Since the initial debut of the 5er GT, there have been few that actually admit to liking the look. While I love the idea in concept (I am a HUGE wagon fan), I am waiting to see it in person before I cast any true judgment on the design of the final car.
A recent spy shot from some ‘Ring testing shows the car has some promise. With the larger wheels, sports pack and some serious spring compression, dare I say it looks “good”?
Chris Harris from the Driver’s Republic (Formerly of Autocar) thinks so. Here’s an excerpt from his recent column:
Trouble has been brewing for some time. The first vestiges are hard to pin-point, but the company’s refusal to fit decent brakes to its cars since, well, 2004 is perhaps symbolic of the slight shift in focus. Don’t get me wrong, the current M5 and M3 are exceptional cars, but I don’t think either of them will be remembered as the best examples to have worn the badge. The fastest, yes – but not the best.
I suppose before one deconstructs BMW M and attempts to pinpoint what might be wrong with its current approach, we need to outline what ‘M’ stands for. In its original form it denotes a ‘Motorsport’ connection, but this is not something on which any car company can base an entire range of cars.
It’s an opinion that has surely been festering within some of us but until the M X5/X6 came out, it was hard to actually come out and say it. Now however it’s clear that the M Division has changed focus and product positioning.
Car Magazine asked itself the question enthusiasts have been asking for years – which M3 is the best. However this version is in podcast form. Well worth a listen for any M3 fan.
In a dramatic turn of events Formula 1 manufacturers (FOTA) voted this evening to leave F1 and set up a new championship for 2010. After months of negotiations with Max Mosley and the FIA it appears that F1 as we’ve all known it is over. Here’s the official statement from BMW Motorsports:
“The FOTA teams endeavoured to the very end to reach an agreement, but regrettably the FIA refused to back down from its rigid position, insisting that the teams must first sign up before there could be any negotiations on the rules. This was unacceptable to us.
FOTA therefore has no choice but to press ahead with preparations for an alternative championship. In the series organised by FOTA, the best drivers and the best teams will compete against each other. This will take place within a stable set of regulations and a transparent management structure. We will also take into account the wishes of the fans, who have lent us a great deal of support particularly in recent weeks.
continued →
The X5 has always been a lightening rod for loyal BMW enthusiasts. An SUV (or SAV or crossover depending on who you talk to) it went AWD when BMW’s were about rear wheel drive. It’s catered to utility and high seating positions when BMW’s were suppose to be about driver involvement. And it was big. The current six cylinder X5 weighs in at 4982. The 48i model with the naturally aspirated V8 (soon to be repaced with a twin turbo unit) pounds the pavement to the tune of 5335 lbs. To put that in perspective that is more than double the 2227 lbs typically listed for the early 70’s BMW 2002tii. While not a natural comparison but it’s worth noting at the very least that the BMW X5 has strayed more than any other vehicle in BMW’s current fleet from the origins of the sports sedan that made the brand the ultimate driving machine.
Yet the X5 is astonishing in what it can do, how it feels and yes, how it performs. And no where in the range is this more evident than with the new X5 35d. The 35d is the first X5 diesel to be sold in the US and uses the same 3.0L twin turbo diesel found in the 335d we tested last month. The results aren’t surprising on the surface. The 35d is endowed with 425 ft lbs of effortless torque. Yet on the highway we saw around 30 mpg with a careful right foot. It’s the kind of effeciency I’m used to with my 2004 330i ZHP yet with more power and almost double the torque. Oh and another 2,000 lbs.
continued →
Official Release: The BMW Group is supporting the bid put together by the Bavarian state capital Munich to host the 2018 Olympic Winter Games. “Munich and the BMW Group are inextricably linked. Sport lies at the heart of our identity and at the heart of the BMW brand. We want to play our part in bringing together sportsmen and women from around the world to compete fairly against each other here in our home city in 2018. As the global automotive leader in the area of sustainability, we are promoting and supporting the idea of a sustainable Olympic Winter Games in Munich in 2018. If the Olympic Games come to our city, we want to be part of them,” said BMW Group Chairman Dr Norbert Reithofer at a press conference at BMW Welt in Munich on Thursday. The bid will also benefit from the company’s extensive experience in the field of mobility concepts. continued →
Official Release: Scoring outstanding wins in the three categories of the International Engine of the Year Award, the BMW Group once again highlights its top position this year as a manufacturer of particularly powerful and, at the same time, efficient engines. In the world’s most significant engine contest, the V8 power unit featured in the BMW M3, the straight-six with Twin Turbo Technology to be admired, among other models, in the BMW 3 Series, the BMW 1 Series and the BMW X6, as well as the four-cylinder twin-scroll turbocharged engine in the MINI Cooper S, have all scored triumphant victories in their respective classes.
The Awards were presented on 17 June 2009 at the Engine Expo in Stuttgart.
This triple victory continues the BMW Group’s story of success in the International Engine of the Year Award. In this contest held since 1999 BMW engines have brought home overall victory no less than six times, including the four last years in a row.
This year’s three winners once again thrilled the jury through their fascinating development of power as well as their up-to-date efficiency. This combination of such superior virtues is the result of the BMW EfficientDynamics development strategy characterising both the eight cylinder from BMW M GmbH, the straight-six from BMW, and the MINI four-cylinder. continued →
Ok so there’s no M7. Nevermind those shady blogs out there purporting to have spy photos of one. It’s not coming. However what is coming is the B7. BMW’s semi in-house tuner Alpina has unleashed it’s latest 7 Series creation and our favorite mag form the UK Car got some seat time. Excerpt time….
So the Alpina B7 is simply a quicker BMW 7-series with a fast-looking aero kit?
It’s much more than that, I can assure you. It would be relatively easy for a common-or-garden tuner to slap on a bit of a body kit, bigger wheels, get the magic screwdriver and turn up the turbo boost and call it a four-door supercar. But Alpina is all about serious engineering – every aspect of its cars has an engineering basis. They don’t do frippery and whimsy in Buchloe.
Take the B7’s stunning 21-spoke finned wheels – their air valves are secreted in the central hub rather than on the rim to ensure supreme high-speed stability. Then there’s the 4.4-litre bi-turbo V8 powerplant – the all-alloy unit is fitted with bespoke blowers and air-water-water-air intercoolers, high-performance cylinders and a trio of electronic control units. Result? A hefty 507bhp at 5500rpm and 517lb ft of torque at 3000rpm.
Autocar’s take on the Z4 is a little less stellar than other reviews but not that removed from what we’ve read elsewhere:
The cabin is designed thoughtfully and its perceived quality is beyond criticism. Little wonder BMW sees no need for a coupé-only version of this car, because it is so capable at swapping its feel between open-top sportster and snug coupé. The drivetrain on this sDrive35i model is excellent to its core, too.
However, it’s hard to escape the feeling that there’s something missing. The Z4’s steering isn’t intuitive, and although the chassis will ultimately exhibit fine balance and ability, getting it to reveal its talents is a less enjoyable exercise than it should be.
One of the hallmarks of the BimmerFile have always been the reviews. Written from an enthusiast’s perspective but not afraid to pull any punches, they epitomize the site more than anything else on it. And now we have our summer review season upon us. We’ve already gotten two under our belts with the 335d and 750i being reviewed a few weeks back. Next up will be the X5 35d, X6 35i and the all new Z4 35i.
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: F07 PAS | Spy photos Jun 21st, 2009 8 Comments 
