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BMW M4 Concept bows, takes handoff from M3 Coupe

Remember how, when the first BMW M4 Concept images leaked earlier today, we told you the official information would be coming later this evening? Well, scratch that. The whole kit and caboodle is now online, meaning all the official details are below, as well as a full gallery of high-res images above.
The replacement for the M3 Coupe, the Concept M4 Coupe shares a number of styling similarities with its dearly departed forbearer. To us, it's kind of like a mishmash of greatest hits from the new 4 Series and the old M3. The 4 Series headlights have grown on us, and the side grilles, which are part of BMW's Air Curtain and Air Breather system, are functional.
The power dome in the hood is smaller than on the M3, but is of a similar shape, while the rear diffuser and exhaust treatment look like they're lifted straight from the old car, aside from being finished in carbon fiber. Speaking of which, the carbon fiber roof sports a new touch, a cool BMW M tri-color that runs the length of the roof on the driver's side. The 20-inch M alloy wheels come in a twin five-spoke design, which has sort of become a calling card of BMW's M cars in recent years. Hiding behind those meaty wheels are M's carbon-ceramic brakes.

BMW mulling potential 9 Series production

Nine months may be long enough to bring another human being into the world, but it may take BMW a bit longer to make up its mind on the production of a potential 9 Series model. The idea was first mooted when the Bavarian automaker presented the Vision Future Luxury concept at the Beijing Motor Show last year. Billed (not unlike rival Audi's Prologue concept) more as a design study than a pre-production concept, the Vision Future Luxury show car nevertheless took a larger form than the 7 Series, prompting speculation that a new flagship sedan could be in the works. The better part of a year later, such a decision has reportedly yet to be taken, but over at BMW Blog they're reporting that the automaker's incoming chief executive Harald Kruger is a fan of the idea and could give it the green light after he takes the helm in May. If approved, the model likely to be dubbed 9 Series would reportedly compete with the Mercedes-Maybach S600 – but then that model was earmarked to take on the Rolls-Royce Ghost. BMW has typically been careful not to overlap with its Rolls-Royce division, but considering how it's also been going downmarket with front-drive models to close the gap to the Mini brand, we wouldn't be all that surprised to see the 9 Series positioned maybe just below the next-generation Ghost and developed alongside it, taking a page out of rival VW's playbook. Volkswagen has, after all, made a brisk business out of sharing platforms and slicing market segments between the various brands under its umbrella. And while BMW is nowhere near as large, its new leadership could find new ways to increase its market share.

BMW i gets in on ridesharing with Scoop investment

The ridesharing investments are starting to roll in quickly now, and BMW i Ventures is the latest to drop some cash to get in on the trend. The automaker's venture-capital arm put an undisclosed amount of money into Scoop, a ridesharing platform based in California and operating in the Bay Area. BMW i's investment in Scoop Technologies is part of a $5.1 million seed round that included several other firms. It follows news that VW put $300 million into a service called GETT and that Toyota has partnered with Uber for ridesharing and leasing. There's also GM's $500 million investment in Lyft and its own car-sharing service, Maven. Automakers may soon run out of startups to pump money into. Oh, and don't forget about Apple's billion-dollar investment in Didi Chuxing, the Chinese Uber. Scoop's app is designed to let commuters find each other and drive together to reduce traffic, something the Bay Area and California in general can benefit from; then there's the added bonus that packing more people into a car unlocks access to the carpool lane. Scoop also partners with employers, like Cisco, to help people that are all going to the same place get to and from work. Employers can subsidize the cost of the rides as a perk and to encourage the app's use. And because plans can change, there's a ride-home guarantee that will reimburse you for costs getting home if you find yourself stranded. The service launched in 2015 in Pleasanton, CA, and is still in a limited rollout that includes San Francisco, Palo Alto, Sunnyvale, and North San Jose. It's not clear how or if BMW i will integrate the tech into its vehicles. This could just be an investment to get a foothold into a young ridesharing company, or it could be a sign that BMW wants to build the app's functionality into i cars. Related Video: