Rapper M.I.A Explores Arabian Drifting In New Music Video

It’s no secret that Arabians are big fans of drifting their cars. Whether or not they do it because they love it or just because they are intensely bored is another story. But regardless, there’s no doubt that the sport of drifting has inflicted most of the middle east as of late.

One person to hop on board the drifting infatuation, unsurprisingly, is British rapper M.I.A. In her new music video for ‘Bad Girls’, M.I.A explores the side of her that the title suggests as a couple of older BMW 3-series’, an Alfa Romeo 156 and a Mercedes-Benz E-Class show off their drifting skills (known as hagwalah). The rapper even gets into the thick of things herself as she can be seen rapping on the windshield of a 3-series while it’s only on two wheels.

Whatever your thoughts about drifting hagwalah, this video is worth checking out for the cars alone. Let’s just hope that there were no accidents when filming like there usually is.

[Youtube]

Next Generation Mini Cooper Interior Spied

No, the interior you’re looking at above is not a new BMW interior, it’s actually that of the next generation Mini Cooper.

The Mini’s current interior pays homage to the original Mini with a retro-styled large speedometer in the middle, along with some modern enhancements such as toggle switches and coloured interiors that match the exterior. The interior has always been quite polarizing and BMW is clearly listening to the nay-sayers.

Assuming this test mule spotted cold weather testing in the article circle isn’t some elaborute ruse to foil sneaky photogs, it seems the next generation is going to do away with the love it or hate it retro look in favour of a decidedly BMW-esque interior. BMW fans will recognize the familiar looking centre stack as well as the orange conservative styled gauges.

BMW has recently said that the next generation Mini will take on a more modern look, but it was unclear if this meant a more modern exterior or interior. This pic seems to at least confirm the latter.

[Photo credit: KGP Photography via Autoblog Canada]

BMW To Bring 5-Series Diesel Over In Wagon Form?!

Just when it seemed like wagon aficionados were going to have to make an occupy-every-auto-manufacturer movement, BMW swoops in with some exciting news.

If Endras BMW is to be believed (who by the way seems to have taken over representing BMW in Canada from the ever dormant BMW Canada), the 5-series is going to be available on our shore in diesel form! The 550d in Europe gets a tri-turbo 3.0 litre six which makes 375 horsepower and a whopping 546 pound feet of torque all while returning on average 6.3 L/100 kms and producing 167 g/km of carbon dioxide.

But wait, it gets better.

The 550d will also come with BMW’s X-Drive all-wheel drive system optional as well as BMW’s M package being available to spruce things up look-wise.

But probably the best news of all? This can all be had in wagon for as well. BMW had decided to not sell the 5-series wagon on our shores with the 5-series GT stepping in to fill the gap. However, as good as the 5-series GT is, it’s not exactly a sales star.

The 550d with the M-pack and in wagon form was actually Jeremy Clarkson’s pick for car of the year this year and it’s not hard to see why.

All this seems too good to be true and when that happens, it usually is. However, Endras BMW claims an 550d Xdrive M wagon can be available to us Canucks as early as March.

Now, all BMW needs to do is add a manual transmission to that wagon and boy, do we ever have one drool-worthy family hauler.

[Endras BMW]

Merry Christmas From Car Driven & The 2012 BMW M5

Enjoy.

Oh Hi: 2013 BMW 6-Series Gran Coupe

BMW is finally throwing its hat into the so-called four door coupe ring. Started by Mercedes-Benz with the CLS and answered by Audi with the A7, the 6-Series Gran Coupe is BMW’s first shot in the segment.

Obviously, the 6-series Gran Coupe is based on the recently introduced 6-Series coupe, but this new sedan is actually 4.4 inches longer, likely to make way for the extra doors and, hopefully, more rear leg room. The overall design retains the sleekness of the coupe and for the most part stays true to the concept. It’s a wonder why the production version took so long to show its face.

