Autoblog

BMW to dress up 5 Series Gran Turismo with M Sport package?

Steven J. Ewing — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Spy Photos, Crossover, Hatchback, BMW, Luxury

BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo M Sport spy shots - Click above for high-res image gallery

You may think that adding an M Sport pack to the BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo is the equivalent of putting lipstick on a pig, but let's be honest: BMW has to do something to broaden the 5GT's appeal and try to boost sales. BMW had projected that it would sell between 4,000 and 8,000 of its Gran Turismo range annually in the United States. Yet in 2010, the company only managed to move 2,848. Ouch.

Our spy photographers caught this prototype of a 5 Series GT out in Germany, dressed up in what appears to be traditional M Sport kit. Notice the revised front fascia, larger M-style wheels, revised side skirts and ever-so-slightly touched-up rear bumper. Like all other M Sport models, don't expect a boost in power output, and that's just fine - one thing we've always enjoyed about the 550i model is its twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V8.

Look for the 5 Series Gran Turismo M Sport to debut at this fall's Frankfurt Motor Show.

BMW to dress up 5 Series Gran Turismo with M Sport package? originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 22 Jun 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Geneva 2011: AC Schnitzer comes strong with sporty diesel BMW Z4, tuned 550i [w/videos]

Aaron Richardson — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 14:01:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Concept Cars, Convertible, Sedan, Performance, Geneva Motor Show, Europe, BMW, Specialty, Diesel

2011 AC Schnitzer 99d - Click above for high-res image gallery

AC Schnitzer has showed up at the Geneva Motor Show with not one, but two fresh-off-the-press upgrade packages for 2011.

Not wanting to look completely unfriendly to Mother Earth, AC Schnitzer has taken their expertise to the Z4 and BMW's EfficientDynamics system, working over a 320d mill to go under the Z4's hood. The 2011 AC Schnitzer 99d gets a 70-hp boost to 190, hits 60 in 6.9 seconds, releases a scant 99g of C02 per mile and returns a handsome 63 mpg in the European cycle. That, according to Schnitzer, is better than any BMW on the market. Unfortunately, the 99d is just a concept, and won't be available to the public any time soon.

For the family minded executives attending the show, AC Schnitzer started with the 2011 BMW 550i, bumping the car from 407 to 540 horsepower. According to Schnitzer, the result is a 4.5-second 0-60 sprint and a whopping 198 mph top end. The engine exhales through a new set of the tuner's own mufflers capped with chrome surrounds. The resulting executive express has been dubbed the ACS5 Sport S.

Hauling all that energy to a stop is a revised set of brakes sporting eight-piston calipers. Outside, Schnitzer went all-out to ensure that the car would be stable at its newfound velocity. The laundry list of exterior mods includes a front spoiler, carbon ducts for the brakes, new engine bay vents and, of course, your choice of 20 or 21-inch AC Schnitzer custom wheels.

Check out the official videos and press releases after the jump.

Gallery: AC Schnitzer 99d: Geneva 2011

Gallery: AC Schnitzer ACS5 Sport S: Geneva 2011

Photos copyright (C)2011 Drew Phillips / AOL

[Source: AC Schnitzer]

Continue reading Geneva 2011: AC Schnitzer comes strong with sporty diesel BMW Z4, tuned 550i [w/videos]

Geneva 2011: AC Schnitzer comes strong with sporty diesel BMW Z4, tuned 550i [w/videos] originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 03 Mar 2011 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Review: 2011 BMW 550i

Michael Harley — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 11:57:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, BMW, New Car Reviews, Luxury

The Redesigned 5 Series Becomes A Baby 7 Series

2011 BMW 550i - Click above for high-res image gallery

More than one mile above sea level, located in the heart of Sequoia National Park, is the General Sherman tree. This nearly three-hundred foot tall Giant Sequoia is considered the largest tree in the world, as based on total volume. More impressive than its mass is its age - scientists believe it is between 2,300 and 2,700 years old. Giant Sequoias have prospered over centuries, while countless lesser trees have come and gone, because they posses very unique qualities. Their foot-thick bark allows them to resist fire, and their shallow roots take advantage of rain showers during periods of drought. And, in an interesting twist of natural survival, their tall canopies effectively block the sun, preventing competitors from taking hold and surviving in the darkened shadows at their base.

The BMW 5 Series is in a similar position. The long-established benchmark mid-size sport sedan finds itself in a constant battle with competitors trying to push it aside in an effort to capture its territory. Instead of resting on its laurels, BMW re-engineers the four-door once every eight years to conform to a changing and ever crowding segment.

