According to the German car-magazine auto, motor und sport, the first terms of coming cooperation between BMW and Mercedes-Benz are almost certain. The most important aspect in their partnership, is the purchasing together of car parts that will help them get higher numbers of each part and consequently reducing shopping-costs. This is limited to parts that are not visible for the customer, for example: elements of the air-conditioning, small engines like the ones used for the electric window lift and so on.

The article also says that BMW and Mercedes will use their V12-engines only together in the future, possibly with Aston Martin as a third party. This is due to the high costs of development and the relatively small number of V12-engines sold. Both partners will cooperate in the field of hybrid-engines as well, according to the article Mercedes plans to sell the new S-class in 2012 with hybrid-engines only.

The talks between BMW and Fiat / Alfa Romeo are in no way related to the cooperation with Mercedes and are still going on, possibly with a partnership between Mini and Alfa Romeo as a result.

And you people said that the X6 was a terrible mistake and coveres an un-existing market, but it seems like BMW’s competitors have a different opinion. MotorAuthority reports that Acura is currently testing a crossover prototype that will be placed in the same niche as the BMW X6.

Despite the negative reactions displayed before the X6 launch, the bimmer fans have embraced the new Sports Activity Coupe and regardless of the high price, not many dealerships carry a large inventory.

The Acura prototype sports an extremely low roofline that will give the car a coupe-like profile and the overall shape, strongly suggests that this is their version of a crossover coupe.

The car will be most likely launched in 2010 and the rumor among the industry experts hints to a base price of $50,000. Of course, these are numbers are purely based on speculation and the market value of its competitors.

The spy photos are not great at all and the best we can see is an overall exterior shape. And we thought that BMW was bad with their camouflage technique, the Acura’s one looks like a tent wrapped around the car.

[Source: MotorAuthority ]

In a Board of Directors meeting today, the BMW CEO, Norbert Reithofer, announced some of the german automaker’s plan for the future.

The so rumored BMW X7 project, announced a while ago by the friends at Worldcarfans, has been canceled. We had an article on the X7, back in June, and we confirmed with our sources at that time, that there will be no BMW X7 whatsoever.

As expected, BMW is definitely going to launch the X6 Hybrid along with the new 2009 BMW 7 Series Hybrid version. The 7 Hybrid will make its debut in the second half of 2009.

There is also confirmation that a four door GT model will make its way into the market as well, but we have no information on when they plan to release it.

On a different note, the rumored MINI SAV and a new Phantom Rolls-Royce mode are coming as well.

Most of these information have been confirmed already with our sources, but we would like to thank one of the moderators from Germancarzone for sharing, openly with everyone, more extensive details.

From Auto Zeitung

Thanks to our friend Palybay, who sent us the tip yesterday, we’re able to bring you the news that BMW will built a fourth X model, named X4 SAS, short Sports Activity Sedan. The BMW X4 will be based on the X3 model  and it will be exclusively build at the Spartanburg plant in South Carolina.

According to BMW inside sources, the BMW X4 SAS is in fact a  four door off-road sedan, placed somewhere in the crossover market. In my opinion, the way I see the X4 will be as a combination between the 335i or any 3 series sedan and the X3.

Would this model be successful? It could be, if marketed towards the right crowd.

Here are some articles on the X4, when all it was a simply rumor.

BMW X4 Rendering

BMW X4 spotted out in the open

Just a few weeks ago, we reported that BMW will partner up with Fiat and work together on developing a common platform for future models.

The fellows at Auto Express are reporting that BMW and Fiat will join their forces in making their Isetta and Topolino models, some of the most economical cars when it comes to fuel consumption. The goal: somewhere around the 100MPG mark.

BMW’s efforts in creating an extremely eco-friendly and economical car, derive from the need to comply with the European Commission’s plans to impose an average 120g/km limit on the model ranges of all firms selling cars across the Continent by 2012. Also, by 2010, BMW needs to align with the upcoming California’s law that forces the car automaker to develop a zero-emissions vehicle.

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It has been confirmed what we said back in June, that the all new innovative BMW PAS, short for Progressive Activity Sedan, will make its world debut in 2009 at the Frankfurt Auto Show.  Ever since the PAS was announced by the BMW CEO, Herr Norbert Reithofer, I kept wondering which direction is BMW heading towards.

The secrecy around the PAS reached high levels, and no one really knows where that car will fit in BMW’s line up. The car codenamed V5 will have similar design elements as the larger and more impressive X6, but it will come in two configurations: all-wheel-drive and rear-wheel-drive.

The guys at MotorAuthority went even further and ventured to put together some renderings of what the BMW PAS might look like. They also believe that the will have coupe-like characteristics and design elements such as extremely short overhangs, flared fenders and optional 21in wheels.

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According to a BMW owner in Arkansas. His local BMW dealership , which was a Dinan dealership in the past, has recently terminated the relationship with Dinan.

With the Version 29.2 software and V81 DME could this be another attempt by BMW to further control or restrict the modifications made to the award winning N54 engine so many BMW enthusiasts love?

Or a stronger push to BMW’s own BMW Performance line of products?

According to the guys at LeftLaneNews,  many rumors began appearing in the German press this week, with Autobild Allrad reporting the story of a BMW X2 being considered as a production model.

With the upcoming BMW X1 launch just around the corner, I was expected to see more rumors on other BMW models. If the BMW PAS might have its place in the BMW lineup, the need of an X2 is not justified.

