The Vorsteiner GTRS3 is what happens when you put a lot of carbon fiber, an M3 and some Porsche tail badges in a blender with a dollop of Venom's symbiote as your solvent. Result: a stealthy post-apocalyptic performance milkshake on wheels.
Now point your finger at the picture. Just about everything other than the doors and roof has been replaced with a wide-body version of itself in carbon fiber (front fenders, skirts, rear fender extensions, etc.).
A hood is also available, along with a stainless steel exhaust. Wheel choices from Vorsteiner include forged V-308s (18/20 inches).
Only 100 wide-body GTRS3 kits are being sold worldwide, so this time when I say "Get them while they're around," I mean it. This looks like pure, de-glossed evil and I want one.
While BMW officials are keeping a tight lid on the possibility of an "M" or a "tii" version of the 1-Series Coupe, photographers are continuing to churn out spy shots and videos of camouflaged 1-Series Coupe prototypes testing on the road and the track.
This time we have a new video showing what appears to be a modified 1-Series partially wrapped in BMW's characteristic black and white camo, testing at the Nurburgring race track.
According to the grapevine, the M1, 135tii or whatever else BMW decides to name the car, will be powered by a modified version of the firm's twin-turbocharged straight six (and not the newer twin-scroll unit) pumping out somewhere around 350HP. If true, that's 44HP more than the 135i but 70HP less than the M3.
Since 1975, artists from all over the world have turned BMWs into art portraying a particular period through the Art Car program. Now, BMW is getting ready to present its 17th art car that will compete in this year's edition of the famed 24 Hours of Le Man.
The car of choice is the BMW M3 GT2 and the artist who will work on it is Jeff Koons.
The 45-year-old American artist, known for his chrome sculptures of banal objects among other unusual works, said that he collected images of race cars and graphics and vibrant colors, which he then layered into a digital collage that is spread all over the M3 GT2.
"These race cars are like life, they are powerful and there is a lot of energy," said Koons. "You can participate with it, add to it and let yourself transcend with its energy. There is a lot of power under that hood and I want to let my ideas transcend with the car – it's really to connect with that power."
Just as Roy Lichtenstein did in 1977, Koons will present the BMW M3 GT2 and sign it at the Paris Centre Pompidou on June 1, 2010, ahead of the car's racing debut at the 24Hours of Le Mans in mid-June.
California-based Dinan has put out their biggest-ever take on the BMW M3. The Dinanized bimmer is called the S3-R, and in place of the original 4.0 liter V8 is an engine that's been bored and stroked to 4.6 liters.
Up top, breathing is heavier thanks to a "Carbon Fiber High Flow Intake and bored out High Flow Throttle Bodies"; down low Dinan fits a free-flowing exhaust system that also makes use of pieces labeled "HIGH FLOW".
The decked-out Dinan M3 receives "new springs, front anti-swaybar, Carbon Fiber Front Strut Braces and Racing Rear Toe Links" while riding on relatively plain 19-inch one-piece wheels.
Now, what you've all been waiting for: it makes a naturally-aspirated 527 horsepower and 407 lb-ft of twist, and Dinan claims that it can crack 200 mph or 322 km/h. Damn.
Maximum Horsepower: 527 @ 7800 rpm Maximum Torque: 407 lb-ft @ 5200 rpm Suspension
Stage 3 Suspension System Includes: Performance Spring Set, Matching Front Bump-Stops, 28.5mm front anti-swaybar w/ urethane bushings, Front camber plates, Rear Upper Shock Mount Kit, Front Guide Supports
Carbon Fiber Front Strut Braces
Racing Rear Toe Link
Brakes
Dinan/Brembo Front & Rear Brakes with black calipers & slotted rotors
Dinan Options Wheels and Tire
Front Wheel: Dinan 19 x 9.5" Lightweight Forged Wheel Rear Wheel: Dinan 19 x 10" Lightweight Forged Wheel
Front Tire: 275/30-19 Michelin Pilot Sport II
Rear Tire: 295/30-19 Michelin Pilot Sport II
Accessories
Dinan Aluminum Pedal Pad Set
Dinan Deck Lid Badge
Dinan S3 Serial Numbered Plaque
Warranty
Matching New Car Warranty coverage up to 4 years/50K miles. Except on "Racing" parts.
It appears that everyone and their uncle are agreeing that this barn find, found in Swansea, England, is one of the best finds ever. While I'm more of a Boss '9 in Kentucky kind of guy, I'll agree that these low mileage rides are indeed quite cool.
In order of built-for-homologation badness, there's 1) a white 350+ horsepower AWD Ford RS200 road-going Group B rally car with 1,042 miles, 2) two first-gen E30 M3s - which, normally, would put out 195 horsepower - in red with 37 and 57 miles on them, and 3) a blue 232 horsepower Mercedes 190 E 2.5-16 Evolution II.
Both red racers and the Benz were built so BMW and Mercedes could compete in Group A Touring, while the RS200 was made street-able so Ford could put people into the rally ring during the hairy-chested Group B years.
No offense to Michèle Mouton fans, there, but she's manlier than most people reading (and writing) this.
Now point your finger at the picture. Just about everything other than the doors and roof has been replaced with a wide-body version of itself in carbon fiber (front fenders, skirts, rear fender extensions, etc.).
