BMW

Previous Page Next Page BMW has finally pulled the covers off the 2017 5 Series. Wearing the codename G30, the new 5 Series looks to be borrowing a number of items from its larger brother, the 7 Series. The most obvious item shared between the two is the design. Looking at the pictures that BMW released, you would swear that you're looking at a 7 and not 5. Details such a wider kidney grille, new headlights, bold character line, and reshaped trunk are some of items both models share. The only difference is the 5 Series is smaller. One item we're glad to see is the 5 Series not growing much in terms of size. Compared to the 2016 model, the…

World Car Fans I see the interior still suffers from the same boring design other BMWs do...but it has the new X5's shifter.

Cutting models from lineups seems to be the order of the day lately. Automakers like Nissan, General Motors, and Mercedes Benz, are in the process of hatcheting the heck out their lineups. Now comes the news from BMW. BMW has been struggling to make money on vehicles less than €40,000, due to fears of another global recession, a marked slowdown in the automotive sector, and Trump inspired trade wars, BMW is looking to cull options and models from their lineup. Gone will be many convertible variants, including the next Z4, the 2-series, 8-series (coupe and convertible). Also pushing up the daisies will be the 7-series standard wheelbase (Not offered in the US), the …

William Maley Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com December 29, 2011 BMW is serious with their upcoming i lineup with the i3 and i8 due out in 2014. The i series will utilize BMW’s LifeDrive architecture, which essentially is a composite body/passenger cell mated to a powertrain unit (or units). BMW is busy doing testing on both models to get them ready and an i8 was recently caught by a spy photographer. Designwise, the i8 mule stays true to the concept except for the doors. The pictures show the mule dropping the long glass doors for carbon fiber for better protection in crashes. The front end reveals that i8 will come with active aerodynamics; shutters in upper an…

New compact luxury crossovers are being introduced apace, with strong-selling models like the Lexus NX and the Lincoln MKC claiming large slices of a pie once carved up almost exclusively by Acura, BMW, Mercedes, and Audi. But there’s still goodness to be found among the older guard, particularly BMW’s X3. Read more at: http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/2015-bmw-x3-xdrive35i-test-review

While the BMW i8 Coupe is heading into production, the convertible version has hit a snag or two. Autocar has learned from a BMW spokesperson that the i8 Spyder has presented "major challenges" in the engineering department. The problem is due to the carbon fiber-reinforced plastic construction that provides the rigidity and lightness for i8. If you take off the roof like on the i8 Spyder, it becomes very difficult to add rigidity to the shell. "The last architecture presented some fairly major challenges, to be able to produce a convertible in that format. The rigidity was hard to find with that particular architecture," said a BMW spokesman. The spokesman went onto sa…

William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com December 5, 2012 For the past year or so, we been reporting on whether the next-generation BMW 3-Series coupe and convetible would be sticking with the 3-Series or moving up to the 4-Series. Well, BMW has made the decision to go with the 4-Series for the next-generation coupe and convertible as evidenced by BMW revealing the new 4-Series coupe concept. The 4-Series coupe concept shares a similar style to the 3-Series sedan, but the coupe sports more aggressive body work, including dramatic sculpting on the front bumper, a more pointed front grille, full LED headlights, and fender gills. The 4-Series coupe interior is the…

William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com July 29, 2013 For the past few years on the automotive auto show circuit, BMW has been showing off two concept vehicles that previews a new sub-brand; the i3 electric vehicle and i8 plug-in hybrid. Today in New York City, BMW pulled the covers off the first production vehicle of their new i sub-brand, the i3. The BMW i3 is definitely a different type of vehicle from the Munich automaker. Built on what BMW calls the LifeDrive architecture, the i3 comes in two parts. First is the Life Module which is the i3's body. The Life Module is made out of carbon fiber reinforced plastic which contributes to the i3's curb weight of a…

