Auto and Cars

TEST DRIVE: Porsche Taycan Turbo S – A Brutally Fast Electric Sportscar Not too long ago when someone mentioned electric cars, most people thought of a hybrid, or more specifically, a Toyota Prius. Underpowered, underwhelming and quite honestly, not very desirable or exciting. That is, unless you get your thrills by achieving great MPG numbers. Then Tesla arrived on the scene and really smashed the concept of EVs being not much more than glorified golf carts. They offered long-range, desirable performance sedans and crossovers that were capable of recharging at very high rates, much faster than any other EV was capable of. It took some time, but the legacy auto manufacturers are finally starting to catch up. Audi and Jaguar have already released their first all-electric offerings, the e...

Cullinan accounts for nearly half of all Rolls-Royce sales so far in 2019 It’s fair to say that many people were terrified when Rolls-Royce confirmed it was working on their first SUV ever – The Cullinan. Even though the model perfectly fits the brand, some were quick to dismiss this move as a simple attempt to cash in on the trends of today. Well, it turned out that the decision to create a ‘high-riding’ vehicle was a good one. You only have to look at the sales figures. The BMW Group published its financial records for the first three quarters of 2019 and things are looking not just good, better than expected. In the Rolls-Royce range there have been some rather serious and interesting changes of hierarchy. The Cullinan, which was only on sale from the beginning of the year, is now a ...

First video of the new 2020 BMW M2 CS BMW has just released the first video of the new 2020 BMW M2 CS. This is a car that’s been teased, hinted and spied for years now. It’s also a car that BMW fans have been impatiently waiting for ever since the standard M2 came to be. And now, it’s finally here. The all-new BMW M2 CS is the fastest, most hardcore, most pure-driving 2 Series variant yet and its sole purpose is to be a scalpel among machetes. To make the M2 CS as scalpel sharp as possible, BMW needed to lighten it as much as possible. Which is actually more important than you might expect for an M2. So it gets a carbon fiber hood, a carbon fiber front splitter and a new carbon fiber roof help drop the curb weight of the M2 CS significantly. The roof has also been made with a new sandw...

New BMW F 900 R and F 900 XR Unveiled I’ve long anticipated the day that BMW Motorrad’s middleweights, which are often overlooked, were replaced with new and exciting offerings. Offerings that would be suitable to compete with the likes of Ducati and Triumph, among others, in a very contentious market segment. The F 800 R presented little appeal when compared with Ducati’s Monster 797, Triumph’s Street Triple and the Scrambler by Ducati of comparable displacement. As for the incomprehensibly old F 800 GT, it faired even more poorly when compared with newer entrants in its sub-segment, like Ducati’s smaller displacement Multistrada. Finally, BMW has an answer. Better late than never. Especially for those of us whom genuinely love the authenticity, the easy of use and accessible power tha...

Video: BMW M135i xDrive Review focuses on tech The new BMW M135i xDrive is arriving in dealerships as we speak and it comes with a lot of changes compared to the old model. Initially launched as part of the second-generation BMW 1 Series, the original M135i was a rather peculiar bird in the segment. It was the only hot hatch with a six-cylinder engine and a rear-wheel drive layout. That’s all gone now and instead we have a new model that’s supposed to be better and more practical while losing just a fraction of the fun offered by its predecessor. Rory Reid’s might be familiar to you. He was part of one of the efforts done by BBC to revive the Top Gear show after the departure of Clarkson, Hammond and May. He proved time and time again that he knows cars and is a true gearhead over the ...

BMW invests in ELISE start-up, aiming to streamline development process BMW announced yesterday an investment in a start-up aimed at streamlining development processes: ELISE. Through the BMW i Ventures investment arm, the BMW Group is now a part of the company, which has been developing generative engineering software aimed at automating the product development process. ELISE is a deep-tech startup and is planning on using the funds raised recently to speed up product development and market entry. “ELISE enables engineers to automate multiple time-consuming steps of the product design process,” said Tobias Jahn, principal at BMW i Ventures.  “We observed high efficiency gains during the initial usage at the BMW Group and are convinced that such achievements are also possible at scale t...

