Monday, October 26, 2009

2010 BMW ALPINA B7 Bi-Turbo LWB Official Revealed

2010 BMW ALPINA B7 Bi-Turbo LWB
2010 BMW ALPINA B7 Bi-Turbo LWB
2010 BMW ALPINA B7 Bi-Turbo LWB
This will be the 20th Tokyo Motor Show that ALPINA, in partnership with its Japanese importer of over three decades, NICOLE Automobiles, has partaken in with its own exhibition stand.

The first car that was delivered to Japan in 1979, a BMW ALPINA B7 Turbo, is still being driven to this day. Chance has it that the 3000th car bound for Tokyo left the factory gates this year, after precisely 30 years.

Furthermore, the new ALPINA flagship, the BMW ALPINA B7 Bi-Turbo long-wheelbase, will be officially shown to the public for the very first time. This is were it the numbers get even more curious because it turns out ALPINA has altogether delivered 330 7 Series to Japan.

Also shown will be the BMW ALPINA D3 Bi-Turbo, in itself quite remarkable because it is the first clean performance diesel that is available in the Japanese market, a market in which diesel engines could, up to now, only be found in trucks.

Enough reasons hence for ALPINA to again be present at the Tokyo Motor Show,

especially considering that the turn out of other European manufacturers is very thin indeed – with Lotus being the only other one




2010 BMW ALPINA B7 Bi-Turbo LWB

Friday, October 23, 2009

V10-powered BMW M3 estate

Manhart Racing has launched a V10 version of the BMW M3 estate.

Replacing the 4.2-litre V8 usually found in the front of the M3 is the 5.0-litre V10 engine from the M5, mated to the seven-speed SMG ‘box from the same car. This gives it a claimed 0-62mph time of 4.3secs.

Other mechanical tweaks include the addition of the M5’s limited-slip differential, a modified ECU and a new stainless steel exhaust system equipped with four tailpipes.

Styling changes include a new bonnet, a new front bumper, new side skirts and wider rear-wheel arches. It rides on 20-inch aluminium alloys and its tyres at the front are 255/30ZR20 and 295/25ZR20 at the rear.

Inside, it gets heated BMW performance sports seats, a full leather interior with Alcantara roof and door lining and a BMW performance steering wheel with illuminating indicator switches, acceleration and quarter mile time displays.

Prices for the Manhart racing BMW M3 estate are from 120,000 euro (£112,000) for the complete car, while its package can also be fitted retrospectively.

BMW M3 GT4

BMW has unveils BMW M3 GT4 which will make its debut on 23rd/24th May 2009, at the 24-hour race on the Nurburgring’s Nordschleife.

BMW M3 GT4 is the newest addition to the Customer Racing product range from the company and will be driven by Andy Priaulx (GB), Augusto Farfus (BR), and Jorg Muller (DE) in the legendary endurance race.

Unfortunately, BMW did not release any technical details yet for the BMW M3 GT4. But the company said that BMW M3GT4 will be priced at 120,000 Euros.

BMW M3 GT4

BMW M3 E92 Package by Lumma Design

BMW M3 E92 (2009) gets a new body kit from Lumma Design as the company release the package for this car which priced at 4,488 Euros.

BMW M3 E92 by Lumma Design comes with a carbon fiber roof spoiler, a rear spoiler lip, rear bumper apron, side skirts with air ducts, custom chrome plated stainless steel tail tips, and also a new front spoiler bumper.

BMW M3 E92 package by Lumma Design will be included with carbon fiber external mirror caps and front badge, a composite fiber material front fender with original M3 air ducts and the LED turn signals.

Lumma Design BMW M3 E92

Lumma Design also offers a wide range of 19″ inch rims for the Lumma BMW M3 E92 for 4,900 Euros.

Lumma Design BMW M3 E92 Wheel

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

2011 BMW X3 Spy shots

2011-bmw-x3-spied-1

New spy shots of BMW's next-generation X3 prototype indicate the company may be moving the crossover's development forward to match the competition. Previous reports had indicated that the current BMW X3 would have to soldier on for a few more years until the arrival of an all-new model at the end of the decade. However, with the release of the new Audi Q5 and Mercedes-Benz GLK, BMW is worried about losing its leadership position.

The latest spy images show a car with completely finished headlights and tail lights, slightly expanded dimensions for added interior space and more X5-like styling. Bringing in the X5 resemblance could also be a calculated move to help some of the new X5 M model's cachet rub off on the smaller sibling. In addition to the revamped exterior, a full array of gadgets and features are expected to be available for the X3 to help keep its edge against Audi and Mercedes. It’s even possible that BMW could make the night-vision heads-up display currently found in the X6 and other models available on the X3. Bi-xenon headlights with around-corner capability and new seats that feature massage functions and ventilation are also expected for the new model.

