Himafagy

They finally brought it out, so we covered it. Actually, we shouldn't sound so aloof. After announcing the BMW Alpina B7 way back in February of 2006, the Bavarians finally decided to show us the production version here in Chicago. And although it wasn't much of a revelation, it WAS a rather impressive vehicle in person. As we just told you last week, it's basically an M7 in all but name. The slightly streamlined 7-series adds the not-so-subtle Alpina classic rims (all 21 inches of them), a revised dash with a unique cluster, and the signature Alpina front and rear aero aids. Oh, and that supercharger underhood helps this particular V8 pump out 500 hp and 516 lb-ft of torque. Channeled through an Alpine refined version of the 6-speed auto tranny, that's good enough for a 0-60 sprint of 4.8 seconds and a VMAX of 186 mph. All for a starting price of $115,695. That's a full 40 large over a standard run-of-the-mill short wheelbase 7-series, but with only 200 of the B7s coming to these shores, it's likely they won't have any problem moving them. Original press release can be found after the jump.


[Source: BMW]

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When BMW released the redesigned 7-series back in 2001, they were the first to offer a six-speed automatic transmission. Two years later, Mercedes upped the ante by throwing an additional cog into the mix, equipping their new S-class with a seven-speed auto. Now that Lexus is offering an eight-speed slush box in their waftastic LS460, BMW has vowed not be left behind in the ratio wars and plans to bring an nine- eight-speed transmission to market by the end of the decade.



The next 7-series will be due for a substantial redesign by 2009 or 2010, so that's when industry analysts expect the eight-speed box to find its way into BMW's luxury sedan. The engineering haus, ZF Friedrichsafen, has been tapped to create the new automatic and has plenty of experience increasing fuel economy, while decreasing build costs, on the current model's six-speed automatic.



When will this cog-swapping numbers race end? We're not entirely sure, but as soon as manufacturers start cresting the double digits, we doubt anyone will even be paying attention.



[Source: Automotive News – Sub. Req.]

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Better late than never, we always say. The BMW Alpina B7 was actually announced in a press release dated 2/16/2006, but it's taken a while to get the car ready for prime time. We reported on it back then, but we've learned that the super 7-Series will finally be unveiled at the Chicago Auto Show next week. To refresh your memory, the Alpina B7 sports a supercharged 4.4L V8 engine producing in excess of 500 horsepower. That's good enough to scoot the luxo barge to 60 mph in a mere 4.8 seconds. All that twist is certainly needed to turn those giant 21-inch Alpina wheels. A sport-tuned suspension and Alpina's B7 aero kit that includes a rear spoiler round out the package. The original press release states that about 200 Alpina B7 sedans will be produced for the U.S. market, although the quoted launch date of July 2006 has obviously been moved back a bit. We'll bring you more info and live pics of the Alpina B7 when we meet it in person next week at the Chicago Auto Show.

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The current BMW 7-series is undoubtedly one of the most polarizing designs out there. Its stubby shape and bustle trunk are in sharp contrast to the low-beltline, classically proportioned 7-series that preceeded it. The intrepid shutter-snappers at Priddy & Co. have caught a 2008 7-series prototype near the Arctic Circle. The car is heavily camouflaged, but it appears that the front end will be coming more in line with the brand's other cars. Banishing the fugly from the 7 is always welcome, and it looks like that means a lower, sleeker nose. We can't really tell what's up with the rear, but there's some weirdness at the base of the C-pillar and into the trunk. We're dreaming that it's camouflage pieces intended to throw us off, and that the rear of the car no longer looks like an afterthought.


We hope the 2008 7-Series brings some more flair to the table. Looking like the big brother of the 3-series coupe would be a good thing. You have to give BMW credit for trying; and really, what else could have followed the E38? Many are certainly displeased with the E65/66's look, but its predecessor was such a perfect, classic big euro-sedan shape, there wasn't anywhere else to go with that type of style. It could be argued they went a little too far avant-garde, but just like Picasso, some will get it, some will not. There's nothing inherently wrong with paying boatloads of money in return for lots of ugly, right?


