2008 M3 coupe
(Credit: BMW NA)As a fan of the predecessor to this current M3, the e46, I was skeptical about driving what some called a heavy, underpowered car that didn't quite live up to its ancestors' legacy. A few die-hard enthusiasts, amid cracking tired Bangle jokes that are oh-so-five-years-ago, called it the MPIG, bemoaning the addition of more sensors and high-tech gadgets that added weight and deterred DIYers. And I almost bought into it.
Sure, I'll never love the look of the car like I love the e46. But the new M3 is, for better or worse, one of those cars you have to drive to truly appreciate.
On a recent press trip in Monterey, we had the opportunity to drive the M3 as it should be driven: On empty, windy roads. And later, even better: Madza Raceway Laguna Seca.
The 2008 M3 is powered by an all-new, 4.0-liter V8 engine. This is a drastic departure from the inline six used on the previous generation of the 3 Series cars. The bigger motor catapults the output to 414 horsepower at 8300 rpm, with 295 pound-feet of torque. But the sound of the car remains refined. The engine sounds big, but still reminiscent of M3s past. Sure, there are bigger engines out there, but the M3 is powerful without being raucous. Acceleration is still plenty fast, and the engine revs so high, you could drive around town without changing gears -- if you really wanted to.
On the road portion of our drive, my driving partner and I were amazed at how soft the ride was while driving over uneven pavement. This was due to an optional Electronic Dampening Control (EDC) feature on our car which has three suspension settings: comfort, normal, and sport. But even in "comfort" mode, softness didn't equate to mushiness. The car still felt dynamic and responsive, even while going over potholes and railroad tracks.
The steering was about as tight as I'd ever felt on any BMW. Although faced with a slew of considerably sharp turns as we wound our way through the hillsides, I never had to take my hands off the three-and-nine position. And the nice thick M wheel was comfortable and pleasurable to grip.
At the track, it was time to take it to a whole other level. My manual coupe really let it rip when I got on the throttle, and the brakes bit down hard and fast before the turns. Even though I was only on stock Michelin Pilot Sport tires, the car stuck like glue through the apexes, and the car's back end came around nicely as I gave it more gas out of the turns. Only a few times did I push it hard enough to get those tires to "sing," but I never felt out of control. Admittedly, I did the whole track in third gear, but even so I never lacked for power or torque.
That said, the 2008 M3 is not a "track car" in the true sense of the word. But that's not the point. The beauty of the e92 M3 is that it can be a sensible, dignified daily driver, and still tear it up on track days. And although I am coupe-biased, I think the re-introduction of the M3 sedan will even further the M3's image of an all-around car that can serve many purposes and still be a thrill to drive.
Oh, and about that heaviness thing; BMW lightened the new chassis up quite a bit to compensate for the weight increase. An aluminum hood and suspension, as well as a carbon-fiber roof, shave some weight off, although the "unladen" weight of the coupe is still 3704 pounds, with the sedan weighing in a tad heavier at 3726 pounds. By comparison, the e46 M3 coupe is 3415 pounds. So just imagine the kind of horsepower boost the 2008 M3 could get if it were 300 pounds lighter. But if you're the kind of person who's bothered by that kind of heft, you're probably better off buying an old M3 and ripping all the seats out.
Pretty in pink
(Credit: Motorola)Two weeks before CTIA, Motorola jumped the gun and unleashed a gallery of new cell phones. While most of the models were basic handsets for developing markets, the Motorola U9 and the Motorola Razr2 V8 Luxury Edition stood out from the crowd. Luckily, Motorola gave us the chance to see the handsets up close at a CTIA press event.
The Moto U9 inherits its curvaceous design from the Motorola Pebl U6. It has the same rounded edges and smooth body, though instead of a rubbery skin, it sports a glossy finish that reflects the light. It fits neatly in the hand, and I liked the slick external display. Though it's invisible when the backlighting is off, a flick of the volume rocker will cause the display to appear behind the front face.
