Detroit Auto Show: BMW 535i Gran Turismo also gets a six pack

2010 BMW 535i Gran Turismo – Click above for high-res image gallery

BMW is rounding out its Detroit Auto Show premier lineup with the North American debut of the 535i Gran Turismo. The 550i GT that's powered by the 4.4-liter twin turbo V8 is already on sale in the U.S., but we won't get our shot at the six cylinder model until the spring of 2010. Like the recently-announced 5 Series sedan, the Gran Turismo is getting a new version of the 3.0-liter inline six cylinder turbo.

The current 535i and 335i both use a version of the six with two turbochargers. The version in the GT produces the same 300 hp and 300 pound-feet of torque with a single twin-scroll turbocharger. The engine also incorporates BMW's Valvetronic valve control system to reduce fuel consumption by eliminating the throttle and reducing pumping losses. The six will be mated up with the same new ZF eight-speed automatic used in the 550i and the ActiveHybrid 7. Want more details? Click past the break for the press release.

BMW Rahal Letterman Racing Team heads to Canada

The month of August has been the most intense period on the 2009 American Le Mans Series calendar. The rush of events at Mid-Ohio, Road America and now Mosport provide race fans with nearly uninterrupted action. The BMW Rahal Letterman Racing Team heads to Canada and Mosport International Raceway fresh from its first GT2 win on August 16 at Road America, where the No. 90 M3 of Joey Hand and Bill Auberlen led a one-two class sweep for the team in only the seventh race of its inaugural season.

With three high-profile events remaining in the season, the team has had no time for rest. Mosport is known as the fastest track in the history of the American Le Mans Series. The circuit’s high-speed corners and elevation changes require complete preparation and focus by the crew and drivers.

The two-hour-and-forty-five-minute race will also provide an excellent opportunity to fine tune for the equally demanding Road Atlanta and the grueling ten-hour Petit Le Mans on September 26.

2009 BMW Mini E launched at LA auto show

The two-seater 2009 BMW Mini E is BMW’s first electric production model. BMW will build 500 units of the 2009 BMW Mini E’s to start with; these will be leased to private and corporate customers in Los Angeles, New York, and New Jersey, for $850 a month. The pilot leasing program will end after one year, for further research before BMW builds the 2009 BMW Mini E for mass production. You can read our earlier story on the BMW Electric Mini here

In terms of design, the 2009 BMW Mini E is like the BMW Mini Cooper except for a new color scheme. The 2009 BMW Mini E’s body is metallic Dark Silver in color with the roof in Pure Silver. The 2009 BMW Mini E bears a new logo in Interchange Yellow that is styled to depict a power plug. The logo can be found on the dashboard trim, the roof, and the door jamb. A smaller logo has placed in the front and back of the car.

Photo: BMW Mini E front view

The other modification is that the rear seats have been removed to accommodate the 260 kg-battery units rather neatly.

BMW’s 2009 Mini E comes with a a rechargeable lithium-ion battery that will transmit current to the 150 kW (204 hp) electric motor. Power is passed on to the front wheels through a single-stage helical gearbox.

Photo: 2009 BMW Mini E rear view

The lithium-ion battery storage unit can store up to 35 kwh. The battery can be plugged into standard power sockets. BMW will provide a wall box that customers can install on their garage walls to charge the battery. The wall box takes only two - two and a half hour to fully charge the battery. That is because the wall box gives greater amperage compared to standard power outlets.

BMW has said that the battery has a range of over 250 kms or 156 miles.
The 2009 BMW Mini E can go up to 100 kmph (62 mph) in 8.5 seconds to a limited top speed of 152kmph. The peak torque of the 2009 BMW Mini E is 220 Newton meters

2009 BMW Mini E interior photo

The battery level indicator, that replaces the tachometer, behind the steering wheel of the 2009 BMW Mini E, shows the current battery level in percentage. The central gauge has an LED display that shows the amount of power consumed in red, and power charged in green.

2009 BMW Mini E top view