BMW AG has many tricks up its corporate sleeve in the area of product development. One vehicle may showcase an all-new engine or transmission or an innovative approach to steering or chassis control, or all of the above.

But the new 5-Series Gran Turismo has none of those. Instead of offering a technical advancement, this aerodynamically designed coupe-like sedan is all about packaging and, to an extent, recycling proven attributes on vehicles already in production.

Although “5-Series,” is part of its name, the Gran Turismo actually shares more architectural underpinnings with the flagship 750i sedan – and handles with the same confidence, too.

The two vehicles have the same wheelbase (the Gran Turismo is 3 ins. [7.6 cm] shorter overall) and share the identical twin-turbo 400-hp V-8, steering system and 8-speed transmission. Interior design continuity also carries over from the 7-Series.

But behind the back seat, the Gran Turismo is something the 7-Series will never be: a hatchback. Bavarian engineers are probably spitting out their coffee at the mere suggested linkage between the brand’s most luxurious sedan and a term unofficially banished from America’s automotive lexicon years ago.

The magic of the Gran Turismo is it doesn’t have to be a hatchback. It has both a trunk and a fully functioning liftgate. The trunk opens and closes like any other, but the opening is smaller and vertical, resembling the business end of a large-mouth bass. Raise the liftgate, and the back window goes with it, along with the entire back of the car above the bumper, including the trunk lid and all the mechanical parts, allowing it to open and close. BMW calls it a “bi-modal trunk” or “dual-access tailgate.”

Italian auto makers first coined the term Gran Turismo (Grand Touring) in the 1950s for stylish 2-seat sports cars with luxurious amenities. The hatchback body style was essential to provide luggage room for two, for weekend get-aways.

BMW expands on the concept by keeping the coupe-like profile but adding two more doors (all four aluminum lightweight doors have frameless windows) and a back seat.

Standard in the second row is bench seating for three, with a 40-20-40 split for selective fold-down. Optional is luxury rear seating for two, which offers adjustable power bucket seats (with power head restraints) separated by a center console.

Product planners anticipate most models will be equipped with the standard 3-passenger rear bench partly because most customers for the Gran Turismo are expected to be women with children.

Despite the raked roofline at the rear of the Gran Turismo, the back seat is exceptionally spacious, with more headroom and nearly 3 ins. (7.6 cm) of additional legroom when compared with the 750i. The entire back seat also slides fore and aft nearly 4 ins. (10 cm).

The Gran Turismo also is the first BMW in the U.S. to offer regenerative braking. Instead of running continuously, this unique alternator charges the battery only when the vehicle is decelerating or braking. Otherwise, it freewheels, drawing virtually no power from the engine and boosting fuel efficiency 2%. A more powerful battery accommodates the less frequent charging.

The Gran Turismo is a lot of things – a luxury car, family hauler, sporty performer and functional ute. And it’s an affordable way to get 7-Series technology.

To read the full article click here.

The BMW 1-Series is going electric with the ActiveE Concept — the next chapter in BMW’s “Megacity” project — will be produced for large-scale fleet testing. Can you handle ze power?

Rather than just another concept, the ActiveE is planned for a larger scale field test than the one currently being held for the Mini E as part of Project I. This bit of data, combined with the debut at the Detroit Auto Show, means it’s likely U.S bound.

The vehicle itself is another small step in the maturity of these electric concept. Unlike other electric cars, which start with a huge rush of torque that dissipates over time, the ActiveE uses a synchronous motor designed to more closely mimic torque delivery deeper into the power band.

Power is set at 170 HP with 184 lb-ft of torque, which is enough to get the battery-laden coupe up to 60 MPH in about 8.5 seconds. Not world-beating, but it’s capable of charging to full in 4.5 hours on a U.S. residential 220-volt residential box and has a 100-mile range. Built into the 1-Series platform, this is all meant to produce an electric car experience more in line with BMW’s expressed value as a driver’s machine.

More importantly than any of this is what the ActiveE represents. BMW, as a company continues to develop its Megacity low-consumption vehicle and with plans for building a sub-brand for efficient cars. What this new brand will eventually look like is uncertain, but they’ve admitted the ActiveE gets them one step closer.

For the full article click here.

BMW is reportedly developing a new exotic sports car, inspired by both the original M1 and the new Vision Efficient Dynamics Concept. According to a high-up source inside BMW, cited by EVO magazine, “M Division should have its own supercar built in three years.”

The plan is to have the car ready by 2012, but BMW is first concentrating its efforts on increasing market share and growing the M brand with a new M car based on the 1 Series.

This new flagship for the brand would use a hybrid setup and likely also be inspired visually by the stunning and progressive design of the Vision ED concept, which debuted at this year’s Frankfurt Auto Show. It isn’t likely to be a plug in hybrid, but a hybrid system is expected. And rather than a diesel engine, it would use conventional gasoline motor, likely the same 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 found in cars like the X6 Active Hybrid.

