Auto and Cars

Video: BMW M8 drag races Mercedes-AMG A45 S with a twist We all know that the BMW M8 and the Mercedes-AMG A45 S are not proper rivals. The drag race we’re about to watch though, has a bit of a twist to give the A45 S a chance. The guys from CarWow thought about a way to even the odds and they decided to try a run between the two using the M8 in RWD mode. That means, the BMW will have to get off the line sending power exclusively to the rear axle. For some, that might not be a big deal. After all, up until a few years ago, the BMW M5 was a rear-wheel drive model, wasn’t it? However, putting the 625 HP of the M8 Competition on the ground efficiently, on a damp track, using only the rear wheels, is a bit more complicated than you may think. Thus, even though the power differenc...

2021 BMW M5 Facelift leaks ahead of its unveil Ahead of its tomorrow’s unveil, the new 2021 BMW M5 Facelift has leaked onto the Interwebs (source: @wilcoblok). The refreshed M5 LCI will be introduced in the Imola Red color, an iconic paint for the BMW M division. Of course, design wise, the 2021 BMW M5 Facelift follows the lines of the refreshed 5 Series. There is a new set of headlights and taillights of the 5 Series LCI, along with the modified kidney grille and front aprons. The most important update at the front is undoubtedly the flatter headlights with their completely new daytime running light design. In place of the slightly angular daytime running light rings, which open towards the kidney, there is a new L-shaped design which is only rudimentary reminiscent of the double...

VIDEO: Can the BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe Take Down the KIA Stinger? Ever since cars like the KIA Stinger started appearing, fans of brands like BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Audi have felt that the Koreans are close to the Germans but not quite there just yet. However, what if they actually are? In this new video from Everyday Driver, we get to see the BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe take on the KIA Stinger GT. The Stinger has been on sale for awhile now and, to be honest, hasn’t sold very well. However, that likely has to do with the fact that customers have a hard time spending BMW money on a car with a “KIA” badge. When you look at it, though, the “BMW money” you’ll spend on a fully loaded, top-of-the-line Stinger GT is the same as a mildly loaded BMW 430i Gran Cou...

Ordering Guide and Options: ALPINA XB7 (G07) The ALPINA XB7 is the second addition to the U.S. current lineup offered by the Buchloe-based automaker. It is also the most expensive BMW crossover and sits in top 10 most expensive BMWs today. Naturally, with a price tag of $141,300, the ALPINA XB7 comes packed with a wide range of standard features and equipment.Exterior ColorsThere are four standard colors offered by the ALPINA for their XB7 SUV. All of them are included in the base price.Alpine WhiteBlack SapphireMineral WhitePythonic BlueArtic GreyThen we have two additional colors which come with a price of $1,950:Tanzanite BlueAmetrin MetallicUpholsteryMoving inside the cabin, the ALPINA XB7 starts to shine even more. While the Lavalina leather trim is mysteriously missing from the st...

BMW 4 Series Pickup Truck – April Fool’s Day Comes Again The BMW 4 Series Coupe is one of the most rendered BMWs in our recent memory. No other recent bimmer has received so much attention as the new 4 Series, largely due to its daring and controversial design. In the last few weeks, we’ve seen several renderings of the 4 Series, from a shooting brake and smaller grille, to today’s special Photoshop.Even though April Fool’s Day is still a year away, rendering artist X-Tomi Design has decided to give us a rendering of a BMW 4 Series Pickup Truck. Considering that BMW is no stranger when it comes to one-off models for April 1st, we wouldn’t be surprised to see a 4 Series prototype truck in the future.Design wise, the 4 Series Coupe has what it takes to take the sha...

The last BMW i8 built is a stunning one: Painted in Portimao Blue The BMW i8 production at the Leipzig plant ended this week with a special model. To give the beautiful i8 plug-in hybrid a proper send-off, BWM Individual stepped in and painted the i8 Roadster in Portimao Blue. Based on our limited knowledge of the world wide i8 production, we believe this is the first and only i8 in the stunning blue shade.BMW i8’s end of production was actually planned for April, but was postponed for several weeks due to the COVID-19 forced closure of the plant.Up next2014 BMW i8 Concours d’Elegance Edition Sold For $825,000BMW i8 in Lava Orange and tuned by AC SchnitzerBMW i3 and the BMW i8 Garage Italia CrossFade introduced in ParisBMW i Park Lane showcases the i8 Individual programBMW i...

