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Hyundai, BMW in plant talks with Mexican officials

BMW and Hyundai may be joining the rush for the border that has already seen Nissan, Honda and Mazda begin factory construction in Mexico, while Ford and General Motors have both made significant investments in their Mexican facilities. BMW's interest in Mexico has been apparent for some time, and while we'd heard grumblings about Hyundai's move into Latin America some time ago, the last we heard about it was in 2009.
This new move, reported by Bloomberg, doesn't get specific on which models will be produced south of the Rio Grande, and as neither automakers' spokespeople responded to the business site's request for statements, all we really have to go on are the statements of Mexico's Economy Minister, Ildefonso Guajardo: "I cannot talk for them, but I think that starting 2014 we'll have new announcements. At least for one." Which manufacturer that will be remains anyone's guess, although judging by all the recent scuttlebutt that's been going around, the smart money seems to be on BMW. We'll stay with this one.

2014 BMW 328d rated at 32/45 mpg

BMW still hasn't released official fuel economy numbers for its diesel-powered 2014 328d, but now, those mileage ratings have been posted on the EPA's FuelEconomy.gov website. As expected, the 328d is quite an efficient little machine, with the rear-wheel-drive sedan good for 32 miles per gallon in the city and 45 mpg highway. That even bests the 30/42 mpg of the smaller Volkswagen Jetta TDI.
The last time BMW offered a diesel 3 Series in our market, it was the six-cylinder 335d, which - while mighty quick and excellent to drive - was only offered as a rear-wheel-drive sedan and was rated at 23 mpg city and 36 mpg highway. For 2014, BMW will offer the 328d with optional xDrive all-wheel drive, though that reduces the fuel economy numbers to 31/43 mpg. Beyond that, the BMW will even sell you a 328d xDrive wagon, which nets the same 31/43 mpg rating, according to FuelEconomy.gov.
Look for the 2014 BMW 328d to hit dealerships this fall, and when it launches, it will be the only diesel offering in its class (until the next Mercedes-Benz C-Class arrives, anyway). Lexus and Infiniti will offer hybrid versions of the IS and Q50, respectively, but we've always had a taste for torque, and the 328d's 2.0-liter engine with 180 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of twist shouldn't disappoint.

BMW X4 M40i leaks ahead of LA Auto Show

Leaked photos of the higher-performance BMW X4 M40i emerged today ahead of its expected debut at the 2015 LA Auto Show. The new model builds on the xDrive35i model, offering an extra 60 horsepower and 43 pound-feet of torque. The hotted-up X4 should use that power well. According to Auto Guide, it will hit 62 miles per hour in 4.9 seconds and should be limited to a top speed of 155 mph – a notable improvement over the existing xDrive35i, which takes 5.2 seconds to hit 60 and has a top speed of 130 mph. Expect the X4 M40i to be followed by an similar version using the X3's more versatile body style, both of which will use an eight-speed automatic and a more aggressive all-wheel-drive setup. Despite the "M" in its name, this is not a full-blown M car. Instead, it takes the same tack BMW has used for the M235i here in America, as well as the M50d models sold in Europe: higher performance over stock, without offering the full enchilada that is a proper M car. That explains the slightly more aggressive body kit, which isn't as sporting as that of a proper M car. On top of the new front and rear clips, there's a set of meaty 19-inch wheels that look to be wrapped in sporty Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires. In the cabin, an oversized M-branded steering wheel is the most notable addition. Naturally, we'll have the full range of details on the X4 M40i when it debuts in a couple of months in LA. Related Video: The video meant to be presented here is no longer available. Sorry for the inconvenience.