SPIED: 2021 BMW M5 LCI spotted next to its pre-LCI brother The forthcoming 2021 BMW 5 Series LCI has been quite a frequent sight lately. Recently, a test prototype of the LCI F90 M5 high-performance saloon has been spotted alongside its current, pre-LCI generation sibling. Until now, spy photographers were able to scoop test prototypes for the 5 Series LCI in various body styles and versions, such as Sedan, Touring, M550i/M550d, or M5. The latest spyshots reveal the upcoming revamped M5 sitting along with the current M5 model series. While you might be inclined to say they look virtually the same, take into account the LCI version gets all-new headlights inspired the 7 Series, completely reshaped front air intakes and what appear to be slightly taller kidneys for the radiator grille. I...

LEAKED: The 2020 BMW M2 CS with 450 horsepower Unfortunately some magazines (and this one) jumped the gun and the all-new 2020 BMW M2 CS has been leaked exactly 24 hours before the embargo expiration. Our full details are coming up, but for now, let’s quickly recap what’s new on the BMW M2 CS. It gets a carbon fiber hood, a carbon fiber front splitter and a new carbon fiber roof help drop the curb weight of the M2 CS significantly. The roof has also been made with a new sandwich design that not only decreases weight and lowers the car’s center of gravity but it also increases the car’s structural rigidity. There are new ball joints and elastomeric bearings added to the front and rear axles. The 2020 BMW M2 CS has been fitted with Adaptive M Suspension as standard, as well as M Sport bra...

BMW M760Li shows 12-cylinder supremacy in acceleration challenge against 750i This acceleration test aims to reveal an undeniable reality. When it comes to cars, adding more cylinders and extra displacement to an engine will inherently result in better performance. The 750i is undoubtedly no match for the supreme BMW M760Li model. The journalists from Dutch automotive publication AutoTop were curious to find out which version is the fastest: the M760Li or the 750i? While the result may seem obvious, it is beneficial to remind that the 8-cylinder 7 Series has received a pretty impressive power boost starting with the LCI generation. The 750i xDrive that took part in the test is put into motion by the 4.4-liter twin-turbocharged V8 engine under codename N63B44T3, which features a 90-degr...

BMWBLOG Podcast Episode 4 — Our own Chuck Vossler talks EVs, Tesla Model 3 and Old-School Bimmers Well, episode 4 is here of our podcast and we have another guest for you. This time, it’s our own Chuck Vossler. While he isn’t a full-time writer for BMWBLOG (he’s a much more important human for that), he does contribute to our site every now and again. He’s also one of our resident EV experts, as he’s owned a few over the years and is an EV enthusiast. He’s also the owner of a BMW i3 and a Tesla Model 3 Performance. Don’t fret, though, he’s also a proper petrol-head. We talk a lot about EVs in this episode, especially about the differences between the BMW i3 and Tesla Model 3. The reason for that is not because they’re two comparable cars — because they’re not, they’re very different — b...

Tuning Preview: Manhart BMW M8, X5 M, X6 M and X7 announced German tuning shop Manhart Performance has just released a teaser featuring some of their upcoming tuning projects based on new BMW M models. The tuning professionals from Wuppertal are known for taking the M cars to the extreme and the new projects are likely to follow suit. Firstly, we have the Manhart MH8 800 based on the BMW M8. The power increase for this particular model is expected to give the sports coupe around 800 hp. The first two photos show the front and rear of the coupe, which is already factory-blessed with 625 hp and carries the title of the fastest series BMW ever. With the 175 additional horsepower, the 3-second mark for the sprint from 0 to 100 km/h, should be easily achievable. Secondly, Manhart Performanc...

TEASER: BMW M2 CS Racing teased ahead of the regular BMW M2 CS Tomorrow, the BMW world will get one more exciting model – the BMW M2 CS. Along with the production limited M2 CS, we will also soon get to see the racing version of the car, dubbed BMW M2 CS Racing. The BMW M2 CS Racing will replace the vastly successful M235i and M240i racers that seem to make up half of the Nürburgring 24-hour grid each year. The car will also be suitable for clubsport levels, not just professional racing. The first cars will be delivered at the start of the second quarter of 2020. BMW Group Motorsport Director Jens Marquardt recently said: “It is fantastic to be able to take BMW’s Customer Racing program to the next level with the new club racing sector, as well as the associated setting up of global se...

