Tag Archives: BMW
7 Things About the AC Schnitzer BMW i8
AC Schnitzer just introduced its customization kit for the BMW i8. The package offers new exterior and interior kit for the hybrid car. The additions make the auto more aggressive-looking.
Check out the key features of the new AC Schnitzer package for the BMW i8 here:
1. Exterior
AC Schnitzer only released information about its body kit for the BMW i8. The exterior of the car is enhanced by new bumpers plus set of 20-inch front wheels and 21-inch rear wheels wrapped in 245/35 R21 and 285/30 R21 tires, respectively.
In addition, the specialist offers new wings on the bumper, side skirts, door handles, mirror caps, fixed rear wing on the boot lid and rear diffuser. The parts mentioned all make use of light carbon fiber materials.
2. Interior
AC Schitzer is yet to reveal photos of the car’s interior. However, the specialist confirmed that it will have aluminum pedals and foot rest plus velour floor mats.
3. Power Unit
No changes were made in the hybrid power unit of the BMW i8. Therefore, the car’s combination of AC Electric Motor, 7.1 kWh high voltage lithium-ion battery and BMW TwinPower Turbo 3-cylinder engine retains its 357 hp 420 lb-ft of torque output. It’s acceleration from zero to 60 mph can be achieved in just 4.2 seconds.
4. Pricing
No pricing details were released yet by AC Schnitzer of its body and interior kit for the BMW i8. It should be noted though that the starting price of the car is at $140,700. So be prepared to dish out more than the said amount if you go for the cosmetic upgrades.
5. Debut
The custom BMW i8 of AC Schnitzer will be showcased at the 2017 Geneva Motor Show next week.
6. Photos
Check out the photos of the AC Schnitzer BMW i8 which were provided via Motor1.com in the gallery below:
7. Video
Here is a clip showing a quick preview of the vehicle’s exterior:
5 Things To Know About The 2017 BMW X7
We know that BMW wants to be at the top of everything, but we didn’t know they would eventually dominate the hauler segment of vehicles. The X7 is one such example. Although the production hasn’t started yet, it will surely come out ready once BMW is done with it.
While it’s likely that the X7 will debut for the 2019 model year, that doesn’t stop us from speculating what’s underneath that camouflage we saw in the spy photos. The BMW X7 was caught testing again recently under the cold weather conditions of Sweden.
1. Exterior
The X7 will be particularly similar to the X5, though it’s a bit bulkier, has a more imposing appearance, and has a proper third-row seating. It also has a more muscular looks, thanks to its larger wheels and massive kidney grille. The headlight design we saw on the X7 is the same one on the brand new 7 series. As for the bumper, it will be similar to the company’s design language.
2. Interior
Combine the X7 and the new 7 series, and you’ll get an idea of how the X7’s interior will look like. Alcantara leather will cover most of the interior that’s not made from wood or metal. It uses state-of-the-art technology, including BMW’s iDrive 5.0 touch display and gesture control. It also has the Touch Command Tablet, which will allow passengers to control HVAC temperatures, infotainment, and the audio system.
The third-row seat will be optional because buyers can choose to have more legroom and a larger trunk.
3. Drivetrain
Under the hood, nothing is so special with the X7. It will use BMW’s 3.0-liter inline-six and 4.4-liter V-8. The turbo can produce 320 horsies and 330 pound-feet of torque while hitting 60 mph in less than six seconds. It has a top speed of 130 mph.
The V-8 will be able to churn out 445 horsepower and 480 pound-feet of torque to reach 60 mph in less than five seconds.
4. Prices
The X7 will probably be the most expensive of the X series. Although there is no official word yet, we’re assuming that this will retail with a starting price of $70,000. The range-topping model should exceed the $85,000 mark.
5. Competition
As for competition, the X7 is looking to battle it out with the Mercedes-Benz GLS and the Cadillac Escalade.
5 Things To Watch Out For In The New 2018 BMW 4-Series
It’s that time of the year again when BMW gives its range of luxury vehicles a little refresh and update. This time, it’s for the 4-Series, which included the 4-Series, the 4-Series convertible, the 4-Series Gran Coupe, and the high-performance M4 and M4 convertible.
The changes will be introduced for the upcoming 4-Series to be released next year. Don’t expect the changes to be drastic, though, because they are nothing but cosmetic updates. These changes follow the same path trudged on by the 3-Series.
1. Exterior
From the outside, the changes are quote noticeable, especially if you are looking at those new LED headlights and foglights. There’s also the revised bumpers that give more credence to new available colors such as Snapper Rocks Blue and Sunset Orange.