[Source: TCC]

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Flicker user "lithuimbomb9999" bought this '73 BMW Bavaria back in 2001 and informs us that instead of one of the stock engines from its time (either a 2.8L or 3.0L inline 6 making 170 - 190 HP), the engine compartment of this old Bimmer hides a 3.5L six-cylinder from an '88 535i. That gives the car somewhere between 200 and 220 horsepower and, as lithiumbom puts it, "boatloads of torque." Other mechanical updates include a metric mechanic sport cam, dual weber 32/36 DGAV carbs and later-model springs and sway bars.


Appearance-wise, the car's subtle, elegant look is augmented by a set of vintage Alpina wheels (nice) and Recaros from a 320i. It was restored in 1982 and is finished in its original color. The owner says that it's due to be revisited, as there's some paint and bodywork required to address some rust issues that have popped up in the intervening decades.


Lithiumbomb notes that BMW E3-family cars like his Bavaria sell for much less than the more-coveted 2002s and CSes from the same era and that working examples can be found in the $1,000 - $2,000 range, with mint-condition cars checking in between $5 - 10K. Not a bad deal for anyone looking to pick up a vintage Bimmer. We happen to like old BMWs ourselves, and as such, LB's Bavaria is today's Reader Ride of the Day.


Follow the jump for a couple more pics .

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In Europe, Audi is a brand to be reckoned with. Globally, Audi is only behind such juggernauts as Mercedes and BMW for luxury supremacy, with sales of 903,000 vehicles worldwide. Here in the USA, however, Audi is playing catch-up. With only 90,000 sales, Audi is currently behind Lexus, BMW, Mercedes, Cadillac, Acura, Lincoln, Infiniti, and Volvo. As a matter of fact, both the Lexus RX 350 and the BMW 3 Series best the Audi brand on its own. Only the A4 puts up respectable numbers, totaling about 50,000 sales in '06. Well, nothing increases sales numbers more than new product and right now Audi is in the middle of launching 19 new products between 2005 and 2007. The A3 and Q7 have been in the market for some time, the TT, R8 and recently spied A5 are coming just around the bend.

With all the new products coming on board, the next step for Audi will be to improve its image and get its vehicles to the forefront of customers minds. To do that, Audi executives are looking to improve marketing, dive head-first into internet-based ads, and add more exclusive Audi dealers. With Americans looking more and more at luxury vehicles as a source of expression, Audi is executing its strategy at the right time. Audi's long-term goal is to produce 1.4 million vehicles by 2015. That would give the German automaker about 80,000 more sales than the BMW group had in 2006. Good luck, Audi. Good luck.

[Source: Auto Week]

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Everyone has a list of vehicles that they want to drive before they die, for me, today's RR of the Day is a vehicle that I've vowed to own. The first time I saw an M coupé in person at a strip mall in my hometown, I waited 20 minutes for the owner to come out, interrogated him for a half an hour and then talked him in to giving me a ride. Unlike today's example, his black 2000 model housed a 240 HP, S52 engine that provided ample motivation for the three-door oddity. CT57's, however, is equipped with an S54, the same 330 HP mill found within the E46 M3 that we know and love.


The rest of the details are after the jump, along with instructions on how to get your own ride featured here.





The Air Jordan on wheels was a rogue engineering exercise by a small, dedicated group of BMW's propeller heads that were obsessed with creating a true driver's car. After convincing BMW's suits that it could be manufactured in a cost effective manner, utilizing as many parts from its drop-top sibling, the Z3, as possible, they got the green light. When it comes to the styling, you either get it, or you don't. There doesn't seem to be anything in between.



Autoblog reader and Flickr member, CT57, has owned this 2001 model since late 2005 and it's one of 690, S54-equipped models produced. He's kept the modifications to a minimum, not risking the possibility of messing with perfection, by only adding a strut tower brace and tinting the windows.


For tons more pics of CT57's ride and a brief history of the original M coupé , click here.

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This particular nugget came from our sibling site Engadget, which reported on the "multimedia car radio of the future."



In conjunction with a few select partners, the European Space Agency (ESA) is developing an entertainment system that will feature "built-in satellite radio and generous timeshifting functionality" too. It comes via a special antenna that will likely become a factory-installed option on certain vehicles. It's described as a "flattened mobile antenna integrated into the bodywork," that will pick up "Ku" band signals already used by communications satellites.



