Harmonic Balancer on 2040-parts.com

New BMW M3 and M4 engine secrets laid bare

BMW's M division has lifted the veil of secrecy on the inline six-cylinder engine bound for its upcoming M3 sedan and new-to-the-range M4 coupe and convertible, revealing a potent twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter direct injection gasoline unit that produces an official 424 hp at 7,500 rpm and what officials describe as "significantly more than 369 lb-ft" of torque. The newly developed engine, known under the internal codename S55 B30, shares its 84.0 mm bore and 89.6 mm stroke with BMW's standard turbocharged 3.0-liter in-line six-cylinder direct-injection gasoline mill, the M55 used across the German car maker's lineup, endowing the aluminum block unit with an overall swept volume of 2,979 cc. This represents a sizeable 990 cc reduction on the engine BMW's M division's new unit replaces, the S65.

Ford and Dow Chemical to experiment with carbon fiber

Ford is hatching a weight-loss plan for its cars and trucks that should result in a 750-pound-per-car weight reduction before the end of the decade. The company even hired a “personal trainer,” Dow Chemical, to help it get there. So, what's their plan?

2015 Aston Martin V12 Vantage S priced at $184,995

Aston Martin, known for making some of the best- looking cars on the road today, has released the pricing for its new 2015 V12 Vantage S sports car, placing it at $184,995. Check here for our story covering the release of the car from earlier this month, but we'll give you a quick refresher below. Propelled by a 6.0-liter V12 making 565 hp and 457 lb-ft, the car can sprint from 0-60 mph in 3.7 seconds and achieve a top speed of 205 mph.