Auto and Cars

VIDEO: Tiff Needell explores the Nurburgring in a BMW M8 Competition If you like cars and motorsport, you likely know the name Tiff Needell. He’s a former racing driver and current TV presenter. He was a presenter on the original Top Gear, then Fifth Gear and now he’s all over, doing both TV and YouTube. In this latest video for DriveTribe, Needell takes us through the Nurburgring, where he raced in Group C, back in the ’80s. The video begins in London, where he picks up fellow DriveTribe presenter Mike Fernie in a BMW M8 Competition. From there, they head into in the Euro Tunnel and come out in France, where they begin the largest portion of the trip. From France, they drive through Belgium, which looks breathtaking, and into Germany where they finally end up at the &...

Video: Go round the Nurburgring in the AC Schnitzer ACS2 Sport Not long after the BMW M2 Competition was launched, German tuning shop AC Schnitzer unveiled a kit for the new kid on the block. Their complete package is called the AC Schnitzer ACS2 Sport in the traditional way the German tuner has been naming its cars over the last few decades. And by the looks, it is quite an impressive machine. Not only does it have more power but including all the other changes done to the chassis, this is a completely different beast. The guys from Sport Auto in Germany took the car out for a spin on the Nurburgring to see how all those changes alter the character of the car overall. So what are we looking at here, exactly? Well, the AC Schnitzer ACS2 Sport comes with a host of add-ons on the outside,...

This Mansory Coastline Rolls-Royce Cullinan is… Something Else The Rolls-Royce Cullinan is, in every measurable way, reserved for the wealthiest people in the world. It’s a stunning machine too, filled with all the best materials you could get on a car and more luxury than you could possibly need. For some people though, that’s still not enough and that’s how companies like Mansory make a living. They recently unveiled a special take on the Cullinan under the ‘Coastline’ name and it is… something else. The car was supposed to be introduced to the world via the Geneva Motor Show but since that didn’t happen, due to the Coronavirus, they tuner decided to go the virtual route. Therefore, here is what could probably be considered the most luxurious...

Photo Comparison: BMW i4 Concept vs Tesla Model 3 Performance Now that the BMW i4 Concept is here, it’s time to compare it to its main competitor — the Tesla Model 3 Performance. Of course, no one outside of BMW has driven the actual i4 just yet, so we can’t comment on how they compare on the road. However, we can compare their styling, so that’s what we’re going to do. (Full disclosure, Tesla doesn’t provide a ton Model 3 Performance photos on its press site and not all of them line up well with i4 Concept photos. So I used a mix of regular Model 3 and Performance photos. But since they’re barely any different, it works out fine) Of course, the BMW i4 Concept is just that — a concept. While the Model 3 is a full production car. So compari...

Photo/Spec Comparison: BMW M550i vs 2020 Mercedes-AMG E53 Among the many internet automotive reveals, in the absence of the 2020 Geneva Motor Show, was the 2020 Mercedes-AMG E53. Any AMG model with a ‘5’ at the beginning of its numeric nomenclature is a sort of mild AMG model, similar to BMW’s M Performance models. So this new AMG E53 is Stuttgart’s competitor for the BMW M550i. Being that we haven’t driven the new Mercedes-AMG E53, we can’t comment on how they drive. However, we can compare both performance sedans’ looks, specs and price. So let’s dig in. It’s shocking to me how well the G30 5 Series has aged. It’s a few years old now and it still looks as smart and handsome as it did when it was launched. In fact, I think it...

Video: BMW 3 Series vs Cadillac CT5 comparison review In the last year, Cadillac has been hard at work on their new line-up. They launched a series of new models recently including the Escalade and the new CT5 which is adhering to a new naming scheme. I’m not going into details but the CT5 is aimed at cars like the 5 Series, A6 and E-Class. Which brings me to today’s video. I’ve been watching the guys from Throttle House for quite some time now, before they made cool videos with Jason Camisa. They have been pretty spot on but this time I don’t agree with the comparison they set up. That’s simply because the CT5 is a bigger animal altogether. You can actually see that in the video below, in any of the shots with the two cars together. The 3 Series is smaller...

