Rumormill: BMW to replace M3 sedan with M3 Gran Turismo?!
 

<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/sports/" rel="tag">Performance</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/euro/" rel="tag">Europe</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/hatchbacks/" rel="tag">Hatchback</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/bmw/" rel="tag">BMW</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/rumormill/" rel="tag">Rumormill</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/luxury/" rel="tag">Luxury</a></p><a href="http://blogs.insideline.com/straightline/2010/10/fanning-the-flames-next-bmw-m3-sedan-replaced-by-hatchback-m3-gt.html#more"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" align="right" class="right border" alt="BMW M3 Gran Turismo Rendering" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/10/m3-gt-250.jpg" /></a>Allow us to start by saying that we love high-performance hatchbacks and wagons as much as the next auto-obsessed goon. Heck, we still go all gooey-kneed when we lay eyes on a <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/tag/lexus%20is300%20sportcros s">Lexus IS300 SportCross</a>, but the rumors dusting up over the next-generation <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/model/m3">M3</a> have us a little uneasy. According to Inside Line and M3Post, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/make/bmw">BMW</a> may be looking to replace the slow-selling M3 sedan with a new GT body style. That means that designers are looking to spread the funky lines of the <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/model/5+series+gt">5-Series Gran Turismo</a> to other models in the company's stable, including as a replacement for the disappointingly slow-selling M3 sedan.<br />
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With that high-revving V8 likely on its way out the door in favor of a turbocharged I6 and the threat of the 5-Series GT's design spreading to the company's holiest of holy high performance models, we've got to wonder exactly where there decision makers at BMW have their heads lodged. We've got our guesses.<br />
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Inside Line has gone so far as to work up a few renderings of what the M3 Quasimodo edition might look like. It's worth <a href="http://blogs.insideline.com/straightline/2010/10/fanning-the-flames-next-bmw-m3-sedan-replaced-by-hatchback-m3-gt.html#more">heading over there</a> to check out the full-size pieces for the full (rendered) effect. <em>Thanks for the tip, Tim!</em><br />
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[Sources: <a href="http://blogs.insideline.com/straightline/2010/10/fanning-the-flames-next-bmw-m3-sedan-replaced-by-hatchback-m3-gt.html#more">Inside Line</a>, <a href="http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=445536"> M3Post</a>]<p style="padding:5px;backgr ound:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/10/22/rumormill-bmw-to-replace-m3-sedan-with-m3-gran-turismo/">Rumormill: BMW to replace M3 sedan with M3 Gran Turismo?!</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblo g</a> on Fri, 22 Oct 2010 11:00:00 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://www.autoblog.com/2010/10/22/rumormill-bmw-to-replace-m3-sedan-with-m3-gran-turismo/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/19685145/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/10/22/rumormill-bmw-to-replace-m3-sedan-with-m3-gran-turismo/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>

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eBay Find of the Day: 1995 BMW M3 CSL Lightweight is ultra rare, ultra tasty
 

<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/timewarp/" rel="tag">Classics</a>, <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/auction-action/" rel="tag">Auctions</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/bmw/" rel="tag">BMW</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/racing/" rel="tag">Racing</a></p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/1995-bmw-m3-csl-lightweight/"><img vspace="4" hspace="0" border="1" alt="1995 BMW M3 CSL Lightweight" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/10/01-csl-630.jpg" /></a>
<div style="text-align: center;"><em><strong><sma ll>1995 BMW M3 CLS Lightweight - Click above for high-res image gallery</small></strong></em></div>
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We know we already ran an eBay Find of the Day, but since you <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/10/22/ebay-find-of-the-day-crocheted-1959-morris-minor-w-video/">couldn't actually drive that one</a>, we thought it only fair to bring you another. File this one under "D" for "Don't see that every day." For a Buy It Now price of $49,000, you can lay your loving mitts on a genuine 1995 <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/model/m3">BMW M3</a> CSL Lightweight. According to the seller, the vehicle has never been raced or abused, and the photos make the factory-built racer look like a slice of cherry pie. There are a scant 36,619 miles on the clock, and the ad makes it clear that this particular example needs nothing but a driver behind the wheel. A driver with a flush bank account, that is.<br />
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If you're wondering why we've gone all drooling ape over this car, you should probably know that this is one of the rarer M3 models out there. The seller notes that there were just 100 of these particular racers imported to the States, each with weight-adding bits like the spare tire sent to the dumpster in an attempt to keep weight as low as possible. Reports vary as to exactly how many pounds <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/make/bmw">BMW</a> managed to shed from the standard car, but estimates say that the models hit the scales at around 200-300 lbs less than their regular counterparts. Throw in even stiff springs and a host of go-fast parts that were user-installable for a little extra track dominance and you've got the beast you see above. <br />
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Did we mention this sucker is street legal? Head over to <a href="http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/CSL-Lightweight-REAL-DEAL-Never-raced-PRISTINE-/220684774153?pt=US_Cars_T rucks&hash=item3361d66b09 #ht_2229wt_1161">eBay Motors</a> for a closer look.<em> Thanks for the tip, Sid!</em><br />
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<div class="postgallery"><p><s trong>Gallery: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/1995-bmw-m3-csl-lightweight/">1995 BMW M3 CSL Lightweight</a></strong></p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/1995-bmw-m3-csl-lightweight/#3498255"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/10/01-csl_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/1995-bmw-m3-csl-lightweight/#3498256"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/10/02-csl_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/1995-bmw-m3-csl-lightweight/#3498257"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/10/03-csl_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/1995-bmw-m3-csl-lightweight/#3498259"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/10/04-csl_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/1995-bmw-m3-csl-lightweight/#3498260"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/10/05-csl_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a></div><br />
[Source: <a href="http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/CSL-Lightweight-REAL-DEAL-Never-raced-PRISTINE-/220684774153?pt=US_Cars_T rucks&hash=item3361d66b09 #ht_2229wt_1161">eBay Motors</a>]<p style="padding:5px;backgr ound:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/10/22/ebay-find-of-the-day-1995-bmw-m3-csl-lightweight-is-ultra-rare/">eBay Find of the Day: 1995 BMW M3 CSL Lightweight is ultra rare, ultra tasty</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblo g</a> on Fri, 22 Oct 2010 15:31:00 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/2010/10/22/ebay-find-of-the-day-1995-bmw-m3-csl-lightweight-is-ultra-rare/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/19685369/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/10/22/ebay-find-of-the-day-1995-bmw-m3-csl-lightweight-is-ultra-rare/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>

