What a ‘Champion’!

BMW M4 DTM Champion Edition INTERIOR

BMW special M4 edition sprints form zero to 62mph in just 3.2 seconds

To celebrate the success of Marco Wittmann securing yet another DTM driver’s title at the season finale at the Hockenheimring, BMW M is launching the BMW M4 DTM Champion Edition.

The new edition model consists of top-class motor racing technology for drive and suspension as well as a specific design that mimics the DTM racing cars built by BMW Motorsport and delivers a power output of 500hp and a maximum torque of 600Nm.

This road-eater completes the sprint from zero to 62mph in just 3.8 seconds and has a top speed is limited to 190mph.

The 0-62mph in 3.8 seconds is achievable thanks to the innovative water injection technology featured in the straight six-cylinder power unit, previously seen on the BMW M4 GTS.

This innovative technology enables cooling of the combustion chambers, significantly raising the engine’s thermally-related performance limits by 16 per cent in power output compared to the production model.

Exclusively available in Alpine White, the design and shaping of the additional foiling is reminiscent of the look of DTM racing cars produced by BMW Motorsport.

BMW M4 DTM Champion Edition

Various aerodynamics components finished in visible carbon also give the car that distinctive racing car look. These include the front splitter, the aero flicks positioned in front of the front wheel arches, exterior mirror caps, side-skirt attachments, and a rear diffuser as well as the large rear wing firmly mounted on the boot lid.

Inside the two-seater, both driver and co-driver sit in M Carbon bucket seats covered in exclusive Alcantara/Leather Merino. The entire interior is lined with exceptionally high-quality covering material Alcantara, also used on the M Sports steering wheel featuring a grey “12 o’clock” marker. Behind the front bucket seats of the BMW M4 DTM Champion Edition, a white rollover bar replaces the rear seat system.

In terms of comfort and safety, the new edition is by no means sparsely equipped. Features include the BMW Professional Navigation system, air conditioning, adaptive LED headlights with BMW Selective Beam (glare-free high beam assistant), OLED taillights, Park Distance Control (PDC) at the front and rear as well as automatically dimming interior and exterior mirrors.

In comparison to the production version of the BMW M4, the DTM Champion Edition impresses not only with enhanced performance, but also with further optimised dynamic handling qualities. This is also the result of even more consistent implementation of the lightweight construction concept.

BMW M4 DTM Champion Edition

In addition to other components, the bonnet, roof, instrument panel support and rear diffuser are made from carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP). The end silencer of the double-flow sports exhaust system featuring two pairs of tailpipes is made of exceptionally lightweight titanium.

Optimal contact with the road is ensured by Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 high-performance tyres size 265/35 R19 at the front and 285/30 R20 at the rear designed specifically for use on the racetrack and mounted on light alloys boasting a star spoke design 666 M in Orbit Grey matt.

M carbon-ceramic brakes guarantee fade-free braking even in tough racing conditions. The individually adjustable 3-way coil-over suspension is mechanically adjustable both for rebound and damping, thus allowing the car’s handling characteristics to be adapted according to personal taste.

Busy Bimmers

POWER: The BMW M2 and M4 promise to pack a powerful punch on the road

BMW expand and revise their range of cars

BMW is as busy as ever expanding and revising its range.

Their new M2 comes with a 370bhp six-cylinder engine and the choice of manual or automatic gearboxes. This pocket rocket offers 0-62mph in 4.3 seconds and may tempt buyers away from the more expensive M4 when it arrives in April.

Those seeking more speed will be keen on the limited edition M4 GTS that is on sale in March. It has a 493bhp version of the M4’s turbocharged engine and uses carbon fibre to reduce weight. Only 30 are slated to come to the UK.

POWER: The BMW M2 and M4 promise to pack a powerful punch on the road

The X4 M40i is set to take on the Porsche Macan with a 355bhp engine for 0-62mph in 4.9 seconds. Although not a full-blown M car, this crossover promises a great drive when it lands in late 2016.

A different take on performance from BMW is the 330e that is due around the same time as the M2. This plug-in hybrid 3 Series has an electric motor and 2.0-litre petrol engine to deliver 0-62mph in 6.1 seconds coupled to combined economy of 148.7mpg and 44g/km Co2 emissions.

