Audi, BMW, Mercedes increasingly dependent on China as sales drop in Germany

While Audi sales increased in China by 53 percent, Mercedes sales practically tripled.  BMW, which had a slim increase in German sales of four percent, delivered 82 percent morecars to customers in China versus a year earlier.

One explanation for the increases comes from the J.D. Power & Associates research firm.  A recent report from the group says that luxury vehicle sales will advance in China twice as fast as the industry's average.  This could translate to 1.1 million units by 2015. LINK

G-Power M5 (E60) Hurricane RR

German tuning company G-Power claims to have used the BMW M5 to achieve the World's Fastest Sedan record.  The G-Power Hurricane RR manages a top speed of 372 km/h (231 mph), roughly the same top speed as the McLaren F1.

The car beats the tuner's previous record, set by the M5 Hurricane RS.  That car used a 750-hp (551-kW) twin-supercharged V10 engine to hit a top speed of 367.4 km/h (228 mph). LINK

BMW X1 overtakes Audi Q5 for top-selling premium SUV

By a margin of just 407 vehicles, the BMW X1 barely beat out the Audi Q5 to be Europe's highest-selling premium SUV for the first six months of 2010.  BMW sold 44,067 units of the X1 from January to June, compared to 43,660 units of the Q5.

The Volvo XC60 (29,616 units), Land Rover Freelander (20,138 units) and the BMW X5 (16,565) rounded out the five top selling SUVs in Europe for the time period.  JATO Dynamics, a research firm in the UK, compiled the statistics, which were published in the Automotive News.

Sales of the X1 have certainly not slowed down.  The company claims to have sold 11,483 units in July alone.  One advantage is the vehicle's €27,200 pricetag, at least €9,000 less than the other models in the top five.

However, the list could get a shakeup once 2011 model year vehicles go on sale.  This could include X1 competitors from Infiniti and Mercedes-Benz, along with the Audi Q3and Saab 9-4X.  The MINI Countryman could also pull away some buyers from the X1, even though it may not be considered a "premium SUV".

The Countryman will cost €7,000 less than the X1.

BMW considering 6-series shooting brake

Could BMW have a BMW 6-Series Gran Turismo concept ready to go for the Paris Motor Show?  Citing an accidental disclosure by BMW development head Dr. Klaus Draeger, AutoExpress says the shooting brake 6er has already been constructed.

The magazine says the design was created by BMW exec Adrian van Hooijdonk, the man responsible for the 3er coupe and the 6er.  Van Hooijdonk, who also works on the looks ofthe MINI and Rolls-Royce, is believed by many to also have inspired the Bangle Butt look of some current BMW models.

Van Hooijdonk is believed to be basing the style of the car on the Gran Coupé concept from the Beijing Motor Show.  Once the 6-Series GT is unveiled, public reaction would dictate if it is produced, and in how many units.  Still, AutoExpress says the Gran Coupé will go into production with or without the 6er GT, and will be targeted at customers of the Mercedes CLS.

BMW 1 Series M Coupé In-Car Track Video

BMW has released a new video of the 1-Series M Coupe driving around the Ascari race track in Spain.

While details are limited, BMW says the "interior and exterior of the production vehicle" will look different than the prototype in the clip. Furthermore, the 1-Series M will "...be focused on the essentials - the fascination ofdriving. And it will reflect a love of detail, too."

Power will likely be provided by a twin-turbo N54 inline-six with 335 hp (250 kW / 340 PS). It will be mated exclusively to a six-speed manual transmission, which should allow the 1-Series M to accelerate from 0-60 mph in approximately 4.7 seconds.

The car will be unveiled in December, before its world premiere at the 2011 North American International Auto Show. European sales will begin in the "first half of 2011", while Americans will have to wait until summer.

BMW Gran Coupe Concept

Gallery

BMW i100 Coupe Active Hybrid to launch in 2013

A new report out of Germany is suggesting the production version of the BMW Vision EfficientDynamics Concept could be called the i100 Coupe ActiveHybrid when it is launched in 2013.

While we cannot confirm this, it does sound like a peculiar name for a range topping model. It obviously attempts to break away from the "series" based nomenclature and draw some inspiration from the M1 moniker, but i100 seems more likely to conjure up thoughts of the 1-Series.

Further BMW X4 details surface

New details have surfaced about BMW's X4 crossover.

According to Auto Express, the X6's sibling will be based on the2011 X3 and feature coupe-like styling. The model is also poised to receive the innovative twin-hatch system (from the 5-Series Gran Turismo) and individual seating for four.

Under the hood, engine options will carryover from the X3. This means we can expect a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder diesel with 181 hp (135 kW / 184 PS) and a turbocharged 3.0-liter straight-six petrol with 300 hp (225 kW / 306 PS).

An X4 concept will likely debut next year and, if public reception is good, BMW could put the model into production as early as 2012.  If approved, the X4 would compete with the Land Rover Evoque and Mercedes GLC.

Deep insight BMW Concept Gran Coupé

This study provides a look ahead to the design-future of BMW. Anders Warming, Head of Exterior Design BMW, shows the details and ideas behind this elegant concept.

BMW 328 Kamm Coupé

he Resurrection of the legendary Mille Miglia winner of 1940: the BMW 328 Kamm Coupé.

The new BMW X3 (2011). Interior