2003 Bmw M5 Base Sedan 4-door 5.0l on 2040-cars

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2014 BMW 740Ld xDrive does diesel in a big way

Slowly but surely, BMW is expanding its lineup of diesel-powered models here in the United States. In addition to the 328d sedan and wagon, 535d sedan and X5 xDrive35d crossover, we now have this, the BMW 740Ld xDrive (not to mention the refreshed 2015 X3 xDrive28d that also makes its debut here in Chicago). As its name - and the photos above - suggest, this means BMW is offering diesel power in its flagship, long-wheelbase 7 Series sedan, set to directly compete with the likes of the excellent Audi A8 TDI.
Under the hood is BMW's familiar 3.0-liter turbocharged diesel inline-six, delivering 255 horsepower and 413 pound-feet of torque, all of which is sent to the road via the company's xDrive all-wheel-drive system and ZF eight-speed automatic transmission. That torque thrust is available straight away from 1,500 rpm, and BMW says the 740Ld xDrive will sprint to 60 miles per hour in a very respectable 6.1 seconds. Official fuel economy estimates haven't been released yet, but we expect the car to net highway fuel economy ratings in the mid-30 range.
The 740Ld xDrive arrives in BMW showrooms this spring, priced from $82,500, not including $925 for destination. We're pretty stoked to drive it. But in the meantime, have a look at fresh images of the big sedan live from the Chicago Auto Show, above.

Recharge Wrap-up: Lego Tesla logo, BMW goes electric in Singapore

A man built a giant Tesla logo out of Legos. Adrian Drake, a Tesla owner, displayed his brickwork homage to the electric car company at Brickworld Chicago. In the video above, the hosts interview Mr. Drake about his creation, and he gives some insights into how he conceived and constructed the freestanding display. Drake also demonstrates its sturdiness, giving the logo a tap to send it wobbling precariously from side to side. You'll probably notice that standing to the left of the logo is a Lego model of a Tesla Supercharger. That was built by Robert Turner and can be seen in a separate video. See the Lego Tesla logo in the video above, and read more at Teslarati. Canadian power generator TransAlta will use Tesla stationary batteries for a commercial energy storage project. The project involves installing five Tesla Powerpacks to store energy during periods of low demand for use during peak grid times. TransAlta believes that energy storage systems like this will help encourage the creation of more wind and solar energy. "This is a major step forward in putting new technology to work in Canada," says TransAlta Lead Engineer of Technology Dan Chapman, "and Tesla is already a leader in this field." The project is expected to be up and running in late 2016. Read more from TransAlta. BMW and Nanyang Technological University in Singapore have launched an electromobility research program. In addition to the projects the joint Future Mobility Research Lab is already working on, (Advanced Battery, Driver Enhancement and Intelligent Mobility), the groups will also begin Electromobility in Asia and Smart Materials research projects. The Electromobility in Asia project focuses on how people interact with BMW's i cars, while the Smart Materials project seeks to improve touchscreens and interactive surfaces. BMW has provided the lab with an i3 and i8 with which to conduct research. Each partner is investing $965,000 into the new programs. Read more at Green Car Congress, and in the press release below. BMW Group and NTU embark on S$1.3 million electromobility research NTU receives BMW i3 and BMW i8 as research platforms Singapore. BMW Group and Nanyang Technological University (NTU Singapore) today launched a new electromobility research programme, involving the all-electric BMW i3 and plug-in hybrid sports car BMW i8 that runs on electricity and petrol.

Mercedes 'could' do BMW i rival. But it won't

It's a safe bet that if one automaker does something, its big rival won't be far behind with a response. This is true no matter the country in question. So with BMW's i sub brand enjoying a firm, green standing, it seems like only a matter of time before Mercedes-Benz answers. Or not. Speaking to Autocar, the company's head of sales and marketing, Ola Kallenius, said Mercedes could absolutely conjure up an ultra-efficient sub-brand filled with unique, eco-friendly models to compete with the i3 and i8. Or, you know, it could just apply a fuel-sipping philosophy across the company's range and crush i with a far wider array of models and powertrains. "We could choose for the purpose-made electric vehicles to create some sort of sub-brand but, right now, Mercedes is focused on investing tremendous resources into the path towards zero emissions," Kallenius told Autocar. "It's something that will affect the whole portfolio." And that's not all. "What we're going to do in terms of the road to zero emissions is invest heavily in alternative drivelines and electrification," Kallenius said. "That's a very wide strategy, but it means that by the end of next year we will have 10 plug-in hybrid models, which, I think, is the widest portfolio of any luxury manufacturer." Zing. Kallenius went on to say that on top of the PHVs, MB will sell three all-electric models – two Smart-badged vehicles and the not-for-US B-Class – while its next fuel-cell model, a GLC-based CUV, will hit dealers at the end of 2017. Related Video: