1998 Bmw Z3 Roadster Convertible 2-door 2.8l W/hardtop on 2040-cars

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Driven: 2020 BMW X7 M50i, M760i and M340i | Autoblog Podcast #623

In this week's Autoblog Podcast, Editor-in-Chief Greg Migliore is joined by West Coast Editor James Riswick and Road Test Editor Zac Palmer. They discuss news about the Cadillac V Blackwing, as well as some interesting auction listings that we spied. They also talk about cars from the fleet including the BMW M760i, X7 M50i and M340i. Autoblog Podcast #623 Get The Podcast iTunes – Subscribe to the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes RSS – Add the Autoblog Podcast feed to your RSS aggregator MP3 – Download the MP3 directly Rundown Cars we're driving 2020 BMW M760i xDrive 2020 BMW X7 M50i 2020 BMW M340i Impala auction listing Cadillac V Blackwing news Feedback Email – Podcast@Autoblog.com Review the show on iTunes Related Video: Nissan Frontier and a mid-engine Mustang | Autoblog Podcast #622

DC fast charging standard on 2015 BMW i3 EV

The BMW i3 is about to get a lot cooler. No, wait, a lot warmer. That's because there will a few new standard features in the i3 plug-in vehicles sold in the US, including seat heaters and satellite radio. Oh, and DC fast charging. The department head of BMW i USA, Jacob Harb, told BMW Blog that the company is, "now confident enough that in 2015 we will have the right infrastructure for DC fast charging, so it makes to include it standard in the MY2015." We can expect more details at the Detroit Auto Show in January and Harb told BMW Blog that, "you will be pleasantly surprised" by the announcement. There are a few other potential changes in store for the i3, including a configurable keyfob (like European i3 drivers get) and a heated steering wheel. It's unlikely that a sunroof or Lane Departure Warning will be offered, but Harb said BMW is always open to suggestions.

2014 BMW Z4 sDrive35is

The BMW Z3/Z4 roadster has never really had a widespread following because it has either been too humble and small a roadster (albeit with some fun and very low-volume M editions) or it has been - in this E89 generation - too casual an image leader with no racier aspirations. The current 480-hp Z4 GTEs don't count, since they are as stock a Z4 as today's Pamela Anderson is the same blonde actress we knew as Heidi on Home Improvement. You know, sort of like those ever-so-slightly modified Toyota Camry coupes competing in NASCAR.
The ultimate highpoint for the BMW Z roadster franchise was at the very start of its life in the mid-90s, in the James Bond film GoldenEye with Pierce Brosnan. The Stinger missiles that Q's team installed behind the Z3's headlights were never fired, and BMW never even offered this self-defense package as an option. Yet another case of the ol' bait and switch.
And in all these subsequent years of Z3s and Z4s strutting their long-hooded stuff, the little sporting Bimmer could really have used a live Stinger missile or two to spice things up. The current Z4 exists, it is pretty dang sexy, and BMW seems content to let it linger there. We just drove the new midlife version of the roadster near BMW headquarters in Munich, and it served to reinforce our feelings.