First Drive: 2017 BMW M760i xDrive

By Preston Lerner - Road and Track

THE FIRST THING YOU NEED TO KNOW about the 2017 BMW M760i xDrive is that it is not— repeat, not—an M7. In BMW-speak, it's an "M Performance automobile." Translation: It slots into the territory between a standard production car and a performance-optimized M vehicle. M-influenced, rather than M-badged. It's an important distinction, but one that should not get in

the way of the fact that the M760i is the most powerful and expensive vehicle BMW sells. Its twin-turbo V-12 is awesome. That cylinder count still means something, even in the face of increasingly ridiculous and brawny forced-induction engines. Some relevant numbers: 601 hp from 5500 to 6500 rpm, 590 lb-ft of torque starting at 1500 rpm, and a claimed 0-to-60-mph time of 3.6 seconds.

Are those bragging rights worth the $72,300 premium over an entry-level, six-cylinder 740i? Well, that depends on the size of your investment portfolio. But also on how you look at it: Yes, it's an expensive sedan. The M760i comes off the same assembly line as the 740i. Yet it's the cheapest option in a rarified V-12 market dominated by supercars (Ferrari/Lamborghini/ Pagani/Aston Martin) and wretched-excess mobiles (no fewer than four Rolls-Royces). The M760i also undercuts the price of the V-12-powered Mercedes-AMG S65 by $73,030, although Mercedes still dominates with 621 hp and 738 lb-ft of torque. At the same time, the new Bimmer steals some of the thunder from Audi's autobahn-stormer, the S8 Plus, which boasts 605 hp but a measly eight cylinders.

The 7-series interior, already pretty swell, gets a few upgrades (brushed-aluminum inserts, stainless-steel pedals). Ditto for the exterior, which gets unique bumpers and special gray trim. But the M760i is more of a sleeper than a look-at-me totem. The most obvious sign that this BMW is something special is elegant 20-inch wheels painted in a stylish matte finish.

Of course, it doesn't take much to make a luxury car more luxurious. The real challenge was sharpening the handling of a four-door that weighs as much as a Lincoln Town Car ferrying a couple of drunks. The solution was equipping the M760i with virtually every electronic stability-augmentation system in BMW's toolkit, from adaptive air suspension to electromechanical active roll stabilization.

There's no hiding its heft, but the Bimmer is lighter on its feet than its size would suggest. Turn-in is sharp, and understeer—what you'd expect from a sedan sporting all-wheel drive and a huge engine in the nose—is mild. BMW doesn't bother to promote the silly fiction that the M760i will be used as a track-day plaything. But it is a car that's designed to be driven briskly, and driven briskly it can be.

Still, the Bimmer's raison d'être is that aluminum V-12. The engine, known internally as the N74, debuted in the previous 760Li and, in a different state of tune, can be found in the Rolls-Royce Ghost and its spin-offs. A longer stroke increases the displacement from the previous 7-series' 6.0 liters to 6.6, same as the Rolls-Royces'. Thanks to a relatively straight exhaust, the noise coming out the quad tailpipes makes for a mesmerizing soundtrack.

With so much torque available, BMW says there was no need for a dual-clutch gearbox; the conventional eight-speed ZF automatic works just fine and better fits the car's intended use. Acceleration isn't mind-bending, but it's relentless enough to mash you back into your seat and get you into triple digits before you realize it.

For sure, the speed on tap is addictive. When the turbos spool, the M760i rockets to 155 mph—its electronically limited top speed for North America. Elsewhere in the world, buyers can opt for a so- called M Driver's package that raises the governor to 190 mph.

So, it's not a purebred M machine. But it's more than a prosperous businessperson's workaday ride. Considering the limit market for a car like this, it seems odd that BMW showrooms already offer another hot-rod version of the 7-series. The Alpina B7 xDrive make 600 hp and has a 0-to-60 time of 3.6, yet costs a mer $138,000. A bargain, right? Maybe. With its V-8 engine, the Alpina is fated to play second fiddle to the M760i. Because if you want to be a headliner in this company, only 12 cylinders will do.

Here's your first look at the new 2018 BMW X4

By Joel Stocksdale - Autoblog

The BMW X4 was introduced about three years ago for the 2015 model year, which means we're due for a new version. And that's exactly what we're looking at in these new spy photos. This prototype is sporting surprisingly little camouflage, which reveals that the next X4 will have significant styling differences.

Starting from the front, the headlights have been tapered at each end, and the far corners wrap around the fenders more than the current model. The twin-kidney grille also appears to have been extended farther down the front fascia. The round fog lamps mounted high in the bumper of current X4s seem to have vanished entirely, and the vents in the bumper look as though they may be smaller.

