2012 Bmw 550i Gran Turismo Xdrive Navigation Heads Up Display $82k+msrp 1owner on 2040-cars

Auto blog

BMW Vision Neue Klasse, next-gen Mini due out at Munich auto show

Munich replaced Frankfurt on the global auto show circuit in 2021, and the shift works in the BMW Group's favor — one of Europe's biggest automotive events now takes place in its backyard. The company has detailed the new BMW and Mini models it will bring to the 2023 show. One of the most important unveilings for BMW — and likely one of the most noteworthy cars we'll see displayed at the Munich show — is the Vision Neue Klasse. More than merely a concept car, the design study will serve as an accurate preview of how BMW's entire range will evolve in the coming years. We haven't seen it yet, but we're told it's packed with electrification- and digitalization-related innovations. While the brand notes that the Vision Neue Klasse will be on the road "before long," it's reasonable to assume that the plug-in hybrid variants of the eighth-generation 5 Series that will also debut in Munich are closer to reaching production. Two models called 530e xDrive and 550e xDrive are due out in spring 2024, though it's too early to tell whether we'll see them on our shores. The former uses a hybrid system built around a four-cylinder engine, while the latter benefits from a straight-six. In both systems, the electric motor is integrated into an eight-speed automatic transmission. The 530e and the 550e put 299 and 489 horsepower, respectively, under the driver's right foot. BMW notes that integrating the 19.4-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack into the 5's underbody lowers the center of gravity while keeping trunk space intact. The 530e can drive for up to 63 miles on electric power, a figure that drops to 56 miles for buyers who select the 550e, though both numbers were achieved on the optimistic WLTP testing cycle used in Europe. Both cars come with a 7.4-kilowatt charger. Mini will unveil two new models at the Munich show: the next-generation Cooper (which replaces the Hardtop, or the Hatch if you're reading this from the United Kingdom) and the next-generation Countryman. Both models will be available with gasoline or electric power. We've seen the Hardtop's new-look interior in official images, it notably loses the outgoing model's instrument cluster and gains a round OLED screen in the middle of the dashboard, and we've seen the little hatchback undisguised in spy shots. Spy shots have also revealed the next-generation Countryman, which wears a boxier-looking exterior design and seemingly grows in size, before the official unveiling in Munich.

BMW intros Concept M4 GTS ahead of Pebble Beach debut

Meet the BMW Concept M4 GTS. Coming to this weekend's Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, the new high-performance coupe gets both performance and aesthetic upgrades as it previews a higher-performance version of BMW's two-door darling. The headlining item is the new water-injection system. As previously reported, the setup draws from a 1.3-gallon water tank and was pioneered by the M4 Safety Car used in the MotoGP series. The new system injects water directly into the plenums of the intake manifold, where it is vaporized. The result is a lower compression temperature in the combustion chamber, which according to BMW means more horsepower and torque. You can get a broader explanation in the attached press release. Beyond the water-injection system, the M4 GTS will get OLED taillights. Their function sounds very German – "producing full-surface and homogenous illumination" – but we simply prefer the impact they've had on the look of the rear lights. It's markedly different than anything else in the BMW suite. There is a mix of aesthetic and performance upgrades to the normal M4 exterior, too. BMW has fitted manually adjustable aerodynamic aids, with a new chin splitter and a prominent rear spoiler. Both items are, unsurprisingly, made from exposed carbon fiber. BMW also turned to composites for the hood, opting for carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic. We're particularly fond of the M4 GTS' wheels. They're absolutely stunning staggered hoops, with 19-inchers in front and 20s in back. The 666M style, as BMW calls them, feature Acid Orange accents that really play well with the Frozen Dark Grey paint (although they clash quite badly with the yellow calipers on the carbon-ceramic brakes). Stay tuned for more on the new Concept M4 GTS, including live images from its debut in sunny California. Until then, scroll down for the official press release from BMW. Related Video: 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.

BMW dismisses Tesla tie-up talk

Despite recent rumors to the contrary, don't expect to see much collaboration between Tesla and BMW in the near future. Based on some rather prickly statements from the German automaker, Elon Musk might have even burnt some bridges in Bavaria with his latest proclamations. The spat stems from Musk's recent interview with German magazine Der Spiegel where he discusses future collaboration with BMW on "battery technology or charging stations" and the possibility of a battery factory in Germany. But apparently, any future tie-ups are news to the Bavarian automaker. In an interview with the German business publication Wirtschafts Woche, an unnamed spokesperson for the company claims Musk said it all for PR value and swats down most of the statements. BMW has no intention of acquiring Tesla shares, and they aren't working together on any tech. There's not much chance for future cooperation on a battery factory in Germany, either. BMW believes that the cells can just as easily be purchased from suppliers, like other auto parts. The one slight concession is that the spokesperson said that the German automaker would be willing to supply Tesla with carbon fiber. That's not an exclusive offer, though, and the company is open to negotiate such a deal with any interested automaker.