Archive for BMW

BMW probably assumes the BMW X1’s buyers will mostly be younger folks who are very active on the internet so they’re releasing teaser bits of the X1 slowly by slowly on the internet. A whole gallery of camouflaged photos of the X1 snapped at the media preview drive in Spain was released onto the internet a couple of days ago, but the latest is a set of 4 low-res undisguised photos that zoom into specific details of the car. These 4 photos were uploaded onto the X1’s official Facebook page.

The photos show the kidney grille, the badge on the boot, the light bars in the rear tail lamp, and there’s also the angel eye headlamps you see above. You’ll immediately notice some kind of weird square thing in the inner headlamp lense, anyone have any idea what that might be? It was also visible in the headlamps of the X1 in all of the camouflaged photos. Is it some kind of an LED array headlamp or something?

Anyway, it really shouldn’t be hard to imagine what the new X1 will look like, as it will probably be very close to the Concept X1. The new BMW X1 will be the latest compact SUV by BMW and will be about the size of a RAV4, while the next generation X3 will grow larger in size and slot in rightfully between this X1 and the 2nd generation E70 X5.

Look after the jump for the remaining 3 photos.

Click here to read the rest of Low-res BMW X1 undisguised photos uploaded!

BMW F1 driver Nick Heidfeld tells us his opinion of the new BMW X5 M, the M division’s first SUV which was unveiled together with its sleeker sibling the X6 M earlier this year. But of course being an employee it’s nothing but praises for the X5 M, but it’s still a nice watch because there are some footage of the X5 M in action inserted into the clip. That blue looks pretty good. If you need a recap on what the X5 M is all about read my launch story, but here’s a quick recap: twin-scroll twin-turbo V8, 555 horsepower, 680Nm of torque, and 4.7 seconds to 100km/h. Watch the video after the jump.

Click here to read the rest of Nick Heidfeld’s take on the new BMW X5 M

Now this is the 5-Series that alot of you will be alot more excited about – the sedan version of the next generation BMW 5-Series codenamed the F10.

Sure the 5-Series GT may be a new-ish segment entry for both BMW and the automotive world but Malaysia is a sedan market.

The next generation 5-Series will include 3 bodytypes – sedan, estate and the already unveiled GT. This prototype videotaped by German news agency TVnews Hessen after it was stopped by German police on the autobahn because it looked suspicious – I cannot blame them, just look at the heavy disguise!

Not much detail on the headlamps either but I think we can most probably expect the front end of the 5-Series sedan to look quite similiar to the 5-Series GT.

The cameraman also managed to take a peek into the interior of the vehicle. Like the outside the interior is also heavily disguised so not much can be seen except that the new steering wheel design that debuted on the F01 as well as the black panel instrumentation will be in the F10 – notice the chrome ring around the meter panel does not extend into a full circle at the bottom – that’s where BMW’s new multi-info display is.

Our resident photo-manipulator Theophilus Chin has already presented to us his take on how the F10 Sedan might look like, with cues taken from both the F01 and the 5-Series Gran Turismo.

Look after the jump for the original video.

Click here to read the rest of F10 BMW 5-Series Saloon Interior Videotaped!

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We’ve long ago found out and mourned BMW’s decision not to produce a hardcore lightweight track-ready CSL version of the new V8-powered BMW M3. Yes, no M3 CSL but we do get this – a foursome of BMW M3 Edition Models, which are basically a choice of 4 M3s that are colour coordinated inside and outside with minor mods such as a lowered suspension.

To go into specifics, the four M3s come in either Alpine White Non-Metallic, Black Non-Metallic, Dakar Yellow Non-Metallic or Monte Carlo Blue Metallic. On the inside, the Black and White models get a white-coloured surface for the Alpine White and Black models on the center armrest, center console and door panel armrests. The Dakar Yellow and Monte Carlo Blue models get yellow or blue contrasting seams on the armrests and door close handles.

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All the 4 models get Checkered Flag Design entry trim bars, Carbon Structure Leather interior trim with white contrasting seams. The cars also get Black Novillo Leather seats with contrasting seams (white on the Alpine White and Black cars, body colour for the Dakar Yellow and Monte Carlo Blue cars) and vertical trim stripes on the upper section of the backrest and at the front of the legrest.

Click for enlarged image

On the outside, the cars get a dark eloxy-plated chrome finish for the kidney grilles, side gills and dual exhaust tailpipes. The openings on the engine compartment lid are finished in black. The 19 inch forged M light alloy wheels are either available in black or regular, and for the Alpine White, Black and Monte Carlo Blue models, the same rims are also available in contrast white with polished spokes. The suspension has been lowered by 10mm on all four corners.

I’m not sure on what occasion did BMW release these models, as they are simply called Editions, not Special Edition, nor Anniversary Edition, or even We Just Feel Like It Edition.

