http://bmwcarmagazine.com/ Get all the latest News from BMW Car Magazine en-uk Thu, 17 May 2012 09:45:13 GMT Thu, 17 May 2012 09:45:13 GMT http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss BMW Car Magazine
Unity Media Plc 60 http://www.bmwcarmagazine.com/images/common/rss-image.gif http://www.bmwcarmagazine.com http://www.bmwcarmagazine.com/News/index.cfm/2012/4/19/i8-Spyder-Concept-Revealed BMW has revealed its third Project i Concept car, the i8 Spyder. While it certainly bears a passing resemblance to the previously seen i8 Concept Coupé this machine is a two-seater only and could pave the way for a real high performance range-topper. For the time being though it’s all about the plug-in hybrid so the i8 Spyder combines an electric motor, a turbocharged petrol engine and lithium ion battery technology. It pushes out some impressive numbers, too. The three-cylinder TwinPower turbo engine develops 223hp and 221lb ft of torque while the electric motor brings an additional 131hp and 184lb ft of torque for combined figures of 354hp and 406lb ft, good enough to haul the i8 Spyder’s 1630kg from 0-62mph in 5.0 seconds on its way to an electronically limited maximum of 155mph. It has plenty of mid-ran ge grunt too, completing the 50-75mph dash in just 4.0 seconds – that’s faster than an E92 M3 and a scant 0.3 seconds slower than the mighty F10 M5. The icing on the cake though is a combined economy of a staggering 94mpg – a figure an M car could only dream of. The electric motor gets its energy from the car’s lithium ion batteries and can be fully charged via a domestic plug socket in under two hours. The Spyder has a range of 19 miles running on electric power alone, while a high voltage generator hooked up to the combustion engine can generate additional power if needed and store it in the battery. Due to the arrangement of the power sources (with the electric motor driving the front wheels and the rear mounted petrol engine driving the rear wheels), the Spyder can run in front-wheel, rear-wheel or all-wheel drive, the vehicle’s electronics deciding on the optimum configuration depending on the situation. The i8 Spyder also uses the latest in ConnectedDrive technology to make the most of the car’s advanced features. There’s a camera-based proactive collision warning feature, park assistant and traffic jam assistant too. By using a smart phone the driver can show nearby charging stations, allow the batteries to be charged at pre-determined times and stay informed of the vehicle’s status. Even the interior can be pre-warmed on a cold morning. Not only does the extensive connectivity of the i8 Concept Spyder allow the driver to integrate the car fully into their life, it also enables the car to assist the driver in a proactive way. For example, the vehicle’s power electronics are linked to the intelligent navigation and traffic guidance systems. If a jam is detected ahead the hybrid system will charge the battery in advance, thereby allowing the car to run in pure electric mode while stuck in traffic, to the benefit of fuel consumption and emissions reduction. There’s no word yet on whether the i8 Spyder will reach production in a sanitized form, but given BMW’s promise to bring both the Coupé version of the i8 and the i3 to market we wouldn’t want to bet against the Sypder hitting the streets in 2015. If a higher-powered petrol engine could be fitted we’d have a real Supercar on our hands. http://www.bmwcarmagazine.com/News/index.cfm/2012/4/19/i8-Spyder-Concept-Revealed Thu, 19 Apr 2012 11:09:57 GMT http://www.bmwcarmagazine.com/News/index.cfm/2012/4/19/Joy-for-BMW-at-Sebring BMW Team RLL and its M3 GTs had an excellent start to the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) when Dirk Müller, Joey Hand and Jonathan Summerton brought home their number 56 M3 in first place after a grueling 12 hours and 307 laps of the Sebring International Raceway. In contrast to many of their competitors, the BMW drivers managed to keep out of any turmoil in the first half of the race. Their BMW M3 GT cars enabled them to clock consistent lap times, keeping in touch with the front-runners throughout the race. As the race developed, a gripping duel between BMW Team RLL and the two Chevrolet Corvettes kept the fans on their feet, all four cars only seconds apart for several hours. More than ten full-course yellows kept the GT field close until the closing stages of the contest. Only in the dying moments of the race were the BMW drivers were able to seal their second consecutive Sebring GT win. Both Hand and Jörg Müller were both victims of contact in the final minutes of the race. While Hand successfully defended his lead despite driving a heavily damaged car, Jörg Müller lost third position in the ALMS class, eventually finishing in fifth place. With this win, a BMW M3 has now emerged victorious in the GT class of this event for the fourth time: 1997, 1998, 2011 and 2012. BMW claimed overall victory at the Sebring 12 Hours in 1975 with the BMW 3.0 CSL as well as with the BMW V12 LMR in 1999. http://www.bmwcarmagazine.com/News/index.cfm/2012/4/19/Joy-for-BMW-at-Sebring Thu, 19 Apr 2012 11:07:15 GMT http://www.bmwcarmagazine.com/News/index.cfm/2012/4/19/M3-Limited-Edition-500-Announced It’s a sure sign that a model is coming to the end of its life when a manufacturer starts launching limited edition versions and here we have what is possibly the last hurrah for the E92 M3 Coupé and E93 M3 Convertible, the Limited Edition 500. Just 500 of these special machines will be produced and they will be available in just three colours; Imola red, Mineral white and Santorini Blue. While the Limited Edition 500 M3s will be mechanically identical to their normal counterparts they will be treated to a number of interior embellishments to make them stand out from the crowd such as extended Novillo leather with contrast stitching on the Sports seats