Autos Car Design: BMW

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Jumat, 07 Oktober 2011

Slowing Demand in China Forces Luxury Carmakers Like BMW to Offer Big Incentives

China is the land of opportunity for any carmaker - but especially for, luxury brands that have been breaking one record after another. However, last year’s 18 million sales will most likely not be repeated in 2011, as the government has stopped its tax incentives and wants fewer, and less polluting, car on the country’s streets.

Not that sales are plummeting – on the contrary. It’s just that, according to J.D. Power, the increase in the luxury car segment this year is slowing down to 29%, compared to a 48% growth in 2010. And this despite the fact that overall car sales in China are expected to drop by 5% compared to 2010.

Posted on 15.35 / 0 comments / Read More

BMW Launches Updated 5-Series Range with New 2.0-liter Turbo Petrol and Diesel Engines

The latest additions to the BMW 5-Series sedan and Touring (station-wagon) were launched in Europe today following an announcement earlier this summer. The Bavarian firm's long-running executive model series gains three-new engines as well as some other updates throughout the range.

New for the 2012 model year is a pair of 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four petrol engines delivering 184HP in the 520i and 245HP in the 528i, plus a four-cylinder diesel unit with the same displacement delivering 184HP on the 520d EfficientDynamics model.

Posted on 10.26 / 0 comments / Read More

Judge Rules in Favor of BMW Dealer who Fired Employee Over Facebook Posts

Social media sites like Facebook and Twitter are a boon as long as you make judicious use of them. Apparently, Robert Becker, an employee at a Lake Bluff BMW dealership crossed the line and the consequences were dire.

Becker posted comments and pictures on Facebook about a sales event organized by the dealership he was working for, Karl Knauz BMW, criticizing the cheap food that was offered to guests.

Posted on 05.35 / 0 comments / Read More

Rabu, 05 Oktober 2011

Nürburgring Sports Car Pileup: In-Board Camera Captures the Second Crash on Film

It was only a matter of time before the first video concerning last weekend's much talked about Nürburgring crash popped-up on the internet.

The 15-minute long clip comes from an in-board camera mounted to look out the rear window. The driver of the car passed through the construction section moments after the first crash happened, but just before the BMW M3 Sedan 'Ring Taxi came smashing into the cars in front of it.

You'll have to speed up the video to around 9:50 to see the damaged cars and wait until about the clock shows 10:20ish to watch the BMW 'Ring Taxi collide in your upper right-hand corner.

Posted on 12.03 / 0 comments / Read More

Video: New BMW Z4 sDrive28i's Turbocharged-Four Dyno-Tested

BMW's legendary normally-aspirated 3.0-liter straight-six is slowly giving its way to the firm's new generation 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four.

One of the first Bavarian models in the USA to receive the force-fed powerplant, codenamed N20, is the Z4 sDrive28i roadster, which Edmunds took the local dyno for testing.

Posted on 10.47 / 0 comments / Read More

Dude, I Drive a BMW: Sarcastic Video Take on Bimmer Owners

There are [insert brand here] drivers, and then there are [insert the same brand here] drivers. Naturally, we've all heard the stereotypes and jokes about people that own cars sporting the famous badge that looks like a propeller blade set against a blue sky – but which as it turns out, was actually created to represent the colors of the Free State of Bavaria.

A group of young people decided to visualize some of those stereotypes and create a video parody about BMW owners. Some of the sketches work better than others, but overall, we gather that the clip is worth two-and-a-half minutes of your time.

Watch the video after the break and tell us if you think in the comments section.

Posted on 09.02 / 0 comments / Read More

Selasa, 04 Oktober 2011

BMW UK Sells Two Millionth Vehicle in Britain 31 Years after it Officially Entered the Market

Some 31 years after it officially opened shop in the British market, BMW UK Ltd has sold its two millionth vehicle, a 530d Gran Turismo. Coincidentally, the company's first car sold in the UK on January 1, 1980, was also a 5-Series, albeit an E12 M535i saloon. Read more »

Posted on 13.59 / 0 comments / Read More

SPY SHOTS: 2012 BMW M6 Cabriolet Continues Testing

We were hoping to see the new BMW M6 at last month's Frankfurt Motor Show, but apparently, the Bavarian company has other plans for the presentation of its flagship two-door model that will be offered in both coupe and convertible derivatives.

