We get it that BMW wants to leave no stone unturned when it comes to serving its customers, but we must admit that introducing M Performance variants of its M brand cars makes about as much sense as buttering both sides of your toast. "Our new BMW M Performance Models are geared toward customers looking for high performance for everyday use," are the words BMW CEO Norbert Reithofer used to describe the M Performance sub-brand. So what is the deal with the new M Performance Editions of the M3 Coupe and M5 Sedan? Well, BMW says that it will produce 30 units of each car for the UK market, equally divided in three unique Frozen paintwork colors (10 examples of blue, white and red for each model). The Bavarian company's Spartan release adds that the cars will come with an "impressively high specification of standard equipment," but avoids to mention if the M3 Coupe and M5 Sedan specials will boast any performance upgrades as their moniker suggests. VIDEO
Bad news for those of us expecting to watch the original Top Gear on our tellies as Jeremy Clarkson has confirmed the rumors that there will be no more episodes of the show this year. "There's a rumour in internet land that there will be no more Top Gears this year. I'm afraid that apart from an Xmas special, it's true," Clarkson wrote on his Twitter account. On the bright side, Top Gear, which also features Richard Hammond and James May, will return with new episodes in January of 2013. "We will be back in January," said Clarkson, who added, "The good news is that the longer we have to make the films, the better they will be". As for the reason why Top Gear is taking a break, Clarkson pointed the finger to Simon Cowell and his high-rating show, The X-Factor. "Would love to be back in the Autumn but Sunday nights then will be full of fat people singing," he said. "Top Gear is a medium sized van. Cowell is a juggernaut. When he has finished his singing competition, our new series will start."
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The facelifted BMW X1 will go on sale in Britain this July priced from £24,660 for the X1 sDrive18d. The Bavarian company's Audi Q3 rival features minor exterior styling tweaks combined with a subtlety-refined cabin, a new flagship diesel model and two new trims, Sport and xLine. Proving the popularity of oil-burners in the UK, the X1 will be offered exclusively with diesel engines topped by the new X1 xDrive25d, which is only available in four-wheel drive. The 25d is powered by a twin-turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder diesel producing 215hp (218PS) at 4,000rpm and 450Nm (331 lb-ft) at 1,500rpm for a zero to 62mph (100km/h) time of 6.8 seconds and a top speed of 142mph (229km/h). The xDrive25ds returns a combined fuel consumption figure of 51.4mpg UK (42.8mpg US) and CO2 emissions of 145g/km. The other diesel engine options for the X1 are a 141hp (143PS) 2.0-liter unit for the 18d models, plus a 181hp (184PS) version of the same four-cylinder for the 20d version. The most fuel efficient model in the range is the sDrive20d EfficientDynamics available only in rear-wheel drive form with a manual gearbox. Its 2.0-liter unit delivers 161hp (163PS) and 380Nm (280 lb-ft) of torque, while returning a combined fuel economy of 62.8mpg UK (52.8mpg US) and CO2 emission of 119g/km. Aside from the existing SE and M Sport trim lines, the 2012 X1 gains two more grades. The new Sport specification sits above the SE models adding 17-inch wheels, a dark chrome exhaust pipe finish, while the kidney grille slats, bumper trims and side sills, along with the roof rails are all finished in a high gloss black. Inside, it gets sport seats in Anthracite with Coral Red highlights, high gloss black decorative trim accents along with sports leather steering wheel, gearshift gaiter with red stitching and floor mats with red piping. The second new trim level is the more premium xLine specification, which brings 18-inch wheels, a chrome finish for the exhaust tail pipe and kidney grille slats, and a silver finish for the all exterior trim sections, side sills and roof rails. The xLine's interior features Nevada leather seats, Dark Copper trim, switchable ambient lighting and floor mats with matching piping.
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