By John LeBlanc for MSN Autos Canada
According to BMW’s new naming gospel, some four-door models are odd-numbered, while coupés —whether they have two-doors or four— are even-numbered, which means what we used to know as the 3 Series Coupé is now called the 4 Series Coupé for 2014.
By John LeBlanc for MSN Autos Canada
BMW revealed images and details of its forthcoming all-new, third-generation X5 mid-size crossover that will arrive in Canadian showrooms this fall. As an already very successful (and profitable) model for the German automaker, most of the changes can be filed under “evolutionary”. But a new feature called Traffic Jam Assistant brings the BMW one step closer to automated driving.
By John LeBlanc for MSN Autos Canada
For those pining for the return of a large, BMW coupe, the new BMW Gran Lusso Coupe concept gives plenty of ideas if the German automaker ever decides to do so. Unveiled this past weekend at Italy’s annual Ville d’Este concours, officially, the Gran Lusso Coupe is a co-production between BMW and Pinanfarina — the first offspring between the German automaker and the famous Italian design house.
By Mark Atkinson for MSN Autos
In BMW's long history of coupes, there's only been one that's ever been powered by a V12: the '90s-era 850i. A fantastic, albeit heavy, gran touring car that never quite caught on as the company hoped. Using the same V12 found in the more sober 7 Series, the big two-door started life with a near-300-horsepower 5.0-litre unit. Over the next decade, the 850 gained additional letters - Ci and ultimately CSi - and displacement, which meant power rose accordingly. However, even though the final CSi sported 375 horsepower, its added mass meant even the lowliest V8-powered 840i was just as fast and significantly less expensive.
Nearly 15 years after the last 850i rolled off the line in 1999, BMW and Pininfarina look to be channeling the car's spirit for an upcoming concept. From the photographic teasers, the ridiculously named BMW Pininfarina Gran Lusso Coupe will sport some sort of V12. We'd guess the twin-turbocharged 6.6-litre verison found in the Rolls-Royce Ghost, which is normally rated at 563 horsepower, but which BMW will probably tune to over 600 horses.
Word is that under the coupe's skin lies a fully-functioning 760iL chassis, meaning it's road-legal and drivable. That makes the possibility that Pininfarina build at least a few examples for customers a pretty strong guess.
The concept will be revealed at the annual Concorso D'Eleganza at the stunning Villa d'Este on Italy's Lake Como on May 24. Since BMW is the major sponsor of the event, it's taken to revealing some pretty fantastic one-offs, whether with outside design houses like Pininfarina or on its own. Some recent notables include the 2012 BMW Zagato Coupe, the BMW 328 Homage in 2010 and the BMW M1 Homage back in 2008.
Once official photos and other details are released, we'll make sure to post them here. In the meantime, which of BMW's Villa d'Este concepts is your favourite? Let us know in the comments.
By John LeBlanc for MSN Autos
If you’re just getting use to the idea of having to keep track of six instead of five or four gears in your car’s gearbox, you may want to stop reading this article now. More than likely, your next new vehicle will have more gears than a mechanical watch.
By John LeBlanc for MSN Autos
All of its rivals have a head start. Some are already in their second-generation models. But from the What the Heck Took So Long department, it looks like Toyota’s premium Lexus brand has finally decided to jump into the exploding small SUV/crossover market.
A report from Automotive News says Lexus will unveil a concept of a new compact crossover at this fall’s Tokyo auto show, followed by the unveiling of the production version at the 2014 Geneva show, next March. The new-for-Lexus luxury cute-ute should then go on-sale in late-2014 as a 2015 model.
By Mark Atkinson for MSN Autos
There are times when new concepts or production reveals are genuine surprises, like the Subaru WRX Concept, which no one figured would be as attractive or aggressive as it turned out to be. However, when BMW said it would be launching a smaller X4 crossover to complement its larger X6 original, the photos here aren't shocking.
Set for a reveal in Shanghai, the Concept X4 previews how the production version will likely appear in a year or so. The sharply raked roof and rear glass, petering out just before the integrated spoiler on the rear deck. There are some pretty bold character lines through the rear door that aren't on the X3...
The shapes used in its 'face' aren't unsurprising, although those will probably make way for more traditional black plastic mesh for production.
We do know the production X4 will share its platform and mechanicals with the current X3, so that means turbocharged four- and six-cylinder engines, standard xDrive all-wheel drive and eight-speed automatic transmissions. Luckily, the second-gen X3 is significantly improved, fun to drive and larger than before. We can expect the X4 to get its unique sheetmetal and wheels, but most of the interior will probably carry over. Not sure whether the X6's original four-person cabin - the back row was actually two bucket seats with a big console a la 5GT - will be preserved here, or if that'll be abandoned because of the smaller space.
