Archive for the '2011 bmw' Category

Video: Jeremy Clarkson pit 1908 v12 Brutus against BMW 1 series M cupe

Published on November 19, 2011 in 2011, 2011 bmw and 2011 M1. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , .

The Brutus is a relic from another time. A time when men approached automobile racing with reckless abandon by cramming the largest, most powerful engine available onto a chassis supported by the world’s skinniest tires. Suspension, brakes and cumbersome safety equipment were all scrapped for bullet-shaped bodywork and testicles the size of small planetary bodies. The Brutus boasts a 46-liter BMW V12 engine pulled from a post-World War II fighter plane and a chassis from a 1908 American LaFrance. The engine alone weighs 1,124 pounds and puts out a potent 500 horsepower. Now Top Gear host Jeremy Clarkson has decided that the creation needs to tango with the latest BMW hot rod; the 1 Series M Coupe in his new DVD, Powered Up.

This is not your typical drag race. The Brutus is a chain-driven, fire-breathing hulk that’s happier scaring school children than darting down the drag strip, while the 1 Series M Coupe is as civilized as a sports car gets. How does the competition shake out?

BMW announces pricing for 2011 range, 3 Series MSRP unchanged

Published on January 29, 2010 in 2011 bmw, 2011 BMW 3 Series, 2011 bmw 5 series, 2011Bmw, 2011Bmw3Series, 2011Bmw5-series, 2011Bmw5Series, BMW, BMW pricing, BMW Review and BmwPricing. 0 Comments Tags: , , .


This either proves the point that BMWs are expensive enough for now or the company is trying to aggressively hold the line on pricing for existing models. 2011 pricing and equipment for the complete BMW North American model range has been released, and the company is adding a revised Value Package and keeping prices the same. New models, such as the 2011 5 Series with which we scooted about in Portugal, will see some attendant bottom-line juggling, but the base MSRP for your dream 3 Series remains the same, even if you choose the updated coupe and convertible models.

The biggest news is that the single-turbo N55 is muscling the twin-huffer N54 out of some Bayerische engine bays. 135s, 335s, 535s, the 535i Gran Turismo and X6 xDrive35i all get the new single-turbo N55 between the fenders. The N54 still appears in the Z4, new 335is and the 740i, as well as some others.

There’s new package deals going on as well. 1 and 3 Series vehicles get a new Value Package, building on the popularity of the no-cost iPod interface and leather seat upgrade BMW has been offering. The 335 model misses out, however, as this is a 128-, 135- or 328-only affair. Don’t fret, as there’s a new Convenience Package, too. Costing between $1,000 and $2,350, the Convenience Package is different depending on the car, but it’s again a 1 and 3 Series upgrade. The package includes an alarm system, Comfort Access, some flavor of PDC, sunshades and, sometimes, xenon headlamps.

2011 BMW 335is

Published on January 28, 2010 in 2011 bmw, 2011Bmw, 3 Series, 3 series coupe, 335i, 335i convertible, 335i coupe, 335iConvertible, 335iCoupe, 335is, 3Series, 3SeriesCoupe, Bimmer, BMW, BMW 3-Series, bmw 335is, BMW World, Bmw335is, Bmw3Series, featured, first drive and FirstDrive. 0 Comments Tags: , , , .



It’s fair to say that few automobiles have ridden atop their segment for as long as the BMW 3 Series has managed. Admittedly, there have been occasional frights from other German automakers or the odd Asian upstart, but it’s as if Munich’s engineers long ago brokered some sweetheart deal with the devil, so total has been the range’s dominance. All of which has made it particularly tough for U.S. enthusiasts, as we’ve seen seemingly dozens of tempting higher performance specials and intriguingly efficient offerings pop up over in Europe and elsewhere, yet these models never seem to make their way into U.S. showrooms. Forgive us, then, for being slightly giddy at the prospect of this 335is, the first North American exclusive 3 Series in, well… eons.

Based on the freshly facelifted sixth-generation 3 Series, the 2011 335is will be available in both coupe and folding hardtop convertible forms beginning this spring – but we just couldn’t wait that long to get behind the wheel. Thankfully, BMW was kind enough to slip us the keys to a pre-production example on Portugal’s Estoril raceway as a dessert course of sorts at the launch of their new 5 Series sedan.

2011 BMW 5 Series

Published on January 25, 2010 in 2011 bmw, 2011 bmw 5 series, 535i, 550i and BMW 5 Series. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , .

2011 BMW 5 Series

The outgoing BMW 5 Series may have ushered in a dramatic leap forward in terms of dynamics, technology, safety and creature comforts, but it’s the previous generation – the E39 – that Bimmerphiles still speak of in hushed tones. The departing E60 may have been a more capable package, but it was also the source of much controversy and hand wringing. Blame Chris Bangle. Blame byzantine iDrive menu structures. Blame spirit-muffling layers of electronics. Hell, blame improved competition or hidebound brand loyalists who refuse to accept the new. No matter whose camp you point the finger at, the 2003-2010 5 Series was a polarizing creature, both aesthetically and from behind the wheel. Despite (or perhaps because of) all this, BMW enjoyed record-setting global sales of the Fiver, suggesting that that the traditionalists had it all wrong.

Still, one look at the new-for-2011 F10 model might reasonably lead you to believe that a bit of mulligan has occurred at the hand of Adrian van Hooydonk and his design team – a toning down of the E60′s most divisive elements. To be sure, the E60′s Dame Edna spectacles have been consigned to a dusty drawer and the raised “Bangle Butt” has kept its date with Celebrity Fit Club. In the not-so-dearly departed’s place is a handsome new sedan that appears simultaneously more in line with the 5 Series’ lineage yet firmly set on the future. But to label the sixth-generation Fiver as an aesthetic or strategic regression would be incorrect, van Hooydonk tells us. As he points out, BMW design has a tendency to periodically muscle in with big, bold, design statements – to knock down walls – and in the follow-up model, its stylists can move about a bit more in the clean air made possible by its predecessor.