Thanksgiving gifts can come in many formats, BMW announced over the U.S. Thanksgiving week Holiday the limited production edition of the Z4 M40i roadster. This rare auto will come with the following: Exclusive BMW Individual Frozen Black metallic paint. Vernasca/Alcantara interior with distinctive red contrast stitching. Available with a 6-speed manual or 8-speed Steptronic transmission. MSRP of $77,500 plus $1,175 destination and handling. The BMW Z4 roadster has been thrilling enthusiasts since 2002 that has delivered on a unique combination of purist driving, sporty dynamics, and classic proportions. BMW has decided to end producti…

BMW Z4 spy shots say Rebadge Miata built by Toyota! http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/bmw/z4/94096/new-bmw-z4-fresh-spy-shots-reveal-more-of-new-roadster So found this, this morning and I have to say that Toyota will come out of this with a new Supra that should be very interesting and yet as I state in my title, I see more than a little Miata in this cameo car. According to the story, BMW and Toyota are building side by side on the same lightweight platform that underpins the I3 and I8 this new Z4 and what will be the return of the Toyota Supra. This should be an interesting release!

William Maley Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com May 27, 2012 The new craze with luxury automakers is building compact luxury sedans. Audi has a new A3 sedan and Mercedes-Benz is working on the new CLA. Now, BMW is joining the craze with a new 1-Series sedan. Autocar reports that BMW has begun planning a new 1-Series sedan to come out after the new 1-series coupé and convertible. The sedan will be the spiritual successor to the E30 3-Series. The report says the sedan will utlize a RWD platform using some bits from the new 3-Series. This seems a bit odd since BMW is working on a new FWD platform. Powertrains will include four and six-cylinder engines, with an elec…

http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/autoshow...*#08bmwx6crg500 What is it? 2009 BMW X6 What's special about it? Coupelike agility combined with SUV utility? That's the promise of the 2009 BMW X6. It sounds like a stretch, but if any company can pull it off, BMW can. It already made its X5 SUV handle like a sedan, so making the similarly sized (although slightly lower) X6 feel like a coupe isn't impossible. A choice of two turbocharged engines should help. Base models, which will be known as the xDrive35i, will get the same twin-turbo 3.0-liter inline-6 as the 3 and 5 Series sedans. It delivers 300 horsepower and 300 pound-feet of torque, so even the entry-level X6…

UPDATE 4/21- US-Spec 335i Coupe as seen on bmwusa.com: ----------

By William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com May 30, 2013 While it might not be the most exciting vehicle in the BMW lineup, the X5 has played a very important role for BMW. Since its introduction back in 1999, BMW has moved close to 1.3 million X5s. Last year, the X5 was BMW USA's third best selling vehicle, right behind the 3 and 5-Series. But with the current X5 going on seven years, BMW knew it was time to introduce a new X5. The 2014 BMW X5's design is very much in line with the current X3. Up front is a wide kidney grill that is flanked by a set of Adaptive Xenon headlights. There is also a set redesigned air intakes. Along the side is a distinctive charac…

It seems some changes are coming to BMW's M division based on recent comments from the head of the division, Frank van Meel. First up is transmissions. van Meel tells Autocar that DCT dual-clutch and automatic transmissions have a bright future for M cars. Not so much for the manual transmission as sales are declining. “From a technical standpoint, the future doesn’t look bright for manual gearboxes. The DCT and auto ’boxes are faster and they have better fuel consumption. It’s difficult to say we’ll stick to the manual, but we still have a big fan community for manuals and we are not going to take away something the customer wants to have,” said van Meel. van…

Last year, BMW used Monterey Car Week to show off the Z4 Concept. Today, the 2019 Z4 made its world debut at Pebble Beach. The design matches up with the concept, for better and worse. The front end reminds us oddly of the Fiat 124 Spider with a sculpted hood, large headlights, and expansive vents. A set of kidney grilles feature mesh inserts. Along the side, there is a fair amount of sculpting for the doors and venting behind the front wheels. The back is very short and has a trunk that incorporates a ducktail spoiler. The particular model featured in the photos is known as the First Edition and comes with Frozen Orange Metallic paint, an anthracite fabric top, and 1…

