BMW unleashes all the details on S 1000 RR superbike

BMW has finally pulled the wraps off its new S 1000 RR superbike, and let’s just say we’re anything but disappointed. First, the most important bits: 193 horsepower at 13,000 RPM, 82.5 lb-ft of torque at 9,750 RPM, 455.3 pounds with a full tank of gas. For those keeping track - which is probably just about anyone interested enough to read this post - those statistics are enough to give the big Beemer the most horsepower and best power-to-weight ratio of all literbikes intended for public consumption.

Technophiles and anyone else wanting to post the best lap times possible will also be pleased to know that the S 1000 RR will be available with factory ABS and an extremely advanced traction control system. There’s also an HP Gearshift Assistant that will allow for full-power clutchless upshifts.

Surely the most controversial element of the bike’s otherwise conventional styling will be the symmetrical headlights, which are the only immediately noticeable link to the rest of BMW’s motorcycle lineup. Expect U.S. sales to begin early in 2010 for what’s expected to be a rather attractive price. Want to know more? Click past the break to see a video of the bike in action and BMW’s official press release.

BMW Announces Pricing for All-New BMW M3 Coupe and Sedan at 2008 NAIAS

During its press conference today at the 2008 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, BMW announced the pricing for the highly anticipated 2008 BMW M3 Coupe and 2008 BMW M3 Sedan. When the vehicles go on sale in March, the Coupe will be priced at $57,275 and the Sedan at $54,575. Sharing the high-revving 414-horsepower V8 and balanced chassis designed to be "faster than its engine," this March, BMW M GmbH will offer the most powerful, best performing series production M3s to the North American market.

The all-new 2008 M3 Coupe and M3 Sedan-the fourth generation of compact sport vehicles which set the standard in minimizing any compromises between race-inspired performance and luxury and convenience-feature the first V8 in a series-production BMW M3. They also feature driver-adjustable settings for crucial dynamic controls encompassing engine response, steering, damping and stability (with an available steering-wheel-mounted "MDrive" button to store the preferences) and a sumptuous interior which can be optimized to the driver's desires including the comprehensive entertainment/navigation system operated through BMW's latest iDrive controller.

Additionally, the 2008 M3 Coupe is the first production vehicle in its segment with a carbon fiber reinforced roof. The material shares the same safety properties as steel, but is four times lighter. Weighing around 11 lbs. less than a standard steel roof and approximately 44 lbs. less than a steel roof incorporating a moonroof, the carbon fiber reinforced roof provides significant weight saving at the highest point of the car-lowering the car's center of gravity-to increase agility and responsiveness while limiting dive and roll in turns.

Racing provided the reason for the original M3's 1986 creation as the company had to produce road-going homologation versions of its 3 Series Coupe to enter the motorsports version in the German Touring Car Championship. The original M3's popularity provided the impetus to continue developing the M3, making it both a better performer and more inviting road car. The M3 has continued to evolve along with the underlying 3 Series, the company's most popular, upon which it is based.

In 1987 North Americans received their first taste of the high-rpm, naturally aspirated 2.3-liter four-cylinder M3 Coupe's 192-hp and thus was born a legend on this side of the Atlantic. The next generation arrived in 1995 with a 3.0-liter (and later, 3.2-liter) 240-hp inline-six powerplant. In 1997 the first M3 Sedan joined the family and the first M3 Convertible followed shortly thereafter. The most-recent version, available from 2001-2006 as either a coupe or convertible, again was offered with six-cylinder power, this time providing 333 hp from its 3.2 liters. This vehicle was BMW's first use of SMG (Sequential Manual Gearbox) for the U.S. market.

BMW mulling four-cylinder 3, 1-series for U.S.

BMW was one of the few automakers to actually post a sales gain in August, but it reported the smallest improvement with only a 1 percent increase in sales. While BMW as a whole only saw a modest increase, the brand’s economical four-cylinder MINI brand saw an impressive 34 percent gain. MINI’s strong sales are no doubt related to the brand’s excellent fuel economy, which has BMW brass considering offering even more economical models.
According to Edmunds, BMW is currently considering bringing a four-cylinder version of its popular 3-series to the U.S. Moreover, the move would also include a four-pot for the slightly smaller 1-series.
One of BMW’s best sellers in Europe is actually the thrifty 320i. While not as powerful as the 335i or even the 330i, the 320i’s 167 horsepower provides adequate motivation and returns far better fuel economy. Same goes for the 120i.
Both models would be attractive to U.S. customers in the wake of $4 gas, and would also lower the cost of entry for prospective buyers.
However, despite a four-cylinder gas engine being on the table, BMW doesn’t have plans to bring its diesel four-cylinder to the U.S. anytime soon.
If the four-pot BMWs do get the green light, they could hit out shores as early as 2010 or 2011.

