Early last year it was rumored that BMW could offer an M version for its i8 hybrid supercar. It was supposed to drop the hybrid powertrain in favor of a conventional V-8 powerplant with an output of about 600 horsepower. Sounded pretty great, right?
Now - one year later - it appears that BMW has dropped the idea of developing such a model. While no other explanation has been offered, it looks like the M8 is "no longer part of the program." We do not understand why this decision was made, considering the i8 platform can easily accept front-wheel-drive, rear-wheel-drive or all-wheel-drive alternatives.
So, while we are hoping that the company will change its mind in the future, we’ll just have to wait for the i8. It will arrive sometime later this year and comes with a driving range of about 20 miles in near-silent, zero-emission mode. This figure, combined with a 0 to 60 mph sprint time of 4.9 seconds, and the top speed of 156 mph makes it the ideal car for both city and track.
Click past the jump to read more about the rumored BMW M8 supercar.
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We have heard rumors about a possible M235i ever since BMW unveiled the M135i Concept at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show. Back then it was rumored that the production version would carry the same M135i nomenclature, but considering that BMW has changed its naming system, the two-door coupe version will be called M235i.
Until now, all we had were rumors and speculation, but today our spy photographers caught the M235i lapping the Nürburgring. As expected, the prototype is heavily camouflaged, but it is pretty obvious it will carry an aggressive exterior look similar to other M models.
Under the hood, rumors suggest we are going to see the same engine we saw in the M135i Concept, which is a straight-six-cylinder engine with M Performance Twin Power Turbo technology that puts down more than 300 horsepower. The model will also be equipped with a rear-wheel-drive layout and sports suspension setup.
Click past the jump to read more about the M235i
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The 5-Series GT is one of the most unsuccessful models BMW has ever offered. However, the company is bound and determined to get the GT formula right and has now expanding this option to new generation 3-Series.
The difference between the unsuccessful 5-Series GT and the new 3-Series GT is that the latter will drop the twin-door hatch design in favor of a normal one piece hatch. It will also be 7.87 inches longer than the standard model and offer the added bonus of more headroom due to the shooting brake layout. The four-door coupe designed body will combine a set of raised, sliding rear seats with a high lifting tailgate that should make accessing the larger cargo area very trouble-free. This formula may very well make the car a bit more successful than the 5-Series GT.
The official debut will be made next month at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show.
UPDATE 04/05/2013: BMW has just released an all-new product presentation video of the upcoming 3 Series GT. You can see the video above.
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When BMW brought the X6 to the market, we had some doubt about its ability to succeed, but luckily the model proved us wrong. So when the M version was also dropped, we had no doubts that it will instantly become of the best sold sports SUV on the market. After all, with 555 horsepower under the hood, who can ask for more, right?
Well, the answer is German tuner, Inside Performance, which has unveiled a sweet Stealth package based on the X6 M. The tuner decided the car can pump out much more power than the standard model, so it installed a special exhaust system available in two power levels. Level 1 it gets 3-inch piping and up to 3-inch valves, and level 2 gets new downpipes and new generation 200-cell sports metal catalysts. The result is an output of 700 horsepower and 626 pound-feet of torque.
In order to handle the extra power, the tuner installed new 22-inch alloy wheels and adjustable suspension. The exterior has been wrapped in an army-style foil.
Click past the jump to read more about the standard BMW X6 M.
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Most people don’t take a look at the 2013 BMW M6 and think “this car needs to be faster.” However, the mad tuners over at Manhart Racing have decided to do just that.
They are working on a program for the M6 called the MH6 S Biturbo. The program sets the tuner loose on the car working to take its performance to the moon.
After they finish with the car, it will put 700 horsepower to the pavement and an Earth-moving 664 pound-feet of torque. We believe that all this power should be enough to launch the MH6 from 0 to 60 mph in a scant 3.5 seconds. We also expect an Autobahn-dominating top speed of around 198 mph.
To accomplish the higher output a high-performance twin-turbo system replaces the stock system on the otherwise stock 4.4-liter V-8 engine. In order to keep the exhaust flowing freely, MAnhart installed a complete exhaust system, including a new catalytic converter and Manhart’s end-silencer to keep the exhaust sounding throaty, but not overbearing.
All the straight-line performance is great on a drag strip, but what happens when you decide to take it on a curvy road? Well, to keep the car handling well in the twist, the tuner fitted a complete coilover kit to the car.
Hit the jump to read more about the Manhurth MH6 S Biturbo
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BMW is preparing to recreate its entire X family and the new generation X5 is only part of the job. The BMW X5 was first launched in 1999, and 13 years later, is getting ready to enter its third generation in order to keep with the changing times. The car is rumored to make its world debut in 2014 at the Detroit Auto Show.
