BMW X6 M Power will be the Official Safety Car for MotoGP 2009

 

 

A good way to show off what the X6 is all about.

BMW M continue for the eleventh season as the Official Car of MotoGP this year, supplying a plethora of high performance cars for series organisers Dorna and IRTA officials to utilise throughout the 17 race title chase.

The all new BMW X6 M has already been seen at the season opening races in Qatar and Japan, but the starting grid at Jerez heralds the assembly of the full BMW M Safety Car and VIP Shuttles fleet on Saturday evening at 17.45 hrs, just after the all important qualifying sessions have been completed. A photo opportunity will be available for the press as the keys are officially handed over to MotoGP’s Race Direction committee.

Heading the Safety Car fleet will be the much written about BMW X6 M - with its newly developed V8 high-performance M TwinPower Turbo engine - was only revealed to the world at the New York Motor Show three weeks ago. Alongside it on each MotoGP grid continues to be the glorious roar from the V10 507 bhp BMW M6.

Race Director Paul Butler will have a BMW M5 Touring at his disposal, the Medical Car will be in the shape of a 330i Touring together with a brand new M3 Sedan for the Safety Officer, former 500cc World Champion Franco Uncini. Finally, the Race Stewards will have the usage of a X5 4.8i, but that is not all of the mouthwatering BMW presence at the track as additionally the front of each Grand Prix grid will see a brand new BMW S 1000 RR and a BMW HP 2 Sport as Safety Bikes.

The new S 1000RR is the pinnacle of BMW Motorrad’s skill and precision engineering and just like the X6 M will be the first time that many will have seen the especially liveried bike in real life.

However, BMW M will be bringing further cars to each European race tending to the needs of guests from the VIP Village and MotoGP Paddock as they get the best seat in the house as they get their close up view of the action from the service road trip around the edge of the track.

BMW M representatives will be at the presentation on the grid at 17.45 hrs on Saturday for any further enquiries.

The BMW M Award for the best qualifier in MotoGP will also continue this weekend on the 4.4 km Jerez circuit, with Valentino Rossi and Casey Stoner both having taken a pole and a second place from the first brace of races, leaving them level pegging at the top of the table. The battle for a brand new BMW M3 Sedan is well and truly underway, with Motegi winner Jorge Lorenzo in third and Andrea Dovizioso fourth.

BMW X5 & X6 undercuts Porsche and Mercedes pricing

 

Good new for BMW enthusiast..

Official pricing for the new BMW X5 M and X6 M has found its way onto the interwebs ahead of the official announcement by BMW. Surprisingly both models, while anything but cheap, are far less expensive than expected. We’d also wager they are less expensive than BMW could charge if it wanted to.

The X5 M will start at $85,400 with the X6 M slightly more expensive at $88,900. BMW is currently taking orders for the vehicles (as they are already reaching out to potential owners) and the first deliveries are expected this Fall.

Both vehicles significantly undercut their major competitors from Mercedes-Benz and Porsche. The Mercedes ML63 AMG starts at $90,100 while the Porsche Cayenne Turbo is $98,700. And as for the Cayenne Turbo S, it’s an astronomical $124,800.

Both the X5 M and X6 M are powered by a twin-trubo 4.4-liter V8 engine that makes 555hp and 500 ft-lbs of torque.

Power makes it to the ground through a six-speed automatic mated to BMW’s xDrive all-wheel-drive system. Also standard is the Dynamic Performance Control system that first made its debut on the X6. It allows for power to not only be distributed between the front and rear wheels, but between the left and right rear wheels.

As a result of all this power and grip either model can hit 60 mph in just 4.5 seconds.

That speedy sprint is achieved in the Power mode, which can be activated by hitting the M button on the steering wheel. The M button can not only activate the “Sport” program for the engine and transmission, but also an “Efficiency” program, allowing for earlier upshifts and improved fuel-economy.

In terms of the look of the SUV, it stays mostly similar up front but features special front fenders and a distinctive rear diffuser with quad tailpipes. A set of 20-inch wheels is also standard with 275/40/20 front tires and massive 315/35/20 rear tires.

As braking is always an important part of every M-car, and this bruiser no doubt weighs triple what some of the original Ms did, the X5 M gets four-piston calipers with 15.6-inch front rotors and 15.2-inch rear rotors.

BMW set to remain in F1 for the moment – Dr. Mario Thesisen

 

Update on BMW Sauber Formula 1 Team

Monday 27th April 2009

Team boss Mario Theissen admits his BMW team needs to taste Formula One success if the German carmaker is to remain in the sport.

