Gray-awd-sunroof-leather Heated Memory Seats-wagon-new Tires on 2040-cars

Auto blog

2013 BMW 135is Coupe

BMW's Best 1 Series Gives Back What You Put In
Every once in a while, I find myself, despite my solitary leanings and inherent modesty, working out in some kind of class setting. The tone and tenor of these classes ranges wildly - from the quiet, follow-the-leader variety, to those with a kind of Cult of Personality man or woman calling the shots, usually with idiom-laden shouting and theatrical hair. Despite their personal variation and range of professional effectiveness, there's one common concept that most instructors bring up at some point: working with intention.
The idea, as it relates to physical fitness, is that focusing your brain on the movement at hand ­- the rate of your own breathing, or the muscle groups being worked for instance - helps to perform the act efficiently and correctly. Having spent a happy majority of the last decade in an exercise-free near-debauch, I was a bit surprised to find out that this kind of mental game really works pretty well.

30th Anniversary BMW M5 information leaks out

BMW hasn't kept its 30th Anniversary M5 a very big secret. It even hinted that "a surprise" was coming while celebrating its Autobahn-storming sedan's 30th birthday. However, what exactly was on the way has been a mystery... until now. The folks over at Bimmerpost have found some leaked details about the new model, and it's definitely more than just some badges special paint.
The biggest upgrade for the M5 is that power allegedly increases to 592 horsepower (600PS) and 516 pound-feet of torque (700 Newton-meters). That is a 32-hp and 14-lb-ft increase over the standard M5 and 17 ponies more than models with the Competition Package. The forum claims that all of the cars come with a dual-clutch gearbox, even in the US.
Styling also sees an upgrade with BMW Individual Frozen Dark Silver Metallic exterior paint, special 20-inch wheels, dark chrome trim and 30th Anniversary badges. The interior mixes Merino leather and Alcantara upholstery with dark aluminum trim and more celebratory badges.

BMW looking to fix i3 acceleration problem uncovered by Consumer Reports

The BMW i3 has been hailed in some quarters as the future of electric mobility, what with its innovative carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic body and commitment to sustainable materials wherever possible. The modernist little hatch is even available with a 650cc two-cylinder gas engine with 34 horsepower to act as a range-extender for those who want it. However, that optional engine might have a drawback - at least for the moment.
Consumer Reports brought the problem to light when one of its drivers was behind the wheel of an i3 using the range-extender. When the driver attempted to pass another vehicle on a rolling, two-lane road, the BMW suddenly had no power to accelerate - a scary situation. CR started examining the car and found something pretty shocking: After driving at a constant speed for a while without any regenerative braking in range-extended mode, acceleration to 60 miles per hour plummeted from about 9 seconds normally to a staggering 27 to 40 seconds in their testing.
A BMW spokesperson told CR that it knows about the problem and has a fix coming next spring that also works on current models. The upgrade includes a state of charge indicator, a warning about loss of power and uses the car's navigation to boost the battery before driving on rolling terrain. It is not clear if the severe power deficiency will also eventually result in a recall.