The idea would be to have two electric motors providing low rpm power, while the turbocharged gasoline engine would be used at higher revs. A regenerative braking system would also be a part of the package.

BMW hasn’t officially confirmed the project but it’s likely to debut in 2012, to take on the SLS from rival German automaker Mercedes. To a certain extent it would seem rather late to the party by 2012, but Mercedes planned electric SLS isn’t due out until 2015.

For the full article click here.

Forthe first time in the compact segment, the features and qualities so typical of a BMW X model will be available through a premium vehicle.

The BMW X1 is entering the market with the assignment to offer the Sheer Driving Pleasure so characteristic of BMW, with a new standard of quality in this segment. The BMW X1 stands for versatility, sporting performance and supreme agility in an urban environment – and beyond.

In its style and appearance, the BMW X1 is the epitome of self-confident elegance, sophisticated function, and stylish, modern character.

With its superior drive train technology also comprising BMW’s intelligent xDrive, all-wheel drive system, as well as its both modern and variable interiors, the BMW X1 offers ideal qualities for truly versatile mobility, ensuring a genuine driving experience.

The elevated seating position and the driver-oriented design of the cockpit enhance the emotional driving experience.

Sophisticated materials, strikingly contoured surfaces and BMW iDrive fitted in conjunction with one of the optional navigation systems accentuate the premium character of the BMW X1 right from the start. At the rear, the spacious compartment offers three full-sized seats. Folding down the rear-seat backrest, spliting into three sections, enables the luggage compartment capacity to be increased from 420 litres to 1,350 litres.

A wide range of open storage boxes, trays and cup holders on the centre console, as well as large open-door compartments with integrated holders for bottles underlining the BMW X1 ’s functional character, while the optional panorama glass roof ensures an even more generous feeling of space.

Benefiting from BMW EfficientDynamics, it also offers the most favourable balance of performance and fuel economy within the segment of BMW X models.

Features such as optimised aerodynamics, tyres with low-roll resistance, intelligent lightweight engineering, the final drive with optimised warm-up behaviour as well as ancillary units operating and controlled on demand, such as the electrical fuel pump and detachable a/c compressor.

Last, but definitely not least, all variants of the BMW X1 fulfils the EU5 emission standard. The BMW X1 is the first premium vehicle of its kind in the compact segment. In a unique manner, the concept of the BMW X1 combines the many requirements made for a modern compact car in terms of superior function with the benefits of outstanding quality and the pleasure of an emotional driving experience.

“The introduction of the BMW X1 symbolises yet another breakthrough in the market segment. I believe the BMW X1 will definitely offer a unique driving experience in the compact class and will deliver that Sheer Driving Pleasure distinctive of a BMW  brand,” said Roger Fletcher, the General Manager of QAF Auto Sdn Bhd (BMW Importer).

“We have already received numerous inquiries on the latest X series models by several interested individuals. The outlook seems quite promising and we believe that this entirely new segment will fit certain individuals who aspire for a more urban and adventurous way of life,” he added.

The first few units are expected to be delivered to the BMW showroom by January next year. The BMW X1 is built at BMW Plant Leipzig, where the new X model is produced on the same line as the three-door Sedan, the Coupe and the Convertible versions of the BMW 1 Series.

To read the full article click here.

Thanks to QuattroRoute magazine, we succeeded to get some very good pictures with the next generation BMW 5 Series - F10. Theoretically, the car will hit the market in 2011, but, if we consider that BMW announced that they will stop producing the actual version somewhere in December this year, and the evolved stage of the prototype, it is very possible to see the next 5 series in the summer of 2010.

Except the first two generations of 5 Series – the BMW E12 and E28, all 5 series were produced as limousine and wagon, but – the latest generation 5 series, the E60, gave birth to a new type – the BMW 5 Series GT. Why is this so important for the next 5 series? Well it is very possible that the next 5 series to be based on the 5 series GT platform which is a 7 based!

The 2011 BMW 5 Series will come with an 8 speed gear box (as optional). Mostly, it will use the X6 SUV XDrive platform, and the engines from the current 7 series. It would not be the first time when BMW would borrow engines from the big 7 Series. Talking about engines, the 2011 5 Series will come with the all known 6 cylinders in line turbo diesel, but also 6 cylinder turbo petrol engines developing more than 300hp will be available. Anyway, because all the constructors are trying to downsize the engines, a 2 liter 4 cylinder engine could be available.

As far as the pricing, it is very difficult at the moment to make any forecast, but we can expect to find a good equipped 2011  BMW 5 Series at around 50.000 Euros.

The engine line-up expected in new 5-series runs thus:

• 523i – 2.5-litre straight six
• 530i – 3.0-litre straight six
• 540i – 3.0-litre straight six twin-turbo
• 550i – 4.4-litre V8 twin-turbo
• M5 – 4.4-litre V8 twin-turbo

• 520d – 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
• 530d – 3.0-litre straight-six turbo
• 535d – 3.0-litre straight-six twin-turbo

Source: QuattroRoute & Carmagazine