Auto and Cars

BMW iX3: Specs released, 440 km range on WLTP cycle BMW iX3 goes on sale in 2020 and ahead of its market launch, BMW has just unveiled some of its technical specs. According to a new 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 generation, which, starting 2021, will also be deployed in the BMW i4 and the BMW iNEXT. The electric motor featured in the BMW iX3 delivers a maximum power output of 210 kW/286 hp and a torque of 400 Nm. The electric motor used in the BMW iX3 transfers power to the rear wheels, therefore, the all-wheel drive xDrive will not be available. The high-voltage battery unit is based on the latest evolution in NMC-811 ...

MINI Cooper SE comes with 3 trim levels in the U.S., 110 miles range After 15,000 pre-orders, MINI USA has just announced the official launch of the new MINI Cooper SE. The first production series MINI electric will go on sale in March 2020 and can be ordered today through MINIUSA.com or at  ShopMINIUSA.com. The 2020 MINI Cooper SE will have an MSRP of $29,900 plus an additional $850 Destination & Handling fee and will come three trim levels. The federal EV credit of $7,500 along will be available for the MINI Cooper SE, along with state EV incentives. In some cases, qualified consumers can get a MINI Cooper SE below $20,000.  Examples of some state EV incentives include; CO – offers $4,000 (as of 2020) CA – offers $2,000 plus an additional $2,500 based on inc...

VIDEO: This tuned F90 BMW M5 nearly has Veyron-level power Literally no one has ever driven the new BMW M5 and thought “Ya know what, it’s just not fast enough.” If anyone has ever even entertained that idea, they’re ready for the loony-bin. The current F90 M5 packs 600 hp and 553 lb-ft of torque from a 4.4 liter twin-turbocharged V8, can hit 60 mph in under three seconds and can get dangerously close to 200 mph simply by removing its software limiter. So it’s seriously fast. But what if you are insane and do want more power? That’s what Noelle Performance is for. The founder of Noelle Performance, Karl-Otto Noelle, used to be the Head Engine Development engineer for ALPINA. So he knows a thing or two about making BMW engines even more powerful than t...

The BMW M2 CS is the Ultimate 2 Series for 8 Series Money When the BMW M2 CS was first announced, fans of the brand rejoiced. Ever since the 2 Series Coupe first went on sale, fans immediately wondered what a more hardcore, track-ready M version would be like. Now that it’s finally here, you can imagine that those same fans want to put an M2 CS in their driveways. Unfortunately, that might be more difficult that the maybe they’d hoped. Pricing has recently been announced for the BMW M2 CS and it’s quite steep. The starting price for it is a whopping $83,600. And that’s before the $995 destination fee. So it’s not a cheap car. And what’s even more surprising is the company it’s in. Starting at just a few thousand dollars more, the BMW 840i Coupe ...

BMW Performance Center offers great deals on track days in January 2020 Attending the BMW M Driving School is arguably one of the best experiences I’ve ever had. Whether it was the M School on the East Coast or the Thermal Club in the west, the BMW Driving Programs put a smile on my face and, of course, they enhanced my driving skills. In 2014, BMW announced their second permanent BMW Performance Driving School in the United States which was later opened in April 2015. The location chosen – the exclusive and picturesque Thermal Club in Palm Springs, California. The private race track is just three hours away from Los Angeles and right by where one of the world’s biggest music festivals takes place in the Coachella Valley, and near Indian Wells....

BMW Designer: “iNext, the i4 and the iX3 will get separated kidneys” In 2018, BMW unveiled a vision car of the upcoming iNEXT electric vehicle. The concept car was extremely polarizing and as you’d expect, highly controversial. While the overall shapes resembled a classic BMW crossover, its front-end was a departure from the iconic styling cues. Arguably, it was the kidney grille which attracted the most criticism. The one piece grille is large in size, extending vertically from the lower bumper to the hood. It also featured a mesh grille which was filled behind it with numerous sensors.  At the time, BMW Group VP of Design, Adrian Van Hooydonk said: “If you look at the front, you see the most prominent element, the BMW kidney, a vertical kidney, with a butterfly layou...

