Auto News: BMW Roadmap For MINI Coupe And Roadster Production Leaked

Fans of the Mini brand will soon get two more vehicles to love. Back in September MINI's UK arm confirmed that both will soon be headed to production. Today, we've got the leaked word on a timeline for their production.

The latest line is that they're being fast-tracked to pre-production status by January of 2010, with full production models rolling out as early as October of 2010, pending a smooth and successful testing and ramp-up process. Even with such a short development and near-term production date, don't expect to see sales on this side of the Atlantic before sometime in early 2011.

With its sleek looks and even smaller size - there is no back seat in the Coupe concept - the new car certainly fits with the 'MINI' moniker. MINI had previously said it would ultimately be the public and press reaction to the concept that would guide Mini's plans on the matter, with its unveiling in Frankfurt and a U.S. showing at the Los Angeles Auto Show being the touchstones for that reaction. Instead the early reaction was so strongly favorable that MINI went ahead and made the decision to build it even before revealing it live.

Adding another pair of models to the Cooper/Convertible/Clubman range would move Mini closer to offering a full range of vehicles, though there are obviously no plans for true trucks/SUVs. Recent reports say the crossover won't be coming until 2010 at the earliest, meaning both the Coupe and whichever model that comes with it are still likely at least a year, and possibly as many as three years distant.

News of the production in MINI's Oxford facility came along with plans to hire an additional 1,000 workers to help build the new models.

Source: Motor Authority

BMW C1-E: concept

This is what a safe, environment-friendly and highly practical single track vehicle for city traffic could look like in the future. BMW Motorrad developed the C1-E study as a contribution to the European safety project eSUM. This study unit is based on the concept of the BMW C1. It is characterized by a very high level of active and passive safety and is driven by an electric motor.

The BMW C1-E provides exemplary protection for its rider. This is ensured by the safety cell with the conspicuous roll-over bar which dynamically spans the rider seat in combination with the energy-absorbing impact element at the nose end. A further special point is that the C1-E rider wears a seat-belt. In the study this safety feature is highlighted by red belts and belt buckles.

Visually the concept vehicle expresses brand typical sheer driving pleasure and clearly distinguishes itself from typical scooter looks. Its lines are dynamically stretched and flow horizontally with a low visual centre of gravity. The fairing with its windscreen, the luggage space behind the rider and the side stand for effortless parking ensure high suitability for everyday riding combined with a high degree of wind and weather protection.

The electric motor employed in the study has been designed for city use and is based on components by the company Vectrix. The motor obtains its power from a lithium-ion battery and thus possesses sufficient power for mastering most inner-city traffic riding with ease. Alternatively the vehicle could also be equipped with an efficient, low-emissions internal combustion engine.

The safety features of the C1-E have been taken from the former BMW C1 and further enhanced. BMW’s avant-garde two-wheeler is regarded as a milestone in safety on two wheels. It is the only motorised single-track vehicle to be exempt from mandatory helmet wearing in almost all European countries.

This BMW Motorrad study is to remain the only model of its kind. Series production is currently not planned. Nevertheless, findings from the project will find their way into other future developments in the field of single-track vehicles.

eSUM stands for European Safer Urban Motorcycling. It is a cooperation project between major urban European motorcycling centres and motorcycle manufacturers. The cities currently involved in the project include Paris, Rome, Barcelona and London and the manufacturers are BMW and Piaggio.

The advantage of two-wheeled transportation is that it offers a great opportunity for improving the flow of traffic in urban locations. Moreover, it is environmentally friendly and lends itself to individualisation. However, the vast majority of accidents occur in urban traffic, in areas where 80 percent of the population live. The idea behind eSum is to look into ways of countering this trend. The joint goal is the identification, development, and practical demonstration of measures which are able to guarantee safe motorcycle and motor-scooter transport in the inner-city traffic of the future.

One of BMW Motorrad’s major concerns over the last twenty years has been the improvement of motorcycle safety. This was amply demonstrated by the consistent strategy which has led to the Motorrad ABS and continued with its long-term ongoing development. Only a few weeks ago, on August 31, the 1,000,000th BMW motorcycle with Integral ABS, a BMW K 1300 R, left the production line in Berlin-Spandau.

Since 2005, a series of further active safety features have been developed to enhance the safety BMW motorcycles still further: RDC Tyre Pressure Control, ASC Anti-Slip Control, the new Race ABS and the DTC Traction Control incorporated in the new BMW S 1000 RR, not to mention the innovative range of BMW Motorrad rider equipment.

Over and above this, BMW Motorrad is also conducting research into forward-looking rider assistance systems designed to increased road safety, as part of the ConnectedRide project. Features being looked at include cross-traffic and traffic-light assistance as well as a warning system for impending poor weather, road obstacles, an approaching emergency vehicle, or sudden braking manoeuvres.