Other big news for BMW is an all-new 5 Series range that will arrive in the summer. Expect to see a lighter, more frugal 5 Series with more interior space and hybrid models with small petrol engines and plug-in charging.

BMW’s 2 Series Active Tourer and Grand Tourer are rivals the Mercedes B Class with a range of petrol and diesel engines that offer up to 68.9mpg and 109g/km CO2 emissions. Other 2 Series models encompass the rear-drive Coupe and Convertible.

BMW has revised the 3 Series for the second half of 2015, providing lower emissions and better fuel economy to help it retain its huge following among company car drivers.

COMPETITION: Designed to take on the Porsche Macan, the BMW X4 M40i does 0-62mph in 4.9 seconds

The latest generation of 7 Series keeps with modern trends, so it’s lighter, cleaner and leaner while offering new safety and comfort technologies.

There is also the X1 compact SUV to tackle Audi’s Q3. It comes with the option of all-wheel drive to cope with winter conditions and is a pleasure to drive.

The 1 Series hatch received new lights and an updated touchscreen display in 2015. There are also improved engines for greater fuel economy across the board for this model.

The finessed 6 Series line-up that has revised styling and all models now come with a sports exhaust to provide a more sporting sound.

Performance fans have a couple of new options from BMW with the arrival of the X5M and X6M, which both share the same 575bhp 4.4-litre V8 engine. It delivers impressive pace and noise.

COMPETITION: Designed to take on the Porsche Macan, the BMW X4 M40i does 0-62mph in 4.9 seconds

The M3 and M4 use a turbocharged six-cylinder engine in place of the previous M3’s V8 motor. Rapid and exciting, they are quick BMWs in the form we know and love.

The i8 is a petrol-electric hybrid that has a 1.5-litre three-cylinder petrol engine and four-wheel drive. Aside from its amazing looks, the i8 is noteworthy for its performance, knocking off 0-62mph in just 4.4 seconds to reside alongside the best supercars, yet it can return superb economy and low emissions. An additional i8 model with increased performance is set to launch in late 2016 and BMW has shown a convertible version that could end up as a production model in 2017.

The 4 Series Gran Coupe that offers sleeker looks but much the same practicality as the 3 Series saloon while the 4 Series Convertible adds a dash of allure with plenty of practicality. Fans of smaller coupes will delight in the arrival of the 2 Series, which replaces the previous 1 Series Coupe. It will spawn a small convertible model too.

On the larger side, the X4 SUV cum coupe joins the X5 in showrooms. The X4 is unusual but has a lot of appeal as a driver’s car, while the X5 continues to offer luxury SUV buyers a tempting package.

The Z4 range has the addition of an sDrive18i model that has a 156bhp version of the existing 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine. It’s very good to drive, but not quite as swift as you might hope given the car’s looks.

Performance, precision and agility

The launch of the new BMW M3 Saloon and new BMW M4 Coupé heralds the arrival of the fifth-generation of the iconic high-performance sports car from BMW M.

M POWER: For the first time the Coupé and Saloon models receive individual model names

Both dripping with tech, for the first time the Coupé and Saloon models receive individual model names.

Another first is the adoption of a turbocharged engine for this BMW M model: the high-revving, 3.0-litre six-cylinder in-line engine with M TwinPower Turbo technology has been specifically developed for this purpose, and produces a maximum output of 431hp.

Its peak torque of 550Nm is available across a very wide rev range starting at just 1,850rpm, and exceeds the figure recorded by the outgoing BMW M3 by roughly 40 per cent. In spite of this, the new engine also achieves a reduction in fuel consumption and emissions of around 25 per cent.

With new engine seeing a slight power upgrade over the previous V8, the standard sprint from 0-62mph takes both cars just 4.3 seconds with manual transmission, or just 4.1 seconds with the optional M DCT, while the top speed is 155mph (electronically limited).

M POWER: For the first time the Coupé and Saloon models receive individual model names

The new powerplant also boasts excellent fuel economy: the combined consumption in the EU cycle is as high as 34mpg and CO2 emissions are as low as 194g/km, an improvement of more than 25 per cent over the previous model’s figures.

