Autoblog UK

Dismiss the 1-Series M Coupe as a limited-build range topper and you'd be wrong, as it is both a brand builder and the first car to show a new direction for BMW's motorsport-derived division.

In fact, it's almost as though BMW is going into auto-reverse, as the 1-Series M Coupe is closest in size and concept to the iconic 235bhp 80s E30 M3.

BMW is to start selling car parts on eBay direct to consumers for the first time.

The German manufacturer has launched an online store on the auction website that sells everything from accessories such as roof racks, to basic service parts such as brake pads and oil filters.

The Lexus IS has been revealed as Britain's most vandalised car in details released by insurer Swift Cover.

Premium vehicles feature heavily in the top 10, with the BMW Z4 coming second and the Mercedes CLK in fourth. BMW is the most unpopular brand of cars, with four models in the chart.

The appearance of the BMW Concept M5 at the Shanghai show may have been slightly diminished by the appearance of the thinly-disguised production car on the web some weeks ago, but we're still pretty excited about the prospect of a new version of arguably the world's greatest super saloon.

As expected, the concept gets the same 4.4-litre V8 twin-turbocharged engine which will feature in the production car potentially set to make its debut at this year's Frankfurt show.

BMW's latest M5 concept will be revealed at the Shanghai Motor Show. The subtly styled concept will boast a 4.4-litre, twin-turbo V8 – two fewer cylinders than the outgoing model.

BMW has ditched its naturally aspirated V10 in favour of a twin-turbo V8 for performance, economy and emissions purposes. The new engine comes with 552bhp and 510lb ft of torque – 52bhp and 102lb ft more than the last M5.

We can expect some pretty elaborate April Fools jokes from manufacturers today, but first prize has to go to BMW, who has actually gone to the expense of building this pick-up version of the M3.

The 414bhp truck is powered by the same 4.0-litre V8 as the coupe, and has been substantially modified at the rear - weighing in at around 50kg less than the M3 convertible.

A record entry list has been confirmed for the 2011 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship which series bosses are calling the "most exciting" in 20 years.

The 10 makes and 13 models that will line up for the season opener at Brands Hatch on 2/3 April will beat the previous record from the BTCC's two-litre era set in 1993 and BTCC Director Alan Gow believes he has a championship package to make other series green with envy.

There's no better day for gloriously pointless hokum than Friday, and hokum doesn't get anymore gloriously pointless than this.

We won't spoil it for you, but essentially it involves a very attractive young woman using a BMW M3 as a mobile orgasmatron. That fact alone means it has about as much to do with reality as a Top Gear special, but we drunk it in like a hungry toddler. Click below to watch.

Car manufacturers are pouring money into electric vehicle development like a dying man at a roulette wheel, but we're still not convinced that the technology is close to its tipping point among consumers yet.

There are plenty of practical problems we could highlight, but the one we often focus on in the office is the bare-faced lack of fun associated with the current crop of urban, everyman milk floats (as distinct from the pie-in-the-sky electric supercars).

However, this latest footage from Sweden offers a ray of hope. We've already seen BMW's i8 sports car testing, but the i3's all-electric, 150bhp, rear-wheel-drive platform is clearly almost as much fun on the Scandinavian ice.

Click below to check out the next generation of city car sideways excitement.

BMW clearly knows where the real interest lies in its sensible cars – the insane ones with the little 'M' badge on the back.

To this end, it has released a little teaser video of the next M5, which BMW M boss Kay Segler describes as "a bold business car that at the push of a button turns into a sports car".