More Than Cars, BMWs Are Status Symbols

Buying a BMW is more than just buying a car to simply get around. With dozens of car makes to choose from, consumers are attracted to BMW’s brand of sophistication, quality, and timeless style. Its circular blue and white logo is instantly recognizable throughout the world, and some have even touted that the BMW is the most admired car ever. With a look that contrasts the very flashy and vibrant Italian sports cars, BMW evokes a sense of maturity, personal achievement, and a symbol of desirable status.

Branding
It can take years for a company to build a successful brand. Managing one is even more challenging. For three decades, BMW not only focused on BMW’s quality by declaring it as “the ultimate driving machine” but the brand has incorporated elements of wish-fulfillment. Like most luxury products on the market, BMW subtlety focused on how owning a BMW symbolizes the accomplishment of a higher status and financial power. It can be considered as a company that taps into an individual’s hopes and dreams rather than a basic necessity used for personal transportation. In the last decade, some of BMW’s advertising has reached out to a more creative group of people who are known in our society for their innovative ideas and maverick spirit. This group includes educators, writers, artists, scientists, and engineers. BMW reached out to this group by marketing their brand as a company who values innovation, originality, and ambition. This message added a new dimension to the underlying value of quality and performance. Perhaps, consumers who desire a BMW wish to feel like creative professionals who are capable of generating fresh ideas.

BMW in Films
Product placement isn’t new to the entertainment industry, but luxury cars are in great demand in movies where heroes, or villains, must drive the best, well-equipped, and recognizable cars. Various models have been featured in the most famous and successful movies ever made. For example, BMW has been featured numerous times alongside the most well-known spy in the world, James Bond. Usually a character that is seen driving a BMW possesses qualities that consumers may want or admire, which adds to BMW’s status as a luxury vehicle and prized possession. In addition, movies and television are screened to millions all over the world, so the BMW’s visibility becomes present on a global scale.

Personalization
BMW owners also find ways to increase their status and make the experience of driving a BMW more enjoyable by adding special features. Special add-ons include upgraded wheels and interiors, and built-in communication devices. Examples of interior accessories are chrome handles, aluminum foot pedals, and steering wheels with all kinds of decorative trim. These options don’t necessarily add to the performance of the car, but owners may feel that these additions are representative of their status. So the more fancy accessories an owner can possess, the better.

Prices of BMWs can reach to the hundreds of thousands. Even auto insurance rates for a BMW may be steep to some, but those who want one believe it will be well worth the price. To many, the act of buying a BMW is like buying a higher status, and the idea of being capable of buying the latest and greatest BMW is one many consumers will always desire.

Official BMW X1 photos

The X1 is mainly powered by diesel engines, five of these models will represent the core of the X1 family. The most powerful X1 model, xDrive28i, will be the powered by a petrol engine which outputs 258 horsepower and 228 lb-ft(310Nm) of torque at 2,600 rpm.

The highest end X1 diesel model will be sold under the xDrive23d naming convention and produces 204 horsepower and 295 lb-ft(400Nm) of torque at 2,000 rpm. This is the second fastest X1 vehicle with 0 t0 62 mph in 7.3 seconds.

M3 Sport by RDSport

Matte Black is making a comeback on our blog and it’s slowly becoming one of the most interesting exterior colors on a BMW. For us it all started last year when we published the first photos of a BMW X6 sporting the matte black color and back then, we were quite charmed by it.

Moving into 2009, we started seeing more and more BMWs sporting the matte black coat, from 335is and M3s, to more X6 models. As we learned back then, matte black vinyl wrap was created by some shops in California and as we learned, it was an 8-10 year vinyl that is washed by using a mixture of water and baby shampoo.

The total cost of “upgrading” your car to matte black is around $3,000, pricey for some, but worth it for others.