Bruno Spengler leaves DTM for the North American IMSA In 2020, Canadian Bruno Spengler will leave his BMW M4 DTM for a BMW M8 GTE. Spengler will race in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. Over a 15 years career in the DTM, Spengler raced in 195 races and in 2012, won the Drivers’ Championship in the BMW Bank M3 DTM. Spengler’s first race as a regular driver for BMW Team RLL in the BMW M8 GTE is just around the corner. He will compete in the 24 Hours of Daytona (USA) at the end of January. Spengler will also remain a reserve and test driver for BMW i Andretti Motorsport in the ABB FIA Formula E Championship. “Very few drivers have had as big an influence on the DTM as Bruno Spengler has in the past 15 years,” said BMW Group Motorsport Director Jens Marq...

Here are our Seven Favorite Cars from the BMW Museum For BMW enthusiasts, there may not be a better place on Earth than the BMW Welt. Especially the BMW Museum. There, you can see some of the most amazing and iconic automobiles ever to come out of Munich, cars that you’d likely never see anywhere else outside of the Welt. We were just recently in Munich with BMW and, while there, took some photos of our favorite cars on display. So check them out. Alexander Calder BMW 3.0 CSL While the Andy Warhol BMW Art Car is the most famous, the bet looking of them all is arguably the Alexander Calder car. Warhol painted a BMW M1, which is an awesome car, but the BMW 3.0 CSL racer done by Calder is a prettier car, even before the art. Its iconic shape and classic sports car proportions ...

VIDEO: Different text input functions in your BMW explained In your BMW equipped with the new OS 7.0 infotainment control system, you can choose between various methods of text input when searching for a desired driver profile or contact. You have a multitude of text input methods at your discretion. For example, you can use the iDrive controller. Tilt it down and you will switch between upper case and lower case letter. You can move through the letter by simply rotating the controller and pressing it to confirm the desired letter. As well, if you want to type in numbers, like for navigation addresses, you can select the “1@+” symbol with the iDrive controller. Furthermore, you can also use the touchpad on top of the controller to write letter and numbers which the system w...

Next-Gen MINI Clubman might get bigger, almost SUV-sized At the moment, the MINI Clubman is just about the perfect car in the brand’s lineup. It’s not too much bigger than the standard Cooper but it has enough extra usable space to make it practical as a daily family car. Yet, it’s no so big that it’s too heavy and bloated to be fun. However, that might unfortunately change moving forward, as per this new report from Autocar. According to this report, MINI Chief designer Oliver Heilmer told Autocar that the next-gen MINI Clubman might get a bit bigger, almost Countryman-size. There’s no word if that means the Countryman will also experience some growth, giving the brand two SUVs; one small and one large. However, there is talk that MINI is losing Countryman...

SPIED: 2021 BMW 6 Series GT LCI caught near the Arctic Circle The LCI model generation of the BMW 6 Series Gran Turismo has recently been caught during road tests carried in Northern Europe. After the BMW 3 Series GT (F34 model generation) got discontinued, the 6 Series GT of the G32 model generation is also facing the axe. Before this happens officially, BMW is set to give the luxury shuttle one final makeover before the inherent dismissal after the current generation. According to some rumors, the US market won’t even receive the LCI model series. Many fans have expressed their negative feelings towards what they felt was an awkward-looking, unworthy BMW. The 6 Series GT emerged with this nomenclature to fill the void left by the discontinuation of the standard 6 Series models....

VIDEO: BMW M8 Competition featured on Carfection Both Horatiu and I have driven the new BMW M8 Competition Coupe and it’s pretty wild ride. It’s such a brutal car, one that’s so violently fast, but it’s also so incredibly capable that you simply just hang one while it pummels pavement into submission. However, our experience has been limited to mostly track time, with some very little road time. So what’s the big brute like to actually drive on the road? We find out in this latest video from Carfection. In this new video review, Henry Catchpole gets to hoon the new BMW M8 Competition through some stunning, twisty canyon roads. While he seems very impressed with its power and capability, he’s quick to point out that it’s not some sort of scalpel-...

