Watch The BMW M2 Competition Set Another Bizarre World Record

It’s certainly an unusual way to demonstrate a car’s agility.

BMW’s new marketing campaign for the M2 Competition is certainly unusual. To demonstrate the car’s agility and handling, the Bavarian automaker has set out to break several world records previously set by humans. In the last stunt, the M2 Competition successfully popped 79 balloons in under 60 seconds with a laser beam. This time, the M2 Competition was brought to Cape Town, South Africa, to try and beat a previous record by cutting more than 87 straw mats with a blade.

“This is a very tricky bit of driving, it is virtually impossible,” stunt coordinator Marc Higgins explained. “The demands on the BMW M2 Competition are immense. Every drift has to be performed with absolute precision; there is no room for error. A strong presence and agility naturally help a lot.” Director Oison Tymon confirmed the performance coupe shattered the previous record, successfully cutting 117 bamboo mats in under a minute.

The rolled-up bamboo mats were arranged in semi-circles so that they could be cut while drifting using a precision blade attached to the rear of the car. Apart from the addition of the blade, the M2 Competition was left completely stock to perform the stunt and features the same technology as the series-production vehicle including two selector switches that allow drivers to adjust the engine, steering and Drivelogic functions.

Power is provided by the same twin-turbo 3.0-liter straight-six engine used in the M3 and M4 tuned to deliver 405 hp and 406 lb-ft, enabling the performance coupe to hit 0-62 mph in four seconds.

Watch The BMW M2 Competition Set A Bizarre World Record Popping Balloons

That’s one way to demonstrate a car’s agility.

A few weeks ago, BMW released a mysterious teaser video suggesting the BMW M2 Competition had set a new world record. The full video has now been released, and it’s probably not what you were expecting. Rather than attempting a traditional speed record, BMW used the M2 Competition to break a balloon-popping record previously set by a human. The previous world record-holder popped 63 balloons in just 60 seconds. Using a laser attached to the grille, the M2 Competition beat this record by popping 79 balloons in just under a minute. Watching the performance car pop balloons while dancing around the illuminated purpose-built track shaped like an M badge creates a dazzling spectacle and is fun to watch, even if it’s hardly pushing the car’s 450-hp engine to its limit.

Of course, the publicity stunt was designed to demonstrate the M2 Competition’s astonishing agility. Despite the manual version weighing 3,600 pounds and the automatic weighing 3,655 lbs, the car can attack corners ferociously fast. The record stunt was performed in what looks like an old warehouse located close to Bedford in the UK. It’s owned by Cardington Studios and is “one of the largest and most impressive interior film and TV production spaces in Europe.”

In the US, the M2 Competition is currently on sale with a starting price of $58,900, which is only $4,000 more than the regular M2. For that price, you get an M4-sourced, twin-turbo 3.0-liter inline-six engine that sends 405 hp to the rear wheels, up from 365 hp in the standard M2. 0-62 mph takes just four seconds before the car tops out at an electronically limited 155 mph. Other enhancements include carbon high-precision struts, sharper steering, and larger twin kidney grilles to improve the airflow.

This isn’t the only world record BMW’s M division set this year. Back in January, the Bavarian automaker successfully drifted 232.5 miles without stopping in an M5 that had to be refueled five times.

Watch An E30 BMW M3 Pickup Truck Strip A Christmas Tree Naked

An E30 M3 pickup? Yes, it does exist. Unlike Santa Claus.

Way back in 1986, BMW engineers came up with a wild idea: turn the 3 Series into a high-performance coupe. The result was the original E30 M3, and the rest is history. But people at BMW wondered whether the first M3 could serve other purposes. For example, the BMW Motorsport department realized it could also be utilized for transporting equipment and parts around its testing center near Munich. Problem was, a lack of storage space. The solution was simple: a small pickup truck, though it never made production.

Not long afterwards, a 3 Series convertible was turned into the M3 pickup truck. “The convertible bodyshell was chosen as the basis for two reasons,” recalls Jakob Polschak, head of vehicle prototype building and workshops at BMW M Division and an employee at the company for more than 40 years.

