BMW 1M Coupe filmed drifting at the world’s tallest helipad

The 2012 BMW 1M Coupe really is on top of the world these days, isn’t it?

Days after the car was featured on the pilot episode of the new season of Top Gear, BMW’s high-powered 1M found itself on top of one of the tallest buildings in America: the U.S. Bank Tower in Los Angeles. More important than that, the U.S. Bank Tower stands 1,018 feet tall and is considered as the tallest building in the world with a helipad on it.

So what exactly is the 1M Coupe doing on the helipad of this skyscraper?

Well, there’s awesome and then there’s awesome. This video of the 1M Coupe performing an arc drift on top of the world’s tallest helipad certainly qualifies for the latter. Kind of makes that previous video of the sports car drifting through walls look like child’s play, doesn’t it? Either way, the whole video certainly speaks for itself.

Reminder: The BMW 1M Coupe is powered by a new twin-turbocharged, all-aluminum, 3.0-liter inline-6 engine that delivers an impressive 335 HP at 5,900 rpm and 332 lb-ft of torque from 1,500 rpm to 4,500 rpm. It has a sprint time from 0 to 60 mph in 4.7 seconds and a electronically limited top speed of 155 mph. The standing quarter-mile mark comes up in 13.2 seconds.

gallery:2012 BMW 1-Series M Coupe

 

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Source:BMW

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BMW reveals 2012 6 Series M Sport and diesel models

2012 BMW 6 Series variants - Click above for high-res image gallery

BMW is expanding its 6 Series line. The automaker has just announced information on the 2012 640d Coupe and 640d Convertible. The two-door oil-burners aren't expected to make it Stateside, and that's a pity, as they make use of a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter straight six with 313 horsepower and a hefty 464 pound-feet of torque. All that twist helps the coupe hit 60 mph in around 5.5 seconds while returning 51.4 mpg on the Imperial scale. BMW is also offering the 6 Series with xDrive for the first time as well, but only on 650i models. Thankfully, buyers can expect to see the all-wheel-drive coupe in North American dealers later this year.

If chugging along with a diesel under your hood isn't quite your speed, you'll be happy to know that BMW is also offering a 6 Series M Sport for 2012. The package includes special aerodynamic additions as well as LED fog lamps and 19-inch, double-spoke aluminum alloy wheels. Inside, sport seats are trimmed in Alcantara and leather as well as an M Sport steering wheel. We think the more aggressive M Sport look helps mitigate the 6 Series' somewhat unfortunate nose... what say you? Check it out in the gallery, hit the jump to read the official verbiage and then weigh in with your thoughts in Comments.

Gallery:2012 BMW 6 Series

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SOURCE:BMW

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BMW M3 CRT already sold out!

BMW’s newest special edition hasn’t even been out for a week yet and already there are reports stating that the BMW M3 CRT (Carbon Racing Technology) has completely sold out. That’s right, according to German magazine, Autobild, any hopes of owning one of the 67 available units may be dashed. That being said, we’ll play it on the safe side and wait for the official confirmation from BMW before sticking a fork in this special edition.

If this rumor does hold any water, don’t expect BMW to amp up their production efforts to quench the demand. An insider has already stated that the company only has the resources and timeframe to produce 67 units, and a total of zero of those units will be making their way over to the States. Once again, the US gets a big fat goose egg on the cool special edition models and what’s worse, the BMW M3 CRT didn’t even need the US market to fill its orders.

The newest and coolest feature on the new M3 CRT is the CFRP (carbon fiber reinforced plastic) components. What makes the CRT unique is that BMW has taken the leftover CFRP and reprocessed it with synthetic resin to create a bonnet that has the strength of a conventional steel hood at a quarter of its weight. This new hood is even 50% lighter than an aluminum hood. Add this component to the 4,360 cc V8 producing a total of 450 HP at 8,300 rpm and a peak torque of 324 lbs-ft at 3,750 rpm and you get 0 to 60 mph sprint in 4.4 seconds and a top speed of 180 mph.

gallery:2012 BMW M3 CRT

 

