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BMW Performance Power Kit for N47 diesel: 420Nm!

March 28, 2011 at 1:18 pm By Paul Tan Filed Under BMW, Cars, Diesel Cars in Malaysia

If you have a BMW 4-cylinder turbodiesel car, you might be interested in a new range of tuning kits for your oil burners straight from Munich.

The latest BMW Performance Power Kit released at Geneva early this year can bring the 184hp/380Nm 20d 4-cylinder N47 turbodiesel engine’s power output up to a nice 200 horsepower and 420Nm of torque, while fuel consumption remains unchanged. The 420Nm peak comes in from 2,000rpm.

Unfortunately for the 520d, it’s only available for manual cars at the moment, I’m guessing this is something to do with the 8-speed automatic as the 6-speed-equipped 3-Series doesn’t have any issue with the power kit on the automatic version.

For the 177 horsepower version of the 320d, the upgrade kit brings power up to 197 horsepower, with peak torque clocking in at 390Nm from 1,750rpm. The higher torque improves acceleration across the speed range, and it is claimed that highway acceleration time from 80km/h to 120km/h will drop by as much as 1 second.

Both these power kits are not just a simple remap – an uprated intercooler and a 600W radiator fan is required to maintain OEM reliability and is part of the package.

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MINI Countryman launched in Malaysia – RM249k to RM286k

March 24, 2011 at 4:48 pm By Anthony Lim Filed Under BMW, Cars, Local News

The fourth Mini variant has arrived in the country, man (sorry, couldn’t resist!). BMW Malaysia today introduced the Countryman (at the Kuala Lumpur Railway Station, no less) and the four-door, five-seater vehicle effectively completes the range of Mini vehicles available in Malaysia.

The four-metre long Countryman – which we’ve written about in our comprehensive long-lead test drive report on the car – is available in two 1.6 litre engine variants, the Cooper and the Cooper S. The naturally-aspirated version of the Prince block in the Cooper – designated the N16B16M0 in this case – offers 120 hp at 6,000 rpm and 160 Nm at 4,250 rpm, and it’s mated to an AW 260K six-speed auto transmission. Performance specs include a 182 kph top speed and 0-100 kph time of 11.6 secs.

The Cooper S Countryman gets the addition of a twin-scroll turbocharger, direct injection and BMW’s Valvetronic variable valve management, and is the first MINI to feature all three technologies in the same boat.

Performance-wise, the N18B16M0 Prince offers 184 hp at 5,500 rpm and 240 Nm from 1,600-5,000 rpm, with 260 Nm on overboost. It’s mated to a AW 225K six-speed box (with different ratios on gears 1 and 4 to 6 compared to the Cooper’s), and it does the 0-100 kph sprint in 8.3 secs and has a top speed of 205 kph.

The Cooper S Countryman features ALL4 permanent all-wheel drive as standard. An electromagnetic centre differential positioned directly on the final drive varies the distribution of power seamlessly between the front and rear axles, with the ability to channel 100% to either side when required. While DSC is standard on both versions, Dynamic Traction Control is only offered on the Cooper S Countryman and includes electronic locking function for the front axle differential.

For wheels, the Cooper gets 17-inch 5-Star Double Spoke alloys while the Cooper S Countryman wears 18-inch Turbo Fan design alloys finished in anthracite.

The Countryman is available in a wide variety of exterior colours – 11 in all, these being Pure Red, Bright Yellow, Surf Blue, Light Coffee, Light White, Absolute Black, Cosmic Blue, Oxford Green, Crystal Silver, Royal Grey and True Blue. Meanwhile, the interior features cloth leather upholstery in parallel lines of carbon black, with a choice of Pure Red or Light Tobacco to provide combination contrast.

Automatic air conditioning and an audio system with CD player are all fitted as standard, while the model-specific array of optional equipment packages available for the Countryman includes the glass roof package and MINI Connected package. The glass roof package offers one-touch operation and convenient opening of a panoramic glass roof through radio-remote control key, and goes for an additional RM9,988.

As for the MINI Connected package, items include the world’s first web radio function to allow users to pick up their preferred radio stations from around the world regardless of their location, user-definable RSS news feeds and much more.

Also included in the MINI Connected package is a Harman/Kardon HiFi 10-loudspeaker system and Radio MINI Visual Boost, which features a 6.5-inch high-resolution colour LCD screen. The MINI Connected package adds RM14,988 to the total price of the car.

Oh yes, the price of the car. Well, the MINI Cooper Countryman goes for RM248,888, while the Cooper S Countryman goes for RM285,888, both on-the-road without insurance, with the MINI Tender Loving Care service package.

Live gallery of launch photos after the jump.
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BMW 1-Series M Coupe Safety Car for MotoGP

March 23, 2011 at 5:08 pm By Paul Tan Filed Under BMW, Cars, International News

Here’s an idea for owners of 1-Series Coupes who want to dress up their car. This is a one-off BMW 1 Series M Coupe built specifically to serve as the Official Safety Car for the MotoGP series this year.

The entire drivetrain is claimed to be the same as the production car though – a 340 horsepower inline-six M TwinPower Turbo engine mated to a 6-speed manual transmission, the only available gearbox option for the M Coupe.

