Revised BMW 5 Series to get bold design updates, arrives 2020

Prototypes of the facelifted BMW 5 Series have begun testing on public roads ahead of a planned introduction in mid-2020. Although it’s still heavily disguised, the updated executive model will clearly receive a bolder look in keeping with styling developments brought to both the latest 3 Series and facelifted 7 Series. The move is part of a broader strategy at BMW that aims to give each model its own individual appearance. Among the new design elements expected to be brought to the 5 Series are a more prominent kidney grille, redesigned headlights and a more heavily structured front bumper that incorporates newly designed air vents, including vertical air curtain ducts at the outer edges. Changes at the rear are likely to be less significant, although the plastic wrap adorning the spied prototypes hints at styling revisions to the tail-lights, rear bumper, tailpipes and area around the numberplate. Inside, the 5 Series is expected to receive new digital instrument graphics as well as a revised central display housing the infotainment functions. Today’s 5 Series will get BMW’s latest iDrive 7.0 operating system as part of a running change from this month onwards, suggesting the 2020 model will carry this on until the introduction of an iDrive 7.5 system in the eighth-generation 5 Series model due in 2023. The prototype shown here is propelled by a plug-in hybrid powertrain, shown by the mandatory identification on its front doors as well as the flap for the charging port integrated into the front-left wing. The current G30 5 Series is already sold with a plug-in hybrid setup in the 530e. This has a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine and an electric motor developing a combined 248bhp and providing an electric-only driving range of up to 40 miles. As part of a push to take its plug-in hybrid drivelines into the performance car class, BMW is said to be planning a new 545e model running the same set-up as the 745e. This would use a more powerful turbocharged 3.0-litre six-cylinder engine and electric motor making a combined 388bhp and yielding an electric-only range of up to 36 miles. In further developments, BMW plans to equip all petrol engines with a particulate filter, while the diesels will receive new selective catalytic reduction (SCR) technology, according to Munich
Origin: Revised BMW 5 Series to get bold design updates, arrives 2020

Revised 5 Series to get bold design updates, arrives 2020

2020 BMW 5 Series previewed as prototypes begin testing

Prototypes of the facelifted BMW 5 Series have begun testing on public roads ahead of a planned introduction in mid-2020. Although it’s still heavily disguised, the updated executive model will clearly receive a bolder look in keeping with styling developments brought to both the latest 3 Series and facelifted 7 Series. The move is part of a broader strategy at BMW that aims to give each model its own individual appearance. Among the new design elements expected to be brought to the 5 Series are a more prominent kidney grille, redesigned headlights and a more heavily structured front bumper that incorporates newly designed air vents, including vertical air curtain ducts at the outer edges. Changes at the rear are likely to be less significant, although the plastic wrap adorning the spied prototypes hints at styling revisions to the tail-lights, rear bumper, tailpipes and area around the numberplate. Inside, the 5 Series is expected to receive new digital instrument graphics as well as a revised central display housing the infotainment functions. Today’s 5 Series will get BMW’s latest iDrive 7.0 operating system as part of a running change from this month onwards, suggesting the 2020 model will carry this on until the introduction of an iDrive 7.5 system in the eighth-generation 5 Series model due in 2023. The prototype shown here is propelled by a plug-in hybrid powertrain, shown by the mandatory identification on its front doors as well as the flap for the charging port integrated into the front-left wing. The current G30 5 Series is already sold with a plug-in hybrid setup in the 530e. This has a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine and an electric motor developing a combined 248bhp and providing an electric-only driving range of up to 40 miles. As part of a push to take its plug-in hybrid drivelines into the performance car class, BMW is said to be planning a new 545e model running the same set-up as the 745e. This would use a more powerful turbocharged 3.0-litre six-cylinder engine and electric motor making a combined 388bhp and yielding an electric-only range of up to 36 miles. In further developments, BMW plans to equip all petrol engines with a particulate filter, while the diesels will receive new selective catalytic reduction (SCR) technology, according to Munich
Origin: 2020 BMW 5 Series previewed as prototypes begin testing

