A long-wheelbase BMW 3-Series? Early April fools joke, right? No it isn’t a joke – not in China, the land where all kinds of unique automotive creations exist. It is well-known that China is the land of long-wheelbase models; the raft of these models introduced at the Beijing Auto Show has been a testament to this.

Unlike in the United States where we put the emphasis on the driver, executives in China prefer to be driven around. Having a stretched car means more rear legroom and a sumptuous environment for these business executives. A BMW in these circumstances doesn’t make a whole lot of sense, being “The Ultimate Driving Machine” and all, but we digress. The company already sells a stretched 5-Series, as well as the 7-Series, which we get here.

A stretched 3 takes the phenomenon to new heights (or should we say lows) though. The 3 is the quintessential drivers car in the compact luxury segment. has always been compact and designed around the driver. We’re a believer in this formula – a 3-Series sits in this writer’s driveway. By the way, the 3-Series pictured is the standard car – images of the stretched model haven’t been released yet. Its true that rear legroom has often been a complaint in the 3-Seres – it is tight back there for most of us. Still, it is a bit laughable to be driven around in an compact extended wheelbase sedan.

Extended version of the 5 and 7 make a lot more sense in that regard. Being entry-level, we aren’t sure it is a very ego-stoking proposition; it strikes us as more for appearance sake than anything. There is a precedent for this though; Audi sells an A4L in the country. To each, their own. Don’t expect the BMW 335li to be offered here, or anywhere else for that matter. Left Lane News expects the car will be built and sold exclusively in China.

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BMW is determined to have a strong presence in the electric vehicle sector. Dedicated electric vehicles i3 and i8 are being developed, and we are awaiting there introduction. Before their on-sale date though, BMW is launching the ActiveE Field Trial. With it BMW wants to learn more about electric vehicle usage in real life. The ActiveE is based on the BMW 1-Series Coupe. Other cars have been released with the ActiveE moniker, but they have been applied to hybrids instead of pure electric cars.

Being a field trial, the ActiveE is limited to 700 lessees in the United States, handpicked by BMW. BMW says it is looking for 700 “electronauts” who will embark on a “collective mission to help define the future of mobility.” Electronauts are “adventurers and explorers; they are front-runners of innovation and advocates for sustainability. ” No hubris there….

More details about the program were announced today. The ActiveE will be available in select markets that BMW has determined friendly to EVs. They include Boston, Hartford, New York, Los Angeles, Sacramento, San Diego, and San Francisco. The ActiveE’s drive train and battery technology is the same as the upcoming i3. This program is all about ensuring a smooth launch for the i3 when it arrives; the ActiveE represents the second stage of BMW’s electric vehicle development plan. The first was the Mini E pilot program.

To be one of the lessees, you must complete a charging station consultation with AeroVironment. The company will determine if a prospective buyer’s house is capable of handling the charging system, as well as briefing this person on the ups and downs of electric car usage. If you clear those hurdles, the cost is $499 a month for 24 months, with a down payment of $2,250. The only caveat: BMW hasn’t released any information on the specifications of these cars. We want to know how many miles it gets on a charge. Presumably that will be something they discuss with each prospective lessee. If you’re interested, head over to BMW’s website, Activate The Future.

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BMW got a lot of attention this past December with their “The Fastest Christmas Card In The World” web video. It featured the new M5, stunt driver Urs Inauen and Illustrator Gavin Patterson. What ensued was a Christmas card unlike any we’ve any we’ve seen before….the result of 560 horsepower, says BMW. We caught up with Swiss stunt driver Urs Inauen to ask him a few questions about the shoot, the new M5 and his career in stunts.

When did you first start working with BMW?

Well, normally what I do is stunts for movies and stuff. I started working with a few different promotional and advertising agencies, and got in contact with an agency that does work for BMW here in Switzerland. I’ve done some other work with them, such as on the MINI Eat Snow Campaign.

So how did you get involved with this particular shoot, it is something the creative team came up with?

Yeah. The business is short call, which means you have to be ready on short notice and they needed a highly trained professional stunt driver for that job, so they selected me. They first let me know about the shoot a week before we shot it, and the location a day before. The track [Circuit de l’anneau du rhin] is in France, about 30 minutes from the border and 2 1/2 hours from where I live. It is 3 kilometers long.

The experience was a lot of fun. It was fun working with an artist next to me, and interesting because the idea was to display the power of the car on camera and show the viewer how much G forces that car can take. The car (BMW M5) is a beast (in a good way) with its 560 horsepower, and really good at drifting. It also is very smooth and elegant when you drive it normal.

Man we almost get nauseous just watching it; can only imagine if we were in the car and trying to draw….

Yes, the Illustrator (Patterson) actually was getting a bit sick. I really tried to shake him, I wasn’t driving clean or within the lines or anything, aiming to shake the car and slide around. Our top speed was around 220-250 k/mh…high speed wasn’t the goal.

When did you first get involved in stunt work?

I started in 2007, so about four years ago. I started doing some stunt work here, and then I went out to California [Los Angeles]. A friend helped out and I went into training, meeting coordinators and stunt people who were used in big movies. For example, I was able to train at Bob Yerkes place. He is a legendary Hollywood Stuntman and he lets young people train with his equipment. Stunt people are out there at his place two times a week and some well-known stuntmen lead the trainings out there as well.

So was it something that you were interested in since you were real young? What did you do prior to this?

