2009 BMW Z4 sDrive35i Full Test and Video

Shortly after the initial BMW Z4 review, Edmunds.com released their more detailed test drive of the new Z4 sDrive35i. As always, they offer lots of information and an objective analysis.

We won’t spoil the conclusion, but at the same time, we haven’t really seen any negative reviews of the Z4 yet, so you can draw the conclusion yourself.

What Works:
Stout 3.0-liter twin-turbo engine; refined ride and handling; cockpit space and layout; gracefully executed retractable hardtop; revamped iDrive.

What Needs Work:
Flatulent engine note; long, heavy clutch throw; price is getting up there.
There’s this guy at work (let’s call him Dan) who never warmed up to BMW’s Z3 and Z4 roadsters. Something about them simply didn’t ring true.
Bottom Line:
The BMW Z4 has finally crystallized into a truly desirable roadster by fully departing from its über-Miata roots.

Full Review, Photos and Videos on Edmunds.com

2011 BMW 5 Series Wagon - We like it!

Courtesy of James from Germancarzone, we have a new rendering of the upcoming 2011 BMW 5 Series Wagon.Developed under the F11 internal codename, the new 5er Wagon will be launched in the first half of 2010, with the official unveiling taking place at the Geneva Motor Show.

After seeing the latest and more revealing spy photos, we started to love even more the new design lines. In our opinion, James pretty much nailed the overall design lines and dimensions and we have many reasons to believe that the final version will not look far from this rendering.

The new F11 5 Series Wagon has a longer wheelbase and a wider track than the current generation 5er, offering more interior room and also cargo space. Many people were concerned about the new Wagon conflicting with the recently released BMW 5 Series GT, but BMW clearly explained that the two cars will have a different customer base.

Even though some people expected to see a large CS Concept influence in the design, that will not be the case. Some CS design cues will be seen at the front-end, but mostly related to the headlights design. As you can see in this rendering and the spy photos, the rear-end sports a more “coupeish” like roof.

Overall, a great rendering and if the actual 5er Wagon will turn out to be anything like this, we will be very happy.

Next 2012 BMW 1 Series five-door hatchback

Last week, the first spy photos of the next generation BMW 1 Series popped up on almost all the car websites out there. As usual, we reported on it and gave you more details on what to expect from the new 1 Series line-up.

While the initial photos showed what we believe is the shooting brake variant of the 1er, these new shots are giving us the overall shape of the new five-door hatchback, a model not yet available in the U.S.

As seen across the BMW future line-up, the 2012 BMW 1 Series will have a slightly longer wheelbase and wider track than the current model. Some auto publications speculate that this will allow BMW to introduce it in the U.S. market as well, but take it with a grain of salt, in our opinion, it is still too early to commit to such plans.

Future BMW 1 Series variants also include a Coupe and Convertible model, 3-door hatchback, shooting brake variant and also, the highly-wanted/expected BMW 135i Supersports car, an “M-like” vehicle without the M badge and still developed by the Motorsport division.

Due to the new 1 Series platform which can be extended and used across several bodystyles, BMW is looking into more 1er variants, 3-door touring, 3 and 5-door GT and even a 3-door Sports Activity Coupe. Those models are still in the research phase, so no decision has been made.

What we did hear recently are the talks around a new BMW series, codename Y, which apparently it will use the same 1 Series platform. No other details at this time, but you’ll be the first to know once we hear more.

As far as the engine line-up in the upcoming 1 Series, a large range of powerplants will be offered, from turbocharged petrol and diesel engines, to new 3 cylinder powerplants and hybrids.

[Source: Carmagazine ]

BMW Tops Lexus for Third Month

For the third month in a row, BMW has outsold Lexus taking the top seller position of luxury vehicles in the United States. Despite the 28% drop from a year earlier, BMW has sold a total of 18,383 vehicles, in contrast with Lexus who reported 16,922 vehicles sold, almost 36% lower sales compared to last year.

