Paul Tan's Automotive News » BMW

F10 BMW M5 to be launched on March 10, 2012

Paul Tan — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 17:19:38 +0000

It’s the first BMW M5 ever to come with not just one, but two turbochargers, and it’s coming to Malaysia very soon! BMW Malaysia has just sent out an electronic mailer to its customer base that the F10 M5 will be launched on March 10, 2012.

The most recent M car launched in Malaysia was the X6 M, with a massive price tag of RM1,188,800. The last generation E60 M5 was sold for about RM888k – how much will the new M5 be priced at? I’d expect nothing less than a million ringgit!

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 01:40:34 +0000.

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Taking on challenges at the Nurburgring with Castrol EDGE

Harvinder Sidhu — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 01:21:00 +0000

Last year, Khairul Izwan was among very few lucky motoring enthusiasts who got the chance to experience the Nurburgring, or also known as the “Green Hell” with a BMW M3 which pumps out 414 hp and 400 Nm of torque from its 4.0 litre V8 power house. “Awesome” was an understatement when Khairul shared his ultimate driving experience.

This year, Castrol Malaysia is bringing back the Castrol EDGE Experience Nurburgring: The Sequel, in which one “strong” Malaysian will be flown to the legendary track in an all-expense-paid driving experience of a lifetime. Before that happens, let’s take a moment and talk about the challenges of driving a powerful piece of machine such as the BMW M3 at one of the world’s most demanding tracks.

The 22.8 kilometer-long Nurburgring is widely considered as the most challenging track in the world with up to 160 corners. The track is used for both motorsport and for vehicle testing by many vehicle manufacturers. These car manufacturers rely on the track’s various characteristics which include high speed straights and turns, slow to medium speed corners and undulations to test the driveability of their cars.

Due to the high G-forces and the extreme pressures exerted to various parts of the car such as the suspension, the transmission and most critically the engine, driving at the Nurburgring takes a huge toll on the car and on the driver as well. Compared to other tracks, the Nurburgring has more and longer straights for one to negotiate. At such straight sections of the track, the car will be spending a lot of time at its top speed, with the driver’s foot on the accelerator pedal as though his or her life is dependent on it

This means that during this time, the engine, which in this case is a 4.0 liter V8 will be working at its rev limits for a longer time. Imagine driving an M3 at up to 8,000 revs for approximately 30 seconds? You can hear the beautiful engine note as the engine is working very hard to deliver all of its horsepower to the rear wheels! (minus the transmission loss of course).

In such gruelling conditions, the choice of engine oil is crucial, whereby the oil acts as a lubricant for the moving parts of the engine. At such extreme engine speeds, the engine is running at high temperature and the oil has to continuously adapt and respond to the engine’s needs.

The BMW M3 which was used at the Nurburgring last year had Castrol EDGE in its engine, allowing the engine to consistently maintain its reliability and maximise performance. Certain parts of the engine such as the cam and its followers can receive pressure of up to 10,000 kilograms per square cm and that is equivalent to the pressure of being approximately 100,000 meters below sea level!

Now the new Castrol EDGE is engineered with Titanium Fluid Strength Technology™ which continuously responds and adapts to the engine’s different need under various extreme driving conditions, including pushing the BMW M3 in and out of every corner of the Nurburgring. This new technology minimizes metal to metal contact and maximizes engine performance at the same time.

No doubt Castrol EDGE’s unique adaptive strength is designed to perform under the most extreme pressure giving drivers the confidence and freedom to push the engine closer to its limits. Now you have the chance to experience the performance of both the Castrol EDGE and the BMW M3 at the best place in the world that you can possibly do it, the “Green Hell”! To put yourself in the running to win this ultimate driving experience and other cool prizes, click here now!

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 01:40:34 +0000.

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Auto Bavaria Sg. Besi celebrates CNY: Special activities including extended test drives and special promotions on selected models

Harvinder Sidhu — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 14:08:52 +0000

Auto Bavaria is celebrating CNY this weekend at all of its branches and at Auto Bavaria Sg. Besi, there will be activities including Chinese Caligraphy and a Lion Dance, apart from extended test drive sessions which will allow guests to test drive their preferred BMW models on an extended course, up to Putrajaya and back.

Models available for test drives include the all-new 520i which is powered a Munich’s 2.0 litre TwinPower Turbo engine. Other models include the 528i, 520d, 323i and more. There is also a special 0% financing package for the 3-Series range and special deals on limited pre-registered units of the BMW X1, 5-Series and the BMW X3.

For more information, please feel free to contact Auto Bavaria Sg. Besi at 03-9223 3200. Have a good weekend everyone

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 01:40:34 +0000.

BMW F30 3-Series Test Drive Review – 320d diesel and new four cylinder turbo 328i sampled in Spain!

Anthony Lim — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 12:54:39 +0000

Think BMW, and the first model that usually comes to mind – for most folk – is the 3 Series. Ubiquitous, the model has been at the forefront of things from the get-go, and while the brand has evolved its lineup to incorporate a host of new segment models from the ‘easy-to-figure three-model’ range of the past to the ‘just how many of them are there, really’ of today, the 3er has been very much the standard bearer for the brand, the one by which it has been defined, and association measured. Since 1975, five generations and more than 12.51 million units sold attest to that.

So when a full-model replacement comes about to continue the flag-waving, there’s plenty of bated breath, as well as the inevitable questions. How will it shape up? Will it turn things on its head? Does it change the game, again?

The answer is very nicely, yes and yes. Things haven’t exactly been easy for the 3er in recent times – the grip it has had in the entry-level premium sedan segment has been forcibly relaxed by competition that has studied and learnt from the benchmark, and done so very well. Arguably, the outgoing E90 didn’t help itself – from a design point of view, it was a little too safe, especially from the rear at the start of its life-cycle, almost as if the idea of changing things too much coming in from the E46 would alienate the buyer.

It also didn’t help that on the whole, the E90 felt like it was carrying a bit too much weight arriving at middle-age, and while undoubtedly there are a great many existing generation owners who might argue against this view, I’ve always felt the E90 to be too heavy-set – not ponderous – for its own good from a performance point of view. Simply put, a very able machine, but darker in character than its predecessors, missing that sense of overall sharpness, or that sprightly step, if you will.

Enter the F30, the sixth-generation incarnation of the type. It doesn’t just restore parity in the playing field, but takes the game a few steps further infield, and by all accounts should accomplish far more than the last one did in staying ahead of the chasing pack.

Full story after the jump.

The arrival of the new car was announced last October, but it’s only making its market debut in Europe starting this month. Ahead of this, the media drive for the car took place in December, with the surroundings of Barcelona the location. Though four engine choices, two petrol, two diesel, all TwinPower Turbo mills, are available for the car at point of launch, the drive saw only the 328i and 320d EfficientDynamics Edition as samplers.

The range topping act of the lot is the 335i, with its 3.0 litre, 306 hp at 5,800-6,000 rpm and 400 Nm from 1,200-5,000 rpm mill; in Spain, the closest to be had with it in the metal was through a static display (the one in blue in the photos), and it looks a rather meaty proposition. The petrol mainstay, until the entry-level 320i arrives sometime in spring this year, is the 328i, which delivers 245 hp at 5,000-6,500 rpm and 350 Nm at 1,250-4,800 rpm from the new N20 2.0 litre TwinPower Turbo mill.

The two diesel variants are the aforementioned 320d EfficientDynamics Edition and the 320d, which both run a 2.0 litre commonrail DI variable geometry turbocharged lump, but with different output tunes – the ED Edition has 163 hp on call, while the 320d has 184 hp, both at a similar 4,000 rpm. Likewise, both feature identical torque figures, this being 380 Nm at 1,750-2,750 rpm.

