BMWs late June showed off its latest EV test mule, Lucy, a battery-driven prototype built out of a standard 5 Series and offering more horsepower and torque than anything the German automakers ever built before.While the exterior looks like a standard 5 Series, somehow BMW managed to tuck a few electric motors and all the supplementary batteries and wires under the body, a seriously impressive feat.Three motors power the vehicle, like in a Tesla Model S, with two for the rear wheels; and one in the front to provide all-wheel-drive. The two motors in the rear allow for active torque-vectoring, improving cornering ability.Together Lucys motors make a ridiculous 711 horsepower, which is 111 more than the current BMW M5 and its twin-turbo V8. Project BEV also trumps it on torque, with some 848 lb.-ft. on tap. All that stomp helps the sedan rocket to 100 km/h in just 3.0 seconds, and in total silence.Project BEV also uses no rare earth metals in its motors, and BMW says the upcoming iX3 will similarly keep the rare metals in the earth.While Lucy is a testbed and not a production vehicle, we cant see BMW going through all this work just to build a toy. Expect the technology its pioneering to end up in a variety of models underpinned by the same
Origin: BMW’s Project BEV is an 711-hp electric performance prototype
performance
BMW adds M performance to the X5 and X7 SUVs
BMW is putting its M’ badge on a couple of big SUVs, following the trend the brand’s smaller X2, X3 and X4 trucks have picked up on. Right off the bat, you’ll notice the wheels on the new M50i-trim X5 are bigger: the X5 gets 20-inchers as standard, but can be optioned with the X7 M50i’s wheels, which are a massive set of 22-inch wheels wrapped in 275/40R22 tires in the front; and 315/35R22 tires in the rear. Both the X5 and X7 get an M Sport body kit, as well as a unique grille, fender vents and wheels finished in Cerium Grey. Powering both SUVs is the same engine from the new M850i, a 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 that makes 523 horsepower and 553 lb.-ft. of torque, an increase of 67 horsepower and 74 lb.-ft of torque over the standard -50i models. The big engine will help thrust the X5 M50i and X7 M50i to 96 km/h in just 4.1 and 4.5 seconds, respectively. To get all the power down, the seven-speed automatic transmission has been tweaked, and now features launch control. Both vehicles have had their suspensions played with, the X5 receiving standard adaptive dampers, with the option to upgrade to the air suspension standard on the X7. An electronic rear differential, M Sport brakes and an M Sport exhaust also add performance. The 2020 BMW X5 and X7 M50i will go on sale this fall; Canadian pricing and availability have not been
Origin: BMW adds M performance to the X5 and X7 SUVs
Audi makes performance trim out of new diesel S7 in Europe, sticks with gas in U.S.
Static photo, Colour: Daytona greyAudi Audi has already released the A6 and A7, but now the so-called performance versions are here in the form of the S6 and S7, which are a little different depending which side of the pond you’re on. In Europe, the sole engine option is a diesel-powered 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6 with a 48-volt electrical system that powers a supercharger. Some 349 horsepower and 516 lb.-ft. of torque is all you get with the oil-burner, enough to get the huge Audi to 100 km/h in 5.0 seconds in S6 guise; the S7 and S6 Avant get there a little slower at 5.1 seconds. We all know Audi has done well in LeMans with its diesel race car, but nobody on the street cares about that. We want revs and horsepower, and the diesel version just isn’t going to deliver that. Luckily for us in North America, we don’t have to suffer. The diesel will be left off the plate on this side of the pond in favour of a gasoline-powered 2.9-litre twin-turbo V6 that makes 450 horsepower and 442 lb.-ft. of torque; a 48-volt electrical system is also on the table, again powering the same supercharger. Audi has not released the full performance figures for the gasoline engine in the S6 or S7, but we don’t expect them to change drastically. On top of the new engine options, the S6 and S7 now feature four-wheel steering to make up for the lack of V8. Inside, a new digital gauge cluster and touchscreen dash showcase the new technology present for 2020. Although the V6 will never make as nice a soundtrack as the V8, the new car is sure to be faster and more
Origin: Audi makes performance trim out of new diesel S7 in Europe, sticks with gas in U.S.
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