“Firstly, we happened to have such a model at our disposal and in perfect condition. And secondly, the convertible’s built-in bracing made it the ideal choice for a pickup conversion.” And with that, now it’s time to check out an old E30 M3 pickup truck in action as it’s used to haul a Christmas tree home. The driver had fun. His wife and daughter weren’t pleased.

Watch The 2018 BMW M3 CS Undergo Final Nurburgring Testing

Could it officially debut at LA next month?

The current F80 generation BMW M3 will soon come to an end. With a new 3 Series just around the corner, BMW’s M division has also begun prepping the next M3, but at the moment the focus is making sure the current model goes out with a bang. As expected, the M3 CS (Club Sport) will arrive in the very near future. Automotive Mike managed to catch an M3 CS test mule recently at the Nurburgring undergoing some final testing. It isn’t heavily disguised, which makes sense considering we all know what the current M3 looks like.

But there will be some cosmetic differences, such as a vented hood and carbon fiber reinforced polymer rear spoiler and front apron lip, with the latter hidden with some camo in this video. Fortunately, the BMW M4 CS has already made its debut, so upgrades will mostly carry over.

The prototype here is also wearing 19-inch wheels up front and 20-inchers out back. Under the hood, the twin-turbo 3.0-liter inline-six will receive a power increase to about 460 hp and 442 lb-ft of torque. Sources say the M3 CS will match the M4 CS’s 0-62 mph time of 3.9 seconds. Also like the M4 CS, sedan production will be limited, probably to around 3,000 examples. BMW tells us it has some exciting reveals coming up next month at the Los Angeles Auto Show, so it’s entirely possible the M3 CS will make its debut appearance in the City of Angels.

You Have To Watch These 10 Amazing Drag Races

A supercar showdown and a race against a drone are just two of the 10 awesome races.

Following our previous drag race compilation, we have ten more awesome races to shared for your viewing pleasure. As always, watching these races is more exciting if you try to guess the winner. See how many correct predictions you can make and leave your score in the comments. With more than a few neck-and-neck finishes, these races are not always easy to predict.

Ferrari 812 Superfast Vs. McLaren 720S

Very few cars can match the fury of the McLaren 720S with its 4.0-liter, 710 horsepower V8. Perhaps the Ferrari 812 Superfast may be one of the,. With a 6.5-liter V12 producing 789 hp, can the front-engined Ferrari top the mid-engined McLaren?

Mercedes C63 AMG Vs. Alfa Romeo Giulia QV

In the compact sports sedan segment, the Mercedes C63 AMG and Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio sit at the top in terms of power. Each produces over 500 hp from their twin-turbo engines, though the AMG does have two extra cylinders (a V8 vs a V6). Which one will win in a series of races, with and without launch control?

Audi RS3 Vs. Ford Focus RS

The Ford Focus RS is one of the best hot hatchbacks on the market, but can it stand up to the mighty Audi RS3? Both cars have all-wheel-drive grip, but the Audi has an extra cylinder (five) and 50 extra hp (400). With a quick shifting dual-clutch transmission, the Audi also holds the advantage with shift times. Will this race be a foregone conclusion?

Ultimate Supercar Drag Race

Most drag races involve two cars, competing to see which is best. Here, we get to see two Porsche 911s (a GT3 RS and a GT2 RS), a Lamborghini Huracan Performante Coupe and Spyder, a Ferrari 488 GTB, and a McLaren 675 LT. This is a very diverse lineup of supercars, but which one do you think will win as the cars face off against each other?

Nissan GT-R Nismo Vs. Porsche 911 GT3 RS

After a massive hiatus, Fifth Gear is finally back on television. The series's 27 season features a drag race between the Nissan GT-R Nismo and the Porsche 911 GT3 RS. Even though the GT-R is typically seen as the better car for drag races, the track-focused 911 may be within a shot of winning this straight line race.

Dodge Challenger Vs. Dodge Viper

In a sibling rivalry, this drag race pits a Dodge Challenger Scat Pack against a fourth generation Dodge Viper. The Challenger seems like it will be at a disadvantage in this race, even with a 485-hp 6.4-liter V8. The Viper has a more powerful 600-hp 8.4-liter V10, but the driver does have to execute the perfect manual shift while the Challenger owner can just let the automatic take care of it.

