BMW will be airing a few different advertisements during the Superbowl later on today showing off the 2012 3 series. More » The rest is here: BMW Super Bowl Ad: Mother-in-law jokes are still kind of funny [Video] Go here to read the rest:  BMW Super Bowl Ad: Mother-in-law jokes are still kind of funny [Video]

Pinned to the bolstered seat, I see a Melbourne Red blur streak, belting out a mechanical howl, by the left side of my car and, in a single motion, sweep down across the nose of the Titanium Silver 335i I’m riding in. This seems to only encourage my driver further. A second later, I’m having to re-grip the “Oh-Sh*t” bar as the 335i Sport wiggles a bit under hard, ABS-inducing braking – I manage a quick glance over and catch a speedometer reading somewhere just north of 100 MPH. My driver has already made up his mind – the Melbourne Red streak – an E92 M3 Competition Package – will not get away from him. We pour into the Andretti Hairpin, into Turn 1 and nearly max out 3 rd gear going into Turn 2 and onto 3. By the time we reach the latter half of the track the M3 has only about 3 or 4 car lengths on us and my driver seems thoroughly impressed that the 300 horsepower Twin-Scroll powered N55 is able to hang with the soon-to-be-defunct E92 M3 with its naturally aspirated S85 V8 pumping out 414 horsepower. That says a lot about the new F30 335i Sport Line – considering that the approval and awe came from two-time ALMS champion and Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona winner Joey Hand. His intended target in the M3? Fellow BMW Team RLL teammate and best pal Bill Auberlen. This was my introduction to the 2012 335i Sport Line as it was pounded around Laguna Seca Raceway in scenic Monterey, California. Where We’ve Been… The 3 Series is, without a doubt, the bread-n-butter model for BMW in the North American market and as such, in an increasingly tight, competitive niche; BMW has its work cut out for itself with each new generation of 3 Series.  The previous generation E90 3 Series was a bigger success than its predecessor E46, and so on and so forth. The F30 will, undoubtedly, be a noble effort where Audi has a very compelling B8 platform A4, Mercedes with the C Class and Infiniti with the G37 – all cars who have continued to step up their game as each vies for the top of the compact sport sedan segment. So this begs the question – can the F30 up the ante enough to keep BMW ahead of the pack? I think so. “…the new 3 Series manages to move forward with technology and performance without sidelining the driver” Handling The F30...

Our coverage from the U.S. media launch of the 2012 BMW 3 Series continues with new footage from Monterey, California. The new F30 BMW 3 Series goes on sale this month and will be first offered in the 328i and 335i configurations. The base price of the 2012 328i Sedan is $34,900 while the top-model, 335i, starts at $42,400. This represents a $300 and $350 base price increases versus the outgoing model. The 3 Series now includes standards features such as 6.5” display with iDrive controller, Bluetooth connectivity, USB/iPod interface, 8-Speed Automatic Transmission, Automatic Start/Stop, Dynamic Driving Control with ECO PRO Mode, Brake Energy Regeneration, and a 1” standard wheel size increase. The following exterior colors are available for the new BMW 3 Series: Melbourne Red, Glacier Silver, Imperial Blue, Mineral Grey, Black Sapphire, Mojave and Alpine White. An optional M paint is also offered – Estoril Blue. The footage below also gives us a better look at the interior design. [Source: DrivesTv.com ] Read more from the original source:  Video: New BMW 3 Series in Monterey, California

At the U.S. launch of the new F30 3 Series, BMW also displayed the aggressive M-Sport package and the first hybrid 3 Series, ActiveHybrid 3. The M-Sport package adds 18-inch or 19-inch lightweight wheels as an option. Included in the M Sport pack is an M-tuned suspension which lowers the car by ten millimeters and offers stiffer spring rates and damper settings as well as stronger stabilizer bars. BMW says the decision to include M Sport brakes as standard has yet to be determined. BMW Individual High-gloss Shadowline trim gives the car the typical M look. An optional M paint is also offered – Estoril Blue, as well as M Sport brakes with contrasting blue paint finish. Special aerodynamics cues, front and rear bumpers, sill covers in body color and a striking diffuser insert in Dark Shadow Metallic on the tail, and chromium exhaust pipe finishers underline the sporting character of the M Sport package. BMW will offer the M Sport package starting in September 2012. The BMW ActiveHybrid 3 made its North American debut at the 2012 Detroit Auto Show. In early 2013, BMW will bring to market the first hybrid version of the popular 3 Series model. Even though not confirmed by BMW, we expect the ActiveHybrid 3 to use a 3.0 liter six-cylinder turbocharged TwinPower engine aided by an electrical engine to deliver an additional 40 kW (about 53 horsepower). The hybrid technology is similar to the one seen in the BMW ActiveHybrid 5. The electric motor in the latter model develops 40 kW/55 hp and is supplied with energy by a high-performance lithium-ion battery integrated into the luggage area. The innovative hybrid system features a coasting mode (with the engine switched off) active at up to 160 km/h (100 mph). [Video by: Drivestv.com ] See more here:  Video: BMW 3 Series M-Sport and ActiveHybrid 3

