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My Opinion: MINI Cooper SE will be more fun than the BMW M135i

My Opinion: MINI Cooper SE will be more fun than the BMW M135i

Auto and Cars
My Opinion: MINI Cooper SE will be more fun than the BMW M135i By the end of this year, the BMW Group will have to hatchbacks that shake up the status quo; the BMW M135i and the MINI Cooper SE. The former is a front-wheel drive-based hot-hatch, something BMW has never made before, and the latter is an all-electric hatch that’s mostly different from what MINI has made before (the original MINI E was more of a test-bed for future electric performance, rather than a full-on production vehicle). However, it’s actually the MINI that I think will be the more fun, more exciting car. The all-new BMW M135i xDrive is an interesting car because it is front-wheel drive-based but its xDrive all-wheel drive system can send power to the rear wheels when needed. So it’s a grippy little hot-hatch with a...
Car Throttle is giving away an E46 BMW 3 Series Convertible

Car Throttle is giving away an E46 BMW 3 Series Convertible

Auto and Cars
Car Throttle is giving away an E46 BMW 3 Series Convertible Car Throttle has been tinkering with old BMWs for awhile. It seems the British publication likes old Bimmers and with good reason; they’re awesome. They’ve featured E36 M3s, E46 M3s and even an E46 Touring diesel, done up for track use. Now, though, they’re giving away an E46 3 Series Convertible for free. In this new video Car Throttle shows off the E46 3 Series, which is a 325Ci Convertible, and gives us a bit of a walkthrough of the car and its mechanical bits. It’s actually a surprisingly clean example, with almost nothing wrong with it. Sure, it’s a bit old and maybe slightly tired but it’s in really good shape. Because it’s a 325Ci, it sports a 2.5 liter naturally-aspirated inline-six engine (don’t you miss the days when ...
Can the Facelifted Alfa Romeo Giulia finally take down the 3 Series?

Can the Facelifted Alfa Romeo Giulia finally take down the 3 Series?

Auto and Cars
Can the Facelifted Alfa Romeo Giulia finally take down the 3 Series? Awhile back, we did a comparison test between the BMW 3 Series and the Alfa Romeo Giulia. More specifically, the BMW 330i xDrive and the Giulia Q4 2.0T. Both cars were almost identically equipped. So neither car had any equipment or trim level advantages. In that test, the 3er won because of the fact that it never really had any glaring issue. Sure, the Giulia was a touch more fun to drive but its horrid infotainment system, interior quality issues and lack of comfort made the 3 Series a better car. To be honest, that wasn’t a great surprise. Those same issues have plagued the Alfa Romeo Giulia since its debut. Which has always been a shame, considering that Alfa’s sedan is probably the best in the segment to actually ...
Video: Classic Minis Reinvented – Which one would you choose?

Video: Classic Minis Reinvented – Which one would you choose?

Auto and Cars
Video: Classic Minis Reinvented – Which one would you choose? The classic Mini is a blast to drive, in its original guise. I had the pleasure of driving one from 1959 this year alongside a newer Cooper S 1250 GT model and both were true revelations for the non-believer in me. The analogue feel that the car offers and the way it handles with such little weight are two of the things that will surely make you fall in love as well. However, there are some amenities missing from them and some people have found a way to mend those shortcomings. Modernizing older cars has become a thriving business these days and company handling that sort of stuff are asking for serious money for their services. When it comes to Minis, the guys from David Brown Automotive are the ones to go to as they are the...
Is the best BMW Hot Hatch Actually the Hyundai Veloster N?

Is the best BMW Hot Hatch Actually the Hyundai Veloster N?

Auto and Cars
Is the best BMW Hot Hatch Actually the Hyundai Veloster N? By now, you probably know of the man that runs Hyundai’s newly formed performance N Division, right? It’s Albert Biermann, the same man who used to head up BMW’s M Division. Now that he’s with Hyundai, he seems to have injected a level of fun and performance that most enthusiasts never thought possible to see from a car with a slanted “H” on the hood. However, the all-new Hyundai Veloster N is so good that it may just be the best hot hatch to ever come from a (former) BMW exec. It might sound heretical to call the Hyundai Veloster N a sort of BMW product but it was made by the same man who helmed the M Division for so long. Regardless of where he’s physically located, Biermann still has BMW M in his blood and the M Division stil...
Video: How the BMW Intelligent Emergency Call system works

