Showing posts with label BMW. Show all posts
Showing posts with label BMW. Show all posts
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
BMW Introduces Anniversary Edition 760Li
Saturday, September 8, 2012
2012 BMW 650i Coupe Review
For: Do-It-All Nature, Space, Grace, Pace
Against: Exterior Rear View Mirrors Too Small
If you need a sportscar and a high performance sedan, look no further than Bimmer’s 650i. Granted, it’s a tad pricey at $101,675. But if you perceive it as 2 cars in 1, you’re on the right reasoning track. If you’re willing to alot $50,000 for each purpose the 650i fulfills, then you’ve saved yourself from buying an extra car. Let’s examine this genteel beast from the sportscar perspective first. Are 400hp and 450 lb.-ft. of torque enough to slake your thirst for V8 twin turbo power? They should be, considering the 650i will turn 107mph in 13.4 seconds through the quarter mile, and post a 0-60mph time of 5.1 seconds on its way to an electronically limited top speed of 150mph. If that isn’t serious sportscar territory, than nothing is.
But what about the handling? In a word, superb. BMW’s Driving Dynamics Control (DDC) system, which is standard on this car, allows you to dial up just the right amount of steering feedback, suspension control, throttle response and traction control permissiveness you need when pushing the performance envelope. An easily accessible button on the standard “Fine Line Oak Wood” center console allows you to bump the default DDC setting from Comfort to Performance or Performance+. If you hold the button down for 10 seconds in the Performance+ setting, you disable Dynamic Stability Control (DSC), putting your enthusiasm and talent in control of the situation. You’ll want to be exceptionally careful in this DSC-deleted Performance+ mode, because many of the safety net override systems are disabled, making it possible to lose control of this heavy and powerful vehicle if you don’t know what you’re doing.
Now let’s examine this coupe’s contribution to family harmony. Although access to the rear seats is by definition limited in any 2-door vehicle, this BMW does its best to make back seat usage feasible and comfortable for all concerned. An oversized latch on the top of the front seats allows back seaters to tilt their way into the plush pair of rear lounge chairs. Even better are the exquisitely crafted front 20-way power Multi-contour chairs, complete with Nappa leather covering and optional ($500) 3-stage heaters. The commodious 16.1 cubic foot trunk, unencumbered by the need to house a spare tire thanks to the run=flat Dunlops, will hold enough baggage to take three adults and their suitcases across country. And what a fine trip it promises to be. On the open highway, the twin turbo V8 settles into a relaxed gate that nets you 23 MPG. Slip the Dynamic Driver Control system into Comfort+ mode, and the 650 metamorphoses from a backroad burner to a freeway cruiser extraordinaire. The optional Bang & Olufsen Premium Sound Package ($3,700) provides an endless array of entertainment options, from 1 year of free Sirius Radio to iPod and USB integration. So if you need a concert hall on wheels with the ride comfort of a ‘60s Cadillac, then give this Bimmer a close look. Because it’s the very same car that will run with a Turbo Porsche on any backroad of your choice.
2012 BMW 650i Coupe
- Engine: 4.4 liter V8, Direct Injected and Twin Turbocharged
- Horsepower: 400hp at 5,500rpm
- Torque: 450lb.-ft. at 1,750rpm
- Fuel Consumption: 15 MPG City/23 MPG Highway
- Price as Tested: $101,675
- Star Rating: 9.5 out of 10 Stars
Thursday, September 6, 2012
BMW X6 Concept Review
Concept innovation of the world’s
first Sports Activity Coupé. As the founder of the Sports Activity
Vehicle (SAV) segment, BMW is now once again presenting a new,
consistently developed concept.The most sporting and dynamic
interpretation of a BMW X model, with the emphasis above all on the
car’s active driving potential. Superior driving dynamics taken up by
typical BMW design language and authentically visualised in the car’s
design.Extravagant body design combining the sporting elegance of a BMW
Coupé with the striking DNA of BMW X. Clear orientation to the wheels,
generous ground clearance and extra-large wheel arches give BMW Concept
X6 the powerful presence so characteristic of a BMW X model. BMW
Concept X6 is the first car in the world to feature Dynamic Performance
Control for unique directional stability and precision under all
driving conditions as well as BMW’s intelligent xDrive all-wheel-drive
technology.
BMW Z4 Review
The BMW Z4 is
one of the more intriguing sports cars currently available. It's known
for its engaging handling and steering, thrilling inline six-cylinder
engine and distinctive styling. Although its stated horsepower ratings
are equaled or surpassed by those of some less expensive machinery, the
Z4 counters with a lighter curb weight and, in most cases, a more
rewarding driving experience. Recent improvements have made the latest
Z4 the best yet, and older models are still a very viable choice for a
used sports car.
