The first generation changed the motoring world, now 30 years later, BMW launches the 30th anniversary M3 model.

With the launch of the first generation of the BMW M3 in 1986, the BMW M GmbH, operating under the name BMW Motorsport GmbH at that time, revolutionized the sports car as it was built first and foremost for performance. The original M3 was developed as a homologation special to enter the World, European and German Touring Championship (DTM) racing. 

It was very successful in its time and is still considered as one of the purest high performance street legal sports coupes. To mark the 30th anniversary of this automotive icon, 500 “30 Jahre M3” (30 Years M3) special editions will be produced, of which 150 units will reach U.S. shores.

The limited edition is available with a manual transmission for $83,250 plus Destination and Handling or with Dual-Clutch transmission for $86,150 plus Destination and Handling.

A legendary color Macao Blue metallic for an exclusive model. As a tribute to the first generation of the BMW M3, the anniversary edition “30 Jahre M3” is built in the exclusive BMW Individual exterior color Macao Blue metallic, which once celebrated its premiere in Europe as an option for the last and most powerful version of the first generation of the Sport Evo BMW M3. 

Combining the uncompromising driving dynamics of the Competition Package with unique exclusivity of stylish details from BMW Individual, the limited edition also features BMW Individual Full Merino Leather in bi-color Black/Fjord Blue with color-matching contrast seams. 

BMW Individual High-gloss Shadow Line with enhanced features such as the kidney frame, rear M3 designation and Sports exhaust system with black chrome tailpipes highlight the model’s sporty but elegant stance on the road.

“30 Jahre M3 1/500” badging.

Highlighting the unique and limited production, special “30 Jahre M3” logos embellish the interior. 

Exclusively designed M gills bear the logo as well as the doorsill finishers, interior trim finishers in carbon fiber with Black Chrome accents and the embroidered front headrests. Additionally, M sports seats with woven-in BMW M stripes enhance the sporty interior ambience. 

Performance meets power.

The Limited Edition comprises an increase in engine output by 19 hp to 444 hp and 406 lb-ft. Also included in the Competition Package is the Adaptive M suspension, which has been comprehensively aligned to the increased performance. 

Optimized features also include new springs, dampers and stabilizers, modified characteristic curves of the three modes Comfort, Sport and Sport+ as well as a correspondingly modified standard Active M differential on the rear axle and new Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) feature settings. 

Moreover, the Competition Package of this special edition model includes 20-inch forged Light Alloy wheels with 666 M star spoke design and mixed Performance Tires (front: 265/30 R20, rear: 285/30 R20).

All of these measures lead to a noticeable increase in performance. The BMW M3 “30 Jahre M3” with optional 7-speed M double clutch transmission sprints from 0 to 60 mph in just 3.8 seconds and 4.0 seconds with manual transmission.

U.S. market models only.

All 150 U.S. models will be equipped with the Driver Assistance Plus Package which includes safety features such as Active Blind Spot Detection, Active Driving Assistance, Side and Top View Cameras and Speed Limit Information. 

Additional equipment includes the Executive Package, which includes Head-up Display and provides additional comfort with the Heated Steering Wheel, Rear View Camera, Heated Rear Seats, Park Distance Control, Wireless Charging. Also included are Adaptive Full LED lights and Automatic High beams.

The BMW “30 Jahre M3” Limited Special Edition “will be available at selected dealers beginning in August, 2016.

This years Silverstone Classic will be bigger, better and more fuel filled than ever before. This is a must go to event.

• Biggest ever historic touring car extravaganza
• Bumper-to-bumper race action from Minis to Super Tourers
• Exciting new grid featuring Capris, Rovers and BMW M3s
• Big Bangers return to complete spectacular showcase 

Next summer’s Silverstone Classic is all set to break yet more records with its biggest ever line-up of spectacular touring car race action.

For the first time in history, the packed programme at the world’s biggest classic motor racing festival will feature no fewer than four separate touring car grids, providing fans with hitherto unseen levels of epic bumper-to-bumper entertainment. Adding to the appeal, all four grids will be included on the final day’s schedule under the evocative and exciting ‘Tin-Top Sunday’ banner.

