BMW Z4 at Geneva Auto Show

Out of the entire BMW line up, the exciting Z4 must be the least advertised model of them all. Despite its qualities, its looks and, in the end, the legacy of its name (Z), the model is seldom the recipient of the car maker's attention, at least when compared to say the BMW X1.


Still, the Geneva Auto Show is a chance for the model to shine again, and this time in new clothing. The German auto maker thought it would be best to bring the Z4 back into the spotlight by introducing the Design Pure Balance package, a set of upgrades for both the interior and the exterior.

The most noticeable change at the exterior is the addition of Mineral White metallic paint, a first for the model, accompanied by the non-metallic and metallic exterior paint finishes. The interior receives a facelift as well, with BMW going for a more luxury look and feel.

BMW Z4

BMW Explains Connected Drive System

BMW showed up to Geneva with a new concept called the Vision ConnectedDrive. As you can see, it’s an almost impossibly low roadster with trick, Kaiser Darrin-style sliding doors. It also shows off BMW’s new interior design language that they’re calling “Layering.” Says BMW, “The term ‘layering’ describes a new approach to the BMW Group’s concept of design and its design language, redefining the way surfaces, interfaces and materials have been treated in the past.” Oddly, BMW had very little to say about the design, powertrain and/or handling of the Vision vehicle at the press conference, instead they chose to focus on the technologies available to the driver and passenger. It’s all part of what they are calling ConnectedDrive.


The first is convenience. BMW (and most other brands) already offer a form of this connected technology. For example, when your phone connects via Bluetooth to your car. However, BMW aims to take it a step further. Imagine your car then reading your calendar, figuring out that you have a meeting in 25 minutes, noting the address and calculating the fastest route possible (taking traffic information into account, of course) and then telling you where to park when you get there. We like it.

BMW Vision ConnectedDrive Concept Car

Concepts show us a path to the future. If this BMW Vision ConnectedDrive Concept Car shows us what we can expect, than the future looks bright. The unique setup of this two-seater roadster presents the automobile as a fully integrated part of the networked world in both its design and technological innovations. BMW combines current and future in-car technology for optimizing comfort, safety and infotainment.
The interior is divided into three layers – comfort, infotainment and safety – each with a corresponding light installation. Each layer is defined by a colour, rhythm, motion and texture and, through the transparent surfaces the path taken by the information can be seen via fiber optic lighting.

2012 BMW 1-Series Coupe

2012 BMW 1-Series

 BMW has announced several modifications and updates to the 2012 BMW 1 Series Coupe. The new design includes BMW’s innovative Air Curtain that counters turbulence near the wheel arches and so reduces the aerodynamic resistance of the vehicle and numerous exterior and interior design changes. The company plans to begin the sale of this updated 1 Series Coupe this Spring.

It was in 2008, BMW had introduced the 1 Series to the US. At the time of its making this vehicle drew inspiration from the iconic BMW 2002 model. The modified vehicle comes with powerful engines, rear-wheel drive and inspirational agility, which makes the BMW 1 Series Coupe stand out from the crowd.

2012 BMW 6 Series Convertible

2012 BMW 650

 The 2012 BMW 650i Convertible is smoother and less polarizing than the car it replaces. BMW is no doubt hoping the new design will help renew interest in the car, as the present 6 Series coupe and convertible have sold just 2348 units through November of this year, down from 3346 cars during the same period in 2009. You can draw your own conclusions about what’s caused the car’s low sales but if you think styling might be to blame, let’s compare the two cars.

Still an imposing car, the 2012 BMW 6 Series has pulled-back headlights without the thick “headlight eyelashes” of the 2010 car. The trademark BMW grille is large and vertically positioned, lending the car more of an executive look.

2010 BMW M5 - Review Summary

We want to love the 2010 BMW M5. Who wouldn't, with its race-derived, 500-horsepower V-10 engine, and a 0-60 time of just 4.5 seconds?


