Auto and Cars

Latest Cars and Autos

Feb12020 by adminNo Comments

BMWBLOG Podcast: Ep. 16 — Jackie Jouret on Elvis’ BMW 507 and the 2002

BMWBLOG Podcast: Ep. 16 — Jackie Jouret on Elvis’ BMW 507 and the 2002 We have a special podcast episode for you this week. We’re a bit late, so we apologize for that but it will be worth the wait. This week, we have Jackie Jouret on the podcast, the journalist/author/BMW enthusiast that found Elvis Presley’s BMW 507 and wrote a book on the BMW 2002. To say she has a wealth of knowledge about the BMW brand would be a gross understatement. She joined both Horatiu and I to talk about her experience with the BMW brand, what sparked her love for the brand, how she found the BMW 507 and about the iconic 2002. Jackie has written two books about those very subjects, both of which can be found on Amazon. There’s “Finding Elvis’ 507”, which is about, you guess...

Feb12020 by adminNo Comments

Video: BMW M850i marginally faster than M2 Competition on Laguna Seca

Auto and Cars

Video: BMW M850i marginally faster than M2 Competition on Laguna Seca With all the diversification BMW has been planning and working on for its model range, when it comes to 2-door Coupe models you don’t have a lot of choices. There’s the 2 Series and there’s the 8 Series and that’s about it. I intentionally left the 4 Series out of discussion because it’s bound to get a new version this year and sales have been slumping. Therefore, if you want a stylish and powerful 2-door coupe, you might be looking at the M2 Competition or the M850i xDrive. Both cars have been included in last year’s Best Driver’s Car competition held by the guys from MotorTrend. As a matter of fact, BMW was the only manufacturer with two cars on the roster, three if you coun...

Jan312020 by adminNo Comments

Rumor: BMW iNext could get Intelligent Glass Control technology

Auto and Cars

Rumor: BMW iNext could get Intelligent Glass Control technology The BMW iNext is supposed to become BMW’s new technology flagship when unveiled, next year. The new car is supposed to bring autonomous driving to the table and a lot of new tech that will eventually trickle down to other models in the range. One of those bits of technology could be Continental’s Intelligent Glass Control, a function that has been available on other cars since 2017, but not nearly in the same price range as the iNext. Now, the iNext is supposed to get it too and it will be done quite differently than before. Whereas other cars had the choice of turning the windows opaque or not, on the iNext, the goal of this technology will apparently be to keep the temperature inside as comfortable as possible...

Jan312020 by adminNo Comments

Buyer’s Guide: BMW E36 3 Series – What To Look For

Auto and Cars

Buyer’s Guide: BMW E36 3 Series – What To Look For As many of you may already know, my first car was an E36 BMW 3 Series, a 328i sedan to be more exact, and I loved it. In fact, every time I see an E36 3 Series of any kind on the road, I stare at it in jealousy and fondness. I miss my car. Well, I miss most of it, as I don’t miss the headache of maintaining my very high-mileage car. Considering that the E36 3 Series has become shockingly cheap on the second-hand market, a lot of enthusiasts are buying it as a first-time BMW or even a project car. They’re also becoming quite popular thanks to their simple looks, driver-focused interiors and naturally-aspirated straight-six engines. So we thought we’d give you a buyer’s guide on the E36; a bit of history, which mod...

Jan312020 by adminNo Comments

Toyota Supra and M2 Competition featured in Motor Trend’s Grand Prix

Auto and Cars

Toyota Supra and M2 Competition featured in Motor Trend’s Grand Prix We recently saw a couple of head-to-head races from Motor Trend’s recent Best Driver’s Car competition. One featured the BMW M2 Competition and the Toyota Supra, while the other featured a BMW M850i and a Bentley Continental GT. Now, MT decided to do something a bit more interesting and have their own Grans Prix with the cars from BDC, at Laguna Seca. In this video, we get to see both the BMW M2 Comp and the Toyota Supra. To start off the Grand Prix, MT has a drift-off to see what order each of their six drivers get to choose their cars in. For the drift competition, they use the BMW M2 Competition, as it’s naturally a superb drift car. After the drift competition, which is surprisingly funny, they ge...

