BMW has revealed the first official details of its second-generation X3 prior to its world debut at the upcoming Paris motor show.

Set to go on sale in the United States in January 2011, BMW says the new X3 will be priced close to the outgoing model. The upmarket off-roader has been completely redesigned and reengineered in a move BMW hopes will see it emulate the first-generation model’s success, sales of which have now topped the 600,000 mark worldwide since its introduction in 2003.

The picture of a preproduction prototype issued by BMW reveal that the new X3 retains the two-box silhouette and hard-edged styling theme established by its predecessor, although the tape disguise continues to hide its more subtle design features and detailing.

Riding on adapted four-wheel-drive underpinnings from the all-new 3-series (the E30 due next year), the X3 has grown in every dimension. The increase in size better positions the X3 neatly between the X1 and the X5.

Inside, the new X3 sports a noticeably higher-quality dashboard and trim materials than its rather low-rent predecessor, something BMW admits was necessary given the increased competition the new four-wheel drive faces. The instruments and switchgear are of a level comparable to those found in the new 5-series. The increased external dimensions help improve interior accommodation.

BMW confirmed to AutoWeek that the X3 will be offered with the choice of four engines when sales begin. Gasoline units set to underpin North American sales include a 268-hp naturally aspirated 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder in the X3 xDrive28i and a 302-hp, twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder in the X3 xDrive35i. Europe also gets two turbocharged common-rail diesels.

Other engines are planned, including a 201-hp, 2.0-liter four-cylinder diesel in a midrange X3 xDrive23d model. An ActiveHybrid version is also in the works, according to highly placed BMW sources, although it isn’t likely to go on sale until 2012 at the earliest.

The entry-level X3 xDrive20d comes standard with a Getrag-engineered six-speed manual gearbox. The remainder gets ZF’s latest eight-speed automatic with automatic stop/start, the first time such a combination has been applied to a BMW model. Along with the standard four-wheel-drive layout applied to all initial second-generation X3 models, BMW says it is also looking at introducing a rear-wheel-drive version X3 sDrive28i as part of efforts to further penetrate the U.S. market, where its rival, the Mercedes-Benz GLK, sees a 40 percent take rate for the rear-wheel-drive model.

In a move that provides hints to the mechanical make-up of the upcoming 3-series, BMW confirms that the X3 adopts a newly developed mechanical-electric steering system from ThyssenKrupp in place of the ZF-engineered hydraulic system found on the outgoing model. The German steelmaking giant, which purchased rival Mercedes-Benz parent company Daimler’s steering system division as part of diversification plans, is expected to play an increasingly prominent role in the development of future steering systems at BMW.

And to answer long-standing criticism of the X3’s too-harsh ride, BMW has provided the second-generation model with VDC, or variable damping control. The new system offers three levels of damper stiffness–normal, sport and sport plus. Altering the damping also serves to change the threshold settings of DTC, or dynamic traction control.

Unlike the first-generation X3, which hailed from Magna Steyr’s manufacturing plan in Austria, the site set to produce the new Mini Countryman, the new model will roll off BMW’s own production lines in Spartanburg, S.C.

Source: [Auto Week]

Find out more about the BMW ActiveHybrid 7, the latest green offering from this popular car manufacturer.

The new ActiveHybrid 7 is part of BMW’s new line of hybrid cars. Unlike the more complex dual-mode system in the ActiveHybrid X6, the 7’s system is designed to get the most from hybrid technologies ecological and fuel economy advantages while reducing the power, weight, and space penalties of more complex systems.

As a result, the car is only 165lbs heavier than a normally equipped 7, and the lithium ion battery takes up only 1.4 cubic feet of trunk space.

The 8-speed ZF transmission is the same as found in the regular 7, but a smaller torque converter and higher gear ratios have been fitted to take advantage of the electric motor’s low-speed torque. The motor itself sits between the engine and transmission adding 55 hp and 65 ft-lb torque for a total of 440 hp and 455 ft-lb torque when combined with the car’s twin turbo V8. While it shares this engine with the regular 750, the ActiveHybrid can reach 60 mph half a second faster than its non-hybrid stablemate. EPA figures have not yet been released, but it’s expected that this car will get 15% better fuel economy than base 7.

The gas engine runs when the car is first started, allowing start-stop mode only once the car has moved. The switch between regenerative and friction braking is seamless, something rarely seen in even the best hybrids. When this happens, the tach turns blue, indicating power regeneration instead of revs.

Unlike other hybrids, exterior cues identifying this model are limited to special aerodynamic wheels and a small “ActiveHybrid” badge on the rear. A new electric air conditioning system has been added with coolant lines running to the battery to keep it cool while also keeping passengers comfortable while the gas engine is off.

