Since the M division of BMW is clearly biased to lightweight and rear wheel drive vehicles we don’t agree with the fact this will likely carry the M nameplate rather we think it will be offered as an M Sport version. Bloggers and forums alike are calling for the inclusion of the motor from the 760iL, but we have heard that the X5 M Sport will likely benefit from the new engine in development – the twin turbo V8 putting out upwards of 430hp. Only time will tell what will actually turn up in the vehicle, but with the increased presence of the twin turbo technology in BMW’s lineup I would place my bets on a force fed X5/X6 in the near future.

IAA BMW Podium Highlights

BMW Exhibit Tour

BMW CS Concept

The 1 Series Debut

Chasing Chris Bangle

BMW EfficientDynamics at Frankfurt

Discussing the X6 Concept with Adrian van Hooydonk

Interview with Clemens Zimmermann about the strategy behind the X6

Well, unlike the 3-series convertible, the 1-series gets a fabric roof rather then a more expensive and complex folding metal roof. It will of course be fully automatic – at the touch of a button on the centre console, the electro-hydraulically powered cloth and glass roof will fold into a recess behind the rear seats to leave the car clear of intrusions from A-pillar to tail light.

The folks at CarMagazine have sat in the 1-series coupe (BMW call the 135i coupe a 2+2) and rear head and leg room is fine for children but adults will find it very snug, and expect roof-up transport to be more than a little claustrophobic. That folding roof also eats into the boot space – not a particularly strong feature of the 135i to start with – so expect it to swallow a few decent sized soft bags and no more.

Expect the convertible to carry a noticeable weight penalty over the coupe – to ensure the topless 1-series still handles crisply, BMW’s engineers have added some significant chassis reinforcements to maintain chassis rigidity. That said, the twin-turbo 135i should be entertainingly brisk, hitting 60mph in just under six seconds and onto a limited 155mph top speed.

Like the coupe, the baby convertible will feature BMW’s innovative Efficient Dynamics technology which introduces regenerative braking that decouples the alternator under power but recharged the battery when braking or slowing, as well as auto-stop start on the manual transmission versions, energy-saving powered steering and on-demand water pump and climate control systems.

 

Thanks to Motorfile for the images

Using Hybrid Technologies proprietary advanced lithium management and battery-balancing system, the all-electric Mini Cooper will reach a top speed of 80 mph with the ability to do 0-60mph in 6.0 seconds. The all-electric Mini Cooper will be able to trave 120 miles on a single charge.

Marketing Trend forecasters feel that it will be the new “it” car among the Hollywood in crowd who are by no means strangers to Hybrid’s lithium-powered vehicle developments.

 

CAR Magazine Review
Oh yes. The E92 model is the fourth generation of the M3, a car that first arrived in 1986. Back then it had a four-cylinder engine with around 200bhp. The new car doubles that with a V8 and 414bhp, but the basic ingredients remain the same: rear-wheel drive, a limited slip differential and a motorsport-inspired engine that revs to a whopping 8400rpm.

When it goes on sale in the UK in early September, the M3 will cost £50,625 and will, at first, be available only as a two-door coupe. A convertible and four-door saloon are expected to follow next year, while a Touring wagon is under evalution but less likely to make production. All in all, the broadened range will help break (hopes BMW) the 100,000-unit barrier for the first time. The last M3 – 2000’s six-cylinder E46 – is a tough act to follow, however.

Not disaster, no, but the purists weren’t pleased when the second-generation E36 arrived in 1992. But it was a brave move and something that transformed the M3 from a niche motorsport product to the international icon it is today.

The last car’s 3.2-litre six-cylinder wouldn’t meet forthcoming emissions regulations and rivals – including Audi with the RS4 and Mercedes with the C63 AMG – upped the game with V8s, leaving Munich with little option but to match them. The American market has been a big consideration too, 50 percent of all cars expected to go Stateside.

This, then, is the first time the M3 has changed significantly since 1992.

Yes it is but, just like back in 1992, the E92 will leave the hardcore craving more – there’s definitely room for a hardcore CSL-style edition, more of which later. And the V8 does significantly alter the M3’s character. Where before a creamy straight-six throatiness was followed by the trademark metallic rasp towards peak rpms, now a nice woofly warble under lighter throttle loads precedes a hard-edged – if more muted – charge for the redline. The spine-tingling zinginess of the E46 car is gone, replaced by a more mature, if still exhilarating, progression.

Unsurprisingly, the quest for a high-revving engine has left a hole in the torque low down, so you need to stir that six-speed manual (the only option for now, though SMG will follow) to really get moving. The ’box is carried over from the E46 and obviously shares its characteristics: direct but a little arthritic.