Bugatti Chiron Vs. McLaren 720S

The McLaren 720S is borderline unbeatable in a drag race. However, even the 720S may have to admit defeat when it's up against a Bugatti Chiron. The Chiron's W16 engine produces 1,500 hp, making it twice as powerful as the mighty 720S. You can probably guess the winner here.

Audi S8 Plus Vs. Porsche 911 Turbo

If someone who didn't know anything about cars looked at this drag race, they'd assume the sexy sports car would beat the boring sedan. Stands to reason. However, that "boring" sedan is an Audi S8 Plus, which is powered by a 605-hp twin-turbo V8. The Porsche 911 Turbo makes do with just 520 hp, though it is much lighter. Can the sleeper sedan keep up with the purpose-built sports car?

AMG GT Roadster Vs. Drone

Seeing cars race other cars is fun, but seeing a car race a drone is pretty cool too. The Mercedes AMG GT Roadster produces 467 hp from a twin-turbo V8, while the drone doesn't have nearly as much power. Still, the drone is able to hit 60 mph in just one second. Yeah, you heard that correctly. This race was over before it started.

GMC Sierra Vs. Nissan Titan Vs. Ram 1500

We highly doubt that truck owners base their purchase decision on straight line speed, but this didn't stop The Fast Lane Truck from lining up three trucks for a drag race. The GMC Sierra is the most powerful with a 6.2-liter 420-hp V8. The Titan's 5.7-liter V8 produces 390 hp while the Ram's 5.7-liter is good for 395 hp. As it turns out, the transmissions have more to do with the outcome of the race than the engines. So, which do you think has the best transmission for a drag race?

Watch A Fine English Chap Race A BMW M2 Against An M4, M5 and M6

Speed is not everything.

In many ways the BMW M2 spoils everything for its bigger and more powerful siblings. Not only does it cost less, but the M2 is every bit of fun, and perhaps even more engaging that the M4, M5 and M6. No doubt the M2 is the true spiritual successor to the BMW standard bearer we’ve come to know as “God’s Chariot,” the E30 M3. Small. Compact. About as light as it can be for a coupe. That’s the winning BMW formula today’s M2 encompasses, and Car Wow recently did a live experiment to prove this formula is still correct.

With a gathering consisting of all the cars already mentioned in this article, the M2, as it not so surprisingly turns out, is slower in a drag race, but not by much. Literally, it’s less than second slower than the fastest of the bunch.

Unless you’re a pro drag racer or one of those assholes who likes to race random people once the traffic light goes green, you’re not going to feel the difference. The M2 is thousands less than the M4, and, not to mention, tens of thousands less than the M5 and M6, and yet you still get the true M experience. In addition to the quarter-mile drag race, Car Wow also did a rolling race. But regardless of the winner, we ourselves keep coming back to the M2 as our preferred choice, regardless of price tag. Remember, speed is not everything. Driving pleasure is what truly matters.

Watch This V8-Powered BMW 3 Series Madly Drift Through Piles Of Fire Wood

No CGI here. This is the real deal.

Drifting is both an art and sport, and it takes years of practice and serious effort to master it. Despite an experienced driver’s capabilities and skills, accidents can happen, and the driver of this V8-powered E46 3 Series drift animal definitely had little room for error. That’s because he’s driving in a sea port that’s doused in piles of massive wooden logs and clippings. Latvian driver Kristaps Bluss is behind the wheel in this video from Robyworks Media, and one bad skid could’ve sent him into what’s essentially fire wood.

Shooting flames from out of the side exhausts could’ve acted as the lighter. This isn’t the first time we’ve seen this particular E46 3 Series.

It was previously shown as part of a drifting three-some consisting of an E92 3 Series and a Nissan 350Z, also shot in Latvia. But watching Bluss again at work is a demonstration of mad skill, and he makes it look all so easy. The video may only last for just over a minute, but you'll be mesmerized the whole time.

Must-See Drag Races That You Need To Watch

See if you can guess which car wins each race.

Back in July, we compiled a list of the most awesome drag races that were stagged during the month. There have been many awesome drag races since then, so once again we have found several epic drag races and compiled them here for your viewing pleasure. For a bit of added fun, try to predict the outcome of every race and see if you can guess correctly each time. Be sure to post how many you accurately predicted in the comment section - and no cheating.

