Bentley's latest ice special

Bentley has launched another special edition Bentley Continental Supersports convertible to commemorate the car’s ice land-speed record.

The ISR Mulliner option is limited to 100 units and is the “most potent and radically styled Bentley convertible ever,” according to the firm.

See official pics of the Bentley Continental Supersports ISR Mulliner

It’s available in three colours - Beluga, Quartzite and Arctica White - with special features including 'Supersports ISR' graphics and red-accented detailing along the car's body and red 20-inch 10-spoke alloys with a “diamond turned finish.” The air bonnet scoops, too, are finished with red accents.

Inside, the interior is lined in Alcantara, and features high-gloss carbon fibre with a red weave. Also included is an eight-inch touchscreen ‘infotainment’ system.

Read about Bentley's first commemorative ice-breaker Supersports

Power comes courtesy of the company’s six-litre, twin turbo-charged W12 engine, which produces 631bhp and 590lb ft of torque, giving the special Bentley a 0-60mph time of just 3.8sec.

BMW 1-series M safety car for the 2011 MotoGP season.

This hardcore track version of the new BMW 1-series M coupe is the new safety car for the 2011 MotoGP season.
The only thing for the one-off safety car that remains unchanged from the production model is the twin-turbo 335bhp straight-six engine. The car has undergone drastic weight saving, including a new carbonfibre bonnet with added large air vents, plus the use of polycarbonate for the side and rear windows. A lightweight titanium race exhaust is also fitted “for the benefit of the spectators”.

See the official pics of the BMW 1-series M safety car

Styling modifications include a large fixed rear wing to boost downforce, and an additional splitter at the front of the car.
The M coupe’s adjustable high-performance suspension set-up gets a new race set-up with independently adjustable dampers. It features new 19-inch wheels equipped with 255/35 tyres at the front and 285/30 tyres at the rear.
Read the full story on the new BMW 1-series M road car
Vehicle height and camber of the axles can also be altered to suit different circuit characteristics. A six-piston fixed-calliper racing brake system completes the dynamic changes.
Inside, the car gets a rollcage, two bucket racing seats, an Alcantara-clad M steering wheel and a fire extinguisher.
The BMW 1-series M coupe road car will go on sale in the UK in price, priced from around £38,000.

See also Collection of Sports Cars

BMW launches 'i' sub-brand

BMW has confirmed a new sub-brand called i, through which it intends to market a range of advanced standalone hybrid, range-extender and plug-in electric models.

Among the first cars to carry the new badge will be the i3 and i8, both of which are planned for introduction in 2013. “These cars have been designed specifically for their respective alternative drive systems. We’re using an innovative architecture to cancel out practically all the extra weight of the batteries,” revealed Klaus Draeger, head of BMW’s R&D operations.

The new architecture, which goes under the name LifeDrive, uses an aluminium chassis to house the driveline, with the passenger cell constructed from carbonfibre-reinforced plastic developed in partnership with US-based SG Carbon.

The two-plus-two i3, previously known under its internal working title MegaCity Vehicle, is BMW’s first production model to be conceived specifically for urban driving environment. It boasts an upright one-box silhouette revealed in an official sketch generated by BMW late last year.

The first i3 will be powered by an all-electric driveline similar to that found in the 1-series ActiveE, which uses a 170bhp electric motor in combination with a lithium ion battery pack for a claimed range of 100 miles. Other versions of the i3, including a range extender, are also under development.

The i8, previewed the Efficient Dynamics concept car first shown in 2009, will use a hybrid driveline likely to combine BMW’s upcoming 1.5-litre three-cylinder petrol engine with the same electric motor used by the i3.

The i3 and i8 will be produced on a dedicated line at BMW’s Leipzig factory, which is being lined up for €400m (£336m) of fresh investment.