BMW’s new N55 engine family’s 306 horsepower and 400Nm power and torque output figures reminds us of the original moment when BMW first announced it was bringing back forced induction into the BMW engine line-up. The N54 engine was factory rated to put out that exact same amount, and it did that via the use of gasoline direct injection and two turbochargers running together, fed gas from three cylinders each.

Three years later, we still have 306 horsepower and 400Nm of torque, but BMW has achieved it using only one turbocharger instead of two. The new N55B30 engine also churns out peak boost and torque faster than the N54, with 400Nm hit at the 1,200rpm point instead of the N54B30’s 1,3000rpm mark.

The single turbocharger uses twin scroll technology. A twin scroll turbine housing uses dual side by side exhaust gas inlets into the housing, fed by two sources of exhaust pulses. A single path is also not able to take advantage of all the exhaust gas pulses effectively. Since there are two passages, each has a smaller overall volume than a single scroll turbo path, thus the exhaust velocity of each pulse can be maintained.

The N55B30 is not the first BMW engine to use a twin scroll turbocharger, as the BMW Prince engine in the MINI Cooper S also uses one. In the Cooper S, the turbocharger’s twin-scroll principle is fed by two sets of two cylinders each, while in this N55 inline-6 engine it is two groups of 3 cylinders each.

The N54 did not feature Valvetronic because in a turbocharged engine, throttle losses can be countered by the positive pressure of the turbocharged air being blown into the engine. But the main reason there was no Valvetronic is because the complexity of designing a cylinder head that could fit Valvetronic mechanisms as well as direct injection. It is because of this reason that the N53 normally aspirated direct injection engines also do not feature Valvetronic.

BMW engineers probably finally managed to cram all that technology into the engine and make it possible for them to work all together. The new N55B30 has both a new generation Valvetronic variable valve management system and High Pressure Injection (direct injection at up to 200 bar). Valvetronic replaces the throttle butterfly functions with a control unit infinitely varying the valve stroke on the intake valves. This means the intake is not obstructed by a partially closed throttle during low load operations. The new N55 also features a map-controlled oil pump which takes up less energy, which BMW says is a first in a turbocharged engine.

One of the variations of the Volkswagen EA888 engine also features variable valve management combined with direct injection but the EA888’s valvelift system is only fitted on the exhaust valves of the engine and works in two stages – a high cam and a low cam, unlike Valvetronic which is continuously variable.

Fitted in the newly unveiled BMW 535i GT, the new N55B30 engine takes the machine from 0 to 100km/h in just 6.3 seconds, up to a top speed of 250km/h.

BMW have released a new set of photos of the new E89 BMW Z4 Roadster, this time of a very good looking blue-coloured specimen. Looking at it really reminds me of the blue BMW Z4 M Coupe that I used to always see in the BMW Malaysia parking lot in Cyberjaya, a car which I once drove all the way up to Kedah to see race against an airplane on an airstrip, unfortunately that didn’t happen!

Three models of the E89 Z4 will be available in the UK market. First up is the BMW Z4 sDrive23i which comes with a 2.5 liter magnesium alloy engine with Double VANOS dual variable valve timing and Valvetronic variable valve lift, producing 204 horsepower and 250Nm of torque. Even this baseline model goes to 100km/h in just 6.6 seconds, while having a combined mpg rating of 33.2 and emissions of 199g/km.

The middle child for now is the BMW Z4 sDrive30i, which somehow has managed to keep the same combined mpg and emissions ratings as the sDrive23i model. This one puts out 258 horses and 310Nm of torque from as low as 2,600rpm, and it goes up to 100km/h in 5.8 seconds.

The peak performer is the BMW Z4 sDrive35i, fitted with the N54 twin turbocharged inline-6 engine (which has now been sort of phased out by the slightly better performing single turbo N55 in the 535i GT) producing 306 horsepower and 400Nm of torque, getting the Roadster up to 100km/h in 5.2 seconds. Combined mpg is 30.1 while emissions are rated at 219g/km. This model can be fitted with an optional twin clutch DCT transmission with 7 gears at a premium of just over 1,800 pounds.

The new Z4 is thus the first BMW roadster offered with a retractable hard top which opens and closes in 20 seconds, an optional twin clutch transmission, a turbocharger, Drive Dynamic Control and an Adaptive M Sport Suspension. DDC allows the driver to choose between Normal, Sport and Sport+ modes via a button on the centre console, which varies throttle, steering, DSC, and transmission behaviour.

The Adaptive M Sport Suspension which is optional lowers the E89’s ride height by 10mm and feature four infinitely adjustable twin-sleeve gas dampers with combined compression and rebound stroke adjustment. This is done by controlling the flow of oil within the shocks. Three accelerometers feed the Adaptive M system so that it can control each damper independently to suit the driving and road conditions.