BMW Unveils New Biturbo Petrol Straight Six Engine 02-20-2006 The force is with BMW as a new biturbo petrol engine blows in at the Geneva Motor Show 225 kW/302 hp and 400 Nm for hugely-powerful all-aluminum 3.0-litre six High-precision direct petrol injection cuts fuel use by 10 percent Turbo lag banished by intelligent biturbo technology BMW is not re-writing the laws of physics, just the laws of forced-induction. Turbo lag has been vaporised, fuel consumption slashed and torque ramped to the max, as BMW unveils yet another benchmark-setting power unit. Backing up its global success with the innovative 507 bhp V10 powerplant for the M5 and M6 super cars (2005 En…

Complexity Creep: BMW's Electronic "Dipstick" Causes Oil Grief Link to Original Article @ Jalopnik I read a related blurb in the 'Women and Cars' area of Edmunds that actually praises this. Goes to show what 'enthusiasts' they are...

BMW is making the M5 just a slightly bit more aggressive with the debut of the M5 Competition. Following in the footsteps of the M2 Competition, the M5 version tweaks the powertrain, chassis, and exterior. Beginning under the hood, the twin-turbo 4.4L V8 sees a slight boost in horsepower from 600 to 617. Torque remains at 553 pound-feet, although BMW has broadened the peak torque range. 0-60 mph sees a slight improvement of 0.3 seconds - 3.1 vs. 3.4. For the chassis, BMW has added stiffer engine mounts, M-specific Variable Damper Control system, revised mounting points for the front anti-roll bar, lowered ride height, and a stiffer rear anti-roll bar. To ha…

The 2019 BMW X7 has finally made its debut and its quite big, and I'm not talking about the grille. Parked next to the X5, the X7 is nine inches longer, making it the longest crossover BMW has sold. For the most part, BMW's designers didn't go too crazy with the design. The overall profile is similar to Mercedes' GLS-Class with a boxy profile and large glass area. One interesting trait is the rear doors being slightly longer than the front to allow for easier access into the second and third rows. Where designers decided to go nuts is the front end and its large kidney grilles. It's a bit much when contrasted with the slim LED headlights. The X7's interior looks t…

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BMW has plans of launching 25 electrified models by 2025 - 12 of those being fully electric. But don't expect to start seeing mass production of those 12 models anytime soon. BMW CEO Harald Krueger told analysts in Munich that its current electric vehicle technology is not profitable enough to scale up to volume production. “We wanted to wait for the fifth generation to be much more cost competitive. We do not want to scale up with the fourth generation,” said Krueger. The difference in costs between the fourth and fifth-generation according to Krueger "was a “two digit number” in percent terms." BMW is currently developing a sixth-generation of electric te…

BMW 5-series GT Greg Kable AutoWeek February 13, 2009 - 9:32 am ET BMW's desire to compete in every conceivable luxury-market niche has moved up a gear with the unveiling of the 5-series GT, a car known until now by its working title, the Progressive Activity Sedan. Although BMW will be billing the five-door liftback as a concept at its public showing at the Geneva motor show in early March, little about its bold design is expected to change before it reaches showrooms. In fact, the official photographs reveal the new car in its production-based glory. Only the trim will be altered before it sees the showroom, BMW says. By insisting that it is called a GT…

BMW is committing to keeping their V12 in production until at least 2023 according to BMW Powertrain Executive Michael Bayer, and he thinks it will be possible to make the engine compliant with the next round of Euro emissions regulations. That means it will stick around for the rest of the current generation of the 7-series sedan. Unfortunately, there will still not be a V12 offered in the 8-series coupe. We've already reported that Mercedes plans to cut its V12 out of the S-Class sedan after the 2020 model year. By doing so, it will make BMW the standard bearer for the final V12s in regular production. Audi already canceled its W12 engine starting with the 2017 …

