We have been hearing for quite sometime from BMW officials that the new 5 Series will be launching with xDrive soon after the rear wheel drive version. It is now official, the xDrive variants will hit the US by October, a much improved launch sequence when you consider the 7 series and 5 GT xDrive cars coming at a significantly staggered time frame. BMW has learned that for better or worse the North East and other areas that receive a dosing of the white wintry stuff tend to purchase all wheel drive models at a significant clip.
For the first time the mighty 550 will be offered in xDrive and all 5 series models will still be moved by the 8 speed automatic. The 7 series introduced Integrated Chassis Management, a system used to counter understeer and provide more neutral handling thanks to the ability to instantly shift torque and apply braking as needed to a single rear wheel, much like the mechanical torque vectoring rear differential, the new 5er will be equipped with the same technology.
The 2011 535i and 550i xDrive Sedans will retail for $52,775 and $62,875, respectively, including $875 Destination and Handling. These prices represent a $2300 premium over their traditional rear-wheel drive counterparts.
It’s a $77,000 M3 with no unique performance additions and DCT only. But does it matter when it’s a gorgeous looking limited edition M car? You decide:
BMW NA has officially taken the wraps off of it’s latest limited edition M car. The Frozen Grey M3 is the first official BMW product in the US to wear a matte finish paint and the first E90 era M3 to be available with BMW Individual options. On top of the unique exterior and interior the car also comes with the newly released Competition package and a number of the most popular options usually ordered.
Official Release: Nearing the 25th anniversary of the original BMW M3, BMW of North America today announced a production run of thirty identically-equipped 2011 Frozen Gray M3 Coupes for the United States. The 2011 Frozen Gray M3 Coupe features a special matte-gray paint with a deep metallic luster to further accentuate the athletic lines of the legendary M3. Unique Fox Red / Black bi-color Novillo leather interior is also specified. This is the first and only opportunity to obtain Frozen Gray Metallic exterior paint on the M3 for the 2011 model year in the United States.
BMW M enthusiasts will be able to reserve a 2011 Frozen Gray M3 Coupe by dialing 1-800-245-4269 no earlier than 11:30AM Eastern Time (8:30AM Pacific) on Monday, June 21, 2010. The first 2011 Frozen Gray M3 Coupes will become available for delivery in late June 2010 through Authorized BMW Centers, and the production run will be completed by the end of July 2010. A complete equipment list is provided at the end of this press release. MSRP will be $77,600 Including $875 Destination & Handling and excluding $1,300 federal gas guzzler tax..
Each 2011 Frozen Gray M3 Coupe will be powered by the now famous 4.0-liter, 414-horsepower M V8 and equipped with BMW’s M Double Clutch Transmission (M DCT). Also specified is the new M3 Competition Package, which adds an exclusive set of 19-inch wheels and other upgrades. Additionally, each purchase of the 2011 Frozen Gray M3 Coupe will include a one-day enrollment at the BMW Performance Driving School in Spartanburg, South Carolina.
We always have our ear to the ground in search of the latest BMW news and speculation. What we are hearing these days is that BMW will be upping the Efficient Dynamics push. Sources have been reporting that we will see the introduction of auto stop/start at some point in the not so distant future into new models and markets.
Based on our information all indicators point to this beginning with the September 2010 production run and will be available in a variety of non-hybrid vehicles for the first time; possibly including the ///M3 and the V12 powered 760. Auto/Stop start is a feature that can be turned on or off by the driver, the system basically turns the engine off when the car is at a stop idling and restarts when the accelerator is depressed. It has not been taken into account by the EPA for official MPG figures but is said to improve economy in the real world as is evidenced by EU methods.
We will update you as we hear more about this strong rumor.
Our friends over at The Diesel Driver venture to BMW Plant Leipzig in a five-door hatch. What the 120d offers up is 177hp from the spark-less engine which is ample for Autobahn style cruising and achieved 52 mpg. Here is a small bit of their experience driving one of BMWs most popular offerings in Germany, be sure to read the entire story here.
“The drive from Munich to Leipzig is ca. 425 km and the route takes us on the Autobahn A9 for all but 20 km of the route. Our 120d came in an elegant space grey metallic with business navigation and multiple BMW EfficientDynamics fuel-saving options including regenerative braking and auto start-stop. Regenerative braking recovers energy that would normally be wasted as heat through the brakes and the start-stop technology turns the engine off to avoid unnecessary idling when stopped.
