Auto and Cars

Could Pop-Up Street Charging Stations Solve Urban EV Problems? The biggest issue with owning an electric car is simply finding a place to charge the damn thing. If you have a charging station at home, that’s great but there’s still often a need to charge on the go and many owners don’t have the ability to install a home charging station. However, public charging infrastructure just isn’t enough in most parts of the world, so creative charging solutions are necessary to make EVs more usable in the real world. One such solution was created by UK startup Urban Electric, who developed a pop-up charging station for the street. Urban Electric develop this solution awhile back. They created these pop-up chargers that hide underground for the majority of the time but can...

BMW iX3 electric SUV production will kick off in Summer 2020 The BMW iX3 will kick-off its production in the Summer 2020. The first fully electric SUV will be built in China, but it won’t be coming to the United States. Despite the global pandemic, BMW CEO Oliver Zipse says that “the preparations are proceeding according to plan despite uncertainties that have resulted from the coronavirus pandemic.” BMW’s iX3 will also be the first model from Munich to use the flexible architecture that can underpin combustion engine, plug-in hybrid and battery-powered cars. The same flexible platform will be used by the i4 electric in 2021. View this post on Instagram First-ever BMW iX3 pics – no camouflage #leak #bmw #bmwix3 A post sha...

BMW X6 M Competition in Alpine White with Sakhir Orange interior The newest Bimmer on display at the Abu Dhabi dealership is the all-new BMW X6 M Competition (F96) featured in Alpine White exterior paintwork. The new generation BMW X6 M Competition is a gargantuan vehicle. The high-performance Sports Activity Coupe is the most powerful X6 model in history, boasting a peak output of no less than 625 PS (617 hp). The uni paint finish of the exterior ensures a great visual contrast with the high-gloss black body ornaments and the 21″/22″ alloys with a burnished grey look (code 818 M). The equipment list of the new X6 M Competition ordered by the Middle East BMW showroom also includes several M Performance Parts, such as the carbon fiber exterior mirrors and the carbon fiber tr...

RUMOR: No BMW X7 M Planned — X8 M Will Be Standalone Model Ever since the BMW X7 made its debut, there have been rumors surrounding a potential X7 M. Those rumors haven’t seem to have died down, as they still continue to trickle out. The most recent, but certainly not the only one, came from Motor Trend who reported on such a car. Obviously, we’re not trying to disparage any publication but we do want to clarify that, according to our sources at BMW, there is no X7 M currently in the works or even planned for the future. In fact, BMW has never planned on making an actually M Division variant of the X7. Instead, it’s given the gargantuan SUV an M Performance model and the ALPINA XB7, the latter of which is more powerful than almost any M Division product anyway. So ther...

VIDEO: Here’s Everything You Need to Know About Rolls-Royce Rolls-Royce is a fascinating brand. Few brands of any kind have the sort of prestige as Rolls and few names are as instantly recognizable. It’s a brand that’s been around for over one hundred years and has built a reputation for making the most incredible luxury vehicles in the world. Because of its rich history and fascinating products, it’s a brand worth learning about. Which is what this video from Roadshow is about. In this video, we get to take a look at three cars from Rolls-Royce; the Phantom, Dawn and Cullinan; to check out how the famous Double-R brand tackles luxury in different ways. First up is the Phantom. While the Rolls-Royce Phantom has historically been a car to be driven in, rather than actua...

BMW Now uses AI in the painting process, for a perfect result BMW announced today the start of a new pilot aimed at using Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the painting process. This way, BMW hopes to deliver the best possible paint quality, without any imperfections or dust particles in the mix. The first plant to get this new AI-powered process is the one in Munich and, if the results are satisfactory, all other plants worldwide will get the new technology consequently. According to BMW, every new car will be inspected in the paint shop before the actual process can kick off. Data gathered in these inspections will be used to develop a comprehensive database for dust particle analysis. The specialists are now applying AI algorithms to compare live data from dust particle sensors in the ...

