DTM action resumed at the EuroSpeedway Lausitz, and Gary Paffett still managed to get a podium finish in his Mercedes-Benz. The winner of the first race of the season at Hockenheimring was able to finish second, sandwiched by two BMW drivers in the race results as Bruno Spengler took the win and Augusto Farfus took third. “I was just a bit too far behind at the pit-stop,” said Paffett of his THOMAS SABO Mercedes-Benz AMG C-Coupe being fast enough to take another win. “Having said that, my car was really quick and had a brilliant set-up, a tribute to the team. I was also so close to Bruno Spengler’s car that I was losing a bit of down force.” Paffett still sits atop the drivers’ championship standings with 43 points. With teammate Jamie Green finishing fourth, building on his second-place finish last time, he is at second overall with 30 points. The strong finishes from the two put HWA Team at the top of the team championship standings with 55 points total, while Mercedes AMG is at second with 37 points and Audi’s Abt Sportsline third with 33 points. Spengler’s 25 points account for all of fourth-placer BMW Team Schnitzer’s points. Go here to see the original:  2012 DTM: Paffett Takes Second in Lausitzring

In 2015 BMW will introduce the next generation Z4. A BMW source told InsideLine that the 2015 Z4 will be more dynamic than the previous models by offering a more agile and sportier ride. Same source the change won’t be radical in order to avoid losing the fans of the current roadster. The styling of the 2015 Z4 will go through changes, from the long hood found on the E89 Z4 to a shorter one. The handling will be improved by creating a more balanced Z4 that takes advantage of the smaller and lighter four-cylinder engines. Last year BMW replaced the 3.0 liter six-cylinder powerplant with the smaller, more efficient and equally powerful N20 2.0 liter four-cylinder engine. Therefore the weight distribution in the new model will be vastly improved. An interesting tidbit is reported around the new design of the roadster. The creative minds at BMW are working under a new set of design guidelines that will give the cars a look that carries over the next 15 years. “The thinking here is that the longevity of modern cars means that older BMWs still have an impact on brand image. So they’re now designed with timelessness in mind, avoiding stand-out features that might age quickly,” says InsideLine. Porsche Boxter is the competitor BMW is looking to overcome and the next generation Z4 might offer a great contender. [Source: InsideLine ]   See the rest here:  Next Generation BMW Z4: A More Dynamic Sports Car

Buckle up for more rumors in the BMW world. The usual and old-time suspect Scott27, returns with more rumors, but this time, the speculations go beyond what we have seen so far. If news around an M2 or front-wheel-drive are starting to make sense and align with BMW’s plans to conquer the world of premium automobiles,  these latest rumors focus quite a bit on SUVs, in contrast to the company’s direction in the past few years. As always, take these “news” with a grain of salt and let’s have a look at the possibility of seeing an X7, X8 and even the gorgeous, yet canceled, CS model. Note: Un-edited content to maintain the source’s original thoughts. Why the future of the luxury car is the SUV. Established luxury brands are getting ready to fight a new battle in the luxury segment that comes not only from their competition, but also from the enemy within… That enemy being their equivalent luxury SUV. Over the past few months we have seen “elite” SUV’s such as from established luxury marques such as Bentley – which if you look beyond the design, you can understand why. Lamborghini’s URUS concept is actually quite striking in real life – it actually works from a design angle as well as a business proposition. The new Mercedes-Benz GL-Klasse is now thankfully more S-Klasse than ML-KlasseXL and we will soon be seeing an all new Range Rover. Some are quick to make the assumption that their will be a Rolls-Royce SUV but BMW feel that a sportier X7 fills that high-end SAV role better than a RR. To make his point a photograph of a Cadillac Escalade with a Phantom front end was sent through BMW to show how ill-conceived it would be. Industry analysts have predicted that the future for the luxury segment is within SUVs and “Downsized” luxury cars. At last weeks Beijing Auto show the onus was on the declining western market for large luxury sedans and rising market within China. But one factor was significant in both markets… The rise of the SUV. One thing noticed is that a single luxury concept is no longer sustainable in this case, The BMW 7er can no longer stand as BMWs only high-end luxury offering. In China at least if we take the 7er into consideration the car achieves 52%...