After a fantastic Championship in 2008, during which Robert Kubica claimed the team's breakthrough race win and fought for the World title, BMW's form has suffered an alarming slump this season.

Four races into the season, Kubica has yet to score a single World Championship point while team-mate Nick Heidfeld has only scored on only one occasions, his second placed finish (for half points) in Malaysia. Added to that they have also struggled in qualifying with neither driver making it through to the qualifying shoot-out in the last two races.

This has raised some questions about whether BMW will remain in F1 but Theissen says that, for now at least, they are here to stay.

"Formula 1 (for BMW) is valuable," Theissen he told RTL. "Before the season the project was evaluated again in detail and the financial situation was part of the analysis. But in the long-term we also need success."

Theissen revealed that BMW will be introducing major upgrades at the upcoming Spanish GP.

"Partly due to not exploiting the potential of the car in qualifying and partly due to development steps of the other teams," he told Autosport with regards to his team's faltering performances.

"We decided before the start of the season to combine a bigger development package for Barcelona and I can only hope that this will pay off.

"Today, it looks like we are behind but if the package is good the picture can change within two weeks.

"What we have seen now is quite surprising, with new regulations it's a close field. In the fourth race, we have seen the third team which has completely dominated qualifying which is unusual.

"That shows, together with small gaps, that it can change again within a few races.

"The car was very good in Melbourne. Robert could have won that race, although we were not the quickest, but was still quite competitive.

"Apparently other teams made an improvement on a race-by-race basis whereas we are preparing a comprehensive package for Barcelona and I can only hope that we will make a step forward there.

"We will have a sequence of improvements throughout the season but this is the first major one so I have some hopes about it."

BMW Electric Car – Manhattan Beach to test out

 

Good news for Manhattan..a BMW electric is set out for a test here

Manhattan Beach's fleet of city vehicles could soon become more compact, a lot more eco-friendly and definitely so much cuter.

The city is reviewing an offer from BMW Group that would give Manhattan Beach temporary, deeply discounted leases on up to 10 fully electric versions of the luxury carmaker's zippy little Mini Cooper.

In exchange for paying a monthly $10 fee for each vehicle and offering feedback on the car's performance, Manhattan would get a

year-long test-drive of the Mini E, a car that's not yet available on the market.

"I think it's great," said City Councilman Richard Montgomery, who is pushing the concept. "We're not paying for gas, we're not paying for (compressed natural gas), maintenance or wear-and-tear on our vehicles."

The offer, which Manhattan leaders could accept as early as next month, is an extension of a mass field test launched by BMW, said Nadine Jambor, a Mini E sales specialist.

Beginning in early May, the automaker will disperse 500 vehicles to municipalities, companies and regular folk alike on both sides of the country in exchange for feedback before the cars hit the market, she said.

"This will help us gain first experience with an electric car," Jambor said.

Most testers will pay $850 a month for the vehicle, but Manhattan Beach could get a special fleet price of $10 per car, she said.

Manhattan Beach's staunch environmental activism of late factored into BMW approaching the

city for the program, Jambor said.

"That's one of the reasons we reached out to them," Jambor said.

"Obviously, we'd love to partner up with institutions and municipalities that have made advancements in the green effort."

Use of the Mini E would accelerate the city's effort to "green" its vehicle fleet - which makes up more than 26 percent of the city's total greenhouse gas emissions, a detailed November 2007 assessment of the Manhattan Beach's carbon footprint determined.

Already, 13 percent of the city's fleet runs on alternative fuel, gas-electric hybrid technology or electricity, and the great majority of the remaining vehicles run on gasoline, the report determined.

"It's also reducing our emissions with whatever we're doing now with CNG and hybrid to zero," Montgomery said.

The plan's nitty-grittynitty-gritty of the plan is still undetermined, but Montgomery thought the vehicles should be reserved for department heads' general city business or their commutes if they live nearby.

Or the city could keep the pool of cars at City Hall so city offcials could check them out as they go about daily business, he suggested.

A BMW man himself, Montgomery would happily garage his 750 i sedan model temporarily for a smaller Mini E, he said.

"I definitely would," Montgomery said. "I think it's a fun car to drive, and it saves wear-and-tear on my vehicle."

City Attorney Bob Waddencq and other department heads are reviewing the proposal, which presents some challenges.

They must determine if the cars would be considered a gift reportable to the Fair Political Practices Commission. If so, they must also calculate the cars' fair market value - complicated given they are not yet available for purchase.

