Tag Archives: News

Autocar Reviews the ALPINA XB7 — Worth the Premium Over a BMW X7 M50i?

March 5, 2021 admin

The ALPINA XB7 is an interesting car because it’s probably the less visibly different to the BMW on which it’s based than any other ALPINA product. Sure, it looks better thanks to the wheels and it has some nicer trim on the inside but, as far as the eye can tell, it’s not all that different than a BMW X7 M50i, which wears a much cheaper price tag. So Autocar wonders whether or not the ALPINA is worth the extra money.

There’s a real argument to be made that it isn’t wroth the price premium. The ALPINA XB7 is a brilliant SUV but so too is the BMW X7 M50i and, since both cars are so similar, why spend the extra money? On paper, there doesn’t seem like much reason to do so. The XB7 does make a bit more power, with its ALPINA-tuned 4.4 liter twin-turbocharged V8 making 600 horsepower and 590 lb-ft, versus the 523 horsepower and 553 lb-ft of the X7 M50i. Though, that doesn’t translate into too much more speed.

Additionally, the X7 M50i is already incredibly supple, packs a very similar interior with equally gorgeous materials and has the exact same space inside. So there’s an argument to be made that the X7 M50i is the better buy. Though, we’d argue that if you can spend over $100,000 on an uber-luxury SUV, the ALPINA XB7 is absolutely worth the premium because of the way it drives.

Drive any BMW product back-to-back with its ALPINA equivalent and you’ll immediately notice the latter’s silkier steering, more nuanced ride quality and more enjoyable handling. There’s a fluidity to the way ALPINAs drive that feels superior to their BMW counterparts. Driving an ALPINA, using its controls, feels like operated slick, well-oiled, precision machinery. It’s almost difficult to put into words. Plus, even if the ALPINA might not feel that much better, it’s nice to know that it actually is better and more capable.

For example, during a BMW press event on track, ALPINA had sent over a few XB7 SUVs for us journalists to test. Surprisingly, I saw those XB7s sitting on track, waiting to be thrashed. Bewildered, I asked the BMW execs if we were actually going to get to drive the massive luxury war elephants on track. Not only did they say yes but they said it was at the demand of ALPINA boss Andreas Bovenseipen. He specifically told BMW to track-drive the ALPINA XB7 and sent over several sets of tires to destroy in the process. That’s how you know ALPINA means business and that’s how you know they’re worth the extra money.

[Source: Autocar]

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BMW iX Starts Prodution Late 2021, Top-Level Model Starts Spring 2022

February 10, 2021 admin

The most important upcoming BMW has to be the all-electric iX. Sure, the BMW iX was the target of a ton of design criticism from enthusiasts, but that doesn’t reduce the importance of BMW’s first true, from the ground up BEV (Battery Electric Vehicle) since the i3. When the iX debuts, it will be a make or break moment for the brand; it will either prove that BMW has what it takes to take Tesla head-on or it will prove that BMW is as far behind as Tesla fans claim. Either way, we’re going to have to wait at least a year to find out.

At the moment, the BMW iX is scheduled to begin production in late 2021. We don’t have any specific dates at the moment but we’re expecting production to begin in November or December, 2021. There are a few different trim levels for the iX currently in the works. The entry-level and mid-tier models will be the ones that go into production first, beginning at the end of this year. While the top-level model, potentially an M Performance model, won’t begin production until about Spring 2022.

The BMW iX that you’re likely expecting, the one that BMW gave specs out for during its initial reveal, is the mid-tier model. That iX will debut with around 500 horsepower from two electric motors and a 100-ish kWh battery pack. According to preliminary figures, that BMW iX should top out at around 300 miles of range, estimated. That would put it right in line with cars like the Tesla Model X and allow it to be highly competitive in the segment.

We don’t have any specs about the potentially M-tuned BMW iX but it’s said to potentially pack around 600 horsepower and we’re hearing whispers of the name “iX M50”. We know that BMW is capable of such power, as its Power BEV concept a couple of years back put out around 700 horsepower. So BMW absolutely has the technology to make a high-performance electric crossover. Sadly, we’ll have to wait several months after the initial build of the iX to see the M Performance model but it could be worth the wait.

Between the initial design backlash and the social media drama that followed the iX’s debut, we’re very much looking forward to it. We can’t wait to drive it and see what if BMW can translate its “Ultimate Driving Machine” ethos into a completely new EV.