Sunday, October 18, 2009

2011 BMW 1-Series - Rendered

2011 BMW 1-Series

Worldcarfans said that the new BMW 1-Series was spotted in Germany and will be produced in 2011. Also, the friends from worldcarfans said that Peugeot SA and BMW manufacturers will build a large range between 1.4 to 3.0 liters for the new BMW 1-Series. I like a lot the M versions but for 1-Series will be only turbo engines.

Finally, I will let you see some pictures with the 2011 BMW 1-Series.

2011 BMW X3

 2011 BMW X3 renderings wallpaper image
2011 BMW X3

Saturday, October 10, 2009

2010 AC Schnitzer BMW Z4 E89 Official Revealed

2010 AC Schnitzer BMW Z4 E89


2010 AC Schnitzer BMW Z4 E89
2010 AC Schnitzer BMW Z4 E89



Ready for its world premiere: the extensive product range for the BMW Z4 by AC Schnitzer. Them Aachen-based tuning specialist has further optimised the brand-new classic from BMW, which has already received extensive accolades from the trade press.

The BMW Z4 as standard is far from under-powered. But as is well known, enthusiastic drivers can never have enough power. Sufficient reason then for AC Schnitzer to upgrade the Z4 3.5I Turbo to 286 km/h. With a power of 360 HP and a weight of 1485 kg, the open-top roadster from BMW accelerates from a standing start to 100 km/h in just 4.9 seconds. Even the most demanding driver will be delighted with this performance.

The driving experience is enhanced acoustically and visually by the stainless steel sports rear silencer and the chromed Racing tailpipe trims.

Equally sporting is the AC Schnitzer suspension variant in the Z4. Thanks to a new spring kit, the transverse acceleration appears to bypass the conventional laws of nature.

This impression is certainly partly supported by the aerodynamic components made of PU-Rim, a high quality flexible plastic. The aerodynamic pack for the new BMW Z4 consists of a chrome front grille and front spoiler, where both components combine to give a more muscular look to the long bonnet lines.

New sports fenders, consisting of wheel arches with integral air outlets for improved cooling of the front brakes and chromed deflectors, optimise the side lines of the roadster.

Finally, the two-piece rear spoiler gives the rear of the BMW Z4 by AC Schnitzer an impressive look; because of the performance of the car, this is probably the aspect which will be seen most by other drivers!

In the inside, both driver and passenger enjoy an impressive interior. The aluminium cover for the i-Drive System Controller, the aluminium foot rests and pedal set, are just a few of the ergonomically perfect controls which give the vehicle elegance and enhance the sporting ambience.

Standing on AC Schnitzer Type IV in 18” or Type VI wheels in 18, 19 or 20 inch, the BMW Z4 takes to the stage for its world premiere. A striking entrance from the Aachen specialist, which will certainly not be forgotten in a hurry.


2010 AC Schnitzer BMW Z4 E89
2010 AC Schnitzer BMW Z4 E89

Super-Efficient BMW Concepts Are Simple and Clever

bmw_clever

bmw_simple

BMW, the company that brought you Gina, that wild shape-shifting concept car made of cloth, went even further off the deep end with a pair of wacky concepts making their debut at the company museum in Munich.

The cars, dubbed “Simple” and “Clever” — acronyms that we’ll explain in a moment — are über-small, über-light three-wheelers that are supposed to show just how far down the efficiency road BMW can go. The Bavarians say Simple is “light in weight, low on energy” and Clever gives you “cooperative driving pleasure.”

We say, WTF?

Funky styling aside, the two cars have some cool innovations and show what’s possible when efficiency is the highest objective.

That’s Simple in the main photo above. It looks like something you’d find hanging from a cable on the Graf Zeppelin, but in reality, it’s a show car from 2005. The name is an acronym for the project’s name, “Sustainable and Innovative Mobility Product for Low Energy consumption.” You can see why they called it Simple.

BMW says the trike “combines features and advantages from both automobiles and motorcycles.” Maybe, but it also looks like something a trucker would have to hose off his grill if things got nasty. That said, it is mighty efficient. Simple tips the scales at only 450 kilos (920 pounds), so the internal combustion engine motivating it is commensurately small, putting out only 36 kilowatts (48.2 horsepower). BMW says the three-wheeler will do zero to 62 mph in less than ten seconds and has a super-slippery drag coefficient of 0.18. That’s almost as slick as the equally funky Aptera Motors 2e electric car. But the car’s most notable feature is it leans like a motorcycle in turns.

Next we have Clever (pictured above), which stands for “Compact Low Emission Vehicle for Urban Transport.” If Simple looks like something from the 1930s, Clever looks like something right out of the folded paper school of design from the 1980s, even if it was made in 2002. BMW worked with a host of technical colleges and universities from all over Europe to develop the car.