The commission requires city officials to report gifts to ensure the public's ability to know potential sources of political influence, said Roman Portercq, the commission's executive director.

"The primary concern that the commission is concerned with is the undue influence of public officials," he said.

Also, the city must determine whether city officials using the cars must forgo their vehicle allowance - a concession Montgomery was willing to make, he said.

With just two doors and two seats, the Mini E is more geared toward city officials shuffling around town or between meetings than hauling around equipment or people.

Able to hit top speeds of 95 mph and travel up to 120 miles on one battery charge, the Mini E is better suited for local travel, rather than sprinting up to Sacramento to lobby the governor for funding. But Montgomery figures the opportunity to educate residents about electric-vehicle technology, and save the city gas money, would be worth its weight in, er, lithium-ion.

"If you can save gas costs for a year during this budget crisis, don't care what you pay for the car," he said.

Montgomery added: "If I said, 'I'll give you this car for a year for

$10 a month, and all you have to do is fill out a survey,' you'd say,

'Where do I sign?'"

BMW 3 series – spied on the 2011 model

BMW has been slightly tweaking its popular 3-Series models since it was introduced in 2005, with another freshening apparently in the pipeline. BMW will be giving its 3-series coupe and convertible a modest refresh for the 2011 model year and we have the first photos of a prototype running the streets of Germany.
Fake body panels painted to match the car are covering large portions of the lower fascia, so new bits of bodywork can be expected there. Look for the 2011 model to sport a revised bumper and likely a revised headlight cluster. Minor revisions to the interior are also said to be in the works.

No word on any powertrain changes, but we expect the 3-Series coupe and convertible to soldier on with their current six-cylinder offerings. The mid-cylce refresh will likely be the car’s last before an all-new model bows in 2012.

Watch for the freshened 3′er coupe and convertible to go on sale in the second half of 2010.

X3 xDrive18d - BMW Best Economical Sports Activity Vehicle

BMW has nail it again and we are surely to be pleased with an economical vehicle which will send messages to all its rival

“X3 xDrive18d, the most economical Sports Activity Vehicle BMW has ever offered”

“d” as in diesel. So, no, this bud’s not for you, American oil burner fans. But it does represent a general trend for the Roundelians. See if you can spot it: “The arrival of the BMW X3 xDrive18d represents a new entry point for X3 ownership and is a significant draw for those new car buyers looking to balance economy with performance. Powered by a 143hp 2.0-litre diesel engine, it is capable of 45.6mpg on the combined cycle and records CO₂ emissions of just 165g/km. With a six-speed manual gearbox as standard, the BMW X3 xDrive18d offers 350Nm of torque from 1,750rpm through to 2,500rpm which makes for effortless overtaking and town driving.” Yes, “a new entry point for XXX ownership” is the new way of saying “look out down below!” Or, if you prefer, “I spit on your brand equity!” Anyone know the cheapest BMW for sale in the US and UK? Cheapest as in least expensive.

BMW - All New GINA Light Visionary Model

BMW - GINA Light Visionary Model

Well look at the new GINA concept from BMW

This is the GINA Light Visionary Model, BMW’s new research vehicle, and the fruit of a project that has been shaping the brand in terms of design, research and development, and manufacturing for nearly a decade.
On the surface it looks like a modern day BMW sports car, all sculpted taut muscles, displaying an interactive flow of concave and convex surfaces that has become the brand’s signature form language. GINA, however, may look like a typical car, but is in fact made of cloth. The virtually seamless polyethylene-coated Lycra stretch fabric is secured on a mesh work formed from metal wires. Individual elements of the aluminium substructure are movable. Electro-hydraulically controlled, they change their position to help the flexible fabric skin take on new shapes for a high degree of personalisation. For instance the driver can activate a sensor to lift the beltline slightly to form a more aggressive stance. Another slowly opens the door triggering almost shark-like creases across the profile. On entering the stark cloth cabin, GINA awakens; the centre console and instrument panel swivel to almost cocoon the driver whilst invisible headrests rise from the minimalist seats.
The car is based on the Z8 chassis, BMW’s first aluminium space frame roadster where the frame carries the crash and structural load so that the rest of the car can have its own purposes. GINA was conceptualised in California at the think-tank studio Designworks, and later made into a full-scale sculpture by head of exterior design Anders Warming in Munich.