Jan312020 by adminNo Comments

2020 BMW 840i Gran Coupe styled with AC Schnitzer parts

Auto and Cars

2020 BMW 840i Gran Coupe styled with AC Schnitzer parts Known for their exotic builds, BMW Abu Dhabi Motors lives up to its name. Their latest project is based on the 2020 BMW 840i Gran Coupe which has been styled with a series of accessories from AC Schnitzer. The German tuning company give the Sunset Orange 8 Series Gran Coupe a front aerodynamic spoiler of carbon fiber, side canards as well as side skirts in carbon fiber. But it’s the lip part of the front bumper which stands out, thanks to the same Sunset Orange color. In the back, the BMW 840i Gran Coupe retains its factory-installed bumper and diffusor. Yet, a carbon fiber solution from AC Schnitzer would have made more sense. The M Performance Catalog is also put to good use, so this 8 Series Gran Coupe is adorned with&nbs...

Jan312020 by adminNo Comments

Will the BMW i4 electric models be named i430 and i440?

Auto and Cars

Will the BMW i4 electric models be named i430 and i440? BMW has a naming problem with their upcoming electric cars. A decade ago, a strategy was put in place stating that all electric BMWs will be built under the BMW i sub-division. Initially, the product plans called for fully dedicated electric platforms which were first introduced with the i3 and the i8. The carbon fiber construction of those models has won many awards and is regarded as a true engineering masterpiece. Albeit an expensive one. So years later, a new plan came to life. This time, BMW decided to bet on a flexible architecture which will allow them to build gasoline, diesel, electric and plug-in hybrid cars on the same platform. But that flexibility also brought a rigidity in the naming convention of their future cars. T...

Jan312020 by adminNo Comments

BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe in Sapphire Black looks pretty good

Auto and Cars

BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe in Sapphire Black looks pretty good The BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe is presented in a completely black configuration at the 2020 Montreal Auto Show. In Canada, those responsible for the BMW lineup have decided not only to display the current top model M235i with a black paint finish, but also with the extended Shadow Line. The latter is currently only available as part of the M Performance package for the M235i Gran Coupe. The result is actually a quite stunning BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe which hasn’t been often loved by the pundits. The kidneys, exterior mirrors, air intakes, tailpipes and rear spoiler are black, and the details in Cerium Gray that are common to the M Performance models are omitted. The look of the BMW M235i Gran Coupe, which is painted in ...

Jan312020 by adminNo Comments

BMW-Supplier Harman to implement over-the-air audio tuning

Auto and Cars

BMW-Supplier Harman to implement over-the-air audio tuning You probably heard of Harman/Kardon at least once in your lifetime. If not related to the audio system in a living room, if you’ve ever driven a BMW you might’ve heard the stereo playing through their speakers. The company that owns Harman/Kardon is called Harman and they are one of the largest companies in the industry. They also happen to own other brands such as JBL, Mark Levinson and Bang & Olufsen. Harman recently announced that it has been working on a system that would allow you to upgrade your in-car sound system with over-the-air updates. Basically, what Harman is proposing, is that car makers fit their cars with the Harman/Kardon high-end sound systems from the get go even though the price paid for the ...

Jan312020 by adminNo Comments

MINI Cooper SE Gets a Special Reveal Ceremony in Lisbon

Auto and Cars

MINI Cooper SE Gets a Special Reveal Ceremony in Lisbon The MINI Cooper SE is now arriving in various countries around the world. Certain places hold special ceremonies for the unveiling of new models and it looks like the electric MINI got just that in Lisbon. The car was unveiled in a special way, using powerful searchlights connected to public chargers to mark the occasion. This way, the night sky was lit up by the searchlights, highlighting how many chargers can be found around the city. The goal was to let potential MINI Cooper SE customers know that there’s no shortage of electric charging points, probably in the hopes of getting more customers to switch from ICE to electric powertrains. The location for this light show wasn’t picked at random though. Lisbon had recent...