Well, when I was young I was interested in gymnastics and movies. I met Swiss stuntman Oliver Keller and worked with him as a helping hand in the beginning. Then as I did that, he had me help out on things and I told him I wanted to do stunt work. Originally I worked in a sporting goods shop and then I got my truck drivers A license so I could be more flexible with the upcoming stunt work. I did truck driving part-time when I first started doing stunt work but not anymore as I’ve been doing this full-time on a professional level.

So do you spend most of your time in Switzerland or is part time?

Most of the time in Switzerland. I have spent a few winters in Los Angeles though. I am working on getting the O1 visa for the United States right now. I have projects I could work on and some coordinators are waiting for me there to have a highly trained professional Swiss Stuntman for U.S shoots. This BMW project has been funny though because it was originally done for BMW Switzerland. Then HQ saw it and liked it and spread it all over the world. I’ve got calls, texts and e-mails from people all over the world about it.

You need your visa so you can come out and do more stunts. What are you driving right now in Switzerland?

Yes, I do need that visa! But there is a little problem with that;. a lot of people can’t give me jobs without a visa, but obtaining a visa requires some more jobs. So it is a catch-22 right now, but I already have a big agency that supoorts me and I am sure I will get it soon.
And I’m driving a Jeep right now. We use it with Kstunts (www.kstunts.com), towing trailers and the like. I doubt I will be driving it for much longer though. Regulations are strict here, unlike in California. I’ve been around BMWs growing up, my dad has a 325i.

What is your most memorable experience?

Well the BMW shoot was quite exciting and I loved that, but the most memorable was a car crash stunt we did. There was two parked cars and we hit it at about 62 mph. The car crashed and rolled over twice. There is a clip of that and other things I’ve done on my website (www.ursinauen.com).

So is there any other shoots in the works right now with BMW or otherwise?

Right now it is pretty quiet with work as it is winter here in Switzerland. I spoke with the agency about some upcoming stuff that might happen soon, but there is nothing set yet. The stunt team I work with, Kstunts, is working on some new shoots though. Planned for next month is a car cannon shoot where we flip over a vehicle. Car cannons have been done before, but never in Switzerland.

We’re looking forward to checking that out, and other projects that Kstunts has in the works. Stay tuned!

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In October, BMW launched the sixth-generation 2012 BMW 3-Series. An evolutionary change, as always, is what is in store for buyers of the 3 when it goes on sale next year. With a track record of leadership, that is just what most are looking for. It remains to be seen if Cadillac will offer a strong challenge with the ATS.

BMW has followed its traditional launch pattern of debuting four-door sedan model first. The current coupe and convertible models will be sold alongside the sedan until they arrive, which is said to be sometime in 2014. An intrepid designer, 30-year old Jacek Kolodziejczyk of Iacoski Deisgn, has created a very possible rendering of what that coupe could look like.

The current E90 3-Series Coupe is styled differently than the sedan. With the previous generation 3, BMW began an effort to differentiate the lineup. The coupe has a different headlight and taillight design; it doesn’t just lose two doors. The proposed F30 Coupe design stays largely the same as the sedan.

That isn’t a bad thing, either. With an aggressive front end, the design the 2012 3-Series lends itself well to coupe. The rendered design is of the M3, which turns up the aggressiveness quotient even further. The F30 Coupe uses design cues from the 1-Series M, and the color is in the delicious bright blue that is quickly becoming an M staple.

As far as the production car, we think BMW will continue with an effort to separate the model lines. In fact, there is even word that they could be calling the coupe a 4-Series. Now that is a bad idea, because it would get rid of the M3 moniker. Perish the thought! We doubt that will happen. Until the real car arrives, check out Kolodziejczyk’s (we had to copy and paste that) vision of a future 3-Series Coupe.

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In the past, 0-60 and 1/4 mile times were the only numbers that people seemed to care about. In today’s world, we definitely still care about those, but lap times also play an important role. Because a car has to handle well not just go in a straight line, right?

If anyone has that balance figured out, it would have to be BMW’s M Cars. German magazine Autobild recently did a test on the entire M lineup and called the result “M Fascination.” As part of the article, Autobild pitted each M car against each other on the Sachsenring, a German race track. It isn’t the Nurburgring, but we’ll take it as an important indicator nonetheless. As expected, the highly-expensive and German-only M3 GTS is the quickest.

Out of recently available cars though, the fastest M in the BMW lineup is the special edition M3 CRT, clocking in with a time of 1:38:87. Three tenths – an almost imperceptible difference – of a second slower is the all-new F10 M5 with a time of 1:38.90.

The 1 M Coupe is next in line, beating out the M3 Coupe with a time of 1:40.18 versus 1:40.52. So much for the baby BMW being the slowest. A lot of this comes down to the M3 being the oldest product in the lineup; the F10 is all new and the 1M Coupe was recently developed. It will be interesting to see where the next-generation M3 coupe lands.

Versus its competition, the M5 bested the Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG Performance Package. With a time of 1:38.13 the Porsche Panamera Turbo S is the top dog of performance sedans at the track. You pay for that extra time though – and handsomely. It’s great to have this set of data to pore over and see where the new M5 ranks. The new M5 goes on sale next year.

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Its hard to believe Christmas is just a few days away. This time of year means getting the endless Christmas cards and well wishes from family and friends. Ever wanted to just do something different, stand out from the crowd? BMW understands. The company decided to offer a Christmas treat to enthusiasts with the “Fastest Christmas Card In the World.”

