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BMW swaps 30i and 40i models into 2017 2, 3, and 4 Series

BMW will continue its staggered rollout of new engines to many (but not all) of its products in 2017. The new modular engine architecture is the basis for three-, four-, and six-cylinder engines, some of which are already stuck in new Minis and a handful of BMWs. With those new engines come new (or in some cases resurrected) badges meant to connote the added power. They have the added benefit of further separating the last two numbers of the models from the actual displacement of the engines, which is always fun. BMW calls its latest 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine B48, and the new single-turbo six is the B58. The B48 cars get 30i suffixes and the B58s say 40i on the back. And if you really want to get down into code numerology: the B48 replaces the N20 four and the B58 supersedes the N55. Here's where they're headed next year: 2 Series: 230i and M240i For the small Bimmer, the 228i and M235i names are replaced by 230i and M240i models. In these applications, the four-cylinder makes 248 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque and the M-ish six makes 335 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque. The 2 gets other updates for 2017 as well. 3 Series: 330i sedan/wagon/Gran Turismo and 340i Gran Turismo For 2016, BMW put the 335-hp B58 six in the 3 Series sedan only. That engine spreads to the 340i Gran Turismo for 2017, and the N20 in the 328i is replaced by the B48 for 330i models in all body styles. There's still no six-cylinder wagon, and the 320i sedan keeps its N20 engine. Diesel sedans and wagons keep both the 328d name and the 2.0-liter four they had before. Trivia: The 330i name is being recycled – it was used on the E90 most recently. 4 Series: 430i and 440i Every 4 Series – including coupe, Gran Coupe, and convertible models – gets a new engine for 2017. Woo! And both engines will again be available with or without xDrive all-wheel drive. Woo. And no, that's not an official BMW photo above. The rest? BMW hasn't shared information on its 2017 crossover lineup, but we expect the X1, X3, X4, X5, and X6 will get new engines where applicable. And then there are the 30i and 40i models that already existed and won't be getting these new engines. The 330e iPerformance plug-in hybrid sedan already has the B48 four-cylinder. And the 540i, 640i, and 740i continue with a version of BMW's last-gen six. Got that all straight? Yeah, neither do we. And expect updates once the details on the 2017 crossovers are shared.

Six luxury-car features I'm ashamed to admit I love

A hot compress felt wonderful on my sore back. The methodical kneading of my shoulder blades loosened the knots that formed over several hours of driving. The Swedish-style pulses firing into my lumbar region released more tension.
I wasn't getting a much-needed massage following a recent road trip. I was getting it during the road trip.
I grew up riding in the back seat of a 1976 Chevy Nova. But once you use these lux features, it's easy to go soft.

BMW i creates high-design solar charging carport

With the first deliveries of the i3 under way, and the recent i8 press launch, the marketing push in the US for the BMW electric sub-brand has begun. These i vehicles are supposed to have a completely different feel from the rest of the brand's lineup. To complement their earth-friendly ethos, the Bavarian company commissioned BMW Group DesignworksUSA in California to create a solar carport concept that could keep the models sustainably topped up on power. It premiered alongside the i8 in Los Angeles at the electric sports coupe's media launch.
At first glance, the BMW i Solar Carport Concept looks like a pergola from a winery or a well-groomed garden, but like the i vehicles, the deeper you look, the more high-tech features there are. The sides feature carbon elements in a similar way that the i3 and i8 have a carbon fiber-reinforced plastic body. Bamboo forms the uprights because its quick-growing nature makes it rather sustainable, and the solar panels are strung along the top to harness energy.
Obviously the sun can't provide all of the energy that the electric cars need, and a BMW Wallbox Pro charger is also connected to the power grid as a supplement. It includes a readout telling users the amount of solar energy versus municipal electricity it's using.