BMW and Boeing Collaborate on Carbon Fiber for Cars, Planes

 

Just the Facts:

• In an unlikely partnership, BMW and Boeing on Wednesday announced that they will collaborate on developing the use of carbon fiber in cars and planes.
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• BMW said in a statement that the two companies will participate in joint research for carbon fiber recycling and share manufacturing knowledge, along with automation opportunities.
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• The 2014 BMW i3 will be one of the first BMW cars with a carbon passenger cell, the automaker noted.

MUNICH, Germany — In an unlikely partnership, BMW and Boeing on Wednesday announced that they will collaborate on developing the use of carbon fiber in cars and planes.

BMW said in a statement that the two companies will participate in joint research for carbon fiber recycling and share manufacturing knowledge, along with automation opportunities.

The 2014 BMW i3 will be one of the first BMW cars with a carbon passenger cell, the automaker noted, followed later by the BMW i8. The BMW i3 is set to go on sale in late 2013. Boeing's 787 Dreamliner is made up of 50 percent carbon fiber material.

As part of its SGL Automotive Carbon Fibers joint venture, the BMW Group has built a new carbon fiber plant in Moses Lake, Washington.

Edmunds says: Carbon fiber is lighter than aluminum and steel. It will give automakers like BMW an advantage when it comes to boosting fuel economy and cutting vehicle weight.

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2013 BMW M3 DTM Champion Edition Honors Racing Achievement Review

 

Just the Facts:

• The 2013 BMW M3 DTM Champion Edition, which celebrates the German automaker's successful return to the European-based sedan racing series, will be sold in international markets.
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• The special-edition M3 starts at the U.S. equivalent of $129,331.
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• Only 54 units will be sold.

MUNICH, Germany — The 2013 BMW M3 DTM Champion Edition, which celebrates the German automaker's successful return to the European-based sedan racing series, will be sold in international markets.

The special-edition M3 starts at the U.S. equivalent of $129,331. A limited run of just 54 units will be produced.

BMW Motorsport returned to the DTM — which has been called "NASCAR with a German accent" — after an almost 20-year hiatus. Canadian driver Bruno Spengler won the drivers' title, BMW Team Schnitzer finished in the top spot in the standings and BMW claimed the manufacturer's honors.

The special-edition M3 is decked out in Frozen Black metallic exterior paint and is designed to look like Spengler's racecar. Other details include dark chrome trim and matte black wheels. A BMW M stripe dresses up the roof and trunk lid.

The door sill strips are said to replicate Spengler's helmet design. The package also includes the professional navigation system, M Drive, heated seats and park distance control.

Buyers get an unusual perk — a chance to attend the BMW M Fascination Nordschleife driver-training course under the guidance of Spengler.

Edmunds says: The perfect BMW for fans of Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters.

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BMW 4 Series Coupe Previewed

Just the Facts:

• BMW's Concept 4 Series Coupe previews next year's successor to the 3 Series two-door.
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• Production starts in the spring.
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• The new 4 Series also adds convertible and M4 variants.

MUNICH, Germany — BMW's Concept 4 Series Coupe is a near-production-ready peek at next year's successor to the 3 Series two-door.

While technical details remain scant, BMW has confirmed it will continue with its tradition of giving odd number names to sedans and even ones to two-door models. The company has decided to split the coupe and convertible from the 3 Series range and rechristen them under the new 4 Series rubric.

In concept form, the new 4 Series still looks pretty much like its four-door 3 Series sib, with a few flashy details as satin-finish aluminum bumpers and trim, plus twin circular LED headlamps.

The Concept 4 Series Coupe measures 182.7 inches long and rides on a wheelbase that's been stretched 2 inches. The car is also lower and wider, with track increased by 1.8 inches in front and 3.2 inches at the rear.
The concept sports an oversize air intake in the front apron, as well as vents behind the front wheels. The exterior has been painted Liquid Metal Silver, accented with 20-inch multispoke alloy wheels and twin exhaust pipes.

The four-place cockpit of the Concept 4 Series Coupe was developed by BMW Individual and features two-tone black and Schiaparelli brown leather trim and surfaces with contrast stitching and hand-braided leather trim.

BMW is also planning convertible, M4 and Gran Coupe additions to the 4 Series range.

Edmunds says: Giving the 3 Series coupe its own name opens up the door for several new model variations that BMW is sure to take advantage of in the not-too-distant future.

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BMW 3 Series Gran Turismo Spy Photos

 

Just the Facts:

• Future BMW 3 Series GT is caught undisguised during a photo shoot.
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• BMW is following up on the success of the larger 5 Series GT.
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• The new hatchback will debut at the 2013 Geneva Auto Show.

LOS ANGELES — After months of heavily disguised prototypes, the 2014 BMW 3 Series GT has finally been caught undisguised and it's better than expected.

Unlike the ungainly BMW 5 Series GT, the 3 Series Gran Turismo is sleeker and less blocky, with a Hofmeister kink that looks to be pulled from the X6. Still, this not-quite-a-wagon/not-quite-a-hatchback compromise leaves, visually, something to be desired.

During a promotional shoot, our photographer saw both the standard 3 Series GT (brown) and the hotter 3 Series GT M Sport.

Anyone who's paid any attention to BMW in the last decade knows what kind of power these hatchy wagons will have. There will be a base 328i utilizing a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder and a 335i with BMW's slick turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-6 with or without BMW's xDrive all-wheel drive. An ActiveHybrid and a diesel are less likely, but possible.

On a 2013 BMW 3 Series sedan, the M Sport line includes 18-inch, staggered-width rims with performance tires, sport seats, different interior trims, an M steering wheel and an increased top-speed limiter, and there's no reason to assume this one will be very different.

Previously we'd heard that BMW was set to release this in-between-sized 3 Series at the Paris auto show, but now we're banking on a 2013 Geneva Auto Show debut this spring.

The 5 Series GT has never been a hit — visually or dynamically — with enthusiasts, but sales and customer input were strong enough to warrant a smaller version. The 3 Series Wagon has been hamstrung by BMW from day one, failing to offer the strong motor. That option alone could make a case for enthusiasts to get behind the 3 Series GT in the U.S.

Edmunds says: This could be the wagon alternative that BMW has been searching for to snag U.S. buyers who want extra room, but don't want an SUV.

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Rear-Drive BMW EV Coming to U.S. in Early 2014

 

Just the Facts:

• The production version of the i3 Concept Coupe unveiled at the Los Angeles auto show will be in U.S. showrooms in early 2014, a BMW spokesperson told Edmunds today.
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• Production of the electric car starts in Germany in late 2013 and its passenger "cell" will be made up of carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic (CFRP) manufactured in Washington state.
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• That same U.S. carbon-fiber manufacturing facility will provide material for the body and chassis of the production version of the outrageous i8 plug-in hybrid concept.

LOS ANGELES — Even before the debuts of its i3 and i8 concepts at last year's Frankfurt auto show, BMW was talking about various salient elements of its electrified-vehicles strategy. But after what seems a lengthy period of discussion, the rubber meets the road in 2014, when a production version of the i3 Concept Coupe unveiled at the 2012 Los Angeles Auto Show hits BMW's U.S. showrooms.

A BMW source told Edmunds at the show that a production version of the rear-drive i3 concept — will it be the latest Coupe or the four-door i3? — will begin manufacturing at BMW's plant in Leipzig, Germany, beginning in late 2013 and will be in the U.S. early the following year.

Although it has two fewer doors, the newly revealed i3 Concept Coupe has the same 101.2-inch wheelbase as the first i3 concept car. BMW said the original i3 concept weighed less than 2,800 pounds.

BMW said the i3 Concept Coupe has a range of 100 miles from its lithium-ion battery pack, but leverages the interconnected nature of the navigation system and BMW's networked communications to continually provide a "dynamic" estimate of remaining driving range.

The network will continually update the car about traffic conditions or other factors that might affect range; if a destination has been input into the navigation unit, the system also will take into account such factors as topography along the route. The hope seems to be that such real-time calculations will help alleviate the range anxiety that presumably preys on the mind of all potential buyers of electric vehicles.

Edmunds says: Whether the i3 Concept Coupe represents your idea of what a new-age BMW should look like, you've gotta be encouraged that this electric car is a rear-driver.

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Up to 20 Models Could Be Developed From New BMW Front-Drive Platform

 

Just the Facts:

• The front-wheel-drive platform underpinning the BMW Concept Active Tourer could spawn as many as 20 new models, BMW told Edmunds.
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• At this point, 10 to 12 of the new models have been approved, as BMW notes that the small-car premium segment will grow faster than other segments.
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• The front-drive Concept Active Tourer platform is known as ULK1 for "Unter Klasse" or entry level.

LONDON — The front-wheel-drive platform underpinning the BMW Concept Active Tourer could spawn as many as 20 new models, BMW told Edmunds.

At this point, 10 to 12 of the new models have been approved, as BMW notes that the small-car premium segment will grow faster than other segments. Names of the models and launch dates have not been revealed.

The front-drive Concept Active Tourer platform is known as ULK1 for "Unter Klasse" or entry level. BMW shook up the 2012 Paris Auto Show with the debut of the Concept Active Tourer, a front-wheel-drive plug-in hybrid with a new TwinPower Turbo 1.5-liter three-cylinder engine, electric motor and lithium-ion battery.

BMW, which has staked much of its reputation on rear-wheel drive, said the Concept Active Tourer "presents a drive concept which is new to the BMW brand." The radical concept seemed to stand in stark contrast to BMW's adherence to rear-wheel drive in much of its lineup, except for four-wheel-drive offerings.

Ian Robertson, BMW's board member for sales and marketing, disclosed the multi-model plans for the front-wheel-drive platform.

Robertson said the decision to develop so many models had been taken "because the small-car segment will grow faster than other segments." Robertson says the company is also confident that "the premium segment will grow faster than the mass-market sector."

The Concept Active Tourer platform is being developed with two wheelbases, the longer providing the basis of a new front-drive BMW range that will complement the 1 Series, the shorter platform the basis for the next generation of Minis.

Combining the core mechanicals of two model ranges affords BMW much greater economies of scale, and is a key part of the group's aim of selling 2 million vehicles annually. Its 1.5-liter three-cylinder is part of a brand new modular engine family, code named B38. The family will eventually include four- and six-cylinder power units fueled by gasoline and diesel and feature parts-commonality of up to 60 percent.

Edmunds says: BMW's front-drive platform strategy should strengthen the financial fundamentals of its Mini brand besides boosting the marque's presence in the small-car market.

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BMW Museum Lets Guests Stroke Most Valuable Cars at Special Event

 

Just the Facts:

• The BMW Museum is hosting an event that lets visitors stroke 125 of its most valuable automobiles, motorcycles and engines at the BMW Museum at "Night of the White Gloves" on November 23.
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• The gathering highlights the 25th anniversary of the BMW Z1 sports car, which was first unveiled at the 1988 Frankfurt Auto Show.
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• Others that can be touched include a BMW Mille Miglia 328, an Elvis-era 507 and M supercars.
  

MUNICH, Germany — BMW is letting visitors get a feel for the brand's history at "Night of the White Gloves" November 23, where guests will don white gloves to fondle 125 of the BMW Museum's most valuable automobiles, motorcycles and engines.
"Normally that's a big no-no, which you ignore at your peril," said BMW in a statement. "But as we all know, forbidden fruit is the sweetest."

 
The touchy-feely gathering highlights the 25th anniversary of the BMW Z1 sports car, which was first unveiled at the 1988 Frankfurt Auto Show. Others ready to be stroked include a BMW Mille Miglia 328, an Elvis-era 507 and M supercars.

BMW is bringing in other luxury-minded businesses as well, including Munich-based Roeckl, which will offer guests an education on manufacturing high-quality leather gloves, a tip to some of BMW's leather-lined steering wheels. The Steinway company will create an exhibit in the shape of a bright-red grand piano.

 
Light manufacturer Osram has completed "Dandelion," an installation in the BMW Museum. It consists of 1,000 organic light-emitting diodes, or OLEDs. Like its sibling the LED, an OLED is a semiconductor that converts electrical energy into optical lighting. It will remain at the museum until the end of January 2013.

Edmunds says: Feeling is believing, BMW hopes.