Olympic champion Usain Bolt test drives the BMW M3

Usain Bolt, the 22 years old Jamaican who blew the 100 metres world record (running the distance in 9,69 seconds) at this summer’s Beijing Olympic Games, had the chance to do a special test drive of the 420 hp BMW M3, at the BMW Vehicle Test Facility in Aschheim near Munich. He described the experience as being “fascinating” and we believe him, especially with him getting almost three hours of BMW Driver Training and than doing some laps under the professional guidance of a BMW driving instructor.

Bolt also said that he’s been in love with BMW’s ever since he was a kid, his uncle owning a BMW and taking little Usain for a ride every now and then. And his experience in Munich is not just a marketing move, a black M3 being order for the athlete by his sponsor, Puma, M3 which is scheduled to arrive in Kingston, Jamaica and to be handed over to Usain before Christmas.
Source: BMW.

The BMW 335d clean diesel sedan

The price would most likely be 10 to 15 percent higher than the non-diesel—pushing the sticker beyond $80,000.
There are other reasons for BMW to consider carrying the European 730d to American shores. A diesel with fuel economy in the mid-40s would help BMW meet more stringent fuel efficiency standards on the way. As a comparison, a conventional version of the new 7-series is expected to grant just 16 in the city and 24 on the highway.
BMW dealers from the US recently gave the new 7-series diesel a test drive in Munich. “They all told me they wanted it,” said Jim O’Donnell, president of BMW North America. “It wasn’t in our plans, but we’ll look at it.”
If the 730d makes it to the US, it will probably utilize a clean diesel system similar to the one found in the BMW 335d. The technology, known as BluePerformance, utilizes a fluid called AdBlue, which is injected into the exhaust system to reduce oxides of nitrogen. BluePerformance is very similar to the Bluetec system found in Mercedes Benz diesel vehicles.
My estimates were based on the mileage for existing diesels. The 335 diesel, a less massive car than the 5- or 7-series, is listed elsewhere on this website with a 29 mpg combined figure. The E series Benz diesel (which is still trimmer than the 7-series BMW, and closer to the weight of a 5 series Bimmer) gets 23 city/ 32 highway/26 combined, from the EPA. Even the Jetta diesel gets 30mpg EPA in the city, and I doubt the 5- or 7-series will do better than that.

Officially Official: 2010 BMW Z4

By: Alex Nunez

BMW will unveil the all-new Z4 roadster at the Detroit Auto Show next month, but there's no need to wait for the show in Motown to see the car in non-spyshot form, as all the Euro-spec details were officially released when the clock struck midnight in Munich. We're into the new bodywork, which is pretty voluptuous compared to the preceding model, with a hint of 507 lineage evident in the car's lines. Follow the jump for the rest of the skinny.
Up front, wide double-kidney grilles establish an aggressive face. Out back, the tail is cleaner and more elegant than the current car's, featuring simpler, wraparound taillamps with attractive lighting effects. The biggest change of all, of course, can be found in the roofline. As was the case in the 3 Series, the soft top has been retired in favor of a retractable metal roof. There's a subtle "double-bubble" effect evident when it's in place, and its use reportedly improves outward visibility with the top up. 20 seconds is how long you need to wait for it to raise or stow.
European models have three engine selections, and the Z4 employs BMW's ridiculous new naming scheme, as first seen on the X6. The Z4 sDrive23i is probably Euro-only, powered by a 2.5L inline-6 making 204 horses via a six-speed manual or automatic. Next up is the Z4 sDrive30i, which features the normally-aspirated 3.0L I6 we're all familiar with. Here, it makes 258 horsepower and 228 lb-ft of torque. That's enough to get it to 62 mph in 5.8 seconds (with the stick). Fun times. the sDrive30i also comes with either a 6-speed manual or automatic. Those of you looking for the ass-kicker Z4 want the sDrive35i, which gets the excellent twin-turbo 3.0L and 306 horsepower. 0-62 takes 5.2 seconds with the manual tranny, but you shave a tenth off that if you opt for the 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox.
Inside, the cabin is refreshingly simple with attractive wood accents, slick-looking new HVAC controls and a straightforward cockpit layout. iDrive has now made its way into the Z4, but it's the new, allegedly more intuitive version that was first introduced in the new 7 Series. The LCD display sinks into the instrument panel when not in use.
So, best Z3/Z4 yet? Probably. We'll crawl all over it next month in Detroit, after which we'll be impatiently awaiting some real seat time, which ought to be a kick.
Check out WheelHQ.com and their large inventory of BMW Wheels.