Today started out pretty miserable, weather wise. Teams awoke to loud thunderstorms, heavy rain and high winds as they made their way to Mid America Motorplex in Pacific Junction, Iowa. Believe it or not somehow we were the first team to arrive at the track to find the gates locked! Looking at each other, we began to compare our watches, think we’d arrived an hour early; criss-crossing time zone is mentally challenging. Anyway our fears were soon put to rest as a few minutes later the track workers arrived and opened the gates. With all the heavy rain falling we decided to see if we could find shelter for the car and belonging, and soon found the tech shed which suited our purpose. Only problem was the roof leaked when the winds increased their ferocity, and soaked much of our equipment. For those that don’t know this track was closed for most of last year due to being underwater, due to the flooding that occurred in the area in 2011. Fortunately track management and their team had really worked diligently to make the track habitable again to race cars. The storms pushed back the start by an hour to 9:00am, and depending on how you look at it, fortunately the rains started to subside. The early runners would have referred the rain to continue so everyone had to tackle a wet track, while the later runners preferred a drying track for obvious reasons. After yesterday’s run at Autobahn, teams were re-classified based on their finishing position, so we were in the early group which meant Mike would have to learn the track on his recce lap, but also determine which water puddles were safe to transgress and which to avoid. This was SOP for probably the first 20 to 25 runners. After that a drying line began to appear and would allow the later runners an advantage. We were in the third run group and Mike peddled the BMW M5 around had a decent showing, but knew crews in our class running later would have significantly better times, thus reducing our points haul for the morning. After all the runs were complete we finished 19th overall and 5th in Luxury Class. By the time the afternoon sessions started, the track was dry except for the odd puddle here and there, so everyone would be on an even footing. And sure enough the times tumbled. Our morning time was 5:35.319...

Today presented competitors with a full schedule of events. First we had the skid pad competition at Tire Rack. This comprises of three laps clockwise and three laps in an anti-clockwise direction on the wet skid pad, with results determined by the car & driver pulling the highest average G loading over the four laps. We’ll return to this venue next Saturday for the dry skid pad test followed by the ever popular smoke show. On leaving Tire Rack we made a short six mile drive to South Bend Speedway for the first real time trial. A quarter mile paved short track oval, definitely different from many of the venues we normally visit. Once completed, we were off to Autobahn Country Club on the west side of Chicago for our third and final event of the day. This year we used the south course which is very familiar to us as this is the third time we’ve been here in the last four years. At each of these venues we must unload all our belongings and supplies, do a visual walk around, check fluid levels and tire pressures, and torque wheel bolts. Then we’ll walk the track to learn as much about the layout and surface changes as possible, hoping Mikewill remember everything observed when our time for our run . Each time trials consist of a warm-up lap, and from a standing start two or three timed laps followed by a cool down lap. Once the runs are completed, we load everything back in the M5 and head for the next venue. After these three events we are 25th overall after a relatively cautious start. Now we’ve moved to the road courses we expect to make our move up the leader board. The complete results for each event and all the classes can be found by clicking on this link: http://onelapofamerica.com/ event/ResultsIndex.do?eventId= 31 Tonight we’ll leave Autobahn around 6:30pm and drive approximately 450 miles to Council Bluffs, Iowa for a few hours sleep, then head out Sunday morning around 6:30am for Mid America Motorplex ready for a 8:30am start! Original post: 2012 One Lap of America: Day 1

Audi, BMW, Chrysler, Daimler, Ford, GM, Porsche and Volkswagen have agreed to support a single-port fast charging approach See more here:  Global Automakers Agree on Universal Charging System

Winner of the 2012 DTM season opener, Gary Paffett secures second place in second race of the season Original post: Gary Paffett Lands on the Podium at the Lausitzring

