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BMW X7 rumored to get BMW's best interior, 130,000-euro price

Spanish outlet Motor.es has some info on the coming BMW X7, the sport activity vehicle that will take the Munich brand to the penultimate SUV segment. Unnamed sources said BMW has been working on both the X7 and the future Rolls-Royce all-terrain vehicle for almost two years, and that in BMW guise it will ride on the CLAR (CLuster ARchitecture) platform that will make an appearance later this year under the new 7 Series. The Rolls-Royce, on the other hand, will get its own aluminum spaceframe. The two vehicles will share components, though, which are now being tested. Running gear and engines will borrow from the X5 and X6 tool chests, with rear- and all-wheel-drive configurations mooted and engines ranging from the TwinPower 3.0-liter six-cylinder to an uprated version of the 6.0-liter V12 in the 760iL. The 4.4-liter V8 is mentioned as the middle child and perhaps the base for an X7 M, should one be made. A plug-in hybrid offering could swipe the unit from the X5 xDrive40e PHEV, good for 55MPGe in that current application. The interior, we're told, will be the nicest seen on any BMW, said to surpass that of the new 7 Series. We'll have to wait two years to find out how close all of that is to the mark, but the tidbit that might need some salt sprinkled on it right now is the predicted price: Motor.es says 130,000 euros in Europe, to start. That's not the first time a sky-high price has been predicted, but a leap that far beyond the six-figure mark would readjust all of our expectations for the vehicle when an X5 cost 53,700 euros in France and an X6 costs 70,900 euros. Other outlets predict US pricing to start from around $60,000; the X5 costs $53,900 here, the X6 is $59,600.

BMW X4 M40i leaks ahead of LA Auto Show

Leaked photos of the higher-performance BMW X4 M40i emerged today ahead of its expected debut at the 2015 LA Auto Show. The new model builds on the xDrive35i model, offering an extra 60 horsepower and 43 pound-feet of torque. The hotted-up X4 should use that power well. According to Auto Guide, it will hit 62 miles per hour in 4.9 seconds and should be limited to a top speed of 155 mph – a notable improvement over the existing xDrive35i, which takes 5.2 seconds to hit 60 and has a top speed of 130 mph. Expect the X4 M40i to be followed by an similar version using the X3's more versatile body style, both of which will use an eight-speed automatic and a more aggressive all-wheel-drive setup. Despite the "M" in its name, this is not a full-blown M car. Instead, it takes the same tack BMW has used for the M235i here in America, as well as the M50d models sold in Europe: higher performance over stock, without offering the full enchilada that is a proper M car. That explains the slightly more aggressive body kit, which isn't as sporting as that of a proper M car. On top of the new front and rear clips, there's a set of meaty 19-inch wheels that look to be wrapped in sporty Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires. In the cabin, an oversized M-branded steering wheel is the most notable addition. Naturally, we'll have the full range of details on the X4 M40i when it debuts in a couple of months in LA. Related Video: The video meant to be presented here is no longer available. Sorry for the inconvenience.

BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe caught again

It's been a while since we've seen the upcoming BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe out testing, but we're sort of inclined to ask "Why?" yet again. After all, the 4 Series is what the new 3 Series-based coupes and convertibles will be called, so the idea of another four-door version just sort of seems redundant. In other words, just how different will a 4 Series Gran Coupe be from a 3 Series sedan, aside from perhaps a more rakish roofline or a four-passenger seating configuration? Probably not much, but BMW clearly thinks it can use the additional bodystyle to rake in some extra profits.
Anyway, back to these spy shots. No more of the 4GC's skin has been revealed since the last time we saw it, but we fully expect it to share a lot of its design DNA with the 3 Series sedan, not to mention the attractive 4 Series coupe concept that bowed at this year's Detroit Auto Show.
Powertrain options should carry over direct from the 3 Series line, so we expect to see 428i and 435i models on hand, packing turbocharged four- and six-cylinder engines, respectively. We're sure that BMW's xDrive all-wheel drive will be available, and who knows, we could even get a 428d version with the new 2.0-liter turbodiesel four that debuted in the 328d at the New York Auto Show last week, or even an M4 variant.