Report: Wiesmann MF5 exiting production as BMW V10 supply dries up
 

<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/convertibles/" rel="tag">Convertible</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/sports/" rel="tag">Performance</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/plants-manufacturing/" rel="tag">Plants/Manufacturing</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/bmw/" rel="tag">BMW</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/special-limited-editions/" rel="tag">Specialty</a></p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/frankfurt-2009-wiesmann-mf5-roadster-1/#2289310"><img hspace="0" border="0" vspace="4" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/08/mf5.jpg" /></a>
<div style="text-align: center;"><em><strong><sma ll>Wiesmann MF5 Roadster - Click above for high-res image gallery</small></strong></em></div>
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It's not easy to build a car without an engine. Shocking news, we know, but it has major ramifications for small boutique automakers that don't have the resources to design and manufacture powerplants of their own. One such company is <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/tag/weismann">Wiesmann</a>, which has historically relied on engines from German automaker <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/make/bmw/">BMW</a>.<br />
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As you may know, Wiesmann's top-level <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/tag/mf5">MF5</a> borrows the same V10 engine that BMW uses in its <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/model/m5">M5</a> and <a href="http://autoblog.com/tag/m6">M6</a>. As good a choice as any other, no? Problem is, those models are currently being phased out and <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/07/07/bmw-m5-production-comes-to-an-end/">production has just come to an end</a>... and that includes those V10 engines we were just talking about.<br />
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And without an engine... well, you know the rest. It's not entirely clear what Wiesmann is going to do moving forward - and our trusty Google Translator is having a hard time deciphering exactly what our <a href="http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=de&u=w ww.focus.de/auto/news/bmw-liefert-keine-v10-motoren-aus-fuer-wiesmann-top-modell_aid_541483.html&ei =aDNpTMi_BM2nnAeM-rHBBQ&sa=X&oi=translate&c t=result&resnum=1&ved=0CB QQ7gEwAA&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dwww.foc">Ger man source</a> is trying to say - but it seems the specialty car company may either cancel its MF5 entirely or attempt to switch over to BMW's new twin-turbo V8. We'll see.<br />
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<div class="postgallery"><p><s trong>Gallery: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/frankfurt-2009-wiesmann-mf5-roadster-1">Frankfurt 2009: Wiesmann MF5 Roadster</a></strong></p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/frankfurt-2009-wiesmann-mf5-roadster-1/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/09/wiesmann-mf5-live__thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/frankfurt-2009-wiesmann-mf5-roadster-1/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/09/wiesmann-mf5-live_-(2)_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/frankfurt-2009-wiesmann-mf5-roadster-1/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/09/wiesmann-mf5-live_-(1)_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/frankfurt-2009-wiesmann-mf5-roadster-1/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/09/wiesmann-mf5-live_-(10)_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/frankfurt-2009-wiesmann-mf5-roadster-1/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/09/wiesmann-mf5-live_-(9)_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a></div><br />
[Source: <a href="http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=de&u=w ww.focus.de/auto/news/bmw-liefert-keine-v10-motoren-aus-fuer-wiesmann-top-modell_aid_541483.html&ei =aDNpTMi_BM2nnAeM-rHBBQ&sa=X&oi=translate&c t=result&resnum=1&ved=0CB QQ7gEwAA&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dwww.foc">Foc us.de</a>]<p style="padding:5px;backgr ound:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/08/17/report-wiesmann-mf5-exiting-production-as-bmw-v10-supply-dries/">Report: Wiesmann MF5 exiting production as BMW V10 supply dries up</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblo g</a> on Tue, 17 Aug 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=de&u=w ww.focus.de/auto/news/bmw-liefert-keine-v10-motoren-aus-fuer-wiesmann-top-modell_aid_541483.html&ei =aDNpTMi_BM2nnAeM-rHBBQ&sa=X&oi=translate&c t=result&resnum=1&ved=0CB QQ7gEwAA&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dwww.foc>Read </a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/08/17/report-wiesmann-mf5-exiting-production-as-bmw-v10-supply-dries/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/19595468/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/08/17/report-wiesmann-mf5-exiting-production-as-bmw-v10-supply-dries/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>

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Video: MT pits Mustang GT 5.0 against BMW M3
 

