Category: BMW

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BMW

BMW 4 Series Coupe – Australian pricing tip-off

F32 BMW 4 Series Coupe

New information came to AUSmotive today providing a tip-off for the expected list pricing of the BMW 4 Series Coupe. A total of four models have been scheduled for initial release:

  • 420i Coupe (135kW/270Nm): $70,900 (from November 2013 build onwards)
  • 420d Coupe (135kW/380Nm): $73,200
  • 428i Coupe (180kW/350Nm): $86,500
  • 435i M Sport Coupe (225kW/400Nm): $108,500

Similar to the F30 3 Series, the F32 Coupe will be available with Sport and Luxury line packages. While the Modern Line package won’t be available the others are included as no cost options. If you’d like the M Sport Package it will be an extra $4000 on the 420 models and $2000 more on the 428i.

BMW’s noted 8-speed auto transmission will be standard fitment across the range. From the information we have it’s not clear if a manual transmission will be possible as an option.

Adaptive M Suspension and Professional Navigation are included on the 428i and 435i M Sport, both are optional on the 420 models. In the short term a strange production quirk means the 420d can only be ordered with Professional Nav.

The M Sport Package includes 19″ M light alloys, M Sport body kit, M Sport steering wheel and the previously mentioned M Adaptive suspension.

A total of 13 exterior colours are available, all pretty standard BMW fare, and as usual Estoril Blue (pictured above) is limited to the M Sport Package.

The 4 Series Coupe will be launched in Australia in October and customer orders can be placed from September 2013 production.

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BMW

BMW M235i gets back on the horse

BMW M235i prototype

Back in June when we brought you our last update on the BMW M235i it was a rather sorry tale of metal on metal. We much prefer these latest shots showing the sporty 2 Series coupé being tested at the Nürburgring. Mostly because that reminds us that it should be a cracking drive and that it’s actually going to look bloody good too.

[Source: 2addicts]

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BMW

M3 watch: It’s gonna be a lightweight

F82 BMW M4 rendering by WildSpeed

More news from BMW on the new F80 M3/F82 M4 comes to us via Top Gear who interviewed Matt Collins, BMW UK Product Manager for the 3 Series (among other things), at the Goodwood Festival of Speed.

The good news is Collins confirmed the dietary plans for the new M icon, which will start life as a coupé and therefore debut the M4 naming. “What we’d like is more focus on lightweight engineering,” he said. “The philosophy will be around delivering performance through improved used of materials—lightweight alloys, lots of carbon fibre etc—rather than simply trying to make the engine more powerful to move the same kind of car, or scaling it back too far so that it loses its M3 roots.”

While there are no current plans for BMW to make another CSL, Collins did offer some insight into how serious they are with this new lightweight approach. “I think we’re really focusing on making this car as light as we can,” he said. “We’re not going to go halfway house with the ‘real’ car, because we’d like to get it as low as possible in the first place. The proper car will showcase a real reduction in weight.

“There are no plans at the moment to build a lightweight CSL version of the M4, but there weren’t any plans to do the last generation CSL either. We have to see what the customers think, and if there’s potential for an even more lightweight version, we’ll do it.”

We like the sound of all that. Although, it has to be said the outgoing E92 was around 1580kg, so there is scope for some weight loss. And pencil in a CSL-inspired model at some stage. It wouldn’t be like BMW to miss out on the chance of exploiting a niche market opportunity.

Also pleasing, although not surprising to hear is the lengths BMW is going to protect its enviable position in the high-powered mid-szie sports coupé market. “It’s not something we’re in a rush to market just to get it out, because it’s got to be as good as it can possibly be,” Collins added. “We think the M3 is the benchmark car; it’s the iconic car, and it’s the one that really defines the segment. It’s about making what we think is the best car in the segment even better. It’s not a competitor-focused development.”