Source: Babez

2011 BMW ActiveHybrid 7 Preview

Hot on the heels of the ActiveHybrid X6 revealed yesterday, BMW has announced the production version of the all-new ActiveHybrid 7 sedan, which will also premiere at next month’s Frankfurt Auto Show. Combining twin-turbocharging and direct-injection technologies with a 3-phase synchronous electric motor powered by lithium-ion batteries, the ActiveHybrid 7 manages to churn out 455 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque and sends this all through a smooth-shifting 8-speed automatic transmission.

The end result is a full-size luxury sedan that is capable of accelerating from 0 to 60 mph in just 4.8 seconds, while delivering fuel economy approximately 15% better than the similarly powerful 750i. Some of the other advanced fuel-saving measures include an engine stop-start system and electronically-powered auxiliary systems.

Additionally, BMW’s ActiveHybrid technology uses energy that would be normally converted into heat through the brakes, and therefore wasted in conventional cars. The ActiveHybrid 7 features an enhanced version of the automaker’s Brake Energy Regeneration system already used in some current BMW models running on a combustion engine alone.

In this case the integrated electric motor acts as a generator when coasting or applying the brakes, in order to feed electric power into the battery. Brake Energy Regeneration converts some of the vehicle’s kinetic energy into electric power for the on-board network whenever the driver lifts off the accelerator or applies the brakes. On acceleration, electricity is fed back into the on-board network from the lithium-ion battery. This sequence relieves the combustion engine from the task of converting some of its fuel energy into electric current, and thus enables the engine to provide more power directly to the rear wheels. The result is better acceleration even than the 750i, despite the fact that the additional power is obtained in a way that does not require additional consumption of fuel.

Under the front hood is the regular 4.4-liter twin-turbocharged V8 from the 750i, which produces a peak output of 440 horsepower and 475 pound-feet of torque and is matched with a three-phase synchronous electric motor.

The motor is positioned between the engine and the torque converter, and is connected to the crankshaft. Shaped like a disc, it weighs 50.7 pounds. The motor generates boost of approximately 20 horsepower and peak torque of 155 pound-fee. When operating as a generator in Brake Energy Regeneration, the electric motor produces approximately 27 horsepower of brake force.

As mentioned, the electric motor in the ActiveHybrid 7 is powered by lithium-ion batteries. Importantly, the car gives up almost no luggage capacity to its conventional siblings (750i and 750Li), because the 120-volt battery is small enough to be mounted underneath the trunk floor.

The useful energy provided by the battery is 400 watt-hours. The battery itself is comprised of 35 cells and an integrated control unit which continuously analyzes the charge level and ensures appropriate dependability under all conditions.

Special displays are included in the instrument cluster and the central display so you will know just how much fuel you are actually saving.

To set it apart from the regular 7-Series and to ensure onlookers know owners are slightly environmentally concerned, the ActiveHybrid 7 is distinguished by custom aerodynamically-tuned 19-inch alloy wheels, unique badging, and a special ‘Bluewater’ metallic paint scheme.

The new ActiveHybrid 7 will reach America shores in Spring in next year and both standard and long-wheelbase versions will be offered. Official EPA ratings will be available closer to the U.S. market launch.

480-horsepower BMW X6 ActiveHybrid World's Most Powerful Hybrid

Unlike the mainstream market where hybrid technology is used to maximize fuel efficiency, luxury carmakers have employed hybrid systems as a way to maintain or improve performance while making concessions to efficiency. The BMW X6 ActiveHybrid, due out for retail sale this fall, is a prime example.

Rated at a combined output of 480 horsepower and 575 pound-feet of torque, the big SUV uses a twin-turbo 4.4-liter V-8 engine and a nickel-metal hydride hybrid powerpack to claim the title of the world's most powerful gasoline-electric hybrid passenger vehicle. That's no mean feat, with contenders like Mercedes-Benz, Lexus and Cadillac in the space. The two electric synchronous motors contribute 91 horsepower/192 pound-feet and 86 horsepower/206 pound-feet, respectively.

Accordingly, it's no wimp at the stoplight strip, sprinting to 60 mph in just 5.4 seconds, and on to an electronically limited top speed of 130 mph. And it does it all while eeking out 22.8 mpg in the European combined cycle, about 20% better than the standard V-8's ratings. The improvement is due largely to the hybrid system's ability to run on electricity alone up to 37 mph, though the hybrid-specifc automatic stop-start function also helps reduce wasted fuel at idle.

Like its big, brawny brother the X6 M (read our first drive of the X6 M here), however, the X6 Hybrid's main problem is a very American one - weight. Racking up 400 pounds for the hybrid drivetrain in addition to the standard vehicle's 5,000-pound curb weight, it's impressive that the X6 Hybrid gets the fuel efficiency it does.

Prototypes of the vehicle were spotted frequently throughout its development sporting a huge domed hood where the electronics and diagnostics equipment lived. That's been mosltly solved for the retail version, with BMW packaging it all away tidily, though you'll still know the hybrid version from a distance.

