2012 BMW M5 – New Teaser

Ahead of its M Festival debut, the new 2012 BMW M5 is teasing us once again. An M5 test mule was filmed during high-speed testing at the Nardò Ring in the south of Italy, an important part of the new BMW M5′s development program.
Between June 23 and 26th, 2011, BMW will host an M Festival to celebrate the 24hr race at the Nurburgring race track.
On this occasion, BMW invites fans around the world to have a look behind the scenes at the famous race and also visit the playground where every M car is developed and tested. Also, the new M5 and M3 EVO will be officially introduced.

Full details around the powerplant remain unknown, but we learned in the past that the 2012 BMW M5 is powered by an updated version of the S63 engine found in the BMW X5 M and X6 M. The 4.4-liter V8 twin-scroll powerplant will peak at somewhere in the 570-horsepower range and 530 lb-ft of torque. The 0-62 mph dash should take about 4.4 seconds,
The updated unit delivers both performance and efficiency significantly increased in comparison to the previous engine. Numerous drivetrain innovations and other enhancements have lead to a reduction in fuel consumption and emission levels by more than 25 percent.
The new engine is mated mated to a 7-speed M double-clutch transmission with Drivelogic. The combination of the new engine with M Drivelogic is supplemented by an Auto Start Stop function. A manual option will be offered for US customers.
The super sporty sedan goes on sale in early 2012 and it is rumored to have a base price around $100,000 mark.

Rendering: BMW 2 Series Coupe

Rendering day here in the BMW world and the latest computer generated image attempts to portray the future BMW 2 Series. Confirmed last week by BMWBLOG with the help of inside sources, the new 2 Series will be the host of the upcoming 1 Series Coupe and Convertible models. The upscale 1er cars will join the 2 Series family and will go through a name change.
In 2010, BMW has filed for U.S. trademarks for 2 Series model designation. BMW reserved the trademark applications for the monikers 228, 230, and 235, similar to the 3 Series family designation. While BMW is known for filling far in advance for multiple trademarks and naming conventions, and some of them are never used, this time the new BMW badge will host the upcoming redesigned F32 1 Series Coupe and F33 Convertible.
In order to separate the performance and sportier body shape of the Coupe and Cabrio, BMW will rename the cars as the 2 Series, bypassing the need for overcrowding with the segment of the new 1er Hatch. The 2 Series showcases some new design movement with further progressive sporting interpretation of the hatch. The Cabrio model will continue offering a soft-top roof and clean design lines without compromising looks and performance.

Following the steps of the current 1 Series Coupe and Convertible, the new 2 Series family will make its way onto the U.S. soil, with the 1 Series Hatchback remaining an European-only model.
A rumored BMW M2 is said to be part of BMW’s plans, but a market launch won’t take place before 2014.

Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este 2011 names its winners

This weekend just gone the town of Cernobbio on the banks of Lake Como reprised its status as the centre of attention for all car enthusiasts – and this year motorcycle fans also had much to admire. The Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este brought together a selection of classic models and new concept cars to the acclaim of the assembled audience.
And for the first time the cars were joined by motorcycles competing for class and overall victory in a competition of their own, as fans of two-wheeled classics headed to the Villa Erba for Saturday’s motorcycle concours. Another new feature of the Concorso was the sale held by RM Auctions on Saturday evening, which tempted collectors with a line-up of 32 extraordinary cars.

“Our aim was to take this long-established event into new territory while preserving its character,” said Karl Baumer, President of the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este and Director of BMW Group Classic, outlining the reasons behind the changes. “The main initiative we introduced to give people extra opportunity to visit the Concorso was the addition of a second Public Day,” continued Baumer. Dr Jean-Marc Droulers, President of Villa d’Este S.p.A., also declared himself pleased with the weekend: “We’ve seen cars and motorcycles which made our hearts beat a little faster – both within the small, exclusive environs of the Villa d’Este and together with the wider public at the Villa Erba.”

