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Autoblog Podcast #219 is here, and the two Chrises and Dan are joined by Bring A Trailer's Randy Nonnenberg to talk oddball cars, all things Geneva Motor Show, the impending Chevrolet Cruze Diesel and the government's delay making backup cameras mandatory. Questions and feedback wrap it up, and it's an hour and thirty-six minutes of fun this week. Thanks for listening, we'll see you next week!
Autoblog Podcast #219: Geneva, Diesel Cruze and Backup Camera talk with Randy Nonnenberg of BringATrailer.com
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2010 BMW X5 M - Click above for high-res image gallery
No one ever said that evolution is pretty. Take the best-of-breed BMW M Division product: the E30 M3. Little more than a homologated race car, the first generation M3 was potent, nimble, and with its small displacement 2.3-liter inline-four fed by a retweaked M1 intake, it was light, too. Long story short, the OG M3 remains an ideal performance car.
Today, we have the X5 M. Looking at the bright blue truckish thing parked in the driveway, it's difficult - if not impossible - to see any sort of relation to BMW's vaunted and aforementioned M3 beyond its badges. You can't imagine what the missing link between the two might be. However, perhaps even mentioning the E30 M3 is being too puritanical. After all, very few vehicles could compare - let alone compete - with the street version of history's most winning road-race car. And you can bet your Roundel subscription that BMW will never competitively race an X5 M.
What then? It's not a newsflash, but the 2010 BMW X5 M doesn't remind you of sporty BMW products of yore. Of course, going back almost 25 years and looking at the first M3 through 1986-eyes, you would notice the hopped-up street car bears basically no resemblance whatsoever to BMW's hottie 1961 product, the Isetta 600. For those of you not up-to-date on your bubble car history, the Isetta 600 was a stretched, four-seat version of the 297cc, one-cylinder Iso-derived Isetta 300. The 600 featured a two-cylinder 0.6-liter moto engine and semi-trailing arm rear independent suspension. Actually come to think of it, the Isetta 600 and the E30 M3 at least shared a rear-suspension design. The X5 M then, in terms of BMW's history, is truly an alien from another world. A world where family haulers thrash muscle cars for pinks. But does any of that matter? Are companies not free to reinvent themselves, especially here in America, where the X5 M is built? Perhaps most importantly, is the X5 M any good, let alone worthy of the vaunted M badge? Make the jump to find out.
The BMW X5, old and new - Click above for high-res image gallery
These days, German luxury crossovers are a dime a dozen, what with Audi, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche and the lot all offering one or more sporty-ish soft-roaders. But we must remember that back in 1999, the vehicle that started this whole trend was the original BMW X5. Eleven years later, there's something to be said about the biggest Bimmer offering, especially since the automaker is now celebrating 1 million X5s rolling off of assembly lines.
These days, the X5 is better than ever, offering a range of turbocharged gas and diesel powerplants, as well as a hotted-up M version which, as unnecessary as it may seem, is quite stunning out on the road (or track). X5 number 1,000,000 just recently emerged from the Spartanburg, South Carolina factory, and is currently on its way to a customer in China, painted in Sapphire Black Metallic and featuring a Cinnamon Brown Nevada leather interior.
Since the debut of the X5, BMW's crossover range has grown to include the smaller X6, X3 and X1 models, and rumormill continues to buzz over the idea of other models being introduced to the X Series. We've grown to accept the idea of BMW crossovers over the years, and we certainly commend the automaker on getting 1 million X5s out the door. Hit the jump to read BMW's full press release.
Most factory tours cost a lot less than $99, but BMW has more up its sleeve than a short walk down the production line. BMW's Spartanburg, South Carolina facility is home to a new enthusiast attraction called "The Ultimate BMW Experience." The tour starts out with a trip to the Zentrum museum followed by a tour of the assembly line, where you're likely to see products like the new X5 M get pieced together. That's not exactly worth parting ways with 99 bucks, but there's more to the deal. After the factory stroll, tour-goers hook up with a certified BMW performance driving instructor and spend two hours piloting a Bimmer on the track . Now there's a horse we can ride. Where do we sign up?
BMW plans to further upgrade the tour soon with "custom driving excursions, rare vehicle demonstrations and unique culinary events as well as many other spectacular opportunities." The Ultimate BMW Experience runs on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. If you're interested in the tour you can set up a date by calling 1-877-9BMW-EXP. Hit the jump to read over the BMW press release.
2011 BMW M5 testing at the Nurburgring - Click above to watch video after the jump
The 2011 BMW M5 has been caught on video doing its thing around the 'Ring, and by "doing its thing" we really mean shredding the life out of the rear tires. Judging from the quick video, the massive sedan seems to have no problem hustling through the banked curves of every automaker's favorite test track.
BMW has kept its lips sealed when it comes to what exactly is under the hood of the next-generation M5 or when the lowly public will be able to get their greedy paws on the finished product. Rumor has it the German automaker has ditched the big, naturally-aspirated V10 we all know and love in favor of the same twin-turbocharged V8 found at the heart of X5 M and X6 M. If true, that means the car is packing somewhere around 578 horsepower in its arsenal.
As for when we'll finally see this big beastie without its psychedelic camouflage, your guess is as good as ours. In the mean time, hit the jump to see the uber sedan tackle the 'Ring.