Awesome photos of new Z4

The sDrive23i is available for sale in Europe and it’s with the entry-level 2.5-liter straight-six engine which produces 201 horsepower and 184 lb-ft at 2,750 rpm. The car achieves a top speed of 151 mph and goes from 0 to 62 mph in 6.6 seconds.

In the U.K, the BMW Z4 sDrive23i has a base price of £28,645 or approximately$47,200.

BMW 740d M Sport

The new BMW 740d heralds the latest technological leap for the 7 Series, taking diesel performance in a luxury car to a new level. Powered by a 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged engine that produces 306hp, the BMW 740d provides the driver and its occupants with a smooth yet suitably rapid method of transport, while merely sipping at its fuel tank.

The 2,993cc engine features an all aluminium crankcase and third generation common rail fuel injection system offering 600Nm of torque from just 1,500rpm. This enables the 740d to achieve a class-leading zero to 62mph time of 6.3 seconds before going on to an electronically-limited 155mph top speed. These impressive performance figures have been made possible by the unique way the twin turbochargers work. A smaller turbocharger provides near instantaneous response for swift initial acceleration before a larger unit provides additional thrust from the mid-range to the redline. However, courtesy of EfficientDynamics technologies the new 740d still achieves an outstanding 40.9mpg on the combined cycle and a CO2 emissions figure of just 181g/km.

The revised BMW 730d

BMW UK’s biggest selling 7 Series, accounting for approximately 85 per cent of sales, has also been improved for 2009. The BMW 730d now comes with a revised engine that sees the class-leading Seven stride further ahead of its competitors in terms of economy and emissions.

From September 2009, the BMW 730d and 730Ld will be specified with an engine that has been refined to now achieve 41.5mpg on the combined cycle (40.9mpg for the long-wheelbase) and CO2 emissions of 178g/km (180g/km for the 730Ld). This represents a 7.3 per cent reduction in emissions and almost six per cent improvement in fuel economy. This sees the 730d drop into the band I Vehicle Excise Duty tier with a subsequent improvement in the benefit-in-kind rate for business users. This efficiency performance places the 7 Series head and shoulders above its key competitors, including the new Mercedes S350CDi.

What make all the revised 7 Series range performance gains possible are BMW’s award-winning EfficientDynamics technologies allied to an engine that features third-generation common-rail direct injection technology, incorporating piezo injectors, that operate at a peak pressure of 2,000 bar.

Brake Energy Regeneration uses the engine’s power on overrun, such as braking, to charge the battery for the car’s electrical circuit. When the driver is accelerating the alternator disengages so all of the engine’s power is channelled towards the car’s performance. Other ancillaries, such as the air-conditioning compressor, are also able to disengage to improve the all round performance of the car. All of these technologies were standard on the BMW 7 Series when it was launched in November 2008, but have since been enhanced on the 730d to achieve even more impressive performance figures. The roof, doors, bonnet and front side panels are all made from aluminium to reduce weight and help achieve the outstanding efficiency performance.

BMW 730d
245hp
540Nm
7.3 0-62mph
152 Top Speed (mph)
41.5 Combined mpg
178 CO2 g/km

BMW 730Ld
245hp
540Nm
7.3 0-62mph
152 Top Speed (mph)
40.9 Combined mpg
180 CO2 g/km

BMW 740d
301hp
600Nm
6.3 0-62mph
155* Top Speed (mph)
40.9 Combined mpg
181 CO2 g/km

*Electronically-limited.

The launch of the 740d coincides with the introduction of M Sport models to the BMW 7 Series range. Now all BMW 7 Series variants can be ordered as either SE or M Sport. The latter specification builds on the high level of standard equipment offered with an SE by adding new 19-inch M Sport V-spoke style alloy wheels, M Aerodynamic body styling and high-gloss exterior trim. Inside, and Sport seats, M Sport steering wheel, M Sport door sill inlays, brushed aluminium interior trim and Anthracite headlining complete the offer.