Even though the engine may be the same, this car will go faster than a production model due to weight reduction techniques. The safety car comes with a carbon fiber bonnet with integrated air vents, polycarbonate side and rear windows, and a lightweight titanium race exhaust system. There’s also an adjustable rear wing.

In the interior, the rear seats are missing, while the front seats have been replaced by two racing bucket seats with six-point belts. There’s also a rollover cage bolted behind the B-pillar.

Look after the jump for the full image gallery.
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Mansory dresses and tunes up the F01/F02 7-er

March 23, 2011 at 1:01 pm By Paul Tan Filed Under BMW, Cars, International News

If Batman ever decided to get himself one of the new F01/F02 BMW 7-Series, he’d probably have the dealer pre-install this Mansory bodykit. Other than the stealthy bodykit you see here, Mansory also tunes the 760Li’s 6.0 litre twin-turbo V12′s power from it’s current 544 horses and 750 Nm to a massive 640 hp and 920 Nm, which is more than the X5 M and X6 M and probably more than whatever the upcoming F10 M5 will put out. Looking at what the 4.4 litre turbo V8s are capable of, we always knew that the 6.0 litre force inducted lump had so much more potential in it! We don’t really understand converting the kidney grills to horizontal bars instead of the standard BMW vertical bars though!
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MINI Countryman test drive report from Hamburg, Germany

March 21, 2011 at 2:29 pm By Danny Tan Filed Under BMW, Cars, Test Drive Reviews

The new MINI, or the BMW MINI, is one of the great motoring successes in recent times. We’re not sure, but it’s possible than even the bigwigs in Munich never envisioned such great reception for the reborn icon. Whether as a style accessory that transcends class in Europe or a toy for the rich in Malaysia, the MINI is still every bit as desirable as it was when it debut nearly a decade ago (has it really been that long?)

Fun to look at and fun to drive it may be, but the hip and happening early adopters from a few years ago might have moved on in life, and may require more space. To keep them in the brand they love, and to attract those who love the idea of a MINI but whose lifestyle/family does not permit, a bigger MINI was needed.

Continue reading the report after the jump.
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BMW to expand TwinPower Turbo to 4- and 3-cyl engines

March 21, 2011 at 1:58 pm By Anthony Lim Filed Under BMW, Cars, International News

Expect more to come in the way of twin-scroll turbocharging from BMW – the company is set to expand its application of TwinPower Turbo tech to cover its four- and three-cylinder engine jobs.

First seen in 2009 in a six-cylinder 3.0 litre petrol unit on the 5-Series GT, the package – which has twin-scroll turbocharging, direct gasoline injection and fully-variable Valvetronic valve management as part of the game – made its way on to a four-cylinder unit, the 2.0 litre petrol block in the X1 xDrive28i introduced in Geneva.

It’s all part of the plan by the company to offer more horsepower while cutting back on CO2 levels. The 245 hp output from the 2.0 block is significantly higher than the 156 hp offered by the normally-aspirated version.

According to a report, the company hasn’t disclosed just when TwinPower Turbo will be made available on a new family of three-cylinder engines it’s looking at to power the next-generation Mini and upcoming entry models in its BMW model lineup. It has however stated that the three-cylinder unit is expected to be the dominant engine plug in its lineup by 2015.

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BMW M5 teaser video reveals instrumentation panel

March 17, 2011 at 10:43 am By Paul Tan Filed Under BMW, Cars

BMW has released another set of teaser videos for the new BMW M5, showing engineers/test drivers testing the car in Austria. Not only do you get to see the M5 sliding around in the snow, but the video reveals some details about the M5′s interior as well.

The image above shows the M5′s instrumentation panel. The steering wheel in this car is not the final one – you can see the “M” button on the left spoke is a generic square white button with the letter M on it instead of it being nicely integrated into the steering wheel controls.

The instrumentation panel is unique though – it’s got its M logos, red needles, and the usual variable redline that you get in M cars. In this car, the engine must have warmed up already – the yellow zone is already at its minimum starting from 6,800rpm and the redline starts from 7,200rpm – not as high as the E60 M5 so you won’t get a screamer in the engine bay but turbo V8 power will make up for that.

Look after the jump for one more screenshot as well as two videos.
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BMW M3 Ute Truck spotted at the Nurburgring!

March 16, 2011 at 9:42 pm By Paul Tan Filed Under BMW, Cars

Remember the E39 M5 which had been converted to a utility truck by its owner? Well, someone has done the same to the latest BMW M3, and it’s actually none other than BMW themselves. This BMW M3 Ute was spotted at the famous Nurburgring race track, presumably undergoing suspension testing. It looks like the kind of thing which makes you look at your calendar to see if it’s the 1st of April yet!

Apparently it’s a one-off car commissioned by a company that makes accessories for BMW Motorrad bikes. We know bikes and pick-up trucks somehow go together, but despite that flatbed I don’t think any bike could fit in there!