BMW Malaysia - Seven New Motorcycle Models Launched

BMW Malaysia has been active in making its firm grip in the motorcycles segment in Malaysia

BMW Malaysia Launches Seven New Motorcycle Models

KUALA LUMPUR, March 5 (Bernama) -- BMW Malaysia launched seven new motorcycle models on Thursday.

The models are the HP2 Sport, K 1300 S, K 1300 R, K 1300 GT, R 1200 R, F 650 GS and the F 800 GS.

The company expects these models to further enhance brand performance in 2009 while catering to the needs of motorcycle enthusiasts.

The demand for BMW motorcycles has increased over the last three years. The brand saw retail sales of 183 units last year, which represents a 36 percent increase in sales compared to 2007.

Fazli Shukor, BMW Malaysia's Motorrad manager said in a statement here that demand for the new BMW motorcycles was very strong with pre-launch bookings.

The new stable of motorcycles cuts across various segments -- the internationally acclaimed GS dual-purpose series, the K-series range of sports bikes and tourers, the R-series of "street bikes" and in the super sports category, the HP 2 Sport.

The seven models launched also represent the latest in terms of technology and sophistication.

The retail prices of the motorcycles, which includes on the road personal road tax registration but excluding insurance is as follows: HP2 Sport (RM 158,888), K 1300 S (RM 119,000), K 1300 R (RM 120,000), K 1300 GT (RM 135,000), R 1200 R (RM 108,000), F 650 GS (RM 71,000) and the F 800 GS (RM 83,800).

All the models come with a two-year warranty with unlimited mileage and ARE available at Auto Bavaria Bukit Bintang and Auto Bavaria Penang from March 9.

BMW's New 7 Series Launched in Malaysia

BMW 7 Series Unveiled in Malaysia

BMW Malaysia has introduced its new BMW 7 Series luxury flagship despite the current global economical uncertainty

BMW Malaysia Sdn Bhd today introduced the new BMW 7 Series, setting the benchmark yet again in the topmost segment of the premium market. The fifth generation of the BMW 7 Series represents the pinnacle of style, luxury and driving experience.

Geoffrey Briscoe, Managing Director of BMW Malaysia, said the new BMW 7 Series will be pivotal in leading the company forward, as was its predecessor. The previous BMW 7 Series was the most successful 7 Series ever.

“In Malaysia, the outgoing BMW 7 Series was a major triumph and marked a turning point for us in this segment. With this car, we managed to increase our sales by 153% compared to its predecessor”, he said.

The new BMW 7 Series is the result of perfection in design and supreme engineering on the drivetrain, chassis, safety systems, driver assistance, and comfort. At the same time the sophisticated but very modern interior makes both driving and riding in the new BMW 7 Series a truly impressive experience the driver and all passengers will enjoy at all times.

The new BMW 7 Series is entering the local market with two variants, the BMW 750Li and the BMW 740Li. Both have extended wheelbases making them the longest in the luxury saloon segment and with a particular focus on supreme comfort at the rear.

“The new 7 Series represents the last word in luxury, style and sophistication. It is technologically unsurpassed featuring innovations and technology previously unseen in this segment”, said Briscoe. ”It will be one of the most important cars of the year for us as it represents the ultimate in terms of luxury, style and technology, interpreted in the unique fashion that is synonymous with the BMW brand”.

Featuring the world’s most efficient V8 petrol engine and the most powerful straight-six within BMW’s line-up, the power units available stand out through dynamic power and performance, supreme motoring culture, and unique efficiency. In their respective power and performance segments they offer an incomparably good balance of power and economy all in one. The engines thus comply in full with the BMW EfficientDynamics development strategy.

The most important technical asset shared by both petrol engines is Twin Turbo technology exclusive to BMW in conjunction with High Precision Injection. Featuring these sophisticated systems, both drive units achieve a level of power and torque natural-aspiration engines would only be able to offer on much larger engine displacement and with an inevitable increase in weight.

The 750Li comes with a 4.4 litre eight-cylinder power unit that develops 300 kW/407 hp while the 740Li comes with the award winning 3.0 litre power unit developing 240 kW/326 hp.

According to Briscoe the two engines were an important part of BMWs Efficientdynamics strategy. “The new BMW 7 Series proves that efficiency and luxury are not a contradiction in terms. Our new model features the most efficient engines in its segment and this is something we will continue to do across all our model lines”, he said.

Ensuring harmonised driving dynamics and comfort, the 7 Series is the first BMW sedan to feature a double-joint front axle and integral-V rear axle that are made largely of aluminium. The aluminium construction provides a lighter feel, guaranteeing a particular comfort made only possible by strict separation of wheel guidance and damping functions.

Integral Active Steering – the most intelligent car steering system ever designed – is now making its world debut in the new BMW 7 Series. This option varies the steering angle via an additional transmission on the front-wheel Active Steering, and the steering angle on the rear wheels.

At low speeds the rear wheels are turned against the steering angle of the front wheels to give the BMW 7 Series significantly greater agility on the road. At higher speeds, when changing lanes and in bends, the Integral Active Steering with the rear wheels turning in the same direction as the front wheels gives the car a sophisticated level of motoring comfort and supremacy.

The BMW 7 Series’ trendsetting character is heightened with several automotive firsts.

The flagship car carries the distinction of having the world’s first Side View camera system. In addition to Park Distance Control that aids slow speed manoeuvring, the front side view camera system provides a higher level of driver awareness. With the touch of a button, two forward facing cameras mounted in the front bumper can show an overview of traffic conditions on the iDrive display. This allows the driver to negotiate a partially obscured junction, leave a car park or drive through a narrow gate with confidence.

The world’s most advanced Night Vision system can also be found in the new 7. BMW, being the first manufacturer to fit Night Vision to a premium car, has upgraded this package to include a pedestrian recognition system. A control unit analyzes video data of human behaviour as part of the Night Vision camera’s reach and can subsequently alert the driver if it detects someone moving into the path of the vehicle.

Building on these technological innovations, the new 7 Series also features Lane Departure Warning. This is a system that first appeared in the BMW 5 and 6 Series models and uses a camera to monitor road markings. Should the driver start to stray out of lane, a gentle vibration of the steering wheel will provide a warning alert.

Completing these technological innovations, the latest generation BMW 7 Series is the first to have the Dynamic Damper Control through the Dynamic Driving Control button. With Dynamic Driving Control, the set-up of the car may be varied for COMFORT, NORMAL, SPORT and SPORT+ at the simple touch of a button, acting not only on the Dynamic Damper Control and the DSC Dynamic Stability Control threshold points, but also on the gearshift dynamics of the automatic transmission as well as the gas pedal and steering assistance control maps

The harmonious symbiosis of elegance and high performance driving is the greatest forte in the body design of the new BMW 7 Series. Over and above the long wheelbase, the sleek and stretched out engine compartment lid and the short transition at the front, coupled with the passenger compartment moved further to the rear and the low roofline gives the new BMW 7 Series added characteristics that further sets it apart from its predecessor and its competitors

The perfectly balanced interplay of these features are best displayed from the sideline of the car where the dynamic proportions clearly accentuate the sporting character of the sedan, with the car’s sleek lines adding a distinctive touch of style.

The new BMW 7 Series comes with one of the most luxurious interiors of any premium car, combined with ample knee-room and headroom. In addition to a new iDrive controller, customers will be able to programme frequently selected radio stations or navigation destinations on favourite buttons located on the centre console. For the first time on a BMW, the instrument cluster comprises a high-resolution colour display with Black Panel technology

BMW Malaysia Product Manager Daren Ching, MD Geoffrey Briscoe, Corporate Affairs Manager Vijayaratnam Tharumartnam

BMW Malaysia Managing Director Geoffrey Briscoe and the new BMW 7 Series

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Great SUV's X5 & X6 from the Ultimate Driving Machine Kereta BMW

BMW has come up with a power model which will surely boost their presence
in the SUV segment.

BMW has announced official details of the X5 and X6 M, the most powerful and fastest accelerating M cars ever produced. Despite BMW’s past insistence that it would never produced a turbocharged M car, both of these models are powered by an uprated version of the twin-turbo 4.4-llitre V8 that can be found in the current crop of 50i models. The M TwinPower Turbo V8 is the World’s first engine incorporating a common exhaust manifold encompassing both rows of cylinders along with Twin Scroll Twin Turbo technology.

Power has been raised to 555hp, developed at 6000rpm, while torque climbs to a staggering 501lb ft, which is produced between 1500 and 5650rpm. This means a 0-62mph time of just 4.7 seconds while the top speed will obviously be limited to 155mph.
The xDrive all-wheel drive system has been has been recalibrated to work with the additional power and performance of the two M models, as has Dynamic Performance Control. Lower, stiffer M suspension has been fitted and both cars come with Dynamic Performance Control as standard along with “newly developed” Servotronic steering, which BMW says will deliver the kind of steering feel and feedback that you’d expect of an M car. BMW has yet to announce pricing or an on sale date but we will bring you the latest details as we receive them.