Recharge Wrap-up: BMW i app for Apple Watch

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By John Beltz Snyder – AutoBlog

BMW has introduced ConnectedDrive and BMW i remote apps for the Apple Watch. The apps can show users battery and charging status, give service alerts, and control certain vehicle functions from the wearer's wrist. It can tell the owner if the doors are locked, or if the sunroof or trunk is open. Users can activate the climate control remotely from their watch, or honk the horn to help find the car in a crowded parking lot. It can even guide the owner back to the car using the navigation system. Read more in BMW's press release below.

BMW ConnectedDrive and BMW i Remote app. World premiere: Apple Watch controls functions of BMW i models.

Munich. BMW is pressing its claim to automotive brand leadership in the world of mobile vehicle connectivity through its BMW ConnectedDrive technology. As the BMW i Remote app confirms, nowhere else is the link-up of driver, car and outside world raised to such an advanced level. The app can already be used to remotely check and control functions of BMW i models. It is an application that customers will also be able to use from day one on the new Apple Watch, due for imminent release. Apple Watch uses the BMW i Remote app – which can be downloaded free from the Apple iTunes Store – to keep users updated on the car's current battery status, for example, and alert them when the high-voltage unit is fully charged. In addition, Apple Watch can continue the navigation instructions from the BMW i3 to the user's final destination after the car has been parked as well as guiding them back to the car if required. And it also allows the interior temperature to be pre-conditioned. The new smartwatch features an innovative glance screen for applications which groups together the most important information provided by the app so that it can be viewed at a single glance. As well as the car's battery charge, the available range and the timing of updates, the glance screen also shows BMW i Remote app users whether the car doors are locked.

The faster, more direct way to enjoy electric mobility.

Apple Watch wraps around the user's wrist like a traditional wristwatch and acts as a clever extension of a linked Apple iPhone. It can connect the driver with their BMW i3 or BMW i8 at any time – remotely, if required – and allows users to check or control important functions directly via BMW i Remote app, without having to take their smartphone out of their pocket, unlock a screen or enter a code. Many of us already view digital services as an integral part of our everyday lives, and smartwatches are set to give this trend even greater momentum. They also make using electric mobility a faster and more direct experience.

Apple Watch is controlled by pressing or swiping its touch-sensitive surface, as has become second nature with smartphones and tablets. An upward swipe of the glance screen reveals the BMW i Remote app start screen – the central navigation point of the app´s Apple Watch version.

Here, users can access the app's other menus. The start screen presents the car linked up to the smartwatch in the classy style that is the hallmark of BMW i. Also displayed here are the car's charge status and available range, as well as the time of day. Scrolling further up the start screen reveals a new menu through which users can check a host of other vehicle information, such as whether the doors are locked, the sunroof is still open or the boot is closed. Service alerts are also flashed up – e.g. if a brake fluid change or service is due. This list can be hidden by swiping the screen or turning the Digital Crown, Apple Watch's central control tool. 

Cooling or heating during a charge.

A right swipe of the start screen takes users to the BMW i Remote app's Remote Services, allowing them to adjust the car's climate control system, for example. Here, users can cool or heat the interior of their BMW i car while it is being charged from the power supply. That way no energy needs to be drawn from the high-voltage battery to pre-condition the climate control system, thus helping to maximise the car's electric range. Another swipe to the right leads to the remote control feature for the horn, which can be activated to help owners find their BMW i3 or BMW i8 easily, even in large car parks – and if someone else has parked the car. A touch of the display is all that is required to activate the relevant functions.

Continue intermodal route planning with Apple Watch.

One of the numerous innovations on board the BMW i3, the first premium electric car to be launched, is intermodal route planning. In slow traffic and congestion, for example, this ingenious function incorporates other modes of transport into the route planning process alongside the user's own car if this will help them reach their destination more efficiently. This type of route guidance function is unique among carmakers and also benefits from location services when using Apple Watch. These extend the navigation system's instructions from the parked car to the user's final destination and also guide them back to the parking space if required. Apple Watch owners can access these location services with a left swipe on the start screen. Together, these functions significantly enhance mobility, especially in urban areas.

BMW ConnectedDrive boasts impressive speed of innovation.

With their embedded SIM cards, BMW i3 and BMW i8 are optimised for connectivity, while the BMW i Remote app creates a close link between the car, driver and outside world. The BMW i Remote app for Apple Watch slots in alongside solutions for mobile devices running Android operating systems, further corroborating how quickly BMW is able to respond to the rapid pace of "connected car" innovations with intelligent solutions such as services and apps from BMW ConnectedDrive.

BMW logo isn’t shrouded in mystery, only misunderstanding

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By Nick Kurczewski – New York Daily News

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The BMW badge is one of the world's most recognizable car logos - and it also happens to be one of the most misunderstood.

The comments section might be set ablaze but, believe it or not, the Daily News Autos is here to tell you that the iconic BMW logo does not represent a stylized airplane propeller.

That’s right BMW fans, everything you thought you knew about the blue and white logo on your beloved M3 or hybrid-powered i8 is wrong.

Don’t feel bad, the idea that the famous BMW Roundel has roots in aviation stretches back almost to the very founding of Bayerische Motoren Werke AG, which happened way back on March 7, 1916.

And yes, the firm’s first technical creations happened to be aircraft engines. So wait a minute, how the heck can we be so smug about the BMW logo not having something to do with airplanes?

You can blame the world of marketing and advertising for this Bavarian-themed level of miscommunication.

The blue and white logo is borrowed from the colors in the Bavarian flag, nothing more. Go ahead and Google search “Bavarian flag,” we’ll wait while you do.

While it’s true that BMW got its start in aircraft engines, the close of World War I and the Treaty of Versailles forbade the company from continuing down its original path. After the conclusion of WWI, BMW moved into motorcycle manufacturing. Eventually, the company was also allowed to restart the aviation side of its business.

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Here is the advertisement that ignited years of controversy surrounding the origins of BMW's iconic logo.

It was an advertisement used in the late-1920s, in which the BMW logo cleverly represented the spinning propellers of an airplane, that we encounter the foundation of the famous Roundel/propeller controversy. Yes, the logo represented plane propellers - but only in the ad, not the logo in general.

The advertisement must have been popular, because for decades since, most people assume design and colors of the BMW Roundel are firmly rooted in aviation.

Around the same time this ad apperared, so did the first BMW motorcar. The thin-tired and dainty-looking BMW Dixi 3/15 PS was powered by a small 4-cylinder engine that produced a grand total of 15-horsepower. Small, simple, and quite cheap; the little Dixi helped BMW survive the Great Depression, which arrived only months after the car first went on sale.