The objective was to create a car with minimal emissions. Clever runs on natural gas stored in two compressed-gas cylinders. It emits just 60 grams of CO2 per 100 kilometers. The Toyota Prius, for the sake of comparison, emits 89. Power comes from a 230-cc single-cylinder engine that produces 12.4 kilowatts (16.7 horsepower). The car features a continuously variable transmission and, like Simple, leans into corners at up to 45 degrees. That front suspension looks like something off a Bimota Tesi.

Clever weighs less than 400 kilos (about 881 pounds) and is just three feet wide. BMW says it offers no more than one square meter of frontal area, making it very aerodynamic. BMW claims Clever can do zero to 60 km/h (37.2 mph) in around 7 seconds and tops out at approximately 100 km/h (62 mph).

In case you’re wondering, Clever is safer than it might look. It has special seat belts and a specially developed driver airbag that allowed Clever to comply with the Euro NCAP crash test requirements for small cars at the time. The passengers, who sit tandem, are ensconced in a survival cell.

Sunday, October 4, 2009

2011 BMW X5 Car

These are the clearest pictures yet of the minorly facelifted BMW X5, which was captured by our spy photographers around the Spartanburg plant in Germany.

2011 BMW X5
2011 BMW X5

Sporting only minor camouflage, the spy pictures show its new X6-style front headlights and the familiar kidney front grille similar to the one seen on the recently launched BMW 5-series GT.

2011 BMW X5
2011 BMW X5

The front bumper is almost identical to the one found on the BMW X6, with larger air intakes and new front fog light surrounds.

A new bumper at the rear features, while other additions at the rear include new lights and a trapezoid-shaped exhaust system.

Interior deisgn tweaks have not been captured yet, but a next-generation iDrive system and a larger LCD display screen are expected to feature.

2011 BMW X5
2011 BMW X5

The engine range is expected to remain relatively unchanged, although BMW’s new 3.0-litre twin-turbo diesel, a revised straight-six 3.0-litre turbochraged petrol unit and 4.4-litre V8 unit from the BMW X6 xDrive 50i could all be added to the range.

No release date has been confirmed, but expect the new BMW X5 to be launched at the Detroit motor show next year before going on sale later in 2010. source: Autocar

BMW 5-Series


BMW 5-Series by Wald

There is a reason why V.I.P. cars come from Japan, which is the only explanation for this midsize German luxury sedan’s bold appearance. The Japanese tuning house Wald Intenational has just finished working on this M5 look sports line body kit that has the ability to make an ordinary E60 5 Series look like the fire breathing V10 powered super sedan that almost all BMW owners dream of driving, and now thanks to Wald International, those dreams can come true for a lot less mullah.

The most striking part of the Wald Internation sports line body kit is the redesigned front bumper that looks like it could have been lifted directly from an M5, except that the Japanese unit comes complete with a pair of trick fog light housings that go a long way towards upgrading the appearance of the 5 Series sedan. The rest of the Wald sports line kit is made up of a pair of sleeker sports mirrors and a subtle trunk mounted rear spoiler to finish off the high performance theme.

Out back the 5 Series sounds a bit more like the more powerful M5 thanks to a D.T.M. sports muffler complete with a quartett of tips that let the V.I.P. 5 Series be heard from miles away. The tuners at Wald have even set aside some of their Mahora style wheels sized either 19 or 20 inches to go along perfectly with the E60 sports line package. If the complete kit is still out of your reach, the Japanese design house also offers a more affordable set of lower bumper attachments that prvides owners with the same look at a lower price.

Friday, October 2, 2009

BMW Lovos concept car gives you eco-friendly wings

BMW Lovos concept car gives you eco-friendly wings

Anne Forschner, a student of design at the Pforzheim University in Germany, proves that concept cars can be futuristic, sexy, and ecologically responsible. The Lovos (Lifestyle of Voluntary Simplicity) concept car, developed in conjunction with BMW, offers an aggressive design highlighted by a series of "scales" wrapping the entire car.

The function of the solar photovoltaic panels, each one interchangeable, would be to operate as solar cells when flipped around thus collecting energy for the vehicle's electric motor. The panels would also act as a new kind of air brake, aerodynamically slowing the car down with an organic-style flip of its feathers. Some concepts are just wild fantasies, but the Lovos really needs to become a reality.

Scaly BMW Concept Car Collects Solar Power

Scaly BMW Beast In the top photo, the scaly flaps are down, absorbing solar power. In the bottom photo, they are raised to brake the car. Anne Forschner

Plenty of cars can look cool and run green these days, but now designers are taking such concepts to extremes. The BMW Lovos has 260 exterior flaps that can collect solar power and act as airbrakes at the same time.