Impressively, the new larger engine is 15kg lighter than the six-pot in the E46 thanks to clever lightweight tech. But, like the rest of the E92 range, turn-in still feels a bit dumbed down and numb. Understeer was never an issue in the last car – it just dived into a corner with razor-sharp precision. The new M3 has a little more roll on turn-in, and you can feel the loads building on the front tyre as forces increase.

Strangely, the suspension might not be entirely to blame; Michelin developed tyres specially for the M3 that feature a compound to induce mild understeer in more extreme circumstances. Quite why this is necessary we’re not sure. BMW has already fitted stability control, and the steering wheel-activated M mode allows a little oversteer while still retaining a safety net. We’d be intrigued to drive a car on regular rubber.

I will. As you’d expect, less focused handling does improve the ride quality significantly with the M3 soaking up bumps much better than its predecessor ever did. There are also three (optional) cockpit-adjustable suspension settings, so you can stiffen the dampers and reduce body roll for track work. However, BMW supplied all the test cars on 18in alloys, so we’re unable to report on the lower profile – and doubtless hugely popular – 19in option.

The steering is light and impressively linear but lacks the meaty heft of its big brother, the M5, or the finely detailed feedback of a 911.

Brakes have long been an M3 weakness, but the single caliper items fitted to the test car coped admirably with high-speed runs on the tortuous Spanish mountain roads that formed our road route. They did squeak embarrassingly however, as they did on several test cars. And whether they’ll last on track we’re yet to find out – we were limited to one lap before coming back through the pits to queue for another run, allowing the stoppers to cool.

How childish of you. Once you’re sideways the E92 is an extremely easy, progressive car to hold in a drift (see p1), but it takes a little more determination to get it there in the first place thanks to that softer, woollier front end.

The M differential once again makes an appearance – a key ingredient in making the last car so easy to slide – offering progressive power transfer from a spinning wheel to one with more grip until, under extreme duress, the diff locks completely and both tyres spin with equal ferocity.

You’ll feel it on the road, making tight hairpins a pleasure to exit on the power rather than the one-wheel bonfire that is the BMW 335i. All that extra power – nearly 80bhp up from last time – does mean the traction control intervenes more frequently, but it’s rarely intrusive and keen drivers can reduce its role with a press of the M button.

With high quality plastics and leather, intuitively laid out controls (iDrive will always have its detractors, but for the most part we like it) and sound ergonomics, the new M3 is a good place to be. In fact, it’s simply an organic evolution of the old model, something that will appeal to those turned off by the M5 and M6’s hyper-tech interiors and illuminated gearknobs.

The seats (leather and cloth as standard, or optional full leather) are geared for comfort and, though perfect in most conditions, would benefit from M5-sytle active bolsters to better grip lunatics on a mission. As before, rear legroom is nothing more than adequate so six footers sitting behind six footers will feel cramped.

The M3 has grown up and lost a little of the E46’s edge to the more weight/more power vicious circle. But BMW has no doubt judged the market perfectly. The M3 is now a genuine volume seller and, last time, accounted for 13 percent of all UK 3-series sales. The new car needs to be a brilliant all-round package, capable of pleasing those who like the idea of the badge more than what it first stood for: track-honed thrills. And it is very, very good. This car is fast, practical, well built, comfortable and safe.

But in trying to hit so many targets, the E92 leaves purists wanting. So a CSL – a lightweight, more dynamically focused special edition – is now an absolute must and should form an integral part of the range going forward, filling the niche that the original E30 once satisfied in 1986. The good news is BMW’s top brass dropped some very large hints in the press conference, so the CSL sounds like a dead cert. We’d bet on it arriving in 2010.

If you want a great all-rounder and you don’t drive everywhere at ten tenths, the new M3 won’t disappoint. But if you crave trackday thrills, hold fire for a CSL.

The flagship of the range is the BMW 135i with its 3.0-litre twin-turboc producing 306 horsepower from its light alloy and magnesium straight-six engine. The BMW 135i is capable of accelerating from 0-62mph in 5.3 seconds with an electronically-limited top speed of 155mph. In addition to the 135i, we are expecting a 128i as well which will sport a 3.0L naturally aspirated engine that will be pumping out a healthy 230hp. As BMW slowly introduces diesel options in Canada, we should see the 120d and 123d in a few years.

Prices for all models will be announced closer to the on sale date this fall.

Stand by for official pictures, BMW Canada is expected to launch the 1 Series officially in early July.

