Tag Archives: BMW
2020 BMW X5 xDrive45e iPerformance Gets Enhanced Drivetrain Options
It’s not exactly the easiest name to remember. Thankfully, Twitter stretched its character limit, so we can now tweet about the new 2020 BMW X5 xDrive45e iPerformance. We haven’t even managed to get our hands on the BMW X5, but we’re already dealing with a performance version of the car that would depend on a host of electric powertrains.
The new plug-in X5 is going to replace the X5 xDrive40e and would be different in every single thing that matters. This new car is going to leave behind its 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine for a 3.0-liter inline-six that makes 286 horsepower. This engine will be paired with a 112-horsepower electric motor for a total output of 394 horsepower and 443 pound-feet of torque. BMW’s all-wheel-drive system should be connected to an eight-speed automatic transmission. It can accelerate to 60 mph from a complete stop in just 5.6 seconds. The top speed was bumped to 146 mph.
The 2020 BMW X5 xDrive45e iPerformance is going to answer another problem that the current X5 xDrive40e is having. Today’s X5 xDrive40e can only go 14 miles from a full charge, but this new car is going to bump that number to an estimated 50 miles. Some people could even go their entire trip in electric mode. When in this mode, top speed would be 87 mph from the previous 74 mph.
Since this is an iPerformance trim, BMW placed the lithium-ion batteries under the body of the vehicle. This resulted in better handling because the center of gravity was lower compared to other X5 models. There’s one downside, though: the X5 xDrive45e iPerformance is going to lose about five cubic feet of storage space because of the battery pack.
Europe will get this car in 2019. The United States would have to wait, though. Pricing isn’t available for now but as a reference, the base 2019 X5 begins at $61,695 while the top-of-the-line is $76,745.
5 Things To Know About The New BMW Z4
The new BMW Z4 is scheduled to be released next spring and by the looks of it, the Z4 will bring a storm over. Developed in tandem with the new Toyota Supra, the Z4 is every bit similar to the prototype that was seen at the Pebble Beach event last year.
Though the two models will emerge from the same process, they could not be different: the BMW Z4 will be a convertible-only model while the Toyota Supra will be sold as a coupe.
The Z4’s looks and proportions are very similar to the concept previewed last year. There’s a short overhang at the front end and a visible decrease in wheelbase compared with the outgoing Z4.
1. It Has A Fabric Roof
The new Z4 will make use of a fabric roof, foregoing the aluminum hard-top of the outgoing model. The fabric roof can open and close in 10 seconds flat, and it was chosen to be one of the new Z4’s main features on grounds of complexity, cost, and weight. The new car’s total curb weight will be 50 kg lighter than its predecessor. That will give the car better aerodynamics power.
2. The New Lightweight Configuration Speeds Up The Car
At 50 kg lighter, the new BMW Z4 can go from 0 to 62 mph in just 4.6 seconds. That’s largely thanks to a 3.0-liter straight-six petrol engine that produces 340 horsepower. Other powertrains in the lineup include a 2.0-liter four-cylinder petrol, at least one more version of the straight-six unit, a plug-in hybrid version, and a fully focused M version.
3. Its Cabin Has BMW’s Cockpit Layout
The cabin of the Z4 will show an evolved version of BMW’s cockpit layout. It would prominently feature a newly designed digital instrument panel and a “fared-in” infotainment system. The iDrive rotary controller is positioned on the center panel beside the controller.
4. Arrival
The Z4 will be on sale in the UK next spring.
5. Price
We expect the price range to be between $38,000 and $62,000.
4 Things We Learned About The 2020 BMW 8-Series Gran Coupe
After we have spotted prototypes for the BMW 8-Series Convertible, we are now being treated to some spy shots of the 8-Series Gran Coupe. By the looks of it, the Gran Coupe is more likely to be a sedan than an actual coupe. This model is due to fill the gaps that the 6-Series Gran Coupe will leave after it gets phased out by the German automaker.
Exterior
We know a little bit about how this car will look, thanks to the M8 Gran Coupe concept unveiled in March. We can also expect an M8 version to be launched with the regular one. Just like the 8-Series coupe, the Gran Coupe will have a low roof and wide, muscular shoulders, which may mean an option for a three-seat bench in the rear.