Obviously, using existing satellites makes this much cheaper and more feasible. The best bit, however, and the part that makes this different than current US satellite radio services, is that the service will include timeshifting. You know, just like TiVo. The ability to listen at a later time. It is likely that the service will feature a "cache or hard drive-based system" so listeners can pause or rewind broadcasts. Not a lot of other details right now, but word has it you might spot a prototype system mounted in a BMW if you happen to be near the Noordwijk Space Expo in the Netherlands.



[Source : Orbitcast via Engadget]

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Winding Road's adding credence to the belief that the new M3 convertible coming from BMW will be a ragtop. As in cloth instead of a retractable hardtop, which seems to be de rigueur these days. Even though the 330i and 335i E92 platform mates have a retractable hardtop, the extra weight is considered anathema to the M Group philosophy. The extra 440 pounds of that folding top is a big sacrifice for the noise and safety benefits. So a soft top seems to be plausible. If a soft top is used, however, it will need to be pretty strong. The added speed promised from that new V8 is going to require extra work from the Bavarian engineers. If the cloth can't stay quiet and sealed at speed, another option apparently being considered is a carbon fiber version of the hardtop. Sounds expensive. But cool.

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The 1-Series is getting some major attention from BMW these days. Not only has the new 3-door just been unveiled for 2007, but it's also finally been announced that the 1-Series will cross the pond and be sold in the U.S. soon (as a coupe and convertible with the hot 3.0L twin-turbo inline-six initially, but no hatches). Today BMW heaped some more 1-Series love on the pile and revealed the 1-Series 3-door Limited Sports Edition. Our German sucks worse than our English, so it's tough to glean the details, but Carscoop claims it's basically like an M Sports package that upgrades the rims to 18-inchers, adds an M body kit, tighter suspension, and some more M accoutrement on the inside like seats and whatnot. It definitely adds some gloss to the polarizing design of the 1. Though only 2,000 units will be produced, the Limited Sports Edition package will be available across the 1-Series lineup adding €4,660 to the cost of the 118i and 118 D, €4,560 to the 120i and 120d, and €3,360 to the 130i.


[Source: BMW,Carscoop]

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At what Winding Road described as a "corporate event this week," BMW officials have confirmed that the 1-series will be making its way to U.S. shores in 2008. The official announcement is expected later this year, which will finally put to rest the speculation we've been covering for far too long.


Just the fact that the 1-series is on its way is big enough news, but the real deal-sealer is that the two-door hatch will debut with the highly desirable, yet under clocked, twin-turbo 3-liter, inline-six. The 135i will be the first vehicle to be offered up to American enthusiasts, with the 130i coming at a later date.


Mr. Brennan over at Winding Road stressed that the 1-series will be offered in two-door versions (with an "s") in the future, including a convertible, a proper coupe and the aforementioned hatchback.


We've already made the case for a spiritual successor to the 2002 and it seems that the boys in Munich have the same idea, but a four-cylinder engine won't make its way under the bonnet until BMW, "does a properturbocharged four-cylinder engine." Both a twin-turbo six and a blown four? It seems that BMW may finally be making products for the market it's been neglecting for over a decade.


As for price, expect the 1-series to fit snuggly between the MINI and the 3-series, with a $5k premium for the twin-turbo'd six.


[Source: Winding Road]

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It seems every automaker is lining up these days to snag their letter in the alphabet for their high-performance divisions. Audi's claimed S, while Chevy has SS; Honda has the Type-R and Volkswagen launched the R-line; Mercedes acquired AMG and Ford still has SVT. Now Lexus has laid claim to the letter F, but BMW has always had M.

Unfortunately BMW's stoic performance division didn't have anything special in store for us at this year's Detroit show, but they did have their full M range lined up all pretty like in sparkling white at the back of their booth. The whole gang was there, including the Z4-based M Roadster and M Coupe, the M5 sedan and the M6 coupe and convertible. It was a wet dream come true for fans of the ultimate driving machines, so for all you BMW enthusiasts out there we went by to snap a few photos.