What is that exactly? Well it involves an illustrator, Gavin Patterson, and a “BMW Precision Driver” Urs Inauen. Patterson was asked to draw a car with Inauen at the wheel, hurling the M5 around the Circuit de l’anneau du rhin. It sounds like a recipe for nausea to us. The result is indecipherable, and the world’s only card created at speed. If you’ve ever tried to write with someone at the wheel, with an illegible result, you might have an idea of what its going to turn out like.

Take a look at for yourself and decide if its gibberish or a mark of greatness. BMW even offers the card downloadable as a PDF. Nice touch guys. So check out the video below, and you can send it on to others to create some Christmas Cheer – or that could be anger, if they are an environmentalist. Either way, Merry Christmas from BMW.

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As car fans, we often pick sides of your favourite brands. Claiming allegiance to an automaker, there is a pride in the technological advantages claimed by a choice company. VTEC, EcoBoost, SkyActiv and TDI identify some popular names of solutions used to define a particular automaker. However, when it comes to developing some of the newest technologies in motoring, it is rare that a single auto company can carry the costly and long process alone. In fact, some notable automakers went out of business or close to bankruptcy attempting to go in alone through the development of technology that became essential to modern cars and trucks. Heading into the end of this year, two major auto companies are in talks that could result in the furthering of advanced powertrains.

In a very brief statement (consisting of a single sentence), General Motors confirmed they are currently conversing with Germany auto company BMW in co-developing future vehicle technology. With very little detail given on top of the simple admittance that discussions are taking place, General Motors has stated fuel cell technology could be a joint venture. Both companies have been working on the prospect of using hydrogen and fuel cells as a future propulsion for automobiles.

General Motors had been confident fuel cell vehicles would be a future (perhaps distant) power source since the turn of the 21st century. The Autonomy and Hy-wire concept cars were visions for General Motor’s possible fuel cell-powered roadways. However, GM’s cash shortage during bankruptcy and the industry rush towards electric batteries placed their development plans for hydrogen power on the technological back burner. In 2009, BMW produced limited test run of a gasoline/hydrogen burning vehicle called the Hydrogen 7 sedan. The BMW Hydrogen 7 was created under the understanding that employing hydrogen for internal combustion engines could be appreciated as requiring less drastic and more easily adaptable. Hydrogen use for internal combustion engines would also provide incentive for creating hydrogen refueling infrastructure. Though General Motors and BMW have incorporated battery-supported, electrified vehicles in production, the promise for hydrogen motoring seems like a solution either company is willing to abandon.

It can be inferred from the release that the General Motors/BMW partnership can lead to other areas of automotive research. The future product development partnership could also involve focus with other emerging technologies. This year, both auto companies have made an active campaign to incorporate a greater use of carbon fiber construction in future vehicles. An super lightweight but strong engineered material once viewed as too exotic for widespread use in the car industry, carbon-reinforced polymers (popularly referred to as carbon fiber) expanded production and refinement through the past 20 years have realized greater cost-effective use.

In Munich, the BMW i brand concept vehicles are structured around the extensive employment of carbon fiber. According to estimates, BMW Member of the Board Klaus Draeger indicated that carbon fiber construction methods could result in 250 to 350-kilogram (551 to 772-pound) weight savings over other electric cars. Overcoming the weight burden associated with electrified powertrains, the use of carbon fiber alongside aluminum allowed the BMW i3 concept to coast weighing a comfortable 2,755.8 pounds. The same construction has been utilized through the concept BMW i8 sports coupe.

In Detroit, a major polymer producer and General Motors have pledged to further the widespread adaptation of carbon fiber materials. Working with Japanese branded company Limited, General Motors is researching faster and more cost efficient manufacturing procedures that could see the practical application of carbon fiber to high volume automotive products.

If a technology-sharing results from the most recent talks, this will be the second time that General Motors and BMW have been jointly involved in as many years. Six years ago, the two companies along with Chrysler were involved in a hybrid transmission venture. With General Motors large trucks and sport utility vehicles adapting what would be known as a two-mode hybrid, BMW created the BMW ActiveHybrid X6 for the North American market.

Information source: BMW, General Motors
Photo source: Chris Nagy

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Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa or even Festivus, this is the time of the year where we show appreciation to family, friends and sometimes relative strangers. When shopping for the automotive lover, a visit to an auto parts store may not be the ideal place to acquire that most heartfelt item. Car commercials are currently suggesting buying the gift for that special someone is an automaker’s 2012 model. For those struggling to find a BMW 5 Series for sale let alone the new BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe within the holiday gift price limit, an auto brand-approved product could be the key to satisfying that German car fan.

For this 2011 holiday season, the BMW Lifestyle department is highlighted by a few items certain to rush the blood for the car make known for merging luxury and performance.

BMW M Tie

Price: $83.17

Always the default gift idea for the adult male the neck tie presents an endless assortment of choices that could easily make it a hit or miss for the recipient. All but guaranteed to be a winning gift for the male or even female BMW fan in the family, the M tie allows someone to wear the pride for their favourite automobile. Cut from 100% Italian silk, the fiery red BMW M tie is a classy accompaniment to an enthusiast’s brand new BMW M5 (existing either on the driveway or in their daydreams). Smartly embroidered at the bottom of this BMW tie is the brand’s M division logo. The BMW M Tie also comes in blue.

BMW M Bike Carbon Racer

Price: $3,579.01

Perhaps more storied than BMW’s history on four wheels is the German brand’s prestige on two wheels. Building motorcycles since 1923, BMW’s lifestyle line-up also includes a selection of bicycles. Introduced late this year, a new high-end model called the M Bike Carbon Racer brings the performance and engineering BMW car buyers can shown expect.

