>> Saturday, May 15, 2010

2013 BMW 3-series Rendered - Car News

The BMW 3-series coupe and convertible were just face lifted, but the Bavarians already are busy readying the next-generation 3er sedan; it’s that body style that always leads off a new 3-series generation. And so we expect in late 2011 or early 2012 to get an official glimpse of the four-door, which should arrive at dealerships here in late 2012 as a '13 model. Until then, these renderings provide a good idea of what to expect.

We like what’s here: The next 3 keeps the concave body-side surfaces, and the front and rear of the new car will be sharpened. This is very clearly the little brother of the new 5-series, but far more compact and more aggressive in its detailing. The front end is dominated by the four LED rings around the headlights, which will form the basis of the BMW face going forward, and the lower air intakes will become more angular. The rear view will allow you to tell how much power a particular 3-series is packing, even if the owner goes for the badge-delete option, as split exhaust pipes will remain the domain of the most powerful diesel and petrol versions.
Later in 2012, BMW will add a Sport Wagon, as well as the next two-door coupe and convertible models, the latter of which sadly will keep its folding hardtop. We’d have preferred a migration back to a cloth roof, if only to reduce weight. While the advantages of a folding hardtop are largely psychological, they are preferred by convertible-lovers without a garage or those that feel more secure in a car that’s wearing a helmet. In search of another market niche, BMW also will add a 3-series Gran Turismo in the spirit of the controversial 5-series GT.
AWD Again Available, Nanny Tech Sure to Trickle Down
The next 3 is internally known as the F30 and will of course retain rear-wheel drive with available all-wheel drive; an array of diesel and gasoline engines will again be available. But downsizing is the rage, and while there will still be an inline-six, the majority of 3-series models will be powered by turbocharged four-cylinder engines. The M3 may lose its V-8 and return to a six-cylinder engine, which is likely to be turbocharged. On the other side of the spectrum, BMW could even add a three-cylinder engine, but that would be unlikely to reach the U.S. market. The four- and six-cylinder diesel engines will be highly efficient, some versions of which could even trump the current 320d EfficientDynamics Edition, which gets an astonishing 53 mpg in the European cycle. If we see a diesel 3 again in America, though, you can bet it won’t have one of the puny engines.
The new 3 also will get a bag full of electronic nanny systems, including lane-departure warning, radar cruise, and more. Inside, it will lose the ugly dashboard wart that houses the current model’s optional navigation system; look for a far more upscale and clean-looking interior more in line with the style of the new 5-series cabin.
Looking even further out, the 3-series will once again be the most compact BMW with a proper, rear-wheel drive setup. Ah, but what about the 1-series? While the next-generation 1er will retain the use of the 3-series platform, rumblings suggest its successor—the third-generation 1-series—will move to a front-wheel-drive architecture. BMW research has shown that many 1-series drivers believe they own a front-driver anyway, and while the fact speaks volumes about the kind of buyers the car attracts, we would then understand the decision to move the 1 to, say, the Mini platform. The move would only serve to enhance the appeal of the 3, which should remain as compelling as ever.

source by carsanddriver

BMW Concept Gran Coupé - Auto Shows

>> Thursday, May 13, 2010

BMW Concept Gran Coupé - Auto Shows

The German carmaker takes another shot at a high-end, four-door coupe.

In a move reminiscent of—and likely inspired by—its sultry Concept CS of 2007, BMW is unveiling a new, low-profile, four-door coupe concept at the 2010 Beijing auto show. Called the BMW Concept Gran Coupé, it’s meant to showcase the company’s design abilities and philosophy. But instead of being a one-off like the CS, BMW design chief Adrian van Hooydonk tells us that the Gran Coupé will be built, a decision we suspected from the concept's production-ready look.

According to BMW, the Gran Coupé “concentrates the design expertise of the brand” and “captures a sense of superior dynamic performance and high-quality elegance.” Whatever. It’s a sleek, low-slung, long-wheelbase sedan with a coupe-like roofline and short overhangs. Details about its powerplant and drivetrain technology are not available, but what we can tell you is that the Gran Coupé is a few inches longer than the new 5-series at nearly 197 inches, but is about four inches lower at 55.1.
Full-LED headlights and a prominent BMW kidney grille dominate the forward-angled shark nose, with sweeping lower air inlets helping to accentuate the width of the car. The doors feature frameless windows, which add sleekness by rolling up over and obscuring the B-pillars. The overall theme, with dynamic concave and convex lines and powerful wheel arches, is one of elegance and aggression. The concept’s slim-looking rear end features L-shaped LED taillights and a full-width LED third brake light across the top of the rear window. As with most concepts, the wheels also contribute to the look, with the Gran Coupé’s oversized rolling stock sporting thin, relief-milled spokes that extend into the center of the wheel, lending a three-dimensional appearance. Expect much of this design to transfer over to the next-generation 6-series.
Details about the interior are nil. Rumors of a high-end BMW four-door coupe, possibly carrying a revitalized 8-series moniker, have come and gone ever since the CS concept was shown a few years back. Had BMW said nothing about production, this Gran Coupé would likely have served as little more than additional fuel for those rumors, but we're happy to say that this one will become a reality.

