Filed under: Hybrid, Sedan, Performance, Wagon, BMW, Diesel, Luxury

BMW itself says it is making “Precise modifications to the design” of the facelifted, sixth-generation 5 Series, and this is the result. The 2014 5 Series will come in four flavors – sedan, Touring, Gran Turismo and ActiveHybrid 5 – the biggest news probably the addition of a diesel engine for the US market.

When they go on sale in August, the 528i sedan will start at $50,425, a $1,700 increase over the 2013 model, and if you want xDrive that adds $2,300 to the price across the model range. The 535d employs a 3.0-liter twin-turbo inline six-cylinder diesel with 255 horsepower and 413 pound-feet of torque and starts at $56,025. BMW portends “substantial fuel efficiency gains over its gasoline-fueled counterpart,” but the exact numbers won’t come until closer to the on-sale date. The $64,825, top-dog 550i holds pat with 4.4-liter, twin turbo V8, with output upped to 445 hp and 480 lb-ft – an increase of 45 hp and 30 lb-ft of torque. The outputs haven’t changed on the twin-turbo four-cylinder in the 528 nor the 3.0-liter six-cylinder gasoline engine in the 535, and *all prices include the $925 destination charge. The engines are also fitted with a coasting mode that uncouples the powertrain when rolling downhill.

Outside there are new “contour lines” for the grille and air intakes, slimmer taillights and elements that accentuate the car’s width – as if that were necessary. Xenon adaptive headlights will be standard along with side indicator lights on the rearview mirrors, the options list adds LED headlights, the Luxury Line and Modern Line packages. The former package adds chrome trim to certain exterior elements, the latter adds matte chrome trim.

Inside will be more storage and more cup holders, additional luggage capacity in the 5 Series GT, an optional rear seat entertainment system that puts tablets on the front seatbacks, and a touchpad iDrive controller.

There’s a lot more besides which you can read about in the press release and video below, and you can pair words with images in the four high-res galleries above and below.

Continue reading 2014 BMW 5 Series starts at $50,425* and gets a new diesel, 5 Series GT starts at $60,925* [w/video]

2014 BMW 5 Series starts at $50,425* and gets a new diesel, 5 Series GT starts at $60,925* [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 19 May 2013 17:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2014 BMW 5 Series starts at $50,425* and gets a new diesel, 5 Series GT starts at $60,925* [w/video]

Martin Tomczyk has been stripped of his Brands Hatch DTM pole position after his BMW was found to be underweight during post-qualifying checks

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DTM: Tomczyk loses Brands DTM pole

Martin Tomczyk took his first DTM pole position for nearly two years after edging out Mike Rockenfeller in qualifying at Brands Hatch

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

BMW shoppers looking for sportier and more luxurious versions of the 6 Series and 6 Series Gran Coupe without stepping up to the mighty M6 now have something new to check out. Offered on all versions of the 640i and 650i for the 2014 model year, the company’s M Sport Edition package goes on sale in June with prices starting at $80,625 for the 640i Coupe, $83,325 for the 640i Gran Coupe and $87,925 for the 640i Convertible (*all prices including $925 for destination).

This package will allow standard 6 Series models to receive M6 styling cues like the more aggressive, aero-tuned front fascia, 19-inch wheels and even the option of the M6-exclusive Sakhir Orange metallic hue shown above. Matching the M6-like exterior, the interior will also be upgraded with an M-specific steering wheel, M badges on the door sill plates and the option of BMW Individual leather with a unique white and orange color scheme. With price increases of well over $5,000 for the M Sport Edition, this package also includes plenty of standard features like the company’s Professional hi-fi audio system, head-up display, ConnectedDrive Navigation and – wait for it – a ski bag.

Continue reading 2014 BMW 6 Series M Sport family to start from $80,625*

2014 BMW 6 Series M Sport family to start from $80,625* originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 17 May 2013 09:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Performance, Videos, BMW, Citroën, Motorcycle, UK

Autocar took an Ariel Atom V8, BMW HP4 superbike and X-Games gold medalist Liam Doren’s Citroën DS3 rallycross ride to an airstrip for a drag race. Sadly for all the drivers and for us, the clouds took to the sky and poured more and more rain on the track before the big race.

It’s still a fun theoretical battle. The 550-kilogram Ariel Atom brings a 3.3-liter V8 with 475 horsepower, 268 pound-feet of torque and a 748-hp-per-ton ratio. The engine-restricted, 1,300-kg DS3 Rallycross rocks a 2.0-liter four-cylinder set for the day to about 560 hp, 600 lb-ft and – because of its variable boost – anywhere from 454-577 hp-per-ton. The HP4, naturally, does the most with the least, its 169 kg hauling a 1.0-liter engine with 163 hp, 83 lb-ft and a screaming 757 hp-per-ton.

