BMW

Concept Flashback - 2001 BMW X Coupe 4

Concept Flashback – 2001 BMW X Coupe

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A design so unfeasible, we all thought, that it didn’t matter how unviable. An SUV Coupe?  Ruthlessly absurd! How wrong we were!  Car enthusiasts obviously recognize this compact crossover shape from more than three dozen new or upcoming road cars. The chopped roof, the bluff face and 1-series-previewing headlamps?  Z4 Coupe backlight, with the high rump of the X6? It all came true! Like a wild wet dream for gravel drifters… the X Coupe came well ahead of its time in 2001. Concept Flashback – 2001 BMW X Coupe

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Is Hollywood Co-Promotion Worse Than Brand Integration? Star Wars and FCA to Find Out

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Product placement in movies has evolved radically since Bumblebee Camaro raced back into our hearts — and many driveways — following the 2007 Transformers remake. In the last 20 years, paid PP was all about screen time and brand impact.  The challenges were to say the name of the product on film and have it be a hero type of character.  Without appearing saccharine.  (Bad examples include Acura and Sony in every Hollywood media program they have ever done.) For ‘good’ results, it was about showcasing the car organically throughout the film, with real-life displays of prop replicas generally involved …

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The Evolution of BMW xDrive – 325iX to 2016 BMW X5 xDrive40e – PHEV M Sport from $70k

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THe BMW eDrive X5 is officially in the USA! This huge advance in AWD tech for BMW is being celebrating with a look back at the first 30 years of BMW four-paw models. We still remember the special body-color aero kit and special wheels from the US-market 325iX. Was just a tiny bit cooler than even the very-chic 325i sedan and coupe of the era. The honor that original look, we spec’ed out a 2016 BMW X5 xDrive40e in M Sport guise.  The truck looks very, very nice on its available 20-inch alloys. Particularly so with the $1,100 adaptive LED …

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2015 BMW Concept Compact Sedan Teases Upcoming 135i: $25k Base Price, Standard Turbo, RWD?

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  Here is a bit of a mystery concept from BMW: the 2015 Concept Compact Sedan. Debuting at the Guangzhou auto show in China this week, the Concept CS is not mysterious about its production intent. One look inside the cabin of even the renders shows that this car is nearly finalized already, and likely to be in some global Bimmer showrooms by the end of calendar 2016. From there, things line up with logical powertrains in 120i, 128i and 135i, mirroring the two-door 235i, etc. Pricing for the eventual 1 series is likely to start at about $25k, at …

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Hottest LA Debuts - 2016 Alfa Romeo GIULIA Quadrifoglio 3

2016 Alfa Romeo GIULIA – LA Debut + Realistic Analysis: Model May Fail at US Relaunch Mission

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The new Alfa Romeo Giulia debuted in North America this week — wowing LA showgoers with its extreme, high-performance exterior and interior. Still a bit light on actual details in terms of USA arrivals, or whether sales will be handled via Maserati showrooms, as on the exotic 8C Competizione from a few years ago. Below we discuss the new model’s stout performance in the original Euro debut article. But even all these months later, the GIULIA still faces an uphill climb in the US market. Reasons for this: — huge expectations for base Giulia models based on this ultra-high-performance Quadrifoglio …

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2015 BMW Motorrad eRR Bike Concept 1

2015 BMW Motorrad Debuts eRR Bike Concept – Supersport Performance, 2WD 199HP Electrics

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  Here is the latest concept from BMW Motorrad: the eRR electric racing bike. Running components from the S 1000 RR supersport bike, the eRR runs an AWD electric drivetrain plus full carbon-fiber for its bodywork and chassis. What the eRR lacks in futuristic design and style it makes up for with its production intent parts and performance. No word yet on range or sprint pace, but the eRR is an exciting snapshot into the R&D of next-gen BMW electric two-wheelers. 2015 BMW Motorrad eRR Bike Concept BMW Motorrad presents the experimental vehicle eRR. Supersport dynamism and zero emission thanks …

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RM NYC 2015 – 1959 BMW 507 Roadster Series II May Be Most-Valuable BMW with $3M Highball Estimate

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If this absolutely magnificent BMW 507 clears its pre-sale estimate of between 2.3 and 2.6 million, it will become one of — if not the — most valuable BMW of all time. The top five list from premier auction house RM Sotheby’s is exclusively 507 Roadsters, with the top sale earning $2.42M at Amelia Island 2014. With the presentation and provenance of this rare cabrio, we’d be surprised if the total sale was under $3-million.      Top 5 BMWs of all Time from RM Auctions Lot 152 | 2014 – Amelia Island – The Pray Collection 1958 BMW 507 …

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BMW Launches M2 and M4 Performance Parts – Coming Spring 2016

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  The new BMW M2 is barely on the radar of most supercoupe shoppers just a month after its official reveal, but BMW is not waiting around to juice its new baby with M Performance Parts. The M2 and M4 wearing swish new design upgrades were the centerpieces of the SEMA 2015 show: gloss-black detailing, M color body decals, and even a carbon-fiber spoiler and exhaust system for the M4. The M2’s mods so far are purely aesthetic, and we have not seen the full car yet — just glimpses of its black kidney grilles so far. The M4 Performance …

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Watch the 3.8s, 650HP AC Schnitzer BMW X6M In Thunderous Launch Start!

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    The X6 M has one big demerit versus its rivals from Porsche and AMG: its very modest exhaust. The Cayenne Turbo and GLE63 AMG are both far more vocal on hard throttle, with that backbellow becoming a really endearing trait of the machine over its lifetime in your garage. The stock exhaust is swapped out in favor of a far more free-breathing and evocative unit in the new AC Schnitzer X6 M upgrades. Paired with turbo tuning module, the ACS truck now boasts 650-horsepower, a leap 75 ponies over the stock truck. We’d estimate the changes are quite …

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355HP, 4.7s 2016 BMW X4 M40i Brings SuperTruck Style and Pace from $55k

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Catching up here!  The new X4 M40i came out earlier this month, and is heading to USA showrooms in the next few months! Power takes a big leap up to 355-ponies and 343 pound-feet of torque. Through the standard eight-speed auto and new M-calibrated xDrive, the X4 M40i shoots to 60-mph in just 4.7-seconds. That is about a half-second quicker than the existing range-topper, the X4 xDrive35i M Sport with its $50k base price. We expect the M40i X4 to come in around $55k with its light tweaks to the style outside, grey detailing all around, and custom chassis settings. …

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All-new BMW X1 and 340i launch drive in Chihuahua, MX

USA-Spec 2016 BMW 340i Stretches Turbo Legs in Copper Canyon

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Copper Canyon, Mexico is exceptionally beautiful — a perfect place for the launch drives of the new X1 and the new 340i M Sport xDrive. Located in northern Mexico’s Chihuahua state but far from the Gulf of California, the mountainous region is a cool 500-miles from the salty blue water and gorgeous beaches that typically draw tourists south of the border. So what is the draw? A thousand-year-old mining trail and original indigenous trade route — one running up from central America and up through similar places in Colorado. Not just copper from these hills, but something much brighter.  Gold! …

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2016 BMW X1 Alpine White 3

2016 BMW X1 xDrive28i Arrives in November with Pricing from $35k – Colors + Real-Life Photos

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The new X1 is in the wild, but you might not know it from first glance. It is a majorly convincing upgrade from the fairly low-slung and diminutive model. Sure, we loved the way the BMW X1 M Sport handled a track day. But it was quite low-slung and a bit too wagonlike, apparently, for mass consumption. The cab-backward look continues for 2016 in this second-gen model, but the entire visage grows up, out and across. The new X1 will still carve canyon tarmac, but now looks much more comfortable in rusty trails. The new model is basically a super-chunky …