Jan302020 by adminNo Comments

BMW M8 Gran Coupe in Twilight Purple – Go Big or Go Home!

Auto and Cars

BMW M8 Gran Coupe in Twilight Purple – Go Big or Go Home! At $143,000, the new BMW M8 Gran Coupe Competition is the second most expensive BMW sold in the United States. The stylish and highly luxurious four-door coupe sits just below the BMW M760Li and it’s arguably the best looking BMW today. The M8 Gran Coupe takes the already elegant design cues of the 8 Series Gran Coupe and marries them with the M styling and engineering from Garching. But if you a BMW Individual color into the mix, things get even more exciting. And BMW Canada has done just that. At the 2020 Montreal Motor Show, the folks in the north have unveiled a BMW M8 Gran Coupe in Twilight Purple. The color definitely rings a bell since we’ve seen in on other BMWs, like the i8, M3, 7 and 8 Series. But for some ...

Jan302020 by adminNo Comments

VIDEO: BMW M850i Coupe takes on Bentley Continental GT

Auto and Cars

VIDEO: BMW M850i Coupe takes on Bentley Continental GT This is a match-up that I’ve personally been waiting for since both cars debuted. Ever since I first drove the BMW M850i, I’ve felt that its most natural competitors are the Aston Martin DB11 and this — the Bentley Continental GT. Because the Conti GT was a W12 at the time of its launch, I felt the M850i was more of an Aston Competitor. Now that Bentley offers a lighter V8 version, the two cars are very much realistic competitors. As part of Motor Trend’s Best Driver’s Car competition, they decided to pit the BMW M850i up against the Bentley Continental GT V8 to see which is fastest around Laguna Seca. While they also tested it on the road, the video here is all about track duty. So which is faster, the...

Jan302020 by adminNo Comments

The Story Behind The BMW Z3 M “Clown shoe”

Auto and Cars

The Story Behind The BMW Z3 M “Clown shoe” Awhile back, I personally wished for BMW to go back to making silly cars, cars that made no sense on paper but all the sense in the world on the road. I said I wanted BMW to stop being so sensible and just make something fun for the sake of making something fun. The reason for that is the brand’s recent affinity for sensibility. But BMW wasn’t always so sensible. In fact, BMW used to make hilarious, ridiculous cars simple because they were fun. The BMW Z3 M is a good example. Take one look at the BMW Z3 M (nicknamed the “Clown Shoe” and you’ll soon realize that it was not car BMW felt would make any money. It may very well be one of the ugliest cars to see production in the past few decades. It also makes no real s...

Jan302020 by adminNo Comments

SPIED: The facelifted 2021 MINI Countryman (F60 LCI) spotted near the Arctic Circle

Auto and Cars

SPIED: The facelifted 2021 MINI Countryman (F60 LCI) spotted near the Arctic Circle It’s once again that time of the year, as the redesigned 2021 MINI Countryman (F60 LCI) arrives at Arjeplog for the cold weather testing program. The current generation of the Countryman has been around since 2017. The LCI treatment comes to refresh the crossover’s looks and tech, as well as boost customer appeal. Recently, the camouflaged prototypes were deployed in Northern Scandinavia, near the Arctic Circle, where they will endure the harsh weather conditions (you can see the spy shots here). However, don’t expect dramatic changes, just some minor styling tweaks to bring the car in line with the latest design trend. To begin with, the front fascia will sport a new signature, togeth...

Jan302020 by adminNo Comments

BMW skipping NYC and Paris Auto Shows, Frankfurt Auto Show canceled in 2021

Auto and Cars

BMW skipping NYC and Paris Auto Shows, Frankfurt Auto Show canceled in 2021 For the second year in a row, BMW will not have a presence at the upcoming New York Auto Show. But what’s even more surprising is the Bavarians intentions to also skip the Fall’s Paris Auto Show. According to one source (yet to be confirmed by the automaker), BMW will likely not attend this year’s Parisian motor show and will choose a different venue to display their latest products. An even more interesting report comes today from the Netherlands. Autoblog.nl reports that the 2021 Frankfurt Auto Show is canceled, not only for BMW but for all the automakers. In 2019, the IAA attracted 550,000 visitors, a far cry from the usual 800,000 and 900,000 visitors. So due to the low attendance, t...