The total vehicles sold by in the U.S. this year is 76,819, over 3,000 more cars than Lexus has sold so far. The achievement is even more impress since Lexus has been a leader of the luxury vehicles market for the past nine years. Back in 2000, Lexus took away the first position from the Mercedes-Benz.

Looking at the classic competitors, we see that Mercedes-Benz had a 31% percent decline in sales for the month of May, with a total of 15,134 vehicles sold last month. Overall Daimler’s sales were down 33%, still short of BMW Group’s 28%. (MINI brand included).

Audi, considered by many the most important BMW competitor, achieved an 8.8% share of U.S. imported luxury vehicle sales in May. Audi sold 7,503 units in May overall.

And Acura was down also, a significant dropped compared to last year, 36% down and 9,469 vehicles sold. Infiniti did just a bit worse, 38% drop or 6,496 cars sold.

Overall, another bad month for most of the automakers, with very few showing signs of revival.

[Source: Bloomberg | Photo Credit: CarAdvice Australia ]

2008 BMW 123d - Short Take Road Test

We imagine rampant chest thumping at BMW’s U.S. headquarters as its product planners finalized the scheme to sell the obscenely torquey 335d here. But BMW sells many powerful four-cylinder diesels in Europe. Wouldn’t the larger fuel-economy payoff of a smaller engine, and its lower price, be worth a sacrifice in the performance of the 3-series diesel?

Our friends at Robert Bosch Corporation loaned us a 123d, which houses the most powerful of BMW’s diesel fours. Surpassing the 100-hp-per-liter benchmark—virtually unheard of in the diesel world—this sequentially turbocharged, 2.0-liter four-cylinder produces 201 horsepower. Just as shocking is its 295 pound-feet of torque, equaling that of the M3’s V-8.

Specifications

VEHICLE TYPE: front-engine, rear-wheel-drive, 4-passenger, 3-door hatchback

BASE PRICE (GERMANY): $40,900

ENGINE TYPE: twin-turbocharged and intercooled diesel DOHC 16-valve inline-4, aluminum block and head, direct
fuel injection

Displacement: 122 cu in, 1995cc
Power (SAE net): 201 bhp @ 4400 rpm
Torque (SAE net): 295 lb-ft @ 2000 rpm

TRANSMISSION: 6-speed manual

DIMENSIONS:
Wheelbase: 104.7 in Length: 166.9 in Width: 68.8 in Height: 55.9 in
Curb weight: 3337 lb

C/D TEST RESULTS:
Zero to 60 mph: 6.7 sec
Zero to 100 mph: 19.1 sec
Street start, 5–60 mph: 7.2 sec
Standing ¼-mile: 15.3 sec @ 92 mph

FUEL ECONOMY:
EPA city/highway driving (C/D est): 31/42 mpg
C/D observed: 36 mpg

Keep Reading: 2008 BMW 123d - Short Take Road Test

2011 / 2012 BMW 1-series - Spied

To us, the BMW 1-series remains fresh. First launched in the States for the 2008 model year in coupe and convertible body styles, its BMW 2002–inspired styling hasn’t yet had time to grow stale. In Europe, on the other hand, the 1-series was launched way back in 2004 as a controversially styled hatchback, which is getting a bit dated. (The coupe and droptop were added to the Euro lineup later.)

BMW plans to start production of the second-generation 1-series hatchback in the second quarter of 2011. Our spy pictures reveal that the basic shape will remain unchanged. The 1-series hatch will keep its large front with the big nostrils, its sculpted flanks, and the practical, upright liftgate.

The front overhang will grow to accommodate pedestrian protection rules, a move that doesn't hurt the car's proportions, and the sagging, cow-belly line on the side will be corrected, as it has been on the latest Z4. New headlights and taillights with modern LED elements will help to assure that the redesign doesn't go unnoticed.

Keep Reading: 2011 / 2012 BMW 1-series - Spied