and door panels that complements the exterior colour of the car. Thus Imola red cars feature black leather with Mugello red stitching, Mineral white machines will have Fox red leather with black stitching while Santorini blue M3s will have Tobago blue stitching. All of these Edition models will feature Piano black interior trim with ‘One of 500’ laser cut into the left-hand side of the inlay on the dashboard. BMW reckons that each Limited Edition 500 M3 features over £4000 worth of additional equipment but will cost just £1000 on top of the standard M3 Coupé and Convertible list price. The LE 500 Coupé costs from £55,690 and the Convertible from £59,785. Both models are on sale now. http://www.bmwcarmagazine.com/News/index.cfm/2012/4/19/M3-Limited-Edition-500-Announced Thu, 19 Apr 2012 11:04:28 GMT http://www.bmwcarmagazine.com/News/index.cfm/2012/4/19/Olympic-Fleet-Arrivals BMW has now delivered the first 40 vehicle that will be used for this summer’s Olympic and Paralympic Games in London. Among the first cars to arrive were EffieicentDynamics versions of the 320d and 520d Saloons. In total BMW will be providing 4000 vehicles (including electric, diesel and hybrid cars) as well as a range of motorcycles and bicycles. http://www.bmwcarmagazine.com/News/index.cfm/2012/4/19/Olympic-Fleet-Arrivals Thu, 19 Apr 2012 10:59:42 GMT http://www.bmwcarmagazine.com/News/index.cfm/2012/3/15/M135i-Concept-unveiled BMW has revealed pictures and details of its M135i Concept, which has made its debut at the Geneva International Motor Show. BMW is calling this a ‘concept study’ but as it has a towing eye cover, this means it’s basically a production ready vehicle and the finished product will be virtually identical. This is the next car in the M Performance line up, following on from the brace of performance diesels we saw last month and the M135i also offers us our first look at the three-door 1 Series. As BMW is calling this a concept, it is also being coy when it comes to information or at least specific information, so on the technical front there’s a lot of vagueness. We know for sure that under the bonnet you’ll find the 35i single-turbo straight-six with “a power output of more than 300hp,” which would suggest the standard 306hp engine as any higher state of tune would bring it within striking distance of the 1M. There is also an uprated M sports braking system, model-specific suspension and 18-inch double-spoke alloys. The three-door 1 Series offers up a more sporting silhouette than its five-door counterpart and the M Performance aerodynamic additions give it an even more aggressive appearance. The front bumper features a large central intake to feed plenty of cooling air to the engine, while the intakes that flank it channel air to the brakes and feature a sculpted flap design. At the rear, the bumper has been designed to emphasise the car’s width and features a unique bumper design, with the lower apron section finished in Dark Shadow metallic and, mirroring the exhaust style of larger, more powerful models in the BMW line up, the M135i features two single pipes, finished in dark chrome trim, one on either side of the car. In addition to this, the M135i sports mirror caps finished in Ferric grey and High Gloss Shadow Line window surrounds. No details of the car’s interior have been given but you can expect the usual array of sport additions such as seats, steering wheel, gear knob, trim and possibly some bespoke M Performance badging. http://www.bmwcarmagazine.com/News/index.cfm/2012/3/15/M135i-Concept-unveiled Thu, 15 Mar 2012 15:20:41 GMT http://www.bmwcarmagazine.com/News/index.cfm/2012/3/15/640d-xDrive-announced Coming Spring 2012, but not in the UK sadly, will be a four-wheel drive addition to the 6 Series line up. The 640d xDrive, which will be available in both Coupe and Convertible forms, combines four-wheel drive traction with the incredible performance of the twin-turbo straight-six diesel, making for an incredibly accomplished car of many talents. With 313hp and 465lb ft of torque one tap, the 640d xDrive is not short on firepower and despite the weight penalty from the xDrive gubbins it’s actually quicker than its two-wheel drive counterpart thanks to the additional traction it has been blessed with, cracking the 0-62mph sprint in 5.2 seconds in Coupe form, 0.3 seconds faster than the regular 640d. The 640d xDrive actually only weighs 80kg more than the two-wheel drive version, 1870kg plays 1790 in the Coupe, so the two cars should feel very similar on the road though the xDrive model does incur a slight penalty when it comes to fuel economy, returning between 48.7 and 49.6mpg on the combined cycle depending on the wheel size, where the regular 640d manages a claimed 51.4mpg. The xDrive system has been specially tuned for its installation in the 6 Series, taking into account its specific properties and characteristics, to ensure that you can enjoy all the benefits of four-wheel drive without sacrificing the driving pleasure you’d expect from a BMW. In normal driving conditions, the xDrive system will send 40 per cent of the power to the front wheels and 60 per cent to the rear, shifting this balance in an instant if conditions demand it, enabling it to prevent understeer and oversteer. The 640d xDrive Coupé costs €81,680 while the Convertible is priced at €90,280. http://www.bmwcarmagazine.com/News/index.cfm/2012/3/15/640d-xDrive-announced Thu, 15 Mar 2012 15:16:41 GMT http://www.bmwcarmagazine.com/News/index.cfm/2012/3/15/Countryman-gets-JCW-treatment The MINI Countryman is now available in John Cooper Works, which means lots more go and plenty more show, too. The JCW Countryman is the first time that the MINI performance arm has been combined with All4 all-wheel drive and MINI has also chosen the JCW Countryman to debut its new (optional) six-speed automatic transmission. The JCW Countryman comes bristling with go-faster