The Gran Coupe will come with two engine choices. The first offering will be in the form of a 640i which will get a twin turo 3.0 litre inline six which will make 315 horses and 330 pound foot torque.  The estimated 0-100 run is about 5.4 seconds.

A 650i variant will follow later on with optional all-wheel drive and a 4.4. litre V8 under the hood, also twin turbocharged. The 650i will get from 0-100 in an estimated 4.6 seconds thanks to the unit’s 445 horsepower and 480 pound foot torque.

Both the 640i and 650i will be mated to an 8 speed automatic transmission.

An M-sport packing will be available at launch which includes front and rear facia skirts along with side skirts. It also gets LED fog lights, black exhaust tips, 19 or 20 inch wheels, M paint, an M steering wheels, sport seats and a sport trimmed interior.

So the obvious question now remains: which would you choose if it was your money? The Mercedes-Benz CLS, the Audi A7 or the BMW 6-Series Gran Coupe?

Hit the jump for more pics

[BMW]

Read the rest of this entry »

Got Wagon Withdrawl? A Bit of Good News…

Good news, wagon fans!

Just when it seemed like your favourite body style was going extinct, BMW has made sure at least one of their wagons will solider on in our streets. The next generation 3-series wagon is going to be coming to North America.

The 3-series is going to come in four body styles for sure (sedan, coupe, convertible and wagon) but there were rumours of a 3-series hatchback being in the cards a la 5-series GT for North America only. This put serious doubt that the 3-series wagon would be available as the 3-series GT would likely replace the need for a wagon. BMW used this method with the 5-series GT and opted not to sell the wagon version here.  But as cool as hatchbacks are, the 5-series GT isn’t exactly flying off dealer lots and nothing can truly replace a proper wagon. So far BMW hasn’t confirmed or denied the possibility of a 3-series GT for North America, but the wagon will bow for sure.

This welcomed news comes on the heels of several cool wagons no longer being available for sale in Canada including the new Volkswagen Passat, Volvo V70 and V50, Subaru Legacy wagon and Mazda6 wagon.

Now, let’s just hope BMW makes a wagon available in 335i form with a six-speed manual!

[Autoblog]

BMW X6 ActiveHybrid Gets the Axe

For some reason the BMW X6 was a stroke of brilliance from the Bavarian brand. It’s a vehicle that makes aboslutely no sense and that’s probably why it’s so popular. In fact, it is indeed so popular that BMW actually was able to carve out another vehicle segment – one that BMW’s rivals desperately want a piece of with Acura trying its hand not-so-successfully, Audi lning up its Q6 for production soon, and Mercedes-Benz is planning on throwing its hat into the fray.

It isn’t all a complete success story with the X6, however. It seems BMW got a bit greedy by trying to up the X6′s insanity level by just a little too much as they added hybrid technology to make it… not that efficient. Seriously, the X6 ActiveHybrid isn’t significantly better in city driving efficiency than the regular X6, which makes it even more pointless. I actually had the chance to review the X6 ActiveHybrid and concluded that X6 ActiveHyrbid owners should just go buy a Mini Cooper S… which makes no sense either. Perhaps the X6′s crazyness is contageous.

Anyway, that crazyness has apparently met its limit because BMW has decided to pull the plug on production for the X6 ActiveHybrid. BMW just isn’t selling any at all. Considering the fact that the X6 ActiveHyrbid costs only a grand more than an X6 M, that isn’t entirely surprising. If the ActiveHybrid had a much lower MSRP, I could see some potential for sales growth. But it sounds like BMW just wants to forget that the X6 ActiveHybrid even existed in the first place.

This isn’t the first time an automaker tried to make a performance vehicle with efficiency in mind and failed. Honda knows about that all too well (CR-Z anyone?).

Will you miss the X6 ActiveHybrid? If you will, you are due back at Bellevue before 6.

[BimmerFile]

Ultimate Drag Race

Have you ever wondered what would happen if someone pitted a drag race between a BMW 1-Series M, a Ford Mustang Boss 302 Laguna Seca, a Porsche 911 GT3 RS, a Chevy Corvette Z06, a Ferrari 458 Italia, a Nissan GT-R, an Audi R8 GT, a Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG, a Lexus LFA, a Porsche Cayman R, and a Lotus Evora S? Of course you have. And so apparently has Motor Trend because they actually had the pull to make it happen.