Don’t Expect Any Retro-Design BMWs says BMW Design Boss

February 7, 2021 admin

BMW’s design team has been under fire for some time now. Ever since the BMW X7 and 7 Series LCI debuted, with their enormous kidney grilles, BMW has taken flak for its design evolution to this point. Over the past year, criticism has reached fever pitch, as cars like the 4 Series and iX made their respective debuts. Since then, fans have been asking, nay begging, BMW to go back to its roots, its beloved design elements of its past. However, BMW’s Design Boss Adrian van Hooydonk has no plans of looking backward.

During a recent interview with Top Gear, van Hooydonk was asked if he and his team would ever design a production car similar to the brand’s stunning Hommage concept cars. The answer was a definitive no.

The Bavarians have always been great at developing jaw-dropping concept cars but it’s been pretty crummy at actually putting them into production. The only car that BMW truly based off of a concept was the i8 and, considering its near universal praise, you’d think that the suits in Munich would want to do more. Especially considering just how beloved many of its Hommage concepts are, which pay tribute to BMWs of the past. Despite the desire from customers, BMW has no plans on doing any such thing.

What’s frustrating is that van Hooydonk is fully aware of the praise from fans and the desires of customers. He even said that the stunning Gandini-designed Garmisch recreation gained a huge amount of attention from Americans, with many potential buyers inquiring about an electric version. “That was a faithful recreation of a concept car created by Marcello Gandini,” he told TG . “The most interesting reactions were from the American market, where people said: ‘if you make that as an electric car, that would be my next car’.

He understands that customers want something retro-inspired but with modern technology. “People resonate very positively to something that they know – and can relate to – and new technology. There might be something there that can work in the marketplace.” he continued.

However, despite that understanding, it’s just not going to happen. “We feel we should continue the fire, as opposed to worshiping the ashes, if you know what I mean,” he said.

Despite our desire for such cars from BMW, they’re just not happening. Which is a shame because cars with retro-designs and high-tech powertrains work. When car companies honor their past with modern recreations, fans not only lose their minds but customers put their money down. Just look at the Honda E, with its CRX-inspired design or the Alpine A110, which might be the best recreation in automotive history. At the moment, those cars are beloved and customers are buying them, so it’s disappointing that BMW won’t do the same.

[Source: Top Gear]

BMW M5 CS Eclipses McLaren F1 S70/2 Engine as Most Powerful BMW Engine Ever

January 29, 2021 admin

Now that the BMW M5 CS is here, it is officially the most powerful car the Bavarian brand has ever developed. That’s not entirely surprising, though, as brands are constantly setting new power records, especially nowadays in the age of forced induction and electrification. What’s more impressive than that, though, is the fact that the BMW M5 CS engine is also the most powerful engine BMW has ever produced, in any car.

The reason that distinction is important is that the most powerful engine the M Division ever made, up until a few days ago, never powered a BMW. Instead, it powered the McLaren F1.

All the way back in the early 1990s, legendary automotive engineer and designer Gordon Murray was searching for a company to build an engine for the project he was working on with McLaren. He went to Honda first, as the Japanese brand was developing killer engines for Formula One cars. However, the deal felt through, due to Honda not wanting to build the sort of engine Murray wanted.

Murray had some specific demands for the engine that he wasn’t willing to compromise on. The engine needed to be naturally-aspirated, it had to have more than 100 horsepower per liter and it needed to be as lightweight as possible, among other things. After Honda turned him down, Murray went to another automotive legend, Paul Rosche. At the time, Rosche was the head of engine development for BMW M and was known for designing some of the most brilliant engines of all time.

What Rosche came up with was the S70/2, which was a 6.1 liter naturally-aspirated V12 that made 618 horsepower (627 PS), thus giving it just over 100 horsepower per liter. Also, it was shockingly lightweight for its size, revved to 7,500 rpm and got to that redline extremely quickly. It also made among the best engines noises of all time.

Without question, the S70/2 is the greatest engine BMW M has ever made and it’s one of the greatest engines of all time, full-stop. Also, up until just a few days ago, it was still the most powerful engine that BMW M has ever produced.

Now, though, the BMW M5 CS has surpassed it, with 635 horsepower from its 4.4 liter twin-turbocharged V8. While that’s an impressive power figure, it also shows just how absolutely brilliant Rosche’s masterpiece was. The McLaren F1 debuted in 1992 and it took BMW M nearly thirty years to develop a more powerful road engine. If anything, it actually makes the M5 CS’ engine look bad, as it uses all sorts of modern tech, such as twin-turbocharging and advanced cooling to make its power. The F1 did things the old way, without turbochargers or intercoolers or fancy ECU tuning and yet it still was the top dog all these years.