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Animated Builder – 2016 BMW M6 Convertible – San Merino Blue w/ Forged Black M Double Spokes

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The new 2016 BMW M6 face is pretty hot in the flesh, even with its sleek new switchback LEDs off. This new color is San Merino Blue and the wheels are optional Forged Black 20-inch M beauties. Continue this exact build from its $120k price via the below link. http://www.bmwusa.com/Standard/Content/BYO/SharedBuild.aspx?CMId=cwldx4pn   2016 BMW M6 Convertible

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2016 BMW M2 Is Official! Speed and Stance Make M4 GTS Look Silly

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Vaya vaya!  [Get Out!!] When BMW goes for performance glory, everyone else best stand back or be blown clear in jetwash. The new ~$130k M4 GTS reveal is being followed closely by a shadow that maintains nearly 99-percent of the big brothers’ track pace, but with a far more agile turn-in and — critically — a more affordable price. Will the estimated $55k total be too much for such a pocket rocket? We’d say NO!!! Take a look at those all-new fenders front and rear. Wide enough to slip into a DTM race, and hiding wheels with giant contact patches …

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BMW Stunt G310 Is Hyper-Agile Bike Concept for Sao Paolo

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BMW Motorrad has been balls-out this year with concepts in bike segments where the brand does not currently compete. This is a broad look into the future of the BMW two-wheeled range — with the engineers, designers and customers all taking the journey together. Where will the spinning top land, and which among the 2015 BMW bike concepts might make production? So far this year, we’ve seen a cruiser in the Concept 101.   Plus a dirt/sand/street Scrambler in the Path 22. And now an ultra-playful trick bike in the form of the Stunt G 310. We’d honestly vote for all …

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2015 BMW M4 GTS Concept 5

500HP 2016 BMW M4 GTS Is Hottest-Ever Bimmer Track Special, But Road-Legal and Coming to USA!

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Some seriously hardcore upgrades for the new BMW M4 GTS! Not only does the GTS pack an all-new and water-cooled turbo system pushing 500-horsepower and 441 pound-feet of torque, but the machine is fully optimized via lightweighting and active aero features rarely seen outside of pure supercars. Favorites right off the bat? The industry-first OLED taillamps and the power-operated front splitter. A Clubsport pack will make the 700-unit M4 GTS truly track-ready via an acid orange roll cage and a full six-point harness for the racing seats. Outside the US, that is. In the states, the Clubsport will include the …

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Bentley at Frankfurt motor showPhoto: James Lipman

Frankfurt IAA 2015 – Showfloor Mega Gallery in 450 Photos

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Yes, auto shows are an incredible rush for car lovers: a deluge of new and never-before-seen metal. Scooping even the online mavens, the Porsche Mission E and Mercedes-Benz IAA Concept stayed completely under wraps until their stage reveals. All-new ideas, names and previews of the future will always be a highlight of the shows for the attendees. But for a car hack, covering auto shows is a thankless task. The press days move 400-or-so journalists in lock step between press conferences. Spaced in about 15-minute intervals, the conferences are DULL but suck up 90-percent of your time in pre-show days. …

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600HP 2016 BMW M6 Competition Coupe Salutes Hardcore GT3 Racecar + Coming to USA!

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Almost all the curb appeal, but a fifth of the price? Yep, the new M6 Competition Edition is a faithful recreation of the all-new GT3 racer. No word on US availability of this machine, but pricing around $110k will be a snip versus the half-mil for the privateer racecar. Actually, the embossed cabin emblems prove that the M6 Comp Coupe will be coming to America. 2016 BMW M6 Competition Edition   BMW M6 Coupe Competition Edition. The new BMW M6 Coupe Competition Edition to be presented by BMW M GmbH at the 66th Frankfurt International Motor Show (IAA) from 17 – 27 September 2015 raises …

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Audi at the 2015 IAA

2017 Audi S4 Will Rock 354HP Turbo In Quest to Beat BMW 340i and C400 Sport

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The new Audi S4 made its glittering debut at the top of the Audi showcar stand last night in Frankfurt. Along with the new E-Tron Quattro EV SUV previewing a future Q6, the 2017 S4 was joined on stage by a “G-Tron” A4 Avant designed to run on CNG. Smart stuff. The S4 is clearly the closest to buy hands, however, with sales promised “in 2016.” This is likely to mean a March 2016 USA arrival at the earliest, and July probable for first orders. The S4 is Audi’s big engine upgrade from launch. The A4 TFSI power output is …

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VOS CARS BMW M4-6

2015 BMW M4 by VOS-CARS.de Adds 120HP, Clubsport KW Chassis and Akrapovic Exhaust

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Another stunner from the German custom car scene! 2015 BMW M4 by VOS-CARS.de BMW-M4-PROJECT by VOS The word might have spread that the term standard is missing from the vocabulary of VOS company seated in Neckarwestheim. Even for assumingly perfect vehicles of euphonic names the Baden-Württembergers and their head Michael KELLER do have improvements at hand, may it be regarding the casing or the engine. Perfection is always priority in Neckarwestheim without restricting road capability in any way. This time the VOS-team picked a BMW M4 to let it shine with all its qualities with their VOS-Performance. First there is …

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2016 BMW 750Li Stars in Massive New Photoshoot

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Updated 9.7.15 The new 7 Series is here! This is a major update — firmly on the ‘revolution’ side of the typical BMW model evolution. Not a piece of exterior shared with the current range, this new 750 headlines with 250-pounds of weight loss via the new carbon/steel/aluminum platform. Is this new ‘carbonium’ a woven mix of aluminum and carbon-fiber? Something out of CyberDyne Systems? Almost. This new carbon-fiber is industrially-produced using large-scale methods of the BMW i3 and i8, Boeing tech partnership and Toray Industries materials expertise. The passenger cell sides and doorframes appear to be the primary recipients …

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2016 BMW 340i M Sport and 330d xDrive in 150 New Photos

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A big round of updates for the BMW 3 series range! The changes bring new LED lighting front and rear, a PHEV model called 330e, and the new 340i badge to replace the 335i. This update reflects an all-new turbo engine up front. The 3.0-liter inline-six is now dubbed B58 versus the previous N55. The new engine has a just of 20 horsepower up to 320, with a torque mountain of 330-pound-feet coming on from just 1350 RPM. That is one eager motor! The US range includes a 320, 328i or 328d and new 330e featuring plug-in hybrid technology. A …

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2016 BMW i8 FIA Formula E Pacecar – Wireless Charging + M8 Mods Roadmap?

