Tag: bmw

Spy Shots: BMW 4 Series Convertible basks in the sun

Filed under: Spy Photos, Convertible, BMW, Luxury

BMW 4 Series Convertible spy shots

The BMW 4 Series Convertible will show its non-camouflaged face sometime later this year, but our spies recently caught this nearly naked prototype out getting some sun. As you’ll recall, the droptop 4 Series replaces the 3 Series Convertible in the BMW range, and if our recent stint behind the wheel of the new 435i Coupe is anything to go on, this topless 4er should be quite a fun runabout for sun-drenched motoring.

To no one’s surprise, the 4 Series Convertible shares all of its design with the 4 Series coupe, save, of course, the obvious roofectomy. Beyond that, the topless 2+2 will use the same engines and transmissions as the coupe, meaning it should arrive in the US in both 428i and 435i guises, powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four and 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six, respectively. Both six-speed manual and eight-speed automatic transmissions will be available.

The car spied this time around has the full M Sport visual treatment, with the revised (and better-looking) front fascia, larger 19-inch wheels, and attractive Melbourne Red paint. Interestingly, it appears this prototype has the standard xenon headlamp setup, rather than the full-LED option that’s also available.

BMW has not officially confirmed if the 4 Series Convertible will debut at the Frankfurt or Los Angeles auto shows, but with production expected to begin at the end of the year, looks like this droptop will arrive just in time for winter.

BMW 4 Series Convertible basks in the sun originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 07 Aug 2013 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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First Drive: 2015 BMW i8 Prototype

Filed under: Coupe, Hybrid, Performance, BMW, First Drives, Electric, Luxury

M Meets Edison

2014 BMW i8 prototype

The real telling moment for the new BMW i division will be seeing how the recently tested 2014 i3 sells in its various markets, since that is the car that changes how we perceive our expectations of the brand. But this 2015 BMW i8 green supercar has all the earmarks of a slam-dunk project, we just needed to drive it and make sure for ourselves.

BMW has a spectacular test facility in southern France, called Miramas, and that’s where we just had our first brief go behind the wheel of the i8. There were three cars for us there and they were dressed up in exactly the same paisley camo that we’ve all seen in the spy photos published everywhere for the past year. The interiors, though swathed in masking to hide all the details, varied in their color.

As opposed to our realization that driving the stink out of the i3 was not the right attitude, with the i8 we were mostly encouraged to do exactly that by the entire BMW project team. Our essential takeaway from this event is that even BMW feels much more at ease splashing the i8 around with the media, because they’re certain we’re going to enjoy it. Even if the technology underneath is all new, this is the type of product BMW knows how to do in its blood and bones.

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2015 BMW i8 Prototype originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 07 Aug 2013 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spy Shots: BMW 1 Series getting a small nose job

Filed under: Spy Photos, Hatchback, BMW, Luxury

BMW 1 Series facelift spy shot - front three-quarter view

As BMW prepares to launch its new 2 Series lineup, it appears that the current 1 Series is going to get a little attention for itself. Based on these spy photos, the 1 Series hatchback (F20/F21), which is not offered in the US, will be getting a minor facelift in the near future.

From what we can see in these images, the updated 1 Series will definitely be getting a tweaked front end, with most of the attention focusing on the air intakes and grille. Our shooter tells us that it is possible that the headlights may yet be reworked in some way by the time we see this car in production form. It still isn’t clear if we’ll ever see this bodystyle or the next-gen 1 Series in the US, but our most recent report seems to indicate that the car’s fortunes will depend somewhat on how well the Mercedes CLA-Class and Audi A3 sell.

BMW 1 Series getting a small nose job originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 06 Aug 2013 15:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: BMW i8 headed to Frankfurt

Filed under: Frankfurt Motor Show, Coupe, Hybrid, Performance, BMW, Electric, Luxury

BMW i8

According to Edmunds, BMW will reveal its production i8 hybrid sports car at the Frankfurt Motor Show next month. The i8 is the second vehicle to come from the automaker’s new “i” initiative, following the debut of the smaller i3 hatchback last month.

The BMW i8 makes its debut nearly four years after the original Vision EfficientDynamics concept bowed at the Frankfurt expo in 2009. The production car is expected to use a 1.5-liter three-cylinder engine that drives the rear wheels, coupled to an electric motor that drives the front wheels. Combined output is said to be something like 393 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque, based on our earlier reports. The i8 is also expected to be very light, with curb weight coming in somewhere around 3,125 pounds. Finally, the i8 is said to have a pure electric range of 20 miles, and should be able to hit 62 miles per hour in just under five seconds.

Other publications had the chance to ride along in the i8 (in prototype form) and came away impressed. We’re hoping we’ll feel the same when the car officially goes on sale sometime in early 2014. Stay tuned for more at the i8’s official unveiling in just a few weeks.