[Source: Top Gear | Rendering: Wild Speed]

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Audi BMW Mercedes-Benz

Audi S3 v BMW M135i v Mercedes A45 AMG

Audi S3 v BMW M135i v Mercedes A45 AMG

This is what we want to read; a comparison between the three hottest hatches currently on offer from the triumvirate of German masters. Thankfully, George Kacher has put his keyboard to work on behalf of Automobile magazine:

George Kacher on the S3: The Audi goes around bends like a slot-car racer with a second pin between the rear wheels. Neutrality is the name of its game. So is it boring? Wrong term. The S3 rewards its driver with a different potpourri of talents. The roadholding is so tenacious that the Continental Sportcontact tires (225/40 R18 all round) might have harbored hidden Velcro strap fragments. The steering, overly light and a little mute, nonetheless turns honing the line into a surprisingly entertaining pastime.

George Kacher on the M135i: There is more roll and pitch and dive than we expected from a 1-series model wearing the M badge. On the other hand, grip is astounding in the dry, traction is only an issue when you ask for it by switching off ESP, and the stability through very quick uneven corners is supported by the nicely compliant spring and damper setting. So, full marks for ride quality, panache and refinement, but only 3.5 stars out of five for absolute sportiness and driver involvement.

George Kacher on the A45 AMG: The engine delivers notable extra urge with real authority, the steering fuses input and feedback to a wonderfully three-dimensional level of control, four-wheel drive distributes torque with the eerie professionalism of a poker ace dealing his rounds, and the brakes bite with vigor and determination until, at the foot of the pass, smoke signals beg for mercy. The A45 AMG is as chuckable as it is sure-footed. It can corner on three wheels, decelerate at a ridiculous yaw angle, put the power down even earlier than the Audi. What it cannot do is ride well, period. Not even on smooth blacktop.

Based on what we’ve been reading, the S3 will only find buyers in Australia due to being cheaper than the other two (and only marginally), the A45 AMG will be the one everybody wants and some of the gloss of the M135i seems to have faded in the presence of serious competition.

Although, it is worth remembering the margins being discussed in reviews such as this are often so minor as to conclude that all three cars will reward their owners well beyond the initial novelty period. It’s just that they’ll do it slightly differently. We think it’s fantastic to see so much choice in the premium hot hatch segment. A shame it’s taken so long.

Follow the source link below to read the full review.

[Source: Automobile | Thanks to Richard for the tip]

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BMW

A closer look at the BMW 435i M Sport

BMW 435i M Sport

Last month BMW removed the virtual wraps from its new F32 4 Series, what we used to know as a 3 Series coupé. Naturally BMW provided slick professionally shot imagery and a high quality video to go with. This video from a product launch in Europe cannot compete with those production qualities, but it does give us a close look at a 435i with M Sport package. This is the starting point for the new M4, the true successor to the iconic M3.

Not sure about anyone else, but we like what we see.

[Source: F30post]

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BMW

M3 watch: Carbon fibre roof likely

F80 BMW M3 prototype

The application of camouflage on the roof of this F80 BMW M3 prototype is a fairly good indication the assumption it will be made from carbon fibre is on the money. It’s expected the new M3 will weigh at least 100kg less than the previous E92 model; perhaps even as much as 140kg less.

Earlier speculation the turbocharged 3.0 litre inline six cylinder engine will boast 335kW (450hp) is still around the mark. The M3 should be on sale a bit under 12 months from now, so may well see an official debut in March 2014, at the Geneva Motor Show.

[Source: WCF]

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BMW Mercedes-Benz Volkswagen

VIDEO: Hot hatch mixed masters

Autocar A45 AMG v Golf GTI v M135i

Steve Sutcliffe from Autocar has had the enviable task of comparing a trio of very different hot hatches. There’s the 265kW four-cylinder all-wheel drive Mercedes-Benz A45 AMG, the 250kW inline six-cylinder rear-wheel drive BMW M135i and the 169kW front-wheel drive Volkswagen Golf GTI.

