BMW unveils the 2011 BMW 5 Series

2011 BMW 5 Series
There's no doubt that in America at least the station wagon has been replaced by the SUV which has now been replaced by the CUV (crossover utility vehicle) as the family hauler of choice for most.

But that doesn't mean that the Europeans don't love their station wagons as you can tell by the new 2011 BMW 5 Series Touring.

Just the sixth-generation BMW 5 Series sedan goes on sale in Europe, BMW has released these photos and the video below of the wagon version of the car.

Driving the BMW X1

BMW X1

One look at BMW’s hot, new X1 and I was hooked. I’ve always been partial to cars with their lower center of gravity and resultant more engaging driving dynamics. Still, with three fast-growing children and our unfortunately less-than-perfect roads, I sometimes hanker for the packaging versatility and go-anywhere capability of an SUV.

I’m sure a lot of people find themselves in this quandary, as can be seen by the growing number of so-called “crossovers” – vehicles that combine the attributes (and body styles) of a car with that of an SUV or a minivan.

The Mitsubishi Outlander and Subaru Outback are prime examples (the latter’s Forester used to be perfect embodiment of a crossover, but the latest model has evolved more into a bonafide compact SUV).

From any angle, the BMW X1 looks more like a bulked-up 1-series 5-door hatch than its X3 (slightly) bigger brother. It’s about four inches shorter, two inches lower and almost five inches narrower than the X3 (or for a more common comparison, three inches shorter, an inch narrower, and a whopping five inches lower than a Honda CR-V). The X1’s huge, gaping twin kidney grilles hark to the angry snout of the Z4, again tying it to its Bavarian car heritage.

Even with my chocolate brown (officially called Marrakesh Brown) model’s black highlights, BMW stylists painted the lower horizontal edge of the front bumper a striking silver in the best touring car racing tradition.

New BMW 330i Price Rs 33.4 lakh

BMW has launched two new variants under its 3 series sedan category. BMW [ Images ] India [ Images ] president Peter Kronschnabl launched BMW 320d corporate edition (diesel) and the BMW 330i (petrol) as the two new BMW 3 Series sedans.

The cars are being manufactured in the company's Indian plant and would be available across its 17 dealerships.

According to Kronschnabl the BMW 330i would cost about Rs 33.4 lakh (Rs 3.34 million) and the BMW320d corporate edition would cost about Rs 23.95 lakh (Rs 2.39 million).

Kronschnabl is quite positive about maintaining the growth story of BMW in India and was heard saying, "In 2008, we sold 2,908 cars which grew by 24 per cent in 2009 to 3,619."

BMW has lots of expectations from the BMW 320d corporate edition. According to Kronschnabl, "Though 330i is available now, we think our growth will be driven by the corporate edition variant. We hope we will be able to sell couple of hundreds of the car (corporate edition)."

BMW 3 Series: driven

BMW 3 Series There’s a reworked 2.0-litre diesel engine for the 320d, with power up from 174- to 181bhp and torque boosted by 22lb ft to 280lb ft. Fuel economy has improved by 1.2mpg, however, BMW 3 Series while CO2 emissions drop by 3g/km. There are similar changes to the lower-powered 318d version, while the six-cylinder 325d’s engine also has more power, but lower emissions.

BMW 3 Series At the top end, the 335i’s 3.0-litre petrol engine is just as powerful as before, but the switch to a different turbocharger has boosted fuel BMW 3 Series economy by 2.6mpg and dropped CO2 emissions by 22g/km.

BMW 3 Series ''most wanted used car'

BMW 3 Series
Used car buyers were most interested in purchasing a BMW 3 Series in 2009, it has been suggested.

According to a survey carried out by Creditplus, used BMW 3 Series vehicles were the most sought-after autos on the second hand market last year, narrowly beating competition from the Ford Focus and the Vauxhall Astra.

"The list has once again confirmed that the BMW 3 series is one of the most desirable used cars on the market," it was stated.

Some of the reasons for the vehicle''s popularity were laid out in a review of a used BMW 3 Series in the Sunday Times.

Motoring journalist Jason Dawe noted that the car has the ability to put the smile on a driver''s face – thanks to its power, seamless gear changes and roomy cabin.

Other vehicles to feature among the most popular used car buys of 2009 were the Renault Megane, the Volkswagen Golf and Ford Fiesta, it was stated.