On 1 February 2012, BMW Classic Parts Supply launched its new online shop. Now customers can order spare parts for their BMW classics speedily, easily and from the comfort of their home. For BMW Classic the online shop represents “the next phase in the realignment of the business field and a further logical step towards customer satisfaction and customer-oriented service”, noted Ralf Vierlein, Head of Sales and Aftersales at BMW Group Classic. Customers can visit the online shop at http://shop.bmw-classic.de , search for appropriate spare parts for their classic vehicles and order them online. Furthermore, information is provided on the suitability of parts for various model ranges. This service is currently available for customers in Germany. Starting in April 2012 this service will be expanded to further European markets. The range of parts in the new online shop currently totals some 35,000 items for classic BMW cars and motorcycles dating from 1960 to around 1990. Large, heavy spare parts, dangerous goods and materials, electronic components and yard goods are excluded from the range. For customers, the online Parts Shop will not only make the search for spare parts much easier, it will also facilitate the replacement process: when a component is purchased, a BMW partner is automatically recommended to help the customer restore his or her classic vehicle and to provide technical support. The BMW Classic Parts Supply online shop will be presented for the first time at the Bremen Exhibition Centre during the Bremen Classic Motorshow, which takes place from 3 – 5 February 2012. The online shop can be accessed with immediate effect on the BMW Classic website at www.bmw-classic.de and www.bmw-classic.com . [Source: BMW] Continued here: BMW Classic launches its online Parts Shop

What does the F10 BMW M5 and Nissan GT-R have in common? Many would say not too many things, but the folks at Autocar found a coupe of similarities, just enough for a head-to-head comparison: around 550 horsepower for both cars and a similar UK base price, 75,000 pounds. BMW has moved on with the new F10 M5 from naturally aspirated engines to a TwinPower turbocharged V8. The high-revving 4.4-liter (4395cc) turbocharged uses the BMW M TwinPower Turbo technology, twin-scroll turbochargers, high-precision direct fuel injection, Valvetronic variable valve control and a cross-bank exhaust manifold. The super-M produces 560 horsepower from 5,750-7,000 rpm and 502 lb-ft of torque from only 1500rpm. For 2013, Nissan offers a power upgrade for the GT-R. The engine now generates 545 horsepower and 463 lb-ft of torque — both going up by 15 from the 2012′s 530 and 448 — and produces higher end torque towards the 7000rpm redline. The 2013 revision also incorporates more efficient cooling ducts for the front brakes, slip-resistant seats, and a Track-Pack option that shaves over 200 pound in weight. The car still uses the same 3.8 liter twin-turbo DOHC 24-valve V6 engine. Which one takes the win? Let’s have a look. Read the original post:  Video: F10 BMW M5 vs Nissan GT-R

Today at High Gear Media, Chevy helps you figure out how much you’ll save by owning a 2012 Volt while Acura wants to know what you’d swap for a new NSX. Ferrari shows off its new 2012 Formula 1 race car, and we spy the refreshed BMW 7-Series. All this and more in today’s car news, right here on The Car Connection. Lexus introduced its new “Points… Read the original post:  2013 Volkswagen Beetle TDI, 2013 BMW 7-Series, Honda Recall: Car News Headlines

This Sunday, millions of folks around the world will huddle around the warm glow of their TVs to watch the biggest game of the year (or at least the commercials). But Subaru is encouraging dog owners to take a break from the Super Bowl shenanigans and walk their pooches to the park. It’s all part of Subaru’s third annual “Dog Tested, Dog Approved”… The rest is here: Subaru Says: Skip The Super Bowl & Take Rover For A Romp

