Auto and Cars

BMW line-up at Geneva Motor Show dominated by electrified cars BMW will, once again, be present at the Geneva Motor Show. One of the oldest venues of its kind, the upcoming event will be filled with electrified cars from BMW’s newly released range, showing that the Bavarian brand has big plans for the future. To be more precise, four plug-in hybrid models will be on display at the Geneva Motor Show, all of them also available for purchase starting this summer. Three of these new plug-in hybrid models will be celebrating their world debut on the Swiss stage. These are the new BMW 330e Touring, BMW 330e xDrive sedan and BMW 330e xDrive Touring models. Alongside these three we’ll also get to see the BMW 330e Sedan, which has been on sale for some time now. Another two models in...

BMW Switzerland launches the special X5 Edition 20 Jahre limited edition models Exclusively for the Swiss market, BMW launches the limited edition X5 Edition 20 Jahre models. 20 years have gone in the blink of an eye. Back in 1999, BMW was ushering into a new automotive segment and pioneering a revolutionary car species: the Sports Activity Vehicle or better known as SAV. The first exponent of this kind was the almighty X5. To celebrate this outstanding milestone, BMW Switzerland has prepared a special version of the X5: the Edition 20 Jahre limited edition model. Already in its fourth generation, the X5 shows a decisively confident, muscular and premium character. The X5 Edition 20 Jahre further rounds off the outstanding G05 generation with a touch of individuality. The Edition 20 J...

WORLD PREMIERE: 2020 BMW M340d Sedan and Touring with 340 hp The highly awaited and speculated 2020 BMW M340d Sedan and Touring models are finally being unveiled today. The two super sporty diesels will debut at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show before going on sale this Summer. Both cars are powered by a 3.0 liter engine generating 340 hp and peak torque of 700 Nm (516 lb-ft). The inclusion of 48V mild hybrid technology, meanwhile, has led to a further reduction in fuel consumption and emissions. The mild hybrid tech will also add 8 kW or 11 PS of extra boost available at any time without delay. The diesel unit’s peak torque of 700 Nm (516 lb-ft) is on stream from just 1,750 rpm, while maximum output of 250 kW/340 hp arrives at 4,400 rpm.  The potent engine in the new BMW M340...

TEST DRIVE: 2020 BMW M235i xDrive Gran Coupe – Is It Fun Enough? At the moment, premium car companies are fighting each other over millennials. While premium brands will always sell to older audiences, due to their higher average income, younger demographics are becoming the desired target audiences of said premium brands. The idea is to offer inexpensive entry-level cars to younger drivers, get them into the brand and then keep them as customers for life. BMW’s latest attempt to reel in some of these young buyers is this — the BMW M235i xDrive Gran Coupe. What’s It About? I recently had the chance to drive the new four-door 2 Series in Portugal, where the roads were great and the weather was even better. The 2 Series Gran Coupe as a whole might not be the purist or m...

BMW launches 3 new hybrids: 330e Touring, 330e Touring xDrive and 330e Sedan xDrive After the introduction of the BMW 330e sedan plug-in hybrid, the Bavarians are now ready launch three additional variants: BMW 330e Touring, BMW 330e Sedan xDrive, and the BMW 330e Touring xDrive. All these new models are powered by a 2.0 liter four-cylinder engine delivering 181 hp and coupled to an electric motor integrated in the eight-speed Steptronic transmission that adds an extra 111 hp. The total power output is 248 horsepower, but thanks to an XtraBoost function, it can get another 40 horsepower on demand. The torque figures come in at 309 lb-ft (420 Nm). Of course, the big news it the launch of the BMW 330e Touring, both in a rear-wheel drive and xDrive (all-wheel drive configuration). The com...

2020 BMW X5 M Competition featured in Tanzanite Blue II Metallic Alongside its X6 M sibling, I had the chance to check out the all-new BMW X5 M Competition while in Portugal to drive them. Sitting in the gorgeous Portuguese sun, the X5 M sat on display wearing a Tanzanite Blue II Metallic paint finish and it looked excellent. Personally, I’m a fan of the X6 M and it would be my choice between the two cars but I also really like this X5 M. Powering the X5 M Competition is the same 4.4 liter twin-turbocharged V8 that powers the X6 M. So it makes 617 hp and 553 lb-ft of torque, which is the same amount of power as the BMW M5 Competition. So it’s very fast, almost too fast for such a big, heavy SUV. Though, it’s not any faster or slower than its X6 brother. In person, the...

