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Official teaser: BMW 1 Series M Coupé

BMW 1 Series M Coupé

BMW have made their first official announcement about the M-powered 1 Series. In doing so they have ended the “M1” naming speculation by confirming the name of the new hero model will be the 1 Series M Coupé.

The teaser video published today, available after the jump, features Dr Kay Segler from BMW M Division talking about the car. He’s pretty excited about it, using words like “we are here to realise dreams”, “you will not leave the car, you will not give the key to anybody else”, “you will have goose pimples” (yes, he really says that) and “it’s M pure, I guarantee that”.

BMW say they will confirm details of the 1 Series M Coupé before Christmas and European sales are expected in the first half of 2011.

Sounds very promising indeed. An abridged version of an interview with Dr Segler posted to the M-Power website can be read below, along with the feature video, of course. Also included are a handful of pics of the 1 Series M Coupé lapping the fabulous Ascari race track in Spain.

[Thanks to Dave & Wayne for the tips]

UPDATE 10 December: Official details have now been released—CLICK HERE.

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BMW

25 years of the BMW M3

BMW E30 M3

It doesn’t matter what criteria you judge it against, the BMW M3 is a genuine motoring icon. The M3 nameplate is about to turn 25. Four generations on the reputation carved by the original E30 M3 has been upheld at every step.

AUSmotive will be adding a large image gallery soon. In the meantime you can download BMW’s full press release and engine specs for every car to wear an M3 badge over the last 25 years. You might also enjoy reading over our previous Past Master article on the E30 M3, which includes images of an early M3 sales brochure from the United States.

UPDATE: Dr Kay Segler, AUSmotive’s new best friend has been busy announcing the 1 Series M Coupé, but he has also said a few things about the M3. You can read those words at the end of this article.

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BMW

BMW Alpina B5 Bi-Turbo

BMW Alpina B5 bi-turbo

Images of the BMW Alpina B5 Bi-Turbo have been published and here’s a few for you to look at. Based on the F10 5 Series, the Alpina hot rod is currently on show at the Goodwood Moving Motor Show.

Billed as an M5 rival the Alpina B5 is powered by a 4.4 litre V8 twin-turbo. With headline numbers of 500hp and 700Nm Alpina reckon the B5 can reach 100km/h in 4.7 seconds. Alpina has defied the latest craze of dual-clutch transmissions and fitted the B5 with an uprated 8-speed ZF auto box.

[Source: Autocar]

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BMW Green Machines

600hp+ BMW M8 hybrid sports car rumour emerges

BMW M8 dash graphic

Yesterday we posted a BMW promo clip that may have given us a sneak peak at their upcoming front-wheel drive 0 Series platform. Well, also included was this seemingly innocent dash graphic, clearly labelled with an M8 model designation. So what the hell is an M8?

The battery recharge graphic and EfficientDynamics text give an indication that it could be a production version of last year’s Vision EfficientDynamics concept car. Further speculation has appeared this morning suggesting possible engine specs too.

Whereas the concept model had a diesel hybrid the M8 could be powered by a more conventional petrol-electric combination. The donor engine is said to come from the E60 M5. So, that’s 507 horsepower to start with thanks very much. Added to that would be a pair of electric motors, one at each axle; 80hp to the front and 60hp to the rear. Apparently, the front motor can boost power to 11hp for small bursts.

In all-electric mode the M8 would have a modest range of 50km. On the plus side recharging back to full power takes a relatively short two and a half hours.

Performance for the M8 is said to be blistering, with a sub four second 0-100km/h time anticipated. Fuel consumption should be under 4l/100km, as well.

All we need to see now are some new renderings and spy shots. Supposedly renderings from BMW are imminent and a market release for the M8 could take place in 2013.

[Source: World Car Fans]

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BMW

A surprise look at the BMW 0 Series?

BMW 0 Series rendering

BMW recently posted a video to YouTube promoting their Innovation Days taking place in south-east Asia. Designed to provide an opportunity for discussion and idea generation the tour also gives BMW an opportunity to spread its EfficientDynamics message.

But, back to that video; have we been given an early look at sketches for the front-wheel drive BMW 0 Series? The image above was captured from the video at the 20 second mark. Watch the clip in full below and see what you think.

[Source: WorldCarFans]

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BMW

BMW 507 – eBay offers a genuine classic

BMW 507 - eBay find

Every now and then eBay turns up a genuine motoring icon. This listing from the US of an incredibly rare BMW 507 is one of those examples. Just 253 of the aluminium skinned coupés were made by BMW. All were hand built and were powered by a 150hp 3.2 litre V8. The example on sale is in excellent condition, with the only real negative being the make-shift head unit install.

Back in the 1950s when the car was made its achilles heel was its price and this was the reason for its low production numbers. Although, it did count motorsport legend John Surtees and the King, Elvis Presley, among its owners. The cost of the car can never hide the 507’s gorgeous shapes and lines, though; it ranks in the AUSmotive annals as one of the most beautiful cars ever made.