The wacky car concept comes from Anne Forschner, a 24-year-old graduate of Pforzheim University in Germany. Each scale-like flap holds solar photovoltaic cells and can move to follow the sun or act as individual airbrakes. We can only imagine that seeing a full-scale version of this car driving around might bring to mind a Beast Machine Transformer, or a ruffled feathered dino made metallic.

Thursday, October 1, 2009

BMW turns to diesel cars to rev up sales

BMW Malaysia Sdn Bhd has taken a bold move by introducing four diesel-powered cars to consumers in the hope that such cars will find greater acceptance over time.

The company is banking on greater fuel efficiency and more power of the diesel-powered cars – all under the EfficientDynamics tagline – to drive acceptance and sales.

“Diesel is something we can do under the EfficientDynamics brand and get an immediate impact,” managing director Geoffrey Briscoe said at the launch of BMW EfficientDynamics yesterday.

MD Geofrey Briscoe with a BMW 520d Sports

The cars are the BMW 320d Sports, the BMW 520d Sports Edition, the BMW X3 xDrive20d Executive Edition and the flagship BMW 730Ld.

The selling point of the new diesel-powered cars is the fuel efficiency and performance as the 320d Sports costs RM7,000 more than the petrol version.

Briscoe said BMW’s diesel-powered engines provided 75% more torque and 15% more horsepower than its petrol versions while consuming 30% less fuel and emitting 20% less carbon monoxide.

“Our new BMW EfficientDynamics enable our cars to travel up to 1,000km on a single tank of fuel. For the layman, this means that for every six days of travel, two days are considered free of fuel cost and, more importantly, it is better for the environment,” he said.

Based on a rough calculation, BMW claims the payback for the RM7,000 extra for the 320d is three years if the car is driven 15,000km a year.

The 320d without insurance costs RM255,800, the 520d RM379,800, the X3 RM333,800 and the 730Ld RM698,800. The prices include BMW’s three-year/60,000km warranty.

Briscoe said the improved quality of diesel would help and called it a bonus but the company had been planning to introduce its EfficientDynamics cars for the past 18 months.

“The time is right. There is a huge shift in environmental thinking in Malaysia,” he said.

BMW M1 Could Be Revived for 2012

BMW M1
BMW M1 - Front
The BMW M1 could be reincarnated in 2012, this time around as a futuristic 2+2 coupe based on the swoopy Vision EfficientDynamics concept from the recent 2009 Frankfurt Auto Show.

According to Britain's Auto Express, the neo-M1 would feature a high-performance hybrid powertrain similar to the one showcased in the Vision EfficientDynamics concept, indicating that BMW is more interested in taking an environmentally sensitive stance with its efficient new supercar, rather than simply going head-to-head with the new Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG.

The powertrain will bundle a 1.5-liter three-cylinder engine with an electric motor, a combination which in production trim should deliver more than 350 horsepower and nearly 600 pound-feet of torque. Mated to a dual-clutch gearbox, the hybrid system will propel the future M1 from zero to 60 in less than 5 seconds. Top speed will be electronically governed to 155 mph, while fuel economy is projected to be class-leading.

Other production features adapted from the concept include an ultralow ride height, active aerodynamics, aggressive styling and cutting-edge technology.

BMW USA Sep Total Sales +3.6% To 19,175 Units

For the first time this year, Germany's BMW Group (BMW and MINI combined) reported an increase in sales in the U.S. compared to the same month last year, the company said Thursday.

MAIN FACTS:

-In September, sales increased by 3.6% to 19,175 units compared to 18,506 vehicles sold in September 2008.

-The BMW Group also reported a year-to-date sales volume of 179,219 vehicles, down 24.2%, compared to 236,327 vehicles sold in the first nine months of last year.

-Sales of BMW brand vehicles increased 2.1% in September for a total of 15,047 vehicles compared to 14,744 vehicles reported in the same month a year ago driven by strong passenger car sales.

-BMW???s sports activity vehicles saw a decline compared to last year in part due to limited inventory of the X5 after the better than expected Advanced Diesel X5 model sales volume.

-Year-to-date, BMW brand sales were down 26.3% to 144,223 vehicles compared to 195,633 vehicles sold in the same period of 2008.

-???For now, we???ll take this first small bit of good news but the premium segment is not out of the woods yet as consumers keep on reacting cautiously to the mixed signals in the economy,??? said Jim O???Donnell, President of BMW of North America, LLC. ???For BMW, we expect the bumpy road to continue into next quarter in advance of 2010, when we see consumer confidence improving and a major launch of new BMW products start to hit the market.???

-Sales of BMW???s Certified Pre-Owned vehicles increased 4.2%, to 8,033 CPO vehicles versus 7,707 vehicles reported in September a year ago; year-to-date, CPO sales were up 9.6%, to 84,515 over the 77,144 reported in the same period of 2008.