BMW and Zagato tease next collaboration

BMW has teased the first image of its BMW Zagato roadster, the second collaboration between the automaker and the Italian design studio, which is set to be unveiled this weekend at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance. Earlier this year at the Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este in Italy, BMW unveiled its Zagato-designed coupe, which featured the carrozeria's signature double-bubble roof, the high, fastback Kamm tail and full, blown surfaces. The BMW Zagato Coupé was the first collaboration between Zagato and BMW, and was the first Italian-designed car to wear the blue and white propeller since the 2003 Bertone Birusa.

Speading plea as fines quadruple

A MOTHER whose two-year-old son was one of eight people who died in a horrific road crash has spoken of the need for motorists to "break the habit of speeding to prevent more needless deaths". Tracey Mohabir's comments came as the Government announced a four-fold increase in fines available to magistrates, meaning motorway speeders could be forced to pay up to £10,000. Mrs Mohabir's son Marcus was travelling with his father Steve and two friends, Toby and Kate Beasley, when their Land Rover was hit by a speeding BMW which crashed through the central reservation on the A23 near Pycombe, Sussex, on May 16 2004.

BMW wins engine of year

By Ben Whitworth Motor Industry 09 May 2007 05:51 BMW’s twin turbo 3.0-litre engine – the mighty 306bhp straight six from the 335i - has taken top honours at the 2007 International Engine of the Year Awards, the engineering equivalent of the Oscars. This is an unprecedented third year in a row that BMW has clinched the title of International Engine of the Year Award – in 2006 it was the M6’s V10 that took the title, and the M5’s V10 claimed gold in 2005. Other winners, judged by the panel of 62 motoring journalists from 30 countries across the globe, included Porsche for its biturbo 3.6-litre flat six (unbelievably, the first time Zuffenhausen has won an IEYA award), Toyota for the Prius’ 1.5-litre hybrid unit, and Volkswagen’s TSI twincharger 1.4-litre unit.