BMW will mostly focus on reducing the X5’s total weight and improving the final performance figures for its new generation. It is being rumored that BMW plans to reduce the car’s total weight by about 330 lbs, but it will still be offered with the latest technologies like a lane departure warning and compensation system, night vision, park assist, traffic sign recognition, surround view cameras, and active cruise control.
The new X5 will be offered with two new four-cylinder engines, and the most powerful version will still get a 4.4 liter V8 engine with improved figures and a reduced fuel economy. It is also rumored that BMW plans a plug-in hybrid version.
As for the exterior design, it will be more an evolution of the current car as opposed to a revolution.
Updated 04/25/2013: Another image of the new X5 (above) has surfaced online and this time it looks like more than just a simple rendering. So, if this is really a leaked image of the next X5 it can mean only one thing: the official debut is getting closer. (bp.blogspot)
Hit the jump to read more about the new BMW X5.
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The BMW Art Cars project has built a lasting link between contemporary art and BMW motorsport. There are no sponsor stickers on these cars – just the beauty and timelessness of art.
In addition to creating some gorgeous show pieces for the BMW museum, the Art Car project is more important now than anyone first envisioned when signing off on the initial Calder work in 1975. Each of the cars represents the artist’s point of view at the time, expressed in the same medium: a BMW.
The artists selected over the years have broad backgrounds, nationalities and portfolios that could almost never be compared directly outside of the Art Cars collection, because in their daily craft they all choose wildly different mediums to express themselves. Whether the work of a sculptor, painter, graphic designer, conceptualist or visionary, the end products are cars that are truly magnificent to behold.
For 2013, BMW Portland is sponsoring a new contest that is open to anyone. The winning artist’s work will adorn a 2013 BMW 650i, and the details are available here. The deadline for submissions is May 15th, 2013, so start your creative engines and submit a winner!
click past the jump for a timeline of the BMW Art Cars project and image galleries of the 18 stunning BMW Art Cars so far.
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The revised 2014 BMW M5 comes with just small updates on the exterior and the interior, but it offers one of the greatest addition of the past few years: a new Competition Package that adds an extra 15 horsepower under the hood.
Next to the extra power the M5 equipped with the Competition Package is offering an extensively tuned chassis set-up. It gets new coil springs and damper calibrations and stiffened anti-sway bars that have lowered the car’s ride by 10 mm (0.39 inches). Thank to these updates the car’s cornering dynamics and tractability have been improved, and the 0 to 60 mph sprint time was reduced by 0.1 seconds.
The package is also offering unique 20-inch M light-alloy wheels, a sport exhaust system featuring M quad tailpipes finished in Black Chrome and re-mapped M Dynamic Mode (MDM) of DSC (Dynamic Stability Control).
The new BMW M5 Competition Package will go on sale on the U.S. market in August 2013. The package will add another $7,300 to the M5’s starting price of $90,900.
Click past the jump to read more about the 2014 BMW M5 and to see a video of the M5 Competition Package in action on the Nürburgring
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Yesterday we brought you the first spy shots of a BMW 4 Series Coupe equipped with the M-Sport package. As no surprise, where BMW is testing the coupe version, a convertible version isn’t too far away. Our spy photographers caught this 4-Series Convertible testing somewhere in Germany and, just like its coupe brother, it has also started to strip.
The 2014 4 Series Convertible will be offered as a cheaper alternative to the 6 Series Convertible and hopes to attract younger buyers. It will combine design elements from the latest generation 3 Series, with the aggressive look of a 6 Series, but with more squared-off headlights and larger eyebrows.
Under the hood, BMW will use the same engine lineup as in the coupe. This means U.S. customers will have to choose between a 428i with a 240-horsepower, 2.0-liter; or a 435i, which should come with a 306-horsepower, 3.0-liter six-cylinder.
Production is said to start at the Regensburg plant in November.
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One of the biggest surprises on the German public roads this week was an Alpina version of the 2014 6-Series GranCoupe. As you can see, the model is wearing camouflage only in the parts rumored to be updated, because as usual, Alpina is preparing the biggest updates under the hood.
As you can see from these spy shots, Alpina will use a 650i version for its project. While in the standard version the 4.4-liter V-8 engine delivers a total of 450 horsepower, Alpina is rumored to add at least an extra 100 horsepower. We expect this extra power to significantly improve the car’s current 0 to 60 mph sprint time of 4.6 seconds.
Next to the engine upgrades, Alpina will also offer a few styling changes, an updated interior and.a new set of wheels, of course.
Expect the new BMW 6-Series Gran Coupe by Alpina to be unveiled in September at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show.
Hit the jump to read more about the BMW 6-Series GranCoupe by Alpina.
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