BMW has brought a slightly different concept vehicle to the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show. Rather than something that foreshadows a future product or a new design direction, the Munich-based manufacturer has brought an X5 that's designed to be shot at. It's called the Concept X5 Security Plus. The Concept X5 name is a bit misleading, though. It's based on the 2014 X5, while BMW already builds an armored CUV, called the X5 Security. The concept tag has to do with the "Security Plus" part.
Engineered to be compliant with VR6 security standards - the current X5 Security is for VR4 standards - the Concept X5 will quite happily shrug off direct attacks from an AK-47. Thanks to sealed joints, high-strength steel moldings, high-performance steel body panels and special, polycarbonate-coated security glass, Kalashnikov's finest, whether used as a firearm or as a melee weapon, would be useless against this X5.
Built alongside the standard X5 in BMW's Spartanburg, SC factory, the X5 is shipped to a BMW facility in Toluca, Mexico for installation of the armor and security features. The company claims this delivers a more thoroughly engineered protective solution than aftermarket retrofitting.
Underhood, the Concept X5 Security Plus is a lot like what will show up at regular dealerships. A twin-turbocharged, 450-horsepower V8 will sit up front and should deliver enough grunt - even with the extra weight, to escape any baddies that come after it.
We sent out intrepid reporter Jonathon Ramsey to take some pictures of the Bavarian beast, but it seems as though Messe security is spoiling everyone's fun. Says Ramsey, "Without a hint of irony, BMW has put the X5 Armored in the Security Lounge, which I cannot penetrate." Suffice it to say then, that you can have a look at our stock image gallery above, or peek below for the full press release from BMW.
BMW shows up-armored X5 concept and we can't get near it originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 11 Sep 2013 16:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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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.
The i8 has a pair of driving mode controllers. The Driving Experience Control switch should be familiar to anyone who has driven a recent BMW product - it's the only way to activate Sport, Eco Pro or the default Comfort setting. As for the eDrive button, it shouldn't be a surprise, based on its name, that pressing it will put the i8 into EV mode.
Bridging the gap between internal combustion engine-powered vehicles and electric vehicles are plug-in hybrids, and BMW has made one out of its biggest sports utility vehicle, even if it's just a concept car at this point. The plug-in hybrid X5 eDrive Concept debuted today at the Frankfurt Motor Show, and it sits attached to a charge port on the show floor.
As we reported in August, the X5 eDrive Concept combines a turbocharged four-cylinder engine of unknown output with a 95-horsepower electric motor, to achieve longer range and lower emissions. The X5 eDrive can drive up to 75 miles per hour and 19 miles on electric power alone, manage about 62 miles per gallon (3.8 liters per 100 kilometers) and accelerate from 0-62 mph in under seven seconds, according to BMW.
Three drive modes are offered: one that automatically operates the hybrid system, an all-electric mode and a Save Battery mode that operates the vehicle using the engine only.
While the SUV remains a concept, we wouldn't be surprised if it went into production within a couple years. Take a look at the press release we included below, and head on over to the live gallery.
BMW's long-form teasing and rollout of its incredibly cool i8 has put us in a unique position to report from its world debut here in Frankfurt. Typically, an auto show debut marks just the start of the information dump about a new vehicle. The i8, however, is a car that we've already driven and reviewed, so perhaps the biggest news from the show floor is the official price of the thing, as well as getting to see it live and in person, of course.
Arriving in US showrooms in the spring of 2014, the i8 performance plug-in hybrid will carry a price tag of $135,700 (*not including $925 for destination and handling charges). That kind of cash puts the i8 near the very top of the BMW range (slotting just under the top-trim 7-Series models), and will buy a massive amount of new technology.
The four-seat i8 has the look of a true supercar, and its new-tech drivetrain will offer up the performance of a stirring sports car, at least. A TwinPower Turbo, three-cylinder, 1.5-liter engine will make 231 horsepower and 236 pound-feet of torque that's gets sent to the rear wheels, while a 96-kilowatt electric motor doles out 131 hp and 184 lb-ft of maximum torque to the fronts. Total system output of 362 hp and 420 lb-ft allows the i8 to sprint to 62 miles per hour in 4.4 seconds with all-wheels-driven handling, and it still returns an astonishing 94 miles per gallon US.
