfa.

Along with the Giulia, Alfa will also release a fully electric Stelvio SUV, which will take on the next-generation of BMW iX3. Along with the electric Stelvio will also be a Quadrifoglio model, which will take on the rumored electric BMW X3 M.

When it comes to driver’s sport sedans, the BMW M3 and Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio are above and beyond the rest of the segment, by quite a bit margin. The Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing is really good too but its engine is a bit of a letdown. And now it seems that BMW and Alfa will continue to be the leaders of the segment, by making electric performance sedans before everyone else. While the Alfa stands to lose out on switching to electrification more than BMW—its engine is far more emotional and charismatic than BMW’s and BMW has far more experience with EV powertrains—both should be very exciting cars.

[Source: Car Expert]