BMW’s M division releases more details, images of upcoming 1 Series M Coupe

Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, Spy Photos, Coupe, Performance, BMW


BMW 1 Series M Coupe teasers – Click above for image gallery

Fans of the original BMW M3 might not be enamored by the current V8 model, but the upcoming 1 Series M Coupe promises to bring it back to the source. The Bavarian automaker has released new information on the more compact M ahead of its full release in December ahead of the Detroit Auto Show where it’ll be finally revealed to the public.

The 1 Series M Coupe packs a 340-horsepower version of the twin-turbo 3.0-liter six from the Z4 sDrive35iS in a package weighing about 3,300 pounds, with power fed to the wheels exclusively through a six-speed manual. This a departure from the “bare-bones” M3 GTS that packs a dual-clutch gearbox.

Pricing is slated to come in between those of the existing 135i and M3, placing it somewhere around the $45k mark. Click below to check out the updated gallery of teaser images, including some new swirly ones.

Gallery: BMW 1M Coupe teasers

[Source: BMW M division]

BMW’s M division releases more details, images of upcoming 1 Series M Coupe originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 13 Oct 2010 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: BMW X4 coming in 2014

Filed under: Concept Cars, SUV, Crossover, BMW, Design/Style, Luxury

Autoweek reports that BMW wants to add yet another small SUV to its lineup. Called the X4, the vehicle is rumored to take more than a few cues from the big-daddy X6 in both design and driving characteristics. The report says that early concept drawings show the vehicle as having the same upright nose and long, arching roof line as the biggest X as well as a very similar angled rear hatch.

Of course, nothing’s set in stone at this point, so the X4’s appearance could change considerably by the time it hits the scene in 2014. There is some speculation that the vehicle will be manufactured at the company’s Spartanburg, South Carolina facility, which would makes sense considering America’s seemingly boundless thirst for high-riding hatches.

[Source: Autoweek]

Report: BMW X4 coming in 2014 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 13 Oct 2010 15:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2012 BMW 6 Series Convertible caught on photo shoot

Filed under: Spy Photos, Convertible, Europe, BMW, Luxury

2012 BMW 6 Series Convertible

2012 BMW 6 Series Convertible – Click above for gallery

Look what’s been caught without its camo: the 2012 BMW 6 Series Convertible. The image you see above originated from the folks at E90 Post, and is supposedly a clandestine shot snapped during a photo shoot of the big, topless BMW. The crew over at Autobild then set about doing a little Photoshop forensics to remove the pesky cameraman and shadows from the shot, giving us an unobstructed view of exactly what the new Sixer will look like with its cloth top stowed.

So what do we know about the 2012 6 Series? BMW hasn’t come out and revealed exactly what will lurk under that massive hood, but if we were laying down our hardly-earned paychecks on an educated guess, we’d say that a smattering of the company’s range of turbocharged inline six-cylinder engines would be a good bet. Meanwhile, the topped-out M6 is likely to pack something with a few more cylinders and another turbo. Thanks for the tip, Jen!

Gallery: 2012 BMW 6 Series Convertible Spy Shot

[Sources: Motor Authority, E90 Post]

2012 BMW 6 Series Convertible caught on photo shoot originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 13 Oct 2010 14:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BMW announces pricing for 2011 X3

Filed under: Car Buying, Crossover, BMW, Luxury

2011 BMW X3

2011 BMW X3 – Click above for high-res image gallery

We’re about to drive the 2011 BMW X3, but before we get behind the wheel, BMW has announced pricing for its next-gen. cute ‘ute, and as before, the new CUV will be offered in two trims. The base X3 xDrive28i, which features a 240 horsepower inline-six, will start at $37,625. The more powerful xDrive35i, which boasts a 300-hp turbocharged six-cylinder engine, starts $41,925. Both models come standard with all-wheel drive and BMW’s eight-speed automatic transmission. The 2011 BMW X3 will arrive in dealer showrooms at the end of 2010, and both models will be available at launch.

Additionally, Blackberry users will have something to be excited about. The X3 is fitted with technology to pull loads of utility out of its smartphone integration. The navigation screen can display emails when the car is stationary, and when it’s in motion, the system utilizes a text-to-speech program to read messages through the audio system.

The base price of the 2011 BMW X3, even though the car has been refreshed and features more standard items, is less than the 2010 model it replaces. It’s a $2,100 price drop down from the 2010 base MSRP of $39,725.