New BMW 4 Series Coupe spotted with minimal camouflage

The second-generation BMW 4 Series Coupé has been spied with a reduced level of disguise, giving an early hint of the styling of the new two-door Audi A5 Coupe and Mercedes-Benz C-Class Coupe rival due on sale early next year. The new BMW model, spied while being loaded on to the back of a truck near the German car maker’s engineering headquarters in Munich, displays a clear family resemblance with the larger 8 Series. It features a pronounced bonnet, heavy curved roofline, angled rear window and a pronounced shoulder-line over the rear wheels. Alongside the coupé model spied here, BMW is also developing a successor model to the 4 Series Cabriolet featuring a fabric roof in place of the metal structure used by the current generation, as well as a follow-up to the four-door 4 Series Gran Coupe. The 4 Series Coupe is based on the latest variant of BMW’s CLAR (cluster architecture) platform. It supports both rear-wheel drive and four-wheel drive, though unlike the larger 8 Series, developments such as air suspension and four-wheel steering are not planned to be offered as part of its planned seven-year life cycle. The engine line-up will be similar to that of the latest 3 Series with an extended range of 2.0-litre four-cylinder and 3.0-litre six-cylinder powerplants to be offered from the outset of sales. BMW insiders confirm plans for 420i, 430i and M440i xDrive petrol models together with 420d and 430d diesels. There will also be a new 430e plug-in hybrid model, featuring a 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine and gearbox-mounted electric motor developing a combined 248bhp and 309lb ft. The 420i, 430i, 420d and 430d, all with standard rear-wheel drive, will be offered with optional xDrive four-wheel drive, which will be standard on the M440 xDrive. Heading the new line-up will be the second-generation M4, which is set to run a powered-up version of BMW M’s new twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre six-cylinder petrol engine developing 503bhp and 442lb ft of torque together with an eight-speed automatic gearbox and fully variable four-wheel-drive system in top-of-the-line M4 Competition
Origin: New BMW 4 Series Coupe spotted with minimal camouflage

This is the battery-powered SUV racing the new Extreme E off-road series

For what seems like ages, the founder of the fledgling Formula E race series has been talking about upping the electrified ante with an off-road series.On what type of tracks will it run? Who are the drivers? What will the trucks look like?We now have an answer to the last question, at least, thanks to a big reveal at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in the U.K. last Friday.Called the Odyssey 21, the steroidal off-road machine zipped up Lord Marchs driveway under the command of Indy 500 champ Gil de Ferran in what was the prototypes first public display. Built by a French company called Spark, it was powered by batteries designed by none other than the Williams Formula One team.Using its healthy-but-undisclosed amount of right-now thrust, the Odyssey 21 is capable of hurtling itself through the atmosphere to 100 km/h from rest in about 4.5 seconds before topping out at about 200 km/h. Non-racing conditions could stretch its total range to 200 km. The plan is to allow manufacturer teams to use their own powertrain and bodywork so the units looks more like road-going SUVs.As for racing locations, series honcho Alejandro Agag says they have identified three of the five locations needed, including an altitude and jungle site along with a desert location. Ocean and polar locales are still in the works. Agag also said the series would be open to the idea of hydrogen-propelled cars when the technology permits.Formula E has seen many advancements despite being a relatively young racing series, including format changes and battery improvements. All this gives hope to the reality of this Extreme E series in
Origin: This is the battery-powered SUV racing the new Extreme E off-road series

BMW grille debate should focus on 7 Series, says design director

Debate over BMW’s ‘over-sized’ grille design should be focused on the BMW 7 Series alone, according to the group’s design director Adrian van Hooydonk. Discussions regarding BMW’s controversial grille designs ramped up this year with the launch of the facelifted 7 Series, and grew louder with the reveal of the BMW X7. However, van Hooydonk believes the criticism – led by UK commentators according to BMW’s monitoring – has now incorrectly put a focus on BMW grille designs as a whole. “I don’t think it should be a BMW brand discussion at all, but rather one of the 7 Series alone,” said van Hooydonk. “All of our other cars are world cars, where the various tastes of the market tastes converge with no discrepancies, but the 7 Series sits separately. “In Europe – the smallest market – the buyers are understated, but in the US and China – where most 7 Series are sold – they are younger and more extrovert. When we launched the new 7 Series (in 2015) it was criticised for not looking different enough, so the message for the facelift was clear: make it stand out. And now we have.” However, van Hooydonk predicted that the separation in global tastes would not last long, pointing to feedback that he is increasingly receiving from BMW’s Shanghai design centre. “I hear from them that design tastes in China are developing rapidly,” he said. “Yes, they still want a modern look that pushes boundaries, but they are increasingly calling for subtle too. The gap is narrowing down, so I see the 7 Series design coming together with the rest of the range in a short time.” Asked about the X7’s grille design van Hooydonk argued that it was in proportion to the car and smaller than those found on rival brands, including Range Rover, the Audi Q7 and Mercedes GLS. “Yes, the X7’s grille is bigger than other BMW’s – but so is the X7 bigger than any BMW before it. That one is in proportion. “Don’t worry, I don’t want the brand to turn into an oversized kidney grille brand – but I believe we understand the reasons for what we have done with the 7 Series and that the issue will solve itself thanks to evolving tastes in the markets for which the grille was
Origin: BMW grille debate should focus on 7 Series, says design director

New BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe spotted in range-topping M Sport trim