VIDEO: Which BMW Engine is Better in the Toyota Supra? It’s no secret that the all-new Toyota Supra is powered by a BMW engine. That’s been well known for at least a year now. However, the Supra is now available with a choice of two BMW engines; the 382 horsepower version of BMW’s B58 3.0 liter turbocharged inline-six and a 255 horsepower version of BMW’s B48 2.0 liter turbo-four. The question that now remains is: which one is better? At its face, that might sound like a silly question. Of course, the more powerful engine is the better engine. Right? Well, maybe not. Both have their strengths and weaknesses, so there could be an argument made that the smaller engine is actually the better engine for the Toyota Supra. In this new video from Everyday Driver, we get...

BMW i4: 2021 Market launch not endangered Despite the COVID-19 setback, BMW’s plans for the future i4 electric car are still on track. In a detailed interview with the Austrian Industry Magazine, BMW’s Michael Schmidt and Markus Baumann talk in detail about the challenges of production preparation. According to the two engineers, even though some things are not absolute certainty at the moment, the BMW i4 is currently fully on schedule and nothing stands in the way of the market launch in 2021: “The project is at the moment completely in the green area,” Markus Baumann, Head of Test and Digital Commissioning, told the magazine. The purely electric BMW i4 is built in the BMW plant Munich on a production line with the current 3 Series and the other variants o...

Photo Comparison: BMW X7 M50i vs ALPINA XB7 As long as ALPINA models exist, there will be debate about whether or not they’re actually better than the standard BMWs on which they’re based. Typically, that question has an easy answer — “yes”. However with the new ALPINA XB7 and the BMW X7 M50i, that answer might not be so clear cut. The X7 M50i is already a seriously good performance SUV and the ALPINA XB7 might be the least upgraded ALPINA product we’ve seen in awhile. Though, we haven’t driven the new XB7 so we can only compare their style. Let’s dig in. Up front, they’re extremely similar cars. The biggest differences lie in the front air intakes and the kidney grille trim. The BMW X7 M50i looks sportier, with darker grille trim a...

Photo Comparison: ALPINA XB7 vs Mercedes-AMG GLS63 Mercedes-Benz has been at this game longer than BMW and far longer than ALPINA. Making big SUVs fast is something that the three-pointed star has been good at for ages. It all started with the Mercedes-Benz GL63 AMG, a three-row SUV with a stonking twin-turbocharged V8 a more performance than an SUV had the right to have. However, the folks in Stuttgart no longer have the monopoly on such cars, as BMW introduced an uber-fast, three-row SUV of its own — the ALPINA XB7. Admittedly, the XB7 isn’t actually an entirely BMW product. It started out life as one but then ALPINA took a standard BMW X7 and gave it some juice. Now, it’s stronger, faster and more luxurious and right in line with the fastest brute from Affalterbach ...

Video: Pickup BMW E46 M3 shows up at the Nurburgring Even though BMW M built quite a few interesting one-off concepts over the years, what you’re about to see was never part of their experimental process. BMW M is known for playing around with different concepts. A few years back, the company revealed some of its never-before seen contraptions, and took the world by surprise. While all of them were interesting, one body style combo you couldn’t find there was a BMW E46 M3 in pickup guise. There was one E30 M3 model turned pickup in that line-up, but not an E46 M3. In the past, we saw a Touring model on that platform which still haunts my dreams. But getting back to the video at hand here, what you’re going to spot during this Nurburgring Touristenfahrten day is a uniqu...

1972 BMW 3.0 CSL previously owned by Jay Kay going under the hammer The BMW 3.0 CSL is a legendary car for a couple of reasons. Even if we leave out the outrageous exterior design that earned it the “Batmobile” nickname, the 3.0 CSL is the first car developed under the Motorsport colors. The BMW M division was in its incipient phase back then and the 3.0 CSL helped it become the legendary division it is today. As if that wasn’t enough, today we’re showing you one that’s going under the hammer Saturday. This one was owned by Jamiroquai’s own Jay Kay. The singer/songwriter is known for his impressive collection of cars. He is one of those celebrities who has a real taste for cars and owned several special models over the years. This one is special as we...