Video: How the BMW Intelligent Emergency Call system works

Auto and Cars
Video: How the BMW Intelligent Emergency Call system works If you own a newer BMW model you might have noticed that there’s a button located right above the rear view mirror labeled ‘SOS’. Most of you probably wondered what it does and how it could come in handy. Yet, we were never curious enough or – hopefully – never actually needed to press it in the first place. Well, BMW put together a short clip and posted it on Youtube, explaining exactly what that button does. The BMW Intelligent Emergency Call system has been implemented on BMWs over the last 10 years on various versions. It is meant to alert the emergency services in case something goes wrong or you’re involved in an accident. The system is capable of diagnosing the car and it will share relevant information with the rescuers ...
Video: Chris Harris Drives the Rolls-Royce Cullinan

Video: Chris Harris Drives the Rolls-Royce Cullinan

Auto and Cars
Video: Chris Harris Drives the Rolls-Royce Cullinan The Rolls-Royce Cullinan has been around for almost a year now and what a year it has been. The first SUV from Goodwood is now breaking all sales records and is apparently on a warpath to prove naysayers that they were wrong to doubt it. One of them was Chris Harris. He’s been one of the first journos to drive it and complain about certain aspects of this car. The Top Gear host had a particular issue with the design. In all fairness, the Cullinan can’t really compete in a beauty pageant but, if you ask me, it’s not nearly as ugly as Harris portrays it in this review. What some people don’t understand is that the Rolls-Royce brand forces you to adopt some styling cues that may not work perfectly on cars of a certain size. You need to mo...
2020 Mercedes Maybach GLS – The Best Luxury SUV?

2020 Mercedes Maybach GLS – The Best Luxury SUV?

Auto and Cars
http://youtu.be/hGjtZG20BKk The new Mercedes-Maybach GLS 600 4MATIC (combined fuel consumption: 12.0-11.7 l/100 km; combined CO2 emissions: 273-266 g/km)[1] is driven exclusively by the powerful and discreet M 177 – a new, electrified variant of the V8 petrol engine with a displacement of 3982 cc, 48-volt on-board electrical system and integrated starter-alternator (ISG). ISG is responsible for hybrid functions such as EQ Boost or energy recovery, while allowing fuel savings that were previously reserved for high-voltage hybrid technology. The development focused on the long-term improvement of the consumption and emissions figures. At the same time, the customers' power expectations need to be met. As a result, the engine produces an output of 410 kW (558 hp) and 730 Nm of torque. An add...
BMW and Great Wall Motor to build future MINI E vehicles in China

BMW and Great Wall Motor to build future MINI E vehicles in China

Auto and Cars
BMW and Great Wall Motor to build future MINI E vehicles in China BMW and Great Wall Motor have just confirmed their new partnership which revolves around the manufacturing of MINI E vehicles in China. The new joint venture, Spotlight Automotive Limited will operate a plant with a capacity of up to 160,000 vehicles per year. The plant will require around 3,000 employees after the ramp-up phase. Both partners will together invest around 650 million Euro (more than five billion CNY). The construction phase is planned for 2020 to 2022. The joint venture envisages production of future electric MINI vehicles, as well as several models and brands for Great Wall Motor. The recently unveiled MINI Cooper SE will also continue to be built at the Oxford plant in the UK. The Spotlight Automotive j...
BMW could be going all frameless for its future electric motorbike

BMW could be going all frameless for its future electric motorbike

Auto and Cars
BMW could be going all frameless for its future electric motorbike As with cars, electrification is spreading across the motorbike world as well. A pioneer in electric mobility, BMW is currently under the development phase for future, 100% electric frameless two-wheeler, inspired by the Vision DC Roadster concept bike. As shown by a set of patent drawings (which you can see here), BMW is allegedly working on a future series of electric bikes. The main feature of the new two-wheeler architecture is the absence of the physical frame. The new electric bike is completely frameless and composed out of sections, like the Vision DC Roadster. The first part of the new motorbike is represented by the handle bar – suspension – front wheel unit. The front section is followed by the electric power...
BMWs were thankful we drove in 2019 – Happy Thanksgiving!

