BMW to offer 7 Series with xDrive AWD in late 2009

2009 BMW 7 Series Buyers in the upper echelon of the luxury segment are increasingly demanding all-wheel traction on their rides, and BMW has evidently grown tired of seeing would-be customers flocking to rival automakers like Audi and Mercedes-Benz to get what they want. So for the first time in the model line's history, the new BMW 7 Series will be offered with all-wheel drive. Engineers in Bavaria have reportedly worked hard to keep the 7's rear-drive dynamics intact, and have opted to fit the xDrive system with a 30:70 rearward bias instead of the 40:60 in other applications. xDrive-equipped 7s will also get a slightly higher ground clearance and Hill Decent Control, a system usually reserved for serious off-road vehicles. The option will be available on all versions of the 7 save the smallest diesels and gasoline engines that we don't get in North America anyway, fetching a €2500-2800 premium (in European markets) over conventional rear-drive versions. BMW is testing the 7 Series with xDrive in snow-draped locales before the option is offered in other markets starting at the Frankfurt Motor Show in October 2009, after which Quattros and 4Matics will be looking over their shoulders. Gallery: 2009 BMW 7 Series

 

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BMW M1 Concept spied ahead of Villa d’Este Concours

 

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BMW M-Zero Conceptual Design Excercise

What happens when you combine a BMW 6-series, Mercedes-Benz, Aston Martin DB9 and a hint of Audi R8? Well, you get the M-Zero, a conceptual design by Maël Oberkampf (and not officially BMW). It's supposed to represent a BMW "synthesis" between some of the luxury manufacturers out there, but it seems predominantly a BMW, most apparent by the badging. The Audi R8 reference comes because that is the look and feel the designer was going for with this design. It's kind of like getting Shakira's ass with Megan Fox's body and Eva Longoria's face.

 

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2011 BMW 6-series coupe and cabrio

 

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2009 BMW 7-Series UK Version

The launch of the fifth generation BMW 7-Series marks a new in-class benchmark in automotive luxury, technical innovation and driving dynamics, combined with emissions-reducing and fuel-saving technology. The flagship of the BMW model range debuts on 15 November 2008 with a host of world firsts and will initially be offered with a choice of three powerplants, one diesel and two petrol engines. The two petrol-powered cars will be offered with a long-wheelbase body. All three engines produce more power, yet use less fuel and produce fewer emissions than the models they replace. Klaus Kibsgaard, Managing Director of BMW (UK) Ltd, said: "The BMW 7-Series is BMW personified: a luxurious, sporting premium car that is ideal for the businessman who enjoys driving. EfficientDynamics technologies offer low cost of ownership benefits at a time of financial uncertainty. The car introduces a number of intelligent design and engineering enhancements that make it a truly class-leading product." Drivetrain The BMW 730d is powered by a new, all-aluminium engine that produces 245hp and 540Nm of torque. Capable of propelling the vehicle from zero to 62mph in 7.2 seconds before going on to a top speed of 153mph, the vehicle is still able to return the best fuel economy of any previous BMW 7-Series. And its combined 39.2mpg figure is better than any comparable car in the market: petrol, diesel or hybrid. The BMW 740i and 750i are equally noteworthy. The 740i is powered by an evolution of the current back-to-back International Engine of the Year-winning 3.0-litre petrol engine. The twin-turbocharged unit produces 326hp and 450Nm of torque to enable the 740i to accelerate from zero to 62mph in 5.9 seconds before going on to an electronically-limited 155mph top speed. It records a combined consumption figure of 28.5mpg and CO2 emissions of 232g/km. As the flagship of the range, the BMW 750Li takes pride of place with its own world first. Its twin-turbochargers are located within the engine's vee to improve performance and packaging requirements. The configuration sees the 750i produce 407hp and 600Nm of torque which equates to a zero to 62mph time of 5.2 seconds, an electronically-limited top speed of 155mph, a combined consumption figure of 24.8mpg and emissions of 266g/km. The BMW 7-Series comes with the marque's award-winning EfficientDynamics technologies - the same as every other model currently on sale. The introduction of Brake Energy Regeneration, active aerodynamics and on-demand use of ancillary units have all had a beneficial impact on economy and emissions compared to the previous generation. The BMW 730d is the first Seven to ever record a sub 200g/km emissions figure. Such is the impact of EfficientDynamics technologies across the entire BMW range, the marque now offers 73 models with CO2 emissions of 140g/km or less in the UK and Republic of Ireland - a greater figure than any other premium manufacturer. Chassis and safety As with all modern BMWs, the 7-Series has a chassis configuration aimed at balancing ride comfort with a dynamic driving experience. A 50:50 weight distribution and the extensive use of lightweight materials throughout the car provide a good foundation. Building on this are a raft of active chassis and safety systems that further enhance the experience. Standard on all BMW 7-Series variants is a double wishbone front suspension with an Integral V rear suspension configuration. Long wheelbase cars supplant the Integral V rear axle with an air suspension for greater rear passenger ride comfort. In addition to this every vehicle features Drive Dynamic Control that offers four distinct set-ups of Comfort, Normal, Sport and Sport+. At the touch of a button the driver can alter the gear change, throttle response, degree of power steering assistance, damper settings and the Dynamic Stability Control+ programme. Building on the standard chassis configuration are a number of optional features. Integral Active Steering allows all four wheels of the car to be steered. This improves the turning circle at slower speeds while offering a more composed ride at higher speeds. In a world first, Speed Limit Display uses a forward-facing camera to scan road signs and display the current speed limit to the driver. The system even recognises variable speed warnings in road works. Lane Departure Warning shares the same camera as Speed Limit Display to monitor road markings and warn the driver if they are in danger of straying out of lane. Lane Change Warning provides a rearward-facing safety blanket courtesy of two sensors situated in the bumper. The system alerts the driver to any vehicle that may be in a blind spot. The BMW 7-Series can also be specified with the world's first Night Vision system with individual pedestrian recognition. Not only does the latest Night Vision scan the road 300 metres ahead it is now able to warn the driver if a pedestrian is likely to walk into the path of the car. Side View cameras and Head-up Display are two further safety features that are segment firsts. 2009 BMW 7-Series UK Version- Pictures:

