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MINI officially returns to rallying – WRC Team launched

April 12, 2011 at 2:07 pm By Anthony Lim Filed Under BMW, Cars, International News, Motorsports

The MINI WRC Team was officially launched at the MINI plant in Oxford yesterday, marking the return of the brand to the motorsport discipline that made it famous.

This season, the team will contest six rounds of the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) with the MINI John Cooper Works WRC, developed by Prodrive and based on the Countryman production model. For 2012, the team is set to do the entire season of the WRC.

The MINI will go up against its rivals for the first time at the Rally d’Italia Sardegna next month, on May 5-8, with 2009 Intercontinental Rally Challenge winner Kris Meeke (and co-driver Paul Nagle) and former Citroen works driver Dani Sordo (with co-driver Carlos del Barrio) at the helm of the factory cars.

The four-wheel drive John Cooper Works WRC is powered by a 1.6 litre four-cylinder direct injection turbocharged engine as found in the production Countryman – developed by BMW Motorsport to FIA Super2000 regulations, it retains the road car’s cylinder block and heads, but everything else has been extensively re-engineered for competition.

The mill is virtually identical to that used by BMW in its World Touring Car programme, except in the MINI rally car it’s fitted transversely in the engine bay and the ECU remapped for rallying. Under FIA regulations, the performance of the engine is limited by a 33 mm air restrictor and a maximum turbo boost pressure of 2.5 bar (absolute).

The lump is mated to an Xtrac six-speed sequential gearbox and AP Racing sintered twin plate clutch, with the driver selecting gear via a manual shift mounted on the steering column. The car has no centre differential, and has a passive limited slip plate and ramp differentials on the front and rear axles.

Kit items include three-way adjustable Ohlins dampers and AP Racing brakes – in tarmac specification, with 18-inch wheels, the car has 355 mm four pot disc brakes on the front and rear, while in gravel specification with 15-inch wheels, the brakes are 300mm front and rear. Unlike the production Countryman there is no ABS on this one.

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BMW 5 Series plug-in hybrid for China to debut in Shanghai

April 12, 2011 at 8:29 am By Anthony Lim Filed Under BMW, Cars, Hybrids and Alternative Fuel, International News

At the upcoming Auto Shanghai show, BMW – in collaboration with Brilliance Automotive – is set to debut a concept of a premium-segment plug-in hybrid sedan developed exclusively for the Chinese automobile market. The prototype is based on the long-wheelbase version of the F10 5 Series Sedan and is made in Shenyang.

The car will feature a drive parallel hybrid drive set-up consisting of a 215 hp combustion engine – featuring BMW TwinPower Turbo technology – and an electrical motor offering 70 kW, thereby ensuring characteristic BMW driving dynamics as well as ground-breaking efficiency.

The electrical motor draws its energy from a high-voltage battery housed in the luggage compartment, which can be charged via the mains power supply. When running purely on electrical power, the vehicle can travel emission-free for up to 75 km at a constant speed of 60 kph, and the engine provides a minimum additional range of 400 km, which is in line with the driving profile of Chinese customers in the premium segment.

Indeed, the car is tailored closely towards the demands of the Chinese automotive market, providing ride comfort, luxurious ambience and interior space at the same level as the fossil fuel-only LWB version of the 5 Series sedan sold there. Series production of the vehicle is set to begin in China in 2013.

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BMW X5 Le Mans V12 firing up at BMW Classic

April 11, 2011 at 5:27 am By Paul Tan Filed Under BMW, Cars

A long time ago, way before BMW had twin turbo or TwinPower Turbo engines, way before they even put those motors into their BMW X5 and X6, pairing them with automatic transmissions and unleashing them to compete with the likes of the Cayenne Turbo and the Mercedes-Benz AMG SUVs, there was this – the BMW X5 Le Mans V12.

Play the video above to hear it fire up in the BMW Classic building, which we had the opportunity to visit yesterday as part of day 1 of the Castrol EDGE Experience program. There’s only so much you can do with the microphones on a digital camera – you really have to be there in real life to hear the sound this engine makes!

BMW shoehorned the 6.0 litre V12 engine carried over from a 24 Hour of Le Mans winning McLaren F1 into the BMW X5 Le Mans V12. The normally-aspirated motor put out a massive 700 hp and 720 Nm of torque, and it takes the X5 Le Mans up to 100 kph in just 4.7 seconds. It then goes on to a top speed of 278 kph.