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BMW has re-signed as the official safety and medical car provider for the second-ever Formula E race series! The 2015/2016 series will feature a number of electric BMW’s on track for assistance and support duties, including bikes and an X5 eDrive. The i3 will be a medical support vehicle as well. But the really fast laps demand a fast safety and pacecar, of course! And here is the perfect machine, the PHEV BMW i8. And not just any i8, either. A few interesting tidbits about this pacecar are extremely promising. Wireless charging and a huge chassis upgrade that may point …

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2015 BMW M235i Convertible by DÄHLER Design & Technik 3

390HP, 4.0s 2015 BMW M235i Convertible by DÄHLER Design & Technik

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The Swiss have a wild reputation for custom cars — one that is totally at odds with the national psyche of quiet, law-abiding mountain folk. When the need for a custom-tuned machine from BMW or Weismann is in your sights, Daehler is a smart choice for holistic upgrades to power, stance, grip and overall performance. The M235i Convertible is a fantastic upgrade to the massively fun and massively fast M235i Convertible. But this time with an extra 90 or so horsepower, a thrumming sports exhaust, and exterior design tweaks to turn up the car’s aggression beyond M Sport. With all …

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2011 BMW 1M Coupe by OK-Chiptuning

2011 BMW 1M Coupe Adds 111HP Via OK-Chiptuning.de Re-Flash + Racing Intake, Intercooler, Downpipe and Exhaust

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  Upon first glance at these photos, we were fairly sure that this German rocket wore a custom widebody. But no! Just lowering springs, a new wheel/tire setup and a giant dragon of a turbo under the hood. From the stock 340HP, the OK-Chiptuning crew has liberated a full 111 more ponies for a 451 count. A gigantic torque plateau hits like a sledge hammer from just 2500 rpm— making this short-wheelbase 1M into the M1 it always dreamed of…! The N54 engine series was a fairly short run for BMW. It proved to be a bit delicate and trouble-prone …

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BMW X4 by LIGHTWEIGHT Performance Is Shockingly Sexy Custom Crossover

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Here is a striking look at how sexy the new BMW X4 can be! With a suspension drop, full frozen grey wrap and 21-inch alloys… this X4 is clearly one bada** mo-fo. The engine featured here is the xDrive35i bumped up to 365 ponies via an ECU module and free-flowing quad pipes in back. The results speak for themselves, and make it clear that an M variant of the X4 is sorely missed from the BMW range. BMW X4 by LIGHTWEIGHT Performance BMW X4 BY LIGHTWEIGHT This time, the subject is X4, BMW crossover-SUV. The LIGHTWEIGHT-team under the lead management …

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2015 BMW M4 GTS Concept 5

~540HP 2016 BMW M4 GTS Concept Is Real-Deal Production Car with Innovative Hydro Turbo Boost Chiller

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Here is a confusing ‘concept’ production car… the Concept M4 GTS is actually well on its way to first US owners next Springtime. The big tech change beside lightweighting and aero upgrades is a new water-cooled turbo system. Shared with the M4 MotoGP car, this feature is an innovative way to make huge boost that can sustain hours of track abuse without losing power. The cooled charge is very different from a more basic intercooler spray. Where a spray is helpful, the cooling all happens outside the closed boost and turbo system. BMW’s charge cooler actually atomizes water into the …

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2015 BMW 3

Update1 – 2015 BMW 3.0 CSL Hommage R Concept Makes Race-Ready Debut at Pebble Beach

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Updated 8.16.15 with 22 new photos At this very hour last year, we were limping away from the BMW Pebble Beach mansion after a party celebrating the M5 Jahre 30 Edition and Vision Future Luxury. A day of roaming the Pebble Beach grounds left our feet blistered and bloody — but the Nikon SD card full of fantastic photos. This year, we are covering the events from afar — feet intact and dress shoes safely stowed in closet. It is cars like this new Hommage R concept that make us wish were spending $1000 a day to not drive any …

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©2015 Sam Cobb

2001 BMW M3 GTR Race and Road Cars Attending Autobahn Concours in Monterey

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BMW is mining some fairly recent greatest hits for the Autobahn Concours in Monterey this week. As you probably know, Pebble Beach Concours often dominates the headlines of the Monterey Bay’s automotive week, but it is just one of more than a dozen locales and events throughout Carmel and the town of Monterey itself. The M3 GTR racecar in stars and stripes livery has just completed a wheels-up restoration, and is a proud member of the BMW racing legacy. The road variant of this killer racecar will also be in attendance. What might these cars signal for the future BMW …

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Blue Silk FOSTLA

SuperTune! Blue Silk FOSTLA.DE Mirror Wrap for Hamann BMW M6 F13

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The massive widebody on this Hamann-tuned M6 is not afraid of any car on the road. But with this new blue mirror wrap from Fostla.de, the car is practically begging for a race. Wrapping such a unique custom widebody is extra challenging, and we love the quality workmanship and skill shown here. Just think of the angles around those fenders! A contrast exposed black carbon-fiber for the hood will keep the glare to a minumum while also scaring slowpokes out of the autobahn fast lane! Blue Silk FOSTLA.DE Mirror Wrap for Hamann BMW M6 F13 Hamann BMW M6 F13 Mirr6r …

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PRIOR-DESIGN PD6XX Widebody BMW 650i and M6 27

PRIOR-DESIGN PD6XX Widebody for BMW 650i and M6 Will Scare Friends/Neighbors

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The goal of a really outrageous bodykit and aero upgrade should include terrifying small children and worrying neighbors. On that count the Prior Design BMW 6 series definitely delivers! Few Bimmers outside or GT6 or DTM look this ridiculously macho and testosterone-rich. The duraflex/fiberglass kit is quite comprehensive – with numerous pieces sold together or a la carte listed below. Not making each piece from CF custs the cost of the kit down 80-percent, we’d estimate. It also means the panels are somewhat flexible and pliable. This will save much heartache over high speedbumps! While the demo car is the …

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2016 Cadillac CT6 Black Pack Renderings + Animated COLORS Visualizer

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Updated 6.30.15 With Color Visualizer and Rendered Black Pack Cadillac is keeping the CT6 momentum building ahead of the car’s arrival near the end of 2015 as a 2016 model-year. The brand just revealed the color choices buyers will have outside, and the two inside. These interior renders are preliminary, with additional woods and leathers likely to complement the tan and black shown so far. The nine colors are all Hamptons-ready classic shades — with a subdued and wealthy palette right out of the Brooks Brothers swatch book. Our favorite by far? The new green! Dubbed Dark Emerald Metallic, this …

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Road Test Review – 2015 BMW 228i Convertible with Ken Glassman

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  2015 BMW 228i Convertible Review By Ken Glassman The 2015 BMW 228i convertible replaces the 1-Series as the company’s entry level rag top. This version has a 1.2-inch-longer wheelbase, has 2.5 inches of additional length, and extra inch of width. And that helps to make it less stubby looking than the 1-Series cars. The better proportions, along with sharp character lines along the sides, and sleek front end, means that this 2-Series is a great looking car. It is also a really fun car to drive. The 228i is powered by a 2-liter, TwinPower Turbo inline 4, direct fuel …

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Update1 – 3.9s, 510HP 2016 Alfa Romeo GIULIA Quadrifoglio Sounds Sublime On Track!

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Update1 – Rendered Color TestWOW! First look at the new Alfa Giulia today leaves us floored! On-Stage Debut Romeo & Juliet appear to be in fine form these days — running sideways around 90-mph corners at the fantasy Verona racetrack! The numbers and initial details for this production-spec GIULIA (proniunced ‘Julia’) Qaudrifoglio are mouth-watering. 510 horsepower via a twin-turbocharged V6. Rear or AWD. Torque vectoring and active aero. Style to make you weak in the knees from up front. Fresh LED designs and a wide V have a sporty feel that vaguely recalls the Infiniti Q50 Eau Rouge Concept, but …

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2016 Maxima SR Midnight

2016 Nissan MAXIMA SR Midnight Is Official! Revealed At BET Experience Festival

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Updated 6.26.15 The 2015 Maxima black pack is official! The entire upgrade detailed below can now be ordered as the Maxima SR Midnight edition. Launched at the BET Experience, the key difference between the Maxima SR Midnight and a DIY black pack via Nissan accessories is that the Midnight comes exclusively in Super Black exterior paintwork. However you get to these 19-inch black alloys and sport bodywork upgrades, the results speak for themselves! 2016 Nissan MAXIMA SR Midnight The 2016 Maxima is finally arriving!  The new 4DSC is one of Nissan’s biggest launches for 2015 — and the company is …

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BMW - I8 - VPS-301 - VPS-304 - Port of Miami - © Vossen Wheels 20151157