Interior
We expect nothing less from BMW when it comes to cabin elegance and luxury. The digital screens serve as instrument cluster and the entertainment hub. Right smack on the center console would be a gear lever and a rotary-dial controller. There will be plenty of technology, of course, but the German brand hasn’t let us on it yet. If you want to know what to expect from the Gran Coupe’s cabin, take a look at the previously revealed 2019 M850i xDrive coupe’s interior.
Platform
BMW will use the CLAR modular platform that started with the 2016 7-Series. The multi-material design of the platform is meant to shed weight, but the Gran Coupe might still be a tad heavy compared to others. The coupe weighs 4,478 pounds in the M850i disguise, so the Gran Coupe will likely be heavier. This CLAR platform will also make the car compatible with electric powertrains.
Engines
We have no details on the engines that would be offered but expect the same 4.4-liter twin-turbocharged V8 found in the M850i coupe. That one makes 523 horsepower. There might also be an option for a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-6 and the M8 will get M850i’s V8 engine with over 600 horsepower. We also expect that a plug-in hybrid will be introduced.
Check out the new spy shots of the upcoming BMW 8-Series Gran Coupe in the gallery below:
2019 BMW 8 Series Convertible Images Leaked
The new 2019 BMW 8 Series Convertible isn’t due for a reveal until the middle of next year, but we’re lucky enough to see its spy shots. The car was without its camouflage and was being driven around Loch Assynt in Scotland. Clearly, this was a secret photoshoot that would be used for marketing purposes later.
Regardless, we love to see the BMW 8 Series Convertible in all its glory. The drop-top version has a large kidney grille, chiseled front bumper, and slim LED headlamps similar with the coupe version revealed at the Le Mans 24 Hours endurance race last month. At the back, the wide taillights and gaping chrome exhausts also remain. All these point out to one thing: the model we see here is the range-topping M850i.
The model will be using a fabric roof to save on weight, which is essential because of the extra weight that comes from strengthening the flanks to make up for the “reduced structural integrity” due to the loss of the fixed roof. Overall, this drop-top version will weigh around 2,000kg.
The engine lineup will be similar with the coupe. The base model BMW 8 Series Convertible would be a 3.0-liter six-cylinder diesel motor that can make 320 horsepower. The range-topping M850i variants will get a 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 engine that produces 530 horsepower and can go 0 to 62mph in 4 seconds. That is slightly higher than the coupe’s 3.7 seconds because the convertible is on the heavier side.
All of the models will use BMW’s xDrive four-wheel-drive system, as well as an eight-speed automatic transmission. The M850i will also have an active rear-wheel steering, a sports exhaust, and a limited-slip differential on the rear axle.
Before the 8 Series Convertible makes it full debut, however, the German automaker will first unleash the all-new 3 Series Saloon, the Z4 roadster, and the X7 SUV.
Photos by: Iain Pollo via AutoExpress
BMW Starts Production Of 8 Series
The range-topping, two-door BMW 8 Series has finally entered production, and the German automaker revealed the prices for the coupe. The car will be manufactured in the car’s Dingolfing, Germany plant, which BMW spent hundreds of millions of Euros to update.
The plant is spruced up to include more automated processes to make the production of the cars more efficient. It installed autonomous tugger trains that can carry door assembly parts to the line while robots check for gaps and misalignments on the finish line.
The new 2019 BMW 8 Series coupe is fitted with a 4.4-liter twin-turbo V-8 engine that makes 523 horsepower and 553 pound-feet of torque. This engine is paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and an all-wheel-drive system that has a rear-wheel bias. The German automaker said it can go from 0 to 60 mph in just 3.6 seconds. It has a top speed of 155 mph.
The total curb weight of the coupe is 4,478 pounds and this is made possible by a number of lightweight materials, including steel, plastic, aluminum, and carbon fiber. These are used throughout the body while the roof, doors, front firewall, and supporting structures are made of aluminum. Owners can also opt for the roof to be made of carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic, which is a first in a series-production BMW model.
Standard to the new 8 Series will be full LED headlights with laser light technology, special leather upholstery, a 16-speaker Harman Kardon sound system, Adaptive M Suspension with active-roll stabilization, M Sport brakes, and park assist. Owners, however, will be able to opt for the following: an upgraded Bowers & Wilkins Diamond surround sound system and glass controls for the gear selector.
The BMW 8 Series will enter the production stage with the 5 Series and the 7 Series. When it launches, it will be available in the M850i xDrive trim. Prices for the model will have a starting price tag of $112,895.
