Official: BWM News Thread

[VashThaStampede]

I think this is great move by bmw.. especially with the economical car disinfo in the US where hillbillies believe that better mpg can only be achieved by smaller motors

[MoToHeAd125]

I love 4 cylinder turbo engines...so much fun!!!

[VQuick]

If they do this right, it could lower the cost of entry for the 1-series and get them a few more sales too.

[eN_2_Oh]

thats gonna rockface

i hope it comes thru

[mtran]

schweeeeeeeet!

[VH_Supra26]

In July, BMW announced a new partnership with Fiat for the use of U.S. Mini dealerships by Alfa Romeo, and in August the carmaker turned to negotiations with Mercedes-Benz over procurement and purchasing agreements. Now those agreements have come to fruition and joint-purchasing arrangments are already underway according to the latest reports.

Klaus Draeger, development head for BMW, revealed in an interview with Germany's Auto Motor & Sport that joint purchases for basic components such as heat exchangers, xenon ballasts and air conditioning systems were already occurring. Both German luxury marques are looking to reduce costs by combining their purchases for vehicle components that aren’t visible to consumers.

Earlier reports indicated that BMW and Mercedes could share development for their future V12 engines - a project that could possibly even include Aston Martin. Aston Martin and Mercedes are already tied in negotiations for a deal to share everything from platforms to engines and transmissions. Draeger reaffirmed this aspect of the cooperation as well, saying that BMW is ready to consider selling its engines to competitors, especially Mercedes. Talks are ongoing with Aston Martin, but nothing has come of that as yet.

In 2007, the idea of cooperation between BMW and Mercedes was somewhat controversial, even to the companies' own spokespersons. At one point, Mercedes even alleged that it had no interest in working with BMW. But times, and economic circumstances have changed. Leveraging the massed buying power of the two companies can help cut costs without affecting product quality in any way.

"The use of economies of scale is successively being implemented. We do not need to wait for a model change or official announcements," said Draeger.

Official commentary on the agreement is still forthcoming, but Draeger's statements leave the matter with no doubt: an agreement is in place and already functioning.

All Content Copyright 2006-2008 Motor Authority

http://www.motorauthority.com/bmw-an...n-engines.html

[Maxima96]

hey same parts..cheaper price...more profit...less over head

[eN_2_Oh]

doesn't sound like a bad idea. id love to see a BMW inspired V12 go into the perfection of the Aston Martin

[DC]

Interesting...

[VH_Supra26]

The cancellation of the Concept CS production car leaves BMW with no entry in the super-sedan arms race

On the back of weak financial results announced today, BMW has decided not to risk the launch of an expensive model like the production version of the Concept CS. The car had been conceived as a new range-topping super-sedan for the company, but its business case simply isn't convincing enough, according to CEO Norbert Reithofer.

The return on investment for such a car would only be about 1.3%, reports Automotive News, leaving too little profit for the investment required. As recently as September, reports of progress on the car's development at BMW's M Division were emerging, and it was expected the new car would wear the 8-series tag. Putting development of the car exclusively into the hands of the M Division was intended to help give the car the performance credentials it would need to compete with the likes of the Aston Martin Rapide, Porsche Panamera and Mercedes-Benz CLS.

Now that the car has been canceled, BMW will have no direct competitor to those vehicles, leaving it without an entry in what is perceived as an important new segment. The car was already behind the game, not due to arrive until 2010 at the very earliest. Ludwig Willisch, M Division president, said it would take "a couple of years to get the CS to market", meaning its arrival as a 2011 or 2012 model would have been most likely - and that much delay would have put the car at a severe disadvantage.

Reithofer said of the cancellation, "At the moment we do not need that kind of brand shaper." Instead BMW is now concerned with pushing its Efficient Dynamics program, enhancing efficiency and cutting costs. "The next step will be a mega city car with two different drivetrain options - one with electric powertrain and one with a highly efficient combustion engine," said Reithofer.

All Content Copyright 2006-2008 Motor Authority

http://www.motorauthority.com/bmw-ca...oncept-cs.html

[JHizzleX]

thank god..shit was fail

[LabtopThief_jr]

it doesn't look too bad but lately BMWs look like some kind of fish.

[eN_2_Oh]

that sucks i was looking forward to a new direction in design with this concept. maybe another time....

[VH_Supra26]

After two decades of normally-aspirated high-revving engines shoehorned under the hoods of its M cars, BMW is changing direction and will begin to offer direct-injection turbocharged powerplants in its future high-performance flagships. The German automaker is blaming tough environmental emission standards and the soaring manufacturing costs of the specialty-built V8 and V10 engines found in today's M3, M5, and M6 models for its decision. We also suspect the fact that both Audi and Mercedes-Benz have successfully offered torque-laden forced-induction powerplants for years on their performance models may have something to do with it (also keep in mind that an aftermarket-tuned version of BMW's own twin-turbo 3.0-liter inline-6 can easily match the power output of the M3's normally-aspirated 4.0-liter V8). The first new M model to carry the turbocharged honor will be the X6 xDrive M, with a twin-turbo 4.4-liter V8 reportedly making 500 hp and 516 lb-ft of torque. That same engine is reportedly going into the next F10-chassis M5 due in late 2010.

http://www.autoblog.com/2008/11/27/b...harged-m-cars/

[Happy]

wow 2010 for a new m5...sweet

[VQuick]

I remember thinking the new turbo V8 would be cool to have in an M3, even at the current output. I wouldn't mind sacrificing just a few peak horsepower for that fatter power curve.

[Renaissanceman]

about damn time

[eN_2_Oh]

thats going to be sick! good job and i knew they would come around to turbo'd M class.

[lsej8]

Turbo > N/A Anyday

[IIIVOVE]

Originally Posted by Renaissanceman

about damn time