BMW overtakes Lexus as best-selling luxury brand in 2009

BMW, the makers of the ‘Ultimate Driving Machines,’ has over taken Toyota’s Lexus brand to become the best-selling luxury marquee in the U.S. so far this year. According to Autodata Corp., Lexus has held the title since 2000, but sales are now down 37.2 percent.

BMW, which hasn’t held the No.1 title in the U.S. since 1997, also beat German rival Mercedes-Benz. While BMW sales are also down 30.5 percent, it sold more units than Lexus coming in with a total of 76,819 through the month of May. Lexus sold 73,186.

Nonetheless, luxury automakers still have many months to go before the year is over. Lexus has just rolled out its new 2010 RX 350 SUV and is also looking to introduce its first dedicated hybrid model, the HS 250h, by the end of the summer.

Oh, and Volkswagen-owned Bentley and Daimler’s Maybach - your uber-luxury brands - are down 60 percent so far this year. Maybach sold only three vehicles in May.

 

Source: Detroit News

BMW Z4 The Old And New

Even though the new BMW Z4 has been widely accepted and embraced by the BMW crowd, the older model E85 still remains in everyone’s hearts. The last Z4 Roadster built in the U.S. rolled off the production line back in August 2008 and new Z4 production moved over to Europe, more specifically at the Regensburg plant in Austria.

There were a little more than 9,300 Z4s built last year at Spartanburg and over the seven years production, but the Z4 lines will be replaced by the new X3, due to launch in 2010. The older and fist BMW Z4 was a drastically more modern car than the Z3 it replaced, with an increased overall size and more mature design.

And while we initially believed that the first generation Z4 will look really outdated when placed side-by-side with the new E89 Z4, we were wrong this time. Looking at the photos below, we can still see a fresh, modern design on the “old” Z4 and in our opinion, still very appealing.

Now don’t get us wrong, the 2009 BMW Z4 is a beauty and the new roadster has impressed us from the first moment we laid eyes on it at the Detroit Auto Show. The E89 roadster has brought one of the best interior designs to date in a BMW and at the same time, a highly-acclaimed new design lines, the work of team formed only of females.

And the same as with the Z3 and the first Z4, the 2009 Roadster has grown in size and matured even more, putting its competitors on the spot and claiming the crown in the roadster segment. So, let’s enjoy the photos below, the great work of 2002ti, member of garaget.org.

[Source: More photos at garaget.org ]

G-Power BMW M3 Tornado gets 500-hp

G-Power has given the world some outstanding modified BMW vehicles including the M6 Hurricane, X5 Tycoon, M5 Hurricane and G4 EVO III Z4. Now, G-Power has set its sights on the new BMW M3 and has introduced, what they call, the G-Power M3 Tornado.

G-Power used a soft charging with just 0.3 bar boost, which increases output of the M3 to 500-hp with a maximum torque of 354 lb-ft. The boost of extra power comes from a G-Power supercharger system, the T1-518 ASA centrifugal supercharger. That very supercharger is also used by Alpina on the B5S, B6S and the B7.

All that extra power allows the M3 Tornado to go from 0 to 124 mph in 13.5 seconds and lets you keep going above 200 mph.

 

Press Release:

Supercharger system provides the BMW M3 with 500 hp and a top speed of more than 320 km/h

For the current BMW M3, G-POWER offers an exquisite supercharger system that sets new standards in regards of design, quality and performance. Using gentle soft charging with just 0,3 bar (relative) boost, the output of the V8 engine is pushed from 420 hp to 500 hp and the torque increases from 400 Nm up to 480 Nm.

After 9 months of intensive development, starting with the CAD design, followed by prototyping and completed with test drives and hot climate tests in the United Arab Emirates, the result is awesome.

500 hp and 480 Nm of torque, achieved through gentle soft charging with just 0,3 bar (relative) boost, let the BMW M3 appear completely changed. Already from 3.000 rpm on the supercharged G-POWER M3 TORNADO pulls like the standard BMW M3 revving twice as much, but than the G-POWER M3 TORNADO really starts to flex its muscles: from 5.000 rpm on until redline the G-POWER M3 TORNADO provides constantly about 20 % more torque than the factory car, this provides an acceleration that feels like being dragged by a bungee cord.

This output explosion is based on the heart of the G-POWER supercharger system, the all new T1-518 ASA centrifugal supercharger. By the way the ASA superchargers are being used in the ALPINA models B5S, B6S and B7 as well, just like the ALPINA B6 GT3 race car, in witch the chargers could state there impressive quality and reliability during 3.500 km in the “Green Hell” of the Nürburgring at the 24th hour race on may 23rd and 24th!

