Tag Archives: BMW
Of Course, Nobody Likes The Smaller Trunk of the New BMW X5
There’s nothing more disheartening than finding out that the new 2019 BMW X5 you have been waiting for has a smaller trunk despite it being slightly bigger and having more legroom for passengers. Oh wait, perhaps that is the problem. When BMW decided to give more room for rear passengers, it ironically (and perhaps, questionably) decided that the best way to give that space is to take it from the cargo space.
The new X5 is two inches longer and more than two inches wider than the previous generation, but the cargo capacity has somewhat been diminished to just 31.7 cubic feet with the rear seats up. That’s down from the predecessor’s 35.8 cubic feet capacity. Let’s do that math: that’s four cubic feet less or 11 percent less than the old X5.
There is no information about the cargo space when the rear seats are folded flat, but you can expect that number to drop, too, given that the overall cargo capacity shrunk. The outgoing BMW X5 can carry 76.7 cubic feet of luggage, which will drop to less than 70 cubic feet in the new X5.
How did this happen? There’s no exact explanation and BMW hasn’t offered one just yet. The official specifications from the German automaker said that the new-generation X5’s gasoline variant would have 31.7 cubic feet and this one has no battery or hybrid system that need space. And even if there’s a hybrid or EV variant, the systems should not take that much space since batteries are usually stored beneath the floor.
It looks like BMW simply made the X5’s trunk smaller to differentiate it from the upcoming X7, which is designed to have the largest trunk yet in the German brand’s lineup. If that’s the plan, then BMW has just lost its edge over the Audi Q7 and the Mercedes-Benz GLE, both of which the current generation X5 has trumped in terms of cargo space.
The BMW iNext Is A Crossover And We Are Not Surprised
The BMW iNext is set to debut as a concept vehicle later this year, but we already received a teaser photo courtesy of the German automaker. There’s so much to look for, including the fact that the iNext is going to become a crossover rather than a sedan. No surprise there, huh?
Many expected the iNext to be a sedan because it will be inspired by the Vision Next 100 concept, but there is a big demand for SUVs in the auto industry, particularly in China, now the world’s largest market for automobiles. In 2017, the market share of SUVs in China exceeded that of sedans. So, it only makes sense for BMW to slot the iNext above the iX3 and have it sized the same as the X5. For comparison, the iX3 is just an X3 with mild design modifications.
Similar to the iX3, the iNext will feature BMW’s fifth-generation eDrive technology. This drivetrain separates the electric motor, transmission, and power electronics, and features a more powerful set of batteries. The eDrive technology in the iX3 can produce 270 horsepower and can go 400 kilometers (about 249 miles) in the iX3 concept. Since the iNext is slotted above the iX3, we can expect a more powerful iteration of the eDrive powertrain.
The iNext is expected to be the German automaker’s first vehicle to feature autonomous driving technology. BMW is working with a number of big companies such as Mobileye, Intel, Continental, and Magna.
The iNext will start production sometimes in 2021, and is set to become the brand’s flagship electric vehicle. The much-discussed and highly-anticipated iNext should be catching the attention of SUV lovers worldwide, especially those who have made the transition to electrically-charged vehicles. It should be competing with Tesla’s Model X, which is also an electric SUV.
New BMW X5 To Feature The Latest iDrive Infotainment System
BMW has confirmed that a new model under its X series will become available by the end of this year. The BMW X5 will also be the best platform for the German brand to feature its latest iDrive infotainment system.
The new fourth-generation BMW X5 will be revealed most likely at the Paris Motor Show in September, and might become available in dealerships around the end of 2018. This information was confirmed by BMW head Harald Kruger during BMW’s 98th annual general meeting. This will be the fourth X model to arrive this year, after the X2, the new X3, and the X4.
This new SUV will be the first vehicle to feature BMW’s latest iDrive infotainment technology, which is called the BMW Operating System 7.0. The same system will also be featured in the upcoming 3 Series saloon and the flagship X7.
The spy shots revealed a lot about the evolutionary design language that BMW has used for the X5. As a rival to the Range Rover Sport and Porsche Cayenne, the photos showed the company’s latest hexagonal lighting signature even when it is completely covered in camouflage.