BMW claims the response time is so quick that a signal from the front wheel crossing a hole in the road reaches the center control unit and the rear damper is readjusted for the hole even before the rear wheels reach the same surface! This is probably thanks to the FlexRay communications bus. The new Z4’s chassis is also 25% stiffer than before.

And of course, this is probably BMW’s first roadster without a proper handbrake. You won’t be able to see Clive Owen do crazy 180 degree turns and similiar stunts (easily at least) with the Z4 in a new series of The Hire clips. BMW says the handbrake was removed because of packaging reasons, as the new button parking brake saves space on the center console, and in BMW’s opinion it will not affect the way the new Z4’s customers drives the car, probably because with the new grown-up Z4 they are also expecting more grown-up buyers.

The new BMW Z4 is priced from £28,645 (RM161k) for the BMW Z4 sDrive23i, £32,660 (RM183k) for the BMW Z4 sDrive30i and finally £37,060 (RM208k, so sorry for torturing you guys with the prices) for the BMW Z4 sDrive35i.

The new Z4 will probably be here sometime in end-June 2009. I can see an sDrive23i and sDrive35i line-up making the most sense.

Look after the jump for the rest of the photos.

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BMW Web TV produced this promotional footage of the new BMW 5-Series Gran Turismo, showing off all the key selling points of the 5 GT and why you should pick one over a conventional sedan or estate car in that luxury segment of cars.

The 5-Series GT was originally called the PAS, which stood for Progressive Activity Sedan. The features it provides actually makes alot of sense, but if only the exterior styling execution was better. It brought a particular phrase to mind: be careful what you wish for cos you just might get it. Many features that people find desirable but come from different class of cars meshed together into one car but it unfortunately doesn’t seem to look as good as the individual cars.

Check out the video after the jump, along with a new set of 5-Series GT shots that are new and not found in the original press kit.

Click here to read the rest of VIDEO: BMW 5-Series Gran Turismo Promo

As expected, soon after pix of the new 5-Series GT were leaked onto the internet BMW decided to completely take off the wraps off the first body variant of the new generation F10 BMW 5-Series, which will also later include the traditional sedan and touring variants.

Despite the 5-Series front end, the 5-Series Gran Turismo actually has plenty of stuff in common with the F01 7-Series. BMW says the rear passenger cabin offers the legroom of a 7-Series and the headroom of an X5.

Continue reading our story after the jump.

Click here to read the rest of The New BMW 5-Series Gran Turismo

Now that was pretty darn quick – right after french magazine L’Automobile magazine posted up a story with full undisguised albeit low-res production photos of the new BMW 5-Series GT 5-door hatchback, a full set of even more photos untainted by watermarks have surfaced on the internet!

But they are still low res of course, we’ll have to wait for the official unveiling for the full hi-res images, which should be very soon, perhaps even in a week’s time.

I still don’t really like how it looks like. The long flowy front seems suddenly interrupted by a short and stubby back. The front end is clearly inspired by the BMW Concept CS, but with all the details toned down significantly. It does share a family face with the new F01 but as I’ve always said, having oversized kidney grilles are fine really if only they are slightly rectangular instead of the F01’s square shape, and here we go, on the F10 with their slightly rectangular shape they look so much better. I can’t wait to see how the F10 sedan looks like.

There are many more photos of the interior in this set, with some showing off the car’s massive panoramic roof that will give the 4 passengers a nice open and airy feel. Yes, the car only seats 4 as there is an armrest cum storage area going through the middle of the two individual seats in the rear, which by the way are said to be reclinable!

Look after the jump for the full set of images.

Click here to read the rest of More low-res leaked shots of BMW 5-Series GT!

Don’t know how they did it but French car magazine L’Automobile Magazine managed to get these press release photos of the new BMW 5-Series GT – BMW’s very own D-segment hatchback with a Prius-like roofline and dual-mode tailgate.

As explained before in detail when the Concept 5-Series GT was unveiled, the dual-mode allows access to the storage area either via opening the whole hatch or just a small door, something like the Skoda Superb’s TwinDoor. The rear carries regular 5-Series badging (530d in this instance) but on the left side there appears to be a “GT” badge.

You will be able to see some interior photos after the jump, which continue the theme set by the new F01/F02 7-Series and even includes the Black Panel LCD to display various driver aid information below the two main speedo and RPM meter gauges.

UPDATE: Many more leaked photos here!

Continue after the jump.

Related Posts:
Production BMW 5-Series GT previewed in video!
BMW Concept 5-Series Gran Turismo
F10 BMW 5-Series Sedan Artist’s Impression

Click here to read the rest of BMW 5-Series GT Production Photos Leaked!