Munich (dpa) – Various BMW models can be configured for a new online racing game and PC car community developed jointly by the car maker and British game developer Eutechnyx.

Among the cars that can be configured are the BMW 1 Series M Coupe, the BMW 135i, the BMW M3 Coupe, the BMW M5 and the BMW Z4 M Coupe.

The game, called Auto Club Revolution, is not just a classic racing game with real-world tracks and realistically-detailed models, but is also designed to become an established forum for racing fans, automobile manufacturers and car enthusiasts, according to the car maker.

Exact characteristics of the real cars were reproduced. ”To reproduce the handling of the BMW 1 Series M Coupe in Auto Club Revolution in an authentic manner, we first took it out on the real racetrack. That is the only way to know exactly how the car corners, for example,” said Doug Wolff from Auto Club Revolution Team Lead.

BERLIN (Xinhua) — BMW (Bayerische Motoren Werke) AG will recall some 9,200 cars worldwide due to possible cooling pump defect, the Munich-based German luxury car maker announced on Monday.

The cars getting involved in the large scale recall mainly include BMW vehicles of types 5, 6, 7 Series, X5 and X6, Mini Cooper S and Mini John Cooper Works, equipped with eight-and twelve-cylinder BMW engines, as a large majority of them were produced in March and April 2011, according to the announcement.

The newly-discovered design defect might put the cooling pump too hot to be normally functional and catch fire under extreme circumstance, a spokesman with the company said, adding that so far only one such incidence had happened, but no one was injured.

Munich (dpa) – German carmaker BMW has chosen the upcoming Beijing show to display a concept version of its new petrol-electric supercar, the drophead i8 Spyder.

According to design chief Benoit Jacob, the car’s presence at the event is proof that BMW is pressing ahead with plans to start producing the frugal, high-tech sportster. The Beijing show runs from April 27 to May 2.

The i8 is still slated to appear first as a 2+2 coupe, with the open-air version entering the showrooms afterwards. Industry experts expect the car to make its official debut in 2014.

Both versions will use the same plug-in hybrid system with a 1.5-litre, three-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine mated to a front-mounted, 129 horsepower electric motor. The bodywork is fashioned from lightweight carbon-fibre composites.

Together the petrol engine and electric motor turn out nearly 350 horsepower and the i8 Spyder has spirited performance to match.

Acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h is accomplished in under five seconds and top speed is given as 250 km/h. The car can operate for 30 km on electric power only.

SEOUL – German carmaker BMW planned to recall 2,231 passenger cars in South Korea for a defective cooling pumps, the transportation ministry said Thursday.

Voluntary recall would be made for 2,231 vehicles with faulty cooling pumps designed to blow more air into engines for better combustion, according to the Ministry of Land, Transportation and Maritime Affairs. The defective control system of the pumps may cause fire, and in turn make dangerous driving conditions.

The cars subject to recall were MINI Cooper S models with an engine capacity of 1.6 liters manufactured between March 1, 2007 and Jan. 18, 2011 in the British plant, according to the ministry.

Owners of the defective vehicles can contact the service centers operated by BMW Group Korea for free repairs from Friday, while those who had their cars repaired in advance can be reimbursed for their costs, the ministry said.(Xinhua)

Munich (dpa) – BMW is offering a full-colour, head-up display in the new 3-Series, projecting a virtual image onto the windscreen at the eye-level of the driver.

The virtual image is perceived as ”hovering” at eye level above the bonnet and is visible only to the driver, according to the manufacturer.

Data is reproduced by means of an intense light source, which is located inside the instrument panel and shines through a translucent TFT (Thin Film Transistor) display, transferring the image to the windscreen via specially shaped mirrors.

The driver is thus provided with data including the car’s speed and navigation.

“Full-colour head-up display offers the driver a tremendous increase in reading comfort. The complete colour spectrum facilitates a realistic and thus more intuitive display of images and symbols,” the carmaker said in a press statement.

Munich (dpa) – BMW has launched the sixth generation of its bestselling 3-Series with design modifications including a refreshed front grille, wider dimensions and a more wedge-shaped look with most of the big changes found beneath the bonnet.

Compared to its predecessor, the new 3 Series has a wider track, increased length and augmented wheelbase with noticeably more interior space. However, overall weight is down 40 kilogrammes compared to the previous model.

Customers will initially have the choice of four more economical engines, all fitted with new TwinPower Turbo technology. Two further optimised diesel power plants and a six-cylinder petrol unit will become available later.

Apart from Auto Start-Stop function that comes as standard, other fuel-saving measures include Brake Energy Regeneration, Optimum Shift Indicator and need-based operation of ancillary components such as an air conditioning compressor that can be disengaged.

