2007 Bmw M6 Base Coupe 2-door 5.0l on 2040-cars

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China probing German automakers over spare parts

The Chinese market has proven to be a boon to German luxury automakers. However, the way that the companies have allegedly been controlling their supply of spare parts has begun to draw the ire of the nation's government. According to insiders speaking to Bloomberg, officials from the country's economic planning organization have opened a probe into Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz and some Japanese carmakers over claimed price inflation and limiting supply.
Specifically, the investigation centers around two aspects of how the companies do business, according to Bloomberg. Investigators want to know whether the original equipment component makers are able to sell spare parts only to automaker-authorized dealers or if they are also available to independent shops. There is also the issue of whether the price markup on replacement pieces is too high. The tight controls could be partially explained by China's reputation for producing counterfeit parts.
Evidently, the investigators haven't checked parts prices at car dealers elsewhere in the world. At least in the US, paying more at the dealer for factory components just goes along with owning a vehicle. If evidence of price fixing is found, the companies could face fines the equivalent of millions of dollars, according to Bloomberg.

BMW reveals X4 M40i performance crossover

The first details and images of the new BMW X4 M40i leaked out Tuesday, and now the Bavarian automaker has released all of the information on its new performance crossover. The latest model in BMW's M Performance line offers an array of upgrades over the existing X4, and they start under the hood. That's where Munich fitted a new 3.0-liter turbocharged inline six based on the one found in the X4 xDrive35i (whose place this model takes at the top of the X4 lineup). The engine is tuned to deliver 355 horsepower and 343 pound-feet of torque. In addition to the twin-scroll turbocharger, the engine also boasts variable cams and valves, as well as a high-precision injection system. This translates to a 0-60 time of 4.7 seconds – a figure which BMW cites as "best-in-class." Power is channeled to all four corners through an eight-speed automatic transmission and a re-calibrated xDrive system that's biased to the rear wheels. Naturally the suspension has been upgraded as well, with increased camber, stiffer springs, reinforced stabilizers front and rear, and active dampers. The steering rack has also been retuned. You'll be able to tell the M40i model from lesser X4s by its enhanced appearance. Though the aero kit looks largely the same as the stock version, BMW has fitted the M Performance model with metallic accents, 19- (or available 20-) inch alloys wearing Michelin Pilot Super Sport rubber, and a variable sport exhaust. Inside, it's also upgraded with a unique steering wheel, shifter, sports seats, and specific badging. This adds up to a crossover that may not be a full-on M model, but promises up the performance quotient significantly over the rest of the X4 line. THE NEW BMW X4 M40i - World premiere of the new inline 6 cylinder TwinPower Turbo engine. - Intelligent BMW xDrive: four-wheel drive with rear-wheel-drive characteristics. - A sporty chassis specifically tuned to M Performance specifications. Woodcliff Lake, N.J.- September 30, 2015... Today, with the introduction of the new BMW X4 M40i, the successful BMW X4 has gained a new top model. In the Sports Activity Coupe segment (SAC), the BMW X4 M40i is setting new standards with enhanced driving dynamics and best-in-segment acceleration. The new BMW X4 M40i will be available at dealers starting February 2016. Design. The exterior of the new BMW X4 M40i makes it stand out as a clear member of the BMW M Performance family.

Why this could be the perfect time for Apple to make a car play

While the automotive and technology worlds have been pouring billions into autonomous vehicles (AVs) and preparing to bring them to market soon as shared robo-taxis, Apple has mostly sat on the sidelines. Of course, Apple is the last company to ever make its intentions known, and the super-secret tech cult giant hasn't been totally out of the AV game based on the clues that have slipped out of its Cupertino, Calif., citadel over the past few years. Related: Apple self-driving cars are real — one was just in an accident News first broke in 2015 that it had assembled an automotive development team, in part by poaching high-profile talent from car companies, to work on a top-secret self-driving vehicle project code-named Titan. (Thank you very much, Nissan.) Apple also subsequently broke cover by making inquiries into using a Northern California AV testing facility and receiving a permit to test AVs on public roads in California. But then as the AV race started to heat up in the last few years, Apple reportedly began scaling back its car activities by downsizing team Titan. More recently, Apple's car project has shown signs of life with the hiring a high-level engineer away from Waymo and luring one Tesla's top engineers and a former employee back to Apple. It also inked a deal with Volkswagen to provide a technology platform and software to convert the automaker's new T6 Transporter vans into autonomous shuttles for employees at tech company's new campus. That is a far cry from giving rides to Wal-Mart shoppers, like Waymo is doing as part of its AV testing in Phoenix. But this could be the perfect time for Apple to enter the AV market now that ride-sharing is reaching critical mass and automakers and others are planning to deploy fleets of robo-taxis. Apple could easily establish a niche as a high-end ride-sharing service – and charge a premium – given its cult-like brand loyalty and design savvy. The growth of car subscription models could also play in Apple's favor since is already has many people hooked on paying for phones in monthly installments – and eager to upgrade when a new and better model becomes available. To achieve this, some believe Apple will fulfill co-founder and CEO Steve Job's dream of building a car. And as the world's first and only $1 trillion company it's sitting on a mountain of cash that certainly gives it the means. But other tech darlings like Tesla and Google have discovered how difficult it can be to build cars at scale.