2008 Bmw 550 I on 2040-cars

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2013 Nissan GT-R and 2013 Alpina B6 mix it up on track and street

Here we have Autocar making an unforeseen comparison: the Nissan GT-R against the Alpina B6 at Brands Hatch and on public roads. Steve Sutcliffe clobbers the circuit in the 3,828-pound, all-wheel-drive sports car, then sees how well the 4,114-pound, rear-wheel drive grand tourer does against it.
Sutcliffe says there are quite a few similarities between the two cars, but that's really only on the spec sheet. The Nissan's got two turbos attached to its 3.8-liter V6, 542 horsepower and 465 pound-feet of torque. The Alpina's got two turbos attached to its 4.4-liter V8, 532 hp and 528 lb-ft. But one's brief is to be a monster on the track, the other on the boulevard, and if there's anything the video demonstrates, it's each car's focus.

BMW i8 customized by AC Schnitzer [w/video]

It may not enjoy the kind of factory support that Alpina does (let alone Munich's own M division), but as far as independent BMW tuners go, few have the kind of clout that AC Schnitzer does. Heck, it even won the DTM championship for BMW in its first year back in the series. And now the legendary Bimmer tuner has turned its attention to the i8. The list of Schnitzer's enhancements for the plug-in hybrid sports car is long, but perhaps wisely shies away from messing with the intricate powertrain. Instead the customization options focus on elements like the suspension, rolling stock, aero kit, and interior. AC Schnitzer has dropped the ride height by almost an inch at the front and 0.78 inches at the rear. It's fitted a set of 21-inch forged alloys with five split spokes and low-profile rubber to trim nearly ten pounds off the vehicle's unsprung weight while increasing its contact patch for better grip (albeit likely with higher rolling resistance). There's also a comprehensive rolling kit made of carbon fiber, including front spoiler elements, side skirts, and a rear wing that to our eye looks a little out of place on the i8, though individual customers may disagree. And the interior has been upgraded with aluminum pedals and velour floor mats. Of course customers will be able to pick and choose which elements they'd want to install on their hybrid vehicles, but you can check out the fully spec'd demonstrator in the high-resolution image gallery above and in the video below. (You just may want to turn down your speakers if you're not into German techno-pop.) Revolutionary Sporting Performance and Innovative Design The i8 by AC Schnitzer emphasises the strengths of the plug-in hybrid from Munich The BMW i8 is revolutionising its vehicle class as the first sports car to have the fuel consumption and emission values of a small car. Now thanks to AC Schnitzer, this revolution is being followed by another: the AC Schnitzer special equipment for the BMW i8 emphasises even more clearly the sporting performance and innovative design of the powerful, environmentally-friendly coupe. Lowered by 25 mm at the front and 20 mm at the rear, the i8 by AC Schnitzer hugs the tarmac more closely than the standard vehicle and can therefore develop maximum efficiency and dynamics on the road.

BMW working on 'FAST' CUV to slot between X1 and 2 Series

Our spy shooters have caught a new FAST BMW testing that's rumored to hit the market in late 2015. Sadly, the word fast in that last sentence isn't describing the car's performance; instead it's an acronym that stands for Family Active Sports Tourer. Talk about a case of false advertising.
Despite it's speedy name, the FAST doesn't look ready to set any Nürburgring lap records. It rides on BMW's modular, front-wheel drive UKL platform that underpins the current generation Mini Cooper, upcoming 2 Series Active Tourer and next X1. According to our spies, its design is supposed to blend the looks of a wagon and a CUV on the outside with a large, useful interior. Conceivably, it could be offered with the hybrid system from the 2 Series, as well.
The new prototype definitely shares the styling of its front-wheel-drive BMW siblings. Up to the A-pillar, it looks pretty similar to what we know about the future X1. But the FAST has a more arched profile and lower ride height compared to the crossover's chunkier, more conventional design.