I am convinced that the market segment between the X1 and all the way up to the X6 is pretty much covered. But, let’s give in into those rumors and assume that an X2 is coming down the road.

Take a look at the rendering and tell me what you think. Btw, the artists did a good job, I’m not saying the concept does not have potential, but there is no room for such car.

BMW X2

Do you guys remember our article on the Project i division within BMW?  In a latest development, sources within BMW confirmed that it plans to export nearly 500 electric Mini cars to California.

The objective of “Project I" is to create a new brand built more around city and urban drivers that are looking for more of a gas and environmental lover than a sporty automobile.

Project i could  represent a solution for congested city motoring and it has also been tasked with coming up with innovative production techniques that reduce energy and water usage.

The electric Minis are being built at the Mini factory in Oxford, England, without engines, gearboxes or fuel tanks, then shipped to Munich, Germany, where they are being fitted with electric powertrains.

Same sources told Automotive News Europe that 490 of the Minis will be leased to selected customers in California and 10 will be used as show cars. The leasing of those 490 Minis is similar to the 7 Series Hydrogen cars that were given to select people in California. 

The electric Minis will help BMW to meet the new California's law that will require automakers to offer zero emission vehicles by 2012.

Prius, here we come!

[Source: AutoNews ]

Last week, a rumor has been going around, stating that the BMW 335i Wagon version will not make its way into the U.S market, and it will remain available only in Europe.The fellows at Autofiends.com came across an unofficial confirmation through a BMW source that assured them the 335i Wagon is not in BMW's plan for the U.S market.

BMW has been consistent when it came to the wagon/touring 3 Series models and back in the E46 days, there was only a level entry car and not their most powerful version. Also, the BMW X1 due to be released next year and which will fit between the X3 and the 3 Series wagon, will be marketed initially to the European market, with no immediate U.S release plans.

Those of you drooling over the 335i Wagon with its powerful 300 ponies, you will probably have to shell out some more money and go for the "big brother", the 535i Sports Wagon.

The friends at WorldCarFans reported that the so rumored BMW X7 might actually become reality in the near future. The X7 was rumored a while ago to become a direct competitor to the Mercedes-Benz GL and the Lexus LX.

Speaking with some friends close to BMW, we learned that the BMW X7 project was abandoned and there are no plans for such a car in the near future. And I agree with them, at this point, we do not see an open market for this type of car, a large SAV, as the current X5 is well situated somewhere between the mid end and top end SUVs.

Photo by Worldcarfans

According to Autotelegraaf.nl , the all new BMW PAS, short for Progressive Activity Sedan, will be launched at the Frankfurt Auto Show in September 2009. We learned back in 2007 that BMW is working on a new model, PAS,  a new concept that will fit in the BMW's new vision.

Around the same time, we saw a few spy photos of a test mule being tested in Germany, so you can go back and see these photos here, here and here.

What we know as of now is that the BMW PAS will get a big tailgate and will import some elements from the BMW X6. We also learned that it will be longer than the X6, measuring around 192.91 inch. The same fellows at Autotelegraaf state that the BMW Progressive Activity Sedan will have some technical elements from the next generation 5 and 7 Series, such as an all-wheel-drive option.

[Source: Auto Motor und Sport via eGmcartech and Bimmerfile ]

Our friends at Leftlanenews have come up with a rendering of what the next generation BMW Z4 might look like. Many speculations have been floating around the next generation BMW Z4, such as an an option between a soft and hardtop or design elements imported from the CS concept.

Following the same trend, the Leftlanenews designers have come up with some images that are quite stunning. The front-end certainly keeps the "shark" look and in the same time, it seems to have some minor elements from the CS Concept.

The back-end has an aggressive design, with many curves, but…there is something missing there. I don't find the taillighs too attractive and they definitely are a little too smaler for the aggressive end.

The wait is literally killing us and I really hope BMW will have mercy on all the bimmer fans and show us the real deal. We already know that the BMW Z4 promo materials have been produced, along with the video ad.

The information seems to be contradictory. At the end of May, several car magazines, car websites or blogs have announced that BMW M1 Hommage might actually become a production car. Our sources have strongly suggested that the M1 Hommage will remain at the concept/teaser stage and there are no plans on becoming a production car.

But, yesterday, Automobile magazine quotes a BMW Board Member Herbert Diess:

“Like every BMW concept car, the M1 Hommage is backed by a solid ‘what if we had built it scenario’,” said Diess.

There are also other people that speak of the BMW M1 Hommage concept as being a direct competitor to the Audi's success car, R8 and that actually it might be a good enough reason for BMW to send the M1 Hommage to the production lines.

I guess all speculations at this point and honestly, I am more excited about the BMW Gina Light Visionary Concept model that will be revealed just in a few hours at the BMW Museum in Munich.

Stay tuned for more information.

Today BMW posted a video with a rather large, covered car with some nice rims. It is called the BMW GINA  Concept and it will be unveiled on June 10th at a BMW Museum opening ceremony.

Even though nothing is official at this point, I think this could be the successor to the BMW Z8, known to some as the Z9. The concept will basically incorporate BMW's latest lightweight solutions, and enhanced EfficientDynamics technology.

Last year, an article posted on topspeed.com mentioned the possibility of a BMW Z10 and they went even further and showed some sketches of it, which…do resemble in a way the "covered car" we saw today. So, what if the Z9 will be a production car and the Z10 just a futuristic concept? Or maybe vice-versa? 

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