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BMWs of Future 2025 Previewed

 

Just the Facts:

• The BMWs of 2025 may feature "instant gratification" car-sharing clubs, interactive windshields and technology that can clean the air outside of the vehicle.
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• The unusual features, which are ideas generated by a BMW and Local Motors contest, highlight the "human driving experience."
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• The 1st-place prize in the contest went to BMW Reward Me, a car-sharing club that allows drivers to earn points and redeem rewards.

MUNICH, Germany — The BMWs of 2025 may feature "instant gratification" car-sharing clubs, interactive windshields and technology that can clean the air outside of the vehicle. The unusual features, which are ideas generated by a BMW and Local Motors contest, highlight the "human driving experience."
The 1st-place prize in the contest went to BMW Reward Me, a car-sharing club that allows drivers to earn points and redeem rewards.

The BMW and Local Motors "Urban Driving Experience Challenge" asked participants to come up with a vehicle feature or function that would define urban driving in 2025.

The BMW Reward Me is the brainchild of Anthony Franze of Adelaide, Australia.

The idea combines car sharing with a reward system that would appeal to a new generation of users that have grown up with a need for "instant gratification and rewards." The program allows drivers to earn points while driving, that can be used to upgrade membership levels and redeem rewards, almost paralleling a video game. Points would be gained by taking eco-friendly routes or picking up and delivering a package along the route.

The BMW Vision BreathFree concept from Washington's Kevin Lo won 2nd prize. The concept is a regenerative carbon-dioxide removal system. The technology would use carbon filtration and catalysts to convert ozone to oxygen, essentially cleaning the air inside and outside of the vehicle. The creator says the system is similar to technology used in the International Space Station.

The BMW Eye-3 concept from Guillaume Coolen of Tokyo won 3rd prize. Eye-3 essentially is an interactive windshield with intelligent sensors that aid in driving safety. The windshield would have capabilities like dimming distracting bright lights in front of the driver and changing color depending on the status of the approaching traffic light. In other words, the windshield turns green for a green light, thus aiding the driver.

Edmunds says: An innovative contest that spurred some plausible ideas for future vehicle design.

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BMW Building Two-Man Bobsled for Team USA

 

Just the Facts:

• BMW is developing a new two-man bobsled for Team USA for the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games.
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• The current bobsled design is more than 20 years old and Team USA hasn't won a two-man gold medal in the Olympics since 1936.
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• Bobsled design isn't that much different from car design, said BMW, since both focus on "agility, speed and aerodynamics."

WOODCLIFF LAKE, New Jersey — BMW of North America announced that it is designing a two-man bobsled for Team USA for the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games.

The current bobsled design is more than 20 years old and Team USA hasn't won a two-man gold medal in the Olympics since 1936.

Bobsled design isn't that much different from car design, said BMW, since both focus on "agility, speed and aerodynamics."

BMW is the Official Mobility Partner of the United States Olympic Committee and is building the sled in collaboration with the USA Bobsled & Skeleton Federation (USBSF).

The sled has been in the making for over a year, and a prototype has already been delivered to USBSF.
Throughout the upcoming year, the team will refine the sled technology with help from engineers at BMW
Group DesignworksUSA.

"By bringing BMW in to provide its expertise, we see an opportunity to close an equipment gap between Team USA and countries that have historically led Olympic two-man bobsled competition," said Darrin Steele, chief executive officer of USBSF, in a statement on Wednesday.

Similar to building a racecar, there are specific design requirements to building an Olympic bobsled, and BMW says that it applied its EfficientDynamics technology to the sled plan.

The 2014 Olympic Winter Games will occur in Sochi, Russia with the opening ceremony on February 7, 2014.

Edmunds says: BMW aims to build the ultimate bobsled.

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BMW X6 Concept Sport

Concept innovation of the world’s first Sports Activity Coupé. As the founder of the Sports Activity Vehicle (SAV) segment, BMW is now once again presenting a new, consistently developed concept.The most sporting and dynamic interpretation of a BMW X model, with the emphasis above all on the car’s active driving potential. Superior driving dynamics taken up by typical BMW design language and authentically visualised in the car’s design.Extravagant body design combining the sporting elegance of a BMW Coupé with the striking DNA of BMW X. Clear orientation to the wheels, generous ground clearance and extra-large wheel arches give BMW Concept X6 the powerful presence so characteristic of a BMW X model. BMW Concept X6 is the first car in the world to feature Dynamic Performance Control for unique directional stability and precision under all driving conditions as well as BMW’s intelligent xDrive all-wheel-drive technology.

