Tag Archives: News

SPIED: BMW 4 Series Convertible Seen Nearly Undisguised

By now, we’ve all seen the BMW 4 Series Coupe, which made headlines for its massive grille. However, there will also be a convertible version which actually might be more interesting than the standard coupe. There are more than just styling changes from the previous 4 Series Convertible to this new car and they should make it significantly better to drive. Some new spy photos have just surfaced of the new topless 4 Series and, in them, it’s wearing almost no camouflage. (We don’t own the photos, see them here)

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In these photos, we see a couple of regular 4 Series Convertible variants doing some light road testing while wearing very little camo. Only their rear ends are covered in the famous swirly black and white wrapping, due to the fact that we’ve already seen the face of the 4er.

What’s interesting about these photos is that, in all of them, the roof is up, so we get to see what the 4 Series Convertible looks like when it’s not looking it’s best. That’s important for a few reasons but they all have to do with the type of roof the 4 Series now uses.

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Previous-Generation (F33) BMW 4 Series Convertible with Roof Up for Reference

This new generation of 4er uses a fabric roof, rather than the folding metal hardtop of the previous-gen car. Because the new roof is a soft-top, it actually looks a bit more elegant than the old hard-top, which looked like a coupe that was left out in the sun too long. More importantly, the fabric roof is significantly lighter, which not only lowers the curb weight but also the center of gravity, making it handle better.

Another aspect of the 4 Series Convertible we’re curious about is rigidity. The previous car had the torsional rigidity of a wet napkin with the top down, allowing potholes to vibrate the cabin like cheap motel bed. Considering that the 8 Series Convertible and new Z4 Roadster are as solid as bank vaults with their tops down, we’re optimistic that BMW got this one right as well.

Overall, we’re pleased with how the new 4 Series Convertible looks (grille aside). It looks elegant and premium, like a budget drop-top GT car, which is how it should look and — hopefully — how it feels.

[Source: Car Scoops]

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Gordon Murray Almost Made Two More Cars with BMW After the F1

The current darling of the automotive world is the GMA T.50. Could it ever be anything else? It’s Gordon Murray’s latest project and anything he puts his name on instantly becomes the stuff of legend. After all, he is the mastermind behind the greatest supercar ever made, the McLaren F1. As you may already know, for the F1’s V12 engine, Murray partnered with BMW M and another automotive legend in Paul Rosche. What you might not already know is that the two were originally going to continue working together after the F1.

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In the most recent episode of the Collecting Cars Podcast with Chris Harris, Gordon Murray joined to talk about everything; the new T.50, his life in Formula One, the McLaren F1 and all sorts of other great stories sprinkled in between. It’s a fantastic episode and one you should go and have a listen to. It’s long but absolutely fascinating.

At one point in the episode, Harris asks Murray about the Mercedes McLaren SLR, a car that Murray actually designed but didn’t end up putting his name on, as it wasn’t really the car he wanted to make. However, the origin of that story actually starts out at BMW.

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Following the mega media success that was the McLaren F1, BMW was extremely eager to work with Gordon Murray and McLaren Cars yet again. Considering that Murray was the 20-percent shareholder of McLaren Cars at the time (which was a separate entity from the McLaren F1 team) and ran the company, he started designing two new sports cars with BMW engines, cars that would have been far more affordable than the F1 and sold in much higher volumes.

However, at the last second, McLaren signed a deal with Mercedes-Benz to develop Formula One engines and, despite the F1 side and road-car side of McLaren being separate entities, BMW wanted nothing to do with the company after that. So the two cars that Murray had already designed and had ready to go were lost to history.

Following that messy deal between McLaren, BMW and Mercedes-Benz, Gordon Murray ended up designing the SLR, a car that was monstrously fast but not the sports car he wanted to build. He wanted to build lightweight, simple sports cars and had two in the barrel, ready to go, with BMW but the entire world missed out on what those cars could have been due to business deals gone sour.

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Obviously, Murray tells the story in fantastic detail and I’ve intentionally left some bits out so you can go and listen to it. The entire episode is worth listening to, as it’s packed to the brim with fascinating stories and interesting bits of info about Murray’s life. The part about the two BMWs that never were starts at the 50:47 mark but if you want to listen to the entire episode, there’s a link below.

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The Birds BMW M140i Reminds Us Why the Old 1er Was So Good

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The original BMW 1 Series hatchback was a thing of joy. It was a rear-wheel drive BMW hatchback with an available six-cylinder engine and a six-speed manual. Does life actually get better than that? The best variant of said 1er hatch was the BMW M140i, which came with the brand’s brilliant B58 straight-six and a proper manual (or automatic). However, despite its excellent recipe, the M140i always felt as if it was held back by BMW. So some enthusiasts turned to tuning to awaken its potential and a UK-based tuning company Birds may have just done it.

