Why can’t people realize that CUVs are simply sporty-looking people movers? They won’t go off-road and they’re too stiff for city driving.

The overcrowded CUV market, however, shows that people haven’t really gotten wise at this. The appeal, I think is the idea of having a smaller and more economical vehicle that packs the same “safety” as an SUV.

For BMW, that market segment is quite profitable, moving 80,000 X6s since its launch. Now, the company is taking a look at offering an even smaller vehicle to be slot in below the X6.

Currently rumored to be the X4, the car is expected to share the same platform as the upcoming X3 but will share the same styling as the X4.

BMW knows how to make a splash. The German company stole the Beijing motor show by unveiling the Concept Gran Coupe.

It’s a huge car – a five-meter saloon with a coupe look and it’s rumored to be the new car that will be slotted higher than the 7-series. Word has it that this car will be the basis for the new 8-series flagship.

The car’s sporty four-door look seems to position it to rival not with the Merc S-class but with other sport four-doors like the Maserati Quattroporte, Porsche Panamera, and the Aston Martin Rapide.

Powering the car is most likely the same powerplants seen in the current 7-Series which include the 6- and 8-cylinder gasoline and diesels. The eight-speed automatic might come as standard.

“It’s true that the Gran Coupe points to a specific model, a saloon with the presence and elegance of a 7-series but a more dynamic, sporty character: much more of a driver’s car,” said BMW chief designer Adrian van Hooydonk.

BMW keeps its model lien fresh with the unveiling of the BMW 5-Series xDrive Gran Turismo.

The model comes with two variants both equipped with the xDrive all-wheel drive technology. One packs a diesel and the other packs a gasoline engine.

The all-wheel drive system guarantees an “appropriate distribution of drive power front-to-rear in every situation.”

Current variants are only for the 530d and the 550i. xDrive Gran Turismos for the 535d and the 535i will come in September.

Holy crap! The M series have been quite the sporty lot but when it comes to supercars, you’d struggle to think if BMW ever came out with one. In recent history, there’s the M1 but that hasn’t really come to fruition.

Now check out this Z29 supercar concept from BMW. The car’s a collaborative project between BMW’s Technik subsidiary and BMW’s M division.

The car’s powered by a 336 bhp straight-six engine – the same one found in the M3. Doesn’t really sound like supercar territory but the use of carbon-fiber and aluminum sub-frames make this car lightweight. Sprinting from 0-62 mph only takes just 4.4 seconds.

The styling takes its cue from the 2006 M Roadster and the 2004 M3 CSL.

No word yet on what BMW plans to do with this concept.

Source: Autocar

Lexus, Japanese automaker Toyota’s luxury brand, has always been at the top of the sales boards in the US for the past 9 years. However, BMW has made quite the push and is just around 2,000 units behind this year.

“We’re really breathing down Lexus’ neck,” said Jim O’Donnell, CEO of BMW Group’s North American sales.

The US auto market took a huge beating due to the recession. The year saw two of the Detroit Three (General Motors and Chrysler) go belly up. Still, BMW sees a possible improvement in luxury car sales as the economy improves.

Source: DetNews

BMW is keen in using Toyota’s smallest car platform and use it for the Isetta – BMW’s electric city car. And why not? The iQ is quite the platform, enabling the iQ to be the world’s smallest four-door car.

Talks about the new BMW sub-brand have emerged a months ago and BMW officials have confirmed that it will indeed be launching a sub-brand that would market the company’s fuel-efficient city cars.

If this move is given a green light, then the Toyota iQ platform will have another incarnation. Aston Martin has already approached Toyota to use the iQ platform for its Cygnet small car.

Source: Autocar

The company released a statement saying, “Board has now decided: This auto will be launched on the market as a sub-brand of BMW. As BMW is the innovation driver within the Group, the decision for a sub brand under BMW is the most logical step. Details on this topic will be made known later this year.”

If it will be following the M badge, we can all speculate on what this green sub-brand’s designation will be. “E”, “EV” and “Eco” are all on the table but BMW might go for something unexpected. BMW still owns the rights to the “Metro” badge but using that doesn’t really help branding, does it?

We can expect clearer details come this September during the Frankfurt show.

Source: Autocar

BMW might have to introduce another variant into the fray. After careful consideration, the company has green-lighted the 3-Series Gran Turismo – a follow up to the BMW 5-Series GT (pictured). Still,the company hasn’t scrapped the 3-Series crossover. So why another 3-Series variant.

“We haven’t cancelled the crossover of the 3-Series, as it is considered a volume builder with which we can earn good money,” BMW CEO Norbert Reithofer said.

So what’s so special about the 3-Series GT? The car will be modified to give a grand tourer feel rather than a drab repmobile. If BMW stays true to the template set by the 5-Series GT, then it will feature a split tailgate, a roomier interior and a raised driving position. Engine choices are most likely the same ones found in the current 3-Series line up.

The X1 is the fourth model to be slot in BMW’s off-roader line-up behind the X6, X5 and X3. It is designed to take on the Ford Kuga and Volkswagen Tiguan in the CUV market.

The X1 will be closest to the X3 in terms of size (logical given the number designation) but will be 112 mm shorter, 64 mm narrower and 139 lower. Now this reduction in size especially the ride height makes you wonder how this car will be a suitable off-roader.

A concept version of the X1 was unveiled last year in the Paris Motor Show and the teased production version still looks the same as the concept. The X1’s underpinnings come from the BMW 3-series.

Source: Autocar