<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/coupes/" rel="tag">Coupe</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/sports/" rel="tag">Performance</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/videos/" rel="tag">Videos</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/bmw/" rel="tag">BMW</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/ford/" rel="tag">Ford</a></p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/08/24/video-mt-pits-mustang-gt-5-0-against-bmw-m3/#continued"><img hspace="0" border="1" vspace="4" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/08/mt-duel.jpg" /></a>
<div style="text-align: center;"><em><strong><sma ll>2011 Ford Mustang vs 2010 BMW M3 - Click above to watch video after the jump</small></strong></em></div>
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Ask and ye shall receive. Well, not always. We could probably ask to borrow a <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/model/m3">2010 BMW M3</a>, a <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/model/mustang">2011 Ford Mustang GT</a> and private access to both a drag strip and a road course until our faces turned blue, but that doesn't mean we'd get any of the four anytime soon. Fortunately, that's not the case with the goons at <em>Motor Trend</em>. They've set about <a href="http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/coupes/1010_2011_2011_ford_musta ng_gt_vs_2011_bmw_m3_comp arison/index.html">answering the question</a> on everyone's mind once <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/04/16/2011-ford-mustang-gt-vs-2010-bmw-m3-tie-game/">the specs</a> for these two mighty coupes turned out to be so similar - who's top dog? <br />
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In classic MT fashion, the two cars were put through all of the necessary paces to drum up semi-official figures. Both the bad Bavarian and the muscle-bound Blue Oval were tested on 0-60, quarter mile, skid pad, figure eight and lap times, and the results are, well, they're surprising. We won't ruin the surprise by telling you who comes out ahead of the curve, but we will say that we know where we'd put our money if it were our name on the line. <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/08/24/video-mt-pits-mustang-gt-5-0-against-bmw-m3/#continued">Hit the jump</a> for the flicks. <em>Thanks for the tips, everyone!</em><br />
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[Source: <a href="http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/trucks/1008_2011_ford_f150_svt_r aptor_6_2_l_v_8/index.html">Motor Trend</a>]<p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/08/24/video-mt-pits-mustang-gt-5-0-against-bmw-m3/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Video: MT pits Mustang GT 5.0 against BMW M3</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;backgr ound:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/08/24/video-mt-pits-mustang-gt-5-0-against-bmw-m3/">Video: MT pits Mustang GT 5.0 against BMW M3</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblo g</a> on Tue, 24 Aug 2010 19:58:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/08/24/video-mt-pits-mustang-gt-5-0-against-bmw-m3/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/19606126/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/08/24/video-mt-pits-mustang-gt-5-0-against-bmw-m3/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>

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Report: BMW M3 GTS posts somewhat lackluster 'Ring time
 

<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/coupes/" rel="tag">Coupe</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/sports/" rel="tag">Performance</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/bmw/" rel="tag">BMW</a></p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/bmw-m3-gts/"><img hspace="0" border="0" vspace="4" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/05/m3-gts-630x.jpg" alt="" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><em><strong><sma ll>BMW M3 GTS - Click above for high-res image gallery</small></strong></em></div>
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If you want a <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/05/26/droolworthy-bmw-releases-m3-gts-specifications/">BMW M3 GTS</a>, you'd better be ready to part with about $170,000 of your hard-earned greenbacks. That's nearly three times the cost of the base <a href="http://autoblog.com/make/m3/">M3</a>, but the extra $100,000 will net you a 4.4-liter V8 capable of 450 horsepower, tons of racing add-ons and, perhaps most importantly, 419 fewer pounds to lug around. And the M3 GTS manages to improve its stats while at the same time looking mighty fine, if you ask us.<br />
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Those are some impressive stats, but how do they translate into track time? If the September issue of <em>Sport Auto</em> (via the M3 Post forums) is to believed, the GTS 'Ring laptimes are less than earth shattering. The German rag reportedly claims that the GTS achieved a less than headline-grabbing 7:48 lap time on the N&uuml;rburgring. Okay, that's a pretty impressive time considering the <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/model/gallardo">Lamborgini Gallardo Superleggera</a> was reported to hit 7:46 for twice the cost, but at the same time we're talking about an uber-upgraded M3 with a very fat price tag. Consider the fact that the <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/model/gtr">Nissan GT-R</a> can hit 7:29 for half the cost and the GTS appears to be a bit behind the (track) times.<br />
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The M3 GTS performed a bit better at Hockenheim, as its reported lap time of 1:12.5 was faster than an <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/model/r8">Audi R8 V10</a> Spyder by .2 seconds. The base E92 M3 finished a lap in 1:14.3. So is the M3 ready to take on all comers at The Green Hell? Apparently not, but still, at seven minutes and 48 seconds, we're pretty sure the M3 GTS isn't exactly ready for the slow lane, either.<br />
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<div class="postgallery"><p><s trong>Gallery: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/bmw-m3-gts">BMW M3 GTS</a></strong></p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/bmw-m3-gts/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/11/bmwm3gts000_thumbnail.jpg " alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/bmw-m3-gts/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/11/bmwm3gts001_thumbnail.jpg " alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/bmw-m3-gts/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/11/bmwm3gts002_thumbnail.jpg " alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/bmw-m3-gts/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/11/bmwm3gts003_thumbnail.jpg " alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/bmw-m3-gts/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/11/bmwm3gts004_thumbnail.jpg " alt="" title="" /></a></div><br />
[Source: <a href="http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=421882"> M3 Post</a>]<p style="padding:5px;backgr ound:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/08/25/report-bmw-m3-gts-posts-somewhat-lackluster-ring-time/">Report: BMW M3 GTS posts somewhat lackluster 'Ring time</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblo g</a> on Wed, 25 Aug 2010 09:59:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=421882>R ead</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/08/25/report-bmw-m3-gts-posts-somewhat-lackluster-ring-time/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/19606729/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/08/25/report-bmw-m3-gts-posts-somewhat-lackluster-ring-time/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>

