2021 Bmw X5 Xdrive45e on 2040-cars

Auto blog

BMW planning six-cylinder i9 hybrid to celebrate centenary?

On the prospect of a new BMW M1 based on the company's new i8 hybrid, the jury has been in and out so much that we can't even tell which way it's likely to go. However, the latest reports coming in from Germany suggest that BMW may have something else up its sleeves. Rather than make a conventional gas-powered version of the i8, Germany's Auto Motor und Sport says BMW will make a more powerful one.
Tentatively dubbed i9, the hybrid sports car is rumored to pack a six-cylinder internal-combustion engine instead of the i8's turbo three. Coupled to more potent electric motors, it would figure to produce even more than the 357 horsepower and 420 pound-feet of torque already on tap in the i8, with further weight reductions to offset the bulkier engine.
Auto Motor und Sport says the mooted model will be produced to celebrate the Bavarian automaker's 100th anniversary and eclipse the i8's performance, with a projected 0-60 run in under four seconds en-route to taking the gloves off to crunch the Autobahn in electric bliss. The new i flagship would be another member of the company's growing electrified family, joining the existing i3 hatchback, upcoming i5 minivan and possible i8 Spyder down the line.

Recharge Wrap-up: Uber,'s free BMW 7 Series rides, Belfast's DeLorean EV

BMW used Uber to give people free rides in the new 7 Series. While the new generation of BMW's luxury flagship goes on sale in the US on October 24, lucky Uber customers in New York, Miami, Chicago and Los Angeles got a sneak preview and free ride on October 17 and 18. The partnership also allowed potential customers to test drive the car with a BMW product specialist. "With our new 7 Series being the most innovative vehicle in its class, it's only fitting that we partnered with Uber to offer a unique and exciting way to experience our flagship model prior to retail launch," says BMW's Jason Chan. Read more from BMW. BMW is using manure to power its South Africa production facility. As part of a broader goal to get all its energy from renewable sources, BMW will get as much as 4.4 megawatts of electricity from a biogas plant that produces power from gas emitted by manure and other organic waste. At full capacity, it will supply about 25 to 30 percent of the BMW plant's power. "We are a big consumer, so that's a lot," says BMW spokesman Diederik Reitsma. "It's waste no longer wasted." Read more at Bloomberg. Visa Europe has extended it partnership with Formula E. Visa Europe signed on as the Official Payment Partner of the electric racing series for the European leg of last season, and has now expanded its commitment for the next three seasons. The company lends its name to the championship's Visa Fastest Lap Trophy. "Formula E is driving the change towards an electric future and reinventing motorsport, while here at Visa, we're reinventing payments by pioneering technologies to make payments faster, simpler and more secure," says Visa Europe's sales and marketing chief, Mark Antipof. "We seek partners that match our commitment to innovation and leadership, so it was therefore natural for us to extend our support of this evolutionary sport through a global sponsorship for the next three years." Read more from Formula E. Queen's University Belfast is set to unveil its electric DeLorean DMC-12 on October 21, 2015. The date is notable for being the day to which Marty McFly traveled in Back To The Future using Doc Brown's DeLorean time machine. In what is likely the first DeLorean to be built in Northern Ireland since 1983, students and staff from the university's School of Electronics, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science have restored the car and converted it to run on electricity.

Recharge Wrap-up: E15 could help smog woes, MPG average at all-time high

A new study shows that using an E15 blend instead of regular gasoline would reduce smog in Chicago. Increasing the availability of the 15-percent ethanol blend could help reduce carcinogenic air pollution and improve air quality, particularly on the city's South Side. The study found that E15 reduces the risk of cancer by 6.6 percent. It also reduces greenhouse gas emissions 1.5 percent compared to a 10-percent ethanol blend. Read more at Domestic Fuel. Fairmont Beijing is offering hotel guests a chance to experience BMW's i cars. For the next three months, guests needing airport transfers will be picked up in one of the German automakers electric vehicles. Also, those who choose the hotel's "Passion Package," which includes transportation in one of the cars or on a BMW bike, and a private guided tour of the 789 Arts District and the Peking opera house as well as tickets to an opera performance. Learn more in the press release below. Formula E will host motor shows at the circuits during its race weekends. Visitors will learn about the technology behind the all-electric race series and the racecars, including the safety and performance aspects. The goal of the four-day shows is not only to entertain and educate people, but also to generate interest in electric and hybrid vehicles in hopes that drivers will consider adopting electric cars themselves. Read more at Formula E's website. The average fuel economy of new vehicles has reached a new high of 25.8 miles per gallon, according to the University of Michigan. The school's Transportation Research Institute (UMTRI) used the window sticker ratings of the vehicles to reach that number for the month of August. That's 0.2 mpg higher than July, and 5.7 mpg higher than October 2007, when UMTRI began recording the data. The group also found that average emissions per driver are down by 22 percent since October 2007. Read more at Green Car Congress. The United States Advanced Battery Consortium has awarded a $667,452 development contract to battery maker Xerion. The contract - a 50-percent cost share co-funded by the US Department of Energy - is for a 15-month program to develop next-generation batteries for plug-in hybrids. Read more in the press release below. Fairmont Beijing Introduces Eco-friendly Partnership with BMW's New Electric i Series BEIJING, Sept. 4, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Fairmont Beijing is partnering with BMW in a showcase of the luxury carmaker's new electric, environment-friendly i Series.