Look after the jump for the rest of the photos.
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Hamann reinterprets BMW’s X6 M into a Tycoon Evo M

March 15, 2011 at 4:01 pm By Anthony Lim Filed Under BMW, Cars, International News

Working on the adage that nothing succeeds like excess, the boys at Hamann have given the BMW X6 M a very big round of the “slap on everything you can think of” treatment, and the result is the Tycoon Evo M.

The vehicle develops 670 hp at 6,000 rpm and 950 Nm at 1,500-5,650 rpm, making for an increase of 115 hp and 100 Nm over the stock M vehicle. Performance numbers include a 0-100 kph time of 4.2 seconds and a 300 kph top speed, the last aided by the removal of the speed limiter.

The gains are thanks to the addition of a newly programmed engine map and a titanium high-performance exhaust system with catalyst replacement pipes, which not only helps improve scavenging but also renders a more dynamic note. Oh, and the brakes are also upped – the SAV has a Mov´it Ceramic high-performance braking system, with six-pot front and four-pot rear calipers.

Of course, bling isn’t forgotten (and how could it be). The vehicle’s body is widened by an additional 60 mm, and the exterior treatment includes newly-designed side skirts, carbon-fibre bonnet, a new front apron (with four LED daylight running lamps), enlarged air inlets, a new rear apron and new rear lights, as well as rear and roof spoilers.

The Tycoon Evo M also gets specially designed forged anodised wheels, in this case a 23-inchers wearing 315/25 R tyres. Imagine how much a replacement will cost. Elsewhere, a Hamann lowering kit, with progressively coiled springs at the front axle and a refining kit for the rear axle, brings the ride height down by 40 mm.

Inside, the SAV features interior applications made of nanai salmon leather, which as its name suggests, has the characteristic structure of salmon skin. Elsewhere, the floor space gets noble chequer-shaped embroideries on the leather, and there’s a three-spoke sports steering wheel and aluminium pedals and foot rests among the reworked stuff. To end it all, the X6′s boot features a Hamann mat with chequer-shaped embroideries and a stitched logo.

Gallery after the jump.
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BMW Malaysia launches the F25 X3 – RM348k for xDrive20d

March 14, 2011 at 5:45 pm By Anthony Lim Filed Under BMW, Cars, Local News

BMW Malaysia today introduced the F25 X3, and the second-generation SAV arrives in only a single form, this being the xDrive20d. It’s a real push for the diesel brigade, because there isn’t going to be a petrol variant of the form coming in until next year.

The replacement for the E83 rolls in as a more sizeable offering, essentially almost as large as the first-gen E53 X5. In terms of proportion, the company says it is smack midway in between the X1 and current X5 in terms of dimensions.

The X3 xDrive20d comes wearing the same pot as found on the 320d and 520d, in this case the N47D 2.0 litre four-cylinder common-rail direct injection BMW Advanced Diesel block. So you get the same output figures – 184 hp at 4,000rpm and 380 Nm at 1,750-2,750 rpm, and this one also gets the 8HP45 eight-speed auto gearbox.

Performance figures for the all-wheel drive vehicle include a 0-100kph time of 8.5 seconds and a 210 kph top speed, as well as a best-in-class fuel consumption of 5.6L/100 km.

In terms of BMW EfficientDynamics-related kit, the new X3 features optimised aerodynamics, intelligent lightweight construction, Brake Energy Regeneration, Electromechanical Steering, demand-based control of ancillary components and functions and, for the first time in any BMW vehicle in Malaysia, an Auto Start/ Stop function in combination with automatic transmission.

If the external design is an improvement over the E83, then plenty has also happened in the interior, which features Nevada leather upholstery and matt silver satin trim finishers – the increase in overall size means that cabin space is also up; at the back, this works out to 23 mm more knee room and a 20 mm increase in width over the previous X3, so the rear seat occupants get a fair bit more space.

The rear seat backrests can be split 40:20:40, where the three segments can be folded down either individually or together, and the boot volume of 550 litres goes up to 1,600 litres with the rear seats folded.

Kit includes xenon headlamps, V-spoke style 304 17-inch alloys (with 225/60 series tyres), a 6.5-inch monitor and 12 loudspeaker audio system, and BMW ConnectedDrive components include USB connectivity and Bluetooth hands free functions, as well as access to items such as BMW TeleServices and the optional BMW Telematics Platform Accessory (TPA), which includes an emergency Vehicle Recovery System as well as other BMW Assist remote services.

The X3 xDrive20d is priced at RM348,800 (on the road, without insurance, with BMW Service Inclusive + Repair). Two optional packages (Technology and Comfort) are available for the F25; the Technology package features BMW’s Dynamic Damper Control working in tandem with BMW Performance Control, BMW Navigation System Professional and extended connectivity for mobile devices.

Meanwhile, the Comfort package features the automatic operation of the tailgate, comfort access system and a panoramic glass roof. The Technology package adds RM28,000 to things, while the Comfort one goes for RM18,000. Additionally, limited units of the new X3 xDrive20d Special Edition will also be available from launch, boasting additional features such as Dynamic Damper Control, Performance Control and 18-inch light alloy wheels, and this one goes for RM368,000.

Look after the jump for a full gallery of the new X3.
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