BMWs were thankful we drove in 2019 – Happy Thanksgiving!

Auto and Cars
BMWs were thankful we drove in 2019 – Happy Thanksgiving! Turkey Day is here once again. As every year, Thanksgiving is a day that’s supposed to be filled with great food, family, friends and celebrations for what we’re thankful for in our lives. It’s basically to commemorate the early feasts between Pilgrims and Native Americans. So on this special day, we won’t only wish you a Happy Thanksgiving with your loved ones, but also take the time to look at some of the most exciting BMWs we drove in 2019. We did exactly 60 test drives so far this year, on a global scale, covering different markets and different type of customers. And thanks to an aggressive and revamped BMW product lineup, the diversity in model choices has been greater than ever. BMW M850i xDrive Coupe BMW has reinstated t...
This is the full AC Schnitzer tuning program for the BMW Z4

This is the full AC Schnitzer tuning program for the BMW Z4

Auto and Cars
This is the full AC Schnitzer tuning program for the BMW Z4 German tuning powerhouse AC Schnitzer has just launched their full program for the BMW Z4. And at the top of their offering sits the BMW Z4 M40i which now delivers 400 horsepower instead of the standard 340 hp. The BMW tuning specialist from Aachen will soon also be “sharpening” the BMW Z4 20i and 30i models with performance upgrades. A up to 5-year warranty is of course included when the BMW Z4 rolls out of the workshop in Aachen. Let’s list some of the upgrades. AC Schnitzer sports rear silencers with “Sport Carbon” or “Sport black” tailpipes for the Z4 M40i with 2 tailpipes each in right/left combination (4 pieces) are available for the exhaust. The Z4 20i and 30i can be equipped with tailtrims right/left combination (2 pie...
The 5 Series Touring (G31) specced in BMW Individual Brass metallic

The 5 Series Touring (G31) specced in BMW Individual Brass metallic

Auto and Cars
The 5 Series Touring (G31) specced in BMW Individual Brass metallic The BMW Individual special customization program is a delight. It offers a multitude of attractive ways to individualize your BMW. One particularly classy choice is the Brass metallic shade featured on this 5 Series Touring. Your power of choice is limitless, as BMW Individual boasts a multi-faceted array of individualization options for you BMW. With more than 100 exterior colors available, the only real difficulty here is to choose the one to suit your taste out of the various attractive shades. Today, I ran across a particularly striking BMW Individual color: the Brass metallic, which was featured on a 5 Series Touring of the G31 model generation (you can see the photos here). Although the pictures are of poor quali...
Video: MINI Countryman JCW Reviewed on The Straight Pipes

Video: MINI Countryman JCW Reviewed on The Straight Pipes

Auto and Cars
Video: MINI Countryman JCW Reviewed on The Straight Pipes This year MINI decided to offer some of its JCW models a bit more power. We would venture to say that they went with a lot more power. The new MINI Countryman JCW and MINI Clubman JCW are now delivering over 70 horsepower more than the pre-facelift versions. That took the power output over 300 HP and it was bound to cause a lot of talks online about how the cars feel this time round. The guys from The Straight Pipes took the Countryman out for a spin. Not surprisingly, they actually liked it. And that falls into the pattern we’re seeing in the US and Canada right now, where the Countryman and Clubman models are the best sellers in the range. Apparently, people want bigger cars but they also like the quirkiness of the MINI brand. ...
2020 BMW 745e xDrive Review includes instrumented tests

2020 BMW 745e xDrive Review includes instrumented tests

Auto and Cars
2020 BMW 745e xDrive Review includes instrumented tests The guys from MotorWeek took the brand new BMW 745e xDrive model out for a spin to see how it compares to its predecessor. In true MotorWeek fashion, they took the new PHEV on a proper course to see just how much performance it brings to the table. They were not disappointed. Just as I found during my time with the car, the new setup is a lot better than before, the biggest change being felt from under the hood, with that impressive six-cylinder engine making it all worthwhile. On the MotorWeek instrumented test, the BMW 745e xDrive model did a 0-60 mph sprint of just 4.8 seconds. The best 1/4 mile time the guys recorded was 13.3 seconds at 105 mph which isn’t back breaking but not too slow either. This thing is rather fast, consid...
BMW and Team MTEK to part ways starting next year

