Interesting motoring news this week

[Dave A]

Skipping through the pages of a couple of car magazines has uncovered a few nice supprises, too many to make new threads for, but if anyone wants to go deeper into any of these snippets and make a new thread, feel free to.

Okay, first off I read about a new BMW Z4 coupe, with a 330+Bhp M coupe version being the range topper. As I said I'm not putting a whole lot of time into each of these bits of news and I can't find a site yet. However all of the info on this can be found in this weeks edition of Auto Express, as can information on a possible BMW M1 with around 230Bhp and more.

There was an interesting bit on the new Lexus supercar and the next Nissan GT-R being spied testing at the Ring, both were driving together as though they were racing accoring to witnesses, they were both trying to get into each corner first and nearly collided a few times.

Pro drive will be among the first to offer performance kit's for the new Impreza, boosting power to over 350Bhp.

The BMW M5 beat the Ferrari F430 in a race round somewhere in AutoCar. Jaguar will be releasing a diesel version of the new XK, they arn't sure weather to green light a new XK-R with around 500Bhp though because it could impact on sales of Aston Martin's. Audi are putting the R9 into production (the production version of the LeMans concept to you and me) although it won't be as powerful since Audi don't want to step on Lamborghini's shoes, it's more of a 911 beater. And finally Nikolai Smolensky has made it very clearly known he's interested in taking over MG, although TVR sources say it would have nothing to with TVR, it would be a seperate venture for Nikolai.

 

[Satorian]

Interesting!

Thanks for the heads-up!

 

[Hell Raiser]

I can't wait to read all about it,Thanks for the info 👍

 

[vladimir]

you can find info on the Z4 m version here:
http://www.m5board.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=52701&highlight=z4
http://www.m5board.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=50687&highlight=z4

 

[Hell Raiser]

you can find info on the Z4 m version here:
http://www.m5board.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=52701&highlight=z4
http://www.m5board.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=50687&highlight=z4

Thanks dude,that was a great link 👍

 

[Dave A]

I don't think thats the final design though, the pic in Auto Express was quite different, sleeker, the rear window sloped back a lot further.

 

[eliseracer]

Looks like Jaguar is saying it's prayers. I hope they die a painless and peaceful death.

BMW M1, as in a revival of the late 70s MR? I would love to see what Bangle does with that. The originals are spectacular, and I'd love to see BMW give the Cayman a run for it's money.

 

[Emohawk]

No, I think the new M1 (which probably won't be called that) is the M-spec of the 1 series, not a new version of the old supercar.

By 'new GT-R' did you mean the GT-R version of the present car, or something entirely new?

 

[Dave A]

Correct, it's the new M spec 1 series with a nice big engine to kick hot hatch arse. And the Nissan GT-R, it's the next GT-R, there is NO GT-R version of the current V35 Skyline and there won't be, the V35 is a different breed of Skyline to the R32,33 and R34's.

 

[eliseracer]

Damn. I saw an old M1 when I was a kid, and I have been amused by them ever since.

 

[xcsti]

I 'd love to see some pics of the lexus and gtr dueling, there are probably some floating around somewhere.

I hope they don't name the 1 series performance varient the M1, they should wait till they have a real successor.

 

[Slicks]

That Z4 looks more like it has a hardtop, instead of it being an actual coupe.
Either way, it still looks pretty good. An M3 engine helps, as well.

 

[Dave A]

The pic of the new M coupe in Auto Express looked a lot better, more like a proper coupe than a roadster with a hard top.

 

[vladimir]

I don't think thats the final design though, the pic in Auto Express was quite different, sleeker, the rear window sloped back a lot further.

was that a real picture or a photoshop? i would rather trust those spypictures than a magazine...

 

[Dave A]

It was a render but it came from BMW.

 

[Solid Lifters]

Good stuff! Nice find!

 

[vladimir]

It was a render but it came from BMW.

i don't believe this, BMW usually does not publishe renders of models which are due to be released soon. besides i have seen a lot of z4m spypics and they all look like this. i don't think BMW would change the Z4s body dramatically for the M version. the M-gmbh does not change the design of the cars much apart from the bumpers.

anyway, i am downtown tomorrow so i will look if i can find that issue of autoexpress and have a look myself, but if it is a very recent issue i fear that it won't be here yet. international car magazines are usually delayed for weeks...

 

[hsrdragger]

The problem is that us "damn yanks" in the US will probably only get the Z4 coupe (m-roadster, whatever they're gonna call it) and maybe the Lexus supercar.

 

[Dave A]

i don't believe this, BMW usually does not publishe renders of models which are due to be released soon. besides i have seen a lot of z4m spypics and they all look like this.

Yeah, and thats the roadster, I'm talking about a coupe. There's a load of scoops on BMW models in that issue, if you see any details I missed share them however if you look yourself it's right near the front, all the info on a new M coupe.

 

[xcsti]

The problem is that us "damn yanks" in the US will probably only get the Z4 coupe (m-roadster, whatever they're gonna call it) and maybe the Lexus supercar.

We've been assured that we will get the GTR. Nissan knows that the 32-34 generation gtrs have buzz about them in the states and wants to exploit it. Didn't they say that it was going to be available globally?

 

[Dave A]

Yes, the next GT-r is being marketed as a global product.

 

[vladimir]

Yeah, and thats the roadster, I'm talking about a coupe. There's a load of scoops on BMW models in that issue, if you see any details I missed share them however if you look yourself it's right near the front, all the info on a new M coupe.

did it look anything like this?

thats autobild though, and they NEVER get it right...
and hopefully not in this case either.

from what i understand now, BMW is planning a coupe version of the Z4. not only an M coupe, but also a regular coupe. this will of course not hit the road before 2006. the M version of the roadster that is due for this fall will look like the regular roadster. so its two different versions like with the old z3 and both will probably get their M counterpart.
but i still don't think BMW sends any renders of future models to magazines. bmw is usally very cautious with new models.

anyway, i quite i like this fanmade concept, even if you can clearly see it was influenced by the aston martin db9 or nissan 350z.

 

[Satorian]

I think that one looks pretty damn cool. Looks like a potential buy once I get money in a few years time.

This or the new Aston Martin V8.

 

[Dave A]

Vladamir, it did look like that. Not sure if it was exactly the same,it's a different angle. The Aston V8 Vantage is a far better car though.

 

[vladimir]

then i just hope its not for real, since that won't turn the already neglected Z4 into a succes for sure.

had a look for autoexpress today, but it seems that they don't sell it here. besides, they just got the "no limits issue" of EVO, which i already bought in london over a month ago so i would have not found it anyway.