Update1 – VOSSEN BMW i8 Trio On 22s At Port of Miami – 200-Pic Mega Gallery

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  Wonderful collection of photos to share here. Three styles of Vossen 22-inch forged alloys showcased here — with all creating very unique and distinct moods for the BMW supercar. These giant wheels work wonders for the i8’s street presence and curb appeal. They are just the final twist of exotic flavor needed to help the i8 fit in with the Ferrari, Lambo and McLaren crowds of South Beach. Before the main event of shimmery crimson wheels over white bodywork… a moody mountain set of the i8 on Vossen VPS-309 forged alloys. VOSSEN BMW i8 – VPS-309 Wheels VOSSEN BMW …

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2016 Nissan MAXIMA SR Black Pack Details, Track Test Video and 99 New Photos

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The 2016 Maxima is finally arriving!  The new 4DSC is one of Nissan’s biggest launches for 2015 — and the company is going all-out to rev up excitement among loyalists. Nissan just revealed its sport styling parts, and they are right up our alley. Gloss-black 19-inch wheels with matching black diffuser and trunk spoiler are deeply cool. The side sills are a contrast metallic grey and really help deliver some concept-car stance to the sportiest Maximas. Pricing from $32k to around $39k is detailed in the animated configurator mid-way down the page, along with colors and tech specs.   2016 …

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2015 BMW Concept Path 22 Scrambler 4

2015 BMW Concept Path 22 Previews Production Scrambler at Biarritz Bike Fest

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  BMW Motorrad is on a concept bender lately! Fantastic Villa d’Este glimpses into the future have come into focus over the last few years, with the R NineT a particularly tempting design statement among riders worldwide. But how to take all the futuristic materials into production, and what bike market to aim for? This 2015 Concept Path 22 gives us a clear answer: BMW is exploring a Scrambler for the first time. As described by BMW below, the fun and sporty genre of motorcycles is a bit of a hybrid: with street-bike features and performance, but much meatier tire …

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2016 BMW 7 Series – Limo Revolution With Carbonium Chassis And FutureTech Galore

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Updated 6.11.15 The new 7 Series is here! This is a major update — firmly on the ‘revolution’ side of the typical BMW model evolution. Not a piece of exterior shared with the current range, this new 750 headlines with 250-pounds of weight loss via the new carbon/steel/aluminum platform. Is this new ‘carbonium’ a woven mix of aluminum and carbon-fiber? Something out of CyberDyne Systems? Almost. This new carbon-fiber is industrially-produced using large-scale methods of the BMW i3 and i8, Boeing tech partnership and Toray Industries materials expertise. The passenger cell sides and doorframes appear to be the primary recipients …

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2016 BMW Z4 M Sport Estoril Blue 38

2016 BMW Z4 Adds Sexy Estoril Blue to Three-Model Range From $50k

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The Z4 vs. Boxster battle was won by Porsche decisively in the early 2000s — with the Porsche feeling sportier and more special with only a five-percent price premium. But as the Z4 retreated from Spartanburg to be made back in Germany, a unique turnabout has taken place. The Boxster is slow and boring in 2015, with its dull and ubiquitous design inspiring not one ounce of excitement. The Z4’s sales today are a tenth of what they were at the model’s peak — while the design is now fabulously wide, low and eye-catching out in the wild. Trust me: …

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SMMT Test Days 2015 – Millbrook Off-Road Course Mega Gallery

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PART THREE – The Millbrook Off-Road Course The dirtiest truck in the lot at the end of the day? Not the Unimog or Defender… but the lowly Dacia Duster! Makes sense – off-roading can be perilous. Second dirtiest? A mud-spattered Skoda Outdoor Estate. Definitely looks like a fun day of testing.     Beautiful weather for the SMMT Test Days auto journalist event this year, with nearly 100 of the hottest new cars put to the test around numerous tracks and test scenarios. The choice machines we have our eyes on? The new Audi TT-S, new Porsche GTS range, a …

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SMMT Test Days 2015 – Millbrook Alpine Course – Dynamic Photos Mega Gallery

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Beautiful weather for the SMMT Test Days auto journalist event this year, with nearly 100 of the hottest new cars put to the test around numerous tracks and test scenarios. The choice machines we have our eyes on? The new Audi TT-S, new Porsche GTS range, a few AMG GT’s, the SL65 World Championship Edition, the latest F-Type S AWD and manual-transmission, Clio RS, Audi RS7 and RS6, BMW X5M, RCF Carbon Pack…. the list goes on and on! Seeing the vehicles at speed around Millbrook’s challenging alpine hill course gives a great view into the dynamics of these new …

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TVR Inks New Sportscar Deal with Gordon Murray and Cosworth – 2018 Launch Possible!

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If there are two better names than Gordon Murray and Cosworth to attach to the TVR rebirth, we cannot imagine them. All are icons of English performance — and together promise great things. A new sportscar announcement today includes no new sketches or even outlines of the upcoming new TVR, but it does signal work behind the scenes. The car will be designed and produced using iStream from GMD and engine mechanicals via Cosworth. iStream is intended to be a highly robotized assembly system using the latest in 3D printing and materials to give low-weight and high-strength components. The iStream …

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Refreshed 2015 BMW 6 Series – USA Pricing for All 16 Models + 150 New Photos

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The new BMW 6 series is official! The full range is now priced and build-able for USA shoppers — who can choose among 13 unique models of coupes, cabrios and Gran Coupes. Up that total to 16 if you include the M6 in each bodystyle. Overall, the M Sport package is the must-have choice, but there is a Black Pack for the regular trimlines this year. This flips the chrome C-shapes in the bumpers and on other trims to gloss black, as shown in the below UK image of red cabrio nose. As before, the four-doors are the sweet spot …

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BMW Art Car Collection Celebrates 40th Anniversary With Fresh Museum Display + World Tour (125 Photos) 117

BMW Art Car Collection Celebrates 40th Anniversary With Fresh Museum Display + World Tour (125 Photos)

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Who would have thought that a custom CSL in 1975 would become such a core element of the BMW legacy. 17 models so far have been made over in the BMW Art Car program, with the majority pure racecars — but not all. In fact, each car’s birth is quite a story in itself. The inspirations and visions of the artists involved are as varied as the subjects themselves. But as each car is unique, along with each artist — one core theme comes through from at least half the artists: speed whipping the paint back and up the lines …

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HAMANN Presents Dueling Good/Evil 2015 BMW M4 Art Cars

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  Good and evil?! That is a stretch — they are both beyond good. The first HAMANN Art Car 2015 M4 is the white-base example, with the second a dark base. Timo Wuerz handled the design of the dark car, with its brush-strokes all swept back by the wind of a racetrack. An explosion of reds and yellow flame tones emerge from the BMW roundel up front, contrasted with the dark blues and black swipes of the clean edges. They are both quite striking, to say the least. The white car employs a friendlier color palatte with or ribbon-like flowing …

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2015 BMW Motorrad Concept 101 Is Lux Cruiser

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BMW Motorrad’s sales are on an absolute tear in the US and worldwide in recent years. Where to take the brand that dominates the desirability of the entire two-wheeled world? Upward and onward! The highest-margin area of the motorcycle market is for large cruisers. This new Concept 101 takes the BMW riding-pleasure mantra into this huge new area. A bike that surely makes many German minimalists cringe, the Concept 101 is a firm statement of intent. The machine debuted this weekend at the BMW-sponsored Villa d’Este Concours. It is a long-range cruiser with hardshell luggage cases, a relaxed riding position …