2009 BMW 7-Series U.S. Pricing Announced

BMW has announced pricing for the 2009 7-Series luxury sedan; a slight increase over the outgoing car's MSRP is offset by new equipment and upgrades.

BMW Product and Concept Intros for 2009

A 2009 release schedule branded BMW has cropped up. It shows an extensive product offensive from the Bavarians, from mild X1 SUVs to outrageous Vision Z Concepts.

BMW 5-Series 2010 Front Bumper Design Revealed

Another BMW part - a front bumper again - shows up in public some time before the car's official launch. It is from a 2010 5 Series, either sedan or PAS.

BMW S54 M Inline-Six Retires

BMW retires classic 3.2 liter straight-six engine. The six-cylinder powerplant, known as the S54B32 amongst purists and BMW engineers, powered the last generation Z4 as a naturally aspirated engine with 343 hp.

Official pricing for BMW X5M and X6M leaks out

By: Chris Shunk

The BMW X5M and X6M are all about excess. Excess power (if that's possible), excess girth, and, as we already knew, excess cost. BimmerFile is reporting that the X5M will ding your budget to the tune of $85,400, while the X6M will set you back $88,900. And anyone that has ever priced out a Bimmer with options knows that those prodigious figures are only the baseline of what will no doubt be two even more expensive BMWs.
But for nearly $90,000, you get what, for now, are the two most powerful BMWs on the road. Both models will reap the benefits of a 555 hp, 500 lb-ft twin turbo 4.4L V8. That's 55 hp and 105 lb-ft more than the M5 or M6; two vehicles that cost more than their crossover counterparts. The M treatment will also add more aggressive aesthetics, torque-vectoring AWD, and massive 15.6 inch front rotors to help these flying bricks stop on a dime (or 900,000 dimes, really). Does that make the X5M and X6M a compelling value? If you're in the market for a 550 hp crossover, we guess so, because outside of the substantially more expensive Porsche Cayenne Turbo S ($124,000) these new Bimmers are the only other family-haulers with that kind of muscle.

BMW GINA Concept opens its trunk…..for the first time

We should all agree on one thing from the beginning: we have all fantasized over the beautiful GINA LightVision Concept, am I right? Even if you said NO, down deep in your heart you still love the GINA, one of the most intriguing and exciting concepts designed by BMW.

We had the first chance to see GINA last year when it was unveiled to the public and also learned more about it directly from the BMW Ex-Chief of Design, Chris Bangle, the mastermind behind the concept and a huge advocate of the possibilities that GINA brings.

Some other photos followed shortly and then things became more interesting. We have learned again from Chris Bangle about utilizing the GINA technology in developing low-cost housing solutions, but even more intriguing,we found out that certain design elements and ideas from the GINA Concept have been applied to the upcoming BMW Z Vision Concept which will be revealed in Frankfurt this fall.

But what we really haven’t seen so far are some photos of the same beautiful GINA showing us its trunk….As far as we know, there are no photos out there that reveal the inside of the trunk, so with the help of our friend Costin at TopGear, we can satisfy your curiosity. The photos were taken at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este 2009

Luxist drives the 2009 BMW Z4 sDrive35i

Sam Abuelsamid over at Luxist has just put up his own review of the all new 2009 BMW Z4 sDrive35i…..yes, we know, you gotta love the new BMW naming convention. So far, most of the Z4 reviews we have seen have been extremely positive and this one follows the same path.

Is the new Z4 everything we ever wanted from a roadster? We’ll soon find out on our own, but in the mean time, let’s see what Sam has to say.

Once you break free of the masses in town and head out into the countryside, the Z4 becomes a real driver’s car. The car we drove was equipped with the optional Sport package with the adaptive M suspension. In normal or comfort mode, the adaptive dampers give a comfortable ride. Switch over to sport mode and the dampers tighten up while the stability control loosens up a bit allowing the car to slide a bit more before it intervenes. When the stability control does come to the rescue it does so without jerking the car around.

With the seats set back to the rear axle you can readily feel the car drifting around corners as you approach the limits of adhesion. The Z4 may not be as hard edged as a sports car like the Porsche Boxster, but it is a lot of fun to drive and very forgiving at the limit. The paddle shifters allow the driver to select exactly the desired gear without ever worrying about a missed shift, so you can feel just like a BMW F1 driver.

Mercedes Benz and BMW expecting low sales for luxury hybrids?

You might wonder why I started the article with a question mark in the title, but since this is the first time we have heard about this statement coming from BMW, we weren’t able to verify it. That doesn’t really stop us from reporting what MotorTrend has published today.

According to Ernst Lieb, CEO of Mercedes USA, the expectations of their company in regards to hybrid cars sales are fairly low. As you might have seen in the past years, Mercedes has also increased their efforts in the “clean technology” field and many of their volume seller vehicles are offered with a hybrid or diesel engine.

Obviously BMW has joined this game a while ago as well, we have seen the limited 7 Series Hydrogen edition  offered to a select group of people. More recently, we attended the launch of the first all-electric vehicle, MINI E, which made its debut together with the new 7 Series Hybrid and also the upcoming X6 Sports Activity Coupe powered by a hybrid engine as well.

More BMW hybrid vehicles are on the way, including some models from the 1 or 5 Series, but despite the increased efforts in the EfficientDynamics program, according to MotorTrend, the CEO of BMW USA, Jim O’Donnell, shares the same view as its Benz counterpart executive. Due to a decrease in the gas prices(which is debatable in our opinion), he doesn’t expect much in terms of volume sales, but the “green initiative” continues and if you ask us, it will not slow down. The future is definitely connected to clean technologies, more efficient cars and no auto manufacture will deviate from this path for many reasons, one of them ….the fear that the competition will position better for the future.

In the fall, BMW will launch the 755ih, a more efficient high-end luxury sedan, powered a twin-turbo 4.4-liter V8 petrol engine that delivers 407 horsepower and 442lb ft, working in combination with an AC electric motor that can add another 20 horsepower and 155 lb-ft of torque. The X6 Hybrid will follow shortly.

To prove our point mentioned above, Mercedes will also offer hybrid options to their premium customers by bringing out  two hybrids this year, one based on the S-Class limo and another on the ML SUV.

As an ending point, if the gas prices continue to increase, which we believe they will, a shift in consumer’s perception of diesel or hybrid technology will change again, and these sales will increase.

[Source: MotorTrend ]

Report: Next BMW 1-Series, 3-Series to get turbocharged 3-cylinder engines

How low can you go? It seems like that those are the five words BMW lives by when planning future engine displacements. Recent reports suggest that BMW’s EfficientDynamics program is working on a new range of 3-cylinder gasoline engines for the next-generation 1-Series, 3-Series and the upcoming BMW Z2.

According to Sky Motoring, the new 3-cylinder engines will be turbocharged. Range-topping engines on the three mentioned models will be a 321-hp 1.8L 4-cylinder turbocharged engine.

The engines are currently under development and are about two years away from production.

Here’s a list of the new line-up:

x16i – 1.35L , 3-cylinder, 163-hp/140 lb-ft
x18i – 1.35L, 3-cylinder, 201-hp/162 lb-ft
x20i – 1.35L, 3-cylinder, 241-hp/192 lb-ft
x23i – 1.8L, 4-cylinder, 273-hp/220 lb-ft
x25i – 1.8L, 4-cylinder, 321-hp/258 lb-ft

The idea behind the new BMW 5 Series GT

Prior to the BMW 5 Series GT Concept launch, the general consensus among the BMW owners, fans or potential customers was fairly negative regarding the new Progressive Activity Sedan, as BMW likes to call their new model line.

After the official unveiling and the multiple photos and videos released, the negative current of opinions started to slightly shift towards a more positive note and many of us started to see the value in this new market created by BMW. From the beginning BMW was very transparent about the 5 GT and mentioned that it won’t be a high volume seller, but it would rather have its own place within their niche models - the X6 is included in here as well.