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Source:BMW Blog

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2012 BMW M3 CRT

Exterior and Interior The M3 CRT previews BMW’s future models - like the i8 - in which the entire body of the car as well as the passenger cell area is made of CFRP. What makes the CRT unique is that BMW has taken the leftover CFRP and reprocessed it with synthetic resin to create a bonnet that has the strength of a conventional steel hood at a quarter of its weight. This new hood is even 50% lighter than an aluminum hood. Additional weight savings were achieved by using a sports exhaust system with an extremely lightweight titanium muffler and two individual rear seats that take their cues from the lateral support-enhancing contours of the front seats. Other features of the M3 CRT include an M double-clutch transmission with Drivelogic, Navigation system Professional, BMW Individual High End audio system, a light, exterior mirror and luggage area package, an alarm system, and Park Distance Control with sensors at the front and rear of the car. With all of this equipment jammed into the M3, the vehicle weighs 3483 lbs, dropping 99lbs compared to the standard M3 sedan. Take out the extras and we’re left with an additional 154 lbs weight loss. Aside from the vehicle’s weight plan, the M3 CRT can be distinguished by an exclusive Frozen Polar Silver metallic exterior paint combined with Melbourne Red metallic applications and special treatment for the BMW kidney grille. The interior gets an Alcantara-covered M steering wheel, featuring the M Drive button with spontaneous activation of the sharpest throttle response and M Dynamic Mode of DSC. The front and individual rear seats stand out in special Sakhir Orange and Black bi-colour covers, while the exclusive door sill strips, door panels, and trim strips are made from an aluminum grain structure. Engine Under the hood of the M3 CRT is the same engine found in the M3 GTS: a 4,360 cc V8 that delivers a total of 450 HP at 8,300 rpm and a peak torque of 324 lbs-ft at 3,750 rpm. The car delivers a weight-to-power ratio (DIN) of 4.8 kg/kW which will sprint the car from 0 to 60 mph in 4.4 seconds and achieve a top speed of 180 mph. This engine will be mated to a seven-speed M DCT Drivelogic transmission which allows for an uninterrupted flow of power through gear changes to deliver extremely dynamic acceleration. Its shift characteristics have been tuned specially for the engine powering the BMW M3 CRT. Shift paddles on the steering wheel allow the driver to change gear manually with optimum ergonomics and a Launch Control function is on hand to generate maximum acceleration off the start line. The list of equipment for the M3 CRT will include: a rigid rear axle subframe and coilover suspension, vented brake discs measuring 378 x 32 millimeters at the front axle and 380 x 28 millimeters at the rear, a specially tuned DSC (Dynamic Stability Control) system – including ABS and M Dynamic Mode (MDM) - and a set of 19-inch M light-alloy wheels in Y-spoke design. Prices The BMW M3 GTS is limited to only 135 units, but the M3 CRT is even more exclusive with only 67 planned units. Prices in Germany will start at 130,000 euro - or about $185,000 at the current exchange rates.

