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BMW may show off autonomous concept at 100th anniversary

BMW celebrates its 100th birthday in 2016, and the brand might mark the occasion by showing a concept with a nearly production-ready autonomous system, according to Autocar. Company sales and marketing boss Ian Robertson hinted that the automaker could be close to introducing the next-gen tech. "We've reached the 'feet off' phase of autonomy, and now we're in the 'hands off' and 'eyes off' phase, but only for brief periods," Robertson told Autocar. He thinks fully autonomous driving could be possible in 15 years because the company needs to work out how to make it safe. In addition to talking about autonomous tech, Robertson said the company's March 7th centenary would focus the future. "There will be some products we will share," he told Autocar. "Maybe what I've been alluding to will be the direction of that." BMW has tested autonomous technology for years and already impressively showed an M235i that could drift by itself. An i3 (pictured above) was even able to park without driver assistance in a multi-story garage at CES last year. Recent rumors about Google's piloted ridesharing service suggest this could be the perfect time for the German automaker to take the next step. BMW's bigger challenge could be determining how much autonomous ability to give drivers. Tesla might soon reduce features from its Autopilot system because a few owners aren't responsible enough to use the tech safely. California also proposed regulations that could limit the capabilities of driverless vehicles. Related Video:

Recharge Wrap-up: BMW i app for Apple Watch, Tesla certified pre-owned web page

BMW has introduced ConnectedDrive and BMW i remote apps for the Apple Watch. The apps can show users battery and charging status, give service alerts, and control certain vehicle functions from the wearer's wrist. It can tell the owner if the doors are locked, or if the sunroof or trunk is open. Users can activate the climate control remotely from their watch, or honk the horn to help find the car in a crowded parking lot. It can even guide the owner back to the car using the navigation system. Read more in BMW's press release below. Higher octane gasoline could provide better fuel economy. According to a panel at the SAE World Congress that included folks from Ford, General Motors, Chevron and an ethanol group, a higher-octane fuel could boost fuel economy by three to six percent and reduce CO2 emissions by two percent. While higher octane fuel is more expensive, building cars calibrated to higher octane ratings could help automakers raise fuel economy and meet CAFE standards. Cars not calibrated to the higher octane levels would likely not see any significant benefit in fuel economy. Read more from Automotive News. Tesla Motors has added a Certified Pre-Owned section to its website. Tesla didn't make any announcement before it quietly added the CPO page. The used Model S electric cars sold by Tesla include a warranty good for four years or 50,000 miles. Plus, the cars have been inspected by technicians at Tesla to make sure everything is in working order and up to company standards. Explore the page yourself, and read more at Teslarati. BMW ConnectedDrive and BMW i Remote app. World premiere: Apple Watch controls functions of BMW i models. Munich. BMW is pressing its claim to automotive brand leadership in the world of mobile vehicle connectivity through its BMW ConnectedDrive technology. As the BMW i Remote app confirms, nowhere else is the link-up of driver, car and outside world raised to such an advanced level. The app can already be used to remotely check and control functions of BMW i models. It is an application that customers will also be able to use from day one on the new Apple Watch, due for imminent release. Apple Watch uses the BMW i Remote app – which can be downloaded free from the Apple iTunes Store – to keep users updated on the car's current battery status, for example, and alert them when the high-voltage unit is fully charged.

Watch the BMW M4 GTS lap the Nurburgring in under 7:28

When BMW unveiled the new M4 GTS back in October, it said it could lap the Nurburgring in 7 minutes and 28 seconds. That's all well and fine in terms of bragging rights, but what Bimmer enthusiasts have been waiting for is the proof. And here it is, in ultra-HD 4k glory. In the video above, you can see the new M4 GTS scything its way through the Green Hell of the Eifel mountains. Behind the wheel is M GmbH engineer and racing driver Joerg Weidinger, who helpfully narrates the video to show us exactly how he tackled each and every corner along the 14-mile circuit. Which may come in handy for those with a season pass to the Nordschleife, but the rest of us are more concerned with that lap time and how it holds up. To put it plainly, the 7:27.88 lap makes the new GTS not only the fastest in the M3/M4 line to date, but the fastest production Bimmer ever clocked around the 'Ring. It handily beats the previous M3 CSL (7:50) and the stock M4 (7:52), and even trounces more powerful Bavarian machinery like the Z8, M5, and M6. There've been a handful of BMW-powered racers, motorcycles, and prototypes (not to mention the McLaren F1) that have clocked faster times, but as far as four-wheeled, standard production Munich-mobiles go, the new M4 GTS is the new King of the Ring. It also just so happens to match or beat the best times clocked by the more exotic likes of the Ferrari 458 Italia, McLaren MP4-12C, and Porsche Carrera GT – putting the M4 GTS in rare company indeed.