Filed under: Aftermarket, Sedan, Performance, BMW, Luxury

With its award-winning V10, BMW‘s M division hasn’t left us with much not to love. Save, of course, for the fact that it’s not long for this world, pushed out as it will be in the next M5 by the company’s growing environmental conscience. But before the twin-turbo V8 spells its demise, Nowack Motors is giving it a suitable farewell in the form of the N635S 5.8 Hans Nowack Edition.

Having ruled out forced induction, the BMW tuning house has fitted the 5.0-liter V10 with a pair of new intake air collectors, a remapped ECU and retooled engine components. The result boosts the stock 507-horsepower motor up to a mind-boggling 708, dedicated by Oliver Nowack to his father Hans. The modifications are warrantied for a full year and can be retrofitted to any existing M5, and since the upgrades have been carried out principally on the engine itself, can also be fitted to its two-door counterpart, the M6. Details in the press release after the jump and photos in the gallery below.

[Source: Nowack Motors via World Car Fans]

Continue reading Nowack tweaks BMW M5′s V10 to 708 horsepower

Nowack tweaks BMW M5′s V10 to 708 horsepower originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 30 Jun 2010 13:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nowack tweaks BMW M5′s V10 to 708 horsepower

Filed under: Sedan, Performance, BMW, First Drive, Luxury

Alpina is as familiar to German enthusiasts as Shelby, Hurst, Saleen and Yenko are to American gearheads. And like its American counterparts, Alpina has made a business out of taking the best vehicles from one marque and making them substantially better than anything rolling off the assembly line.

The relationship between BMW and Alpina started in 1962 when a German enthusiast named Burkard Bovenseipen realized his BMW 1500 had plenty of untapped potential. Bovenseipen developed a dual carburetor kit for the 1500′s four-cylinder, and as the carbs flew off the shelves, he realized there was a serious market for BMW-based performance parts. Mr. B formed ALPINA Burkard Bovenseipen KG in 1964 and in the decades since, the company has become known simply as Alpina.

But while the name has changed, its mission remains the same, and its line of upgrades have grown considerably since its inception. Bovenseipen’s team continues to recognize the potential in almost every new BMW product, and the small but competent company, now managed by Bovenseipen’s son Andreas (his staff calls him Andy), delivers better, less compromised, higher-performance versions of BMW production cars.

In Europe, Alpina offers variants of the 3 Series, 5 Series and 6 Series, dubbed the B3, B5, and B6, respectively. However, production constraints (and some concerns about M cannibalization, we’re sure) prevents sales of these hotted-up Bimmers in the States. That’s a crime, because the Alpina B7 – the only Alpina available in the U.S. – is easily the best 7 Series we’ve driven.

Photos by Rex Roy / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading First Drive: 2011 BMW Alpina B7 breaks the luxo-barge mold

First Drive: 2011 BMW Alpina B7 breaks the luxo-barge mold originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 29 Jun 2010 11:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Convertible, Coupe, Sedan, Performance, BMW

Ah, the BMW M3. In coupe, convertible or sedan form (the latter of which may be making its exit in the near future), we’ve always been quite fond of this track day stunner. Now, owners have the chance to add some tasteful upgrades to the full range of M3 models by way of BMW Performance carbon fiber aerodynamic accessories.

Made of carbon fiber reinforced plastic, the mirror caps and front splitters can be fitted to any current M3, and a rear deck lid spoiler is available for coupe and sedan models. (Sorry, droptop lovers.) Naturally, these upgrades are covered under the BMW Performance two-year warranty, and can be purchased from authorized BMW dealers. Official pricing hasn’t been dished out just yet, but if these accessories are like the rest of BMW’s options list, don’t expect any bargains. Hit the jump for the full details in BMW’s press release.

