We’re less than three months away from the Geneva debut of the next generation M5 and it just keeps looking faster and sounding better. The 575+ hp four door should easily out handle and out accelerate any M car before it all while providing immense comfort and style. Now what M can do about the weight of the F10 remains to be seen. (Via our friends at Insideline)
The BMW Group is celebrating its independence and the company’s continued success since its restructuring plan was accepted on 30 November, 1960 with a special ceremony at the Theresienhöhe in Munich on 30 November 2010. “Herbert Quandt’s business instinct and his ability to make courageous decisions at that time set a new course for our company and secured BMW’s ability to control its own future,” said Chairman of the Supervisory Board of BMW AG, Prof. Dr. Ing. Joachim Milberg, before the ceremony in Munich.
After rejecting Daimler-Benz’s takeover bid for BMW in 1959 and adopting the rescue plan in November 1960, BMW went on to become an almost unprecedented success story. Since 2004, the BMW Group has been the world’s leading supplier of premium automobiles. Its workforce has grown from 6,900 in 1959 to over 96,000 employees today. At the same time, the number of vehicles sold has climbed from 42,000 at that time to a predicted total of more than 1.4 million automobiles (BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce) this year. (Full gallery after the break)
As readers by now know, we love the now extinct Z4 ///M Coupe. We have even gone as far as saying it is the ultimate modern ///M. If it was not for practicality more of us enthusiasts would have them parked outside of our homes, but sales suffered and BMW has shied away from discussing making an ///M of the newest drop top Z4.
From the outside it looks like BMW has no interest in building another Z4 ///M, stating poor sales numbers are probable as past efforts have shown. There is one glaring issue that may force BMW to build this car they rather not discuss- they will have no high performance model in that pricepoint once the E9X M3 is set out to pasture in 2012, and a two year gap until the next M3.
This isn’t the first time we’ve brought you the E30 on a rally course (and not the first time Axis brought it to us) but it is perhaps the best test of the car yet. Autocar got some time at Prodrive’s HQ to basically play with their toys from the past 20 years. In this final installment they get a chance behind the wheel of the famed E30 rally car. (bonus vid after the break)
The Bayern Police have apprehended and arrested a BMW AG employee and employee of a supplier on suspicion of stealing seats and associated parts worth in excess of $4 million from production lines. They allegedly faked production orders and took these excess items out of the factory to be sold on the internet. BMW has yet to formally comment on the matter as the investigation is on-going but one questions how tight of a ship BMW is running if that many seats were taken. There may be more arrest made over the coming weeks as more than 15 people are alleged to be part of the pilfering ring.
Earlier this fall GSD&M (BMW’s agency for the past several years) decided to part ways with the automaker. However we’re just now started to understand some of what was behind the move. Adage is reporting that a split was likely imminent due to the untimely death of BMW NA VP of marketing Jack Pitney along with a few other changes “in relationships”. So what’s next for the $140 piece of business? According to the article BMW plans to work with its existing roster of agencies, which includes WPP’s Grey, MDC Partners’ Dotglu and Interpublic Group of Cos.’ Universal McCann.
What do we have here? Autobilde has managed to snag some undisguised photos of the refreshed 2012 1 Series coupe and convertible. What’s changed? The front lights have been redesigned to both reduce the bug-eyed look of the current car and get closer to current BMW form language. In the back BMW has redesigned the lights to also bring them in line with other new BMWs.
If you go to the BMW Museum on the Night of the White Gloves, you will not only be able to view the exhibits but touch them as well. On Friday, 26.11.10, visitors will be positively encouraged to do what is normally strictly prohibited in museums. But to ensure that the cars, motorcycles and engines on display are handled with care, everyone will be given white gloves to wear. It will be the third time round for this “hands-on” event.
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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.
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Sections: //M5\\, Video Nov 30th, 2010 No Comments 
