BMW announces that all their electric cars will be assembled at their Leipzig, Germany facility. Among the EVs is a subcompact, internally referred to as “Megacity”. The vehicle is also planned for release mid-2013 under a different name.

The company chose Leipzig for the existing factory’s flexibility and capability for increased capacity.  Parts will also be built in Wackersdorf and Landshut, with Lithium-ion batteries coming from SB LiMotive, a joint venture between Bosch and Samsung. The Megacity will also be kept lightweight with the extensive use of carbon fiber.  A joint venture with BMW and SGL Group will produce a carbon fiber fabric that will later become carbon fiber reinforced plastic. …

BMW refinements specialist Hamann Motorsports will be showing its latest creation at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show. The Hamann Tycoon Evo M, which is based on the BMW X6 M, will stand at the tuner’s 200 square meters booth for its world premiere.

Modifications made on the base BMW X6 M have resulted in a power increase of up to 493kW (670 PS / 661 hp) at 6,000rpm and peak torque of 780Nm (575 lb-ft) between 1,500 and 5,650rpm. With all that power, the Hamann Tycoon Evo M can sprint from 0 - 100km/h in a matter of 4.2 seconds while top speed exceeds the official 250km/h (155 mph) by an…

German tuners AC Schnitzer will debut their newly completed kit for the BMW X1 at the nearing Geneva Motor Show. The BMW X1 kit is the first kit of AC Schnitzer.

Engineers at the German-based tuning company worked on all three diesel engines offered on the X1. The 1.8-liter unit was boosted up to 171 PS (126 kW / 169 hp), while the 2.0-liter engine was pushed up to 210 PS (154 kW / 207 hp).  These changes are offered for both the xDrive and sDrive models.  Also, the twin-turbo 2.3-liter diesel is cranked up to 240 PS (177 kW / 237 hp) from 204 (150 kW / 201 hp).

Performance upgrades…

BMW has announced earlier this year that it will launch a high-performance lighter-weight version of its M3 sports sedan and coupe. And it seems now that the German automaker is living up to its words as they reveal some images and details ahead of the car’s formal introduction early next month at the Geneva Motor Show.

The package will be offered on both the coupe and sedan versions of the M3, but not convertibles. M3s outfitted with the performance group will go on sale in Europe towards the end of March with North American sales beginning a little later.

Most of the upgrades are made to the M3’s handling abilities. A lowered…

BMW has just picked a new designer for its Art Car that will be unveiled later this year. Jeff Koons, a New York-based object designer will be creating for the BMW Art Car Programme.

The BMW Art Car programme began in 1975 with a 3.0 CSL model painted by Alexander Calder for driver Hervé Poulain to pilot in 24 Hours of Le Mans.  Since then, 17 other cars were produced for the programme, with artists like Roy Lichtenstein, Andy Warhol, and David Hockney participating.

Neither BMW nor Koons has revealed which car will be used, or what the design would look like. Koons has been lobbying BMW since 2003 to create an…

BMW has just announced the official pricing for its 2011 Alpina B7 sedan. The Alpina B7 debuted at the Geneva Motor Show last year, and last month, BMW has already stated its US availability.

The high-performance version of the all-new 7-Series will list from $122,875 — for the short wheelbase version — with the higher-end long wheelbase edition carrying a price tag of $126,775. The BMW-7 Series based B7 model will serve as the automaker’s de facto M7.

The Alpina B7 sports a modified version of BMW’s twin-turbocharged and direct injected 4.4L V8. The engine can generate up to 500 horsepower and 516 lb-ft of torque. Sending power rearward is a six-speed…

A recent report states that BMW will be developing the production version of the Vision EfficientDynamics Concept. And if that pushes through, the vehicle will be launched in 2013.

The BMW Vision EfficientDynamics Concept is a plug-in hybrid with a three-cylinder turbo-diesel engine and two electric motors. Boasting 262 kW (356 horsepower) and 800 Nm (590 lb-ft) of torque, the 2+2 coupe accelerates from 0-62 mph in 4.8 seconds before topping out at an electronically limited 155 mph. Despite this impressive performance, the concept consumes just 3.76 liters/100km (equal to 62.6 mpg) while emitting 99 grams of CO2 per kilometer.