BMW i4 likely to have two powertrains: RWD and AWD The BMW i4 is one of the headlines in the automotive world this week. The four-door electric coupe is the second car from the BMW Group to use the fifth generation eDrive architecture. The other is the BMW iNEXT (iX). BMW has already released some details around the BMW i4. This fifth-generation tech for the BMW i4 brings out new electric motors, power electronics, charging tech and high-voltage batteries. The electric motor, for example, will be able to deliver up to 530 HP according to BMW, as much as the 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 on M50i models today. The Bavarians are also claiming their products are extremely efficient while the design and packaging of the batteries will allow the company to fit it in extremely tight spaces, due to ...

VIDEO: BMW X4 M Competition vs Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio Prior to driving the BMW X3 M Competition, the most brutal SUV I’d ever driven was the Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio. Want a proper monster that Alfa is and, quite frankly, still probably the most exciting SUV I’ve ever driven. However, the X3/X4 M twins from BMW pack just as much power. So the question now stands: Which one is faster? In this new video from Cars.co.za, we take a look at a drag race between the BMW X4 M Competition and fast Alfa. On paper, both cars are extremely similar. Both have twin-turbo six-cylinder engines, pack about the same horsepower (503 hp for X4 M and 505 hp for Stelvio QV), have about the exact same torque (442 lb-ft for the Bimmer and 443 lb-ft for the Alfa), the same ZF-sourced...

BMWBLOG Podcast Episode 19: BMW M2 by Futura 2000 and More Episode 19 of the BMWBLOG Podcast has just been released and we apologize for some technical difficulties, as we published earlier but some listeners were having some trouble with it. It’s fixed now and the episode is live. Not to toot my own horn but it’s a good one because, in it, I talk about my time in LA to check out the BMW M2 by Futura 2000. A couple of weeks ago, BMW flew me out to LA to see the reveal of the M2 by Futura and it was a fascinating experience. I had the chance to go to Soho House in LA and see Futura and Lupe Fiasco do a bit of a joint interview, while really, really wealthy hip people looked down on my dad-clothes. I was totally the nerd in the room and everyone knew it. It was great. Then I ...

Video: Here’s Robert Kubica’s BMW M4 DTM car for the upcoming season If you’re following DTM, you’ve probably heard it’s going through some deep changes, with fewer and fewer manufacturers still interested in the series. BMW and Audi are still keeping the flame alive but Aston Martin decided to drop out after just one season in the German Touring series. On the other hand, solutions to keep things going and make the championship more appealing are sought and the addition of former Formula 1 driver Robert Kubica to the starting grid could work. The Polish driver announced his intention to compete in the series late last year and in the meantime we learned the details of his endeavor. He will be racing a BMW M4 DTM car under the colors of the ART Grand Prix team. He will...

BMW i4 Concept introduces a new logo, no plans to be used on new cars Today BMW showed us what it has been working for the past few years and finally revealed the BMW i4 Concept. Previewing the production model, the i4 Concept came with futuristic looks which, according to BMW, is 80 percent close to the production car. But those with a more keen eye also notice a couple of interesting details on the concept, including a different BMW logo and roundel sitting on the hood. Now, don’t be panicked, according to a BMW spokesperson, the new logo will not be used on cars. It is mainly for communication purposes (online and offline). Furthermore, concept cars can sport different badges and logos as they aren’t meant to be put in production in that exact shape. But even so, if ...

Video: Chris Harris Shares thoughts on BMW M8 Competition This week’s Top Gear episode featured the biggest, baddest BMW you can buy today, the BMW M8 Competition. In case you’re not up to par with the latest Top Gear line-up, Clarkson, Hammond and May are long gone and since they left, the BBC has been trying to find a good team to replace them. At the moment, the trio appearing on TV every Sunday night includes Chris Harris, who is an experienced automotive journalist and two other teammates who aren’t nearly as skilled behind the wheel. Why am I mentioning this? Because the M8 Competition was “reviewed” on the show last night but the reviewed wasn’t done by Harris but by Paddy McGuinness. And the takeaway wasn’t all that great for the M8 Comp...

