BMW News
-
In the pursuit of improved safety, a number of carmakers are developing face recognition systems that scan a driver’s face and determine whether he or she is about to fall asleep behind the wheel. BMW is also looking at the technology but sees face recognition as a way to identify the person behind the wheel and automatically adjust a car’s settings to match the driver's personal preferences. As soon as BMW's new system recognizes the driver it can automatically adjust the mirrors, seat and steering wheel, as well as turn on a favourite radio station. If successful, the system...
-
Hartge tunes the BMW 1-seriesJust a month ago Hartge released its tuned M3 coupe, and already it's back with a tuned 1-series. Like the M3, the 1-series gets a unique cosmetic treatment, but unlike the M3 program, the engine is untouched. Suspension, wheel and tire upgrades bring all the extra performance Hartge thinks you'll...
Nelson Ireson -
Video: Porsche Cayenne GTS vs BMW X5Big, brawny V8s, screaming tires and high-speed circuit driving. No, it's not a supercar showdown - it's...an SUV comparison? In the case of these two rather extraordinary SUVs, that's precisely what's on offer. Ride along with the gang at Fifth Gear as they test the two mega-SUVs back-to-back on...
Nelson Ireson -
BMW looking for partner to build electric car for U.S.Skyrocketing petrol prices and concerns over the state of the environment have previously driven BMW to focus on hydrogen power. However that focus is not so narrow as to exclude petrol-electric hybrids, or even all-electric vehicles. In fact, BMW is currently weighing its options for introducing...
Nelson Ireson -
LUMMA Design CLR X530 BMW X5The diesel version of the X5 isn’t the obvious choice for a tuner like Germany’s Lumma, who is more likely to modify a big-cube petrol engine, but its latest car is in fact based on the more mundane diesel six. Lumma's previous works include modified versions of the M5 and M6, in the...
Kenneth Hall -
BMW partners with Karmann for 1-series cabrio productionGermany’s largest independent carmaker and supplier, Karmann, has brokered a deal with BMW to install the convertible roofs for the new 1-series cabrio. The deal will last until 2013 and is expected to see between 170,000 and 300,000 1-series cabrios roll out of the Zary plant in Poland...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
When the names of the models in the X6 range were released, we were a little puzzled at the awkward sounding xDrive50i and xDrive35i model designations. Well, the guys over at Bimmerfile have gotten hold of an internal BMW memo, which reveals that this is in fact the bizarre new naming convention for future models. The memo states that "due to upcoming U.S. regulations in effect for Model Year 2009, we are changing some of our naming protocol. The new naming protocol will affect all products that currently have an engine displacement designation within the name—X3, X5, X6, Z4 and Z4...
-
BMW may supply engines to Fiat and GMBMW arguably builds some of the finest engines in the industry but the carmaker isn’t one to prevent other makes from using its powerplants. Only last week Citroen announced plans to use BMW engines in some of its cars and soon GM and Fiat could be doing the same. Both GM and Fiat are...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
GM and BMW slashing European workforceAlthough the two car makers share very little in common, either in product line or market position, both GM and BMW have announced cutbacks in their European ranks today. For GM, outsourcing over 5,000 jobs could help the company meet budgetary goals. BMW is likewise seeking to eliminate 5,600 jobs...
Nelson Ireson -
BMW Performance range for 1-series coupe and cabrioBMW is using this year’s Geneva Motor Show to unveil a new range of performance accessories to be sold under the ‘BMW Performance’ line of factory backed modifications. The BMW Performance line was originally introduced in September last year for the 3-series and now the line is...
Kenneth Hall -
BMW ConnectedDrive takes the Internet on the roadNo longer will road-warrior salespeople have to hunt down a WiFi hotspot or finagle a laptop connection into their car for on-the-go Internet access. BMW has come to the rescue with an evolution of its ConnectedDrive technology that allows unrestricted Internet use via the car's in-dash display...
Nelson Ireson -
BMW hybrid technology to debut on 2009 7-seriesBMW is about to debut a new diesel-hybrid version of the X5 SUV at next month’s Geneva Motor Show and previously it unveiled a hybrid version of its new X6 crossover, but both of these vehicles are strictly concept vehicles. The first BMW vehicle with a hybrid powertrain to on sale will...