Of course, the S70/2 was a very small run, extraordinarily expensive engine to build, so it’s not fair comparing the M5 CS’ engine to its quality but it does show what BMW M can do when it allows its engineers to run wild.

What’s interesting is that the M5 CS might hold its title of having the most powerful M Division engine ever made forever. With hybrid and purely electric M cars on the way, there’s a real possibility that BMW never heavily invests in another monster engine again and instead uses electrification to make big power. For instance, if it can make 650 horsepower from an S58 3.0 liter twin-turbo I6 with an electric motor or two helping it out, why dump more money into another big V8?

So let’s cherish the BMW M5 CS while we have it. It’s a rare beauty of a machine from BMW, as it doesn’t make any sense whatsoever outside of being a laugh. It has 635 horsepower from a monster V8, carbon fiber everywhere and four racing buckets so you can blitz a racetrack with three friends on board. What more can you want from an M car?

BMW to Cancel its Subscription Service After Nearly Three Years

January 15, 2021 admin

Back in 2018, BMW started a trial subscription service, as part of a trend at the time, a trend that was followed by several other premium automakers. The idea was to allow customers to subscribe to the brand, rather than least a specific car. So any subscribers would pay a flat monthly fee and would have access to several different BMWs. However, BMW has officially pulled the plug on this service, which will be ending at the end of this month.

BMW’s subscription service was essentially just a test run, to learn about its viability. Oddly, it was only offered in Nashville, Tennessee but it’s not shutting down after almost three years. However, BMW is looking into something similar to replace it.

“Our intent with the pilot was to learn about the viability of the subscription model and gauge customer interest,” a BMW spokesman recently told Automotive News. “We are in the process of developing the next iteration of the program.”

There were two different subscriptions levels for the old service; an entry-level and premium subscription. The former would offer customers less expensive models, up to the 3 Series and X3. The latter would offer more premium models, all the way up to the BMW M5.

BMW isn’t the only brand to shut its subscriptions services down, though. Mercedes-Benz did it awhile back, while Audi will also be cancelling its own at the end of this month. So it seems that the Germans aren’t thrilled with how they turned out. The idea is interesting and it was all the rave back in 2018, which seems like a lifetime ago, but it just didn’t pan out as automakers had hoped. Admittedly, BMW must see some potential in subscriptions if it’s looking to replace its current model with a different one but, as of right now, BMW won’t have a subscription based service past January, 2021.

[Source: Automotive News]

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Hyundai Could be Partnering with Apple on Project Titan

January 12, 2021 admin

Apple recently made headlines with news that Project Titan, its famed Apple Car project, was back on, following a period of it being put on hold. The news also brought word of Apple potentially developing some new battery technology that would not only increase range but reduce weight. Since then, speculation has swirled over what sort of fruit Project Titan would bear; would it be an entire car from Apple or would it just be battery tech or potentially even just autonomous software? If it does end up being a car, many experts believe that Apple would partner with another automaker to actual manufacture it. The prediction seems to be coming true, as Hyundai recently announced that it’s in talks with Apple about a new partnership.

A recent report from Korea Economic Daily TV claimed that Hyundai and Apple are working together to develop autonomous electric vehicles and could even end up building batteries in the U.S. While the broadcaster for the news show didn’t provide any sources, Hyundai did provide a statement, acknowledging its discussions with Apple over a potential partnership, though the statement stopped short of mentioning any details.

“Apple and Hyundai are in discussion, but as it is early stage, nothing has been decided,” said Hyundai in the recent statement.

A former Hyundai designer recently said that such a partnership, including Hyundai manufacturing the car, would make a lot of sense for Apple but does caution that it could be problematic for Hyundai. “Apple outsourcing car production to Hyundai makes sense, because (Hyundai) is known for quality,” said Jeong Yun-woo, former Hyundai designer and a professor at UNIST in South Korea recently told Reuters. “But I’m not sure whether it is a good strategy for automakers to be like the Foxconn of Apple as automakers face risks of losing control to tech firms,” he continued.