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Pay more, get less. That's okay, looking at the pictures of this rare lightweight E36, it's not exactly slumming. There were under 150 of the 1995 "Coupe Sport Light" M3's produced and here's your chance to part with a lot of cash to own one.


The cars were intended for competition, so some of the creature comforts of the more pedestrian M3s were removed. Extravagant things like air conditioning and sound deadening, gone. Steel door skins were replaced by aluminum; you'll forego leather seats, a sunroof, even a radio. Who cares about all that stuff? Leather looks crappy after a while, a sunroof cuts into headroom, and with handpicked, extra-strong sixes underhood, the CSLs obviated the need for a radio. To us, it sounds less like a penalty box and more like the M3 we'd want, anyway. Power seats and geegaws have no place in a car with sporting intentions, but the market demands them. What all that extra equipment eventually translates to, besides weight, is stuff to fix. The CSL M3's return you to a simpler time, offering an equipment level closer to the beloved2002tii; a moment of silence, please.


This particular example has just over 7000 miles on the odo, and looks to be meticulously kept. We'd love to take it out and flog it 'til the cosmoline stinks. Exclusivity has its price, for the mere starting bid of $39,975, you can start dreaming of the day you're wheeling your ultra rare Bimmer around and some cretin at the supermarket dings it.


Thanks for the tip, Spencer!

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Those Bavarian wunderkind over at BMW just took the wraps off the latest 3-Series convertible, complete with folding hard-top. But even as impressive as the range-topping 335i is, what with its twin-turbo inline-six hitting the 300 mark in both horsepower and torque, there's yet more power underway: an all but completely undisguised M3 cabrio has been caught undergoing cold-weather testing way up north in Sweden, blasting past Saabs and Volvos.

Like the rest of the 3-Series convertible range, the M3 cabrio will feature a metal roof protecting four passengers from the elements and retracting at the push of a button to let the sunshine in. As with all M models, you'll be able to tell it apart from its more ordinary siblings by the wider fenders, sportier bumpers housing bigger air intakes and four exhaust tips, plus of course the requisite M badging. While the power bulge pictured on the hood is reportedly fake, under the hood is where the action is, where the M3 will pack a V8 pumping out over 400 horsepower, derived from the award-winning M5/6's V10 but with two cylinders lopped off. Power will be put down initially though BMW's Sequential Manual Gearbox (SMG) until the Bavarians are ready with their own anticipated dual-clutch gearbox.

Insiders predict the M3 coupe to bow at Frankfurt this coming September, but the convertible version probably won't be ready before 2008. Expect to take a penalty in both price and performance for the folding tin-top.

[Source: World Car Fans]

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It would seem that BMW reads Autoblog. How else would you explain them, at least partially, answering ourquestion about how a conventional automobile would utilize some of the hybrid demon-tweaks?



For the first time ever, BMW has equipped a non-hybrid car with a regenerative braking system. There's a new battery that uses fiberglass mats between the plates to keep the electrolytes put, and a corresponding "intelligent" alternator. The battery technology, known as Absorbtive Glass Mat construction is capable of being charged very quickly without boiling; and they stand up far better to the deep cycling that would be abusive to a traditional lead-acid battery. The ability to receive and deliver high amperages reliably makes the AGM batteries ideal for coupling with the rest of BMWs Efficient Dynamics program. The battery can be fully charged during braking, which reduces the load on the engine by making the alternator work less. The program's intent is to reduce weight and fuel consumption, ultimately keeping CO2 emissions down. BMWs efforts result in a vehicle that has the low-rolling-resistance tires, electrically operated AC and power steering and stop/start systems of a hybrid, without the electric motors.



[Source: Fifth Gear viaJalopnik]

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UDPATE:
Like you, we're having a hard time wading through the conjecture on what this car is exactly. We mistakenly told you below that the Z9 would be a CL-Class fighter, which is wrong – it will be an SL-fighter (damned Mercedes nomenclature!). However, the test mule still doesn't look large enough to compete with the SL-Class (maybe the SLK, which is why we still think it's a Z4).



Reports are flooding in from Munich of a never-before-seen test mule from BMW that's purported to be the Z9, the successor to the short-lived Z8 premium ragtop the automaker sold from 2000 to 2003. Now, to be fair, the mule could simply be the next generation Z4 convertible, but the photographers from KGP seem to believe the body shape is purposefully misleading and that it is, indeed, the Z9.


