Dinan Signature Series S3 BMW 550i
eBay Motors reviews the Dinan Signature Series S3 BMW 550i. The respectable tuner takes a standard BMW 550i and turns into a vehicle that could compete against the M5. The S3 upgrade package ups the power to 542 horsepower and 587 lb.-ft. torque, and delivering a top speed of 208 mph. In stock configuration, the twin-turbo V8 makes 400 horsepower, peaking from 5500 to 6400 rpm and 450 lb.-ft. from 1750 to 4500 rpm.
The factory twin-turbochargers were also replaced with larger units that create additional boost at high rpm and reduce intake heat and carbon fiber air intake ducts provide maximum airflow to a pair of high performance air-to-water intercoolers.
The company also spent significant time developing the Stage 6 Performance Engine Software that increases the power while maintaining the car’s reliability.
Here is an excerpt from their review:
Autocar Compares MINI Paceman JCW to BMW M135i
In reviewing the new MINI Paceman JCW, Autocar‘s Steve Sutcliffe came across a fact that seriously questions the wisdom of marketing people at BMW. BMW as you know owns MINI, and they decided to launch this car – probably the ugliest car of the year – with the same 29 grand price tag as the brilliant BMW M135i. What were they thinking of?
Granted, the BMW is not that much better looking than the MINI, but it is much more powerful, faster, and cooler, and it is just as well-equipped (in basic trim) and practical as that sad dog. MINI is probably counting on the brand’s quirky image to drive customers to the Paceman, but anybody who wants to spend 29 grand on a hot hatch and buy the MINI instead of the BMW must be checked for mental health.
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24 Hours of LeMons New York: The Winners!
On Friday, we inspected the 121 entrants to the first-ever There Goes the Neighborhood 24 Hours of LeMons, held at the Monticello Motor Club. On Saturday, we enjoyed a great Alfa-vs-Ford-vs-(Saab-engined) Nissan battle for the lead. On Sunday, the surviving cars battled for victory. Let’s see which teams went home with new trophies!
The winner on laps, believe it or not, was a Nissan 300ZX with a goofy Saab 900 Turbo engine swap. When we saw Rust In the Wind win in New Hampshire last year, we thought the team might be a one-hit wonder (having watched the Rust In the Wind guys struggle for two years to even finish a LeMons race), but they held off the Pro Crash Duh Nation Alfa Romeo Milano and won this race by a fraction of a lap.
My Rotary Diaries: An Owner’s Guide to the Mazda RX-8 Galaxy
“The RX-8 doesn’t just like a drink; it is the founding member of the AA institution for sports car engines”
Are you tired of my RX-8 reports yet? If you secretly nodded your head in agreement, then I have good news for you, because this will be the final one, in which I’ll try to recount the ups and downs of running Mazda’s last rotary sports car – until, hopefully, the next one comes up…
First of all, let me introduce you to the world’s first contemporary four-door coupe. The Mercedes-Benz CLS that supposedly invented the niche? It was launched a year later than the RX-8, which is a coupe and has four doors. True, the Merc and its clones are perched much higher in terms of pricing and none adopted the rear suicide doors that did without the B-pillar, but you get the point.
There’s nothing else like it on the market – period. Its powerplant shuns valves, pistons and conrods for ports and rotors and thus produces 228HP from a capacity of just 1.3 liters and a mad 9,500 rpm redline. I’ll admit, it suffers from a severe lack of low-end torque, but it revs so creamily and effortlessly that a chime has to remind you to change up before you hit the limiter.
This comes at a price. The RX-8 doesn’t just like a drink; it is the founding member of the AA institution for sports car engines. Yes, it really is that bad. No matter how gentle the right pedal is treated, a shocking 16-18 lt/km (15-13 mpg US) average in mixed use is common. Combine it with the 61–liter fuel tank and visits to gas stations are much more frequent than Lindsay Lohan’s to courts and rehab facilities.
On the bright side, it doesn’t get that much worse when it gets a good pasting. Thus, since the tank and wallet are draining at nearly the same rate regardless of speed, better to indulge in it. That’s what it was made for after all, right?
2013 New York: The 2014 BMW 3-Series Gran Turismo presents itself at the Javits Center
BMW first unveiled one of its latest 3-Series variants, known as the 3-Series Gran Turismo or GT, at this year’s Chicago Auto Show. Now, BMW sought the bigger New York moment by showcasing the 2014 BMW 3-Series GT at this year’s New York International Auto Show.
The 2014 BMW 3-Series GT follows the way of its older sibling, the BMW 5-Series GT, with an all-new sloping rear boot lid. In some ways, it reminds me of the old 1990s E36-generation 3-Series compact…and I’m not quite sure if that’s a good thing.
But still, I think the 2014 3-Series GT looks a lot better than the larger BMW 5-Series GT.
All the engine options from the standard 3-Series carry over to the 2014 BMW 3-Series Gran Turismo, which include BMW’s luscious 3.0L N55 twin-turbocharged straight-six good for 320hp and 300 lb-ft of torque, and BMW’s new 2.0L TwinPower turbocharged N20 four-banger good for 241hp and 258 lb-ft of torque.
For our full press recap, check it out after the jump.
All Photos Copyright egmCarTech © Chris Chin.
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LeMons Sears (Even More) Pointless: Even More Winners!
Because the track at Sears Point aka Sonoma Raceway can’t fit more than 175 or so LeMons cars at one time, many of the hundreds of applicants for the 2013 Sears Pointless 24 Hours of LeMons couldn’t be accepted for the race. What to do? Why, stay over through Monday and run a special one-day Sears (Even More) Pointless race, that’s what! This race featured all the same prizes as the full all-weekend-long race that preceded it, and that means we’ve got another set of winners.
Sears Point has always been hard on LeMons cars, with plenty of bent metal and obliterated engines. This jar of pickles flattened by an RV in the paddock sums up the condition of many of the cars after two or three days of racing.
Weber F1 FasterOne Specs Announced
Weber announced the specs and details of its latest F1 sports car, claimed to be the world’s fastest and lightest street legal four wheel drive supercar, and it’s called the FasterOne. That’s a relevant name, given the fact that Weber F1 boasts 1,200 horsepower and has a dry weight of just 1,250 kg.
Built by engineers coming from the former BMW and Sauber Petronas Formula 1 team, the Weber F1 is powered by a V10 engine boosted with two turbos and very large intercoolers. A power-to-weight ratio of 0.96 hp per kilogram, intelligent all-wheel drive and sophisticated aerodynamic properties are among this car’s highlights, and the main contributing factor to its exceptional performance.
The F1 goes from 0 to 100 km/h in 2.5 seconds, to 300 km/h in just 16.2 seconds and reaches a top speed of more than 400 km/h. Those numbers are on the par with the latest hyper cars from Ferrari, McLaren and Porsche.
Weber is also working on a KERS-enabled system based on this powertrain to make a 1,600 horsepower super car. The Weber F1 FAsterOne will be launched next month. It will be built to order at an undisclosed price.