An ECO PRO mode helps the driver maximise fuel economy. The BMW 320d EfficientDynamics Edition with an output of 120 kW/163 hp is listed with an average fuel consumption of 4.1 litres per 100 kilometres which translates to an average carbon dioxide emission figure of 109 grammes per kilometre. An even more fuel-efficient BMW ActiveHybrid 3-Series is scheduled for later next year.

Optional extras include a Head-up-Display and Surround View with Side View and Top View, giving a bird’s-eye perspective of the vehicle and the area around it.

Enough with the car awards of the year, it’s time to look under the hood and check out which engines made it as the 10 Best for 2010. According to Ward’s 10 Best Engines, the winners are as follows:

This year’s winners and the applications tested:
2.0L TFSI Turbocharged DOHC I-4 (Audi A4)
3.0L TFSI Supercharged DOHC V-6 (Audi S4)
3.0L DOHC I-6 Turbodiesel (BMW 335d)
2.5L DOHC I-4 Hybrid (Ford Fusion Hybrid)
3.5L EcoBoost Turbocharged DOHC V-6 (Ford Taurus SHO)
2.4L Ecotec DOHC I-4 (Chevrolet Equinox)
4.6L Tau DOHC V-8 (Hyundai Genesis)
2.5L Turbocharged DOHC H-4 (Subaru Legacy 2.5GT)
1.8L DOHC I-4 Hybrid (Toyota Prius)
2.0L SOHC I-4 Turbodiesel (Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen TDI)

“This year’s list embodies how the industry is responding to demands for higher fuel economy and lower emissions without shortchanging performance,” Ward’s AutoWorld Editor-in-Chief Drew Winter said. “Auto makers are using innovative designs and advanced technology to boost horsepower and torque while downsizing engines and increasing efficiency.”

It’s a good thing that one of the criterias involved was the lower gas emissions. It just shows that engine makers do care about saving the environment. Now if they can only make engines this good that runs on ethanol. In the meantime, since the US economy’s going down the slippery slope, it’s great that they’ve also included the criteria regarding fuel economy. The last thing we need are engines that guzzle gas like there’s no tomorrow.

Here’s to hoping that next year’s best engine’s list will have engines that help save more on gas and produce lower (or better no) carbon emissions.

Press Release

Where have all the quality and safety in American cars gone to? It seems that overseas manufactured cars and automotive vehicles seems to be the one that’s taking a look at quality and safety more than it is over here. No wonder our automotive industry is down in the gutters. This is further proven after Car and Driver Magazine just listed down the 10 best cars of 2010: and it’s no surprise that only two of the top ten belong to American car manufacturers.

Following are the 2010 Car and Driver 10Best winners (in alphabetical order), followed by the number of times each model has made the list:

• 2010 Audi S4 (2)
• 2010 BMW 3-series / M3 (19)
• 2010 Cadillac CTS / CTS-V (2)
• 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid (1)
• 2010 Honda Accord (24)
• 2010 Honda Fit (3)
• 2010 Mazda MX-5 Miata (11)
• 2010 Mazda 3 / Mazdaspeed 3 (3)
• 2010 Porsche Boxster / Cayman (3)
• 2010 Volkswagen GTI (7)

The list is not in a ranked order. A panel of 18 Car and Driver editors determined the winners by rating them on a scale of 1-100 with a focus on functional performance, driving satisfaction and value. Vehicles considered for the award must be available in the United States by January 2009 and priced below the cap of $80,000, or 2.5 times the average transaction price as of summer 2009. Winners from the previous year are re-nominated if they are still available under the price cap.

Hopefully this is a wake up call to American car manufacturers to do their best to produce quality cars that will attract not only local buyers but foreign ones as well.

Press Release

Photo Credits: Associated Press

The new Z4 is the first roadster in BMW history with a retractable hard top so it replaces both the Z4 roadster and the Z4 coupe. It’s also a slick package with more masculine exterior styling and improved head and elbow room than the predecessor Z4s. And there’s a first-for-the-Z4 dual-clutch automatic transmission with seven speeds, too.

For all this, there’s a price. Starting manufacturer’s suggested retail price, including destination charge, is $46,575 for the non-turbocharged six cylinder and manual transmission. The lowest-priced 2009 Z4 with automatic starts at $47,900 and with leather seats and other options it easily jumps to more than $50,000.

In comparison, the starting MSRP, including destination charge, for a 2009 Audi TT is $42,895 with V-6 and standard all-wheel drive. The 2009 Porsche Boxster has a retail starting price of $47,550.

Press