Archive for BMW

This is the world’s fastest MINI Cooper, a machine built by MINI USA and Fireball Tim Drag Racing. It isn’t just a wild claim though, it actually holds the actual official title for “World’s fastest MINI”. It’s body is made out of 100% carbon fibre, equipped with a John Cooper Works bodykit. The engine is twin-charged, resulting in a good 500 horsepower which is alot for the 772kg car. More photos after the jump.

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While BMW toils to prepare it’s new 4.0 liter V8 engine for the new BMW M3, Hartge has injected some well needed horsepower into the new BMW E90 3-series. Feeling that the top of the line 3 liter in-line 6 and the upcoming 3 liter turbocharged in-line 6 is inadequate, they’ve somehow managed to take the Formula 1 inspired 5.0 liter V10 engine from the E60 BMW M5 and stuffed it into the E90’s engine bay, lock, stock, transmission and barrel. Not feeling satisfied with the 504 horses that it already has, it performed some extra tweaking to it. Hartge’s engineers managed to extract 550bhp, about 46 horses extra from the standard engine. Maximum torque remains at 520 Nm.

To take the new horses, the E90 has been modified with a stronger rear axle and it has been given and upgraded fully adjustable suspension system. The Hartge H50 V10 also comes with a special stainles steel exhaust system developed to improve the aural note of the high-revving V10 as well as give it a little more breathing ability.

The speed limit has been removed, giving the Hartge H50 V10 a new top speed of 330km/h. Wheels are 245/30/ZR20 at the front and 285/25/ZR20 at the rear, wrapped with high-speed specification Continental tyres.

When you’re at a table with a few car enthusiasts, you’d hear them flinging around words like W211, E36, GC8, E90, EK, EG, SV4, H22A and 4G93 as if it were some alien language code. Some of those are car model numbers, and some are engine models. No self-respecting car enthusiast refers to car models by their years, they use the chassis codes. BMW has been using the E-code for their cars. The timeless 5-series is the E39. The hot make-you-wet-your-undergarments 3-series before the current Bangle-fied one is the E46, while the latest Bangle-fied 3-series is the E90, with the station wagon being the E91 and the soon to be released coupe being the E92. I’ve also blogged about the timeless E30 (picture above).

The E in the E-code stands for Entwicklung, which means evolution or development in German. Motor Trend reports that BMW will be dropping the E-code and using a new F-code as the E-code is already nearing it’s limits in terms of numbers since it’s reached 90 already with the latest 3-series. The 2009 BMW 7-series will be called the F01 and the L long wheelbase version (750iL?) will be called the F02. The next 5-series will be known as the F10. Note that facelifts do not entitle a new chassis code as it is essentially the same platform with a facelift.

Some BMW cars with their model numbers after the jump…

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Here’s the latest computer graphic imagery of the BMW X6. Can see that it’s gained a “Bangle butt”, a common design characteristic of all the new Chris Bangle designed BMWs. The BMW X6 is supposed to be a cross-over SUV and coupe type of vehicle. The chassis itself has already been through testing stages at Germany’s Nurburgring.

For more on the BMW X6, check out my previous posts:

BMW X6 Concept Art
BMW enters the crossover SUV market

UPDATE: The Nissan Sylphy has been launched in Malaysia! Two model variants are available, both with 2.0L engines. Click to read more and find out details and pricing.

Nissan has launched it’s Nissan Bluebird Sylphy mid-sized luxury sedan in Japan, targetted at today’s executive woman, focusing on hospitality and care in mind.

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BMW’s Group Research and Engineering division has come up with something new to squeeze out every ounce of performance from a combustion engine. Let’s have a look at BMW’s Turbosteamer.

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It’s 5:25am, and because of a teh tarik session that went on till the wee hours of the morning, combined with the effects of caffeine, I am unable to sleep.

I think I’ll just put up a picture of this timeless beauty and see if I will doze off…

Like the Toyota Supra and the Mazda RX7, some things will always remain beautiful no matter what age you’re in. It’s hard to find such timeless designs these days. I must say the Bayerische Motoren Werke’s designers have this talent.

The E30, E34 and E39 will forever remain some of the most beautiful cars I have ever laid my eyes upon, and I hope one day I will be able to lay my hands upon too, especially the E39.

BMW launched the M version of the 6-series in the UK – the BMW M6, powered by the same venerable 5 liter V10 engine found in the ultimate luxury sports sedan – the BMW M5. More details are available after the jump.

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BMW UK seems very sure of themselves. Marketing director of BMW UK Uwe Ellinghaus noted that Audi customers are of a similiar age to BMW owners. But he said that if the original is available, why should anyone buy a good copy? It looks like BMW isn’t taking Audi seriously at all.

Ellinghaus considers Mercedes Benz a serious competitor, but generally Mercedes Benz buyers have a different taste from BMW buyers.

Of course, this arrogance is justified. BMW’s expected sales forecoast this year is a huge number of 100,000-110,000 cars.

Source: Reuters

BMW’s 3.0 liter Twin-Turbodiesel won the 2.5 to 3.0 liter category in the International Engine of the Year awards. With this new-found expertise on how to mate an engine with a turbocharger, they are going for a new petrol twin-turbo engine for their E92 335i.

Click here to read the rest of BMW 335i to get twin turbocharged inline-6