Posts for 'BMW' Category

Even as BMW’s Mini brand plans to start selling its new, beefed-up Countryman model in Europe in a couple of weeks — along with a refreshed line of existing models — there are reports that the brand is considering a Countryman “off-road” coupe.

Britain’s Autocar reported that the new 4-wheel drive model of the miniature S.U.V. could have two or four doors and go up against Land Rover’s new Range Rover Evoque, a compact, two-door S.U.V. that’s due to be shown at the Paris auto show later this month and arrive in the United States later next year.

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In today's consolidated and homogenized global auto industry, Alpina is an odd duck. Based in the southern German town of Buchloe, not far from Munich, the company started taking form back in 1961, when a German entrepreneur called Burkard Bovenspielen began to diversify the family typewriter company into an activity he was more passionate about—making high-performance automobile components. By the late 1980s, the company had focused on its current business: modifying BMWs (BMW:GR) to improve their performance and reselling them through BMW dealers. Mercedes' AMG division has similar roots, the difference being that founder Hans-Werner Aufrecht sold AMG to Mercedes in the 1990s, while Alpina remained independent.

I recently test-drove the 2011 BMW Alpina B7, which hit dealerships in May and is the only Alpina model sold in the U.S. It's quite a car. If you've ever wondered why there's no high-performance "M" version of the 7 Series, as there is of most other BMW models, it may be because of Alpina. The B7 lineup consists of extensively retooled and upgraded versions of the BMW 750i, the long-wheel-base 750Li, and the all-wheel-drive versions of those vehicles. Alpinas are not only quicker and sportier but offer smoother riding than the equivalent BMW production models. They're also among the most exclusive cars on the market: Alpina expects to sell only around 1,000 B7s annually, about 400 of them in the U.S.

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A British journalist recently decided to challenge BMW’s claim that its new 320d EfficientDynamics sedan could drive for 1000 miles on a single tank of diesel, and  managed to achieve the feat, driving exactly 1,013 miles. Tom Ford, the driver of the BMW, kept the windows up and the air-conditioning off, but avoided hypermiling tricks such as coasting or driving under the speed limit – instead he drove at about 65-70 mph on freeways.

Despite being the most efficient BMW in the range, the 320d is far from the least powerful. Its diesel engine puts out 163 horsepower and 280 lb-ft of torque, hitting 60 mph in a respectable 8.2 seconds. Ford averaged 59.7 mpg on both legs of the trip, even hitting 75.9 mpg on the departure leg of the trip. Diesel cars have never really taken off in the states, and BMW’s own 335d has not been a runaway success, but it’s really hard to argue with numbers like these, in terms of performance and economy. After all, would you rather have a 60 mpg BMW or a Toyota Prius?

BMW has announced the unveiling of its Gran Coupe coupe, a five-metre, four-door, coupe-like saloon, at 2010 Beijing Auto Show. In addition to highlighting the long versions of the BMW 5 Series developed specially for the Chinese market, the main focus is on.

An elegant 4-door vehicle with striking dynamic proportions: the BMW Concept Gran Coupé. Based on a powerful tradition in this segment, the BMW Concept Gran Coupé carries the essence of brand values and the genes of BMW design into the future.

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Now that the novelty of hybrid vehicles has subsided, the inevitable backlash has set in. Experts and layman alike have begun to question the real-world benefits of driving hybrids that cost significantly more than their gasoline-or diesel-powered counterparts, deliver just slightly better fuel efficiency in some cases, and spawn the murky scenario of battery pack disposal and/or recycling.

At the recent Geneva Motor Show, the locale for many hybrid sports car debuts, there was the collective sense that this new trend was more green-washing than anything of real substance. High-performance hybrids from the likes of Ferrari and Porsche were met with either a disinterested “meh” or a more critical response; the time and money spent developing low-volume hybrids could’ve been spent in other ways, after all.

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BMW's Alpina B7 is now available in an all-wheel-drive version. The Alpina B7 xDrive sport sedan will debut alongside the all-new 5 Series at the 2010 New York Auto Show. The rear-wheel-drive 2011 BMW Alpina B7 sedan previously debuted in February, at the 2010 Chicago Auto Show.

The Alpina B7 will be available in both short- and long-wheelbase versions for both the regular and xDrive all-wheel-drive models. BMW's "intelligent" all-wheel-drive system, xDrive, is the only change from the B7 sedan seen at the Chicago show. The B7 has a twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V8 that makes 500 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque.

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The new BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo is the first vehicle.

In the world to combine the stylish elegance of.

A premium sedan with a generous, luxuriously equipped and versatile interior and a slightly elevated seating position. First class down to the last detail, the spacious...interior with its luxurious ambience and high-quality materials evokes a comfortable lounge atmosphere ensuring that a journey in the new BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo is never less than first-class travel.

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Hamann Motorsport will officially unveil its 670hp/493kW strong and 300km/h fast Tycoon Evo M based on the BMW X6 M at the 80th Geneva Motor Show. The program includes a bodykit, performance upgrade, stainless steel exhaust system, wheel set and interior refinements.

The body kit holds front and rear wing extensions made of light composite materials. These let the body expand by 60 millimetres. The designers enhanced the sides with the newly designed side skirts. The distinctive hallmark of the front is the apron with the four striking LED daytime running lights. There are enlarged air inlets in the front and the carbon bonnet allows an optimised air ventilation of the engine compartment. At the X6 M rear, Hamann replaces the original skirt. This makes room for the earthy sounding sports exhaust system with the centrally positioned double end pipes. The rear view of the Tycoon Eveo M contains newly designed rear- and roof spoilers.

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Set in the glamorous fashion capitals of Europe, The Other Man boasts a first-rate cast (Liam Neeson, Laura Linney, Antonio Banderas), a Shakespearean director, glossy cinematography and an impressive literary pedigree (based as it is on a novel by Bernhard Schlink, author of The Reader).

It is also one of the most impressive misfires in a long time. To watch it is to understand why it went straight to DVD. The story focuses on the grief of a husband (Neeson) when his fashionista wife (Linney) vanishes from his life. When he uncovers emails from his wife's secret lover (Banderas), and photographic evidence of their affair, he tracks Banderas down in Milan.

The two forge an unlikely friendship over chess games in a café, with Banderas unaware of Neeson's identity. Several laborious exchanges about "capturing the queen" later, it turns out Banderas is not who he seems, etc., etc. A blurb on the DVD case promises "several surprising plot twists," and that's not the half of it. The film is almost as big a shaggy-dog story as The Big Lebowski, although handled with the utmost solemnity.

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BMW had warned us from the get-go that there wasn't going to be an M version of the redesigned Z4 roadster.

But it is coming awfully close with the new top-of-the-line Z4 that rolls out at the Detroit auto show next month.

The heart of the new Z4 sDrive35is is the 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine, fitted with twin turbochargers and direct injection.

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