Introducing New Cars: BMW

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Saturday, January 28, 2012

Spy Shots: New BMW M135i with 320HP 3.0-liter Turbocharged Six

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Earlier this week, BMW blew the covers off the first models of its new M Performance sub-brand, namely the M550d, X5 M50d and X6 M50d.

But that's only the beginning as the German firm plans to expand the range to include if not all, most of its models including the 1-Series five-door hatchback, a prototype of which our scoop photographers caught while testing in Europe (albeit with a fake 118i moniker on the tailgate).

So far, the most powerful model of the new 1-Series hatch is the recently announced 125i sporting a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder gasoline engine that puts out 218bhp and 310Nm (228 lb-ft) propelling the five-door model to 100km/h (62mph) in 6.4 seconds and on to a maximum velocity of 245 km/h (152mph).

New BMW ActiveHybrid 5 Priced from $61,845, Nearly $10k more than the 535i [130 Photos]

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If you want a little more power (but slightly worse performance) and a little better fuel economy and don't mind paying US$9,345 over the price of a regular 535i, then you may want to take a look at BMW's new ActiveHybrid 5 sedan.

If you live in Europe or in any other region where BMW offers diesel variants of the 5-Series, then you're probably better off with one of those models – we'll explain why later on.

BMW today announced that the ActiveHybrid 5 will go on sale in the States in March with a base MSRP of $61,845 (€47,800), which includes an $895 destination and handling fee.

BMW Recalls Six X5 xDrive35i SUVs Because they May Roll Out of Park

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In one of the smallest recalls we have ever heard, BMW will be calling in six owners of the 2012 X5 xDrive35i SUV to address a problem with the automatic transmission.

In a letter to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the Bavarian automaker says that due to a manufacturing error, the automatic transmission’s parking lock may not occur even if the “P” position has been selected and is displayed.

New BMW X3 Tops while Range Rover Evoque Flops Consumer Reports' Tests

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Just like a Rotten Tomatoes review can make or break a movie’s reputation and its box-office success, Consumer Reports’ road tests have the potential to boost a vehicle's sales or in some cases force a an automaker to run back to the drawing board.

The latest batch of vehicles tested by CR include two SUVs that even though different in size, will compete in the premium segment: the second iteration of the BMW X3 and the brand-new challenger in the category, the Range Rover Evoque.

To sum it up, the BMW X3 xDrive28i scored an 80 in CR's road test and received the “Recommended” tag, while the Range Rover Evoque managed a test score of 60 score and was placed near the bottom of its class.

All-New 2014 BMW X5 SUV Spied on Video During Winter Testing

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Our scoop photographers put down their cameras and picked up their camcorders to capture the first footage of the next BMW X5 luxury SUV undergoing winter weather tests in Europe.

As you can see for yourself in the video that follows below, BMW engineers were trying out the new X5's handling and vehicle dynamics on the snow.

The Bavarian premium automaker's largest SUV model will ride on a new and lighter platform with a longer wheelbase that will further improve cabin space.

2013 BMW X6M Facelift: First Official Photos and Videos

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On Wednesday night, we brought you the lowdown on the refreshed for the 2013 model year X6 crossover along with the new X6 M50d with 381-ponies, courtesy of its tri-turbocharged diesel engine.

Now, we also have the first official photos of the high-performance 2013 X6 M, which gains the same cosmetic touches as the rest of the series while maintaining the mechanical hardware of the 2012 model.

BMW Shows its New M Performance Tri-Turbo Diesel-Powered Models on Film

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Following on from yesterday's official presentation, BMW has published the first video on its M Performance range that launches in Europe with the M550d xDrive Sedan and Touring, X5 M50d and X6 M50d models, all powered by a new 381-horsepower, 3.0-liter tri-turbocharged straight-six diesel.

Prepared by the Bavarian firm's M division, the new M Performance models blend M Sport styling cues with M tuned engines and chassis components – and yes, we did notice that there are a lot of M's there. We'll just have to wait and see if those M's will actually make BMW buyers go mmmmm… Make the jump to view the short clip.

BMW Car Club GB Announces its First Ever 'Z-Fest'

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On the occasion of its 60th anniversary, the official BMW Car Club GB will host its first ever "Z-Fest" gathering at this summer’s Silverstone Classic from July 20 to 22, promising to bring together hundreds of Z1, Z3, Z4 and Z8 sports cars, all of which will participate in a special parade lap on the full Silverstone Grand Prix circuit.

“We wanted to do something spectacular to mark our anniversary and staging the UK’s first Z-Fest at the world’s biggest classic racing festival certainly fits that bill,” said Steve Miller, general manager of the BMW Car Club (GB).

2013 BMW X6 Facelift: Can You Spot the Differences?

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We've been following the development of the facelifted X6 through our scoop section for a while now and today, BMW officially revealed the 2013 model year version that goes on sale worldwide this spring.

The big news on the 2013 X6 is the introduction of the diesel-powered X6 M50d of the M Performance series, but we've already covered it in our previous post, so let's see what else is new about BMW's so-called Sports Activity Coupe.