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BMW X6 Concept Active Hybrid Sport

World debut of BMW Concept X6 ActiveHybrid – combining significant enhancement of efficiency with Sheer Driving Pleasure so typical of BMW. The close and direct link of concepts combining the new Sports Activity Coupé with innovative BMW ActiveHybrid technology ensures an authentic match of design and technology in every respect. The potential of BMW’s ActiveHybrid system develops its optimum effect in the unique concept of the Sports Activity Coupé. This holistic, all-round approach sets the stage for an all-new driving experience.The BMW Concept X6 ActiveHybrid, the BMW in the world of hybrid cars.

BMW ActiveHybrid is far superior to conventional hybrid vehicles in terms of driving dynamics. Its fuel consumption and emission ratings are up to 20 per cent better than on a comparable car with conventional drivetrain technology. The combination with innovative hybrid technology offers the most sporting and dynamic rendition of a BMW X Car. Design language typical of BMW takes up the superior driving dynamics of the Sports Activity Coupé and visualises this superiority through authentic design and a unique look. Indeed, the extravagant design of the body combines the sporting elegance of a BMW Coupé with the striking DNA of BMW X and provides a clear reference to the innovative drive concept.

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BMW Z4 Review

The BMW Z4 is one of the more intriguing sports cars currently available. It's known for its engaging handling and steering, thrilling inline six-cylinder engine and distinctive styling. Although its stated horsepower ratings are equaled or surpassed by those of some less expensive machinery, the Z4 counters with a lighter curb weight and, in most cases, a more rewarding driving experience. Recent improvements have made the latest Z4 the best yet, and older models are still a very viable choice for a used sports car.

The BMW Z4 is built at the company's Spartanburg, South Carolina, facility, and has been in production since the 2003 model year. It's a successor to the original Z3 and is the company's only two-seat sports car. It features traditional characteristics such as a front-engine/rear-drive layout, a hunkered-down stance, a long hood and rearward positioning of driver and passenger. Another notable element is the car's chiseled exterior design, which BMW says is used to add tension to the car's shape.

The BMW Z4 is available as a roadster with a convertible top or a fixed-roof coupe. For the roadster, there are two trim levels: 3.0i and 3.0si. The Z4 3.0i comes with features such as 17-inch wheels, stability control, antilock brakes, power mirrors and windows, manually operated seats and vinyl upholstery. A 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine rated at 215 horsepower is standard, as is a six-speed manual transmission. A six-speed automatic is optional.

The Z4 3.0si features 18-inch wheels, a few upgraded interior features and a 255-hp 3.0-liter inline six. A few options are also available for both trim levels, including a Premium package with a power-operated top and a Sport package designed to improve the vehicle's handling capabilities. The Z4 Coupe is offered in the 3.0si trim only.

Even without the Sport package, the Z4 rewards drivers with an engaging driving experience. In Edmunds.com reviews of the BMW Z4, editors have praised the car's sharp reflexes and quick acceleration. The Coupe possesses a slight advantage in terms of handling due to its added body rigidity. For shoppers desiring even more performance, there's also an M-powered version of the Z4.

Because of a major update for 2006, Z4 models from this year and onwards are a better choice than earlier models, if price is no object. This update included the mid-year release of the coupe body style, the 215-hp and 255-hp engines, and the six-speed automatic. Other changes to the BMW sports car included a retuned standard suspension for better ride quality, a higher final-drive ratio for improved acceleration, new wheel designs, additional braking functionality for the stability control system, updated front and rear styling and minor interior trim updates.

From 2003-'05, BMW Z4 models were identified as either 2.5i or 3.0i. The 2.5i has a 2.5-liter, inline six-cylinder engine that makes 184 hp, while the 3.0i uses a 3.0-liter straight six that generates 225 hp. For transmissions, there is a five-speed manual (standard on the 2.5), a six-speed manual (standard on the 3.0), a five-speed automatic or, as on the M3, a six-speed Sequential Manual Gearbox (SMG). There were a few minor changes made during this period in terms of feature content, but none of them were significant enough to make one model year more desirable than another.

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