2020 BMW X6 M Competition in Carbon Black Metallic – EXCLUSIVE PHOTOS As we speak, our very own Horatiu is selflessly testing out the all-new BMW X6 M, along with its X5 M sibling. While his driving impressions are still under embargo, he does have some photos to share with us from beautiful Portugal. Seeing as he’s a bit preoccupied with driving it at the moment, it’s up to me to share them with you. In these photos, we see the new X6 M wearing a Carbon Black Metallic paint finish and some killer wheels. If you’re a fan of the X6, you’re going to love the BMW X6 M Competition’s design. It’s obviously quite similar to that of the X6 M50i, which was the highest-performance version of the X6 until this beast arrived, but the proper M version has so...

2022 Range Rover Sport might pack a twin-turbo BMW V8 After word got out that BMW had partnered with Jaguar on electric tech, rumors began to swirl of the Bavarians also lending out some V8 engines to Jaguar Land Rover for future products. Mostly, the rumors surrounded Land Rover and Range Rover SUVs to feature BMW’s N63 twin-turbocharged V8, replacing the aging Jaguar-sourced supercharged V8. While nothing is concrete, there’s some merit to the rumors and it’s a partnership that does make sense. In some new spy photos, we can see the next-generation Range Rover Sport doing some camouflaged testing and it seems to be a V8-powered model, thanks to its quad exhaust pipes. While that in itself doesn’t indicate that the V8 in question is Bavarian, the fact that it so...

Video: BMW M8 Convertible goes for top speed run on Autobahn The fastest production cars BMW ever made wear the M8 emblem on the back, a sign that icons of the past can become parts of the present. What was once only a prototype for closed doors is now reality and the M8 is also the most powerful and fastest-accelerating model the Bavarians have ever made. Even though the M8 Competition in Coupe guise is said to be faster than the Convertible version, the 0.1-second difference between them will be hard to notice, to put it mildly. That’s a point made pretty clear by the video posted below. The guys from AutoTopNL took a very beautiful and very fast BMW M8 Convertible out for a spin in their trademark style. What they did was push the beast to its limit which, in this case, resides...

Bill Auberlen to race for BimmerWorld in 2020 World Challenge Series Bill Auberlen, the driver who wrote history with BMW, joins the BimmerWorld racing team this year for the 2020 World Challenge Series. The Virginia-based racing team will have an impressive roster this year. Apart from Auberlen, who holds plenty of records under his belt, the team will also have James Clay, Chandler Hull, and James Walker, Jr. on the roster. Auberlen will be racing a BMW M4 GT4 shared with Walker Jr. Bill Auberlen is the driver with the most races done in a BMW and is now the all-time winningest American driver in a leading series. His resume includes impressive numbers. He won six titles, four with BMW, has competed in over 500 competitive races over the years, won over 90 of them and has over 190 pod...

ALPINA B3 Sedan and Touring pricing kicks off at $142,900 in Australia This year customers interested in the most powerful version of the new 3 Series models to date will get to order the ludicrously powerful ALPINA B3 in both Sedan and Touring guises. The same goes for Australia, the land down under getting the attention it deserves from the Buchloe-based manufacturer. The only problem is the pricing, announced today, and fitting in the usual Australian scheme of things. As you might know, prices for premium cars in Australia are a bit higher than in other parts of the world, to put things mildly. The ALPINA B3 models are no exception. Pricing for the Sedan are kicking off at AUD142,900 which translates into $95,486 at today’s exchange rate. Care for a Touring model? That’s...

Video: BMW offers a glimpse into what the iNext should offer We’ve all heard about how important and revolutionary the upcoming BMW iNext will be, yet we still have a year to go before the car is fully unveiled. But in the meantime, the Bavarians are starting a teasing campaign by the looks of the video posted below. BMW i published a really short clip on their official Youtube channel showcasing one of the features the iNext promises to bring to the market: autonomous driving. Judging by what’s shown here, the iNext will have level 3 autonomous functions which means it will still have a steering wheel inside and won’t be a completely self-driving vehicle. It also seems to suggest that the passengers and driver will be able to completely let go of the steering wheel w...