Despite its charms, we can't get past the M5's serious flaws, the result of timing and a product at the end of its life cycle. An overabundance of technology almost kills the joy of that huge power. For starters, BMW's semi-manual SMG transmission is only for fans of a truly harsh shift experience. You'll need to choose the no-cost six-speed manual to enjoy the M5 to its utmost, thanks to crisp throws, precise gates, perfectly arranged pedals, and surprisingly smooth clutch engagement.

But you can't opt out of the technology that commands the M5's suspension, steering, and throttle inputs. They offer a bewildering 279 combinations through an MDrive menu that can be linked to the steering wheel's MDrive button, which might as well be a panic button for users who can't figure it out.

Then there's BMW's frustrating iDrive controller for audio, navigation, and climate settings. It's been improved for this model year but still could use its own community-college course for first-time drivers.

There's a new M5 on the way - and from what we've seen from the new-generation BMW 5-Series sedan and 5-Series Gran Turismo hatchback, the picture's going to improve, radically.

One BMW Frozen Gray M3 Coupe for sale

A BMW M3 Coupe on the official BMW USA web page is priced at $58,400. A nice Space Gray Metallic paint adds an extra $550. Okay, everyone, get out your calculators. That’s a total of $58,950. Now, let’s add taxes and a little extra for safe measure. That should bring you up to about $65K, give or take. Now we get to the good part. Recently BMW unveiled the Frozen Gray M3 Coupe priced at $77,600. Anyone else confused? Why would anyone buy the Frozen Gray coupe over a standard M3 Coupe that leaves you with an extra $10K in your pocket? Well, it’s probably because the Frozen Gray M3 is a limited edition with only 30 units being produced. That means 30 "lucky" customers will be the proud owners of a limited edition M3 which sold out in an unbelievable 12 minutes!

2011 BMW 5-Series Sold Out Everywhere!

Apparently people really like the new generation of BMW 5-Series as the company has announced they’ve completely sold out of this model, and customers has to go on a three to four month waiting list! And it’s not just for the big markets such as North America where the new 5er starts form $44,500, all dealers around the world have sold their inventory of the car and are asking for more! Good for BMW, after all the new 5-series is a very fine car, and it shows that BMW simple traditional design works much better than all those stupid models of the Bangle era!

BMW M3 Special Edition Sold Out with in 12 minutes!

In just 12 minutes, the German constructor BMW “shipped” the 30 units of the special edition M3 ‘Frozen Gray “, developed exclusively for the North American market in order to celebrate the 25th anniversary of M3, the oldest and most famous creation of the M Motorsport division.

Designed to celebrate 25 years of M3, this special edition ‘Frozen Grey‘ is characterized by a new painting called “Ice Grey”, intended to accentuate the aggressive lines of the model, a two-tone interior – black and red – and the desired package sporting “the Competition Pack”.

Inspired by the competition, the package reduces the ground clearance by about 1cm, and includes specific 19-inch wheels and dual-clutch sequential gearbox M-DCT, which reduces the time needed to reach 100 km / h in 0.2 seconds, now accomplished in 4.5 seconds.

The engine, the known 4-liter V8 with 420 horsepower in turn, does not change.

2011 BMW 5-Series M Sport Package

2011 BMW 5-Series M Sport Touring

These are not pictures of the BMW M5 Touring; however, these are pictures of the BMW 5-Series M Sport Touring. Leaked on a bunch of websites, the pictures show a 2011 BMW 5-Series Touring (station wagon as us Americans like to call it) wearing a revised front end with larger intakes, side skirts and a reworked rear-end to give it a more aggressive stance.

Frozen Gray BMW M3 sold out

BMW had just opened its phone lines for the new Frozen Gray M3 and, like a salesperson’s dream, the U.S only car sold out. All 30 examples were gone in the blink of an eye.

Larry Koch, M brand manager for BMW of North America said, “The Frozen Gray M3 is a striking work of sculpture, speed, and style, and perfectly marks the 25th birthday of the M3 model. I’m personally thrilled to see that our customers are as excited about it as we are. We filled the thirty reservation slots within twelve minutes and took the names of at least fifty alternates in the first hour.”