The exclusive use of components meeting OEM standards is one of the basic elements of the G-POWER philosophy and one of the secrets for the extraordinary quality, reliability and performance of the G-POWER products.

For its mission in the G-POWER M3 TORNADO the ASA T1-518 has been literally been tailor-made, to provide the giant need for fresh air of the up to 8.300 rpm revving 4.0 litre V8 engine. But the ASA supercharger, flanged to the engine using a CNC-milled high-strength mount, is not the only high-tech component of the G-POWER M3 supercharger system. The engineers did not spare any cost or efforts during the development of this supercharger system. Amongst others they even did a sophisticated, computer aided simulation which analyses the conditions of the air-ducting engine parts. The defined goal of this extensive research is to improve the efficiency of the G-POWER supercharger system to the best possible performance. And the result proofs us right. The G-POWER supercharger system is capable of reducing the specific fuel consumption of the engine. This shows that we do not only care about performance but are concerned of the sensitive use of restricted resources like fuel, as well.

A further key figure, next to the supercharger, in the G-POWER supercharger system is the complete aluminium cast, large volume air box, including 8 lightweight integral resonance induction pipes, that is responsible for the perfect throttle response and optimal torque curve. The G-POWER M3 supercharger system is completed by the large air-to-air intercooler that is located in the vehicles front, which cools the boost temperature down to an output optimal level under all circumstances.

Of course the performance figures benefit from this huge output improvement. The figure from stand still to 200 km/h improves from 15,8 seconds (stock, 6-speed manual) to 13,5 seconds (SKI).

On demand we can enable an unlimited top speed according to the capacity of the tyres. In combination with the 20 inch G-POWER SILVERSTONE DIAMOND wheels and the MICHELIN Pilot Sport tyres in the dimension 255/30 ZR 20 and 295/25 ZR 20, a top speed of more than 320 km/h can be achieved. Especially designed for the BMW models, the G-POWER SILVERSTONE Alloy Wheel forms a contrast to the great mass of other aftermarket wheels, due to the successful combination of double spokes and the “concave design” typical of G-POWER. The G-POWER “diamond cut” provides for the fascinating dynamic appearance of the G-POWER SILVESTONE rim, in contrast to the silver-graphite coated rim body and the bolt applications of stainless steel. An additional feature of the G-POWER SILVERSTONE rim is its weight-optimised design that allows a low rim weight with the same stability, compared to other standard wheels. A perceptibly improved impression of convenience and a considerably increased agility accompany the minimisation of the unsprung mass: advantages of the G-POWER SILVERSTONE rim, which you can factually experience above all in connection with low-profile tyres. Further improvement of the road handling is realized through the continuously height-adjustable G-POWER coil-over suspension G3M-RS with nine selectable settings each for bound and rebound.

Next to the output and the suspension of the BMW M3, G-POWER has taken care of the sound, as well. The G-POWER 4-trim sport rear muffler with its 4 x 83 mm tailpipes gives the BMW V8 a deep, throaty sound that turns heads but is at now time annoying. The G-POWER M3 rear muffler is available made from stainless steel or completely out of Titanium which is 14,5 kg lighter than the factory part.

The interior is upgraded by G-POWER with precious carbon panels, a speedometer with G-POWER logo scaled to 360 km/h, a sporty aluminium pedal set and on demand a tailor-made leather interior. The exclusivity of each G-POWER M3 TORNAD is documented with a special badge in the interior and on the supercharger system that features the G-POWER serial number.

NO, this is not the BMW M7, it’s a 7 Series with the M-Sport Package

We don’t usually get frustrated with BMW related news and we enjoy reading them from different sources as well, but when the same topic comes up twice in a week, we feel that we have to step in and clarify them.

Last week, some photos of the supposed BMW M7 made their way onto the web and everyone jumped to report that we are looking at the first Motorsport model based on the 7 Series. We obviously didn’t fall for it, for several reason and we immediately reported that we are looking at a 7 Series model featuring the M Sport Package which will be released later this year.

You might wonder what these reasons were, well, no worries, we’ll explain them to you right now.

First, there was never a solid report, rumor, that BMW is indeed actively looking at an M7 model. If they were, trust us, we would have heard about it.