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2012 BMW M5

Exterior It seems that with the new M5, BMW tried to repair all the damages made by the 5-Series. Where the standard sedan failed to impress, the M version does exactly the opposite. It comes with dynamic proportions and stylishly authoritative appearance that has been further enhanced by the addition of M-specific design features. The front of the BMW is a clear indication to the power lying under the hood. The bonnet is defined by the brand’s usual V contour lines and ends with a double-kidney grille, while the three air intakes in the lower section of the front apron emphasize the cooling air requirement of the engine behind the grille. Moving to the side of the M5, you will see two side air intakes with a dynamically curving form placed where there used to be fog lamps. The car will sit on a new set of 19-inch M light-alloy wheels in double-spoke design. There is also a wide chrome frame and the free-floating look of the indicator bar, which bears the M logo and gives the intakes an extremely deep-set look. The mirror casings are painted in the vehicle’s body color, while the mirror base and lower edge are painted in High-gloss Black. The rear features a bespoke rear apron, a diffuser integrated into the lower edge of the rear apron, and, of course, the twin-pipe exhaust system. The tailpipes are positioned wide to either side of the diffuser and have likewise aerodynamically formed surrounds. Interior The interior continues the same sporty design language started by the exterior: it will get M sports seats, fine-grain Merino leather upholstery with extended features, door sills with “M5” lettering, an M driver’s footrest, exclusive Aluminum Trace interior trim strips, and the BMW Individual roof liner in Anthracite. Standard equipment will include an iDrive control system with an up to 10.2-inch Control Display. The buttons on the steering wheel will allow the drive to operate the cruise control system and the audio and telephone functions. On the left-hand steering wheel spoke, the driver will now find two M Drive buttons, which can be used to configure the car. For example, the driver can save a sporty configuration using the "M1" button and a comfort-biased set-up via the "M2" button. Engine "a bold business car that at the push of a button turns into a sports car." For the first time in a BMW M5 the company has used a turbocharged engine. The high-revving 4.4 liter V8 unit with M TwinPower Turbo technology delivers a total of 560 HP at 6,000 – 7,000 rpm and a peak torque of 502 lb-ft between 1,500 and 5,750 rpm. The rev limiter intervenes at 7,200 rpm. Compared to the engine it replaces, this mean an output increase of about 10% and peak torque increased by 30%. With this impressive output under the hood, the new M5 will sprint from 0 to 60 mph in in 4.4 seconds, to 124 mph in 13.0 seconds, while top speed is limited to 155 mph. But once you have removed the limiter you will enjoy a speed of up to 190 mph. The new BMW M5 is fitted as standard with Brake Energy Regeneration and an Auto Start-Stop function, which automatically switches off the engine when the car comes to a halt at junctions or in a traffic jam. The engine will be mated to a seven-speed double-clutch transmission that sends the power to the rear wheels. Both in automated mode (D) and manual (S), it delivers exceptionally fast and clean gear changes. The transmission offers a sequential shift pattern for the manual gearshift mode. Alternatively, the driver can also change gear manually using the standard-fitted shift paddles on the steering wheel – the right-hand paddle for upshifts and the left-hand paddle for downshifts. When Can I Get One? The new BMW M5 will make its world debut this fall at the Frankfurt Motor Show. Sales will begin shortly after and prices will be announced at a later date. The Competition The next BMW M5 will take on models like the Jaguar XF-R, Cadillac CTS-V, and Audi S6. The Jaguar XF-R surely has its benefits. It is more elegant and luxurious than the BMW M5 with a good amount of aggressiveness in its design. It may only be powered by a 5.0 Liter supercharged V8 that pumps out 510 HP, but these other factors will surely sway some votes in Jaguar’s direction. The Cadillac CTS-V has also gained a lot of terrain on the US market, and with good reason. For one thing, it’s cheap compared to the other models - it starts from $64,290 - and it also features a very impressive 6.2 liter supercharged V-8 with an output of 556 HP and 551 lb.-ft. of torque.  Impressive engine performance  Combines sportiness with luxury  Comes with the possibility of removing speed limiter  We anticipate a high price tag gallery:2012 BMW M5

Just a few months before the car’s official debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show, BMW has decided it was time to reveal the official specs on the fifth generation M5 sports sedan. After seeing the first concept version at the 2011 Shanghai Motor Show, now we can see the M5 in all its glory. And we sure like what we are seeing.

The M5 name was used for the first time back in 1984, but since then, the car has evolved into an impressive sedan that combines track potential with the comprehensive practicality of a luxurious business sedan. The new generation brings a high-revving 4.4-liter V8 engine with an M TwinPower Turbo package that delivers an impressive 560 hp at 6,000 – 7,000 rpm and a peak torque of 502 lb-ft from 1,500 rpm. The model will sprint from 0 to 60 mph in 4.4 seconds and, when the speed limiter is removed, is capable of hitting an impressive top speed of 190 mph. Despite these impressive performance numbers, the car will deliver an estimated fuel economy of 28.5 mpg.

UPDATE 06/20/11: The BMW M5’s online configurator has just gone live, but our advice is to wait a bit longer before spending some quality time and effort building your model. So far, BMW is only allowing potential customers a couple of options to choose from, including exterior colors and a couple of wheel options. New exterior colors consist of Alpine White, Black Sapphire Metallic, Havana, Silverstone, Space Grey, Imperial Blue, Grey Singapore and Monte Carlo Blue. The only two wheel options available are Double spoke style - 345 M and 343 M. Still interested? Configure your BMW M5 byclicking here.

More details about the BMW M5 after the jump.

Source:AMS

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