CLAR Platform
The current X5, which was introduced in 2013, is still using the same platform as the second-generation X5 from 2006. The biggest challenge then is finding a suitable platform for the new X5, and this could be the CLAR platform, which has already transitioned from the saloon to the SUV in the latest X3. On the latter, the platform has already shed off 55kg off the kerbweight. The larger X5 will have more saving in terms of weight and fuel efficiency.
The new X5 will follow the 5 Series’ four- and six-cylinder petrol and diesel engines.
SUV sales for BMW grew rapidly in the past decade as this segment continues to be the main focus of customers. The company hopes to build on that success when the X5 is revealed later this year.
BMW X8 Flagship SUV Focuses On Rear-Seat Comfort
BMW X8 render. (Photo Source: BMWBlog)
New details about BMW’s flagship SUV, to be called the X8, are emerging. Reports suggested that the BMW X8 will focus on giving rear-seat passengers a comfortable experience.
By all appearances before, the X8 didn’t look like it would go the coupe-SUV route. What was understood before was that BMW would focus on maximizing the rear seats for the comfort of the passengers, especially the Chinese consumers which the X8 will be targeting.
But an Autocar report published on Friday said that the X8 will feature a sloping roofline and a more coupe-like design like the smaller X4 and X6. The BMW is planning to position the X8 flagship as a rival to the Range Rover and to the Bentley Bentayga and the Rolls-Royce Cullinan if the X8 will tick off every box on the options list.
Now, in addition to the rear passengers’ extra space, the X8 will still feature a sloping coupe-like roofline that for most cars won’t be able to accommodate the needed extra space in the rear side. The X8, however, will be employing modern architectural and engineering technology to make this possible even with a slanted roofline.
The platform to be used will prove to be difficult for the German automaker, though reports indicated that the engineers will likely take elements from BMW’s CLAR modular platform and the Rolls-Royce Cullinan’s aluminum architecture.
This means that the 2020 BMW X8 will only be a four- or five-seater to achieve a comfortable experience for rear passengers. The upcoming BMW X7, which the X7 iPerformance concept previewed, will boast three rows of seats for a total of seven seats.
BMW will trademark the X8 to numerous markets around the world, including in Asia and most particularly in China. A final decision on how the X8 will look like will be made later this year before the SUV is released in 2020.
5 Things To Know About The 2020 BMW 7 Series
The latest sixth generation of the BMW 7 Series was revealed three years ago in 2015. Now thanks to these spy photos that revealed a fresh exterior and a revamped interior space, it looks like BMW is finally going to come out with the seventh generation of the 7 Series.
Exterior
There’s not much that happened up front but overall, the 7 Series has a revamped exterior that keeps the style fresh for new customers. It has updated headlight housings that are slimmer than the current generation and it has a reshaped hood design and new trunk lid. As revealed by the tweaked front end, this looks like an M model and will most likely include a larger grille, revised intakes, active air flaps in the kidney grille, and reshaped taillight housings.
Interior
The new 7 Series will have more or less the same interior design as before, which is characterized by horizontal lines and high-end materials throughout the cabin. The seats are going to be upholstered in Nappa leather and there’s a new three-spoke multifunction steering wheel design. On the dashboard, you’ll find a 10-inch display screen and a few knobs below. The most notable change is the new all-digital gauge cluster that finally replaces the physical needles and driver’s information screen on the current model.
Drivetrain and Performance
The 2020 BMW 7 Series will carry over the same engines as before. The base model is a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder machine which currently produces 320 horsepower. This will be offered in RWD and xDrive AWD. Next is twin-turbo 4.4-liter V-8 engine that makes 445 horses, though it may be upgraded with an additional 20 ponies for the 2020 version. RWD will be standard and AWD is extra.
The hybrid model, known also as the 740e, has a plug-in powertrain that produces 322 horsepower. The power comes from a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder and electric motor combo. The upgraded version could produce as much as 390 ponies. This will be paired only with AWD.
The top-of-the-line model is a turbocharged 6.6-liter V-12 with the standard AWD. The current output is 601 horsepower, though we expect a few extra ponies and better fuel rating.