What do you think? Should BMW be dipping its toes into even smaller pools of potential customers? Do you like the Concept X4? Let us know in the comments...
At this year’s New York auto show, spanking-new, gasoline-electric hybrids are still popping up on a regular basis. But as an alterative for automakers to meet ever-tightening fuel economy standards, good old-fashion diesels seem to making a comeback.
While Europeans long ago jumped on the diesel bandwagon (I mean who wouldn’t want a powerplant that offers a longer driving range, 25 to 30 per cent better fuel economy in the city and on the highway and more torque than a gas engine), North Americans (for various reasons, from General Motors’ dreadful diesels in the 1980s to the lack of availability at gas pumps) have been more reluctant.
By John LeBlanc for MSN Autos Canada
While most automakers simply can’t help themselves and have already spilled the bans on their debuts for next week’s Geneva Motor Show, a few have shown some measure of restraint. Here’s a short list of automaker’s that have teased us with their unveilings. Which one are you most excited to eventually see?
By Mark Atkinson for MSN Autos
And the Ganassi Racing powerhouse wins once again. The undisputed heavyweight champion of the Grand-Am sports-car world put on a clinic of hard and clean driving, working your plan and the benefits of intense pre-race preparation. When the team's lead car crossed the finish line at 3:30 pm local time at Daytona International Speedway, it cemented its reputation as the winningest team in decades. This year's Daytona 24 win was CGR's fifth out of 10 attempts, and lead driver Scott Pruett's fifth overall victory, a feat that ties him with legendary Porsche driver Hurley Haywood.
Pruett's Daytona teammate Juan Pablo Montoya was tasked with bringing the 01 BMW-powered Riley home during the final stint, and did so despite mounting pressure from second-placed Max Angelelli in a Corvette DP. Montoya's gap over Angellelli was about 22 seconds at the end of 24 hours (plus one lap) of racing, which is pretty impressive, although other years have been one by significantly less time. The defending champs from Shank Racing fielded the same five-driver lineup as last year, but suffered a broken suspension piece early in the race and went seven laps down trying to fix it. In the end, they fought back to third place, but obviously without the mechanical issues would have been right into the mix with their Ford-powered Riley.
In GT, Porsche had dominated in qualifying taking the top-four spots on the grid, but by the end of 24 brutal hours, couldn't place higher than fifth... Audi took a one-two victory with its more-generously-supported R8's, a first for the manufacturer in Grand-Am. It might have been a podium sweep for Audi had the Rum Bum Racing R8 not run out of gas late in the race. That gave the Toronto-based AIM Autosport Ferrari 458 with Emil Assentato, Nick Longhi, Anthony Lazzaro and Canadian Mark Wilkins a well-deserved podium place.
The new GX class for more experimental and environmentally friendly racecars basically saw a trio of well-proven Porsche Caymans outlast the three brand-new never-raced Mazda6 SKYACTIV entries. The Mazda's 2.2-litre turbo-diesel engines were a first in Grand-Am, but proved fragile over the race. Mazda says it planned the Rolex 24 to be one giant test and the car can only improve from here.
Another Porsche legend David Donahue was the lead driver on the GX-class-winner Cayman from Napleton Racing, while Vancouver-based Bullet Racing with Canucks Darryl O’Young and Karl Thomson finished second.
Plenty of other Canadians in the race, including Paul Tracy, Alex Tagliani, James Hinchcliffe, Sylvain Tremblay, David Empringham, Michael Valiante, Dave Lacey, JF Dumoulin and Paul Dalla Lana.
There seemed to be fewer yellow-flag periods because of silly driving this year and more from general wear-and-tear or unproven parts. However, moving into morning, a giant bank of fog hit the track, forcing the race to run under yellow for around 90 minutes until conditions improved.
For full results, check out the Grand-Am page.
Anyone else watch the race? Enjoyable? I can't wait to see how it'll shake out with the additional cars in the merged ALMS/Grand-Am series.
Photos courtesy Grand-Am.
Justin Couture
Reportedly, the first word to come out of his mouth was "car," and since then it's evolved into a life-long passion. Justin is a fan of passionately engineered vehicles, but in general, loves the industry as much as the cars it produces. Justin is the Assistant Editor of MSN Autos, and manages The Passing Lane.
Mark Atkinson
Mark has a decade’s experience driving and writing about thousands of vehicles, and two decades before as an inveterate car nut and race fan. He’s also a first-time father, so you’ll need to excuse the occasional half-awake daddy rant about how his daughter’s car-seat won’t fit.
John LeBlanc
After a career in advertising and marketing, John decided to turn his jaundiced eye towards the world of cars. Since then, he's become one of Canada's most vociferous critics of the industry, delivering objective analysis of the new car scene.