Catered to high-performance riding, BMW M Bike Carbon Racer is a top-quality bicycle utilizing Shimano Ultegra gears and brake hardware. Featuring an ultra-light frame made of carbon fiber, the BMW M Bike Carbon Racer weighs a meager 7.4 kilograms (16.3 pounds). Lightweight, strength and durability are other redeeming properties to the BMW M Bike Carbon Racer’s construction. Fans of the auto company will recall the increased use of carbon fiber is becoming a centerpiece in the BMW i division’s electrified cars line-up.

BMW X6 Remote-Controlled Car

Price: Approximately $53.00

A great way to energize pride of the new generation of BMW enthusiasts or for entertaining the kids at heart, the BMW X6 Remote-Controlled product captures the essence of the unique sport crossover vehicle. Less flamboyant than the at least 300-horsepower full-sized BMW X6, the 1:14 scale recreation in remote-control form will sail quickly across carpet and perform stunningly on hardwood floor. The detailed miniature recreation of the BMW X6 exterior can be ordered in either red or white.

BMW Golf Bag

 Price: $278.95

Having completed errands in the BMW X3 or X5 during the weekend, the country club could be the place where a couple would venture to relax. As the Mr and/or Mrs decide pass time with 9-holes of golf, the automotive spirit of their BMW product can provide an additional pride in the game.

Created in partnership with golf equipment specialist OGIO, the BMW-branded nylon bag can hold up to 10 clubs and features dedicated pockets for many items including a water bottle. Offered in black with white and silver accents, the BMW golf bag also comes in a snappy and elegant white version. Other golf accessories inside the BMW Lifestyle line-up will allow the automotive-related golf bag to quickly fill. A dozen Titleist ProV1 golf balls featuring the BMW logo can be added underneath the tree for $61.50 to promptly prepare for the driving range or putting practice at the office.

BMW Ballpoint Pen

Price: $95.00

Recently, BMW consulted a survey determining that the art of handwriting is far from extinction. According to the BMW Handwritten Beauty Survey, 52 percent of people asked actually enjoy writing by hand with only 10.5 percent believing that an electronic message can communicate as effectively as a pen-scribed letter. Offering high-end fountain and ballpoint pens, BMW appreciates the need for their brand loyalists to be seen, heard as well as remembered.

The BMW ballpoint pen wears high gloss black outer shell while the rhodium components completing the stellar writing utensil. Engravings on the top and the center ring of the BMW ballpoint pen insure a writer’s hand is gripping an unusual type of luxury performance.

Many of these gifts are available through the BMW Lifestyle Acccessories channel.

Information and photo source: BMW Group

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Initiated by the Maserati Quattroporte and Mercedes-Benz CLS vehicles, the modern four-door coupe phenomenon had become a segment catering to premium sports car lovers wanting an equal amount of sedan sophistication. With Audi, Porsche and Aston Martin joining the four-door coupe class, a notable absence has been BMW. Displaying a car at the 2010 Beijing Motor Show called the Gran Coupe Concept, the German auto company wasted little time after the vehicle’s first exhibition to develop the BMW 6 Series coupe and convertible. In time to be a 2013 model, the road-going BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe sends a message that the automaker long known for building “The Ultimate Driving Machine” was not going to shy away from the sportier four-door persona.

In applying a design where two extra doors would be incorporated on the newly-released BMW 6 Series, designers of the 6 Series Gran Coupe were challenged to properly represent a sport sedan needing to look more aggressive than the 5 Series. The BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe is instantly a distinct sight with the longer-arching roofline. The rear door windows shorter appearance magnifies the sport coupe persona on this latest BMW offering. Employing all the subtle design touches of the two-door 6 Series, the model specific headlamp housings as well as the performance car front fascia transitions into a body shape featuring aggressively chiselled side contour lines. At the rear, a straight-flowing rear bumper and a brake light bar traveling across the full width of the rear window invokes the 6 Series Gran Coupe’s racy composition.

For the 2013 model year, the BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe will be available in nine exterior colour options that include Frozen Bronze metallic. Within wheel arches projecting a wide, muscular stance, standard wheels on the BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe will be a set of 18-inch light alloys. There will also be an M Sport Package model of the 2013 BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe featuring 19-inch wheels and body style enhancements along few modifications.

Part of the BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe’s constant inundation of performance driving, the person behind the wheel has all the vital vehicle controls in easy reach. The driver-oriented cockpit of the BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe presents a natural motoring perspective that can include heads-up display as well as the brand’s Top View system. Seating inside the BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe advertised as 4+1. The terming of ‘4+1’ in automotive advertising code translates to say that the fifth passenger could be in for a less than comfortable trip. Despite cheating at least one passenger, the BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe cabin features all of the right luxury touches. BMW iDrive and a navigation system operating off a 10.2-inch high definition display will be standard on all 2013 6 Series Gran Coupe models. To heighten the lavishness of the four-door coupe, a 16-speaker Bang & Olufsen High-End Surround Sound System as well as an optional Luxury Seating Package that includes four-zone climate control allows peak comfort inside of the BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe.

Accomplishing the looks of a four-door coupe, BMW insures that a well-equipped 6 Series Gran Coupe will have the ingredients to perform the sports car role. For the North American, two gasoline powerplant choices optimized by BMW Valvetronic, TwinPower Turbo and direct injection technology will be found underneath the 6 Series Gran Coupe’s hood. The BMW 640i Gran Coupe model will offer the brand’s N55 3-liter, 315-horsepower inline-six engine. Launching the car in a formidable 0 to 62 mile per hour acceleration time of 5.4 seconds, the BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe is electronically limited top speed of 155 miles per hour.