The 120d’s engine puts out 177 hp (130 kW) with a combined fuel economy rating of 4.7 l / 100 km (~ 42 mpg in the EU test cycle. The EU test cycle has three components: city or urban driving (the first 800 seconds of the test), highway or extra urban driving (the next 400 seconds), and combined (the complete cycle).
On a 300-km stretch with an average cruising speed of 120 km/h (75 mph), the 120d only used 4.5 l / 100 km or 52 mpg.”
When an automobile manufacturer is to replace a model that accounts for nearly fifty-percent of its profits and was the best selling product in its class, it better do its homework. BMW did just that with the new 2011 5 series, known internally and by enthusiasts the world over as F10. The 5 Series has always been the middle of the road car in BMWs lineup, it is one step up in terms of size and luxury from the 3 while offering more driving dynamics in a smaller less luxurious package than the line topping 7 Series. This go around is not all that different.
Performance
Since our introduction to the new 5, we recently tested both the 535i and 550i equipped with a varying options both on and off the track to generate an accurate description of what the new 5 has to offer. The 535i provides its grunt by the new inline six cylinder twin power turbo (dual scroll/single housing) with variable valve timing that produces 300 hp and 300 ft-lbs of torque. The top of the line 550i features a twin turbo V8 amassing 400 hp and 450 ft-lbs of trailer pulling power. Both engines feature a myriad of Efficient Dynamics technologies such as direct injection to make them powerful while still showing constraint in the fuel use department. For those street racers out there; the most important numbers for you are that the 535i will get you to 60 from a stop in 5.7 seconds, with the 550i getting there in five flat, according to BMWs usually conservative numbers.
Over the weekend we learned through sources that BMW will announce a limited edition M3 exclusively for the US market. Even better we managed to score some teaser photos from BMW of what it will look like. Here’s what we know:
The car will be available with (exclusively or as an option) Frozen Grey
The interior will feature exclusive seats with red inserts front, back and on the armrest
We expect the Competition package to be a part of the limited edition
Check back on Thursday for all the details (and many more photos).
The 24 Hours of LeMans was nothing if not eventful for BMW. And as it turns out luck was definitely not on BMW’s side this weekend. From having a completely new set-up (to comply with ACO rules for LeMans) to a restrictor plate to limit power, the GT2s faced an uphill battle. However in the end car number 78, with Jörg Müller (DE), Augusto Farfus (BR) and Uwe Alzen (DE) alternating at the wheel, completed 320 laps to finish sixth in the LM GT2 class in front of 240,000 spectators. At one point they were in fact 4th before some mechanical issues brought them in for a lengthy stop.
The BMW M3 GT2 Art Car, designed by American artist Jeff Koons, turned out to be a true fan favourite over the course of the Le Mans week. Dirk Müller (DE) made a good start in car number 79 and was in a promising sixth when he had an accident following a puncture and lost a lot of time in the pits. Andy Priaulx (GB) then also struggled with technical problems. He eventually had to retire at the entrance to the Indianapolis curve shortly after 20:00hrs on Saturday. As a result, Dirk Werner (DE) is still yet to make his racing debut at the “Circuit de la Sarthe”. Victory in the LM GT2 class went to Marc Lieb (DE), Richard Lietz (AT) and Wolf Henzler (DE) in their Porsche 997 GT3 RSR.
Official Release: While BMW triumphed with the open-top BMW V12 LMR prototype at its last outing in Le Mans in 1999, Team Manager Charly Lamm’s team lined up in the GT2 category for the first time at this year’s race. The opposition, which included Porsche, Ferrari and Chevrolet, arrived at the 78th running of the event with the advantage of a wealth of experience. In contrast, Team BMW Motorsport had to work hard on the two BMW M3 GT2s in ACO specification, to make progress during the short preparation time.
BimmerFile is dedicated to bringing you the most interesting news, links and reviews related to the BMW brand and it's vehicles.
We believe in the old school BMW ownership experience. We believe in garage nights with a six pack and some friends. We believe in 2002s, in E30 M3s and E34 540s with the 6 speed. We believe in progress in both design and engineering but we haven't lost sight of what made the brand and its products great all those years ago. And yes, we believe in the manual transmission.
We long for the days of the wave and for the days of roll-up windows. Yet we love the gadgets on the inside and the xenons on the outside.
In short, we can't get enough of BMWs. This is BimmerFile.
Sections: F10 5 Series, Official News, Sales/Marketing Jun 19th, 2010 No Comments 
Loading ...