Carrying the same hybrid powertrain as the concept car, the production model…

A limited edition Typhoon Black Pearl has been recently unveiled by G-Power. The vehicle is based on the X5 Typhoon that has been previously seen.

Under the hood of the Black Pearl is a 4.8 liter V8 engine with a SK III RS supercharger, a carbon fiber air intake, a large-volume aluminum charge air cooling system, a SpeedFlow high performance exhaust system (with racing headers, racing catalysts and racing end mufflers), forged MAHLE pistons, new fuel injectors, and a revised engine electronics.

Equipped with these modifications, the Black Pearl produces 625 horsepower and 700 Nm of torque. This enables the vehicle to accelerate from 0 to 100km/h in 4.5 seconds, 0 to…

BMW has confirmed that an ActiveHybrid concept model of the latest 2011 5 Series will appear at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show in March. After the debut, European sales of the vehicle are scheduled, but there is no confirmation yet as to whether the vehicle will make it in the US.

Another version not likely to reach US dealerships is the Touring (station wagon). Figures show that fewer than 1,000 previous E60 generation 5 Series Touring models were sold in America last year.

“I don’t think we will sell it because in the past, station wagons have not sold well,” said Klaus Draeger, BMW AG board member for Research and Development. The…

BMW’s hybrids of the X6 crossover and 7-series sedan has already been introduced. Now another range of BMW is rumored to be coming out with its hybrid version: the 5-Series sedan.

BMW is said to be showing off their hybrid version of the popular 5-series sedan at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show. The auto show, which kick-starts next March, will be bringing a lot of surprises from the German automaker.

The hybrid 5-Series will be using a more fuel efficient six-cylinder engine, instead of the 7-series hybrid’s V8 gas engine. The 5-Series hybrid is expected to be rated at 218 horsepower, with an electric motor adding another 40 horsepower.

If the hybrid 5-Series…

BMW will be selling the 2011 BMW 740i and 740Li sedan models in the US in spring 2010. Both cars will be bringing back the six-cylinder engine in for the first time since 1992.

The cars will be using a 3.0-liter twin-turbo inline-six aluminum engine that gives up of up to 315 horsepower and up to 330 ft-lb of torque.  Under the BMW Efficient Dynamics program, the engine is designed with the concept of “virtual displacement,” helping the company to develop a more powerful, more efficient unit.  The variable-cam engine also utilizes direct fuel injection and brake energy regeneration, and is paired to a six-speed automatic transmission for a RWD drive.

Other…

BMW is coming out not with an M version of the new Z4, rather with a range-topping high performance sDrive35is model.

The BMW Z4 sDrive35is will come with the standard M Sports Package that includes a new front bumper with a very distinctive M look and outer air intakes in matt aluminum, standard 18-inch light alloy rims (19-inch optional), a new rear bumper with specially accentuated surrounds on the tailpipes and a two-piece diffuser.

An upgraded engine system is also fitted into the BMW Z4 sDrive35is. Power is increased from 225 kW (306 hp) to 250 kW (340 hp) at 5800 rpm. US customers will however have to settle for 246 kW.…

Another BMW tuner, G-Power, comes out with the aerodynamic kit for the BMW X5 M and BMW X6 M which is largely based on the G-Power Widebody-Kit Typhoon.

Both SUVs feature a full carbon fiber front skirt with striking air inlets, a bonnet made of Kevlar hybrid or carbon fiber, and wide carbon fiber side skirts. A rear diffuser compliments the bragging four tailpipes. The X5 M is fitted with one-piece aluminum wheels measuring 11×23 and 12×23 inches while the X6 M’s three-piece versions also have the same dimensions. Additionally the X6 M can be had with 22-inch wheels. Tires are 315/25 ZR 23 high performance Michelins. The suspension systems can…