The hybrid system employed by the X6 ActiveHybrid is a version of the Daimler-Chrysler-GM Two-Mode system that uses twin electric motors that can alternately provide extra power, charge the batteries at a 50kW regeneration rate, or trade power between each other as necessary. Tying the electrical side to the gasoline engine is a two-mode active transmission based on an electrical CVT and a standard seven-speed automatic transmission.

BMBMW picks Bosch and Samsung JV as Project i battery supplier

BMW's foray into the world of hybrids is expected to begin at some point this year with the release of a hybrid variant of the 7-series flagship and eventually the X5 and X6 SUVs as well. While development for those cars is mostly complete, BMW is preparing its next-generation of hybrids and all-electric vehicles and today has announced a new battery supplier for the future vehicles.

The new models are being developed under BMW’s recently established Project i division and will include a whole assortment of vehicles including city cars, coupes, roadsters, and even a scooter or two. Powering them will be arrays of lithium-ion battery cells provided by a joint venture between Bosch and Samsung SDI called SB LiMotive.

SB LiMotive, which recently acquired General Motors' hybrid battery supplier Cobasys, is a 50-50 joint venture between Bosch and a South Korean lithium-ion battery supplier that specializes in consumer electronics applications.

Integration of lithium-ion battery cells in a car requires higher standards in terms of durability, operational stability and safety, which is where Bosch's century-long experience in the auto industry comes into play.

"The decision is a major milestone along the way to serial production of the Megacity Vehicle. The battery is a key component in any electric vehicle - it determines the range and performance of the car," BMW CEO Norbert Reithofer said in a statement today. "With SB LiMotive we have selected a supplier who offers the best available technology, combining leading German automotive expertise with future-oriented Korean battery know-how."

The news bodes well for those of us looking forward to BMW's Project i cars, and puts the program one step closer to reality.

BMW 760 Li pricing announced

$136,660. Apparently, that’s what’s going to cost you for a brand-new BMW 760Li. That may be a steep price for a car these days especially since the economic crisis has made penny-pinching a top priority for most American consumers. But then again, the BMW 760Li is not like most cars. It is, after all, a BMW.

The new 760Li, which is now available to order at US dealerships, is poised to more than exceed the generous hype it has been getting in the previous months. It comes with an all-new 6.0-liter V12 all-aluminum engine with Twin Turbo Technology and a High Precision Injection, which injects fuel straight into the combustion chambers.

In addition to that, the 760Li’s engine isn’t a slouch by any stretch of the imagination. Underneath the hood of this luxury vehicle is an engine that can produce 535 horsepower and 550 lb-ft of torque and a 0-60 mph time of 4.5 seconds.

The 760Li also comes with a standard set of features that include an 8-speed automatic transmission, a heated sport steering wheel, integral active steering, lane departure warning, active blind spot detection, head-up display, and a Sirius XM Radio.

Suffice to say, the BMW 760Li is one of those cars that is sure to attract a lot of customers regardless of the price tag. And with all the features and technology equipped in this baby, some folks might even say that $136,660 is a bargain.

BMW offering $4,500 'Eco Credit' on new diesel model

With the government prepared to help automakers boost sales and move cars out of their dealerships through incentives programs, automakers are giving consumers a little push of their own now, with some massive incentives on new cars coming into place. Just recently, Chrysler unveiled its own 'Double CA$H for Your Old Car' scheme that emulated the government’s own 'cash for clunkers' programs, and now luxury German marque BMW is following suit with its own incentives program for two of its new diesel models.

The scheme being run by BMW will see consumers given a $4,500 'Eco Credit' to purchase a new 335d or an X5 xDrive35d model. BMW is taking the stance that as an environmentally responsible company it wants to reward American drivers for being more fuel efficient by providing incentives on its most fuel efficient cars, but we have a sneaking suspicion the incentive may have something more to do with the less than optimal sales of luxury diesel cars in the U.S. so far.

Nevertheless, the scheme should prove attractive to buyers coming out of the financial crisis, and may just be the decisive factor in affecting consumer choices when it comes time to buy their luxury vehicle. Additionally, BMW points out that both diesel vehicles that fall under the scheme are eligible for tax credits of up to $1,800, bringing their real prices down even further.

New Car:BMW S.X. Concept

Looking at some of the controversial recent designs coming out of BMW, many enthusiasts might think that it's not hard to imagine that study hall doodles would be preferable. Not exactly a schoolboy anymore, Iulian Bumbu has applied skills learned at a Milanese automotive design program to a BMW etude.

BMW S.X. Concept – Click above for image gallery

The car looks like it could actually be possible, wearing design cues that echo the recently redone Z4. The renderings call to mind the recently scuttled Concept CS from BMW's own pens, depicting a car that's extra-wide, super-low, and ultra aggressive. In any case, BMW could do worse than this flight of fancy.