2016 BMW M6 GTLM to Make Debut at Nov. 17-18 IMSA Daytona Test

BMW Team RLL will participate in the Nov. 17-18 IMSA test at Daytona International Speedway marking the first public test of BMW’s latest endurance racing challenger, the BMW M6 GTLM. As announced during last season’s Petit Le Mans weekend, BMW Team RLL is expected to campaign two M6 GTLM race cars in the 2016 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.

The M6 GTLM recently completed its first US test at Sebring International Raceway in late October along with a M6 GT3 machine that will provide the foundation for BMW’s worldwide customer racing program. 2015 season drivers Bill Auberlen, Dirk Werner and John Edwards participated at Sebring along with 2014 GTLM driver champion Kuno Wittmer, who has signed with BMW of North America to compete in the three endurance classics of the IMSA Championship – namely the Rolex 24 at Daytona, the 12 Hours of Sebring and the Petit Le Mans. Wittmer will also participate in the development of the new race car. At the Daytona test the drivers will be Auberlen, Edwards, Lucas Luhr and BMW DTM driver Bruno Spengler. Spengler raced the 2015 Rolex 24 At Daytona with BMW Team RLL.

The three-day Sebring test was a successful one and was also notable as it provided the opportunity for 2015 BMW Motorsport Junior driver Trent Hindman to test last year’s Z4 GTLM. The 20-year old proved to be a quick study and was rapidly up to speed in the No. 24 car after being briefed by BMW Team RLL driver John Edwards. Edwards co-drove with Hindman to the youngster’s 2014 Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge Grand Sport class drivers championship. Named as a BMW Motorsport Junior driver in 2015, Hindman raced twice in Europe with his Junior teammates. In October, one weekend after co-driving to the win at the season ending CTSC race at Road Atlanta in a BMW M3, Hindman co-drove to the victory in a BMW M235i Racing with his Junior teammates at the 12 Hour race in Brno, Czech Republic. Although not driving, Hindman will join BMW Team RLL to observe the Daytona test.

2016 will mark BMW Team RLL’s eighth season of successfully racing for BMW in North America. The M6 GTLM will be the third BMW model campaigned by the team. In the past seven seasons, racing first with the BMW M3 and then the Z4, the team has amassed 57 podiums, including 13 wins. The team finished second in last year’s GTLM class Manufacturer, Team and Drivers championships.

The 2016 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship begins with the 54th annual Rolex 24 At Daytona on January 30-31, 2016. Follow BMW Team RLL on Twitter at @BMWUSARacing for updates.

BMW at SEMA 2015

The Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) in Las Vegas is regarded worldwide as the leading trade show for customization and sports tuning. The new products presented at SEMA to trade experts influence the entire scene and set trends. At this year’s SEMA show, November 3- 6 2015, BMW is presenting a selection of distinctively sports-oriented BMW M Performance Parts to the trade fair audience. Located on the lower level of South Hall (Stand 40247), trade fair visitors will see a BMW M Performance modified BMW M4 Coupé as well as the first BMW M Performance Parts for the new BMW M2 Coupé.

BMW M4 Coupé with M Performance Parts –exterior.
The BMW M4 Coupé is regarded as the ultimate driving machine and the benchmark for sporty driving dynamics in its class. This is supported by its motor racing style appearance and can be further enhanced through the new BMW M Performance aerodynamic components. The front inserts in high-end carbon fiber (CFRP) and the BMW M Performance front trim grille in high-gloss black give the face of the BMW M4 Coupé an even more striking expression. The lateral BMW M Performance side sill attachments made of polyurethane (PUR) with the new “M Performance” inscription emphasize the dynamic elegance of the BMW M4 Coupé. BMW M Performance exterior mirror caps in carbon fiber finish, the lateral BMW M Performance side gills in high-gloss black in the M gill elements and BMW M Performance motor racing stripes applied to the body perfectly support the dynamic side view.

The rear of the car, a BMW M Performance carbon fiber diffuser with three strikingly shaped bars derived from motorsports and a newly designed BMW M Performance through-flow carbon fiber rear spoiler highlight the powerful rear section of the BMW M4 Coupé. The new “M Performance” inscription on the lateral end plates of the rear spoiler as well as the motorsports stripes on the spoiler constitute a further distinctive visual highlight.

These attachment parts, some elaborately crafted by hand, not only give the BMW M4 Coupé a distinctive and high-end appearance, they also provide a perfect match for the car’s highly expressive design. All BMW M Performance aerodynamic components are harmonized with the car’s airflow response, so they ensure optimized aerodynamic performance. The adjustable BMW M Performance coilover suspension likewise enhances sporty driving pleasure. The lowered suspension intensifies the distinctively sporty look of the BMW M4 Coupé as well as a more dynamic ride feel.

First BMW M Performance Parts for the new BMW M2 Coupé.
Not long after the world premiere of the new BMW M2 Coupé, BMW now presents BMW M Performance Parts at SEMA 2015 which were developed especially for this compact high-performance athlete. These include black gloss trim grilles with M specific twin trim bars for the front kidney grille elements, featuring trim ring surrounds which are likewise finished in black gloss. Black gloss trim bars are also available for the side M gill elements as well as BMW M Performance exterior mirror caps in carbon fiber. A BMW M Performance rear spoiler in carbon fiber finish, the newly developed BMW M Performance suspension and the sports exhaust with flap system for the new BMW M2 Coupé with tailpipe trim elements in carbon fiber are exhibited at SEMA for the first time. A BMW M Performance steering wheel with Alcantara cover and an open-pore carbon fiber trim element, a BMW M Performance gear selection lever complete with trim element for the M twin-clutch transmission, likewise in open-pore carbon fiber, a BMW M Performance center console combining carbon fiber and Alcantara and pedal covers in stainless steel are on display. Further details of BMW M Performance Parts for the new BMW Parts for the new BMW M2 Coupé will be available in Spring 2016.

BMW V10 powered Lotus Exige

The S85 V10 that propelled the E60 BMW M5 was more than enough engine for the two-ton M car. With 500 horsepower and 380 pound-feet of torque it could push the M5 from zero-to-60 mph in just over four seconds, and also give it a top speed of 205 miles per hour, once the electronic limiter was de-limited.

What if that engine were stuffed into a mid-engine car that weighed only 2,000 pounds; a car that could already do zero-to-60 in about the same time as the M5, but with half the M5’s horsepower?

https://www.bmwcca.org/news/video-bmw-powered-lotus-good-idea-or-waste-time