Spied 2014 F80 M3 Sedan

Spied: 2014 F80 M3 Sedan Gets Power Dome (Hood Bulge)!

We've just spied this afternoon this F80 M3 sedan prototype showing a power dome / hood bulge for the first time. The M3 may have now entered the FEP (Final Evaluation Phase) stage of testing. Until now some M enthusiasts have been disappointed to see the lack of a power dome on previous prototypes, but this mule confirms that the F80 M3 and F82 M4 will feature an aggressively shaped hood.

The rest of the camouflage remains as concealing as on prior mules. As seen clearly, the M3 kidney grilles are sportier than the F30 3 Series, yet not as thin nor wide as the recently exposed F82 M4 coupe grilles (pictured below for comparison). The headlights underneath the camo may (unconfirmed) also be a sleeker version of the F30 headlights, although they will join the headlights like the F30.

The sideskirts are also different than on previous mules, now with an upswoop at its end.
The side shots of the prototype show that the headlights will appear to be more recessed as a result of the beefy front bumper extending out further than on the F30 (think of the 1M headlight-bumper compared to the standard 1 Series). The production side view mirrors (which also be sportier in shape) have not yet been installed on any prototypes.

All in all, the appearance of a power dome, together with the super flared wheel arches and still-covered M body styling, is shaping the F80 M3 to be an aggressive looking sports sedan!

The F80 M3 / F82 M4 will be powered by an inline 6 cylinder engine with multiple turbochargers, pushing approximately 450 horsepower. The engine has been rumored to be an extensively reworked and reinforced N55 6-cylinder engine with a strengthened aluminium block with a heavily modified cylinder head. The Induction technology is said to be completely new as will be the latest bi-vanos variable valve timing. But, we also think there may be a possibility that the engine turns out to be a reworked/enhanced version of a successor engine to the N55 (which has not yet been introduced). Both a DCT and manual transmission will be available. The blue brakes resemble the new 3 Series' M Sport brakes, paired with steel cross drilled rotors.

The following is a summary of the facts we can be certain of regarding the F80 M3 / F82 M4:

•Lighter than current M3

•Faster than current M3

•More powerful than current M3

•More efficient than current M3

•Powered by an inline 6 cylinder turbo engine

•Offered with optional or standard manual transmission

•Electric Power Steering (completely reworked for precision for M3/M4)

Source: BimmerPost

BMW X1, Almost here!!

BMW unwraps Lime Rock Park special Edition of the M3

The BMW M3 is preparing to make its way out while a new generation prepares to step in. The current model though has still some life in it and to prove this point, the Bavarian carmaker unveils a special edition that was specifically developed for its consumers in North America in tribute of the Lime Rock Park in the northwestern portion of Connecticut.

The race track is operated and owned by Skip Barber, and the special edition BMW M3 Lime Rock Park aims to honor its long-time relationship with the race track, race drivers, and the fans that attend the events throughout the years.

The Lime Rock Edition of the BMW M3 will come with several enhancements that has been selected based on the collaboration of the designers with Lime Rock Park and Skip Barber.

The special edition M3 is based on the 2013 model of the coupe and will come in a customized body finish in Fire Orange. The interior gets an all black trim and Napa leather treatment. The Competition Package for the BMW M3 is also installed plus other elements like an Alcantara steering wheel that is flat on the bottom, carbon fiber aerodynamics elements, and inconel-titanium muffler.

Each of the special edition M3 will be marked with a unique number plaque that can be found on the center console, a decal on the quarter window on the rear left side, and a certification to prove its authenticity. Only 200 units will be produced.

There will be no major changes to the drivetrain. The output of the four-liter V-8 is pegged at 414 horses and produces a torque of 295 lb-ft. The car manufacturer did not mention about any specific gearbox so most likely that this M3 will get the 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox or a 6-speed manual transmission.

The M3 Lime Rock Park special edition can be in your garage starting at $70,995 plus destination charges. Delivery will start by September this year. With only 200 rolling out, we expect this M3 to go fast.