Honda has issued two recalls today — one for the 2012 Accord and 2012 Crosstour, and another for the 2011-2012 Ridgeline. The 2012 Accord and Crosstour recall is the most worrisome of the two. According to a bulletin from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Accords and Crosstours from the 2012 model year may have been built with a… View original here:  Honda Recalls 2012 Accord, 2012 Crosstour, 2011-2012 Ridgeline

Filed under: Motorsport As predicted by Autoblog last month , BMW is expected to terminate its contract with Prodrive today, thus ending the UK firm’s involvement in the MINI World Rally Team. This news revealed in a report by motorsport magazine Autosport, also raises question marks over the future of this programme. Autosport haven’t been able to get confirmation from BMW in Munich, but according to their source a decision to end what has been described as a short and unhappy partnership was taken after the Monte Carlo rally. There seemed to be surprise at the news when Autosport contacted Richard Taylor at the Banbury based firm yesterday. Speaking to Autosport ,Taylor said: “That’s news to me. There’s no question of that, no question at all. The team is on its way to Sweden for the pre-event test as we speak. Mini remains committed to the programme and to supporting customers.” The MINI WRC team is already on their way to Sweden, but according to Autosport sources this will not stop the announcement. Finances have been the key problem since the team was launched in a blaze of publicity in April last year; this became more obvious just before Christmas when plans to run two cars were shelved, with driver Kris Meeke left high and dry.   Read the original post: BMW to terminate Prodrive MINI WRC deal? Here is the original post:  BMW to terminate Prodrive MINI WRC deal?

Filed under: Motorsport Formula One drivers aren’t like ‘normal’ people. They have a desire to win at any cost, they have grueling fitness regimens, diets that mean cake is off limits, necks thicker than a 100 year-old tree and not a trace of what we humans call ‘fear’. Also, they know how to do up their seat belts. The lady in this clip is taking a passenger ride an a two-seat F1 car around the Yas Marina F1 circuit and, foolishly or not, had it filmed. It revealed two things – 1) Her neck muscles aren’t strong enough to withstand the terrifying G-force that a Formula 1 driver undergoes mid-bend and 2) the guys who installed her in the car didn’t do up her seat belts properly – at all. It’s a funny video that sees the poor passenger unable to stay in place as she’s hurtled around the circuit, but it stops being funny when you realise that a crash would certainly have killed her. Still, fast forward to 01:38 for the first heavy corner and enjoy a hearty laugh .   Excerpt from: Video: This is why you’re not a Formula One driver Read the rest here:  Video: This is why you’re not a Formula One driver

BMW of North America Unveils Six Playful Digital Shorts as Part of National Advertising Campaign Launching the All-New BMW 3 Series, Including One Appearing in a New York Tri-State Area Ad During Super Bowl XLVI “The Big Grab,” will also air in the New York Tri-State area in an ad during Super Bowl XLVI. Created by “The Perfect Seat,” illustrates how an odd couple — a driver and his much-taller companion — can share the driver’s seat thanks to driver’s seat memory. Beginning Monday, February 7, select digital shorts will begin airing online at sites including NBC.com, ABC.com and Hulu. All of the content, including the Super Bowl spot “The Big Grab,” where a heated steering wheel saves the day when a group of freezing friends hop into the car, can be viewed online at www.youtube.com/bmwusa. “The BMW 3 Series is the global benchmark for a sports sedan,” said Dan Creed, Vice President of Marketing, BMW of North America. “With these shorts, we turn a spotlight on the innovations that make the 3 Series the standard to which others aspire.” See original here: BMW Launches 6 Playful Digital Shorts and NY Tri-State Regional Ad for Super Bowl