The front and rear have been treated to new bumpers and lights, and the side skirts are more defined than in the past. The most significant change is the new contour of the trunk lid, which is more concave. Interior enhancements are even more understated, including new trim finishes and leather colors. Mechanically, the new 6 Series gets a new Sport automatic transmission to replace the previous SMG transmission. Numerous other conveniences have been added as well. The following is the official press release from BMW:

Featuring highly attractive modifications to their characteristic design, an interior further refined in many details and boasting new color highlights, as well as innovations in drive technology and driver assistance and safety systems, the new BMW 6 Series Coupe and the BMW 6 Series Convertible offer a greater thrill and more style than ever before.

Featuring highly attractive modifications to their characteristic design, an interior further refined in many details and boasting new color highlights, as well as innovations in drive technology and driver assistance and safety systems, the new BMW 6 Series Coupe and the BMW 6 Series Convertible offer a greater thrill and more style than ever before.Indeed, through their looks and style, combined with cutting-edge technology, both models are authentic representations of the classic Grand Touring automobile featuring modern highlights together with classic qualities.

Brilliant performance is delivered by the eight-cylinder power unit featured in the BMW 650i Coupe and the BMW 650i Convertible. Developing 360 hp from an engine capacity of 4.8 liters, this power unit allows truly dynamic performance combined with incomparable smoothness and refinement.

The new six-speed automatic sports transmission is tailored perfectly to the character of the BMW 6 Series, combining comfortable cruising with the option at any time to use the full power and muscle of the engine for all-out acceleration and driving dynamics.
Style and sport are indeed inherent characteristics of the BMW 6 Series: either as an elegant Sports Coupe in the proud tradition of a genuine Grand Touring Coupe or as a dynamic Luxury Convertible enabling the driver and passengers to enjoy the wind rushing by in an incomparable manner. Both models combine their strengths with the convincing everyday driving qualities of a large and spacious 2+2-seater.

The BMW 6 Series Coupe and Convertible stand for a heritage of no less than 70 years dedicated to the thrill of mobility and success in motorsport. Cars such as the BMW 327/328 Coupe, the BMW 3200 CS, the BMW 3.0 CSi and the first generation of the BMW 6 Series to this day represent the unique combination of elegance and competition-oriented sportiness so characteristic of BMW.

The history of dynamic driving pleasure with nothing but the sky above was originally introduced in the BMW 327 Convertible, the BMW 335 Convertible, and the BMW 503 Convertible, all of them milestones in technology and design, with a strong and lasting impact on the ongoing development of the brand and its products.

The 6 Series today also plays a significant role within BMW’s model portfolio. It is indeed the benchmark for innovation, and a powerful expression of progress in technology. Cars of this kind establish a particularly active relationship between the manufacturer and the customer, with the dedicated 6 Series owner showing a clear preference for the BMW brand and, at the same time, a strong affinity for innovations in technology, premium quality, and individual style.

An attitude of this kind creates a particularly close relationship with the product and its features not only prior to, but also after purchasing the car. Innovations of this standard endorsed and acknowledged by the critical customer of this caliber have the potential to define the progress of the entire brand. This, in turn, makes the BMW 6 Series a role model not only in design, but also in its control and operating concept, its comfort functions, chassis and suspension technology, and driver assistance systems.

Having built over 75,500 cars within the past three years is impressive proof of the close link between the BMW brand and the tradition of the sophisticated, top-quality Grand Touring automobile. In this segment, facing keen competition from a number of high-ranking competitors, the BMW 6 Series, measured in terms of registration figures, ranks a proud second among all luxury sports cars the world over. In other words, right from the start it immediately left the competition with comparable all-round qualities far behind.

Exterior Highlighst
The BMW 6 Series boasts powerful innovations characteristic of the brand and its leadership over the competition not merely through the cars’ power unit. For in their design and style, both the 6 Series Coupe and the 6 Series Convertible offer a level of quality only the development process applied by the BMW Group is able to achieve.

While the engineers responsible for developing the drivetrain benefit from skills and the art of engineering going back decades in enhancing the level of perfection through new technologies such as EfficientDynamics, the success of BMW design lies in the ability to interpret the traditional values of the brand with supreme creativity in looking into the future. Hence, the design and styling of the BMW 6 Series clearly reflect the highly dynamic, refined, top-quality and progressive technical standard of the car as a truly authentic rendition of this supreme standard.