TEST DRIVE: 2020 MINI JCW Clubman ALL4 – Green Hot Chili Pepper With a 302-hp powertrain, the MINI John Cooper Works Clubman ALL4 has proven me it is quite a spectacular machine at all times, providing sheer fun and an unforgettable driving experience.Of course, when driving the MINI JCW Clubman ALL4, one really has to forget about practicality, interior space, variability and reduced fuel consumption. The hot British wagon isn’t about those topics, as it was developed with a specific focus in mind: offering a sensational performance package in a quite affordable package.Exterior and interior designAs soon as you get your first glimpse of the car, the MINI JCW Clubman ALL4 greets you with an eccentric visual package. The model tested was specced in an eye-catching Racing Green pai...

BMW “i440” Coupe Rendered with new 4 Series Grille Design When the BMW i4 Concept first launched, it was shown with the same grille design as the Concept 4. At the time, we were told that the production i4 will share the same grille design as the production 4 Series and would, essentially, be an electric 4 Series Gran Coupe. So to understand what the i4 will eventually look like, take the current 4 Series Coupe, add two doors and remove any function from the grille. However, what if BMW made a coupe version of the i4. Such as this render of a BMW “i440”.If I’m being perfectly honest, this render actually looks really cool. The giant new grille design looks better on an electric car, as it can be made to look more futuristic and cartoonish. Those funky EV-style wheels a...

The ALPINA B5 Touring is the BMW M5 Wagon We’ll Never Get For the past few generations of M5, BMW has denied enthusiasts the right to have a proper M5 Touring. The long-roof M5 died off with the E60-generation, leaving the F10 and current F90 generation cars to get by as sedans only. To further twist the knife, BMW’s main competitors have made super wagons in the same segment at the same price point, further frustrating the BMW fanbase. However, for European customers, there is a bit of a consolation prize — the ALPINA B5 Touring.The ALPINA B5 Touring is just about all any enthusiast could ask for out of a daily driver. It’s supremely fast, incredibly luxurious and, thanks to its wagon body shape, surprisingly practical. Only a handful of cars on the road offer the sam...

Here is what the BMW 4 Series Coupe looks like without front license plate The BMW 4 Series and its oversized kidney grille topic is far from over. As we approach the market launch, BMW customers and fans are scouring for information regarding the new coupe. As always, BMW has done a great job putting together a web campaign featuring the refreshed sports coupe. But there was one thing missing from the extensive photo and video gallery – a model shown without the front license plate.U.S. customers quickly became interested in seeing that version since not all states mandate a front plate. Today, BMW has unveiled the M440i xDrive model with a California rear plate, but no front license plate. So for the first time, we get to see the large kidneys without an element that visually br...

TEST DRIVE: 2020 Mercedes-Benz EQC – A luxurious electric SUV Whenever Mercedes-Benz announces a new and unique product, the car industry stops and listens. Understandably so as the German brand was one of the first to come out in the automotive industry and its founder is largely credited for making the first ever automobile. Therefore, with a tradition spreading back to 1886, Mercedes has a lot of pull in the car world.Last year, the Stuttgart-based giant decided to finally get into the electric car market with a proper, standalone model. And while the EQC might be the only purely electric vehicle Mercedes-Benz is building right now, it’s not exactly the first. Our more car savvy readers might recall the Smart electric cars and also the electric A-Class launched more than a deca...

BMW 4 Series Rendered as a Bare-Bones Entry-Level Model There seems to be a trend as of late to render brand new cars as if they were sold as absolute bare-bones models, with plastic bumpers and steel wheels. While that’s not the sort of thing that actually happens with premium models, sometimes it’s fun to think of what a premium, luxury car might look like if it were stripped down to the bare minimum to be sold as cheaply as possible. In the case of the all-new BMW 4 Series, it looks worse than normal.Obviously, when you see these renders they look worse than the standard car. That’s sort of the point. Sometimes that’s not the case, as some cars are oddly charming when stripped down to nothing, but it is the case with the new 4 Series. With black plastic bumper...

Step-by-Step Installation: BMW M Performance suspension kit for the BMW M2 It’s been a while since BMW introduced their M Performance product range. Back in 2012 we saw the first M Performance automobiles, which were bridging the gap between production series BMWs and M models. In addition we also saw numerous M Performance parts coming to the aftersales market for different BMW model lines. BMW’s strategy was clear: The sales volume for aftermarket parts is huge and BMW wants to have its share of the cake.One of BMW’s models which is predestined for the M Performance parts is the BMW M2. Although the M2 already comes with a sporty setup as standard, many customers are looking for an even sportier and more precise chassis. Some time ago I had the opportunity to drive a...