 

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Hamann wheels for the F01 BMW 7-Series

German tuner Hamann recommends you ponk out a whole 5-digit load of cash and purchase these wheels for your new F01 BMW 7-Series, when it gets arrives on our shores of course. The multi-spoke-ish design of both wheels were probably designed to match the huge grill at the front. Look after the jump for 4 shots of the wheels fitted onto a short wheelbase BMW 730d.

 

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2008 BMW M3 saloon launched

Backed by astounding demand, BMW has introduced a four-door version of its M3 into the Australian market for the first time. Joining the BMW Coupe and Convertible, the new E92 BMW M3 saloon offers the same raw performance as its siblings with the practicality of a full size sedan. It is powered by the same 4.0-litre V8 engine which develops 309kw and 400Nm with a screaming red line at 8,400rpm. In manual guise, the BMW M3 saloon sprints from 0 to 100km/h in just 4.9 seconds, or just 4.7 seconds when optioned with the seven-speed M double-clutch transmission - merely an 0.1 second handicap over the coupe. Fuel consumption remains at a frugal 12.4 litres per 100km for the manual and just 11.9 litres per 100kms for the M DCT - a true testament to this remarkable engine. This will mark the first time an M3 saloon has been sold in Australia, with no sedan model for the previous E46 generation model range, and in the E36 generation, only Coupé and Convertible versions of the M3 were sold locally. The M3 sedan rides on special M 18-inch light alloy wheels shod with 245/40 front and 265/40 ZR 18 tyres, while 19-inch light alloy wheels are optional, fitted with 245/35 front and 265/35 ZR 19 tyres. Luxury features such as satellite navigation with an 8.8-inch full colour monitor, TV, Voice Recognition, Bluetooth mobile connection, LOGIC7 HIFI system, Adaptive bi-Xenon headlights, leather upholstery, powered and heated M Sport seats with memory functions, and backrest width adjustment and lumbar support are all standard. The M3 sedan also boasts Brake Energy Regeneration technology which collects energy on overrun or under braking to charge the battery, allowing the absolute maximum engine power be delivered to acceleration rather than being diverted to power electrical systems. The new BMW M3 sedan will go on sale from November 22nd, priced from $145,000 plus dealer delivery and statutory charges.