The overall design and look of both models, offering perfect harmony and balance to the last detail, is borne out in particular by the sculptural look of both cars, providing a perfect match of all lines and design features. Indeed, the smooth, uninterrupted flow of all characteristic lines on the 6 Series ensures harmonious interplay of the front section, the sides and rear sections of the car, the generous and powerfully curved surfaces all coming together to provide a harmonious picture to be admired in its sporting elegance and dynamic class from every angle and every perspective.

Offering this unique design language, the BMW 6 Series Coupe stands out as a modern and innovative interpretation of the classic Grand Touring Coupe. And in the same way, the BMW 6 Series Convertible, through its design, is a proud symbol of sporting and elegant driving pleasure with nothing but the sky above.

Both the Coupe and Convertible now make an even more powerful and striking stance on the road. The strong lines extending all the way from the A-pillars along the entire engine compartment lid to the BMW kidney grille and forming a dynamic arrow further emphasized by the powerfully chiseled bars in the lower air intake.

The air intake itself is even wider than on the former model and borders at the bottom on a new contour edge significantly highlighting the wide track of the car. The newly designed directional indicators, in turn, featuring LED light units with a crystalline effect, provide an even more distinctive signal than before.

Through their striking contours, the headlights give the front end of the BMW 6 Series a clear, focused look, new light technology adding further brilliance. Featured as standard, the bi-xenon dual round headlights are covered by a layer of clear glass at the surface, their corona rings now offering BMW’s typical daytime driving light function.

With its long wheelbase, the long and sleek engine compartment lid, the greenhouse moved far to the back and the low roofline tapering out gently to the rear of the car, the BMW 6 Series has all the proportions of a classic Coupe. And thanks to its unique finned roof, the BMW 6 Series Convertible also offers the same, dynamically stretched silhouette.

The light edge on the side-sills is even more pronounced and distinctive than before on the new BMW 6 Series, offering extra volume and contours to highlight the sporting character of the car. The new metallic paint colors Deep Sea Blue and Space Gray, as well as new light-alloy rims, offer further options in rounding off the sporting elegance of the new BMW 6 Series according to the customer’s individual preferences.

In the process of modifying the rear end of the car, BMW’s designers have harmoniously continued and enhanced the concept of ongoing lines extending around the entire vehicle. The section of the luggage compartment lid beneath the spoiler lip is even more concave in design than before, rising up less steeply to provide not only a more dynamic look, but also more distinctive light/shade contrasts, making the entire rear end of the car look even lower and more dynamic.

On both the Coupe and Convertible, the additional brake light is now integrated in the spoiler lip. The inner structure of the rear lights has also been modified to reflect the new lines of the car, with all light sources now being LED units.

The harmony of lines on the luggage compartment lid, the rear lights and reflectors is likewise more intense and striking than before, the line formed by the lower edge of the rear spoiler sweeping gently downwards, where it is taken up by the outer contour of the rear lights. Then, following the design of the lights, the spoiler line, while still moving down, sweeps to the inside, where it is taken up by the contour of the low, even more stretched-out and sleeker reflectors.

Harmonious Deign- Inside and Outside
The stylish and elegant dynamism of the car’s exterior design continues smoothly and harmoniously within the interior of the BMW 6 Series. Bearing a clear analogy to the exterior design of the car, the concept of dynamic harmony forms clear, flowing lines and tense, muscular surfaces. As an example, the sweeping cover above the dashboard starting beneath the windscreen extends back on both sides in an ongoing, dynamic line leading into the door panels and surrounding the armrests. Both the driver and front passenger are therefore enveloped by tense, even exciting design elements continuing all the way to the center console between the rear seats, thus emphasizing both the sophisticated style and elegance of the interior in a genuine visual and tangible experience.

The unique nature of the new BMW 6 Series is enhanced by appropriate refinements in the quality of materials on specific controls and instruments finished in new Chrome Pearl Grey Design as well as new colors for the interior trim and upholstery.

As an alternative to the standard aluminum trim, optional interior trim strips made of grained maple wood or dark birch wood give the interior either a technical and progressive feel or a sophisticated, stylish and elegant look.

Optional finish in Pearl exclusive leather, with additional leather on the armrests, the door grab handles and the center console, is now also available in Chateau Red and in a new upholstery color, Saddle Brown.

Featuring a combination of leather and Pearl Grey chrome, the iDrive Controller matches the look of the new rotary buttons, thus additionally enhancing the overall harmony of the car’s design.

Precise control of the system is further facilitated by a ring around the Controller made of extra-hard rubber, and to ensure even more intuitive use, the iDrive control system in the new BMW 6 Series comes complete with six programmable memory keys allowing direct access to selected functions, such as a favorite phone number or navigation destination.