VIDEO: Is the BMW i8 Now and Affordable Dream Car? I still remember when the BMW i8 was first revealed back in 2014. It was a revelation. From its futuristic styling, that still looks futuristic all these years later, to its state-of-the-art powertrain and, while lacking in performance, is still impressive today, the BMW i8 was an incredible car. However, its relatively lackluster performance, which was exacerbated by newer competitors, and high price tag kept it from being a big sales hit. Also, because of its complicated hybrid powertrain, customers were a bit weary of owning it. All of which has led to a shocking level of depreciation.Back in 2014, the i8’s base price was around $136,000, which is admittedly very expensive for a car with just three cylinders and less than 400 c...

2021 BMW M5 Facelift – The Latest “Official Spy Photos” Before The Unveil On the evening of June 16th (US time), BMW will finally unveil the 2021 M5 Facelift. The car has been teased for months and now it’s time to grace us with its presence. But before that, BMW has put together a set of M5 “official spy photos” captured on the Nurburgring. Of course, the idea behind this photoshoot is to emphasize the athletic qualities of the business sedan which can be a great companion on and off the track.Of course, design wise, the 2021 BMW M5 Facelift will follow the lines of the refreshed 5 Series. Expect to see new headlights and taillights of the 5 Series LCI, along with the modified kidney grille and front aprons. The most important update at the front is undoubtedly the fl...

BMW E30 3 Series Buyers Guide – All The Information You Need The E30 was a series of cars BMW produced in many variations for the US from 1984 to 1993. In the car’s heyday it was synonymous with yuppies. Now however, it is known as a super fun to drive car, with the M variant being one of the most desirable BMW’s ever made. While these cars used to be very common to see on the street even just 15 years ago, they have sadly become increasingly rarer due to issues such as rust and just simple mechanical negligence.Why Should I Buy One?Up nextBMW SUV Buyer’s Guide: Which X Car to buy?Buyer’s Guide: What to look for in a BMW E36 M3Buyer’s Guide: E60 5 SeriesBuyer’s Guide: BMW E39 M5Buyer’s Guide: The Infamous BMW E65 / E66 7 SeriesWhether you want a...

BMW 3 Series Long Wheelbase to replace 3 Series GT in India BMW’s 3 Series Long wheelbase model has been around for many years, but until now, it was solely reserved for the Chinese market. But that might change. According to Autocar India, the long wheelbase 3 Series could replace the BMW 3 Series Gran Turismo in the Indian automotive market. Despite its unconventional looks, the 3 Series GT turned out to be BMW’s bestseller in India.The 3 Series LWB is expected to hit the showrooms by mid-2021, filling the void left by the recently canceled 3 GT. Same publication reports that Indian customers have already embraced long wheelbase sedans, such as the Mercedes S-class, BMW 7 Series and the Audi A8.Therefore, the longer 3 Series could be a great fit and sold at a much lower pr...

Is the 2022 Tesla Roadster Actually Going to Use Rockets? Sometimes I wish I was Elon Musk. Not for all of his money or for the sort of blind confidence it takes to give a baby an alpha-numeric airplane name but for his ability to dream up whatever madness he wants and convince people it will be real. Recently, the Tesla owner and Howard Hughes stan said that the 2022 Tesla Roadster would actually get a boost (both literally and figuratively) from rockets, via a “SpaceX Thruster Package”.These rocket boosters are said to be compressed air rockets, fed by a COPV (composite overwrapped pressure vessel) filled with compressed air. These rockets are said to be placed all around the outside of the vehicle, capable of adding thrust in any direction for various different reasons. F...

Video: Here’s the condensed story behind the iconic BMW M1 The BMW M1 supercar wrote history back when it was launched. It was a necessary car for the Bavarian car maker and one that could’ve changed the automotive scene forever. That’s because during its development, BMW actually pondered buying out Lamborghini. Imagine how things would’ve looked today if that happened. It didn’t though and BMW had more headaches coming in from Italy than rewards.The story behind the M1 was discussed by its creator, Jochen Neerpasch, time after time. We actually had the chance to sit down with him several times and talk about it. However, if you’re not up to speed with how things went down, the video below might be the fastest way to get you up to speed. It’s exactly...

BMW Working on PHEV models with 100 kilometers of electric range One of the biggest issues people complain about on modern-day PHEV vehicles is the electric range. But it’s not always an issue, as we’ve repeatedly discovered during our reviews. Studies show that most daily commutes around town are rarely over 20 miles. However, car makers have to soothe this kind of range anxiety as well and BMW is already working on it, as it turns out.In the BMW range today you’ll find plenty of PHEV offerings. From the 2 Series up, almost every model has a plug-in hybrid choice available. The farthest you can go, according to the Germans, is about 40 miles according to their estimates.Real-life results show up to 35 miles on a single charge, which isn’t bad at all. However, ac...