SPIED: Next BMW 2 Series Active Tourer scooped during winter testing Scheduled for official debut in 2021, the BMW 2 Series Active Tourer has hit the roads near the Arctic Circle for the cold weather testing sessions. The second generation of the 2 Series Active Tourer will sit on the new FAAR front-driven architecture which already underpins the new F40 1 Series and the F44 2 Series Gran Coupe. Lately, camouflaged prototypes have arrived in Arjeplog, Sweden, near the Arctic Circle, to undergo the usual extreme weather testing at cold temperatures (you can see the spy photos here). The current generation 2 Series Active Tourer The exterior styling will be heavily influenced by its recently revealed lineup siblings. The signature front fascia will follow the trails of the new 1 Series a...

BMW Z4, 3 Series and Toyota Supra affected by US recall on possible headlight failure The NHTSA has recently issued a recall warning for BMW Z4, BMW 3 Series and Toyota Supra models. According to the notice, the alleged headlight failure could lead to an increased risk of accident. Around 245 vehicles are subject to be recalled into service, as BMW have discovered signs of possible production issues which could cause one or both headlights to stop working properly. BMW analyzed the production cycle as to determine which models are directly affected by the latest technical recall. Specifically, the following models are impacted by the NHTSA recall program no. 19V850000: 37 units of the G29 series Z4 M40i and Z4 sDrive20i produced this year between July 16 and August 20 177 units of ...

First 8 examples of a BMW M8 Gran Coupe First Edition are stunning The first 8 units of the limited-run BMW M8 Gran Coupe First Edition have been specially customized by the BMW Individual Manufaktur. The M8 Gran Coupe First Edition will be assembled in a limited production of just 400 units to mark the advent of the F93 M8 generation. The very first 8 examples of the special model series sport a distinctive touch of individuality. The 8 Series has a powerful significance for BMW, so making the first 8 units of the M8 Gran Coupe First Edition even more special seems a logical marketing move. Horatiu also wrote an article on this subject, when BMW M CEO Markus Flasch presented the first 8 units of the special edition. The models are featured in the BMW Individual Aurora Diamant Green co...

The GMA T.50 is the McLaren F1 Successor the we’ve been Waiting for Every BMW loves the McLaren F1. Actually, scratch that, that’s not entirely accurate. Allow me to start over. Every car enthusiast in the world… Ya know what, let me start again. Everyone in the world loves the McLaren F1 because it’s one of the very most sensational driving machines in the history of the world, has a center-seating position and possibly the greatest internal combustion engine noise of all time. That last bit is what really drives BMW fans nuts, as the F1 was powered by a BMW M-developed engine. Now, though, two and a half decades later, the man behind the F1 is about to do it again. Welcome Gordan Murray’s all-new GMA T.50. The T.50 is Gordan Murray’s latest attempt at a ...

No BMW X2 electric planned, X1 BEV still in the books Earlier this week, a set of spy photos surfaced from Germany. The images were allegedly of a BMW X2 electric prototype being tested ahead of its release. Unfortunately, those news were incorrect. According to our sources, BMW has no current plans to offer an electric crossover based on the X2 model. Instead, we will be getting a plug-in hybrid sometimes within the next year with a similar drivetrain as the one found in the X1 PHEV. The plugin X1 uses a 1.5 liter 3-cylinder petrol engine and an electric drive specially developed for this model. The petrol engines delivers a peak output of 92 kW/125 hp and a maximum torque of 220 Newton meters. The power is sent to the front wheels via a 6-speed Steptronic transmission. The electric mo...

Listen to Chris Harris Discuss the Auto Industry’s Failure to Lead Chris Harris has become one of the most highly respected motoring journalists in the industry. While Harris can be quite blunt when speaking about cars he doesn’t like, something he isn’t shy about doing, his opinion matters in this industry. Over the years, he’s been quite outspoken about his distaste for SUVs and, especially SUV “Coupes”. In a recent video from Top Gear, Harris talks about mainly the Aston Martin DBX but also about the state of the industry as a whole and its move toward crossovers and SUVs. And it’s worth listening to for the bigger picture. While this video isn’t directly about BMW, it’s hard to not lump the Bavarian brand into the argument. BMW invente...