Along the side, the chunky character lines running along the doors and over the rear fenders seem to be gone, or at the very least significantly smoothed out. The front fenders have also picked up little extractor vents like so many other modern BMWs.

The back has been thoroughly revamped, too. The taillights seem to have a similar shape to the current examples, but they look as though they extend farther to the center of the hatch. The license-plate zone is no longer in the middle of the hatch, either. A BMW roundel now occupies that section, while the license plate lurks in the new rear bumper. The bumper now features some plastic mesh to give the appearance of a rear vent, instead of simply being painted gray. The exhaust tips have a new trapezoidal design, too, and they're better integrated with the rear bumper.

The car on this carrier looks like it's probably close to production, considering the usage of just vinyl wrap to hide the design. It wouldn't be surprising if BMW reveals the crossover at the end of this year, possibly at the LA auto show, or next spring. Deliveries would probably follow a few months later.

2018 BMW X5 spotted at Nurburgring

By: Sam Sheehan - AutoCar

A next-generation BMW X5 development car has been spotted being testing at the Nürburgring, showing its new design more clearly.

Earlier development cars have worn adapted versions of the current X5's exterior, but this later sighting shows the car's new bumper and boot lid.

The next-generation X5 will use the same platform as the 7 Series, on the CLAR (cluster architecture) platform. This platform supports steel, aluminium, carbonfibre and magnesium construction, so it's likely there will be a sizeable reduction in weight compared with the lightest of the current X5s, the xDrive35i, which tips the scales at 2030kg. 

A plug-in hybrid X5 will follow the standard X5 sometime after its introduction, as will a performance-orientated, 600bhp-plus X5 M variant. BMW's aim of launching performance variants earlier in the lifecycle of its models means that the X5 M could arrive not long after the regular X5.

Sources close to BMW also report that the next X5 line-up will feature a combination of four, six and eight-cylinder engines. It will launch at roughly the same time as its arch rival, the next Mercedes GLE.

The facelifted version of the current X5, which has been around since 2013, is due to make an appearance in the coming months, when the model is due to have a mid-life refresh.

The X5 will no longer be the flagship of BMW's non-coupé SUV range, when the X7 makes its debut in 2018.

BMW, Shell Unveil Fashion-Forward Hydrogen Fueling Station

By: Christian Gilbertsen - The Drive

A joint collaboration between BMW-owned Designworks and Shell has given us the hydrogen refueling station of the future. Commissioned by Shell, Designworks has created a sleek filling station design that looks like it was lifted straight out of the movie Blade Runner. 

As a hydrogen car driver approaches the refueling station, he or she will be greeted with what BMW calls a "light guidance system" that helps other users clearly see how much remaining fuel time there is, in order to keep the flow of cars moving through the entire refueling station. There's also a screen on the filling apparatus itself that's meant for users to track their own remaining refueling time, the cost of hydrogen, and to check maps and route details.

Sonja Schiefer, Director of the Munich studio of Designworks, said, "Next to enabling product innovation, one of the most important benefits of the Fixstern process is its power to create commitment for a common goal by providing a tangible vision that multiple project partners can work towards."

Of course, one of the main setbacks for the proliferation of hydrogen-powered vehicles is the lack of filling stations altogether—not just the absence of these beautiful, futuristic ones Designworks has come up with. But if and when fuel cell cars become mainstream, at least BMW and Shell seem to have plans to give us cool filling stations for them.

BMW’s plug-in hybrid 530e iPerformance will get wireless charging

By: Darrell Etherington - TechCrunch

BMW revealed its newest electric vehicle, a plug-in hybrid called the 530e iPerformance. The variant’s options include a forthcoming wireless charging pad, targeting a 2018 release window, which will include a charging pad drivers can install in their garage and drive over to provide a power supply with rates up to 3.2 kW, with a total charging time for refilling the vehicle’s onboard battery of about three and a half hours.

BMW is already showing the wireless pad and its charging capabilities in prototype form, and the system includes visual feedback and instructions for the driver via the in-car infotainment dash display, so that they know when they’ve pulled in for an optimal charging connection. Wireless charging is a big carrot for EVs and hybrids, since it takes away the added mental component involved in remembering to plug your car in once you’re done driving. It seems like a small thing, but it goes against many decades of learned behavior for most drivers.

The other interesting component here is that BMW is offering its Digital Charging Service for the 530e iPerformance, which intelligently manages charging when plugged in so that the car remains topped off for when it needs to drive. The service also adjusts the planned charging to draw power mostly during off-peak hours, and to prefer power supplied by the customer’s own solar power generation capacity, if they have both that and BMW’s Wallbox Connect dedicated vehicle charging solution.

