The irresistible driving experience of the MINI is now available with the roof down. The MINI Roadster is the brand’s first two-seat convertible model. The MINI Roadster represents the sixth model in the British premium carmaker’s current line-up. The typically MINI interpretation of a compact roadster embodies unadulterated sportiness and spontaneous urban driving fun under the open sky. The characteristic MINI go-kart feeling is always on tap thanks to powerful engines and sophisticated chassis technology with model-specific tuning. And did we mention that it’s a convertible?
The MINI Roadster will be available with a choice of three powerful, efficient engines. The model line-up includes the MINI Cooper Roadster (121 horsepower), MINI Cooper S Roadster (181 horsepower), and the 208 horsepower MINI John Cooper Works Roadster. [click to continue…]
The German automaker calls its i3 and i8 Concepts the cars of the future and will offer a sneak preview in New York on Nov. 9.
Both cars feature carbon fiber bodies. The i8 is the successor to the Vision Efficient Dynamics concept and features flip-up doors, while the i3 is the concept previously known as the “megacity vehicle” and has rear doors that open toward the back.
The official debut for both will be at the Los Angeles Auto Show on Nov. 16 and 17 and will include a presentation on the BMW i brand.
BMW says it created the i brand to meet future mobility needs in the world’s most densely populated urban centers.
On October 16, at the close of the initial BMW Guggenheim Lab in New York City, Richard Armstrong, Director of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum and Foundation, and Frank-Peter Arndt, Member of the Board of Management, BMW AG, announced that the Lab received 54,000 visitors from 60 countries during its 2 ½ month run from August 3 to October 16, 2011, and that 329,000 users from more than 150 countries have visited the bmwguggenheimlab.org website.
The BMW Guggenheim Lab New York was located at First Park, Houston Street at 2nd Avenue. The site was housed in an innovative mobile structure designed by Tokyo-based architects Atelier Bow-Wow. Over 53 days, the Guggenheim Lab – a combination think tank, public forum, and community center – offered talks, workshops, screenings, special events, tours, and fieldwork sessions. The events were developed by the New York Lab Team along with Guggenheim curators to explore urban issues and strategies relating to the theme of Confronting Comfort.
“We never could have imagined the enormous level of interest and enthusiastic exchange of ideas that the BMW Guggenheim Lab and its programming generated in New York City, both on the ground and online. Even with an earthquake, a hurricane and 29 inches of rain, the Lab sparked countless conversations around the world, and even inspired a marriage proposal,” said Richard Armstrong. “We could not have achieved this success without the foresight, support and trust of the East Village community, the City of New York, and our fantastic collaborator BMW.”
Owners of the 135i and 335i vehicles seeking more performance can now choose between two new factory power kits. The kits can be retrofitted at BMW dealers or added via the Port Installation Program. The kits retain the original emission certification, maintain the original fuel efficiency ratings, as well as the vehicle’s original factory limited warranty.
Version 1 Power Kit:Performance-Optimized Engine Software. This version of the Power Kit was first introduced on the 335i BMW Performance Edition model (announced in July, 2011). Available for all Model Year 135i and 335i vehicles. Also available for X6 vehicles produced up to 04/2010.
Version 2 Power Kit: Same engine performance software as Version 1, plus an Auxiliary Water Cooler and an Enhanced Radiator Fan to reduce the higher thermal stresses on the engine during extreme driving. Available for all Model Year 135i and 335i vehicles.
The kits up the horsepower from 300 to 320 and increase torque to 332 lb.-ft. with an automatic transmission and 317 lb.-ft. with either a manual or DCT. Acceleration improves by 0.2 seconds over the standard 335i from 0-60 mph and by 0.5 seconds from 50-75 mph. The automaker didn’t provide figures for the 135i.
BMW is offering introductory pricing until the end of 2011 of $599 for the Version 1 Power Kit and $1,199 for the Version 2 Power Kit. The Version 2′s price doesn’t include the additional air ducts or other components that might be needed for installation. Prices do not include installation, and BMW says the kits should only be installed on vehicles equipped with the increased top speed limiter, which includes an additional oil cooler.
In another major step forward for its EfficiencyDynamics program, BMW is bringing four-cylinder engines back to its U.S. lineup, starting with the dynamic and efficient Z4 sDrive28i.
Of course, as one would expect from a company like BMW, the dramatically designed roadster won’t boast just any four-cylinder engine. Beneath the Z4′s long hood will be a TwinPower forced-induction 2.0-liter I4 that leverages:
High-pressure direct-injection that increases efficiency through precise control of the fuel supply, clean and homogenous combustion, and a high combustion ratio
The automaker’s hallmark VALVETRONIC intake control technology, which leverages seamlessly variable intake valve-lift control for a faster response and reduced pumping losses
A single twin-scroll turbocharger for optimal performance and no delays in throttle response
The result is a sophisticated engine that delivers significantly more power—and notably better fuel efficiency—than the naturally aspirated six-cylinder engine found in today’s BMW Z4 sDrive30i.