Source: BMW Talk

2013 BMW ActiveHybrid 3 Beauty Shots in HD

"The ActiveHybrid 3 maintains the rear-drive system, with power transferred via the standard 3-Series 8-speed automatic. An Eco Pro driving mode Superior takes advantage of a sufficticated energy management system with intelligent coasting to charge the battery. Coasting is achieved by fully uncoupling the drive system after it turns off, reducing friction, while taking advantage of available kinetic energy to keep rolling at speeds up to 100 mph."





Source bimmertimes.com

BMW bringing “On Demand” service in U.S.

By Horatiu Boeriu

 

BMW’s OnDemand car service is coming to United States. The program kicked off in 2010 and when BMW introduce it in its hometown Munich. To satisfy all demands and personal taste, BMW offered a wide range of vehicles, from the ultra-efficient four-cylinder models to the flagship M6.

BMW Financial Services will launch the OnDemand service next month and customers will be able to rent a BMW by the hour, day or week, directly from dealerships. The pilot kicks off in Manhattan at the factory’s dealership with a hundred 328i sedans. BMW says that the fleet will change over time with the addition of 7 Series, X3, X5, and high performance vehicles like M3 and M5.

The program could expand to Chicago, Los Angels, Washington D.C., Boston and Miami, as well as to other smaller cities.

BMW sees the car service as an opportunity to attract new customers to the brand that would fall in love with the driving experience after renting.

Rental prices and conditions will be announced in August. Official site can be found at http://www.bmwondemandusa.com/.

[Source: Autoblog]

INSIDETRACK AUGUST 2012: CERTIFIED QUALITY: THE BMW CPO DIFFERENCE

BMW CPO: THE BMW OF PRE-OWNED COVERAGE PLANS

BMW’s rigorous Certified Pre-Owned vetting process is your assurance that any BMW earning a CPO rating is


a quality Ultimate Driving Machine.® You’ll also find major differences between the value of BMW CPO coverage

and that of other, used-car-coverage plans.

Inspection. BMW vehicles must pass a long list of stringent inspection points by BMW-trained technicians

before they become Certified Pre-Owned. Third-party

inspections, if there are any, are not nearly as rigorous.

Warranty. BMW’s CPO Protection Plan extends 2 years

or 50,000 miles beyond the original New Vehicle/SAV Limited Warranty.1 Any problem on a covered item is fixed by BMW-trained technicians using Original BMW Parts,

with just a $50 deductible. With other coverage plans, extended service contracts require careful reading, since many items are not covered. Deductibles can vary from

$50 to $400 or more, and contracts may require the owner to pay up-front for repairs, then wait lengthy periods of time for reimbursement.

Additional BMW CPO benefits. BMW offers 2-year, unlimited-miles Roadside Assistance; no-cost BMW Maintenance Program for the remainder of the original 4 years or 50,000 miles warranty; a BMW loaner vehicle or alternate transportation during service; and a vehicle history report before you purchase a BMW CPO vehicle.2

Bottom line, the benefits you get with a Certified Pre-Owned BMW are vastly superior to those of any

third-party coverage plan. To learn more about the

BMW CPO program, visit bmwusa.com/cpo.

1 Whichever comes first.

2 For details, visit your BMW center or bmwusa.com/cpo.

BMW CPO: THE BMW OF PRE-OWNED COVERAGE PLANS
 
Source: BMWUSA.com

Speculative Rendering: BMW M2

[Rendering: Roger Lighterness

 

By Horatiu Boeriu

 

Building atop the successful 1 Series M Coupe, BMW may be looking to build a new entry-level M model. We have learned in the past via several sources that the Bavarians are planing (and have already filed for a trademark) an M2 model built on the next generation F21 2 Series Coupe.

The M2 will continue to be a rear-wheel drive that is set to launch sometimes in 2015. BMW calls it a direct descendent of the 1M and will be instantly recognizable from the entry-level car with its bold look and M-specific design cues.

