Recent reports that the famous BMW 'Ring Taxi was to die in 2011 have mercifully proved to be wide of the mark, after BMW announced that it is merely switching to the E90 BMW M3 - But the legendary Sabine Schmitz won't be behind the wheel.
Still, while the retirement of the old E60 M5 will mean the fastest taxi in the Eifel Mountains might be a little less spacious, the current M3 is probably a more appropriate tool for track work.
And even the official 'loss' of Sabine Schmitz isn't as bad as you think - the 'Ring taxis have always been piloted by a whole team of BMW instructors, so your chances of landing a ride with the 'Queen of the 'Ring' were pretty slim anyway.
BMW's official line is that "the BMW 'Ring-Taxi will continue in 2011 and use the BMW M3 this year. It will be driven by the instructors from the BMW Driving Experience program - much like it used to be in past years."
The legendary Sabine is still plying her track-taxi trade, however. She's doing the rounds (and has been for a little while now) in a Porsche 997 GT3 RS. At 449 euros (£385), it's a little more expensive than a ride in the BMW, but it will definitely be quicker...