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MINI claims first rally victory at Rally dell’Adriatico

April 8, 2011 at 11:54 am By Anthony Lim Filed Under BMW, Cars, Motorsports

Ahead of the MINI’s official arrival in the WRC, the car has claimed its first-ever overall rally victory in only its third competitive outing – a MINI John Cooper Works S2000 piloted by Andrea Navarra and co-driver Simona Fedeli has won the Rally dell’Adriatico.

The Grifone team pairing led from the start to the finish of the opening round of the Italian Gravel Championship, based on Italy’s Adriatic coast close to Ancona. The Italian driver finished ahead of Norwegian Andreas Mikkelsen, who was in a Skoda Fabia S2000, by 12 seconds in the one-day event.

The win achieved by the regional rally car version of the MINI is certainly a boost for the brand, which will have its official MINI WRC team presenting the full version of the John Cooper Works Countryman-based car next week, ahead of its race debut at the Rally d’Italia-Sardegna in Italy next month.

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F10 BMW Concept M5 unveiled at Auto Shanghai 2011

April 4, 2011 at 11:06 pm By Paul Tan Filed Under BMW, Cars, Concept Cars, International News

BMW has unveiled a near-production version of the new F10 BMW M5 at Auto Shanghai 2011. All the traditional M5 cues are there – the gill at the side, the quad exhaust tailpipes at the rear, and the wide bumper intakes at the front.

Unlike the E60 M5 which shared a lot of similarities in terms of looks with the regular M-Sport E60 especially at the front view thanks to the similar bumper, the new F10 M5 looks completely different from the M-Sport F10 at the front end (compare here).

The front bumper looks far more aggressive, with a lower intake that is narrower at the top and wider at the bottom, with the M-Sport bumper being the other way around. The fog lamps have been deleted as well.

As expected, the engine has lost 2 cylinders – it’s now a V8, but more than makes up for it by gaining two turbochargers. And unlike the X5 M and X6 M, the new BMW M5 Concept uses a 7-speed M Double Clutch gearbox instead of an M-modified 8-speed ZF slushbox. The new V8 engine and M DCT gearbox combo also has auto start/stop. No power figures have been released as of now.

The F10 has quite a large and fat body so to fill up those wheel arches, 20 inch wheels have been specified. The suspension system is said to be unique to the M5, and there’s also a new Active M Differential that actively controls the multi-plate lock inside the rear diff to ensure power is transmitted to the correct rear wheel.

Look after the jump for a full photo gallery of the car.
[Read more...]

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F12 BMW 6-Series Cabriolet spotted on trailer in Malaysia!

April 1, 2011 at 4:55 pm By Paul Tan Filed Under BMW, Cars


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The new F12 BMW 6-Series Cabriolet has already been spotted on Malaysia loaded on a logistics trailer – that was pretty quick, considering the F12 Cabriolet was just unveiled to the world late last year. We snapped this image somewhere in KL yesterday evening, and the trailer wasn’t carrying anything else that was interesting other than the F12, just your usual mix of E90 Sedans and E92 Coupes. Being CBU models, you wouldn’t think it’s an issue for both the 640i and 650i to be offered here in Malaysia, but the F12 has already appeared on BMW Malaysia’s website and there’s only mention of the straight six cylinder engine in the 640i, so we’re still wondering about the V8.
[Read more...]

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BMW 320i – two new variants introduced in Malaysia

April 1, 2011 at 2:27 pm By Anthony Lim Filed Under BMW, Cars, Local News

Well, yet more E90 3 Series editions spring forth. BMW Malaysia has announced the availability of two new 320i variants – the 320i Executive Edition and the 320i M Sport – in the local lineup.

Both versions run with the ubiquitous 156 hp 2.0 litre four-pot block, so no change there, but feature new kit and trim. The 320i Executive Edition comes with 17-inch style 338 V-spoke light alloy wheels, with silver trimming in the front apron as well as chrome for the window recess cover and kidney bars, adding what is tagged an elegant touch to the variant.

Inside, the Executive Edition gets a sports leather steering wheel, black high-gloss interior trim, full electric seat adjustment and doorsill trim sporting the Edition logo.