The rendering below takes a stab at how the M2 might look like, but we are inclined to believe that BMW will offer different front-end styling compared to the 1 Series Hatchback. The rear-end will feature a dynamic and sporty slope, and a wide, bold trunk design.

The “heart” of the BMW M2 could come from a 3.0 liter six-cylinder turbo engine developing 350 horsepower, but instead of tuning up an existing power unit, we hope to see a brand-new M-developed engine.

Power will be fed through BMW’s all-new DCT semi-automatic transmission, while the brakes will be taken from the current M3. To keep the newcomer’s weight to a minimum, the firm is expected to make extensive use of the advanced carbon fibre-reinforced plastics it has developed for its Project i cars.

Last year, BMW M CEO Dr. Nitschke told AutoExpress that “In the 1M Coupe, we have a starter car for the M Division, and we are continuing to develop this project. Such models must be sporty, and offer extraordinarily low fuel consumption. This is something we could achieve with the M2. I think the 1M Coupe proves there is room for an M2, a coupe.”

Source: BMWBlog

BMW M6 vs M5 Desert Race and Drift (Desert of USA)

More BMW diesels headed for US market

source: BMWCoop

America’s lack of interest in the fuel saving solution that is the diesel engine has been long discussed and over-debated for several years now.

There have been plenty of attempts, at the forefront of which BMW have been of major importance, to showcase the capabilities and performance diesel is capable.

Diesel powered BMW X5
 
Two of their cherries are headed stateside now. It’s the 2.0 liter four-cylinder engine and the more interesting 3.0 liter straight six unit.
 
The first one will likely develop around 180 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque whereas the bigger engine will provide around 255 horsepower and some 413 lb-ft of torque.

Figures may be altered slightly by the time they hit the road in America as the emissions legislation there plays on different fields to the ones BMW is used to.

Diesel powered BMW X5
 
Even so, the economy minded motorist is in for a treat, even if he lives in the United States. Their highway system should make for quite a difference when it comes to settling into the cruise.
 
The new engines should be available in the 3 series, 5 series and X5/X6 models to begin with and there’s a chance at expanding its options later on.

The All-New BMW ActiveHybrid 3

Source BMWUSA

The quintessential sport sedan combines with cutting-edge hybrid technology for a new dimension to The Ultimate Driving Machine Woodcliff Lake, NJ – July 6, 2012…. The all-new BMW ActiveHybrid 3 brings cutting-edge hybrid technology to the quintessential sport sedan for a new take on The Ultimate Driving Machine TM. The ActiveHybrid 3 blends BMW’s TwinPower Turbo 3.0-liter inline 6-cylinder and 8-speed Steptronic automatic transmission with an electric motor powered by a high-voltage battery. Together the inline 6 and electric motor combine for 335 horsepower and 332 lb-ft of torque, an increase of 13 percent and 11 percent respectively. In addition to the boost available for the internal combustion engine, the electric motor is capable of powering the ActiveHybrid 3 emissions free for speeds up to 45 mph (70 km/h) for distances up to 2.5 miles (four kilometers). The 2013 BMW ActiveHybrid 3 will arrive in US showrooms this fall at an MSRP of $50,195 including destination and handling. Electric motor and eight-speed automatic transmission share the same housing. BMW expanding the availability of its intelligent hybrid drive technology with its next ActiveHybrid production model. Again, a gasoline engine is combined with an electric motor to enhance both efficiency and the brand’s hallmark driving pleasure. In the BMW ActiveHybrid 3, BMW’s 3.0-liter TwinPower Turbo in-line six engine is coupled with an electric motor and an eight-speed Steptronic automatic transmission which sends combined power of 335 hp to the rear wheels. The BMW ActiveHybrid 3’s synchronous electric motor is powered by a lithium-ion high-voltage battery housed under the luggage compartment between the wheel arches. The latest-generation BMW ActiveHybrid technology also adds precisely controlled – and extremely efficient – energy management to the mix. The result is an extremely well-integrated overall system which convincingly showcases the benefits of BMW ActiveHybrid technology out on the road. Powerful and efficient: the award-winning BMW TwinPower Turbo inline 6-cylinder in the BMW ActiveHybrid 3.