Such a car would go head-to-head in the marketplace with the Mercedes-Benz CL-Class, and thus likely be offered in both coupe and hardtop converitble models. BMW's choice of engine for the Z9 seems obvious, as nothing less than the corporate V10 producing 500 hp would do for such a premium vehicle. In fact, Winding Road is surmising that the Z9 will carry an even more premium price than the Z8's $128,000 base MSRP, perhaps somewhere in the neighborhood of $150,000.


Despite the fact that speculators seem convinced this mule is the future Z9, we still think it looks too small for that to be the case. From the side profile it appears the vehicle is just about the right size for a slightly larger Z4 and not comparable to the size of a Mercedes-Benz CL-Class.


[Source: Winding Road]

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If you squint your eyes and turn your head at just the right angle, you can almost decipher what changes BMW made to the existing 5-series. Both the front and rear bumpers have been slightly tweaked, with the former getting a new grille, revised air intakes and clear glass front headlamps, while the latter gets LED directional indicators.


Five new exterior colors will also be made available for the 2007 model year, along with six new alloy wheel designs.


On the inside, you'll find the gear selector pulled from the new X5, while the iDrive gets a few tweaks in its selection functions.


Your choice of powerplants will also be broadened, with the 535i model coming equipped with the 3-liter, twin-turbo, inline-six and a 528i model being offered as well.


The other big news is the addition of a wagon version of the M5 super-saloon. Not much is different between the sedan and the "touring" model, with the obvious exception of the extra space in the boot.


Expect more information to follow later today. Stay tuned.


[Source: BMW.com – International site]

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WhenCar magazine dropped images and specs of the new M3 in their recent issue, there was an air of skepticism around this latest foray into Bimmer hypothesizing.


Thankfully, Car thought it was a good idea to post some background on their website about how the images were created and how certain information was attained. Unfortunately, if you want all the details you have to trek on over to your local newsstand, but a few things are worth noting from both the article and a thread on M3post.com.


To begin with, the car in the picture is a 335i that was photochopped with insider information that gave up the rear styling, gills, side skirts, spoiler and wheels. However, beyond the exterior styling, technical information is scarce. At least online.


Additionally, one forum member at M3post got word that a concept will likely bow in Geneva, similar to the M5 concept before it.


We're going to head on over to our local bookseller to get all the techy details, including power output, transmission specs and the surely-drool inducing redline.


[Sources: Car, M3post via Jalopnik]

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When does a 1995 Mazda Miata cease being a Miata? We're not sure it ever truly does, but the owner of this particular example put in a Herculean effort to try and make it happen. No folks, your eyes do not deceive you: despite all the Bimmer-look trickery, the car you see here is a '95 Miata with 85,000 miles on the odometer, and if you want it, it's just a click away ateBay.


Sporting an engine and tranny that reportedly have under 40,000 miles on them, the pseudo-Z3 is painted Atlanta Blue and actually sports authentic BMW lights (front and rear), grilles and badging. The winner will also get an assortment of other accessories, including a set of underdrive pulleys, thrown in on the deal. Click the image above to view the auction, where the seller has several more photos loaded.


[Source: eBay viaCarscoop]

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When BMW opted to only make the M5 available with a seven-speed SMG gearbox, the hue and cry from U.S. purists was heard across the ocean. For 2007, BMW has finally decided to appease American customers by equipping the 500 HP uber-saloon with a six-speed manual, much to the apparent disgust of Gerhard Richter, the development chief of the M division.



Automobile magazine got their hands on the manual version of the M5 and seem to have come away with the opinion that it's better, but still not as good as it should be.


Aside from the fact that the manual cog swapper slows forward momentum of the V10-powered sedan, BMW also decided to nix the ability to completely disable the traction control. This decision, surely on the part of BMW's legal wonks, will likely cause another up swell of consumer complaints.


Overall, the reviewer thought that the action of the clutch and shift linkage was up to BMW standards, but in the end, the two words that stuck with us after reading the review were, "even clumsier."



[Source: Automobile]

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