Source: EuropeanCarWeb.com

Seen by millions of viewers around the world, the last thing anybody want to see is the legendary Olympic torch extinguish during its lighting ceremony. So to help avoid a catastrophe and prepare for the worst kind of weather, BMW’s Energy and Environmental Test Center (ETC) in Munich was used to test the torch ahead of its 70-day Olympic Relay around Britain.

The Center is able to simulate some of the world’s most extreme weather systems in one building and is normally used to examine BMW vehicles in its three wind tunnels and two climatic test chambers.

With a temperature range of -4F to +131F, the company can can reproduce the Arctic Tundra or Sahara Desert, generating wind speeds up 174mph. The facility can also simulate an altitude of 13780ft above sea level.

As the Olympic Torch travels around the UK it will have to remain lit in all weathers, including freezing temperatures at mountain summits, strong winds in the north of Scotland and summer heat in the South of England, not to mention the inevitable rain.

The Torch stood up to extreme weather at the BMW facility, enduring +23F to +104F temperatures, +50mph winds, snow packing the front of the torch, and driving rain. Fortunately, the flame stayed alight throughout.

Double British Olympic champion, Daley Thompson, experienced some of the conditions firsthand, standing in one of the wind tunnels with the torch in hand. He said: “The Olympic Torch Relay is set to build excitement for London 2012 throughout the UK, so it’s really important that the Torch can cope with our unpredictable British weather. Seeing the facility that BMW has and knowing the Torch has been tested so robustly makes me sure we’re going to be able to build that excitement ahead of a brilliant summer of sport.”

As part of its partnership with the London 2012 Olympic Games, BMW will provide torchbearers from customers, dealers, staff and charities. The Olympic Torch Relay will begin its 70-day tour on 19 May, involving 8000 torchbearers and traveling within 10 miles of 95% of the UK population.

Our NJ BMW dealer heard that BMW had something up their sleeve in preparation for the anniversary of the BMW M Series. Finally we learned they were making a Frozen Silver Edition and had to know more! This M series car looks like it is going to be one of our favorite BMW’s yet - and there are only 100 of them!

Source: Auto Express

BMW has announced the BMW M3 Coupe Frozen Silver Edition, a special model designed to commemorate 40 years of the BMW M Division.

Only 100 will be built, with each finished in Frozen Silver metallic paint and based on the driver-focused Competition Pack version of the M3. That means it gets 19-inch BBS alloy wheels, but instead of the usual polished finish, they are matt black. The M3’s side vents, grille and bonnet intakes are all finished in black too, with black exhaust tips finishing the menacing look.

Inside, there’s carbon fibre detailing and black leather seats as standard, with an Alcantara-wrap steering wheel that features a chequered flag logo that’s also used on the doorsills. The ‘M Power’ logo is stitched into the handbrake, while each Frozen Silver Edition comes with its own numbered aluminium plaque.

The 414bhp 4.0-litre V8 remains untouched, and is available only with the seven-speed double clutch gearbox, but the Competition Pack spec means that it rides 10mm lower, adds electronic dampers and has a tweaked stability and traction control system. The standard car’s 0-62 time of 4.6 seconds and 155mph electronically-limited top speed remain.

The BMW M3 Frozen Silver Edition goes on sale on 1 June from £58,720, which is £4,000 more than the standard M3 coupe.

Source: Auto Express

Source: Motor Authority

The BMW X1 has already been taking to dirt roads and city centers in many other parts of the world for a while now, but we Americans are going to get our first taste of BMW’s smallest crossover at the 2012 New York Auto Show this week.

Coming in the fall of 2012 as a 2013 model, the new X1 gets some of BMW’s latest technology and powertrain developments, wrapped in a compact crossover body that’s aimed at people and families that don’t want or need the excess of a larger SUV.

Under the hood of the U.S.-market X1, you’ll find two options: the 240-horsepower 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder in 28i models (available in sDrive rear-wheel-drive form, or xDrive all-wheel drive); and the 3.0-liter turbocharged inline six-cylinder in the 300-horsepower xDrive35i. Both engines are paired with an automatic gearbox, start-stop technology, and brake energy regeneration.

If the X1 shapes up like the new 3-Series has, the xDrive28i model may well be the choice of the group, offering good power and acceleration with impressive fuel economy. BMW hasn’t yet released estimated EPA figures for the X1, however.

Pricing, on the other hand, is known: the X1 will start from $31,545 for the sDrive28i; $33,245 for the xDrive28i; and $39,345 for the xDrive35i.

Read more here

Article by: Viknesh Vijayenthiran

The BMW X1 may finally be making its U.S. debut, with the compact luxury crossover expected to be appear in facelifted form at next month’s 2012 New York Auto Show before going on sale this fall as a 2013 model.

Pictured above is a prototype for the facelifted X1 model, which was spotted testing in Northern Europe this past winter.

The X1 has been on sale in other parts of the globe for several years now, including in Canada, but has been excluded from the U.S. due to strong demand, particularly in Europe, and an unfavorable exchange rate differential between the U.S. dollar and euro.

After several broken promises, it appears the X1 is now finally ready to entice U.S. audiences, according to a report by CNET.

The X1 in the U.S. is expected to feature a sole powertrain option, the brilliant turbocharged and direct-injected 2.0-liter TwinPower engine found in the 2012 BMW Z4 sDrive28i and 2012 BMW 328i. Peak output should come in at roughly 240 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque.

Matched to this engine will be a six-speed manual as standard, with an eight-speed automatic remaining an option. All-wheel drive should also be fitted as standard.

Source: Motor Authority

Article by: Horatiu Boeriu

Among the big BMW debuts this year at the Geneva Motor Show, the new F30 BMW 3 Series xDrive almost went unnoticed. The xDrive version of the refreshed 3 Series will be available this fall and in the U.S. will come in two variants: BMW 328i xDrive and 335i xDrive.

The model showcased at BMW exhibit is the 320d xDrive which shares the same engine as the EfficientDynamics edition model: a 2.0 liter commonrail DI variable geometry turbocharged lump, but with different power output – the ED Edition has 163 hp, while the 320d produces 184 hp, both at a similar 4,000 rpm. The total torque numbers are rated at 380 Nm @ 1,750-2,750 rpm.

In previous driving tests, the BMW 32d0 was rated at 5.4 liter/100 km, so expect a similar figure for the slightly heavier xDrive variant.

Source: BMWBlog.com

You can order a new BMW to your specifications from this premier NJ BMW dealer.  BMW of Freehold also offers a selection of 3 series models in stock. If a model with the specific features you require is not shown, please contact us.