In terms of transmission options, there’s the usual six-speed manual transmission, replete with a modified gear train design, primarily for the North American market, which continues to consume the stick-shifter in ever-dwindling numbers, but the real deal is the advent of the eight-speed automatic box, which the company proudly states is a first in the segment class.

Weighing and sized just about the same as the six-speeder it replaces, the transmission is available as a choice for all four engine variants, and BMW says that it offers identical or lower fuel consumption and emissions than the six-speed manual transmission. Incidentally, Auto Stop-Start is fitted as standard across the model range.

Electronics-wise, aside from Dynamic Stability Control (DSC), which offers ABS, ASC, DTC, DBC and CBC, along with start-off assist, brake drying and an electronic limited slip function for the rear differential under its operating umbrella, the F30 features a new Driving Experience Control function as standard across the model range – there are four operation modes on this one, COMFORT, SPORT, SPORT+ and a new mode called ECO PRO.

The last mode supports an extra-efficient and economy-conscious driving style, doing so by changing the accelerator mapping so that the same pedal travel delivers less power than in standard mode – the Optimum Shift Indicator for manual models and the transmission control strategy for the automatics are modified, bringing forward upshifts and delaying downshifts.

Elsewhere, intelligent energy and climate management logic reduces the mechanical power consumption as well as the consumption of electrical systems, all of which enables additional fuel savings, depending on individual driving style, of up to 20%. I actually had the chance to try ECO PRO out during the drive, but more on this later.

Exterior-wise, the Christopher Weil-penned design features the new BMW face, with flat headlights reaching along as far as the kidney grille, as well as an accentuated width, improving the car’s presence – there are more than a few visual cues to suggest a scaled down F10 5 er , the hood being one, and the headlight shape being another primary focal cue.

Aside from the merged headlights/grille design, the F30 replaces the central air intake of the E90 with two larger intakes, positioned underneath the headlights to the outer edges of the front end. In the flesh, the result is a very lean and flatter looking front, and the bonnet length seems even more pronounced on this one.

For the sides, highlights include flanks that are shaped by a double swage line made up of two character lines running alongside each other, and the back end runs through quite nicely surfaces – in all, it flows well enough, the lines, with the front being particularly outstanding, but as one of the styling designers points out during a discussion on the matter, it’s still a 3er, and there are only that many liberties that can be taken with how the design shapes up.

Retention being the key, an easily identifiable familiarity of what it is can’t be escaped, but on the whole the F30 sheds the pounds visually to come off as a fitter, healthier looking, and very much rejuvenated 3. It’s also figuratively lighter, weighing up to 45 kg less than the E90, depending on variant.

This has been accomplished despite an increase in overall size. The F30 is a larger car than the E90, with a wider track leading things in – the front has been increased by 37 mm, while the rear track has gone up by 47 mm. It’s longer by 93 mm, and the augmented wheelbase, at 2,810 mm, has been increased by 50 mm.

There’s also a corresponding increase in interior space, and in the flesh, the cabin does feel somewhat airier and roomier, though if there’s a bone to pick it’s with how much more prominent the central console bulge from the fascia has become – it does squeeze in front legroom space somewhat in terms of perceived width.

Nonetheless, the cabin is a more comfy place to be on the whole compared to the outgoing car.Rear passengers get the benefit of extra legroom, with an additional 15 mm knee room and 8 mm of extra head room to help things along. The 3er hasn’t always been known for how well it accommodates people in the rear, but rear ingress and egress is certainly better, as our hop in and out sessions during photo-taking sessions showed.

Boot space on the F30 is also up, with 480 litres of capacity, 20 litres more than that of the outgoing model. Additionally, 40:20:40 split rear backrests mean the ability to carry longer items.

Interior features include a driver-focused cockpit, angled towards the driver by seven degrees, with the four main circular dials (fuel gauge, speedometer, rev counter and oil temperature gauge) dressed with a black panel display. The fascia and overall element cues again lend the impression of a scaled-down F10, and the flatter-looking centre stack makes the presentation look nice and tight.

As far as features and kit goes, the F30 is loaded with plenty of ConnectedDrive gear, from driver assistance systems to infotainment. New to the car is a full-colour Head-Up Display, standard on the 328i, and aside from this the likes of Lane Change Warning System, Lane Departure Warning System, Active Protection safety package and Advance eCall are items on the list.

There’s also BMW Parking Assistant, Surround View (with Side View and Top View), Active Cruise Control with Stop&Go function, Speed Limit Info including No Passing Info display and Real-Time Traffic Information (RTTI), among the chockfull of items you can specify for a F30.

A new method of model line differentiation has popped up too with the F30 – in addition to the entry-level version, it will be available in three equipment lines. The three trim levels, called Sport Line, Luxury Line and Modern Line, will allow customers to personalise their rides to their individual preferences, with exterior design elements and selection of materials and colours available for each model; there’s even colour-coding elements for each line, and aside from that found in the cabin, the key-fob gets a similar imprint too, so everyone will be able to tell just which outfit your 3er wears.

Additionally, there’s an optional M Sport package, which includes a lowered M Sport suspension featuring a 10 mm drop in ride height, and this offers firmer suspension and damping as well as harder anti-roll bars, and also featured are 18 or 19-inch M Sport alloy wheels. If you want to take things even further, there’s an optional Adaptive M Sport suspension, with electronically-controlled damping.

There’s also an M aerodynamics package, which can be specified separately, and this one features special body parts and chrome tailpipes, replete with exclusive exterior paintwork and interior trim. The latter has sports seats wearing distinctive cloth/Alcantara upholstery, trim elements with blue accent strips, an M Shortshifter (in models with the manual gearbox), M door sill finishers, an M driver’s footrest and a new M Sport leather steering wheel.

The 328i demonstrator in Spain featured a mix of items, presumably to show off the car’s ability to the best possible measure – the eight-speed auto (there were no manuals on call at the event) Sport Line mules wore the optional 19-inch M Sport alloys with 225/40 front and 255/35 rear rubbers as well as the M Sport suspension. In its standard state, the 328i runs on 17-inch Star-spoke wheels, wearing 225/50 tyres. Meanwhile, the two diesel models are equipped with 16-inch V-spoke or Streamline-style alloy wheels, wrapped with 205/60 rubbers.

The first day of driving began with the 320d ED, in its Modern Line specification. Riding shotgun on the first leg out from the Aeroport de Barcelona towards the hotel in the Sabadell region, there was ample time to study the interior – I wasn‘t quite taken by the textured wood grain paneling on call. Yes, it will find fans, but I’m not really one of them, feeling that it looked rather kitschy on the whole. Otherwise, the rest of the elements in the light-coloured Modern Line looked easy enough on the eye.

Leaving the city, with traffic conditions limiting speed, the 320d ED puttered along ably, the diesel exhibiting all the well-known positives it’s already known for. What was interesting was how the nature of the F30 could be picked up fairly easily, even from the passenger seat – the car feels a lighter, breezier proposition, and not just from a handling point of view. Nearing the changeover point, opening up the throttle revealed a chassis that felt, in a word, alive.

From the driver’s perspective, there’s a strong element of agility that’s immediately apparent, and you don’t really have to push the car hard for it to shine through. Not that I was able to with the 320d ED, really. Taking on the second leg towards the accommodation, I’d barely taken less than 10 enthusiastic turns on the twisty downhill section heading into Martorell when my co-driver signaled he wasn’t liking things that much.