LEAKED AGAIN: The 2021 BMW M3 Sedan Leaks and BMW seem to be synonymous these days, so it comes as no surprise that a new leak popped up today. And it’s the good ol’ 2021 BMW M3 Sedan which shows its face again. Literarily. A poorly captured photo gives us another look at the front-end of the G80 M3. And of course, that has sparked quite a few conversations online, mostly because of the angle of this image, and of course, because of the large kidney grille. So let’s dig into what we’re seeing here. The image is black and white, so it was likely captured that way (or processed after) to protect the leaker or the place it has leaked from. We already know that some prototypes are in the U.S. at the moment and making their way to several dealer and VIP events. Anoth...

Formula E: A Detailed Recap of the Marrakesh Race for BMW i Motorsport The BMW i Andretti team once again turned in a successful weekend at Round 5 of the 2019-2020 Formula E championship in Marrakesh, Morocco, with Max Guenther showcasing the speed of the BMW iFE.20 all weekend on his way to his second podium finish of the season. It was a mixed bag of fortunes for Alexander Sims, however, who drove a brilliant comeback race but retired from 5th place on the final lap of the race with a mechanical issue. The result sees young Max Guenther promote himself up to a sterling 4th place in the drivers’ championship, but the BMW i Andretti team slide down to 2nd in the constructors’ championship after a weekend of excellence from the DS Techeetah team saw the Chinese / French team...

Lucas Auer and Kyle Kirkwood complete Formula E tests Formula E is the next big thing in motorsport. As more and more manufacturers work on electric cars and keep developing the technology around them, the focus on the competition is gaining momentum. That’s why car makers such as BMW and others are now competing in the venue and are looking for new drivers to take the helm. This past weekend, two more had a go behind the wheel of the iFE.20 racer to see how they can handle it. As we mentioned a while back, the two were Lucas Auer and Kyle Kirkwood. While Auer is going to race in the DTM this upcoming season for the first time, BMW Motorsport wanted to see whether he would also be a good fit for Formula E. The rookie completed 86 laps in the #27 car and, with a personal best time ...

Photo Comparison: BMW 1 Series vs 2020 Audi A3 Sportback BMW is new to the front-wheel drive hatchback game. The new 1 Series hatch is the brand’s first attempt and it competes in a segment full of veterans. Cars like the Mercedes-Benz A-Class, Volkswagen Golf and Ford Focus have all been competing in this space for far longer. But the 1er’s biggest rival will likely be this — the all-new 2020 Audi A3 Sportback. The Audi A3 has been the longest-running premium hatchback in the segment, having debuted back in 1996. So to say that Audi knows a thing or two about making a premium, front-wheel drive hatchback would be an understatement. Which is why the BMW 1 Series is going to have its hands full, as it needs to go up against the newest iteration of a veteran car in its r...

Rolls-Royce Cullinan 6×6 Rendering takes opulence to next level If there’s one word that can be used to define the Rolls-Royce Cullinan it is, without a doubt, opulence. From the design to the materials used inside and, of course, the price, everything about the Cullinan screams luxury. It also reflects the fact that’s reserved for a certain, very exclusive demographic. The rendering here is taking things to an even higher level, as if that was even possible. Yes, for now, this is just a rendering but wouldn’t it be cool though? Think of the Mercedes G63 AMG 6×6 and what a crazy car it is and now picture a proper rival for it. The Cullinan 6×6 would be a proper alternative, especially if it would keep the 6.75-liter V12 twin-turbo mill under the hood intact...