A new prototype of BMW’s upcoming 2 Series Gran Coupé offers the clearest look yet at the four-door Mercedes-Benz CLA rival’s exterior styling. Spotted carrying out advanced road testing ahead of its November debut, the development model sports less camouflage than any yet seen, with a QR code and web address hinting at an imminent publicity campaign for the new car. Details like black alloy wheels, large brake discs, aggressively styled bumpers and prominent rear lip spoiler suggest that this is the range-topping M Sport variant, likely powered by the same 302bhp 2.0-litre four-cylinder twin-turbocharged unit as the new M135i hot hatch, with which it shares a front-wheel drive platform. These photos closely match previous spy images of the car, suggesting that development is reaching the final stages before launch. The need to accommodate two conventional front-hinged rear doors and sufficient rear seat leg room is said to be behind the decision to give the new car a wheelbase that’s halfway between the 2690mm span of the 2 Series Coupé and the 2810mm of the 3 Series saloon. Inside, the 2 Series Gran Coupé will sport a new interior layout that’s also set to be adopted by the successors to today’s 2 Series Coupé and 2 Series Convertible, which are due in 2020. The turbocharged three-cylinder and four-cylinder engines for the 2 Series Gran Coupé will mirror those of the existing pair. On the petrol side, expect a 134bhp 1.5-litre three-cylinder unit in the 218i, 181bhp and 242bhp 2.0-litre four-cylinder units in the 220i and 225i, as well as the M235i’s more potent unit. Among the diesels will be 148bhp, 187bhp and 221bhp 2.0-litre four-cylinder units in the 218d, 220d and 225d respectively. Like its two-door siblings, the 2 Series Gran Coupé will offer a choice of a standard six-speed manual or optional eight-speed torque-converter automatic gearbox, as well as optional xDrive four-wheel drive. However, the latter will be offered in combination with only a limited range of engines. The highlight of the new line-up, though, will be the M2 Gran Coupé. This model will use the same 365bhp turbocharged 3.0-litre in-line six-cylinder engine as its highly lauded two-door sibling. It will be offered with a standard six-speed manual or seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox. Although it’s still early days, the S55B30-designated engine is expected to provide the M2 Gran Coupé with similar performance to the M2, which has an official 0-62mph time of 4.4sec in manual form and an electronically limited top speed of 155mph. The 2 Series Gran Coupé will be produced alongside the 2 Series Coupé and 2 Series Convertible at BMW’s plant in Leipzig, Germany. A plug-in hybrid model is also mooted. This is expected to use BMW’s turbocharged 1.5-litre three-cylinder petrol engine and an electric motor mounted within the forward section of a standard eight-speed automatic gearbox. In combination with a lithium ion battery pack positioned within the floor of the boot, this is intended to provide the 225e with an electric-only driving range of up to 31 miles. The four-door coupé will have its world debut at this year’s Los Angeles motor show before going on sale in early
Origin: New BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe spotted in range-topping M Sport trim

BMW reveals the 2020 8 Series Gran Coupe

The teasing is over. BMW has revealed the latest and most spacious iteration of the 8 Series, a “four-door coupe.” In fact, the 2020 8 Series Gran Coupe has the widest track of any BMW on the road. Bimmer has a knack for making its cars look at once sporty and luxurious. It hit the mark with the two-door 8 Series models revealed last year and has managed to keep it there with this new, stretched version. It’s 30 mm wider, 61 mm taller and 231 mm longer, with four doors instead of two. It’s also got a panoramic glass roof, a more vertically oriented windshield and what BMW describes as “width-emphasising design at the rear end intensify the car’s sporting allure and presence.”Interestingly, BMW claims each 8 Series Gran Coupe will technically be unique, as there’s a “subtle flying buttress design” around the rear window that has to be finished by hand. Inside theres Nappa leather on the dash and doors as standard, and a selection of finishes in a variety of colours including Ivory White, Cognac, Black and some two-toned options for the 850 models.The model will arrive in four variants, including a diesel we wont be getting in Canada. The M850i xDrive Gran Coupe gets a V8 that makes 530 horsepower and 553 lb.-ft. of torque and carries it to 100 km/h in 3.9 seconds; and the 840i Gran Coupe and the 840 xDrive Gran Coupe come with a six-cylinder making 340 horsepower and 368 lb.-ft. of torque, getting to 100 km/h in 5.2 and 4.9 seconds, respectively.An eight-speed Steptronic Sport transmission relays power through to all four wheels in all models except for in the rear-wheel-drive 840i Gran Coupe.BMW says the Gran Coup-eight will enter production in July and launch in
Origin: BMW reveals the 2020 8 Series Gran Coupe