Introduced earlier this year, the all-new 2011 BMW 5 Series breaks new ground. Now sharing platforms with the 7 Series, the sedan seems to have changed its tune from sport to luxury. We spent a week with the range-topping 550i, fitted with the automaker's twin-turbo 400-horsepower V8, to put our fingers on its new mission.

Continue reading...

Gallery: Review: 2011 BMW 550i

Continue reading Review: 2011 BMW 550i

Review: 2011 BMW 550i originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 24 Sep 2010 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BMW recalling 2010-2011 5 Series, 5GT models over fuel tank sensors

Chris Shunk — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 17:58:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Wagon, Government/Legal, Recalls, Safety, Crossover, Hatchback, BMW

2010 BMW 550i Gran Turismo - Click above for high-res image gallery

If the fuel gauge in your 2010 or 2011 BMW 5-Series sedan or 5-Series Gran Turismo tells you that you've got plenty of petrol, you may want to hit the gas station before going on that long trip anyway. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration website reports that 6,080 5-Series sedan and GT models built between January 12 and July 1, 2010 are being recalled for a faulty fuel sensor. In certain cases, the sensor can wedge itself against the tank, which will lead to the fuel gauge reading that the vehicle has more fuel than it actually does. Drivers suddenly saddled with a fuel-free Bimmer while driving could wind up getting into an accident or being stranded by the side of the road, and that's not good at all.

The NHTSA website currently shows that BMW still hasn't provided an appropriate fix for the issue, but when the automaker does, owners will doubtlessly be able to head over to the nearest BMW dealer for a free repair. Head across the jump to read over the official NHTSA press release.

Gallery: Review: 2010 BMW 550i Gran Turismo

Photos by Drew Phillips / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.

[Source: NHTSA]

Continue reading BMW recalling 2010-2011 5 Series, 5GT models over fuel tank sensors

BMW recalling 2010-2011 5 Series, 5GT models over fuel tank sensors originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 26 Jul 2010 17:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2011 BMW 5 Series priced from $50,475*

Steven J. Ewing — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 15:32:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Sedan, BMW, Luxury

2011 BMW 535i - Click above for high-res image gallery

On the whole, we're pretty impressed with the 2011 BMW 5 Series, and after conducting our first drive in Portugal, we're confident that the F10 Fiver will make its way to the head of the class once again. Next week, the car will officially debut for the North American public at the New York Auto Show, and it will officially go on sale in June of this year, priced from $50,475 for the 535i and $60,575 for the 550i (including $875 for destination and handling).

The first key item to note is the base prices for both models are actually less than the current cars (only slightly, truth be told). However, in true German business-class luxury form, it's the options list that'll get you. Naturally, you'll want to shell out $2,200 for the Sport Package, and we'd recommend adding $2,700 for the Dynamic Handling Package, as well. Other fancy-shmancy add-ons include the usual Premium ($1,800, 535i only) or Premium 2 ($4,900/$2,800, 535i/550i) packages, Nappa leather ($2,450/$1,000), rear-seat entertainment ($2,200), integral active steering ($1,750), active cruise control ($2,400) and night vision with pedestrian detection ($2,600). The full list of options is available after the jump.

Still, even with the exhaustive options list, the 5 Series is competitively priced against its key competitors - the Audi A6 and Mercedes-Benz E-Class. And with a choice of two turbocharged engines, top-notch interior refinement and some shiny new sheetmetal, we're sure that prospective 5 Series owners will be quite pleased.

Gallery: First Drive: 2011 BMW 535i

Photos by Chris Paukert / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.

[Source: BMW]

Continue reading 2011 BMW 5 Series priced from $50,475*

2011 BMW 5 Series priced from $50,475* originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 25 Mar 2010 15:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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First Drive: 2011 BMW 5 Series is a smooth operator

Chris Paukert — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 11:56:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, BMW, First Drives, Luxury

2011 BMW 5 Series - Click above for high-res image gallery

The outgoing BMW 5 Series may have ushered in a dramatic leap forward in terms of dynamics, technology, safety and creature comforts, but it's the previous generation - the E39 - that Bimmerphiles still speak of in hushed tones. The departing E60 may have been a more capable package, but it was also the source of much controversy and hand wringing. Blame Chris Bangle. Blame byzantine iDrive menu structures. Blame spirit-muffling layers of electronics. Hell, blame improved competition or hidebound brand loyalists who refuse to accept the new. No matter whose camp you point the finger at, the 2004-2010 5 Series was a polarizing creature, both aesthetically and from behind the wheel. Despite (or perhaps because of) all this, BMW enjoyed record-setting global sales of the Fiver, suggesting that that the traditionalists had it all wrong.

