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BMW to be featured at 2016 Monterey Motorsports Reunion

The 2015 Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion just wrapped up, with the Shelby GT350 serving as the featured marque. Track officials, however, are not wasting any time – or enthusiastic momentum – in announcing a featured marque for next year's event. Next year's Reunion will highlight BMW on the occasion of its centenary. Now if you're thinking that the Bavarian manufacturer hasn't been building automobiles for that long, you're technically correct. The company started out as an aircraft engine manufacturer 99 years ago in 1916. It then got into motorcycles in 1923 before rolling out its first automobile – the Dixi that was a licensed version of the Austin 7 – in 1928. However you trace the automaker's history that's still one heck of a long time. And BMW has been active in motor racing throughout, making it a worthy candidate for next year's celebration. This won't be the first time that Munich's finest will be featured at the reunion. BMW was given the same honor back in 1996. The featured marque can alternately be an automaker, a specific model, a type of vehicle, or even an accomplished racing driver. Last year's was Maserati, preceded by the Chevy Corvette, Shelby Cobra, Jaguar, and the legendary Dan Gurney. Alfa Romeo, Ferrari, Jaguar, and Porsche have each been featured thrice - that's right, thrice! - in the history of the retrospective event. Related Video: BMW TO BE HONORED AS FEATURED MARQUE OF 2016 ROLEX MONTEREY MOTORSPORTS REUNION MONTEREY, Calif., August 16, 2015 — The full, rich heritage of the Ultimate Driving Machine® will be celebrated when Bavarian Motor Works is honored on the occasion of its 100th anniversary at the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion. The celebration takes place August 18-21, 2016 at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca on the scenic Monterey Peninsula. "The Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion is a perfect stage on which to celebrate 100 years of BMW," stated Ludwig Willisch, President and CEO, BMW of North America, LLC. "The BMW brand and the legend of The Ultimate Driving Machine® was forged on and continues to be refined on racing circuits all over the world. In the United States, Laguna Seca has played a starring role. This year, our BMW Z4 GTLM racing cars finished 1-2 in IMSA competition there - almost 40 years to the date a BMW 3.0 CSL won our very first race on the classic circuit.

KBB 2013 Brand Image Awards has some obvious and oddball winners

The sixth edition of the Kelley Blue Book Brand Image Awards have crowned a wide range of winners - in a couple of cases the recipient of the laurels might say more about KBB users than they do about the actual winner. Compiled from the responses of more than 12,000 shoppers on KBB.com over the past year, there are 13 categories broken into non-luxury, luxury and truck segments "representing the combined wisdom of the American car-buying public."
The award categories have been revamped this year, with some dropping off, some new ones appearing and at least one other given a new term. What isn't surprising is that Honda won Most Trusted Brand for the second year running, Best Value Brand for the third year in a row and took Best Overall Brand, which wasn't on last year's list of awards.
On our own shores, in the non-luxury categories Chrysler got Most Refined Brand and Buick took Best Value Luxury Brand. Neither one of those marques won anything in last year's Brand Image Awards, while Cadillac, which won Best Interior Design Brand and Best Comfort Brand last year - those awards disappeared this year - went home without a single accolade.

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.