Somewhat ironically, this first BMW automobile owed nearly all of its design to the Austin 7, a huge sales hit that was originally designed and engineered entirely...in Britain!

BMW Defends Luxury Sales Crown With X5 Sport-Utility Vehicle

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By Elizabeth Behrmann – Bloomberg

BMW AG defended its position atop the world’s luxury-car market in the first quarter, shipping more of its X5 sport-utility vehicle and 2-Series Active Tourer van.

BMW’s namesake brand delivered 451,576 vehicles in the three months to March 31, a 5.4 percent increase from a year earlier and more than Audi’s sales of 438,250 cars and the 429,602 autos sold by Mercedes-Benz. Mercedes, which is trying to gain market share by refreshing most of its SUV range, overtook Audi last month for the first time since December. The Daimler AG luxury brand’s deliveries jumped 16 percent to 183,467 cars, helped by the C-Class sedan and wagon.

With the three German companies locked in a race for No. 1 in the luxury-car market, BMW said it expects to hit a fifth consecutive sales record this year. The Munich-based company is introducing 15 new or refreshed models, including an overhaul of the top-of-the-line 7-Series sedan and facelift for the X6 SUV.

“It’s particularly pleasing to see the recovery in Europe continuing while sales in North America remain strong,” Ian Robertson, the head of sales, said Tuesday in a statement.

Both Mercedes and Audi want to pass BMW and each other in deliveries by 2020. To underpin its effort, Volkswagen AG’s Audi, based in Ingolstadt, plans to spend 24 billion euros ($25.4 billion) to develop models and expand production in the next five years. Mercedes, based in Stuttgart, is rolling out the new GLE coupe crossover this year to challenge the BMW X6.

BMW M4 MotoGP Safety Car review

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By Kyle Fortune – Auto Express

Clever new engine tech on MotoGP Safety Car improves efficiency and performance

Verdict

Water really is the giver of life to the M4, the system not just adding to the performance and power, but also improving emissions and economy. It’s no surprise that the rest of BMW’s engineers are knocking on the M Division’s door wanting to try the technology. It’s relatively simple, needing a small five litre boot-mounted tank and some distilled water every fifth fuel fill up or so. It’ll add little to the cost, too, but the potential savings could be very significant.

Look past the colourful stickers and roof-mounted lights and this BMW M4 MotoGP Safety Car features some very clever technology under its bonnet. Water injection; a system BMW M’s engineers have borrowed from a banned idea from motorsport and are experimenting with it on the M4.

Bravely, they’re doing so in a very public arena, because the BMW M4 Safety Car’s experimental engine is charged with the task of rolling out in front of MotoGP’s two-wheeled warriors whenever one of them gets it a bit wrong. In front of a huge global television audience.

No pressure then, and it’s a similar story for us. This one-off safety car was needed later in the weekend to undertake its biker-herding duties, yet BMW let us take it out onto Qatar’s Losail circuit to see what the water injection system is all about.

Don’t think that the water is injected into the engine itself, that’d be catastrophic for the M4’s TwinPower turbocharged 3.0-litre six-cylinder unit. No, the water here is injected into the turbo system. Doing so allows the air in the pre-combustion collector to be cooled, thus increasing its density and oxygen content.

The result is as simple as the concept really, a bigger bang, the benefits of the improved thermal management also being greater economy and less emissions.

It’s little wonder BMW M’s boss Frank van Meel is so excited by this new technology, admitting that they’ve been genuinely surprised by the benefits it’s brought. Officially BMW M is saying the improvements are in the region of 8 per cent (459bhp), but Meel says the output in the M4 might now be as high as 500bhp. That a sizeable leap from the 425bhp of the standard car.

In the M4, unsurprisingly, it’s set up to improve power at the top end, the system only working above 5,000rpm. There’s more performance, that obvious, but there’s a greater civility to the engine’s response across the entire rev range. That makes for not just a faster M4, but an easier one to live with, too.

The steering response is also improved, the M4’s already quick turn in gaining speed and some feel at the steering wheel’s rim thanks to the addition of KW coil-over suspension. Add the tight hold of the Recaro bucket seats and six-point harnesses and the M4 is a more immediate, exciting car, that sounds glorious too thanks to the removal of the central silencer from the M Performance Parts exhaust.

Switch all the electronic stability and traction control systems off, as the M4 Safety Car’s usual driver Mike LaFuente does, and it’s can be slid around the track at will, and with far greater ease than its road-car relation.

That might be largely irrelevant for many M4 buyers, but for a small hardcore of BMW M enthusiasts that’ll appeal hugely. As will the rumour that the BMW M4 MotoGP Safety Car is a none-too-subtle hint at a possible M4 GTS special.

Key specs

            Price: N/A

            Engine: 3.0-litre 6cyl turbo

            Power: 459bhp (est)

            Transmission: Seven-speed twin-clutch auto, rear-wheel drive

            0-62mph: 4.1 seconds

            Top speed: 155mph

            Economy: 34mpg (est)

            CO2: 194g/km (est)

                        On sale: N/A

BMW’s New Sensors Do the Braking for You

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By Sam Grobart

More than 90 percent of auto-related crashes are due to human error: a distraction, a mistake. 

With its new “Active Assist” technology, BMW is trying to do everything it can to take those errors out of the equation.

Using laser sensors, the system effectively keeps a 360-degree vigil and will automatically and gently brake before a vehicle hits any stationary object.

If you drive full throttle at a wall, Active Assist will stop mere inches away, without the driver touching the brakes.

While collision-avoidance systems are not new—many cruise-controls automatically slow down when you close too fast on the car in front—BMW’s sensors keep track of walls, columns, and other stationary objects, constantly redrawing a map of the surrounding area.​

The next step for BMW now is moving objects, which would involve developing algorithms to show not only where a cyclist or car is, but where they will be.

April Fool's bluff ends in $50k BMW

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A double-bluff on April Fool's Day was no match for a woman who cashed in on a seemingly ridiculous luxury car trade-in promotion.

Tianna Marsh was the first person to try the unusual trade-in offer from the BMW Newmarket dealership today.

The carmaker said it was keeping alive a tradition of April 1 pranks with its front-page ad in the New Zealand Herald today.

The "April Fools' Day special" promised a new BMW to the first person who took their car and the front-page coupon to the dealership.

Ms Marsh was first at the Newmarket car dealership this morning, arriving in her 15-year-old Nissan Avenir.

She was swiftly rewarded with a new BMW 1 Series worth almost $50,000 in exchange for the old station wagon.

Ms Marsh arrived at the car dealership about 5.30am, Team McMillan BMW sales manager Gavin Penfold said.

"It couldn't have gone to a more deserving winner," Mr Penfold said.

The firm had hired security guards, in case riots broke out or big queues caused trouble.