William Maley Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com February 13, 2012 BMW has released information and pictures of the new M6 before its official debut at the Geneva Motor Show in March. Powering the M6 is a twin-turbo 4.4L V8 (codenamed S63) outputting 560 horsepower and 500 lb-ft of torque. If you’re wondering where you have heard these numbers before, that’s in part to the same twin-turbo 4.4L V8 powering the new M5. A seven-speed dual-clutch will be the only transmission choice for now and will send the M6 to 60 MPH in 4.2 seconds. Also, the M6 will see a 30% drop in fuel consumption. The M6 will also get BMW's Active M Differential, an electronically controlled m…

Spied: BMW M3 (full frontal) The powerful M-version of BMW’s 3-Series is scheduled for launch next year only. The 3-Series M will be available initially as coupe, and later as convertible and four-door. For the first time power will come from a V8 powerplant, derived from the M5 and M6. It is a 4.0 litre engine delivering 415 HP. Transmission is a seven-speed SMG gearbox. A traditional six speed manual transmission will be offered as an option. Editor's Note: The Mizzle to the Thrizzle now has more sizzle, for shizzle my my dizzles. (Yes, I won't do that again for a while.) Read "Spy Photos: BMW M3 Coupe Uncovered" @ World Car Fans

BMW announced today that it plans on offering a plug-in hybrid version on "all its core-brand models," in the future. The plug-in hybrids will utilize battery and motor technologies from the i3 and i8 models. “All BMW Group models benefit from BMW i. The fundamental technology involved in battery cells, electric motors and the power electronics will be used in our upcoming plug-in hybrid models. When it comes to the electrification of the drivetrain, we are deliberately developing a wide-ranging expertise in order to offer our customers worldwide the ideal solution," said Herbert Diess, member of the board for BMW's development. At a event in Miramas, France, the automa…

At the end of July we told you that BMW was planning a slew of model cuts in an effort to save some cash. The first of those cuts has just arrived, for 2020, there will be no 3-Series GT, 6-Series GT, or 6-Series Gran Coupe. This announcement effectively kills the 6-series lineup entirely which the 8-series has taken over for. The GT versions of the 3 and 6-Series never caught on and visually looked ungainly. That enough would be perfectly good enough reason for canceling the cars, but the real reason has to do with the markets massive shift towards SUVs. Already the X3 is outselling the entire 3-series lineup on a regular basis, so keeping such a low volume vari…

Diana T. Kurylko Automotive News February 13, 2009 - 1:12 pm ET In an attempt to boost sales and lower its lease penetration level, BMW of North America LLC has introduced an incentive program that will make the first two payments for certain vehicles financed through its captive finance arm. The two free payments of as much as $750 a month, a maximum of $1,500 combined, is being offered on 18 models with high inventory levels, says a BMW spokesman. Eligible models include the 1 series and certain 3, 5, 6 and X5 variants. The offer does not include the 7 series, which is being replaced at the end of March, or the limited-production X6 crossover. The X3 cros…

BMW has a rich history of building the drivers auto such as the legendary models of the 1800, BMW M1, BMW 3 series, BMW X5 and the electrified i8. With this rich history, it only makes sense that the next evolution is the iX3 with an all-electric range of 805 kilometers or 500 miles on a single charge for the BMW iX3 50 xDrive model. Across the whole model lineup, the iX3 has a range of 678 Kilometers / 421 miles to 805 kilometers / 500 miles on a single charge. The BMW iX3 according to Chairman Oliver Zipse is the most important all new vehicle for BMW in the last half-century and will lead BMW into the next decade and beyond globally. The iX3 is a quantum leap forw…

