Category: BMW

A couple of weeks ago we brought you video of the next BMW M5 (F10) undergoing cold weather testing. Here is a new clip that runs for a long 29 minutes plus. It’s essentially the extended mix of our earlier post.

So, sit back, relax and enjoy seeing the F10M being put through some very icy paces. It’s expected the new M5 will get its first showing at a private event in Munich in a couple of days before making a full public debut at Auto Shanghai inside the next week.

All that means we should have some hard facts, official or leaked, within the next few days.

[Source: World Car Fans]

Last month BMW officially launched its “i” brand and since then development prototypes of the electric powered i3 and i8 have been seen around the place. After the break you can see the first vdeo of the little i3 in action.

The footage was filmed in Sweden and shows the car pirouetting around the place having a merry old time. All in the name of fine tuning the car’s handling, of course.

There’s a good chance the i3 will debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September.

To enhance handling the lithium-ion battery will be mounted in the centre of the car and the motor it powers should be capable of producing a healthy 110kW (150hp)—about the same as your entry level hatchback. Top speed is expected to be around 150km/h and the range provided should be close the 200km mark. As you can clearly see from this footage the i3 will be powered by the rear wheels.

[Source: Gmotors]

Awesome has a new definition. And that comes in the form of this BMW M3 ute prototype lapping the Nürburgring Nordschleife. Maybe BMW has taken inspiration from the equally awesome E39 M5 ute conversion by Australia’s own Stuart Appleby (yes, the pro golfer). Maybe it’s a crazy April Fool’s Day stunt in the making? Or perhaps the M3 ute is heading to the Essen Motor Show?

Whatever the reasons this car exists, it officially gets the biggest AUSmotive tick we’ve ever given to a test mule.

[Source: Autoblog | Pics: KGP Photography]

UPDATE: Jalopnik tell us this M3 ute is a one-off creation produced by an aftermarket tuning company and not an officially sanctioned BMW product.

BMW’s latest M5 teaser clip has hit the tube. Unsurprisingly, not too much is given away, but the frequency of material released does suggest the predicted reveal at Auto Shanghai in late April is looking likely.

So, for the latest look at the 4.4 litre force-fed V8 and 7-speed DCT take the jump and watch the latest clip. There’s a longer video, too, which shows test drivers Bernd Limmer and Frank Lutz discussing the new “F10M”. Just a shame they do that while speaking German.

Thankfully, the chaps at 5Post.com have added an English translation. The engineers run through specific aspects of the M5’s development; it’s worth watching.

[Source: 5Post]

Yesterday BMW lifted the covers from its new 6 Series Coupé, well, in an online internet way at least. But, let’s go back a model first. Here at AUSmotive we generally supported the theory behind Chris Bangle’s flame surfacing. His 5 Series and Z4 were easily the most successful executions of his controversial design language. The worst example? For us, it was, far and away, the former 6 Series Coupé. It was just plain horrible (take a look for yourself after the break).

So, what of this new model, then, has BMW redeemed itself? It’s better, that’s true, but we’re still not entirely convinced. The nose is still a bit droopy and, in profile view, the long bonnet is almost comic book like. Perhaps seeing the car in the metal will be an improvement. It’s also true that one’s views on styling can change over time, so let’s call the new 6 a qualified pass for now.

Powering the 6 Coupé from initial launch will be a 4.4 litre V8 graced with the undeniable beauty of twin turbos and resulting in a healthy 300kW/600Nm. It can sprint to 100km/h in 4.9 seconds. The entry level model features a 3.0 litre inline six, also with a pair of turbos, and makes 235kW/450Nm. It does the 100 dash in 5.4 seconds.

We’ll be back a bit later to add some more pics. For now, there’s a further 10 images available as well as BMW’s full press release. We’d love to hear your thoughts on the car, so please leave a few words in the comments section below.

UPDATE: 19 new pics and a BMW promo video have now been added below.

Chris Harris has been given some time in a pre-production BMW M5, internally known as the F10M. There’s a brief video clip for you after the break as well.

So what’s this F10M like, then? Here’s what Harris reckons so far:

“Is turbocharging a highlight? When it makes a car this flexible and plain accelerative, it has to be. Yes, the near-insanity of the old V10 makes way for slightly reduced throttle response, but it’s marginal. On a Swedish lake, you can still make tiny adjustments to sustain that all-important 1km drift. Does it feel turbocharged? A little bit. Does it make enough induction noise? No. But this isn’t the finished car, the BMW M-gurus insist that the final product will be different in this respect.”

While the 4.4 litre twin turbo V8 first saw service in the X5 M, the M5 version will have more power. We’re just not sure how much more yet.

Follow the link below for Harris’ full review.

[Source: Evo]

UPDATE: Harris now freelances for Jalopnik, as well. He says much the same stuff, but differently, over there.

Thanks to BMW USA you can now build your own 1 Series M Coupé. For many Australians this may be as close as they get to owning a 1M, as well. Word coming through to AUSmotive suggests the local allocation of the 1M could sell twice over.

Those of you reading this who have secured a 1M, a word of warning—if you use the configurator above, try not to look at the price—it will hurt. We optioned up our 1M and it came to a feeble US$54,000. You’ll be paying around double that for the same privilege here in Australia.

[Source: BMW USA]

BMW’s Dr Segler is back to tell us all about the next M5, which he exactly knows we are all waiting for. This clip is more substantial than the earlier footage released via M-Power.com. Despite some concerns about the sound from the twin turbo V8, we reckon it’s not sounding too bad.

Remember, we’re expecting a full reveal of this car in April, so with any luck that rumour is on the money and BMW’s teasing won’t be strung out for too long.