bits and features an aggressive aerodynamic kit as standard, with larger air intakes and bespoke side skirts, with seven exterior colours to choose from and a contrasting finish can be applied to the roof and mirror caps. On the inside you’ll find sport seats in Diagonal track cloth with contrasting red stitching, designed specifically for this model, along with Piano black trim strips with Chilli red trim available as an option. Under the bonnet you’ll find the familiar 1.6-litre four-cylinder lump with a twin-scroll turbocharger, and here it develops 218hp along with 207lb ft of torque, 221lb ft with the Overboost function, making it the most powerful MINI production model of all time, and enough for a 0-62mph time of seven seconds dead and a top speed of 140mph for the manual, 139mph for the auto. Helping to keep all that power in check is a chassis that has been treated to a number of revisions, including JCW sports suspension with stiffened spring and damper settings, thicker anti-roll bars and 10mm drop in ride height over the standard Countryman, and there’s also a model-specific high-performance braking system. You also get a Sport button inside, which sharpen’s throttle response, gives you a fruitier exhaust note and adjusts the steering power assistance. The JCW Countryman will hit showrooms in Autumn, priced from £27,800. http://www.bmwcarmagazine.com/News/index.cfm/2012/3/15/Countryman-gets-JCW-treatment Thu, 15 Mar 2012 15:12:32 GMT http://www.bmwcarmagazine.com/News/index.cfm/2012/3/15/MINI-Highgate MINI continues to roll out the special edition models, with the latest addition being the Highgate. Available solely in Convertible form in all Cooper flavours, the Highgate features a number of exclusive additions. It is finished in Iced Chocolate with a Silvertouched Truffle fabric roof and truffle bonnet stripes with blue edging, while Midnight black metallic and White silver metallic are also available as optional body colours. The Highgate features unique 17-inch ‘Double Cross Turned’ alloys in a subtle aluminium colour, the design having been inspired by the Union Jack. Inside you’ll find Dark Truffle Lounge leather seats with blue piping and contrasting stitching and the Chili pack, which includes auto air con, Bluetooth and a multi-function steering wheel comes fitted as standard along with Sun-touched brushed alloy detailing on the dashboard and Chrome Line exterior and interior packages are also standard. This MINI also enjoys exclusive Highgate lettering on the side indicator surrounds, door sills and seat tags. Prices for the MINI Highgate start from £21,300 OTR for the Cooper and rise to £24,775 for the Cooper SD and it will be available from Spring. http://www.bmwcarmagazine.com/News/index.cfm/2012/3/15/MINI-Highgate Thu, 15 Mar 2012 15:08:17 GMT http://www.bmwcarmagazine.com/News/index.cfm/2012/2/16/More-MINI-editions Two new special edition MINIs have been announced, with the Baker Street and Bayswater going on sale in March for a limited period, with both cars available solely in hatch form. The Baker Street is available in exclusive Rooftop grey metallic paint, with twin black bonnet stripes drawing a subtle V-shape, as well as Pepper white or Midnight black. Baker Street lettering has been added to the side scuttles and door sills and the car also receives 16-inch 6-Star twin-spoke alloys in a high gloss black to match the mirror caps, while Cooper and Cooper D models also get a black painted roof. Inside the cloth/leather seats feature a diamond-patterned design which is also used on surfaces around the cockpit and door trim, while contrasting grey stitching appears on the floor mats, gearstick and handbrake gaiter and the Pepper pack is fitted as standard. The Bayswater is only available for Cooper models and is available in exclusive Kite blue, along with Eclipse grey metallic and Midnight black metallic on the Cooper S and SD, along with 17-inch Sandblast wheels finished in high gloss black with a machined rim and spoke edges and blue and grey bonnet stripes, one of each colour, with the corresponding mirror caps on that side painted to match. Bayswater lettering has also been added to the side indicator surrounds and door sills. The Bayswater comes with the Chrome Line and Chilli packs as standard but also features bespoke elements such as the Punch leather seats in Rocklike anthracite and blue and grey stitching. You'll also find piano black trim and unique floor mats. Prices start from £16,365 OTR for the MINI One Baker Street and £18,565 for the Cooper Bayswater. http://www.bmwcarmagazine.com/News/index.cfm/2012/2/16/More-MINI-editions Thu, 16 Feb 2012 12:05:59 GMT http://www.bmwcarmagazine.com/News/index.cfm/2012/2/16/3-Series-range-expands Three new engines will be joining the 3 Series Saloon range in March, with two new diesels and a petrol available. The 316d develops 116hp along with 192lb ft of torque, enough for a 0-62 time of 10.9 seconds and a top speed of 126mph, whilst achieving 62.8mpg combined in manual form or 64.2 for the eight-speed auto; emissions stand at 118g/km for the manual and 117g/km for the auto. The 318d features an all-aluminium engine the produces 143hp along with 236lb ft of torque, resulting in a 0-62 time of nine seconds dead with a top speed of 132mph. Combined fuel economy is 62.8mpg with emissions of 118g/km. Finally there's the 320i, with a turbocharged engine that features both Valvetronic and Bi-Vanos for optimum efficiency. With 184hp and 199lb ft of torque, it dispatches the 0-62 sprint in an admirable 7.3 seconds and can reach 146mph. The manual version can retrun up to 44.8mpg on the combined cycle, 47.1 for the auto, with emissions of 147g/km and 141 respectively. The 316d starts from £24,880 OTR, the 318d from £26,980 whilst the 320i will cost from £25,860. http://www.bmwcarmagazine.com/News/index.cfm/2012/2/16/3-Series-range-expands Thu, 16 Feb 