The U.S only Frozen Gray M3 carried a $10,000 premium for the paint job, other mandatory upgrades, and other options that aren’t found on the base M3. The Frozen Gray M3 had a price tag of $77,600 and was covered in a Space Gray base coat and then in a BMW ColorSystem silk matte clear coat. This paint job is what sets the car apart from all other M3s.

Inside, the limited-run M3 will get a Fox Red and black bi-colored Novillo leather interior.

BMW says that the Frozen Gray M3 will get the same motor as the base M3, a 414 horsepower 4.0-liter V8 and the M double clutch transmission
. Thankfully, a manual is an option.

2011 BMW 5-Series M-Sport Package catalog leaked

A Bimmer Today reader somehow got a series of leaked images of a BMW 5-Series Touring M-Sport Package catalog in his possession. The new package will be available for order this autumn and is rumored to be a preview of the design language from the future BMW M5 F10.

The M Sport package includes a choice of 18" or 19" M light alloy wheels in double spoke design, new front bumper with larger air ducts, side skirts, a modified apron, and dark chrome tail pipes. The interior will get sport seats covered in an exclusive Alcantara combination, an M leather steering wheel, and the roof lining in anthracite for more athleticism. It will also feature M door sills, an M foot rest, an M shift knob, and sets of decorative trim for the dashboard and door panels.

As usual, the M-Sport Package comes with M Sport suspension. It will be offered in a choice of seven exterior colors.

Spied! 2012 BMW 3 Series Wagon

As the fifth-generation BMW 3 Series plows through its fourth year of production, we've begun to catch glimpses of the sixth-generation car set for 2012. Today, we've captured the first images of the next BMW 3 Series Wagon.

Known as the Touring model in Europe, the 3 Series Wagon is expected to ride on a longer wheelbase than the next-generation sedan. Other than the chassis stretch and wagon bodywork, expect the car to be virtually identical to the sedan. From these pictures and past spy shots of the sedan, we can see that the next-generation 3 Series, codenamed F30, will get a more upright nose (likely to meet pedestrian crash requirements) that will bring its styling more in line with the new 5 and 7 Series cars.

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BMW 5 Series Looks, Drives Like a Baby 7

BMW lengthened the new midsize 5 Series, ported over virtually all the high-end options offered on the luxury 7 Series, and created what may be the world's finest car, at least in the $50,000 (starting price) category. The new design erases some of the quirks of the 2004-2009 5 Series and now non-Bimmerphiles will have a hard time telling it from the longer 7 Series. Which is nice because an entry BMW 535i runs $20,000 less. The car is nearly flawless to drive and to ride in.

BMW teases the new X3 in The Netherlands

BMW’s X3 model is up for a replacement soon and the company has started to tease the 2011 compact SUV. The teasing exercise which is made up by a couple of detailed images can be seen on the website of the company’s Dutch division.

We can see a portion of the hood which, just like other new BMWs has various design lines giving it a more dynamic look. There is also an image of the left taillight which has hints of the X1’s taillight but I prefer the on the X1. But of course we will have to wait and look at the whole car before we give our final verdict.

new X3

There are also two more images of some designers working on the clay model. You can see all the images in high-res fashion after the jump. The 2011 BMW X3 is scheduled for an October 2010 debut at the Paris Motor Show.

First Drive: 2011 BMW 135i DCT

Dual-clutch gearboxes. Not yet common parlance for the average buyer, but a frequent topic of debate among enthusiasts. The rift: rowing your own cogs versus having a computer do it for you. There's a purity of experience in working the clutch and the shifter yourself that simply doesn't come through in the flapping of a paddle. But does that really make the manual better?

2011 BMW 135i DCT

No, not really. Not if by better you mean "faster." Because dual-clutch gearboxes are brutally fast, far less prone to user-induced error and generally just better for driving a car hard: you can keep your feet over the go/stop pedals, heel-toe is unnecessary, and both hands stay on the wheel at all times.

If by better you mean more fun, however, the manual wins every time. Sure, it's pretty cool clicking through the gears video-game style as you run up to and beyond 100 real-world mph, but the novelty quickly wears off and you're left either driving for maximum pace or finding a 7/10s drive a bit less enjoyable.