BMW M Performance Brand Kicks off with New M550d, X5 M50d and X6 M50d, All Powered by a Tri-Turbo Diesel

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The first examples of BMW's newly launched M Performance Automobiles lineup were introduced today ahead of their world premiere at the Geneva International Motor Show in the second week of March.

The new models are the M550d xDrive sedan, M550d xDrive Touring, X5 M50d and X6 M50d, and as their names suggest, they're all powered by the same diesel engine and feature the Bavarian firm's xDrive all-wheel drive system.

And before you get your hopes high, we'd better tell you that none of them are planned for the US market.

BMW's M Performance Automobiles sub-brand was created to offer a diverse lineup of models with a wide choice of engines including diesels not only to compete with Audi's S range, but as we reckon, also to avoid further dilution of the M division.

Vorsteiner Presents New Wheels for Ferrari 458 and BMW 5-Series F10

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While we have come to know Vorsteiner for its aero components, the company also specializes on alloy wheels, and today, it introduced a new pair of rims for the Ferrari 458 Italia and the latest generation of the BMW 5-Series sedan.

Both lightweight wheels have a five-spoke design with a concave profiling and come in a diameter of 21 inches. The Ferrari version is finished in black while the BMW rim has a gunmetal gray finish.

You can find more pictures of both models in the gallery after the break.

Chris Mcneil - Twisted Throttle - BMW F800GS

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BMW Takes the Joy Out of Driving with Autonomous Technology

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The maker of the so-called "Ultimate Driving Machine" is testing a new technology that allows the car to replace the driver under certain conditions such as highway driving or in traffic jams.

BMW first told us about its experimental Highly Automated Driving system last summer but now we have the opportunity to see it work in action through a video report released by the German automaker.

Spied: 2014 BMW X5 SUV Hits the Winter Slopes, May get 4-Cylinder Diesel-Hybrid Version

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Exactly a week ago, we brought you the first spy shots of the third generation of the BMW X5 SUV spotted on the road.

While it's too early for the prototypes to start shaking off the heavy camouflage, our man with the long lens was able to snag another round of pictures, this time while the crossover was trying out the snow in Germany.

Pawned: This is Why Russians Add Dashboard Cameras to their Cars

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No doubt, you've probably seen at least a few videos shot from within a car originating from Russia and other countries of the former Soviet Union.

Now, in the event that you were wondering why so many drivers choose to fit their vehicles with a dashboard mounted camera, we believe that the following clip will provide you with an answer...

New Survey Shows which Owners Would Buy from the Same Brand Again

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Brand loyalty among customers is something all carmakers aspire to achieve, but sometimes that's easier said than done as proved by the results of J.D. Power and Associates' 2012 Customer Retention Study.

There's a lot to say about the survey that measures the rate at which automotive brands retain their existing customers and which is now in its ninth year, but we can't help but to start from the winner.

Amazingly, the brand that manages to keep most customers is Hyundai with a retention rate of 64%. The South Korean brand's feat is even more impressive if you consider that just two years ago it ranked below average with 47%!

1989 BMW 750iL V12 with Only 3,000 Miles but an Asking Price of $48k

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In 1987, BMW made history with the presentation of its first ever V12 automobile (the company had made V12 engines before but they were used on aircrafts) and the first 12-cylinder German car in almost half a century, the 750i and its long wheelbase sibling, the 750iL from the E32 series.

Codenamed M70, the 5.0-liter V12 engine produced an output of 300bhp (304PS/224kW) and a peak torque of 450 Nm (332 lb·ft) and was linked to a four-speed ZF automatic transmission. The same powertrain also found its way under the hood of the 850i in 1989.

With more than two decades on its back and a hefty price tag at its time, the E32 750i / 750iL is not an easy find today - let alone in pristine condition, which makes this 1989 750iL that's up for grabs on eBay all the more interesting.

Located in Florida, the burgundy colored 750iL has only a mere 3,000 miles (about 4,800 kilometers) on its odometer, which virtually makes the car brand new!

BMW Designs a Crafty Computer Mouse for Thermaltake's Level 10 Series

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We don't know how it will perform or if it will be ergonomic, but the new Level 10 Mouse penned by the BMW Group's DesignworksUSA will surely grab some attention with its stripped out looks, which for some reason, kind of remind us of a robotic part that fell from the Terminator.

The BMW design consultancy created the computer mouse for Thermaltake and its Level 10 series.

G-Power BMW M5 Hurricane RR Reaches 357km/h – 222mph on the Autobahn

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It's just another day at the mother of all highways, the German Autobahn – which of course means cars reaching top speeds that in any other country around the world would probably get your buttocks thrown in jail and your car confiscated.

But not on the Autobahn where a member of the GTBoard forums took a G-Power BMW M5 Hurricane RR up to a top speed of 357km/h or 222mph.

As a refresher, when G-Power introduced the BMW M5 E60-based Hurricane RR a couple years back, it claimed at the time that it was the fastest saloon in the world – we don't know if it still holds the crown today.

The Coolest BMW M5 Badge Ever

6:59 AM Hell No comments

If what they say about photography being the art of capturing the beauty of the moment and freezing it forever in time is true, then the person who took this picture of the new BMW M5 saloon's badge has accomplished the goal in the most literal sense of the phrase.

Head over the break for a high-resolution version of the image.