James Disdale heads over to rainy Spain to Drive BMW’s new 3 Series for Auto Express magazine. The 320d on review is propelled by a 131 kW (181 hp) twin-turbocharged 2.0 L diesel unit, which is mated to a six-speed manual transmission, meaning 100 km/h (62mph) appears in just 7.5 seconds, yet the car emits just 120g/km of CO2 and gets through 4.6 litres of fuel every 100 km (61.4 mpg). (more…)
Author: admin
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BMW 3 Series review by Auto Express
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MINIs by CoverEFX
Erftstadt-based styling house, CoverEFX, has unveiled a pair of project R53 MINIs that highlight its wares.Starting with the John Cooper Works GP, CoverEFX applied a sunflower yellow vinyl coating to the body, along with ‘anthracite’ window tinting. Items such as the grille, air intake, handles, side gills and mirrors are finished in high gloss black, along with the reworked wheel arches, which house 7×17-inch OZ Racing’s Crono wheels, wrapped in 205/40 Toyo tyres. The suspension was also upgraded thanks to the fitment of a Bilstein B14 suspension kit. A KBR Motorsports stainless steel manifold and exhaust system combined with an mcchip-dkr remap helps to release 172 kW/234 hp.
The accompanying MINI John Cooper Works wears the same wheels (but covered in 215/40 Federal Semi-sport tyres) and painted components, along with a ‘Smurf Blue’ wrap. Its engine features the same exhaust and mcchip-dkr remap as the car above, but also receives KBR-spec injectors, a Schrick camshaft, intercooler from the Works GP model and an air box with additional openings. Those tweaks result in a healthier 174 kW/236 hp. Underneath, the Smurf-mobile is fitted with a Bilstein B16 kit, an H&R (17 mm) adjustable rear stabilizer and an OMP strut brace.
Both cars feature a colour-coded Wiechers roll cage, while the JCW car’s occupants also enjoy a clingy Recaro Pole Position seat wrapped in Alcantara.
[Source: CoverEFX]
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a-workx Porsche Carrera 435s
With success in the Porsche Sports Cup, the Carrera Cup and the ADAC GT Masters with a 997 GT3 R, Wessling-based tuning specialist, a-workx, clearly has a deep understanding of how to get the best of out a 911, as this Carrera 435s proves.Based on the 3.8 L flat-six-engined Carrera S and GTS models, the 435s (street sport) continues a-workx’s usual formula of adding power and losing weight in an effort to create a road car that wouldn’t be out of place on any circuit.
Remapping of the car’s software (€ 2,500), plus the addition of a sports air filter and Akrapovic Race titanium race system (€ 5,938) with remote-controlled adjustable flap, yields the 435 hp figure, while removing 10 kg of weight at the same time.
Chassis upgrades begin with a KW Clubsport suspension kit (€ 2,668), designed to a-workx’s specification and developed on the track with input from racing drivers Sebastian Asch and Michael Ammermuller, it also weighs 15 kg less than the factory set-up it replaces. As well as providing sublime stopping powers, the MOV ‘IT brake kit (€ 5,895) sees 370×35 mm steel discs added to the front, which are gripped by 6-piston calipers, and shave 12 kg from the car’s weight. Steel braided brake lines and Castrol SRF Racing brake fluid are also utilized. The 19-inch ATS Superlight alloys, coated in 245/35Z and 325/30Z Michelin Pilot Sport Cups, undercut the factory wheels by 15Kg and will set you back € 5,280.
Finally, the carbon fibre aero kit includes a front lip (€ 800), front intakes (€ 450), side sill trims and lower section/diffuser for the rear bumper (€ 1,900).
[Source: a-workx]
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evo Porsche 991 review teaser
Living legend, Chris Harris has driven the new Porsche 911 for evo magazine. You’ll have to wait until next week before the full version goes online, but we doubt very much that you will ever see a better review of a car – in twenty seconds – than this. (more…) -
Powered Up: BMW 535d M Sport and 1 Series M Coupe
Here’s another delicious segment from Jeremy Clarkson’s new Powered Up DVD, featuring BMW’s 535d M Sport and 1 Series M Coupe models. Powered by a 3.0 L twin turbo diesel unit that produces 230 kW (313 hp), Jeremy goes as far as naming the 535d the best car of the 2011. But it’s not his favourite. That accolade is saved for the “fun” 246 kW (335 hp) Baby M. (more…) -
DTM: illness hinders testing for BMW
BMW Motorsport has carried out its latest M3 DTM testing program, at Spain’s Monteblanco, despite being blighted by health issues affecting the team.As well as members of the team, including mechanics, new driver, Bruno Spengler was also hit by an acute gastro-intestinal disease. Spengler, who is still contracted to Mercedes, had been given permission to test with BMW, but only had limited involvement.
BMW Team Schnitzer, BMW Team RBM and BMW Team RMG were all present, along with BMW works drivers, Augusto Farfus and Dirk Werner, and the current American Le Mans Series champion, Joey Hand, who was piloting the M3 DTM for the first time.
The drivers covered a total of 910 laps over the three days of testing, which focused around chassis settings and aerodynamics, while wet-weather tyre testing for supplier, Hankook, was performed on an artificially-dampened circuit. All the teams will be returning to Spain, for their next test program, in December.
“It was great to get a first taste of the DTM car. It has a lot of downforce and really good carbon brakes. You can really stand on the brakes and it is impossible to lock them. Also because of the downforce, the car is so hooked up in highspeed corners,” said American driver, Joey Hand.
[Source: BMW Motorsport]
