Carbon Fiber Sedan? Yes, Please!

2012 BMW M3 CRT

Many Top Gear fans have heard Clarkson pester about saying that if there's one car that you must have in your sports car garage, it's the BMW M3, whether it be the coupe or the sedan, and I agree with him. BMW think so too, but have always tried to spice the car up to make it appealing to other people with specials such as the Competition Coupe, the Frozen Gray, the Frozen Black, the Carbon Edition, the Tiger Edition, and the GTS. And now, it seems we'll be adding one more to the list as BMW have just pulled the covers off the M3 CRT (Carbon Racing Technologies). Think of it as the M3 GTS, but with 5 seats instead of 2, carbon fiber accents, racing bucket seats, and no fire extinguisher. Also, while the M3 GTS is a day-in-day-out all track screamer, the M3 CRT is a day-in-day-out all track family screamer with navigation, a premium stereo system, and iPod connectivity. Even though it includes these heavy units, the sedan has done much shedding of weight with lightweight brakes, carbon fiber seats, carbon fiber hood, 19-inch lightweight alloy wheels, and a lightweight titanium muffler. But, even though it's all light and dainty, the aggressiveness and brilliance of the M3 still exists with it's brilliant chassis and suspension. It's even added a carbon fiber front splitter and rear aero spoiler. Heck, it's given itself a more powerful 4.4-liter 450 horsepower V8 engine, which has been mated with BMW's new and improved 7-speed Dual-Clutch gearbox, as seen on the new M5. Because of this, it will do 0 to 60 in, say 4.4 seconds and hit a limited top speed of 155 MPH. You want one? That's good, cuz only 67 will be made, and seeing that M3 has become quite a popular car, you better get in line fast. And as for the U.S., there's no word on whether this beast will make it to our shores, but it mostly won't due to safety regulations.

On The Run

2011 BMW M3 GTS (Need For Speed: The Run)

So, if you weren't watching E3 yesterday, EA unveiled their newest racer, Need For Speed: The Run, to a vast majority of wannabe stuntmen. Past criticisms of Black Box Studios were put aside that day as viewers gazed in awe at the new sharp details, gameplay, and physics this new title presides. Thanks to DICE's new Frostbite 2 engine, detail and gameplay have been taken to their ultimate peak with real, in your face visuals. But enough with all this techie stuff. On to the cars. Black Box has promised a wide array of cars for you to run in, including this exclusive BMW M3 GTS. There are also Aston Martins, Porsches, Lamborghinis, and Audis all at your disposal. And, as a bonus, if you're a PS3 owner, EA will throw in 7 exclusive hyper cars for you to drive, including, as usual, the Bugatti Veyron, and the Hennessey Venom GT. With lots of action, suspense, and cars, this game looks quite promising. Look for it in stores this November.

Long Live the 997

2012 Porsche 911 Carrera 4 GTS

Remember how I said that the GT3 RS 4.0 would be the last 997 Porsche would ever produce? Well, it seems that it might not be the case as Porsche have just unveiled the Carrera 4 GTS, an all-wheel drive version of the standard Carrera GTS. It still has the 3.8-liter 408 horsepower Flat-6 engine which will take it from 0 to 60 in 4.4 seconds on to a top speed of 188 MPH. And since it has all-wheel drive, it serves as a great all-rounder for you money-savers in search for something fast. There's nothing else to know about this car except that prices start at $110,200 for the coupe, $120,100 for the cabriolet, and that it might be the last 997 Porsche will make til the Frankfurt Motor Show when the 998 will be revealed.

M3 GTS Sedan?

2012 BMW M3 E90 Lightweight Sedan

This is no April Fool. This lightweight M3 sedan will be coming to production and is slated to go between the regular sedan and the race-ready M3 GTS. Everything in the car has been tweaked for maximum performance, from the brakes to the exhaust. The power output remains the same though; 414 horsepower out of a 4.4-liter V8 engine. I haven't received word if this sedan will hit the U.S. market or how much lighter it is compared to the sedan, but we'll all find out in June when this thing makes its official debut at the BMW M-Festival at the 24 Hours of Nürburgring race. No fooling, this car is real and it is coming.