All 11 vehicles are definitely among the best of the best in terms of performance vehicles that are currently made. With that said, they all excel at different things. For instance, there’s no question that the 1-series M is going to lose to the 458 Italia. So, why bother doing it? Because each one of us has a 5 year old boy in us that’s why. Without giving too much away, it’s clear that Motor Trend arranged the obvious front runners to be in the middle of the starting line and then worked backwards. The result is a spectacular flying ‘V’ made up of American, Japanese and European brilliance. The symphonic notes coming from each of the exhausts comes together exquisitely.

Click the above video to see it all unfold.

[Youtube]

Audi A8 Hybrid Gets Impressive Fuel Efficiency Rating

Audi has had quite an agreeable reaction to the new A8 as production for their flagship sedan has increased. A new iteration is just around the corner in the form of a hybrid and if the fuel efficiency numbers are to be believed, this is quite the technical achievement.

Audi is claiming that the new A8 hybrid will get an efficiency score of 6.4 L/100 kms. And what makes it even more impressive is that the A8 hybrid uses a 2.0 litre TFSI engine which makes 245 horsepower and 345 pound feet of torque. So while it won’t be the most powerful A8 ever made, it certainly is no slouch.

The A8 hybrid has a lithium-ion battery which stores energy and can use it to power the wheels up to three kilometers at as much as 60 km/h. Once up to highway speed, the A8 can run on the battery alone at around 100 km/h.

While 6.4 L/100 kms is not Prius levels of efficiency, it’s pretty much at Ford Fiesta levels of efficiency which is incredible considering how much the A8 weighs and considering the power plant under the hood. It’s especially impressive considering it absolutely slaughters the efficiency of the regular gas-only A8 which is rated at 13.3 L/100 kms city and 7.2 L/100 kms highway. The A8 hybrid’s closest competition is the BMW Active Hybrid 7 which is rated at 10.2 L/100 kms. The BMW offers much more power though with 440 horsepower and 480 pound feet of torque.

Which would you rather? The more efficient but less powerful Audi or the more powerful but less efficient BMW?

[Audi]

BMW i3 and i8 Revealed in Frankfurt

If the picture above makes it seem like both vehicles are still in ‘concept’ mode, well you’re right. Sort of. Just like how BMW introduced the M5 ‘concept’ and Gran Coupe ‘concept’ there will be only minor tweaks to the production verisons of both models. Still, BMW has spilled the beans on the specs.

Hit the jump to find out more.

Read the rest of this entry »

Mercedes-Benz to make Competitor to BMW X6?

Who would’ve thought that when BMW introduced its polarizing X6, it would do so well that BMW’s rivals would be forced to make a competitor?

There are reports that Mercedes-Benz is the latest to jump on board the weird cross-over-SUV-coupe segment that BMW started a while back. To be dubbed the GLS and based on the newly redesigned M-Class (pictured above), the GLS will be a four seater-only with a sloped roofline a la CLS. Mercedes will also likely develop a V8 AMG version to directly combat the X6 M. Details other than that are scarce at the moment.

Mercedes-Benz is the third automaker that has now apparently seen enough X6 sales to realize they need a competitor. Acura’s ZDX, while significantly cheaper than the X6, has not been selling in droves. In fact, Acura has had to incent consumers with as much as $12,000 off before hagling. Audi, on the other hand, is confident it can be the one to slow X6 sales with its upcoming Q6.

It sure is a weird segment to be competing in, but sounds like things will heat up significantly within the next few years. Now all we need is Infiniti and Lexus to take notice, then we’ll really have a ball game going.

[Autocar]

Threading the Needle in a BMW 1-Series M

I have to assume that marketing is an interesting business to be in, especially if you’re marketing for the automotive sector. Coming up with fun and creative ways to sell cars can be challenging but rewarding when you’ve come up with a winning idea.