 

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BMW Clean Diesels Arrive, Powerful and Pricey

BMW announced pricing for its two 50-state clean diesel vehicles yesterday. The BMW 335d sedan will carry a price tag of $44,725, while pricing for the BMW xDrive35d SUV will begin at $52,025. Top: BMW 335d. Bottom: BMW X5 xDrive35d.  The launch of the 335d and X5 xDrive35d—which will arrive in December and January respectively—was accompanied by statements from BMW that the vehicles will carry "the most fuel efficient engine we have ever offered in the US." The emphasis on efficiency, and the fact that the new models will burn diesel fuel instead of premium gasoline, doesn't mean the company is planning to shed its "ultimate driving machine" image though. The diesel engine that powers both new vehicles turns out 265 horsepower and a stump-pulling 425 foot-pounds of torque. The latter number explains why the engine is only offered with an automatic transmission—BMW's manual transmissions can't handle that level of torque. While the engine meets the stringent California emissions standards, BMW President of Engineering Tom Baloga said the company and its suppliers are already working on an even cleaner version—one that would have tailpipe emissions comparable, or even cleaner than a Toyota Prius. BMW 335d Sedan Goes on sale in December Fuel economy of 23 mpg in the city and 36 mpg on the highway Performance in line with BMW buyers' expectations: 0-60 in 6 seconds. Pricing begins at $44,725—a $2,500 premium over the comparable 335 gas version As a clean "alternative" vehicle, it's eligible for $900 federal tax credit BMW xDrive35d SUV Goes on sale in January Fuel economy of 19 mpg in the city and 26 mpg on the highway Performance: 0-60 in 6.9 seconds Pricing begins at $52,025—a $5,000 premium over the base X5 3.0-liter gas-powered version. (The X5 diesel is comparable in performance to the X5 4.8-liter gasoline vehicle, which starts at $55,625.) The X5 xDrive35d is be eligible for $1,550 tax credit   BMW stressed the technical prowess of its "advanced clean diesel" and emphasized the company's 25 years of experience with diesels. In a presentation to journalists to announce the pricing, BMW engineers spent a significant amount of time discussing the diesel exhaust treatment system. After explaining that the sophisticated injection system allows very efficient combustion of the fuel, the engineers described the three stages of after-treatment, including an oxidation catalyst, particulate filter, and urea-based treatment system. Presenters noted that the six-gallon urea-based system was designed to last between oil changes—which are free for BMW owners for the first four years. They added that it was designed "like a gas tank," with warnings that the fluid is running low. Hedging with Hybrids BMW is hopeful that consumers will embrace the new diesels, despite the price premium and the higher price for diesel fuel. Company executives echoed recent industry forecasts that diesel vehicles could capture as much as 15 percent of the new car market by 2015. But the company is hedging its bet on diesel, and is expecting to bring mild and full hybrid vehicles to the market in the coming years.

 

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Brits vote BMW 3-Series most reliable

BMW's biggest selling model range, the 3-Series, has been voted the most reliable car in a survey of Britain's vehicle leasing companies. The poll, which covered the reliability history of nearly 900,000 vehicles in 2008, also revealed that BMW was the most reliable manufacturer overall. In an historic win over the Japanese car manufacturers who traditionally dominate in reliability surveys, BMW topped the charts in this year's annual FN50 reliability survey. The BMW 3-Series was the most rated model for reliability, with the MINI hatch and BMW 1-Series also making the top ten, sitting fifth and seventh most reliable respectively. Compiled by Fleet News, the survey assessed some 881,000 cars according to the number of breakdowns per 100 of each type of model on each leasing company's fleet. Points were then awarded according to the number of times that brands or particular models appeared in the tables supplied by the leasing firms and also for the position in which they were placed.

