BMW News
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Niche German sports carmaker Wiesmann recently celebrated its 20th birthday and to mark the anniversary the Dülmen-based manufacturer will be releasing a string of special '20th Anniversary Editions' models over the course of the year. The first of these special editions was recently shown in the form of the MF4-S GT, and today, at the Geneva Motor Show, the company has unveiled a new convertible model. Based on the mid-level MF4, the Wiesmann Roadster will pick up the same BMW-sourced 4.0L V8 engine as the GT. Peak output remains at 367hp (270kW) and drive is sent to the rear wheels via a...
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Alpina B7 revealed at Geneva Motor ShowIn the world of modified BMWs, few brands hold the power of the Alpina name, known for its tasteful treatments, high-power upgrades and willingness to venture into uncharted waters. The latest of the modified BMWs to roll out of Alpina's shop is the new fourth-generation B7. Based on BMW's new...
Alex Kaufmann -
Magna Steyr Mila EV Concept unveiledOne of the unseen forces of the automotive industry, Magna Steyr is a contract manufacturer that produces some of the best cars in the world, including the Aston Martin Rapide, the Porsche Boxster and Cayman from 2012, the Mini crossover and more. Their automotive prowess is without question, then...
Nelson Ireson -
Audi: we will beat Mercedes and BMW in Europe by 2010The bosses at Audi are gunning for their German rivals BMW and Mercedes-Benz, announcing this weekend a goal to sell more cars than either in Europe by 2010. Audi's continental domination will be followed soon after by the Volkswagen Group's rise to the number one spot in the world, if the company...
Nelson Ireson -
AC Schnitzer creates sportier look for BMW 7-seriesRenowned German tuner AC Schnitzer has developed a number of heavily modified cars in the past, the most recent being its new kit for the facelifted 3-series range. Lately, however, the tuner has decided to take a more subtle approach to customization, releasing a set of custom wheels and aero...
Alex Kaufmann -
Preview: 2010 BMW 5-SeriesWith the 2009 Audi A6 facelift now on sale and the 2010 Mercedes Benz E-Class just a month away from hitting showrooms, attention now turns to the next-generation BMW 5-Series. A class leader since its inception, the 5-Series Sedan and Touring wagon remain crucial vehicles in BMW’s lineup and...
James Martinez -
Sometimes more isn't a good thing, and that's often the case with aftermarket mods. Even BMW's own factory designs have come under fire for adding needless elements - the recently-released 5-series Gran Turismo being a prime example. But none of that has fazed the likes of Lumma, which has moved forward with an update to its already aggressive X6 CLR X 650 package. The new vehicle, dubbed the CLR X 650 GT, gets many of the same design elements of the original, particularly in the materials department where carbon fiber plays a leading role. But new features, such as bi-color 23in rims, LED...
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Grab your tinfoil hats, BMW is developing a navigation system that tracks your habitsImagine a future where you don't have to drive yourself to work, the market or even home from a night on the town. Convenient, but to some a nightmare of lost control. Even worse: imagine a future where your car chooses your destination for you. That's what BMW is working toward with its new...
Ralph Hanson -
Official info and pricing on BMW's U.S. M-Sport packagesHigh-performance factory packages are a common sight these days, but BMW's ZMP M-Sport packages are more than just big wheels and fancy aero pieces. The details revealed today tell us what equipment is standard in the M-Sport package, which models will get it and how much it will cost. Don't worry...
Alex Kaufmann -
Scanned image reveals next-gen BMW 5-seriesA class leader since its inception, the 5-series remains a crucial car in BMW's lineup, so there's a great deal of anticipation surrounding the next-generation model. The new car is due to arrive late this year for the 2010 model year, and heavily disguised sedan prototypes have already been seen...
Ralph Hanson -
BMW releases ‘Performance Power Kit’ for N54 straight-six engineBMW’s N54 series straight-six engine is one of the most coveted powerplants currently in production, picking up prestigious awards like the International Engine of the Year title and appearing in some of our favorite cars like the 335i Coupe and Sedan. In its standard form, the...
Ralph Hanson -
Chris Bangle to open own design studioEarlier this month automotive designer Chris Bangle announced that he planned to quit the auto industry to pursue his own design-related endeavours. The American-born designer is yet to reveal exactly what his future plans will entail but a senior executive at his former employer, BMW, has revealed...