If our new live gallery of BMW i8 images (above) has rekindled your interest in the model, please navigate back to our initial driving review of the prototype, or find the full BMW press release as well as an official video of the car, below. Please note: the original press release BMW provided had the price listed as $135,925 with destination and handling, but we have subsequently received an email stating that price is actually $135,700 without destination, as written above.
2015 BMW i8 offers you a fast ride to the future for $135,700* [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 10 Sep 2013 13:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Prices start at a rather lofty $135,700, which makes this the second most expensive member of the BMW range, behind the luxury rocket known as the 760Li. The i8 will arrive in the US, which BMW expects to be the car's largest market, in the spring 2014. We'll have much more on the i8 and the rest of the BMW range, including live pictures of the new plug-in electric coupe, very soon. Until then, we have our second 11,000-plus-word press release in less than 24 hours for your perusal below, on top of a high-def gallery that includes plenty of technical images about the BMW i8.
UPDATE: The original press release BMW provided (below) had the i8 price listed as $135,972 with destination and handling, but we have subsequently received an email stating that price is actually $135,700 without destination. The text has been changed to reflect this.
BMW i8 fully revealed ahead of Frankfurt debut [UPDATE] originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 10 Sep 2013 03:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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And, mostly dependent on your personal disposition towards four-dour coupes, that look should be a pleasant thing. The long, swooping Gran Coupe may be roughly similar in size to the related 3 Series GT, but it has been sculpted with beauty in mind rather than crossover function. We expect that those details still hidden by the body cladding here, mostly front and rear, can be filled in by simply remembering what the standard 4 Series looks like and squinting your eyes a bit. Subtlety is thy name, BMW variants.
As for the mechanicals, well, we expect to have the very same greasy bits under the hood and beneath the car that are found in the 4 Series lineup, too.
Look for the 4 Series Gran Coupe to be revealed in earnest in 2014, and for the thing to arrive in showrooms soon after as a 2015 model.
BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe caught without cladding originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 04 Sep 2013 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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The new BMW i8 plug-in electric supercar isn't set to make its official debut until September 10, when it will glide onto the Frankfurt Motor Show stage amidst a sea of flash photography. Of course, that isn't so true in today's world, where debuts are always preceded (often carefully) by "leaks."
Take this trio of images of the BMW i8 - there's just enough of the exterior on display in the profile shot to draw attention, without showing important styling points that might be present on the front or back of the car. The same goes for the video attached below. The cabin shot is cool, but isn't particularly earth-shattering when it comes to BMW interiors. As for the skeletal shot, we can see the 1.5-liter, turbocharged engine positioned between the rear axles, the battery pack found in what would be the transmission tunnel and the front-mounted electric motors.
We'll have a full set of live images when the BMW i8 makes its debut in Frankfurt next week. Until then, have a look in the gallery and at the videobelow, and let us know what you think of BMW's next big thing.
BMW i8 official images leak ahead of Frankfurt [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 03 Sep 2013 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Carryovers from the concept car include the funky mirrors, bulging hood and the slotted front fascia vents, but the rear fascia seems to be missing the added flair of the concept and, as expected, the carbon fiber front splitter and exhaust tips are also missing from these M4s. Like the current M3 Convertible, the drop-top version of the M4 will utilize a retractable hard top.
BMW M4 spied in coupe and convertible form originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 29 Aug 2013 18:34:00 EST. Please see ourterms for use of feeds.
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Sharing the same platform as the X3, the lower and wider X4 will be positioned slightly more upmarket - as is the case with the X5 and X6. We hear that this could mean that the X4 will ditch the X3's base engine to give an even sportier feel right out of the gate, but word has it that an M version will being showing up down the road as well.
BMW has already revealed what it plans to show off at the Frankfurt Motor Show (i3, 4 Series Coupe, next-gen X5, refreshed 5 Series,X5 Concept eDrive plug-in hybrid and Concept Active Tourer Outdoor), so barring any surprised we definitely won't be seeing the X4 there. At this point, with as close to production as these images would have us believe, our best guess would be that we'll see the X4's official unveiling happen either at LA or Detroit.
BMW X4 tunes up its crossover game in Germany originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 23 Aug 2013 11:30:00 EST. Please see ourterms for use of feeds.