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In this new review from Autocar, we get to see what kind of improvements Bird has made over the standard BMW M140i and it seems like every M140i owner should take their car to Birds.

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So what has Birds changed over the standard car? Well, for starters it’s bumped engine power up to 424 horsepower and 400 lb-ft, which is a very healthy amount of power for a rear-wheel drive hot-hatch. It also gets its own short-throw shift kit for its six-speed manual, which makes the shift much nicer to use. But the Birds tuning package is far more than just a power bump. It gets new suspension geometry, revised springs and new dampers to make it handle better and it also gets a Quaife limited-slip differential at the back, to replace the standard car’s open diff.

All in, the Birds, BMW M140i is just as quick as the BMW M2 Competition and, according to Autocar, actually nicer to drive on the road. Its suspension is suppler and actually breaks away more predictably. That’s a bold statement and, considering you can get a used M140i with the full-beans Birds tuning kit for far less than the M2 Comp, a very encouraging one for UK enthusiasts. It almost makes me want to move to the UK. Among other reasons…

[Source: Autocar]

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EVO Test: E92 BMW M3 GTS vs MINI JCW GP vs Renault Sport Megane R26.R

In this modern era of performance cars, in which time-warping speed is as easily attainable as turning up the radio, we’ve become numb to outright speed. Take the BMW M8 for example; it’s capable of some of the most incredible performance you’ll find on four wheels but it’s about as thrilling as sitting in a plush leather recliner in first class. So modern enthusiasts have begun to chase more analog thrills and, in this new comparison from EVO, we see three cars that can do just that go head-to-head.

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This test groups three very different cars together, from very different price brackets, but they all do the same one thing really well — thrill their driver. The E92 BMW M3 GTS, 2006 MINI JCW GP and the Renault Sport Megane R26.R are some of the most exciting, stripped-out, pure driver’s cars you’ll find with license plates. So which one is best?

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To be honest, all of them. That might seem like a cop out on EVO’s part but it’s true. When compared to today’s modern world of performance cars, these three make any sports car on sale today seem big, clunky, slow and dimwitted. Especially the E92 BMW M3 GTS, when compared to the same cars from its own brand.

Powering the M3 GTS is a stroked version of the same V8 that powered the standard E92 M3. So for GTS duty, it was bumped to just about 4.4 liters and made 444 bhp, which is about the same as a current M4 Competition. That might not sound like a lot but it’s enough when you consider how lightweight and stripped out the M3 GTS is.

There are no back seats, it has an orange roll cage, there’s no radio, no sat-nav, a carbon fiber roof, carbon fiber aero, lightweight glass and a titanium exhaust. While it still weighed around 3,500 lbs, its chassis tweaks and upgrades made if feel so much lighter than that. When you look at the M3 GTS against BMW’s current limited-run track special, the BMW M2 CS, the latter ends up looking like a stuffed pig.

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All three cars in this test are outstanding machines but it’s probably the E92 BMW M3 GTS and Renault Sport Megane that are the best. They both prove that power and performance metrics are meaningless. A great sports car is a great sports car because it gets your heart rate up, because it makes your spine tingle with joy and excitement. These cars do that far better than any modern car can.

[Source: EVO]

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U.S. Sales: Mercedes-Benz Pulls Well Ahead of BMW

Sales at Mercedes-Benz fell 14 percent in the first six months compared with BMW’s 28 percent plunge. Yet, after posting much better second-quarter numbers, Mercedes leads BMW by almost 18,000 vehicles in the race for the 2020 Top Luxury Car in the United States.

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The sales lift came from a refreshed lineup, including the best selling GLE and GLC models. The GLS sales also helped the bottom numbers with a 36 percent increase in the second quarter.

BMW said sales of its big three-row SUV, the X7, slumped 38 percent in the second quarter, while deliveries of its mid-size X3 crossover fell 45 percent. According to BMW of North America,  the Q2 2020 sales were down 39.3 percent for the period ending June 30, 2020.

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BMW brand sales totaled 50,957 vehicles, a decrease of 39.3% vs the 83,976 vehicles sold in the same time period last year. MINI brand sales totaled 5,288 vehicles, a decrease of 41.5% vs the 9,044 vehicles sold in the first quarter of 2019.

