BMW Announces EV 1-Series Will Be Built

BMW plans to release a limited series of the BMW ActiveE, an electric version of the 1-Series.  BMW development executive Klaus Draeger says the ActiveE powertrain will be tested for use in the Megacity.

Although locations outside of Germany actively lobbied BMW to get production of the Megacity, the company told reporters from Automobilwoche they chose Leipzig for the existing factory's flexibility and capability for increased capacity.  Parts will also be built in Wackersdorf and Landshut, with Lithium-ion batteries coming from SB LiMotive, a joint venture between Bosch and Samsung.

2010 Hamann Tycoon EVO M

HAMANN-Motorsport, the renowned specialist for exquisite refinements of BMW-automobiles shows its latest developments on the 80th Geneva Motor Show. The masculine show-piece on the HAMANN exhibition stand with 200 square metres is the world premiere of the 670 hp/493kW strong and 300 km/h fast TYCOON EVO M based on the BMW X6 M. [Read more...]

Brabham BT 92 - first video (H.Q.)

BMW AC Schntitzer 740i (ACS7)

BMW M5 Drifter

BMW 1-Series SuperSport aka M1

BMW may be offering a wide variety of personalization options when the BMW M1 hits the market. The M1 will be debuted in concept form at the Geneva Motor Show next month.

Exterior design touches include three matte paint colors (black, gray, and white), as well as glossier colors like Techno Violet and the pallette already offered on the M line. Several racing stripe choices will be available, and the placement of those stripes can be decided by the customer. Chrome-line exterior will also be on offer.

Interior options include full leather seats and leather with M tri-color patterned Alcantara. Alcantara can also be used for the headliner. The M color pattern can also be emblazoned on the door panels or race stripes. Dash panels can be fashioned out of aluminum or carbon fiber, with door handles and gearshift details in either body color or titanium.

Odds are, if BMW is really going to acquaint the Geneva audience with these customizable options, the production-ready version of the M1 must be around the corner. Speculation suggests the BMW M1 will go on sale in 2011.

2011 BMW M3 Performance Package

After quite a bit of speculation over the German automaker BMW’s upcoming enhancement for everybody’s favorite track day weapon, and whether or now they would be downsizing their power train options along with the rest of the automotive market, we can now bring you some official details regarding the updated and environmentally conscious 2011 BMW M3 Performance Package. Don’t worry because the new car won’t be losing any grunt like we all expected when it goes on sale this spring with pricing to be announced at a later date.

Avus Performance M3

The German tuners at Avus Performance have announced a new performance package for the BMW M3 that focuses on improving both the sports car’s appearance and aerodynamics as well as upping the track tuned 3 Series’s potential. The exterior gets upgraded with a more aggressive front end with larger air intakes and a carbon fiber front lip. A pair of lower hanging side skirts lead back to a carbon fiber rear diffuser to complete the ground effects package while the trunk is replaced with a more pronounced unit with molded ducktail spoiler with a carbon fiber edge. [Gallery]

BMW unwraps 2011 X5 ahead of New York debut

Although the Chicago Auto Show might be just a few days away, BMW is waiting for March’s New York salon to formally unveil its revised X5 crossover lineup. The German automaker slipped a pair of new, turbocharged six and eight-cylinder engines under the hoods of its otherwise mildly revised X5 crossovers.

All three powertrains receive minor cosmetic upgrades to the front and rear fascias, highlighted by lightly modified headlamps and some detail upgrades. The new headlights sit slightly higher and are situated closer in to BMW’s trademark kidney grille. [Read more...]

Artist renders next-generation BMW M5

BMW is keeping its cards close to its vest as far as the next-generation M5 is concerned, but it doesn’t mean that the creative types out there won’t have a jolly good time in giving their own visual interpretations of what the new M5 would look like.

From what we know, though, the new M5 is expected to have a 4.4-liter V8 twin-turbo engine that can churn out as much as 580 horsepower.

In addition to that, BMW has given the new M5 some pretty nifty features including a dual-clutch transmission, side air vents, a carbon fiber roof, and a more aggressive aerodynamic package that should make the new M5 even more imposing and intimidating than it’s predecessors.

Facelift of the 2010 BMW M3 Coupe

The new BMW M3 Coupe Facelift have been caught by spy photographers showing it face to the public again. These spy photos with the BMW M3 Coupe Facelift were very useful to us revealing new LED taillights and probably a new wider grille. I must say that we are very lucky to see the car without the camouflage, just with a little coverage for the BMW logo.

The interior is not going to have a big change while under the hood will be a 4.0 liter V8 engine which is able to develop up to 414 horsepower and a maximum torque of 295 lb-ft which will make this BMW M3 Coupe Facelift able to accelerate from 0 to 60 miles per hour in just 4.7 seconds or 4.5 seconds with the seven speed M transmission.

BMW 550i Gran Turismo Road Test

Based on the platform of the new BMW 7 Series, the 5 Series GT was built on the same principle that made the original Gran Turismo vehicles so popular: a high-performance luxury automobile designed for long-distance driving and why not, having some fun while at it.

The model seen here is the high-end 550i GT powered by a 4.4 liter twin-turbo V8 engine, as seen in the 750i. The powerplant produces 400 horsepower and 450 lb-ft of torque. All this power is sent to the rear wheels through the new ZF 8-Speed automatic transmission.