Still, one look at the new-for-2011 F10 model might reasonably lead you to believe that a bit of mulligan has occurred at the hand of Adrian van Hooydonk and his design team - a toning down of the E60's most divisive elements. To be sure, the E60's Dame Edna spectacles have been consigned to a dusty drawer and the raised "Bangle Butt" has kept its date with Celebrity Fit Club. In the not-so-dearly departed's place is a handsome new sedan that appears simultaneously more in line with the 5 Series' lineage yet firmly set on the future. But to label the sixth-generation Fiver as an aesthetic or strategic regression would be incorrect, van Hooydonk tells us. As he points out, BMW design has a tendency to periodically muscle in with big, bold, design statements - to knock down walls - and in the follow-up model, its stylists can move about a bit more in the clean air made possible by its predecessor. Fair enough - we prepared to check our Weltschmerz at the door and give this new Fiver a shot. Has it all been worked out for the better? BMW invited us to hop a couple of planes to Portugal in order to find out.

Gallery: First Drive: 2011 BMW 535i

Continue reading First Drive: 2011 BMW 5 Series is a smooth operator

First Drive: 2011 BMW 5 Series is a smooth operator originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 25 Jan 2010 11:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Happy New Year! BMW rings in 2010 with price increases across the board

Jonny Lieberman — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 10:58:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Europe, BMW

BMW X6 ActiveHybrid - Click above for high-res image gallery

Normally we can think of some cute little anecdote to kick these here posts off with, but today... can't do it. BMW is raising their prices by 0.4 percent across the board on vehicles sold in North America. This price increase takes effect on January 1, 2010. Why? BMW isn't saying. And while less than a percent may not sound like much, if you're buying a stripper 760Li ($136,600), that's like $600!

There is a tiny sliver of good news. The three vehicles that just got introduced to this continent in December -- the ActiveHybrid X6, ActiveHybrid 7 and the 550i Gran Turismo -- are unaffected by this price increase. Of course as all three of those vehicles haven't proved themselves in the marketplace yet, so that sliver is even tinier upon second glance.

But it's not just the base prices that are going up. Destination & Handling fees are on the rise as well. Every new BMW is coming with an additional $50 tacked onto the 2009 $825 price, for a total of $875. And yes, this fifty dollar increase applies to the two new hybrids and the Gran Turismo as well. Happy New Year!

Gallery: BMW X6 ActiveHybrid Concept

[Source: BMW]

Happy New Year! BMW rings in 2010 with price increases across the board originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 14 Dec 2009 10:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VIDEO: BMW teases new 5 Series sedan ahead of unveiling using amazing kinetic sculpture

Chris Paukert — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Videos, BMW, Luxury

2010 BMW 5 Series - click above to watch the video

We knew that BMW's pivotal 5 Series was slated for replacement soon, and we've seen plenty of spy shots to prove that it's in the cards. Up until just now, however, we didn't know when it would appear.

In a brief press release available after the jump, BMW promises that its new 5 Series will be revealed with a "Live-Stream of the unveiling ceremony" on November 23 at 8pm CET. In the meantime, the automaker has released a teaser video of an amazing kinetic sculpture at the BMW Museum that gives away the car's outline. You can check it out after the jump.

[Source: BMW]

Continue reading VIDEO: BMW teases new 5 Series sedan ahead of unveiling using amazing kinetic sculpture

VIDEO: BMW teases new 5 Series sedan ahead of unveiling using amazing kinetic sculpture originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 09 Nov 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumormill: BMW looking at cheaper 5 Series Gran Turismo, rules out M model

Chris Paukert — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 15:29:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, Wagon, Europe, Crossover, Hatchback, BMW, Rumormill, Diesel

BMW 535i Gran Turismo - Click above for high-res image gallery

The famed automotive pot-stirrers at Autocar are at it again. According to two blurbs from the UK publication, BMW's new 5 Series Gran Turismo may spawn at least one less costly, less powerful variant, but a high-performance M version is apparently off the table.

On the fuel and financial economy front, Bimmer is reportedly considering adding four-cylinder powerplants to the controversial new five-door, including the 175 bhp diesel from the 320d. A twin-turbo diesel may also be in the cards. The fear here is that the premium-priced 5GT may in fact be priced too aggressively, as it stickers above a comparable 5 Series Touring model. In any case, we don't expect to see the less-powerful diesel Stateside, although we wouldn't be terribly suprised if the company chose to shoehorn in something like the twin-turbo 3.0-liter diesel already on offer in the 335d.

