bmw Archives | Page 22 of 25

Paris Preview: BMW unwraps 6 Series Coupe Concept

Filed under: Concept Cars, Coupe, Paris Motor Show, BMW

BMW 6 Series Concept

BMW 6 Series Concept – Click above for high-res image gallery

Like so many “concepts” from BMW, the 6 Series Coupe bound for the Paris Motor Show is a concept in name alone. What you’re looking at is BMW’s next GT, and even a cursory glance proves that the Bangleization of BMW is officially over.

Set to be based on the 5 Series’ underpinnings and taking several cues from the Grand Coupe concept shown in Beijing, the next BMW 6 Series takes the brand’s new upright grille, frames it with a set of full-LED headlamps and than caps things off with a more contoured rump. We’re not going to pass judgement on the design until we see it in person, but like the last 6er, this new GT appears to be a love it or loathe it affair.

On the contrary, the interior is an airy, organic environment, complete with an asymmetrical center console tilted towards the driver, a new navigation display and a host of aluminum and leather accents that are several steps beyond what’s currently on offer from BMW. We’re particularly digging the redesigned steering wheel and the waterfall of material that connects the dash to the transmission tunnel.

BMW isn’t giving up specifics on dimensions or engines – this is a “concept” after all – but expect the 2012 BMW 6 Series to be slightly lower and marginally wider than the current model. Power will be supplied by BMW’s current array of naturally aspirated and turbocharged inline sixes, with the next M6 outputting over 550 horsepower from its twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V8. The standard 6 should be in showroom early next year, with the M6 to arriving in late 2012 and the soft-top due out in late 2011.

Gallery: BMW 6 Series Concept

Source: BMW

Paris Preview: BMW unwraps 6 Series Coupe Concept originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 18 Sep 2010 20:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Paris Preview: BMW unwraps 6 Series Coupe Concept”

Video: BMW M3 Tiger Edition – The Movie

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, China, Marketing/Advertising, Videos, BMW, Luxury

BMW M3 Tiger Edition

BMW M3 Tiger Edition – Click above to watch video after the jump

BMW has gotten back into the short-film business to promote the new Tiger Edition M3. The German automaker has a long history of turning out incredibly intricate promotions for its products, and we’re still absolutely hooked on The Hire series starring Clive Owen and a bevy of other big-name actors. The company knows how to flip all the right cinematic switches, and it has applied that knowledge to the first advertisement for the feline-themed M3.

As we find out in the film, the Tiger Edition isn’t made in honor of any old Bengal or Siberian tiger – oh no. BMW crafted its Great Pumpkin 3 Series after the meanest of all the big kitties; the Saber Tooth. Aside from having to endure a little cheesy computer-generated skeleton action, the ad is worth a minute or two of your day. Or… not. Hit the jump to take a look for yourself.

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading Video: BMW M3 Tiger Edition – The Movie

Video: BMW M3 Tiger Edition – The Movie originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 15 Sep 2010 16:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Video: BMW M3 Tiger Edition – The Movie”

Turner Motorsports prepping one-of-30 BMW M3 Frozen Gray coupes for racing

Filed under: Motorsports, Coupe, Performance, BMW, Racing

Turner Motorsports Frozen Gray BMW M3

We tend to live by the mantra that no car is too rare to drive. Even the most unique pieces of automotive history were designed and built to be a mode of transportation first and a stationary object of desire second. The crew at Turner Motorsports has taken that philosophy to the next level – they believe there’s no such thing as a vehicle that’s too rare to race. Case in point? The company’s new Frozen Gray BMW M3 built for serious track duty.

Just in case you need a reminder, BMW only turned out 30 examples of its M3 dipped in the super sexy flat gray paint. This is one of them. Turner Motorsports project has just gotten under way, beginning with a set of 18×10-inch Volk G2s and gooey Continental race rubber, but a more aggressive brake system and a sharper suspension is on the docket as well. All we know is that the M3 looks as fine as can be wearing its new shoes, and we can’t wait to see what Turner comes up with in terms of a finished product. Click over to M3Post for closer look.

[Source: M3Post]

Turner Motorsports prepping one-of-30 BMW M3 Frozen Gray coupes for racing originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 14 Sep 2010 19:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Turner Motorsports prepping one-of-30 BMW M3 Frozen Gray coupes for racing”

Video: Next BMW M5 is all squealing tires and bellowing engine on the ‘Ring

Filed under: Sedan, Performance, Europe, Videos, BMW, Luxury

2011 BMW M5

2011 BMW M5 – Click above to watch video after the jump

If you were afraid the BMW M5 would be losing some of its venom by ditching the naturally-aspirated V10 in favor of a twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V8, we’re here to tell you that those worries are completely unfounded. At least that’s the impression we get from watching the video after the jump. You see, the BMW engineers have apparently fixed whatever issue was afflicting the M5 test mule the last time we saw it and got the car back to doing what it does best – sending Pirelli rubber to its smoky grave.

