BMW revealed today the official informations about the luxury 7-Series that will make its world debut in autumn at the Paris Auto Show.
The new BMW 7 Series comes as standard with BMW’s newly developed Dynamic Damping Control. Likewise featured as standard, Dynamic Driving Control enables the driver at the touch of a button to choose the degree of damping force, the gearshift dynamics of the automatic transmission, as well as the control maps for the gas pedal and steering assistance. Anti-sway control is available as an additional option, with its intervention and effect tailored to the damper set-up and program selected by the driver.
The new BMW 7 Series is entering the market with a V8 and a straight-six gasoline engine both featuring Twin Turbo technology and direct fuel injection (High Precision Injection) as well as the first representative of a new generation of six-cylinder diesel engines.
The eight-cylinder developing maximum output of 407 hp between 5,500 and 6,400 rpm in the BMW 750i, for example, is the most efficient engine in its performance class and the only engine of its kind worldwide with the turbochargers fitted in the V-space between the two rows of cylinders.
For the BMW 740i, output of the six-cylinder Twin Turbo has been raised to 240 kW/326 hp at 5,800 rpm. The newly developed six-cylinder diesel in the BMW 730d, in turn, develops maximum output of 180 kW/ 245 hp at 4,000 rpm. And it goes without saying that all engines comply in full with the strict EU 5 emission standard.
Press release after the jump.
>> read 2009 BMW 7-Series Picture Gallery
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BMW revealed today the GINA Light Visionary Model, a new concept car that presents the characteristics that will affect the development of cars in future. It is therefore fundamentally different from concept cars, which reflect what is expected of them by implementing as many elements as possible in a future production model. In contrast, the GINA Light Visionary Model is a vision of future cars and serves as an object of research.
The GINA Light Visionary Model takes the sculptural design that has already been established by a number of production cars to a new, unparalleled conclusion. The car’s front and sides, including the doors, create one single uninterrupted, seamless whole that converges to form an optical as well as a structural unit.
The GINA Light Visionary Model has dispensed with the usual body elements found on production vehicles such as front apron, bonnet, side panels, doors, wheel arches, roof, trunk lid and rear deck. Instead, a new structure with a minimum amount of components has taken their place. A special, highly durable and extremely expansion-resistant fabric material stretches across a metal structure. This new material offers designers a significantly higher level of freedom of design and functionality.
The body consists of only four elements. The largest component extends from the front of the vehicle to the edge of the windscreen and down the sides to the rear edge of the doors. The large side panels start at the front where the rocker panels emerge and run across the rear wheel arches into the rear. The fourth component is the central rear deck element.
>> read 2008 BMW GINA Light Visionary Model Picture Gallery
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Sponsored by Bmw since 1999, the Concorso D’Eleganza Villa D’Este unveiled the renascence of the new Bmw M1. The new Bmw M1 Hommage represents a moder interpretation of the 1978 Bmw M1, which at the moment of its launch was Germany’s fastest street car.
As the old model, the concept presents new design lines that are ahead of their time. The Bmw stylists incorporated in the concept some of the old vehicle’s design such as the lowered rear window, the lateral badge placement and also a little bit of the front end.
There are small chances that the Bmw M1 Hommage could see a limited production in a very small scale, but for the moment this still remains a rumor. For the folks who don’t know the 1978 Bmw M1 was powered by a 3.5 liter engine developing 270 hp and was capable of sprinting from 0-100 km/h in just 5.6 seconds. Although Bmw did not reveal any technical specifications there are sources who admit the existence of a powerful V10 5.0 liter engine capable of delivering 600+ hp.
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The M-Zero Concept was designed by Maël Oberkampf and was created as a competitor for the Audi R8.
The car is inspired by the BMW M Series models, but also features elements from Mercedes Benz (as the backlight) and DB9 Aston Martin (the global silhouette of is definitely inspired by the DB9).
The result is M-Zero, a car concept that is the “synthesis” between the actual BMW design and a high an performance car which could become the most powerful model of the BMW legacy. The exterior looks great, very BMW style, waiting for the interior!
BMW is offering a new exclusive Individual Edition for its Z4 Roadster for all sports car lovers. The new Z4 2.5i Individual Edition is powered by a six cylinder inline engine that delivers 177 hp.
The special edition is offered with special deep blue deep blue metallic paint and on the interior it features Oregon beige leather and aluminum. The sporty character is also given by the 17 inch light alloy wheels.
It comes equipped with heated seats, an integrated DVD-navigation system and a SCM alarm system. The Z4 2.5i Individual Edition is priced at 49,950 Euro (an increase of 4,870 Euro comparing to the standard version).