To maximise dynamic ability and ensure excellent efficiency, a weight loss of over 80kgs has been achieved - both models now feature a carbon-fibre reinforced plastic roof.

BMW M engineers have paid particular attention to the car’s aerodynamic performance, and incorporated the latest Active M Differential amongst numerous other technical highlights. During the development process the engineers worked closely with BMW Motorsport’s professional racing drivers, with extensive testing and set-up work carried out on the Nürburgring Nordschleife circuit.

The new BMW M3 Saloon and new BMW M4 Coupé are formed from a host of finely blended elements, all working in perfect harmony to deliver outstanding performance, precision and agility on road and track.

With the new BMW M3 Saloon and M4 Coupé, the engineers sought to optimally channel the air around the car in the quest for ultimate performance, while also ensuring the engine, powertrain and brakes receive the requisite cooling. Even when operating under heavy loads on the racing circuit.

The aggressively styled front apron, smooth under-body and the clearly defined lip spoiler at the rear of the M3 Saloon (or integrated bootlid spoiler at the rear of the BMW M4 Coupé) reduce lift by an equal amount at the front and rear axle, to the benefit of handling.

The Aero Curtain and M side gills, the latter with integrated Air Breathers minimise turbulence in the front wheel arches. These elements, together with the aerodynamically optimised side mirrors in familiar M twin-stalk style, are not only distinctive design features, they also help to reduce drag.

The cars launched on June 21st and are priced at £56,175 OTR for the M3 Saloon and £56,635 OTR for the M4 Coupé. BMW UK expects to sell 1,000 BMW M4 Coupés and 180 M3 Saloons in their first full year of sales.

Successor to the 1 Series M Coupe?

A source has confirmed that a road-going version of the M235i Racing (a track-only customer race car) had been considered for production. However, the plans were scrapped when it was decided that it would “step on the toes of something else higher up the range.”

A new BMW M2, shown in our exclusive illustration, is expected to use a twin-turbocharged version of the M235i’s 3.0-litre six-cylinder engine. Maximum power output should be in the region of 380bhp, compared to the M235i's 322bhp figure, while leaving enough space to the 425bhp BMW M3 Saloon and M4 Coupe.

However, it's also expected that the M2 will adopt much of the new chassis technology found in the M3 and M4, including an electronically controlled limited slip rear differential dubbed Active M Differential.

To keep the purchase price down, the new M2 may not come as standard with Adaptive M Suspension as standard, but it's expected that there will be a wide variety of settings available to the driver to alter the character of the car.

BMW M2

The M2's predecessor was called the 1 Series M Coupé, as the 'M1' name was used on the company's iconic supercar from the late seventies. There is no official word on what the new junior M car will be officially named, but M2 is the front-runner.

The BMW M2 is expected to go on sale in 2016 at around £50,000 -
ensuring it is distanced from the M3 and M4, which start at £56,175 and £56,643 respectively.

2014 BMW M4 and M3 pics leaked

Pictures of the BMW M3 and M4 have leaked online prior to the cars' official unveiling. The images reveal the final production version of both models, which will make their world debuts at the Detroit Motor Show in January.

An official teaser video was released this week but revealed nothing more than the profile of both the M3 and M4 highlighted by neon lights, now we can see the models in final production trim.

BMW M3: The cars will be launched summer 2014

We already know the M4 Coupe will replace the two-door version of the of M3, but both will be powered by the same 424bhp 3.0-litre twin-turbo engine.

Coupled with the 80kg weight reduction, the M3 and M4 should hit 62mph in around 4.5 seconds - but no official performance figures have been released as yet.

BMW M4: The new engine is smaller than the 4.0-litre V8 that powered the outgoing BMW M3, but the new twin-turbo motor is more powerful and fuel efficient

The new M models will be launched in the summer and pricing is expected to be announced closer to that date. But you can expect to pay around £57,000 for the M4 and slightly less for the M3.

BMW M4: The new engine is smaller than the 4.0-litre V8 that powered the outgoing BMW M3, but the new twin-turbo motor is more powerful and fuel efficient

BMW M3: The cars will be launched summer 2014