Auto and Cars

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...

This is the BMW M2 by FUTURA 2000 BMW M and international contemporary artist FUTURA 2000 have just released the fruit of their first collaboration. In this partnership, 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. FUTURA will also design a limited-edition of the BMW M2 Competition which is scheduled for public purchase in June 2020. One of the hand-painted BMW M2 by FUTURA 2000 vehicles celebrated its world premiere at the second Frieze Los Angeles—being held at the Paramount Pictures Studios in Hollywood. “The BMW M2 Competition is dynamic, extroverted and, to a certain degree, pleasantly provocative. I consider it a great honour to be abl...

BMW M Performance Tuning for the BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe – PHOTOS When it goes on the market in March 2020, the new BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe will also be offered with a series of tuning accessories from the M Performance catalog. Our real life photos from Portugal give us a closer look at an Alpine White BMW M235i xDrive Gran Coupe with some of those sporty parts. As usual, the M Performance program is shown on a white vehicle, which makes the black tuning parts stand out particularly well. The most striking elements include the all-black mesh kidney grille and black air intakes at the front, carbon exterior mirror caps and the rear spoiler lip, which is also painted in black. The black tailpipes and the M235i badge in black are there to round off the overall sporty theme of this c...

Robert Kubica to race in the DTM with ART Grand Prix team After a number of reports about a possible entry into the DTM by former Formula 1 driver, Robert Kubica, the news was finally officially confirmed today. The Polish driver will be racing behind the wheel of a BMW M4 DTM car ran by the ART Grand Prix private team. With this addition, BMW will have seven cars lining up at the starting line in the 2020 DTM Championship, including the six already confirmed. The news comes after reports broke out saying Kubica was seen testing a BMW M4 DTM at the Spanish track Jerez de la Frontera, in December. Now the time for an official confirmation has finally come. “This is really great news for the DTM,” said BMW Group Motorsport Director Jens Marquardt. “We are delighted to we...

BMW extends aluminum recycling process at Dingolfing plant BMW announced today that it implemented a new system of separating aluminum sheet waste and recycling it at its Dingolfing plant. This new project aims at reducing the waste produced in the manufacturing process and will, according to BMW, enable savings of around 120,000 tons of CO2 per year solely through the recycling process. This is a great improvement in the search for less polluting processes. The implementation of the new system in the Dingolfing press shop had a total cost of €6.5 million. With it, BMW inaugurated a new way of dealing with certain types of waste. The usage of secondary aluminum is estimated to drop up to 95% of the greenhouse gas emissions compared to using aluminum sourced from new, raw materials....

BMW M8 Competition Gran Coupe Pricing starts at $350,000 in Australia If you don’t live in Australia, you might as well call yourself lucky because the BMW M8 Competition in Gran Coupe clothing comes with a hefty price tag. More specifically – $350,000. Those are Australian dollars, mind you, and they do come down to $235,000 US at today’s exchange rates but that’s still nearly double than what you need to pay in the United States. We’ve all known for quite some time now that certain cars are extremely expensive in the land down under but this thing is up there with the best of them. The BMW M8 Competition Gran Coupe comes with a lot of stuff already installed though, to make up for the price tag. Things like extended leather upholstery, Alcantara accents e...

Robert Kubica to race in DTM in a customer BMW entry According to Autosport, former Formula 1 driver Robert Kubica will race in the 2020 DTM Championship aboard a BMW racing car. After losing his Williams Formula 1 drive to Nicholas Latifi, Kubica will take the reign of the BMW M4 DTM. Even though the BMW factory line-up is complete, Kubica has managed to secure a DTM berth in a customer team bankrolled by PKN Orlen, which also backed his F1 return in 2019. BMW will not have to build a new M4 for Kubica, as the 35-year-old old will instead be racing with the same test car he drove at Jerez two months ago. Autosport says that a formal announcement confirming Kubica’s DTM entry will be made at a press conference hosted by PKN Orlen in Poland on Thursday. Kubica’s existin...

For Sale: 1968 BMW 1600 with cute matching Heinemann trailer If you’re a fan of old BMW models that won’t require robbing a bank to afford them, this might just do the trick for you. What we have here is a 1968 BMW 1600, a car that’s part of the revival of the BMW brand and put in a lot of work to make sure things work out in the end. The 1600 was part of the Neue Klasse series of cars that helped BMW reach the status it has today. Sure, it may not be as cool as a 2000 CS but it’s still part of the story. The car listed here on Bring A Trailer is a 1968 model and was apparently bought brand new in the US from Hoffman Motors Corporation, in New York. If that name sounds familiar, it’s because Max Hoffman was the one who brought the BMW brand to the US in the...

Video: The Smoking Tire Tests a 240 HP Classic Mini The guys from The Smoking Tire have prepared a surprise for us. Usually, Matt and Zack post different videos. While Matt is in the studio recording podcasts, Zack is usually doing one take videos for the masses. Well, this time, they joined forces and are starring in a video together, testing a classic Mini with 240 HP. I would call it a Cooper S but the problem is, with that much power, it’s way more than that. This particular Mini has had a heart transplant if you will. It has a 240 HP VTEC Honda engine taken from a CR-V crossover and its all-wheel drive system. It also has a manual gearbox, a reinforced chassis, a rollcage and racing harnesses on, just to keep everyone safe. Considering how small and light a classic Mini is, ...