So that part of the drive came crawling down to a 40-50 km/h descent, and gently at that. Shame, because the road was promising, but the flipside was getting to use ECO PRO, since there was no reason to barrel along. By the time we got back to the expressway part of the route, I’d managed to ‘virtually’ gain another 11 km of driving range on that left in the tank, according to the trip computer.

The mode does cut the thrills, and by a fair amount – forget that you’ve left it on that and attempt to speed things up, and you’ll be left wondering why the stallion suddenly feels a bit castrated. I suppose saving fuel and the environment doesn’t – and shouldn’t – equate with excitement.

Vis-a-vis the E90 equivalent, the diesel F30 does come across as a far livelier offering, and it has all to do with the platform. There’s a sense of lightness in its character and behaviour that it makes the E90 feel a bit plodding in comparison. The steering is expecially noteworthy, sharp, precise and offering informative, useful feel that inspires confidence.

As standard fare, the rack is an electromechanical power steering system EPS (Electronic Power Steering), and this uses an electric motor to provide steering assistance, operating the EPS when steering assistance is actually required. Of even more cheer is the optional new, purely mechanical variable-ratio steering system, which of course offers a more precise response to input and sharper handling, and on the 335i and 328i, a Servotronic function for speed-sensitive power assistance is also standard.

The 328i the following day increased the liking for the new car, with the promise of track time on the Circuit de Catalunya capping things off. With new co-driver in tow, an early morning detour back into the city to pick up the co-driver’s wife was even managed. In town use, puttering about through the endless stream of traffic lights in downtown Barcelona, the 328i behaved with impressive civility in low-mid speed conditions – the stop-start worked smoothly and as intended, and of pleasant surprise was the level of ride comfort, even with the M Sport suspension and 19-inch wheels in tow.

At highway speeds, the 328i feels brisk and rapid when pushed, and the N20 mill is quite the standout – the throttle response is lively, and such is the element of poke and muscle, especially in the midband, that any real argument for holding on to a naturally-aspirated six-pot is easily dissuaded as the miles wear on. About the only thing the four-pot lump gives away is with regards to the engine note – there’s no six-cylinder low-end silkiness to be had, no matter how hard you try to hear or imagine it.

But that’s really a small trade-off for the performance returns, and it’s not just the engine that eclipses the old. Tackling the twists takes on a new tack – the F30 doesn’t just feel more articulate and nimble, it accomplishes things in far more inspiring and exciting fashion than its predecessor, even when you decide to be wild about it. There’s a fair bit of wind noise evident at high speeds, but it’s nothing to get worked up about. Seat comfort is high, and provide ample support levels over a longer drive.

By the time we finally arrive at the circuit, virtually all the assembled lot have had their go. This being a ‘drive what you bring’ do, first dibs went to my co-driver, none other than Autocar Asean’s Faisal Shah, who brings the 328i back with the brakes nicely hissing after his spirited track run. I give him a bemused look when he tells me it’s quite alright to go, “there’s no fade, the brakes hold up very well” being his words.

There just being under an hour left before track time ends, I take his word for it. The big plus is that the track is all but empty, so it’s a clear run right through for the five laps scheduled. Surprisingly enough, the brakes do hold up, and impressively so – the F30 wears a larger brake system than before, with a hint of fade starting to creep in only at the very end of the run. One wonders just how much better the optional M Sport brake system, with aluminium four-piston fixed calipers at the front and two-piston fixed calipers at the rear, will be.

The run on track also provided the chance to try out the various electronic driver aid settings, with Sport+ mode – with the DSC thresholds raised – making the car the liveliest, as expected, with DTC continuing to provide a safety net. On the whole, the car tracked well, and driven cleanly is eminently rewarding; though understeer is still present, the limits are far higher than that on the E90. Arguably, a bit more rawness around the edges wouldn’t have gone amiss, but such is progress, and the scalpel-like dynamics on call gives this one its own irresistibility and allure.

The real acid test closer to home will be how the 320i – which will feature the N20 2.0 litre lump with 184 hp and 270 Nm – shapes up when it arrives on the scene later in the year. Given the dynamic impressions painted by both the 328i and 320d ED, it should meet expectations ably enough.

As it stands, the F30 redefines things enough that it sets a new benchmark in the segment, and takes the 3er back to the top of the heap. Of the two, I much preferred the 328i ahead of the diesel variant; despite the diesel’s mule-like qualities, the petrol felt a more versatile offering, with a wider balance and feel about it. If something like the W204 C-Class was the better of the E90 in some regards, then the balance of power has very much shifted back to Munich. The king is dead, long live the king.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 01:40:34 +0000.

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BMW unveils first DTM 2012 livery featuring Castrol EDGE

Danny Tan — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 01:15:40 +0000

Here’s what BMW’s 2012 DTM challenger looks like in full livery. This livery features the green of Castrol EDGE, Castrol’s flagship motor oil, and the blue of Aral Ultimate high-performance fuel. Other visible brands include Bosch, Hankook, Sonax, Dekra and Puma. Suspension makers Sachs and H&R are present, too.

“For many years we have put our faith in high-performance Castrol lubricants, and have celebrated countless successes together on the racetrack. For that reason, everyone here at BMW Motorsport is delighted that we are able to build on this established partnership in the DTM. Castrol EDGE and Aral Ultimate are high-performance brands, which suit our DTM project perfectly,” said BMW Motorsport Director Jens Marquardt.

This won’t be the only look for the M3 DTM, though. One of the six BMW entries will run in this Castrol EDGE look, so expect to see the traditional BMW corporate livery of the past 20 years on the other cars.

The driver lineup looks as good, with DTM champion Martin Tomczyk and long-time Mercedes driver Bruno Spengler joining regular factory drivers Andy Priaulx, Augusto Farfus, Joey Hand and Dirk Muller. Schnitzer, RBM and RMG are the three teams.

The German tin top race series flags off at Hockenheim at the end of April.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 01:40:34 +0000.

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E71 BMW X6 gets its mid-cycle facelift for 2012!

Paul Tan — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 03:22:55 +0000

The E71 BMW X6 has been updated with a facelift for the 2012 model year, helping keep BMW’s amalgamation of a coupe and an SUV looking fresh mid way point in its lifecycle, which for a BMW is typically 7 years.

First launched in 2008, the mid-life facelift or “Life Cycle Impulse” as BMW likes to call it is right on time! Externally, BMW has updated the X6 with the usual new bumpers, headlamps and tail lamps as well as new alloy wheel designs.

The headlamp is now of course lit up with white corona rings, but what’s interesting is that now there’s the option of adaptive LED headlamps, which are fully powered by LED technology – not just the corona rings which act as daytime running lights, which by the way now have the flat bottom design that first debuted on the F30 3-er.

The light sources for low and high beam light are LED units positioned on a horizontal bar at its centre, feeding their light into the reflectors in front. In the facelifted top of the line BMW X6 M, adaptive LED headlights are fitted as standard.

The tail lamps are also lit up by LED, and the styling is designed to be horizontally aligned and to stretch far out to the sides, emphasising the width of the vehicle.

There’s also something interesting – an optional engine bonnet with a powerdome. This feature is not available for order in Germany – not sure why though!

An M Sport kit will be available for the X6, which includes 20-inch M light alloy wheels in double spoke design and bi-colour finish with mixed tyres, adaptive LED headlamps, BMW Individual high-gloss Shadow Line, black surrounds for the fog lights and M door sill cover strips, sports seats with electrical adjustment and memory function, M-specific Alcantara/Nappa leather combination in black with M-style welt and contrast stitching, M leather steering wheel with shift paddles, M driver footrest, stainless steel pedals, interior strips in Aluminium Flywheel black and the BMW Individual roof liner in anthracite.

