Welcome to The Smoking Tire. Kick ass automotive videos and more.

Video: TST’s Ultimate BMW Road Trip Part 1 – Mini Countryman S AWD

Friday, February 24th, 2012

The Smoking Tire heads down South Carolina, home of BMW’s North American manufacturing facilities, for the ultimate BMW Road Trip in three new cars. First, the Mini Countryman S. Yes it’s bigger than a regular Mini, and yes, it fits four large people very well. But the question we’re asking this week is, how does it work as a turret for skeet shooting? At the Spring Island Club’s private skeet range, we find out, before heading to the shrimp pond to catch our own dinner. Hit the jump for the video.

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24.02.2012 News, Reviews, Video 6 Comments

Video: The 700 HP VF Engineering M3 – TUNED

Monday, February 20th, 2012

In this episode of TUNED on the /DRIVE Network, Matt explores two common threads between three cars.

1) We have driven a VF Engineering Supercharged BMW M3 before, but that one was a wide body, and this one is standard body. This one also has 70 more wheel horsepower than the last car.

2) The parts used to upgrade this particular M3 are nearly identical to the parts used to upgrade the STILLEN Nissan 370Z we drove on last week’s episode of TUNED. How do two completely different cars react to the same level of tuning?

These questions and more will be answered in the video after the jump. Oh, and there’s lots of V8 wail. And burnouts.

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20.02.2012 News, Reviews, Video 10 Comments

Kids, Fire is Awesome

Saturday, February 11th, 2012

by Zack K

 

Despite what your parents and some 60 year-old shirtless bear (do not Google) have told you, fire is awesome. In Top Gear’s latest episode we learned the Aventador shoots blue fire under WOT. Constantly. Not on the over-run or during a downshift or just for a split second; it shoots fire like Batman’s car. Like an F-16 hitting the afterburner. Just fire, fire, fire, fire! It was a fantastic display of cool (If you haven’t seen it, do.). The ultimate signal lamp that you’re driving a bad-ass car. Truly fitting for a Lamborghini. How else do you make that car more striking? (more…)

11.02.2012 Uncategorized 9 Comments

Video: Turner Motorsport at the 24 Hours of Daytona Part 2: The Race

Tuesday, February 7th, 2012

The Rolex 24 at Daytona isn’t just Grand Am’s most grueling race, it’s also one of the most important, both for the team owners and the drivers. Everything must work in unison; everyone’s timing has to be perfect; and luck must be on your side. The Smoking Tire followed the Turner Motorsport BMW team as they tested their cars at Daytona back in January, and we followed them back to Florida for the race as well. Here is their story. Hit the jump for the video.

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07.02.2012 News, Video No Comments

Turner Motorsport – 24 Hours of Daytona Episode 1 – Testing

Friday, January 27th, 2012

 

The Smoking Tire heads to Daytona Beach, FL to follow Turner Motosports as they enter the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona. It’s the 50th year of the legendary race and they’ve brought 2 nasty E92 BMW M3 GTs to compete. (Turn your volume up for the in-car footage; they sound incredible.)  In part 1 we meet the team and watch the drivers take the cars out for final  testing, addressing issues like tire wear, over-steer and night-time fatigue. Watch for newcomer, Michael Marsal, ripping past an Audi R8 GT on the outside of the oval. Video after the click.

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27.01.2012 News, Video No Comments

No BMW M Diesel Soup for America!

Friday, January 27th, 2012

by Zack K

Last night I was hanging out with our friend and TST podcast member, Chris Hayes, and the news of BMW‘s new diesel M cars came up. We were both excited. They combine huge torque (545 ft-lbs!) with 376HP while getting 36 MPG. Perfect, right? And since the 335d had 51/49 F/R weight distribution, the concern of a heavy nose is gone. Fucking awesome. Except they’re not bring them to the USA. Once again Europe has great fruit we can’t reach. I think the diesel movement is slowly growing here but at a slow rate. Shame. Luxury car buyers would love diesel if they gave it a chance. They feel the torque in a V-8, refer to it as “powerful” and that makes them feel good. But since they rarely wind their cars past 4k, they’re just wasting a good V-8 and a bunch of gas. One day, we’ll get a shot at these. For now, I wrote a little thing I imagine is how a conversation might go with BMW, from the perspective of someone begging them to bring these awesome cars to the USA. Jump for that and the pretty moving picture of the M550d, BMW X5 M50d and BMW X6 M50d. (more…)

27.01.2012 News, Video 4 Comments

Matt Reviews the C63 Coupe, Lexus CT200H, and BMW R1200R in the January Issue of Road Lanes

Friday, January 13th, 2012

We know it’s been a little quiet around here the past few days, and that’s because Matt and the crew are on a 3,000 mile road trip to film 4 episodes for our new show Tuned on the DRIVE Network. We’ll be back to regular posting on Monday, but for now, check out the January issue of the free online magazine Road Lanes, where Matt reviews the new Mercedes C63 Coupe, Lexus’s new “sporty” hybrid, the CT200H, and the BMW R1200R motorcycle!

Check it out at www.roadlanes.com

13.01.2012 News, Photos, Reviews No Comments

Hey! Can We Have Diesel Hybrids Too?!

Monday, December 26th, 2011

 

124 MPG.

That’s the projected MPG of the new Volvo V60 Diesel/Hybrid wagon, due out in 2013. That’s using the UK gallon (bigger), so converted for U.S. it’s 102.3MPG. Still ridiculous. Still astronomical, unbelievable, incredible and unavailable, at least if you live in the U.S. Same thing with Mercedes’ upcoming E300 Bluetech Hybrid. Confused? Curious? Mad? Me too. I don’t know why we can’t get it, but I intend to complain until we can. Read on (more…)

26.12.2011 News, Uncategorized 1 Comment

Optima Ultimate SC Invitational is a Must-Attend (Gallery/Video)

Sunday, December 18th, 2011

 

Note: Let’s call this Sunday reading. It’s a bit long but there’s pretty pictures, even one that moves! It’s Sunday, take some time for the story I spent hours on yourself.

 

SEMA was over. The AdultCon of car shows had packed up, making way for the AdultCon of people; AdultCon. Hundreds of thousands of people stared at thousands of cars, parts, dudes in company polo shirts, failed strippers promo models, obstructing the way for depressed humanoids trying to gamble. Everyone went home on Friday…and missed the best show of the entire week: The Optima Batteries Ultimate Street Car Invitational

 

You should have gone, because this event is the shit. Matt was invited to compete in his 1998 C5 Corvette. We figured between the car’s lightweight, power and suspension and Matt knowing Spring Mountain like the palm of his hand, he might do pretty well. However we were not prepared for what showed up early on Saturday morning. Make the jump for the story and massive gallery. (more…)

18.12.2011 News, Photos, Uncategorized, Video No Comments

Review: The BMW X5 Diesel. Over Hills and Through Snowy Ass Woods.

Tuesday, December 13th, 2011

“Did you tell anyone we were coming here today?”

“I was just going to ask you that! And…..no, I didn’t. Did you?”

“No.”

We shared a long silence, both mentally flashing forward to a broken car, freezing temperatures and no food. We were 7,000 feet above sea level on the Wheeler Pass trail in Nevada. It was snowing, so the pointy rocks- which ranged in size from grenade to tool box- were becoming hidden from view. We were wearing jeans and hoodies. The closest thing to “supplies” were a tire repair kit, 2 half-full Monster Rehabs and stomachs full of Pahrump’s finest Subway. Popping a tire on this 2011 BMW X5 diesel would surely result in cannibalism, and Thad is bigger than me.

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13.12.2011 Photos, Reviews 4 Comments

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