On the M side of the equation, Autocar says that the gasoline V8-powered 550i will remain the pinnacle of the range, as BMW has "ruled out" a M-Technik variant. Given that BMW has recently seen fit to move M beyond traditional cars (see: X5 and X6) and that these higher performance models often have thicker margins attached, this strikes us as somewhat curious decision - especially as the 5GT figures to be the most dynamically promising of the bunch. This source also doesn't jibe with what we heard from BMW officials just last month when we drove the car in Portugal. At that time, the official line was that no decision had been made, but knowing glances and meek smiles seemed to indicate that things looked good for the model.

In other words, we'll believe it when we (don't) see it.

Gallery: First Drive: BMW 535i Gran Turismo

[Source: Auto car]

Rumormill: BMW looking at cheaper 5 Series Gran Turismo, rules out M model originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 27 Oct 2009 15:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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First Drive: BMW 535i Gran Turismo evolves the wagon with clever packaging, solid dynamics and... a prehensile tail?

Chris Paukert — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 11:56:00 EST

Filed under: Wagon, Crossover, Hatchback, BMW, First Drives, Design/Style, Diesel, Luxury

BMW 535i Gran Turismo - Click above for high-res image gallery

Evolution is a tough thing to watch - and not merely because it takes millions of years. While the developmental pace of the automobile has proven to be rather quicker than the natural world surrounding it, the car industry's recent house-on-fire rush into new niches and sub-genres has often been similarly challenging to make sense of. Like those primordial fish that beach themselves, drag their bellies on the sand with their fins and eventually mutate into, say, Adriana Lima, you just have to know that the industry's recent diversification efforts will eventually yield a timeless beauty or two. But thus far, you could be forgiven for thinking that the process will take a few hundred millennia - especially where it concerns the industry's nascent call-me-anything-but-a-station-wagon movement.

While the burgeoning four-door coupe segment has already yielded some supermodels, the kinlugger set has yet to work out the same way. This, despite seemingly every automaker downing the midnight Red Bull in an effort to hit upon a package that bundles the functional attributes of a family hauler without their social stigma. Some companies are disguising their efforts as SUVs (traditional square-rigged crossovers); a few have waded in with quasi-minivans, while others are staking their claim to the muddy hatchback middle ground. Enter the latest automotive platypus, BMW's 5 Series Gran Turismo, a distinctive new five-door that aims to meld the practical utility of a CUV and a station wagon without the either genre's dynamic and civil penalties.

Gallery: First Drive: BMW 535i Gran Turismo

Continue reading First Drive: BMW 535i Gran Turismo evolves the wagon with clever packaging, solid dynamics and... a prehensile tail?

First Drive: BMW 535i Gran Turismo evolves the wagon with clever packaging, solid dynamics and... a prehensile tail? originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 21 Sep 2009 11:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spy Shots: 2010 BMW 5 Series nearing completion

Damon Lavrinc — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 19:58:00 EST

Filed under: Frankfurt Motor Show, Spy Photos, Sedan, BMW

2010 BMW 5 Series - Click above for a high-res image gallery

The 2010 BMW 5 Series is due to hit the market early next year and these latest spy shots are a clear, if predictable, indication of what styling changes are on their way.

The front fascia adopts the upright nose, elongated twin-kidney grille and contoured headlamps (Dame Edna be gone!) originally shown on the 2009 7 Series, while the rear takes on a set of similarly styled tail lamps and looses the Bangled rump we've come to know and loathe.

The overall effect should tie in well with the recently revealed BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo, and expect similar powertrain options to be available, including the 4.4-liter twin-turbocharged V8, 3.0-liter inline-six and a host of diesel options offered abroad. Transmission choices will likely include a six-speed manual and an all-new eight-speed gearbox supplied by ZF. And then there's the 2011 M5 to look forward to.

Expect the next M-fettled 5er to pack the X6 M/X5 M's tweaked twin-turbo'd eight nestled within a revised chassis sure to use considerable amounts of aluminum and carbon fiber. It's obvious that development of the next 5 is well underway, and we wouldn't be surprised to see it unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show this September, with the M5 appearing later in 2010.

Gallery: Spy Shots: 2010 BMW 5 Series

Spy Shots: 2010 BMW 5 Series nearing completion originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 10 Jul 2009 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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