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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.

Will next BMW Project i car be an i6?

BMW may be steadily working its way through the single digits when it comes to the i sub-brand of plug-in vehicles for the next few years. The automaker started with the i3 and the i8, and we heard rumors about an i5 and an i7. Oh, and we've heard about a potential i4, too. None of these have been confirmed. Still, next up is the i6, according to Automobile. There aren't a ton of details, but the all-electric vehicle would be about the same size as the 3-Series line that's long been a workhorse for the German automaker. Like the other Project i vehicles, the i6 would have a lot of carbon fiber in order to reduce weight and help with range extension. The model would also likely have multiple electric motors as well as a state-of-the-art lithium-polymer battery that would provide a big single-charge range, though, again, no specifics on that number. Word got out earlier this year about a supposed i5 model that would be a plug-in hybrid with a gas-powered engine and two electric motors that combine for about 540 horsepower. Other reports said that the four-door sedan would actually fall under the i7 badge. BMW North America chief Ludwig Willisch said this past spring that the sedan in question wouldn't be seeing the light of day any time soon. BMW has already doubled US sales of its two Project i vehicles this year. Through November, Bimmer's sales of its i8 plug-in hybrid quadrupled from a year earlier to about 1,600 units, while sales of the i3 electric vehicle jumped 89 percent from a year earlier to about 9,600 vehicles.

BMW i8 will be first production car to use Gorilla Glass

What do smartphones and the BMW i8 have in common? Glass. Scratch-resistant Gorilla Glass, that is. The i8 will be the first production car to use the chemically hardened material, which is more durable, lighter and provides more sound deadening than conventional laminated automotive glass. We thought it would be a natural replacement for windshields, but, according to Autoweek, BMW said it will be used for the rear window for sound deadening purposes. The Gorilla Glass will still be laminated, with two 0.7mm thick layers of it sandwiching an acoustic sheet, reports Autoevolution.
BMW reportedly claims the i8 will weigh less than 3,285 pounds, and to offset the heavy hybrid powertrain to reach that goal the automaker has implemented lightweight materials normally not found in mass-production automobiles. With a carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) monocoque used for both the (relatively) pedestrian i3 and the upscale i8, it's not surprising BMW was also the first to jump onto Gorilla Glass, especially given the timing of a report that a high-end automaker would introduce it within the year.
Be sure to check out our First Drive review of the i8 to see if BMW's newest sports car is living up to the hype.