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  • VIDEO: first TVC produced for the BMW X1

    In BMW, Cars, Videos / By / / 8 comments

    BMW X1 Headlamps

    BMW has released the first TV commercial for the new BMW X1 SUV and from the looks of it they are clearly positioned it as an active lifestyle vehicle for you to go on major road trips with your friends, and of course it will be a new cheaper way to enter this particular segment of SUV (or SAV as BMW would rather the whole world call them).

    By the way, I’ve just found out what that oddly tilted square lense positioned in the inner ring of the bi-xenon headlamp is. Apparently it is just a lense designed to direct the light from the inner lamp to light up the corona rings (popularly called angel eyes) of the headlamp. In a bi-xenon headlamp, the outer xenon lamp serves both low beam and high beam functions so the inner lamps mostly serve to light up the corona rings only. The adaptive cornering lights are located in the fog lamps.

    Anyway look after the jump to watch the commercial and see the new X1 in action. The X1 is likely to be launched in Malaysia within the first half of 2010.
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  • The new BMW 7-Series High Security

    In BMW, Cars / By / / 21 comments

    BMW 7-Series High Security

    The car you see above is a special high-security version of the BMW 7-Series, essentially Munich’s competitor for the Mercedes-Benz Guard cars. Available in either 760Li High Security or 750Li High Security form, they are certified to BRV 2009 and meet the VR7 and VR9 ballistic protection levels.

    BMW 7-Series High Security

    The 7-Series High Security cars are much heavier than a regular F02 because of all the armour plating that it has, so the suspension and other components had to be retuned to cope with the new weight. There are armour plating on the doors, the roof, the pillars, the front footwell, the undercarriage (with extra explosion protection) and the separation wall between the passenger and luggage compartments. The windows use 60mm thick safety glazing and are covered with a polycarbonate layer on the inside to prevent shattered glass particles from entering the interior.

    BMW 7-Series High Security

    There is various extra equipment that you can specify with the car, including an intercom system with concealed mics and speakers to communicate with people outside the car without having to open the doors or windows. There’s also an assault alarm, a fire extinguisher system with temp sensors in the engine bay and below the vehicle, gas irritant sensors (windows will close, central locking activates, fresh air valves close, and ventilation system shuts off), flag holders, a gun case that can store two machine guns in the center console, and a bright roof beacon that comes complemented with LED flashing lights on the front grille.

    BMW 7-Series High Security

    Look after the jump for a whole hi-res photo gallery of the new 7-Series High Security. The way they mounted the controls for some of the optional features like the roof beacon etc look pretty aftermarket, it would be nicer if they found a nicer way to integrate those extra buttons.
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  • Some details on the next generation 3-Series

    In BMW, Cars, Rumours / By / / 36 comments

    BMW 3-Series

    Here’s some details from Autocar UK on BMW’s next generation bread and butter – the replacement for the E90 BMW 3-Series set to be launched for the 2011 model year. No doubt some of this may be just conjecture on Autocar’s part, but here’s the list anyway:

    • The 4-cylinder engine will finally be replaced by a turbocharged unit, but Autocar is suggesting 3-cylinder engines will be used. The idea of an inline-3 in a 3-series is a little bleh though, what’s wrong with just downsizing to a small 4-cylinder and then turbo-ing it? But there’s no doubt that mechanically the inline-3 engine will likely be competent.
    • Greater care for aerodynamics, such as the use of narrow and upright intakes in the front bumper to channel the air through the bumper and out of a slot in the wheel well that pushes and smoothens the airflow across the face of the wheel.
    • The chassis will have provisions for an integrated motor assist kind of system for the rear axle. Space also needs to be designed for batteries and control units related to hybrid systems.
    • The 8-speed auto will find its way into the whole BMW range, with the 7-speed twin clutch reserved for sports models only. Though there has been improvements of leaps and bounds to computer-clutched transmissions, a real auto will always be smoother than a twin clutch.
     

  • BMW’s Frankfurt sports concept spied under covers!

    In BMW, Cars, Concept Cars / By / / 19 comments

    BMW Concept Car

    This covered-up BMW concept was snapped by the lucky guys over at E90Post.com. BMW has talked numerous times about a new sustainable sports car concept that they will unveil at the Frankfurt Motor Show 2009 and this is most likely it.

    It’s supposed to be some kind of electric sports car called the Z Vision Concept or Vision Z Concept. Technically, kidney grilles would be needed in this car since there would be no internal combustion engine at the front to cool down and yes, you can see this reflected in the seemingly lack of lower bumper air intakes, but its a BMW trademark and it’s even been given a shark nose kind of look to it.

    They say this new concept previews the next generation 6-Series design cues, and if that is true it looks pretty damn good. An additional rumour is that BMW may add a RX-8-esque 4-door variant to the 6-Series range and call it the 6-Series Gran Turismo, thus reflected in this concept – it will be a four-door with small rear-hinged rear doors.

