Motor Authority - blog Tag: Munich

The current E90 BMW 3-Series has been on the market since 2005, so it's only fitting that details about the next-gen model are beginning to circulate. Most agree that the next model will feature styling lifted, at least in part, from the Concept CS, though also expect to see a healthy dose of the new corporate styling debuted on the latest 7-Series.

These are the first spy shots of a prototype for the new car, revealing very similar proportions to the current model although the wheelbase is slightly longer. Also, the prototype is in a very early phase so finer design elements and even the overall body shape could easily change before the...

The current E90 BMW 3-Series has been on the market since 2005, so it's only fitting that details about the next-gen model are beginning to circulate. Most agree that the next model will feature styling lifted, at least in part, from the Concept CS, though also expect to see a healthy dose of the new corporate styling debuted on the latest 7-Series. These are the first spy shots of a prototype for the new car, revealing very similar proportions to the current model although the wheelbase is slightly longer. Also, the prototype is in a very early phase so finer design elements and even the overall body shape could easily change before the new 3-Series’ final release date. Due in 2012, the new car will pay special attention to efficiency and it will achieve that goal through extensive use of BMW's EfficientDynamics technology. Low drag aerodynamics, smaller engines, and high-tech electronics will combine to make the next 3-Series a step above the current car. Aesthetically, designers will attempt to address criticisms of the current car's awkward styling and lack of interior space. The bonnet will likely sit much higher than on the current model to improve pedestrian safety, while the sides will be marked with a prominent character line and high beltline. Weight will be reduced thanks to the increased use of aluminum and other advanced materials in its construction. A huge change for the 2012 car could be the addition of three-cylinder engines to the lineup. Though these wouldn't likely be seen in the U.S. during the first half of the next 3-series model life, they could eventually make their way across the pond if fuel efficiency and emissions regulations continue to tighten past 2016. We do know that a four-cylinder model, with turbocharging, will be offered in the U.S. with the arrival of the new car. With a single turbo and 1.5-liters of displacement--effectively half of the current twin-turbo inline six-cylinder engine--the future three-cylinder models, meanwhile, would be good for anywhere from 150-170 horsepower and 150-220 pound-feet of torque, with the gasoline models weighing in lower on the torque scale than the diesel models. Paired with an ultra-efficient 8-speed transmission and more efficient auxiliary systems such as heating and cooling, the next-gen 3-Series is expected to deliver some seriously impressive economy. One of the new advanced EfficientDynamics technologies to make its way into the next 3-Series will be a so-called 'air curtain'. Using a special series of ducts and vents, the system directs air in a manner such that it slips neatly over the wheels, which are normally an area of high turbulence, and therefore energy-sapping drag. In addition to making the car more efficient overall, BMW is looking to make the next 3-Series less expensive to build and therefore to buy as it aims for larger volumes. Whether that will mean compromises in terms of total feature set or simply a lower-end range of models to entice entry-level luxury buyers is not clear, but pushing the 3-Series so far down-market could step on the toes of the 1-Series range and any future city cars coming from the Project i initiative. Finally, as yet another measure to enhance efficiency while still delivering a BMW driving experience, expect to see the hybrid technology debuting on the X6 ActiveHybrid and ActiveHybrid 7 to eventually make its way to the 3-Series, albeit in somewhat reduced form. This technology will likely be especially targeted at U.S. buyers, since even by the car's mid-cycle revamp in 2016, there isn't likely to be widespread adoption of diesel-engined cars. Of course, all of these details are still speculative at this point, but it's clear that BMW is pushing its mainstream offerings in a more efficient direction while still trying to maintain their engaging, driver-focused character. It is a difficult balancing act, but one that enthusiasts will enjoy seeing played out over the years to come. Read More

Following in the footsteps of their Sedan sibling, the svelte 3-Series Coupe and Convertible are also due for a mid-cycle facelift towards. Today we have images of a prototype for the updated Coupe rolling around the streets of Munich ahead of its expected unveiling at this month’s Frankfurt auto show.

Like the facelifted Sedan, which was launched late last year, changes to the Coupe should incorporate some sportier styling, reworked head and tail-lamps, and possibly a wider track.

The interior will get a new look as well, with improved trim, a new center armrest and a second-generation iDrive system with four selector buttons for...

