2008 Bmw X5 4.8i - Fully Loaded With Sport/premium. Heads Up Display, Navigation on 2040-cars

Auto blog

BMW tests M Lap Timer App with M4 Coupe at Brands Hatch

The 2015 BMW M4 looks to include all the necessary ingredients to offer dynamite driving experience. It's an M car after all. But in today's constantly connected world, the experience of hurtling a car around a track isn't always enough.
We want data, and while there are some solid telemetry apps available for smartphones (notably Harry's GPS LapTimer), manufacturers have been a bit slower to develop their own dedicated mobile telemetry trackers for their performance cars. With the new M4, though, BMW is taking the plunge, allowing drivers to track their lap progress through a new app, creatively called the M Lap Timer.
To show off the program, BMW has recruited touring car racer Andy Priaulx to perform a fast lap in an M4 at the UK's Brands Hatch circuit. The accompanying video doesn't do much to show off the app in action. Rather, it give us a stylized look at the metrics as Priaulx hustles BMW's hottest 4 Series coupe around the circuit.

BMW Concept M4 GTS shows its face in Monterey

Late last night, we showed you the BMW Concept M4 GTS, one-off production preview fitted with innovative OLED taillights, a water-injection system, and a suite of aerodynamic upgrades. Now, we have live images. These shots come from the scene of the debut, at one of Pebble Beach's numerous palatial estates. In natural light, we can see the M4 GTS as it really is. Both the Frozen Dark Grey paint and orange accents look far better, with the chin spoiler and wheels featuring an almost anodized appearance. The semi-matte nature of the paint also shows through, giving the Concept M4 GTS a more sinister look. We also remarked last night on the clash between the yellow calipers and orange wheel accents. But as the live photos show, the calipers appear more gold than yellow. There's still a pretty harsh contrast between the two shades, but it's better than it looked last night. Check out our entire gallery of live images of the new Concept M4 GTS, available at the top of the page. BMW Concept M4 GTS to be Premiered During Monterey Car Week. The First M3/ M4 Special Production Car to be Sold in the US. Woodcliff Lake, N.J. – EMBARGO: August 13, 2015 – 9:00pm EDT/6:00pm PDT...A year on from the launch of the BMW M4 Coupe, BMW M GmbH is presenting an initial preview of a high-performance model for use on the road and on the race track: the BMW Concept M4 GTS – the first M3/M4 special production vehicle to be sold in the US. The BMW M GmbH was founded in 1972 as BMW Motorsport GmbH and caused a sensation with its iconic BMW M1 racing car. As the force behind the world's most successful racing touring car, the Group A BMW M3 and the development of the first turbocharged engine to win the Formula One World Championship, the BMW M GmbH return to its racing roots with the BMW Concept M4 GTS. The BMW Concept M4 GTS continues the tradition of BMW M3 special models already illuminated by the BMW M3 Evolution (1988), BMW M3 Sport Evolution (1990), BMW M3 GT (1995), BMW M3 CSL (2003), BMW M3 GTS (2010) and BMW M3 CRT (2011). Technology honed in race competition, a hike in power, a commitment to lightweight design and limited production numbers with unbeatable performance coupled with a powerful and exclusive driving experience.

BMW invests in carbon fiber for use beyond i and M models

The immense amount of resources BMW has poured into its i brand program hasn't stopped, and recent developments indicate it's likely to pay off for BMW and BMW buyers outside the i brand. The i8 has already sold out its first year run, the i3 racked up 10,000 orders before it even went on sale and is already the subject of public discussion about being stretched into an i5, and a new investment in carbon fiber production has the automaker talking about CFRP use in non-i and non-M models.
BMW and SGL Group got together to form SGL Automotive Carbon Fibers (ACF), and the joint venture produces all of the CFRP for the i3 and i8 on two production lines at its plant in Moses Lake, Washington. After already investing $100 million to increase capacity, BMW has announced that another $200 million will add four more production lines, tripling production from 3,000 tons per year to 9,000 tons. When the expansion is complete in 2015, BMW says the Moses Lake facility will be the world's largest carbon fiber plant.
That's a lot of weave and the long view is that it will find its way into core models, with BMW exec Dr. Klaus Draeger saying, "As part of an intelligent mix of materials, we will apply carbon also beyond our BMW i and BMW M models in the future," and be able to do so "at competitive costs and in large quantities."