But it seemed most people who saw the ad couldn't believe it, as Mr Penfold said other people seemed to turn up after Ms Marsh arrived.

"When I met her outside, I just acted dumb," Mr Penfold said.

"She said 'I'm here for the Herald competition.' I said: 'I know nothing about it'", Mr Penfold recalled.

As the ad stated, Ms March asked for "Tom" and soon enough, she was a winner.

There were no tears shed for the 15-year-old station wagon.

"There didn't seem to be any emotional attachment to that car whatsoever," Mr Penfold said.

"This year's effort, our most audacious and elaborate yet, is one we're particularly proud of as we believe this reverse April 1 joke to be a world first, especially giving away a brand new car," said BMW spokesman Ed Finn.

"The ad was intentionally vague and definitely appeared too good to be true, but in this case we wanted to turn the tables and reward the first person who was willing to take the chance."

In case you think news of Ms Marsh's new car might all might be a joke within a joke, within another joke, BMW has promised to upload footage of Ms Marsh and her new car to YouTube this evening.

Mr Finn said Ms Marsh's new car had the licence plate NOF00L and she would also get a free "BMW Driving Experience" course at Hampton Downs racetrack south of Auckland. 
Mr Finn said the Avenir was now on display at the BMW Mt Wellington head office and would be put up for sale or auction on Trade Me later today.

Money from selling the old Nissan would be donated to GoBabyGo, a charity that provided modified, ride-on cars to young disabled children. The modified small electric vehicles help them move around independently.

BMW reveals more powerful M4

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By Motoring.com.au

BMW has revealed a new water-injection system that it claims will boost the performance of its M production models in the near future.

The new technology, which reduces exhaust gas temperatures to allow higher turbo boost pressure, debuted in the BMW M4 Coupe safety car at the opening round of the 2015 MotoGP World Championship in Qatar on the weekend.

BMW has not revealed exact performance outputs, but says the water-injection technology delivers "a tangible boost in performance" from the twin-turbo 3.0-litre inline petrol six that powers the M4, which produces 317kW in standard trim.

"This is due to the fact that water injection makes it possible to raise the upper performance limits, which have otherwise been restricted thermally," says BMW.

"The new water-injection sees the engineers make use of the water’s physical effect during the vaporisation process to extract the energy required from the environmental medium," 

"Water is injected into the intake module’s collector as a fine spray, thus significantly cooling the exhaust air during vaporisation. This lowers the discharge temperature in the combustion changer and thus reduces the tendency for knocking. The turbo engine can thus be operated with a higher charging pressure and an earlier ignition point."

BMW has not announced which production M model the technology will debut in, saying only that "following intense testing within the MotoGP World Championship, the water-injection system will also be employed in a BMW M production model in the near future."

MotoGP Saftey Car debuts water-injection tech and BMW confirms it for production soon

MotoGP Saftey Car debuts water-injection tech and BMW confirms it for production soon


Hot BMW M2 Coupe limbering-up in new spyshots

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By Jack Rix – Auto Express

Smallest BMW M-model will arrive in late 2015, sporting around 370bhp from a 3.0-litre straight six.

It's been rumoured and hinted at for a long time, but it looks like BMW is finally ready to add another model to its ultra-hot M-range. Fans lusting after a smaller and cheaper M-car will be satisfied imminently as the M2 Coupe is set for release at the end of the year.

The new 2 Series Coupe-based model, shown here in our exclusive image and new Nurburgring testing spyshots, will pick up where the storming 1 Series M Coupe left off, providing a cut-price alternative to the BMW M4.

Sitting above the M235i, the M2 will combine a race-car-for-the-road driving experience with more muscular proportions, flared wheelarches and a trademark M car bonnet bulge. Under the bonnet will be a development of the M235i’s 321bhp 3.0-litre single-turbo straight-six, but with power increased to around 370bhp.

“If you look at the M3 and M4, it’s not just about putting in the biggest engine with the biggest displacement and highest horsepower,” Carsten Priest, head of product development for M, explained.

“It’s about the right balance between power and weight, so you have a car that’s quick enough for acceleration, but agile enough and with an additional edge.”

BMW is being careful to ensure the M2 doesn’t step on the M4’s toes, too, hence the more aggressive character, while it’s clearly considering offering only a manual gearbox. “You don’t want to drag people down from an M3 or an M4. That wouldn’t be sensible,” Priest told us. “If you remember the 1 Series M Coupe there’s always a bit of overlap, but we offered the manual gearbox only – that was one of the main differences.”

A host of race-inspired chassis upgrades should transform the M2 into a purer, faster driving machine, on both road and track. Significantly stiffer fixed-rate dampers will replace the adaptive dampers from the M235i, saving weight and tightening up body control.

There could also be carbon fibre- reinforced plastic panels to strip out yet more weight, and a proper mechanical limited-slip differential. Added Priest: “If you look at what the M235i stands for, it’s a lot of driving excitement and emotion for sure, but it doesn’t go as far as an M core model. To qualify as an M core model, it would have to go quite a big step further.”

According to Priest there “tends to be a year delay between the base model and the M car”, which lead us to expect a Detroit Motor Show debut in January. That didn't materialise, so we are more likely to see it at the Frankfurt Motor Show in October. Prices should start from around £45,000.

BMW Won’t Release Next i Series Model Plug-In Until After 2020

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By James Ayre - Clean Technica

The next model in BMW’s i series won’t be arriving before 2020, based on recent comments from the company’s head of R&D.

So while we got both the i3 and the i8 in relatively fast succession, and BMW has announced plans to electrify every model in its fleet, it looks like BMW will be taking its time in taking that line of inquiry (from-the-ground-up electric cars) any further. The company has reportedly only just begun the brainstorming process for the third model in the series.

As with the first two models, the third will also be designed independently from the company’s other offerings — in other words, it won’t be based on the company’s various standard models.

The aforementioned head of R&D, Klaus Froehlich, also made a number of other interesting comments. Gas2 provides more:

Froelich went on to say that the mission of the i sub-brand is to change the perception of how a low-emissions car should look and perform and therefore there are no plans to re-package an existing BMW Group model and call it an i model. That seems to quash any idea that the newly introduced BMW X5 xDrive40e plug-in hybrid SUV is going to morph into the range filling i5 model.

In the meantime, BMW says it will work on improving its i3 and i8 cars. It will also transfer some of the knowledge it has gained from designing and building those two cars to the rest of its production vehicles. Vehicle weight is becoming increasingly important to car makers eager to increase fuel economy and reduce tailpipe emissions in order to meet ever tightening government regulations around the world. The company’s innovative use of carbon fiber technology in the i3 and i8 will most likely lead to more use of carbon fiber components across the entire BMW lineup of automobiles.