In a less formal approach and part of their latest marketing initiatives, one of the people involved with BMW, shared a few ideas that clarify even further the business process behind the 5 Series GT, the demographic of this car and potential customers. And without a surprise, it pretty much aligns with what we have said here for quite some time now and the 5 GT will be one of those cars equally loved and hated by bimmer fans. But we will also believe that it will open the road for more similar products who could become an important revenue factor in BMW’s overall sales schema.

size=2 width="100%" align=center>

“The 5er GT will be an Individual choice for a specific customer and how we have marketed the car as a premium object with a great emphasis on premium comfort and premium style will either make or break the concept.

I think it is unfair to the point that the media especially in the US are proclaiming this car as the BMW aztec - a slight insult termed to the Pontiac Aztec, which only sums up the problems of the car market in North America. It is true the finished article of the Aztec was greatly flawed, but in concept the idea was very much the direction the U.S. markets have to adapt to smaller, more fuel efficient cars and crossovers .

We showed the 5er GT as a Concept because we wanted to get the message across of the flexibility and luxury for passengers, these are great features in this car. People may mock the car and mock BMW for doing so, but this is a fascinating car and it does not have just one purpose as many BMW enthusiasts expect of our cars.

In the run up to the launch we have showcased the car at special preview events and have created great interest in specific areas were clientele priority is essential , we have shown the car to hotel chains. They like the fact that there is more trunk space , a luxurious rear cabin for clients and that the car can be adapted through the BMW Individual program.

Art Galleries also like the car, as do fashion houses, even the German government has expressed interest. For public clients, we have shown it to a particular demographic, incorrectly and rudely stereotyped as “Geriatric”. For the features and specifics that appeal to the older group and as shown before, we have received excellent feedback on the comfort and features of the car attuned to this demographic.

The GT will not be specific about volume , we have been adamant about that from the beginning , nor is it entirely market specific.

Of course the big question: is the 5er Gran Turismo the preview of how the forthcoming 5er (F10) will drive?
Well yes and no, even though the two cars are similar, we know what customers want from the sedan and what specific customers expect from the Gran Turismo. So, there will be significant changes to key areas, although a car badged as “Gran Turismo” will still reward the keen driver.

Now that we have our E-Klasse test books filled with notes , diagrams and complete analysis and autospy on the W212, the 5er will be an admirable foe for every aspect of the E-Klasse.”

CarConnection drives the BMW Z4 sDrive30i

Most of the 2009 BMW Z4 reviews we have seen lately focused entirely on the high-end roadster model, the sDrive35i. Our friends and once almost partners over at TheCarConnection decided to give some love to the “step brother” as well, the 3.0 liter in-line six model. While we all love the twin-turbo 3.0 liter engine, the truth of the matter is that many of us might have to settle for the less powerful, but still amazing, sDrive30i.

Sporting the same bodystyle as the top Z4 roadster, the BMW Z4 sDrive30i outputs 255 horsepower, plenty for many BMW fans. But don’t worry, for those of you looking to hear more about the sDrive35i, the fellows at TheCarConnection decided to combine both test drives into a single article. Talk about spoiling you……

In most types of driving, there’s not a huge difference in performance between the 30i and the 35i, though they have very different character. The 35i has a nice, linear throttle response, yet it’s incredibly responsive; peak torque is achieved at just 1400 rpm and maintained all the way up to 5000 rpm. Peak torque for the naturally aspirated engine comes at 2600 rpm. With the manual transmission, we found ourselves driving the two models quite differently; you’re rewarded if you rev the 30i’s engine all the way up to redline, but revving the 35i’s turbo engine past 6000 rpm doesn’t make the thrust all that much more urgent.

In most types of driving, there’s not a huge difference in performance between the 30i and the 35i, though they have very different character. The 35i has a nice, linear throttle response, yet it’s incredibly responsive; peak torque is achieved at just 1400 rpm and maintained all the way up to 5000 rpm. Peak torque for the naturally aspirated engine comes at 2600 rpm. With the manual transmission, we found ourselves driving the two models quite differently; you’re rewarded if you rev the 30i’s engine all the way up to redline, but revving the 35i’s turbo engine past 6000 rpm doesn’t make the thrust all that much more urgent.