As far as the updated interior goes, I wish they had also updated the meter cluster with a Black Panel style display that all the new higher end BMWs have. The X6 continues with a meter cluster that feels “last generation”. The same goes to the steering wheel – while all the new BMWs have rocker switches and thumb scrollers, the X6 facelift makes do with regular buttons.

The existing engines remain the same – the X6 xDrive50i makes 407hp, the X6 xDrive35i does 306hp, and the oil burner xDrive40d and xDrive30d make 306hp and 245hp respectively. No details about the X6 M yet, but there’s a new model called the X6 M50d which we’ll go into detail later.

The M50d is classified as a BMW M Performance car, which is one rung below a pure BMW M car on the ladder, and uses a total of three turbochargers to force air into a 3.0 liter six cylinder diesel to make 381 horsepower and an insane 740Nm of torque, taking the X6 M50d to 100km/h in just 5.3 seconds while consuming only 7.7L/100km on average. All engines including the M50d use an 8-speed auto transmission, except the X6 M which uses a 6-speed.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 01:40:34 +0000.

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Castrol Malaysia brings you the Castrol EDGE Experience Nurburgring: The Sequel – win the ultimate driving experience in a BMW M3 at the Nurburgring!

Harvinder Sidhu — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 05:56:22 +0000

It is a new year and it is time for yet another exciting round of the Castrol EDGE Experience Nurburgring! Just like the first edition last year, this sequel will see one lucky grand prize winner head to the legendary Nurburgring race track in Germany to enjoy the ultimate driving experience with the BMW M3, which uses Castrol EDGE with Titanium Fluid Strength Technology™.

Now engineered with Titanium Fluid Strength Technology™, the new and improved Castrol EDGE is the strongest and most advanced performance oil yet from Castrol. It is up to 40% stronger than a leading competitor and stronger for up to 35% longer. The new Castrol EDGE is able to withstand high pressures of up to 10,000 kg per square cm. That’s hard to picture, so try thinking of the pressure exerted by two elephants standing on top of a stiletto!

To take part in this 2- stage contest is pretty simple. All you need to do is to head to Castrol Malaysia’s Facebook page and click on the Castrol EDGE Experience Nurburgring: The Sequel application. Here you will have to complete as many laps as possible in a virtual BMW M3, on a virtual Nurburgring! There is a trick to winning as well, enlisting your friend’s help on Facebook will help boost your distance. This simply means that the more you and your friends play, the higher your chance of winning.

There will also be Pit Stops during the virtual race where you will face three challenging questions. This stage of the contest which starts today, ends on 27th February 2012. From here, the Top 20 will get the chance to battle it out at the grounds of the MAEPS Motorsport Park in a BMW.

Here, the top 20 finalists will undergo a defensive driver training and battle it out in a BMW in the ultimate test of driving skills at the exclusive Castrol EDGE Experience Nurburgring event. We will select one grand prize winner who will get the opportunity to push a BMW M3 around all 72 corners at more than 200km/hour at the iconic Nurburgring track.

The 2nd place winner will get to enjoy the Castrol EDGE Experience Nurburgring at the comfort of his or her own home with a Castrol EDGE-branded Apiga AP1 Professional Racing Simulator Cockpit which comes complete with a steering wheel, pedals, Sony Playstation 3 console, Gran Turismo 5 and a 40-inch Sony Bravia television, cool huh!

The 3rd place winner will walk home with a Tag Heuer Kimi Raikkonen F1 watch while 4th and 5th places will get an iPhone 4S 16GB and a Microsoft Xbox Kinect 360 respectively. That’s not all folks! 6th to 10th places will walk home with a pair of Oakley Hijinx shades while 11th to 20th places will get an iPod Shuffle 2GB. Now that’s a lot of attractive prizes to be given away – if only we were eligible! Hurry up and show who’s the strongest before the contest ends!

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 01:40:34 +0000.

F20 BMW 135i M Sports 3-door hatchback spied!

Paul Tan — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 10:23:36 +0000

We’ve already seen patent filing drawings of the 3-door version of the new F20 1-Series, so this isn’t really much of a surprise, but here are spyshots of the 3-door BMW 1-Series from our usual European spyshot contributor SB-Medien.

The model here is said to be a 135i, and its equipped with the F20′s M-Sport package. The 135i with nearly 320 horsepower to the rear wheels will be the hottest 1-Series hatchback as of now because we don’t know if BMW is planning a 1 M for the hatches or not.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 01:40:34 +0000.

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BMW Group Malaysia achieves record sales in 2011, ActiveHybrid models to make local debut this year

Danny Tan — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 07:41:06 +0000

BMW Group Malaysia, in a press briefing this morning, announced that 2011 was a record breaking year for them in terms of sales. The company sold a total of 5,604 vehicles last year, consisting of 5,003 BMWs, 301 MINIs and 300 Motorrad bikes. This surpasses the sales figure of 2010 by 24%, making Malaysia one of the fastest growing markets in the entire BMW Group network.

At the event this morning at Pavilion KL, Briscoe, together with Deputy Minister of International Trade and Industry, Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir, unveiled the BMW Vision EfficientDynamics Concept Car, which will be on show at the posh mall till this Sunday. The futuristic concept car is featured in Mission Impossible 4: Ghost Protocol, where it is driven by saviour of the world Ethan Hunt, played by Tom Cruise.

The BMW Vision EfficientDynamics is quite a sight, but it’s not coming to your neighbourhood BMW showroom anytime soon. What is coming are BMW’s ActiveHybrid models, in F30 3-Series and F10 5-Series form, sometime this year. But don’t expect cut price BMWs – these models are powered by 3.0-litre turbo engines, and will not enjoy the tax breaks given to hybrids from Toyota and Honda.

If you didn’t know, BMW’s ActiveHybrid models aren’t all out eco cars, they pack in plenty of performance. We’ve covered them it detail already – click here and here for more on the ActiveHybrid 3 and ActiveHybrid 5. We’ve also driven the ActiveHybrid 7, click here to read the review.

Hybrids aside, BMW Group Malaysia is without doubt the biggest proponent of diesel engines in Malaysia, and it will continue to bring in ‘d’ models. They say that diesels now account for 15-20% of total sales in Malaysia, which is encouraging, but to increase that number, the company is hoping that the Government will do its part in this matter.

“The Malaysian government’s long stated intention of introducing Euro IV spec for fuel for instance is a critical step towards the country’s evolution into an actual green tech advocate, and it’s our hope that greater emphasis will be given towards the alternative engine technologies that are readily available today in the discussion of the second review of the National Automotive Policy scheduled for this year,” said Geoffrey Briscoe, MD of BMW Group Malaysia.

“It is vital that while we pursue new alternatives to achieve sustainability, attention is also given to improve on existing tech such as Advanced Petrol and Diesel engines which run on the lower sulphur content Euro IV spec fuel, as well as the introduction of incentives for all hybrid tech including those for hybrid vehicles above 2,000 cc, as these engines can prove to be more efficient than their smaller counterparts,” urged Briscoe.

If this wish list comes true, BMW won’t be the only party benefiting, but Malaysian car buyers as well.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 01:40:34 +0000.

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BMW M Performance Automobiles range to be launched at Geneva – come forth the M diesels?

Paul Tan — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 16:17:59 +0000

BMW M GmbH is unveiling a new product range that will bear their M brand. Slotted in between regular BMWs that are mildly spiced up with the M Sports kit and full fledged M cars like the M3 and M5, the new product range will be known as BMW M Performance Automobiles.

“We are targeting our efforts at customers looking for more emotionality and more performance, but who don’t want to forgo the everyday usability of their cars. The new product line-up will be a range that includes a wide variety of model series, as well as both petrol and diesel-engined variants,” said Dr Friedrich Nitschke, President of BMW M GmbH.

BMW M even hinted at the new naming scheme – it referenced the old 1980 BMW M535i, which accompanied the full fledged BMW M5 in the E28 model range. The M535i used a M30B35 that made 211 horsepower, while the M5′s S38B35 made 260 horses. Back in March 2010, we heard that BMW filed a series of new trademarks that included the term M50d – this would likely be used on a tuned up diesel (rumoured tri-turbo) X5/X6 that was part of this new M Performance Automobiles range.

The new range will be presented to the public at the Geneva International Motor Show 2012 this year, from the 8th of March to the 18th of March – that and the rest of the Geneva unveils should keep us very busy in the first quarter of the year of the Dragon!

“M Purists” will undoubtedly make a fuss about this, but BMW M doesn’t seem to care much and continues to evolve with the times – they’ve gone ahead and added all wheel drive, SUVs, torque converter automatic transmissions, and turbochargers. All of this has resulted in products that has no doubt made their CFO very happy with the bank balances. They might as well add oil burners to the list as well, after all someone’s gotta compete with Audi’s V10 and V12 TDIs right?

Watch the first video in this story for an interview with the BMW M head honcho where he talks about the new model range, and check out the second video which features what we’re assuming is a white BMW X5 M50d – you can hear a little of how it sounds like in the video.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 01:40:34 +0000.

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F20 BMW 1-Series gets new powerful 125i and 125d models

Paul Tan — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 08:31:47 +0000

BMW has announced new engines for the new BMW 1-Series – they are found in the 125i, the 125d and the 116d EfficientDynamics Edition. The 125i is a new addition to the 1-er range, complementing the current 116i and 118i, and as you can tell from the model numbers, it’s now the most powerful petrol F20 1-Series you can buy.

Previously, the top of the line petrol F20 was the 118i, powered by a 1.6 liter turbocharged inline-4 engine with Valvetronic, Double VANOS and direct injection making 170 horsepower at 4,800rpm and 250Nm of peak torque from 1,500rpm to 4,500rpm.

The new 125i is powered by a 2.0 liter inline-4 turbo engine from the N20 family – you’ll find it in the bigger BMWs such as the newly launched F10 520i as well. In 125i tune, power output is positioned in between the 184hp/270Nm “20i” and 245hp/350Nm “28i” tunes that we’ve previously seen – the 125i makes 218 horsepower at 5,000rpm and 310Nm of torque between 1,350rpm to 4,800rpm. 0 to 100km/h takes just 6.4 seconds with the 6-speed manual or 6.5 seconds with the 8-speed auto.

There’s also a new powerful diesel engine – the 125d, which slots in on top of the previous king of the F20 oil burners – the 120d. Power output for the 125d is 218 horsepower, which matches the 125i, but torque is much stronger – 450Nm at 1,500rpm to 2,500rpm. 0 to 100km/h acceleration is 6.5 seconds for both the 6-speed manual and the 8-speed automatic.

On the other end of the spectrum – there’s a new BMW 116d EfficientDynamics Edition, powered by a 1.6 liter 4-cylinder diesel engine. Note that the normal 116d is powered by a 116hp/260Nm 2.0 liter 4-cylinder diesel engine. The 116d EfficientDynamics Edition’s 1.6 liter turbodiesel does the exact same output at the same RPMs – makes me wonder why the regular 116d continues with a 2.0 liter. It consumes just 3.8 liters per 100km with its sole option of a 6-speed manual transmission, and hits 100km/h in 10.5 seconds.

BMW has also finally officially offered the F20′s M Sports package for sale, though pictures of the M Sports F20 was released together with the official press kit when the F20 was first revealed to the world. Other than just the bodykit and interior enhancements, the M Sports package also includes the M Sports suspension lowered by 10 millimetres with tighter spring/shock absorber settings and harder anti-roll bars, and an optional M Sports brake kit which consists of aluminium multi-piston fixed calipers finished in dark blue metallic bearing the BMW M logo and 17-inch lightweight construction brake discs.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 01:40:34 +0000.

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Auto Bavaria Sg. Besi teams up with Leica for a special event this weekend!

Harvinder Sidhu — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 00:31:23 +0000

Something special will be going on this weekend at the Auto Bavaria Sg. Besi branch! Leica, the famous German optics company that has been established since 1913 will be teaming up with the BMW authorized dealer for a unique showroom experience.

The event which is open to public will showcase a special Leica studio whereby visitors can get their photographs taken with a BMW, and get it printed on the spot. These photographs will be taken with Leica’s top of the line cameras which can cost approximately RM120,000.

Not only that, there will also be special promotions for selected BMW models, for both new and pre-registered units in conjunction with the Chinese New Year celebrations. Another interesting thing to note is that the latest 520i and 528i M Sport models will be on display and available for test drive as well.

Both of these models are powered by BMW’s 2.0 liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine. For more information, please call 03-9223 3200.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 01:40:34 +0000.

BMW Vision EfficientDynamics Concept on display at Ingress Auto’s showroom until January 9

Anthony Lim — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 11:48:24 +0000

If you’ve been keen to see what the BMW Vision EfficientDynamics Concept looks like in the flesh, here’s your chance to do so over the weekend, if you happen to be in the Klang Valley, that is.

The car – which was featured in Mission Impossible – Ghost Protocol – is on display at BMW dealership Ingress Auto’s showroom from today until Monday, January 9. Unfortunately, you won’t get to see the car on the move, for it’s just a full-sized static model, but the display is still an impressive sight. Head on over to Ingress, which is located in Sungai Penchala, or call 03-7721 2288 for details.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 01:40:34 +0000.

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BMW appoints Wearnes as dealer, first 4S in Segambut

Danny Tan — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 03:43:27 +0000

BMW Group Malaysia today announced the appointment of Wearnes Autohaus as the latest BMW dealer in the Klang Valley area. The new BMW dealership started operations today at its 4S (Sales, Services, Spare Parts and Systems) facility in Segambut. Wearnes Autohaus is a wholly owned subsidiary of Wearnes Automotive, an old name in the auto industry.

“It is a privilege for BMW Group Malaysia to welcome to our dealership network a new business partner as established as Wearnes Automotive who have had vast experiences and successes in the automotive segment here in Asia,” said Geoffrey Briscoe, MD of BMW Group Malaysia, who added that Segambut and its surrounding area are key vicinities for the Premium segment as the area has the potential for the delivery of over 300 cars as well as over RM10 million in aftersales parts and services turnover annually.

The Wearnes Autohaus dealership houses a main showroom, sales office, spare parts centre and service workshop with a 14 service bay capacity. In the past five years, BMW Group Malaysia has undertaken several dealership initiatives which include establishing new BMW, MINI and BMW Motorrad dealerships, refurbishing existing dealerships, the introduction and expansion of BMW Premium Selection (authorised pre-owned cars) as well as the establishment of BMW Body & Paint workshops across Malaysia.

The Wearnes Autohaus BMW 4S Centre is located at 39, Jalan 2/57B, Jalan Segambut Tengah. For more info, call them at 03-6259 8221 or BMW Voice at 1800-88-3000.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 01:40:34 +0000.

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BMW 5 Series now with four-cylinder turbo engines in Malaysia – 520i and 528i M Sport wear the new mills

Anthony Lim — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 03:49:51 +0000

BMW Malaysia has announced the arrival of new petrol variants for the 5 Series, featuring the new 2.0 litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine in two different outputs. The new engine, which features twin-scroll turbocharging, Valvetronic variable valve control and Double-VANOS variable camshaft control, finds its way into the new 520i and 528i M Sport models.