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435i Coupe ZHP Edition

2016 BMW 435i ZHP Edition Is Factory M Performance Special

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BMW has one of the deepest factory-approved performance catalogs in the car business. Everything from coffee mugs to ECU chips, wheels to suspensions and exhausts are available via M Performance Parts. But for the most part, these upgrades are all a post-sale affair. They can be ordered and fitted at any BMW dealership, and they keep the warranty of the car intact while increasing performance — sometimes dramatically. For buyers seeking a truly unique performance special right out of the box, there is a new choice: the 2016 435i ZHP. This special-edition model adds nearly a dozen highly desirable M …

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ALPINA X3 – Gorgeous M Sport Styling and Performance Tweaks

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PART FOUR of FOUR The Alpina X3 My favorite Alpina upgrade of this four-pack? Easily this aggressive X3 makeover. Versus the stock X3, the Alpina is virtually unrecognizable. Granted, comparing the Alpina X3 to the base model is not a fair comparo. This Alpina truck started as the X3 M Sport, which is already a little-known way to make the humdrum design really pop with some M style.   The fact that there is no X version of the X3 (yet) helps to make this Alpina SUV ultra unique and exclusive. 2015 BMW X3 xLine 2015 BMW X3 M Sport …

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2015 ALPINA B3 – Digital Wheel Colorizer and USA 3 series Upgrade Showcase

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PART THREE of FOUR The Alpina 3 series Now on to the ever-popular 3 series: a sedan so incredibly fun to drive, you are shocked when people buy anything else! The 3 series is arguably the most improved by the ALPINA style. Even outside the core design tweaks and green/blue paint colors, the Alpina 3 series is *thisclose* to its M3 and M5 siblings on overall stance, traction and visual aggressiveness. ORIGINAL: The import and BMW distribution of the ALPINA B6 and B7 to the US is big news. They are all extremely rare and extremely cool, especially the new …

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BMW ALPINA B4 BITURBO

ALPINA B4 Mods Available for USA BMW 4 series Owners

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PART TWO of FOUR The Alpina 4 series The import and BMW distribution of the ALPINA B6 and B7 to the US is big news. They are all extremely rare and extremely cool, especially the new ALPINA B6 Gran Coupe. These ALPINA specials are a fantastic M car alternative, with more engines, xDrive and even diesel engines able to Alpina-fied. But the great thing about the ALPINA upgrade catalog is that all the parts that make these complete models are also available indivudally. There is a slight benefit to this for current BMW owners: you can target specific upgrades and …

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ALPINA B5 Mods Available for USA BMW 5 series Owners

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PART ONE of FOUR The import and BMW distribution of the ALPINA B6 and B7 to the US is big news. They are all extremely rare and extremely cool, especially the new ALPINA B6 Gran Coupe. These ALPINA specials are a fantastic M car alternative, with more engines, xDrive and even diesel engines able to Alpina-fied. But the great thing about the ALPINA upgrade catalog is that all the parts that make these complete models are also available indivudally. There is a slight benefit to this for current BMW owners: you can target specific upgrades and install them over time. …

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AC Schnitzer BMW i8 8

AC Schnitzer Transforms BMW i8 into Supercar M8 of Your Dreams!

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  Sure, the BMW i8 may have a highly advanced and unconventional powertrain, but this is a pure supercar through and through. In the flesh, the i8 is almost unbelievably unique and special. Its low roof and CFRP bodywork offer bodywork swirls and layers unlike any other supercar — at any price. But the i8 is crying out for an M-style makeover. For corporate political reasons, a proper M8 from BMW is not likely any time soon. Similarly, the i8 has been deeply underserved by the aftermarket community so far, but thanks to AC Schnitzer, this dream M8 can now …

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2017 Mercedes-Benz GLC 6

Spec Renderings – 2017 Mercedes-Benz GLC400 Is Upcoming Q5-Fighter

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The new GLC Coupe Concept from Shanghai shows how the Mercedes SUV range is evolving rapidly. The new naming strategy and product plans from the GLE and GLE Coupe show the way forward for Merc trucks — and that pattern is likely on this smaller GLC as well. As the China concept is the GLC Coupe, it is logical to think that the coupe is the X4-fighter, while a standard GLC-Class will tackle the X3 and Q5. To recap, the Mercedes SUV range is currently: GLA GLK (now actually called GLC…) GLE GLE Coupe GLS G-Class The ML-replacing GLE-Class is …

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2016 Cadillac ELR Much Quicker and $10k Cheaper! 2014 Models Like a $50k BMW i8 at i3 Prices?

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Putting together these turntables just now offered a chance to see the ELR in 360-degrees across its four colors. Mid-way through the black ELR, we have a revelation: this car is gorgeous! Even the 2014 model of the spinners is quite a dashing and sexy shape from all sides, with a mid-engine exotic feel to the profile especially. The 2016 ELR takes this design to the next level: a new Performance Pack brings bigger five-spoke alloys and trim tweaks to go along with its new Caddy crest badges front and rear. The 2016 refresh has some other delights in store, …

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Road Test Review - 2015 Lincoln MKC Black Label 2

Road Test Review – 2015 Lincoln MKC Black Label 2.3L AWD

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    2015 Lincoln MKC Review – HD Drive Video   INTRO The 2015 Lincoln MKC is the brand’s biggest launch in more than five years: an all-new crossover to compete head to head with the Audi Q5, BMW x3 and Lexus NX. A huge overhaul versus any shared components underneath that might be shared with Ford, the MKC delivers an all-new design inside and out, technology that is available with no Blue Oval vehicle, and a potent 2.3-liter turbo engine that also finds its first home in this stylish crossover. Lincoln has thrown out all the old brand stigmas …

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Hall of Fame – 1964 BMW 3200CS Set BMW Sports Coupe Template

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For most Americans, the BMW takeover of US sports/luxury cars began with the 2002. Before this early-1970s hit, BMW was best known in the US for the Isetta (in extremely low numbers) and for motorcycles. Humming around town in this 1964 BMW 3200CS would make any and all BMW fan stop and stare. Far creamier and softer lines than the 3.0L Coupe from the mid-1970s, but still sharing their fundamental style and glasshouse? That would be this extremely rare and extremely special 3200CS. Designed by Bertone, the 3200CS influence is instantly visible on every BMW since. The best part!? The …

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VOSSEN VFS1 Wheels on 2015 BMW X5 sDrive35i M Sport 31

VOSSEN VFS1 Wheels on 2015 BMW X5 sDrive35i M Sport

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  Proof that the right set of +2 wheels can dramatically alter the stance and style of any car on the road!? This 2015 BMW X5 on Vossen 20-inch VFS1 alloys. Jumping up in size from the factory 18-inchers, the rear-drive X5 here is low, lean and ultra-cool even 99-percent stock. The only other tweak besides the wheels is a dark tint for the glass all around. The results speak for themselves on this X5 M Sport. This is the Matte Graphite finish of the forged VFS1 wheel. Check out the VOSSEN Flickr page for more supercars on hot wheels! …

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#NYIAS 2015 Showfloor Gallery – Day One in 122 HIgh-Res Photos!