Following in the footsteps of their Sedan sibling, the svelte 3-Series Coupe and Convertible are also due for a mid-cycle facelift towards. Today we have images of a prototype for the updated Coupe rolling around the streets of Munich ahead of its expected unveiling at this month’s Frankfurt auto show. Like the facelifted Sedan, which was launched late last year, changes to the Coupe should incorporate some sportier styling, reworked head and tail-lamps, and possibly a wider track. The interior will get a new look as well, with improved trim, a new center armrest and a second-generation iDrive system with four selector buttons for commonly used features such as the stereo. The iDrive system will also sport a new 8.8 inch LCD display and an optional 80 Gb hard drive music and navigation system. Mechanical updates introduced in the facelifted Sedan, which should also make their way into the new Coupe include a brake energy regeneration system, an auto stop-start function, electro-mechanical power steering and tires with reduced rolling resistance. Read More

Following in the footsteps of its Sedan sibling, the svelte 3-series Coupe and Convertible is also due for a mid-cycle facelift towards. Today we have images of a prototype for the updated Convertible rolling around the streets of Munich ahead of its expected unveiling at next month’s Frankfurt Auto Show.

Like the facelifted Sedan, which was launched late last year, changes to the Convertible should incorporate some sportier styling, reworked head and tail-lamps, and possibly a wider track.

The interior will get a new look as well, with improved trim, a new center armrest and a second-generation iDrive system with four selector buttons for...

Following in the footsteps of its Sedan sibling, the svelte 3-series Coupe and Convertible is also due for a mid-cycle facelift towards. Today we have images of a prototype for the updated Convertible rolling around the streets of Munich ahead of its expected unveiling at next month’s Frankfurt Auto Show. Like the facelifted Sedan, which was launched late last year, changes to the Convertible should incorporate some sportier styling, reworked head and tail-lamps, and possibly a wider track. The interior will get a new look as well, with improved trim, a new center armrest and a second-generation iDrive system with four selector buttons for commonly used features such as the stereo. The iDrive system will also sport a new 8.8 inch LCD display and an optional 80 Gb hard drive music and navigation system. Mechanical updates introduced in the facelifted Sedan, which should also make their way into the new Convertible include a brake energy regeneration system, an auto stop-start function, electro-mechanical power steering and tires with reduced rolling resistance. Read More

Hurtling along at a cool 143mph (230km/h) in BMW's 2010 X6 M at Road Atlanta just before you shut it down hard for turn 10A, there's a brief moment where you wonder if it's even physically possible for the 5,324lb (2,415kg) missile you're now a part of to slow down enough to make the turn and avoid surfing the sand into the runoff area. But the moment passes and soon enough you're throwing the car into a four-wheel drift and pegging the throttle as you confidently accelerate up the hill to start a new lap.

That, in a nutshell, is all you need to know about the X6 M. Our time with the car was limited to just a few hours on the road and 20... Hurtling along at a cool 143mph (230km/h) in BMW's 2010 X6 M at Road Atlanta just before you shut it down hard for turn 10A, there's a brief moment where you wonder if it's even physically possible for the 5,324lb (2,415kg) missile you're now a part of to slow down enough to make the turn and avoid surfing the sand into the runoff area. But the moment passes and soon enough you're throwing the car into a four-wheel drift and pegging the throttle as you confidently accelerate up the hill to start a new lap. That, in a nutshell, is all you need to know about the X6 M. Our time with the car was limited to just a few hours on the road and 20 laps of Road Atlanta at today's BMW-sponsored press event, but that time has given us a clear image of what the X6 M is - and isn't. It's an SUV (or SAV - Sport Activity Vehicle, according to BMW) that you can actually take to the track and not only safely negotiate the corners with but actually have fun exploring the outer limits of the chassis, brakes and tires. And those limits are very high indeed - with a solid exit from turn 7 there's a real possibility of seeing the vehicle's electronically limited top speed of 155mph (250km/h). At speed, the car seems to shrink around you, contrary to its large street presence. Turn-in rewards good technique - crisp and precise if you're off the brakes, but tending toward understeer with trail braking. Get back on the throttle at the apex and you can steer with your right foot - assuming you've switched off traction control - with the car sending at least 60% of its power to the rear wheels, and a full 100% at speeds over 111.8mph (180km/h). Straightaways flash by in a blink with the 555hp (408kW) twin-turbo V8 screaming to its 7,000rpm redline without once running out of breath - a trait it owes to its unique cross-tuned manifold and twin-turbo setup. Stand on the four-piston, 15in brakes and the 275/40/20 front and 315/35/20 rear tires will perform miracles of deceleration with confidence-inspiring feedback. Behind the wheel, the X6 M not only feels small, it feels almost - almost - light. It certainly doesn't feel like a 5,300lb behemoth. Steering is light but offers decent feedback, the brake pedal is firm with a long stroke and the accelerator is responsive but never jerky, even at low speeds. For many drivers the X6 M's six-speed automatic transmission will either be a draw or a sore spot, but in practice the unit does admirably in automatic mode, though to extract the most from the vehicle, you'll need to tap the wheel-mounted paddles yourself. Take a step back from the heady rush of the track, and the X6 M begins to raise some questions. The first: who would buy this? It is, after all, a four-seater, four-door SUV/crossover with an understandably portly curb weight. Inside, the M is even more luxurious and well-appointed than the standard X6, with stitched leather and carbon-fiber-like materials throughout the cabin. The vehicle is intended to be a sort of automotive Swiss Army knife, capable of doing it all, but like the cutlery, in the end, it doesn't really do any of them as well as a specialist tool. And that's traditionally what the M Division has made - scalpels, not Swiss Army knives. That said, it is a very pleasing and fun track-day toy, and even though the average X6 M owner will likely never see a closed course, it's the possibility that will entice many. Just as most SUVs will never leave the comfort of paved suburbia, so too is the X6 M as much about potential as it is about practice. Driving the standard X6 from Road Atlanta to Spartanburg after our time with the X6 M was somewhat anti-climactic, but it served to highlight the comfort, ease of driving and perfectly capable acceleration of the standard V8 vehicle. Driven back to back on the city streets, the differences between the standard and M versions might not be readily apparent to the average driver, though the M's aggressive exterior leaves no doubt as to which is which. Perhaps BMW's own engineers summed the X6 M up best at the press conference when they compared it to a sunny spot in a sea of gloomy news, brought in to brighten up the automotive world when it needs it most. And that it certainly does. The question is whether its on-track potential will translate into real-world sales at its $89,725 price point - but we'll have to wait at least until sales start in October to learn if the M Division has hit all the right marks with its latest sport-activity sports car.2010 BMW X6 M2010 BMW X6 M First Drive Read More

