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Forget about greenlighting it, BMW is already testing the M2

One week ago, we reported, with some skepticism, that BMW had greenlit a car we've been waiting for since the 1 Series M Coupe was discontinued - the M2. Now, we have the first images of that new hotshot underoing testing in Germany.
What's our reasoning here? After all, this just looks like an M235i. Well, that camo is disguising swollen fenders designed to conceal wider tires. Now, these aren't production changes, and it's very likely that the eventual M2's fenders will look quite a bit different. According to our spy, the front fenders have been borrowed from the M235i Racing, while the rears are from an unknown source.
Our spies are also quick to point out a few other high-performance items on this mule. The cross-drilled brakes and blue M calipers are one such item, although we aren't sure how much they differ from the optional stoppers on the production M235i. The black wheels are borrowed from the M3 and M4, and are shod in what look like a sticky set of Michelin tires.

Next-gen BMW X3 caught in the cold

The BMW X3 might be getting a bit long in the tooth, but fans of the sporty CUV can rest easy knowing that Munich hasn't forgotten about it. The third-generation crossover was caught squeezing in some end-of-season winter testing by our trusty spy photographers. According to our spies, the 2017 X3, code-named G01, will be underpinned by a new modular platform that promises more space in the cabin and better visibility out. Beyond that, the next X3 will get a range of B-series engines; expect four- and six-cylinder options, as well as a plug-in-hybrid option (eventually). Our spies also report that BMW will finally offer some more performance-oriented options, starting with an X3 M40i and eventually expanding into a X3 M. Beyond the oily bits, it looks like the X3's looks are set to evolve, growing slightly compared to its predecessor. BMW's trippy camouflage, though, prevents a closer analysis of the next-gen CUV's styling. Check out our full gallery of spy shots to see what's coming for the X3.

Gus Van Sant casts the BMW i8 in soft light

BMW has spent the better part of a century building its reputation with fossil-burning transportation, but now it's banking heavily on the success of its new i family of electric vehicles. In order to succeed, it will need to sell examples of the i3, but sell the idea with the i8. And in order to do so, it is going to need some out-of-the-box promotional thinking. And that's just what it seems to have done with this latest campaign of television commercials.
The series of three (or at least that's how many have been released thus far) ads wax more poetic than most of the car ads we've seen. But while they might skimp on the technical details, they don't skip over the talent. The videos are the work of Oscar-nominated director Gus Van Sant, the cinematic artist best known for films like Good Will Hunting, Milk and Finding Forrester.
Van Sant has also solicited the voices of Sam Hazeldine (Caleb from Resurrection), Sting's daughter Mickey Sumner (Sophie from Frances Ha) and Michael Pitt (Jimmy from Boardwalk Empire), but doesn't hide them behind the microphone in the recording studio. Instead they serve as the face of Bavaria's new hybrid sports car, and the results are rather stunning. See for yourself in the trio of videos below.