The dark pink color is certainly eye-catching, but the U9 comes in a more subdued black hue as well. Unfortunately, I didn't get the chance to test the new "Spinner" interface, but it looks cool from the pictures. Features on the U9 include a music player, stereo Bluetooth, Moto's Crystal Talk technology, a 2-megapixel camera, and world phone support. And in contrast to what I said in a video, the U9 is not part of Moto's Rokr series (sorry about that, it was a long trade show day). Also, we first saw the U9's nontraditional hinge design in the Sony Ericsson Z600, not the Pebl.
The Motorola Razr2 V8 Luxury Edition has the same overall shape as the original Razr2 V8, but the 18-karat and 24-karat gold plating positively sparkles. What's more, the slate black accents, faux leather rear face and the pin-striped design around the external display certainly put it in a luxury league (assuming there is, and even should be, such a league for cell phones). Some users might find that all bling to be a bit too much, but if you love making a statement, this could be the phone for you. The spacious external display is here as well, but unlike the Razr2 V9, it doesn't use the nifty onscreen controls to its full extent (T-Mobile's Razr2 V8 had the same problem). As for features, the handset offers Bluetooth, a 2-megapixel camera, quadband GSM world phone support, Moto's CrystalTalk technology, a full HTML browser, and Windows Media Player 11. We'll review them just as soon as we can.
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T-Mobile's Razr2
(Credit: Corinne Schulze/CNET Networks)We expected that it would happen, and today we got confirmation that the Motorola Razr2 has at long last arrived at T-Mobile. The carrier announced it would sell the Razr2 V8 for $249 with service, making it the last major carrier to offer Moto's Razr revamp. From the outside the V8 has the same sleek design as both the GSM V9 and CDMA V9m, but inside there are some important differences. The V8 lacks 3G support (T-Mobile has yet to launch a wireless broadband network) and it doesn't fully utilize the external display. For a full analysis, check out our full Razr2 V8 review or see the Razr2's profile in our slide show.
That's one phone with a lot of bling
(Credit: Motorola)It's a big day in the cell phone world. Not only did LG's Rumor become official, but also Motorola stepped up with nine new handsets. Though the majority are basic models meant primarily for making calls, Moto also gave us a new "Luxury" version of the Razr2 V8 and a curvaceous model based on the former Pebl U6. Check them all out in our slide show.
The Razr2 V9m
(Credit: Corinne Schulze/CNET Networks)As expected, Alltel today formerly picked up the Motorola Razr2 V9m, that lovely Razr revamp that caught our attention last month. Alltel joins Verizon Wireless and Sprint in offering the feature-packed handset while AT&T has already countered with the GSM Razr2 V9. As is the case with the other carriers offering the Razr2, Alltel adds its own customization to the phone. The massive external display shows the missed calls list (handy indeed) and you'll find the carrier's unique Celltop application. The carrier chose to use Moto's standard user interface rather than applying its own, and the phone's color scheme is the same dark pearl gray found on the Sprint model. The standard features include stereo Bluetooth, a 2-megapixel camera, a microSD card slot, a digital music player and support for EV-DO networks. As for other goodies, Alltel's V9m has satellite XM Radio and a TeleNav GPS application. You can buy it for $299 with service; check back soon for a review.
The Razr2 V8
(Credit: Corinne Schulze/CNET Networks)With Alltel's announcement, only T-Mobile has yet to make any Razr announcements. Rumors persist that T-Mobile will acquire the GSM/EDGE Razr V8 next month, but that's remains unconfirmed as of now. We'll let you know when we know something for sure.
The Razr2 V9m in Alltel and Sprint colors
(Credit: Corinne Schulze/CNET Networks)Motorola announced today that its second-generation Razr phone will be arriving at most major U.S. carriers by the end of the summer. The GSM Razr2 V9 will come to AT&T while the CDMA Razr2 V9m will come to Alltel, Sprint, and Verizon Wireless. T-Mobile is out of the game at the moment, mostly due to the carrier's lack of a 3G network. That said, it theoretically could adopt the GSM Razr2 V8, which tops out at 2.5G EDGE speeds, but that's just speculation for now.
Announced in May, the Razr2 line adopts the now iconic Razr form factor but offers a fresh approach. Besides being marginally thinner and more streamlined, the phones offer steel and hardened glass casings; large, higher-resolution displays; and onscreen touch controls with tactile feedback. Carriers were given a lot of freedom as to the design of their phones. They could change the appearance of the external displays and alter which touch controls they wanted to show on the screen. Colors also vary among the carriers. Sprint and Alltel come in dark pearl grey, AT&T's phone is mahogany, and Verizon chose the espresso model.