Source: [Car Junky]

Despite its questionable looks, the BMW 530d Gran Turismo is exceptionally comfortable and a pleasure to drive, writes The Wheel Deal.

While a lot of German auto manufacturers seem to put a lot of effort into making all their products look more or less the same, BMW apparently takes an almost perverse pleasure in being different. From the previous generation 7 Series with its infamous “Bangle butt” to the X6 – a car about as subtle as an uncensored Lady Gaga music video – you can almost always count on this Munich-based firm bringing something avant-garde to the executive party. Personally I’ve always been a fan of their more leftfield car designs, but the latest creation to roll off BMW’s drawing board and onto our roads still has me rubbing my chin with indecision. For although it’s utterly smashing from some angles – that mean sharkish nose and grille being particularly good to look at – there are others that don’t do the new 5 Series Gran Turismo any favors. Consequently it’s a hard vehicle to like going by looks and styling alone. Fortunately however, sat behind that fantastically shaped leather steering wheel, I must say that it’s a completely different story all together.

For despite its considerable size and bulk, the new 5 Series GT is actually a pretty decent thing to drive around in. Don’t get me wrong, it’s certainly nowhere near as sharp as some of the other cars in the current BMW stable but for what the GT is – read classy alternative to the all-too-common and predictable SUV – I really couldn’t find much fault in the way it barreled along the tarmac. For starters this hatch-backed 5 Series disguises it weight well; a feature that encourages one to fling it around with far more gusto than you would in some of its less sporty rivals. And when you do, riding atop a stellar chassis that’s been being hooked-up to an advanced suspension setup, the way it behaves simply encourages you to give it even more stick.

Complementing these capable underpinnings is just enough steering feedback to spur you on and, with the traction control turned off, sufficient power from that smooth three-liter diesel engine to kick that rump out around tighter corners.

Where this particular BMW scores the most of its brownie points is out on the open road. A cruiser born, it turns out that the new 5 Series GT is extremely comfortable and makes driving long journeys an absolute pleasure. I’ll admit that I’ve usually found most BMW interiors rather uninviting places but the sumptuous black leather womb of this Bavarian takes comfort levels to a whole new tier. For not only is there a phenomenal amount of space for occupants both in the front and rear, BMW’s engineers have also spent a great deal of time making the cabin as refined as possible. Consequently there’s hardly any wind or road noise to interfere with the particularly sublime acoustics of that punchy sound system; one of the best I’ve ever listened to.

All in all I enjoyed my time inside our 530d GT. I was impressed by its performance when I drove it at its overseas launch last year and today it still leaves me with a smile across my face

Source: [Times Live]

BMW has long had great success with convertible variants of its high-performance M-badged cars – like the M3 and M6 – so it should come as little surprise that the German automaker has apparently green-lighted an open top version of its upcoming 1-Series M sports coupe.

Our rendering, compiled using tips from BMW insiders, has been described as “on the money” by those in Munich. These illustrations show the wide body-style fenders, front fender vents and sculpted sideskirts that BMW’s Motorsports division has painstakingly crafted to help set the 1-Series M apart from its standard 135i brethren.

From the rear, you can see the new ducktail-style boot spoiler, unique diffuser and special side vents. The 18-inch alloy wheels are M-specific, too. The M-style quad exhaust in our photos may or may not make it to production, however. BMW’s Motorsports gurus are apparently debating if the extra weight of the now-signature exhaust style is worthwhile on the small 1-Series M.

Expected to be powered by a turbocharged inline-six cylinder engine, the 1-Series M will certainly best the already quick 135i. Specifics are among Munich’s closest-guarded secrets, but insiders told us to expect around 330 horsepower – a 30-pony jump from the 135i. But more important will be dialed in handling and a reduced curb weight, both of which should make the 1-Series M a true hot rod.

As for a more official name: Even that appears to be still under debate in Munich. Sources indicated to Leftlane that the car won’t use the revered M1 tag that once defined the wedgy late ’70s supercar that heralded the M Division. Instead, M Turbo and 1M Turbo are reportedly the front-runners. For now, we’ll just call it the 1-Series M.

Source: [Left Lane]

Bayerische Motoren Werke AG’s 5 Series, the automaker’s most profitable car, may be offered in hybrid, diesel and 4-cylinder versions to meet U.S. fuel-economy rules.

A hybrid may be available in the U.S. in 2011, Willem Rombauts, product manager for the 5 Series, said yesterday at a test-drive event in Philadelphia. Diesel and 4-cylinder models might reach BMW”s second-largest market “in the next few years,” he said.

Automakers are preparing to revamp their lineups to meet U.S. standards that target industry average fuel economy of 34.1 miles (54.9 kilometers) per gallon by 2016. BMW’s cars and light trucks averaged 27.5 mpg and 23.1 mpg last year, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

“There are different ways to lower fuel consumption, and we’ll probably use most of them,” Rombauts said in an interview. “You can bring hybrids, you can bring diesels. With us, it’s going to be a broad range in every area.”