They are three very different hot hatches. Indeed aside from country of origin and the fact all three are turbocharged they don’t really have a lot in common. Pricing, especially, is very different. And yet, if you had the chance to drive all three on the same roads on the same day you’d grab the opportunity with both hands.

So put aside the practical differences for a moment and enjoy the ride. Then, at the end, you can try and rationalise the outcome.

[Thanks to John for the tip]

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BMW

BMW 4 Series Coupe revealed

F32 BMW 4 Series Coupe

BMW has now released a full suite of information and images for its all-new F32 4 Series Coupe. Based on the F30 3 Series saloon the Coupe has a slightly restyled front to help emphasise the width of the car.

In profile and three-quarter view the 4 Series has a long bonnet and almost liftback-like appearance to the rear. This didn’t seem as apparent to us on the Concept 4 Series Coupe revealed late last year. Overall we think the production 4 Series looks pretty good, although the front edge of the bonnet does have a droopiness to it that we’d like to see in person before forming a finite opinion.

At launch you can have the 4er in three specifications. Starting with the four-cylinder turbo 420d, you’ll have 135kW/350Nm on tap. If you’d prefer petrol power you can have either the 180kW/350Nm four-cylinder turbo 428i or the range-topping 435i powered by BMW’s much loved turbocharged 3.0 litre straight six producing 225kW/400Nm.

There’s another 70 photos waiting for you after the break, including a handful of pics showing the M Sport kit. That will give us a small taste of what to expect for the highly anticipated M4. In addition to the pics we’ve also given you access to the full 36 page press kit.

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BMW

BMW 3 Series GT – Australian pricing announced

BMW 3 Series GT

BMW Australia has announced pricing for the 3 Series GT. It’s still a while away from finding its way into local showrooms, but the biggest 3 Series money can buy will kick off proceedings with three engine options:

  • BMW 320i Gran Turismo – $69,500
  • BMW 320d Gran Turismo – $71,800
  • BMW 328i Gran Turismo – $76,500

(Manufacturer’s list pricing)

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BMW

VIDEO: A lesson in understeer

BMW M3 crash

Honestly, we don’t really like featuring stories of banged up BMWs. Alas, this video gives us an excellent lesson in understeer. We don’t know all the circumstances surrounding this video and its results, so we won’t cast judgement, we’ll just say the E46 BMW M3 is acknowledged as an immensely capable motor car.

[Source: Autoblog]

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BMW

That’s not gone well

BMW 2 Series prototype crash in Germany

Last time we brought you photos of BMW’s forthcoming new 2 Series we had a big smile on our face. We liked the front end that has done away with the gawkiness seen on the 1 Series hatch on which it is based.

This, we don’t like so much. Here you can see the aftermath of a 2 Series prototype following a coming together with the guardrail on the A72 near Zwickau in Germany.

As far as we can tell the driver suffered minor injuries and nobody else was hurt. Although, as many as four other cars travelling in the opposite direction were also damaged, forcing the highway to be closed in both directions while the mess was cleaned up.

Normally you’d reckon a cushy test driver gig with BMW would be a great job to have. But it just goes to show even factory test drivers have a bad day at work sometimes.

[Source: SZ-Online via 2addicts | Thanks to John for the tip]

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BMW MINI Porsche

Isn’t that nice

MINI congratulates Porsche

In a rare show of inter manufacturer love BMW has passed on an official note of congratulations to Porsche for the 50th anniversary of the 911. They’ve done so as stewards of their own 50-year-plus icon the Mini/MINI.

There’s a full statement and more pics from BMW after the break, but this paragraph gets to the heart of the message:

It’s tempting to wonder how different history would have been without the creators of these two successful cars. Neither Sir Alec Issigonis nor Ferdinand Alexander Porsche had any inkling that their designs would come to be considered immortal icons of modern times. Indeed, you would have needed a very clear crystal ball to see that Porsche had just dreamt up the most successful sports car of all time and Issigonis the “world’s only cool small car”.

BMW also makes reference to that questionable MINI v Porsche publicity stunt at Road Atlanta back in 2010.

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