2. Interior
Inside, the changes will depend on the trim you will purchase. The updates, we’re sure, are minimal, though the higher-end trim models may receive a bulk of the upgrades. On the instrument panel, you’ll find double stitching, which appears to be standard across the range. The infotainment system’s menu has also been revised.
3. Powertrain
There is no confirmation yet about the powertrains that will be made available in the United States. Don’t expect any major change, though, because BMW has just added new engines to the 4-Series for the 2017 model-year.
This means we can expect to see a turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-4 in the base 430i. This can produce 248 horsepower. Next on the line is the turbocharged 3,0-liter inline-6 that can produce 320 horsepower. The option falls between a six-speed manual or an eight-speed automatic transmission. You may also choose between an all-wheel or a four-wheel drive.
4. Rivals
In terms of competition, the luxury M4 will go head-to-head with the Cadillac ATS-V Coupe and the Mercedes-AMG C63 Coupe.
5. Pricing
There are no details about the pricing yet, but speculations suggest that the 4-Series could go up as high as $43,145.
4 Awesome Options You Have For The 2017 BMW 5-Series
The 2017 BMW 5-Series. (Photo Source: BMW Blog)
There will be four variants for the 2017 BMW 5-Series that will come out in 2017. The remainder will be arriving in 2018. That being said, you have four prices to choose from if you want to get your hands on the 5-Series.
Here are four options you can choose from in the BMW 5-Series range:
1. 2017 BMW 530i
The base variant of the 5-Series is the rear-wheel-drive 530i. You can get it for $51,200, and comes with a 2.0-liter turbocharged I4 engine that can produce 248 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. The engine is paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission. If you want some winter season features, you can get it all on this base model for $53,500.
2. 2017 BMW 540i
If you have more bucks, you can get the 2017 BMW 540i, which sells for $56,450. It has a 3.0-liter I6 engine that can churn out 335 horsepower and 332 pound-feet of torque. It can go 0 to 60 mph in 1.1 seconds less than the 530i’s 6-second time. Again, the 8-speed automatic transmission will come as standard. If you want it with an all-wheel-drive, you will be charged $58,750.
3. 2017 BMW 530e iPerformance
Thinking of going environmental-friendly? You may want to check out the plug-in hybrid, which offers 15 miles of all-electric range. The battery is tucked under the car’s rear seat. There are no pricing details yet for the 530e iPerformance. Don’t expect it to be as cheap as the other variants, though, because all those electrification will certainly make this one of the most expensive vehicles in the lineup.
4. 2017 BMW M550i xDrive
Until the M5 makes its debut, the M550i xDrive is all you have for the highest-performing 5-Series in BMW’s lineup now. Under the hood, you can find a 4.4-liter, twin-turbocharged V-8 that produces 450 horsepower and 480 pound-feet of torque. It can get to 60 mph in just 4 seconds while the peak torque is at 1,800 rpm. There is also no pricing detail released for the M550i xDrive because it will come out as a 2018 model.
4 Things You Need To Know About The 2018 BMW M550i xDrive
For now, this is the best of the best of BMW’s M series. That is, of course, until the German brand decides to wow us in the future with an innovative tech in its sea of executive sport machines.
1. Power
According to a source, the 2018 BMW M550i xDrive is boasting of its twin-turbo 4.4-liter V-8 engine that can produce 456 horsepower and 480 lb-ft of torque. If you’re thinking where to put the M550i xDrive in terms of BMW language, it will fall somewhere between the E39 M5 and the E60. The E39 has a naturally-aspirated V-8 while the E60 packs a nutty V-10.
Compared to the outgoing M5, this one’s 456 horsepower is 104 horsies less, so there is plenty for BMW to improve on the next M5.
2. Driving Experience
Fans of the original M5 will be happy to know that the German auto brand remained true to its core—the 2018 BMW M550i xDrive is made for executives who want a sporty but professional-looking sedan to drive them to and from the office regardless of the weather. This one will be knocking on your door as an all-wheel drive, similar to the Alpina’s B6 xDrive Gran Coupe.
It can go 0 to 60 mph in just 4 seconds, which is merely 0.3 seconds short of the Alpina’s capacity. It paired its V-8 engine with a paddle-shifted, eight-speed automatic transmission.
3. Exterior
The 2018 BMW M550i xDrive packs in two pairs of 19-inch M wheels finished in matte Cerium Grey metallic. An option of going 20 inches in the same color is being offered. The dark finish was done to highlight the blue brake calipers, as well as the rest of the M550i’s looks—decklid spoiler, mirror caps, grille frame, fender vents, and M Performance front intake accents.
4. Interior
Inside the M550i, you’ll find seats upholstered in black Dakota leather (nappa will be an option), as well as M steering wheel, M floor mats, and aluminum pedals. There is a slew of driver aids and connectivity tech.