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Big day today in the Big Apple! Enjoy this photo fly-through of the first press preview day of #NYIAS =] #NYIAS 2015 Showfloor Gallery Ford GT Ford Shelby Mustang GT350R   Subaru BRZ STI Concept + Rally Cars Range Rover SVAutobiography VW Golf SportWagen AllTrack Aston Martin McLaren Koenigsegg, Bugatti + Lamborghini BMW Z4 GTLM + 1975 Sebring-Winning 3.0 CSL Jaguar XF Scion iA Scion iM BMW Alpina Kia Optima Mazda MX-5 Club

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2016 Cadillac CT6 – $75k Flagship World Premiere 60 Images From Brooklyn

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  The new Cadillac CT6 is official! As the top-flight limo in the newly invigorated Cadillac range, the CT6 has some huge shoes to fill. The hype and fish-eye lense videos proclaim to Dare Greatly, so how does the car live up to all this scene-setting? To convince BMW and Mercedes drivers to consider Cadillac, the CT6 needs to be far, far more than a stretched CTS. Far more than a modern STS. Based on the initial information provided by Cadillac, we are highly skeptical. Granted, the car does feel significantly wider and longer than any Caddy in years — …

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Amelia Island 2015 - BMW Brings 507, M1, CSL and tii To Join 2015 X5 M and 2015 650i M Sport 17

Amelia Island 2015 – BMW Brings 507, M1, CSL and Targa Tii To Join 2015 X5 M and New 650i M Sport

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You might be wondering – what is with all these new cars at a classic car show like Amelia Island or Pebble Beach? It is a fantastic way to establish brand credibility, legacy loyalty and customer acquisition. After all, few of these millionaires will be tooling around in a vintage car on a day-to-day basis. They need a 2015 BMW! On that note, the 2015 X5 M joined the fun along with the very-lightly-revised 650i M Sport. Highlights also include the M1 and 507 roadster, plus the Goldeneye Z3 and a few 2002s. The orange one is a very-rare targa …

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Amelia Island 2015 – 1937 BMW 328 Mille Miglia Roadster Is Magnificent

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PART TWO: The Roadster The BMW 328 Mille Miglia roadster seem here came before the coupe. It was a stepping-stone between the production 328 cabrio and the Touring Coupe seen in the second half of this page. The goal was as ultra-light reskin in alloy that would reduce drag, enhance stability at speed, and deliver outstanding performance to take on the best racecars in the world — and win. But the side benefit of the 328 Mille Miglia redesign? This roadster is one of the most beautiful silhouettes ever made. 1937 BMW 328 Mille Miglia Roadster   Imagine a single …

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Amelia Island 2015 – 1939 BMW 328 Mille Miglia Touring Coupe

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Imagine a single racecar that won the its Nurburgring debut race, the Tourist Trophy, Mille Miglia and RAC Rally. A car so advanced and streamlined, its giant exhaust system is the only portion of the underbody that is not wrapped in lightweight alloy. Even the taillamps are integrated into the lower body with custom alloy stalks, and a license-plate housing that wraps that plate around its ultra-smooth rump. A coupe so sexy and sensual in person, we are embarassed to report that it is a clear favorite for top-ten cars of all time. Like the Mercedes-Benz 540K Streamliner shown at …

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2015 BMW Z4 GTLM CSL Homage Livery 30

2015 BMW Z4 GTLM CSL Homage Livery Meets 1975 BMW 3.0 CSL Racecar At Amelia Island Concours

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  It is hard to beat BMW’s on-track photos of this impressive pair of racecars. At Sebring, sun setting and cars in formation!? Yes please! The new 2015 Z4 GTLM CSL wears an official Homage Livery for this year, 40 years since the first BMW USA Motorsport victory. TO celebrate this anniversary, the new Z4 GTLM CSL matches its forebear’s BMW Motorsport colors that have come to define the brand. This incredibly intense Z4 widebody fired up with the deep rumble of sheer power, with its rear slicks and massive downforce package the added proof. Relative to this giant-killing Z4, …

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BMW Bringing a Dozen of Its Greatest 2-Door Hits to Amelia Island 2015

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  BMW is bringing a fleet of 2-door heroes to Amelia Island Concours this weekend: a few greatest hits, a few hot supercars, and perhaps the all-time BMW racing icon: the 3.0 CSL race-winner from 1975. Alongside this wide-body in M colors is the road-going version, which is almost as special. Among these are the 328 Mille Miglia, the 1980 BMW M1, the first-gen Z3, the 2015 Z4 racecar, 650i Convertible and the 2015 i8. A good group, to be sure. Watch this space for in-person photos of the cars early next week! BMW Amelia Island 2015 BMW CELEBRATES 40TH …

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2015 Morgan Plus 8 SPEEDSTER Headlines Geneva Show Stand 10

2015 Morgan Plus 8 SPEEDSTER Headlines Geneva Show Stand

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  The Morgan Three-Wheeler and Aero 8 hoover up much enthusiast attention, but are they really the sweet-spot of the Morgan Motor Cars lineup? We would vote in favor of the Plus 8 Speedster — a stripped-down and chopped-windshield special based on the legendary best-seller. Running the latest 4.8-liter BMW V8 making 367-horsepower through an automatic or manual transmission, the Plus 8 roars to 60-mph in just 4.5-seconds. But those numbers do not really capture the drama of launching a Plus 8. With your rump almost right atop the back axle, the Plus 8 Speedster removes the bulky glass from …

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Geneva 2015 Gallery – BMW Stand In 40 Photos

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BMW kept things relatively quiet for the Geneva 2015 auto show. Just a few reveals and no surprises: the new 6 series and the all-new 2 series GT are the big headliners. BMW Individual is proudly represented, however, with the X5 Individual looking particularly cool, unique and appealing. Geneva 2015 Gallery – BMW Stand In 40 Photos

Cadillac Dare Greatly CT6 Teasers 1-tile

OP_ED Part 2 – Cadillac #DAREGREATLY Campaign Previews 2016 CT6 Limo + de Nysschen Progress Report

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  It is so irritating when writers quote themselves. Drives me nuts. But this one is very, very relevant. On July 3rd, 2014 – we jotted out the below Editor’s Opinion article attempting to diagnose what was making Cadillac feel so ill. We scathed… This really is not an old-man brand anymore. But sadly, it is definitely run by losers. Not losers in life, mind you. They must be smart and successful – but they are definitely, definitely not cool people. They live in Michigan and are sheltered C- and D-county (aka, rural) people who have never even stood on …

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2017 Rolls-Royce SUV Is Official! #EffortlessEverywhere Is New SuperLux High-Rider

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We have a bit of a jump on this hot news!  Rolls-Royce just confirmed that it is developing an all-new SUV to join the finest motor-car range ever made. After 111 years in the car business, it is a thrill to learn that Rolls-Royce is adapting and thriving in the post-modern world of crossovers. So, what do we know so far? Car-Revs-Daily.com Animated Ghost II vs Rendered RR SUV Transition Very little. We know that the future Rolls-Royce SUV will have a go-anywhere capability, which is code for AWD and ground clearance. We also know that it does not yet …

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2015 RINSPEED Budii Bringing i3-Based EV Wackiness To Geneva

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  Rinspeed is a reliable Geneva Auto Show attendee – typically with one of the most avant-garde designs on the entire showfloor. This year, the concept is called the BUDII and is based on the BMW i3. A new style and complete infotainment redesign takes the dashboard completely out of the picture, in favor of an adjustable-side steering column. This column on a robotic arm can also fold itself away for automated driving modes. This next skill of the Budii also reveals one of its most interesting aspects: the periscope-style rising sensor pod to allow a birds-eye view of the …

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2015 BMW M4 MotoGP Safety Car - New Hydro-Cooled Boost Vaporization 72

2015 BMW M4 MotoGP Safety Car – New Water-Cooled Boost Vaporization – Coming to 2016 M4 GTS?

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This new M4 MotoGP Safety Car is a beaut in its matte-black finish and artful M-color racing stripes and huge fixed wing atop the trunk. But there are two pieces of big news hiding under that pace-car livery: a new water-cooled turbo vaporization technology and the possibility of these upgrades hitting an M4 GTS production model in the next year or so with up to 100 extra horsepower. First off, the water cooled turbo system. First off, to clarify. Most intercoolers or charge cooler systems actually spray water to the outside of the intercooler itself. Spraying water atop the cooling …

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Ege Argüden 2035 Aston Martin AMR-AP LeMans Racer 12

Design Talent Showcase – Ege Arguden 2035 Aston Martin AMR-AP LeMans Racer

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This design study by emerging automotive design all-star Ege Arguden is a fascinating look into the future of endurance racing. With ‘air power’ that compresses oxygen and converts it to wheel thrust, this future-tech racecar has many interesting facets to study even today. Versus contemporary Aston Martin racing prototypes, the AMR-AP by Arguden is a massive leap into the future. Even so, the 2035 AMR-AP design sticks with the things we know already work so well on the track: ultra-low nose, shrouded fenders, massive length and long-tail spoiler with numerous stabilizer elements. The Arguden AMR-AP prototype is most special to …

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Design Talent Showcase – Porsche 901 by Ege Argüden – Future Super-911 To Take On McLaren and Ferrari?