Following recent pictures of the 2012 M6 Coupe, our spy shooters came up close and personal with a right-hand drive cabriolet model while testing in Europe.

Posted on 13.02 / 0 comments / Read More

BMW Singapore Pulls a Performance Prank on 1-Series Coupe Owner [Video]

In one of the more intriguing marketing stunts we've seen of late, BMW of Singapore has launched a part-promotional, part-prank project entitled "Switch".

The Bavarian automaker describes the gig thusly: "The BMW Switch is a fun collaborative project between the public and BMW Asia to switch unsuspecting BMW drivers' current cars with a similar model that has been enhanced with original BMW Performance Accessories."

Posted on 11.27 / 0 comments / Read More

Senin, 03 Oktober 2011

Massive Sports Car Crash on the Nordschleife, BMW's M3 'Ring Taxi Involved

A fun track day at the notorious Nürburgring Nordschleife circuit turned into a nightmare for eight drivers this past Sunday.

The vehicles involved in the crash included a BMW E30 3-Series, a BMW E36 3-Series, a BMW E92 M3, a Chevrolet Corvette Z06, a pair of Vauxhall VX220 / Opel Speedster roadsters, a Porsche 911 (964 series) and the official BMW M3 'Ring Taxi.

According to a police report, the drivers came from several European countries, while the accident apparently took place in two phases.

Posted on 14.13 / 0 comments / Read More

SPY SHOTS: New BMW ActiveHybrid 3 Based on the F30 3-Series

We've brought you plenty of news on BMW's upcoming iteration of its bread-and-butter 3-Series, but our spies have just snagged what they believe to be an early prototype of the hybrid version that will join the recently announced ActiveHybrid 5 and the already available ActiveHybrid X6 and 7.

While the prototype model captured on the 'Ring looks pretty much stock, our man with the long lens tells us that it features the mandatory hybrid stickers to warn emergency crews about the car's electric operating system in the event of an accident.

The Bavarian automaker confirmed the availability of "hybrid versions of the next 3-Series" sedan codenamed F30 during a press conference in late 2010.

Posted on 13.30 / 0 comments / Read More

Fanatec Develops Realistic BMW M3 GT2 Racing Game Steering Wheel for Clubsport Base

We have more good news for racing game enthusiasts as following Thrustmaster's announcement on the authentic replica of the Ferrari F1 steering wheel, German-based Fanatec revealed a new BMW M3 GT2 rim.

The realistic steering wheel will be sold separately as an add-on for Fanatec's upcoming Clubsport base, which is compatible with PC and Sony PS3.

Fanatec presented the new rim at the 25th anniversary festival of the BMW factory in Regensburg together with touring car champion Dirk Adorf.

Posted on 07.30 / 0 comments / Read More

Kamis, 29 September 2011

BMW Introduces the New ActiveHybrid 5 with a Turbocharged Six, will it have the Same Fate as the X6 Hybrid?

For the most part, BMW has made some smart decisions over the years, but occasionally, even the all-knowing Bavarians make mistakes. The ActiveHybrid X6, which will reportedly soon be retired from BMW's American line-up due to poor sales, is one such example: a 480HP turbocharged V8 hybrid with mildly better fuel efficiency (19mpg highway) but with a similar price tag to the almighty X6 M.

Their counterparts at Audi seem to be doing a better job, as proved with the new A8 Hybrid that combines a 2.0-liter four-cylinder petrol with an electric motor for a fuel economy of 6.4 liters per 100 km (36.8mpg US).

This brings us to the new ActiveHybrid 5 sedan that was introduced today, ahead of its sales launch in March 2012.

BMW decided to base the first hybrid version of the latest 5-Series on the 535i – not the wisest choice if you're targeting fuel efficiency and low emissions.

Posted on 16.12 / 0 comments / Read More

SPIED: BMW Preparing Subtle Updates for X6 Crossover

The BMW X6 has entered its fourth year of production, which means the Bavarian company will proceed to at least some changes to keep its successful crossover model fresh and ensure that it remains on the priority list of its desired target market.