3D Design releases new aero parts for the G20 BMW 3 Series Back in September, Japanese tuning company 3D Design released their aftermarket program for the new G20 BMW 3 Series. Their aero kit is comprised of a number of items, that enhance the car’s sportiness and add a bit more flavor. As usual, their products are made of carbon fiber and to the highest level of quality, after being developed in the wind tunnel. Their initial program included a front lip spoiler, a rear diffuser, a trunk spoiler and side sills. Today, they are ready to unveil additional parts. 3D Design is now offering a front lip spoiler and a trunk spoiler made of Polyurethane. Furthermore, a carbon fiber splitter can be fitted to the new Polyurethane front lip. In the back, there is a new quad exhaust system with c...

Video: BMW M2 vs Porsche Cayman GTS Comparison The BMW M2 is definitely a media darling. It has been praised so much, it’s hard to overlook its popularity. Understandably so too as it appeals to a lot of people who consider the current BMW M line-up to be a bit too heavy and too big for their liking. There’s a reason why the BMW M2 has been repeatedly called the E46 M3 of the modern age. The guys from Fifth Gear however decided to compare the Bavarian machine to yet another brilliant creation. Traditionally, BMWs haven’t exactly been a match for Porsches. Sure, there have been some exceptions to the rule over the years but the more expensive Porsches are widely regarded as better drivers’ cars. In this particular case, the BMW M2 in the video below has to go up against a Porsche Cayman...

PHOTO GALLERY: BMW X7 M50d takes a journey in the picturesque Greece The BMW X7 was the long awaited, missing exponent that the upper echelon of the BMW portfolio so objectively needed. The first generation of its kind, the G07, was officially premiered in November 2018 at the Los Angeles Auto Show. Sales started soon after, while the market introduction started in Spring this year in several countries around the Globe. In Greece, the new BMW X7 celebrate its market launch in June 2019. The national media event coincided with the premiere of the new 7 Series LCI as well. As for the high luxury sedan, the uber-premium SAV was also pictured in the beautiful scenery of the Thessaloniki and Chalkidiki regions. The X7 boasts a sovereign and upscale design mostly inspired from the Concept X7...

Electric Automobility – A Promise Yet Fulfilled The automobile has been amongst us for over a century. And automobility has been obtainable for the middle class since the end of World War I, especially in the US, thanks to Henry Ford’s Model T. In the beginning three modes of powering prime movers were in competition. The first was the external combustion – steam engine. Successfully ‘miniaturized’ in the late eighteenth century, steam engine road going vehicles could be seen on British post roads – but the technology (and safety) hadn’t caught up, nor were the roads up to carrying the enormous weight of the steam carriages. Hence the evolution of the iron railed road. Steam cars reappeared in the early twentieth century, but they were extremely inefficient compared to electric motors o...

PHOTO GALLERY: The new BMW 745Le xDrive encounters the scenic Greek roads The LCI generation of the G11/G12 7 Series celebrated its market introduction this year. Sporting a substantially enhanced exterior design and a comprehensive technological upgrade, the new BMW 7 Series LCI is sure to have created a stir in the industry, while also making the Bavarian luxury flagship a tad more appealing to potential clients. During summer of 2019, the LCI 7 Series has become available in numerous markets across the world, including Europe, Asia and The Americas. For the launch in Greece, the national BMW subsidiary has chosen the beautiful city of Thessaloniki (in northern Greece) and Halkidiki peninsula (in the Eastern part of the Ellada) as the perfect locations to showcase the luxury saloon to...

How to install a map update on the BMW OS 7.0 infotainment system The following helpful video from BMW teaches us how to physically install a map update for the navigation feature on models equipped with the iDrive OS 7.0 infotainment system. The process is easy and convenient, as it is intuitive, thanks to the enhanced, user-friendly interface. What you need for this operation is an external flash drive, such as an USB stick, and a proper BMW vehicle. The USB stick must contain a newer map version than the one to be found on the OS 7.0 system that we want to update. Enter the car, open the cover on the lower center console to reveal the USB port. Insert the USB stick and instantly the infotainment system will automatically open the map update menu and will retrieve a message on the co...

BMW plans ten new models in the next two years Under the new BMW M president Markus Flasch, the ///M offensive from Munich continues. Year-over-year, the sportscar division at BMW have posted record sales and it is now in the midst of a major product refresh. During the BMW M Festival at the Kyalami circuit in South Africa, Flasch gave some insight into the product lineup coming in the next two years, along with some concrete dates. Photo by DCNCars on Instagram The new products cover both full-M models, as well as the M Performance Automobiles family. Next to be unveiled in just a matter of days is the 2020 BMW M2 CS, a limited production run which will cater to BMW purists. BMW will also launch in 2020 the all-new BMW M8 Coupe, Convertible and Gran Coupe, all which have been already...

SPIED: BMW M2 CS scooped once more ahead of its imminent debut The BMW M2 range will soon expand with a new model when the new BMW M2 CS will be joining the M2 Competition. Recently, a test prototype of the CS version was filmed taking a quick run on the Nürburgring circuit. We have recently reported that the new M2 CS is about to premiere next week. The super-sport M2 model placed above the Competition version proves the commitment of BMW M to further develop its pinnacle compact coupe. As previously reported, the M2 is to remain a puristic option for the die-hard M fans, in the true tradition of the performance division. Pictured model: BMW M2 Competition The new BMW M2 CS was recently scooped while performing some seriously fast stints on the Nordschleife loop on the Nürburgring tra...

BMW M235i Gran Coupe spotted in Sapphire Black Long before the market launch of the new BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe, the first live photos in alternative colors reach us. While the official photos showed the new model in Storm Bay and Snapper Rocks Blue, we now see the BMW M235i Gran Coupe in Sapphire Black. In conjunction with the black livery, the accents in Cerium Gray, which are offered exclusively for the BMW M235i Gran Coupe, are particularly effective. The exterior mirrors, kidneys, parts of the air intakes in the front apron and the tailpipe trims are painted in the contrasting color and point to the M Performance model. Exclusive to the top model is also the mesh grille which is used instead of the classic struts. The BMW M235i Gran Coupe will remain the top model of the F44 serie...

BMW 6 Series: A handy used car guide for the F06 – F12 – F13 trio Are you looking to buy a BMW 6 Series? We put together a guide to pick the best model of the BMW 6 Series. The F-coded versions of the third generation 6 Series were the last true and pure models of their kind. So, it is quite a good time to have a thorough look at the F06 – F12 – F13 trio of models that have defined the last genuine BMW 6 Series between 2011 and 2018. Currently, the 6 Series is quite poorly represented in the BMW portfolio, with the G32 frankly being just a rebadged 5 Series GT. As in 1989, the original 6 Series has once again been replaced by the 8 Series. Models Available BMW 650i Coupe As a brief history, the third generation of the 6 Series was introduced towards the end of 2010 as a 2011 model year...

VIDEO: How to correctly recharge your electrified BMW at home BMW continues the series of helpful “How-To” videos and now teaches us on how to effectively and correctly re-charge an electrified car while at home. Irrespective of the car brand. All we need is a plug-in hybrid or full-electric automobile, a portable EV charger and direct access to a convenient power source, which must be typically resistant to withstand some high voltage electric current. As shown in the video, the portable charger designed for electric vehicles is composed of a power cord (for connecting to the electric supply network), a panel with 4 LEDs that are lit for notifying ongoing different states of operations or issues (Power in green, Charging in blue, Temperature in orange and Fault in red) and the charging...

