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BMW i8 fully revealed ahead of Frankfurt debut

It may be early in the morning here in the US, but in Germany, the first day of the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show is in full swing. BMW took advantage of the early start and showed off its long-awaited i8 plug-in hybrid sportscar, a two-plus-two, swan-wing-doored coupe, to the Frankfurt crowd.
We drove a BMW i8 prototype back in August, so many of the things we're reading today are clarifications on our initial suspicions or speculations. Underhood sits a 1.5-liter, turbocharged, three-cylinder engine. On its own, it churns out a respectable 231 horsepower and 236 pound-feet of torque, which is then channeled to the rear wheels by way of a six-speed automatic transmission. An electric motor, meanwhile, sends 131 hp and 184 lb-ft of torque through a two-speed automatic to the front wheels.
With all-wheel drive at its disposal, the total system power sits at 362 hp and 320 lb-ft of torque, and allows the i8 to scamper to 62 miles per hour in just 4.4 seconds. That excellent performance is offset by an estimated fuel economy figure of 94 miles per gallon, though, making this a fast and efficient vehicle. Charging is impressively fast on the i8, with a full charge coming from a 110-volt outlet in under four hours. A BMW Charging Station will trim the charge time down to 1.5 hours.

2016 BMW M4 GTS: More power, less weight, ready for the track

BMW calls its new M4 GTS the "most agile, radical, and powerful M4 ever." It's got 493 horsepower, a slick new water injection system, a three-way adjustable coilover suspension, and a weight reduction of roughly 200 pounds compared to a stock M4. Only 700 will be built, with 300 allocated for the United States. And did we mention it looks absolutely killer? Let's talk about that water injection system for a moment, because it's the first time this technology is being used on [an intercooled - Ed.] production road car. Basically, water absorbs heat from surrounding air, so a fine mist is sprayed into the intake manifold where it evaporates, lowering the temperature of the intake air. BMW says this reduces final compression temperature, allowing the turbochargers to operate with increased boost pressure and better spark timing. The end result is increased output – 493 horsepower and 442 pound-feet of torque from the same twin-turbo, 3.0-liter straight-six as the standard M4. That's an increase of 68 hp and 36 lb-ft. But the GTS isn't just about increased power. In fact, the bigger story is its weight reduction. BMW incorporated the use of aluminum and carbon fiber throughout the M4's construction, and DIN curb weight is listed as 3,329 pounds. It's unclear if that's the exact US measurement, and BMW couldn't comment on that as of this writing, but compared to our 3,530-pound stock M4, that represents some 200 fewer pounds of heft. Carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) is used in the hood, making that part some 25 percent lighter than the stock piece. CFRP is also used for the driveshaft, making it 40-percent lighter than the standard setup. Even inside the car, the new center console is 30-percent lighter than what you'd find in a normal M4. The rear seats are gone, and we're sorry to say that the cool racing buckets pictured here won't be available in the US. Making this thing super capable at the track is a three-way M coilover suspension, combined with upgraded carbon ceramic brakes, set behind staggered wheels and tires. Up front, the GTS rides on 19-inch rollers wrapped in 265/35-series Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires, and out back, 20-inch wheels are fitted inside 285/30-series rubber. The only transmission available is the seven-speed, M DCT dual-clutch unit, and when all is said in done, BMW says the M4 GTS will run the infamous Nurburgring Nordschleife in 7 minutes and 28 seconds. Another cool feature: organic LED technology.

BMW has a rough 100th birthday as share prices slide

BMW is 100 years old now, but falling stock prices are giving the German automaker the birthday blues. Investors are worried about the company's future outlook against luxury rivals, and the shareholders aren't happy about the recent dividend payments, either. According to The Wall Street Journal, BMW's shares dropped almost 2 percent on March 9. Investors have concerns that rivals are closing in. While BMW is in first place, it's not a commanding lead. For example, the German was first in the US luxury market last year with 346,023 deliveries. However, a Polk study found that Lexus actually earned the high-end crown in the US after looking at vehicle registrations rather than sales. BMW performed well last year, including delivering a strong 2.25 million vehicles. Net profits also jumped 10 percent to $7.05 billion, and revenue grew 15 percent, according to the WSJ. However, the shareholders wanted larger dividends after the successful year. The automaker paid out based on a percentage of earnings, but the investors expected more. BMW CEO Harald Kruger has an opportunity to get stockholders back on his side next week when he announces the automaker's new strategy. Expect technology to play a major role in that discussion, including electric vehicles and digital services. We might even see the i5 debut there, according to the WSJ. To be the automotive tech leader of the future, BMW plans to make computer programmers half of its research and development staff. The goal is to develop the most intelligent car on the road. Related Video: