Mini and Mitsubishi launch electric car trials in UK

Two of the world's largest car firms kicked off trials of their flagship electric vehicles this weekend as part of a nationwide pilot scheme backed by the Technology Strategy Board (TSB).

Mitsubishi's electric i-MiEVs and BMW's electric Mini were both distributed to participants in the trial, which is intended to inform both the development of the yet-to-be-released vehicles and the government's wider electric car strategy.

Mini's electric car trial began in Oxford where 40 customers picked up their cars as part of a pilot scheme that has seen a special charging points fitted at the homes of the successful applicants and data collection devices fitted to each of the Mini Es. [Read more...]

BMW, Mini to let Mercedes-Benz inspect, prep its vehicles at port

The Mercedes-Benz Baltimore vehicle process center has secured a five-year contract to inspect, process, and repair pre-delivery BMW and Mini vehicles arriving in the United States. It's a deal that makes economic sense for both companies, say that automakers. [Read more...]

BMW Raises Prices 0.4%, Ups Destination and Handling By $50 In 2010

BMW has announced a 0.4% base price increase through most of its model range and a $50 addition to the destination charge. The changes go into effect January 1, 2010.

The change means that the price of a 128i before destination will increase by $1160, to $30,160. A base M3 sedan (like the one in our long-term garage) will cost $57,044 before destination, increasing $2194. The destination and handling charge will total $875.

The base price increase does not affect the ActiveHybtid X6, ActiveHybrid 7, and the 550i GranTurismo. However all three will be subject to the increased destination and handling charge.

Source: BMW

The Z4 sDrive35is is based on the currently range-topping sDrive35i and uses the same three-litre six-cylinder twin turbo petrol engine. That engine, however, has been uprated and now produces 340bhp rather than the standard 306bhp, while maximum torque has been increased from 295lb/ft to 332lb/ft in normal circumstances and 369lb/ft for brief periods of hard acceleration.

History: BMW car designers – Episode 1

With every vehicle launched, a new series of BMW designers rise and leave their footprint in BMW’s car design history.

Since over the last tens of years there were numerous designers, we will break down the impressive and long list of “automobile artists” giving you a series of short episodes. [Read more...]

History: BMW car designers – Episode 2

With every vehicle launched, a new series of BMW designers rise and leave a mark in BMW’s car design history. Since over the last tens of years there were numerous designers, we will break down the impressive and long list of “automobile artists” giving you a series of short episodes. [Read more...]

Police-wrapped BMW M3 and Audi S3 spotted at the Nurburgring

Ok, for the record, they aren’t officially-sanctioned police cruisers making a routine check at the Nurburgring.

But they sure look believable, don’t they?

A pair of vehicles – a BMW M3 Coupe and an Audi S3, to be exact – was recently spotted at the ‘Ring sporting some pretty intimidating police wraps. From what we’ve heard, these two cars are owned by civilians that are part of a group called the ‘Ring-Police’.

We don’t know a good deal about these guys, but judging from the website stickered on the two cars’ rear bumpers, it looks the Ring-Police is a group of custom tuners that have been getting quite the following in Germany.

BMW using money saved from F1 pullout for more product placement

Piece Brosnan with the BMW Z8 in The World is Not Enough

You wouldn't know it if you weren't a serious film buff or marketing exec, but Propaganda GEM is responsible for a big share of the products you see placed in films. The entertainment marketing agency represents such brands as Audi, Lamborghini, Nokia, Panasonic, Bang & Olufsen and Casio, to name just a few. And it has a new client: the BMW Group.

Following such films as I, Robot and Iron Man, Propaganda has helped Audi significantly increase its profile in Hollywood. But the agency will be terminating its 13-year relationship with Audi (and, we'd expect, Lambo along with them) in order to take on BMW (together with Mini, Rolls-Royce and BMW motorcycles), spearheading a new marketing initiative for the Bavarian automaker.

Having temporarily stolen the James Bond spotlight from Aston Martin and Lotus in the mid-Nineties and launched The Hire film short series in 2001, BMW is no stranger to product placement, but the tie-in with Propaganda promises to take things to the next level. Apparently Munich's marketing budget has increased recently, thanks in large part to the termination of the company's Formula One program this year. BMW's sponsorship of the 2012 Olympic Games in London will only be the tip of the proverbial iceberg, as we can expect to see its products and those of its subsidiaries in more movies, television shows, music videos and video games in the near future

BMW's Diesel Hybrid Pulls 63 MPG, Outruns an M3

BMW's EfficientDynamics Vision concept car combines the best of all worlds with incredible fuel efficiency, breaktaking performance, and sensational looks.

It's powered by a three-cylinder turbo-diesel engine, lithium polymer batteries, and electric motors front and rear. The BMW Vision gets a U.S. unveiling next week at the Los Angeles Auto Show, Dec. 4-13. The only bad news: The BMW Vision is more vision than production-ready concept car. What you'd most likely see on sale would be the key components such as the drivetrain and battery technology transplanted to a more mainstream body. [Read more...]

BMW M3 GTS. Teaser

BMW Megacity to use Carbon Fiber on “large scale”

If we told you BMW was planning a new car with more carbon fiber than any previous model, you might assume we were talking about a new project out of the “M” division. But take a look at that headline again. Yes, that’s right — BMW has announced the Megacity microcar will make substantial use of the exotic material. [Read more...]