The jury awarded the Trofeo BMW Group, and with it “best of show” honours, to a 1968 Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale, while the time-honoured Coppa d’Oro prize decided by public referendum went to an Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 SS from 1942. The “Concept Cars and Prototypes” category, meanwhile, was topped by the Aston Martin Zagato celebrating its world premiere at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este. Another model making its debut at the event was the BMW 328 Hommage, unveiled by the Bavarian company to mark the 75th birthday of its iconic BMW 328 sports car from the 1930s.
The Trofeo BMW Group in the first Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este for motorcycles was won by an American Pierce Four from 1910. After presenting the award, General Director of BMW Motorrad Hendrik von Kuenheim shifted the spotlight to plans for the years ahead: “We are looking to develop this concours into a meeting point for all enthusiasts of motorcycle design. That fits in with both the tradition of the BMW motorcycle brand and the passion for bikes here in Italy.”
The extent to which tradition can inspire and the potential – and desired – impact of the past on the future of car design were both on the agenda at the high-powered annual Design Talk round table, which this year addressed the issue of heritage in design under the heading “Tradition & Future in Automotive Design”. Adrian van Hooydonk, Director BMW Group Design, joined Lotus Cars chief designer Donato Coco and Laurens van den Acker, Vice President of Renault Corporate Design, to mull over future-oriented design at car brands with a strong heritage.

Video: BMW 1M Review by Evo

Evo Magazine brings a new video review of the 2011 BMW 1 Series M Coupe. The respectable and popular UK magazine took the 1M for a spin during the press drives that took place last week. For the UK market, BMW will offer 450 units of the 1M, each one of them carrying a plate to emphasize the “limited edition” of the baby-M. The US customers will receive anywhere from 600 to 1,000 units by the end of this year, and recent reports confirm that the production will end in 2011.
As we have seen with all the reviews so far, the new BMW 1M is being highly praised once again. The “baby-M” speaks to the true enthusiasts and its comparison to the E30 M3 becomes even more relevant. Recent speculation say that BMW might extend the 1M beyond the standard version and a new 1M CSL might be in works.


2011 BMW 1 Series M Coupe powered by the N4 twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter I-6 engine. For the 1M, the turbocharger, exhaust system, and ECU have been revised to produce 335 horsepower and 332 pound-feet of torque, though up to 369 pound-feet are available temporarily in overboost mode. Many journalists believe the 1M can hold its own against the almighty M3.

Let’s have a look.

Would You Buy A Z4 Coupe?

Coupes have always had an important role in the history of BMW over the last 8 decades. It started with the 328 Karmann Coupe in pre-World War II Europe. The big coupe won the 1940 Mille Miglia and with its success would fall under the curtain of war spreading across Germany and the rest of Europe.
About 3 decades on an the world would be lucky enough to meet the BMW E9 coupe – which would go on to be a huge success in the European touring car series’, the 12 Hours of Sebring, and solidify BMW’s position as a genuine maker of modern, high performance coupes. The success of the roadgoing 3.0CSi of the early 1970′s was followed up by the more expensive, more luxurious and higher performing original E24 6 Series which would receive only minor cosmetic changes and a handful of engine upgrades over its 13 year production life culminating in the ultimate iteration with the first M6 in the history of BMW – powered by the venerable straight-six M88 engine.
The start of the 1990′s brought BMW’s biggest step forward in it’s big two door via the 8 Series. At its release in 1991, the 850i was the most expensive and most technically advanced vehicle in the history of the black, blue and white badge. In European spec, the 8 Series even came with an early version of the modern ASR system found on the F01 7 Series – allowing the driver to provide a few degrees of steering input to the rear wheels for improved handling at speed. Additionally, the variety of engines helped the 8 Series reach wider appeal with the M62 V8 engine of the 840i and the M70 V12 of the 850i.