Interesting. Increased use of carbon fiber make sense for a number of reasons — it’s not exactly surprising to see the company pursuing that line of thought. It is certainly something for which Amory Lovins and the Rocky Mountain Institute have been pushing for a long time.

These comments do make me wonder if BMW’s slow approach to the electric vehicle market will leave it in the dust, though. 2020 is quite a ways off….

First drive: BMW M135i

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By Ollie Kew - Top Gear

Does extra power corrupt BMW’s brilliant rear-drive hot hatch? Ollie Kew drives the new, 322bhp 1-Series

 What's this, then?

The refreshed version of a modern cult: the BMW M135i. When the ugly-but-fast M Performance 1er arrived in late 2012, it sported a unique combination in the hot hatch melting pot: a straight-six engine, rear-wheel drive, and a price tag south of £30,000.

Forum conversation exploded, dealers fought to meet demand, and the likes of the A45 AMG and Golf R had a serious fight on their hands. Boy, did we like this car.

So why has BMW interfered with it?

Calm down, it's only a facelift. From the front, the news is good - the frowning headlights and Halloween pumpkin expression are gone, replaced by a resolved, friendly 3-Series face. Those silver intake surrounds are a bit fussy, but we'll forgive that. Perhaps less successful is the rear, where the old square lights have been junked for BMW's L-shaped units. It's supposed to make the car look wider and more planted, but the shapes are, to these eyes, a tad gloopy.

What about under the skin?

The refreshed M135i has a dash more poke, but it's not especially faster.

Previously, the M135i's 3.0-litre turbocharged six gave away a nominal 6bhp to the M235i two-door, but you can forget the pecking order one-upmanship now. It's history.

The 1er too has graduated to 322bhp, while BMW claims its revisions haven't impacted the manual's 35mpg capability. As is the way, the automatic wins out with a notional 37.7mpg.

What if I want to go heroically sideways?

Then you probably don't value your licence or rear tyres. Still, if hooning's your thing the M135i still isn't the finished article. Partly because it wrenches huge grip from the road thanks to equal weight distribution and its inherent balance, so it needs plenty of provocation. And partly because you get an open rear differential as standard, so the inside rear wheel spins under power in a bend, rather than the whole axle overspeeding to kick the tail out.

If that's a dealbreaker for you, hold fire until the even more powerful BMW M2 coupe arrives late this year...

BMW will supply you, or rather, your dealer with a locking slippy diff to tighten up the M135i's rear axle and improve corner-exit traction (or tomfoolery), but it'll set you back two grand and isn't really necessary, unless you're planning track days or a weekend break at Her Majesty's pleasure. Via Kwik-Fit.

What if I don't want to go heroically sideways?

Move to Europe. Over on the continent, BMW offers a 4x4 M135i xDrive, complete with the sublime eight-speed automatic gearbox as standard, which behaves like a whip-crack dual-clutcher when you're hammering it and slurs its shifts like a chauffeur once you've grown up. For us Brits, you can still spec the slushbox, but it's rear-drive only.

So, you lose a few tenths in the 0-62mph stakes, but rear-drive remains the 1er's USP, and besides, it keeps the car lighter. The engine's power delivery is so linear that traction isn't an issue here unless you're clumsily brutal with the throttle.

Does it sound good?

Ah yes, the soundtrack. A topic of much teeth-gnashing among Beemer-ites of late, following the M4, which sounds like Satan's dustbuster, and the M5, which sounds great if you like Subaru Imprezas. The M135i too uses stereo trickery to enhance its timbre, but it's so well-executed, you'd never know.

For a kick-off, it sounds obviously six-cylindered, in contrast to, say, a VW Golf R, which changes its mind between imitating four, five or six pots at varying revs.

More importantly, the M135i's voice doesn't turn crackly or strained as it hungrily homes in on its 7000rpm redline. The accompanying throttle response is ace for a turbo motor, and it pulls all the way to the cut-out. If you're unenthused by the four-bangers in the Mercedes ‘45 ‘crew and quick Golfs, look no further. Audi's 362bhp five-pot RS3 could be a tougher test...

Grippy, quick, sonorous - what's not to like?

The 1's steering is still a weak spot - the wheel itself is a new M Sport item and streets ahead of the ugly and uncomfortable old wheel, but there's too much assistance and too little feedback from the tyres - the A45 AMG does the ‘feel' thing better despite having to also multitask unruly grunt through its front wheels.

You're also denied the gearshift quality of the best in the pocket rocket business (step forward, Fiesta ST), but that's moot - the shift isn't as notchy as regular BMs, and we're just grateful there's still an option to have three pedals.

Should I buy one?

Yes, accepting it's tiny inside and and no longer quite the sub-£30k bargain. The M135i is now £31,195; add a few oh-go-on-then goodies like widescreen nav and the sublime adaptive dampers and that becomes £34,000. The M135i is easily talented enough to drive to justify that, but it's not good enough at carrying people - the cramped rear will fob plenty off into the roomier Golf R.

Those who stick with the BMW get one of the best driving and sounding hot hatches around. And now it looks a bit happier about it.

BMW to launch X5 plug-in hybrid SUV

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By David Undercoffler – LA Times 

BMW is plugging in to efficiency in a new way with the announcement of the X5 xDrive40e.

Despite the tedious name, this new mid-size crossover SUV is the first plug-in hybrid vehicle from BMW, outside of its innovative "i" sub-brand.

The crossover is based on the existing X5 lineup and is powered by a turbocharged four-cylinder engine and an electric motor.

X5 40e has a total of 313 horsepower and 332 pound-feet of torque, courtesy of the 2.0-liter inline four-cylinder engine and the electric motor. The latter is powered by a 9.0 kWh lithium-ion battery, which is located under the cargo floor in the trunk.

That battery adds a hefty 440 pounds to the curb weight of the gas-only X5 35i, yet the hybrid is still relatively quick. BMW says the new model can do zero to 62 mph in 6.8 seconds, compared to 6.5 seconds for the X5 35i.

The new X5 40e can also drive on electric-only power. It has a range of 19 miles and a top speed of 75 mph in this mode.

Recharging via a traditional 110-volt wall socket takes a little under four hours. Customers who opt for an optional high-speed charger can refill their BMW’s batteries in 2 hours 45 minutes.

Though it’s the first mainstream BMW to use a plug-in system, the automaker said it used what it learned from its "i" sub-brand in developing the new X5. That sub-brand is home to  the tidy all-electric i3 city car and the i8 plug-in hybrid sports car, both currently on the market.

When the X5 40e hits the U.S. market at the end of this year, it will join a growing contingent of plug-in luxury SUVs.