Lamborghini Urus Vs. Huracan

A fairly easy one, this Lambo vs Lambo race shouldn't be too hard to predict. Even though the V10-powered Huracan produces 610 horsepower, it is actually down on power compared to the Urus with its twin-turbo 650 hp V8. So, which Lamborghini is quicker, the purpose-built supercar or the practical SUV?

Porsche Boxster Vs. Ford Fiesta ST

Let's see, a mid-engined sports car versus an affordable hot hatchback, seems easy to predict the outcome right? Well, what if we told you that mid-engined sports car was a 2006 Porsche Boxster and the hot hatchback was a Ford Fiesta ST? The Boxster uses a 2.7-liter flat-six producing 240 hp while the Fiesta uses a 1.6-liter turbo-four producing 197 hp. The Fiesta is about 10 years newer, so perhaps hot hatchbacks have caught up to sports cars from a decade ago.

BMW 5 Series Vs. Mercedes E-Class Key Fob Race

This is the strangest race on this list for sure. Instead of seeing which is faster, the BMW 5 Series or Mercedes E-Class, these guys decided to see which car has the faster crawl function. Both cars are fitted with special features that allow them to crawl slowly without needing a driver. The race is controlled via the key fobs, so which system do you think will be faster?

Tesla Model 3 Performance Vs. Model 3 Long Range

Don't worry if you haven't guessed them all correctly, because we decided to throw in a gimmie. Tesla recently revealed the Model 3 Performance, which is now the fastest version on sale. It is clearly faster than the normal long range car, but how much faster is it exactly?

Supercars Vs. Supercars

In this video, there are almost too many amazing drag races to count. The event took place at an airport runway in Switzerland and features some incredible supercars going toe-to-toe. Some highlights include an SLS Black Series versus a Ferrari F12 and a Porsche Carrera GT vs a Ferrari F50. Turn up your speakers for this one.

911 Turbo S Vs. BMW M5 Vs. Nissan GT-R

The Nissan GT-R and Porsche 911 Turbo S have always been very closely matched. Both feature twin-turbocharged six-cylinder engines, all-wheel-drive, and dual-clutch transmissions. Just for fun, Autocar also decided to throw in the new BMW M5 to see if it stands a chance against the two sports cars.

Honda Civic Si Vs. Dodge Charger Hellcat

When it comes to cars that can defeat a Hellcat on a drag strip, a Honda Civic Si isn't the first that comes to mind. Sure, people can tune Civics to be fast, but this is a 707-hp Hellcat we are talking about here. The winner of this drag race lets off the throttle towards the end, just to keep it fair... wink wink.

Watch A GM Executive Crash The Corvette ZR1 Pace Car

The Detroit Grand Prix Indy race subsequently suffered a 27-minute delay.

There are many perks when you’re the executive vice president of global product development at General Motors. One of them is the chance to drive the Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 pace car at this year’s Detroit Grand Prix Indy car race. But here’s a tip: don’t crash. Too late for Mark Reuss who was behind the wheel of a 2019 Corvette ZR1 as it served its pace car duties when he lost control and slammed into a wall. Fortunately, both he and his passenger, IndyCar official Mark Sand, were unharmed and walked away from the crash.

Because of this, the start of the race was delayed by 27 minutes. A backup ZR1, driven by IndyCar veteran Oriol Servia, served as a quick replacement. “We are thankful that there were no serious injuries.

"Both the pace car driver and the series official were taken to the infield care center, where they were checked, cleared and released," according to a statement from General Motors. "It is unfortunate that this incident happened. Many factors contributed, including weather and track conditions. The car's safety systems performed as expected.” The front end damage to the car looks pretty bad and there’s no word yet whether it can be fully repaired or if it’s a complete write-off. Don’t worry, GM can easily absorb the loss. But can Reuss absorb the fact the crash was caught on live TV? Then again, a crash like this in a car like the new ZR1 can happen more easily than you’d think.

This year’s Indy 500 winner, Will Powell, commented after the race that that he “felt really bad for whoever was in the pace car. It’s very easy to do, and the traction control must have been turned off. Wasn’t really his fault.” Which begs the question: why was the traction control turned off in the first place?