BMW To Develop A Rival For Audi A1 Based On Mini Platform

Geneva Auto Show generated a lot of questions but a lot of answers. World’s first premium small class model in the Audi history raised a lot of questions in BMW camp, who thinks more at the birth of a rival, ready to share the same platform and same with components of the concern brothers over the English Channel, named Mini.

Norbert Reithofer, the BMW manager, admitted in an interview at Geneva, that plans currently exist in a model positioned below the current 1 Series. Recent studies have shown that there is still demand for premium vehicles in the segment of small cars, despite the global crisis.

If the Audi has launched the A1 and Mercedes is preparing resurrect ForFour, BMW have to react. The Bavarians will make it soon, with a new platform, capable of receiving front or integral traction and reduce production costs of two models with different identities: one in the BMW yard and one in Mini yard.

Although no one has confirmed this so far, it is very likely that BMW rival for A1 to be a German version of the new Mini Cooper generation. Although the British model is expected only in 2014, the Bavarians could bring in showrooms, the 1-Series younger brother in 2013.

BMW ActiveHybrid 5 Concept : Geneva Motor Show

BMW 5 Series sedan range set to go on sale in June, BMW ActiveHybrid 5 the German manufacturer has taken this chance to show its future petrol-electric hybrid model, due to go on sale next year, at the Geneva Motor Show.

BMW ActiveHybrid 5

Sharing the stage with conventionally powered six- and eight-cylinder petrol and diesel models, the new ActiveHybrid 5 Concept will use a sophisticated hybrid system comprising a 224kW twin-scroll turbo, direct injection petrol six-cylinder engine (as found in the 535i), an eight-speed automatic transmission and an electric motor running on lithium-ion batteries (stored in the boot).BMW ActiveHybrid 5

BMW ActiveHybrid 5

The electric motor develops 40kW and is connected to the engine via a special clutch arrangement that allows the motor to become a generator when the vehicle is coasting or braking. The ActiveHybrid 5 Concept will also use BMW’s automatic engine stop-start system and an electric air-conditioning compressor to save even more fuel.

BMW ActiveHybrid 5

BMW 1-Series M-Car Back

The BMW 1-Series M car would have been plagued by issues of pricing and performance anyway--add too much juice BMW 1-Series M and the car starts stepping on the M3's toes. Add too little, and it's not really an M car. So BMW looks to be seeking the middle ground with its 135is-badged approach.BMW 1-Series M

In an interview with Inside Line, an unnamed BMW source said that the 1-Series M car is not happening, but instead that a twin-turbo N54-powered 135is would fill the need for a more potent, yet still not M3-killing, 1-Series.BMW 1-Series M

The N54 as tuned for the 2011 335is and Z4 sDrive35is generates around 330 horsepower and just as much torque, with an overboost function that cranks up the twist-factor to 370 pound-feet for brief periods. That's sure to add some serious fun to the 135i's already dashing 300-horsepower figure,BMW 1-Series M especially if the 135is partakes of the other upgrades found in the 335is--including M Sport aerodynamics, better cooling systems, and an M Sport suspension package.BMW 1-Series M

BMW Z4 GT3 is the V8-powered Z4 M

BMW Motorsport Z4 GT3

Late last year we told you that BMW would be creating a race-ready Z4 GT3 for customers who participate in motorsports, and we now have official images of the too-hot Z4 in all of its glory. We've always liked the styling of the Z4-based coupes, and this GT3 spec is certainly a looker.

BMW Racing Vehicle Z4 GT3 Set to Hit the Racing Tracks

BMW is ready to set to hit the racing tracks with a new arresting race-car that it had been working on since last year - BMW Z4 GT3. Its official images were recently revealed. With the features of central-locking, ABS breaking and elective air-conditioning, the fresh additions are a roll-cage.

The appearance of the motor itself makes it look "fast", even if not moving as it has been given a finishing touch in Munich racing white, blue and red, tailored into a track styling pack.

BMW has stuck into its long bonnet, 4.0-litre V8 and with the Type-408 ECU e and power 400 control units which results in 480 horsepower and the power can noticeably hit 353kW. The six-speed transmission transfers all the sounds to the rear wheels. The folding roof mechanism has been removed to reduce the weight.

Z4 GT3 is expected to be on sale in the market by the second half of this year and estimated cost will be 298,000 Euro or $589,000NZ.