2009 Bmw X6 Xdrive50i Sport Navigation $80k+msrp Premium Sound Rear Climate Wow$ on 2040-cars

Auto blog

BMW 8 Series coming in 2020

As good as the BMW 7 Series may be – and trust us when we say it is very good indeed – it just can't compete with the marketplace juggernaut that is the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, at least not where global sales are concerned. And with sales come profits, especially at the six-digit price point many of these high-end luxury cars sell for. Put simply, Mercedes is cashing in on the S-Class, and BMW wants a bigger piece of that pie. It comes as little surprise, then, that Autocar reports BMW is currently considering two proposals for a new 8 Series that would slot just above its current 7 Series. One option is the currently-en-vogue four-door coupe. The other option is a more traditional two-door coupe, likely with a cabriolet option. The last time we heard such rumors, BMW was dismissing them back in 2013. Whichever way BMW decides to take its 8 Series plans, Autocar suggests that a concept vehicle ought to hit the show circuit in sometime in 2018, with a production model following in 2020. The car would be based on the underpinnings of the latest 7 Series, with a price considerably less than the Rolls-Royce Ghost (which also falls under the BMW umbrella). Considering BMW's penchant for multiple model variants, we won't be surprised if all three options get the green light, with a Gran Coupe version standing as the flagship. With the 6 Series Gran Coupe currently priced just below the 7 Series (and at a hefty premium to a comparable 5 Series four-door), an 8 Series would likely brush up against $100,000 for a base price. That might not take much out of S-Class sales, but it would make some tidy profits for BMW. Related Video:

BMW could have a fuel cell vehicle by 2020

The Ultimate Driving Machine may start emitting water vapor, which may not thrill gearheads but could be good for the environment. BMW may have a hydrogen fuel-cell electric vehicle to sell as soon as the end of the decade, UK's Auto Express says, citing people familiar with the process that it didn't identify. And the model will likely be sold within the i sub-brand that includes the i3 electric vehicle and the i8 plug-in hybrid. "We are working on fuel cell development, but we are not able to comment on vehicle plans at this stage or timing at this point," BMW spokesman Dave Buchko wrote in an e-mail to AutoblogGreen on Thursday. Chatter about a potential BMW fuel-cell vehicle has been getting louder in recent months. Late last year, Autocar reported that BMW was mulling using Toyota's fuel-cell system for a version of what would be called the i5 (all the better to quietly cruise the interstate running up and down the West Coast, we guess). BMW and Toyota have been working together on accelerating the development of fuel-cell technology since 2013. Toyota has since made good on the effort of selling fuel-cell vehicles by introducing the Mirai in Japan last year and is preparing to start sales in California later this year. But BMW has been mum, so far. Featured Gallery 2014 BMW i3: First Drive View 33 Photos News Source: Auto Express via Hybrid CarsImage Credit: Copyright 2015 Sebastian Blanco / AOL Green BMW Toyota Hydrogen Cars i5

Ward's Automotive Ten Best Engines of 2014 dominated by diesels, turbos

With the Car and Driver Ten Best decided, the North American Car and Truck of the Year finalists announced and Cadillac, Ram and Subaru chalking up wins with Motor Trend, it's fair to say that the automotive awards season is in full swing. The next set of trophies to be handed out will be from Ward's Automotive, which has announced the winners of its 2014 10 Best Engines.
The latest contest was marked by the widespread emergence of diesel power and the continued success of turbocharged engines. There was even an electric motor on this year's list. In fact, only three of the ten winners were naturally aspirated and only two winners returned from last year.
"We weren't looking to throw the bums out, as they might say about an election. We were just really impressed with the flood of new powertrains," said Ward's Automotive Editor-in-Chief Drew Winter. Those new powertrains include the 83-kilowatt electric motor from the Fiat 500e, the 1.0-liter, EcoBoost three-cylinder from the Ford Fiesta and the 2.0-liter turbodiesel from the Chevrolet Cruze.