BMW and Team MTEK to part ways starting next year

Auto and Cars
BMW and Team MTEK to part ways starting next year BMW Team MTEK has been a constant presence in various motorsport events over the last few years but it seems like that partnership has come to an end. According to Autosport, Team MTEK wants back in the World Endurance Championship and since BMW recently announced its retirement from the series, the two companies will follow different paths from 2020 on. Team MTEK ran BMW M3 and M4 models in the DTM between 2013 and 2015 and did so quite successfully. The guys were also behind the BMW efforts in the World Endurance Championship with the BMW M8 GTE in the 2018-2019 campaign. However, team boss Ernest Knoors said they will no longer work with BMW from here on out.”We have completed our contract with BMW and are now looking for other opport...
BMW mocks Tesla Cybertruck with its own Bulletproof X5

BMW mocks Tesla Cybertruck with its own Bulletproof X5

Auto and Cars
BMW mocks Tesla Cybertruck with its own Bulletproof X5 It’s safe to say that the Tesla Cybertruck reveal didn’t go as planned. Love it or hate it, there’s no denying that Elon Musk’s little display backfired, when he attempted to show off the Cybertruck’s “Tesla Armor Glass” by having a metal ball thrown at the window. Despite being said to be bulletproof against 9mm gunfire, the metal ball broke the window after having been thrown by a normal-sized mad. Hardly bulletproof, then, is it? So poke some fun at Tesla, BMW tweeted a photo of its newly released bulletproof X5 VR6. In the tweet, we get to see the bulletproof BMW X5 shot to hell by a variety of different caliber bullets, none of which went all the way through. The caption that goes along with it reads: “Comes with bulletproof wi...
AC Schnitzer now offers a tuning pack for the Toyota Supra

AC Schnitzer now offers a tuning pack for the Toyota Supra

Auto and Cars
AC Schnitzer now offers a tuning pack for the Toyota Supra If there was ever a need to confirm that the Toyota Supra is a BMW underneath that pretty sheet metal, it was just taken care of by the people of AC Schnitzer. The German tuner known for making sure BMWs go even faster than they would in standard guise, associated with the Bavarian brand since its inception, just announced it has a tuning kit available for the Toyota Supra. The tuner didn’t just stick to the easy path either. They could’ve easily brought out an ECU tune for what is otherwise a BMW engine under the hood of the Supra and call it a day. Instead, they created an entire package for the Japanese car and I have to say I’m impressed. Since I already mentioned the B58 3-liter straight six engine, I will say the power out...
BMW Reaches Agreement with Worker Unions for cost cutting

BMW Reaches Agreement with Worker Unions for cost cutting

Auto and Cars
BMW Reaches Agreement with Worker Unions for cost cutting Not long ago BMW announced it is in talks with various suppliers and unions to find ways to cut its spending in the following years. According to BMW these measures are needed to make sure the company remains profitable and has enough money to invest in electric cars as well as autonomous tech. Today a new report from Reuters claims the Bavarians have already reached an agreement with representatives of the work force. According to the report, cost cutting will be achieved by reducing bonuses for workers based related to the company profits while Christmas and other bonuses for certain workers will be changed, to a slimmer layout. This agreement won’t affect the bonuses and income for workers this year but will be implemented sta...
Electric Vehicles Charging Guide: Making sense of EV charge connectors

Electric Vehicles Charging Guide: Making sense of EV charge connectors

Auto and Cars
Electric Vehicles Charging Guide: Making sense of EV charge connectors The electric car market is getting bigger than ever. Almost every month there is a new product announcement from automakers around the world and the next decade will see an impressive electric offensive. And while everyone seems to agree on the basic principles of electric cars, there is one area where they haven’t – standardized connectors. So naturally, one of the first things you’d notice when you purchase an EV is how different the charge connectors are. So today, we’re going to break them down, as well as the options for Level 1, 2 and 3 charging. Which Connectors Are Available for Charging? J1772 Photo: Michael Hicks / Flickr “mulad” / CC-BY-2.0 The standard connector for AC charging in the United States is th...
Could the RWD/Manual G80 BMW M3 be the best M3 yet?

Could the RWD/Manual G80 BMW M3 be the best M3 yet?