Getting customers excited about electric vehicles is in part about making sure they see that it’s also not going to change their lives dramatically in terms of their daily routine and how they use their cars. These charging technologies help with that, and wireless charging in particular should be a hit if BMW can deliver it as promised.

SPIED! BMW 8 SERIES CAUGHT TESTING AT THE NURBURGRING

By Stefan Ogbac - Motor Trend

Our Spy photographers have caught the upcoming BMW 8 Series undergoing testing at the Nürburgring race track. Looking to challenge other big luxury coupes like the Mercedes-Benz S-Class Coupe and the new Lexus LC 500, the BMW 8 Series will return as a grand tourer slotting above the 6 Series coupe and convertible.

Based on the photos, the 8 Series will be fairly large and will likely be as long as its key rival, the Mercedes-Benz S-Class coupe. From the side, the 8 Series appears low-slung with a dramatically sloping roofline that exaggerates the car’s overall length. The side windows appear to be a bit narrow as well, which visually lowers the car. Despite the swirly camouflage, you’ll find BMW’s trademark dual kidney grille up front with wider openings. Out back, the classic coupe proportions continue with a short rear deck that almost makes the car look like a fastback.

Since this particular prototype features dual exhaust tips, it’s likely that it’s only a standard 8 Series, but the black side mirrors indicate that it may be an M Sport variant or an M Performance model like the recently released M760i xDrive. It’s not yet known what will power the 8 Series, but if it’s based on the current-generation 7 Series it’ll ride on BMW’s scalable CLAR platform and most likely share powertrain choices with the flagship sedan, which include a 3.0-liter turbo-six, a 4.4-liter twin-turbo V-8, and the range-topping 6.6-liter twin-turbo V-12.

Currently, there’s no large coupe in the BMW lineup as the 6 Series is smaller than the cars the 8 Series will likely target. Last year, we reported that BMW was likely planning to bring back the 8 Series after the automaker applied for trademarks on the names 850, 860, and M8 among others. Three months after that report, we spied a prototype for the first time.

Soon, 'electric-car range will no longer be a factor,' BMW chief says

By Steven Edelstein - Green Car Reports

Among German luxury brands, BMW was the first to show significant interest in electric cars.

It launched its "i" sub-brand in Europe in 2013, and its plans have evolved to include adding all-electric powertrains to models within the main BMW brand in future.

That is part of an effort to grow sales of electric cars and plug-in hybrids significantly this year.

These ambitious plans are buoyed by optimistic views among the company's executives, it seems.

"Soon, range will no longer be a differentiating factor" among electric cars, BMW CEO Harald Krüger said in a speech during a recent shareholder meeting.

"We are already concentrating on achieving an optimum balance between all relevant features: safety, range, and duration and life of the battery," he said.

That indicates BMW hopes to achieve advances in battery technology that could increase the range of its electric cars.

The current BMW i3 is rated by the EPA at 114 miles of range with the larger of its two available battery packs.

It may soon be eclipsed by a crop of 200-mile mass-market electric cars, the first of which include the Chevrolet Bolt EV, Tesla Model 3, and next-generation Nissan Leaf.

Krüger also noted that BMW is "keeping expertise in electric drivetrains, power electronics and battery cells within the company."

This reflects concern among both auto-industry executives and public officials in BMW's home country of Germany that electric powertrains will give too much influence to the suppliers that manufacture critical components, mainly battery cells.

Krüger said keeping things in house would also bring cost benefits.

In addition to battery-electric cars, Krüger said BMW is continuing its work on hydrogen fuel cells for "larger model series and long distances."

BMW will produce a low-volume fuel-cell car in 2021, with wider availability in 2025, he said.

By that time, all BMW powertrains with internal-combustion engines will also be fitted with 12 and 48-volt energy recovery systems," he said.

These so-called "mild-hybrid" systems are expected to proliferate as a more cost-effective way to meet stricter fuel-economy standards than full hybrid powertrains.

BMW plans to expand its "i" sub-brand with a crossover called the i5 and a large sedan codenamed iNext, as well as a convertible version of the current i8 plug-in hybrid.

It will also add an all-electric Mini model in 2019, and an electric version of the X3 crossover in 2020.

This year alone, BMW hopes to sell 100,000 battery-electric cars and plug-in hybrids

That's the same amount it sold in the previous three years combined.

BMW wins the future with HoloActive Touch controls

By: Wayne Cunningham - CNET

For its CES technology demonstration, BMW created an image that appears to float in the air, react to touch inputs and even give haptic feedback to the user.

