By Ben Schaffer

The Real JDM

Check this out. If you ever thought a BMW 1 series 4 door hatchback couldn’t be hardcore, you need to see this! Flossman in Germany has built this “M1 GTR” E87 1 Series.This thing is serious business. I’ve seen some super clean 1 Series BMWs out in Japan but nothing built to this level of hardcore racing.

Continue reading "Like Whoa: BMW 1 Series GTR Race Car" »

Talk about lucking out! This month, my two-year contract with Sprint expires—just in time to pick up a sexy new iPhone! I’m stoked! Anyway, here’s the news:

• The official line from Dearborn is that Ford has no plans to retire Mercury. But sources close to Blue Oval brass say that 2012 will be the last year for the formerly fleet-footed marque. Of course, if you believe the Maya calendar, there isn’t much point in planning beyond that year anyway. Inside Line
• There has been lots of speculation about Aston Martin’s financial future, and now it looks like the company might go public. While there are plenty of investors who’ve been burned by the storied British brand in the past, my gut says its future looks bright. Autoblog
• Once the engine starts in Jaguar’s new XF, the four vents on the dash open, and it looks pretty cool. But just what’s the purpose of the performance? According to Jag, it’s all about style points. Seriously. AutoWeek
• BMW’s new 1-Series has been spotted in the wild, and personally, I don’t think it’s all that hot. It kind of looks like the product of a bigger Bimmer and an Austin cab, and not in a good way. Winding Road
• Would you like to ride behind the Stig while he pilots at two-seater Grand Prix car around Silverstone? Of course you would. So head over to Top Gear and for all the details on the show’s latest contest. Top Gear
  

It’s just me and Sean today. John is still in Florida and it’s Jen’s birthday so she took the day off. Happy birthday Jen! Now, here’s the news:

• Two Comcast employees were street racing their vans when they hit another car and left a three year old in a coma. Jalopnik.
• Convertible sales were down across the board in 2007. Sales of convertible Mustang alone dropped 33%. Autoblog.
• With gas prices on the rise, used Geo Metros are starting to fetch some serious money. Left Lane News.
• A test mule for the next-generation BMW 1-series hatch has been spotted running around Germany. Maybe we’ll get this one in the States in 2011. Motor Authority.

A lot of cars pass through our hands on a weekly basis thanks to the various press pools. Call it one of the perks of the job. Recently, however, the arrival of one car caused work to nearly come to a standstill as everyone headed to the parking lot to check it out. The machine: the new BMW 128i convertible. Based on the impact it had with our sometimes jaded crew, BMW might very well have a hit with this one. Can’t wait until the 135i shows up next week.

I’m going to go out on a limb here: even though Dexter is cool, I generally don’t like serial killers. But I’m still conflicted about the tactics Dayton Beach police are using in the hunt for a local monster. They’re taking DNA samples from motorists stopped for minor traffic violations, and while I hope they catch this psychopath pronto, I can’t say I’m comfortable with the government keeping a database of people’s genetic code. Am I wrong? Anyway, here’s the news:

• Ferrari makes some of the most beautiful machines on the planet. But if these spy shots prove anything, it’s that automotive camo can make even a Prancing Horse look ugly. Quattroruote via Fast Lane Daily
• The 1-Series might be coming just in time, as sales of BMWs slid 4.1% in January. Are consumers starting to get nervous about shelling out for pricey cars? Detroit News
• Higher fuel prices and more greenhouse gases might not be the only results of the uber-cheap Tata. In anticipation of the launch, India’s market for used cars is collapsing. Winding Road
• Ford just introduced a system for their trucks which will allow people to instantly know whether all  their tools are on board. Good job guys, now how about making one make one for my keys? The New York Times

I’m predicting 2008 is gonna be a great year for gearheads. Why? Cause a ton of cool cars will be hitting dealer lots. Here’s my list of the ten hottest cars for 2008 (and this is our last year-end top ten list, I promise).

1. Nissan GT-R. ‘Nuff said.

2. Dodge Challenger. Though I still have to see it in person.

3. Tesla Roadster. Ignore the doubters and the haters.

4. Mustang Bullitt. Worth it just for the Dark Highland Green.

5. Corvette ZR1. The Veyron is silly–this is a real supercar.

6. Impreza WRX STI. Sure, it won’t win any beauty contests, but it’s better than ever.

7. Mitsubishi EVO. Might not please the purists, but this is a much improved car.

8. BMW 1-Series. Long live the 2002.

9. Chevy Malibu. Does Detroit finally have a Camry beater?

10. Pontiac G8. V8, RWD, good looks and under $30k–what else do you want? 

Man, those Germans are clean, efficient and high tech as hell. But is it just me, or does the whole thing feel kind of soulless?

A guy over at 1addicts.com scanned in the official US brochure for the new BMW 1-series. Too much expensive (and heavy) standard equipment for my tastes, but anyway. Check it out.

I grew up with a BMW 1600 (the predecessor to the 2002) and as much as I like and admire the 3-series, over the years the ultimate yuppie machine has gotten farther and farther away from BMW’s enthusiast roots. I’ve long thought BMW should bring back the 2002, and finally, they are–kind of. They’re not using the 2002 name, and they’re not incorporating retro styling, but they are building a lighter, smaller, more affordable RWD car. The funny thing is that the new 1-series is actually about as big as the e36 3-series, so in my mind it could still be a bit smaller. And cheaper. And better looking. But still, I’m really looking forward to seeing and driving these cars when they come to the US this spring. Go to Autoblog to get a closer look at the car BMW brought to the Frankfurt show.