Tag: BMW

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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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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 Motor Shows

Auto China: BMW Gran Coupé

BMW Gran Coupe

At the Auto China show in Beijing BMW had what they called a Design Night. An insight into the company’s design culture they said. To celebrate the event BMW were kind enough to go to the trouble of bringing along a new design concept. They have called it the Gran Coupé.

Four-door “coupés” are the new black it seems and this latest effort from BMW does look quite nice, it must be said. From some angles there is a lot of 3 Series coupé inspiration, as well. Mostly due to BMW’s well loved Hofmeister kink.

Not much detail is given in the press release below, but you can get some extra information thanks to the video published to YouTube by Autocar. All yours after the jump.

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BMW Ferrari Porsche

Ferrari 599XX v BMW Z4 GT3 v Porsche 956

Ferrari 599XXBMW Z4 GT3Porsche 956

So, Ferrari say their 599XX was the first “production-derived” sportscar to break the 7 minute barrier around the 20.832km Nürburgring Nordschleife. But, what does that term “production-derived” actually mean?

Who cares if the car is based off the 599 GTB Fiorano, the 599XX cannot be driven on public roads and it comes delivered with racing slicks. It’s a racing car, who is Ferrari kidding? Hang on a sec, don’t Ferrari say the 599XX cannot be entered in any sanctioned race events. So, what is it then?

Well, semantics aside, it’s pretty clear the 599XX holds a closer relationship to a racing car than it does a road car, despite it’s road-car origins. So, then, for no other reason than to watch three superb pieces of in-car Nürburgring footage lets compare the 599XX to two other racing cars. The first, new and production-derived, the BMW Z4 GT3, and the other, an all time motor racing legend from the early 1980s, the Porsche 956.

Sure the 956 never had any pretensions to road use—Vern Schuppan’s 962CR side-project aside—but we’re talking the peak of sportscar racing more than 25 years ago. Surely the Ferrari can hold off the great Derek Bell with its latest electronic and mechanical masterpiece.

After the jump are three clips to help us find out. Now, I must stress this is not a very scientific comparison, all three clips start from a different part of the track. In fact, the Derek Bell lap was filmed in 1983, the year before the current Nürburgring GP track was built. He starts his lap from the old pit area, which is now the T13 complex.

The lap with the BMW does include the GP track and, oddly, the footage starts at the Pflantzgarten jump and finishes just before. That means we need to take out around 2 minutes for the GP track, then add a few seconds for the T13 section and again at the end to reach the original starting point. As I said, it’s not terribly scientific or deadly accurate.

Just take this comparo for what it is, an appreciation of three cracking cars getting thrashed around one of the world’s most demanding pieces of tarmac.

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BMW

New BMW 5 Series – Australian pricing

BMW 5 Series

The new F10 BMW 5 Series will go on sale in Australia this June. At initial launch there will be a four-pronged model line up, consisting of six cylinder 528i and 535i models, as well as a V8 powered 550i. A four cylinder turbo diesel 520d will join the range in September. Those wanting more space from their 5 Series will have to hold on a bit longer for the October release of the Touring version.

Manufacturer’s list pricing starts at $83,300 for the 520d; $99,900 for the 528i; $128,900 for the 535i and tops out at $178,900 for the 550i. More detail is available below in BMW Australia’s press release, and they have also included this handy spec comparison PDF (60kb) which highlights the increase in spec of the new 5er over the outgoing E60 version.

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BMW

BMW ‘M1’ spotted during Nürburgring testing

BMW 'M1' spy shot

Another possible ‘M1’ prototype has been spotted in testing, this time at the Nürburgring. Devlopment of the widebody 1 Series seems well underway and this sighting follows last week’s ‘M1’ appearance.

The prototype captured in the images here were taken during an industry testing session at the Ring, so we can be fairly certain this is a BMW test mule, and not some crazy guy who has stuck a few bits of plastic on his car to be cool.

The fact the widebody kit only appears on the rear of the car tends to indicate BMW’s M engineers are developing the rear axle components, which are expected to be sourced from the current M3.

Apparently the test driver was pushing pretty hard and with thanks to Bridge to Gantry you can see another pic and brief video after the break.

[Source: Bridge to Gantry]

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BMW

BMW ‘M1’ spy shots

BMW 'M1' spy shot

The thought of an ‘M’ badged 1 Series is one that will make most enthusiasts go weak at the knees. Talk of a baby ‘M1’ has been around for a while, but speculation has generally been a bit wishy-washy in terms of will they, or won’t they make it. BMW specialist website BimmerFile have been quite firmly placed in the yes they will build it camp and these spy shots justify their position.

So what are we seeing here? Try as it might the BMW trademark swirl disguise cannot hide the car’s flared guards (see second pic after the jump). Those guards are probably hiding some very tasty hardware, too. Namely drivetrain components from the M3, such as an adapted rear axle, including mechanical rear diff.

Wider bodywork would also allow for an increased track. Couple that with the 18″ wheels from the new M3 Competition Package and cornering stability should be improved.

Also note that the rear exhaust is dual-tipped on the left side only. No quad-tipped exhaust as on the M3. Sure, this may be part of the development process, but a single exit exhaust would allow for a less complex arrangement for a 1 Series that is already tightly packed at the rear. It’s also a bit old skool, too, which is nice.

Will this car be badged as the ‘M1’? That is not yet certain, perhaps BMW will extend its nomenclature from the X5 M and call this car the 1 M. If you’re dead against the ‘M1’ nameplate being revived, then click here to re-live the grand old days.

There’s more info, speculation and inside word on the ‘M1’ across at BimmerFile, so make sure you follow the link below to be kept up to date.

[Source: BimmerFile, via 1addicts]

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