Prices
The 2020 7 Series should stay within the same price range. The current model has a starting price of $83,650. The top-of-the-line M760i is selling for $156,700.
Competition
Current competitions are the Audi A8 and the Mercedes-Benz S-Class.
Photos
Check out the photos of the 2019 BMW 7 Series below, which were provided by Autoguide:
3 All-Important Rumors About The 2020 BMW M3
The BMW M3 has been around since 1985 and has always been the go-to car for its reliability and its style. The latest F80 generation dropped in 2014, but we’re now looking at the next-generation M3, dubbed internally as the G80.
Exterior
Based on the recent spy shots of the car from TopSpeed, this compact four-door screams sports machine from the first view, thanks to its wide and low stance, aggressive aero bits, and larger intakes in the front fascia. At first, the camouflaged version looked a lot like the standard 3 Series but a closer inspection revealed the transformation from a luxury sedan to a performance car.
Finishing off that aggressive and sporty look are the flared fenders, the pronounced rear trunk spoiler, and wheels that measure between 19 and 20 inches in diameter.
Interior
The 2020 BMW M3’s cabin is almost the same layout and design as the current model. It has a lot of space, enough for a total of five passengers. The dashboard will continue to have physical buttons used to control the car’s features and a widescreen will be mounted on top of the dash.
The steering wheel has a three-spoke design with loads of buttons and switches to control the car’s main features. One of the biggest upgrades, however, would be the gauge cluster behind the steering wheel. It will all be digital, something that both Audi and Mercedes have been planning for quite a while.
Performance
The 2020 BMW M3 will have a new powertrain package—a standard M-tuned twin-turbo 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder. Known also as the S58B30, it’s the same engine used in the M4. It could produce as much as 500 horsepower, the lowest estimate might peak at 465 horsepower and 450 pound-feet of torque.
The engine will be paired with an eight-speed automatic, replacing the current dual-clutch seven-speed unit. We could also see BMW offering the new M3 in RWD and manual gearbox.
What We Can Derive From New BMW X5 Spy Shots
Engineers at the BMW plant in Munich have been very busy these past weeks. Spy photographers have been capturing photos of new models such as the upcoming BMW 8 Series coupe and convertible, the BMW X7, and finally, the BMW X5. For the last one, we’ve got spy photos both of the exterior and the interior.
Based on the spy shots of AutoBlog, the BMW X5 looks like a shorter version of the X7. That should not come as a surprise since this is essentially what the German automaker planned for the X5 because it is being marketed for an audience that would love the X7 but with shorter wheelbase. Then again, the X5 is not even the shortest wheelbase the BMW is using as a platform. The smaller BMW X3 is taking after the same design and style as the X7 and the X5.
Basically, what we’re going to see on the BMW X5 is about the same thing as what we saw on the X7. They have the same headlights, the same taillights, and the same bucktooth grille that has even avid fans walking away from the SUV.
The overall design was already previewed on the concept unveiled by the German automaker in various motor shows. It was recently seen on the X3, so there’s little mystery on what the X5 will probably look like. This is an evolution of the same basic design that BMW has been using for more than a decade.
The X5’s interior is almost an exact copy of what we recently saw on the X7. It’s quite different from the cabin designs that BMW has fitted most of its models, but since we haven’t seen it in person yet, we’ll reserve our comments on that. What we can see is that there’s a new shifter design and majority of the buttons, including the push-button start, have been moved from the dashboard to the console.
The reveal will probably be sometime later this year.
BMW And Mercedes-Benz Pull Out Of Detroit Auto Show
Six weeks ago, Mercedes-Benz announced that it won’t be a part of the 2019 Detroit Auto Show. BMW is following suit with an announcement mirroring Mercedes’ sentiments.
The pullout of Europe’s top car brands is pushing the Detroit Auto Dealers Association to contemplate moving the annual January fair to October starting in 2020. The association also wants to recast it as a less expensive show centered primarily on products and technology.