The 520i’s motor turns out 184 hp and 270Nm of torque, and performance figures for the car include a 0-100 km/h time of 8.0 seconds and a 226 km/h top speed, as well as a claimed 6.4 litres per 100 km fuel economy.

Meanwhile, the TwinPower Turbo technology powerplant on the 528i M Sport offers 245 hp and 350Nm, and the extra horses translate to a 0-100 km/h time of 6.3 seconds and a 250 km/h top speed, with little sacrifice to claimed average fuel consumption – the car supposedly does 6.8 litres per 100 km.

As before, there’s the usual dollop of features and kit, with Brake Energy Regeneration, electromechanical steering and an 8-speed automatic transmission as standard, and the Auto Start/ Stop function now features across the model range.

Additionally, all the new variant entries also reflect upgraded equipment in its Driving Experience Control, which is the button located on the centre console that enables the driver to adjust mode settings for the vehicle’s accelerator, engine, steering, transmission, suspension system and traction control.

The modes available include COMFORT+, COMFORT, SPORT, SPORT+ and, for the first time, ECO PRO mode as standard. ECO PRO mode, which can help the driver to achieve fuel savings of up to 20%, depending on their individual style of driving, automatically optimises the vehicle’s drivetrain, heating and air conditioning strategy, as well as other electric comfort functions. It ensures fuel efficient throttle operation by dampening your throttle input so heavy footed people can drive fuel efficiently.

These new drive modes replace the old COMFORT, NORMAL, SPORT and SPORT+ modes. Essentially COMFORT has been renamed to COMFORT+, and NORMAL has been renamed to COMFORT.

The two new petrol new variants are joined by the improved 520d sedan, which offers 184 hp, 380Nm and 8.1 seconds for the century sprint and a 225 km/h top speed for numbers.

Price-wise, the 520i rolls in at RM358,800, while the 528i M Sport goes for RM409,800 and the 520d is priced at RM333,800, all on-the-road, without insurance, with BMW Service Inclusive + Repair (BS+RI). The new cars will be in all BMW showrooms from this weekend onwards.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 01:40:34 +0000.

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Reports: MINI Cargo commercial van heading to Geneva

Danny Tan — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 04:41:29 +0000

Trendy European businesses who need a small van but don’t want the image of an Opel Astravan or Peugeot 207 Van will have a good choice soon. German car rag Auto Motor und Sport reports that BMW’s MINI brand will unveil a new member of the bug eyed family at the Geneva Motor Show in March.

According to them, the new commercial van variant will be called MINI Cargo. It won’t be an all new bodystyle, but will be based on the current Clubman, which is an elongated MINI hatchback with barn style doors. As with other supermini based vans, the rear seats will be removed to make way for a flat load floor. Another trademark of these vehicles are blocked off rear windows.

Not likely to reach our market, where the MINI is a luxury toy for the wealthy, as opposed to a (stylish) mass market common car in its home continent.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 01:40:34 +0000.

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BMW 1-Series three-door hatchback patent filings leaked

Danny Tan — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 02:43:34 +0000

The new BMW 1-Series with the codename F20 was unveiled back in June, but only in five-door hatchback form. Now, here are some patent filings to show us how the three-door hatchback variant will look like.

No big departure from the 5dr, which is expected. Measurements should be unaltered, too. The 1er is both longer and wider than its predecessor, while wheelbase has grown by 30 mm to make 2,690 mm. Taken bare, the wheelbase is quite long, but because of the 1-Series’ unique cab rearward RWD layout, cabin space should be more snug than a typical C-segment hatchback.

BMW launched the 5dr with two different trim levels – Sport Line and Urban Line. Will the 3dr come with the same option, or will it be just Sport? Click here for more pics and info on the F20 1-Series.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 01:40:34 +0000.

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VIDEO: Designing the new F30 BMW 3-Series

Paul Tan — Sun, 25 Dec 2011 07:27:11 +0000

BMW produced this video showing a series of interviews with BMW head of exterior design Karim Habib, BMW 3-Series exterior designer Christopher Weil and BMW 3-Series interior designer Christian Bauer, where they talk about the design process of the car.

During the video you will hear Mr Weil talk about a “competition”. I’ve covered BMW’s design process in a previous story on how the F10 5-Series was designed, but I’ll do a short recap here. First, the features and requirements of a new model is defined in a “Package Plan” right from the beginning – usually about 5 years before the planned production start. It is during this initial phase that the designers start creating the first few scale models and renderings.

Then, all the exterior designers come up with their own personal drafts and designs on how they think the car should look like. This is where the “competition” comes in – it’s a creative contest of sorts, done under the guidance of the Head of BMW Group Design. A few clay models based on these drafts are made and in an elimination process by the board, these drafts are eliminated one by one until finally the end result is selected.

By this point, 2 years have passed and the final choice between the final two clay models is made about three years before the intended start of production. Enjoy the video.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 01:40:34 +0000.

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BMW: The Fastest Christmas Card in the World!

Paul Tan — Sun, 25 Dec 2011 06:42:40 +0000

Hope everyone’s enjoying their Christmas/year end holidays so far. In the spirit of the season, BMW made a video of an artist trying to draw a Christmas card motif, while strapped in a crazy BMW M5 going sideways. The result is a pretty much random mash of colorful lines, which they call the “Fastest Christmas Card in the World”. Enjoy the video!

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 01:40:34 +0000.

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Auto Bavaria ends 2011 with special Christmas deals for the E90 3-Series and F10 5-Series

Harvinder Sidhu — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 09:55:32 +0000

We are just a few weeks away from the start of a brand new year and Auto Bavaria has geared to end 2011 with special Christmas deals for the E90 3-Series and F10 5-Series range. This special deal is made up by attractive discounts for pre-registered units of the 3er and brand new ones for the 5er.

All in all, a total of 30 specially-priced units are up for grabs. This offer is valid till 31st December and you can visit any Auto Bavaria branch for more information, including the Sungai Besi outlet with Christmas caroling performances this Saturday at 1.00pm and Sunday at 2.00pm.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 01:40:34 +0000.

BMW to launch new EV brand for Chinese market

Anthony Lim — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 04:16:05 +0000

BMW is set to create a new electric vehicle brand in China, together with local partner Brilliance Jinbei Automobile, according to a report. The creation of the brand is coming about in order to meet China’s joint-venture rules.

“We will have a new brand. It’s a legislative requirement,” BMW’s chief of sales and marketing Ian Robertson told Automotive News Europe, adding that the EVs destined for the Chinese market will utilise some of the electric powertrains that the company is developing.

According to Robertson, China is looking towards JV partnerships such as BMW-Brilliance to establish new EV brands, with an aim for the country to grow its exports.

“The Chinese auto market is the biggest in the world, but what they haven’t really got is an international brand with Chinese origin. I think there will be a requirement of globalisation of a Chinese brand. What’s happening is that we’re all encouraged to have more brands with a new technology element to it. If that technology is proven to be successful, then there’s an opportunity for that brand to grow and prosper,” he said.

No details were forthcoming on the models for China and their powertrains. Earlier in the year, BMW – in collaboration with Brilliance – debuted a concept plug-in hybrid 5-series at Auto Shanghai. The company plans to introduce its i3 EV in 2013 and its i8 plug-in hybrid in 2014 in China.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 01:40:34 +0000.