Dealers get BMW i4 preview, excited for the new model The new BMW i4 is still two years away, but U.S. BMW dealerships had the chance to preview the car during a recent event. In Boca Raton, BMW introduced to their dealers not only the i4 electric sedan, but also the upcoming BMW iX3, iNEXT, 4 Series Coupe and M4 Coupe. According to Ward’s Auto and Shaun Bugbee, executive vice president-operations for BMW of North America, the BMW i4 was a hit among dealers at the event, especially those from the West Coast. California accounts for 61% of BMW’s electric and plug-in hybrid sales in the United States. “The dealers in that market when they saw the i4 in Boca, they were ready, like, tomorrow because they’re already in that selling environment,” Bugbee says. &l...

2021 BMW M3 Sedan: New render show the front and rear of the G80 Two new Photoshop images from @zer.o.wt highlight the design of the upcoming 2021 BMW M3 Sedan. His current renders show the front and rear of the BMW M3 G80, and, of course, the polarizing front-grille. As with the last two generations, the BMW M3 Sedan shares its front with a coupe and convertible, in this case, with the future G82 M4 Coupe and G83 M4 Convertible. At the center of all speculations and discussions is the striking double kidney grille of the 2021 BMW M3, which will extend across the front-end at full height. The self-confident design clearly distinguishes itself from all the usual variants of the 3 Series, having its own identify in the BMW lineup. Therefore, BMW M is pursuing a course similar to tha...

Race Recap: Mexico E-Prix with BMW i Motorsport team Round 4 of the 2019-2020 Formula E championship in Mexico City was a challenging one for the BMW i Andretti team as a result of a disappointing qualifying performance. But Alexander Sims was able to drive a measured and calculatedly aggressive race to storm to a 5th place finish from 18th on the grid. Max Guenther, though, had an absolutely forgettable weekend four weeks on from his storied triumph in Santiago. As a result of Sims’s excellent drive and the combined misfortunes of other championship contending teams, the BMW i Andretti team actually left Mexico City having extended their championship lead. Qualifying + Pre-Race Considerations Two victories on the trot plus three front row starts in three races meant that BMW And...

Video: 800 HP F80 M3 and 560 HP M2 Competition Run Speed Traps New BMW models are slowly becoming drag tools. Thanks to their new M xDrive all-wheel drive system, these cars can hang with some of the best in the business. When it comes to older models though, like the BMW F80 M3 or the M2 Competition, it’s pretty clear these cars were made to go round proper race tracks not just in a straight line. The rear-wheel drive setup also doesn’t help when you have monstrous amounts of power to put down. In the video below we get to see two such cars in what is known as a speed trap competition. The aim here is to reach the highest speed by the end of the runway. Lining up are some impressive machines, some even fitted with all wheel drive. Not the BMW’s though as we can’...

BMW sales in 2020 expected to beat segment pace BMW had yet another record-breaking year in 2019 and managed to beat all expectations, posting a 4.4 percent sales increase. The German brand expects 2020 to be even better as some of its models are just beginning to make their presence known. At least that seems to be the spirit in the US, where BMW’s arm is doing better than usual lately and seems to have big plans for the near future. In a recent meeting with dealer representatives, Shaun Bugbee, Executive Vice-President of operations told Automotive News there’s an upward momentum to be taken advantage of right now. “If I look at 2019, we had a real momentum in the market after Q1,” he said “That momentum is driven by product. We feel we have our mix in th...

Can the BMW M135i take on the Volkswagen T-Roc R? Like or not, Volkswagen has now become a major competitor for the Bavarians. While BMW and Volkswagen have always sort of operated on different wavelengths, the two brands are not closer than ever before, thanks to BMW’s new front-wheel drive architecture. So this latest comparison test from Autocar, which pits the BMW M135i up against the Volkswagen T-Roc R, isn’t as unusual as it might seem at first. In the past, if a BMW was ever compared to a Volkswagen, it seemed like a lopsided fight, with the BMW packing more power and a rear-drive chassis. Now, BMW’s new front-wheel drive cars are neck-and-neck on the spec sheet. So which is better? As this test was conducted in the UK, the main VW rival to the BMW M135i &mdash...

