2006 Bmw M5 on 2040-cars

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BMW Competition Edition: 'ultimate version' of M5

BMW isn't waiting to see how much power the upcoming Mercedes-AMG E63 will have and is firmly placing itself at the top of the performance list with a new edition of the M5. BMW claims the M5 Competition Edition is the ultimate version of the sedan and will be limited to 200 models. BMW has confirmed that the vehicle will only be sold in Europe, which makes sense as the automaker just announced a US-only edition. The Competition Edition utilizes the same platform as the M5 with the Competition Package. The M5's twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V8 receives an updated ECU and an increase in boost pressure for 40 more horsepower and 16 pound-feet of torque. The special edition now puts out 600 hp and 516 lb.-ft. of torque. With the M dual-clutch transmission as standard, the sedan takes 3.9 seconds to get to 62 mph from a standstill. The M5 Competition Edition also benefits from all of the go-fast goodies found in the Competition Package, which include: a recalibrated differential, special steering calibration, a reprogrammed M chassis control system, and an upgraded and lowered suspension. The limited-edition model will be finished in two body colors, Carbon Black and Mineral White, both of which are metallic, while the exterior is adorned with carbon fiber. The rear diffuser, spoiler, and mirror caps are all finished in carbon fiber, with the kidney grilles and side gills wear a "M5 Competition" badge. A unique set of black wheels wrapped in performance tires rounds out the exterior touches. On the inside, the M5 Competition Edition is finished in Merino Black leather with contrast stitching in Opal White. Even the floor mats, which are black, have Merino Opal White bordering. "///M5" is prominently embroidered on the performance seats' headrests, while the carbon-fiber interior trim bears a plaque (one to 200) to indicate the vehicle's limited quantity. All of the special editions will come with a Bang & Olufsen stereo system in addition to a host of high-tech features. The M5 Competition Edition is currently available for approximately $142,696 or roughly $42,000 over a M5 with the Competition Package. Related Video: Featured Gallery 2016 BMW M5 Competition Edition News Source: BMWImage Credit: BMW BMW Special and Limited Editions Performance Sedan limited edition

Some younger drivers relish the idea of stick shifting

Part way into the 21st Century, obsolescence isn’t what it used to be, especially in the minds of younger consumers; consider the renaissance of vinyl records and film cameras. To that list, add the automobileÂ’s stick shift. Manual transmissions are no longer just about lower car purchase prices, better fuel economy or more control on the road. TheyÂ’re about being hip. At least, thatÂ’s part of the thesis offered in a recent article in The Wall Street Journal. “The 20-Somethings Fueling a Stick-Shift Renaissance”  examines a modest but real resurgence in the sales upticks of manual-equipped cars, and focuses on the enthusiasm of younger people to acquire them, and the challenges—no longer so challenging—of learning bow to drive them. But, as readers of Autoblog have learned in recent years,, the future of manuals, as author Rachel Wolfe succinctly points out in the Journal piece, is essentially doomed in the longer term. Blame the electric vehicle. She writes that car makers sold 43 different manual models in 2022, according to J.D. Power, compared with 69 in 2019. “While a few EVs do have more than one gear,” she says, “auto makers are still figuring out how to translate the experience of maneuvering a manual to their electric car lineups. ‘’ Did we mention “doomed”? But Ms. Wolfe does offer some positivity. “MINI just opened a manual driving school of its own at the BMW Performance Center in Thermal, Calif.,” she writes. “A January company survey of just over 1,000 drivers found that two-thirds of 18-to-34-year-olds are eager to learn how to drive a manual, versus 40% of older respondents who donÂ’t already drive stick.” The author quotes a couple of drivers who became enamored of manuals, including a teenager from Ohio who took his driving test with a manual. “I thought it was cool to learn how to drive on a stick, just because I could tell my friends that I was a better driver than them,” he says. She also visits the other side of the issue, talking to a 24-year-old, who said that she found the stick “cool,” but only until “her leg grew sore from the clutch as she navigated traffic commuting back and forth from law school every day in Tampa, Fla.  ‘I think they are very fun to drive for about two hours, and then youÂ’re like, OK, I would like to put it away and just drive like a normal person again.’’” The full article is available online here.

The BMW M760i xDrive isn't as cool as the Alpina B7

Earlier this week, BMW released what we assumed was the new pinnacle of the 7 Series range: the Alpina B7 xDrive. But then we received information about the car you see here, which still isn't a full M7, but uses the name M760i xDrive. What we're trying to figure out is, why would you get the M760i over the brand-new Alpina? Mechanically, and as far as we can tell, the only real difference between the two cars is under the hood. The M760i uses a twin-turbo 6.6-liter V12 capable of an estimated 600 horsepower at 5,500 rpm and 590 pound-feet of torque at 1,500 rpm. Thing is, the Alpina B7 also makes 600 hp and 590 lb-ft, albeit at higher points in the rev range, from a twin-turbo 4.4-liter V8. Both cars use all-wheel drive. Both cars have eight-speed automatic transmissions. But while the M760i does the 0-62 run in 3.9 seconds and tops out at an electronically limited 155 miles per hour, the Alpina does 0-60 in 3.6 seconds and runs to an unrestricted 193 mph. For all intents and purposes, the little details about interior refinement and technology are basically the same. It's a top-of-the-line 7 Series, so no matter if you're doing Alpina or M760i, you're getting the best of the best. To us, though, the Alpina represents a package that's more unique. It's certainly a bit flashier, what with its Alpina-correct 21-inch wheels, blue paint, and body kit. But put the two cars next to each other on the street and ask an unknowing pedestrian which one is top dog, and we're willing to bet they'll say Alpina every time. There's no word on pricing for either version of the 7 Series, but we expect they'll be close. The M760's engine will be more expensive, but all those Alpina upgrades certainly won't come cheap. We'll know more closer to the launch of both later this year and in early 2017. For now, read more about the M760i in the press blast below. Related Video: The All-New 2017 BMW M760i xDrive. - Superb performance and exceptional luxury combined. - The allure of the most powerful BMW V12 production engine. - First BMW 7 Series M Performance Automobile. Today, BMW announced the all-new BMW M760i xDrive, the latest addition to the BMW M Performance line-up. With the introduction of the 2017 BMW M760i xDrive, the sixth generation BMW 7 Series adds the first M Performance TwinPower Turbo 12-cylinder to its offerings.