[Source: BMW]

Continue reading BMW offering carbon fiber components for M3

BMW offering carbon fiber components for M3 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 29 Jun 2010 11:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Government/Legal, Recalls, Safety, BMW, Motorcycle

It would seem that the recall notices were piling up at BMW’s Motorrad division, leading the company to release safety notices for three separate issues all at once. The largest recall will go to 15,500 owners of BMW’s 2007-2008 K 1200GT; 2007-2009 R 1200 GS, R 1200 GS Adventure, R 1200 R, R 1200 RT and finally 2007 R 1200 ST. That issue involves the front brake line, which could develop stress cracks and eventually leak, leading to the loss of braking performance.

Next up is the 2007 and 2008 G 650 models (X Country, X Moto and X Challenge) for a roll-gear pin that could dislodge and jam itself between the drive chin and rear sprocket. Naturally, that’s not good. And neither would the potential drive chain failure due to improper manufacturing on the 2009 and 2009 F 650 GS and F 800 GS. Both of those problems could either cause an accident or make the bike inoperable until repaired.

Click on past the break to see all three recall notices in their entirety.

[Source: NHTSA]

Continue reading BMW recalls over 15,000 motorcycles

BMW recalls over 15,000 motorcycles originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 29 Jun 2010 09:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Coupe, Hybrid, Performance, BMW, Rumormill

This isn’t the first time we’ve heard rumblings about the possibility of BMW producing a hybrid sports car based on its Vision EfficientDynamics concept. Now, though, the German magazine Autozeitung report that the new sports car could potentially be named M8, and more importantly, that the plug-in hybrid motor from the concept will be ditched in favor of something sweeter.

Instead of a wholly electric motor, these new rumors suggest that the production M8 will use a version of the E60 M5‘s 5.0-liter V10, but with two electric motors added on for good measure. These two electric mills will be mounted at the front and rear, similar to the layout seen in the Vision EfficientDynamics concept, and should produce around 150 horsepower, combined. Add the V10 to those whirring motors and we expect total output to be somewhere between 600-700 hp. If this is the future of hybrid sports cars, we’re okay with it.

The magazine also reports that the M8 will be about five inches longer than the original Vision concept, and that a two-plus-two seating configuration will be offered inside. If the project remains on track, expect to see BMW’s hybrid supercar debut at some point in 2012.

[Source: Autozeitung via TeamSpeed, BMWblog]

Rumormill: BMW developing M8 hybrid sports car originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 28 Jun 2010 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumormill: BMW developing M8 hybrid sports car

Filed under: Coupe, Hybrid, Performance, BMW, Rumormill

This isn’t the first time we’ve heard rumblings about the possibility of BMW producing a hybrid sports car based on its Vision EfficientDynamics concept. Now, though, the German magazine Autozeitung report that the new sports car could potentially be named M8, and more importantly, that the plug-in hybrid motor from the concept will be ditched in favor of something sweeter.

Instead of a wholly electric motor, these new rumors suggest that the production M8 will use a version of the E60 M5‘s 5.0-liter V10, but with two electric motors added on for good measure. These two electric mills will be mounted at the front and rear, similar to the layout seen in the Vision EfficientDynamics concept, and should produce around 150 horsepower, combined. Add the V10 to those whirring motors and we expect total output to be somewhere between 600-700 hp. If this is the future of hybrid sports cars, we’re okay with it.

The magazine also reports that the M8 will be about five inches longer than the original Vision concept, and that a two-plus-two seating configuration will be offered inside. If the project remains on track, expect to see BMW’s hybrid supercar debut at some point in 2012.

[Source: Autozeitung via TeamSpeed, BMWblog]

Rumormill: BMW developing M8 hybrid sports car originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 28 Jun 2010 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Performance, SUV, Europe, BMW, Reviews, Luxury

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 remains an ideal performance car.

Today, we have the X5 M. Looking at the bright blue truckish thing parked in the driveway, it’s difficult – if not impossible – to see any sort of relation to BMW’s vaunted and aforementioned M3 beyond its badges. You can’t imagine what the missing link between the two might be. However, perhaps even mentioning the E30 M3 is being too puritanical. After all, very few vehicles could compare – let alone compete – with the street version of history’s most winning road-race car. And you can bet your Roundel subscription that BMW will never competitively race an X5 M.