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As the second concept to wear the eDrive name, this X5 combines a 95-horsepower electric motor with a turbocharged four-cylinder engine to balance performance and efficiency. On the green side of things, BMW says that the eDrive system allows the X5 to reach speeds of 75 miles per hour and a range of 19 miles (although we're guessing not at the same time) under electric power only, to go with fuel consumption of about 62 miles per gallon US (3.8 liters per 100 kilometers). For performance, this plug-in can still accelerate from 0-60 in under seven seconds, and drivers can select from three PHEV modes: one that operates the system automatically, an all-electric mode and a Save Battery mode to preserve the battery's current state of charge.
Aside from the obvious plug port on the left front fender, the X5 eDrive is differentiated from the 2014 X5 with slightly restyled front and rear fascias, subtle blue accents tying in with the BMW i line and lightweight, aero-tuned 21-inch alloy wheels. There is no definitive word on whether the Concept X5 eDrive will make it to production, but judging by BMW's recent commitment to plug-in vehicles, we wouldn't be surprised to see an X5 PHEV on the roads within the next couple of years. We'll see the Concept X5 in just a few weeks in Frankfurt, but until then, scroll down for the official press release.
BMW Concept X5 eDrive plug-in hybrid headed to Frankfurt originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 22 Aug 2013 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Filed under: Concept Cars, Motorsports, Performance, Aston Martin, Audi, BMW, GM, Honda, Infiniti, Mercedes-Benz,Volkswagen, Peugeot, Alfa Romeo, Toys/Games, Racing, SRT
Much like a real conflict, the console wars being waged between Microsoft and Sony spill into a number of different battlefields and theaters. Home to some of the fiercest fighting is the racing genre, which sees Microsoft's Forza Motorsport series go head-to-head with Sony's Gran Turismo series. While there's been plenty of press about Forza, GT has just struck back with some news that we aren't sure Turn 10 Studios and Microsoft can match.When Gran Turismo 6 arrives on the Playstation 4 on December 6, it's with the promise of a huge suite of free, downloadable content featuring some of the finest cars from manufacturers, design houses and brands from across the globe. The staggered release will see the free content distributed from 2013 to 2014, although it's unclear just how many cars will be distributed in total or in each car pack.
Vision includes concepts from Alfa Romeo, Alpine, Aston Martin, Audi, BMW, General Motors, Honda, Infiniti, Mercedes-Benz,Peugeot, SRT, and Volkswagen, along with vehicles from legendary design studios like Bertone, Italdesign Giugiaro, and Zagato. Following in the footsteps of previous GT games, global brands like Nike will take part as well. Conspicuous by absence are past GT partnersCitroen and Red Bull, although we doubt that this is a comprehensive list. We're expecting plenty of surprises when DLC starts arriving.
This news is a blow to the Forza series, which while impressive in its own right (and this author's preferred title), has seemingly struggled to have the same degree of legitimacy and exclusivity inherent in the titles from Polyphony. Gran Turismo 6 is slated for a December 6 debut. Check back here for more info and a full write-up of the new game before then. Until then, scroll down for a trailer on Vision Gran Turismo and a complete press release from Polyphony.
Gran Turismo 6 to get exclusive concept cars from Aston, BMW, Nike and more originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 21 Aug 2013 17:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, Coupe, Performance, BMW
BMW took the wraps off its M4 Concept at Pebble Beach last weekend, and many speculated that the highly anticipated production version of the sleek new two-door sports coupe would debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show later this year. But a well-placed source tells Autoblogthat the E92 M3's successor won't arrive in Southern California this November. Instead, the German automaker will wait until the Detroit Auto Show in January for its first official reveal.An all-new 3.0-liter inline-six with twin turbochargers is expected under the hood, and it should provide about the same horsepower as the current 4.0-liter V8 (rated at 414 horsepower), but with much more torque that arrives lower on the tachometer. The lightweight engine is said to have an impressively high redline, which is unusual for a turbocharged engine.
Unfortunately, Save the Manuals members aren't going to like this next bit of news. After four generations of three-pedal M3 models, our source says the upcoming F82 M4 will arrive with a dual-clutch transmission (DCT) as standard equipment - with no manual option - just like the latest iteration of the track-ready Porsche GT3 (few have complained about the automaker's PDK after driving the latest sports car from Stuttgart). In exchange for some moans, groa
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