2012 12:00:44 GMT http://www.bmwcarmagazine.com/News/index.cfm/2012/2/16/New-1-Series-special-editions-announced As the 1 Series Coupe and Convertible start to reach the end of their lives before their replacement as the new 1 Series range grows, now is the time to buy as special editions are rolled out to make the older models more attractive. And so it is that BMW has announced the 1 Series Coupe and Convertible Exclusive and Sport Plus Editions, with enhanced standard equipment and unique upholstery. Based on the M Sport model, the Sport Plus Edition features 18-inch M double-spoke alloys, a chrome kidney grille with black vertical slats, Dark Line rear lights and black mirror casings. On the inside you'll find Boston leather seats and Bluetooth handsfree along with USB audio interface. The Exclusive Edition builds on the ES model and adds 17-inch Star-spoke alloys, Chromeline exterior trim, Oxide silver mirror casings, a chrome kidney grille and chrome exhaust pipes. On the inside there's Boston leather, brushed aluminium trim, BMW Edition door sill trims and Professional radio with single CD and MP3 playback capacity, while the Coupe also gets anthracite headlining as standard. Both the Sport Plus and Exclusive Editions are priced at £500 more than the standard M Sport and SE models, while offering a saving of up to £1450 and £1815 respectively over buying the additional options individually, representing excellent value for money. http://www.bmwcarmagazine.com/News/index.cfm/2012/2/16/New-1-Series-special-editions-announced Thu, 16 Feb 2012 11:57:27 GMT http://www.bmwcarmagazine.com/News/index.cfm/2012/1/19/Alpinas-Bi-Turbo-offensive The current Alpina line up is pretty awesome, with a selection of spectacular cars that offer something for everyone and yet Alpina, ever the perfectionist, has found room for improvement and launched a new, limited-edition version of its B3 S and made its B6 Bi-Turbo even more powerful. The B3 GT3 is based on the B3 S Bi-Turbo Coupé and sees Alpina return to its long-standing tradition of producing limited edition models in extremely small numbers. Inspired by Alpina’s overall victory in the 2011 ADAC GT Masters Championship, the B3 GT3 takes everything that makes the B3 S so great, and adds a little bit of spice. The twin-turbo, three-litre straight-six remains unchanged but the car features a revised exhaust and a titanium rear silencer that has been developed in collaboration with Akrapovic, the renowned titanium exhaust specialist. The middle silencer has been removed and an x-section has been fitted along with significantly larger diameter pipes while the titanium rear silencer features larger twin oval titanium tailpipes instead of the B3 S’s quad items, measuring 115mm across with carbon fibre trims. Thanks to these revisions, the exhaust system weighs 11kg less than the standard B3 S system, and the reduction in back pressure results in an 8hp gain, bringing the total up to 408hp, produced at 6000rpm, while torque remains unchanged with 3498lb ft at 4500rpm. This is enough to knock 0.2 seconds off the 0-62mph time, which now stands at 4.6 seconds, and raises the top speed by 2mph to 186. You can also be sure that it’s going to sound great too, the exhaust having undergone extensive sound development to give it just the right tone. The B3 GT3 uses the standard six-speed Switch-Tronic gearbox and features a Drexler limited slip differential, similar to the B6 GT3. It also receives a high performance motor sport brake set up as standard, with six-piston calipers and 380x35mm discs at the front and four-piston items at the rear with 355x32mm discs; the calipers are finished in blue with discreet Alpina writing in silver. The brakes have been designed for high stress and load and offer excellent fade resistance, good modulation and response without sacrificing comfort and practicality. Alpina has also fitted the B3 GT3 with fully adjustable coilover suspension, offering height adjustment along with 12 stages of compression and 18 stages of rebound adjustment. Alpina has carefully calibrated the range of adjustment to allow for a dynamic yet comfortable road-biased set up for everyday driving as well as a track-focused race setup.  Special top mounts have also been fitted, with adjustable top mount plates at the front allowing you to alter the camber, ensuring an especially stiff connection to the chassis. All of these components result in exceptional handling and serious levels of grip, and you can fine tune the characteristics of the car to suit your exact driving style and preference. The B3 GT3 also receives 19-inch forged Classic alloy wheels finished in Himalaya grey, which have been inspired by the B6 GT3 racer. The forged construction results in increased stiffness and strength as well as reducing weight by 25 per cent, 10kg, despite being an extra half-inch wide. And, if you’re planning on taking your B3 GT3 out on track, an optional Gt3 Cup wheel and tyre set is available, consisting of a set of Classic 19-inch forged alloys complete with Michelin Pilot Sport Cup+ tyres, which are road legal but very much designed primarily for track use. Externally, the B3 GT3 has been given a visual boost thanks to a number of aerodynamic enhancements. At the front, there’s a carbon fibre front splitter and dive plates, which are mounted on the side of the front valence, which help improve the aerodynamics of the front end, while at the rear there’s a carbon fibre wing, which has been designed to reduce rear axle lift without negatively affecting the drag coefficient, while a matt black rear diffuser further helps to improve aerodynamics. On the inside you’ll find lightweight Recaro sport seats finished in black leather/alcantara with seat heating provide optimal lateral support and vertical stripes in the Alpina racing colours can be found on both the front and rear seats. The sport steering wheel is finished in alcantara with blue/green stitching and features paddles for the Switch-Tronic gearbox and the car also has black alcantara interior trim with embossed Alpina writing in green. An optional Comfort Package is available, which includes Professional navigation and PDC, but no other options are available for the B3 GT3. You can have your B3 GT3 in Sapphire black or Mineral white or alternatively you can opt for Alpina blue matt metallic. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can go for the full vinyl body wrap in the official B6 GT3 racing livery, including green lacquered interior trim. Only 99 B3 GT3s will be produced, each with a specifically designed production plaque inside, and the car will be available from Spring 2012 – we’re expecting Alpina to announce UK prices nearer this time. The B6 Bi-Turbo was only revealed at the Frankfurt motor show in September, but with the launch of the Coupé it has already received a mild reworking. Powered by Alpina’s awesome twin-turbo V8, which first debuted in the B7 Bi-Turbo, it was not short of power from the outset, but since the engine’s first appearance Alpina’s engineers have been working on developing the engine further to extract even more power, and now they have. The twin-turbochargers feature specially developed large diameter exhaust turbines, the air-to-water chargecoolers have been revised while high-performance Mahle pistons are able to cope with the demands of the engine. These changes have raised power from 507hp to 540, available between 5200 and 6250rpm, while torque is increased from 516lb ft of torque to 538, developed between 2800 and 5000rpm. Mated to an eight-speed Switch-Tronic gearbox, the B6 Bi-Turbo will accelerate from a standstill to 62mph in just 4.4 seconds in Coupe form and won’t stop accelerating until it hits 199mph. And, like the B3 GT3, the exhaust system has been designed in collaboration with Akrapovic and is made entirely from titanium. As well as weighing 50 per cent less than an equivalent stainless steel system, the B6 system has a pipe diameter of 2x70mm throughout its entire length and this, along with further design refinements, has reduced exhaust backpressure to an absolute minimum. The exhaust gives the B6 a purposeful V8 sound, but intelligent, controllable exhaust valves ensure that it’s never intrusive. In Comfort+ and Comfort modes, the valves are closed, opening only once the engine reaches 3000rpm, or you apply 60 per cent or more throttle regardless of the gear or revs. In Sport and Sport+ modes, the valves remain open at all times. The B6 Bi-Turbo comes with Drive Performance Control and Dynamic Drive as standard, which have been calibrated by Alpina and is tied into other system parameters which control steering assistance, torque cushioning and DSC, with pronounced Comfort+, Comfort, Sport and Sport+ modes. The B6 Bi-Turbo also receives specific springs, increased front camber and a subtle adjustment of toe-in, along with 20-inch Classic wheels, which cover huge high performance brakes, with 374mm discs at the front and 345mm at the rear, which are fed cooling air via a specially constructed NACA air intake on the front underbody. Subtle front and rear spoilers reduce front axle lift by 14 per cent bring rear lift down to zero above 93mph, and an optional low-rise rear wing is available as well. Inside you’ll find blue Alpina instruments, a sport steering wheel hand finished in Lavalina leather, blue illuminated entry sills and myrtle wood trim along with heated comfort seats, sat nav, Bluetooth, xenon headlights and LED foglights. The B6 Bi-turbo Coupé is priced at £92,850 OTR while the Convertible costs £97,850 OTR. http://www.bmwcarmagazine.com/News/index.cfm/2012/1/19/Alpinas-Bi-Turbo-offensive Thu, 19 Jan 2012 16:28:27 GMT http://www.bmwcarmagazine.com/News/index.cfm/2012/1/19/MINI-Roadster-on-the-way Hot on the heels of the MINI Coupé comes the MINI Roadster, due in MINI showrooms in spring of 2012. The first open-topped two-seater in the company’s history, the MINI Roadster borrows its styling from the Coupe but the convertible roof makes it easier on the eye, especially with the hood down. The semi-automatic roof can be quickly and easily raised or lowered but the addition of a soft top doesn’t hamper the Roadster’s practicality, with 240-litres of boot space and a useful through-loading system. Similar in size to the MINI Convertible, the Roadster features a roofline that’s 20mm lower, giving it a more low-slung, stretched appearance in profile. The canvas roof folds down behind the seats, ensuring it doesn’t spoil the car’s lines and as the outer skin of the roof faces up, there’s no need for an additional cover. The MINI Roadster is available in four different flavours, from Cooper to JCW as well as SD, with all models bar the Cooper receiving Sport seats as standard. All models come with electric power steering and DSC along with brake energy regeneration and auto start-stop while standard equipment levels are surprisingly generous, with electric heated mirrors, rear PDC, air con, a DAB radio, MP3-compatible CD player and auxiliary connection all standard. Options are numerous and include a multi-function steering wheel, heated seats and automatic air con while there are virtually limitless ways to customize your MINI’s appearance as well.  