Loyal fans of the 5 Series over at Bimmerpost managed to get their hands on a quick video of the muscle-bound sedan slipping through the apexes of the Nürburgring at full bore, and have been kind enough to share that tasty little piece of film with the rest of the Internet. From the looks of the things, those two turbos are more than making up for the pair of lost cylinders. Of course, we’ll reserve final judgment for when we get into the saddle ourselves, but until then, join us past the jump for a look-see. Thanks for the tip, Obie!

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading Video: Next BMW M5 is all squealing tires and bellowing engine on the ‘Ring

Video: Next BMW M5 is all squealing tires and bellowing engine on the ‘Ring originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 13 Sep 2010 19:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Video: Next BMW M5 is all squealing tires and bellowing engine on the ‘Ring”

Dyno Tested: BMW’s past and present turbo sixes

Filed under: Coupe, Sedan, Performance, BMW, Luxury

2010 BMW 335i Sedan – Click above for high-res image gallery

BMW has always had a gem of an inline-six on its hands, regardless of which particular powerplant you’re referring to. But over the last couple of years, it’s the German automaker’s turbocharged 3.0-liter N54 engines that have been lighting enthusiasts hearts afire, and steering more than a few buyers away from the M3 and into the seat of a 335i. And when the N54 proliferated across the rest of the automaker’s lineup, it was well-received in nearly every application.

For 2011, though, there’s a new engine in town, and the big question is whether or not the single-turbo N55 is better than the previous twin-turbo N54 or, at the very least, not worse. Helping shed some light on the matter is the crew from Automobile Magazine, who managed to snag a trio of various N54-powered 3-Series’ – one of which was the hotted-up 2011 335is, which uses a high-output version of the old N54 – along with one new model powered by an N55.

And the results? Well, it’s pretty much more of the same: good peak horsepower (266 horses) and a nicely flat mid-heavy torque curve, cresting at a stout 302 pound-feet. But we’d be remiss if we didn’t point out that the new N55, while seemingly offering less turbo lag than its predecessor, appears to be a wee bit less powerful overall than the N54. Progress?

Gallery: Review: 2010 BMW 335i Sedan

[Source: Automobile Magazine]

Dyno Tested: BMW’s past and present turbo sixes originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 13 Sep 2010 19:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Dyno Tested: BMW’s past and present turbo sixes”

Video: BMW goes unscripted with 413,000-mile 2800 CS

Filed under: Classics, Coupe, Videos, BMW

1969 BMW 2800 CS

Murray Fowler’s 1969 BMW 2800 CS – Click above to watch video after the jump

As much as we adore vintage iron, we love the people responsible for keeping them around even more. You’ll never find a more dedicated sample of humanity than those prowling local swap meets and cruise-ins, each nearly guaranteed to boast a tale or two of how they came to be infatuated with the make or model of their choice. BMW has recently decided to tap into that wealth of unparalleled brand loyalty with a new video series that the company is calling “BMW Unscripted.” The episode after the jump focuses on one very smitten owner and the immaculate 1969 2800 CS he bought new over 40 years ago.

Murray Fowler was 40 years old when he drove his 2800 CS for the first time, and over the years, the guy has racked up a dizzying number of miles on the clock – a total of about 413,000 at the time that the video was recorded. This isn’t some garage queen locked away from the temptation of beautiful Southern California roads. Oh, no – this is the real deal. Hit the jump to take a look at the flick for yourself.

[Source: YouTube via WebRidesTV]

Continue reading Video: BMW goes unscripted with 413,000-mile 2800 CS

Video: BMW goes unscripted with 413,000-mile 2800 CS originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 09 Sep 2010 18:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Video: BMW goes unscripted with 413,000-mile 2800 CS”

Video: How to build a BMW Z4 GT3 in 600 hours

Filed under: Motorsports, Coupe, Performance, Videos, BMW

BMW Z4 GT3

Time-lapse video of a BMW Z4 GT3 coming to life – Click above to watch the video after the jump

The BMW Z4 GT3 is a fixed-roof, race-ready version of the standard Z4. Instead of a straight six, the Z4 GT3 is powered by a 480-horsepower 4.0-liter V8 coupled to a six-speed sequential gearbox. Designed and engineered for the track, this Z4 definitely means business – just look at it. You can purchase your own version for around $400,000, and after paying that price, you can have your new track assassin shipped to you… in pieces.