For Bimmer lovers craving the German version of V-8 power, the 650i Gran Coupe offers a thundering 4.4 liter powerplant. A newly revised version of BMW’s N63 engine, the 650i Gran Coupe is motivated by 445 horsepower and 480 pounds-feet of torque. Bettering the previous version of the twin turbocharged 4.4 liter V-8 by 45 horsepower, the 2013 BMW 650i Gran Coupe performance is spectacular. Under rear-wheel drive, the BMW 650i Gran Coupe sails from 0 to 62 miles per hour in a fast 4.6 seconds. The BMW 650i Gran Coupe is claiming to be half a second faster than the 2012 Mercedes-Benz CLS550. With the V-8 engined model, the 6 Series Gran Coupe features available xDrive all-wheel drive that provides greater traction and shaves one-tenth of a second off acceleration times.

Engine power from both gasoline powerplant configurations of the BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe will be funnelled through an 8-speed automatic transmission. The BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe has Driving Dynamics Control featuring five driver-adjustable settings to configure ride with performance. A new ECO PRO mode added to the BMW system sets a strategy for optimizing fuel consumption of the 6 Series Gran Coupe by instructing the transmission to upshift sooner and lessening throttle response.

Patrons entering European dealerships will also have a 313 horsepower, 3-liter inline-6 diesel version propelled thanks to the use of BMW TwinPower Turbo technology. Boosting the same performance as the gasoline inline-six engine, the BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe diesel-fueled powerplant offers longer travel between refuelling.

A late arrival into the four-door coupe marketplace, the BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe has coupled the ingredients for what is certain to be an all-out German automaker fight between the Audi A7, Volkswagen CC and Mercedes CLS-Class.

Information and photo source: BMW Group

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Supplying 21st century with once-unobtainable access to a vehicle, a dizzying assortment of smartphone and tablet apps provides the driver with an out-of-car experience. Over the course of the past two years, virtually every automaker is now engaged with a brand-specific mobile application making their automotive products more accessible than ever before. Managing fuel consumption, connecting car breakdown cover companies or customizing a virtual car to the liking of a potential buyer, today’s merger of automotive and computer technology has spawned multiple apps worth highlighting.

OnStar RemoteLink

Developed as one of the early widespread adopters of vehicle telemetric technology, General Motors launched OnStar on 1997 model year Cadillacs. Becoming a technology that would be credited for saving lives in crashes and recovering vehicles through Stolen Vehicle Tracking, OnStar handed smartphone users their own free app designed to work in conjunction with existing plans.

Working on most Cadillac, Chevrolet, Buick and GMC vehicles equipped with OnStar, their RemoteLink mobile app feeds real-time information including fuel tank contents, oil life and tire pressures. Also available on the OnStar RemoteLink app is the ability to remotely lock or unlock a vehicle from anywhere within phone signal. For Chevrolet Volts, the OnStar RemoteLink app allows the user to monitor battery capacity and dictate electric charging times. A new feature available through the OnStar RemoteLink app relates to navigation. A mobile app use of OnStar RemoteLink can refer a destination to the OnStar center and will receive directions immediately on an in-dash navigation system or through the OnStar Turn-by-Turn service.

Rolls-Royce Ghost App

While even this so-called entry level Rolls-Royce Ghost’s six-figure price tag is beyond the means of many motorists, an Apple app allows practically anyone to bask in the glow of excess glamour. Designed for use on the Apple iPod Touch, iPhone and iPad, the Rolls-Royce Ghost app operates as a sales tool for the lucky of us who can even consider the super-luxury sedan. Providing a photorealistic virtual model of exterior as well as interior surfaces that can be tailored to an assortment of available colours and materials, the magnificence of Royce-Royce’s Ghost sedan is obtainable for all in the app world.

BMW i DriveNow and MyCityWay

A bold undertaking for the Munich, Germany automaker BMW, their radical sub-brand will become an epicenter of innovation. Presenting distinctive electrified vehicles to the marketplace by 2013, BMW i is also involved in spearheading several indirect ventures. The mobile apps DriveNow and MyCityWay fit into the planning for rethinking the way people commute.

Operating only in Munich and Berlin at this time, DriveNow is a vehicle by-demand service that allows users to quickly rent a car. Similar to several drive-sharing services set up in major cities, the BMW i supported business of DriveNow uses the mobile app to direct customers to available BMW and MINI products. Drivers will be billed by the minute for vehicle usage through the service.

MyCityWay is a comprehensive mobile application providing a complete collection of information relating to specific city areas. Merging as many as 50 Apps or more, MyCityWay provides mobile users everything from locating the nearest public restroom to the hippest events in town. Transit, weather and traffic alerts are also part of this extensive mobile app intended to minimize time traveling between destinations. Available for 40 cities at the end of 2011 on continents in Asia, Europe and in the Americas, MyCityWay is preparing for greater expansion in the near future along with the DriveNow service.

Ford Mustang Customizer App

Introduced in mid-September, Ford conceived a fun and interactive way for the tech world’s young citizen to relate to a vehicle that caused such uproars in the mid-1960s. Appearing first as a web-based program for desktop and laptop computers, the Mustang Customizer experience has migrated to the an app available through iPhone and Android supported devices. Providing an assortment of exterior dress-up equipment, 2012 Ford Mustang products (including the Boss 302 edition) can be customized to countless colour and factory available accessories.