2019 BMW X2 Caught in a Spy Video
Since 2011, we have heard rumors that BMW is planning to build an X2 crossover. It first hit the streets in October 2015 and we saw it again in January 2016. In both occasions, the SUV was heavily camouflaged, giving us no details about what it looked like.
But finally, in 2017, the X2 was introduced as BMW’s sixth crossover. As a sleeker version of the X1, the X2 is in direct competition with the Audi Q2.
Exterior
The BMW X2 shares its headlights with the X1, but the grille and the bumper are all different. The X2’s grille is wider at the base, giving the SUV a broader and more distinct appearance. Below, BMW let go of the horizontal slants and used the more modern trapezoidal design. This enhances the X2’s unique look.
On the sides, there are fewer creases on the door, more cladding on the side skirts, and a new roofline and side window configuration. There’s a slightly raked roof that gives the X2’s appearance a sleeker profile. The same can be said of the X2’s rear design. The taillights stand out, in particular. They are as large as the ones on the other X models, but they are sleeker and they get wider in the lower area.
Interior
The interior of the X2 is identical to the X1. The layout is standard for the modern BMW, using horizontal lines on the dashboard and the door panels. The A/C vents and the control panels in the center stack all have a similar orientation. This was done to make it seem that the X2 is wider and has more space. But remember that the X2 is a compact vehicle, and it could never be as comfortable as the X5.
Drivetrain
It has the same drivetrains as the X1, which means a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine under the hood. The turbodiesel mill can produce 190 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. It can go from 0 to 62 mph in just 7.7 seconds.
Pricing for the 2019 BMW X5 Announced, Starts At $61K
BMW finally announced the prices for its new luxury crossover SUV, the 2019 X5. The new BMW X5 is available in just two models—the xDrive40i ($61,695) and the xDrive50i ($76,745). The starting price is an increase from the outgoing 2018 BMW X5.
The lineup of the crossover has also been slimmed down. The 2018 lineup used to have a two-wheel drive, a diesel, and hybrid models. However, the 2019 lineup offers none of the said options.
Instead, the xDrive40i gets a six-cylinder engine while the xDrive50i is powered by a V8 engine. The xDrive40i gets a slightly higher price increase. It’s priced $1,200 more than the cheapest all-wheel-drive model, the xDrive35i. But compared with the even cheaper rear-wheel-drive sDrive35i, the difference is $1,500.
On the other hand, the xDrive50i saw a higher price increase from the previous model. The difference is $1,700. Don’t fret, though, since the two new models are more powerful and perform better than their predecessors. That more than makes up for the price increase.
The 2019 xDrive40i makes an extra 35 horsepower, pushing the total to 335 ponies. It also produces 330 pound-feet of torque. The xDrive50i, meanwhile, gets 456 horses from last year’s 450.
Both models will get ZF’s eight-speed automatic transmission. They’ll also be packed with the xLine specification, which includes Dynamic Damper Control, two 12.3″ screens, adaptive LED headlights, and safety assists such as blind spot detection and frontal collision warning. There’s also the city driving assist system aptly called the City Collision Mitigation.
The xDrive40i and the xDrive50i are both configured for towing. They have the hauling power of a 6,600-pound trailer and there’s an available option of tow hitch rated for 7,200 pounds. There’s another option—an off-road package that includes air suspension and mechanical locking rear differential.
Buyers may also get the performance-oriented M Sport package, remote starting, BMW’s Laserlights with a heated steering wheel, and heated and cooled cupholders.
The 2019 BMW X5 will be available in dealerships starting on November 10 this year.
3 Ways The 2020 BMW 8 Series Convertible Will Amaze Us
X-Tomi Design’s rendering of the 2020 BMW 8 Series Convertible.
The BMW 8 Series is back and it will officially replace the 6 Series. The 8 Series will be revived both in racing and full production forms. A BMW 8 Series Convertible model is expected to follow soon, and X-Tomi Design just came up with a rendering of the car.
1. Exterior
The 8 Series convertible will have a wide and low stance, making it look a lot like the coupe version. The electrically retractable soft top is made from fabric, and it will be the replacement for the roof that’s on the coupe model. The majority of the body will be like the coupe version—from the new kidney grille design on the nose down to the long wheelbase and set of air vents placed behind the front wheels.