The Spun Bearing: 500cc Combustion Chamber, Wave Disc Generator, and Leather vs Cloth The 500cc Combustion Chamber BMW is migrating towards a common combustion chamber for its upcoming 3, 4, and 6 cylinder engines. BMWBLOG covered Innovation Day last year and reported on this engine architecture in April of 2011. One of the prime benefits of going to a common combustion chamber (and valvetrain) is that the physical properties of the fuel burn are the same from engine to engine (for gas and again for diesel). With the advent of direct injection, variable valve timing, and Valvetronic –variable valve lift, the control of the combustion process is more complicated (and the combustion process itself is much more efficient) than a few decades ago. Unfortunately the whole process of burning fuel in an engine currently is controlled by lines and lines of code in the Engine Control Unit (ECU). And squeezing every last gram of efficiency out of a quantity of fuel by tweaking code requires a lot more engineering effort than fiddling with carburetor jets. And it’s the promise of reducing engineering effort across a line of engines that is a big benefit of going to a common combustion chamber. One of the most precious commodities at BMW is engineering. This isn’t a huge car company that can devout engineers to small projects with minimal return on investment. So going to a common combustion chamber makes sense for them. Of course if the code is wrong and sneaks into production, it will affect a lot of engines. But counter-balancing that is the fact that there is only one chamber that has to be developed, and any gains in one are gains in all. Left out of the equation at the Innovation Day discussion was whether the V8 and V12 engines would go to the common combustion chamber. That would mean a new generation of V8s and V12s would be developed. BMW did say, when asked, that the V8 and V12 would still be built, but there was no mention as to whether or not new versions would be developed. Left unsaid about optimizing the engineering effort is what are they freeing up engineering resources to do. I think we know that a lot of engineering effort is being made on providing e-mobility. And that may be the biggest benefit, from BMW’s perspective, of the common...

Today, BMW announced the pricing for the 2013 BMW X5 M and X6 M models. Even though not officially announced, we expect the X5 M to receive a minor styling upgrade just as the X6 M. The two M-SAVs will go on sale this spring for $88,850 (X5 M) and $91,900 (X6 M). This represents an increase of $1,600 for both models over the 2012 production year. The 2013 X5 M and X6 M now come with the blue painted M brake calipers, as seen on the M5 sedan, as well as with standard M multifunction seats. Inside, the Mugello Red Full Merino Leather (X3MR) replaces Sakhir Orange Full Merino Leather (X3DA) on both models. The X6 M benefits additionally from the X6 LCI with a new, wider kidney grille and redesigned tail lights featuring glowing LED light bars. Additionally, the updated X6 M features an aluminum powerdome hood similar to the one seen on the M3 and ActiveHybrid X6. Both models may be equipped with the new, optional LED headlights (552) to complete the front-end update. Optional equipment: Active Ventilated Seat Package (ZAV) – Active Ventilated Seat package no longer includes SA456 and has been re-priced to $900. Full LED Headlights (552) now available as a stand-alone option for $1,900 Now, either M light alloy wheel style may be ordered on the either model at no charge (2NT remains standard on X5 M, 2NU remains standard on X6 M). The BMW X6 M will debut in April at the New York Auto Show. Go here to read the rest:  U.S. Pricing announced for 2013 BMW X5 M and 2013 BMW X6 M

BMW was the largest premium manufacturer in the world last year, with Audi at number two and Mercedes-Benz taking third place. Audi’s goal is to be the largest company in the world 2018, and while it is well on its way to that, the competition isn’t going to just stand still. Mercedes aims to take the top spot as well. A huge part of its plan to do that is the new entry-level Mercedes Front Architecture (MFA). As its name implies, the platform is front-wheel drive. A FWD Mercedes line…..yeah, we’ve scratched our heads at that too. It is all in the name of volume, and BMW is going to head down that road too with the 1-Series. The B-Class MPV was the first model to be based on this platform. The next is the A-Class, which was previewed by a concept at last year’s New York International Auto Show. That concept previewed a much more stylish A-Class – one that ditches the unique sandwich platform the car has always been known for. An intrepid bicyclist captured footage of production model A-Class completely uncovered. The a-Class was captured on the island of Lanzarote in the Canary Islands. It is likely that it was there for a photo shoot. The production A-Class comes out looking very similar to the concept, with a rakish design for a hatchback. Mercedes design language is followed to a tee, with very defined, bold design cues and a huge pointed star adorning the grille. It makes a design statement, and that is what Mercedes is going for now after years of stodgy designs. The A-Class will debut at the Geneva Motor show next month. This time around, the A-Class will probably be sold in the United States – maybe even the B-Class. Already confirmed is a new coupe-like four sedan that has been spotted testing. You can get a glimpse of the A-Class in the video below. Related posts: The New Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class Livin’ Large: New 2011 Mercedes Benz R-Class Mercedes-Benz E-Class Superlight To Drop Over 770 Pounds Automoblog.net – A Car Blog for Auto Enthusiasts See the original post:  Production 2013 Mercedes-Benz A-Class Spotted in Canary Islands