Hyundai already has strong manufacturing capabilities and is currently one of the top automakers, in terms of quality, reliability and safety. It also has an EV architecture on which to build a new car and tons of know-how in that field. So partnering with Hyundai does make a lot of sense and could actually help to create a great new EV. Plus, Apple likely wants to avoid all of the hassle of working with auto unions and supply chains, which Hyundai already does.

When Apple’s Project Titan was first rumored, several years ago, BMW was one of the very first automakers rumored to be working with Apple. Apple CEO Tim Cook even had a meeting with BMW execs immediately after the rumors began to swirl, though the meeting may have been unrelated. However, it’s rather ironic that Hyundai is most likely to be the automaker to work with Apple on this project, as the head of Hyundai’s R&D is none other than Albert Biermann, former head of BMW M.

If this joint venture does end up birthing an all-electric, highly-autonomous automobile, it will be interesting to see how legacy automakers, and new EV automakers like Tesla and Lucid, handle it. Apple has a following like no other, so if fans learn that a new Hyundai/Apple EV is on the market, it could shakeup the auto industry like we’ve never seen before.

[Source: Reuters]

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VIDEO: Magnus Walker Drives the E39 BMW M5 on The Next Big Thing

January 9, 2021 admin

Hagerty has just exploded its YouTube car content, with several new shows hosted by very familiar faces in the car world. There’s a show with Chip Foose, a show with our friend Jason Cammisa and one with famed Porsche-file Magnus Walker. In Walker’s, he drives classics that are still affordable for many people to see if they’re the next big collector’s item, called The Next Big Thing. In the first episode, Walker drives the E39 BMW M5.

The specific E39 BMW M5 in this video is owned by California-based gearhead Paul Zuckerman, whose Alpine White M5 has been tuned by Dinan and has made its rounds on shows like The Smoking Tire. Zuckerman is also a frequent guest on another famous gearhead Spike Feresten’s podcast. Zuckerman is a big fan of BMW, having wanted to sort of push back against the Porsche crowd when he was younger. In his eyes, BMW has lost its way since the E39 M5 and no longer makes the sort of Ultimate Driving Machines that he’s accustomed to. It’s an opinion shared by a vast population of the BMW fanbase.

His E39 BMW M5 isn’t stock but it’s not heavily modified, either. It has just a few simple mods that he finds essential for E39 M5 ownership. For instance, it has a cold-air intake, Dinan Stage 3 tune, Dinan free-flow exhaust, a short throw shifter and a limited-slip rear diff. With all of that, Zuckerman says his 4.9 liter naturally-aspirated V8 makes around 440 horsepower, versus the 396 horsepower from the factory.

Walker also really appreciates the analog, yet modern looking, interior. It’s simple and intuitive, while also feeling modern enough to not feel dated. The E39 BMW M5 is regarded by many as the best driving M5 of all time and it’s not hard to see why; it seems to be the perfect blend of power, speed, agility and comfort. While pristine examples have become absurdly expensive, you can still find high-mileage, but well taken care of, examples for affordable money and those are the cars you want. You want something to look new but have enough miles on it that not only is it easily affordable but you’re also not afraid to drive it, for fear of depreciating it. If you can find a car like that, it’s a home run classic.

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50 Cent Features Some ’80s and ’90 BMWs in New Video

January 6, 2021 admin

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Maybe it’s because I’m a ’90s kid but Youngtimer cars — cars from the ’80s and ’90s — are among my favorite of all time and I know I’m not alone. After the now-famous “Youngtimer” video of Chris Harris walking through an incredible collection of ’80s and ’90s cars, those eras have become even more popular among enthusiasts than they already were. Which is why we love seeing all of these Youngtimer BMW’s in the new 50 Cent video “Part of the Game”.

As the official song of the upcoming Starz series, Power Book III: Raising Kanan, 50 Cent drives around in both an E30 3 Series Convertible and a Dakar Yellow E31 BMW 8 Series. The upcoming series is a prequel to the current Starz series, Power, and is set in the ’90s, hence the cars in this video.

There are a ton of great cars in the video, not just BMWs. There’s a killer Saab 900 Turbo and an A90 Toyota Supra, among several other great ’90s cars. However, the BMWs are the standout, as they’re the cars driven by 50 Cent. The first one he drives, the red E30 Convertible, looks gorgeous on its polished BBS wheels. The E30 Convertible was never a hugely desirable car but for some reason I want one now. Then he drives the E31 8 Series, which is even better. Who doesn’t love a yellow 8 Series?