BMW may be topping the luxury sales charts here in the U.S. but over in Germany things aren’t so peachy and the automaker is resorting to some drastic actions to help boost its sales. At a number of its German factory parking lots, the automaker has attached more than 7,000 cards requesting employees who don’t already own a BMW to consider buying one.

As odd as it sounds, the information was confirmed to Bloomberg by BMW spokesman Alexander Bilgeri. The effort is the first of its kind in a three-decade marketing program to employees and is designed to raise awareness among the factory workers that they too are an important part... BMW may be topping the luxury sales charts here in the U.S. but over in Germany things aren’t so peachy and the automaker is resorting to some drastic actions to help boost its sales. At a number of its German factory parking lots, the automaker has attached more than 7,000 cards requesting employees who don’t already own a BMW to consider buying one. As odd as it sounds, the information was confirmed to Bloomberg by BMW spokesman Alexander Bilgeri. The effort is the first of its kind in a three-decade marketing program to employees and is designed to raise awareness among the factory workers that they too are an important part of the company. Bilgeri was quick to point out that no one would be losing their job because they didn’t drive a BMW. “What’s wrong here? You like working with us. You appreciate your job and income. But you drive a vehicle from a competitor,” read the cards signed by Ian Robertson, the company’s sales chief, Harald Krueger, BMW’s head of personnel, and Manfred Schoch, its top union representative. Government incentives and vehicle scrapping schemes in Germany haven’t helped luxury automakers like BMW and Mercedes Benz as they have pushed towards cheaper models made by other brands. Sales for the BMW Group, which includes BMW, Mini and Rolls-Royce, are down 21% for the first five months of the year, totalling roughly 488,000 vehicles. Read More

Following news that the company has delivered its 500th all-electric Roadster model, Tesla has announced that it’s ready to expand its dealer network with seven new sales and service centers around the globe this summer. Prospective customers will now be able to test drive the company’s Roadster in New York, Seattle, Chicago, Miami, London, Monaco and Munich, as well as the existing stores in California.

The stores in New York, Seattle and Chicago will open in late June, followed by Miami. The new additions will complement Tesla’s flagship stores in Northern and Southern California, which opened a year ago. Tesla is also... Following news that the company has delivered its 500th all-electric Roadster model, Tesla has announced that it’s ready to expand its dealer network with seven new sales and service centers around the globe this summer. Prospective customers will now be able to test drive the company’s Roadster in New York, Seattle, Chicago, Miami, London, Monaco and Munich, as well as the existing stores in California. The stores in New York, Seattle and Chicago will open in late June, followed by Miami. The new additions will complement Tesla’s flagship stores in Northern and Southern California, which opened a year ago. Tesla is also scouting locations in Washington DC and Toronto. Tesla’s first European store will open in London later this month, followed by Munich and Monaco. All the showrooms are centrally located to allow quick access to nearby highways and suburbs, giving prospective owners an opportunity to experience Tesla’s performance under a range of driving conditions. Furthermore, the stores take its cues from Apple, Starbucks and other customer-focused retailers, providing visitors with web access, multiple cars to test drive and plenty of information to learn more about Tesla.First drive: Tesla's all-electric Roadster Read More