Today, though, its rarity simply drives used prices up. This eBay listing is proof of that, with the current bidding at US$500,100. The auction ends tomorrow.

After the break you can see more photos as well as the text detailing the car’s history, which has been copied from the eBay listing.

[Source: eBay US | Thanks to Jono for the tip]

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BMW

BMW X5 passes one million sales

BMW X5

Love them or hate them luxo SUVs are here to stay. Locally, their increasing sales continue to give our market a boost. BMW now brings us news that their X5 model has surpassed one million sales.

To be different, BMW refers to the X5 as an SAV – Sports Activity Vehicle. It’s taken 11 years for the X5 to reach the seven-figure sales mark and with its horrible X6 and somewhat quirky GT siblings joining the line up the SUV/SAV phenomenon shows no signs of abating.

I’ll give the X5 one thing, though, they’re bloody good to drive.

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New vehicle sales report – May 2010

FCAI banner

A new sales record for the month of May was set this year. New vehicle sales totalled 89,218, and improvement of 578 sales from the previous May record set in 2008.

“This is a record May result and shows the new vehicle market is maintaining a strong sales momentum,” said FCAI Chief Executive Andrew McKellar, “All vehicle segments increased during the month, demonstrating a genuine recovery in the marketplace.”

Once again the SUV segment was the leading category, followed by passenger cars and light commercials. There has also been an increase in private buyers taking delivery of new cars in the last month.

As usual Toyota sits atop the sales charts, followed by Holden and Ford. So far in 2010 a total of 422,446 new vehicles have been sold. A boost of almost 20% on 2009 figures.

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BMW Motorsports

BMW Art Car by Jeff Koons to race at Le Mans 24 hour

17th BMW Art Car - Jeff Koons

BMW and Jeff Koons have unveiled the latest addition to the BMW Art Car range. The seventeenth in the series will race in next weekend’s Le Mans 24 hour race.

The bold colours and strong graphic nature of Koons’ design were inspired by images of racecars, speed and explosions. Koons says his Art Car evokes bursting energy, motion and power. It should look fantastic on the racetrack.

“These race cars are like life, they are powerful and there is a lot of energy,” said Koons. “You can participate with it, add to it and let yourself transcend with its energy. There is a lot of power under that hood and I want to let my ideas transcend with the car – it’s really to connect with that power.”Koons was named as the artist chosen to produce the latest BMW Art Car back in February and both he and BMW have been on a tight schedule to ensure the car is ready for Le Mans. The artwork was applied with specially designed adhesive vinyl. Wearing number 79 the M3 GT2 will be driven by Andy Priaulx, Dirk Müller and Dirk Werner.

More from BMW after the break, including a couple of videos, pictures and text.

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BMW

Baby M confirmed for 2nd quarter 2011

BMW 1 Series M spy shot

A bit more news on the 1 Series-based M car, which has now been confirmed for release in the second quarter of next year. Dr Kay Seglar, head of BMW M GmbH, has also ruled out the M1 badge for this model. This will please the purists wanting to protect the history of BMW’s 1970s M1 supercar.

Which leads to the question of what will this entry level M rocket be called? The best guess now seems to favour a 135i M badge, but other possibilities include 1 M, 135 M and 135tii.

[Source: auto-news.de via BimmerFile]

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BMW

BMW M3 GTS – Technical specifications

BMW M3 GTS

A couple of weeks ago BMW released news saying the M3 GTS was ready for its market launch. Overnight they released a set of technical specifications. You can download those specs after the break.

The GTS has an increased capacity 4.4 litre V8 producing 331kW. It has BMW’s latest 7-speed DCT transmission, to offer lightning quick gear changes. BMW say it can reach 100km/h in 4.4 seconds, that it can cover the standing kilometre in 22.5 seconds and go on to reach a v-max of 305km/h. To break it down further the M3 GTS asks each kilowatt to carry around 4.6kg. Its engine produces 75.9kW per litre.

They are some tidy numbers, but the only number that counts for Australian readers is 0. That is the total amount of M3 GTS models BMW have assigned for our market. It’s not a lot is it! Especially when you consider Car Advice reports around 30-40 M3 GTS examples will now be built in right hand drive. This is in contrast to original news that said the M3 GTS would be left-hand drive only.

However, we can thank our wonderful Australian Design Rules for ensuring the M3 GTS will not be sold down under. BMW Australia spokesman Piers Scott told Car Advice, “unfortunately, Australia’s ADRs prevent us from being able to licence it here,” explaining, “that it’s too loud and too low.”

This is rather disappointing given the aim of BMW M GmbH, according to its CEO, Dr Kay Segler, was to, “develop a model variant that would prove its outstanding potential both on the road and at club sport racing events.”

Bureaucracy strikes again! C’est la vie. More pics, words and a video can be seen below.

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