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BMW M3 and M4 CSL not in the cards

We aren't sure whether to file this one under "good news" or "bad news." BMW confirmed to Top Gear that there "are no plans" for lightweight versions of the new M3 and M4, in the same vein as the E46 M3 CSL (despite rumors to the contrary). The reason?
"There wasn't a CSL on the previous generation, and the way we look at it is like this: the CSL was great because it had this real focus on lightweight engineering. But we've already done that with these new cars. We've made them as light as possible - they come in under 1500 kilograms (3,306 pounds), which for a car like this is incredible," said Matt Collins, BMW's product manager for small to medium cars.
Now, as much as we love the idea of a hardcore version of any car, we appreciate BMW's point of view that the newest Ms are already as light and tough as they need to be. Collins elaborated, saying, "Rather than doing a halfway house to begin with and then rolling out a CSL, we thought we'd make the 'real' car as light as we possibly could. So we've no plans whatsoever to make a lighter, harder version just yet."

Next-gen BMW 7 Series options include 'Sky Lounge' roof, leather engine cover

When it comes to luxury and technology, the theme of the next-generation BMW 7 Series appears to be 'everything, everywhere.' Two of the new options joining what will be an extensive list are the Sky Lounge panoramic glass roof, said to be a nod going all the way back to the Concept 5 Series Gran Turismo showed off at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show. That is clearly about the light, but what about the leather? That's going to cover everything it seems, should the buyer choose. Auto Evolution says it's been told about a 3CM option code, which equates to a Leather Engine Cover. If it's offered, though, it won't be the first time BMW has done it, of a sort: the $10,800 Pure Impulse package on the BMW i8 wraps the engine cover in leather, but in the i8 the engine is in the rear, under the trunk floor, so we're really talking about a leather-floored cargo bay. No one knows yet what it would look like atop a conventional engine, and no one appears to have any clue, frankly, as to why it's even an option. The 7 Series will pack a bunch more besides within its new aluminum and carbon fibre platform and redrawn bodywork, the sedan is reportedly targeting a curb weight that's less than the current 5 Series. There'll be four sculpted seats in the cabin, with rear seats apparently offering the range of options available on the front seats, a redesigned iDrive system with a touchscreen LCD that reads gestures, wireless smartphone charging, Bowers & Wilkins audio instead of Harman Kardon, heads-up data sharing between passenger and driver via swipes, laser headlights and an i8-like key fob with limited self-parking functions. That's a serious goody bag of tech, which we expect to get our hands in at the Frankfurt Motor Show. Featured Gallery BMW 7 Series: Spy Shots View 9 Photos News Source: Auto EvolutionImage Credit: CarPix BMW Technology Luxury Sedan

There's no substitution for BMW's E30 Mmmmm3

If you told someone that you had a friend with a four-cylinder BMW who "would let me wash the car," and in exchange for the privilege then let you drive that clean BMW once around the block, your first question would probably be "What kind of BMW is this?" There's a chance you wouldn't be surprised once you found out the coupe in question was the E30 M3, a car our own Zach Bowman dubbed the "Mmmmm3."
Petrolicious talks to Gabor Mester about the car he fell in love with, a black version of the original "Munich mauler" that was owned by the parents of a high-school friend - oh, and Mester was also in high school when this washing and driving took place. When the original owners were ready to sell, Mestor was ready to buy, and he hasn't had a single regret about it since.
You can enjoy his story in his words in the video below.