Our man with the long lens caught up with a very early and hardly disguised prototype of the X6 in Germany. The only parts of the car covered, were the headlamps and the tail lamps, both of which will likely be revised to match the rest of the BMW line-up like the new 1-Series.

Posted on 12.30 / 0 comments / Read More

BMW Treats China with New Z4 sDrive23i Limited Edition

The growing importance of China has led many carmakers to introduce a variety of dedicated special edition models created especially for the domestic market. In the recent past, the BMW Group has presented many such vehicles, including but not limited to, the M3 Matte and Tiger Editions.

The Bavarian firm's latest attempt to capture the attention of Chinese buyers with a special version is the Z4 sDrive23i Flame Edition.

Posted on 10.30 / 0 comments / Read More

New BMW M3 Sedan Video Scooped: Are these the Sounds of a Turbocharged Six?

By now, you have probably heard that the upcoming 2014 BMW M3 in both four- and two-door formats will do away with the current model's atmospheric 4.0-liter V8 and gain a turbocharged six-cylinder engine.

Most seem to agree that the most likely candidate is an M Division modified version of one of BMW's 3.0-liter straight-six units with either two or three turbos.

However, there are some rumors circulating around the net that BMW is developing a new force-fed V6 engine for its next M3 models. The speculation is based on a recent design filling for a twin-turbocharged V6 made by the Bavarian company at the German patent office. BMW has not commented on the matter.

Posted on 08.10 / 0 comments / Read More

Rabu, 28 September 2011

LG Wants to Ban BMW and Audi Sales in South Korea Over LED Feud

Electronics companies are amongst the fiercest rivals when it comes to protecting their patents – even a lioness with her cubs seems like a purring cat in comparison. That’s why in the world of high technology, lawsuits fly left and right, one of the most recent examples being the Apple - Samsung dispute over the their smartphones.

Nevertheless, we were surprised to learn today that LG Electronics and its subsidiary, the component-making LG Innotek Co., filled a lawsuit with a South Korean court seeking to block BMW and Audi from selling their cars in the country.

What is happening is that the two German luxury carmakers have been caught in the middle of a patent war between LG and Osram over LED technologies. LG seeks to stop their the German automakers' vehicles from being sold because they are equipped with Osram lighting systems.

Posted on 13.35 / 0 comments / Read More

Selasa, 27 September 2011

Polk Says 2011 Non-Dedicated Hybrid Model Sales Down 1.5% Versus 2010

With the notable exceptions of the Chevy Volt, Toyota Prius and Honda Insight, most of the hybrids on sale today are merely spin-offs of existing ICE models with gas / electric powertrains fitted; take the hybridized Chevy Tahoe, Toyota Camry and Honda Civic for instance.

According to automotive statistics website Polk online, in the first seven months of 2011, sales of non-dedicated hybrid models dipped 1.5% compared to last year. Analyst Tom Libby blames the sales slump on the lack of distinct styling; hybrid buyers want their cars to stand out from the crowd.

Posted on 17.22 / 0 comments / Read More

BMW's Quandt Family Admits Using 50,000 Slaves as Workers in WWII

A TV documentary titled “The Silence of the Quandt Family” that aired in Germany in 2007 has forced the Quandt family, which is a major shareholder in the BMW Group, to commission an independent study on their ancestors’ actions during World War II.

But before we get into more details, let us note that the Quandt family acquired BMW 15 years after the end of the war in 1959, and the automaker is not involved in this particular issue nor was it implicated in the documentary.

The 1,200-page study carried out by historian Joachim Scholtyseck concluded that the patriarch of the family, Guenther Quandt, not only cooperated willingly with the Nazi regime, of which he became a member only a month after Adolf Hitler’s rise to power, but also “employed” 50,000 slave workers in his factories that churned out machinery for the German army.

Posted on 15.43 / 0 comments / Read More

BMW Testing Ceramic Brakes for New M5 V8

Dr. Herbert Diess, Member of the Board of BMW and Head of Purchasing and Supplier Network, recently revealed to BimmerFile that the firm's M Division is exploring various options on carbon ceramic brakes for the new M5 sports saloon.

However, the M Division is not working alone but together with Brembo, which is also the break supplier of the new M5, in developing the new carbon ceramic discs.

Posted on 13.42 / 0 comments / Read More

Autos Car Design