Luxury brands and supercars maker Jaguar, Land Rover, Porsche, and Volvo also did not attend the Detroit show this year. Mazda and Mitsubishi skipped it as well. Aston Martin, Ferrari, Bentley, and Porsche have no display on the show, but have vehicles at The Gallery. Alfa Romeo, Audi, Chrysler, and Dodge all have displays, but did not hold press conferences. Lamborghini revealed the Urus there while Cadillac brought nothing new because its focus is on the New York auto show.
BMW released a statement, explaining why it would skip the trade show next year. “This decision was made as BMW Group is constantly examining our presence at trade-shows and other engagements, while, at the same time, also exploring alternative platforms and formats. The overall goal is to communicate our ideas and plans regarding future mobility in the best way and achieve the greatest possible visibility for our products, technologies and innovations.”
The DADA is looking at moving the event to fall when the weather is more comfortable in Detroit. It also believes that reducing operational costs could lead these major car companies back. The DADA wants to revamp the show by trying to pattern it after the Geneva motor show, where the focus is vehicles and technology. The group will vote about this proposal in mid-April.
When it joined the Detroit show in January, BMW released no new updates on its Rolls Royces, its Minis, and even its motorcycles. This is a good indicator of its plan to backdown from the show in 2019, seeing as it had traditionally showed off its luxurious models.
3 Things To Know About The New BMW 7 Series
When the big twin-kidney grille debuted on the BMW X7 concept, there were a lot of criticisms mainly because the grille lacked the elegance and sophistication that BMW espoused since its birth. And yet, here’s the German company once more, using the same design on the all-new refreshed 7 Series.
Not only that, the kidney grille will, of course, also stay as the grille of choice on the production X7 and probably, the next X5 as well. A series of spy shots from Motor1 showed that the big sedan will sport the same buck-toothed kidney grille found on the X7 concept. The look was exaggerated further because of the slimmer and sleeker headlights on both sides of the grille.
1. Untouched Exterior
If you’re a fan of the current 7 Series, you don’t have to worry because the exterior remained virtually untouched. Everything in the middle is as in the current-generation lineup and the taillights also have the same shape and size as the current model. The only difference is that there will be revised lighting elements under the lenses.
2. High-Tech Instrument Panel
Everything is pretty much the same inside, except if you looked at the instrument panel, which is now sporting a complete flat screen that blends the physical and digital look thanks largely to the removal of the circular trim rings that were used in many BMW instrument screens in the past. It is not clear if the German automaker will follow on this trend for future vehicles.
There’s also a V12 badge inside, which might mean it could be an M760i given the presence of split tailpipes and covered C-pillar badge on the outside.
3. Revealed Later This Year
The production model for the refreshed 7 Series might be revealed no later than the last auto cycle this year or the beginning of next year. It will either be a 2019 or 2020 model.
2019 BMW X7 Pre-production Begins
The pre-production models of the 2019 BMW X7 Sports Activity Vehicles are now being rolled out. The units are being made at the Spartanburg plant of the automaker in South Carolina, USA.
According to BMW Blog, the unveiling of the new BMW X7 is scheduled at the end of 2018. With that said, the auto will bear a 2019 model year.
The X7 is BMW’s largest SUV so far. All we have are the photos of the vehicle’s camouflaged pre-production version. The wrap comes in a crisscrossing black and white striped pattern which completely creates an optical illusion hiding the body lines of the auto. However, the exposed areas indicate that it will not have the same large windows shown in its concept form. Then, the sunroof appears to stretch from the first and second row seats of the unit while the rear takes a separate glass top. The X7’s production version is expected to carry over the same dual kidney chrome radiator grille and thin headlamps found in its concept version unveiled at the 2017 Frankfurt Auto Show in Germany.
The X7 will be assembled on the same facility that produces the X5 and X6 SUVs of BMW. There are no details yet about the unit’s pricing and mechanical specs.
It should be noted though that the auto is still subject to minor changes on its way to its production version. What we have here is merely a pre-production model and it does not reflect the final version of the SUV, which will be rolled out to customers.
When we say “pre-production vehicles”, it means these are products made after their prototypes or development mules, which are preceded by their concept versions. These are subject for thorough testing in order to find faults before the public sale of the new model commences.