No one ever said that evolution is pretty. Take the best-of-breed BMW M Division product: the E30 M3. Little more than a homologated race car, the first generation M3 was potent, nimble, and with its small displacement 2.3-liter inline-four fed by a retweaked M1 intake, it was light, too. Long story short, the OG M3 [...]
This week BMW and Volkswagen are demonstrating the results of their work on the four-year German government funded Adaptive and Cooperative Technologies for Intelligent Traffic (AKTIV) project. AKTIV includes a group of German automakers, suppliers and communications companies to develop and test systems that will improve traffic flow, safety and fuel efficiency.
The various sub-projects within [...]
BMW ConnectedDrive has been upgraded, turning the automaker’s vehicles into the world’s best four-wheeled email client. Beginning this autumn, iDrive will be able to connect to BlackBerry phones via Bluetooth and iDrive will be able to display email on its LCD screen. A voice output function is an optional add-on, giving your Bimmer the ability [...]
If BMW intends to go downmarket any further, which seems likely considering that the automaker has already confirmed it will offer a front-wheel drive model under its own badge, there’s only one model designation available: 0 Series. And by all accounts, it’s on the way soon.
Intriguingly, BMW may be offering a few hints as to [...]
What it is: The new sixth generation of the ubiquitous midsize BMW sedan.
Cool features: The 550i’s twin-turbo V8 with 400 hp definitely appeals to the right foot. But so does the new 300-hp single turbo inline-6, featuring BMW’s efficient Valvetronic throttle-less intake technology for the first time. Driving enthusiasts will be thrilled to know a [...]
What it is: Continues a long-standing tradition of appending “s” to sporty BMW models.
Cool Feautres: In 2011, the “regular” 335i receives an updated power plant that ditches the twin-turbo setup in favor of a larger single turbo. In the 335is, the turbo brothers stick around, boosted to 320 hp and 332 lb.-ft. of torque (from [...]
The M3 sets a very high standard for exceptional everyday performance and comfort among car enthusiasts. It comes in coupe, sedan and convertible styles. The standard features of the base BMW M3 sedan include 4.0L V-8 414HP engine, 6-speed manual transmission, 4-wheel anti-lock brakes (ABS), side seat mounted airbags, curtain 1st and 2nd row overhead [...]
Grabbing its bit of the green spotlight in Geneva, the new BMW Concept 5 Series ActiveHybrid represents the latest evolution of the automaker’s gas/electric powertrain technology specifically executed to meet “the requirements made of a dynamic sedan in the upper midrange segment.” It also provides a pretty good look at what we can expect to [...]