Autoblog

Autoblog Podcast #330

Dan Roth — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 11:15:00 EST

Filed under: Podcasts, BMW, Chevrolet, Jaguar, Jeep, Lexus, Shanghai Motor Show, Diesel

Shanghai Motor Show, 2014 Jaguar F-Type, 2014 Chevrolet Cruze Diesel

Episode #330 of the Autoblog Podcast is (finally!) here, and this week, Dan Roth, Zach Bowman and Executive Editor Chris Paukert talk about the Shanghai Motor Show, our time with the 2014 Jaguar F-Type and the 2014 Chevrolet Cruze Diesel. We also give extra attention to your questions and comments. For those of you who hung with us live on our UStream channel, thanks for taking the time. You can follow along after the jump with our Q&A. Thanks for listening!

Autoblog Podcast #330:

Topics:

In the Autoblog Garage:

Hosts: Dan Roth, Zach Bowman, Chris Paukert

Runtime: 01:40:46

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Continue reading Autoblog Podcast #330

Autoblog Podcast #330 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 26 Apr 2013 11:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BMW recalling 2013 M5, M6 models over potential catastrophic engine failures

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Fri, 05 Oct 2012 13:45:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Coupe, Sedan, Performance, Recalls, Safety, BMW, Mini, Luxury

Catastrophic engine failure... not exactly what you want to hear no matter what you're driving, but especially so when you've just purchased a brand-new 2013 BMW M5 or M6.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, "a manufacturing process error" could cause the oil pump's driveshaft to separate from its rotor, leading "to a sudden loss of oil pressure causing the possibility of complete engine failure, resulting in an engine stall-like condition, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash."

As is always the case with such recalls, BMW will be contacting owners and dealerships with plans to fix the problem free of charge. On the plus side, we'd imagine some owners already know of the problem, considering the brand issued a stop sale notice on the M5 and M6 on September 21.

In kinda-sorta related news (hey, Mini is owned by BMW after all), a recall notice has also been issued for certain 2011 Mini Clubman and Clubman S models regarding a glitch that may cause owners to miss an in-dash warning for malfunctioning ABS brakes. Not exactly catastrophic engine failure, and it only affects 75 cars, says NHTSA, but you can find both recalls in their entirety below.

Continue reading BMW recalling 2013 M5, M6 models over potential catastrophic engine failures

BMW recalling 2013 M5, M6 models over potential catastrophic engine failures originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 05 Oct 2012 13:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BMW issues stop sale on M5 and M6 models over faulty oil pump

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Fri, 21 Sep 2012 18:29:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Coupe, Sedan, Performance, Recalls, Safety, BMW, Luxury

According to the M-obsessed boys and girls at M5Post.com, BMW has issued an immediate stop sale on new M5 and M6 (both coupe and convertible) models. The problem stems from the engine oil pump; if the pump doesn't supply the correct amount of oil to the engine's moving parts, "severe engine damage" is the likely result. That's not good at all.

BMW is also "contacting customers that have already taken delivery and recommending customers not drive their cars." Sad news for M5 and M6 owners, to be sure, but we think it beats a bunch of blown engines. Check out the official bulletin above and be sure to contact your local dealer if you happen to be lucky enough to own one of the possibly affected machines.

BMW issues stop sale on M5 and M6 models over faulty oil pump originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 21 Sep 2012 18:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BMW says M5 sedan, M6 Coupe finally in U.S. showrooms

George Kennedy — Sun, 02 Sep 2012 18:01:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Convertible, Coupe, Sedan, Performance, BMW, Luxury

For those of you looking to snag a brand-new BMW M5 or M6, good news has arrived. The German super sedan and two-door have finally rolled in to U.S. dealerships. (Given how long we've been talking about these cars, you could be forgiven for thinking they've been on sale in the States for ages.)