BMW ships the car out in boxes and it’s up to the proud new owner to put it together. Recently, Swedish race crew, Team West Coast Racing, did just that. The entire build took them 600 hours and they kept a camera rolling during that period. A time-lapse video captures the action as bare chassis becomes complete racer. 600 hours is 25 days, and 25 days is a long time to wait in between track sessions. In this case, the wait seems worth it and you can see the build video for yourself after the jump.

Gallery: BMW Z4 GT3

[Source: Cold Track Days]

Continue reading Video: How to build a BMW Z4 GT3 in 600 hours

Video: How to build a BMW Z4 GT3 in 600 hours originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 09 Sep 2010 13:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Video: How to build a BMW Z4 GT3 in 600 hours”

BMW’s dontblogaboutthis.com car revealed on forum

Filed under: Concept Cars, Spy Photos, Coupe, Etc., Marketing/Advertising, Paris Motor Show, BMW, Rumormill, Specialty

dontblogaboutthis BMW

dontblogaboutthis BMW – Click above for high-res image gallery

Yesterday we brought you a few strange images and even weirder videos showcasing an odd BMW. Today, more images have hit the web, proving this is more than a BMW 6 Series with skinny tires and a missing tailpipe. The car may be wearing 6 Series skin from the a-pillar back, but the front is a different animal. It appears to be similar to the face found on the BMW Vision EfficientDynamics concept vehicle.

There are a lot of ways these “spy shots” can be perceived. The above image and the extremely quiet running sound from the clips certainly led us to believe this car is utilizing a new EfficientDynamics powertrain. This would mean the above mash-up mobile is powered by a 1.5-liter inline three-cylinder diesel as well as a pair of electric motors set on the axles.

A viral campaign complete with dark photographs of a mysterious vehicle? It must be auto show season! The Paris Motor Show is right around the corner and we hope someone BMW will be ready to spill their precision-engineered beans.

Gallery: DontBlogAboutThis.com BMW

DontBlogAboutThis.com BMW

[Source: dontblogaboutthis, e90post forums]

BMW’s dontblogaboutthis.com car revealed on forum originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 08 Sep 2010 14:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “BMW’s dontblogaboutthis.com car revealed on forum”

Video: BMW registers dontblogaboutthis.com, we can’t help it

Filed under: Coupe, Etc., Marketing/Advertising, BMW, Rumormill, Specialty

BMW dontblogaboutthis

Sorry, we just did – Click above to watch the video after the jump

A new website called DontBlogAboutThis.com has surfaced, currently populated with two photos and two videos. The photos show an odd looking BMW 6 Series wearing skinny tires, a matte paint job and a don’t-look-at-me-no-please-look-at-me bumper sticker. Is it the new BMW Hipster Series? The site also notes that these photos are not spy shots – which we know is true since we looked up the domain registration information. The site is owned by BMW.

The two videos, which you can watch after the jump, reveal only a little more than the photos. Whatever is under the hood of this BMW is running very quietly. In fact, it seems to be mostly road noise that we hear before the slightly creepy Heroes-esque music comes in.

What does it all mean? Honestly… we have no clue. We know that the BMW M6 has ceased production so maybe the engineers are deciding to head in a different direction. Could this be powered by hydrogen, Bangle Blood or is an electric boogaloo 6 Series is on the horizon?

Continue reading Video: BMW registers dontblogaboutthis.com, we can’t help it

Video: BMW registers dontblogaboutthis.com, we can’t help it originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 07 Sep 2010 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Video: BMW registers dontblogaboutthis.com, we can’t help it”

Spy Shots: BMW M5 prototype gets towed off the ‘Ring

Filed under: Spy Photos, Sedan, Performance, Europe, BMW, Luxury

BMW M5 towed from Nurburgring

BMW M5 prototype gets towed home – Click above for high-res image gallery

Occasionally, we find ourselves wondering why manufacturers continue to insist on testing their prototype vehicles at the infamous Nürburgring. Yes, the track is 13 miles of some of the most abusive variations in elevation and apex around, but it’s also flooded with legions of hungry spy photographers just waiting to publicize the carmakers’ latest efforts. You’d think they’d come up with a locale with a smidge more privacy.

But the truth is that the Nürburgring offers a unique combination of length, speed and legality that’s difficult to come across elsewhere in the world. Those three factors combine to allow engineers to push vehicles well past what the common buyer will ever experience, and sometimes, that means pushing a vehicle all the way to mechanical failure. We aren’t exactly sure what caused this particular BMW M5 mule to go lame, but we’re guessing that the testing was well worth what was bound to be the mountain of paperwork facing these guys when they get back to the office.

At least the X5 seems to be up to the task of pulling its sportier brother around.

Gallery: BMW M5 Prototype Towed from Nurburgring

[Source: CarPix]

Spy Shots: BMW M5 prototype gets towed off the ‘Ring originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 03 Sep 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Spy Shots: BMW M5 prototype gets towed off the ‘Ring”