BMW M5 - The Best Exhaust Sounds

Take a 500 horsepower V-10 engine and unrestrict the exhaust system you've got automotive music. The second installment in the Best Exhaust Sounds series was brought to my attention by an associate of VS Motorsports in Schaumburg, IL.

If you like the responsiveness of a normally aspirated engine in a practical 4-door sedan with excellent handling, buy one soon. BMW will be replacing the V-10 with a twin turbocharged V-8 due to emission and mileage goals. Albeit quicker with more horsepower and a likely dual clutch transmission vs. the somewhat jerky single clutch automated manual.

The predicted replacement engine, already in the X5M, is a 4.4 liter twin-turbo V-8 currently producing 555hp and 500ft lbs of torque. I would be very curious to know if this engine weighs more than the current V-10. Also, the turbos are in the "V" on the top of the engine along with the exhaust ports and the intakes on the bottom/outside. Just the opposite of virtually every other V-bank engine. It will be interesting to see this radical design is incorporated into a serious performance sedan.

This BMW sounds extraordinary. Imagine while "under load" how it sounds. Check out this video of an accelerating M5 and see if you like it. Link to Evosport website.



What is your favorite exhaust sound? Have a question about cars you would like answered? Want to know about performance, racing, modifying, shopping, makes, models, events, etc? Ask me here: AskRobAboutCars@gmail.com and I'll do my best to answer your question and publish it here on Examiner.com!

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2011 BMW 335is - Are the Changes Enough?

BMW recently announced the 2011 model 335is twin turbo will have power, transmission and cooling enhancements vs. the prior year 335i. I question if these enhancements will enough to sway the enthusiast to purchase the standard 335i with the single turbo. Not giving the car a limited slip differential remains a huge disservice.

The 335is will have 320 horsepower with its revised twin-turbo 6-cylinder engine, up from 300hp. Also 7 seconds of overboost will be available raising the torque figure from 332ft lbs to 370ft lbs. This isn't really an improvement over existing aftermarket tuners such as Dinan (which offers a warranty) and Burger Motorsports Juice Box series.

Potentially bigger news is the Non-S model now has a single turbo instead of the "twins". Likely significantly larger in size than the twins in the "S" and last year's model, this will mean greater potential for adding power in the aftermarket.

The 6-speed automatic is replaced by the 7-speed dual clutch transmission which probably won't mean turbo boost levels will fall off since the Nissan GT-R and Porsche 911 Twin Turbo manage. But if the gear ratios are the same from the M3, the 6-speed manual has been shown to be the quicker car once the speeds are above 120mph. Will the DCT transmission withstand higher-than-stock power levels?

An upgraded radiator and motor mounts are included as well for track duty. What is really questionable is the decision to leave out a limited slip differential. Making a car more track ready with more power, a fast shifting automated transmission and cooling enhancements without adding an LSD is like making it a better burnout competition entry. Check out this article on the new McLaren MP4-12C supercar not having an LSD and the problems this poses.

While improving the breed, BMW potentially makes the base 335i the enthusiast's choice with a single turbo system and the "S" model still doesn't have a key performance element. Still world class, will the 335is meet sales expectations vs. the non "S"? Will the automatic transmission, now no longer available, be the desired transmission at the 75,000 mile mark? And will the need for an LSD make itself even more apparent?
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Have a question about cars you would like answered? Want to know about performance, racing, modifying, shopping, makes, models, events, etc? Ask me here: AskRobAboutCars@gmail.com and I'll do my best to answer your question and publish it here on Examiner.com!
BMW 335i Coupe

Will the single turbo 335i be the model to choose vs. the 335is? Is the lack of a limited slip becoming a bigger detriment?
View Slideshow »

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Porsche Panamera - why is it so quick?

Three letters in the March 2010 Car & Driver question the 3.3 second 0-60mph time of the Porsche Panamera Turbo that was tested the December 2009 issue. That makes it potentially quicker than many cars with much more power and less weight including the McLaren F1, Ferrari Enzo and Porsche's own GT-2. Weighing 4409lbs with 500hp, on paper it shouldn't beat any of them. There are three reasons it's so quick.

All-wheel drive, the dual clutch transmission and gearing that is probably more aggressive than any performance car in history make it accelerate quicker than much more powerful and lighter cars. The Panamera Twin Turbo is in 3rd THIRD! gear by the time it hits 60mph. Many extreme cars like the Bugatti Veyron, Chevrolet Corvette ZR-1 and others go over 60mph in 1st gear. Check out the Bugatti Veyron road test with the top 10 quickest cars they have tested.

The all-wheel drive ensures no slippage unlike the others where power delivery has to be managed with available traction. I eluded to this challenge in my 60-130mph article. A 1.2 second 0-30mph time is extraordinary, on par with the AWD Veyron and GT-R. I would guess this translates to a 1.6 second 60ft at the dragstrip given the previously mentioned gearing.

The horsepower deficit is apparent in the trap speed in the 119mph range vs. the 125-130mph or higher times of the other cars. With excellent track preparation, technique and usually drag radial tires, a few have been able to match the launch of the Panamera and therefore run a much quicker quarter mile. Modern-day street car drag racing legends such as "Ranger" and "Furman" are examples of Corvette and Viper drivers who have done this.

Finally the 7-speed dual-clutch transmission means nearly uninterrupted power delivery. As one clutch disengages, the next engages with a speed and consistency that can't be humanly repeated. With 5 non-overdrive gears, it's fierce.

There is no other-worldly driving skill excuse or strongly suspect fudging of power levels in any gear with the Porsche Panamera Twin Turbo, unlike the Nissan GT-R. The car doesn't defy physics but it's transmission sure tries to make it seem so. Just wait when the new 911 Twin Turbo is tested.

The 2010 Porsche 911 Twin Turbo assuming the gearing is the same as the Panamera is that it will accelerate even quicker since it's about 800lbs lighter than the Panamera. So besides still not matching the GT-R's "factory" 'Ring time, it still won't accelerate to 130mph 1.6 seconds quicker than production models nor accelerate from 120 to 130mph in .9 seconds either in production form.

A great link for various automotive calculators courtesy of Wallace Racing. There are several for 60ft translations and various speed indicators.
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Have a question about cars you would like answered? Want to know about performance, racing, modifying, shopping, makes, models, events, etc? Ask me here: AskRobAboutCars@gmail.com and I'll do my best to answer your question and publish it here on Examiner.com!

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