BMW drops 320d model from Australian line-up It seems like diesel engines in passenger cars are definitely on the way out. Ever since the Volkswagen dieselgate, demand for diesels has been on a decline and now, these powerplants are becoming obsolete in certain parts of the world. BMW Australia announced this week that it won’t be offering a diesel engine in the 3 Series range anymore. It’s not like Australians were spoiled for choice anyway. There was only one diesel engine in the range, the 2-liter B47 4-cylinder mill found on the 320d but now that’s gone as well. If you’re interested in a new 3 Series, the range now kicks off with the 320i, powered by a similar 2-liter 4-cylinder engine but running on gasoline. According to BMW Australia, the decision to drop...

BMW vows to cut CO2 emissions by 20% in Europe this year The new legislation regarding CO2 emissions for car makers and their fleets is tightening the screws on the entire industry. BMW is also going to be hit with hefty fines if it doesn’t find a way to cut aforementioned emissions to a fleet average of 95 grams/km by 2021. According to its CEO though, that won’t be a problem as BMW has made it a habit to deliver on its promises. In a recent interview, Oliver Zipse said BMW will cut 20% of its fleet CO2 emissions by the end of the year. In 2018 BMW reported an average level of 128 grams/km in CO2 emissions. Even though the figures for 2019 haven’t been released yet, the company already said it recorded a further ‘slight’ decrease. Thus, with another 20 per...

BMW X3 M and X4 M getting iDrive 7 (OS 7.0) In Fall 2019, the BMW X3 G01 and X4 G02 received an infotainment upgrade in the form of the current OS 7.0 (iDrive 7). This year, it’s the BMW X3 M and X4 M which are getting the much coveted upgraded. From April 2020, the power SUV BMW X3 M and X4 M will get the major infotainment update. In addition to the new iDrive technology on the infotainment display, the change to OS 7.0 also means a new look for the instrument display. We can already guess what the display behind the steering wheel will look like since we’ve seen it on the big brothers X5 M and X6 M. The objectively more important changes, however, take place on the central infotainment display, where the BMW Live Cockpit ConnectedDrive ensures that the tile des...

Report: BMW allegedly dropped plans to open a factory in Russia According to Automotive News, BMW has dropped plans to open a factory in Russia after talks with authorities broke down over government subsidies for the facility. The news outlet reports that BMW failed to reach a conclusion in talks with Russian government officials over the level of economic incentives for the plant. BMW currently has a presence in Russia through its local partner Avtotor which assembles 3, 5 and 7 Series models and X1, X3, X4, X5 and X6 SUVs from semi-knocked-down kits. Former BMW CEO Harald Krueger said in 2018 that the company was considering establishing its own local production facilities in Russia. “We see Russia as an important market for the BMW Group and are in constant contact with ...

BMW Mount Rushmore — Which Bimmers Do You Put On It? BMW has a rich history of incredible cars. For at least the past sixty years, the Bavarians have been debuted at least one or two incredible cars every decade. So it’s very difficult to narrow it down to just a few of the very best. That isn’t going to stop us from trying. But it’s just not possible to choose just one or even two or three. So we’re going to pick four of the best BMWs of all time and put them on our fictional Bavarian Mount Rushmore. In this little exercise, we can choose from any BMW throughout its storied history. However, it has to have a BMW Roundel on it. No MINIs, no Rolls-Royces, nothing that comes from a brand that BMW owns or has owned. Also, like Mount Rushmore itself, this isn’t...

MINI’s “Inner Drive” Campaign Tells the Story of the First-Ever Mini There are a few cars throughout the history of the automobile that genuinely changed the industry. Most of them were small and affordable. The Volkswagen Beetle was one. The other is another small car that’s far more enjoyable to drive — the Mini. Developed to be a small and fun solution to the dense, congested traffic of London, as well as something to help handle the fuel rationing in England, the original Mini was a masterpiece of packaging and chassis tuning. That masterpiece was designed by a man who would later live on in legend. Sir Alec Issigonis. In this new video campaign, MINI honors Issigonis by telling his story in a very creative virtual story book. “The MINI brand has always embraced a...

TEST DRIVE: BMW i3s – Can I Drive It In The Winter? I was recently at a BMWCCA Cars & Coffee with our 2018 BMW i3s and it was a typical freezing cold day in January. One of the chapter officers came up and asked me” “Do you really drive this every day, even in the winter?” “Absolutely,” I said. “With a set of dedicated snow tires and wheels, we have had no problems.” I live in the Midwest and we get some pretty nasty winter weather with temperatures down to -5F/-20C and plenty of snow every winter. In fact, we have been daily driving a BMW i3 since 2014 when they first came out. Before I jump into my winter driving experience with the BMW i3s, here are a few tips I compiled over the years: Winter EV Driving Tips Keep Fully Charged Precondit...

BMW is recalling around 680 model-year 2020 BMW X7 SUVs BMW of North America has just issued a recall for the 2020 BMW X7 SUV. According to the recall notice released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there are approximately 680 models being recalled. The issue is centered around the rear reflex reflectors which may not reflect an adequate amount of light, decreasing the vehicle’s visibility to other drivers and increasing the risk of a crash. Your local dealership will replace both rear reflex reflectors for free. BMW will begin notifying owners March 23. BMW owners can call the automaker at 800-525-7417, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s vehicle-safety hotline at 888-327-4236 or visit its website to check their vehicle identificatio...