Prices will start from £18,015 OTR for the Cooper Roadster, rising to £24,850 for the JCW model. http://www.bmwcarmagazine.com/News/index.cfm/2012/1/19/MINI-Roadster-on-the-way Thu, 19 Jan 2012 16:23:51 GMT http://www.bmwcarmagazine.com/News/index.cfm/2012/1/19/Get-Connected-with-MINI New from MINI Connected comes the Driving Excitement App, packed full of features that allow you to monitor numerous aspects of your MINI. As with previous version of the MINI Connected app, the latest update is uploaded to the car via your iPhone, and the app can be used in all current MINI models equipped with the Visual Boost radio or navigation system and MINI Connected option. The app functions are operated using the MINI joystick, steering wheel button and on-board monitor, allowing you to view and use the different functions safely. The Condition Check function allows you to monitor engine temperature, fuel level, outside temperature and signs of rain – if everything is just right, the monitor will declare everything “Be MINI.” The Force Meter measures and records longitudinal and lateral acceleration generated over a pre-defined timeframe, displaying in which direction the forces are developing via virtual MINI on the monitor. The Digital Sports Instruments turn the on-board monitor into an extension of the standard instruments, displaying the coolant temperature, current engine power output along with either current rpm or torque. The output and revs/torque data is displayed in a drag format, the maximum values remaining visible for a short time. In addition to all this, the MINI Connected app also includes a detailed tutorial outlining the fundamentals of skilled, sporty and safe driving. http://www.bmwcarmagazine.com/News/index.cfm/2012/1/19/Get-Connected-with-MINI Thu, 19 Jan 2012 16:20:15 GMT http://www.bmwcarmagazine.com/News/index.cfm/2012/1/19/Engine-awards-from-Wards BMW has two entries in the Ward’s 2012 10 Best Engines Awards list, with the new two-litre TwinPower Turbo four-cylinder engine, joining the three-litre N55 TwinPower Turbo six-cylinder engine, which its second consecutive appearance on the list. Compiled by American automotive trade magazine, Ward’s AutoWorld, the list is made up of engine available in the US market and over a two-month testing period, Ward’s editors evaluate each engine according to a number of objective and subjective tests, as well as taking into account power, torque, noise and so on, before choosing the 10 best engines. “BMW’s all-new 4-cylinder proves once and for all that we have nothing to fear with the latest downsizing trend,” said Tom Murphy, executive editor of WardsAuto World magazine. “Our editors loved it in the Z4, a sporty roadster that loses none of its zip with this spectacular turbocharged 4-cylinder But they liked it even better in a larger, more practical vehicle, the 5 Series sedan.” The N55 received similar praise, with Drew Winter, editor-in-chief, saying “The N55 sings like no other engine in the world. It is a true benchmark.” http://www.bmwcarmagazine.com/News/index.cfm/2012/1/19/Engine-awards-from-Wards Thu, 19 Jan 2012 16:16:43 GMT http://www.bmwcarmagazine.com/News/index.cfm/2011/12/15/BMW-is-most-reliable-for-fleets BMW has been named the most reliable manufacturer in Fleet News' annual survey. Data for nearly 900,000 cars operated by the country's 50 largest leasing companies was compiled for the FN50 survey, with BMW coming top of the heap. The FN50 reliability survey, undertaken by Fleet News and financial consultants Grant Thornton, asks leasing companies to assess reliability according to the number of breakdowns per model on their fleet.  The majority of the vehicles surveyed are used for business and are subjected to higher than average mileage and are constantly used in all conditions. This testing environment means that winning the FN50 is a true testament to the reliability of the BMW range and specifically the BMW 3 Series. http://www.bmwcarmagazine.com/News/index.cfm/2011/12/15/BMW-is-most-reliable-for-fleets Thu, 15 Dec 2011 11:52:34 GMT http://www.bmwcarmagazine.com/News/index.cfm/2011/12/15/MINI-Yours When it comes to customisation, MINI isn't short of options but if the extensive range of accessories still isn't enough, now there's MINI Yours. The programme features a number of MINI limited editions such as the Goodwood, Soho, Clubman Hampton and the London 2012 edition and beyond that there's a vast catalogue of exclusive and design-led exterior paints tattoos, interior trims and upholsteries, allowing you to take your MINI to the next level. There will also be a number of special MINI Yours packages, the first being the MINI Avenue. Available with either Highclass grey or Laguna green metallic paint, the Avenue features an exclusive interior with Staellite grey Soda Lounge leather with matching black floor mats, a bi-colour multifunction Sport steering wheel, Soda mirror caps and special effect white bonnet stripes along with 17-inch twin-blade spoke alloys. The MINI Avenue package costs £4880 on top of the price of a One, D, Hatch, Convertible or Clubman. http://www.bmwcarmagazine.com/News/index.cfm/2011/12/15/MINI-Yours Thu, 15 Dec 2011 11:46:14 GMT http://www.bmwcarmagazine.com/News/index.cfm/2011/12/15/Sixty-years-of-Eibach From humble beginnings in a small workshop in Ronkhausen, Eibach has come a long way since Wilfried Eibach inherited the firm in 1967 from his father, Heinrich, and set about transforming the company from its fine engineering base into a leading suspension manufacturer. By 1975, the Eibach name had become a benchmark in the spring industry for a plethora of applications. Today, Eibach is still owned and run by Wilfried Eibach and daughter Swantje and boasts global sales of £60 million, subsidiaries on all five continents, factories in Germany and the U.S and some 475 employees. Eibach’s manufacturing facilities boast cutting-edge testing and development areas where production runs as small as one unit can be designed, evaluated, tested and produced in as little as just five days. At the other end of the scale, their investment in the means of quality mass-production has made them the ‘go-to’ choice of the original equipment set. As well as offering road and race springs, supplying the vast majority of the teams in F1, WRC, NASCAR, Champ Car, BTCC, Baja, WTCC, DTM and GT with both chassis and engine valve springs, the company has also diversified into wheel spacers, damper