Just two races into its comeback season, BMW is back on the top step of the DTM podium: 19 years, six months and 25 days after the last triumph, Bruno Spengler (CA), at the wheel of the BMW Bank M3 DTM, crossed the finish line at the Lausitzring (DE) in first place. In a thrilling second race of the season, Spengler held off the challenge of Mercedes driver Gary Paffett (GB), who finished runner-up. Augusto Farfus (BR) came third in the Castrol EDGE BMW M3 DTM to complete a fantastic team result for BMW. Spengler follows in the footsteps of Roberto Ravaglia (IT), who claimed the brand’s 49th victory in the DTM on 11th October 1992 in Hockenheim (DE). Back then, BMW Team Schnitzer, with Team Principal Charly Lamm on the pit wall, was responsible for the BMW M3. Almost 20 years later, the team from Freilassing (DE) once again made DTM history with BMW’s 50th victory and the first win since the company’s return to the series. The victory also represents a milestone for Spengler: the 28-year-old secured the tenth victory of this DTM career at the 3.478-kilometre Lausitzring. Spengler’s maiden win came at the Norisring (DE) on 23rd July 2006. Reigning DTM champion Martin Tomczyk (DE, BMW M Performance Parts M3 DTM) finished seventh to score six points for BMW Team RMG. His team-mate Joey Hand (US) crossed the line 14th in his SAMSUNG BMW M3 DTM. Andy Priaulx (GB, Crowne Plaza Hotels BMW M3 DTM) and Dirk Werner (DE, E-POSTBRIEF BMW M3 DTM) came home 17th and 19th respectively. The action was watched by 72,000 motorsport fans at the Lausitzring over the course of the weekend. Right from the first lap, BMW drivers Spengler and Farfus were involved in a thrilling duel with Mercedes’ Paffett and Jamie Green (GB). Spengler defended his lead at the start and then held onto his position at the front of the field, thanks largely to excellent work by BMW Team Schnitzer during the two pit stops. Although Farfus was passed by Paffett on lap one, the Brazilian brilliantly withstood pressure from the fourth-placed Green for lap after lap. His reward came in the form of his first podium finish in the DTM. Jens Marquardt (BMW Motorsport Director): “This is a very special moment – beyond our wildest dreams. Bruno Spengler’s magnificent victory is the icing on the cake...

Midway through 2010, 20 department heads at universities in Munich teamed up to develop the Mute,  a 20-hp electric microcar. It looks relatively unspectacular—but small it is, and lightweight, too. At 880 pounds without its battery, the Mute can be classified as a quad bike, not a car. Read the original: BMW Heads Visio.M Project: M Doesn’t Stand for What You Think it Does More: BMW Heads Visio.M Project: M Doesn’t Stand for What You Think it Does

Obviously this BMW X5 is a product of Germany but if you can look beyond that fact and ignore the lack of Soviet Era design you’ll see a vehicle that is in its own way truly Russian. More » See original here: Ridiculous Airbrushed BMW X5 Is A Truly Russian Creation [LOLCars] Continued here:  Ridiculous Airbrushed BMW X5 Is A Truly Russian Creation [LOLCars]

Mercedes-Benz is developing a new crossover based on the A-Class platform, and word around cyberspace is that this new model will be named the GLA. Sources have pegged the GLA to be of the same size as the B-Class and should feature Mercedes-Benz’s MFA front-wheel drive platform. There are barely any details out right now, but many experts and sources are envisioning a range of four-cylinder petrols and turbodiesels that are of the same range found in today’s A-Class and B-Class models. This new compact crossover unit should provide Mercedes with an answer to such competitor models as the Audi Q3 and the BMW X1, and even the Range Rover Evoque. Along with this new GLA unit, MFA will also be found in the underpinnings of such future models as the upcoming A-Class and the four-door CSC. The GLA is expected to be slotted right under the GLK Class. This luxury compact crossover is expected to be very stylish both inside and out, but until official photos surface on the Web, we all have to make do with artist renderings [this one by Christian Schulte via CAR Magazine ]. Original post:  Introducing the Mercedes-Benz GLA

Once again BMW is advancing into a new vehicle segment with the introduction of the BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe. Following the convertible and the Coupe in the BMW 6 Series, this new exclusive model is the true embodiment of aesthetics, sportiness, comfort and luxury in perfect form. The lean elegance of this vehicle, the very first four-door Coupe in the history of BMW, is truly an exceptional phenomenon. Powerful engines and the advanced chassis technology contribute to a sporty and dynamic driving experience. The BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe is also distinguished by exclusive features and equipment, roominess for rear passenger comfort and remarkable advanced functionality that is unusual even for an upscale, four-door Coupe. For example, folding rear seatbacks and an auxiliary third seat (4+1 seating) are among the unique design features that contribute to the car’s versatility. “Like no other BMW, the BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe unites extraordinary dynamics and the sheer good looks of a classic BMW Coupe with luxurious appeal. It is a combination that spawns a fascinating and thoroughly independent product personality which is, for me, symbolic of the pure BMW aesthetic.”, says Adrian van Hooydonk, Senior Vice President BMW Group Design. Driving dynamics, smooth performance and efficiency are the hallmarks of the TwinPower Turbo engines available for the BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe. Furthermore, the BMW 650i Gran Coupe will be the first model offered with a new and more efficient V8 engine that delivers an impressive 330 kW/450 hp. This engine, just like the six-cylinder power units in the BMW 640i Gran Coupe and the BMW 640d Gran Coupe, is offered as standard in conjunction with an eight-speed Sport automatic transmission and proven BMW EfficientDynamics technology. Standard equipment on all models also includes the Driving Experience button with ECO PRO Mode and the Auto Start Stop function. The distinctive character of the BMW 6er Gran Coupe is unmistakable in the sophisticated and luxurious interior, not to mention the wide range of standard equipment, such as Xenon headlights, automatic 2-zone air conditioning, leather upholstery and electric seat adjustment with memory function. Innovative optional equipment available includes Adaptive LED Headlights and...