The BMW 5 Series Edition Exclusive focuses on most sophisticated style and elegance with supreme quality all round. Indeed, this claim is borne out clearly at very first sight by the exclusive paintwork in Platinum Bronze Metallic and with a further choice of five additional metallic colors.
Both the Saloon and the Touring gain additional style through Chrome Line on the side window surrounds, the window shaft covers and the screenwasher nozzles, as well as high-gloss Satin Chrome on the B-pillars and the window trim on the rear doors.
A further sign of distinction is the 17-inch light-alloy wheels in V-spoke design, while electrically adjustable comfort seats, high-quality cowhide in Black or Tobacco with appropriate contrast seams and wood inlays in bamboo grain Anthracite likewise serve to provide a luxurious ambiance.
The BMW 5 Series Edition Sport is unusually dynamic and muscular in its looks and style. In this case the athletic lines of the body are accentuated by powerful colors, for the first time offering the customer the choice of Imola Red and Le Mans Blue inspired by motorsport over and above the other color options.
Further features are the M Sports Suspension, 18-inch M light-alloy wheels in dual-spoke design, an M Streamlining Package, and high-gloss Shadow Line on the side window surrounds and window shaft covers on the Edition Sport 5 Series.
The interior comes with appropriately matched colors and interior trim in aluminum. The sports seats, in turn, are finished as standard in Flashlight, a unique combination of cloth and leather or, as an option, in Dakota leather. Comfort seats are also available as an option, and the roof lining in Anthracite, an M footrest, an M leather steering wheel and – on manual gearbox models – an M gearshift lever knob round off the sporting impression.
Here it is! BMW’s secret concept from Geneva: the Vision EfficientDynamics Concept, a hybrid-diesel version of the X5 SUV. Mild ActiveHybrid technology is combined with a twin-turbocharged four-cylinder diesel engine, a new eight-speed automatic gearbox and even roof-mounted solar panels.
The 2.0-litre four-cylinder diesel engine in the BMW Vision EfficientDynamics uses BMW’s Variable Twin Turbo concept, third-generation common-rail injection and an all aluminium crankcase to deliver 204hp and 400Nm of torque between 2,000 and 2,250rpm. The engine is supplemented by a mild hybrid concept that delivers a further 20hp and 210Nm of torque under acceleration. As a consequence, even though the BMW Vision EfficientDynamics features a relatively small capacity engine, it delivers nearly the same levels of horsepower as the conventional X5, but offers improvements in its already class-leading consumption and emissions figures.
The mild hybrid solution in the BMW Vision EfficientDynamics uses a compact generator that, for the first time, is flange mounted directly onto the gearbox. This motor produces up to 20hp of on-demand power. In addition, BMW’s now familiar Brake Energy Regeneration is used to efficiently capture energy that would previously have been lost when the engine is on overrun. Innovatively, the alternator is also integrated into the crankcase rather than conventionally driven from the front of the engine.
>> read 
BMW has announced at the Chicago Auto how its intention to compete in the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) beginning in 2009. And the idea car to do it is a racing version of the latest generation M3.
On creating the racing version, BMW needed to make an already sporting car even more sporting. This task was accomplished using a BMW P65 race engine that delivers 485 bhp.
Also the race version of the BMW M3 is wider and significantly lighter than its production equivalent, enabling it to perfectly transmit the power of its V8 to the track. Widespread use of carbon-reinforced plastic (CRP) provides proof of substantial weight reduction. As with the production version, the race car’s roof is manufactured from this high-tech material.
Press release after the jump.
>> read 
BMW Australia today revealed the Z4 Edition Sport, a new limited edition that will go on sale for a price of $78,200 for the Z4 2.5si Roadster, $88,100 for the Z4 3.0si Coupe and $91,400 for the Z4 3.0si Roadster.
The limited edition models add significant extra equipment at the same price as regular Z4 2.5si and 3.0si models, enhancing the appeal of ownership via carefully selected colour and trim combinations as well as, in the Edition Sport, M Sport seats and an M Steering wheel.
The Edition Sport offers the choice of BMW Individual Bi-colour New England leather covering the M sport seats as well as Individual Bi-colour interior trim in combinations including Estoril Blue Dark / Anthracite / Black, Phoenix Yellow / Anthracite / Black, Silverstone / Anthracite / Black and Imola Red / Anthracite / Black. On the inside the Edition Sport comes with BMW Individual leather interior trim finishers, M sport seats and an M leather steering wheel. For the exterior, the Edition Sport offers a choice between Titanium Silver, Black Sapphire, Montego Blue, Space Grey and the previously unreleased Carbon Black.
Press release after jump.
>> read 
Picture Gallery
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