Jan302020 by adminNo Comments

BMW pulls M5 from sale in South Africa, sticks with Competition model

Auto and Cars

BMW pulls M5 from sale in South Africa, sticks with Competition model A problem some people foresaw with the BMW Competition models was the possible cannibalization of the range. Even the Bavarian carmaker noticed that for some cars, offering both the M car and its Competition version would be redundant. That’s how the M2, for example, is now only available in Competition guise around the world. It seems like some other cars might follow suit. BMW South Africa announced today that it is pulling the regular M5 from sale as it has become the exception to the M5 Competition rule. The Competition model is favored by the vast majority of customers as it is considered better value so the South African branch of the company decided to stick to it alone. Customers looking to buy an M5 in ...

Jan302020 by adminNo Comments

BMW launches Connected Music, its new in-car music streaming solution

Auto and Cars

BMW launches Connected Music, its new in-car music streaming solution Starting January 2020, BMW is adding the new Connected Music in-car streaming service as integral part of the Connected Package Professional. With the help of Connected Music, playing your favorite songs inside your BMW has never been easier. The new in-car music streaming solution has been developed on the basis of the BMW OS 7.0 infotainment system and it is already offered as standard equipment in the high-end Connected Package Professional. It is important to note that this BMW Connected service will be available at no charge for 3 years ex-factory and for an unrestricted use. During this period of time, no additional data or roaming charges are applied for using Connected Music. For the beginning, the new stream...

Jan302020 by adminNo Comments

Video: 2020 MINI Cooper SE – More Range Would Have Been Nice

Auto and Cars

Video: 2020 MINI Cooper SE – More Range Would Have Been Nice The new MINI Cooper SE electric vehicle from Oxford is now on sale and customers can get themselves one. Reviews are starting to pop up and we went down to Florida to check it out as well during our first contact with the car. Others have joined us in Miami from around the world and their takes on the car are starting to show up online as well. One of the first to hit the Internet comes from the guys over at Roadshow. They took the MINI Cooper SE out for a spin around Miami as well and came up a bit disappointed. According to them, the new MINI Cooper SE lacks ambition. How come? Well, it should offer more range if you ask the guys over at Roadshow and, looking at the spec sheep and EPA range estimate, you would be tempted to ...

Jan302020 by adminNo Comments

SPIED: 2021 BMW M4 Coupe (G82) spotted in Germany

Auto and Cars

SPIED: 2021 BMW M4 Coupe (G82) spotted in Germany After the December shots, these new images showcase the upcoming BMW M4 Coupe (G82) with the final production body design and certain details that depict its high-performance character. Compared to the latest cladding amount on the G22 4 Series, the G82 M4 generation is still hidden under heavy camouflage, with the new hallmark kidney grille being barely visible (you can see the spy photos here). We already know that the huge grille from the Concept 4 will become a reality when the 4 Series is out later this year. The standard versions will get vertical single bars in the grille, whereas the M Performance will feature the honeycomb pattern. In the case of the new M4 generation, the signature kidney grille will comprise a unique design wi...

Jan292020 by adminNo Comments

2020 Seat Leon – Exterior and interior Details (Wonderful Car)

Auto and Cars

http://youtu.be/Rh3j4NpK2Yo 2020 SEAT Leon Hatchback, Wagon Debut Following €1.1B Investment Longer than its predecessor, the new model will offer a roomier cabin thanks to a stretched wheelbase. The SEAT Leon enters its fourth generation with a whole new look and modified proportions to better compete in Europe’s hugely challenging compact class. Debuting today at home in Martorell, the company’s best-selling car is being revealed in five-door hatchback and Sportstourer (wagon) body styles, but without the SC model due to declining demand for three-door hatches. It looks just as sharp as the model is about to replace, but the styling has gone through quite a few changes hinted by last year’s Formentor concept. SEAT modified the Leon’s appearance not just for the sake of giving it a fr...