Video: Is BMW Testing an M8 CS Convertible on the Nurburgring? Summer is coming up soon in Germany and the Nurburgring will become a perfect track for all sorts of tests. Especially since the unpredictable weather of the Eiffel Mountains will stop surprising everyone. This is now the perfect time to start testing again and BMW along with other manufacturers are making the most of it. As you’re about to see, all sorts of cars are being tested on the Green Hell right now, including a suspicious M8 Convertible in full camo. The BMW M8 was unveiled last year and has been on sale in all body types for quite some time. Therefore, seeing one in full camo on the Ring is a rather peculiar appearance. As you’d suspect, such a presence on the track wouldn’t go unnoticed and our t...

ALPINA XB7 – Download Your Wallpapers Today! The ALPINA XB7 coverage continues here with the first set of wallpapers. Courtesy of ALPINA, we can now share with you the XB7 in all its glory. The wallpapers below give us a closer look at the beautiful design of the ALPINA XB7, the first seven-seater luxury SUV from Buchloe. The new ALPINA XB7 joins the 7 Series-based ALPINA B7, and will sit at the top of the X7 lineup. And it’s the closest thing you can get to a BMW X7M. Compared to the “standard” V8 TwinTurbo, BMW’s 4.4-liter twin-turbocharged V8 has been cranked up by ALPINA to 612 horsepower and 590 lb-ft of torque. The result is an impressive increase over the top X7 model – the X7 M50i which comes in at 523 hp and 553 lb-ft. The extra power takes the AL...

Rolls-Royce Gives us the Buzz for World Bee Day May 20 has been declared World Bee Day by the United Nations. At first, it might seem odd to dedicate an entire day to the same pesky insects that ruin backyard barbecues but bees are actually extraordinarily important to our entire way of life. Bees pollinate almost 90 percent of the world’s wild flowering plants and more than 75 percent of global food crops. So without bees, our food and plant life would soon die off. What’s frightening about that is the fact that bees are actually threatened by climate change and loss of habitat, all of which is due to us humans messing around. So the UN has declared May 20 World Bee Day, so we can all take a moment to appreciate those little buggers, who might sometimes be incredibly annoyi...

This is the new MINI Countryman powered by X-RAID The partnership between MINI Motorsport and the X-RAID rally team continues in 2020 with a new MINI Countryman model. According to a press release issued today, X-RAID is offering a special off-road package for the MINI Countryman. First off, the off-road package increases the ground clearance up to four centimeters. The increase of ground clearance is achieved through a combination of a two-centimeters aluminum body lift kit and larger rims and tires combination. The more robust wheels, together with tire with a higher sidewall, are the result of the Dakar Rally experience and they can help avoid tire damage. Furthermore, a wheels ring is used and therefore it is not necessary to replace the complete wheel in case of having a damage. A...

Chicagoland BMW Dealerships Team Up to Give Back During COVID-19 We currently face a pandemic like never before in our lifetime. COVID-19 has impacted not only just our country but the entire world. To do their part and help give back to the community, as well as the people helping to keep us safe, eleven dealerships from the Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana areas teamed up with BMW Central Region to help deliver goods to the people that need it most. The BMW dealerships also partnered up with Siebert Inc., a local Illinois company that specializes in making chemical products, to help deliver necessary hand sanitizers and wipes to people deemed high-risk during this crisis. Retirement communities, food pantries, shelters, hospitals, police departments and firehouses were all given sup...

2020 BMW X5 xDrive45e Review – The New Best Buy In the olden days, premium SUVs were not even a concept. Anything that rode as high as a modern SUV does today was deemed from the get go as a ‘utility vehicle’. Therefore, there was no need of such “luxuries” as leather upholstery or double-zone climate control. Cars back then were used in completely different ways. SUVs, in the meantime, became the norm and people just can’t seem to get enough of them these days. Since that’s the case, manufacturers have to adapt and offer different drivetrains to the customers, who are now seemingly hellbent on buying only high-riding cars. It first was the BMW X5 xDrive40e That’s probably what led to the introduction of the BMW X5 xDrive40e a few years back. N...

