Automedont

The M1 was the first car that was produced by BMW Motorsport. You can read in Wikipedis that the BMW M1 was a sports car that was produced by German automaker BMW from 1978 to 1981. In the late 1970s, Italian manufacturer Lamborghini entered into an agreement with BMW to build a production racing car in sufficient quantity for homologation.[1][2] The result was sold to the public, from 1978 to 1981, as the BMW M1. It was the only mid-engined BMW to be mass produced. It employed a twin-cam M88/1 3.5 L 6-cylinder petrol engine with Kugelfischer mechanical fuel injection. A version of this motor was later used in the South African version of the BMW 735i, of which 209 examples were built between 1984 and 1986, as well as the E24 BMW M6/M635CSi and E28 BMW M5. The engine had six separate throttle butterflies, four valves per cylinder and produced 277 PS (204 kW; 273 hp) in the street version, giving a top speed of 260 km/h (160 mph). Turbocharged racing versions were capable of producing around 850 hp (634 kW).

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A BMW 1 Series Coupe, tweaked by the company’s M-Technik division, is reportedly under development for UK release in mid-2011. Destined to slot beneath the M3 Coupe, the smaller 1 Series Coupe is said to feature a modified twin-turbocharged six-cylinder packing 350 horsepower. The aluminum engine will be mated to a standard six-speed dual-clutch gearbox with an electronically-controlled rear M differential. With a curb weight of just over 3,300 pounds and easily making more than 310 lb-ft of torque, the newest M-car will breeze past 60 mph in well under five seconds without breaking a sweat (for comparison’s sake, BMW claims the 135i takes 5.2 seconds but publications like Car and Driver have hit 60 mph in the 4.7-second range)

The 1 Series Motorsport variant will reportedly retain the current car’s standard MacPherson struts up front and the multi-link rear configuration, but the division’s engineers have fitted firmer springs and dampers (and new bushings) to improve handling. Lightweight 18-inch alloy wheels complete the hardware package. Cosmetically, the so-called “M1″ will wear an M division body kit with a new front spoiler, flared wheel arches, larger side sills, a rear spoiler and an aggressive rear valance with four M-signature chrome exhaust tips.

The name is still not finalized. Understandably, BMW is hesitant to quickly slap the “M1″ label on the rear decklid as that name originally adorned the company’s legendary road supercar in the late 1970s. Destined to become the M division’s most affordable model, we really don’t care what BMW calls it… just send it to our shores.

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Sauber revealed a new red logo and name (Sauber Motorsport) that indicated an official change.

But when asked why ‘BMW’ is still part of Sauber’s official name, boss Peter Sauber told Switzerland’s 20 Minuten: “It’s very simple.

“We enrolled last summer with that (BMW) name for the 2010 season and it is still our name.

“We have not yet made an application to change it, and the timing of that is still open,” Sauber added.

It has been reported this week that Sauber’s new C29 car is perhaps the best of all in terms of tyre wear, but the 66-year-old is not getting carried away in the days before the Bahrain season opener.

“I’ve said it many times: interpreting the results of testing is like reading tea leaves. After all these years I have become quite cautious,” said Sauber.

David Wilkins has complited the list of 10 Best Luxury Cars saying that such interest might look like a sin in these straitened times but what we have to do if the life is going on like a show and loving perfect toys will never arouse any suspicion from the side real men. What about pictures you can find tem by yourself easily.

Volkswagen Phaeton

The Phaeton is a wonderful car but that hasn’t persuaded many people to buy it. Put a Volkswagen badge on a small runabout like the Polo and that will enhance its chances in the market; put it on a big luxury car such as the Phaeton and buyers turn their noses up at it. This car’s not very well-kept secret? It’s a sister-under-the-skin to to Bentley’s impressive, but much more expensive, Continental, which tells you everything you need to know about the power of brands and badges in the motor industry.

Mercedes S-Class

None of the other car manufacturers would care to admit it but the S-Class represents a sort of benchmark in the luxury bracket. A wide range of engine options means there’s an S-Class for everyone, if they’re rich enough, although the deeply impressive hybrid version doesn’t make it to the UK or other right-hand drive markets ? the batteries and other electrical bits get in the way of an RHD conversion.

BMW 7-Series

All the sevens ? the first 7-Series appeared back in ’77 and it’s gone head to head with the Mercedes S-Class ever since. The last ?7? met with a bit of resistance because of its challenging looks; that seems to have prompted BMW to be a bit less adventurous with this new version, which looks just a bit like a Lexus.

Jaguar XJ

This is the new one that goes on sale in a few months time. The outgoing model hadn’t moved on much in styling terms from the 1968 original, even though, with its clever weight-saving aluminium construction and a host of other technical advances, it was, under the skin, one of the most advanced cars you could buy. The new car’s dramatic look builds on the design direction Jaguar first set with the launch of the smaller XF last year.

Bentley Arnage

The Arnage isn’t much longer for this world ? it successor, the Mulsanne, is already waiting in the wings. This car has its roots in the period before Volkswagen’s takeover of Bentley in 1998, and was a sister model of the Rolls-Royce Seraph, although there have been lots of updates since the Germans moved into the driving seat. Under the bonnet, albeit in heavily-modified and turbocharged form, sits the venerable ? it dates back to the Fifties – and rather marvellous Rolls/Bentley V8. The Mulsanne is apparently pretty much a clean-sheet design, although that engine looks set to live on in the new car.

Rolls Royce Phantom

BMW bought the Rolls Royce name back in 1998 when it was split off from Bentley but had to start from scratch when it came to cars and factories; the Phantom, built in a new facility in Sussex is the result. If you can’t quite run to the Phantom, there’s always the forthcoming Ghost, Rolls-Royce’s new ?entry-level? model ? although even that’s got a price tag that’s well into six figures.

Porsche Panamera

Porsche’s history is full of designs for full four-seaters, and you can see many of the aborted prototypes at the company’s excellent new museum in Stuttgart. If you ignore the Cayenne SUV, this is the first one to make it into production. Only its slightly iffy looks may stand between the Panamera and ultimate greatness ? it will be interesting to see how it fares against Aston Martin’s Rapide four-seater, which promises to be its closest rival

Audi A8

The A8 is a cousin of the Volkswagen Phaeton. Audi’s a bit of a parvenu in the luxury market compared with Mercedes, BMW and Jaguar but the A8 is a highly convincing product that draws on the company’s legendary expertise in on-road four-wheel drive power-trains and other technologies. Like the Jaguar XJ, the A8 makes extensive use of aluminium bodywork

Lexus LS

A Lexus is a posh Toyota. The brand has struggled to establish itself in Europe, but has been wildly successful in North America where they probably care a bit less about the finer points of automotive pedigrees. Particular Lexus hallmarks are great quality and outstanding drive-train refinement. Go for the hybrid version if you want to wallow in luxury without feeling too guilty about it.

Maserati Quattroporte

The Italians do the sporty stuff very well, and their small cars are a delight, but their large saloons tend to be flops. Remember the Lancia Gamma, the Alfa Six and the Fiat 130? They were just three of the truly interesting big Italian cars that didn’t quite convince when they were put up against the best British and German luxury models. The Quattroporte, though, has always been an exception to the rule that the Italians can’t do big saloons, and the current model has won lots of friends, in particular because of its looks.