IAA Frankfurt Motor Show Moving To Munich Starting In 2021 Germany’s Verband der Automobilindustrie has announced that the IAA Frankfurt Motor Show will move to Munich starting in 2021. The German car association says that “attractive event locations, excellent transport infrastructure, and expertise in the organization of major events” as the reasons for choosing Munich. Initially, the VDA picked Berlin, Hamburg, and Munich as the prospective sites for the Frankfurt Motor Show. “The three cities that were shortlisted as the venue have all presented highly ambitious and convincing plans to further develop the IAA together with the VDA,” VDA President Hildegard Müller said in the group’s announcement. “It was a very close race, for which I t...

BMW iX3 – The Bavarians give us an early look at its design During the presentation of the new BMW Concept i4, Oliver Zipse, BMW CEO, has also given us an early view of the BMW iX3. The all-electric SUV will arrive this year and the top view show us some of its design features. One thing that immediately stands out is the kidney grille. Compared to the Concept iX3, the production model has a new kidney grille. This closely follows the look of the conventionally-powered X3 models, but still making the iX3 clearly recognizable as a member of the BMW i family. According to a previous press release, the new BMW iX3 will have a range of more than 440 km measured on the WLTP test. The range is achieved thanks to a battery pack of 74 kWh. The first fully-electric SUV uses the fifth gener...

Is BMW M getting a new logo with a 2D look? Originally, the premiere was probably planned for the 2020 Geneva Motor Show, but now BMW M is simply releasing it online. On Facebook, the BMW M account is wearing a new logo which completely dismisses the familiar three-dimensionality badge. The new iteration has a modern 2D look and four colors. The characteristic M logo does not shine with a chrome effect, instead, is kept in plain white. The three colored stripes to the left of the M are also shown without any shades, gradients and other effects. Instead, they are kept completely monochrome. It remains to be seen whether the new two-dimensional BMW M logo will only be used for communication and presentation purposes or on actual vehicles. At this moment, we don’t believe that a fla...

BMW Concept i4 revealed in first videos and commercials The BMW Concept i4 is finally here. The plan was to unveil the new electric car at the Geneva Motor Show, but the COVID-19 forced the Swiss government to shut down the event. So BMW has opted for an online reveal showing the car in all its splendor. At the same time, they released a couple of videos that show the car in motion, giving us a better view of its design. Speaking of the design, the BMW Concept i4 features some radical yet attractive and exciting yet familiar lines. Sure, its monster kidney grilles are going to cause some controversy but we’ll all get used to it and it actually sort of works on an electric car, despite the irony. Rather than be used to bring air into an engine, as the BMW Concept i4 obviously has ...

WORLD PREMIERE: The BMW Concept i4 Electric Gran Coupe The wait is finally over. The BMW Concept i4 is finally here and it’s about as real as it’s gonna get. So soak it in, the electrified future of BMW is here and it’s bold. After the cancellation of the 2020 Geneva Motor Show, due to Coronavirus precautions, BMW decided to launch its i4 Concept via livestream on the same day of its original Geneva debut. Today. While we can’t see the car in person, as we would have if it were revealed in the land of cheese and chocolate, we still get to see what the brand’s sedan of the future is like. And it looks interesting. The Design – Fairly Close To The Production Car The BMW i4 Concept may be just that, a concept car, but it’s extremely close to produ...

SPIED: Which BMW 7 Series test mule is this one? The next-generation BMW 7 Series is about two years away from its debut. The design was finalized last year and testing is under way. But some publications might have jumped the gun today when a new set of spy photos came out. And everyone is keen on believing that BMW is testing some hidden features under the sheet of the current G12 generation. But according to our sources, this is still very much so the current 7 Series limousine which is likely to get a very mild facelift this year. Emphasis on very. As we don’t own the spy shots, you can see them here. The prototype sports some light camo around the headlights and taillights, likely hiding some new light graphics. Other than that, it looks pretty much the same as thi...