Audi Roadside Assistance App

Designed to work with Audi Roadside Assistance coverage packages, the new service app available on Apple iPhones, Android and select Blackberry phones is free for use by covered motorists. Providing expedited breakdown coverage, owners in need of jump-start, fuel delivery or tire repair will have help arrive even in hard to distinguished locations thanks to a phone’s GPS capability. A great companion with Audi’s breakdown insurance plans, the Audi Roadside Assistance App can also allow owners of the luxury brand vehicles find the closest service center.

MyFord Mobile App

Prepared for the upcoming Ford Focus Electric vehicle, the MyFord Mobile App was devised to help future owners navigate with their zero emissions lifestyle. Relaying information pivotal for allowing users to optimize the capacity of the lithium-ion battery pack, MyFord Mobile App provides a driver the ability to calculate routes in relations to the available battery power storage. Recording your recent driving, the MyFord Mobile App allows you to download your vehicle’s data. Users can also share ownership milestones over social media networks Twitter and Facebook. Other basic features presented through MyFord Mobile App also includes door lock/unlock capability as well as GPS location of the Ford Focus Electric vehicle.

Information and photo source: Audi AG, BMW, Ford Motor Company, General Motors

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The two most recent products launched by BMW’s M division are the 1-Series M and the M5. The M5 is the latest iteration of the super sedan that has been around for years. The 1-Series M, on the other hand, is an all-new product.

Before it landed there was a lot of speculation about what it would be called. BMW once produced the M1 mid-engined sports car, and it didn’t want to use that nameplate for its smallest model. That (smart) decision left the door open for a new M1, possibly based on the M1 Concept from 2008. M division head Albert Biermann spoke to Edmunds Inside Line about his desire for M to have its “own car.” M is a strong brand within itself; it would be able to pull off a dedicated performance model. The Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG is an example of this; an exotic car developed exclusively under the AMG banner.

Biermann wants it but the logistics just haven’t been able to work out so far: “From an engineering perspective we have the skills and we’d love to do it…we’ve discussed it several times but we’ve never been able to make the business case. Everything we do has to make money.”

That is what corporations are all about, isn’t it? Sometimes a brand makes a calculated decision to make a product as an investment – such as Audi with the R8. It most likely makes money, thanks to parts sharing within the VW Group. Even if it didn’t though, it has served as a valuable image builder.

There is less of an impetus for BMW to do that – M already has a sterling reputation for performance. An M1 would need to have a new mid-engined platform developed to underpin it. Still, we think BMW should do it though – even if for a limited run of vehicles. Its been a long-time since BMW competed in the upper strata of the sports car segment.

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Since Thomas Edison perfected the electronic light bulb over 130 years ago, our ability of creating artificial illumination has brightened up the coldness of night. An evolution especially important as the automobile progressed, vehicle lighting has taken strides in becoming brighter and more efficient. At first existing as clumsy lanterns, electric lighting quickly emerged in the time of the motor vehicle reach global acceptance. From tungsten to halogen headlight bulbs, the recent phase apparent is HID (High Intensity Discharge) which uses xenon gas to bring a near perfect white light to the road at about one-third of the power needed for a halogen setup. However, as HID headlamps are coming of age, a new challenge coming from full LED lighting systems (equipped on the Audi A8). Appearing that a competition between HID and LED headlamps is now foreseen on the horizon, a future automotive lighting solution could be found in lasers.

Sounding like something from a space fiction movie, two auto companies ahead of the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show flooded the idea of super-powered vehicle lighting. BMW as well as Audi debuted concept cars expressing, among many potential design and technology themes, laser-based lighting.

Creating a more stir with their BMW i division, the Stuttgart-based automotive powerhouse BMW brought the upcoming brand’s concept vehicles to Frankfurt exhibition. Displaying the i3 and i8 concept cars, the latter BMW design incorporates the shining innovation of laser diode headlamps. Embodied in a styling reminiscent of BMW design DNA and the new electrified vehicle image the German auto manufacturer seeks to advertise, the laser lights projected a blue aura of 1700 lumens. While producing a light as much as a thousand times brighter than a LED, the BMW i8 Concept’s laser headlamp layout claims to operate with under one-half the energy of a comparable LED setup.

While the BMW i concept car lured much of the attention by projecting a future where laser diodes will be trusted upon for primary lighting, Audi’s A2 Concept also presented the advantages of laser illumination. Part of the electrified concept car’s comprehensive range of lighting, the Audi A2 show vehicle features a rear fog light consisting of laser diodes. Perhaps lost in the flowing arrangement of LEDs on the Audi concept car, the red triangle lit by laser-produced was promoted as a powerful warning light for following vehicles.

In concept form on the BMW i8 and Audi A2 at the Frankfurt Motor Show, the first major automotive display of laser lighting could pose a road to production that far exceeds the projection of brightness. A major task guaranteeing the widespread application of laser diode lighting rests in calming public perception behind this particular kind of artificially generated light. The reckless uses of certain lasers have made fears the radical headlight beams can cause harm to those exposed. On the system exhibited on the BMW i8 Concept, the auto company quickly pacifies safety concerns by insuring that the pure laser light is not emitted from the headlight system. When the laser light is created, a fluorescent phosphor material processes the brightness into a safe, usable light for the road.