So what's this meandering diatribe all about? The 2011 BMW 135i with DCT, of course. While Volkswagen and Audi have had similar DSG systems in their cars for some time now, the entry of the DCT (BMW's moniker for their dual-clutch unit) into the 1-Series lineup, it's accessible in a relatively affordable, rear-wheel-drive luxury sports coupe. And that's pretty cool. Except when it's not.

BMW’s Hybrid Future May Include 3 Series

BMW was initially slow to build hybrid cars, but now it is turning just about everything into a hybrid. In a speech to shareholders on Tuesday in Munich, Norbert Reithofer, chairman of the BMW AG board of management, not only confirmed the rumored production version of the 5 Series ActiveHybrid concept, but also said a 3 Series hybrid is likely coming, too.

The gas-electric 5 Series could be on road next year, Mr. Reithofer said, and he added that the company was “anticipating the hybridization” of other models, “such as the BMW 3 Series.” He said that BMW would choose “the most suitable hybrid solution for the respective model.”

The ActiveHybrid 7 is already on the market, and these two new models would give BMW a full range of eco-cars. Mr. Reithofer’s speech touched on a number of green themes, including an initial $100 million investment in a joint venture based in the United States with SGL Carbon to provide lightweight carbon-fiber parts for future production cars. And he talked about the battery electrics BMW has been testing. “Our global field test with the Mini E is a great success,” he said. “Many enthusiastic customers for e-mobility already exist today.”

The electric Mini Es are headed for fleets in France and China in 2010, Mr. Reithofer said, and test fleets of BMW-branded electric cars, built in Leipzig, will be on the road next year.

2010 BMW 750i

I would give high praise to BMW for its clean and modern-looking interior design, and it is no surprise that there was more than enough head and leg room for most drivers and passengers. Those seeking more room to the rear can opt for the Li model that is five inches longer than the test car and offers true stretch-out room.

There are few cars on the road that deliver the perfect balance between luxury and driving pleasure -- with enough of the latter to please even those addicted to 120 mile per hour romps on the autobahn. The 7-series does all that with ease, and for that reason is now named by this driver as the best luxury car yet driven.

OK, you knew this would not be cheap and it isn't. With $17,525 in options, the tested 750i sold for $100,980.

BMW unveils new BMW 5 series

The new BMW 5 series is expected to maintain the marque’s foothold in the premium segment which saw 7,735 units sold since 2003 for the previous model.

The previous generation 5 series has since 2003 been at the core of BMW’s success in Malaysia with sales of 7,735, of which 6,732 were locally assembled in Kulim, Kedah.

BMW Group Malaysia managing director Geoffrey Briscoe said the new sixth-generation models were expected to maintain that legacy.

Geoffrey Briscoe, managing director of BMW Group Malaysia at the launch of the new sixth generation BMW 5 series.

BMW Group Malaysia yesterday launched the new sixth-generation BMW 5 Series, one of the most anticipated cars this year in the premium segment of the local automotive industry.

BMW Z4 sDrive35is Mille Miglia in a Limited Edition of 99 Units

German automaker BMW is celebrating the 70th anniversary of the famous win it recorded with its 328 model at the Mille Miglia endurance race, by bringing a special edition Z4 Roadster. Known as the BMW Z4 sDrive 35is Mille Miglia Limited Edition, only 99 units of the car will be manufactured.

The special edition is based on the recently revealed top-of-the-range Z4 sDrive35is. The car is thus powered by 3.0-liter inline six cylinder unit that produces 335 bhp and up to 450 Nm (332 lb-ft) of torque. This can be increased through overboost to 500 Nm (369 lb-ft).

The changes to the Mille Miglia model are mainly cosmetic. The Z4 sDrive35is Mille Miglia comes standard with a M-power body kit and a special Polaris Metallic grey color offset by a matte black radiator grille. A couple of 1000 MIGLIA badges and 19-inch dark wheels complete the exteriors.