Specifically, the four-cylinder Z4 sDrive28i will provide 240 maximum hp, which will be available at 5,000 rpm—1,500 rpm lower than in the Z4 sDrive30i—and 260 lb.-ft. of peak torque at 1,250 rpm—also 1,500 rpm lower. Further, while EPA ratings aren’t yet available, the I4 Z4 is expected to offer 20 percent better fuel efficiency when fitted with a new BMW eight-speed automatic transmission. And remember, the bigger-engined car already gets an impressive EPA rating of 28 mpg highway.
The new BMW Z4 sDrive28i will reach U.S. BMW centers beginning this fall.
As the price of fuel continues to impact U.S. drivers, BMW continues to develop new vehicles that combine the kind of performance and dynamics that are the expected hallmarks of the Ultimate Driving Machine with unexpectedly impressive fuel efficiency. As just one award-winning example, consider the 2011 BMW 335d—recently named “Diesel Car of the Year” by readers of The Diesel Driver magazine.
The 335d offers the same outstanding ownership experience found in any member of BMW’s iconic 3 Series, boasting a sophisticated and stylish exterior, a driver-oriented interior packed with cutting-edge technologies, a precisely German-engineered suspension and one of BMW’s highly regarded I6 engines. But in the 335d, that engine is a 265-hp diesel with the automaker’s TwinPower Turbo technology, electronic throttle control and third-generation piezo common-rail direct injection, capable of an earthshaking 425 lb.-ft. of torque. When all that power gets routed through a six-speed Steptronic automatic transmission with Adaptive Transmission Control, the result is a car that can dash from 0-60 in just 6 seconds while still achieving EPA fuel-efficiency marks of 23 mpg city/36 mpg highway/27 mpg combined. [click to continue…]
BMW will continue to keep the pressure on its rivals this year, thanks to an announcement that the automaker will launch a new high-performance, high-efficiency turbocharged I4 engine for use in its U.S. lineup. The new mill leverages BMW’s latest powertrain technologies to deliver both more power than the automaker’s normally aspirated I6 engine, but without sacrificing fuel economy.
Just as importantly, that extra power is more usable, too, since it’s available at much lower revs than with the I6. The I4’s 240 hp maximum is reached at 5,000 rpm—1,500 fewer than in the six-cylinder engine—and the 260 lb.-ft. of peak torque comes on at just 1,250 rpm—also 1,500 fewer than in the bigger engine. [click to continue…]
Bimmer fans rejoice! BMW has announced that the the Vision Efficient Dynamics (VED) concept will indeed make its way into production. The concept, which was first seen more than a year ago at the Frankfurt Motor Show, has received such a tremendous response that it will arrive for sale within the next few years.
Expected to carry a price tag of around $200K, the road-ready Vision Efficient Dynamics is expected to feature wing doors and a 2+2 seating arrangement. Powering this unique supercar will be a three-cylinder turbo diesel engine “with a hybrid synchronous motor at the front axle and a full-hybrid engine at the rear axle.” With 328 horsepower, this powertrain will propel the VED from 0-62 mph in just 4.8 seconds. What’s even more impressive than its performance figures is that the VED still delivers a Toyota Prius-beating 62.5 miles per gallon U.S. [click to continue…]
Here in the U.S., the Ford Crown Victoria, Dodge Charger or the Chevrolet Impala, are familiar fixtures of law enforcement departments. However, police departments in other countries often feature more glamorous brands and models to chase down the criminals.
In the UK, 52 police forces around the country will take delivery of new the new 2011 BMW 3-Series and 2011 BMW 5-Series. [click to continue…]
BMW is celebrating the 25 anniversary of its all-wheel drive expertise. According to BMW, one in four of their vehicles are sold with xDrive all-wheel drive and its system is gaining even more traction. xDrive is now available on 45 BMW models.
The first BMW to feature all-wheel drive debuted in 1985, and donned an ‘X’ on its trunk to signify its road-gripping capabilities. Over the years, the automaker has given all of its all-wheel drive vehicles the same rear-wheel bias as the rest of its products to enhance performance. [click to continue…]
BMW news and reviews can be found on this blog. We're passionate about the Ultimate Driving Machine and look forward to bringing you all the latest BMW news.
The irresistible driving experience of the MINI is now available with the roof down. The MINI Roadster is the brand’s first two-seat convertible model. The MINI Roadster represents the sixth model in the British premium carmaker’s current line-up. The typically MINI interpretation of a compact roadster embodies unadulterated sportiness and spontaneous urban driving fun under the open sky. The characteristic MINI go-kart feeling is always on tap thanks to powerful engines and sophisticated chassis technology with model-specific tuning. And did we mention that it’s a convertible?
