BMW is due to take the wraps off the 7 Series customary Life Cycle Impulse (facelift) very soon. Yes, it has been that long already. The aging 7 still looks good in the current trim but that hasn’t stopped BMW from providing some tweaks to keep it fresh in the market. On the outside, like most BMW models getting the ‘nip, tuck, the headlights will get the latest technology.
The new line of BMW M Performance automobiles will fill a market void. Its products will slate in between the base BMW model and M model. The lineup will also address niches that M has not explored before; such as diesel.
BMW is not letting the current generation of iDrive get too long in the tooth without an update. Other German brands have rolled out in-car infotainment and navigation with handwriting recognition and tactile input- BMW is now testing the same thing. Our sources point to the upcoming 7 Series refresh (yes its time already) as the debut point for the new iDrive system. The spy shot above is of the interior for the next generation X5- set to hit the market in under 18 months.
It is looking wide and aggressive. BMW M is said to be employing the concept of reusing proven components in the M3, meaning M5 rear and differential and is why these fenders look flared a good deal.
With the recent sales start of the 2012 3 Series sedan full attention in the 3er realm is being directed at the 2013 3 Sport Wagon. The 3 Series Sports Wagon will make its debut at the Leipzig auto show this June. But perhaps more important to many of our readers is that we’ve confirmed an on sale date for the US market.
The next generation X5 has begun its early rounds of testing. It is hard to distinguish much of the details thanks to BMW’s famous ability to pop rivet on cladding and cover with swirled wrap but one thing that is obvious is that roofline has become more sporty. This new version of the X5 will go on sale in 2013 as a 2014 model year. It will grow slightly in wheel base and length to help BMW hit new emissions targets and to assist in accommodating a slightly more comfortable (still only for children and those that are less than 5 feet tall) third row.
We’ve just heard from a reliable source that the next generation coupe based on the newly revealed 3 Series will retain the 3 Series name. According to this source, the F32 coupe which has begun more formal testing will be offered in several forms including a 340i as a way to further differentiate the coupe from the sedan.
We are only days away from the official unveiling of the 2012 BMW DTM entry. This weekend in Munich at the DTM ‘Fest BMW will take the wraps off its latest race project. Until then we will just drool over the car as it was caught doing some testing.
After BMW’s exit from F1, the brand’s focus has been on production racing, ALMS and the GT series in particular. DTM had been BMW’s forte for many years but they exited almost two decades ago during a period of rule changes and controversy. New rules (heavily lobbied by BMW and the former Motorsports head Dr. Theissen) will allow BMW to join the DTM in a manner in BMW will be competitive from the start and financially is not going to break the Bavarian piggy bank.
BMW’s entry into DTM coincidentally or not, went hand in hand with DTM being announced formally for the US market in 2013. The typical German teams (Mercedes and Audi now with BMW) will run satellite operations in the United States for 12 races to coincide with with Grand-AM events.
It is an exciting time and hopefully this will decrease NASCAR fandom a bit as those M&M jackets are painful to look at!
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Sections: F01 7 Series, Spy photos Apr 19th, 2012 1 Comment 
