2013 128i Used 3l I6 24v Automatic Rear-wheel Drive Coupe Bluetooth on 2040-cars

Auto blog

Recharge Wrap-up: Range-extended EV taxis in London, 2016 Chevy Volt interior two years old

The first Metrocab range-extended EV taxis are operating on the streets of London. The cabs use a 12.2-kWh battery and two 50-kW motors, as well as a 1.0-liter gasoline range extender. Fuel economy is 98 MPGe on the ECE101 cycle, and total driving range is over 348 miles before needing to charge or refuel. Cabbies can expect to save GBP20 to GBP40 (about $30 to $60) per day on average. "The cash savings on fuel are significant, the ride and comfort outstanding, and my first customers are thrilled with the new cab," says the first operator of the new EV taxi, Preston Morris. "With its air suspension providing unrivaled comfort, panoramic glass roof for views of the city and silent powertrain, what's not to like?" Read more in the press release below. Chevrolet has had the interior design of the 2016 Volt finished for two years already, according to GM interior designer John McDougall. Beginning around 2010, GM received sketches from designers worldwide before narrowing it down to a handful of designs. Then the top three choices were molded from clay. The chosen theme was then refined for up to 18 months. "Every little thing you can imagine goes into that," says McDougall. "The glare angle from the windows, the placement of the controls, the placement of the seat. You have to create something that's beautiful and functional." Read more at GM Authority and at Inside EVs. More details have emerged about the Second Life Batteries Alliance. Vattenfall has announced a research project in partnership with BMW and Bosch to use retired EV batteries for stationary, grid-connected energy storage in Hamburg, Germany. Over 100 lithium-ion batteries from BMW i3 and ActiveE vehicles will make up a two-mWh storage unit for grid balancing, enough to power 30 four-person households for a week. The system is "compact enough to fit in a small building," says Bosch. Such storage systems are especially fit for storing and moving alternative forms of energy, which often fluctuate in supply more than electricity from a traditional power plant. Vattenhall will operate the storage unit for 10 years, with Bosch managing the batteries, during which time the three partners hope to learn more about battery applications and their performance over time. Read more at Green Car Congress, or in the press release below.

BMW intros Concept M4 GTS ahead of Pebble Beach debut

Meet the BMW Concept M4 GTS. Coming to this weekend's Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, the new high-performance coupe gets both performance and aesthetic upgrades as it previews a higher-performance version of BMW's two-door darling. The headlining item is the new water-injection system. As previously reported, the setup draws from a 1.3-gallon water tank and was pioneered by the M4 Safety Car used in the MotoGP series. The new system injects water directly into the plenums of the intake manifold, where it is vaporized. The result is a lower compression temperature in the combustion chamber, which according to BMW means more horsepower and torque. You can get a broader explanation in the attached press release. Beyond the water-injection system, the M4 GTS will get OLED taillights. Their function sounds very German – "producing full-surface and homogenous illumination" – but we simply prefer the impact they've had on the look of the rear lights. It's markedly different than anything else in the BMW suite. There is a mix of aesthetic and performance upgrades to the normal M4 exterior, too. BMW has fitted manually adjustable aerodynamic aids, with a new chin splitter and a prominent rear spoiler. Both items are, unsurprisingly, made from exposed carbon fiber. BMW also turned to composites for the hood, opting for carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic. We're particularly fond of the M4 GTS' wheels. They're absolutely stunning staggered hoops, with 19-inchers in front and 20s in back. The 666M style, as BMW calls them, feature Acid Orange accents that really play well with the Frozen Dark Grey paint (although they clash quite badly with the yellow calipers on the carbon-ceramic brakes). Stay tuned for more on the new Concept M4 GTS, including live images from its debut in sunny California. Until then, scroll down for the official press release from BMW. Related Video: BMW Concept M4 GTS to be Premiered During Monterey Car Week. The First M3/ M4 Special Production Car to be Sold in the US. Woodcliff Lake, N.J. – EMBARGO: August 13, 2015 – 9:00pm EDT/6:00pm PDT...A year on from the launch of the BMW M4 Coupe, BMW M GmbH is presenting an initial preview of a high-performance model for use on the road and on the race track: the BMW Concept M4 GTS – the first M3/M4 special production vehicle to be sold in the US. The BMW M GmbH was founded in 1972 as BMW Motorsport GmbH and caused a sensation with its iconic BMW M1 racing car.

BMW confirms M4 DTM for next season

Fans of BMW performance had two events to keep an eye on this weekend: the reveal of the M4 Concept at Pebble Beach, and the efforts of the Bavarian automaker's DTM teams at the Nurburgring. What ties them together, however, is what BMW has in store for next year.
The German carmaker has confirmed that it's already working on a new M4 DTM to campaign in the highly-competitive touring car series starting next season. It didn't reveal any details, but we can expect the M4 to make the same jump to competition spec as the M3 did before it. And with some success, we might add: successive versions of the M3 have won 48 DTM races over the years, starting with the checkered flag which Harald Grohs claimed at Hockenheim in 1987 through to the same race which Augusto Farfus won earlier this year. After taking home the title for BMW in its first year back in DTM last season, Bruno Spengler also won at the Red Bull Ring in Austria two months ago, but the Bimmer teams seem to be having a bit of trouble defending its title against fresh assaults from Audi and Mercedes.
BMW undoubtedly hopes the new M4 DTM will help it turn another new leaf, and we're looking forward to seeing how it all shapes up. Read more in the press release below.