Prices for the 740d and M Sport derivatives will be announced closer to their September, 2009 on sale date.

New option packages

News of the revisions to the BMW 7 Series range come as two packages become available for all long-wheelbase models. The options have been compiled with the chauffeur in mind, but will also appeal generally to other long wheelbase customers.

The Executive Package costs from £2,515 and comprises of 19” multi-spoke style alloy wheels, TV function, Sun protection glass, electric rear side sun blinds, front and rear seat heating and a windscreen with grey shade band. The Executive Plus Package builds on this offer by adding soft-close doors and driver and front passenger lumbar support. Prices for this optional package start at £2,865.

BMW M Supercar Concept

It’s been three decades since BMW produced its first and last mid-engined supercar, the M1, and even though the Bavarian firm raised expectations with the introduction of the M1 Homage Concept at last year’s Concorso d’Eleganza, the company has no official plans to resurrect the famous nameplate. But for those that continue to hope that BMW will produce a thoroughbred sports car in the near future, South African designer Idres Noah has created a striking concept proposal for an Audi R8-rivaling bimmer.

Despite the fact that we see some styling influences from the M1 Homage Concept, Idries’ concept study has its own character. By far the best parts of the design are the supercar’s kinky profile and especially the rear end which is hotter than Eva Mendez in a Brazilian bikini holding her hands between her thighs… The front-end design on the other hand could do with some work, but overall, we lift our hat to Idries Noah and hope we see more design proposals in the future.

BMW ALPINA B6 GT3 Onboard video at 24h Nürburgring


Check out the video
here!

Having a top speed of 177 mph, the Alpina B6 GT accelerates from 0-62 mph in 3.9 seconds.

Limited Edition MINI JCW World Championship 50

Revealed for the first time at the 2009 MINI United Festival in Silverstone, the MINI John Cooper Works World Championship 50 is yet another special edition model built to commemorate the Cooper racing team’s first Formula One World Championship title with Jack Brabham at the wheel in 1959. The car that will be produced in a strictly limited run of 250 units is based on the MINI JCW and driven by the same 1.6-liter twin-turbocharged engine that pumps out 211HP. It accelerates from standstill to 100 km/h (62mph) in 6.5 seconds going on to a top speed of 238 km/h or 148mph.

All cars are finished exclusively in a new color named ‘Connaught Green’ that harkens back to the British race cars of the 1950s and 60s era. It is combined with the roof and bonnet stripes in ‘Pepper White’ while the 17-inch cross-spoke alloy wheels are finished in ‘Jet Black’.

Other exterior features includes the JCW aerodynamics package, a plethora of carbon fibre parts, among them the bonnet scoop on the bonnet, rear diffuser, exterior mirror caps and tailgate handle along with the special insignias.

The ‘World Championship 50’s’ interior has been upgraded with carbon fibre trim overlaid by red touches, black leather seats with contrasting red piping. The red theme is also used on the knee-rolls, armrests and the stitching on the floor mats, gearshift and handbrake gaiters. The look is rounded off with a new sports steering wheel with an Alcantara rim.

Prices for the special edition MINI John Cooper Works model have yet to be confirmed.

BMW X1 SUV teaser!

BMW seems more than eager to play the internet marketing game by constantly releasing new information and photos about its forthcoming X1 compact SUV. This time the Bavarian automaker has issued four teaser shots of the X1 depicting details of the front grille, the headlights and the taillights. Nothing to get excited about especially since there won’t be any significant styling changes over last year’s X1 pre-production X1 concept study. If BMW’s previous unveilings are anything to go by, it shouldn’t be long before we see a complete set of official pictures hitting the net.

BMW M3 Coupe ‘Darth Maul’ by MWDesign

Canadian tuner MWDesign has released a few more photos of its BMW M3 Coupe Darth Maul, but as much as we like the dark-theme project car, we must admit that in our book, Chantel Elloway scored more points in the “styling department” than the bimmer.