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[Rumormill: BMW looking at cheaper 5 Series Gran Turismo, rules out M model]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/27/rumormill-bmw-looking-at-cheaper-5-series-gran-turismo-rules-o/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/27/rumormill-bmw-looking-at-cheaper-5-series-gran-turismo-rules-o/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/27/rumormill-bmw-looking-at-cheaper-5-series-gran-turismo-rules-o/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,


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: Autocar]

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.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>5 Series5 Series GT5-Series5-Series GT5-seriesGt535i535iGT550i550iGT5Series5SeriesGtBimmerBMWBMW dieselBMW Gran turismoBMW Grand TurismoBMW MBMW MotorsportsBMW wagonBmwDieselBmwGrandTurismoBmwGranTurismoBmwMBmwMotorsportsBmwWagondieselGran TurismoGrand TurismoGrandTurismoGranTurismoM-technikMotorsportTue, 27 Oct 2009 15:29:00 EST<![CDATA[Details emerge about BMW's new flagship sedan]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/22/details-emerge-about-bmws-new-flagship-sedan/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/22/details-emerge-about-bmws-new-flagship-sedan/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/22/details-emerge-about-bmws-new-flagship-sedan/#commentsFiled under: ,


Click the image above for a high-res gallery of the BMW CS Concept.

BMW will be joining the four-door "coupe" fray in 2010 when it launches its new flagship sedan, the Gran Turismo. Automotive News sat down with former M engineer, Gerhard Richter, who's been tasked with figuring out what design elements will be carried over from the CS Concept that debuted last year at the Shanghai auto show.

The Gran Turismo would slot in above the 7-series, being both longer and wider than BMW's largest sedan, and is likely to pack either a V8 or V12 powerplant. CSM Worldwide pegs production of around 15,000 units annually with a cost of around $150,000. That puts it in the same realm as Porsche's soon-to-be-released Panamera, Audi's rumored A7 and the Aston Martin Rapide, all of which will create a new class of high-priced, high-powered sedans that have yet to be proven in the marketplace.

[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req.]

Gallery: BMW Concept CS

Details emerge about BMW's new flagship sedan originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 22 Jan 2008 09:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bmwbmw cs conceptbmw gran turismoBmwCsConceptBmwGranTurismocs conceptCsConceptgran turismoGranTurismoTue, 22 Jan 2008 09:33:00 EST<![CDATA[BMW Gran Turismo development gets serious]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/12/19/bmw-gran-turismo-development-gets-serious/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/12/19/bmw-gran-turismo-development-gets-serious/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/12/19/bmw-gran-turismo-development-gets-serious/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


click above image for more high-res pics of the BMW CS Concept

We already knew that a production version of the CS Concept BMW debuted at the Shanghai Auto Show was in the automaker's product plans. Dubbed 'Gran Turismo', the four-door technological tour de force took a serious step toward reality today when BMW announced that Gerhard Richter, a manager at BMW M GmbH, is taking over control of the car's development. While he's adding that little bit of M flair to the Gran Turismo, Albert Biermann will be taking his place developing M models for the rest of us to enjoy.

While BMW didn't release any real details about the production version of the Gran Turismo, it did say that the car "will round the BMW product range upward as important technology carriers." That's the broken English of our translation, but you get the point. Like we said before, it'll be a technological tour de force.

[Source: BMW via Zercustoms]

Gallery: BMW Concept CS

Continue reading BMW Gran Turismo development gets serious

BMW Gran Turismo development gets serious originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 19 Dec 2007 19:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bmw cs conceptbmw gran turismoBmwCsConceptBmwGranTurismoWed, 19 Dec 2007 19:02:00 EST<![CDATA[BMW plans for future: 2 million by 2020, new models and fourth brand?]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/09/27/bmw-plans-for-future-2-million-by-2020-new-models-and-fourth-b/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/09/27/bmw-plans-for-future-2-million-by-2020-new-models-and-fourth-b/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/09/27/bmw-plans-for-future-2-million-by-2020-new-models-and-fourth-b/#commentsFiled under: ,


click above image for gallery of the BMW CS Concept, which is destined for production

BMW CEO Norbert Reithofer revealed the automaker's plans for the future, all the way up to 2020. There's lots of stuff in works, but we'll try to hit each point here. First off, the company's got a short-term five-year plan of achieving annual sales of 1.8 million vehicles by 2012. After that, it will have another eight years to reach annual sales of 2 million by 2020. Those are big jumps from today, but BMW plans to reach them by increasing production at its Spartanburg plant in the U.S., as well as the MINI plant in Oxford. Of course, the growing Chinese market will also demand more BMWs, and the automaker will be happy to oblige.

Increasing production of what's currently offered in BMW dealerships won't get the automaker all that far, so a slew of new vehicles were also announced by Reithofer. These include expanding BMW's range of SUVs with a small X1 model, as well as producing a four-door Gran Turismo car based off of the CS Concept that debuted in Shanghai this year. The BMW brand will also debut what it calls a Progressive Activity Sedan, or PAS, about which it divulged little, so we'll have to wait for more details on exactly what makes it different from a standard sedan.

Find out the rest of BMW's new models after the jump, as well as the very long speech from BMW CEO Norbert Reithofer in its entirety.

[Source: BMW]

Gallery: BMW Concept CS

Continue reading BMW plans for future: 2 million by 2020, new models and fourth brand?

BMW plans for future: 2 million by 2020, new models and fourth brand? originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 27 Sep 2007 10:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BMW 2012BMW 2020BMW fourth brandBMW gran turismoBMW new modelsBMW X1Bmw2012Bmw2020BmwFourthBrandBmwGranTurismoBmwNewModelsBmwX1MINI CUVMINI SUVMiniCuvMiniSuvRolls-Royce Phantom CoupeRolls-roycePhantomCoupeThu, 27 Sep 2007 10:55:00 EST