When BMW announced last year it would bring some sort of holographic control interface to CES, I was skeptical. Today, I got to use an interface that delivers on BMW's promise and more.

The technology, called HoloActive Touch, creates what looks like a floating graphic over the console. For BMW's demonstration, these graphics typically showed binary buttons, such as on and off. Touching either button with my finger not only controlled the features that showed up on BMW's Inside Future concept's screen, but also sent a palpable sensation to my finger, a slight vibration that confirmed the touch.

Extraordinarily, HoloActive Touch works. Each time I touched the floating graphic, the system reacted perfectly.

The graphics themselves don't have to be simple, either. At one point during the demo, a simulated incoming phone call summoned a full color photograph of a person. More surprising, the imagery was visible from a reasonable range of viewing angles and I could even photograph it.

It may look like something out of science fiction, but the technology to achieve HoloActive Touch is not so far-fetched. It uses three main components: a projector, a camera and a speaker. The projector sits in a panel on the console and makes the images appear to float in the air.

The camera, similar to the one used to enable gesture control in the latest BMW 7-series and 5-series cars, captures the motions of pointing at the graphics. When it recognizes a gesture, it activates the appropriate response in the system, such as stopping or playing a movie.

To generate the haptic feedback, the feeling of actually having touched something, a subsonic speaker mounted in the console fires a pulse. Impressively, that pulse felt localized to my finger tip when I touched the floating graphic.

BMW considers HoloActive a potential future form of its current iDrive control system, which lets drivers set navigation and digital audio, among other car features.

Although BMW brought HoloActive Touch to CES as a concept, a spokesperson said the company was devoted to making it a reality. And given the components behind the technology and how well it worked as a concept, it could certainly come out as a production feature in the next couple of years.

BMW will invest €500 million in automotive startups

By Anthony Spadafora - BetaNews

BMW Group has announced that its i Ventures division will be investing €500 million over the next 10 years on new car technologies in an effort to bolster its progress in developing autonomous vehicles.

The company's i Ventures division will use the money to invest in startups working on technologies such as autonomous driving and mapping that will allow BMW to improve its cars by making them both more intelligent and efficient.

BMW made the announcement via its website this week and its decision to invest in new technologies comes at a time when the company has begun to lose ground to rival Tesla, which not only produces electric vehicles but has made significant headway towards its cars being autonomous.

The i Ventures division will be moving its headquarters from New York to Silicon Valley and it will also be allowed to operate with more autonomy. This move will free up the division to make quick decisions as to what startups it wants to invest in or partner with in developing new automotive technologies. BMW i Ventures has also broadened its scope when it comes to searching for startups and the division will begin to look in Europe and Asia for new companies to acquire.

BMW Group board of management member Peter Schwarzenbauer explains why the company has decided to invest heavily in its i Ventures division, saying: "These days, more and more innovations come from the startup scene. Venturing allows us to tap into this potential at an early stage. To achieve this, we are now giving BMW i Ventures a much broader footing. The atmosphere of radical openness and idea-driven exchange that characterizes the startup scene is particularly fruitful for an innovation leader like BMW".

A 400-hp BMW M2 CS might be on the way, but is that what we really want?

THE HYPOTHETICAL M2 CS WOULD GET THE M4'S S55 ENGINE, DETUNED

By Graham Kozak - Autoweek

“We didn’t want to build a small M3 or M4,” BMW M Engineering VP Dirk Haecker told us when we drove the BMW M2 for the first time earlier this year.

OK, but what if BMW actually did decide to build a small M3 or M4? It would have to trade its 365-hp turbocharged inline-six -- known as the N55 -- for the more powerful S55 variant. It might get the electronically adjustable shocks found on the bigger M-cars. Probably a different body kit. Wider tires. Hopefully a few weight-saving measures, like a carbon-fiber roof, to offset the mass of all that performance stuff. Maybe it would be called the BMW M2 CS.

At the Bimmerpost forum, a longtime user that goes by the handle "ynguldyn" uses unknown sources to maintain a fairly accurate future product pipeline -- and they just added the M2 CS in one of their November updates. They claim it will be built around a detuned S55 engine producing around 400 hp; if built, it will likely go on sale sometime in 2018.

We do have more than this single unverifiable claim to go on -- like this video from late September, which shows something interesting undergoing testing on the Nurburgring. It looks like an M2, camouflaged from the beltline down, making funny noises that sound a lot more like an M3 or M4:

Let's work under the assumption that the video above shows a more powerful M2 variant that will eventually make it to market (whether it's called the M2 CS or something else entirely).