VIDEO: BMW M2 Comp Driver breaks engine shifting into wrong gear Manual transmissions are easier than ever to drive, despite the fact that modern customers just don’t seem to want them. With easy clutches, automatic hill-hold and auto rev-matching, it’s almost effortless to drive a modern day manual. However, that doesn’t mean mistakes can’t be made if one isn’t careful. We get to see just how catastrophic one of those mistakes can be in this new video, as a driver roasts his BMW M2 Competition engine by shifting into the wrong gear. Whoops. In this video, we see a pair of enthusiasts driving down the Autobahn in the aforementioned M2. While revving the nuts off it, the driver attempts a four-five upshift but instead jams the gear lever into third. This imm...

BMW introduces their new i8 Safety Cars for Formula E BMW i has just announced a contract extension with ABB FIA Formula E which will continue to use the BMW i safety vehicles through Season 6 and beyond. Furthermore, the Bavarians are also launching a new design for the BMW i8 Safety Car. The partnership announcement took place during an evening event held by BMW i and Founding Main Partner Julius Bär in Mexico City, where the car was also revealed. Guests included Dr. Andreas Aumann, Vice President BMW i Product, eMobility, Pia Schörner, Head of BMW Motorsport Marketing, Jamie Reigle, Chief Executive Officer of Formula E, and Brooklyn Beckham. The Next-Generation of Formula E is being planned and sounds exciting Beckham was also responsible for an exclusive photoshoot with ...

Formula E: Alexander Sims finishes the Mexico City E-Prix in fifth position After starting 18th on the grid, Alexander Sims managed to recover 13 places and finish fifth at the 2020 Mexico City E-Prix. He also claimed an extra point for the fastest lap of the race. Sims is now in second place in the drivers’ championship with 46 points, just one behind new leader Mitch Evans (NZL, Jaguar), who won the race in Mexico. BMW i Andretti Motorsport remains at the top of the team standings, with 71 points. His partner Maximilian Günther started from the 16th position on the grid, but only managed to cross the finish line on the 11th place. Jens Marquardt (BMW Group Motorsport Director): “Congratulations to Alexander Sims and the entire BMW i Andretti Motorsport Team on t...

U.S. BMW Dealer says a Performance Wagon is Needed to Compete with Audi, Mercedes-AMG BMW is wrong about wagons in America. Cue the gasps, keyboard slams and calls for my life from many BMW enthusiasts for my suggestion that execs in Bavaria could possibly be wrong about something. However, it’s not just me this time. In fact, an actual U.S.-based BMW dealer feels that the Bavarian brand needs a high-end performance wagon to compete with Audi and Mercedes-AMG. If you can’t believe someone that actually sells Bimmers to Americans, I’m not sure what to tell you. When speaking to Automotive News, BMW National Dealer Forum Chairman, and General Manager of Laurel BMW of Westmont in Chicago, Patrick Womack claimed the the Bavarians need a wagon in the U.S. market. “The...

VIDEO: Carwow tests the Rolls-Royce Cullinan — Most Luxurious SUV? I had the chance to drive the new Rolls-Royce Cullinan Black Badge back in November. Rolls let us drive it from BMW’s main facility in Spartanburg, South Carolina all the way up to Ashville, North Carolina. After my drive in the Cullinan, I genuinely didn’t want to get out of it because it’s that wonderful to be in, especially for hundreds of miles. In this new video review from Carwow, we take a look at the new Cullinan Black Badge and we get to see why it’s the most luxurious SUV ever. To be honest, the Black Badge version of the Cullinan isn’t necessarily more luxurious than the standard car. In fact, the standard car might even be more luxurious, thanks to its ever-so-slightly softer rid...

BMW M2 Competition by FUTURA – SEE EXCLUSIVE PHOTOS Earlier this week, BMW M has unveiled their first collaboration with American graffiti artist FUTURA. The BMW M2 Competition by FUTURA was introduced at the Frieze LA event and previews another exclusive model which will be unveiled this Summer. FUTURA’s work will focus on both the exterior and interior of the BMW M2 Competition. Inside, there are trim strips on the instrument panel and the center console of each vehicle boast a special, individually created FUTURA 2000 design. The bi-colored, Dakota leather M sports seats in black and ivory white feature polar blue contrast stitching. In addition, the interior package includes an M Alcantara leather-clad sports steering wheel with a grey 12 o’clock marking and special doo...