Video: BMW i3 assembly video is absolutely mesmerizing Videos from inside production plants of various car makers are nothing new. We’ve seen them in spades over the years. However, when it comes to electric vehicles, it’s a bit of a different story. That’s because they go through a different process. When it comes to the BMW i3, that’s even more interesting because of the way the Leipzig plant works. That said, the video below is absolutely mesmerizing, showing the intricate process behind not just assembling the car, but actually making the electric motor. Everything is done on site, in Leipzig. The BMW plant is the one responsible for putting together the i3 and the i8 models. After getting the carbon fiber bits imported from the U.S., the German facility puts...

BMW i Andretti Motorsport gets no points in latest virtual Formula E outing Instead of seeing Formula E races taking place on the real streets of cities around the world these days, we’re now forced to watch these cars on our screens. The ABB Formula E Race at Home Challenge basically took over from what we knew and is trying to keep us entertained, from the safety of our own homes. The BMW i Andretti Motorsport was quite successful in the first three races held in the virtual realm so far but the most recent event left them wanting for more. The fourth race of the ABB Formula E Race at Home Challenge took place on the virtual circuit in Hong Kong. Maximilian Günther, who had two wins and a third place to his name so far, qualified in fourth place for the Formula E drivers&rs...

Video: This might just be the best BMW collection in the world There are quite a few BMW collectors around the world. The Bavarian brand manages to inspire a lot of passion among petrolheads, no matter where they might be located. That’s also one of the reasons why some older BMWs are seeing their values go through the roof right now: there are a lot of rich people willing to pay for them. One of those people is Peter Gleeson, the man who owns what is probably the best BMW collection in the world. The video below shows exactly why I think that and you only have to watch a couple of minutes of it to get my point. What Gleeson has in his garage includes cars that even BMW doesn’t have in their collection. For example, Gleeson is the one who owns the BMW M1 Art Car done by Fran...

BMW ALPINA teases more the new XB7 ahead of the official reveal The all-new BMW ALPINA XB7 will become the most powerful variant of the G07 generation when it officially launches Tuesday, May 19th, 2020. The XB7 will also be ALPINA’s largest vehicle in production and the third addition of the Buchloe-based tuner in the category of high-sided, Sports Activity models after the XD3 and XD4. ALPINA Automobiles and BMW Canada continue to tease the new XB7 on their Instagram accounts with a series of images that depict some details of the new model. For example, we get to see that the new XB7 will sport the ALPINA logo engraved in the glass-crafted iDrive controller. Also, we get to see an impression of the rear end of the XB7, namely the left-hand side tail lamp with the ALPINA chrome...

Why BMW is a role model in overcoming hard times The BMW story has not always been smooth and easy. Yet every time crises arise, the company managed to cope with them and emerged more powerful after such challenging periods. Ever since its birth in 1916, BMW has been often confronted with particularly difficult situations. This required innovative plans to be put into action in order to overcome the stressful context. BMW has always been a visionary company, defined by skilled and motivated people, who have led the company forward and out of the crisis periods, only for it to become stronger and learn a lot from the past challenges it was subjected to. Here is a short roundup of all the major, eventful periods BMW has encountered during its 104-year existence. 1919: Reliable engines and...

BMW set up a ‘Corona Competence Team’ to fight virus in its facilities BMW, like many other car makers, is feeling the full force of the Coronavirus outbreak on numerous fronts. Sales have dropped by up to 40 percent in certain markets and this is proving to be a situation nobody was prepared for. Nevertheless, the Bavarians have taken measures to try and keep things under control as much as possible. That includes setting up a “Corona Competence Team” which is supposed to help fight this outbreak and keep it under control. The announcement came from the CEO himself, Oliver Zipse, during the 100th BMW Annual General Meeting in Munich, on Thursday. According to the company, BMW is now making its own face protective masks, which will be needed for its employees as plants aroun...