What then? It’s not a newsflash, but the 2010 BMW X5 M doesn’t remind you of sporty BMW products of yore. Of course, going back almost 25 years and looking at the first M3 through 1986-eyes, you would notice the hopped-up street car bears basically no resemblance whatsoever to BMW’s hottie 1961 product, the Isetta 600. For those of you not up-to-date on your bubble car history, the Isetta 600 was a stretched, four-seat version of the 297cc, one-cylinder Iso-derived Isetta 300. The 600 featured a two-cylinder 0.6-liter moto engine and semi-trailing arm rear independent suspension. Actually come to think of it, the Isetta 600 and the E30 M3 at least shared a rear-suspension design. The X5 M then, in terms of BMW’s history, is truly an alien from another world. A world where family haulers thrash muscle cars for pinks. But does any of that matter? Are companies not free to reinvent themselves, especially here in America, where the X5 M is built? Perhaps most importantly, is the X5 M any good, let alone worthy of the vaunted M badge? Make the jump to find out.

Photos by Drew Phillips / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading Review: 2010 BMW X5 M is illogically sound

Review: 2010 BMW X5 M is illogically sound originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 28 Jun 2010 11:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Europe, Safety, Technology, BMW, Volkswagen

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 AKTIV utilize car-to-car, car-to-infrastructure and in-vehicle technologies to help inform the driver of what’s transpiring around the vehicle and, in some cases, the vehicle will respond autonomously. Among the technologies in use are cameras, radar and laser sensors all developed to automatically brake the vehicle to prevent collisions, along with messaging systems that can warn of pedestrians or vehicles coming from around a corner.

Volkswagen has also incorporated communications messages about road work and other congestion into the adaptive cruise control (ACC) to help improve the traffic flow by adjusting the control strategy for the ACC. Cars are taken through the narrower section of road at constant speed and a safe distance and then accelerated out on the other side to keep things moving along. BMW has even incorporated the communications systems into motorcycles to allow riders to be more aware. Get the full details in the press release after the break.

[Source: Volkswagen, BMW]

Continue reading BMW and Volkswagen demonstrating safety technology for AKTIV project in Germany

BMW and Volkswagen demonstrating safety technology for AKTIV project in Germany originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 25 Jun 2010 18:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BMW and Volkswagen demonstrating safety technology for AKTIV project in Germany

Filed under: Etc., Technology, BMW

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 to reads your messages to you. The email functionality bolsters the office functions already included in BMW ConnectedDrive that allows compatible smartphones to pass calendars, text messages and even music player functions to the iDrive system in BMW vehicles.

The first BlackBerry phone that supports ConnectedDrive email is the Pearl 3G, though more will become compatible soon. The key to it all is Bluetooth, which expands the communication and entertainment capabilities of the iDrive system while also enhancing safety by reducing distraction. All BMWs equipped with the Professional navigation option can add the email function once it officially hits showrooms this fall. Get all the details in the press release after the jump.

[Source: BMW]

Continue reading BMW ConnectedDrive update adds email reading

BMW ConnectedDrive update adds email reading originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 25 Jun 2010 15:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Concept Cars, Marketing/Advertising, Videos, BMW, Design/Style

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 we should expect from the new entry-level model. In a new video released for its Innovation Days in Asia, the automaker prominently displays a series of still images that may very well be early sketches of the upcoming 0 Series.

Assuming for a moment that we are indeed witnessing the new Zilch, we like what we see. Deeply sculpted sides, a nicely sloping rear hatch and large, vertically oriented kidney grilles indicate a design language that’s suitably differentiated from current rear-wheel-drive BMWs. And it looks pretty dang good. Judge for yourself after watching the video after the break.

[Source: Autoblog.nl]

Continue reading Video: BMW 0 Series leaks out in corporate video?

Video: BMW 0 Series leaks out in corporate video? originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 25 Jun 2010 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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