BMW

Aug 20 2011

2012 BMW Z4 sDrive28i

2012 BMW Z4 sDrive28i
For over a decade, only one premium automaker has offered a four-cylinder in the U.S. And while the recent rise of Audi in the States isn’t solely because of its 2.0T engine, it’s obvious that luxury buyers are finally coming around to the idea of a fuel-sipping four-pot. As a matter of fact, they’re starting to demand it. And BMW is heeding the call.

Next year, BMW will begin offering its turbocharged and direct-injected 2.0-liter inline four-cylinder engine on the 3 Series and 5 Series, matching Audi car-for-car in the entry-level and mid-size segments. But before the sedans arrive on U.S. shores – nixing the naturally aspirated 3.0-liter inline-six in the process – BMW is slipping its TwinPower four-cylinder into an unlikely host: the 2012 Z4 sDrive28i.

Why unlikely? Just look at the length of that hood. It was designed from the onset to house one of BMW’s venerable inline six-cylinder engines, but by lopping off two cylinders, BMW almost made a front-midship roadster.

Source: AutoBlog

2012 BMW 1 Series Five-Door

Jul 18 2011

2012 BMW 1 Series Five-Door

2012 BMW 1 Series Five Door
In yet another example of such forbidden fruit, we traveled to Berlin, Germany this month to drive the latest “F20″ four-door version of the car considered by many to be the first hatchback to take the premium European compact genre big-time. Admittedly, that judgment call is a bit of a toss-up between the 1 Series and the Mini Cooper and Audi A3, but the 1 Series has done BMW proud selling nearly 1.3 million units worldwide in a single generation since late 2004. This success story is not unlike that of the X3 compact crossover that is just now entering its more sophisticated second generation.

For this drive, we had a matte corral red 118i with 1.6-liter TwinPower Turbo inline four-cylinder at our disposal. The N13 engine’s 168 horsepower were ably complemented by 184 pound-feet of torque available between 1,500 and 4,500 rpm. This powerplant is actually a heavily adapted and retuned longitudinal version of the transverse N18 1.6-liter found in the Mini Cooper S. To go with this single twin-scroll turbocharged unit, buyers will need to choose between an optional eight-speed Steptronic automatic or the happy little car seen here with the same six-speed ZF manual found in the fantabulous 1 M Coupe.

Source: AutoBlog

Next BMW M3 to get triple-turbo six

Jul 10 2011

Next BMW M3 to get triple-turbo six

Next BMW M3 to get triple turbo six
According to the rumormongers at AutoExpress, the next-generation M3, due sometime around 2014 after the new 3 Series comes along, will pack – wait for it – a triple-turbo straight-six. The innovative arrangement will reportedly include two conventional spools powered off exhaust gases and a third electric turbocharger. Total output could be around 450 horsepower – a bump over the current V8 model’s 414 hp – with even more carbon fiber bits than the CRT edition pictured above to help keep weight down.

[Source: AutoExpress]

« 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 »