Auto and Cars
Could the RWD/Manual G80 BMW M3 be the best M3 yet? There’s a possibility that the next-generation BMW M3, in its rear-wheel drive/manual gearbox spec, could be the best road-going M3 yet. Before you grab your pitchforks and torches and punch my address into Waze, let me explain. Dubbed ‘G80‘, the next-gen BMW M3 will be a very interesting car and one that has immense potential to be an all-time great. It will be based off of the G20-generation 3 Series chassis, which is probably the best 3 Series chassis since the E46-generation. In fact, it’s probably the best 3 Series chassis yet, as it’s far more rigid, better balanced and more capable than any 3er before it. So right off the bat, the G80 M3 will have really good bones. Then there’s the engine. Powering the next-gen BMW M3 will be ...
SPIED: BMW M5 Facelift spotted next to current M5

SPIED: BMW M5 Facelift spotted next to current M5

Auto and Cars
SPIED: BMW M5 Facelift spotted next to current M5 We’ve already seen some new spy photos of the facelifted G30 5 Series and fans rejoiced when they realized it sports normal looking Kidney Grilles. In fact, they’ve barely changed over the pre-facelift car. That face made a lot of BMW fans happy, as they feared the new-face 5er might get the same grilles as the upcoming 4 Series. Those same fans might get some continued relief in knowing that the facelifted BMW M5 will also get a normal grille design, as seen in these new spy photos. (We don’t own the photos but you can see them here) In these new photos, we can clearly see a facelifted BMW M5, wearing camouflage, sitting next to a pre-facelift M5. As they sit next to each other, we can easily see the differences between the two cars and...
Video: BMW M2 Competition vs Alfa Romeo 4C Drag Race

Video: BMW M2 Competition vs Alfa Romeo 4C Drag Race

Auto and Cars
Video: BMW M2 Competition vs Alfa Romeo 4C Drag Race We’ve seen the BMW M2 Competition in all sorts of drag races ever since it came out but we’ve rarely seen it go up against an Alfa Romeo 4C. One of the reasons for that is surely the fact that the 4C is truly a rare car in the first place. Our friend Joe Achilles decided to pit his own BMW M2 Competition against the little Alfa and things were quite interesting, to be honest. From the get go I should mention that the thing that makes the Alfa so desirable is its incredible low weight. The Italian sports car tips the scale at under 1 ton which is amazing these days. Sure, you do lose some comfort features in the process, but then again, that low weight makes it so desirable by true gearheads. Under the hood there’s a 4-cylinder 1.75-li...
Report: MINI could become an all-electric brand after 2030

Report: MINI could become an all-electric brand after 2030

Auto and Cars
Report: MINI could become an all-electric brand after 2030 MINI is about to get reinvented beginning with the third decade of the 21st century. Some of the ingredients of the makeover recipe is running all-electric and returning to core brand values. Electrification is gaining traction at the moment. In around 5 – 10 years from now, everybody expects that more than 50 percent of the vehicles sold to be plug-in hybrids or pure electric. MINI is about to undergo a major overhaul, in the road to going back to the old roots paved by Sir Alec Issigonis in the early 1960s. The British brand was bought by BMW Group in the ’90s and, since then, it managed to flourish and become very popular. Despite the complete rejuvenation, in the last years, the growth tempo has slowed down a bit. Further c...
Which electric car charging station to use – Guide

Which electric car charging station to use – Guide

Auto and Cars
Which electric car charging station to use – Guide Congratulations on your electric car or plug-in hybrid and welcome to this new world. Yet, we’re certain that many questions are still left unanswered when it comes to electro-mobility and one big one is: Which electric car charging station to use. There is no standard naming convention, but most of the EV owners can often be heard using terms like Level 1, Level 2 or Level 3. Each charging power level has its own use case, pros or cons, so we put together a guide, along with some charging stations recommendations. Levels Based On Power (kW) Level 1 Level 1 charging is charging from a basic 120V household outlet. BMW includes a Level 1 OCU (occasional use charger) with all of their electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids. It is without a ...
Photo Comparison: BMW X6 M vs Audi RS Q8 — Big Brutes

