Tag: BMW

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A Mini Tweaked with Rolls Royce Flair

The association comes as a surprise, since the two brands veer towards opposite ends of the pricing spectrum.

The Mini will be receiving some TLC from the hands of Rolls-Royce craftsmen.

Major cosmetic changes on the exterior and changes in the mechanics are not on the agenda, but rather a specific finish with focus on tailor-made elements will come into play.

The body will get a particular "Ming Blue" paint job that was found on the 25th anniversary edition of the Rolls Royce Corniche IV, of which only 25 copies were produced in 1992.

The interior will boast the most noticeable changes. With exotic wood and leather handled with care and customized to the buyer’s tastes, this sumptuous Mini is set to give the driver the lavish feel and comfort of a luxurious limousine all wrapped up in a small city slicker.

The ultra limited edition of the Mini is expected to exceed $60 000 CAD per unit.

 

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A Teaser of the BMW 5 Series

The Bavarian automaker has decided to use a moving sculpture created for the BMW Welt museum to represent its next flagship model.

Composed of 714 metal balls hanging from the ceiling, the sculpture reveals some of the same lines that have proven to be successful for the brand in the past.

For the moment, only the teaser has been revealed, but on November 23, all of the BMW 5 Series’ details will be unveiled.

 

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10 Minis Get an Artistic Touch

The inspiration for these 10 repainted Minis came from the affinity to write on fogged up windows or on the dirt that gets stuck on the body of a car.

Several dynamic artists, such as Smash137, Aurèle Sack, Stefan Ege, Rémi Jaccard and Dieter Meier of the band Yello, took part in the project. One thing they all had in common was that they had never worked on a car before.

With the help of articles written by a designer, a journalist and a director of the design department at Zurich University, the works of art are presented in a photo book, of which only 2 000 copies were published by Mini Switzerland.

 

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An M3 for the Track and the Roads

The BMW M3 is a true sports car with its 420 horsepower V8 and carbon fibre roof. But it still received some scrutiny for its 1,600-kg mass on the scale, which can act as a drawback on the race track.

Therefore, Motorsport has decided to remedy the issue by putting the coupe on a diet. With titanium wheels and exhaust pipes, Macrolon windows, the back seats, air conditioning and audio system stripped from the interior, bucket seats with 6-point harness and lighter materials used for the centre console and doors, the car shaved off 190 kg, bringing it to approximately 1,490 kg.

Mechanically, the V8 was also reworked, and increased its capacity from 4 litres to 4.4 litres for an output of 456 horsepower.

As a bonus, the BMW M3 GTS comes with an adjustable suspension system for enhanced precision and speed, a front air dam and large rear wing spoiler for added aerodynamicity, as well as a roll cage for safety.

As the ultimate driving machine makes stellar lap times on the track, it doesn’t require a diesel eighteen wheeler to be brought home. The M3 is built to be driven home on the main road, just after it tears up the race track.

In any case, when it arrives in spring 2010, the Porsche 911 GT RS will meet its rival.

 

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The BMW ActiveHybrid 7 Coming Soon

Unlike the ActiveHybrid X6, the 7 cannot run completely on electric.  Hybridization is brought on by the use of a small motor to reinforce the twin-turbo V8, resulting in a punch of 455 horsepower.

Thus equipped, the car can go from 0 to 100 in about 5 seconds, and the combined fuel consumption is 9.4 litres/100 km.

The ActiveHybrid 7 will be marketed in Canada in a long wheelbase version, giving it an additional 14 centimetres. Furthermore, the hybrid differs from the gas model by its "ActiveHybrid" logo, along with its more aerodynamic, 19-inch alloy wheels. Inside, the trip computer displays information on the hybrid system’s efficiency.

The price for the vehicle once it reaches Canada has not yet been revealed.

 

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The BMW M5 Celebrates a Milestone

Presented by the head of the Bavarian company as the best M5 CSL ever produced, with reduced weight and more power.

The V10 has been brought up to 5.5-litres and is equipped with a carbon air intake and secondary oil cooler.  The official figures have not yet been released, but the power is estimated to be roughly 580 hp, versus the 507 horsepower available in the original version.  The engine is also coupled with a 7-speed dual clutch box that is currently found in the BMW M3 V8.

The roof is now made of carbon fibre, like the front seats.  The back seats were removed, reducing the car’s weight by about 50 kilograms.

The M5 CSL would likely shave 20 seconds off the time at the famous Nurburgring track, but sadly, BMW has no plans of producing this particular M5.

 

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BMW Goes Simple

The Simple Concept, which has never before been presented in an international auto show, made its first appearance at the BMW-Welt museum in Munich.

Similar to the Nissan Land Glider Concept, the BMW Simple is a cross between a car and a motorcycle.

Unlike the Nissan, the Simple Concept is not entirely electric, but rather comes equipped with a 49 horsepower engine backed by a hybrid system.

BMW claims that the concept consumes less than 2 litres per 100 km, and emits less than 50 g/km of CO2, all while being able to exceed 200 km/h.

Though there are no plans for production, the BMW Simple acts as a study tool for engineers. Those heading up the project insist that it be ecological in every sense, including its manufacturing phase, which will likely set the trend for other automakers.

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BMW to Bridge the Gap

The 3 Series was once the smallest car in the BMW range, but now the automaker is feeling the pressure to enlarge their smaller line.

Rumours are circulating that the brand is already working on the 0 Series, intended to bridge the gap between the 1 Series and the Mini.

This would be a first for the brand, and the platform would require BMW to shift to front-wheel drive.  And, as expected, rumours are also predicting 3- and 5-door versions, as well as a convertible.

At a time when all car manufacturers are trying to reduce environmental impacts, such as the Aston Martin with the Cygnet, the BMW 0 Series could be right on target.

 

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BMW to Bridge the Gap

The 3 Series was once the smallest car in the BMW range, but now the automaker is feeling the pressure to enlarge their smaller line.

Rumours are circulating that the brand is already working on the 0 Series, intended to bridge the gap between the 1 Series and the Mini.

This would be a first for the brand, and the platform would require BMW to shift to front-wheel drive.  And, as expected, rumours are also predicting 3- and 5-door versions, as well as a convertible.

At a time when all car manufacturers are trying to reduce environmental impacts, such as the Aston Martin with the Cygnet, the BMW 0 Series could be right on target.

 

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The BMW Lovos

According to its designer, Anne Forschner, a graduate of Pforzheim University in Germany, Lovos stands for Lifestyle of Voluntary Simplicity, although the word simplicity is not what comes to mind when you see this concept.

The Lovos is composed of 260 panels of similar dimensions that are fully interchangeable.  Each exterior piece is covered in solar photovoltaic cells, which can follow the sun or act as individual brakes.  Therefore, we can only assume that the vehicle would be powered by electricity.

Even if the Lovos never becomes a reality, it raises an interesting question regarding how cars can be designed.  The idea of a single piece being repeated throughout a car opens many possible options for the future.