Filed under: Concept Cars, Frankfurt Auto Show, Coupes, Sports/GTs, Euro, Supercars, BMW

Click image for hi-res gallery

One of AC Schnitzer’s Frankfurt debuts mixes very high performance with a little bit of a greenish tint. Behold the GP3.10, a 3-Series coupe that has been completely transformed with a full interior and exterior overhaul (which you will either love or hate). The car’s name tells you the rest of what you need to know:

• GP: Gas-powered, as in Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG)
• 3: For 3-Series
• 10: For 10 cylinders

Yes, that’s correct. The GP3.10 sheds its stock I6 for a worked-over V10 sourced from an M5/M6, and AC Schnitzer has fitted the motor with an LPG system that turns the car into a dual-fuel monster dishing out 552 horsepower and 398 lb-ft of torque. The driver can switch between fuel sources (gasoline or LPG) at any time, and LPG is readily available in Germany (2,700 filling stations, according to AC Schnitzer). There is the added benefit that CO2 emissions when running on the LPG are 15% lower than when on gasoline. But let’s be honest, potential buyers of something like this aren’t looking for green-ness. They’re probably more interested in the gaudy 4.5 second 0-62 time and 198 mph top speed. As for the equally gaudy multicolor, multi-textured interior and the fully-Schnitzered exterior, we’ll leave the judgments to you. We will say that the center-outlet exhaust is pretty nifty, but we are so not crazy about that little F1-style mini roof wing.

Full details on the car are available at AC Schnitzer’s website (follow the “Read” link), and we have a gallery full of hi-res images for you below.

[Source: AC Schnitzer]

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Filed under: Concept Cars, Frankfurt Auto Show, Podcasts, Coupes, Sports/GTs, Crossovers/CUVs, Aston Martin, Bentley, BMW, Bugatti, Dodge, Ford, GM, Jaguar, Lamborghini, Mercedes Benz, MINI, PSA, Volkswagen, Volvo, Renault, Brabus

We’re back with Autoblog Podcast #77, and it’s a Frankfurt-recap extravaganza. We discuss our favorite picks, as well as touching on some of the numerous highlights from the monster-sized show. We got a glimpse of the Jaguar XF in person, and it’s better in person, but can it save Jaguar? BMW unveiled the X6, it’s own AMC Spirit ripoff, not to be left behind by the Audi Cross Coupe Quattro from Shanghai. We continue on about exotic sheetmetal from Brabus, Schnitzer, Bentley, and Aston Martin, to name a few. On the more mundane tip, the Mazda 6 rocked, the Aveo was ugly, the Journey landed on its face, and could we please, please knock it off with the front quarter panel vents? After Alex’s speed-round wrapup, we discuss a solitary piece of non-Frankfurt news, the Jeep J8. Yes, it’s awesome, no, you can’t buy one. Damn, that’s stupid, Chrysler. Onward!

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Filed under: Aftermarket, Tuners, Coupes, BMW, Misc. Auto Shows

The Essen Motor Show in Germany has become one of the major outlets for Europe’s aftermarket tuners to show their wares to a dedicated fan base. Among the many models set to make their modified debut in the land of schnitzel and spatzel is the AC Schnitzer BMW E92 M3.

Details are scarce on what’s been done to the suspension and under the hood, but if the exterior enhancements are any indication, we’d expect the folks at AC to bring their trademark blend of functionality and style into a comprehensive whole. Carbon fiber adorns the front splitter and side skirts, and we’d suspect that a C.F. rear diffuser is mounted out back - all of which ties in nicely to the exposed weave on the roof. The larger rolling stock (20s?) is typical Schnitzer style and the lowered ride height is likely a coilover system derived from their standard E92 setup.

As soon as AC Schnitzer releases its official details, we’ll have more.

[Source: Motor Authority]

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Filed under: Aftermarket, Tuners, Coupes, Hybrids/Alternative, Green, BMW

Click the image above for more shots of the GP3.10 hammering around Nardo.