Our question is, who is it for? We have yet to read a review of the M2 that calls for more power; the general consensus is that it's one of the most balanced, versatile and all-around fun M-cars in recent memory, though it could stand to lose some of its 3,450-pound curb weight. 

If we had to venture a guess, we'd say the hypothetical M2 CS will be something along the lines of the limited-production M4 GTS -- a track-focused specialist that offers more power and more performance potential, yet won't make vanilla-M2 owners feel like they've missed out on the "better" version of their car. If we're lucky, it won't even have back seats.

We'd tell you to stay tuned for updates from BMW, but it's probably going to be awhile before we hear anything official on this front. In the meantime, keep an eye out for more more weird camouflaged coupes ripping around the Nurburgring.

M3 at 30: BMW Releases U.S. Pricing for 30th Anniversary Model

By Greg Fink - Car and Driver

Thirty years ago, BMW introduced the world to the M3. In celebration of this milestone, the German automaker recently announced the release of the limited-edition “30 Jahre M3” (German for “30 Years M3″). Now we know more about the 150 cars earmarked for our shores.

On sale this month, the 30 Jahre M3 will be available with your choice of a six-speed manual or a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. Opting for the former will set bank accounts back $84,245, the latter $87,145.

All U.S.-bound 30 Jahre M3s wear a deep coat of Macao Blue paint, a color first seen on the E30 M3 Sport Evolution. Complementing the distinct hue are special 20-inch “star spoke” wheels, much like those found on the M4 GTS. Interior changes are equally minimal: 30 Jahre M3 logos are placed on the dash and doorsills, and they’re embroidered into the headrests of the two-tone seats.

Along with the visual kit, BMW fits the 30 Jahre M3 with its Competition package. As its name implies, the package helps the M3 better take down the competition. An adaptive suspension works to improve the sedan’s dynamic capabilities, while the standard 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged straight-six is massaged to produce 444 horsepower—up 19 over the standard car.

Like it or not, every 30 Jahre M3 that makes its way to the states also will include BMW’s Executive package (head-up display system, heated steering wheel, rearview camera, and other equipment), the Driver Assistance Plus package (blind-spot monitor, additional exterior cameras, and more), and LED headlights with automatic high-beams.

BMW Could Make the i8 Into an All-Electric Supercar

By Collin Woodard - Road and Track

Rumor has it that BMW is planning a battery electric i8 with plenty of horsepower. Look out, Tesla.

It's far from your typical sports car, but we love the BMW i8. Yes, it's a three-cylinder hybrid, but it's also gorgeous, light, and drives incredibly well. Last month, though, we reported that a refreshed version is on the way with more power and a longer range. And if the latest report fromAutocar is accurate, BMW is considering adding an all-electric drivetrain to the updated i8.

This upcoming all-electric i8 will reportedly be based on the hydrogen prototype the company showed off last year. But without the hydrogen tanks onboard, the widened platform could be used to fit more batteries.

"The idea is to use the space within the widened center tunnel to house the battery instead of the hydrogen tanks," an anonymous source inside BMW told Autocar.

Power for this all-electric i8 will reportedly come from three brushless electric motors that are capable of revving much higher than the i8's current electric motors. The new units are said to each make 268 horsepower.

While it's unclear what the max power of this rumored electric i8 would be (calculating electric car horsepower is complicated—you can't just add up each motor's output), it sure sounds like this will be a very quick EV. And the electric i8 is said to weigh about the same as the current car, meaning no weight penalty for the zero-emissions drivetrain. 

Considering that the last i8 we tested hit 60 mph in 3.8 seconds, it's not like the current car is slow. But if BMW wants to build one that's faster, we'll take it. After all, faster is almost always better.

First BMW vehicles with Apple's CarPlay coming later in 2016

By Roger Fingas - Apple Insider

The German-language document takes effect in August, and mentions CarPlay support as an option for X5M and X6M models, Bimmerpost noted. Those vehicles will also get 10.25-inch touchscreens, offering one of the largest native CarPlay interfaces.

The list moreover hints at possible wireless CarPlay support, referring to "wireless and convenient use of the iPhone in your vehicle via Apple CarPlay." This has been feasible since iOS 9 debuted last year, but has so far yet to make it into a shipping car.

Either way, CarPlay support is mentioned as arriving in the second half of 2016. BMW is still missing from Apple's official partner list, but that may have to wait for an announcement or the new vehicles actually shipping. 

Although automakers were initially slow to support the standard, CarPlay is now available — or coming soon — from most major automakers, such as Ford, Honda, Chevrolet, Hyundai, Kia, and BMW's most direct rival, Mercedes-Benz. A greater issue for buyers has been cost, because many CarPlay-ready vehicles are mid- to high-end models, and/or require a package upgrade. Most models are also too new to reach people in the used market.