While a video of a modified BMW 135i chasing down a Porsche 997 Turbo at speeds in excess of 175 mph on a public roadway would be cause for condemnation and legal action in this country, it’s business as usual on one of the unrestricted sections of the German Autobahn. More » Go here to see the original: High Speed Chase Video Is Sure To Make You Long For The Autobahn [Video] Excerpt from: High Speed Chase Video Is Sure To Make You Long For The Autobahn [Video]

Car and Driver also had the opportunity to drive the new 2013 BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe. BMWBLOG will have their own report on the 6 Series Gran Coupe, but in the mean time, here are some of findings by C&D: Focus on the Familiar As in other 6-series models, the Gran Coupe’s cockpit is beautifully executed. The front and outboard rear seats offer a satisfying level of lateral support, even for larger people. Finding a proper driving position is a snap. Rear-seat room is merely okay, however, considering that the Gran Coupe is only three inches shy of a short-wheelbase 7-series in overall length. It won’t be an issue unless you sit behind a particularly gangly front occupant, however, so there’s no need to fear being stuffed in the back for a few hundred miles. …. Where Once There Was One . . . Our initial exposure to the 6 Gran Coupe leaves us with a positive vibe—it looks fantastic and is very tastefully executed—but there are alternatives. BMW likes to consider the Mercedes-Benz CLS, the Porsche Panamera, and the Aston Martin Rapide as competitors, although we’d say the A7 and Jaguar’s XF and XJ are more akin to this new 6-series than the Aston in particular. Of course, there also is BMW’s own 5-series should you want essentially the same car minus the sultry sheetmetal. It comes down to taste—and price. The 535i and 550i are down on output compared to their six- and eight-cylinder Gran Coupe counterparts, but the former starts under 54 grand, while the latter begins at $62,895. The 2013 640i Gran Coupe commands $76,895; against the 640i coupe and 740i, which also use the 315-horse version of the six, that’s a premium of roughly $2400 and $5000, respectively. An additional $10,500 is required for the twin-turbo V-8 650i, while xDrive adds three grand beyond that. Looks are rarely cheap. Full review at Car and Driver Go here to read the rest:  Car And Driver: 2013 BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe Drive Review

First test drives reviews of the 2013 BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe are starting to come in. First to share their impressions behind the wheel of the beautiful four-door coupe are the folks at InsideLine. And what better way to start their review other than using the following catchy line: “What took you so long?” Let’s take a look at an excerpt from their review. A Good Start Curiously, Munich is pitching the Gran Coupe not as a direct Mercedes CLS competitor but as a model positioned slightly above and closer to the Panamera. But the differences in size, price and power seem too small to put much clear blue water between the $71,300 Benz and the roughly $77,000 BMW. …. Complete Package And then there’s the 2013 BMW 640i Gran Sport’s ride. That may seem strange to mention when chasing dynamic thrills, but the combination of dynamic electronic dampers and dynamic drive, which adjusts the resistance of the anti-sway bars to minimize body roll while allowing for a suppler, loping ride, is vital on roads puckered by sun-melted tarmac. … Worth the Wait Details like these make the 2013 BMW 640i Gran Coupe an easier car to own — or an easier one to justify — even if it takes an indulgent trip through the options catalog to reproduce. But even without a trailer-load of extras, this highly stylish four-door coupe has to be one of the best cars in BMW’s armory. It’s pleasing to look at, endlessly entertaining from behind the wheel and surprisingly devoid of compromises. It’s as though BMW took its time to perfect the four-door coupe instead of merely rushing out a new model to get a stake in the game. If only it could take so long with all of its new models. Full review at InsideLine Read the original post: InsideLine: 2013 BMW 640i Gran Coupe First Drive