The M6 coupe and M5 sedan join the M6 convertible, which has been on sale since July. Regardless of which model you choose, the new M cars share the same twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V8. According to BMW, 560 horsepower is the peak output, and it's sent to the rear wheels through a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox. Oh, and the M5 offers a six-speed stick as a no-cost option in the States. Tempting, no?

Continue reading BMW says M5 sedan, M6 Coupe finally in U.S. showrooms

BMW says M5 sedan, M6 Coupe finally in U.S. showrooms originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 02 Sep 2012 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2013 BMW M6 Coupe [w/video]

Matt Davis — Fri, 22 Jun 2012 11:57:00 EST

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

More Pace And Better Style With Less Menace

With the dust just settling on recent tests of the $113,995 BMW M6 convertible and the start of U.S. deliveries in late May, we now get to attack some traffic-free Spanish two-lanes and the 3.4-mile track at the Ascari Race Resort in the third-generation, or F12, BMW M6 coupe, which sells for the "discount" price of just $106,995.

Let's cut to the chase a bit: The M6 coupe is far more convincing as a big M car with this bi-turbo V8 powertrain than either the M6 convertible or M5 four-door.

Of these three 553-horsepower platform-sharing M cars, it's definitely this sleek coupe that takes home the prize on dynamics. It's some 65 pounds lighter than the M5 and almost 290 pounds lighter than the convertible M6, so just on those numbers, one would certainly hope for a crisper, more responsive road and track manner.

Almost as a way of driving home this chief difference between the intentions of the coupe and convertible, BMW dressed all of the M6 coupes we were testing in both the optional five-spoke 20-inch forged M wheels and big lightweight optional carbon ceramic brake discs. The convertibles on hand at this European drive event all had standard 19-inchers and compound discs. And thus the drop tops were not allowed on the track at all, and that felt right.

Continue reading 2013 BMW M6 Coupe [w/video]

2013 BMW M6 Coupe [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 22 Jun 2012 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2013 BMW M6 brings big power to a big coupe

Steven J. Ewing — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 03:58:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Geneva Motor Show, BMW

Try this one on for size: BMW already dropped the full details on both the new M6 coupe and convertible, but only the hardtop makes its debut here at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show. We'll have to wait until the New York expo in April to see the convertible, though oddly, the droptop M6 is the one that will go on sale in the United States first. Alright then.

Regardless of what car launches when, the M6 will no doubt pack a potent punch when it finally hits the street. Powered by BMW's 4.4-liter twin-turbocharged V8, the big coupe (and convertible) will have a whopping 560 horsepower and 500 pound-feet of torque on tap, all of which is sent to the rear wheels via the M division's seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. That means the M6 Coupe will run to 62 miles per hour in just 4.2 seconds with the convertible only lagging behind by a tenth of a second. And while the 2012 M5 will be offered in the U.S. with a proper six-speed manual transmission, there's no word on a row-your-own gearbox for the M6, though our sources have said that it's under consideration (of course).

There's no mention of curb weight for either car, but rest assured, the new M6 has surely shed some pounds versus the less-powerful (and decidedly uglier) E63 model. M-specific 19-inch wheels wrapped in high-performance summer tires come as standard rolling stock, but to better fill out those big wheel wells (and offer better grip on the road), a set of lightweight 20s will be available as an option.

So, it'll be another month before we see the droptop M6, even though it'll officially go on sale this summer as a 2012 model. As for the coupe, we won't see that until later in 2012 badged as a 2013 model. Click through our live gallery to see the new M hotness live from Geneva, and follow the jump for all of the nitty-gritty details in BMW's press blast.

Continue reading 2013 BMW M6 brings big power to a big coupe

2013 BMW M6 brings big power to a big coupe originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 07 Mar 2012 03:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Check out the new BMW M6 duo in action

Noah Joseph — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 19:59:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Coupe, Performance, Videos, BMW

You've soaked in the details. You've seen the pictures. You may even have set one as the wallpaper on your desktop or smartphone. But the new BMW M6 isn't the ultimate ogling machine. It's the ultimate driving machine. So the best we can advise is that you go out and drive one. But short of that, you'll want at least to see it in motion.