    Look after the jump for a full photo gallery.
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  • BMW says hello to an old friend, the Isetta

    In BMW, Cars, Videos / By / / 41 comments

    BMW Isetta

    Could BMW’s new sub-brand for its electric cars be called the Isetta? There’s strong indication that it might be, considering that they’ve recently produced a promotional TV commercial that seems to seek to both introduce the old Isetta to the younger generation and to remind oldies of the small little BMW with the door that opened in front. The video’s main purpose is actually to promote the BMW Museum in Munich. Given that the Isetta was the original BMW compact city car, badging its new MegaCity/Project i car with the brand seems quite suitable. Word is that the new Isetta brand will be spelled “i-Setta”, though there’s no official release from BMW confirming this as far as I know, just hearsay from sources said to be close to BMW. Look after the jump to watch the new Isetta video!
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  • VIDEO: Back to the 60s – the BMW 1500

    In BMW, Cars, Videos / By / / 24 comments

    BMW 1500

    As it is about to take a leap into a new future of electric cars and M-badged SUVs, BMW revisits its past with this video that it produced about the BMW 1500 from the 1960s. The BMW 1500 was one of the BMW New Class line of compact sedans and it featured a 1,499cc single-cam engine producing 80 horsepower at 5,700rpm which was really not bad at that time. The 1500 in 1961 was also the first BMW with a Hofmeister kink. Look after the jump to watch the video.
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  • BMW to launch electric cars under M-like sub-brand

    In BMW, Cars, Hybrids and Alternative Fuel / By / / 6 comments

    BMW LogoBMW’s Project i will be launched under the BMW subframe not unlike the BMW M badge, said its CEO Norberg Reithofer earlier this week.

    We’ve already seen a modern BMW electric car with the trial-basis MINI E, and speculation was arife on whether BMW would start a new fourth brand for its electric cars, market the cars under the BMW brand, or sell them all as MINIs, since the MINI E is a MINI. The first car under Project i is commonly referred to as the MegaCity and will be released in the first half of the next decade, which is within 5 year’s time.

    Lithium-ion batteries for Project i will be sourced from a Korean joint venture between Bosch and Samsung SDI called SB LiMotive. SB LiMotive also owns Cobasys, the company which supplies batteries to GM for its Volt.

    BMW is said to be in talks with PSA Peugeot Citroen to expand its technical collaboration to electric cars as well. PSA already had some sort of deal with Mitsubishi though, with Mitsubishi set to supply the Mitsubishi i electric car to the French company to be sold in Europe under the Peugeot and Citroen badges.

     

  • Hamann kits up the BMW 5-Series GT

    In BMW, Cars / By / / 55 comments

    Hamann 5-Series GT

    Hamann’s take on the new BMW 5-Series GT still seems as much as wrong as the original. And it still looks like a puppy somehow. I dunno, maybe, just maybe this particular model will look better in the metal… maybe. That’s still some pretty wishful thinking. Can’t wait for the F10 sedan to be out. Look after the jump for a full gallery showing the car with various different Hamann wheels.
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  • Peter Krist on the new BMW X1 SAV

    In BMW, Cars, Videos / By / / 15 comments

    BMW X1

    In this video released by the boys at Munich, BMW’s Head of Project for the BMW X1 Peter Krist talks about BMW’s smallest X model to date, which is quite close to size to the current generation and soon to be replaced BMW X3. It’s also the first X1 to be available in rear wheel drive as well as all-wheel drive.

    Nothing odd about the X1 to be, there are plenty who want an SUV but want it closer to a sedan’s driving feel and don’t want to handle something overly large – so the X3 has room to move up a size right between the X1 and the X5. There’s quite some room between the X1′s 2,760mm wheelbase and the X5′s 2,933mm wheelbase – somewhere around 2,850mm perhaps, which is a decent size up from the current X3′s 2,795mm wheelbase.

    Watch the video after the jump.
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  • BMW to quit F1 after 2009 season

    In BMW, Cars, Formula 1, Motorsports, Videos / By / / 105 comments

    BMW F1 car

    New shocker in the Formula One scene – BMW has announced that it will be exiting F1 at the end of 2009, after a 3 year run in the team’s current incarnation, the BMW Sauber F1 team. In the middle of 2005, BMW acquired the Swiss team Sauber and took to the starting grid under the team’s new name.

    “Unfortunately, we were unable to meet expectations in the current season. Nevertheless, our ten years of Formula One experience have had a major impact on our development engineers. We have racing to thank for numerous technological innovations as well as the competitive spirit that drives us to develop mass-produced cars,” said board member Dr. Klaus Draeger.

    NEW VIDEO: BMW withdraws from F1

    “The main reason for this decision was not our current performance in Formula One racing or the general economic situation. It was solely the company’s strategic realignment. Premium will increasingly be defined in terms of sustainability and environmental compatibility. This is an area in which we want to remain in the lead. In line with our Strategy Number ONE, we are continually reviewing all projects and initiatives to check them for future viability and sustainability. Our Formula One campaign is thus less a key promoter for us. Mario Theissen has been in charge of our motor sports program since 1999. We have scored a large number of successes in this period, including some in Formula One racing. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Mario Theissen and his team for this,” said chairman Dr. Norbert Reithofer.

    BMW F1

    Looks like the green movement killed yet another Formula One team, as similiar reasons were given by Honda when it decided to exit the sport. BMW will continue to participate in other sports like the ALMS, and of course, Formula BMW. These activities will continue to be supervised by Mario Theissen. The focus in the future will be more on programs like Efficient Dynamics.

    I’m not sure what’s going to happen to the team. Perhaps someone will buy them over, and one man rumoured to possibly step in and take over the team is Peter Sauber, the man whose name is the other half of the team’s name. Whatever it is, BMW will work to find solutions for all current F1 employees, and someone else taking over is definitely one of them. Our national oil company Petronas could continue their F1 sponsorship with this new team and their new owners, if they choose to remain in the sport.

     
 
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