Alfa Romeo Giulia GTA and GTAm are Here to Frighten the BMW M3 Ever since driving the Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio, I’ve been smitten by its devilish charms. It’s so good looking, so incredibly fast and sensational to drive that it almost makes me forget about its, frankly, embarrassing unreliability. However, Alfa seems to be working on its reliability while also injecting even more fun into its stunning sedan. Welcome the all-new Alfa Romeo Giulia GTA and GTAm, two cars that should make the BMW M3 very, very nervous. We obviously haven’t driven the upcoming G80 BMW M3 but it’s going to need to be astonishing to keep up with these two. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again; if it were my money, there’s no way I’d buy the A...

BMW quarantines employees after worker tested positive for coronavirus According to Automotive News and confirmed by a BMW spokesperson, BMW AG has told about 150 employees in Munich to stay at home for 14 days under self-quarantine after a colleague tested positive for the coronavirus. The report says that the employee who tested positive was taken to hospital after he visited a doctor on Sunday. He is doing well under the circumstances, BMW said. The reported worker had not traveled abroad and was working in the automaker’s FIZ research and development center in Munich. During his time at work, he was in contact with about 150 other employees. The affected premises were closed off and disinfected and operations are continuing without restrictions, BMW said. The last week ha...

LEAKED: BMW Concept i4 Leaks Ahead of Official Unveil After the cancellation of the 2020 Geneva Motor Show, BMW had to scramble to come up with new plans for the launch of its all-new i4 Concept. So the folks in Bavaria decided to keep the reveal on the same day it would have been in Geneva but do it live on the internet instead. So the world will see a livestream of the BMW i4 Concept reveal tomorrow. However, it seems as if some publications decided to do BMW’s job for it, by leaking the official photos of the i4 early. Some members of the press received photos of the BMW i4 Concept early, so they could have articles and videos up the moment the embargo lifts. It’s a courtesy the BMW provides journalists, so long as said journalists adhere to the embargo agreement. However...

VIDEO: Johnny Smith drives the MINI Cooper SE on the road Now that the new MINI Cooper SE is here, BMW and MINI enthusiasts can get themselves into a small, electric hatchback that’s actually fun to drive. It seems as if the famous British brand has injected a bit of fun into electric motoring. But is it actually as much fun to drive as you would expect from an electric MINI? This new video from Johnny Smith gives us some insight. Johnny Smith is an esteemed automotive journalist and presenter, working on Fifth Gear, Sniff Petrol and his own channel, CarPervert. In his latest video, he drives the MINI Cooper SE to see what it’s like in real-world driving and if it’s as fun as promised. To be honest, it seems as if it’s as advertised. The steering and turn-in are ...

Pre-Owned Electric — Should You Buy a Used BMW i3? One of the main reasons why electric vehicle customers lease their cars is depreciation. EVs simply don’t hold their value well, for a number for reasons. Battery degradation and technology evolution are two of the biggest factors as to why EVs depreciate so quickly but the reasons why aren’t really important for this exercise. Instead, we’re going to focus on the fact that EVs do depreciate quite quickly, making them shockingly cheap on the used market. So let’s take a look at whether or not it’s a good idea to buy a used EV, specifically a used BMW i3. The i3 is one of the more fun and interesting electric cars on the market. However, it’s often overlooked due to its range, or lack thereof. Its rang...

VIDEO: WhatCar pits the BMW 3 Series vs Tesla Model 3 This is the test that Elon Musk had in mind when he first dreamed of the Tesla Model 3. He wanted to take on the BMW 3 Series and that’s exactly what he’s done. In this new video from WhatCar, we get to see the two cars take each other on to see which is actually best. In this test, we take a look at a BMW 320i and a short-range Tesla Model 3. So they both have similar power and prices but are almost completely different in every other regard. For instance, the Tesla is significantly faster, hitting 60 mph in 6.1 seconds, versus the BMW 3 Series and its 7.3 second time. However, the 3er can drive around 400 miles on a single tank of fuel, while the Model 3 can only manage around 250 miles on a single charge. But which one...