Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[REPORT: BMW to release 3 Series hatch similar to 5 Series GT]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/25/report-bmw-to-release-3-series-hatch-similar-to-5-series-gt/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/25/report-bmw-to-release-3-series-hatch-similar-to-5-series-gt/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/25/report-bmw-to-release-3-series-hatch-similar-to-5-series-gt/#commentsFiled under: , ,

BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo - Click above for high-res image gallery

Wagons are apparently so outre that we're now seeing mish-mash vehicles like crossovers hiding the truth that, at their core, they're just wagons. BMW is no stranger to this - witness the recent 5 Series GT. Looking to build on the Grand Turismo variants of its wares, BMW is reportedly developing a 3 Series GT, expected to launch for 2011. The details haven't changed since the last time we posted about this vehicle, but BMW is nodding its corporate head that ja, there will be such a car.

The 335 Grand Turismo will bridge the gap between the 3 and 5 Series cars, a narrow one at that. The tailgate should be a two-position affair, like the 5er, and it's possible that four- and five-place configurations may be offered. If it happens, diesel and gasoline engines are expected, though any M3 version is probably not going to happen. Why this might be any more successful against such competition as the Audi A4 Avant than would a traditional 3 Series wagon is a mystery, but maybe BMW has struck on the magic formula that makes ungainly cars a hot commodity.


Gallery: First Drive: BMW 535i Gran Turismo


[Source: Channel 4]

REPORT: BMW to release 3 Series hatch similar to 5 Series GT originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 25 Sep 2009 13:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3 series335 gt335 i335Gt335i3Seriesbmwbmw 3bmw 3 seriesbmw 3 series gtbmw 3-seriesbmw 335 grand turismobmw 335 gtbmw 335dbmw 335iBmw3Bmw3-seriesBmw335dBmw335GrandTurismoBmw335GtBmw335iBmw3SeriesBmw3SeriesGtfalseFri, 25 Sep 2009 13:57:00 EST<![CDATA[Local Motors begins deposit-taking for Internet-designed diesel Rally Fighter [w/VIDEO]]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/17/local-motors-begins-deposit-taking-for-internet-designed-diesel/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/17/local-motors-begins-deposit-taking-for-internet-designed-diesel/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/17/local-motors-begins-deposit-taking-for-internet-designed-diesel/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


Local Motors Rally Fighter - click above to watch the videos after the jump

Would-be automakers Local Motors have announced that they are now taking reservations for their madcap Rally Fighter, purportedly the world's first vehicle designed by Internet committee ("crowdsourcing"). Penned by contest-winner Sangho Kim, the Rally Fighter looks unlike any other street vehicle we can recall, taking the off-road coupe aesthetic shown in offerings like the BMW X6M and putting it on a crash course through Baja, or a Bowler Nemesis on a budget.

Your spot in line for the high-powered four-seater can be secured with a refundable $99 deposit, which will get you a place in line. At some point in the future, you, a number-holder, will be contacted to lock in your build date with a $5,000 deposit against the estimated $50,000 build price. Then, if all goes well, the folks at Local Motors and you will sit down to design your own Rally Fighter, a vehicle that is promised to have 20-inches of suspension travel, be road legal, and achieve 36 miles-per-gallon on the highway (30 mpg off-road!).

In order to get the tube-framed, fiberglass-and-carbon bodied Rally Fighter to meet those goals, the off-roadster will feature the twin-turbo inline-six out of the BMW 335d, an engine that should get them the 265 horsepower and 425 pound-feet of torque without fiddling, though we can't imagine this is an inexpensive proposition.

This looks like a neat bit of kit, but we'll reserve a large dose of skepticism for the folks at Local Motors until we can learn more. In the meantime, check out the press release and a couple of videos of LM's crew making the initial order announcement and talking about the vehicle's construction, all of which is available after the jump. Hat tip to Mike!