No price has been released yet for the 2018 BMW M550i xDrive, so stay tuned for more details.
Top 3 Things To Know About The BMW M2 Convertible By Dahler
Dähler Design and Technik is offering to BMW fans what is not being offered by the M2. It’s an open-top version of the BMW M2 coupe!
According to source, the German company decided against manufacturing an open-top convertible for the BMW M2 because the engineers thought there was no way it can deliver a good enough droptop. Luckily, aftermarket specialist Dahler thought to make it their personal mission to deliver an open-top convertible for the M2.
1. It is Every Inch A BMW
The Dahler project is obviously made by a professional, and someone who knows how to deal with a BMW. It’s still every inch a BMW because it doesn’t even feel like someone else other than the Bavarian company handled the car. Dahler didn’t say how they converted the vehicle, though we are led to believe that they based it on the 2 Series Convertible rather than the M2 coupe.
2. Its Stage 1 Delivers 402 Horsepower
Dahler is beating out the M2 coupe, which is pretty powerful with its capacity to produce 365 horsepower (272 kilowatts) and 343 pound-feet of torque (465 Newton-meters). It can even be boosted to 369 pound-feet of torque (500 Nm).
But Dahler’s M2 Convertible has two stages: Stage 1 will bring the turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-6 to produce 402 horsepower (300 kW) and 426 lb-ft of torque (580 Nm). This will enable the M2 Convertible to reach 62 mph (100 kph) in just four seconds. The maximum speed is 180 mph (290 km/h).
3. Its Stage 2 Produces 419 Horsepower
If you are not contented with what Stage 1 has to offer, you can go up another notch with Dahler’s Stage 2 program for the M2 Convertible. Stage 2 can deliver up to 419 horsepower (313 kW) and 450 lb-ft of torque (610 Nm). This has a top speed of 186 mph (300 km/h).
Photos of the BMW M2 Convertible
Check out the gallery below for more images of the BMW M2 made into a convertible by Dahler:
3 Things To Know About The 2017 BMW X5 Plug-In Hybrid
The 2017 BMW X5 Plug-In Hybrid is a killer on the road, if truth be told. The kidney grilles, sleek motifs, and elegant interior all scream BMW—a car that has always been worthy to take on any kind of highway. And the X5 is exactly like that.
According to a test, like all X models, the X5 was built to conquer the highway while highlighting the features that make it undoubtedly a sports car.
Powertrain
The X5 features an electric motor and internal combustion. The internal combustion features a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder that can produce 240 horsepower. Once paired with an electric motor, it can add another 111 horses to the already powerful 240. These are all mated with an 8-speed Steptronic automatic gearbox.
As with any hybrid vehicle, the two units just don’t add up and bring 352 horsepower. Instead, they average at about 308 horsepower, which is still a welcome development compared to other models in the same segment. It can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in just 6.5 seconds. It has a top speed of 130 mph.
Earth-Friendly
If you’ll use the full electric, you can go 16 miles on a full charge. But once combined with the four-cylinder engine, you can reach the 56 MPG EPA estimated by BMW. Without the battery (if it is discharged), the motor engine can reach a decent 24 MPG with the four-cylinder engine.
The lightweight material used on the 2017 BMW X5 Plug-In Hybrid is able to save power and fuel, too. The X5 now has a lighter and stronger independent suspension that promised a quiet ride for the Pirelli 20-inch alloy wheels.
Price
The 2017 BMW X5 Plug-In Hybrid has a base price of $62,100. The high-end model will cost $72,420 because of the additional features inside the cabin. The price is justifiable enough because the car will also come packed with a host of safety features such as air bag development, four-wheel ABS brakes, stability and traction controls, and other BMW items.
2018 Porsche 718 Boxster GTS vs 2018 Audi TT-RS vs BMW M2
The redesigned Porsche Boxster, which was first introduced back in 2012, took styling cues from the 911 and the 918 Spyder. Aside from that, this model also has a more rigid chassis and a revised engine lineup that includes smaller, turbocharged flat-four powerplants.
The spy shots did not reveal much of the Porsche 718 Boxster GTS design but if we are basing our judgment on the previous model, we can expect that the car would have a more aggressive front fascia with larger air intakes below the headlamps. A wider lower grille can also be expected because it would work on improving the roadster’s aerodynamics.
We didn’t see the new bumper yet but if the spoiler lip is any indication, it looks like Porsche is getting ready to treat the car to a better downforce. All of these should be finished with dark matte gray color.
Audi TT-RS
The Audi TT-RS made use of the company’s latest styling language, which has more angular lines and sportier stance compared to the previous design. The TT-RS definitely isn’t as sleek as the Boxster GTS, but fans of a massive “singleframe” grille and big bumper intakes should be happy to note these on the Audi. The race-inspired look of the TT-RS is menacing, to say the least, and that’s also thanks to the carbon-look mirror caps, massive spoiler, and muscular wheel arches.