 

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Lumma Design CLR X 650 makes the X6 wider and more powerful

We're sure you remember the Lumma Design CLR X 650 based on the BMW X6 which seemed like was going to be an aggressive looking SAV for the Hulk. However, Lumma Design has decided to forgo the awkward green color and settled for good ol' white. Shown at the 2008 Essen Motor Show, the CLR X 650 gives the X6 an insanely large wide bodykit that consists of a new front bumper, fender extentions, side skirts, a new rear bumper with a carbon diffuser, and a front spoiler bumper. Lumma threw on 23-inch Lumma Racing 3 wheels along with a lowering sport suspension kit which drops the X6 by 35mm. Inside the CLR X 650 gets a carbon-leather and alcantara trim and a bunch of accessories including 7.5 inch monitors installed in the headrests. Based on the X6 xDrive50i, Lumma Design reprogrammed the ECU extracting a little more than 400-hp from the 4.4L twin-turbo V8. A new sports exhaust system has been added for an aggressive racing sound.

 

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BMW twin-turbo diesel power starts under $50,000

The first breed of BMW's advanced diesel vehicles with Blue Performance are going on sale in the near future- with pricing starting under $50,000. Running clean and green on ultra-low sulfur diesel (ULSD), the automaker's proven twin-turbodiesel inline six cylinder engine will make its way under the hood of the newly updated 3-Series sedan and X5 'Sports Activity Vehicle'. The resulting models are called the 335d and X5 xDrive35d, respectively. Both are motivated by the same three-liter engine that generates 265 horsepower and a whopping 425 lb.-ft of torque. A Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) exhaust management system and diesel particulate filter are also included, allowing the models to meet the strictest emissions requirements. Performance is comparable to the gas-powered variant of either model, though fuel consumption is reduced by an average of 25 to 30 percent. A twin-turbo setup virtually eliminates turbo-lag, and a six-speed automatic with manual mode is standard on each machine. "In recent years, BMW has worked more thoroughly and consistently than any other manufacturer worldwide to increase fuel economy and reduce emissions", said Lindsay Duffield, President and CEO of BMW Group Canada. "The performance and fuel economy offered by new BMW Advanced Diesels with BluePerformance is a further example of the ongoing application of BMW's EfficientDynamics strategy and we are delighted that it will shortly be available to the Canadian consumer." The 335d opens the bidding at $49,700, while the X5 xDrive35d starts at $62,200. Expect the models to be in showrooms sometime next month. Photos: BMW

 

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BMW why BMW?

 

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BMW working on an environment friendly supercar

Words from the mouth of a BMW Insider say that the company is working on a new eco-friendly supercar. Likely to be based on the M1 Homage Concept, the new supercar will be a showcase of the cutting edge technology developed by the company. BMW's Efficient Dynamics program will be involved in a big way to lower environmental impact. An aluminum spaceframe and carbon-fiber body panels are also likely to be used, in order to lower the weight of the car. The automaker has not decided on the layout or the powertrain to be used in the car. Reportedly, BMW bosses are considering a mid-engine layout or a front-engine configuration. Similarly, though a twin-turbocharched inline-six-cylinder is currently the favored candidate to deliver power, the final engine may have an engine with new variable-vane turbochargers; a new hybrid powertrain cannot be ruled out either. BMW isn't working on new projects right now, and the car hasn't been given the go-ahead yet, but the source has been quoted saying: It just makes good sense given the sort of focus that is being placed on the environment today. The technology that has been proposed is already largely in place. It's just a matter of applying it in one purpose-built package. Image: BMW Via: Autoweek

 

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Hit-and-run cases: Why blame the beemer?