Another challenge in the United States has been the relatively slow adaptation of new technology compared to other world markets. As Asian and European countries allowed the aerodynamic glass and plastic covering over headlights since the 1960s, United States automotive safety bodies rejected the intentions to bring the more stylistic illumination solution. It was not until 1983 when the US Department of Transportation finally permitted automakers to depart from the traditional sealed beam light bulbs. Later in 1997, the first American car to feature HID headlights was Lincoln Mark VIII came 7 years after BMW’s debut of the lighting solution on European 7 Series.

Converting dark into light, the importance of recognizing the best in automotive illumination will ultimately favour the everyday motorist once the conceptual stage is traveled. It will be seen if laser diode lighting will throw light on the roadways of the future.

Information and photo source: Audi AG, BMW

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When a new BMW 3-Series comes around, it is a big deal. The 3, 5 and 7-Series modles are some of the most critically-acclaimed vehicles in the world. The 3-Series has always held a special place in enthusiasts hearts though for its smaller size and engaging driving dynamics. These factors culminate to make the 3-Series the best-selling BMW worldwide. There is a lot of importance riding on this car, and history has shown that BMW takes great care at maintaining the 3′s position.

When you have a successful product, you don’t want to mess up what’s right with it. As far as styling goes the “E90″ fifth-generation 3-Series wasn’t much-maligned like the previous generations of the 5 and 7. It was the least radical of the Bangle BMWs. For the sixth-generation, the 3-Series gets an evolutionary update. The front end design has a more aggressive look that appears to be glaring at you.

There isn’t a whole lot you can do to BMW’s kidney grille, but a feature that sets the 3-Series apart from every other BMW is that the headlights are connected with the grille. They have protruding edges that flow right into it. It’s an interesting effect, and one that helps adds visual width.

Out back, the taillights hew close to the recent look what we’ve been seeing from BMW, but are a bit more youthful in appearance. While the 3-Series keeps what we like about it intact, BMW aims to address some of the criticisms. The BMW 3-Series is a pretty compact car, and has taken flack for not offering enough interior room. The “F40″ 3-Series adds some (but not much) more space in response to that. It is 3.66 inches longer overall, with a wheelbase up by 1.9 inches and the front and rear tracks are up by 1.46 and 1.85 inches, respectively.

Rear headroom is increased by 0.31 inches and legroom is up by 0.71 inches. The car’s extra width should make things a bit roomier back there as well. Bigger size usually always means more weight but, depending on which model you pick, the 3-Series can be up to 88 pounds lighter than the previous generation model.

Inside, the interior is updated with a more modern-looking design. BMW’s interiors aren’t usually considered their strong point, and the design of the previous model looked a bit dated. The update adds some panache while retaining a signature BMW look. Under the hood is a big change for the base model 328i. It ditches BMW’s much-loved 3.0-liter inline six for a four-cylinder. Yes, four-cylinders are returning in full force to BMW’s lineup. It is the same engine used in the Z4 roadster, a 2.0-liter turbocharged unit making 240 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque. This is a sophisticated engine, with twin-scroll turbocharging, double-Vanos variable camshaft timing, direct injection and Valvetronic variable valve timing.

The up-level 335i retains the straight six, which makes the same power figures as before. All important in today’s climate is the fact that fuel economy has been increased significantly; official EPA figures haven’t been released though. A six-speed manual transmission is standard (rejoice!), with a new eight-speed transmission as optional equipment. The eight-speed is one of the key components that helps to increase fuel economy, along with Eco Pro mode, an Auto Start/Stop system and Brake Energy Regeneration. An ActiveHybrid 3 model is set to debut later.

New to the 3-Series is a total of four personalization packages. They are dubbed Sport Line, Luxury Line, Modern Line and the M Sport Package (which we’ve seen before). They are pretty much self-explanatory in their approach. Sport Line includes glossy black trim on the exterior and interior, as well as red inserts in in the interior. Luxury Line adds chrome and more multi-spoke 18-inch alloy rims. The interior of Modern Line gets satin aluminum trim inside and a different set of 18-inch alloy wheels. M Sport Package is farther reaching, with a firmer suspension, stiffer anti-roll bars, lowered suspension by 0.4 inches, exclusive paint colors and your choice of 18- or 19- inch M Sport alloy rims. M Sport will cost more but it isn’t clear if there will be any differences in pricing for the personalization packages.

Some of the car’s technology upgrades include a new ConnectedDrive infotainment system, Active Cruise Control, Active Blind Spot Detection, parking assistant and lane departure warning. Most beneficial to drivers however is likely to be the new full-color Head-Up Display system. Each car also has a new Driving Experience Control system that has four modes: Comfort, Sport, Sport + and the aforementioned Eco Pro, which BMW says can reduce fuel consumption by 20%.

BMW’s Chief Executive Officer Norbert Reithofer says the 3-Series is “the sportiest car in its segment and offers sheer driving pleasure at the highest level”. For millions of BMW 3-Series buyers, that formula has always been just right. The sixth-generation 3-Series is set to go on sale next February, leading in with the 328i and 335i. All-wheel drive iterations will land in the summer, followed by the ActiveHybrid next fall.

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The current BMW 3-Series is a good looking car in our opinion. It was the last model to arrive during the Chris Bangle era at BMW, and no doubt was some of his best work. With the current car, BMW has maintained its sales dominance here in the United States and around the world.

As far as styling, while we never hated them, we couldn’t quite say the same about the previous generation 5- and 7-Series. The current 5 and 7 are far more stylish than the vehicles they replaced, taking BMW styling back to more traditional good looks. Now, its time for the 3-Series to get a redesign in the same vein as its two older siblings. Spyshots have been coming out quite often, indicating heavy final testing, so we knew the time was nearing.