Volvo’s new XC90 line, expected to go on sale in several months, has a top-end model that’s a plug-in hybrid. Audi’s forthcoming redesign of the Q7 crossover SUV will include a plug-in diesel variant. And Mercedes is expected to launch a plug-in hybrid model of the refreshed M-Class SUV that will initially debut at April’s New York Auto Show.

Pricing on the X5 40e hasn’t been announced, though it’s expected to cost more than the base gas model, which starts at $54,850.

BMW Pays Tribute to “Batmobile” 3.0 CSL with New Z4 GTLM Livery

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By Robert Sorokanich – Car and Driver

Recognize that tri-color livery? If you’re a fan of BMW racing, of course you do. The automaker first debuted the look on the IMSA 3.0 CSL, eventually blitzing its way to victory in the 12 Hours of Sebring in 1975 with legendary driver Brian Redman behind the wheel for seven of those 12 hours. This weekend, BMW unveiled a tribute livery that pays homage to that motorsports triumph, which helped make the company’s reputation in the U.S.

Emblazoned on the Rahal-Letterman-Lanigan GTLM BMW Z4 racers, the new livery manages to honor the old car without being cloyingly retro. While the two-seat Z4 may be larger and more bulbous than the Batmobile 3.0 CSL of days gone by, it wears the BMW M colors well. And in a very real way, it honors the cars that helped BMW achieve enough success to launch the M brand in the first place.

See, back in the early 1970s, BMxW was fighting hard for a solid foothold in the U.S. market. The company’s sales and marketing director pushed for an in-house racing program to help legitimize the brand and establish its identity, hopefully through racing victory.

That sales and marketing director? None other than Bob Lutz. And with a racing team that included Redman, Hans Stuck, Ronnie Peterson, and Sam Posey, the M-striped Bimmers took the European Touring Car Driver’s and Manufacturer’s championships in 1973, as well as the aforementioned Sebring victory in ’75.

So when you drool over a new M-badged BMW today, you have those iconic personalities to thank. And we can’t think of a better modern-day tribute than a racer that proudly flies the classic livery once again. Catch the vintage-themed BMW Z4 GTLM in action at the 24 Hours of Sebring on March 21.

Emblazoned on the Rahal-Letterman-Lanigan GTLM BMW Z4 racers, the new livery manages to honor the old car without being cloyingly retro. While the two-seat Z4 may be larger and more bulbous than the Batmobile 3.0 CSL of days gone by, it wears the BMW M colors well. And in a very real way, it honors the cars that helped BMW achieve enough success to launch the M brand in the first place.

See, back in the early 1970s, BMxW was fighting hard for a solid foothold in the U.S. market. The company’s sales and marketing director pushed for an in-house racing program to help legitimize the brand and establish its identity, hopefully through racing victory.

That sales and marketing director? None other than Bob Lutz. And with a racing team that included Redman, Hans Stuck, Ronnie Peterson, and Sam Posey, the M-striped Bimmers took the European Touring Car Driver’s and Manufacturer’s championships in 1973, as well as the aforementioned Sebring victory in ’75.

So when you drool over a new M-badged BMW today, you have those iconic personalities to thank. And we can’t think of a better modern-day tribute than a racer that proudly flies the classic livery once again. Catch the vintage-themed BMW Z4 GTLM in action at the 24 Hours of Sebring on March 21.

2017 BMW X3 Spy Shots

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By Nelson Ireson - Motor Authority

This is it: the next generation of the BMW X3. Due to arrive in 2016 as a 2017 model in the U.S., the new X3 will add technology, grow lighter, and, if the images are any indication, may also do a very un-BMW thing: get smaller.

The current X3 is one of the strongest in the segment, offering snappy performance, a nice interior, good features, and reasonable value for money, as well as an attractive—if somewhat dated—exterior.

Looking to the future, the next X3 is likely to hold or lose weight—we’d put our dollars on the latter—despite growing slightly in interior size. That increase in space is likely to come from more efficient engineering and lighter-weight materials, as the images show the new X3 beside the current X3, and the 2017 model appears to be lower and leaner.

Under the hood, the engines in the current X3 (shared with the 3-Series, and other BMW models) are likely to continue forward, especially the 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder found in the X3 28i. Rumors have indicated BMW may also be considering a hotter version of the turbo 3.0-liter in-line six-cylinder found in the current X3 35i, perhaps badged as an M Performance model, with up to 360 hp.

Talk of an M Division special—a true X3 M—has also persisted over the past several years. Whether BMW can justify the cost and likely cannibalization such a model would offer to the X5 M and X6 M is unclear. If it did happen, however, expect to see a wider, more aggressive body treatment and many of the parts from the current 425-hp M3/M4 line stuffed under the skin—in other words, one very fun crossover.

A plug-in hybrid variant of the X3 is also a possibility, though what that might look like isn’t yet clear, beyond potentially pairing the 2.0-liter turbo four from the 28i with an electric dive unit for limited all-electric range and increased efficiency or performance.

Look for more information in this space as development of the 2017 BMW X3 continues.

BMW is working with Toyota on the next Z4, but it’s in no hurry

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By Stephen Edelstein

BMW’s takeaway from its sports-car collaboration with Toyota is supposed to be the next-generation Z4, but a new report suggests that model may not arrive for quite awhile.

BMW hopes to launch a new Z4 before the end of the decade, but the model isn’t a priority right now, Klaus Froehlich, the company’s chief engineer, told Automotive News Europe (subscription required) at the recent Geneva Motor Show.

The market for two-seat luxury convertibles is shrinking, so BMW thinks the current Z4 – which launched in 2009 – can hang on until 2020, even though it will have been on the market for a decade by then.

The roadster’s fall from grace was also partly the impetus for teaming up with Toyota. The program will lower development costs, helping BMW make up for lower sales volumes.

Helping to convince officials of this strategy is the fact that roadsters like the Z4 don’t sell well in the world’s largest car market, China.

Drivers there reportedly prefer bigger, fixed-roofed cars that convey a sense of privacy. The country’s legendarily bad air quality also makes driving with the top down problematic.

Given all of that dour analysis, it’s probably lucky that BMW is planning to build a new Z4 at all.

It’s unclear how all of this will affect Toyota’s launch plans for its sports car, which is widely to believed to be a spiritual successor to the Supra with styling modeled on the  FT-1 concept from the 2014 Detroit Auto Show.

Each company will probably follow its own timetable, so it’s possibly we’ll see the Toyota sports car at some earlier date than the Z4. 

Video Review: The BMW i3 Offers a Glimpse of the Future

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By Tom Voelk- The New York Times

Generally, there have been two approaches to creating electric automobiles: Stuff batteries and an electric motor into existing gas-power cars, or start from scratch and create a new design. Not satisfied with either of those methods, BMW in a sense used a time machine.

