Tonight on Top Gear...

2012 BMW 1-Series M Coupe

...Clarkson drives an M3 beater...

Marauder 4x4

...Richard improves public transport in South Africa...

2012 Prodrive Mini Countryman WRC

...James slips on some ice with a Mini...

Amy Williams

...Amy Williams returns...

Alice Cooper

...Alice Cooper tries to stay alive in the Reasonably Priced Car...

Jezza and the E-Type Jaguar

...and Jeremy celebrates the birthday of an old Jag. All that tonight on Top Gear. Unfortunately, the U.S. release for UK Top Gear on BBC America hasn't been finalized yet. Fortunately, there's a website out there called streetfire.com that posts all the UK episodes before they arrive in the U.S., and now I've got a hold of it. So if you're dying to see the beginning of Series 17 of Top Gear, just look below these words. Enjoy!

1 is a Lucky Number

2012 BMW 1-Series M Coupe

The next best thing to the first-ever M3, the 1-Series M Coupe, has been known as one of the best sport coupes of all time, and if you have one, you were considered a true BMW brother. It sounds good for all the owners, but not as good for those who don't have one as BMW have recently announced that this car will only be available this year. That's right! After this December 31st, it will be no more, leaving some room for the all new M3 F30, M5 F10, and M6 F12/F13. This a truly fantastic car with a 3.0-liter Twin-Turbocharged 335 horsepower Inline-6 engine taking it from 0 to 60 in 4.7 seconds on to a limited top speed of 155 MPH. With prices starting below the $50k mark, this is ideally the cheapest M car in the BMW line, which means you'll save much more money on this than on any other superfast coupe. So, what are you waiting for? Get yours now before the year ends.

BMW Track Day

2012 BMW 1M Coupe (Courtesy of BMWBlog)

"It is often said by most motoring enthusiast that some sports cars perform at their peak when on a racing circuit." Pfff, yeah!! Of course they're better. Where'd you here that from, huh? Sir Alan Sugar? Imagine him racing his Rolls-Royce at Spa Francorchamps. That is nowhere near as good as what I'm about to show you right now. BMW's newest and cheapest M car, the 1M Coupe, recently hit the Spa racing track to put in some laps, and man does this car fly. Let's not forget that it has a 3.0-liter 335 horsepower TwinPower Turbo Inline-6 under the bonnet. And since it's not a heavy M car (3362 lbs.), it will do 0 to 60 in 4.7 seconds on its way to a limited top speed of 155 MPH. Check out the video below to see the car in action at Spa.

[Source: BMWBlog]

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. 

MotoGP German Pacer

2012 BMW 1-Series M Coupe MotoGP Safety Car

So, a new year in MotoGP calls for new bikes, new gear, even a new team by Paris Hilton (no lie!). This new season also calls for a new Pace Car. Up to last year, the BMW X6M was the official Safety Car of the MotoGP. Well, tides have turned as BMW announced that the all new 1-Series M Coupe will be the new Safety Car for the Moto GP. Honestly, this car looks cooler than the base model. The M division decided to give it somewhat of an M3 GTS look, but not make it too extreme. The car features the traditional BMW M livery with all the decals as well as black sport rims, carbon fiber wing, carbon fiber roll cage, racing bucket seats, front splitter, rear diffuser, and lowered suspension. The engine still stands: a 3.0-liter TwinPower Turbocharged 335 horsepower inline-6 mated with a 6-speed RECARO manual transmission. It is weird though, because most Pace cars aren't supposed to really look like race cars. This sort of does, with the exception of the light bar of course. Anyway, look for this awesome Pace Car parading Valentino Rossi and other riders around this season of MotoGP. Who knows? We might even see a 1 M GTS somewhat soon.