[Source: Local Motors]

Continue reading Local Motors begins deposit-taking for Internet-designed diesel Rally Fighter [w/VIDEO]

Local Motors begins deposit-taking for Internet-designed diesel Rally Fighter [w/VIDEO] originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 17 Jul 2009 16:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>335dBMWBMW 335dBmw335ddieselLocal MotorsLocalMotorsrally carRally FighterRallyCarRallyFighterFri, 17 Jul 2009 16:55:00 EST<![CDATA[BMW 335d will be released in November as 2009 model]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/06/bmw-335d-will-be-released-in-november-as-2009-model/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/06/bmw-335d-will-be-released-in-november-as-2009-model/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/06/bmw-335d-will-be-released-in-november-as-2009-model/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Click above for more high-res images of the 2009 BMW 3 Series

Rest easy, torque-lovers, BMW will be releasing the diesel version of its uber-popular 3 Series sedan in the United States later this year, exactly on schedule. Because it's so late in the year, the Bavarian automaker will be labeling it as a 2009 model, leading some to believe that the 335d was not going to be coming until next year. Not so, according to BMW spokesman Tom Plucinsky, who confirmed to KickingTires that both the 335d and the X5 35d will be making it Stateside sometime in November after production begins in September.

Both upcoming diesel models from BMW will use a 3.0-liter twin turbo oil-burner rated at 265hp and 425 lb-ft of torque. That's plenty of stump-pulling torque, but the best news could be the expected fuel mileage of 23 mpg in the city and 33 mpg on the highway when paired with the six speed automatic.

Gallery: 2009 BMW 3 Series


[Source: Kicking Tires]

BMW 335d will be released in November as 2009 model originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 06 Aug 2008 09:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2009 bmw 3 series2009 bmw 335d2009Bmw335d2009Bmw3Seriesbmwbmw 3bmw 3 seriesbmw 3-seriesbmw 335dBmw3Bmw3-seriesBmw335dBmw3SeriesWed, 06 Aug 2008 09:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Rumormill: BMW diesels on sale in the U.S. mid-October]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/22/rumormill-bmw-diesels-on-sale-in-the-u-s-mid-october/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/22/rumormill-bmw-diesels-on-sale-in-the-u-s-mid-october/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/22/rumormill-bmw-diesels-on-sale-in-the-u-s-mid-october/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Click above for more images of BMW's new diesels

The BMW X5 xDrive35d and 335d, both revealed live at the Detroit Auto Show, will be coming to the States in mid-October according to the latest rumor. The common engine will be BMW's dual turbocharged 3.0L inline-six diesel, good for 265 hp and 425 pound-feet of torque. According to BMW, these two vehicles will be among the most fuel-efficient and best performing in their respective classes. In addition, with their urea injection system and particulate filters, they should be among the cleanest too.

We called our contacts within BMW to confirm or deny the rumor, and as expected, our sources could only reiterate BMW's previous official statements that the cars would be "out by fall."

Gallery: Detroit 2008: BMW diesels


[Source: BMW Blog]

Rumormill: BMW diesels on sale in the U.S. mid-October originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 22 Apr 2008 09:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bmw 335dbmw dieselbmw dieselsbmw x5 dieselbmw x5 xdrive35dBmw335dBmwDieselBmwDieselsBmwX5DieselBmwX5Xdrive35ddieselurea injectionUreaInjectionTue, 22 Apr 2008 09:29:00 EST<![CDATA[BMW to bring twin-turbo diesel to the U.S.]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/10/02/bmw-to-bring-twin-turbo-diesel-to-the-u-s/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/10/02/bmw-to-bring-twin-turbo-diesel-to-the-u-s/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/10/02/bmw-to-bring-twin-turbo-diesel-to-the-u-s/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



Those of us Stateside have been deprived of more diesel models than you shake an oversized fuel nozzle at, but it looks like the folks over at BMW may be on their way to curing our high-mileage, high-torque lust. The automaker's 286 HP, 427 lb.-ft. of torque 3.0-liter twin turbo engine may find a way under the hood of various models throughout BMW's lineup, likely to append the "35d" designation to the 3-, 5- and 6-series models. Fuel mileage should be up over 35 MPG, but there's no word on when it will arrive. If we had to guess, we'd say late next year.

[Source: Wards Auto]

BMW to bring twin-turbo diesel to the U.S. originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 02 Oct 2007 17:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>335d535d635dbmwbmw 335dbmw 535dbmw 635dbmw dieselBmw335dBmw535dBmw635dBmwDieseldieselTue, 02 Oct 2007 17:56:00 EST