The maker of BMW, Mini and Rolls-Royce vehicles doesn’t offer a 4-cylinder engine in any model in the U.S., Rombauts said. A turbocharged 4-cylinder under development offers performance similar to that of the 6-cylinder engine in the new 528i, he said.

‘Good Chance’

“Four cylinder will come to the U.S., and there’s a good chance it will also come on the entry model of the 5 Series,” Rombauts said, referring to the 528i.

Company executives on a March 18 conference call said BMW would have a 5 Series hybrid in 2011, without identifying the markets where it would be sold. They also said Munich-based BMW was developing 4-cylinder and diesel vehicles to be offered in the U.S., without specifying what models might have them.

BMW rose as much as 50 cents, or 1.3 percent, to 38.68 euros and traded at 38.67 euros as of 10:32 a.m. in Frankfurt. The shares have gained 21 percent this year, valuing the carmaker at 24.7 billion euros ($31.4 billion).

BMW said in January that it would sell its 7 Series large sedan with a 6-cylinder engine for the first time in 18 years. The company also said it would resume using 4-cylinder engines, without giving specifics. BMW’s last four-cylinder U.S. car was in the 3 Series in 1999.

The 5 Series is BMW’s most profitable car, according to Rich Brekus, the company’s general manager for sales in North America. It generates fewer sales than the 3 Series, while selling for about $15,000 more.

Source: [Bloomberg Business Week]

What is it?

The 2011 X5 is the latest iteration of BMW’s go almost anywhere, do almost anything, people-hauling SUV. There’s room for five to travel comfortably and ample space in the cargo hold for stowing groceries, sporting equipment or anything else modern motorists would have reason to schlep around with.

The big story is really under the hood. There are two new engines-boosted with different types of turbo power-that really punch up this sizeable ute. BMW dipped into its family of engines for these new power plants, and they’re familiar to fans of the brand. The base engine is now a new, 3.0-liter I6, which hits 300 hp and 300 lb-ft of torque helped by a single, twin-scroll turbocharger. It’s now called the XDrive35i. That’s up considerably from the previous model’s I6 in the XDrive30i, which made 265 hp and 225 lb-ft.

The V8 gets BMW’s stellar 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 pumping out 400 hp and 450 lb-ft of torque in the new Xdrive50i. The previous XDrive48i has a 4.8-liter, 350-hp, 350-lb-ft unit. The XDrive 35d remains 265 hp and 425 lb-ft, propelled by diesel power.

The 2011 model gets slight cosmetic changes to the headlights and taillights and a more body-colored parts. Otherwise, it looks nearly the same as last year’s model. Still, BMW says there are more than 4,000 new parts on the SUV.

How’s it drive?

The X5 is one of the more planted vehicles you will drive. It’s strong in corners, nimble in turning and passing and has stout brakes. We put those brakes to the test a few times on the heavily congested roads of Miami and they responded promptly. The steering has a satisfying weight to it, and allows the driver to pilot this hefty vehicle with ease. Tight turns and cornering are no problem. The suspension is comfortable over all surfaces, and families will like that. For a little more fun, drop it into sport mode with the flick of a button in the center console and the steering immediately gets heavier and more responsive.

We only tested the new I6 (which was all BMW had available for sampling) and it returns solid acceleration through the band. The 300 lb-ft of torque is present, even at lower rpm, and passing is a breeze. It’s very enjoyable to floor it and stretch this big Bimmer’s limits.

Also new this year is the eight-speed automatic, borrowed from the 7-series and 5-series GT, and it is a very smooth, efficient shifter, channeling the increased power output effectively.

We also went on a bit of a safari through the Florida Everglades, and we plodded with ease through water that reached about two-thirds up the fenders. The X5 does well off-road, and the all-wheel drive system is very confident. BMW added some electronic goodies, and the lane-departure warning was up to our tests.

Source: [Auto Week]

Bad boys, bad boys what ya gonna do – what ya gonna do when BMW’s diesel engines come for you?”

Horrendous renditions of the Cops theme aside, US law enforcement will indeed be leaner and greener than ever after the BMW group received a major order from Carbon Motors Corporation to supply more than 240,000 diesel engines. Carbon Motors was formed in 2003 and is the world’s first manufacturer of purpose-built law enforcement vehicles.

The inline six-cylinder diesel engines come complete with a cooling and exhaust gas system, as well as an automatic transmission, with William Santana Li, the chairman and CEO of Carbon Motors, highlighting that they meet critical law enforcement needs in terms of performance, efficiency and driving dynamics. In fact, he states that they will not only benefit the environment but will lower running costs so they will also pay off for the American taxpayer.

