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Ring Taxi BMW M3 chases an Aventador SV and Cayman GT4

On paper, a BMW M3 that's loaded with three passengers probably shouldn't have a chance at keeping up around a track with a Porsche Cayman GT4 and a Lamborghini Aventador LP 750-4 Superveloce. In the real world, driver skill and track knowledge can make all the difference, though. And when the M3 is a Nurburgring Taxi with a driver that knows the course incredibly well, we end up getting a fantastic lap like this one. The 'Ring Taxi driver starts by teasing his passengers that they'll see whether the Lambo is fast. Before the two of them get on track, the GT4 cuts in to join the party. What follows is a fascinating lap of the Nordschleife. It's impressive how the BMW driver's skill allows him to keep up with the two other cars and blow past tons of other traffic. During faster sections, the Porsche and Aventador start to pull away, but as soon as the course gets curvy again, the M3 is right back in the action. As the group pulls back into the parking lot, even the Ring Taxi driver sounds impressed with his performance. See the impressive show in the video above. Related Video:

Translogic 153: 2015 BMW i8

The 2015 BMW i8 is the second model in the Bavarian automaker's eco-friendly i-branded lineup. The i8's plug-in hybrid powertrain combines a turbocharged 1.5-liter three-cylinder engine with a 96-kilowatt electric motor to make 357 horsepower and 420 pound-feet of torque. Together, this gas-electric mechanical duo is capable of propelling the groundbreaking carbon-fiber sports coupe from 0 to 60 miles per hour in just 4.2 seconds.
Join Translogic host Jonathon Buckley as he heads to Santa Monica, CA for a chance to drive the all-new BMW i8.

BMW previews new M6 GT3 racing prototype [UPDATE]

UPDATE: A previous version of this post specified the incorrect weight target for the M6 GT3. The text below has been updated with the correct information. BMW may not compete at the top level at Le Mans or in the World Rally Championship, it may have withdrawn from Formula One and shuttered the Formula BMW series, but it's not without its racing programs. Aside from the Minis that dominate the Dakar Rally, BMW fields the M4 in DTM, the M235i Racing in the BMW Sports Trophy and the Z4 in GT3 competitions around the world. But now it's preparing to launch a new GT3 racer based on the M6. Currently undergoing development, BMW has presented its new M6 GT3 prototype at its factory in Dingolfing, Germany. Based on the road-going M6 coupe, the GT3 retains its 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 engine with dry-sump lubrication, producing over 500 horsepower – which is actually less than the road-going model you can buy, but has to be restricted to meet FIA certification. At less than 3,000 pounds, it is a fair bit lighter than the production version, and promises to deliver blistering performance figures to whichever privateer teams buy one to enter in racing series around the world. The M6 GT3 is slated to hit the circuits next year, when it will join the lineup alongside the M6 coupe, M6 convertible and M6 Gran Coupe, to say nothing of the M6 safety car used in MotoGP. In a related development, BMW Blog reports that the Bavarian automaker is probing potential interest in bringing the M235i Racing to North America. The entry-level model in the BMW Motorsports range, the M235i Racing sells in Europe for the equivalent of $68,000. The next milestone: the BMW M6 GT3 is rolled out at the BMW premises in Dingolfing. 05.02.2015 Munich (DE), 5th February 2015. BMW's new figurehead for the GT racing scene has been given its first run: last Saturday, the test track on the premises of the BMW factory in Dingolfing (DE) provided the stage for the roll-out of the BMW M6 GT3, with which BMW teams will compete in national and international series, as well as at iconic endurance races, from 2016 onwards. The car left the garage for the first time at precisely 14:00 with Jorg Muller (DE) at the wheel. This gave the BMW works driver the honour of creating the next milestone in the development of the BMW M6 GT3. "This is a big moment for everyone who has worked so intensely and passionately on the development of the BMW M6 GT3 in recent months," said BMW Motorsport Director Jens Marquardt.