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Study: BMW drivers are UK's angriest motorists
 

<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/audi/" rel="tag">Audi</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>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/land-rover/" rel="tag">Land Rover</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/uk/" rel="tag">UK</a></p><img hspace="4" height="166" border="0" align="right" width="250" vspace="4" class="right border" alt="bmw badge" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/07/bmw-badge-630.jpg" />Great Britain is a relatively small island with a lot of people and therefore a lot of cars. So it's fairly important that motorists on crowded roads are as civilized as possible... Naturally, though, not all Brits are pleasant drivers. Gocompare.com decided to poll 3,000 motorists to see, by vehicle make, which drivers are the meanest of the bunch.<br />
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In the UK there is a phenomenon called "white van drivers," which consists of mostly self-employed males who use vans for everything from delivery to carpentry work - pretty much how Americans use pickup trucks. In short, the Brits can't stand these drivers because they're always in a hurry and don't want anyone in their way. The "white van" finished second overall, showing just how despised number one really is. That distinction goes to <a href="http://autoblog.com/make/bmw/">BMW</a> owners, who were deemed the most likely to tailgate, speed or flip the bird on public roads, lending some credence to <a href="http://autoblog.com/make/audi/">Audi</a>'s hillarious "<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2008/10/09/meet-the-beckers-audi-has-fun-at-expense-of-bmw-mercedes-and-l/">Meet the Beckers</a>" commercials of a while back. Of course Audi drivers didn't fare much better, landing at number three on the list of ticked off drivers. <a href="http://autoblog.com/make/ford/">Ford</a> managed a number four ranking, followed by <a href="http://autoblog.com/make/land+rover/">Land Rover</a> owners.<br />
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Other fascinating data from the survey includes the fact that nearly one in 10 British drivers claim that they've had an accident as a result of road rage. And of all the bad driving habits of others, the thing Brits hate most is tailgating, as 58 percent call the practice frightening. 37 percent find the practice of flashing one's lights as a gesture for the driver in front of them to get out of the way offensive, and 32 percent have been flipped the bird. For more on the survey, including the rest of the makes that managed to make the top 10, head over to the <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/news/8058959/BMW-drivers-are-angriest-on-road.html"><em>Telegraph</em></a>.<br />
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[Source: <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/news/8058959/BMW-drivers-are-angriest-on-road.html">Telegraph</a>]<p style="padding:5px;backgr ound:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/10/22/study-bmw-drivers-are-uks-angriest-motorists/">Study: BMW drivers are UK's angriest motorists</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblo g</a> on Fri, 22 Oct 2010 17:57:00 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/2010/10/22/study-bmw-drivers-are-uks-angriest-motorists/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/19674956/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/10/22/study-bmw-drivers-are-uks-angriest-motorists/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>

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Rossin-Bertin Vorax guns for entry into supercar club with BMW V10 power
 

