May 25th, 2011
About a month ago we brought you the news of BMW M’s plans to expand and innovate through new models and technologies. We told you about X3 M, the possibility of a new Z4 M and perhaps most interestingly a secret mid-engined car that would be M’s first unique product since the M1. With almost a month since our first mention, we thought it was a good time to take another look at the rumor and the idea.
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May 24th, 2011
That’s the rumor from BMW insider Scott26. BMW M is strongly considering the release of a convertible version of the 1M. Like the E30 M3, the idea is to close the book on the smallest M car in years by lopping the roof off. And with almost all the engineering already done, it’s a rather simple and cost effective way to bring a new variant to market.
So what are the real odds? The biggest issue is the BMW board’s reluctance to sell the N54 in anymore past 2011 due to emissions. Because of that one fact, we give it 50/50.
May 24th, 2011
BMW M Engineer J. Schwenker took some time to answer a few questions from the German members of the M Power community recently and gave some further insight into the M car of the hour.
What special modifications were needed after the transplanting of the BMW M3 chassis to the BMW 1 Series?
The kinematics of the chassis, in other words the geometry of the pivot points, link lengths and front and rear axle supports were taken from the BMW M3. The lighter weight means that the front axle support of the BMW 1 Series M Coupé does not need a stiffening plate. In terms of vehicle weight and the shorter wheel base, the springs and dampers have also been readjusted. Other changes were also made to the auxiliary springs and stabilisers, for example the stabiliser on the rear axle has reduced torsional rigidity.
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May 24th, 2011
We heard from a source last week that an early prototype of the X3 M had made it’s maiden voyage on public roads around Munich. Now Car Magazine brings us proof. According to car the X3 M won’t have the N54 based 1M engine in it as rumored but an early iteration of the next M3′s inline six.
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May 23rd, 2011
File this under we told you so. Autonews is reporting BMWNA is disappointed with 5 Series GT sales. According to BMW the wagon/SUV hybrid isn’t attracting the 5 Series wagon crowd and instead stealing sales away from the more expensive 7 Series.
“The disappointment I have is that I thought a lot of our 5-series station wagon customers would go with the GT,” O’Donnell says. “In point of fact, that is not happening. We have lost those customers to the competition — mainly to Mercedes-Benz.
“The GT has attracted 7- and 5-series customers and conquests,” he says, “but not the station wagon customer we had hoped.”
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May 22nd, 2011
Germancarforum member KEMA recently posted some of the best shots yet of the forthcoming 2012 M5. With these photos we’re seeing the updated extended display with the ‘M’ treatment for the first time. Also this is our best look at the M aluminum trim used in the concept and likely for production.
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May 20th, 2011
Official Release: The BMW 328 is considered the most successful and best-looking sports car of the 1930s. The BMW 328’s success was the result of its design parameters – through the use of systematic lightweight construction, aerodynamic lines, opti- mum engine types and outstanding suspension technology, it laid the foundation stone for a new vehicle concept, by which performance only leads to success if combined with perfect harmonisation of all parameters and maximum efficiency. With these characteristics, the BMW 328 was even then the embodiment of what the BMW brand still stands for today – dynamics, aesthetics and a high level of innovation.
This year, the dream sports car is celebrating its 75th birthday. The festivities will begin near Lake Como at the Mille Miglia. There, the main focus will be on the fascination of the BMW 328 racing car. To this day, the award-winning vehicle BMW 328 Touring Coupé still holds the record for the highest average speed on the Mille Miglia circuit and, in 2010, was again able to win the historic revival of the race. A week later at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este, the two-seater’s functional aesthetics will be the focus of attention. In this area of conflict be- tween tradition and modernity, the BMW Group is paying tribute to the BMW 328 on the occasion of its anniversary with a special model – the BMW 328 Hommage. “With the BMW 328 Hommage, we wish to pay homage to the passion and inventiveness of the fathers of the BMW 328”, explains Karl Bäumer, CEO of BMW Group Classic. “They created an icon, which is consid- ered a milestone in the history of the automobile.” The BMW 328 Hommage translates the principles and the character of the vehicle of that time into present times and offers a possible interpretation of how the designers of that time, Fritz Fiedler and Rudolf Schleicher, might have built the BMW 328 in the present day using current technology.
Full gallery after the break
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May 18th, 2011
Once again BMW has cleaned up in the annual Engine of the Year awards with four victories. In fact the only naturally aspirated engine on the list at all is BMW M’s S65B40 V8 current found in the M3. Here’s the full list:
- 1.6L Turbocharged Four Cylinder (MINI Cooper S)
- 2.0L Turbo Four Cylinder diesel (variations found in everything from the 123d to the Cooper SD)
- 3.0L N55 Turbo Six Cylinder (Found in almost all BMW models)
- 4.0L S65B40 V8 from the M3
Official Release: With four class victories in the competition “International Engine of the Year Award” 2011, the BMW Group repeated last year’s success, whilst at the same time strengthening its position as the most successful manufacturer to take part in the competition. Four, six and eight-cylinder petrol and diesel engines prevailed in their respective displacement classes. The award-winning engines are featured in a number of current models of the BMW and MINI brands. In addition to the V8 power unit of the BMW M3 and the straight six-cylinder petrol engine with BMW TwinPower Turbo technology, the four-cylinder diesel with BMW TwinPower Turbo technology and the new four-cylinder power unit under the bonnet of the MINI Cooper S also received an Engine of the Year award. The commendation of the award-winners took place during the trade fair “Engine Expo” in Stuttgart.
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