Alex Kaufmann -
As reported earlier BMW will be presenting a new eco-friendly concept touting the latest in EfficientDynamics technology at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show. BMW has given us a preview of the upcoming concept, a twin-turbo diesel X5 with a hybrid system. As has been the trend in Europe of late, carmakers are developing ultra-efficient hybrid models by combining frugal diesel engines with electric powertrains. We’ve already seen Peugeot’s 308 diesel-hybrid concept and now we have a BMW X5 SUV fitted with a 2.0L turbodiesel and the carmaker’s mild ActiveHybrid technology plus an...
-
BMW X5 diesel-hybrid concept, 1-series tii and M3 Convertible headed to GenevaBMW will be showcasing two very different concepts at next month’s Geneva Motor Show, one a brand new eco-friendly vehicle touting the latest in EfficientDynamics technology and the other a previous sports concept displaying the carmaker’s new performance accessories range. The third...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Citroen to use BMW enginesPeugeot has been using a range of BMW-sourced four-cylinder engines in its cars for years and now sister brand Citroen has confirmed its new models will also get the British-built engines. The engines come in several different flavours, including turbo and naturally aspirated versions, and range...
Ralph Hanson -
Hartge-tuned BMW M3 CoupeAlready a fully-capable road and track machine, the BMW M3 Coupe isn't precisely in need of tuning - or so you'd think. Once Hartge got its hands on it, however, it decided the new car could use some massaging, and has done its best to preserve what's great about the M3 Coupe while adding its own...
Nelson Ireson -
G-Power M5 rated world’s fastest street-legal BMWThe world’s fastest street-legal BMW isn’t some fancy sports coupe or slippery aerodynamic marvel. The vehicle is actually a sedan, albeit a highly modified M5 sedan. The record breaker is the G-Power Hurricane M5 sedan and it reached a top speed of 225mph (360km/h) during high speed...
Siddarth Raja -
BMW planning new minicar brand?We’ve previously reported about BMW considering a new low-emissions minicar to help reduce its fleet average emissions levels and now new reports have emerged claiming there could be an all-new brand launched with several different models in the pipeline. Part of the reason for BMW...
Alex Kaufmann -
A report out of Germany today from the country's top automotive support service, ADAC, claims that the most reliable cars - based on analysis of their receipt of 2 million calls for help - in Germany are of German make. BMW's X3 tops the list, and is followed by Audi's A2 and BMW's 1-series. But there's a small problem in the analysis: the X3 isn't made by BMW. For those familiar with the inner workings of the car industry, the name Magna Steyr is well-known. For those less aware of how cars actually get made, Magna Steyr is a full-service engineering and manufacturing firm, which does...
-
BMW developing all-electric carBMW has always backed hydrogen as the power source of the future but that doesn’t mean it’s completely ruled out alternatives such as electric vehicles and petrol-electric hybrids. In fact, BMW plans to keep its options open. Not only has it already unveiled the Hydrogen7 limo and X6...
Ralph Hanson -
BMW prepping new EfficientDynamics ConceptBMW’s lineup up this year’s Geneva Motor Show will be a low key one, with the only major debut set to be a new EfficientDynamics Concept vehicle. BMW’s previous EfficientDynamics have been based on its regular production models, the most recent being a hybrid version of the X6...
Kenneth Hall -
BMW Performance 1-series brochure leakedBMW is set to expand its aftermarket accessories line to include the new 1-series range, and a new brochure that’s leaked onto the web details all the goodies we can look forward to (although it’s in German). Simply named ‘BMW Performance,’ the accessories line was initially...
Kenneth Hall -
Five youths killed in BMW M5 crashFive young men were killed early Saturday at Greystone Airport in Florida when the car they were traveling in, a BMW M5 saloon, crashed in a high speed accident after being driven on the actual airport strip. Behind the wheel was 18-year-old Joshua D. Ammirato and riding along in the car was four...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
BMW Alpina B3 Biturbo now available in AWDSo the M3 is just a little too raucous and hard-edged, the regular 3-series is too soft and sedated, and you want four-wheel drive traction with your luxo-performance ride? Well, then, Goldilocks, the Alpina B3 Bi-turbo AWD is just what you're looking for: it adds that little kick that's missing...
Nelson Ireson