BMW M3 set to compete in DTM from 2012

It might have pulled out of F1, but the upshot is that BMW has announced plans to enter the German Touring Car Championship (DTM) in 2012 with the M3, plus it’s developing a new racer and 1.6-litre turbocharged engine, and will continue its other production car-based racing activities. ‘Following the withdrawal from Formula One, the realignment of our motorsport programme is raising our presence in production car racing to a whole new level,’ said BMW board member Dr. Klaus Draeger.

New Peugeot 208 won’t spawn Estate or Convertible, but a 2008 SUV Crossover is planned.

There may be a new Peugeot 208 GTi (pictured) but no 208 CC or SW Peugeot has revealed that there will be no CC (Convertible) or SW (estate) versions of the new 208, but a 2008 SUV/Crossover is expected. The new Peugeot 208 has a weight of expectations resting on its new shoulders, with Peugeot finding sales harder to come by and hoping the new 208 may rekindle some of the sales fire the 205 had. So you’d think it would make sense to fill every possible niche imaginable with the 208, including spinning off various iterations in the style of MINI.

BMW's new M engine needs a better voice

BMW's M division claims its new twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine is every bit as good -- if not better -- than the glorious, naturally aspirated 4.0-liter V8 powerplant it replaces in the new M3 sedan and M4 coupe. The figures are certainly impressive. They say it kicks out 424 hp and more than 25 percent extra torque, with what is described as significantly more than 369 lb-ft below 2,000 rpm.