Autoblog

First Drive: 2009 BMW Z4 Roadster grows up at the expense of its groove

Michael Harley — Wed, 13 May 2009 11:57:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Coupe, Performance, BMW, First Drives

2009 BMW Z4 - Click above for high-res image gallery

The all-new 2009 BMW Z4 Roadster is the eagerly anticipated replacement to both the Z4 Convertible and Z4 Coupe. Adding to this pressure, the two-seater is also tasked with satisfying the enthusiasts who enjoyed the high-performance M variants, both of which are discontinued - at least for the moment. Autoblog just spent a long day behind the wheel of the multi-role Z4, dissecting the Roadster's styling, ergonomics, chassis, powerplant and handling. How does the Z4 masquerade as four different models? Is it a credible replacement for one, or all? Most importantly, will the Z4 appease the enthusiast? Find out after the jump.

Gallery: First Drive: 2009 BMW Z4

Continue reading First Drive: 2009 BMW Z4 Roadster grows up at the expense of its groove

First Drive: 2009 BMW Z4 Roadster grows up at the expense of its groove originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 13 May 2009 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Next BMW night vision system can detect humans in the dark

Jonathon Ramsey — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 11:29:00 EST

Filed under: Gadgets, Sedan, Technology, BMW

The next BMW 7-Series is going to be graced with some serious driving technology. While the image above doesn't appear to have anything like the picture quality of Mercedes' NightVision Assist, BMW's offering will have some other features that you probably won't find this side of a special ops base.

The second-gen night vision system will be able to detect humans in the road because it will use thermal imaging. It will alert the driver of human impediments up to 100 meters ahead, and it won't be confused by humans on the sidewalk. If a collision is imminent, a flashing warning triangle will appear on the screen and the heads-up display.

European versions of the car won't have to rely on navigation software to know the speed limit of a given road. A camera behind the rear-view mirror will read street sings in any country that is signed to the Vienna Convention -- which doesn't include the U.S. That function will work in any weather, even fog. It won't limit the speed of the car, but it will warn the driver if his or her speed is excessive. Word is they are considering naming the system "Hal." Thanks for the tip, Chris!

[Source: BMWblog]

The camera found in the Night-Vision-system will be improved as well, featuring a better resolution and improved object-recognition. The system will warn the driver if he is in danger of a collision with any detected object or human. To test this technique they test drove over 250.000 kilometers at night, so the error margins are pretty slim. That's pretty impressive I would say.

Next BMW night vision system can detect humans in the dark originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 06 Jun 2008 11:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spy Shots: 2009 BMW 7 Series interior snapped

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 13:32:00 EST

Filed under: Spy Photos, Sedan, BMW

Click on the image to enlarge

After seeing numerous exterior spy shots and renderings of BMW's upcoming 2009 7 Series and hearing details about the drivetrain, we finally have what appears to be a spy shot of the new 7's interior. Like the exterior, it appears to be rather subdued for a modern BMW. As we had previously heard, the ~~joystick~~ gear lever has moved back to its rightful position in the center console between the seats. Although the woodgrain and some of the panels don't line up all that well, we're not concerned about it considering that this is obviously not a production model yet. We're also happy to see that the iDrive screen is better integrated into the dash. While we generally favor a clean, uncluttered look, we wonder how this new and more simple design ethos will resonate with the luxury car buyers that are BMW's target audience. Thanks for the tip, Luke!

[Source: E90Post.com]

Spy Shots: 2009 BMW 7 Series interior snapped originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 20 Apr 2008 13:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spy Shots: BMW 5-Series sedan

Jonathon Ramsey — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 07:19:00 EST

Filed under: Spy Photos, Sedan, BMW

Chris Bangle is now chief of design for the BMW Group. Without his hand directly penning the coming crop of new BMWs, new man on campus Adrian van Hooydonk -- who answers to Bangle -- is slowly erasing some of Bangle's more controversial contributions.

Though you can't really tell from Car magazine's spy shots of the next 5-Series, they've been told that "the new 5-series won't be anywhere near as radical as today's E60." With the redesign of the current 7-Series being talked up as a return to traditional elegance, we can probably expect the same from the 5-Series. The car will get a smidge longer, and up front you'll get traces of Concept CS styling, as well as LED eyebrows over the headlights.

What you might not expect is a much greener 5. It will get the roundel's Efficient Dynamics at no extra cost, which shuts off the engine when the car is stopped and unhooks the alternator when the battery is fully charged. It might also get a high-efficiency gearbox with eight -- that's right, a Lexus-like eight -- forward gears. Beyond that, there will be likely be many high-tech aids and five engine choices ranging from a 245-HP 3-liter diesel to the 5-liter 500-HP V10 in the M5. Thanks for the tip, Dave!

[Source: Car magazine]

Spy Shots: BMW 5-Series sedan originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 15 Jan 2008 07:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rendered Speculation: 2009 BMW 7-Series

Jonathon Ramsey — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 16:26:00 EST

Filed under: Spy Photos, Sedan, BMW

The next 7-Series could say goodbye to its current bluff-sided barge proportions. According to the latest renderings, a lower, wider, larger car swoops up from a front that takes cues from the CS concept to a rear in which there are no remaining traces of the Bangle Butt.

We have always been fans of the 7-Series, and would greatly welcome a return to elegance -- even if it's the brutish elegance of this rendering. We would also welcome a new interior, and word is that it will be equally redone. And that (pesky) iDrive? The annoying knob will be made ever more user friendly we're told, which shouldn't be too difficult considering the starting point. It appears the last user friendly upgrade to the iDrive wasn't as friendly as BMW thought. This time it will also get Google Maps and iPhone connectivity. Intriguingly, the gear shift could return to the center console instead of being on the steering column stalk.

Engines will start out at 3.0 liters (probably gas and diesel variants, but still not for the States, most likely), jump to a V8 with a 47-HP boost over the current model, and top out at an even more powerful 6.0-liter V12. Expect the car to debut next year as a 2009 model, so we should see its debut at an auto show early in the season.

[Source: eGM Car Tech]

Rendered Speculation: 2009 BMW 7-Series originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 18 Dec 2007 16:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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