Its new i3 is a deep dive into what the car of the future should be: efficient and sustainable. It’s transportation to be sure, but the i3 is also just as much an environmental think tank on wheels.

Its passenger cell is made from lightweight carbon fiber and reinforced plastic manufactured in a hydroelectric-power factory in Washington State. Interior panels use renewable Asian kenaf plants. It’s all assembled in a German plant amped up by wind power. It would be no surprise to find that the i3 is organic. And edible.

The motor provides 170 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of instant torque. While the i3 can be purely electric, drivers seeking more range will insist on the model with the 2-cylinder gasoline-power generator for $3,850 more. At 1.9 gallons, the gas tank adds about 60 miles of range. At speeds over 25 miles an hour, road noise masks the engine drone. Pedestrians may think you’re mowing the lawn. With the generator, i3 weighs just 2,900 pounds.

BMW claims 80 to 100 miles on battery power alone. My average was 65 using the midlevel efficiency mode Eco Pro. My range was confirmed by a couple in a grocery store parking lot who have owned their i3 for a few months.

Rear-wheel drive, 50-50 weight distribution and a spunky 0-to-60 time of 7.5 seconds seem a God-given right for BMW (it’s slower in Eco modes and in range-extender operation). But a stiff ride and lack of any road feel should prevent the Bavarians from using the Ultimate Driving Machine tagline here. Tires not much wider than my foot don’t help much.

The brake pedal is seldom needed in urban driving. Power regeneration is so aggressive that lifting off the throttle slows things strikingly. One-pedal driving activates the brake lights. At higher speeds, the i3 coasts with less resistance.

Inside, the car makes me wary of the future. The power button location is awkward, and the unusual drive selector takes practice. Creative and renewable materials used on the base Mega World model — one of three, along with Giga World and Tera World — give off an office cubicle vibe. Nearly all my passengers viewed the kenaf fiber panels as trunk liner material. That couple at the grocery store bought the Giga World model with leather and eucalyptus wood trim. It’s highly preferable to the Mega’s budget plastic look (and sometimes feel) and adds a larger data screen. It’s a bargain at $1,500 more.

At $47,050 as tested (without tax incentives), navigation is standard; heated seats add $550. Note: A huge medical-grade electric heating pad can be found on Amazon for under $50. I’ll once again gripe that BMW’s rearview camera is part of a $1,000 grouping. Who knew that the future, and safety, was about option packages?

Getting to the two rear seats requires using cumbersome rear-hinge coach doors. Average adults will fit fine, and the i3’s floor is delightfully flat, though feet in back will be cramped.

Looking like the avant-garde offspring of BMW’s classic Isetta and 2002, people instantly know if they love or hate the i3’s design. Comparably equipped, the Nissan Leaf and Chevy Volt are easily $11,000 less than the i3. All of them will get you to work; the i3 takes owners into the future.

BMW says talks with Apple don't involve developing a car

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By Edward Taylor and Eric Auchard - Reuters

German carmaker BMW said on Thursday its talks with technology giant Apple did not involve developing or building a car, denying a German magazine report.

Auto Motor und Sport said in its March 4 edition that the two firms were discussing possibilities for cooperating on the development of a passenger car.

Apple was impressed with BMW's carbon-fiber electric cars, the magazine said, citing a "high ranking BMW manager."

The BMW spokesman said: "We are in regular talks with companies from the IT and telecommunications sector, including Apple, concerning topics like connected vehicles. Developing or building a car is not a topic of these discussions."

An Apple spokesman said the company did not comment on rumor or speculation.

Auto Motor und Sport said Apple cars could be sold in Apple stores and serviced at BMW dealerships.

Among the issues that needed to be resolved was whether BMW would allow Apple to develop an operating system for its i3 model, a step that would require BMW to reveal details of its own vehicle software to the technology giant, the magazine said.

Last month, a source told Reuters that Apple was looking beyond mobile devices to learn how to make a self-driving electric car, and was talking to experts at carmakers and automotive suppliers.

2015 Geneva Motor Show: BMW 1 Series LCI Facelift

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By Horatiu Boeriu – BMWBLOG

The new BMW 1 Series Facelift makes its world debut today at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show.

Our first live photos show the compact 1 Series hatchback in Crimson Red color and the Sport Line package. In this configuration, the dynamic aspects of the 2015 BMW 1 Series 2015 are brought to the forefront, highlighting one of BMW’s most radical facelifts in the last decade.

Penned by Calvin Luk, a young designer schooled at the Art Center College of Design in California, the 2015 BMW 1 Series LCI is one of the most successful facelifts in the company’s history.

Contrary to what we have seen in BMW facelifts before, the Bavarians have decided to go all-in with this refresh. Moving away from small and subtle touches, like we’ve seen on the recently unveiled 6 Series, the 1 Series LCI has received extensive work on the lights and front fascia, where now the larger air intakes dominate the road.

The great changes of the light units are not typical of BMW facelifts in recent years and without a question it suggests that BMW has learned from the feedback received on the previous model. The headlights have been heavily revised and are now slimmer, more angular and with a sporty eyebrow that gives the front-end a more unified look. The LED headlights and LED foglights also help with the more premium and dynamic look of the car.

The air intakes have also grown optically giving the car a more focused look. The kidney grille has also been revised and are now beefier and made of chrome.

The rear has some distinct changes. The taillights now show the typical L-shaped lights, compared to the more square look of the previous model. LEDs are also standard. The slimmer and longer proportions make the rear look wider and sportier.

BMW has also restyled the bumper and tailpipes.

Inside, BMW kept the same overall layout, but added more premium materials and sportiness. The use of chrome is highly visible now in the 1 Series Facelift.

The new 3-door and 5-door BMW 1 Series models also come with a comprehensively revised engine line-up and additional measures designed to reduce fuel consumption and emissions, allowing them to lead the way once again in the introduction of new BMW EfficientDynamics technology.

The 1 Series BMW now comes with a selection of five petrol and five diesel engine options. With petrol engines, only the BMW M135i is now offered with xDrive, while the diesel engines provide the solution with the BMW 120d xDrive and BMW 118d xDrive, packing the needed punch in both power and torque in the new 1 Series models.

Here is a photo gallery from Geneva.

2018 BMW M3 Rumored to Have in Excess of 500 HP

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By Gabriel Nica - Auto Evolution

The guys from Automobile Magazine seem to be on a roll recently, as they are posting all sorts of insider info that seems rather believable. Unlike other publications, the specs they put out are more or less on par with what we’re guessing BMW will be aiming for on future models.

After telling us that the German company plans to introduce a new car known as XCite at the moment, that could fit right between the 1 Series and X1 models, they claim that they know every interesting detail about the future G20 3 Series. So, what did we already know and what’s new?

