BMW
Preview: 2016 BMW M4 GTS
While it’s not uncommon for manufacturers to take their standard high performance offerings and bump up the capability a bit more for a limited production special edition, the BMW M4 GTS looks to be something particularly interesting, dropping a substantial amount of weight, adding a healthy dose of power, and gaining some legitimately track-oriented uprated components that point toward the M4 GTS being the most potent road-going M car in the company’s history.
WRR TV: A Motor City Street Fight
Ride along with Christina Nielsen in the No. 7 Royal Purple/Orion Energy/LaSalle Solutions/PassTime USA TRG-AMR Aston Martin Vantage GT3 during GT/GTA Race 1 at Detroit’s Belle Isle street circuit on Saturday, May 30th, 2015.
WR TV: 2015 BMW 228i Convertible
This week we’re behind the wheel of the all-new 2015 BMW 228i Convertible. With BMW promising more cargo space, greater fuel efficiency and better performance than its 128i predecessor, our expectations are running high for this new sporty ragtop.
WRR TV: Instructional Laps Around COTA In A 2015 BMW X6 M
Ride along as BMW Factory Driver Bill Auberlen leads us on some very helpful instructional laps around The Circuit of The Americas in the 2015 BMW X6 M.
Your Next Race Car?
There are lots of interesting race cars out there, but only a few that check most of the boxes on the racer’s list of desirable qualities. In this installment of “Your Next Race Car?” we take a look at why 3 Series BMWs are becoming the next big thing.
Ten Cars to Buy Before They Shoot Up In Value
The collector car market is volatile, and putting the classic you’ve always dreamed of in your garage can become unrealistic in the blink of an eye. The Pininfarina-designed MG B GT, the iconic BMW 2002 and the timeless Citroen 2CV have all shot up in value in the past few years.
Gallery: BMW LMR V12
Take a look at these images of the German automaker’s only outright 24 Hours of Le Mans champion, courtesy of our friends at Motorsport Retro. Weighing in at just under a ton (1984lbs), it featured an offset driving position and a 60 degree, 5990cc normally aspirated V12 engine with around 580 horsepower. It was the BMW LMR V12, and in 1999 it was the champion of Le Mans.
WR TV: 1976 BMW 2002 – POV Test Drive
Even as their vehicles get larger and more complex, BMW has made a point of recalling the diminutive and beloved 2002 as a frame of reference for the inspiration behind cars like the new M235i. First sold in 1968, the 2002 was instrumental in establishing BMW’s reputation in the realm of compact sports sedans and coupes, and served as the predecessor to the 3-Series.
Rumors: 2015 BMW M2 Rendered, Specs Detailed
While the new M3 sedan and M4 coupe are highly capable on the racetrack and adept at handling daily driver duties, over the years, the steady increase in both physical size and price tags of those cars have caused some hemming and hawing from BMW fans who long for the simpler days of the 2002 and the E30 M3. But fear not, faithful enthusiasts – BMW has not forgotten about you. The M2 is coming, and it’s shaping up to be a very compelling option.
BMW Reveals M6 GT3 Race Car, Replaces Z4 GT3 for 2016 Season
The Z4 GT3 has enjoyed a fairly successful racing career since its debut in 2010, but it appears that BMW Motorsport is not content to rest on its laurels. Accordingly, the Z4 GT3 will bow out after the 2015 season to make way for the new M6 GT3, which will use a race spec version of the road-going M6’s 560 horsepower, 4.4-liter twin turbocharged V8, and will be available for customer teams to order next year.
Four Examples of How Memorization Can Work Against You On The Track
One problem I keep coming across in my coaching and driver education is “memorization.” By this I mean memorization as a replacement for understanding. I see a lot of drivers who have problems because they have been taught specifically to do something, but cannot explain why they are doing it. They’ve only memorized a technique. Or similarly, they are trying to imitate something they have observed, but without understanding why it’s being done. In driving, the “why” is just as important as the “what.”
Ten Cars from the 1980s That Every Enthusiast Should Drive
In the 1980s, automakers started turning towards high-tech electronic equipment like on-board computers and digital instrument clusters. Some companies went as far as designing software that actually talked to the driver if a door wasn’t fully closed or if the oil level was low. A lot of the driving aids that we take for granted today were born in the 1980s, even if they didn’t become widespread until much later.
WR TV: 2015 BMW M3 and M4 POV Track Tests
Back in June we headed out the Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin to give the new M3 sedan and M4 coupe a proper thrashing around the Wisconsin backroads and the Road America road course. While the weather proved somewhat uncooperative during our street testing, we were fortunate enough to see several hours of dry pavement during our time on track, giving us a chance to properly push the new M cars on this particularly fast course.
Rumor: BMW to Celebrate Centennial With i9 Supercar
For just about any industry, 100 year anniversaries are a rare occurrence, and hitting that milestone is certainly cause for celebration. For most auto manufacturers that typically equates to a special trim package or similar treatments applied to an already existing flagship model. But BMW, which is set to hit triple digits in 2016, is rumored to be cooking up something particularly interesting to mark the occasion.
Rumor: Hellcat Powered Dodge Charger SRT On the Way
Recently discovered SAE documents indicate that the 707 horsepower, supercharged 6.2-liter Hellcat motor used in the top spec 2015 Dodge Challenger SRT is also bound for at least one other engine bay in the Dodge lineup.
WR TV: 2014 Mini Cooper S
When we got a chance to take the new Mini Cooper and Cooper S for a spin around the back roads of Puerto Rico earlier this year, we were slightly disappointed to learn that our time in the S model would not include a third pedal on the floor. Fortunately, this week we’ve got our hands on the Cooper S with the six speed manual gearbox, which is connected to a twin-scroll turbocharged 2.0-liter inline four-cylinder engine that generates 184 horsepower and 201lb-ft of torque.
Race Class Profile: Spec E30
For those looking to get into some Bavarian wheel-to-wheel racing action, the Spec E30 race class is a fantastic option. Focusing on spec-built, second generation BMW 3-Series coupes and sedans, the Spec E30 class offers an alternative to Spec Miata and Spec Racer Ford classes for those looking to try something a bit different. With relatively low costs to build and run, along with the spec build requirements, Spec E30 rewards driver skill above all else
WR TV: 2014 Jaguar XF V6 Supercharged AWD
This week we’re taking a look at Jaguar’s mid-sized all wheel drive sports sedan. The XF has stiff competition in the segment from the likes of the BMW 5-Series, the Audi A6, and Mercedes Benz E-Class, but this cat’s claws might just be sharp enough to steal some sales from the established leaders.
25 Awesome Photos from the Brickyard Vintage Racing Invitational
Our friends at Motorsport Retro bring us this collection of fanastic images from last month’s inaugural Brickyard Vintage Racing Invitational at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, a massive vintage racing event held by the Sportscar Vintage Racing Association. The famed race track hosted more than 500 of the world’s finest and most historic racecars as they competed on the recently reconfigured road course as well as running exhibition events on the famed 2.5 mile oval.
WR TV: 2014 Volvo S60 T6 R-Design
Today we set our sights on this Swedish sports sedan from a brand that’s perhaps been best known for its focus on safety in the past, but now looks to be making a run at stealing some sales from Mercedes Benz and BMW’s performance divisions.
Winding Road’s Summer Reading List
Being the semi-literate individuals we are, when we’re not out at the track or hustling down our favorite backroads, the staff here at Winding Road have been known to read an occasional book or two when the urge strikes us. Summertime has a way of offering more time for such endeavors, be it through increased travel or simply carving out time to relax and enjoy the warm weather, so we thought we’d share a few of our favorite reads with you.
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