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Cafe racer motorbikes storm Japan

Japan may be best known, at least among motorcycle enthusiasts, for its sport bikes. But as we found at the Tokyo Motor Show this year, Japanese motorcycle manufacturers are capable of producing all kinds of motorbikes. And to our delight, that includes cafe racers.
Along with the myriad electric bikes, dirt bikes, crotch rockets and scooters, the halls of Tokyo's Big Site convention center this year were full of the retro-infused rides we love. Chief among them was the Bolt (shown above) which Yamaha exhibited alongside their various electric two-wheelers, sporting a delicious metallic blue paintjob, inverted handlebars and hanging mirrors, machined metal bits, blacked-out trim and saddle brown leatherwork.
Honda was also on hand with a new EX version of its '70s-style CB1100 retro roadster in sinister and low-key matte black. And this was our first chance to check out BMW Motorrad's new birthday present to its 90-year-old self, the R NineT, a model recently unveiled at the EICMA motorcycle show in Milan. But one of the most amusing retro rides we came across was the Honda Monkey Limited, a mini bike that makes the new 125cc Grom (which was displayed alongside it) look positively gigantic.

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.

BMW looking to save billions with cost cuts

BMW is planning a fairly extensive overhaul in a bid to recoup some its annual costs, with CEO Norbert Reithofer (pictured above) aiming to save three to four billion euro ($4 to $5.4 billion) per year to help keep the company's profit margins between eight and 10 percent, while also maintaining investments in production expansion and new tech. BMW's profit margins sat at 9.4 percent in 2013.
According to Automotive News Europe, Reithofer is none too pleased about costs at Mini and on the 1 Series, although neither AN nor its source story, from Germany's Manager Magazin, elaborate on what steps could be taken to improve losses on either project. That makes it hard to figure out just where the fat will be trimmed from.
What may happen, though, is that BMW attempts to trim 100 million euros ($135 million) from its German labor costs each year; a solution hinted at a few weeks ago by Germany newspaper Muenchner Merkur. While a dramatic cost reduction, 100 million euros still doesn't begin to even approach the savings envisioned by Reithofer.