What we already knew

For the future products that will come out of Munich, BMW plans to keep only two architectures standing: one of them will be front-wheel drive, using the UKL platform and the other will be called CLAR (from Cluster Architecture) and will use the 35up platform. Basically, all cars as big or bigger than the 3 Series will be rear-wheel drive while the rest of them will be front-wheel drive.

That includes SUVs like the X1 and X2 and MPV like the 2 Series Active Tourer and 2 Series Gran Tourer. The question that seemingly hasn’t found an answer yet is whether the 2 Series will have the same faith.

Having driven the M235i, I can sincerely tell you that this would be a huge mistake. BMW built its name on the fact that they can make brilliant small coupes and the 2 Series is exactly that. As far as we know, the discussion regarding this issue is still heated in the higher hierarchies of Munich management and a decision is still to be made.

The new 3 Series will also benefit from the tech bits from the 7 Series that will be launched this year. Since the new 3er will come out somewhere in 2018 or 2019, there’s still plenty of time to allow tech to trickle down to the volume seller of the brand. 

Things like the new iDrive, new lightweight materials and new xDrive system will be used on the future 3 Series range. The plug-in hybrid model that is going to be introduced as part of the facelift the car will get this year will also be continued in the next generation, at the very least.

Of course, all the new B-family engines will be inserted under the bonnet and we won’t see plants bigger than the 3-liter inline 6-cylinder mills we have today.

Things we didn’t know

According to Automobile Magazine, there will be more than one plug-in hybrid version. There will be an entry-level model using a 1.5-liter 3-cylinder engine connected to an electric motor that can make around 80 HP and a 2-liter 4-cylinder one hooked up to an electric motor good for 120 HP. That’s a prospect that we can really see coming to life.

The body of the car will be even more aggressive thanks to a lower center of gravity, a sleeker greenhouse and a sportier stance. There will also be active anti-roll bars, active steering and a new torque-vectoring system.

The M3/M4 duo to get 500 HP

And then we get to the M cars. The same source claims that the future version of the S55 plant that we have today will keep its size in check but will add some new technology that will take the power levels up to over 500 HP.

This increase could be achieved in a number of ways but our money is on the new water injection cooling system introduced on the M4 Safety Car and rumored to make its debut on the M4 GTS later on. However, there’s also talk of electric turbochargers so the two could be combined into one big, mean package.

2015 BMW X6 M First Review: Bavarian Attack Dog

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By Trevor Dorchies - Kelly Blue Book

BMW's in-house M performance brand has never had trouble finding customers in the United States. In fact, one out of every three M vehicles sold currently find homes stateside. The first M vehicle, the E30 M3, arrived here 30 years ago and everything else is history. Perhaps the most interesting vehicle to wear the M badge is the BMW X6, a mid-size luxury crossover, or Sport Activity Coupe as BMW calls it. Introduced back in 2009, it has been a niche vehicle ever since. 

Taking the X6 M to a track day may not be the first thing that comes to mind when looking at it in the showroom. At first glance, it's more of a family hauler that with its coupe-like styling will undoubtedly stick out in the line of cars in front of your kid's school at dismissal. Nevertheless, we recently had the chance to sample the 2015 BMW X6 M on both the track and around town in Austin, Texas. 

Attack Mode  

We began our day with the X6 M at the Circuit of the Americas, a 3.427 mile course consisting of 20 turns. Rolling out of pit road, we followed professional driver Bill Auberlen, who competes in the United SportsCar Championship for BMW Team RLL. It should be noted that the X6 M tips the scales at over two and a half tons and Auberlen is one of the most successful drivers in BMW history. Like most professionals, Auberlen only has two speeds, on and off, and this played in the X6 M's favor as we pushed it further than we thought possible to keep the lead car in sight. From the edge of our comfort zone, we watched Auberlen pull away as he drove the X6 M around COTA like it was his BMW Z4 GT3 racecar. 

We logged 18 laps total around COTA and the X6 M felt like it was just getting warmed up. Powered by a 4.4-liter TwinPower turbo V8 engine, the 2015 X6 M is good for 567 horsepower and 553 lb-ft of torque and is mated to an 8-speed paddle-shift M Sport automatic transmission. On the back straightaway between turns 11 and 12, we saw speeds upwards of 150 mph before standing on the brakes and bringing it back down to 60 mph. Both the xDrive intelligent all-wheel drive and Dynamic Performance Control traction systems worked hard as the X6 M hustled around the track. Both are mostly unnoticeable until you enter a corner at speed where they work simultaneously to keep you heading in the right direction.

Out on the open road

When not on the track, the 2015 BMW X6 M serves well as a family hauler. The ability to seat five passengers despite the sweeping roofline makes the X6 M an appealing option. Even with a taller driver, rear legroom is surprisingly good and rear headroom ample enough to accommodate 6-foot 2-inch passengers. Folding the rear seats down opens an expanse of cargo room, which is easily accessed through the wide-opening power tailgate.

Inside, the X6 M is slathered in Nappa leather and held together with contrast stitching on surfaces including the seats, dashboard, door trim and steering wheel.  Alcantara lines the roof and pillars to give the X6 M a more luxurious feel. Carbon fiber accents on the dashboard remind occupants of its sporty nature. The M gear shifter has a new, distinctive design but doesn't feature a "P" function, instead the vehicle automatically goes into park when you hit the start/stop button.

According to BMW, every M model needs to be "fit for the Nordschliefe" (the famous 13-mile north loop of the Nürburgring racetrack in Germany) and the X6 M, while not the first vehicle to come to mind, is just that. Whether it was the back straightaway at Circuit of the Americas or the highway, the X6 M is a comfortable cruiser and much lighter on its feet than physics would normally allow. BMW says that the 2015 X6 M will go on sale at the end of March and will compete with Porsche Cayenne Turbo and Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT. Pricing starts at $103,050 and that includes a $950 destination charge. If you're in the market for a Sports Activity Coupe, or mid-size luxury crossover, and an enthusiast of BMW, the X6 M was made for you. 

2015 BMW 328d xDrive Sports Wagon review notes

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By Andrew Stoy, Wes Raynal, and Jonathan Wong - Autoweek

HAVING A GREAT BMW WAGON COMES AT A PRICE PREMIUM

DIGITAL EDITOR ANDREW STOY: Maybe it was the bleak winter landscape (and temperatures). Maybe it was the odd fishy smell in our tester (blame it on the oyster leather). Maybe it was irritation with cynical BMW pricing. Whatever the reason, I was less enamored of the 2015 BMW 328d xDrive Sports Wagon this time around than during our last test of the car.