BMW i8 headed to Frankfurt originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 05 Aug 2013 15:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Cadillac ATS failing to command BMW 3 Series-like pricing as hoped

Filed under: Car Buying, Sedan, Cadillac, Luxury

2013 Cadillac ATS - front three-quarter view

The BMW 3 Series has long been the benchmark for small and sporty luxury vehicles, but the Cadillac ATS has come on strong in its short time on the market as a true rival in this segment. As impressive as Cadillac’s new compact sedan is, however, Automotive News is reporting that the car is still lagging behind the 3 Series when it comes to actual transaction pricing.

According to the article, the average transaction price for the ATS is $39,459 while the 3 Series is at a much larger $44,764, but, just as importantly, Cadillac has about $500 more in incentives on the ATS compared to BMW. Transaction prices are much closer to cars like the Mercedes C-Class and Audi A4. Of course, this is all with the ATS trying to take on its small,sport sedan rivals with a single bodystyle and limited powertrain options compared to the numerous options available from the German automakers in this class.

This uneven battle won’t last long, though, as recent spy shots have revealed that Cadillac is hard at work on a high-performance ATS-V and an ATS Coupe. No official word as to when either of these models will be unveiled, but with auto show season set to kick off, we’re expecting sooner rather than later. The best news for the ATS is that the Automotive News says sales of the ATS are on target and that 74 percent of ATS buyers are new to Cadillac – two important factors for the brand as it tries to break into this tough segment.

Cadillac ATS failing to command BMW 3 Series-like pricing as hoped originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 05 Aug 2013 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Official: 2014 BMW 328d rated at 32/45 mpg

Filed under: Sedan, Wagon, BMW, Diesel, Luxury

2014 BMW 328d

BMW still hasn’t released official fuel economy numbers for its diesel-powered 2014 328d, but now, those mileage ratings have been posted on the EPA’s FuelEconomy.gov website. As expected, the 328d is quite an efficient little machine, with the rear-wheel-drive sedan good for 32 miles per gallon in the city and 45 mpg highway. That even bests the 30/42 mpg of the smaller Volkswagen Jetta TDI.

The last time BMW offered a diesel 3 Series in our market, it was the six-cylinder 335d, which – while mighty quick and excellent to drive – was only offered as a rear-wheel-drive sedan and was rated at 23 mpg city and 36 mpg highway. For 2014, BMW will offer the 328d with optional xDrive all-wheel drive, though that reduces the fuel economy numbers to 31/43 mpg. Beyond that, the BMW will even sell you a 328d xDrive wagon, which nets the same 31/43 mpg rating, according to FuelEconomy.gov.

Look for the 2014 BMW 328d to hit dealerships this fall, and when it launches, it will be the only diesel offering in its class (until the next Mercedes-Benz C-Class arrives, anyway). Lexus and Infiniti will offer hybrid versions of the IS and Q50, respectively, but we’ve always had a taste for torque, and the 328d’s 2.0-liter engine with 180 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of twist shouldn’t disappoint.

2014 BMW 328d rated at 32/45 mpg originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 31 Jul 2013 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BMW i3 tries to be the answer for a changing world [w/video]

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Hybrid, BMW, AutoblogGreen Exclusive

orange bmw i3

The production version of the BMW i3 was unveiled Monday at three simultaneous events in New York City, London and Beijing. Given that the i3 grew out a BMW electric vehicle project called Megacity, the urban debut locations make a lot of sense. Since BMW literally spent years researching urban trends in the Megacity project, years when the competition was building and selling EVs already, there is a lot of pressure on the German automaker to come out with an EV that is the right fit for today’s cities.

BMW’s message is that the i3 actually represents the beginning of electric mobility for the company.

BMW had help in this from the Mini E and Active E electric vehicle pilot programs. One way you can see the company’s EV history is in the location of the charge port on the rear passenger side. Most plug-in vehicles today put the charging connector in the front, but both the Mini E and Active E had a rear charge port and BMW didn’t get enough complaints to change it for the i3. If you opt to pay the roughly $4,000 extra for the gas-powered range extender, then your i3 will be built with a second fuel door, this one on the right front of the car. Putting the ports in these locations cuts down on the amount of fuel lines and wires required in the car, which in turn contributes to the i3’s light weight (official figures are not yet available, but BMW estimates the i3 weighs around 2,700 pounds). It’s all connected.

Despite BMW’s years of testing and driver feedback on earlier EV programs, the official message in New York was that the i3 actually represents the beginning of electric mobility for the company. As Norbert Reithofer, chairman of the board of management of BMW AG, said in New York, “The car has existed for nearly 130 years. Today marks a shift – a change – in the future of mobility.

Does it?

