BMW BLOG

To date the BMW Sauber F1 Team has 304 World Championship points to its name. In 2008 Robert Kubica claimed the teams maiden pole position in Bahrain, while the 24-year-old and his team-mate Nick Heidfeld achieved a magnificent one-two at the Canadian Grand Prix in the same year.

In 2007 and 2008, BMW Sauber team scored the second and third place in the Teams World Championship. With sadness, BMW exists the Formula 1 championship at the end of this season leaving the impression that more could have been achieved.

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The fellas over Sport-Cars are back with another review of an AC Schnitzer model. Based on the BMW M3 Coupe, the AC Schnizter ACS3 Sport Coupe takes the powerful M car to a new level when it comes to vehicle tuning.

Unfortunately for us living in the U.S., we don’t have access to these vehicles, but we’re going to rely on our European friends to relate all their findings and of course, the photos we all crave for.

Review translated with Google (not perfect, but it will get the point across):

“Let’s be very honest from the start. The AC Schnitzer X6 Falcon takes you from point A to point B in comfort and it’s a head turner with its design lines and custom wheels. In comparison, the AC SchnitzerM3 goes unnoticed (well almost), until you press that gas pedal…… Small gesture, big consequences! The sound that emerges when two titanium exhausts will awake all bystanders…..

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The BMW Group and the SGL Group have agreed on the establishment of a joint venture for the production of carbon fibres and textile semi-finished products (CFRP) for use in vehicle construction. The total investment volume is € 90 million in the first development phase, the two companies stated on Thursday.

The joint venture will be operated through two companies, one based in North America (SGL Automotive Carbon Fibers LLC), and the other in Germany (SGL Automotive Fibers GmbH & Co KG). The BMW Group holds 49% of the shares, and the SGL Group 51%. The two groups will be equally represented in the management of the two companies; major corporate decisions must be made unanimously by both partners. The joint venture will initially create around 180 new jobs in North America and Germany. Its establishment is subject to approval by the cartel authorities.

“This joint venture is designed to be a classic win-win situation. We are acquiring pioneering future technologies and raw materials that we need for our Megacity Vehicle on competitive terms. The SGL Group is moving into the automobile business with us as a strong partner”, BMW AG Management Board Chairman Norbert Reithofer emphasised in Munich. “With our concepts within project i, we are breaking new ground when it comes to vehicle architecture, lightweight design and the use of materials”, Reithofer continued.

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The votes are in and….the popular site …..”Popular Mechanics” names the 2010 BMW 335d as the “Best Luxury Vehicle”. The annual Automotive Excellence Awards focus on a variety of categories, from “Best Vehicle Design” to “Best Fuel Efficiency”.

The 335d needs no further introduction, I’ve been saying for months that if I had a choice a few years back, the diesel would have taken over the 335 gasoline, but that’s just another story. With their latest performance diesels, BMW hit the jackpot when it comes to combining luxury, performance and efficiency and the multiple awards they’ve won, confirm that.

So, let’s see what PM has to say about the only 3er diesel in the U.S.

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As our editor Andrew said in a previous article, the BMW 320si is a “hidden pearl”, a car known in the BMW community as a real driver’s car. Browsing Germancarzone today, came across a member of this forum, Nikos who has just taken ownership of a gorgeous 320si model.

Since the car was never available for the U.S. market, some of you might have overlooked it or simply never heard of it. No worries, we’re here to refresh your memory and …..to make you a bit jealous, just as we are at this moment.

In late 2005, when BMW announced its new E90 entrant for WTCC, BMW had to homologate the 320si by producing 2,600 road-going versions to compete. A lucky few in countries outside the U.S.(typical) were able to snatch up the low production series cars when they were first sold.

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In 2009 the BMW Berlin plant can look back on a 40-year tradition as the production site for BMW motorcycles, with over 1.9 million BMW motorcycles having come off the assembly line to date. With the anniversary motorcycle “40 years of Berlin” based on the BMW roadster R 1200 R, BMW Motorrad not only celebrates its 40th anniversary of production at the Berlin-Spandau plant but will also support the children’s rights organisation “Save the Children” by auctioning the exclusive motorcycle on eBay.