Video: Tuned BMW X3 M drag races tuned Audi RS3 Normally, we wouldn’t consider the BMW X3 M a proper rival for the Audi RS3, or the other way around. These two cars fight in different categories and are drastically different. However, when talking about a family feud, things tend to get a different perspective. What we have here, in the video posted below, is one such domestic dispute, apparently, as the two people racing are actually husband and wife. We’ll have to take the wife’s side this time, as she’s the one driving the BMW X3 M. According to the video description, both cars are tuned so apart from the unfair category mismatch, we’re also dealing with modified performance numbers. The Audi RS3 was apparently tuned to make around 500 HP which is a rath...

Rolls-Royce Extends ‘Young Designer Competition’ to June 1 A while back, Rolls-Royce announced the launch of a ‘Young Designer’ competition, aimed at keeping kids and teenagers occupied while stuck at home. The Brits didn’t expect it to be as popular as it proved in the end though and they are now announcing that they decided to extend the deadline for entries to Monday, June 1 2020. This gives aspiring designers up to the age of 16 an additional two weeks to create and submit their dream Rolls-Royce of the future. The competition was originally announced at the beginning of April and has already attracted over 2,000 designs from talented kids in over 70 countries worldwide. Its original aim was to stimulate design talent and provide a welcome distraction for children ...

SPIED: MINI Countryman LCI seen testing in camouflage MINIs might not be so mini anymore. The entire MINI brand has been getting bigger and bigger. Even the standard Cooper is quite large by MINI standards. However, the biggest of them all is the MINI Countryman, which shares its underpinnings with the BMW X1, a genuine crossover. However, as frustrating as it might be that the famous British icon is bloating further and further each year, the big Countrman sells and sells well. Hence its new LCI update seen in these new spy photos. (We don’t own the photos but they can be seen here) In these photos, the MINI Countryman we see like, well, a Countryman. It sports some camo at the front and the back, seemingly covering up some updates to its headlights and taillights. Considering th...

Norbert Reithofer re-elected as chairman of BMW AG Supervisory Board Former BMW boss Norbert Reithofer gets a second term in office as head of the Supervisory Board. At BMW’s 100th Annual General Meeting held May 14th, 2020, Dr.-Ing. Norbert Reithofer was reconfirmed as chairman of the Supervisory Board of BMW AG. The new mandate covers a period of five years. Norbert Reithofer, almost 64 now, was first elected as chairman of the Supervisory Board in 2015, after stepping down from its leading position at the helm of BMW. The career of Norbert Reithofer has been linked with BMW Group for over 30 years. He has joined the company in 1987 and has held various management positions since then. He was first head of maintenance until 1991, when he became director of the Body-In-White (BI...

Video: New BMW 2 Series Active Tourer spotted testing on Nurburgring The BMW 2 Series Active Tourer is not the most exciting car currently offered by the Bavarians. But it is certainly one of their best sellers in Europe. It is still quite a popular choice for customers looking for a premium MPV. Therefore, BMW decided to renew it for a second generation. At the same time, BMW dropped the larger 2 Series Gran Tourer from the lineup and won’t get a second life. Just a few days ago, the new model was seen wearing heavy camouflage but we can still make out a couple of distinctive design features. The one that will blow you away is the huge set of grilles up front. Compared to the outgoing model, judging by the outline in the camo, the iconic grille will be probably twice as big. The...

BMW Welt will host several events dedicated to the electrified future If you’re curious about how the electrification of the automotive industry will shape up the world we live in, you should know that the BMW Welt museum will be hosting several events focused on those topics in the near future. The meetings will take place in the Future Forum, a section of the BMW Welt museum dedicated to such events. The series will highlight electrification from a technological, structural, creative and artistic perspective. The first event will take place Tuesday, May 19, and will focus on the battery. Experts in battery research, development and recycling will highlight the different stages of a battery’s life cycle – from the extraction of the raw materials to battery manufacture...