Fortunately, BMW has released a pair of clips showing the new coupe and cabrio doing what they do best in a setting that, to our eyes, looks like it must be in the Persian Gulf. Follow the jump to check them out, and try not to mind the soundtrack that's dubbed dramatic music over what we all really want to hear: the engine note.

Continue reading Check out the new BMW M6 duo in action

Check out the new BMW M6 duo in action originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 13 Feb 2012 19:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BMW debuts 560-hp twin-turbo M6, manual option under consideration

Damon Lavrinc — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: New York Auto Show, Convertible, Coupe, Performance, Geneva Motor Show, BMW

What's the new M6 made of? Just like the last generation, it takes all the best bits from the M5 and distills them into two door form. And this time, the convertible comes first.

At its heart, the M6 Coupe and Cabriolet are all about the engine, and as expected both models use the same twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V8 (ironically codenamed S63) to output 560 horsepower and 500 pound-feet of torque, the latter of which peaks between 1,500 and 5,750 rpm. Those figures should sound familiar, as they're almost exact duplicates of the M5's specs (the sedan makes an additional two lb-ft of torque), including the 7,200 rpm rev limiter and Valvetronic system.

Mated to the same seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox as the M5, BMW claims the M6 Coupe will run from a rest to 62 mph in 4.2 seconds, with the cabrio taking an additional tenth of a second to hit the same mark. According to our sources, a six-speed manual option is under consideration, but it won't be available at launch. And again, just like the M5, fuel consumption has been reduced by 30 percent while power has increased by around 10 percent.

Also included is BMW's Active M Differential, an electronically controlled multi-plate limited slip diff that works in conjunction with the DSC and the new Dynamic Damper Controls that electro-hydraulically tweak damping force on-the-fly depending on the settings and the situation.

Inside the subtly blistered wheel arches are massive 16.1-inch carbon ceramic rotors in front, gripped by six piston blue calipers, with equally impressive 15.6-inch rotors out back held by a single-piston caliper. The standard wheels are M-specific 19-inch alloys with 265/40 R19 ultra-high performance summer tires in front and 295/35 R19 rubber in the rear, with 20-inch lightweight hoops available as an option.

BMW isn't citing exact curb weights for either the coupe or cabrio yet, but assures us that they're notably less than the previous E63/E64, and the double-bubble carbon fiber roof on the coupe is a visual testament to that.

Sales of the convertible will start this June, with the coupe arriving later this summer as a 2013 model. And we hear we'll get to see the drop top in person at the New York Auto Show, with the coupe debuting in Geneva. Hit the jump for all the tech-laden details.

Continue reading BMW debuts 560-hp twin-turbo M6, manual option under consideration

BMW debuts 560-hp twin-turbo M6, manual option under consideration originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 11 Feb 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BMW M6 coupe shows off a little more skin

Noah Joseph — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 13:01:00 EST

Filed under: Spy Photos, Coupe, Performance, BMW, Luxury

BMW M6 Coupe spy shots - Click above for high-res image gallery

There's a new BMW 6 Series out there. The new M5 has been released. You know what that means, boys and girls: that's right, a new M6.

Now we've already seen spy shots of both the upcoming M6 coupe and convertible, but this is our best look at it yet, bearing even less camouflage than before. The overall shape, of course, is no big surprise, as it follows the more standard 6 Series, although these latest shots appear to display a new taillight treatment that moves the auxiliary light strip from the bumper up to the rear panel.

The powertrain, meanwhile, is expected to be lifted directly out of the new M5 - all 560 horsepower, eight cylinders and twin turbos of it. Couple that with more aggressive aero, upsized rolling stock and the requisite chassis mods and you've got a winning package.

With this much of the car revealed to our prying eyes, we can expect the new M6 to drop in short order - which is also what we expect it to make of any road you can throw at it.

BMW M6 coupe shows off a little more skin originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 23 Jun 2011 13:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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