Gallery: Paris 2010: BMW X3

Live photos copyright (C)2010 Chris Paukert / AOL [Source: BMW]

Continue reading BMW announces pricing for 2011 X3

BMW announces pricing for 2011 X3 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 13 Oct 2010 13:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spy Shots: BMW 1 Series updates come into sharper focus

Filed under: Spy Photos, Coupe, Europe, BMW

2011 BMW 1-Series Spy Shots

2011 BMW 1 Series Coupe Spy Shots – Click above for high-res image gallery

Our special-ops spy photographers have managed to lay their lenses on the next BMW 1-Series Coupe, and from the looks of things, BMW won’t be putting the car under for any serious surgery for the 2011 model year. Instead, buyers can look forward to a raft of small updates to keep the design fresh. This prototype was spotted on public streets wearing camouflage over what we assume to be updated body componenets. Judging from the photos, the next 1er will feature a redesigned front fascia with newly sculpted air intakes set low to the ground.

The wee Bimmer will also enjoy new headlight and taillight designs, and while there may be a few interior updates along for the ride, we expect the drivetrain to remain largely unchanged for the majority of the lineup. That is unless of course we’re talking about 1 Series M Coupe, but that’s a different beast all together.

Gallery: 2011 BMW 1-Series Spy Shots

Spy Shots: BMW 1 Series updates come into sharper focus originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 13 Oct 2010 12:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Class action suit alleges BMW N54 turbo engine unsafe, causes Unintended Deceleration

Filed under: Etc., Government/Legal, Safety, Technology, BMW

2010 BMW 335i

2010 BMW 335i – Click above for high-res image gallery
The award-winning BMW N54 inline-six has been a hit around the world since it made its debut in the 2006 E90 335i. The twin-turbocharged engine produces around 300 horsepower and 300 pound-feet of torque and many have actually suggested that the Bavarian automaker’s power figures have been conservative. When it came out, BMW promised this engine would virtually eliminate turbo lag, increase performance and improve fuel economy at the same time. In fact, it was so confident in its new engine that it spread it around, adding it to its 1, 3 and 5 Series cars, along with its Z4 sports cars and X6 crossovers.

Unfortunately, the N54 has also seen its fair share of owner complaints. Most notably, unhappy BMW drivers allege having two very important issues with the wündermill; the high-pressure fuel pump has a very high failure rate and a defect in the design of the turbochargers requires they be tweaked so as not to run at full capacity. Many BMW owners have officially had it with the N54 engine and a class-action lawsuit has kicked into gear.

Read the rest after the jump

Gallery: Review: 2010 BMW 335i Sedan

Photos by Zach Bowman / Copyright (C)2010 AOL

[Sources: Kershaw, Cutter and Ratinoff, LLC, BimmerFest, Daily Finance]

Continue reading Class action suit alleges BMW N54 turbo engine unsafe, causes Unintended Deceleration

Class action suit alleges BMW N54 turbo engine unsafe, causes Unintended Deceleration originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 12 Oct 2010 18:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Retro Spin: 1988 BMW M5

Filed under: Classics, Sedan, Performance, BMW, Quick Spin

25 Years After Launch, Original M5 Still Stirs The Soul

1988 BMW M5

1988 BMW M5 – Click above for high-res image gallery

“How would you like to drive a 1988 M5 up Highway 1?”

That wasn’t a call I was expecting, especially in the late summer of 2010. As far as I was concerned, any car from the 1980s still on the road was sure to be showing a few hundred thousand miles, springs coming through the seats and air conditioning blowing warm.

We all have a short list of favorite vehicles that most will never see, let alone drive.

However, BMW North America was on the other end of the phone, and the vehicle we were discussing had been pulled out of a factory museum on the East Coast and shipped to California in a covered truck. Not only did it have low miles, but this unique model was in near-mint condition.

The 1988 BMW M5 is special in more ways than one. In addition to being the first-generation M5, its production was extremely limited and each and every copy sold in North America was jet black with blacked-out trim. And there was the powerplant… BMW had essentially dropped the M1’s 24-valve 3.5-liter racing engine under the hood.

You can guess what my answer was.