Both U2TC and Super Touring races are already strong fans’ favourites at the Classic and continue to go from strength-to-strength. The former is for pre-1966 under two-litre cars and features Alfa Romeo GTAs, BMW TiSAs, Lotus Cortinas and hordes of giant-killing Mini Coopers. The latter is from a more recent era, putting the spotlight on the high-tech tourers from the nineties when, for many, saloon car racing reached its absolute zenith.

Adding some Yankee V8 thunder to the bill, the Big Engined Touring Cars also make a welcome comeback. The mighty American muscle cars from the sixties were last out in 2014 as part of the Ford Mustang’s memorable 50^th birthday celebrations.

While these three grids return by popular demand, the fourth is a never-before-seen new addition, ensuring the full spectrum of dazzling touring car history is included on the unprecedented Tin-Top Sunday racecard.

The Historic Touring Car Challenge (HTCC) was launched back in 2011 by Motor Racing Legends (MRL) and revives the heydays of the British and European Touring Car Championships from the seventies and early eighties. 

It was the golden Group 1, Group 2 and Group A era that spawned such racing icons as the TWR Jaguar XJS, Rover Vitesse, BMW CSL and Dolomite Sprint – not forgetting the evergreen Ford Capri which dominated the BTCC between 1976 and 1981. 

Such was the interest in the new series that entries were quickly extended to include further cars from the late sixties.

Now, as the HTCC prepares to make its eagerly anticipated Silverstone Classic debut in 2016, the regulations have been widened still further to include non-turbo cars right up to 1990. While not catering for the fearsome Sierra Cosworths which will remain among the Super Tourers, newcomers such as the BMW M3, Golf GTi and Astra GTE will be permitted to enter the fray.

“Featuring so many great cars from such a great era, the HTCC has already gained a huge fan base among both competitors and spectators,” said MRL Chairman, Duncan Wiltshire. “Its arrival on the coveted Silverstone Classic programme is yet more proof of its spiralling popularity, and the further widening of eligibility is certain to produce an incredible grid well worthy of this landmark occasion.”

The HTCC’s debut on Tin-Top Sunday at the Silverstone Classic will come in the guise of a 40-minute showdown on the full Grand Prix circuit with a compulsory pit-stop and optional driver change adding to the retro drama.

“Right from its very early days, touring car racing has always been a massive hit with the British public and that’s why we have created this very special Tin-Top Sunday,” explained Nick Wigley, CEO of Goose Live Events, the company responsible for the Silverstone Classic. “By adding the flourishing HTCC to our more familiar U2TC, Big Banger and Super Touring grids, Tin-Top Sunday will live up to its star billing as the biggest and best celebration of touring car history ever seen at the Classic. There really will be something for everyone.”

Fans wanting to experience Tin-Top Sunday can take advantage of Early Bird tickets now on sale for the 2016 Classic, offering significant savings of up to 17 per cent. There is also the all-new Family Ticket available for 2016 – this includes camping for two adults and two children across the whole weekend and gives a discount of more than 20 per cent on advance tickets if bought individually.

Full details of all tickets (which must be purchased in advance) – as well as hospitality packages and weekend festival camping – can be found on the event website at: www.silverstoneclassic.com. 

BMW X5 takes the title of most stolen for the SIXTH year running, not an award I would want to have.

But 4x4s Prove to Be a Popular Target for Thieves in 2014 Reports TRACKER

As owners of new cars take delivery of their latest pride and joy this March plate change, stolen vehicle recovery expert TRACKER is putting the spotlight on thieves’ top targets.  According to the latest figures from TRACKER (part of the Tantalum Corporation), the BMW X5 is still the favourite among car crooks, topping its most stolen and recovered table again 2014 for the sixth year in a row.

Last year TRACKER recovered over £11 million worth of stolen vehicles and returned them to their owners. The average value of cars stolen and recovered in 2014 increased by over 8%, hitting £25,600, compared to £23,600 in 2013.

For the past three years, BMW models have dominated the top 10, but 2014 saw an increase in the range of Mercedes and Jaguar Land Rover marques being stolen and recovered.  The BMW M3 moved down from second place to sixth, in 2014, whilst the Mercedes C Class moved up a place to take the number two slot.

The Range Rover Sport jumps four places, up to third position and the Land Rover Discovery makes a new entry at fifth, suggesting that 4x4s were in big demand for organised crime gangs 2014.