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BMW officially reveals the 4-door 6-Series Gran Coupe

Harvinder Sidhu — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 03:49:47 +0000

BMW has finally revealed its long-awaited Mercedes CLS competitor: the 6-Series Gran Coupe. This Gran Coupe becomes the third installment in the 6er line-up along with the coupe and convertible variants.

The 4-door coupe which borrows majority of its exterior looks from the current 6-Series is 111mm longer than its coupe counterpart, from a total length of 5,007mm and a wheelbase of 2,968mm. In comparison, the current CLS has a 2,875mm wheelbase, which is slightly shorter than the Gran Coupe.

The Gran Coupe also has a decent boot size of 460 litres, but by dropping down the rear seat backrests, this can be increased to 1,265 litres. Interior features include a “4+1″ seating arrangement which offers a third rear seat, comfort-oriented rear seat backrest angle, Dakota leather upholstery, Electric Power Steering and Dynamic Damper Control, Auto Start-Stop function, Dynamic Damper Control, Servotronic and so on, all standard.

Optional features are made up by Integral Active Steering and Adaptive Drive, xDrive all-wheel drive system, camera-based Collision Warning with braking function (in conjunction with Active Cruise Control), Bang & Olufsen High-End Surround Sound System and the list goes on. BMW confirmed that the Gran Coupe will be available in both BMW Individual and M Sport trims from launch.

Now on to the juicers bits. Three engine options are available including an oil burner which is a 6-cylinder 3.0 liter TwinPower Turbo (two-stage turbocharging) diesel with 313 hp and 630 Nm of torque from 2,500 rpm in the 640d. This variant offers an average fuel economy rating of between 5.5 and 5.7 litres per 100 kilometres. Then there is the 640i with its 6-cylinder 3.0 liter TwinPower Turbo (twin-scroll turbocharging) petrol with 320 hp and 450 Nm between 1,300 and 4,500 rpm.

The top spot is taken up by the 650i, powered by a 4.4 litre V8 also with TwinPower Turbo (two turbochargers). This unit can crank out 450 hp and 650 Nm of torque from 4,500 rpm. 0 – 100 km/h takes 4.6 seconds while top speed is rated at 250 km/h. Fuel economy doesn’t look bad despite the engine size with an average of between 9.2 and 9.4 litres per 100 kilometers. This model is available in all-wheel-drive form as well and all variants come with an eight-speed automatic transmission.

Enjoy some high-res photos after the jump.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 01:40:34 +0000.

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E90 BMW 3-Series now with 5 years / 100,000 km thanks to extended BMW Service + Repair Inclusive package

Harvinder Sidhu — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 13:23:42 +0000

BMW is now offering the E90 3-Series with its extended BMW Service + Repair Inclusive programme of five years or 100,000 kilometers, whichever comes first. This is an up from three years or 60,000 kilometers offered previously.

Additionally, potential customers can also choose between rebates or a 1st Year Low Repayment Plan which offers installments from as low as RM1,888 per month. This promotion is valid at all BMW authorized dealerships including Auto Bavaria Sungai Besi (03-9223 3200) which is having a Christmas special for the 3-Series.

This includes the sale of pre-registered units this weekend where attractive year-end savings will be offered. Promotion ends on 31st December 2011.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 01:40:34 +0000.

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BMW and Toyota diesel engine supply deal officially inked

Harvinder Sidhu — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 13:27:22 +0000

You have probably heard of some chatter about a possible partnership between BMW and Toyota in regards to environmentally-friendly technologies.

Well looks like there was substance behind the rumors after all and both companies have announced a collaborative effort today. A memorandum has been signed between the two auto brands which will see BMW supply Toyota’s European division with the company’s 1.6 liter and 2.0 liter diesel powerplants in 2014.

“It is a great joy and a thrill to enter into this mid-to-long-term collaborative relationship with BMW, a company with its own culture and history from its many years of car manufacturing in Europe, and a company that makes cars that are fun to drive. In the spirit of contributing to furthering the development of the auto industry and society, both companies will bring their wide-ranging knowledge-starting with that concerning environmental technologies-to the table and make ever-better cars,” said Akio Toyoda, Toyota’s president.

BMW’s Chairman of the Board of Management Norbert Reithofer said, “Toyota is the leading provider of environment-friendly series technology in the volume segment and the BMW Group is the most innovative and sustainable manufacturer of premium automobiles. We are now joining forces to further develop environment-friendly technologies and to expand our innovation leadership in each of our segments.”

“Supplying Toyota with our fuel efficient and dynamic diesel engines represents another important step in the planned expansion of our sales activities for engines and powertrain system,” he added. This deal is part of a memorandum which covers collaborative research into next generation environmental friendly technologies, such as lithium-ion battery technology.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 01:40:34 +0000.

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Toyota and BMW discussing broad partnership on environmental vehicles, primarily for Europe

Anthony Lim — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 03:06:28 +0000

In this day and age, it’s making more sense to expand your horizons by working with others. Toyota, it seems, is certainly of this belief – word has it that the Japanese automaker is discussing a broad partnership in environmental vehicles with BMW, including procuring diesel engines, according to reports. The proposed arrangement will see BMW providing diesel engines for Toyota’s passenger vehicles sold in Europe, in all likelihood 2.0 litre versions for midsize cars. No word as to the scale of the arrangement, and when it’s due to begin, as of yet.

Meanwhile, the partnership will see BMW being able to leverage the benefits of scale for diesels, and the move is also seen helping the German automaker improve the competitiveness of its green vehicles, where it will be able to expand its lineup by working with Toyota, which is expected to share its technologies for hybrid systems and related areas if requested, the reports add.

Toyota has struggled to improve its market share with its hybrids in Europe, where roughly 60% of passenger cars are powered by diesel engines. The company’s European sales fell by 9% to about 810,000 units in 2010, and it holds only a 4% share of the market. With demand for diesel vehicles forecasted to grow, the deal would help Toyota reduce development expenses by having domestic and Polish factories make diesel engines for fewer models.

The world’s major automakers have been reluctant to form partnerships in eco-friendly vehicles as each seeks to gain a competitive edge by promoting original technologies, but with demand for green vehicles growing in line with rising crude oil prices, it has prompted automakers to join forces to slash development costs for core technologies, as well as capital investment, in order to cut vehicle prices.

If it comes through, the move will be Toyota’s second green-technology tie-up with another major automaker, following its agreement in August to develop hybrid-vehicle systems with Ford.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 01:40:34 +0000.

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Petronas Syntium Team on the verge of fourth consecutive Super Taikyu championship title, aiming for win at Motegi

Danny Tan — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 04:39:35 +0000

We haven’t really followed Petronas Syntium Team’s progress in Japan, but nothing has changed apparently – they are still dominating the championship! Fresh from a 1-2 finish at the previous round of the 2011 Super Taikyu Series, PST is looking to repeat the same result in the next leg and clinch its fourth consecutive Super Taikyu championship.

To be held on the Twin Ring Motegi Super Speed Way and International Circuit, it will be an intensive weekend as two rounds of the Super Taikyu will happen, due to a postponement of an earlier round when the earthquake/tsunami disaster struck. Drivers will first compete in Round 5 in the Motegi Super Taikyu Oval Battle (two races of 50 laps each) across the 1.5-mile Motegi Super Speed Way. Next up is the Motegi Super Taikyu Final with a 300 km endurance race on the 4.8 km Motegi road course.

Having secured four wins in the ST-1 Class this season, PST’s BMW Z4M Coupe (Car No.1) is looking good to seal the championship title should things go according to plan. Helmed by the winning combination of renowned Japanese drivers Masataka Yanagida and Nobuteru Taniguchi, as well as PST-homegrown driver Dominic Ang, they are sure to get a good fight from teammates in the sister Z4M (Car No.28).