“Supporting young people through educational activities has been part of our corporate culture for many years,” says Hendrik von Kuenheim, Director of Motorcycles in the BMW Group. “It gives us great pleasure to be able to make a small contribution to a social cause in Berlin and its surrounding area by auctioning this unique model.”

The 80 kW (109 hp) R 1200 R “40 years of Berlin” is a unique specimen constructed especially for this purpose at the Berlin-Spandau plant, fitted with the legendary BMW flat twin “boxer” engine which has been enhanced with numerous features as compared to the serial production model. For example, it has special fittings such as a chrome exhaust system, ABS, white direction indicators, heated grips, on-board computer, low comfort seat bench and the Sport windshield.

The refined appearance of the R 1200 R “40 Years of Berlin” in mojave brown with white lines highlights the special BMW accessories incorporated such as chrome cylinder head covers and rear mirror and cover caps for the Telelever and fork bridge. This special model also features classic wire spoke wheels to mark 40 years of manufacturing tradition at the Berlin site. The rear frame and headlamp casing in silver finish form a classic, aesthetically appealing contrast to the painted body features.

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With every vehicle launched, a new series of BMW designers rise and leave their footprint in BMW’s car design history.

Since over the last tens of years there were numerous designers, we will break down the impressive and long list of “automobile artists” giving you a series of short episodes.

But, we’ll do it differently this time around. Instead of going in chronological order, we would like to teach you the BMW car designers history backwards.

So, let’s begin with the yet to be unveiled 2011 BMW 5 Series.

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One of the most popular car comparisons out there is back once again: 2009 BMW 335i vs. 2010 Audi S4. The fellows over at Car and Driver decided to challenge the two sport sedans that have been competing in the same class for quite some time.

While most of the time, the BMW 335i comes out as a winner, the fellows at C&D seem to have a different opinion this time and the S4 gets their vote. Of course, some of these comparisons can be based on personal preferences, but before we jump into any conclusions, let’s take a look at their review.

We’ll boil it down: Forget the Audi’s as-tested price of $59,425 and the BMW’s $49,320 tab. This story is about how a $50,675 Audi S4 (the base price plus the performance-vital Audi drive select but minus all the nonessential luxuries we’re assiduously ignoring because we’re trained professionals) meets a $48,470 BMW 335i (base price plus all the requisite options to match the S4’s standard equipment) on virtually equal treads. Before you howl about the Audi’s higher price, recall that it also has standard all-wheel drive. [See sidebar for why we didn’t compare it with an all-wheel-drive 335i xDrive.]

Consider: Both the S4 and the 335i are four-door sedans with 3.0-liter, force-fed six-cylinders and redlines starting at 7000 rpm, and both hail from autobahn-honeycombed Germany. It’s the perfect two-car duel—a concours a deux, says a man who wears Boss. Does Audi want this bad enough? Let’s gas ’em up and see.

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Mario-Roman is famous for his extraordinary photoshoot sessions, especially when it comes to cars. In the past, we’ve seen some of his work on the new Z4 and now, he has returned with a series of 5 Series GT photographs.

The new niche model from BMW, 5 Series GT, has launched recently during an international press event that took place in Lisbon, Portugal. In a couple of weeks, the 5 GT will officially launch in the U.S. as well, with the high-end 550i GT model being the only one available to order at the moment.

Before we dive into the photo  gallery, here is a recap on the 5 Series GT. Based on the platform of the new BMW 7 Series, the 5 Series GT was built on the same principle that made the original Gran Turismo vehicles so popular: a high-performance luxury automobile designed for long-distance driving. The 5 Series Gran Turismo tones down the front-end of the 7 by offering a more attractive and easier accepted design.

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Illinois based modding shop, WheelSTO, reveals their latest work: a restyling of the popular BMW 335i Sedan. With some help from our friends over at IND-Distribution, they gave the stock 335i an advanced makeover.

For those of you interested in this type of modding, let’s take a look at some of the parts used on the 3er:

- set of Volk Progressive ME wheels, sized 19×8.5 and 19×9.5

- Hankook Ventus V12 tires

- KW coilovers to lower the car

- Helix Intercooler and AFE DCI

- Eurocharged for a Stage 2 tunning

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