Jan292020 by adminNo Comments

BMW M and Artist FUTURA 2000 to release Limited Edition M2 Competition

Auto and Cars

BMW M and Artist FUTURA 2000 to release Limited Edition M2 Competition At the Frieze Los Angeles art fair, BMW M will be presenting a comprehensive collaboration with iconic international contemporary artist FUTURA 2000. In this collaboration, FUTURA 2000, who is known for his mastery of color, concentric forms, and kinetic composition, will create three exclusive and unique versions of the BMW M2 Competition. The three unique versions will be created in his unmistakable style, whilst also designing a limited-edition series of the BMW M2 Competition which is scheduled for public purchase in June 2020. One of the hand-painted BMW M2 by Futura vehicles will celebrate its world premiere at the second Frieze Los Angeles – being held at the Paramount Pictures Studios in Hollywood from...

Jan292020 by adminNo Comments

TEST DRIVE: 2020 MINI Cooper SE – Fun, Stylish and Affordable

Auto and Cars

TEST DRIVE: 2020 MINI Cooper SE – Fun, Stylish and Affordable After countless teasers and many years of development, the 2020 MINI Cooper SE is finally here and we went to Miami to sample the premium electric car. But first, let’s take a look back at its origins. It was the British marque who started the BMW electric offensive in 2009 with the MINI E – a conversion of its MINI Cooper car. The original MINI E was developed for field trials and deployed in several countries, including the United States, Germany, UK, France, Japan and China. With the lessons learned from the MINI E and the BMW ActiveE, the Bavarians launched their first mass-produced electric vehicle – the BMW i3. Fast forward to this new decade and the i3’s knowledge is now transferred to the MINI ...

Jan292020 by adminNo Comments

Andy Warhol BMW M1 Art Car to be showcased in India

Auto and Cars

Andy Warhol BMW M1 Art Car to be showcased in India One of the most famous BMW Art Cars – if one can even say that – will be showcased in India this upcoming weekend. If you happen to find yourself at the India Art Fair in New Delhi between January 31st and February 2nd you could spot this marvelous creation on exhibit. The fourth Art Car ever made has a really interesting story behind it and, along with it, an awesome track record as well. “At BMW, we just don’t build the best performing cars, but deeply believe in the intangibles. We hold our design aesthetics very dear, this inspires us as well as our users to stretch their creative boundaries. India Art Fair is a perfect platform for us to reach out to our discerning customers and showcase the brands aestheti...

Jan292020 by adminNo Comments

BMW M340d xDrive shows up on the Luxembourg site configurator

Auto and Cars

BMW M340d xDrive shows up on the Luxembourg site configurator BMW officially extends the M lineup of the 3 Series with a new diesel addition: the M340d xDrive version. The new engine choice in the G20/G21 family complements the existing M340i versions with 374 PS in Europe (382 hp in the US). Recently, the diesel-powered M340d xDrive variant quietly made its way in to the configurator on the BMW Luxembourg website. The new M340d xDrive will be available starting this spring. This version will be widely available across Europe, but it is not scheduled to reach the North American market. Also, the new model will only be offered with the xDrive all-wheel-drive chassis, so no rear-driven choice here. The new M model of the 3 Series lineup is powered by the award-winning BMW B57 6-c...

Jan292020 by adminNo Comments

The all-new Honda e Reminds Me Too Much of the BMW i3

Auto and Cars

The all-new Honda e Reminds Me Too Much of the BMW i3 After seeing the Honda e concept car last year, I was immediately excited about the production version and. The idea of a small, electric hatchback for the masses, but one that’s also adorable looking and should be fun to drive, is a very attractive one. Now that some reviews of the latest electric Honda are trickling out, I’m not as thrilled as I was when I first saw the concept and that’s because it reminds me so much of the BMW i3. Let me be very clear, I think the i3 is a good car and I’m one of its bigger defenders. However, I’m not blind to the fact that it’s already old news. Even in its latest form, the i3 doesn’t pack enough range, with just a hair over 150 miles on tap. So as intere...

