2002 Bmw M3 Base Convertible 2-door 3.2l 39,495 Miles,rare Color on 2040-cars

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BMW profit of $2.7B is down as automaker invests to keep luxury lead

Despite selling 6.6-percent more vehicles - a record by volume - and posting higher revenues in the second quarter of 2013, BMW Group's profit of 2.07 million euros ($2.75 billion) is down 8.8 percent from last year. Investments in new technology (e.g. the new i3) and personnel, in addition to a competitive market, are to blame, BMW states. But the automaker remains committed to its fiscal targets for 2013, which, Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG, Norbert Reithofer, says will be "on a similar scale to 2012."
The BMW brand's sales performance in the first half of the year, which increased by 7.7 percent to 804,258 vehicles delivered, was good enough for it to maintain its lead in the luxury market, narrowly beating Audi, which delivered 780,510 vehicles, Automotive News reports. Mercedes-Benz delivered 694,433 vehicles to cement third place.

2015 Morgan Aero 8 shows a host of upgrades to the Swiss crowds [w/video]

With over 1,250 units made, the Morgan Aero model line has been in production for 15 years – just a blink of an eye for the Morgan Motor Company. The automaker has been in business for over a century and has had a tendency to keep its vehicles in production for decades with frequent upgrades keeping them modern. At the Geneva Motor Show, the company is shaking up the range with a thorough revision for the 2015 Aero 8. Hidden beneath the vintage styling is an improved aluminum chassis with better torsional rigidity and an improved suspension setup. Power comes exclusively from a 4.8-liter V8 from BMW making 367 horsepower, and the Bavarian brand also supplies a new limited-slip differential to get power down at the rear. Buyers can choose between a six-speed manual and a six-speed automatic gearbox. At first glance, the latest Aero 8 bares all the hallmarks of Morgan's classic style with a long hood, prominent shoulders and short rear. The new version is exclusively available as a convertible, although, as these photos show, an optional hardtop is available. The aluminum body is also slightly altered with better aerodynamics up front, and the most obvious change comes at the rear where there's now a clamshell design. The interior also received a new, though still retro-looking dashboard design, and Morgan is touting its improved air conditioning system that reportedly works better in hot weather. Buyers wanting to eschew some of the supple leather inside can opt for a set of carbon seats, instead. With the introduction of the latest Aero 8, Morgan is ending production of both the Aero SuperSports and Coupe in April. Production of the new model then commences in the fourth quarter. Check it out on the Swiss show floor in the gallery above, and see the convertible in motion on some snowy British roads below. Introducing the new Morgan Aero 8 Over 1250 Aero platform cars delivered since 1st generation launch in 2000. New Aero 8 signifies return to soft top motoring within the current Aero range. Significant changes to the aluminium chassis, suspension and vehicle aerodynamics. Powered by a 4.8 litre V8 BMW engine producing 367bhp. Available with 6 speed manual or automatic transmission (with paddle shift). New Hand sculpted aluminium body and revised interior styling. Largest options list of any Morgan sports car to date. The Aero SuperSports and Coupe cease production in April 2015. Production begins during quarter 4 of this year.

BMW i8 and M1 reunited in mid-engined Bavarian retrospective

The BMW i8 may be the cutting edge today – it did, after all, just win our Technology of the Year award – but as rare an event as it is, it's not the first time that BMW has put out an extreme mid-engined supercar. The last time was in the late 1970s with the M1, a Giugiaro-designed, (partially) Lamborghini-developed piece of exotic machinery. The better part of four decades later, Auto Express has brought together an original M1 with its spiritual (if much more advanced) successor for the video comparison that was bound to happen. The question we can't help but ponder, initial sales success aside, is whether the i8 will mature into a classic in the same way the M1 has.