Second, the photos posted today and last week, clearly show a prototype with very little to none camouflage. Knowing BMW and the way the protect their designs from spy photographers, they would have never released the M7 out in the open like that. The M7 would have been a “hot car” and it would have probably worn like 10 sheets of fake plastic on top of it.

Third, let’s examine the car closer. All we can see right now pointing to an M7 would be the front-bumper, BUT THAT”S ABOUT IT, and even the more aggressive bumper doesn’t fit the profile of an M car. There are no other M design elements on this car, not the famous M gills or the “fearful” hood.

Now, in our opinion, judging from the covered bulge on the hood, we believe we are looking at the 7 Series Hybrid which will be released later this year. That bulge has been a trademark on most of the hybrid spy photos we have seen so far, from the X5 Hybrid to the upcoming X6 ActiveHybrid.

So, can we please move on now? When there will be talks of an M7, we promise you that will be one of the first publications to report them.

P.S. Forgot to mention this: that front bumper looks amazing and it really turns the 7 Series into a stunning car.

[ More photos at MotorAuthority ]

Alpina B3 BiTurbo

The Alpina B3 BiTurbo, the “hotter 335i Coupe” as many people named it, it’s one of those cars that you just fall in love from the moment you see it.

Now, we all know that the E92 Coupe is a an extremely good looking car and the biggest seller in the 3 Series line-up, but the Alpina B3 BiTurbo just takes it to another level.

B3 BiTurbo uses the same 3.0 liter six-cylinder twin-turbo engine as the 335i, but as expected, it receives an upgrade: the boost pressure for the sequential twin turbos has been dialled up to 1.1 bar, with toughened Mahle pistons bolted inside to cope with the extra strain.

The result, peak specific values of 121 hp per liter.

The result: 355 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque. Plenty for everyone, if you ask us. The B3 runs from 0-62 mph in only 4.8 seconds, keeping with the more powerful BMW M3. The B3 features steering wheel mounted buttons shifts -SWITCH-TRONIC- reprogrammed to respond even faster than the auto-transmission in the regular 335i.

Alpina B3 BiTurbo features optimised front and rear aerodynamics, along with a set of gorgeous wheels.

Since the point of this article was mostly to share with you these stunning photos, we’ll write less and let the photos do the “talk”.

BMW M7 prototype or 7 Series hybrid?

It seems like every 12 months rumors of an M variant of the BMW 7 Series surface, and this year things are no different. A decidedly aggressive looking 7 Series mule was caught testing in Germany with a slight power bulge tacked onto the hood and a new fascia sporting a set of gaping air intakes and a sculpted splitter. Peer passed the twin-kidney grille and you'll discover what appears to be a front-mount intercooler similar to the unit fitted on the X5M and X6M, and that could mean this 7er is packing the same twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V8, putting out 555 hp and 500 lb-ft of torque.
Although the wheels and brakes appear to be upgraded, the traditional quad exhaust found on all modern M cars is missing - something that even the M-fettled SAVs had when they were undergoing testing. That small point has KGP considering the possibility that the prototype is actually packing BMW's Active Hybrid system, which is due to arrive early next year. Either way, there's a good chance BMW will unveil whatever 7 Series is up its sleeve at the Frankfurt Motor Show this September.

2009 BMW Z4 has 3 Series Convertible to thank

Our friend Richard Aucock is back with another interesting and detailed article on the new 2009 BMW Z4. Some of you might recall his previous article on the Z4 chassis and some of the secrets behind the development of it, but this time, Richard talks a little about the new hardtop available on the Z4.

As a quick introduction, the new BMW Z4 uses the same technology as the one found in the new 3 Series Convertible which introduced the hardtop.

The Z4 features an aluminum retractable hardtop (20 seconds to deploy or retract) and the vehicle concept has been made larger to feature a new level of comfort, better storage space.

LEARNING how to do folding hard-top roofs with the 3 Series Convertible served BMW well.

It meant it could launch a folding hard top Z4 relatively easily – simply because it had acquired so much knowledge.

What’s more, the shift over to the folding tin top is another reason for the car’s production relocation to Germany.

The Regensburg plant where it’s built has now become BMW’s official ‘centre of excellence’ for folding hard-top roofs.

It’s so well geared up, the supplier is even located there on site, an engineer insider told me.

‘This gives us the best possible means of achieving high quality levels.’

Engineering a folding hard top isn’t the work of a moment. Even one such as the Z4’s, whose lower 2-panel count reduces the number of joins and joints to worry about.

The problem come in areas you probably don’t even think about. Such as?

2009 BMW Z4 has 3 Series Convertible to thank - Continued