The new BMW 8 Series Gran Coupe priced from £69,340 OTR in the UK December 2019 is a rich month in terms of BMW premieres for the UK market, as the 8 Series gets complete with the launch of the Gran Coupe version. BMW has comprehensively developed the new 8 Series at the high-end of its model portfolio. Besides the Coupe (G15) which continues the tradition of the E31 ancestors, the Convertible (G14) and Gran Coupe (G16) bodies have also been added to the lineup. As the first-ever 8 Series Gran Coupe saw its market premiere in several European countries last month, in December, it was UK’s turn to witness the introduction of the luxury four-door coupe. After the new X6 and M8 Competition Coupe and Convertible celebrated their debut, the new 8 Series rounds off powerful fleet of ne...

VIDEO: Auto Express recreates the Italian Job with MINI Coopers This year marks sixty years of MINI and it’s also the fifty-year anniversary of The Italian Job, one of the most iconic car movies of all time and one that just so happened to feature Minis. To honor that, Auto Express took three MINI Coopers to all of the famous locations from the original movie and even reenacted some of its iconic scenes. For instance, they took the three MINI Coopers to the same spot where the Lamborghini Miura famously crashed into the bulldozer at the end of a tunnel and was then hurled down a cliff. They even stood atop the spot of the wreckage, just as the Italian mob members did in the movie. Does that count as a spoiler if the movie’s been out for almost twice as long as I’ve bee...

VIDEO: Which is the greatest BMW M car of all time? BMW M is easily one of the most iconic performance brands in the history of the automobile. Aside from maybe Alfa Romeo’s cloverleaf, Corvette’s crossed flags and Ferrari’s Prancing Horse, there may not be a more iconic performance badge than BMW’s “///M”. During its several decades, BMW M has made some legendary motor cars, performance machines that not only left their marks on history but changed it forever. But which is the greatest M car of them all? In this video from DriveTribe, we get to check out most of the best M cars throughout its storied history. There are so many, you might end up remembering one you’d forgotten about from this video, as there are almost too many historically grea...

Our experience at the 2019 BMW SIM Live Event Most of my professional life revolves around test driving cars or being in an office writing stories. And while gaming has been part of my youth, it’s not something that I’ve spent my time on recently. So earlier this year, I wrote a couple of stories on the BMW SIM Live Racing, but without fully understanding or appreciating the virtual world of racing. With that in mind, I wanted to further explore this world, so I headed to Munich for a fun day with BMW Motorsport. In the heart of Munich, at the BMW Welt, the Motorsport and Marketing teams at BMW had prepared a special event for ten of the best sim racers in the world. To make it even more interesting, they allowed media representatives and fans to showcase their talents and ...

VIDEO: Here are the first eight BMW M8 Gran Coupe First Edition In the BMW M Studio Garching, BMW M CEO Markus Flasch has just introduced to the world – the first eight M8 Gran Coupe First Edition models. (Listen to our podcast with Markus Flasch). The limited edition M8 Gran Coupe is painted in the stunning Aurora Diamant Green Metallic color which was first featured on the Concept version of the M8 Gran Coupe. Only 400 of the First Edition models will be made and a numbered plaque will show their owners just how rare they are. The BMW kidney grille, side air breather trim, door mirror and window-surround trim, exterior badging and door sill plates are finished in Gold Bronze, mirroring the M8 Gran Coupe Concept vehicle. The interior is finished in BMW Individual Ivory Whit...

MINI Getting Six-Speed Manual Transmissions back for 2020 The manual transmission is vital to the heart and soul of a MINI. While the go-fast JCW cars are only automatic now (which is a damn shame), it’s not the proper way to drive a MINI. For that, you need three pedals and a row-your-own gearbox. Unfortunately for may potential customers, manual transmissions haven’t been available for about six months or so. Thankfully, that lack of availability will end in the beginning of February, 2020. “Starting early February 2020, customers will be able to resume ordering [two- and four-door] MINI hardtop and convertible models equipped with manual transmissions from March 2020 production,” spokesman Andrew Cutler recently told Car and Driver. Apparently, the temporary l...