Rumors of BMW bringing back the 8-Series have been floating around since February when sources revealed there were two proposals on the table; a larger version of the 6-Series Gran Coupe and a new two-door coupe/convertible. This would only intensify over the summer when a report revealed that BMW had trademarked a number of 8-Series names. Now a new report says BMW is going forward with the 8-Series as a coupe. Automobilwoche has learned from sources that BMW will be bringing back the 8-Series in late 2018. The model will fill the gap between the 7-Series and the Rolls-Royce Ghost/Wraith/Dawn, and give the Mercedes S-Class coupe a run for its money. The coupe will c…

William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com November 12, 2012 I'm sure all of us were thinking, "You know what would make BMW's lineup perfect? A smaller X6." Well as we have been reporting for the past year, BMW has been working on a smaller X6, tentatively called the X4. According to Autoweek, BMW could be showing the new X4 at next year's Detroit Auto Show. The X4 would carry the same coupe-like styling as the X6, while using the X3's platform as a base. The engine lineup will be similar to X3 with four- and six-cylinder engines. There is also talk of a X4 M in the works. Source: Autoweek William Maley is a staff writer for Cheers & Gears. He can be reac…

Edmunds: Latest spy photos: 2009 BMW 7 Series

http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/News/articleId=117078

So to separate the 2 door from the 4 door they create the 4 Series. 3 Series= 4 door 4 Series = 2 door But now they are going to build the 4 Series Gran Coupe, which is just a f'n 4 door with a hatchback http://www.carscoops.com/2013/11/spied-bmw-4-series-wears-fours-doors.html So they'll have a 4 door in a 4 Series, but it will be a "Coupe." Screw you BMW.

BMW unveils the turbosteamer concept December 14, 2005 A large percentage of the energy released when petroleum is burned disappears out the exhaust system as heat. This has always been the case but the amount of energy released looks set to be cut by more than 80% thanks to a new system devised by BMW. BMW’s announcement of the new technology is somewhat of a technological bombshell as it adds yet another form of hybrid automobile – a turbosteamer. The concept uses energy from the exhaust gasses of the traditional Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) to power a steam engine which also contributes power to the automobile – an overall 15 per cent improvement for the combined…

BMW has pulled the covers off the 2016 X1 crossover that will go on sale this fall in the U.S. While the X1 was sold in other markets since 2009, it only came to the U.S. in 2012. Lets talk about the elephant in the room. This is the first BMW to be sold in the U.S. to be based on the German automaker's UKL platform that underpins the new MINI Cooper and other BMW vehicles sold in Europe. Our X1 will only come in all-wheel drive form. Power will come from the 2.0L TwinPower Turbo four-cylinder generating 228 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. An eight-speed automatic gets the power to all four wheels. The design is heavily influenced by the X5 with a sim…

BMW is studying ways to give its performance M-Division special models not based on any current or former BMW. BMW has already apparently decided which class of car the models will be in, but will not reveal details on it just yet. Multiple concepts are being studied. The comments came from Markus Flasch, BMW's head of in-house tuning. Further up for debate is whether the models would be internal combustion or electric or a blend of both. Whichever form they take, the M cars would "fit our character.... a combination of precision, agility, and luxury", though they would not necessarily be positioned above the M8. Having standalone models would help BMW's M-…

BMW Postpones X1 US Debut Until A Refesh William Maley - Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com August 28, 2011 BMW's X series of crossovers; the X5 and new X3 have been best sellers in the lineup. Last year, BMW introduced the new X1 which has become a big success in the European market. BMW said they were looking into bring the X1 into the US sometime in 2011. But at this years North American International Auto Show, BMW said it had postponed the U.S. introduction of the X1 until late 2011, at the earliest. Then in April, BMW said there was no decision to sell the X1 in the US. Now, BMW has an answer on the X1 in the US. A BMW executive tells Inside Line …