BMW is certainly enjoying success in the diesel market having sold 498,000 engines worldwide in 2009 – that’s almost 39 per cent of its total sales of 1.286million.

So far, much of the success of diesel engines has been centered on Europe where the majority of BMW and MINI customers opted for diesel in 2009 – 63 per cent of more than 761,000 vehicles delivered. In the US, the take-up has been a little slower but is rapidly increasing after the BMW 335d and BMW X5 xDrive 35d were made available in December 2008. Almost one in three BMW X5 vehicles sold in the US now includes an inline six-cylinder diesel motor.

Source: [The Green Car Website]

Amidst the thousands of cars on display at the Geneva motor show there is one that stands out, if not for its looks than for its importance for the company that makes it.

For the first time since 2003, BMW has redesigned its 5-series executive model range.

No other model on display at the Geneva motor show means as much to its marque as the sixth-generation 5-series – with the obvious exception of small manufacturers with only one or two models in their arsenal.

Getting the 5-series right is crucial for BMW as it is the biggest single contributor to the company’s bottom line.

Brand builder

As a brand builder, the 5-series’ job is to shine a bright light on BMW’s other models.

“The 5-series, for me, is right at the centre of the brand,” Ian Robertson, BMW Group board member in charge of sales and marketing, tells BBC News in an interview.

“This is the successful businessman’s car, really. It carries the BMW brand.”

Hence, if the sixth-generation 5-series is deemed desirable, then so will its smaller siblings, such as the new 3-series, which is up for renewal in 2012, and its small 1-series, which will be renewed next year.

Profit driver

But the 5-series is more than simply a driver of sales across the BMW marque. It is also much more profitable than its siblings.

It costs roughly the same to make the more expensive 5-series as it costs to make the cheaper 3-series; in essence, it is much harder to make decent profit margins from small cars.

Mr Robertson is eager to dismiss the myth that the 5-series accounts for more than 50% of the BMW Group’s profits, even though it accounts for just 25% of sales.

But he acknowledges that it contributes “a significant proportion” – though one that is gradually being reduced as the group’s UK Mini and Rolls-Royce subsidiaries continue to grow, and as the BMW marque’s own model line-up is extended.

Sales driver

The 5-series is nevertheless central to BMW’s strategy to raise its profit margin to some 8-10% by 2012, in part because it is cheaper to make than its predecessor, in spite of being longer, wider and heavier.

BMW invested a third less to get the car into production and its manufacturing costs have been reduced by 15% compared with its predecessor.

The 5-series should also help raise BMW Group sales back to more than 1.3 million cars this year after a 10.4% fall in sales in 2009, the company hopes.

Indeed, although the fifth-generation 5-series sold 1.1 million cars during its lifetime, BMW believes the new one could beat that record.

“So far, we have advance orders for the next two-and-a-half to three months, and that is before anyone’s even driven it,” says Mr Robertson.

Crucially, as well as in Germany the 5-series is produced in China, which has overtaken the US as the world’s biggest car market.

There the previous 5-series has been popular with owners who have private chauffeurs, thus helping boost BMW sales in the country by 37.5% in 2009.

Small cars

The 5-series has changed dramatically over the years, yet the biggest new development has been the growth of the series’ family of derivatives.

Last year, BMW launched the 5-series GT, which is larger and arguably more luxurious than its conventional saloon models.

And there is also a sports utility vehicle in the series, the X5.

Such differentiation can be seen across the luxury segment, with German rival Audi, for instance, set to increase the number of models it offers from 32 last year to 42 by 2015.

Most notably, Audi is displaying its small A1 at the motor show, a car that is widely seen as the first serious rival to BMW’s Mini, except for its own 1-series.

Mercedes, meanwhile, is still relatively weak in the small car market, where demand is expected to grow quite fast in the next few months and years.

But neither of BMW’s main rivals are standing still. All three are investing heavily in new model development, so there are no guarantees that BMW will retain the top spot in the future.

Source: [BBC News]

BMW is planning a new family of front-wheel drive vehicles intended to push the automaker’s sales above 2 million units a year. The Bavarian automaker has revealed plans to add front-drive models bearing the BMW badge to the FWD models its Mini brand already offers.

BMW is developing a new family of engines for the cars. It will include three-, four- and six-cylinder powerplants, Automotive News’ ace European correspondent Luca Ciferri reports.

BMW has avoided front-drive for its namesake brand until now because of the layouts handling limitations.

BMW isn’t saying how it solved that problem, but at reported sizes of 150 inches to 170 inches, the new family of vehicles would range from a few inches shorter than a Mini Cooper to slightly longer than a VW Golf.

The vehicles’ platform will also form the basis for the next generation of Mini models.

BMW’s 1-series model will keep its rear-drive layout.

Source: [Freep]

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