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BREAKING: Jack Pitney, BMW North America marketing VP, dead at 47
 

<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/marketing-advertising/" rel="tag">Marketing/Advertising</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/bmw/" rel="tag">BMW</a></p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/08/26/breaking-jack-pitney-bmw-north-america-marketing-vp-dead-at-4/#continued"><img vspace="4" hspace="0" border="1" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/08/jack-pitney-with-olympics.jpg" alt="BMW VP Jack Pitney with Apollo Ono" /></a><br />
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Jack Pitney, BMW's North American vice president of marketing was killed today in a tragic accident while vacationing on his farm. <br />
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Pitney, 47, had been with <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/make/bmw/">BMW</a> since 1995, when he joined the German automaker to head its corporate communications operations. Influential in bringing the Mini brand to the U.S., he was its first boss in this market from 2001-2005. More recently, he was the point man for helping BMW secure a partnership with the U.S. Olympic Committee (see photo above). Pitney was tipped to become VP of BMW's eastern region on September 1.<br />
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Our condolences go out to Pitney's family, friends and colleagues. Official press release from BMW after the jump.<br />
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<p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/08/26/breaking-jack-pitney-bmw-north-america-marketing-vp-dead-at-4/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>BREAKING: Jack Pitney, BMW North America marketing VP, dead at 47</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;backgr ound:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/08/26/breaking-jack-pitney-bmw-north-america-marketing-vp-dead-at-4/">BREAKING: Jack Pitney, BMW North America marketing VP, dead at 47</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblo g</a> on Thu, 26 Aug 2010 18:44:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/08/26/breaking-jack-pitney-bmw-north-america-marketing-vp-dead-at-4/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/19610192/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/08/26/breaking-jack-pitney-bmw-north-america-marketing-vp-dead-at-4/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>

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Video: BMW releases second 1 Series M Coupe teaser
 

<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/coupes/" rel="tag">Coupe</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/sports/" rel="tag">Performance</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/videos/" rel="tag">Videos</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/bmw/" rel="tag">BMW</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/luxury/" rel="tag">Luxury</a></p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/08/27/video-bmw-releases-second-1-series-m-coupe-teaser/#continued"><img vspace="4" hspace="0" border="1" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/08/m-coupe-teaser-cap-630op.jpg" alt="BMW 1 Series M Coupe" /></a>
<div style="text-align: center;"><em><strong><sma ll>BMW 1 Series M Coupe - Click above to view the video after the jump</small></strong></em></div>
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The achingly slow striptease of the <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/tag/BMW1SeriesMCoupe/">BMW 1 Series M Coupe</a> continues with a 47-second-long spot of the camo-clad coupe bearing just enough sheetmetal to keep us interested.<br />
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The multi-spoke wheels, drilled discs and quad-exhausts are the only elements not left to the imagination, but the extra vinyl aft of the front wheels is sure to hiding a set of M-style fender vents while a ducktail spoiler is fitted out back.<br />
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As for mechanicals, the smart money is still on an upgraded twin-turbocharged inline-six (N54), channeling over 335 horsepower through a manual gearbox and down to the rear wheels via a torque-vectoring M differential. <br />
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We're hearing rumblings that the Coupe could be unveiled at next week's Oktoberfest BMWCCA event in Wisconsin, but in the meantime, check out the latest teaser <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/08/27/video-bmw-releases-second-1-series-m-coupe-teaser/#continued">after the jump</a> and scope the <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/07/08/video-bmw-teases-1-series-m-coupe/">first vid in our previous post</a>. <em>Thanks to everyone for the tips!</em><p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/08/27/video-bmw-releases-second-1-series-m-coupe-teaser/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Video: BMW releases second 1 Series M Coupe teaser</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;backgr ound:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/08/27/video-bmw-releases-second-1-series-m-coupe-teaser/">Video: BMW releases second 1 Series M Coupe teaser</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblo g</a> on Fri, 27 Aug 2010 19:57:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/08/27/video-bmw-releases-second-1-series-m-coupe-teaser/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/19611462/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/08/27/video-bmw-releases-second-1-series-m-coupe-teaser/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>

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