You might recall the AC Schnitzer crew trotting out a particularly gaudy BMW 3-series coupe in Frankfurt called the GP3.10, powered by a V10 engine pulled from the M5/M6 running off liquefied petroleum. While the styling of the Bimmer caused a few of us to inadvertently gag while patrolling the floor in Germany, it’s performance potential - 552 hp and 400 lb.-ft. of torque - showed promise.

Fast forward a few months later, and according to the Schnitzer folks, the GP3.10 set the world record for the fastest gas-powered car in the world. The coupe was brought out to the 13-mile Nardo test track in Southern Italy where it laid down a terminal velocity of 318.1 km/h, or 197 mph. While that’s a feat unto itself, even more surprising is AC Schnitzer’s claim that some of the technology will filter down to the tuner’s products in the future.

[Source: AC Schnitzer]

Continue reading AC Schnitzer GP3.10 natural-gas powered 3-series hits 318 km/h

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Filed under: Aftermarket, Tuners, Coupes, Hybrids/Alternative, Green, BMW

Click the image above for more shots of the GP3.10 hammering around Nardo.

You might recall the AC Schnitzer crew trotting out a particularly gaudy BMW 3-series coupe in Frankfurt called the GP3.10, powered by a V10 engine pulled from the M5/M6 running off liquefied petroleum. While the styling of the Bimmer caused a few of us to inadvertently gag while patrolling the floor in Germany, its performance potential - 552 hp and 400 lb.-ft. of torque - showed promise.

Fast forward a few months later, and according to the Schnitzer folks, the GP3.10 set the world record for the fastest gas-powered car in the world. The coupe was brought out to the 13-mile Nardo test track in Southern Italy where it laid down a terminal velocity of 318.1 km/h, or 197 mph. While that’s a feat unto itself, even more surprising is AC Schnitzer’s claim that some of the technology will filter down to the tuner’s products in the future.

[Source: AC Schnitzer]

Continue reading AC Schnitzer GP3.10 LPG powered 3-series hits 318 km/h

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Filed under: Aftermarket, Tuners, Coupes, BMW

Click the image above for a high-res gallery.

Like everything else from the propeller people, AC Schnitzer gets a stab at improving BMW’s products before they’re even released to the masses. The formula is the same for the new 135i, boosting power output of the 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged six to 360 HP and 332 lb.-ft. of torque, while simultaneously dropping the 0-60 time to under five seconds and increasing the top speed to 186 mph. The additional power is found with the installation of a new exhaust and some clever ECU tweaks, while the suspension has been replaced with the firm’s sports setup that was tuned on the Nurburgring’s North Loop by touring car hot shoe Manfred Wollgarten.

The body kit, comprised of a new front spoiler, side skirts, rear wing and roof mounted spoiler, supposedly do wonders for high velocity hoonage, while a set of 19×18.5-inch Type IV “BiColor” wheels wrapped in 225/35R19 rubber keep things planted at speed. Naturally, the interior benefits from a few choice pieces of trim in either aluminum or carbon fiber.

All the details are in the press release after the jump and you can check the gallery below for a handful of high-res images.

Continue reading BMW 135i gets Schnitzered: 360 HP ACS1

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Filed under: Aftermarket, Tuners, Coupes, BMW

We gave you a preview of AC Schnitzer’s version of the M3 earlier this month, and now we have the official details of the ACS3 Sport as well as more photos for your viewing enjoyment. The 4.0-liter V8 has been left untouched, but moving through the gears can be done more quickly with a short throw shifter, and a new exhaust system has been installed with dual “figure eight” tail pipes. A race-tuned suspension refined on the Nurburgring helps increase the handling limit of the car, and it drops the car pretty tightly over the new 20-inch 5-spoke wheels. AC Schnitzer has made a few tweaks to the exterior with a carbon fiber rear diffuser and front splitter, new side skirts, and a subtle roof spoiler that do a good job of not spoiling the original design of the car. AC Schnitzer didn’t ignore the interior, and has a carbon fiber trim kit, sport steering wheel, and various aluminum accent pieces available. The full details can be viewed in the press release after the jump, and check out the gallery below.

[Source: AC Schnitzer]

Continue reading Essen 2007: Details on AC Schnitzer’s E92 M3

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