I’m Driving the New Toyota Supra — Ask Me Questions One of the most interesting cars in the past few years is the new Toyota Supra. Despite being an automotive icon for decades, Toyota stopped making the Supra for years and years, only for it to return once again as half a BMW. Ever since we learned of this joint venture, I’ve been dying to sample the new Supra and see what a Bavarian take on a Japanese icon would be like. Thankfully, I have that opportunity as we speak, as there’s a Nitro Yellow Supra sitting in my driveway.It might be impossible to not know at this point but, for those that don’t, the new Supra and BMW Z4 were designed together from the ground up by both brands and share most of their components. To be honest, most of the parts are sourced from BMW, ...

BMW X5 xDrive45e model arrives in the US priced at $65,400 There’s been a lot of online talk about the arrival of the new BMW X5 xDrive45e in the US. Initially, it was thought that the new plug-in hybrid from BMW would not come to the US at all. But later on, BMW dismissed those rumors and we even got an estimate for the pricing: $65,400. That was a correct estimate, as it turns out, BMW confirming it today while announcing the introduction of the PHEV SUV for the US market.The new PHEV SUV will be made locally, as all CLAR-based SUVs are, manufactured at the Spartanburg plant in South Carolina. For the U.S. market, some trims and features are included as standard, which you won’t find on other markets. As standard, the X5 xDrive45e gets 19″ V-spoked Style 734 wheels w...

The Diesel King: ALPINA D5 Facelift with 408 horsepower “The King is dead, long live the King.” Let’s welcome the new 2020 ALPINA D5 Facelift which was unveiled earlier today. Since the BMW’s fantastic M550d quad-turbo model was phased out, the refreshed ALPINA D5 is now the most powerful diesel in the BMW family. The 3.0 liter straight-six cylinder engine with three turbochargers delivers an impressive output of 300 kW (408 hp). A maximum torque of 800 Nm (590 lb-ft) is available between 1750 and 2750 rpm.The Most Powerful Diesel In The FamilyThe BMW ALPINA D5 S Saloon accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.4 seconds and the Touring in 4.6 seconds. With a top speed of 286 km/h (178 mph) (Touring 283 km/h (176 mph)), the BMW ALPINA D5 S is one of the fastest of its ...

SPIED: 2021 BMW iNEXT (I20) scooped testing on the Ring A prototype of the future BMW iNEXT electric SAV has recently been deployed on the Nurburgring track for a session of chassis and dynamics fine-tuning. BMW i’s new halo model is set to arrive around Spring 2021. Until then, the road development phase marches on, as the camouflaged iNEXT (internally dubbed I20) has recently been caught off-handed at the Ring in Germany (as we don’t own the spy shots, you can see them here).The exterior cladding is still heavy, but it still lets us see most of the general silhouette of Munich’s new, pure electric Sports Activity Vehicle. The iX, as it will likely be titled when it officially premieres next year, will sport a muscular, robust and highly dynamic attitude.Rendering @ze...

Video: The BMW X7 M50i is too fast for comfort The BMW X7 range is topped by the V8-equipped M50i model. In this guise, the ultra-luxurious X7 turns into an incredibly fast machine, one that definitely comes close to defying physics. Even though it’s not an M car, and even though there is a more powerful version out there, the Alpina XB7, the BMW X7 M50i is still bringing a lot of performance to the table. Some might even go as far as saying is a bit too much.The video below shows exactly how fast this car can be, at least in a straight line. The guys from AutoTopNL went from 0 to 250 km/h (155 mph) and the numbers are simply astounding for a 7-seat SUV. The X7 M50i did the 0-100 km/h (62 mph) sprint in 4.73 seconds. It went up to 200 km/h (124 mph) in 17.48 seconds and the sprint...

BMW ALPINA B5 Facelift with 621 hp and 330 km / h top speed Following the release of the BMW 5 Series Facelift, ALPINA is now bringing their own updates to the market. The 2020 ALPINA B5 Facelift was just announced and brings a series of styling upgrades. The Buchloe-based B5 not only gets the sharper look of the refreshed 5 Series, but it’s also based on the M Sport Package. The power output has also been raised from 608 to 621 horsepower, while the design is significantly sportier.Revised Power UnitThe 4.4 liter V8 engine with bi-turbo charging delivers an impressive output of 457 kW (621 hp), and a maximum torque of 800 Nm (590 lb-ft), available from just 2000 rpm. ALPINA says that the BMW ALPINA B5 has quick, linear throttle response and on-demand power delivery throughout the...