Jan282020 by adminNo Comments

BMW Exec claims that Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicles can be as cheap as Gasoline in Five Years

Auto and Cars

BMW Exec claims that Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicles can be as cheap as Gasoline in Five Years There’s no longer much of a debate about the future of the automobile. Our future is electric, and likely highly autonomous, and there’s no getting around it, no wishing it away. However, there’s still a question about certain other alternative means of powering electric cars. For instance, some brands still believe in hydrogen power and BMW actually believes that the future will hold a specific place for both hydrogen fuel cell vehicles (HFCs) and battery electric vehicles (BEVs). “We see fuel cells helping us to convert all our cars to zero emissions over the next two decades,” said BMW’s VP for hydrogen fuel cell technology, Dr. Jürgen Guldner. Just like...

Jan282020 by adminNo Comments

REVIEW: 2020 BMW M2 Competition – Simplicity

Auto and Cars

REVIEW: 2020 BMW M2 Competition – Simplicity It’s hard to live up to your former greatest creations if your name is BMW. Not because you couldn’t do it again but because for some, older cars are just better by any metric you could imagine. No matter what you do, once you created such a brilliant car like the BMW E46 M3 CSL, the world will never get over it. At some point you might get sick of hearing everyone comparing every car you launch to the pinnacle of BMW M greatness, but that’s just life. It’s better to have had such levels of greatness and continue to strive reaching them again than the other way around. That’s probably why the BMW M2 is and has been so loved from the day it was announced. How The BMW M2 Came To Life I still remember the first time...

Jan282020 by adminNo Comments

BMW Confirms M6 GT3 return to IGTC with Walkenhorst Motorsport

Auto and Cars

BMW Confirms M6 GT3 return to IGTC with Walkenhorst Motorsport The BMW M6 GT3 is an odd bird in BMW’s current Motorsport line-up. Never before has BMW kept a car running in Motorsport without having a direct road-going variant available for public roads. The BMW M6 has been out of production for quite some time now and yet the M6 GT3 continues to race around the world, with its direct successor, the M8 GTE, handling some other venues. This year, the people over at Walkenhorst Motorsport will keep this flame going in the International GT Championship (IGTC). The news was confirmed by BMW late last week. The German team will field two cars at the very least and has confirmed racing in two events in 2020 so far. The first one will be the Bathurst 12-Hour endurance race set to take pl...

Jan282020 by adminNo Comments

Video: BMW M2 Competition vs Mercedes-AMG A45 acceleration run

Auto and Cars

Video: BMW M2 Competition vs Mercedes-AMG A45 acceleration run The premium hot hatch segment is now dominated by three cars: the BMW M135i xDrive, Mercedes-AMG A45 and Audi RS3. Unfortunately, the BMW is lagging behind both its rivals at the top end of the performance spectrum. The new top of the line 1 Series is now lagging behind its main rivals in terms of straight line performance and power output. BMW also says it won’t make a more powerful 1 Series because there’s just no market for it. So where does that leave us? Well, it leaves us with the BMW M2 Competition. Price-wise the BMW M2 Competition is right up there next to the M135i xDrive. Sure, the M2 Competition is not a hot hatch but a coupe and but, in my book, that makes it even better. But does that mean the M2 sh...

Jan282020 by adminNo Comments

Video: BMW M5 Competition vs Audi RS7 and AMG GT63 S on track

Auto and Cars

Video: BMW M5 Competition vs Audi RS7 and AMG GT63 S on track The BMW M5 Competition has some really stiff rivals these days. The Mercedes-AMG E63 S and the Audi RS6 are both very capable rivals but recently the M5 has been thrown in the ring against even more stylish alternatives. We’ve seen it compared to the Mercedes-AMG GT63 S 4-door a number of times and now it looks like the Audi RS7 is also jumping at the chance of running alongside the M5 Competition. The thing is, these are not direct rivals. The direct rival for the Audi and the Merc would be the BMW M8 Gran Coupe in Competition spec. However, since the M8 Gran Coupe shares almost every bit of its overly complicated chassis with the M5 Competition, and the M8 Gran Coupe isn’t available to test yet, I can understand...