units, alignment and anti-roll bar kits. The vast majority of all components are produced in house, usually from raw materials. For production ranges, everything is fabricated on CNC or robotic lines to ensure absolute consistency throughout production and every single element of the process from phosphate coating to final finish and paint is tightly monitored and strictly quality controlled. Every plant and subsidiary is subjected to the grueling ISO/DIN type quality management processes, but over and above this, Eibach are continually checking each part of the process as it progresses through the plant, with sample analysis, Magnaflux crack detection and spot checking being the order of the day and every single spring is tested prior to passing for finishing. ‘We only manufacturer to one quality,’ says Wilfried Eibach, ‘and this has to be suitable for all of our end users. Driving enthusiasts, race teams and manufacturers. Every new product is as important as the last.’ Contact : www.eibach.com or 01455 285851 http://www.bmwcarmagazine.com/News/index.cfm/2011/12/15/Sixty-years-of-Eibach Thu, 15 Dec 2011 11:42:27 GMT http://www.bmwcarmagazine.com/News/index.cfm/2011/11/16/ActiveHybrid-3-confirmed-for-UK BMW has announced that the F30 3 Series range will feature an ActiveHybrid model, which is due to go on sale in autumn of 2012 and has been confirmed for the UK market. It will have the same 3.0 twin-turbo straight six engine that will be used in the new 335i, but will also have an integrated electric motor, which for limited periods can increase power by up to 54hp. The maximum combined output for the engine is 340hp, with maximum combined torque of 398lb ft of torque. This will be paired with a hybrid-specific eight-speed automatic transmission. The 40kW motor will also increase efficiency, with an expected economy figures of 44mpg. The car can be driven up to 37mph using the electric motor alone and once you pass this speed the engine is engaged automatically and then disengaged on overrun. Whilst braking, the electric motor acts as a generator, converting kinetic energy into electrical energy, which is then used to re-charge the battery. This is the same principle as the Brake Energy Regeneration function that is on regular BMW models, although on the ActiveHybrid the amount of energy recuperated by the electric motor is much greater. The F30 has been designed to accept ActiveHybrid components from the outset, so the high-voltage battery is integrated under the boot floor, meaning that you still get 390 litres of boot space, a loss of just 90 litres over the standard car, and you are still able to specify the through-load option. While prices have not yet been announced, the ActiveHybrid 5 costs 20 per cent more than the 535i so we wouldn’t be surprised if the ActiveHybrid 3 was similarly more expensive than the 335i, which would put it at around the £40,000 mark. http://www.bmwcarmagazine.com/News/index.cfm/2011/11/16/ActiveHybrid-3-confirmed-for-UK Wed, 16 Nov 2011 16:09:38 GMT http://www.bmwcarmagazine.com/News/index.cfm/2011/11/16/Olympic-MINI To celebrate the 2012 Olympics, MINI has unveiled its London 2012 special, limited edition models. There will be just 2,012 of these special edition models built, which are available in Cooper, Cooper D, Cooper S and Cooper SD variants. They come in Union Jack themed colours; Chilli Red, White Silver or Lightning Blue and all cars will have white wing mirrors and a white roof with the London 2012 graphic on it. The exterior also features a distinctive Union Jack single stripe which runs the length of the car. The cars will also feature unique grey 17-inch conical spoke alloy wheels that are unavailable on any other MINI model. Inside, the London skyline will be etched across the width of the piano black dashboard, with silhouettes of some of London's most iconic landmarks, including Tower Bridge, Battersea Power Station and The London Eye. The dashboard will also display the words, “London 1 of 2012”. All London 2012 special edition models come with a bundle of extras that includes options like Lounge leather sports seats, DAB radio, air conditioning, cruise control and chrome interior touches. The 2012 models will be on sale from March 2012 priced from £17,800 for the Cooper Hatch and rising to £20,860 for the Cooper SD. http://www.bmwcarmagazine.com/News/index.cfm/2011/11/16/Olympic-MINI Wed, 16 Nov 2011 15:55:27 GMT http://www.bmwcarmagazine.com/News/index.cfm/2011/11/16/M3-DTM-livery-revealed BMW has finally taken the wraps off its new M3 DTM car, first at a sneak preview event in Heidelberg and then in front of tens of thousands of fans at the DTM season finale at the Hockenheim ring, where it completed two laps with Dirk Werner at the wheel. The cars wears the BMW M Performance Accessories livery, which is based on the designs seen on the E30 M3 DTM cars. “We are very proud of this design,” said BMW Motorsport Director, Jens Marquardt, at the unveiling of the car. “It is both traditional and modern in equal measures. It shows our roots, but in a contemporary style The car's aerodynamics were developed in close collaboration with the engineers from series production. The BMW Group boasts impressive resources in this field and the wind tunnels are ultra-modern. This – and the Title Partner BMW M Performance Accessories – shows that the entire company is behind the 2012 DTM project and is working hard towards it.” http://www.bmwcarmagazine.com/News/index.cfm/2011/11/16/M3-DTM-livery-revealed Wed, 16 Nov 2011 15:50:38 GMT http://www.bmwcarmagazine.com/News/index.cfm/2011/11/16/Nordschleife-success-for-Alpina- The 2011 VLN Endurance Racing Championship headed to the Nordschleife for round 9, where Alpina enjoyed a successful race at the Green Hell. Taking to the track with Dörr Motorsport, the Alpina B6 GT3 started the event in 17th place with Dominik Schwager behind the wheel