2013 Alpina B7 officially revealed

The BMW tuner Alpina has recently presented the all-new 2013 B7, which will go on sale in the United States in September.

According to the German BMW tuners, the 2013 Alpina B7 is actually an updated version of the 2012 model year and the vehicle, which is based on the 7-Series as you probably figured it out, will be officially presented to the public over-seas in August, at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. Alpina says that the new B7 is being offered in four models, with short or long wheelbase and with sDrive (rear-wheel drive) or xDrive (all-wheel drive), once the model will arrive in dealerships in North America in September. Alpina is planning to sell around 400-450 units of the 2013 B7.

Under the hood, the 2013 Alpina B7 is coming with two new Garrett turbochargers which are helping the 4.4 liter V8 engine to develop a total output of 540 horsepower and 538 lb-ft of torque, which is 40 HP and 22 lb-ft more than the 2012 model year. Alpina is saying that the 2013 B7 can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 4.3 seconds with sDrive and in 4.4 seconds with the xDrive, before reaching a top speed of 194 mph (sDrive) and 193 mph (xDrive), compared to the “old” 175 mph. The engine is mated to an eight-speed ZF transmission and the classic paddle shifters have been replaced with integrated buttons at nine and three o’clock. The model is also getting start/stop.

The 2013 Alpina B7 is coming with 21-inch alloy wheels but for the winter tires, 19-inch rims are also available. Alpina says that the updated B7 will go on sale through BMW dealers and the price of the model will start at 128,495 USD but for the long wheelbase and xDrive model, the cost can go up to 135,395 USD. All prices include the $895 destination charge.
 
Source: inautonews

LUMMA Design tunes the new BMW M6

The new BMW M6, with its 412 kW and V8 bi-turbo engine, is the fastest Coupé/Cabriolet version of the BMW 6 Series, and will arrive on the market in the fall. LUMMA Design has already allowed us a glance at the upcoming body and the interior options for the tuned BMW M6. At the end of 2012 LUMMA Design will introduce the new M6 in their own unique design, as one of the first tuning companies worldwide to do so. The tuning company is thus set to make the M6 look even sportier and more attractive. A complete aerodynamics package with a front spoiler and large air inlets, carbon fiber engine housing, wheel arch extensions to the front and the rear and a rear diffuser with a central double-pipe exhaust transform Lumma’s tuned M6 into a sports coupé with a unique design language. The multi-part sports rims by Lumma, with 10x21” on the front axle and 12.5x21” on the rear axle, perfect the look and are an excellent match for this unique design

Exclusive Interior


The M6 designed by LUMMA Design has an equally sporty and high-performance interior. Sportiness meets elegance and the finest of materials, such as leather, alcantara and carbon fiber are once again to be found in the vehicle’s interior. There are no limits when it comes to fulfilling the customer’s wishes, with the first vehicles finished completely to customer specification planned to be shipped from early 2013

2012 Detroit Auto Show: What’s NEW on BMW’s 2012 3 Series?

Author: Shawn Molnar

BMW has never been caught sitting on their hands when it comes to improving upon the class-founding 3 Series. Now in its sixth generation, the F30 3 series had big shoes to fill. The E90 it replaces was a fine car that never lost sight of the “Ultimate Driving Machine” mandate, while concurrently bringing considerable steps in technology and comfort.

BMW wins U.S. luxury sales crown

BMW beats Mercedes to claim first U.S. luxury sales crown Lexus' 11-year reign ends DETROIT -- BMW fended off a late-year surge by rival Mercedes-Benz to win its first title as best-selling luxury brand in the United States. BMW said its U.S. sales rose 15 percent to 26,834 in December, for an annual total of 247,907. Mercedes said its sales last month climbed 28 percent to 25,701, pushing its tally for the year to 245,192. The results officially end Lexus' 11-year reign atop the U.S. luxury rankings.