The BMW Z4 is built at the company's Spartanburg, South Carolina, facility, and has been in production since the 2003 model year. It's a successor to the original Z3 and is the company's only two-seat sports car. It features traditional characteristics such as a front-engine/rear-drive layout, a hunkered-down stance, a long hood and rearward positioning of driver and passenger. Another notable element is the car's chiseled exterior design, which BMW says is used to add tension to the car's shape.
The BMW Z4 is available as a roadster with a convertible top or a fixed-roof coupe. For the roadster, there are two trim levels: 3.0i and 3.0si. The Z4 3.0i comes with features such as 17-inch wheels, stability control, antilock brakes, power mirrors and windows, manually operated seats and vinyl upholstery. A 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine rated at 215 horsepower is standard, as is a six-speed manual transmission. A six-speed automatic is optional.
The Z4 3.0si features 18-inch wheels, a few upgraded interior features and a 255-hp 3.0-liter inline six. A few options are also available for both trim levels, including a Premium package with a power-operated top and a Sport package designed to improve the vehicle's handling capabilities. The Z4 Coupe is offered in the 3.0si trim only.
Even without the Sport package, the Z4 rewards drivers with an engaging driving experience. In Edmunds.com reviews of the BMW Z4, editors have praised the car's sharp reflexes and quick acceleration. The Coupe possesses a slight advantage in terms of handling due to its added body rigidity. For shoppers desiring even more performance, there's also an M-powered version of the Z4.
Because of a major update for 2006, Z4 models from this year and onwards are a better choice than earlier models, if price is no object. This update included the mid-year release of the coupe body style, the 215-hp and 255-hp engines, and the six-speed automatic. Other changes to the BMW sports car included a retuned standard suspension for better ride quality, a higher final-drive ratio for improved acceleration, new wheel designs, additional braking functionality for the stability control system, updated front and rear styling and minor interior trim updates.
From 2003-'05, BMW Z4 models were identified as either 2.5i or 3.0i. The 2.5i has a 2.5-liter, inline six-cylinder engine that makes 184 hp, while the 3.0i uses a 3.0-liter straight six that generates 225 hp. For transmissions, there is a five-speed manual (standard on the 2.5), a six-speed manual (standard on the 3.0), a five-speed automatic or, as on the M3, a six-speed Sequential Manual Gearbox (SMG). There were a few minor changes made during this period in terms of feature content, but none of them were significant enough to make one model year more desirable than another.
The BMW Z4 is built at the company's Spartanburg, South Carolina, facility, and has been in production since the 2003 model year. It's a successor to the original Z3 and is the company's only two-seat sports car. It features traditional characteristics such as a front-engine/rear-drive layout, a hunkered-down stance, a long hood and rearward positioning of driver and passenger. Another notable element is the car's chiseled exterior design, which BMW says is used to add tension to the car's shape.
The BMW Z4 is available as a roadster with a convertible top or a fixed-roof coupe. For the roadster, there are two trim levels: 3.0i and 3.0si. The Z4 3.0i comes with features such as 17-inch wheels, stability control, antilock brakes, power mirrors and windows, manually operated seats and vinyl upholstery. A 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine rated at 215 horsepower is standard, as is a six-speed manual transmission. A six-speed automatic is optional.
The Z4 3.0si features 18-inch wheels, a few upgraded interior features and a 255-hp 3.0-liter inline six. A few options are also available for both trim levels, including a Premium package with a power-operated top and a Sport package designed to improve the vehicle's handling capabilities. The Z4 Coupe is offered in the 3.0si trim only.
Even without the Sport package, the Z4 rewards drivers with an engaging driving experience. In Edmunds.com reviews of the BMW Z4, editors have praised the car's sharp reflexes and quick acceleration. The Coupe possesses a slight advantage in terms of handling due to its added body rigidity. For shoppers desiring even more performance, there's also an M-powered version of the Z4.
Because of a major update for 2006, Z4 models from this year and onwards are a better choice than earlier models, if price is no object. This update included the mid-year release of the coupe body style, the 215-hp and 255-hp engines, and the six-speed automatic. Other changes to the BMW sports car included a retuned standard suspension for better ride quality, a higher final-drive ratio for improved acceleration, new wheel designs, additional braking functionality for the stability control system, updated front and rear styling and minor interior trim updates.
From 2003-'05, BMW Z4 models were identified as either 2.5i or 3.0i. The 2.5i has a 2.5-liter, inline six-cylinder engine that makes 184 hp, while the 3.0i uses a 3.0-liter straight six that generates 225 hp. For transmissions, there is a five-speed manual (standard on the 2.5), a six-speed manual (standard on the 3.0), a five-speed automatic or, as on the M3, a six-speed Sequential Manual Gearbox (SMG). There were a few minor changes made during this period in terms of feature content, but none of them were significant enough to make one model year more desirable than another.