To deal with the unexpected pandemic, BMW has instituted a number of measures to sell and service vehicles across the U.S.  While the situation has differed greatly from state-to-state, at many locations, BMW has accelerated its use of digital sales practices, allowing customers to move further down the path to purchase online before visiting a store, and enabled virtual transactions so that purchases may be completed digitally and vehicles delivered.

U.S. sales for Audi also fell 35 percent from April through June and were down 25 percent for the year. Lexus sales fell 35 percent for the quarter and 21 percent in the first half.

Photo Comparison: BMW iX3 vs Audi Q4 Sportback e-tron Concept

Now that the Audi Q4 Sportback e-tron Concept has been revealed, along with more traditionally-shaped sibling, it’s just the latest in a long line of electric crossovers from premium brands. When the Q4 e-tron finally hits the road as a production car, it will join the ranks of the Mercedes-Benz EQC, Tesla Model Y and this — the BMW iX3. So we thought we’d do a bit of a comparison between both cars’ styling to see which is better.

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It’s worth noting, before we start, that both of these cars are concepts and not final production-ready designs. Having said that, both cars’ designs are very close to production-ready and should represent their final designs well enough for this comparison to make sense.

Audi Q4 Sportback e tron Concept vs BMW iX3 Concept 10Audi Q4 Sportback e tron Concept vs BMW iX3 Concept 4

What’s interesting about this test is that, while both cars certainly have their brands’ design languages, the Q4 e-tron is an entirely new product, while the iX3 is based on a current BMW X3. So the Bimmer looks extremely familiar.

From the front, both cars wear their brands’ signature grilles but as electrified versions. So both grilles are closed off, as electric cars don’t need as much cooling. However, we do see a front vent at the top of the Audi’s grille, so there’s a bit more function there. Also, the BMW iX3’s headlights are exactly the same as they are on the standard X3, while the Audi’s are all-new. Of course, that can change by the time production rolls around but these are both concept cars and the Audi’s concept headlights are more interesting.

In profile, these two cars couldn’t be more different. The BMW iX3 is a traditional X3 with some snazzier wheels. That’s not to say it’s bad looking, because it isn’t by any means, but it’s just nothing that we haven’t already seen, which is a bit disappointing from a concept car. While the Audi Q4 e-tron is far chunkier, with more aggressively swollen wheel arches and bigger wheels. The Audi is certainly the bigger head-turner of the two.

The same goes for out back, where the BMW iX3 looks nearly identical to a standard X3 that you can buy right now. The only change is that it lacks exhaust pipes, being an electric car. Otherwise, its taillights are identical, as is the overall shape. While the Audi Q4 e-tron gets a snazzy OLED light bar and a glowing “e-tron” emblem. The latter of which most likely gets ditched for production but it’s still cool for now.

Overall, it’s the Audi Q4 e-tron that looks more interesting. Sure, the BMW iX3 is a handsome thing, as the standard X3 is handsome, but these are all-electric concept cars and they’re supposed to be exciting. In terms of excitement and wow-factor, it’s the Audi that wins.

[Source: QuattroDaily]

2021 BMW 545e plug-in hybrid Not Coming to US Market

With the new BMW 5 Series LCI facelift, there will be two plug-in hybrid variants — the BMW 530e and BMW 545e. Both of which will use gasoline engines paired with electric motors but the former will get a four-cylinder and the latter will get the same powerful six-cylinder engine as the BMW 745e. Turns out, though, that only the four-pot 530e will be coming to the US market.

After the BMW 7 Series received its LCI mid-cycle facelift, the plug-in hybrid variant received a bump up in engine size. The BMW 740e became the BMW 745e and its 2.0 liter turbocharged four-cylinder became a 3.0 liter turbocharged six-cylinder. Here in the ‘States, we get the new six-cylinder plug-in hybrid 7 Series, so we were very excited about getting that same punchy powertrain in the upcoming BMW 545e. Unfortunately, that’s not going to be the case.

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The BMW 745e is easily the best version of the 7 Series, as if offers performance close to that of the V8-powered 750i but with far better efficiency and the convenience of a fully-electric mode. So the idea of putting that same fantastic powertrain in the smaller, lighter, better looking 5 Series was incredibly appealing. And it will be for European customers. It just won’t be for us ‘Mericans.

Thankfully, we will be getting at least some sort of PHEV (Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle) 5 Series, in the 530e. That, though, will only come with a 2.0 liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that will make, in combination with the electric motor, 288 horsepower. It will be available in either rear-wheel drive or xDrive all-wheel drive.