source by caranddriver

2011 Porsche 911 GT2 RS - Official Photos and Info

2011 Porsche 911 GT2 RS - Official Photos and Info
When this Porsche 911 GT2 RS launches at the Moscow auto show in August, it will be the crown jewel of the 997 portfolio and complete the lineup. Compared with the last GT2, this new RS serves up a rather unexpected and extreme power boost, adding 90 hp for a total of 620, available at 6500 rpm. Torque from the twin-turbocharged 3.6-liter flat-six rises just slightly from 505 lb-ft to 516, available from 2250 to 5500 rpm. The huge power jolt likely explains why Porsche went straight to GT2 RS in naming this beast, completely skipping the plain GT2 moniker. Oh, and Porsche says this car will lap the Nürburgring Nordschleife in 7 minutes, 18 seconds, which is skull-poppingly quick. For reference, that’s four seconds quicker than the Dodge Viper ACR and only 20 seconds behind the wicked Ferrari 599XX.

The awesome power—more than any other factory Porsche, ever—is transmitted to just the rear wheels and only through a six-speed manual, unlike on the 500-hp Turbo and the 530-hp Turbo S, which are equipped with all-wheel drive and have the PDK dual-clutch transmission as at least an option. Given the off-the-line traction deficit and pokier human shifts, it’s no wonder the GT2 RS takes a claimed 3.4 seconds to get to 60 mph, while the Turbo S, with the help of all-wheel drive and its standard PDK, is said to manage the feat in 3.1. (We predict both models will actually be quicker in our testing, considering Porsche’s typically conservative estimates and the fact we pedaled a Turbo to 60 in 2.9 seconds.) The pecking order is reinstated before 124 mph, however. Porsche says the GT2 RS breaks that barrier in 9.8 seconds, with the Turbo S trailing it by one full second. After 28.9 seconds at full tilt in the GT2 RS, you’ll be traveling 186 mph, and top speed is a blistering 205 mph.
Some expected the next GT2 to switch to Porsche’s new, direct-injection 3.8-liter flat-six engine architecture, but this is in fact the final and ultimate iteration of the well-proven 3.6-liter engine. It’s force-fed by two variable-blade turbochargers, one for each cylinder bank. Learning that the explosive powerplant hooks only to a traditional manual is heart-warming, particularly since cars such as the BMW M3 GTS and the Audi R8 GT don’t offer a three-pedal manual at all.

Fuel economy will be of negligible importance to the 500 owners of the GT2 RS, but at 19.7 mpg in the European cycle, it’s pretty efficient. That comes in part from extreme weight shaving, including the use of carbon fiber throughout and Porsche’s new lithium-ion battery, which itself saves 22 pounds. Lightweight door panels and a reduction in soundproofing material are part of the program, too. Porsche says that at 3075 pounds, the new model manages to drop more than 100 pounds compared to the previous GT2, and it is nearly 400 pounds lighter than the recently launched 911 Turbo S.

Inside, the 911 GT2 RS equipment includes carbon-fiber-reinforced racing bucket seats, an optional nav system, carbon-finish “RS” door sills, and an available Chrono Plus package. The uninitiated can swap out the racing seats for electrically adjustable sport seats. The shift knob, handbrake lever, steering wheel, seat inserts, and headliner are covered in Alcantara. The instruments use yellow needles, and the Clubsport package, which adds a roll bar, a six-point harness, and pre-wiring for a kill switch is a no-cost option (at least in Europe). The infotainment system, air conditioning, and cup holders can be deleted for further weight savings.
The GT2 RS also comes with standard carbon-ceramic brakes, a much-needed stability-control system, dynamic engine mounts, and Porsche’s PASM adaptive suspension. The GT2-specific wheels are center-locking and wear 245/35-19 front and 325/30-19 rear rubber; silver, gold, and black finishes are available. There also are carbon-fiber front and rear lip spoilers fitted to unique fascias, and the gigantic wing is specific to the GT2, as well. The front trunklid is made from carbon fiber, as are the rear spoiler lip and the hip-mounted air scoops, and they stay dark no matter which color you choose. The GT2 is available in silver, red, white, and black.
U.S. dealers get the new model in October, but you’d better get your name on a list well before then if you want one of the few units coming here. Only 500 will be made for the entire globe, and American buyers will pay a cool $245,000 for the right to own one. For an instant collector’s item, that’s probably fair.