With the demise of the ultra BMW coupe in the late 1990′s – many would think that it would not be until 2004 when the next 6 Series was released before BMW had another true coupe in the line-up.  However, that would be an incorrect statement. During BMW’s absence from the big coupe market the role was supplanted by the tiny but quite wide E36 M Coupe based upon original Z3 Coupe. With a petite, lithe figure from head-on – the car swelled to a gigantic rear with blistered wheel arches and a fat, quad exhaust. Perhaps the Kim Kardashian of the late 90′s car market?
Due to it’s proportions and roofline , the Z3-based M Coupe was nicknamed the “Clown Shoe” and unlike a Kardashian, the original M Coupe had gobs of talent with its European-spec S50B32 engine pumping out 321 German horsies. In 2001, with the introduction of the E46 M3, the little 3 door coupe reached full potential with the S54B32 tucked under the hood for 333HP on tap. To manage the power, a limited slip differential was added over the standard Z3 coupe. All in, the Z3 M Coupe was one of the most underrated German sports cars of the late 1990′s and early 2000′s and ironically, a car manufactured by engineers in their off-time with the intent of improving the torsional rigidity and overall performance of the original Z3 Convertible. By keeping the production and retooling costs to a minimum, the M Coupe was able to be brought to market – hence the sharing of many parts from the Z3 Convertible.
The original Z3 and M Coupe did not find a substantial market as this sort of shooting brake design was a far cry from what many expected from a BMW. However, as production wound down in 2002 – the car would quickly reach near-legend status with enthusiasts and the fastest S54-powered Coupes began fetching higher prices in the user car market.

Given the success of the original Z3 convertible, the Z4 replaced it in 2003 though the fate of the coupe version was yet to be determined. By 2005, a concept previewing the Z4 Coupe was released – giving enthusiasts hope for a new, lightweight baby BMW performance car. What followed did not disappoint – the Z4-based M Coupe took on the same S54 powerplant but adopted a much more elegant and sleek body, forgoing the enormous rump in favor of a more supple, tapered tail. The standard 3.0Si Coupe was a looker too and definitely no slouch with its 3.0L N52 engine with Valvetronic and 258 HP. However, as the global economy began to slow, the Z4 Coupe and M Coupe began to experience sales declines with incentives and “cash-in-trunk” deals being offered on the car just prior to the end of production. Despite the slowdown in sales, the performance and design of the second BMW shooting brake cannot be downplayed as one of the most fun and sexy BMW’s on sale in the last decade.
That said, will the Germans see it fit to grace the world with another small BMW coupe? We have the big 6 again in the F13 6 Series – but nothing to satisfy the lighter, smaller class of cars where performance isn’t entirely compromised by luxury. Yes, the 1 M Coupe satisfies that spot to a degree – but it does not have the sex appeal of a long-nosed sports car with a short wheel base and two kidney grills at the front. Frankly, the idea of either a coupe version of the Z4 sdrive35is or even an M-powered coupe pounding around with a S65 V8 under the hood – not too far off from a roadgoing Z4 GT3 perhaps?

The current Z4 sDrive35is has had its share of problems on the market given the type of incentives BMW is offering. Had BMW forgone the current Z4is and put an M-derived Z4 in its place – would sales perhaps be higher by better catering to the enthusiast market?
Included here are a few renderings from a post we had back in the fall hypothesizing what a Z4 Coupe could look like. It’s gorgeous and that’s not surprising – the current E89 Z4 Convertible is a gorgeous car too. Its wonderful with the long, sloping nose gliding back to the subtle yet still pronounced hips. If the E89 is such a big improvement and less polarizing over the E85 in droptop form – then how could an E89 coupe possibly be wrong?

SLS AMG

AMG was founded as a racing engine forge in 1967 under the name AMG Motorenbau und Entwicklungsgesellschaft mbH (AMG Engine Production and Development, Ltd.), by former Mercedes engineers Hans Werner Aufrecht and Erhard Melcher in Burgstall an der Murr, near Stuttgart. The letters "AMG" stand for Aufrecht, Melcher and Großaspach, Aufrecht's birthplace .