Five decades BMW has been delivering the driving machine via their 3 Series. March 2026 BMW delivered the new i3 fully electric driving machine that they believe delivers on that sporty driving pleasure that their legacy has delivered for generations of auto enthusiast with a 21st century addition to the legacy with unique features. BMW calls this their Neue Klasse era. This first 800V all electric i3 series launches with the following points that BMW wants their current and new buyers to know: The core of the brand reinterpreted: modern, timeless, and unmistakable. Modern BMW 2.5-box silhouette with long wheelbase, short overhangs, and flared wheel arc…

William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com November 13, 2012 This past week, a picture of a slideshow made its way onto the VWVortex forums. The picture shows what BMW might have planned for diesels in the U.S. in next couple of years. Starting next year, the 3-Series sedan will bring back a diesel option in the first quarter. The second quarter BMW will introduce the 3-Series wagon with a diesel. In the third quarter, the 5-Series diesel will come out and will be followed by the new X5 diesel at the end of the year. For 2014, the 7-Series and X3 join in on the diesel fun. What engines are in play with this plan? We know that a single-turbo 2.0L four-cylinder an…

By William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com January 30, 2013 BMW is hard at work on a front-wheel drive assault, with the company considering almost twenty-three FWD vehicles (Twelve for BMW, eleven for MINI). One of those vehicles could be a two-seat roadster, due out in 2015 “We are considering a car in the spirit of the original Z3. It is of similar size to the E36/7 [the codename for the Z3 produced between 1996 and 2002] but is planned to use the front-wheel drive platform to keep costs down and achieve a margin level that ensures it is sustainable at comparatively low production volumes,” a BMW official reportedly told Autocar. Codenamed Z2, the model w…

HANNOVER, Germany — Thermaltake, the Taiwanese manufacturer of computer cases and cooling equipment, unveiled its "Level 10" PC case at the annual CeBIT computer exposition here. The Thermaltake Gaming Tower was designed by the Munich studio of BMW's DesignworksUSA. Instead of utilizing the normal strategy of throwing all the different computer parts into one bulky, rectangular case, BMW dreamt up this idea of using a separate protective case for each component. The design of the Thermaltake Gaming Tower makes the inside components visible to help with cooling and make it look more appealing to the user. An innovative feature of the concept is its smart locking system…

William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com July 9, 2012 BMW has revealed some new information on the ActiveHybrid 3 and 3-Series Sports Wagon over the past couple of days. Lets start with the ActiveHybrid3. The hybrid version of the new 3-Series will pack the 3.0L turbocharged inline-six from the 335i and a electric motor with a lithium-ion battery pack to produce 340 HP and 332 lb-ft of torque. Going to the rear wheels via an eight-speed automatic, the ActiveHybrid3 can reach 60 MPH in 5.3 seconds, 0.2 quicker than the 335i. BMW says the ActiveHybrid 3 can travel up to 2.5 miles or up to 46 MPH on electric power alone. Fuel economy and pricing hasn't been reve…

BMW M3 recalled over new double-clutch gearbox From AutoBlog Dual clutch transmission... sounds complicated. And it is. Case in point: BMW's new DCT on its latest-generation M3. This new transmission from Munich is so complicated that apparently even BMW couldn't get it right the first time, so they're issuing a recall. The problem, as concluded by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, is that under hard braking the transmission's software is prone to initiate a multi-stage downshift, which could cause the car to stall. The solution, however, should be fairly simple, as BMW is asking all owners of 2008 or 2009 M3s equipped with the DCT (about 2,500 …

BMW is covering the efficiency and performance bases of the new 5-Series with two new models. On the efficiency front, there is the 2018 530e iPerfomance. This is a plug-in hybrid with a 2.0L turbo-four paired with an electric motor and a 9.2-kWh lithium-ion battery pack. Preliminary figures stand at 248 horsepower and 310 pound-feet. 0-60 mph is said to take 6.1 seconds. Fuel economy figures and overall battery range will be announced at a later time. Recharging the battery takes less than 7 hours when plugged into a 120V outlet and less than 3 hours when plugged into a fast charger. For performance, there is the 2018 M550i xDrive. Under the hood is…