2011 BMW 3 Series M-Sport images surface

Published on January 20, 2010 in 2011 bmw, 2011 BMW 3 Series, 2011Bmw, 2011Bmw3Series, 3 Series, 3Series, BMW 3-Series, BMW World, Bmw3Series, M Sport and MSport. 0 Comments


Bimmerfile has snagged shots of the M Sport package available on the 2011 BMW 3 Series coupe and convertible, and similar to the recent refresh, the changes are subtle, but even more effective. The lines on the front bumper follow the same form as on the current M Sport package, but are notably sharper, and the lower opening appears slightly larger. Out back, the current vehicle’s single exhaust pipe at each corner gets switched to a dual pipe on the left side, and a new wheel design is fitted at each corner. Inside will be the usual M-badged steering wheel and shifter, along with an anthracite headliner. All the details are due to be revealed soon, likely at the Geneva Motor Show.

BMW Z4 sDrive35is

Published on January 12, 2010 in 2010, 2010 Z4, 2010Z4, 2011, 2011 bmw, BMW Z4, BmwZ4, Detroit Auto show, detroit auto show 2010, DetroitAutoShow, DetroitAutoShow2010, Naias2010, performance, sDrive35is, SHO and Z4. 1 Comment Tags: , .


We’re not sure why BMW is reticent to put forth a new Motorsports model of its Z4 folding hardtop convertible, but it has effectively introduced such a model in all but name here at the Detroit Auto Show. Inscrutably dubbed Z4 sDrive35is (we’re guessing you can hit extralegal speeds by the time you successfully spit out its name), the new model features a revised twin-turbo 3.0-liter inline-six that spits out 340 horsepower and 332 pound-feet of torque, with an overboost function capable of a momentary bump up to 369 torques. Paired with BMW’s seven-speed Sport Automatic dual-clutch transmission, the drivetrain is good for 0-62 miles-per-hour in in 4.8 seconds.

Additional alterations include a ride height that’s lowered by 10 millimeters thanks to the adaptive M suspension, a revamped front fascia with matte aluminum trim bars, Oxide Silver mirror caps, and 19-inch alloys among other niceties – you can check out the complete roster of changes by checking out the press release after the jump.

BMW 5 Series Touring caught testing

Published on November 9, 2009 in 2011 5 series, 2011 5 Series Kombi, 2011 5 Series Touring, 2011 5 Series Wagon, 2011 bmw, 2011 bmw 5 series, 20115SeriesKombi, 20115SeriesTouring, 20115SeriesWagon, 2011Bmw5Series, 5 Series, 5 Series GT, 5 Series Station Wagon, 5 Series Touring, 530i Touring, 530iTouring, 5Series, 5SeriesStationWagon, 5SeriesTouring, b7, Bimmer, BMW, BMW 5 Series, BMW 5 Series GT, BMW 5 Series Wagon, BMW wagon, Bmw5Series, Bmw5SeriesGranTurismo, Bmw5SeriesGt, Bmw5SeriesWagon, BmwWagon, Gran Turismo, GranTurismo, luxury, M5, performance, spy, spy photos, spy shot, spy shots, SpyPhotos, station wagon and StationWagon. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , , , .

BMW 5 Series Touring caught testing

Unlike the never ending back-and-forth between the A6 and/or the A8, we’re certain this is the new 2011 5 Series Touring, a.k.a. a Bimmer station wagon or “Kombi” as they call ‘em over in Europe. Not bad, right? Kinda lithe yet athletic at the same time. Good looking, too. And let’s not forget the M versions of these puppies. Only thing is, what we think probably doesn’t matter – odds are we’ll never see the 5 Series Touring here in the States.

We’ve mentioned it before, but BMW just launched the 5 Series Gran Turismo. Selling both of the fairly similar five-door cars along side each other might cut into sales. Additionally, wagons have never sold well for BMW here in North America – and for some reason, Americans just aren’t into traditional car-like station wagons.

Never mind the nearly 1,000 pound weight advantage of the wagon (around 4,000 pounds) over the GT (about 4,800 pounds) – which should bring with it better mileage, performance and handling – to its detractors, the Gran Turismo just has an air of Chrysler Pacifica about it. Of course, since the day it came out, many of us auto-journo types have been asking why one would buy the SUV-ish X5 when the hauls-just-as-much-stuff 5 Series wagon is not only available but costs less, goes quicker, handles better, etc. Looks like BMW just might just disarm that line of questioning altogether.

2011 BMW 5-Series

Published on October 25, 2009 in 2011 5 series, 2011 bmw, 2011 bmw 5 series, 20115-series, 20115Series, 2011Bmw, 2011Bmw5-series, 2011Bmw5Series, 5 Series, 5Series, 7 Series, ActiveHybrid, sedan, spy shots and SpyShots. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , .


The 2011 BMW 5-Series is slowly undressing as far as camouflage goes, and its looks are going the “more substantial” route to match its more substantial, modified 7 Series chassis along with a dose of 5 Series Gran Turismo in back. The front end gets a less sculpted treatment while, if the swirls don’t deceive us, the rear glasshouse slopes more steeply into the trunk lid. The lower rear fascia gets the same severe angle as that on the 5Series GT.

Inside – at least according to the forms, since everything but the shift lever and iDrive is covered – it is beginning to look like a 7 Series in miniature.

Under the hood will be the usual suspects, with the 550i supposedly getting the brand’s eight-speed auto. There are also rumors of a turbocharged four-cylinder and Active Hybrid. The car should make its first public appearance sometime early next year.