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BMW ELECTRONAUT RECRUITMENT PROCESS UPDATE
In order to further streamline the reservation process for future BMW Electronauts, BMW will be changing the start of the recruitment process from December 2011 to January 2012. This does not affect your chances to become one of 700 Electronauts, and vehicle deliveries are still scheduled to begin in early 2012. As an exclusive member of our BMW ActiveE community, you will be among the first to receive notification that the recruitment process is open for the only car that is 100% electric, 100% BMW. For any questions or concerns regarding the BMW ActiveE or field trial, visit the BMW ActiveE forum. We look forward to seeing you on our mission to help shape the future of mobility. Read More to see more details

Filed under: Sedan, Geneva Motor Show, BMW, Design/Style, Luxury

Better late than never, right?

We're now on the second generation of the Mercedes-Benz CLS, the luxury sedan that kicked off the whole "four-door coupe" craze. Since then, Volkswagen countered with the CC, Porsche launched the Panamera, and Audi won us over with its A7. So what about BMW? Now that the big 6 Series coupe has taken hold, the German automaker has added a proper back seat and two additional doors to create this, the 2013 6 Series Gran Coupe.

The first version of the Gran Coupe to arrive Stateside will be the 640i, powered by BMW's N55 3.0-liter turbocharged inline six, good for 315 horsepower and 330 pound-feet of torque in this application. Shortly thereafter, the 650i Gran Coupe will arrive, available with rear-wheel drive or xDrive all-wheel drive, boasting a twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V8 tuned to 445 hp and 480 lb-ft. Both engines are paired with BMW's ZF-sourced eight-speed automatic transmission.

Compared to its two-door counterpart, the Gran Coupe is a full 4.4 inches longer, and most of that added length benefits the rear passengers. BMW's literature states that the stretched 6 Series has a 4+1 seating configuration, meaning there's actually a quasi-usable seat between the two outboard rear positions. (Good luck.) Judging from the photos, the Gran Coupe's interior is as luxuriously appointed and tech-laden as the rest of the 6 Series range - if not a little bit moreso.

We originally thought that BMW would debut the 2013 6 Series Gran Coupe at next month's Detroit Auto Show, but since the all-new 2012 3 Series is expected to make its public debut at Cobo Hall, we think BMW may hold off on the official Gran Coupe introduction until the Geneva Motor Show in March. We'll likely know official pricing details around that time, too. For now, soak it up in our high-res gallery and follow the jump to read the full details in BMW's press blast.

Continue reading 2013 BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe makes its debut

2013 BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe makes its debut originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 10 Dec 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ward's publishes their 2011 10 Best Engines list and BMW is well represented once again. The new four-cylinder 2.0 liter turbocharged N20 engine made the list, along with the 3.0 liter twin-scroll N55 powerplant. The Ward's 10 Best Engines competition recognizes the latest powertrain technologies that are affordable to most consumers, boost horsepower and torque, sound appealing and integrate well with their respective vehicles.

As Ward's Auto points out, a record seven of this year's Ward's 10 Best Engines winners integrate state-of-the-art direct fuel injection, demonstrating the rapid pace of technology development as auto makers downsize their engines in anticipation of strict U.S. fuel-economy rules.

The direct injection technology helps improving fuel efficiency while providing quick acceleration and high torque at low rpms.

BMW's competitors are represented by Audi and its 3.0 liter superchaged V6 engine found in the new A6.

Here is what Ward's has to say about the BMW units:

BMW returns to the list for a second time with the N55 3.0L turbocharged 6-cyl. engine in the 335i coupe, an engine that perfectly illustrates the superior balance and refinement of inline engines and the Bavarian auto maker's mastery of the architecture's execution.

With 300 hp and 300 lb.-ft. (407 Nm) of torque, this engine manages better than 25 mpg (9.4 L/100 km) during heavy-footed evaluation by WardsAuto editors in October.

New to the winner's circle is BMW's 2.0L N20 turbocharged 4-cyl. engine that dazzles editors in both the Z4 sDrive 28i roadster and larger 528i sedan. With 258 lb.-ft. (350 Nm) of torque in the Z4 and 260 lb.-ft. (353 Nm) in the 5-Series, this stout, compact powertrain packs an impressive 120 hp/L, without sacrificing any of BMW's stellar vehicle dynamics.

This year's winners and the applications tested:

3.0L TFSI Supercharged DOHC V-6 (Audi A6)
2.0L N20 Turbocharged DOHC I-4 (BMW Z4/528i)
3.0L N55 Turbocharged DOHC I-6 (BMW 335i coupe)
3.6L Pentastar DOHC V-6 (Chrysler 300S/Jeep Wrangler)
2.0L EcoBoost DOHC I-4 (Ford Edge)
5.0L DOHC V-8 (Ford Mustang Boss 302)
2.0L Turbocharged DOHC I-4 (Buick Regal GS)
1.6L DOHC I-4 (Hyundai Accent/Kia Soul)
2.0L Skyactiv DOHC I-4 (Mazda3)
3.5L DOHC V-6 HEV (Infiniti M35h)

Filed under: Hybrid, Sedan, Tokyo Motor Show, BMW

BMW let loose the details on its ActiveHybrid 5 two months ago and little's been mentioned of it since. If you had seen the liquid blue sedan tucked anonymously into the BMW stand at the Tokyo Motor Show, you might wonder if it's ever going to engage in a public display of affection. The hybridized 535i gets BMW's much-loved turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six and a 55-horsepower electric motor, for a total of 335 hp and a 5.7-second run to 60 miles per hour.

It's coming to the United States early next year, so details like exact fuel economy and pricing - which is to say, how much more you'll have to spend to get more fuel economy than a 535i - should be on the way very soon. In the meantime there's a press release after the jump and a fresh gallery of high-res photos live from Tokyo for you to peruse.

Continue reading BMW ActiveHybrid 5 might be the ultimate modesty machine

BMW ActiveHybrid 5 might be the ultimate modesty machine originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 30 Nov 2011 10:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Performance, Videos, Crossover, BMW, Diesel, Luxury

If you've had trouble slotting the BMW X6 M into any existing vehicle category in the past, we have bad news for you: it's probably not gonna get easier. BMW has released a teaser video for "A new chapter powered by M," featuring none other than the X6 M. It appears the go-fast guys and gals at BMW are up to something entertaining, as the portly crossover is subtly blurred throughout the duration of this short clip. We do get a glimpse of the vehicle's badge work. Even through the haze, it's clear this beast has something special up its sleeve. Or, rather, in its engine bay.

What could it be? Odds are this is the diesel X6 M we've already seen frolicking around the Nürburgring. If the vehicle in this clip and that oil-burning monster are one and the same, we can expect to find a tri-turbo diesel engine under the hood, though no solid power figures have leaked yet. We're guessing the final numbers will land somewhere between earth-shattering and cosmically outrageous. Hit the jump to check out the video for yourself.

Continue reading Is BMW teasing an X6 M diesel?

Is BMW teasing an X6 M diesel? originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 04 Dec 2011 20:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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What does it mean to be Born Electric? Step inside the 2011 LA Auto Show and witness the North American premiere of the BMW i3 and i8 Concept vehicles.


BMW i. Born Electric.
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Welcome to a world of visionary mobility. With the North American premiere of the BMW i3 and i8 Concept vehicles, BMW is making lightning-fast performance an...