<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/convertibles/" rel="tag">Convertible</a>, <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>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/misc-auto-shows/" rel="tag">Misc. Auto Shows</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/south-america/" rel="tag">South America</a></p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/rossin-bertin-vorax/"><img vspace="4" hspace="0" border="1" alt="Rossin-Bertin Vorax" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/10/web630-rossin-bertin-vorax-1.jpg" /></a>
<div style="text-align: center;"><em><strong><sma ll>Rossin-Bertin Vorax - Click above for image gallery</small></strong></em></div>
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<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/tag/wiesmann">Wiesmann</a> may have been <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/10/21/wiesmann-upgrades-all-v10-models-to-twin-turbo-v8/">forced to switch</a> from V10 power to the new twin-turbo V8 for their top-of-the-line MF5, but a Brazilian upstart apparently thinks it can secure an adequate supply of ten-cylinder <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/make/bmw">BMW</a> engines even after they're discontinued. That's what's powering the vehicle you see here.<br />
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The Rossin-Bertin Vorax is set to debut at the S&atilde;o Paulo Auto Show later this month. It features a carbon fiber body over an aluminum chassis, cradling the Bavarian ten-pot in two states of trim: naturally aspirated with 570 horsepower, or supercharged with 750. The former is said to be good for a 3.8-second 0-62 mph time and a 205 mph top end. The latter marginally improves the acceleration time to 3.6 despite its 180-horse boost, but supposedly raises the top end to 231 mph. Of course, those figures are likely theoretical, as the vehicle appears to exist only in renderings at the moment. <br />
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Bankrolled by meat industry scion Natolino Bertin, Jr. and realized by former <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/make/gm/">General Motors</a> designer Fharys Rossin, the Vorax coupe is targeted to hit the market late 2011 or early 2012. A convertible version is slated to follow a year later, with overall production targeted at 500-1000 units in all and prices hovering around $400k.<br />
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<div class="postgallery"><p><s trong>Gallery: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/rossin-bertin-vorax">Rossin-Bertin Vorax</a></strong></p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/rossin-bertin-vorax/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/10/rossin-bertin-vorax-1_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/rossin-bertin-vorax/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/10/rossin-bertin-vorax-2_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/rossin-bertin-vorax/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/10/rossin-bertin-vorax-5_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/rossin-bertin-vorax/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/10/rossin-bertin-vorax-4_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/rossin-bertin-vorax/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/10/rossin-bertin-vorax-3_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a></div><br />
[Sources: <a href="http://autoblog.com.ar/2010/10/vorax-el-superauto-brasileno-quiere-llegar-a-la-argentina/">Argentina Auto Blog</a>, <a href="http://carscoop.blogspot.com/2010/10/rossin-bertin-vorax-brazil-bmw-m5-v10.html">Carscoop</a>]<p style="padding:5px;backgr ound:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/10/25/rossin-bertin-vorax-guns-for-entry-into-supercar-club-with-bmw-v/">Rossin-Bertin Vorax guns for entry into supercar club with BMW V10 power</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblo g</a> on Mon, 25 Oct 2010 14:58:00 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://autoblog.com.ar/2010/10/vorax-el-superauto-brasileno-quiere-llegar-a-la-argentina/>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/10/25/rossin-bertin-vorax-guns-for-entry-into-supercar-club-with-bmw-v/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/19687639/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/10/25/rossin-bertin-vorax-guns-for-entry-into-supercar-club-with-bmw-v/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>

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BMW planning rear-wheel drive 2 Series?
 

<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/hatchbacks/" rel="tag">Hatchback</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/bmw/" rel="tag">BMW</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/rumormill/" rel="tag">Rumormill</a></p><a href="http://blog.caranddriver.com/is-bmw-planning-a-2-series/"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" align="right" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/10/m2-250.jpg" alt="BMW M2 Rendering" /></a>Consider our fingers crossed. With all of the talk of front-wheel-drive <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/make/bmw">BMW</a> models coming down the pike, we simply assumed that the future of small German hatchbacks with roundels on the hood would be littered with soulless heaps. According to the sleuths over at <em>Car and Driver</em>, however, that's not the case. After discovering that BMW had filed for U.S. patents for the names 228, 230 and 235, someone at BMW let it slip that the new 2 Series would, in fact, send its power to the aft. But hold onto your teacups, kids, it gets better.<br />
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BMW has also filed for a patent for the M2 moniker.<br />
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Now, we know as well as anyone that a patent doth not a production vehicle make, but it's still exciting to know that BMW isn't walking away from the notion of a smallish, fun-to-drive model anytime soon. Supposedly the company is planning a rash of models positioned below the current <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/model/1 series">1 Series</a> to help decrease its corporate average fuel economy, but the news of a rear-wheel drive model with an M badge on the back goes a long way toward salving any ails inflicted by the thought of a front-wheel-drive Bimmer.<br />
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[Source: <a href="http://blog.caranddriver.com/is-bmw-planning-a-2-series/">Car and Driver</a>]<p style="padding:5px;backgr ound:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/10/25/bmw-planning-rear-wheel-drive-2-series/">BMW planning rear-wheel drive 2 Series?</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblo g</a> on Mon, 25 Oct 2010 17:23:00 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://blog.caranddriver.com/is-bmw-planning-a-2-series/>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/10/25/bmw-planning-rear-wheel-drive-2-series/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/19688583/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/10/25/bmw-planning-rear-wheel-drive-2-series/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>

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