Autoblog

Mirror In The Bathroom: BMW Canada starts sexy new ad campaign to promote 3 Series Coupe [w/video]

Steven J. Ewing — Thu, 13 May 2010 08:59:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Marketing/Advertising, Technology, BMW, Canada, Luxury

Imagine this: You're in a public restroom, tidying up in front of the mirror, and you notice a message (written in red lipstick, of course) that says, "I'll make your heart pound," or, "My body is absolutely stunning." You'd want to learn more, right? BMW of Canada is hoping that men between the ages of 25 and 45 will agree, as the automaker will be launching a new ad campaign for the 3 Series Coupe using AddMirror technology that will display these risqué messages in public restroom mirrors across the country.

So, how does it work? As a patron approaches the mirror, motion detectors sense the person's movement and displays a sequence of messages urging readers to send text messages for photos of the subject leaving the flirtatious notes. When BMW receives the text, a link is sent back, leading readers to a landing page with downloadable beauty shots of the 3 Series Coupe, under the headline, "We were made for each other." Ooh la la!

The marketing campaign runs until May 16th in different venues throughout Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal. For the full listing, BMW's press release is available after the jump, as is a video that shows the AddMirror technology at work.

[Source: BMW]

Continue reading Mirror In The Bathroom: BMW Canada starts sexy new ad campaign to promote 3 Series Coupe [w/video]

Mirror In The Bathroom: BMW Canada starts sexy new ad campaign to promote 3 Series Coupe [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 13 May 2010 08:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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GSR Autosport BMW 350R: Part III - Testing, tuning and qualifying

Michael Harley — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 11:58:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Performance, BMW, Specialty, Racing

GSR Autosport BMW 350R - Click above to watch the progress of the build

Formula DRIFT is recognized as the North American professional drifting championship series. Autoblog has been invited behind-the-scenes with GSR Autosport, and their driver Michael Essa, as the team builds, tests and campaigns a V10-powered BMW 350R during the 2010 racing season. This is the third installment in our series (see Part I and Part II) as we follow the team throughout the creation, testing and race season.

The BMW V10 ripped from an M5 and transplanted into a 3 Series does turn over on the first try - but then it starts to backfire. The GSR Autosport team shuts it down promptly and dials Apex Speed Technology. The engine and its related electronics are the most sophisticated part of the 350R. Its digital ECU is tasked with controlling fuel, spark, four-cam VANOS, dual drive-by-wire, electronic oil pumps and a variable-speed electric cooling fan. Without delay, the experts diagnose the problem (exhaust cams) and download a few fixes to the S85B50's ECU. Set straight, the BMW Motorsport engine growls without a hiccup.

Once the engine is warmed, Michael Essa does exactly what most of us would do - he takes the brand-new 350R for a celebratory spin around the block at the industrial complex and does screaming donuts in the middle of the empty street.

Gallery: GSR Autosport BMW 350R

Continue reading GSR Autosport BMW 350R: Part III - Testing, tuning and qualifying

GSR Autosport BMW 350R: Part III - Testing, tuning and qualifying originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 09 Apr 2010 11:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pics Aplenty: 2011 BMW 335i coupe & convertible go snap-happy

Noah Joseph — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 11:30:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Coupe, BMW, Luxury

2011 BMW 335i coupe and convertible - Click above for high-res image gallery

The BMW 3 Series coupe and convertible rank among the hottest sellers not only for BMW, but also in their respective segments. They're the benchmark against which rivals compare themselves and the target for both driving dynamics and sales figures. So when Munich unveils an update for both, you can expect to see them in short order in every parking lot and on every street corner and stretch of highway. But since the veil was lifted on the updated two-door Threes just yesterday, we're glad to oblige with one big gallery of images to hold you over in the meantime.

For a quick refresher, BMW has given the 3 Series coupe and convertible a minor facelift for the new model year, comprised principally of a revised front end with new headlights and wider twin-kidney grilles, new taillights, refreshed side mirror housings and restyled bumpers front and rear. Inside the convertible gets a solar reflective leather treatment aimed at keeping surfaces cooler in direct sunlight, and for the first time ever, BMW will be offering its xDrive all-wheel-drive system on the coupe, dropping a coupe of milliseconds off the acceleration times.

The big news, though, is the new N55 engine, a direct-injection, twin-scroll single-turbocharged inline-six that replaces the twin-turbo engine in the 335i with identical (but, crucially, more accessible) output figures. Check out the coupe, convertible and new engine in our high-res image gallery below.

Gallery: 2011 BMW 335i coupe and convertible

[Source: BMW]

Pics Aplenty: 2011 BMW 335i coupe & convertible go snap-happy originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 18 Jan 2010 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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