The rear end will set the convertible apart from the coupe though because its trunk lid has to accommodate the retractable top.
2. Interior
The rendering shows that the interior of the convertible will be similar to the coupe version, too. That means high-end materials such as leather and aluminum are going to be used on the dashboard, the side panels, and the seats. The horizontal orientation of the Bimmer’s new dashboard and center console will be an added bonus since a lot of users have come to love the layout.
The screen behind the dashboard will be measured 12.3 inches while the digital infotainment screen is a 10.25-inch display on the center console. There will be a bevy of technology such as safety standards and more advanced systems like the gesture control.
3. Powertrain
The convertible will carry over the coupe’s twin-turbo 4.4-liter V-8, which is also known as the N63. The unit can produce 523 horsepower and 553 pound-feet of torque in the coupe. The output for the convertible will likely be the same.
The engine of the 8 Series can reach 60 mph from a complete standstill in just 3.6 seconds while its top speed is 155 mph.
3 Cool Things We Like About The New 2019 BMW 8 Series
There have been rumors for years that a new BMW 8 Series is in the works but it’s not until we got to see one that we truly believed them. BMW is in dire need of something to throw against the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, which is already far ahead of the 7 Series.
The 8 Series will sit on top of the BMW hierarchy, making it a worthy opponent of the S-Class. As such, it comes packed with amazing technology and state-of-the-art equipment.
Laser Light Tech
It’s the thinnest headlights ever seen on a car. The Laser Light Tech was first developed with the i8 Concept and then introduced in the 7 Series and the new X5. It looks like the new 8 Series is having it, too.
Why are we surprised? What set these pair of headlights apart are blue accents inside and the fact that each lamp has the chinkiest eyes. The Laser Light Tech uses 30 percent less energy, but it allows the light to shine 10 times brighter compared to LED lights. It can illuminate up to 600 meters of the road ahead.
Glass Gear Lever
Owing to the fact that the interior of the new 8 Series is on top of its class, BMW added another element that would truly amaze buyers. The glass gear lever for the eight-speed Steptronic Sport transmission has an illuminated number 8 inside the glass casing, adding an exclusivity to an interior that already screams money. You could also add the glass casing on the iDrive controller, the start/stop button, and the volume knob.
Digital Key
BMW promised drivers that they would not have to carry a physical key every time they have to open and start the car. They made true to their promise. The Digital Key was revealed during the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.
There’s an installed BMW Connected app for smartphones. The app would communicate with the car via NFC (near-field communication). The driver would be able to lock, unlock, and even start the car (when placing the phone on a charging pad).
3 Important Things To Know About The All-New BMW 8 Series Coupe
Finally, the Mercedes-Benz S-Class will have a tough competition ahead. The all-new BMW 8 Series coupe is expected to be released in the UK in November this year.
Exterior
The BMW 8 Series is a sporty vehicle, but it has a flatter nose than what was shown in the concept car and the grilles are also smaller. The fender vents and the corner air intakes, which we expect to be a little more on the aggressive side, have been toned down, design-wise.
Moving to the side, the side skirts are more aggressive but it doesn’t scream sports car to us. The mirrors and the headlights are bigger, but the taillights lost the 3D effect we have come to expect.
On the rear end, the new fascia contributed to that aggressive styling. Other notable changes are the revised license plates recess, the more attractive diffuser-like element, and the rectangular exhaust outlets.
Interior
The cabin is as sporty as it can get. The tri-color design adds a touch of elegance to an already stunning BMW 8 Series. The instrument cluster is not the same as the one in the concept, seeing as it has more buttons than necessary. The seat design looks comfortable and will give the Mercedes a run for its money.
The BMW 8 Series uses a pair of digital displays to dominate its interior. The instrument cluster is 12.3 inches while the infotainment display that hovers over the center stack is 10.25 inches. The coupe comes standard with cruise control (with braking function), Collision and Pedestrian Warning with City Braking, Head-Up display to go with Active Park Distance Control, and Microsoft Office integration.
Powertrain
The BMW 8 Series coupe will come with 840d, a diesel-powered, inline-six toting powerhouse or the M850i with a 523-horsepower V-8. The M850i should be able to hit 62 mph in 3.7 seconds, thanks to its capacity to produce 553 pound-feet of torque. On the other hand, the diesel engine could produce 320 horsepower and 501 pound-feet of torque. It can hit 62 mph in 4.9 seconds.