It’s a shame the weather didn’t allow the entrants to show all they could do, especially the two-wheel-drive Atom. Nevertheless, it does demonstrate how critical the amount of available traction is to get the most from high-performance machinery, and there’s lots of launch-controlled action and a winner crowned in the video below.

Continue reading Ariel Atom V8 pitted against Citroën DS3 racer and BMW HP4 superbike

Ariel Atom V8 pitted against Citroën DS3 racer and BMW HP4 superbike originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 16 May 2013 16:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ariel Atom V8 pitted against Citroën DS3 racer and BMW HP4 superbike

Filed under: Spy Photos, Coupe, Performance, BMW, Luxury

Before we know it, the BMW 1 Series will be no more in the United States. Well, sort of. The current six-year-old coupe and convertible will be replaced by the fancy new 2 Series you see here, spotted completely uncovered during a photo shoot, with the 1 Series nomenclature being reserved for the hatchback and GT models that might not ever make it Stateside.

The roofline of the new 2 Series doesn’t appear to have to changed all that much from the current 1 Series coupe, but the front and rear fascias have indeed been smoothed out. (Truth time: As much as your author adores the 1 Series, he’s always found its rear end to be, well, weird.) It looks good, seen here in M235i guise, with large wheels, slimmer headlamps and large air intakes on either side of the front fascia.

The 2 Series is expected to come to the States, likely in M235i and 228i variants, though rumors suggest that we won’t get a non-M 235i model. The M235i is expected to be powered by the N55 turbocharged inline-six that we currently enjoy in the 335i sedan, producing something like 320 horsepower. The 228i, unsurprisingly, should use the 2.0-liter turbo-four from the 328i, making around 240 hp. Both engines will almost certainly employ eight-speed automatic transmissions and six-speed manuals.

Look for the new coupe to make its official debut in the coming months, with production scheduled to start in November.

BMW 2 Series caught uncovered during shoot originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 16 May 2013 11:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Sedan, Performance, Etc., Videos, BMW, Luxury

In September of 2011, Chinese drifter Wang Qi broke the Guinness record for the world’s longest sustained drift, doing 13 laps inside the Olympic Center Stadium in Tianlin, China for 5,802.3 meters. That was broken in February of this year by Abdo Feghali in Abu Dhabi drifting a new Chevrolet Camaro around a skidpad for 11,180 meters – almost seven miles. In March, BMW decided it wanted the record “back in the US,” and set up a course at its BMW Performance Driving School near Greenville, South Carolina to get the job done. On May, 11 it was Mission Accomplished when Performance Center driver Johan Schwartz drifted an M5 around a skidpad continuously for 51.3 miles.

Despite that accomplishment, we’re pretty sure that professional drifter Vaughn Gittin, Jr. isn’t impressed. The way Guinness defines “drifting” can also describe a donut, which is effectively the kind of drifting that’s been done for these last three records. BMW went even further by watering down the surface of the track, reducing the skill required and the need to change tires during the effort. On the other hand, you can’t drift a car for long in a straight line, but perhaps there should be some clarification or classifications added to the milestones.

There’s a short video below taken during the record-breaking run, and a press release from the company that did it.

Continue reading BMW sets Guinness record for longest drift with new M5 [w/video]

BMW sets Guinness record for longest drift with new M5 [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 15 May 2013 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Concept Cars, Coupe, Performance, Europe, BMW, Design/Style, Luxury

BMW and Pininfarina are planning to debut a new concept at the 2013 Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este. The Gran Lusso Coupé is designed to be the next logical step forward from the Zagato Coupé, and the one-off creation boasts plenty of BMW earmarks to set the car off as a true member of the German automaker’s family. With a long wheel base and a stretched nose, the two door can’t help but channel the long-dead BMW 8 Series, and the potent V12 under the hood only reinforces the link.

BMW has been kind enough to slip the world a few teasers, and the images show what looks like it could be the low-slung grand tourer of our dreams. Check out the full press release below for more information, and stay tuned for the full unveiling.

Continue reading BMW Pininfarina Gran Lusso Coupé concept echoes 8 Series

BMW Pininfarina Gran Lusso Coupé concept echoes 8 Series originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 14 May 2013 19:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Sedan, BMW, Police/Emergency, Design/Style, Luxury

Is it that time already? Like its predecessors, the current BMW M5 has been endangering US licenses since it first went on sale here in 2012, but its design became a known quantity back at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show. Apparently that also means that the F10 generation has already grown tired enough to the “Must Have Latest Set” who can afford these sorts of super saloons that a facelift is in order.

If these leaked images sourced from Autocar are anything to go by, BMW stylists have used a predictably light hand to rework their hottest 5 Series, with a revised grille that echoes the M6 along with modestly resculpted headlamps. The rear end appears wholly unaltered. Interior changes gleaned from a look at the cabin photos include an updated touchpad-equipped iDrive controller and a new steering wheel cribbed from the M6.