As for the 320i M Sport, it gets a customised M Sport and M Aerodynamics package, which includes the M Sport suspension, 17-inch style 194M double-spoke M light alloy wheels and BMW Individual High Gloss Shadow Line window frames.

For the interior, the M Sport version bags you sports seats for the driver and front passenger, Aluminium Glacier silver trim, and an anthracite BMW Individual headliner.

Both variants will also feature for the first time BMW Navigation System Professional and BMW ConnectedDrive Infotainment features, which up till now have only been available exclusively on the six-cylinder versions of the 3er.

Features include an 8.8-inch dashboard-mounted LCD and iDrive controller for the GPS kit, while items on ConnectedDrive are complete USB connectivity and Bluetooth hands free functions, expanded functionality for mobile phones and portable music players as well as on-board Internet and mobile office applications.

The 320i Executive Edition goes for RM241,800, while the 320i M Sport rolls in at RM253,800, both on-the-road, without insurance, with BMW Service Inclusive + Repair.

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BMW M3 Pickup – the world’s fastest ute unveiled

April 1, 2011 at 9:57 am By Anthony Lim Filed Under BMW, Cars, International News


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BMW’s M3 family has just gotten larger – there’s a fourth body variant of the form, and it’s missing a bit at the back. Or, on the flipside, think of it as the best M3 in terms of cargo carrying capability.

Yes, under the strictest secrecy, BMW’s first high-performance pickup has now been officially unveiled on April 1. The pickup was seen running around on the Nurburgring some time ago undergoing test and set-up drives, which was rather unfortunately not so secret.

Official lap times have not yet been released, but the needle in the dial vouched for a top speed of 300 kph.


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It’s every bit as endowed as its siblings – the same 420 hp block gets bolted on here, with a 450 kg rear-axle load capacity to boot, ha ha. Besides the high-revving V8 engine at the front and generously sized load area behind, there’s a removable Targa roof above, so driver and passengers in the M3 Pickup can have a pickup convertible.


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The kerb weight of the world’s fastest pickup undercuts that of the BMW M3 Convertible by around 50 kg, and removing the Targa roof shaves off a further 20 kg while at the same time lowering the car’s centre of gravity.

It’s the carrying ability that makes this one special. Clad in high-grade structured aluminium sheeting, the bed provides the biggest cargo capacity ever offered on a BMW M vehicle. Effectively, the M3 Pickup has the capacity to carry up to 20 standard 46-inch golf bags, surely enough for you and all your mates, who unfortunately past the lucky chap seated next to you, will have to take the bus. It’s also the first M3 variant in the 25-year-plus history of this model range to come with a trailer tow hitch.


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Alas, the M3 Pickup will not be heading for the golf course or series development, but will remain an exclusive one-off earmarked for use as a workshop transport vehicle for BMW M, so it goes. So, if you were reading this and salivating at the prospect of getting a ute with a seriously wicked slant, the joke’s on you.
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BMW 740Li M Sport available in Malaysia: RM848,800

March 29, 2011 at 7:28 pm By Paul Tan Filed Under BMW, Cars, Local News

The BMW 7-Series is now available with the M-Sport package in Malaysia though numbers are very, very limited. There are only two units in Malaysia for now – both are 740Li models with the 3.0 litre twin-turbocharged inline-6 mated to an automatic transmission.

The M-Sports package features a different bumper with more chrome at the front, glossy black window trim, and a bumper featuring a faux diffuser design at the rear.

The premium for the M-Sports package is about RM30,000, which is probably pocket change for the CEO who wants his chauffeured ride to look a little meaner. The BMW 740Li M-Sport retails for RM848,800, up from the regular 740Li’s RM818,800 price tag.
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BMW 3-Series history: 5 generations from 1975 to now!

March 29, 2011 at 3:31 pm By Paul Tan Filed Under BMW, Cars


Next generation F30 3-Series, artist’s impression

You know a new generation of a BMW car is about to be released when BMW sends out a press pack reminiscing about the good old days. So when we just got an email with a complete history of the BMW 3-Series in mailbox, we knew it was a sign that the brand new F30 3-Series is just around the corner. Look after the jump for the full history of the 3-Series by BMW Press Club as well as some images of each generation.
[Read more...]

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