It’s impossible to argue with the fuel economy. Even with diesel running a buck more a gallon than gasoline, 31 city/43 highway is hard to argue with. In my driving I averaged around 31 mpg via the trip computer, but the tank average was closer to 27 mpg. I suspect cold weather had a lot to do with our lower averages.

There’s no shortage of power from the diesel/eight-speed combination; when you need to go NOW the car scoots, then drops down to about 1,800 rpm to cruise on the highway. That said, the engine is clattery on acceleration, more so than our old Volkswagen Passat TDI or any of the current Mercedes diesel fours; though equipped with auto stop/start, you won’t want to use it -- if you thought the gasoline version was obtrusive, wait till you hear it try to spool up an oil burner in a hurry.

Otherwise the ride and handling are standard-issue 3-series, which is to say superb. Body control is stiff without being jarring and the steering remains among the best in the industry with great weight and near perfect response. I also tested some of the wagon’s carrying capacity, folding down the rear seats to drag home 200 lbs of loudspeakers (much to wife’s chagrin). At 44-inches, the speakers, laid on their sides, fit easily in the cargo bay with room left for padding all around.

Then, ennui as I glanced at our 328d’s window sticker. We’ve gone on at length about German manufacturer’s obnoxious option pricing, and the 3-series wagon’s Monroney came with the usual bad jokes: A grand for a backup camera and reverse sensors that would be standard on your average Ford Fusion? Sure, of course. Another grand for heated seats front and rear, like those that come on a Kia Optima? Yes, but be sure to add another $1,500 for actual leather seating surfaces. That’s how you end up with a $52,000 3-series wagon -- without satellite radio or navigation.

In the end it’s all buried in lease deals and residual fudging, making the fact you just spent $1,000 for bun warmers easy for most to ignore. And for those who can’t, let us show you something in a nice Golf Sportwagen TDI.

EDITOR WES RAYNAL: I like this car a lot, in theory. The wagon body style looks good to my eye and is practical, the diesel promises torque and terrific mpg numbers, and the all-wheel drive means it’d be about perfect for a Michigan winter.

I guessed right about the diesel, there’s power aplenty -- boot it and the car gets right down the road. Ride/handling is like, well, a small German sedan: excellent ride/handling balance, terrific body control, sublime steering…

So why do I say I like this car “in theory”? That’s because of the price. I’ve gone on probably too much about BMW’s pricing, er, strategy. A $52K car with no navigation or satellite radio is hilarious. Options like a backup camera should be standard at this kind of jingle. Ditto something like heated seats. Adding navigation would bump the price $2,150. Seriously.

This is a great car, but not great value. It doesn’t matter, though: BMW people buy BMWs. They don’t want a Benz (too stuffy -- a car for old people), an Audi (just a gussied up VW) or a Cadillac (please). Yes, in fact, I HAVE asked them. They want a BMW, darn it, and a BMW they shall have. 

ROAD TEST EDITOR JONATHAN WONG: I can’t say that I don’t agree with the guys above that BMW’s pricing setup is nutty, but as Wes also points out, people who want BMWs are going to purchase a BMW no matter what. They will pay through the nose for “options” that you would expect to be standard on a luxury vehicle and not flinch about it just so they’ll be able to say they own a Bimmer.

So there’s not much value argument for this 2015 BMW 328d xDrive Sports Wagon -- at least when it comes to interior, technology and convenience features. But I do think there is one feature on this wagon that is a pretty good deal and it sits under the hood: the turbo diesel I4 engine. To upgrade to the diesel from the 2.0-liter turbocharged gas I4 in the regular 328i it costs $1,500, which seems downright reasonable, considering you have to cough up $1,450 for leather seats.

As with any diesel, it provides a juicy amount of torque that gets the wagon moving in a hurry and much-improved fuel economy over the base gas engine that has an EPA fuel economy rating of 22 mpg city and 33 mpg highway. The diesel we have in our test car gets a 31 mpg city and 43 mpg highway EPA rating without electric motors, brake regeneration, battery packs, low-rolling resistant tires and funky-looking aerodynamic body treatments. That to me is sensational, and there are no tradeoffs in how the car performs. In fact, it’s a more entertaining car to drive with all that torque on tap.

Well, I guess I can’t say there are no tradeoffs to the diesel. Diesel fuel is more expensive than premium unleaded still, diesel pumps are usually quite dirty, and BMW’s diesel engine is a little clanky under acceleration. But those shortcomings aren’t enough to prevent me from having this engine in my BMW 3-series wagon if I were to purchase one.

Apart from the diesel, it’s still a BMW 3-series, meaning it’s a great performer with an extremely well sorted chassis that’s both good in corners and compliant for regular driving on roads that aren’t in the best condition. Sling it around and it’ll do almost everything you ask of it with a well-controlled body and the direct, well-weighted steering letting you place it where you want it. The usual complaint about run-flat tires being loud and wrecking ride doesn’t apply nearly as much now as it did before. The Pirelli rubber on our test car doesn’t transmit very much road noise into the cabin and contribute to a ride quality that’s certainly reasonable for a sporty vehicle.

The only complaint when it comes to how it drove was the brakes on our tester seemed to suffer from a soft pedal. There’s a little bit of travel at the top of the pedal before things start clamping down. It may just be a personal preference, but I just the brakes to start biting down almost immediately once I tap the pedal.

But in terms of small luxury wagons, I don’t think there’s a better performing option than the BMW 3-series wagon. You could get yourself a Volvo V60 that’s available with three gas engine options including a 2.0-liter turbo I4 with 240 hp, a 2.5-liter turbo I5 with 250 hp, and a turbo I6 producing 325 hp, but that’s on a platform that’s showing its age. If you did go with a Volvo, say, the 250-hp inline five-cylinder version with all-wheel drive, it’s a more affordable proposition. That model has a base price of $38,175, which undercuts this Bimmer’s $44K base by a good amount.

Looking at Audi, they have the Allroad, but that’s trying to be more of a crossover with its slightly higher ride height. And the only wagon that Mercedes-Benz offers here in the U.S. is the E-class, which is a class up in size from the 3-series and V60.

So the 3-series Sports Wagon is the class of this rather small field in my opinion. I suppose that’s worth a little bit of a price premium, right?

Options: M Sport package including 18-inch wheels, all-season tires, sport seats, high-gloss black trim, aluminum hexagon interior trim, M steering wheel, aerodynamic kit, shadowline exterior trim, anthracite headliner, increased top speed ($3,500); Dakota oyster/black leather ($1,450); dynamic handling package including adaptive M suspension, variable sport steering ($1,000); driver assistance package including rearview camera, park distance control ($950); cold weather package including heated steering wheel, heated front seats, heated rear seats, retractable headlight washers ($950)