Razr2 V9 for AT&T
(Credit: Corinne Schulze/CNET Networks)Features are the same on all versions. You'll find a 2-megapixel camera, full Bluetooth, a microSD card slot, 3G support, video conferencing, a full HTML browser, Windows Media Player 11 with PC syncing, a 500Mhz processor, USB 2.0, and "CrystalTalk" voice technology that will adjust the volume automatically based on ambient noise.
Sprint's version will go on sale August 22 for $249 with service. The other carriers will get their phones at about the same time and for a similar price.
We'll have full reviews of the phones in the next couple of days. In the meantime, check out some from our initial hands-on session. Though we're as sick of the Razr as the next person, we admit that the Razr2 line is undeniably eye-catching. We've been saying for a long time that Motorola needs something completely new--and we still feel that way--but this will do for the time being. If this Razr's performance is as good as it looks, then Moto may just be able to revive its flagging cell phone division.
(Credit:
ToolTopia)
If there's one thing we learned this last winter, people get cold while sitting at their computers. Very cold. And the gadget industry jumped into action and responded with heated products ranging from mice to mittens, throwing in an occastional lap or knee warmer for good measure.
But honestly, given how much heat emanates from a computer, why should there be a need for something that produces additional BTUs? The cleverly named WK001 keyboard from V8, for example, is powered by a USB connection that generates two levels of toastiness--"normal hand temperature" and "normal body temperature"--to keep one's circulation flowing even in offices with meat-locker thermostats.
And it won't make you look homeless either.
The Razr2 V9 in maroon
(Credit: Corinne Schulze/CNET Networks)A day after Motorola released its new Razr 2 cell phones, I got the chance to play with the handsets up close. Though I've grown quite weary of recycled Razrs, I have to admit I liked what I saw. The Razr 2 design is more a refresh of the popular thin handset than a revolution, but it wins new points for beauty. The redesigned hinge and the flattened bottom end are eye-catching, and they contribute to the overall sleek and shiny appearance. And though the V9, V9m, and V8 are just a hair's (0.07 inch) slimmer than the original Razr V3, the change is quite noticeable. As for colors, I'm partial to the maroon hue on the V9 but the dark blue on the V8 and V9m is attractive as well. Meanwhile, the metal casing gives the cell phone a relatively solid feel. Check out more pictures in our slide show.
The Razr2 V9m and the new external display
(Credit: Corinne Schulze/CNET Networks)The external displays are a huge improvement over the original screen on the V3. It's rich with color and detail, and the tactile feedback for the on-screen touch controls is definitely cool. It's disappointing that Moto made some messaging functions available only on the V8's external display. Why the company can't do the same for every Razr is beyond me.
Inside I liked the internal display as well. It's also bright and vivid, though again I don't understand why Moto doesn't spread the love when adding new features to a phone. Though the V8 features a slick new interface thanks to a Linux/Java platform, the V9 and V9m include the same boring and stodgy Moto interface that we're thoroughly over.
The new menu interface on the Razr2 V8
(Credit: Corinne Schulze/CNET Networks)The keypad shows some changes as well. It covers nearly the whole surface of the phone's bottom half. The alphanumeric buttons are completely flat with the surface of the phone and have no definition between them but we'll hold our firm assessment on their usability until we get a review model. The navigation array features the same round four-way toggle with the central OK button.
The V9 and V9m have a microSD card slot but it's crammed behind the battery cover. The V8 doesn't have expandable memory but it comes with 512MB of shared memory plus an additional 2GB of internal storage--impressive indeed.
Motorola wouldn't tell which carriers will get the Razr 2 but we can say that the V9 was running on Cingular, the V8 was operating on T-Mobile, and the V9m was using Alltel. While the V9 and V8 could be flukes since they could use any carrier's SIM card, it seems pretty clear that the V9m will land at Alltel. I can't imagine Alltel hooking up a strange phone on its network unless they were thinking about supporting it. All three Razr 2s will be out by the end of the summer.
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