Video: Competition showdown – BMW M5 vs M8 drag race A lot of people have been wondering whether the price difference between the new BMW M5 and the M8 is worth it. Leaving aside the body style preference, what people want to know is how much of a performance gap there is between these. Well, lucky for us, CarWow and Joe Achilles joined forces to provide some answers. They got these two cars in Competition guise together and had a drag race. If you were to check out BMW’s spec sheet you’d learn that the M8 Competition is claimed to be faster. The problem is, looking at the power and torque output and even gearbox and all-wheel drive system, the two are identical. Both cars come with the same 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 making 625 HP and 750 Nm (553 lb-ft) of torque. Furthermore,...

American artist Travis Scott explores the BMW M2 by FUTURA When BMW and Futura 2000 unveiled their joint project, an M2 Competition hand painted by the famous artist, it drew quite the crowd. We were on hand at the Paramount Studios Backlot, where BMW showed off Futura 2000’s impressive work, using the M2 Comp as his canvas. During the brief introduction, BMW’s head of cultural engagement told us that the artists and musicians that were in attendance were there strictly to see Futura’s work, being that he inspires so many young artists even today, such as Travis Scott. The famous American rapper and artist stopped by to see Futura and his new work and he spent some time hanging out with the iconic street artist and BMW as well. He even poked around and explored the car...

Toyota Supra gets power bump and additional four-cylinder option Earlier in the week, we learned that the Toyota Supra could be getting an entry-level four-cylinder variant. That four-cylinder engine, of course, would obviously be borrowed from BMW. Turns out, those rumors were true and Toyota has recently announced that its iconic car will be getting an entry-level variant packing a BMW-sourced turbo four. Additionally, the six-cylinder Supra will also be getting a power bump and some suspension upgrades, surprisingly. Let’s start with the big news first, the four-cylinder. This new Toyota “GR” Supra (sorry, Toyota, that GR name isn’t gonna stick) will now get a 2.0 liter turbocharged four-pot with 255 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque to start. It marks the first time...

Dr. Esther Mahlangu designs unique Rolls-Royce Phantom Gallery Some four years ago BMW presented a unique 7 Series with interior trims designed by none other than Dr. Esther Mahlangu. The world-famous South African artist signed off on a truly unique 7er and now she’s back, this time working with Rolls-Royce and their Phantom. A special customer of the British company wanted the Gallery inside his Phantom to be designed by Dr. Mahlangu and she happily obliged. In case you’re not on par with the latest info on the eight-generation Phantom, the Gallery is a term used for the space in the dash, facing the passenger, where customers can create true masterpieces if they so desire. In this case, Dr. Esther Mahlangu was appointed with creating a stunning vision for the occupants of...

BMW invests in AutoFi, looking to change the car buying process When Tesla decided to skip dealers initially the world skipped a beat for a moment. How could this be? How could a manufacturer decide to drop that entire process of buying a car and replace it with doing it all online? Well, Tesla was just adapting to the times we live in and they must’ve seen something others didn’t as that trend is probably going to start amplifying. The people from BMW might think so too as they recently announced an investment in California-based startup AutoFi. What is AutoFi? Headquartered in San Francisco, CA, AutoFi is a retail platform that allows car buyers to purchase and finance a car from a variety of financial institutions within or outside the dealership. Thanks to AutoFi’s...

Tiff Needell and Paul Woodman Drive Every M5 Generation Back to Back The BMW M5 is one of the most iconic sedans in automotive history. For more than 35 years, this series has found a way to combine comfort and convenience with unapologetic power and speed. However, this long history means not every BMW fanatic has had the chance to experience every model. If you haven’t had the pleasure of enjoying the entire M5 range, you can now do it vicariously through Tiff Needell and Paul Woodman. In a recent video for Lovecars, the motoring journalists teamed up to drive all six generations of the performance sedan. It’s an exhilarating ride through the car’s rich history. Older M5 enthusiasts will enjoy the trip down memory lane. Newer fans of the car will receive a fun and en...