BMW completes 8 Series range with new four-door Gran Coupé

BMW has rounded out its new 8 Series line-up with the Gran Coupé. The new four-door 8 Series will go on sale in September after a Frankfurt motor show debut, priced from £69,340. The Gran Coupé joins the 8 Series Coupé and Convertible with a line-up that will comprise six-cylinder and V8 models, including the rapid new 516bhp M850i xDrive Gran Coupé. The 8 Series Gran Coupé replaces the discontinued 6 Series Gran Coupé in a growing market segment that will place it up against high-end versions of the Audi A7 and Mercedes-Benz CLS, as well as the Porsche Panamera. At 5082mm long, 1932mm wide and 1407mm tall, the 8 Series Gran Coupé is 239mm longer, 30mm wider and 66mm taller that its coupé sibling. This added length is partly the result of a 201mm-longer wheelbase than that of the 8 Series Coupé and Convertible, at 3023mm. It allows for two extra frameless doors and rear seat space that’s on a par with its predecessor’s. The 8 Series Gran Coupé has a traditional boot at the rear, with a 440-litre capacity. The load length can be extended when the 40/20/40-configured rear seat is folded down. The engine choices for the 8 Series Gran Coupé mirror those of its siblings. The entry point to the new line-up is the 840i turbocharged 3.0-litre inline six-cylinder petrol unit, which develops 335bhp and 369lb ft of torque. It can be had in rear- or four-wheel drive and the 0-62mph times are 5.2sec and 4.9sec respectively. Fuel consumption is 39.2mpg combined. Also available is the diesel 840d, with a 3.0-litre inline six making 316bhp and 501lb ft. The 0-62mph sprint is dispatched in 5.1sec and claimed economy is 47.9mpg. Crowning the initial 8 Series Gran Coupé range is the M850i xDrive, which has a 523bhp turbocharged 4.4-litre V8. With a kerb weight of 1995kg, it is claimed to hit 62mph from rest in 3.9sec and return 28.8mpg combined economy. All engines are mated to an eight-speed automatic gearbox, with the 840i and M850i xDrive both featuring an M Sport rear differential. Rearwheel steering is standard on four-wheel-drive cars and optional on rear-driven models. Later this year, BMW’s M division will launch even more powerful M8 and M8 Competition variants of the new four-door featuring a twinturbo 4.4-litre petrol V8 with 592bhp for the M8 and 616bhp for the M8
Origin: BMW completes 8 Series range with new four-door Gran Coupé

New BMW 3 Series Touring launched with focus on sharp handling

BMW has taken the wraps off the new 3 Series Touring and promised it will retain the dynamic handling of the saloon version. The new 3 Series estate will go on sale in late September with a range of petrol and diesel engines. For the first time in the Touring, there will be a plug-in hybrid 330e model, which will arrive in July 2020. As with the 330e saloon, it will feature a 248bhp powertrain, comprising a 181bhp petrol engine with a 111bhp electric motor, and the ability to run 39 miles on electric-only power. At launch, the petrol engine range will start with the 181bhp 320i and the range-topper will be the four-wheel-drive M340i xDrive, which has a 3.0-litre unit with 369bhp and 295lb ft. The M340i xDrive Touring can achieve 0-62mph in 5.8sec. Diesel options will range from the 147bhp 318d to the 261bhp 330d xDrive. All models will have an eight-speed automatic gearbox as standard. No manuals are offered in the range. The 3 Series Touring also receives a new lift-related damping system for the first time. An M Sport differential is standard on the M340i xDrive and optional on higher-spec models, as is M Sport suspension. Product manager Stefan Horn told Autocar the new Touring will “handle even better” than the old car thanks to a stiffer chassis, lower centre of gravity and weight reduction. Entry-level models will sit on 17in wheels as standard, rising to 19in on higher specs, with full-LED headlights and tail-lights also standard. Horn claimed the objective was to prioritise the car’s looks to increase desirability, as the estate sector declines in the face of SUVs. At 4709mm, the new model is 76mm longer than the previous generation, in part due to a wheelbase that’s 41mm longer, at 2851mm. The new 3 Series Touring is also 11mm taller and 16mm wider. BMW claims it offers extra shoulder and knee room, along with the ability to fit three child seats across the rear bench. The 500-litre boot is wider and five litres larger than before and is accessed via a standard automatic tailgate, which retains a separately opening window. There are storage areas under the main boot floor, and new optional rubber anti-slip rails, which keep smaller loads in place. The rear seats can be folded in a 40/20/40 layout, increasing the storage capacity to a maximum of 1510 litres. In the UK, the 3 Series Touring will be offered in SE, Sport, M Sport and M Sport Plus trim levels. The top level includes M Sport suspension and brakes, 19in alloy wheels and a choice of exclusive colours. Prices have yet to be announced, but expect the base model to start from just under £30,000, with an average increase over like-for-like saloons of around
Origin: New BMW 3 Series Touring launched with focus on sharp handling