Photos: BMW X5 with M-Sport Package

Spartanburg, SC and another day with the BMW test vehicles being driven around the plant. Once again, our closest collaborator and spy photographer, Palbay, has some shots for us. This time, we don't have the BMW X5 M version, but rather the regular X5 4.8 liter V8 model with the US version of the M-Sport Package. Just last week, we went into a close analysis of the BMW X5 M and the M-Sport Package which seemed to be creating a bit of confusion. The X5 M-Sport Package has been available in Europe for quite some time now and there were always rumors pointing to an US version as well. So the natural question will be, what's so special about this package? The main exterior differences from a standard X5 are the front and rear fascia's the wheel's and the sleeker roof rails.The car features a beefed up Sport Suspension and some M Sport touches on the interior, similar to the other "cosmetic" M packages. As much as I like how the M-Sport Package looks on the X5, I cannot wonder the confusion that this package might create. Think about it, BMW X5 M, BMW X5 M-Sport Package…….I wonder how successful this will be. No related posts.

 

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BMW reconfirms 3 Series Crossover

No breaking news here, but according to Autocar UK, BMW's CEO Norbert Reithofer has confirmed the future launch of a smaller, more affordable luxury crossover, internally named V3. The first rumors of a 2012 BMW 3 Series Crossover surfaced back in April of 2008 and L.A Auto Show brought the official confirmation that the V3 model will make it to production. The PAC, Progressive Activity Coupe or V3, as it is known internally, is expected to based on Long Wheel Base 3 Series. The Progressive Activity Coupe has a higher roof when compared to the existing 3 Series Wagon and of course, a longer wheelbase as well. According to Autocar, it will fill a slot between the 3 Series Touring and the BMW X3, a statement that might not be entirely true, since the next generation X3 will grow in size and the X1 will be taking its place. The idea of a PAC vehicle is that the little less wealthy 3er customers might find 5 Series too expensive, X3 too big, so they might find the V3 PAC being the right choice. As Autocar mentioned as well, we learned a while back that the 3-series crossover will come with rear-wheel drive as standard, but four-wheel drive will be offered as an option. The engines are likely to be the ones from the BMW 3-series models, with a future line-up of turbocharged four and six-cylinder petrol and diesel engines, basically expect all the "goodies" from the 3 Series to make it into the PAC as well. The last two paragraphs on the Autocar article are probably the most interesting ones: When he was asked if the worldwide financial crisis had affected plans for the 3-series GT, Reithofer said, "We haven't cancelled the development project for a crossover off the 3-series because it is considered a volume builder with which we can earn good money." And Reithofer has been studying proposals to build the new car at BMW's Spartanburg factory in the US state of South Carolina, or the company's Rosslyn plant in South Africa, the source of the majority of 3-series saloons sold in the UK. The first quote reinforces what we knew so far: BMW will focus on smaller vehicles, more efficient and less expensive to manufacture. The second one gives great hope to the Spartanburg Plant which will see an increase in production units per year and implicitly more jobs. [Source: Autocar ]

 

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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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Spy Shots: BMW 5-Series Touring

Who needs a 5-Series PAS when you've got one of these? The next BMW 5-Series Touring is out testing, and despite the fact that it looks as long as a football field and it's buried under cladding, it doesn't look awkward or ungainly - something that cannot exactly be said for the coming Mercedes E-Class wagon. The BMW wagon isn't expected to debut until the latter portion of 2010, but there are hints that the car will get the 400 hp, twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V8 - perhaps for an M Touring assault on Mercedes' E63 AMG wagon? The family carrier is also hinted to offer turbodiesels and three transmission options: 8-speed automatic, 7-speed DKG, and 6-speed manual. [Source: Global Motors]

 

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VIDEO: BMW gives sneak preview of new X6 M

The BMW X6 remains something of an enigma, specifically, why does it exist? Nonetheless, it does and BMW is working on additional variants including a two-mode hybrid for release later this year and an M version. We don't have much detail yet on the X6 M, but BMW has put a video up on YouTube with Bernd Limmer from M GmbH demonstrating a prototype. The X6 M will evidently have a higher output version of the current twin turbo V8, probably hitting the magic 500 hp mark. The xDrive all-wheel-drive system is also being re-jiggered to send more torque to the rear axle. That should help reduce the understeer that the nose heavy V8 X6's are prone to. So far there is no word on when we will see the X6 M in the flesh, but either the Geneva Motor Show in March or Frankfurt Motor Show in September seem's likely. Follow the jump to see the X6 M for yourself in high-res video. Thanks to xeyad for the tip! [Source: YouTube]

 

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Photos: New models at the LA Auto Show

Click to view more photos of new models at the 2008 LA Auto Show. (Credit: Corinne Schulze/CBS Interactive) It seems like every year vehicles get bigger and more powerful, but recently we've been seeing a trend toward smaller and more efficient. While new models are still getting their ...

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CES 2009 Preview: FLIR helps BMWs detect pedestrians

FLIR, the maker of BMW's night-vision system, will be at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas next week showing off its PathFindIR thermal imaging camera. The company says its system isn't confused by oncoming headlights, works well in cold weather and can even see through fog, dust and smoke. FLIR also says its camera is based on the same technology used by the military to provide a 36° field-of-view of the road ahead. We plan to check out the company's claims in the 6 Series they're bringing to CES. Maybe they'll even let us take it out and recreate that urban rumor of 200-mph desert highway sprints with no headlights. No, probably not.

 

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