Kenneth Hall -
In late 2007 BMW CEO Norbert Reithofer revealed plans for several all-new models including a design study called the Progressive Activity Sedan (PAS). Today we have the first tangible evidence of the new PAS in the form of the 5-series Gran Turismo (GT) concept vehicle. Set to debut at next month’s Geneva Motor Show, the latest concept vehicle not only previews the production 5-series GT due to go on sale in November but it also gives a clue as to the final design of the next-generation 5-series saloon. The body of the 5-series GT features a mix of elements from crossover, hatchback and...
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Spy shots: BMW X5 M performance SUVCurrently sitting atop BMW’s X5 range is the 4.8is but recent news from the boss of BMW’s M division, Ludwig Willisch, has confirmed that performance variants of both the X5 and X6 SUVs are in development. A performance SUV doesn’t really fit in with the M philosophy of increased...
Ralph Hanson -
Fiat still in talks with BMW despite proposed alliance with ChryslerJust as Chrysler and Nissan plan to keep their previous platform and product sharing deals now that the American carmaker is on the verge of an alliance with Fiat Group, the Italian giant reportedly plans to keep its own dealings with BMW alive as well. While there was speculation that the proposed...
Alex Kaufmann -
Mini considering U.S.-market diesel by 2011Diesel engines are still failing to gain much traction in the U.S., in part because of a national memory of the diesels of three decades ago, and in part because diesel fuel and engines are still too expensive to make good business sense. But Mini is thinking a small, sporty and efficient diesel...
Nelson Ireson -
New images for G-Power’s title holder of 'World's Fastest Street-Legal Sedan'The gloves are off in the battle to produce the world's fastest street-legal sedan, and the competition is getting hotter as German tuning giants Brabus and G-Power practice a game of one-upmanship. First, G-Power unveiled its 225mph (360km/h) Hurricane M5, based on the BMW M5. That car used a pair...
James Martinez -
Huge demand delays Mini EV test leases in U.S.In a sign that Americans may truly be ready to embrace electric vehicles, including living with any shortcomings and paying a significant price premium, demand for BMW’s Mini E electric vehicle has outstripped supply by 4-to-1. Unfortunately, the plethora of applicants for the 450 available...
Alex Kaufmann -
Jim Morrisson sang what may have been the best driving advice in rock and roll history in the quintessential "Roadhouse Blues": Keep your eyes on the road and your hands upon the wheel. While that advice may have been aimed at keeping a half-potted rocker between the lines, it's equally apposite in daily life. Ford today revealed a study backing up that assertion with evidence that voice-command systems reduce driver distraction. Things as simple as having the car's computer read an incoming text-message rather than the driver reading it can have a huge impact, according to the study. The...
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Alpina releases more details for B6 GT3 ahead of Geneva Motor ShowBMW-tuners extraordinaire Alpina has decided to return to motorsports after a 20 year absence. The comeback will be staged in the 2009 FIA GT3 European Championship - but the best part - the company will be selling exact copies of their race cars to individuals, collectors and other teams. Alpina's...
Alex Kaufmann -
BMW 335d and X5 diesel qualify for IRS tax creditTax incentives designed to help promote the adoption of technology that is slightly more expensive but in the end, more fuel efficient, are growing rapidly. The IRS' Lean Burn Technology Motor Vehicle Tax Credit, for example, is targeted at reducing greenhouse gas emissions. BMW announced today...
Nelson Ireson -
2010 BMW X6 M spy shotsCurrently sitting atop BMW’s X6 range is the xDrive50i but as these latest spy shots and previous rendering attest there will be a new top dog in the X6 lineup soon, likely wearing an M badge. After witnessing Porsche and AMG rack up thousands of sales with their respective Cayenne and ML...
Ralph Hanson -
BMW design chief Chris Bangle quits auto industryOne of the most recognized automobile designers in the world, Chris Bangle, has announced today that he plans to quit the auto industry to pursue his own design-related endeavours. Bangle is the controversial designer behind recent BMW design traits such as ‘flame surfacing’ and the...
Alex Kaufmann -
BMW will focus on eight-speed automatic transmissionsBMW will soon be offering a new eight-speed automatic transmission developed by ZF that is set to appear first in the 7-series flagship saloon. The new transmission is said to be both more fuel-efficient and cheaper to manufacture than the current six-speed unit, and its performance is also claimed...
James Martinez