Whilst Porsche enjoyed year-on-year new car sales growth in 2014, it dropped out of the TRACKER Top Ten most stolen and recovered league table completely; it sat at ninth place in 2013 with the 911.

“The 2014 figures illustrate that prestige models continue to catch the eye of thieves, but the average value of stolen cars we recovered was just £25,600, suggesting that older models of prestige cars could be just as attractive to criminals as newer models, ” explains Andy Barrs, Head of Police Liaison at TRACKER. “Interestingly, the number of vehicles that are being stolen without keys has steadily risen over the last few years, accounting for 43% in 2014. We believe this is down to the growth in car hacking where criminals target keyless vehicles by bypassing their security systems, using technology they’ve bought on the internet.

“Indeed, experts, such as Thatcham Research have warned that as keyless security systems become commonplace in cars, the skills to bypass these will be widely practiced by most criminals and in turn, lower value keyless vehicles will be equally at risk. We recommend that car owners invest in an added layer of security by using tracking devices that harness the latest technology.”

TRACKER is the only provider of stolen vehicle recovery systems which bring together GSM, GPS and VHF technology.  This powerful combination offers motorists the most effective safeguard against theft, even in the event of its GPS failing as a result of signal ‘jamming’ by the more discerning criminal.   

The units work like an electronic homing device. A covert transmitter is hidden in one of several dozen places around the vehicle. There is no visible aerial, so the thief won’t even know it’s there. Unlike other tracking systems, the device works even if the vehicle is hidden in a garage or taken abroad. TRACKER is the only vehicle tracking system operated by all police forces in the UK, offering car owners the ultimate in security. 

TRACKER’s Top Ten Most Stolen and Recovered

	2013	2014
Top ten cars by make and model most frequently stolen and recovered	1. BMW X5 2. BMW M3 3. Mercedes C Class 4. Audi S4 5. BMW M5 6. BMW 3 Series 7. Range Rover Sport 8. Range Rover Vogue, Audi S3 = 9. Mercedes E Class, BMW 5 Series, Porsche 911 =	1.   BMW X5 2.   Mercedes C Class 3.   Range Rover Sport 4.   Mercedes Benz E Class 5.Land-Rover Discovery 6.   BMW M3 7.   Range Rover Vogue 8.   Audi RS4 9.   Mercedes Benz ML 10. Mercedes Benz C63

SOUTH AFRICA - AutoWeek magazine awards the Alfa 4C as its Drivers Car Of The Year 2015

South African newspaper AutoWeek has voted the Alfa Romeo 4C as its Drivers car of the year for 2015.

The 4C emerged victorious over a group of finalists including fourteen new performance-oriented cars launched in the past year and subjected to to an intensive three-day shootout on the road and around a secret test track to ascertain which of those was the most pleasing to drive.

AutoWeek’s Drivers car of the year split the fourteen finalists into three groups: hot hatchbacks, sedans and sportscars to determine a winner of each group; with each winner going through to the podium and the final shootout.

The podium saw the Volkswagen Golf R emerging as AutoWeek’s Drivers hatchback of the year, the BMW M3 selected as the AutoWeek Drivers sedan of the year and the Alfa Romeo 4C chosen as the AutoWeek Drivers sports car of the year.

A further shootout between the three saw the Alfa Romeo 4C emerge as the overall AutoWeek Drivers car of the year 2015.

“None of its rivals came close to 4C’s charm and allure, its cheeky, busy noise and a feeling you will only otherwise get inside a Ferrari 458,” AutoWeek editor Michele Lupini reported.

“But when you take it out on a racetrack and drive it to the absolute limit, there is nothing that comes near. The 4C was the only car that was still beckoning for more – taunting us to seek out the limits.

“This is Drivers car of the year, so a less than genteel entrance or exit to or from a slightly crab-like driving position, or a little extra leather lining make little difference; as much as a questionably sculpted centre console corner and a lack of ultimate build quality don’t really matter either.

“What does matter is how this Alfa Romeo talks to the driver, how you feel when driving it – especially at the limit and how it performs and behaves on the road,” Lupini concluded. “And this little Alfa does all that brilliantly.”

AutoWeek newspaper is on sale as usual throughout South Africa from Thursday 18 December and is also available as a digital issue