2017 BMW 5 SERIES PROTOTYPE CAUGHT TESTING IN THE WILD

John Inama - TFLcar

TFLcar staffer, Brian Waring, snapped this photo in Southern California of what appears to be a 2017 BMW 5 Series out testing in the wild.

The shape is unmistakably BMW, and the scale puts it right in the midsize 5 Series dimensions. Judging by the car’s silhouette, it appears this test mule is a standard 5 Series, as it’s missing the more aggressive bumpers of the M Series cars.

Not much is known about the seventh-generation 5 Series, but reports indicate that it might be unveiled at the Paris Auto Show in September and that base models may have a turbocharged four-cylinder engine. Seeing as how it’s a BMW, their signature straight-six engine will most likely be offered in higher trim levels.

The new 5 Series will also purportedly be much lighter than the current one thanks to the use of carbon fiber.

BMW should be releasing the first official images of the 2017 5 Series sometime this summer. Check back with TFLcar to find out more about the upcoming 5 Series as we get it.

The 5 Series used to be the most sporting midsize luxury sedan on the planet. However, increasing competition from other company’s products, most notably arch-rival Mercedes-Benz’s E-Class, have tarnished that reputation. The current 5 Series is also a heavy car, which also takes away from its sportiness. Hopefully the weight reduction helps return the Bimmer to the top of the heap.

Check out this TFLcar video review of the 2016 BMW 750i

BMW Has Confirmed a Quad-Turbo Diesel Engine

Jens Meiners - Car and Driver

BMW got out of the business of building V-8 diesels several years ago, as did Mercedes-Benz. But the Volkswagen Group didn’t, and that’s one reason why BMW has continued to squeeze the most out of its inline six-cylinder turbo-diesels. Currently, the Bavarians offer a triple-turbo diesel engine, rated at 376 horsepower. (That’s it pictured above.) But that’s not enough to compete with Audi, which is continually pushing the limits of its V-8 diesel, and so BMW engineers were sent back to the drawing board with a clear assignment: Create a “V-8 fighter.”

And here it is. BMW’s top-of-the-line turbo-diesel remains an inline six, but it gets four turbochargers, two low-pressure units and two high-pressure units. In effect, BMW engineers replaced the single low-pressure charger of the triple-turbo setup with two smaller ones. Under low load, one high-pressure charger is boosting. With higher load and rpm, the two low-pressure turbos add boost to the high-pressure charger. From around 2700 rpm, a second high-pressure charger comes on and all four chargers provide boost.

Fitted in the upcoming, Europe-only 750d xDrive, the new engine makes 394 horsepower from 4000 to 4400 rpm; maximum torque is rated at 561 lb-ft and is available from 2000 to 3000 rpm. That’s up from the triple-turbo’s 376 horsepower and 546 lb-ft. On the road, the new engine’s capabilities translate into a zero-to-60-mph time of around 4.5 seconds in the 750d xDrive; top speed will be governed at 155 mph. As a welcome side effect, fuel consumption is lower by 5 percent.

Like before, BMW was looking to achieve “exceptional revving capability,” and the briefing we attended spoke of a significant improvement in response. A new fuel-injection system operates at more than 36,000 psi, compared with the outgoing engine’s 32,000. Cylinder pressure was increased to a maximum of 3046 psi, with the increase in both injection pressure and cylinder pressure being given the most credit for the new engine’s power boost over the old one.

BMW said that maximum torque is limited by the transmission, not by the engine. To which we reply: Get a stronger transmission. This engine promises to be awesome, and we hope it eventually will be offered in the U.S., even as we know the likelihood is slim.

BMW’s CEO reveals plans for the i NEXT, a self-driving car set for a 2021 debut

Bryan Heater - TechCrunch

Before you get too excited, the above image is the Vision NEXT 100, the concept car BMW showed off back in March to note that, as it celebrated its 100th anniversary, the company was spending more time looking forward than back.

The automaker’s CEO Harald Krueger struck a similarly futuristic tone during its annual shareholder meeting in Munich this week, though the chief executive was far more pragmatic in his prognostications, discussing the sorts of innovation his company anticipated bring to market within the next decade. Krueger described BMW’s relatively near-term strategy as containing “both evolutionary and disruptive elements.”

After looking slightly back to the BMW i3 of 2013, Krueger, projected forward to the 2018 BMW i8 Roadster, and even more compellingly, a new, feature-packed vehicle for 2021. The exec didn’t let out a ton of details about the forthcoming car – just enough to make the auto-watching world sit up and pay attention.