However, compare that to the BMW 545e Europe will get, which makes 389 horsepower combined from its turbocharged straight-six, and the 530e seems puny. Of course, the 530e will be the more efficient car of the two but who doesn’t want to hit 60 mph in 4.5 seconds in a plug-in hybrid 5 Series? While the 530e’s 5.9 seconds to 60 mph isn’t bad by any means, it’s nowhere near as exciting as the six-cylinder’s brutal punch.

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There’ really hasn’t been a reason given by BMW as to why the Bavarians are keeping the BMW 545e on their side of the Atlantice, either, but it’s likely to do with sales. The BMW 530e likely projects as the better seller, so it’s the model that’s coming here.

To be honest, only the most diehard car enthusiasts will care about this. Customer that actually buy hybrids value efficiency and comfort over power and performance. So it probably doesn’t make any sense to actually sell here. Still, enthusiasts who have the money and would like to go green with their daily driver are going to be a bit disappointed.

Can the New Lincoln Corsair take on the BMW X3?

Executives at BMW have to be getting annoyed by now, with all of the new competition entering the segment. Years ago, the suits in Munich only had to worry about Mercedes-Benz and Audi, really. Now, it has Volvo, Alfa Romeo, Lexus, Cadillac and even Lincoln to keep an eye one. The latter of which hasn’t been considered a proper luxury brand in decades, more often than not just rebadging Fords and calling it a day. However, the American luxury brand’s newer cars are far more impressive. So can the all-new Lincoln Corsair really challenge the stalwart BMW X3? Motor Trend compares the two in this latest test.

The BMW X3 is a surprisingly good car. While most enthusiasts scoff at the notion of buying an SUV, the new X3 drives with an agility that belies its weight and size. It’s still not a sports car but, like a linebacker that can also play safety, it has moves that impress for its size.

On the flip-side, the Lincoln Corsair is more of a traditional premium crossover. It’s front-wheel drive-based, good looking, spacious, practical and surprisingly luxurious on the inside. It isn’t a dynamic athlete but it isn’t trying to be, nor does it give off any sort of athletic vibe. Instead, it’s just a calm, smooth and very premium crossover.

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The real question is: can the Corsair really offer a more well-rounded product than the BMW X3, a car that’s been around for over a decade? The answer is actually yes. While the Corsair might not handle as well as the X3, it’s certainly every bit as comfortable and likely rides a bit better, too. It’s also quite lovely on the inside, has more practicality features and, most importantly, comes at a much lower price. Personally, I also think it’s damn good looking, which is something I never thought I’d say about a modern Lincoln.

In the end, the answer is simple. If all you want is a premium crossover that’s going to get you from A-to-B in a smooth, stylish and comfortable fashion, then it’s probably worth saving the money and getting the Lincoln Corsair. If you’re looking for a crossover that’s also fun to drive and can be sporty when you want it to be, spend the extra money and get the BMW X3.

[Source: Motor Trend]

SPIED: MINI Countryman LCI seen testing in camouflage

MINIs might not be so mini anymore. The entire MINI brand has been getting bigger and bigger. Even the standard Cooper is quite large by MINI standards. However, the biggest of them all is the MINI Countryman, which shares its underpinnings with the BMW X1, a genuine crossover. However, as frustrating as it might be that the famous British icon is bloating further and further each year, the big Countrman sells and sells well. Hence its new LCI update seen in these new spy photos. (We don’t own the photos but they can be seen here)

In these photos, the MINI Countryman we see like, well, a Countryman. It sports some camo at the front and the back, seemingly covering up some updates to its headlights and taillights. Considering the camouflage, there’s not a lot we can tell about this new Counrtyman. I seems to have new front air intakes in the bumper, a slightly revised grille and LED headlights.

Out back, it gets new Union Jack taillights, which may or may not be optional, but we’re going to guess it’s the former, as everything MINI offers is optional. No two MINIs are a like, due to their high level customization so the Union Jack taillights will likely be options.

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Where the next-gen MINI Countryman hopefully gets some more updates is inside. We’d like to see the new digital driver’s display that comes with the all-electric Cooper SE and an update to BMW’s latest infotainment software.

Expect the engines to be about the same as well, with a 1.5 liter turbo-three cylinder engine as-standard, with a turbo four-pot as an optional extra. A six-speed manual will be available but an eight-speed auto will be the transmission of choice for most customers, at least here in America. That said, there’s something cool about a MINI Countryman with three cylinders and three pedals.

We should be seeing the MINI Countryman LCI facelift later this year but we’ll be surprised if anyone noices, between the upcoming 4 Series, M4, i4 and ALPINA XB7.

[Source: Auto Express]

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