In some cases though, purely showing off a car’s capabilities is all that’s needed and that’s exactly what the marketing team at BMW decided to do for the new 1-series M. Just some tarmac, a driver and a challenge: get the 1-series M through cut outs that are shaped exactly to match the shape of the 1-series M and quickly as you can without hitting the concrete walls.

The point, seemingly, is to showcase just how well the 1-series M can perform by threading the needle. It’s not clear if those barriers are computer generated (that would pretty much ruin the entertaining value of the commercial) but it’s pretty clear that the actual driving part is real.

[Youtube]

BMW X3 M in the Works?

Remember when the X5 M and X6 M first debuted and everyone was like, “huh?”

The notion of putting the M badge, a sacrid nomenclature reserved only for the best performance laden cars at BMW, on two SUV’s was upsetting for some, confusing for others and blasphemy for M purists. But BMW shut us all up by essentially making the M SUV’s perform as if they were performance cars. It’s quite mind boggling, but BMW was able to do it.

Now it seems BMW would like to test their luck once again by introducing an M version of the newly redesigned X3. Currently, only an M package is available which is mostly stlying and suspension tweaks but the X3 M is expected to boost power output. Displacement is expect to go from 3.0 to 3.2 with a triturbo to go along with that inline six. Yes, you read that right, three turbos. There will be two exhaust driven units and one electric turbocharger. As a result horsepower is said to be in the 450 to 500 range.

Given the brilliantness of the X3′s bigger brothers that are  injected with M blood, I think it’s safe to say that the new X3 M will not fail to deliver. No pricing has been announced yet, but expect a starting price of around $80K

[Car Magazine via Auto 123]

Audi Uses Supply Woes to Jab Its Competition

If you haven’t heard, Audi is taken a bit of heat for not being able to build and supply vehicles to meet demand. Basically customers are asked to wait anywhere from six to eight months if they choose to order rather than buy an Audi off the lot. With that said, Audi is fully aware of the problem and has even gone to some pretty generous lengths to keep customers satisfied and from canceling orders.

However, Audi being Audi, they couldn’t resist taking the opportunity to use their slight misfortune to playfully jab the competition. In a new commercial we see an owner of a BMW 3-series spot a truck full of brand spanking new Audis. Seemingly, said owner has already ordered an Audi and was patiently waiting for it arrive for months until he saw the truck and decided to take things into his own hands.

In addition, Audi then ends the commercial stating that more and more BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Lexus drivers are jumping to Audi than ever before.

This commercial is just the latest in a long lasting friendly feud between Audi and BMW, and to a lesser extent Mercedes-Benz and Lexus. Click here to check it out.

What do you think of Audi’s commercial?

[You Tube]

Cadillac ATS Learns How It’s Done From BMW 3-Series

If imitation is one of the most sincerest forms of flattery then GM is sending a pretty big tip of the hat to BMW and the 3-series.

The newest member of the Cadillac family, the ATS, is apparently going to be a very familiar driving experience to the 3-series as Cadillac has supposedly bought various iterations of the 3-series and has stripped them down to the chasis to learn about how BMW makes the 3-series the benchmark in the sport sedan segment. Cadillac will then study, mimick and incorporate what they learned into the ATS. Sounds like they’re pretty serious about making a legitimate condender.

With that said, even if ATS succeeds at offering the driving experience of  a 3-series, it will be outdated from the get-go. BMW is very close to completing the next generation 3-series which will undoubtedly set the bar even higher. The new 3-series is expected to debut late this year. Same goes for the ATS.

I’m curious as to what Cadillac’s slogan will be for the ATS. Something like “Just as good as an older 3-series” just doesn’t seem to work that well, does it. In any event, even if the ATS is based on a previous generation 3-series, that still means it should perform very well. And with Cadillac’s typical pricing advantage over the Germans, it will position as a tasty alternative to 3-series, A4 and G37 loyalists.

[Autoblog]