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Filed under: Classics, Performance, BMW, Luxury
When we think of the
BMW M division, the 1978
M1 comes instantly to mind, followed by the E30
M3 and then the 2001-2002
M Coupe. But the company's in-house hot rod shop actually dates back to 1972, when it was formed as a subsidiary to manage the company's racing operations, dubbed
BMW Motorsport.
It was this month 40 years ago that what is known today as BMW M GmbH was launched. So to celebrate its anniversary, BMW has offloaded some 50 lustworthy images celebrating that performance history. See them all in our
gallery.
Pics Aplenty: BMW celebrates 40 years of M originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 16 May 2012 19:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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May 16th, 2012
Tags:
1 m coupe,
1 series m coupe,
Bmw,
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classics,
luxury,
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M coupe,
m roadster,
M1,
M3,
m3 csl,
M5,
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Performance,
pics aplenty
Filed under: Spy Photos, Hatchback, BMW, Mini
Given the spate of new models
Mini has introduced in the past few years, from the
Clubman to the
Countryman to the
Coupe to the
Roadster, it sometimes seems like
BMW has forgotten about the original model, the plain old
Mini Cooper hardtop. It was last redesigned for the 2007 model year, which seems like a long time ago because, well, it is. Which is why Mini will shortly introduce an all-new hardtop Cooper, which our camera spies have captured testing in Europe.
We're told that the new model is codenamed F56, but more importantly, its underpinnings are said to be shared with the next-generation
BMW 1 Series. While Mini will continue to put four-cylinder engines underhood, there's presumably a three-cylinder in the works as well, though we're not sure whether that model will make it to our shores.
While we've seen some
spy shots of the 2014 Mini Cooper before, these seem to confirm that the car will grow a bit in size, both length and width. We are told that the longer hood and greater front overhang may be the result of fake front body panels, but the new front and rear glass appears to accurately represent the forthcoming production car, which will have a more raked angle to its windshield and rear window.
BMW is expected to start production of the 2014 Mini Cooper early next year.
2014 Mini Cooper gets mellow in yellow originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 16 May 2012 14:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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May 16th, 2012
Filed under: Plants/Manufacturing, BMW, Chrysler, Ford, GM, Honda, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Toyota, Volkswagen
Before financial Stargate opened in September of 2008 and transported us to an entirely new economic dimension, it was oh so common to read about domestic automakers hammering Tier One suppliers to lower their prices. Of course, suppliers are still asked to find efficiencies, but pre-2008, it seemed a point of honor to hold a supplier's feet to the fire. No more: in the latest Working Relations Index survey of suppliers by Detroit firm Planning Perspectives Inc.,
General Motors and
Chrysler rocketed up the charts to bring the bunch much closer together.
Admittedly, the two companies are still in last place, with GM just ahead of Chrysler and
Toyota and
Honda still up top. But perspective and improvement is the issue here: in 2005, Toyota scored 415 and GM scored 114. In this year's survey, Toyota scored 296 and Chrysler scored 248. It is the first time in the 12 years of the survey that the six automakers covered have been separated by less than 50 points. Chrysler's jump was led by the efforts of the
the late Dan Knott, whle GM's improvement has been led by Bob Socia.
And yes, this is also a matter of the perennial leaders, Toyota and Honda, suffering a dip:
in 2010 Toyota scored 327 and Honda 309, two years later, Toyota has dropped 31 points. Every automaker, however, from top to bottom acknowledged that they still have work to do with supplier relations. The benefits of good feelings are that suppliers tend to present their newest tech to, and make better parts for, the automakers with whom they have the best relationships. Naturally, it has been found that the reverse is true as well.
Nissan and Ford make up the middle two spots, where they've been for years.
BMW,
Mercedes-Benz,
Volkswagen and
Hyundai aren't on the list yet; PPI feels it doesn't have enough data on the Germans to yet to officially include them, and it doesn't have enough data on Hyundai to rank it at all. If the data gathered on the Germans was included, though, they would sandwich the rest of the field: BMW and Mercedes at the top, Volkswagen at the bottom a point shy of Chrysler.
Toyota, Honda top supplier survey with lower results, GM and Chrysler improve originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 15 May 2012 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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May 15th, 2012
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Filed under: Convertible, Coupe, Performance, BMW
Let's get one thing straight: We'll never complain about a new
BMW 1 Series performance model, and on paper, this new-for-2013 135is sure seems like a total hoot. But you have to understand, we're still mourning the loss of the
1 Series M Coupe, a one-year model that we absolutely fell in love with when it debuted last year. To quote
BMW, the 135is is the "top performance model 1 Series for 2013," and awesome as it may be, it just makes the 1M's death seem all the more permanent. Le sigh.
Still, there's plenty to be excited about with this new 135is. Available in both coupe and convertible body styles, the hotter 1 Series uses a more powerful version of the 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six from the 135i, boosted to 320 horsepower and 317 pound-feet of torque here - upgrades of 20 and 17, respectively, over the standard car. Both a six-speed manual and seven-speed dual-clutch transmission are available.
A revised sport suspension comes standard, as do visual upgrades like new 18-inch alloy wheels, a blacked-out grille and black mirror caps, in addition to all of the usual M Sport cosmetic changes.
The 135is is available to order as you read this, with the first deliveries taking place in the fall. Pricing starts at $44,195 for the coupe and $44,895 for the convertible, including the $895 destination charge. Give the 1 Series M a final wave goodbye and
scroll down to take in all of the details about the 135is in BMW's press blast.
Continue reading BMW launches 2013 135is coupe and convertible
BMW launches 2013 135is coupe and convertible originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 15 May 2012 12:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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May 15th, 2012
All you hear is the squealing of the tires. There's no straight six in
EV West's 1995 M3, set to run at this year's Pikes Peak, just a 420 horsepower all-electric drivetrain.
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May 15th, 2012
The BMW 1 Series M Coupe lasted less than a generation. That car had all the right things: 335 horsepower, a limited slip differential, M-steering wheel, great seats and a massive wheel/tire package paired with equally large brakes. It's...
May 15th, 2012