and it didn’t take long for him to battle his way through the field up to seventh place. After an hour the race was red flagged following a number of unrelated incidents and when it was restarted, Alexandros Margaritis took to the track. The newly-crowned ADAC GT Masters champion built on Schwager’s performance to climb further up the ranks before handing over to his team mate for the final few laps, who brought the car home in fifth place, particularly impressive as this was his first time actually driving the car and he had to deal with 180 cars on track. Alpina also used this event to gain valuable information to help create the ideal set up for the notoriously tricky Nordschleife http://www.bmwcarmagazine.com/News/index.cfm/2011/11/16/Nordschleife-success-for-Alpina- Wed, 16 Nov 2011 15:44:59 GMT http://www.bmwcarmagazine.com/News/index.cfm/2011/10/20/ActiveHybrid-5-set-for-UK BMW has announced that the ActiveHybrid 5 will be coming to the UK next year, going on sale in February with a price tag of £46,860 OTR. Based on the F10 5 Series Saloon, the ActiveHybrid combines a petrol engine with an electric motor that together provide more performance along with better economy and lower emissions. With both its petrol and electric power sources working in tandem, the ActiveHybrid 5 generates 340hp along with 332lb ft of torque, enough for a 0-62mph time of 5.9 seconds and an electronically limited top speed of 155mph. This gives it a level of performance similar to the 535i but the ActiveHybrid 5 will return 44.1mpg on the combined cycle and, on the standard 17-inch wheels, produces just 149g/km of CO2, putting it six bands lower in the benefit-in-kind company car tax scale, with a rate of just 19 per cent. The ActiveHybrid 5 uses the 306hp, three-litre turbocharged engine from the 535i and adds a 54hp electric motor along with the eight-speed automatic gearbox, and this is the first time that an in-line six-cylinder engine has been part of BMW’s ActiveHybrid system. At speeds of up to 37mph, the car can travel up to 2.4 miles using electric power alone from the high-performance lithium-ion battery stored in the boot, between the wheel housings, while the electric motor, which is also integrated into the gearbox housing for optimal packaging efficiency, delivers 177lb ft of torque from 0rpm. When you need more power, or if the battery is exhausted, the petrol engine comes into play. At speeds of up to 100mph, the ActiveHybrid 5 can cruise in Eco Pro mode when the drive lifts off the accelerator, running soundlessly and with zero exhaust emissions until you accelerate again. Whenever you brake, the battery is charged, with the electric motor acting as a generator and when the car comes to a stop, Auto-Start Stop switches the engine off, while the battery keeps the climate control operating. In terms of safety, the high-voltage battery is housed in a strong case in the boot, between the wheel arches, which still leaves you with 375 litres of boot space and in the event of a collision, the crumple zones keeps impact forces away from the hybrid components as well as the passenger cell. The ActiveHybrid 5 receives Professional Multimedia sat nav, eight-speed auto transmission, four-zone climate control, and high-gloss Fineline Anthracite wood interior trim as standard. It features ActiveHybrid 5 script on the C-pillars, kidney grille, the door sill strips and on an aluminium plate on the centre console. It also receives matt chrome tailpipes, a bespoke engine cover and ‘ActiveHybrid Power Unit’ inscription on the battery housing in the boot. http://www.bmwcarmagazine.com/News/index.cfm/2011/10/20/ActiveHybrid-5-set-for-UK Thu, 20 Oct 2011 11:32:00 GMT http://www.bmwcarmagazine.com/News/index.cfm/2011/10/20/ALMS-hat-trick-for-BMW It’s been another hugely successful year for the BMW Team RLL in the American Le Mans series with the team winning three titles – drivers’, team and manufacturers’. Despite impressive competition from the likes of Ferrari, Corvette and Porsche, Dirk Müller and Joey Hand won the driver’s championship at the penultimate race of the season at Laguna Seca where BMW Team RLL also secured the team prize. However, the team had to wait until the final round at Road Atlanta, the 1000-mile Petit Le Mans, to secure the manufacturer’s championship for BMW. As this event also counts towards the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup the regular drivers of the ALMS M3 GTs were once again joined by Augustus Farfus and Great Britain’s Andy Priaulx. It was a tough event though and after the 1000-mile race distance the Werner/Auberlen/Farfus M3 had managed to claw its way up to third place, a feat which meant that the M3 GT had been on the podium at every race it contested in this year’s ALMS. http://www.bmwcarmagazine.com/News/index.cfm/2011/10/20/ALMS-hat-trick-for-BMW Thu, 20 Oct 2011 11:27:44 GMT http://www.bmwcarmagazine.com/News/index.cfm/2011/10/20/Revving-up-for-DTM BMW has continued its preparations for the 2012 DTM campaign with a successful test at Hungaroring in Hungary which followed on from the car’s first test out in the open at EuroSpeedway Lausitz in Germany. In Hungary BMW fielded three M3s, one each for Andy Priaulx and Augustus Farfus (the two confirmed drivers so far), with the other being shared by ALMS regulars Dirk Müller and Dirk Werner. All three BMW teams – BMW Team Schnitzer, BMW Team RBM and BMW Team RMG took part in the test which focussed on tyre tests and general setup work. BMW’s opponents in the DTM – Audi and Mercedes – also took part in the test and while it’s too early to draw any valid conclusions about the car’s differing performance the good news is that the M3s certainly seem to be reliable, putting in over 750 laps of the 4.3 kilometre track over the two day test. http://www.bmwcarmagazine.com/News/index.cfm/2011/10/20/Revving-up-for-DTM Thu, 20 Oct 2011 11:22:45 GMT