“[The i8] will be followed in 2021 by the BMW i NEXT,” Kreuger told shareholders, “our new innovation driver, with autonomous driving, digital connectivity, intelligent lightweight design, a totally new interior and ultimately bringing the next generation of electro-mobility to the road.”

And while he didn’t offer much else about the car itself, Kreuger had plenty more to say about self-driving vehicles, a topic spurring much debate with regard to both safety and legality. While BMW already has the technology, he explained, there are still a lot of questions to be answered and wrinkles to iron out.

“In 2011, a BMW drove on the A9 autobahn from Munich towards Nuremberg – without any driver intervention,” he told the audience. “It will be a while before these cars reach series maturity – also because the proper legal framework for customers and manufacturers has not yet been decided.”

2017 BMW i3 Getting 50% Range Boost

By Zachary Shahan – Clean Technica

It has long been assumed the BMW i3 would get a big range boost this year. Actually, the first strong sign of that for me was when a Nissan employee told me that the 2016 Nissan LEAF was getting 107 miles of range, the 2017 would get ~130 miles of range, and the 2018 would get ~150 miles of range … in order to keep up with BMW.

Approximately one month later, we got word that the 2017 BMW i3 would have 124 miles of range on the New European Drive Cycle (NEDC), which is far more generous/unrealistic than the EPA ratings.

Now, the news is that BMW UK has sent out emails to people interested in an i3 or already driving one that claim the 2017 i3 will get a 50% range boost. Pre-ordering for the car is now open, with first arrivals set for fall.

The range is indeed the 124 miles (200 kilometers) stated (via rumor/leak) last year, for the fully electric i3.

Additionally, as speculated before, the improvement in range comes from higher energy density, which is likely to mean that the higher-capacity battery can fit in exactly the same spot as current batteries… which could also open the door to battery upgrades, if there’s enough consumer demand.

All of this said, getting a BMW i3 with this better battery also means paying a little more. The price premium is reportedly £1,350 (~$1,950). I think most buyers would find this is a worthwhile option to spend a bit more on.

For Florida (if the US Department of Immigration ever moves forward with our application), I’m leaning toward a used i3 for a much lower price (don’t really need the extra range), but for here in Europe, a 2017 BMW i3 REx with the big range boost is mighty attractive (it could get us to my wife’s parents’ summer house in Pipidówa without stress)… on the other hand, we don’t really need a car (have been car-free here for nearly 8 years and loving it), and it would probably be a lot smarter to just wait for the Tesla Model 3.

Another change that I’m very happy about is that BMW is dropping the “solar orange” color (which I really don’t like, despite often liking orange). In place of that, it is offering “protonic blue,” which is that beautiful blue that you can find on the BMW i8. (A bunch of pics of the BMW i8 I drove in Florida with this blue can be found here. One of those is below.)

Next-Gen BMW 5 Series M Sport Spied Inside and Out

By Eric Weiner - Automobile Magazine

Our spy shooters snapped shots of the next BMW 5 Series out testing on public roads in Europe, this time in M Sport trim. We still can’t make out much due to the heavy camouflage, but it doesn’t look like there will be any surprises when the 2017 BMW 5 Series is finally revealed.

The general shape of the BMW 5 Series sedan won’t change too much from today’s model. Aside from new head- and taillights, slight resurfacing of body panels, and an upgraded interior, it’s likely to be more an evolution of the F10-gen 5 Series we know. The version we spotted is sure to be the M Sport, owing to its wider front air intakes, bigger wheels, and upgraded brakes.

Inside the cabin, the BMW 5 Series is also sticking to what it knows. The familiar split gauge cluster dominates the driver’s view through the opening in a sporty three-spoke steering wheel. The steering wheel is littered with buttons, some of which indicate we’ll see the 5 Series equipped with advanced active safety goodies like adaptive cruise control and the like. Next to the driver is BMW’s latest iDrive system, which looks to get a larger screen. From what we can tell, the cabin of the 5 Series will more closely resemble the sporty 3 Series than the luxurious 7 Series.

We expect to see a lot more improvements to the BMW 5 Series happening beneath the surface, though, much of it trickling down from the new 7 Series. To slash weight, we expect the BMW 5 Series to more extensively incorporate carbon fiber and aluminum, the former of which is relatively affordable thanks to research, development, and resources springing from Project i. 

The engine rang won't be much of a surprise. Bet on a base 1.0-liter four-cylinder making 240-250 hp, a mid-range turbosharged straight-six with roughly 350 hp, and a top-dog 4.4-liter twin-turbo V-8. We've previously spied onthe new M5 testing in the snow and on the Nurburgring, and rumors are that it will soldier on with its twin-turbo V-8 and around 600 hp. All-wheel drive is also rumored, although a significant rear bias or a fully rear-wheel-drive version is still possible given how sideways we saw the M5 prototype get on the 'ring.