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BMW i3 tries to be the answer for a changing world [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Wed, 31 Jul 2013 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Official: 2014 BMW X5 configurator goes live

Filed under: Car Buying, Crossover, BMW

2014 BMW X5 configurator

BMW won’t begin selling the 2014 X5 for another few months, but the German manufacturer has brought the third-generation SAV’s configurator online, allowing interested customers to poke around and look at the X5’s optional goodies.

Like the 3 Series, the X5 is available in a number of lines that load up extras automatically. There’s also a do-it-yourself truck that allows owners to pick and choose if they’re not enamored with the styling or trim of one of the dedicated packages. As usual, the options list is quite vast, regardless of which line is chosen. We were able to easily take the new, rear-drive X5 sDrive35i, which started at $52,800, and bring the total price up past $80,000.

The new X5 carries over its 4.4-liter, twin-turbo V8 from the current model, as well as BMW’s excellent 3.0-liter, turbocharged inline-six. The X5 xDrive35d, with the 3.0-liter turbodiesel will also be available on the third-generation SUV, but won’t hit dealers until early 2014. BMW is stepping outside of the X5’s usual bounds, offering a dedicated rear-drive model, available with all the same trimmings as the xDrive vehicles. Head over to BMW’s US consumer page and have a go.

2014 BMW X5 configurator goes live originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 28 Jul 2013 15:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ETC: BMW Ultimate Swimming Machine leaves German police feeling soggy

Filed under: Etc., Humor

BMW 3 Series turned into swimming pool

Four men were pulled over in the German town of Eibenstock in what a police report described as “a convertible of a slightly different kind.” What made this BMW 3 Series Convertible different? It was filled with 530 gallons of water. Yes, four German men had turned their car into a swimming pool.

The beige BMW drew the attention of the German polizei after an officer noticed water sloshing over the sides. Following the car into a parking lot, the four occupants hopped out and made a run for it, according to Der Spiegel. Deutsch police are evidently a bit more assertive when it comes to immobilizing vehicles, as the officers reportedly bled the car’s tires of air and went so far as to disconnect the engine’s spark plug wires. The police believe the men were under water under the influence when they fled the scene, and may issue charges, but there’s no mention of whether they’ll be cited for a lack of proper flotation devices.

The convertible had been sealed with “synthetic material,” and was complete with wood railings and Hawaiian-style decorations. We’re quite partial to the work done on the steering wheel. Sadly, the unusual amphibious car only had one functioning gear and a top speed of just 15.5 miles per hour. When asked by German tabloid Bild about the outing, one of the men gave a stock response in this sort of situation: “the ride was a stupid idea.”

BMW Ultimate Swimming Machine leaves German police feeling soggy originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 25 Jul 2013 17:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Review: 2013 BMW M3 Coupe Lime Rock Park Edition

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, BMW, New Car Reviews, Luxury

Sic Transit Gloria

2013 BMW M3 Lime Rock Park Edition

I like difficult cars. I like turbo “moments,” dramatic weight distribution, low-grip, peaky power delivery, and overly quick steering, along with ultra-short wheelbases and any number of other non-racecar-perfect dynamic foibles. I love the newest generation of BMW cars and engines – all turbo’d up with tons of torque and power everywhere in the rev range, too. But what I think the enthusiast community will miss when this 2013 M3 Coupe becomes the 2014 M4 Coupe – replacing its idiosyncratic, small-displacement, revvy V8 for something like a triple-turbo, directly injected, inline six-cylinder powerhouse in the process – is the work it takes to drive the car fast and perfectly. Sometimes small flaws just make things better; my mistress’ eyes are nothing like the sun, and all that.

The idea of this E92 M3 going away then, magnified by the loss of the M3 badge for the coupe, is at best bittersweet for me. This generation of M car is already surpassed in terms of raw thrills by the better-than-ever Mercedes-Benz C63, a car that doesn’t ask its driver to sacrifice low-end grunt or the very latest in amenities in return for stellar backroad performance. Yet any time I’ve been lucky enough to lap a track in the M3, it has quickly become clear that the Bimmer is the better on-edge tool. With the freedom to wring the neck of the 4.0-liter V8 and room to exercise the lovely balance of the car, the E92 is hard to match (even six years after its debut).

Still, when the 2013 BMW M3 Coupe Lime Rock Park Edition rolled into my driveway, its Fire Orange bodywork flashing over gloss-black 19-inch rolling stock, the car had me a little crossed up. BMW has been tossing out special edition M3s for the last few years now, all asking thousands of dollars extra for the limited production-run vehicles. I knew that the LRP was more than a mere trim and tape package, but would it be an appropriate send off for a spectacularly departing sports car legend, or just $10,000 down the drain where a stock M3 Coupe would have happily sufficed?

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2013 BMW M3 Coupe Lime Rock Park Edition originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 25 Jul 2013 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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