No new word on changes to the 4.4-liter, twin-turbo V8 powertrain, but in late April, we heard that BMW was readying new competition packages for the M5 and M6. The packages are said to include 15 more horsepower, revised suspension and steering, along with new wheels and blackened exhaust tips. Given that BMW is known for habitually underrating its cars’ horsepower outputs (particularly its M models) we can’t help but wonder if its engineers will need to do anything other than wave a magic wand to corral those extra ponies underhood…

2014 BMW M5 facelift shows up online originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 14 May 2013 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Convertible, Performance, BMW, Luxury, Quick Spins

The BMW Z3/Z4 roadster has never really had a widespread following because it has either been too humble and small a roadster (albeit with some fun and very low-volume M editions) or it has been – in this E89 generation – too casual an image leader with no racier aspirations. The current 480-hp Z4 GTEs don’t count, since they are as stock a Z4 as today’s Pamela Anderson is the same blonde actress we knew as Heidi on Home Improvement. You know, sort of like those ever-so-slightly modified Toyota Camry coupes competing in NASCAR.

The ultimate highpoint for the BMW Z roadster franchise was at the very start of its life in the mid-90s, in the James Bond film GoldenEye with Pierce Brosnan. The Stinger missiles that Q’s team installed behind the Z3′s headlights were never fired, and BMW never even offered this self-defense package as an option. Yet another case of the ol’ bait and switch.

And in all these subsequent years of Z3s and Z4s strutting their long-hooded stuff, the little sporting Bimmer could really have used a live Stinger missile or two to spice things up. The current Z4 exists, it is pretty dang sexy, and BMW seems content to let it linger there. We just drove the new midlife version of the roadster near BMW headquarters in Munich, and it served to reinforce our feelings.

Driving Notes

• We have always harbored a desire to fall in love with this swoopy and well-proportioned roadster, but it still strikes us a bit like the way the over-designed Mercedes SLK now strikes us: a really nice lifestyle/reward car, with not much else going on.
• All BMW had on hand for us was this Z4 sDrive35is with its 335-horsepower, 3.0-liter TwinPower Turbo straight-six that also cranks to 332 pound-feet of torque, all spiffed up with the M Sport spa treatment and adaptive dampers. Things could be worse.
• If we were going to take the graying-chest-hair plunge and grab a BMW Z4, it would be this exact car. Otherwise, and despite all the positives of the newer 240-hp four-cylinder sDrive28i model, what’s the point? This particular roadster needs its strong six-cylinder to give it some character.
• We would also be happier if this top-trim roadster could be equipped with the six-speed manual transmission that is offered on the aforementioned sDrive28i.
• The optional Valencia Orange Metallic paint does look a bit two-tone precious to us when the black folding hardtop is closed, but it’s still a sweetheart to gaze upon.
• Looking at the standard Monroney sticker of $64,800 (the base sDrive28i now starts at $47,950) and then dragging our eyes down the hyper-extended list of optional add-ons until reaching our car’s $80k-plus price estimate, one has to pause to take it all in. The Z4 35is is a wonderful enough, but, man, it can cost a ton.
• Our 19-inch, $1,200 optional M alloys with Bridgestone Potenza RE 050A run-flat treads, combined with the speed-sensitive electric power steering and Servotronic assistance, made for a usually fine but occasionally woggy feeling under some circumstances. Through series of curves taken at real speed, there was, at times, a vagueness of trajectory, again leaving the feel that BMW wants the Z4 in any trim to be a car of leisure.
• The adaptive M suspension package does help treat this vagueness from behind the wheel somewhat, but overall the various dynamic elements taken together create a slightly confused ride and handling experience for a sexy car that promises so much. Basically, the Z4 ends up feeling every bit of its 3,549 pounds. (For reference, a Porsche Boxster S weighs a tick under 3,000 pounds at its heaviest PDK curb weight and feels like even less than that.)
• Attempting to make up for any black marks on the Z4′s resume is this model’s sheer power and torque. That final “s” tagged on to the name certainly helps. And while we miss a manual option, the seven-speed dual-clutch transmission with paddle shifters is a sweet setup when its most dynamic mode is selected. However, we understand that BMW has no intention of even offering a self-locking sport limited-slip rear differential. Oh, well.

This freshened 2014 BMW Z4 has been on sale in North America since the end of March. It’s a shame the car has become so sexy and interesting, yet so little time has been spent spicing up its chassis dynamics and overall drive feel. The absence of an M edition of the Z4 has been rather conspicuous, but perhaps that’s because BMW’s engineers know the platform isn’t up to the job. This one’s for sunny-day happy time cruising only… with style.

2014 BMW Z4 sDrive35is originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 14 May 2013 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2014 BMW Z4 sDrive35is