EVs outsold the manual transmission for the first time in the US The time is now upon us. We all knew this day was coming but it’s still a bit odd to see. The manual transmission is going to die off, as will the internal combustion engine and both will be replaced with EVs. While the world hasn’t gone fully-electric just yet, the EV has already dispatched one of them — the manual. According to a recent report from Driving.ca, who recently spoke with J.D. Power, the manual transmission was beaten by EVs in the third quarter of this year, a market first. In an email with Driving, Tyson Jominy, Vice-President, PIN Consulting of the Data and Analytics Division at J.D. Power, said“[Manual transmissions] have been on a nearly century-long decline and while no rational person thinks the trend ...

Who Remembers the V16-powered BMW 750iL “Goldfisch”? I love stories about one-off automotive projects that never saw production and were lost to time. BMW has a few, actually, with the most famous now being the original BMW M8. However, there’s another one that is equally as intriguing but in a different way. Whereas the original BMW M8 Prototype was awesome and exciting, this other car was silly and hilarious. The car in question is the V16-powered BMW 750iL “Goldfisch” made back in 1987. Meaning “Goldfish” in German (who would have guessed?), the BMW 750iL Goldfisch was an absurd and amazing one-off by BMW that seemed to have been made purely to see if it could be done. Essentially, what BMW did was stuff a massive 6.6 liter V16 engine under the hood of an E32-generation 7 Series, whi...

BMW USA sales increased 9.4 percent in October 2019 BMW sales totaled 25,440 vehicles in October 2019, an increase of 9.4 percent over the 23,262 vehicles sold in October 2018.  Year-to-date, BMW sales in the U.S. are up 3.8 percent. Through October, BMW Sports Actvity Vehicles have driven growth in the U.S. and currently account for 57% of sales.  Increased availability of the U.S-built BMW X3 (+18.3% YTD) and BMW X5 (+27.6% YTD), and the addition of the BMW X7, have contributed to the positive gains. “Since the start of 2018 we have introduced more than 40 new and refreshed models to market.  We will add to this total at the Los Angeles Auto Show later this month when we debut several more, ranging from the BMW M8 Gran Coupe and M2 CS, to electrified variants of two of our most impor...

Czech Republic orders 10 BMW 7 Series plug-in hybrids for police cars In the future, the police force in the Czech Republic will get to use ten BMW 7 Series plug-in hybrids as part of a free rental program. The luxury limousines will not only be used for show purposes, but also used by regular traffic policemen in everyday life. The joint project is designed to last for a period of six months with a 25,000-kilometer planned for each of the ten vehicles. The current project of renting the BMW 745Le xDrive models continues the very successful loan of 10 BMW i3 electric cars and subsequently the BMW i8 Police Cars as well. “I am very pleased to continue the cooperation between the Police of the Czech Republic and BMW, which significantly contributes to the promotion of sustainable mobilit...

BMW X8 G09 likely to be unveiled by 2021 While BMW has yet to officially acknowledge an X8 model, the online chatter has intensified the last few years around the new model. According to our sources, the BMW X8 G09 has been approved and we could see it in late 2020 or early 2021. Whether it will be in a concept form or the production model, it remains to be seen. We have also yet to see any test mules on the road, but when they go out for testing, they will certainly be roaming around the Spartanburg area as well. Just like all non-front-wheel-drive based SUVs, the BMW X8 G09 will be built in South Carolina on the same lines as the X3, X4, X5, X6 and X7. Not an accurate rendering The new X8 won’t be an ordinary model. Firstly, it will be offered as an M Performance model, similar to th...

TEST DRIVE: BMW Z4 M40i — The Most Fun BMW in a Long Time Roadsters are dead. Gone. Finished. Gone are the days when customers yearned for the wind in their hair exhaust noise filling their ears. Instead, the modern car buyer wants something sensible, efficient, high-tech and kind to the environment. In this new world of efficiency and sensibility, a two-seat, drop-top sports car just doesn’t make much sense. Which is a damn shame because this last generation of sporty roadsters is actually quite fantastic and the BMW Z4 M40i is among them leading one final charge. What is a Roadster Supposed to Be? There’s really only only one purpose for a roadster. Though sizes and shapes may vary, prices and luxuries may too, the only constant should be fun. And a fun roadster can be had in many dif...