BMW Confirms X7, Will Expand M, M Performance Vehicle Ranges

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By Alexander Stoklosa - Car and Driver

It might come as difficult news to fans of the “old BMW,” or perhaps it’s something thought to be inevitable for some time now: BMW has confirmed plans to build a three-row X7 crossover. Not only that, but in the same announcement, BMW strongly hinted that its intended expansion of its portfolio of high-performance M-badged cars and medium-performance M Performance models would include—gasp!—yet more crossovers. Welcome to the new BMW.

The X7 shouldn’t be as concerning to brand die-hards as the apparent focus on slapping the M treatment on more SUVs, however. A three-row BMW likely will rake in cash for the company, given how hot the luxury large SUV market is. We’ve also assumed such a model was happening for a while, even detailing what to expect from it. The X7 had also previously been (vaguely) confirmed at an earlier date.

So on to the M news. In its own words, BMW plans “a further expansion of the M product range,” an innocuous statement that omits the fact that, now that the M2 has been introduced, the only non-crossover left in BMW’s lineup without an M version is the 7-series. Any expansion, then, could include an ever-elusive M7 model—but most likely it will also involve M-badged crossovers beyond today’s X5 M and X6 M.

That most-likely crossover scenario for M GmbH becomes a sure thing when the discussion pivots to BMW’s M Performance lineup. These cars are positioned between regular BMWs and full-blown M rides, and BMW says it “intends to expand its range of powerful M Performance models within the higher-volume segments.” These days, high-volume segments is code for “crossovers,” and again, BMW has long since fleshed out its high-volume car models (the 2-, 3-, and 4-series) with M Performance variants, leaving mostly tall pseudo-SUVs in BMW’s sights. The strategy is already underway—see the new X4 M40i. 

The simple trust is that M Performance and M-badged BMWs sell for higher prices, and with Mercedes-Benz's addition of high performance AMG variants to more and more of its models, BWM has to play this game. Mercedes also had been turning out more and more AMG Sport versions, its equivalent of BMW's M Performance cars, until giving up that naming scheme and folding those cars under the AMG umbrella—and continuing to build more and more, including crossover variants. Nowhere is this tit-for-tat more visible than the curious high-performance coupe/SUV battle BMW and Benz have locked themselves into. Again, BMW seems to feel the need to compete with Mercedes on every level. Whether this constitutes a dilution of the M brand or a profitable expansion of it remains to be seen, but BMW is going to find out one way or another.

BMW’s insane car of the future replaces dashboards with augmented reality

By Chris Ziegler – The Verge

BMW is in the midst of celebrating its 100th anniversary, and to mark the occasion, it just rolled out the Vision Next 100 concept at its Munich headquarters. By all appearances, it's one of the most insane concept cars BMW has ever conceived.

If you squint your eyes, you can still see a car that's clearly a BMW here — it has the iconic "kidney" grille, for instance — but beyond that, the details are all visions of a distant future. The entire windshield is an augmented reality display, which takes the place of every single dashboard display. There are also 800 triangles embedded in the dash, which BMW calls Alive Geometry. These multicolor polygons apparently communicate "very directly with the driver through their movements, which are more like gestures than two-dimensional depictions on a display."

As with other recent concept cars (including BMW's own i Vision Future Interaction Concept at CES a couple months ago), the Vision Next 100 refuses to take sides in the self-driving debate — when you want to drive, you can, and the car helps you by drawing the optimal driving line on the windshield. That's "Boost" mode. In the alternative "Ease" mode, the car takes over, the steering wheel retracts (a solution Elon Musk has also suggested in the past), and the seats change shape to make driver-passenger communication a little easier. Meanwhile, the windshield can be used for entertainment.

The most insane idea in the car, though, might be the ominously named "Companion." BMW describes the Companion as a gemstone-like object that "symbolizes the intelligence, connectivity and availability" of the car that learns about the owner over time and can eventually "perform routine tasks" and "offer advice." It moves depending on the car's current mode, signaling to nearby pedestrians when it's safe to cross in autonomous mode — we saw a similar concept in Mercedes-Benz's F 015 last year, too.

Very, very little in this car is anywhere close to production-ready, but put together, it's an interesting mix of tech that BMW thinks will define the next few decades of its existence. Those are a critical few decades, considering the advent of autonomous driving, car sharing, and Uber — so the technologies that we're seeing here are basically a preview of BMW's long-term defense against disruption. I don't know if morphing polygons are the answer, but it's fun to dream.