BMW announced today that the wraps will be taken off this Friday, October 14th at 4:00 pm. BMW will reveal the car at a company event in Munich, Germany. The car’s first appearance at an auto show will probably be at next month’s Los Angeles International Auto show.

For those that can’t attend the event in Germany (like us), a live streaming link has been provided via Facebook. There have been reports that this is a Facebook-exclusive reveal, but there will actually be a live event taking place HERE.

Automakers have taken to social media sites more than ever lately to debut their new wares – Honda put photos of its ill-received Accord CrossTour on Facebook and who could forget Ford’s endless campaign for the Explorer? Twitter has also gotten in on the action with Toyota putting up teaser images of the new Camry on the company’s official account. We’ll have all the details up on the latest 3-Series this Friday. We’d be surprised if some photography didn’t leak out before then though; it depends on if BMW is distributing press materials prior to the event.

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For almost 100 years of automotive development, the most accepted notion for improving vehicle horsepower was to build a big engine. As many auto enthusiasts know, stricter fuel economy standards and vehicle downsizing have required 21st century auto manufacturers to find equal or more horsepower in a small engine. Turning otherwise underused exhaust air into improved engine efficiency, the turbocharger has ventured from high-performance vehicles into the general vehicle marketplace.

Ford Motor Company’s popular EcoBoost engine, the TDI powerplant produced for Volkswagen and Audi vehicles, as well as the most popular Porsche performers are members of the modern turbocharger revolution. In recent update of the BMW M5, the German auto company downsized their V-10 engine in favour of a twin-turbocharged V-8 powerplant. The result for the 2012 BMW M5 was more than 560 horsepower (60 horsepower extra than the previous engine) but capable of running roughly 4 miles further per gallon in average driving. As the turbocharged engined 2012 model year vehicles are being sold with great enthusiasm, the forced air induction technology marks a 50-year trip since entering into production automobiles.

When pondering the first auto manufacturer to install a factory turbocharger, today’s assumptions would make us believe a Japanese or European company that found promise in the engine component. In fact, the first major factory application of a turbocharger on a gasoline engine was found on the American made Oldsmobile F-85 Jetfire and Chevrolet Corvair in 1962.

Called the Turbo Rocket powerplant, the aluminum V-8 produced an additional 60 horsepower over the conventional 215 cubic inch (3.5 liter) engine. Producing 215 horsepower, the Oldsmobile F-85 Jetfire became a late member of the ‘one horsepower per cubic inch’ fraternity in the American auto industry. Unusual for the era, the early exercise with turbochargers saw Oldsmobile engineers add a rather unorthodox cylinder treatment procedure. Added to the air/fuel mixture, distilled water and methyl alcohol was injected into the 215 cubic-inch turbocharged engine’s combustion chambers to help maintain a proper operating temperature. Debuting in mid-1962, the Oldsmobile F-85 Jetfire with the turbocharged engine would only last through 1963 over 8,500 examples created.

General Motors also tried turbochargers on non-eight cylinder engines by adding the units to the Chevrolet Corvair. Debuting 1962 on the Corvair Monza model, the engine produced 150 horsepower. Ford 1965 and 1966, an improved turbocharged version of the embattled rear-engined Chevrolet Corvair was made available with the flat-6 powerplant. Obtaining 180 horsepower from a 164 cubic inch engine, the efforts to promote turbochargers in smaller vehicles was defeated by the bad publicity brought against the Corvair.

As the muscle car era had American automobile buyers craving big V-8 engines, General Motors declared an unofficial moratorium on turbocharger units. Even as the oil crisis caused auto manufactured to think of downsized vehicles in the late 1970s, the technical advantage of turbochargers was rarely brought to production. During the same time, he world have become wise to turbocharging with Porsche and BMW selling their first models using the forced-air induction system. Mercedes-Benz and Peugeot also made the first turbodiesel passenger cars available to the European public in the late 1970s.

By the start of the 1980s, Japanese auto companies realized turbocharging as a way to pick up power from their smaller engines. The Toyota Supra, Mitsubishi Lancer and Nissan 280ZX stormed the North American market as performance driving entered an era of higher fuel prices. Coinciding with the widespread adaptation of fuel injection, turbochargers came a new statement for high technology in automobiles. Rushing back into the turbocharger game, American auto companies adopted turbocharged engines as a performance enhancement around the horsepower lost to choking emission control hardware. Added to the Pontiac Firebird and the Chrysler K-Cars, Buick made a name for itself with special version of the two-door Regal. In 1987, the Buick GNX powered by a turbocharged, 231 cubic-inch V-6 was recognized as the fastest accelerating production car built in the United States.

Through the 1980s and 1990s, the turbocharger became more noted for reaching the plateaus of high-performance. Limited to cost as well as the increased complexity, turbocharger units were also held back by a mechanical performance delay called turbo lag. Eventually, auto engineers discovered the use of twin turbochargers could overcome the compromise of where optimal turbo power would be delivered. Most recent development was the variable geometry turbocharger that adjusts the profile of the impeller for any speed.

With technology evolved and perfected, turbochargers have struck the mainstream market on new vehicles such as the Chevrolet Cruze, Kia Optima as well as the Ford F-150 pickup. 50 years since General Motors installed the forced-air unit on a showroom-destined vehicle, the turbocharger is potentially the best known way to help obtain fuel efficiency while pleasing are need for performance motoring.

Information source: Cars of the Sizzling ‘60s, Nissan Americas, Porsche AG
Photo source: Chris Nagy, Nissan Americas

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