BMW M2
The M2 is bigger than the Boxster since it is essentially a smaller M4 with better proportions. It has a more compact size, though, than the M4. This makes the coupe look lighter, faster, and easier to handle. The M2 is sportier than the TT-RS, but it still might fail in comparison to the Boxster GTS because the Porsche has that race-car layout of putting the engine in the rear. It’s all a matter of taste, really. Plus, we haven’t seen the convertible model of the M2 yet.
2018 BMW 6 Series Convertible vs Mercedes SL Roadster
Let’s get this out of the way: the 2018 BMW 6 Series Convertible has a whopping price tag of $85,100, which comes very far from the likes of the Mercedes E-Class Cabriolet and the Audi S5 Cabriolet. Because of that, we’re pitting this against the SL Roadster, which is very much its competitor, price-wise in particular.
Based on the spy shots, the 6 Series is sporting a new fascia, grille, and headlights. The front end will have slightly wider kidney grilles, sleeker and slimmer headlights, and some other minor restyling. There could also be some changes in the overall bodyline.
There are two different trims available for the US market. The 640i and the 640i xDrive will get the 3.0-liter, twin-turbo, inline-6 while the 650i and the 650i xDrive will get the 4.4-liter, twin-turbo V-8. The 3.0-liter should produce around 350 horsepower and 340 pound-feet of torque while the 4.4-liter should cough up at least 475 horsepower and 500 pound-feet of torque.
Each engine will be paired with a “sport” automatic transmission while xDrive models get an all-wheel drive. Non-xDrive models get a rear-wheel drive.
Mercedes SL Roadster
If you’re planning to spend $90,000 on a car and don’t really need a backseat, then you can check out the Mercedes SL Roadster. It’s an evil little car in terms of sportiness, power, and speed. Currently, it’s available in four trim levels—the entry-level SL450 at $86,950 can deliver 362 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque thanks to the 3.0-liter V-6.
On the other end is the AMG SL63 and SL65, which are priced at $151,250 and $219,850, respectively. The SL63 makes use of a 5.5-liter V-8 machine that comes up with 577 horsepower and 664 pound-feet of torque. The SL65 has a 6.0-liter engine that produces 621 horsepower and 738 pound-feet of torque.
The 2017 Mercedes SL Roadster has many improvements on the exterior and interior, but none is better than what it changed outside. This model now has a power-folding hardtop that has a speed of 40kph or 25mph. It has a redesigned front and rear fascia, with the former coming with large air inlets under the new LED headlights, chrome or carbon fiber accents. You can choose from either a 10-spoke or five-spoke designs for the 19-inch wheels. Aside from the existing color palettes, the 2017 model welcomed two more colors—Brilliant Blue and Selenite Grey Magno.
Three Things To Learn About The 2018 BMW X3
If you’re a fan of the current BMW X3, you’ll be happy to know that the same snappy performance, elegant interior, and reasonable pricing are packaged in an all-new next-generation 2018 BMW X3.
Spotted testing once again, the new X3 is likely to arrive in showrooms starting next year as a 2018 model. Aside from what we enjoy with the current model, the German automaker added other elements to make this the perfect crossover SUV. What does anyone want in an SUV? Power, aerodynamics and cargo space. All of these you can find in this next-gen X3.
1. More Interior Space
Crossover SUVs have suffered tremendously for its failure to offer adequate interior and cargo space like it’s bigger brother, the SUV. It’s understandable why since the crossover wasn’t made to rival the SUV. It was just made to be bigger than the sedan, but significantly smaller than the SUV. The focus was on ground clearance than interior space. But thanks to a more efficient engineering and the use of lightweight materials, the 2018 X3 is equipped with a larger interior.
That is thanks largely to the adoption of the CLAR modular platform that was first seen in the 2016 7-Series. The SUV version will be debuting in the X3, and will likely appear in the new X5 and X7 as well.
2. Diesel and Plug-in Hybrid Options Available
For those of you waiting for a battery-powered electric X3, this isn’t the year for that, unfortunately. Under the hood of this new X3, you’ll find almost the same engine as that of the latest 3-Series. This means that the crossover is offering BMW’s new B58 modular 3.0-liter inline-6 and inline-4 units, including diesel and plug-in hybrid options. The battery-powered electric X3 will arrive towards the end of the decade.
3. Performance Variants are Coming
There will be an X3 M40i and X3 M, the latter was apparently spied in prototype form. Its engine will be coming from the M3/M4 line which produces 425 horsepower. These performance variants will have an aggressive body form that is also wider than the current X3.