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With the Porsche 911 one of the most consistent and linear designs in all of automobile-dom, it might be easy to think there are no new ideas for how to make the icon more modern, more svelte and delivering even  more performance. Ege Argüden is an exciting talent in the car-design world. Studying automotive and industrial design in Pasadena, Arguden has not only created a stunning new Porsche 911 style. But also a story and design rationale, product positioning and brand heritage study. BIO Originally from Turkey, Arguden recently wrapped up his second design internship with BMW in Munich. Arguden’s …

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2015 BMW M4 Colors and Wheels Guide – Animated Turntables + Individual Fire Orange

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We were really excited to find this Fire Orange M4 in Houston. We thought it meant that BMW was expanding the very lackluster color range available. But that is not really the case. This Fire Orange is a $5,000 option via BMW Individual. The most fantastic shade on the standard palette is Sakhir Orange, which is a semi-matte finish that is dark and yummy, and very distinctive.   2015 BMW M4 Sakhir Orange Besides those, we’d vote only for Black Sapphire or non-Metallic Alpine White. Bonus for Alpine white? It saves you $2,000. The manual transmission is a good decision, …

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BMW M Performance Parts for 2015 X5M and X6M Include Tri-Color Racing Stripes!

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  INTRO: Exciting discovery: these images allow a near-perfect animated comparison showing the different X6 vs X5 rooflines.   It might seem silly to buy a brand-new BMW X5 or X6 M and go shopping right away to upgrade it. But it is actually more normal than you might think. These factory upgrades are often things BMW would like to include on the factory trucks, but can’t because they are too polarizing (the M-color graphics…) or the M Performance exhaust (for legal reasons…). You have to imagine BMW ships these cars around the world in a universally appealing specification, but …

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4.0s, 567HP 2015 BMW X6 M In 140 New Photos From Austin COTA

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The X6M is harder, lower, wider and wilder than the new X5M — really cementing its status as one of the quickest SUVs of all time. The design showcases a new rear fender strike and even more chopped-roof design feeling — and sets the right for its massive new power and pace from all sides. The most powerful BMWs ever made have just shattered the glass ceiling of SUV performance. With 567-horsepower through standard xDrive AWD, the new X5 and X6 M have sprint times of just 4.0-seconds along with a devilish M styling overhaul. The grille and front fascia …

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Houston Auto Show - 2015 BMW X5 M 17

Houston Auto Show – 2015 BMW X5 M Looks Mean, But Logos Nearly Invisible

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Perhaps this is the new BMW M strategy for M trucks – small badges. Whatever the case, it is increasingly difficult to know which car is the X5 M and which is the X5 xDrive50i M Sport. Even so, the performance is the main selling point of this hot new muscle-truck. The giant footwear and unique chinstrap bumper design are the clearest signs that this is the X5 M versus an M Sport X5. That and the ridiculous pace, of course. 2015 BMW X5 M        

Houston Auto Show - 2015 BMW 228i xDrive Convertible in Luxury Trim 3

Houston Auto Show – 2015 BMW 228i xDrive Convertible in Luxury Trim

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The new 228i Convertible joins the 235i in the BMW range as the smallest and most affordable ragtop BMWs since the first-gen Z3 of the 1990s. We’re excited to report that the style of the new 2 series convertible really looks fantastic. The car’s distinctive nose and new kidney design is ultra subtle, but very new actually versus cars like the current 5 series. As evidence of BMW’s utter brilliance in product variations: this new ragtop even offers xDrive AWD. No demerits in ride height, either. Clever stuff — and the xDrive 228i has an extra 60 pound-feet of torque …

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Houston Tuner Highlights – 2015 BMW M4 by IKON Wraps

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It is not so much the color of this yummy M4 wrap, but the quality of the execution and how nicely this satin wrap brings the M4 design to life. Surprisingly, the M4’s color options are actually a serious, serious weak point of the vehicle. A total of seven shades are offered, and a few are simply grotesque. Step in, Austin Yellow Metallic! When Dodge can paint a Ram 56 shades, and a Viper 8000 colors — BMW has a major competitive weakness with the lame and hideous colors offered on the new M4 and M3. So while this Easter-egg …

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Vorsteiner 2015 BMW M4 GTRS4 by ELITE Customs TX 17

Best of Houston Auto Show – Vorsteiner 2015 BMW M4 GTRS4 by ELITE Customs TX

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Let’s say you love the hottest and wildest customs from Germany, like the outrageous GTRS4 by Vorsteiner for the new BMW M4. But you do not live in Germany or near a Vorsteiner installer. What to do? You have to find a local customs shop with major bodywork and custom fabrication expertise. Elite Customs and Collision in China Bay, Texas is a go-to place for flawless execution of a major supercar upgrade like shown here. The parts arrive from Germany unpainted and without full instructions, so you want some proof that a shop can handle a job this big and …

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M Performance Parts for the BMW 2 Series Convertible 1 - Copy

New M Performance Parts Add Power, Stance and Style to BMW 2 Series Convertible

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The 2 Series is one of the most fun BMWs to ever wear the roudel badge. Three engines for 2015: the 220i, 228 and 235i are all a laugh riot of lightweight, rear-drive playfulness. Incredible balance, joyful steering and a driving position from heaven! But how to up the intensity? M Performance offers a full line of 2 Series upgrades, ranging from mild like the black kidney grilles, to big wheels, side sills and sport exhausts and ECU powerkits. These anthracite wheels are particularly sculpted and handsome, and are nicely accented by M Sport gloss-black body graphics. The big advantage …

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Super Sedan Design Shootout – 2016 Lexus GS-F vs. 2016 Cadillac CTS-V vs. E63 AMG vs. M5

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  INTRO: How freaky does that sliced image montage look above!?  Despite the four car’s here not quite matching up in the photos we have at hand, they all share a great deal of buyer and market appeal. For shoppers needing supercar pace with room for five people, there have never been more choices. Very exciting times in the super-sedan business! In a segment that the BMW M5 once owned all to itself, the current M5 Jahre 30 Edition is a run-out special for 2015 that feels ancient versus the latest AMG, Cadillac and Lexus four-doors. To save the M5 …

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2015 BMW 1-Series 30

4.5s, 326HP 2015 BMW M135i xDrive Gives Supercar Thrills for VW Golf Bills

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The new BMW 1-Series just came out, and it is a really cool evolution of the rear-drive compact hatch. The premise is the same as before: sports-car thrills, VW Golf bills. The new model range is a three-door and five-door hatch to start, with a future four-door sedan headed to the US market. We are unlikely to see either of the hatchback styles, but the five-door might theoretically be in the cards for the US market as well. Engines start with the 116d, and extend up to the 118, 120, 125 and finally the 135i at the top of the …

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BMW M4 ‘Concept Iconic Lights’ Shines Laser Highbeams + OLED Slice Taillamps