Continue reading…

Gallery: 1988 BMW M5: Retro Spin

1988 BMW M51988 BMW M51988 BMW M51988 BMW M51988 BMW M5

Photos copyright (C)2010 Michael Harley / AOL

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Retro Spin: 1988 BMW M5 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 08 Oct 2010 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spy Shots: BMW M6 convertible takes to the track

Filed under: Spy Photos, Convertible, Performance, BMW

BMW M6 Convertible spy shot

BMW M6 Convertible spy shots – Click above for high-res image gallery

BMW unveiled its 6 Series Coupe concept at this year’s Paris Motor Show, giving us a preview at what the next-generation Sixer will look like when it debuts sometime next year. Fear not, M6 fans – this latest set of spy shots clearly shows that BMW has every intention of giving its latest grand tourer the high-power treatment.

Aside from the revised styling of the next-gen 6 Series, we can clearly see a set of large wheels wrapped in fat tires, not to mention the M-signature quad-exhaust pipes out back. Expect the M6 to use the same twin-turbo 4.4-liter V8 setup that will debut in the new M5 sedan, meaning power numbers should be somewhere around 560 horsepower and 530 pound-feet of torque. It all sounds delicious, and we can’t wait to see how the M treatment looks on the even sleeker coupe.

Gallery: Spy Shots: BMW M6 Convertible

BMW M6 Convertible spy shotsBMW M6 Convertible spy shotsBMW M6 Convertible spy shotsBMW M6 Convertible spy shotsBMW M6 Convertible spy shots

[Source: CarPix]

Spy Shots: BMW M6 convertible takes to the track originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 07 Oct 2010 14:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BMW 1M Coupe stops by Paris, doesn’t even stay for the show

Filed under: Spy Photos, Coupe, Performance, BMW

BMW 1M coupe striptease in Paris

BMW 1M Coupe teasers – Click above for image gallery

Between the 6 Series Coupe concept, the 5 Series Touring wagon and the new X3 crossover, BMW had plenty to show us this year at the Paris Motor Show. But the real surprise, as it turns out, may have been in the French capital during the show, it wasn’t even put on display. Instead, the Bavarian automaker took its currently-in-progress 1M Coupe out onto the city’s famous tree-lined boulevards, covered up and disguised, but did a suitably Parisian burlesque striptease to give us a glimpse at what to expect.

Aside from the silhouette, all we can see are the front fender, headlamp (which is now taped-up in Zorro-esque fashion for some reason) and part of the air dam – all of which we saw before in the last teaser video – along with a newly-revealed section of the rear bumper and quad-pipe exhaust, plus the wheels protruding from the flared arches. If previous reports prove accurate, there will only be 2,700 examples on offer, so this may be the best look we’ll get for some time… better check it out in the gallery below. Thanks for the tip, Jason!

Gallery: BMW 1M Coupe teasers

[Source: BMW M-Power via 1Addicts]

BMW 1M Coupe stops by Paris, doesn’t even stay for the show originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 06 Oct 2010 11:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BMW shows off 2011 K1600GT and K1600GTL

Filed under: Motorcycle

2011 BMW K1600GTL

2011 BMW K1600GTL – Click above for high-res image gallery

If you’ve ever looked at the current 3 Series and thought, “Yeah, but what it really needs is two fewer wheels,” BMW has your number. The company has dropped all of the juicy details on both the K1600GT and K1600GTL onto the interwebs, and the bikes are pretty much what we expected – a tech-loaded rolling testament to German engineering. Tricks like adaptive headlights, traction control, iPod connectivity controlled by iDrive and a full-color display are all part of the package. That’s cool and all, but the biggest news comes from down below.

BMW says that the inline six-cylinder engine at the heart of both the GT and GTL is the world’s narrowest such beating heart in any production motorcycle. At 1,649 cc, the mill churns out 160 horsepower and 129 pound-feet of torque at 7,500 and 5,000 rpm, respectively. All of that punch comes from an engine that’s a mere 22 inches wide.

Additionally, BMW says that it has kept the weight of both bikes amazingly low. The K1600GT tips the scales at a skinny 703 pounds with all of its fluids in place while the K1600GTL comes in at 767 pounds. The biggest competitor to these big Bavarian cruisers, the Honda Goldwing, weighs a comparatively portly 895 pounds.

How much are you going to pay for the bikes? BMW hasn’t said just yet, but the stars point north of $21,500.

Gallery: 2011 BMW K1600GT and K1600GTL

[Source: Hell For Leather]

BMW shows off 2011 K1600GT and K1600GTL originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 05 Oct 2010 19:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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