Kubica and BMW DTM team finishes winter test at Jerez Every year, BMW hosts a testing session at Jerez de la Frontera, Spain, which is called DTM Young Driver Test. This year, the guests were former BMW F1 driver Robert Kubica (POL) and BMW works driver Nick Yelloly (GBR) from the GT racing scene. As preparations for the 2020 season continue, Marco Wittmann (GER) and Philipp Eng (AUT) were also in action in southern Spain. BMW M Motorsport ran two BMW M4 DTMs at Jerez de la Frontera and used the three days to evaluate various technical concepts for next season at the racetrack. Kubica and Yelloly alternated at the wheel of one car, while Wittmann and Eng shared the work in the cockpit of the other BMW M4 DTM. In total, they completed more than 700 laps, or more than 3,200 kilometers. &...

Audi Design Boss critical of BMW Sports Activity Coupes Even though an SUV with a coupe-like roof line existed even before the first BMW X6 was launched, the Bavarian brand is largely credited with inventing this sub-niche of the SUV segment. After the original E71 X6 was launched, most journalists criticized the Germans for their bold approach. Fast forward more than a decade and if you take a gander at the automotive world, you’ll notice the X6 was actually a trailblazer. Traditional rivals from Germany now have at least one SUV with a Coupe-like roof line in their line-up, from the Mercedes-Benz GLE Coupe to the Audi Q8. That’s just to name a few. Speaking to Autocar recently, Audi’s design boss, Marc Lichte had a couple of interesting things to say about what is no...

Photo Gallery: The new BMW M8 Competition models hit UK streets The new BMW M8 Competition Coupe and M8 Competition Convertible have just had their UK market launch. On that occasion, a contingent of journalists got behind the wheel to drive BMW’s most powerful cars offered today. With 625 horsepower and 750Nm peak torque, the two M brothers can run from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in just 3.2 seconds. The top speed is limited to 155 mph (189 mph with M Driver Package). Pricing starts at £123,435 for the BMW M8 Competition Coupe and £130,435 for the M8 Competition Convertible. The hefty price tag allows BMW to pack quite a few features and options in the new M8 models. All new BMW M8 models are fitted as standard with Adaptive LED headlights. Optional BMW Laserlights are av...

MINI cars won’t get Android Auto, for now The big news this week in the BMW community was the announcement around Android Auto coming to BMW cars. Android Auto in a BMW will be demonstrated live for the first time at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2020 and will be available for customers in 20 countries from July 2020 for all vehicles with BMW Operating System 7.0. Naturally, MINI owners have started to wonder whether their own cars will be getting the highly coveted Android Auto. We reached out to MINI on the topic. “MINI won’t receive Android Auto functionality at the same time as it was just announced for BMW,” a MINI spokesperson told us. “At this time we don’t have a confirmed timeline of when this functionality may become available on MINI models...

VIDEO: Regular Winter Tires or Studded Tires for your BMW? We’ve been big proponents of proper winter tires for ages. It’s not something we take lightly, either. Winter tires are far safer than their all-season alternatives when temperatures dip below freezing. More than that, proper winter rubber also allows your BMW to perform the way it’s intended to in colder weather, while lesser tires will lack the proper grip to do so. The real question is, which sort of winter tire do you get? In snowy climates, a lot of drivers prefer studded winter tires. While studded winter tires might offer better traction in very slippery conditions, they aren’t always the best alternative. They’re also not always legal, as some States in the US don’t allow them on the r...

AC Schnitzer introduces a tuning program for the BMW 3 Series Touring After the introduction of the BMW 3 Series sedan tuning kit, German tuner AC Schnitzer launches a new program. This time, it’s the BMW 3 Series Touring that gets the to be special. The performance upgrades start with a tuning kit and the BMW 330d Touring which now makes 315 horsepower instead of the 265 hp. The kit will then expand to the 320i, 330i and M340i models. AC Schnitzer also presents acoustic diversity. The AC Schnitzer sports rear silencer (for 320i, 330i, M340i) with 2 exhaust tailpipes each in right/left combination with “Sport Carbon”, “Sport Chrome” or “Sport Black” tailpipes (4 pieces) is in preparation and already available for the 320i and 330i. The suspensi...