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Amid a dozen i3 and i8 innovations BMW is showing at CES this week is this M4 – dubbed the ‘Iconic Lights Concept.’ We can’t help but add quotes to that concept name, as it does seem a bit …. presumptuous to call a brand-new concept iconic. Even with that bit of skepticism, the new tech shown is pretty cool. For LED aficionados, the new design certainly vaults the current M4 styling into the future quite effectively. A new high-powered laser lighting system is employed up front, with deep crystal lenses forming a larger and more expressive DRL shape. The …

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2007 VADHO BMW by ItalDesign Giugiaro

Concept Flashback – 2007 ItalDesign VADHO Ran BMW Hydrogen V12

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A hydrogen V12? That is not exactly true. The VADHO indeed runs a BMW Hydrogen fuel cell, but this produces power for a hybrid-electric drivetrain — like all hydrogen cars. The V12 is likely to be conventionally-powered. So why the tandem seating arrangement? Ostensibly, this bubble canopy housing a single passenger behind the driver’s seat is to allow for the powertrain’s massive scale and the required gas tank for the Hydrogen powertrain. These tanks generally are only available in one cylindrical shape — and housing a massive one that can avoid exploding in a crash is deeply challenging for car …

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1971 Mercedes-Benz 300 SEL 6

1971 Mercedes-Benz 300 SEL 6.8 AMG in 44 High-Res Photos

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For a race car to become an icon, it typically needs to achieve much more on the track than this 1971 300 SEL. A single second-place trophy at Spa racing against Ford Capri’s and Chevy Camaro’s? That is the win that this first-ever AMG model has in its quiver. So disposable that the original car was even sold off – and never to be seen again? It is true. This is the sole Mercedes-Benz replica created in 2005 to celebrate AMG joining the official Daimler Benz family. So what does it represent today, beyond an amazing sample of a Merc …

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LA Auto Show 2014 – Photo Gallery of 80 Cool New Cars

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Now that it is a full month after the LA auto show, and only a few weeks from Detroit, it seems like many of these images are not going to be utilized in full articles. So that they are not snapped in vain…. here are 137 photos from the showfloor. A few of these are from the tuner/specialist booth outside the LA show proper – but this is where we find Morgan, Galpin Ford and the GTR1, Saleen and other popular brands. Two really cool showcars that have not been covered much? The Black Pearl custom low-rider and the Zelectric …

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Updated With 50 New Photos – 540HP, 3.7s 2015 BMW ALPINA B6 xDrive GranCoupe

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Updated 12.25.14 The BMW 6 Series wears perhaps the most unnoticeable facelift for what we believe will be the 2016 model-year. That does not diminish how cool and exclusive the B6 xDrive GranCoupe is. Nor does it dampen the huge, HUGE sprint and top-end pace of this AWD super-sedan. PREVIOUS Meet the first (and only) Alpina B6 in the United States at the moment. This blue stunner is, in fact, the quickest BMW ever made. The addition of AWD and a huge jump in twin-turbo V8 power means the Alpina B6 is more rapid to 60-mph than any other BMW. …

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hamann m4

2015 BMW M4 and M4 Cabrio by HAMANN Hit 517HP via ECU Reflash

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The new M4 and M4 Convertible are extremely hot commodities these days — with supplies still limited and few making their way into buyer hands yet. That is not stopped German tuner Hamann from finalizing its first upgrades for the new M4’s. Wheels, lowering springs, body and aero upgrades and cabin details are all ready-to-ship today. The GT3-style rear wing and front/rear diffusers are great. But it is the 85-horsepower jump in power via a plug-and-play ECU module that seems most appealing as a first step in the upgrades. The reflash changes numerous parameters to optimize power, shift points and …

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BMW 550i By Fostla

BMW 550i By Fostla.de Is Wrapped, Uncapped and Remapped to 570HP Bliss

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  The stock BMW 5 series has all the makings of an amazing sports sedan – one with outstanding performance, luxury and room inside for every situation. But from the factory, even the 550i M Sport lacks a bit of visual aggression. How to better project its unique performance cred on the outside? Fostla.de not only wrapped this F10 in a subtle satin-finish “grey olive matte metallic” foil, color-matches the new 21-inch Yido wheels, and accents the design with another shade of bright tan. The foil wrap delivers real visual punch by being subtle and also quite special and flashy …

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BMW Motorcycles Evolution Since 1923 – Animated Timeline Via 20 Iconic Bikes

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     The history of BMW Motorrad is actually the story of the evolution of the motorcycle in general. Giant leaps of innovation are clear to see about every dozen years, but the BMW innovation throughout keeps moving the two-wheel world forward at warp speed. For a non-bikes guy like me and perhaps you, the names and styles are all a bit perplexing. We have labelled all the main bike photos to help make it all a bit clearer. The pre-war bikes in particular are hard to distinguish at first without the labels. So which is your favorite? We’d pick …

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bmw 2 series m performance parts

Gift Ideas – BMW 2 Series M Performance Parts

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We’re big fans of the BMW 228i, 235i and M235i — and are thrilled that these sporty coupes are available with xDrive AWD for 2015. These official M Performance upgrades below are a great way to up the factory car’s power, sounds and style. They are pricey, but maintain all BMW warranties and are sure to last the lifetime of the vehicle. This is incontrast to many aftermarket parts. Below are a few of the 100-plus upgrades in the M Performance catalog for the 2 Series, plus high-res photos from BMW showing an M235i decked out with all these cool …

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2015 BMW M3 and M4 Original M Performance Parts Are Sweet! Racing Stripes Available…

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With every tuner and their mom jumping on the new M3 and M4 with upgrades, a buyer might be very tempted to go aftermarket right away. But what about factory-approved BMW M Performance goodies first? These maintain an OEM feel to the car, as well as ensuring the pieces are perfect fits that will last the life of the car in perfect condition. Our favorite pieces are the black grilles and the M racing stripes! 2015 BMW M3 and M4 M Performance Parts http://www.shopbmwusa.com/PERFORMANCE/BMW-M-PERFORMANCE/

BMW i3 Brings Driverless Valet Parking to CES 2015

BMW i3 Brings Driverless Valet Parking to CES 2015

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These new ActiveAssist technologies demonstrated by the BMW i3 work together: 360-degree collision avoidance and self-parking via smartwatch. In predetermined environments, the i3 can now park itself and be called back to retrieve you curbside — all controlled via a smartwatch. The 360-degree smart tech is employed to protect against a crash from another car in the parking garage, or an unexpected ball rolling out in front of the car, for example. BMW i3 Brings Driverless Valet Parking to CES 2015 BMW Innovations at the 2015 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas. 360-degree collision avoidance and fully-automated parking in …

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Spec Renderings – 2016 BMW i8 Spyder

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Updated 12.15.14 Here are some crude renderings of a potential 2016 i8 Spyder. These might seem silly, but it is helpful to blend the roofless style of the 2012 concept with the production nose and door detailing of the 2014 i8 Coupe. The 2012 BMW i8 Concept Spyder was a stunning showcase of the latest BMW flagship. Now that the production i8 Coupe is a huge hit around the world — and won TopGear’s Car of the Year to prove it — we’re taking another look at the drop-top version. In theory, the carbon-fiber chassis and central portion of the …

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Concept Flashback – 2012 BMW i8 Spyder – Coming For Summer 2015?

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  The 2012 BMW i8 Concept Spyder was a stunning showcase of the latest BMW flagship. Now that the production i8 Coupe is a huge hit around the world — and won TopGear’s Car of the Year to prove it — we’re taking another look at the drop-top version. In theory, the carbon-fiber chassis and central portion of the i8 lends itself to the cabrio conversion very nicely. Due to how close the i8 concepts were to the production model, we believe a Spyder is not only feasible — but firmly on the radar. A few rough renderings show what …

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