"No BMW, go for any other beast but not the BMW", this is what my friend's dad pressed when we decided to go for the vehicle. The whole family was against the idea as the beemer has been getting some extremely bad press for quite sometime. Whenever it has come in the news, it has been with connection to some hit and run case or the other. India has seen two high profile hit and run cases recently, one involving Sanjiv Nanda, the grandson of a formal Navy Chief, and the other one involving teenager Utsav Bhasin, the son of a renowned industrialist. Both of them come from affluent families, and the car involved in both the accidents, was a beemer. Media, pounced upon the cases with the tagline - "BMW Hit and Run Case".  The Indian television news channels, who aspire to be more sensational than the best thriller you ever saw, have also been more dramatic and repetitive than any daily soap can ever claim to be. Discussed around the television screens at an amazingly repetitive and sensationalized coverage, the general public has been more than confused. While many people may not know the name of the people involved in these incidents, or of the lives lost as a result, what has stuck is the brand of the car(s) in these incidents. The result – A tarnished brand image. A basic fact that appears to have been overlooked in the media scrutiny of these cases is that cars don't drive themselves. The name of the marque is repeated so vehemently in certain sections of these reports, it almost appears that the vehicle decided to disobey its master and to ram into some innocent bystander. So, I will take a leaf out of the television reporter's dictionary and repeat myself; Cars don't drive themselves. It is common sense that things will go awry when a person is driving under the influence of some kind of intoxication - be it alcohol or something else - the brand of the car involved is quite immaterial in such circumstances. When the reins are in the driver's hands, why blame the brand? Now to get back to our fascination for the beemer...no worries! With the arguments set out above, it was a matter of time before we made the elders see our point of view. No wonder, BMW won two Kelley Blue Book Brand Image Awards at the 2008 New York International Auto Show. Check out more in the gallery and decide for yourself.

 

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BMW India ‘bimming’ ahead

While many manufacturers are closing down plants to stop piling up inventory, BMW has defied the downturn, at least  in India. BMW's specialist 'M' or the 'Motorsport' division has improved on sales internationally and the BMW brand as a whole has posted impressive sales in India. The Bavarians say they have recorded a 100% growth in the sales of their cars here in India in 2008. BMW, which had already delivered 2,700 cars in India by the end of November this year, plans to get to the 2,800 figure by the end of this month. Given that BMW had only sold 1,387 cars in India last year, the above figures are certainly commendable. And while the company does expect sales to dip in 2009, it still plans to increase its dealership network, spreading to relatively smaller tier 2 cities like Ludhiana, Bhubaneshwar, Jaipur and Coimbatore. This should balance the sales and keep it stable. BMW's Chennai plant runs on a single shift producing 3000 cars a year but expect it to run in two shifts if the demand increases. Definitely interesting that BMW is still performing well in certain markets and this can be comparable to the Eastern Europe market where the BMW SAV sales have been nothing but impressive for the past year. Many of the X6s and X5s manufactured here in the States found a home in these markets, of course, at a premium price. This is an exclusive article for BMW Blog from indianautosblog.com

 

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Review: 2009 Euro Wagon Shootout: BMW 535xi Wagon, Mercedes E350 Wagon, Volvo XC70 T6, Volkswagen Passat 2.0T Wagon

Station wagons, or "estates" as they are known across the pond, occupy that strange place in the auto market between SUVs, minivans and sedans. On the surface, wagons promise the holy grail of cargo schlepping and fuel sipping. But they're not as sexy as a sedan, not as practical as a modern crossover and they can't haul as much crap as a minivan. In the new world "station wagon" brings up PTSD style flashbacks of 1970s Country Squire wagons with a roof-rack and eight kids in the back on the way to summer camp, 8-track blazing, and your dad at the helm wishing he had a terrier and a 240Z instead. Thankfully, this is not your dad's Oldsmobile Customer Cruiser. For this comparo we've selected the BMW 535xi Wagon, Mercedes E350 Wagon, Volvo XC70 T6 and the Volkswagen Passat 2.0T Wagon.

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World's fastest sedan: BMW M5 Hurricane RS by G-Power

Sedan drivers wish they were driving supercars. Usually a need for space to haul kids and clients means a Bugatti is not in the driveway. Well rich dads of the world can now unite and get the little ones to soccer practice in record time. German tuner G-Power took a BMW 5-Series and turned it into the world's fastest sedan. G-Power now says that it has documented a 228.4 mph top speed on its M5 Hurricane RS. The Hurricane RS seems to accomplish this using brute force, as the V10 engine

 

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