Photo Comparison: BMW X6 M vs Audi RS Q8 — Big Brutes

Auto and Cars
Photo Comparison: BMW X6 M vs Audi RS Q8 — Big Brutes At this year’s 2019 LA Auto Show, many members of the media, as well as fans, we re able to see the all-new BMW X6 M for the first time in person. Packing the same engine as an M5 or M8, the X6 M is a serious brute of an SUV. However, its styling is quite controversial and could turn some enthusiasts off. Especially when you consider that the X6 M wasn’t the only uber-fast SUV to debut in LA. The Audi RS Q8 made its worldwide debut that same day and it came packing serious performance credentials. Ahead of its LA Auto Show debut, the Audi RS Q8 broke the all-time lap record for SUVs are the Nurburgring. So it’s a seriously fast machine and one that isn’t just fast in a straight line. The ‘Ring requires serious handling capability and...
Should BMW make an electric pickup truck, a la Tesla Cybertruck?

Should BMW make an electric pickup truck, a la Tesla Cybertruck?

Auto and Cars
Should BMW make an electric pickup truck, a la Tesla Cybertruck? A few days ago, Tesla make huge waves in the automotive world, with ripples still being felt throughout the internet days later. Now, we won’t talk about the actual Cybertruck itself, because its unveiling has been a bit of a mess, regardless of your feelings on the brand. Instead, we want to look at whether or not BMW should try and jump into that segment and make an electric pickup truck? I want to preface this by saying we, in no way, think BMW will ever make a pickup of any kind, electric or otherwise. It’s just not in the cards for BMW. However, it’s not a terrible idea, actually. BMW needs to start making more electric vehicles. Yes, the Bavarians say there are more EVs on the way but they’ve been saying that for yea...
BMWBLOG Podcast Episode 7 — Talk to BMW M CEO at LA Auto Show

BMWBLOG Podcast Episode 7 — Talk to BMW M CEO at LA Auto Show

Auto and Cars
BMWBLOG Podcast Episode 7 — Talk to BMW M CEO at LA Auto Show It’s that time of the week again, as our latest episode of the BMWBLOG Podcast is now live. In this episode, our seventh in total, we come to you from the 2019 LA Auto Show. Well, mostly. We recorded half of the episode in LA and the second half back at home. The reason for this was we wanted to sit down with a very special guest for this episode — BMW M CEO Markus Flasch. Markus is quite new to his role at BMW M but he’s already in the process of doing big things with the brand. This also marks the second time we’ve spoken to him (as I previously interviewed him at M Fest a few months back) and he’s always been kind to us and giving us his time. At the LA Auto Show, our sit down was the last in a long day of interviews for h...
2020 BMW M550i xDrive pricing announced for Australia and it’s not cheap

2020 BMW M550i xDrive pricing announced for Australia and it’s not cheap

Auto and Cars
2020 BMW M550i xDrive pricing announced for Australia and it’s not cheap For the model year 2020, BMW Australia will introduce the new BMW M550i xDrive performance sedan in different variants, including an entry-level model badged ‘Pure’. The label ‘Pure’ was until now reserved for the lower-spec M2 and M3 variants sold on the Australian markets. With the advent of the new M Performance business sedan, BMW will introduce a cheaper price version of the M550i xDrive beginning with 2020. The entry-level BMW M550i xDrive will have a starting price of AUD 134,900, substantially below the standard variant which sports a price tag of AUD 149,900. The ‘Pure’ and the standard M550i xDrive will basically be the same car, in terms of powertrain. Both are equipped with the enhanced N63 4.4-liter V...
The new BMW 330e encounters Lexus ES 300h in Autobild comparison test

The new BMW 330e encounters Lexus ES 300h in Autobild comparison test

Auto and Cars
The new BMW 330e encounters Lexus ES 300h in Autobild comparison test After battling the Volvo S60 T8 and emerging victorious, the new BMW 330e plug-in hybrid is now up to the next challenge as it encounters the Lexus ES 300h in a new comparison trial. This Autobild test puts together two different hybrids: the new BMW 330e plug-in hybrid and the mild hybrid Lexus ES 300h. As with most test drives, the German journalists tried to highlight the positives of both models. Out of the two, the 330e is the most practical choice, offering versatility and power in everyday use. Autobild was impressed by the all-rounding German plug-in hybrid with its full-electric range of around 56 kilometers. What’s more, the BMW manages a smooth, seamless transition between electric drive and the internal co...