“The team has worked hard to come this far and we are con dent of securing the 2011 title, achieving our fourth Super Taikyu championship title. I am very proud of the drivers and the crew from PST and there is nothing sweeter than success after all that hard work and great effort,” said Team Principal David Wong.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 01:40:34 +0000.

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MINI USA adds yummy Recaro seats to the option list

Danny Tan — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 05:38:41 +0000

American MINI fans are a happy bunch, as one of the items on their wish list will now be granted. MINI USA is adding Recaro seats to the options list after years of requests. The grippier and better looking chairs come in only one configuration – heated and finished in black Dinamica with Leather.

Known as option 4FA, the Recaros are available for the hatchback, Clubman, Coupe and Roadster, but not the Countryman and Convertible. Ticking the box will cost Americans $3,000 on Cooper models and $2,750 on Cooper S and JCW types. The option will be available from next March.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 01:40:34 +0000.

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MINI Roadster – production drop top MINI Coupe unveiled!

Paul Tan — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 07:53:28 +0000

This is the sixth model in the MINI range – the production MINI Roadster, which is essentially a cabriolet version of the MINI Coupe.

I like the look of this one a little more than the MINI Coupe which was launched recently in Malaysia, though the MINI Coupe probably benefits from having a fixed roof improving its chassis rigidity, so it should handle a wee bit better.

I think the MINI Roadster also looks much better than the MINI Cabriolet, but loses two seats in the progress of course. It sits 20mm lower to the ground than the Cabriolet. The windscreen is more steeply raked. Luggage space is about 240 litres. There’s an active rear spoiler extends automatically at 80 km/h.

Engine options include a range of 4 cylinder engines. The Cooper Roadster has a 122hp/160Nm normally aspirated 1.6 litre engine, while the Cooper S Roadster has 184hp/240Nm via a turbo. There’s a 211hp/260Nm tune for the JCW. For oil burner lovers, there’s the Cooper SD Roadster with 143hp/305Nm.

Look after the jump for a mega gallery of the MINI Roadster.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 01:40:34 +0000.

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MINI Coupé launched – only in 1.6 Cooper S form, RM250k

Anthony Lim — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 14:52:28 +0000

BMW Malaysia today introduced the all-new MINI Coupé – the car arrives in a single engine form, in this case the Cooper S guise. No surprises with the 1.6 litre turbocharged car’s output figures, with 184 hp at 5,500 rpm and 240 Nm at 1,600 to 5,000 rpm, with overboost taking this to 260 Nm at 1,730 to 4,500 rpm.

It’s the brand’s first model to adopt a three-box body structure, with a strikingly stepped rear end setting it apart from the rest of the MINI family, with the low-slung silhouette and expressively styled “helmet” roof adding to things. Speaking of the roof, it’s painted in a contrasting colour as standard; a new take on Sport Stripes is among the additions available as an option.

Elsewhere, an active rear spoiler, fitted for the first time on a MINI, is also integrated in the boot lid. The spoiler pops up automatically when the Coupé reaches a speed of 80 km/h, with the four-part control mechanism returning the spoiler to its rest position at speeds of under 60 km/h. This visually striking mechanism serves to reduce lift at the rear axle, optimising both aerodynamic balance and grip levels of the new MINI Coupe.

Inside, the Coupé – which sits on 17-inch Conical Spoke alloys – features typical MINI style cues, among them the large centre speedo and a rev counter positioned directly behind the steering wheel, and the interior comes finished in a Carbon Black shade, replete with a Black Chequered interior surface.

Oval recesses in the roof liner help create extra headroom for taller drivers; the absence of a rear seat bench means you get more in the way of boot space – the boot features a 290 litre capacity, with a large, high-opening tailgate and a high through-loading system that can also be opened from the driver’s or passenger’s seat.

A host of exterior paint finishes are available for the Coupé, eight in all, these being Chilli Red, Pepper White, Spice Orange, Midnight Black, British Racing Green II, Eclipse Grey, Lightning Blue and White Silver, while the roof is painted as standard in a contrasting colour, with a choice of Jet Black or Pure Silver to pick from.

The retail price (on the road, without insurance, with the MINI Tender Loving Care service package) for the MINI Cooper S Coupe is RM 249,888.

There’s also an optional MINI Connected package, which allows iPhone users to stay connected when on the move. An onboard monitor allows passengers to receive RSS news feeds as well as Facebook and Twitter posts, displaying them on the on-board monitor and have them read out using the MINI Connected voice output function.

Included in the RM14,988 MINI Connected package is a 10-speaker, 480 watt DPS amplifier Harman/Kardon HiFi loudspeaker system and Radio MINI Visual Boost with a 6.5-inch high-resolution colour LCD screen.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 01:40:34 +0000.

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BMW EfficientDynamics Showcase at Pavillion

Paul Tan — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 12:49:24 +0000

BMW Group Malaysia today launched the BMW EfficientDynamics showcase at Pavillion, Bukit Bintang, with the centrepiece of the exhibit being the BMW Active E electric coupe that we test drove last week. Read our test drive report to find out more about the EV coupe.

“The BMW Active E is BMW’s next systematic step towards an emission-free mobility solution and demonstrates our leadership and commitment in Sustainable Innovation as facilitated through the BMW EfficientDynamics strategy,” said BMW Malaysia’s MD Geoffrey Briscoe.

The showcase intends to provide Malaysians an understanding of the various technologies that the premium automotive industry employs to improve fuel efficiency and allow for greener motoring.

“The Malaysian government’s extension of full exemption of import duty and excise duty on hybrid and electric cars until 2013 is an important first step as it also initiates the momentum towards the establishment of a roadmap for mass adoption of clean and green technology in the automotive industry. However, more can and should be done to include immediate technologies available today such as advanced petrol and diesel engines which run on lower sulphur content Euro IV specification fuel, as well as the introduction of incentives for all hybrid technology including those for hybrid vehicles above the 2 litre capacity,” said Briscoe, in reference on the recent Budget announcement.

“BMW Group Malaysia has made strong commitments to the country in its efforts to promote the use of clean and sustainable technology which has led to the introduction of advanced assembly techniques and technology to the country, first with the introduction of Advanced Diesel technology and hopefully with other sustainable drivetrains in the near future,” said Datuk Jacob Dungau Sagan, Deputy Minister of International Trade and Industry, who officiated the showcase.

BMW has quite a few strategies for fuel efficiency and green motoring in their stables – they’ve got the EfficientDynamics diesel models, the ActiveHybrid petrol electric hybrids, and an upcoming range of plug-in charging pure electric vehicles. They also dabbled with hydrogen power in the past.

But according to Malaysia’s NAP, only hybrid and electric vehicles are able to get duty exemptions, so none of BMW’s EfficientDynamics diesel models qualify to be brought in with a tax break. And these (models like the 320d and 520d EfficientDynamics) are the only BMW models that are relatively affordable – the petrol hybrids are all expensive high end items and the EVs are not mass production ready yet.

As it stands, none of the BMW ActiveHybrid models qualify for tax breaks because of engine sizes of over 2.0 litres in displacement – Malaysia’s hybrid tax breaks only allow for engine sizes of 2.0 litres and below, which explains why the Toyota Prius can be sold here, but not the Camry Hybrid.

For some reason BMW finds the need to equip its hybrids with turbocharged inline-6 and V8 engines when they now have smaller engines at their disposal. I had hoped for the ActiveHybrid 3 to get their new 2.0 litre inline-4 turbo engine so the Lexus CT 200h will have some competition in the premium segment.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 01:40:34 +0000.

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