Design Crafts a Styling Package for New BMW 3-Series Sedan

While not widely known in the BMW tuning world, 3D Design has made a name for itself over the past few years in its home market of Japan. This time, 3D Design has turned its attention on the new BMW 3-Series sedan (F30) with the unveiling of a styling package that will go on sale early next month.
The body kit includes a front apron, boot lid and roof spoilers, and a rear apron, with the tuner adding a gloss black finish to the BMW double kidney grilles and air vents, as well as new exhaust pipes.
The stance of the 3-Series is made even sportier with a set of black alloy wheels wrapped around in low profile sports tires.
3D Design said that it will release more details on the package, including information on the interior upgrades, closer to launch.

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BMW M3 Coupe

German styling house Cam Shaft has wrapped up (literally) work on its latest project car based on the current generation of the BMW M3 Coupe. Being a company that specializes on car wraps, the highlight of Cam Shaft's M3 tune is the mat space-gray metallic foiling that costs €1,785 (US$2,230, including 19 percent VAT/Tax) for the body and an extra €715 (US$890) to cover other visible areas of the coupe such as the door and cabin surrounds.
Cam Shaft didn't stop there, however, as the tuner has also added a new front bumper with a protruding central air vent and larger side air inlets from Racing Dynamics, side skirts from Hamann Motorsport and 19-inch BBS alloy wheels wrapped around 245/35ZR19 rubber at the front and 265/35ZR19 at the rear.
Other available extras include an Akrapovič stainless steel exhaust system with 100 cell cats, a sports suspension plus carbon-fiber trim parts and aluminum pedals for the interior.

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BMW 328i Saloon to the ASC3 Turbo with 291-Horses

We won't have to wait until the Geneva Motor Show's grand opening on Tuesday to find out what AC Schnitzer has in store for us, as the German tuner of all things BMW related has published details on its first take on the new 3-Series sedan. The tune is based on the 328i, which in stock form is fitted with a 2.0-liter turbocharged four churning out 240hp and 350 Nm (258.1 lb-ft), allowing for a zero to 100km/h (62mph) sprint time of 5.9 seconds and a limited top speed of 250km/h (155mph).
An ECU upgrade and a sports exhaust system ring up those numbers to 291hp (295PS) and 410Nm (302 lb-ft) and as a result, reduce the 0-100km/h acceleration time to 5.7 seconds. Maximum speed continues to be electronically governed at 250km/h.
AC Schnitzer then adds a sports suspension kit while offering buyers a selection of alloy wheel designs in sizes from 18- to 20-inches.
Other available options include an AC Schnitzer front spoiler, chromed front grille, rear roof spoiler, rear spoiler and rear skirt extension, complemented by designer stripes, while the interior of the car can be upgraded with an aluminum trim kit for the dashboard, pedals, foot rest and the "i-Drive" controller.
The entire contents of the package will be available for order this summer.

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BMW Reveals 2013 M6 Coupe and Convertible with 560HP Bi-Turbo V8

The famous M badge returns to BMW's 6-Series range with the official unveiling of the new M6 Coupe and Convertible models ahead of their world premieres at the Geneva Salon in March and the New York Auto Show in April respectively. Not surprisingly, at the heart of the M6 lies the same 4.4-liter V8 engine with two twin-scroll turbochargers found in the latest M5 sedan with the internal designation S63Tü.
Just as it does in the M5 saloon, the eight-cylinder unit produces an output of 560-horses (412kW) between 5,750 and 7,000 rpm, and a peak torque of 680Nm (502lb-ft) between 1,500 and 5,750 rpm. BMW also tells us that the rev limiter intervenes at 7,200 rpm.
All that power is transferred to the road through a standard 7-speed M-Double Clutch Transmission (M-DCT) and BMW's Active M Differential which optimizes power transfer between the rear wheels. Down the line, the Bavarian automaker may also offers a 6-speed manual gearbox in the United States like it did with the new M5.
In terms of performance, the 0-100km/h (62mph) sprint comes in 4.2 seconds for the M6 Coupe and 4.2 seconds for the Convertible, while the 200km/h (124mph) mark is reach in 12.6 seconds for the Coupe and 13.1 seconds for the Convertible. The top speed of both models is electronically limited to 155 mph (250 km/h), or 189mph (305km/h) with the extra M Driver's package.
Despite the improved performance over the previous V10 models (+10% power, +30% torque), BMW says the new V8-powered M6 models consume roughly 30% less fuel at 9.9 lt/100km (28.5 mpg UK / 23.8mpg US) for the Coupe, and 10.3lt/100km (27.4 mpg UK / 22.8mpg US) for the Convertible in the combined EU driving cycle.
BMW says it has applied several weight saving measures to compensate for the new M6's larger exterior dimensions. These include the Coupe's roof that's made from carbon fibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP), while the doors and bonnet of both modelss are made from aluminium, and the front side panels from thermoplastic. In addition, their boot lids, and in the case of the Convertible, the roof cover as well, are made from the glass-fibre composite material SMC (Sheet Moulding Compound).
Nonetheless, the M6 Coupe tips the scales at a hefty 1,850 kg (4,078lbs) and the Convertible, at an even worse 1,980kg (4,365 pounds).
BMW M engineers have honed the standard 6-Series chassis that gets a specially tuned suspension, an M-specific Servotronic speed-sensitive power steering with three settings and a more powerful braking system with 15.7 inches (400 mm) rotors and six piston calipers at the front and 15.6 inches (396 mm) at the rear.
For the first time ever, BMW will offer optional M Carbon-Ceramic brakes available exclusively with 20-inch wheels, which are said to be 42.8 lb (19.4 kg) lighter than the standard brakes.
The M6 models are fitted as standard with 19 inch M specific light alloy wheels shod in 265/40 R19 "ultra-high performance" summer tires in the front and 295/35 R 19 tires at the rear. 20-inch wheels are offered as an option.
On the outside, the M6 get a rather subtle aero package comprising new front and rear bumpers, side skirts, and a rear diffuser housing four chromed tailpipes. Up front, there's also a newly designed M kidney grille, which bears an “M6” badge as a homage to the first generation M6, while the 30 millimeter (1.2 inch) increase in track width is complemented by flared wheel arches.
Inside the cabin, BMW has equipped the flagship models of the 6-Series with M-specific sports seats, steering wheel, instrument panel gauges, gearbox lever and trim.
In the U.S., the Convertible will arrive first in June followed a couple of months later by the Coupe.

BMW M6 Coupe:
Acceleration [0 – 100 km/h (62 mph)]: 4.2 seconds,
acceleration [0 – 200 km/h (124 mph)]: 12.6 seconds,
top speed: 250 km/h (155 mph), 305 km/h (189 mph) with
M Driver’s Package,
average fuel consumption: 9.9 lt/100 kilometres (28.5 mpg UK / 23.8mpg US),
CO2 emissions: 232 g/km, exhaust standard: EU5.
BMW M6 Convertible:
Acceleration [0 – 100 km/h (62 mph)]: 4.3 seconds,
acceleration [0 – 200 km/h (mph)]: 13.1 seconds,
top speed: 250 km/h (155 mph), 305 km/h (189 mph) with M Driver’s Package),
average fuel consumption: 10.3 lt/100 kilometres (27.4 mpg UK / 22.8mpg US),
CO2 emissions: 239 g/km, exhaust standard: EU5.

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