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For the making of the video, the cars were borrowed from BBS Boys, an enthusiast group in Newark, NJ that has an incredible collection of ’80s and ’90s cars. They apparently rent their cars out to movie and music video producers often, which isn’t surprising. If you want to shoot something set in the ’90s and need a modded car, they’re gonna have you covered.

Watch the video and check out 50 Cent driving around in some ’80s and ’90s BMWs.

[Source: The Drive]

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Which BMW Would You Take Into the New Year?

January 1, 2021 admin

Well, folks, it’s finally almost over. Quite possibly the most difficult and obnoxiously aggravating year of the past few decades is over. To say that 2020 has been frustrating would be a gross understatement. Where do we begin? There’s been a global pandemic, with hundreds of thousands of people having tragically lost their lives, more hundreds of thousands of people are out of work or lost their businesses, and most of us are celebrating the new year at home, without our friends and family, due to quarantines. We even lost some beloved people, such as Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Chadwick Boseman, Sean Connery, and Alex Trebek. So, naturally, we’re at wide-open-throttle on our way to the beginning of 2021.

The only question is — which BMW would you like to take you into the new year?

That’s a interesting question if we’re honest. There are a lot of great new BMWs, as well as a lot of head-scratchers. But since I’ve been given the task of choosing which BMW we’re going to take into the new year, the choice is actually easier than it might seem — the BMW M2 CS.

BMW has frustrated many of us enthusiasts more than usual over this past year. Cars like the BMW M3, M4 and 4 Series have really put a damper on the future of the brand’s styling, we’ve seen the introduction of very un-BMW-like cars, such the M235i Gran Coupe, which is about the furthest thing from a proper BMW we’ve ever driven and even the brand’s future electric cars have been criticized. However, the BMW M2 CS is not only a bright spot, it’s a shining beacon of the brand’s heritage, proof that the Bavarians still know how to make a car that inspires enthusiasm and a passion for driving. So it has to be the car we take into 2021.

The BMW M2 CS is the absolute best driving BMW on the market at the moment and it leaves us optimistic about the future of the brand. It shows us that there’s still room in BMW’s lineup for a car that isn’t designed to appeal to the masses but to touch the heart of enthusiasts. The M2 CS gives us hope and that’s really all we can ask for after a year like 2020. So happy New Year, everyone. Raise your glasses up high, toast to the new year, and have a well-deserved drink.

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Which BMW LCI Facelift had the Biggest Impact for You?

December 14, 2020 admin

BMW isn’t unique with its mid-cycle facelifts (“LCI” in BMW-speak); every car company on the planet gives each of its models a refresh halfway through their life-cycles. The reason for such facelifts isn’t to make drastic changes or fix unpopular designs (although both have happened in the past) but to keep cars looking fresh as newer competition comes out. However, sometimes the changes are drastic and sometimes they do massively improve a car’s looks. Throughout the decades, BMW has had some of these so-called LCI updates that have made huge differences. So which LCI has had the biggest impact over the years?

There are a few that immediately come to mind. The E65 BMW 7 Series received a facelift halfway through its life and it made a big difference. When it first debuted, the E65 was unloved, to say the least, and its design was half of its problem (reliability was the other half but that’s a neither here nor there). When BMW gave it a facelift, and fixed its funky looking headlights, it actually became a relatively handsome car, one that’s aged quite well over time.

BMW 7 Series E65 2002 Photo 16 750x562 — Post-LCI E65

Ironically, this new G30 5 Series just received a facelift and while the pre-LCI car was already great looking, the post-LCI car made headlines for how handsome it looked, despite being the oldest car in the segment.

However, the car that always sticks out to me personally is the E90 3 Series. When the E90 first debuted, I wasn’t sure how I felt about it. I liked the car overall, but the grille and taillights really bugged me. The grille had these little chrome mustaches above them that I thought looked completely out of place. Its taillights were also these little blobby jobs that looked frumpy and out of place. So while the car as a whole was actually quite good looking, especially in profile, I never really loved it.

After its LCI facelift, though, the E90 completely transformed. Its kidney grille ditched the tacky chrome bits and its taillights gained a now-traditional BMW L-shape. There were some other minor changes as well but those two things really always stood out to me, personally. Now, after the LCI, I think the E90 3 Series sedan is one of the best looking — if not the very best looking — 3 Series’ ever made.

So, for me, the E90 LCI facelift had the biggest impact but, as always, style is subjective, so you may think I’m nuts and that another LCI was far more impactful. So which LCI was best? Let me know in the comments below.

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