2010 Bmw M3 on 2040-cars

Auto blog

Upcoming new Alpina B7 teased

BMW does not make an M7. It never has, despite rumors, trademark filings, and the actual desires of the people that would build such a car. That means that while we're stuck waiting for BMW to see how foolish not building an M is, the most potent 7 Series you can get wears an Alpina badge on the nose. Meet the newest version of that car... sort of. BMW and Alpina haven't taken the wraps off the next B7 just yet, opting instead for an opera-accompanied teaser of the new car undergoing track testing. The car is lightly camouflaged – there's enough to make it clear it's a 7 Series, but not so undisguised as to reveal too much of the Alpina bodywork. There's a more aggressive bumper, a meaty rear spoiler, and sharper side sills, along with what are probably Alpina-specific wheels, but more precise details are hard to discern. What isn't difficult to pick out, though, is ear-tingling exhaust note. The last two Alpina B7s have built on the standard 7 Series' engine, and this new model likely won't be any different. That should mean a breathed upon 4.4-liter, twin-turbocharged V8 which goes well above the unfettled car's 445 horsepower and 480 pound-feet of torque. The extra power, along with the donor car's new lightweight carbon-fiber passenger cell, should make for tantalizing performance capabilities. The current 750i xDrive takes 4.3 seconds to make the sprint, and the B7 model that this new machine will replace hits 62 in 4.6. We'd expect the upcoming B7 will do better. The teaser from BMW and Alpina doesn't indicate when the new model will debut, but we'll eat our proverbial hat if it doesn't happen in Geneva. Related Video:

BMW's Vision Next 100 concept celebrates past, predicts future

Forecasting 100 years out is a tough job, so we'll forgive BMW if not everything in this concept comes true in the next century. It's the first of several that will celebrate BMW's centenary this year – concepts from Mini, Rolls-Royce, and BMW Motorcycles will follow later – and aims to guess what and how we'll be driving in the distant future. Although it's no longer a question of if, we still don't know when cars will make the switch to autonomous driving. So yeah, there's a lot up in the air. What this concept promises is more of everything. What this concept promises is more of everything: more comfort, more assistance, and a more intense experience – when you want that. Plus new, lighter materials, increased customization, and of course all the connected smarts you can throw (or will be able to throw) at a set of four wheels and some seats. It starts inside with an out-there dashboard display. Going a step further from the typical head-up display, the Alive Geometry transforms everything in your periphery into a digital blanket of context stretching from the interior to some of the exterior panels. This tessellation of moving triangles is supposed to mimic a flock of birds to bring you subtly changing information about what's going on around you. BMW gives this idea the made-up term of 4D printing. BMW gives this idea the made-up term of 4D printing, as it believes that in 30 years it will be possible to rapidly prototype this flock-of-informative-seagulls design to provide function (the fourth dimension, apparently?) in addition to the physical form. We'll check back in 2046. BMW also notes that displays in current cars will give way to OLED displays and then to the windshield-as-display concept that has been promised for a while and is seen here. About the car driving itself: BMW highlights two new driving modes for the concept, Boost and Ease. Boost is for when the driver is in control, the vehicle doing what it can to heighten the experience and the driver's awareness. It can use the Alive Geometry to show the best line or warn of other cars, integrating all the current active safety tech and more. BMW believes this will allow the driver to improve instead of just going faster. We would have called this mode iStillDriveSometimes, but hey, marketing still has 100 years to come around to that one. The important idea is that the driver will still have the choice to drive.

BMW recalls 7,200 units of 5 Series for child seat anchors

BMW will recall 7,162 examples of the 2016 5 Series sedan in the US because of a potential danger for involving child seat anchors. The campaign covers much of the model range including the 528i, 528i xDrive, 535d, 535d xDrive, 535i, 535i xDrive, 550i, 550i xDrive, and M5. During a vehicle audit at the factory, BMW discovered a downward bend in the inboard lower anchor for child seats on the left rear seat, according to a chronology from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (as a PDF). The issue made it very difficult or in some cases impossible for the seat to latch correctly, and the fault also ran afoul of federal rules in the US. However, the company says that it has no reports of accidents or injuries from this problem. The campaign to fix the issue will begin December 24. Dealers will inspect the anchor on these models and will repair any bent examples. RECALL Subject : Bent Left Rear Seat Inboard Anchor/FMVSS 225 Report Receipt Date: OCT 30, 2015 NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V718000 Component(s): CHILD SEAT , SEATS Potential Number of Units Affected: 7,162 All Products Associated with this Recall Vehicle Make Model Model Year(s) BMW 528I 2016 BMW 535D 2016 BMW 535I 2016 BMW 550I 2016 BMW M5 2016 Details Manufacturer: BMW of North America, LLC SUMMARY: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2016 528i, 528i xDrive, 535i, 535i xDrive, 535d xDrive, M5, 550i, 550i xDrive, and 535d sedans. The affected vehicles have an inboard lower anchor for child restraints on the left rear seat that may have been bent downwards, preventing the child seat from fully engaging both lower anchors. As such, these vehicles may fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 225, "Child Restraint Anchorage Systems." CONSEQUENCE: If the child seat is not properly attached to the lower anchors, it can increase the child's risk of injury in the event of a crash. REMEDY: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, repair the inboard lower anchor on the left rear seat, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin December 24, 2015. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417. NOTES: Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.