Most WINDING ROAD readers will remember the video we posted recently showing Formula One’s Nick Heidfeld piloting an F1 car, somewhat unsuccessfully, as a demonstration outside of the BMW works in Munich.During that same trip to Germany it seems as though Heidfeld had a bit of time to fall for one of BMW’s newest motorcycles, the lightweight HP2 Megamoto.
The HP2 is the latest bike to carry on the proud BMW tradition of flat-twin engines. In this trim the motor makes 113 horsepower at 7,500 rpm, more than enough to power the 437 pound bike to stellar performance.
Heidfeld seemed quite taken with the motorcycle saying, “I really want to subject this bike to more intensive testing.” Just keep it away from the walls Nick.
(Click on the thumbnails below to check out some images of the HP2 Megamoto or through the jump to read the BMW release.)
Web space FreshTarmac.com recently ran this photo, saying that the image was legit and taken in a hangar somewhere in Spain. The image-maker has done a fairly convincing job of incorporating many of the current M elements into the design, but little details, like the hood bulge on what’s supposed to be a mid-engine car, have us thinking the M1 is less than genuine.
Still, the car looks damn good, and we’d be more than happy if it helped turn BMW toward the direction of building the real thing. Give us your opinion of this “spy” shot, in comments.
If you’ve got an idea for Question of the Day, a funny photo for Caption It, or just want to share a news tip, let us know at windingroadtips@gmail.com
When this red devil arrived in our test fleet, we knew we’d be in for a good week. Having recently tested an M3 Sedan, we were eager to spend more time with BMW’s 414-horsepower V-8 bomber, and boy, did we enjoy it.
Click through the jump to read our impressions and click the images below to open a gallery.
Today’s episode of automotive institution Fast Lane Daily is even more in depth than usual, offering quick hitting commentary on the BMW M1 Homage, trouble for Porsche’s CEO, and a Korean super car fresh from Beijing. The good work our friends are doing at FLD isn’t going unnoticed either, as the site has just been nominated for a prestigious Webby award. Click through the jump below and show the kids some voting love.
If you’ve got an idea for Question of the Day, a funny photo for Caption It, or just want to share a news tip, let us know at windingroadtips@gmail.com
Maybe it’s because of the launch of the M1 Homage, or perhaps it’s because of the recent spate of M3s we’ve had in the office, but for some reason we’ve been a little-BMW happy lately. We thought that it’d be only appropriate then, that we spread the fever with a quick-hit gallery post about some of our favorites from recent news posts. Click on the links below to read about a few fine Bimmers (and one awesome Beemer) or hit the thumbnails for some gallery goodness.
To the uninitiated, it can be a little hard to understand the fierceness of the products that come form BMW’s M division. We think this recent commercial does a pretty good job of making the point. Good Dog.
If you’ve got an idea for Question of the Day, a funny photo for Caption It, or just want to share a news tip, let us know at windingroadtips@gmail.com
The Homage trades heavily on the iconic features of the original M1, while still incorporating enough new shapes and modern hotness to avoid looking even a bit “retro” (okay, maybe the louvered rear window is a little bit of a throwback, but you get the idea). BMW has done an especially nice job with the translation of the double kidney grille, incorporating it with the headlights and front intake in a blacked-out fascia that looks decidedly evil. We’re also huge fans of the new wave “cheese grater” wheels and the double roundels at the rear corners.
Have a look at the M1 Homage below and leave us your thoughts, in comments.
If you’ve got an idea for Question of the Day, a funny photo for Caption It, or just want to share a news tip, let us know at windingroadtips@gmail.com
So you’re Formula One driver Nick Heidfeld and you’ve been asked by your bosses to come out to the BMW factory in Munich and show off the new Sauber car for the plebes; what’s the one thing you’re sure to avoid doing? Watch the video above for the inevitable, and hilarious, answer to that question.
If you’ve got an idea for Question of the Day, a funny photo for Caption It, or just want to share a news tip, let us know at windingroadtips@gmail.com
WINDING ROAD readers seemed especially keen to know, with good reason, how our 2008 BMW M3 sedan compared dynamically to its M3 coupe stable mate. While that question is certainly a valid one, it’s a bit difficult to answer without doing a head-to-head comparison (our M3 coupe arrives when the sedan leaves, unfortunately), though many of the questions are touched on in our own Matt Davis’s excellent review of the sedan.
We can say that the M3 proved to be perfectly tractable while in low-speed traffic and offered strong acceleration in pretty much every gear, though the addictive engine sound high in the rev range often left us choosing the lowest ratio. Editor-In-Chief Chris Paukert averaged about 16 mpg in spirited driving, mostly on freeways, but claims 10-12 mpg (or even single digits) would be easily possible if the driver was given to speeding around town.
Click on the video above for a few more answers to reader questions about the M3 sedan and make sure to check back this Friday, when we post our next Ask It choice.
If you’ve got an idea for Question of the Day, a funny photo for Caption It, or just want to share a news tip, let us know at windingroadtips@gmail.com
That error is being rectified by a new rumor floating around the internets recently, which makes the claim that the Bimmer diesels will be headed our way sometime around mid-October of this year. BMW officials will only cop to a fall launch of the derv-burners, though they wouldn’t go so far as to deny the rumors either.
Whether it’s earlier or later than the October rumor, we think that the turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six diesel, good for a solid 425 pound-feet of torque, will be well worth the wait.
If you’ve got an idea for Question of the Day, a funny photo for Caption It, or just want to share a news tip, let us know at windingroadtips@gmail.com
As many WINDING ROAD readers are no doubt aware, our publication is lucky enough to have a constantly rotating set of fleet vehicles to help fuel our automotive adventures. And while we already utilize our press cars to bring you items like WR Fleet blogs and Quick Drives, we’ve always wanted to give our readers more of an active role in the process of exploring these daily drivers.
To accomplish this, we’ll be presenting you with one vehicle each week, and then asking for questions about the model. Want to know how many golf bags fit in the trunk of a Honda Accord Coupe, or how the Nav system works on a Hyundai Veracruz? Ask away. We’ll post short videos answering some of the more fascinating queries, and hopefully get to the bottom of what makes these cars good, great, or god awful.
Our first subject; the lovely and talented 2008 BMW M3 Sedan. 414 horsepower, four-doors, and six sweet speeds done the old fashioned way. We thought that the mighty M car would be a perfect way to kick this thing off. So let us know what you want to know, in comments.
If you’ve got an idea for Question of the Day, a funny photo for Caption It, or just want to share a news tip, let us know at windingroadtips@gmail.com
The 2009 S 1000 RR will be BMW’s first Supersport bike and helps to mark the company’s entry into the Superbike World Championship. Essentially a racing bike for the road, the S 1000 RR is powered by a 1.0-liter inline-four of as yet unspecified output. The company tells us that the powerplant will meet the power, performance, weight, and package requirements for a superbike in “typical BMW style,” which we take to mean that it’s quite fast.
BMW plans on building 1,000 examples of the bike in the first production run, which will be available for purchase by next year. Enjoy a browse through our S 1000 RR gallery below, or click through the jump to read von Kuenheim’s speech officially announcing the new sports bike.
Cadillac CTS-V Laps Nurburgring in Sedan Record 7:59:32
Opel Insignia Hatchback Spied Undisguised 
The Rise of Hyundai: From Mitsubishi Borrower to Possible M-B Supplier
First Look At Possible New MG TF
So Long Super Aguri: Financial Woes Cause Formula One Team to Call it A Day
