BMW Automobiles Blog

Auto-branded bikes are nothing new, but it seems BMW actually played an active role in designing the two bicycles announced today. In fact, the sloping frame found on the so-called “Cruise Bike” was styled in-house. Brake and shift cables are tucked within the frame rails for a cleaner ...    Read more

Hot off reports from last week that BMW will use the next-generation front-wheel-drive Mini platform for new entry-level BMW models, the German automaker's CEO Norbert Reithofer has again confirmed that smaller front-drive models are in the works. The latest confirmation comes from an Automotive News report that quotes ...    Read more

Tradition holds that BMW vehicles are either rear- or all-wheel-drive, but that mantra seems to be shifting. Executives have confirmed that the company is developing a small car to slot underneath the 1-series, and it will be front-wheel-drive. Rumors suggesting a baby Bimmer, riding upon ...    Read more

The notion of a premium hatchback — a car like the BMW 550i Gran Turismo in my driveway this week — has never been an easy sell to Americans. Lift-backs are low-buck rides, the Ford Escorts and Dodge Omnis of the world, right? And there's not much doubt that that ...    Read more

The spy shots from Sweden continue. BMW’s upcoming M5 was recently caught undergoing some cold weather testing -- but from what we hear, the latest M sedan will be quite hot. Long gone is the V-10 and a more potent turbocharged V-8 takes its place. It's most likely the ...    Read more

UPDATE: According to an official statement from BMW, more than 200 ActiveE vehicles will hit U.S. roads. BMW plans to provide at least as many ActiveE lease vehicles as the 450 Mini Es currently on U.S. roads.It’ll be some time before we see a 1-serires ActiveE electric vehicle roaming a ...    Read more

BMW’s X6 isn’t the only crossover to receive some sporty dress-up parts. The automaker announced the advent of a new M Sports package for its X5 that will likely make its debut at next week’s Geneva motor show. That BMW is readying an M Sports package to ...    Read more

So far, we’ve seen BMW’s new 5-series in both sedan and Gran Turismo forms, but the automaker has yet to reveal the traditional Touring (i.e. wagon) model. This will change come April, when the BMW unwraps the new 5-series Touring at the Auto Mobil International show in Leipzig, Germany. ...    Read more

After seeing the Mini E and the Active Electric 1-series concept, we were convinced BMW was serious about ultimately building its "Megacity" electric vehicle. The automaker seems to be moving increasingly closer to such a goal, as it announced it will build the Megacity in Leipzig, Germany. "The BMW Group ...    Read more

BMW's X6M may be quite the performance machine, but given its $89,875 base price, it isn't within everyone's reach. That doesn't mean you can't have a quick X6, mind you. At the 2010 Geneva motor show, BMW Performance will showcase a new line of accessories, some designed to give the ...    Read more

BMW’s X1 has only been on sale in Europe for a few months, but that didn’t stop AC Schnitzer from working its magic on the ‘ute. The German tuner has a complete catalog full of hop-ups for the baby crossover, some of which will debut at the Geneva motor show ...    Read more

Most auto show debuts involve some ridiculous fanfare and don't really allow questions from the audience. Alpina decided to skip the fanfare and give more individual presentations about the car to small groups of journalists at the Chicago show. Aside from the powerful engine, however, are numerous details that Alpina ...    Read more

Should BMW’s X6 M not whet your whistle for a high-performance crossover, Lumma Design may have something more to your tastes. The tuner is working on its new CLR x 650 M, a tuned X6 that’s reportedly capable of hitting 194 mph.That speed is largely attainable thanks to a modified ...    Read more

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" target="_blank">BMW announced pricing for its most athletic 7-series sedan, the 2011 Alpina B7. Pricing for short-wheelbase B7 models will start at $122,875, while long wheelbase cars command at least $126,775. Both figures include an $875 destination charge.This latest B7 is the second generation to come ...    Read more

To celebrate 35 years of its Art Car program, BMW announced today it has commissioned Jeff Koons, a New York City-based painter and sculptor, to decorate its latest Art Car. “I always thought it would be an honor to work on a BMW Art Car. ...    Read more

We may be in the early days of 2010, but that’s not stopping BMW from rolling out a number of revised 2011 models. Most of these new 2011 offerings carry the same price tags as 2010 models, and will arrive at dealers shortly. Here’s a quick overview of what to ...    Read more

Wish BMW's M3 were just a little sharper on a road course? Good news -- sources familiar with the 2011 BMW range confirm next year's M3 can be equipped with a new Competition Package, creating what BMW calls “the best handling production M car ever.”To do that, BMW has apparently ...    Read more

The ten all-stars on our cover aren't the only winners of 2010. Ten years ago, we strode confidently into the new millennium, naming the Ford Focus our Automobile of the Year, the CEO of Ford our Man of the Year, and the Audi TT our Design of the Year. The Honda ...    Read more

BMW may have unwrapped its facelifted 2011 3-series coupe and convertible earlier this week, but it didn’t show us what a forthcoming M Sport package would look like. Thanks to leaked photos that appeared on BMW fan site Bimmerfile, we know now. Like the 2011 3-series facelift itself, the changes ...    Read more

The 2011 BMW 3-series coupes and convertibles aren’t the only ones receiving the company’s new N55 turbocharged I-6. For 2011, all 135i models will be fitted with the engine, in addition to a new dual-clutch transmission. Although the new turbocharged 3.0-liter I-6 receives variable valve timing, the ...    Read more

We didn’t see the revised 3-series on BMW’s Detroit auto show stand, but that’s not stopping a few sites from posting what appears to be official details of the yet-to-be released car -- and, specifically, a new 335is model.According to the folks over at E90Post, a BMW 3 Series forum, ...    Read more

Large luxury sedan buyers willing to try six-cylinder engines could save quite a bit of cash. How much? Well, in the case of BMW's 740i, $12,850 over a comparable 750i. That means the 740i starts at a mere $71,025.The long-wheelbase model -- BMW's 740Li -- will go for $75,425. BMW ...    Read more

BMW plans to lease an electric 1-series by 2011, but the more timely news at the 2010 Detroit auto show is the addition of an N55 I-6 engine for smaller BMW models. The N55 is a single turbo I-6 that takes the place of the twin-turbo N54 I-6 we've come ...    Read more

In case BMW doesn’t offer a 7-series to suit your fancy (and there are already nine different versions to pick from), perhaps the 2011 B7, modified by noted tuner Alpina, will appease your tastes. Available in both short- and long-wheelbase forms, the 2011 ...    Read more

BMW’s 135i is already bursting at the seams with power, but reports indicate the German automaker is considering building an even more powerful M version of the compact coupe. Autocar reports the model -- which it calls “M1” -- will use a new twin-turbocharged form of the existing 3.0-liter inline-six, ...    Read more