BMW to offer ActiveE drivers renewable energy option!

Woodcliff Lake, NJ – July 31, 2012… BMW of North America today announced that it will partner with Green Mountain Energy Company to offer drivers of the BMW ActiveE the choice to support renewable energy for their cars. The ActiveE drivers, known as “Electronauts,” now have the opportunity to purchase renewable energy certificates (RECs) from Green Mountain to cover the estimated electricity that will be used to charge their electric vehicles (EVs).

“The partnership with Green Mountain is BMW’s next step to procure a sustainable mobility future for our ActiveE Electronauts,” said Rob Healey, EV Infrastructure Manager at BMW of North America. “We want to ensure all ActiveE drivers have the opportunity to source their energy needs from renewable generation and this program is the perfect complement to BMW’s ActiveE solar offer. Based on their experience in renewable energy, Green Mountain is an ideal partner to support our mission.”

As the world’s most sustainable automotive company, BMW offers more than just an emissions-free electric vehicle. BMW is now expanding the horizon of what electric mobility means by providing ActiveE drivers with the resources to support clean energy with their cars.

“The majority of electricity in the U.S. is generated from non-renewable, fossil fuel sources, so EVs need to be powered with clean, renewable energy to be truly emissions-free,” said Scott Hart, president of Commercial Services for Green Mountain. “BMW is a thought leader in electric vehicle innovation and their desire to ensure ActiveE drivers have the option to support renewable energy further demonstrates the company’s commitment to sustainability.”

The generation of electricity from non-renewable, fossil fuel sources, such as coal, is one of the largest sources of carbon dioxide (CO2), a primary greenhouse gas. For a one-time payment of $48.00, ActiveE drivers can purchase renewable energy certificates (RECs) to ensure the estimated amount of electricity that will be used to charge their vehicle during the lease period is replaced with renewable energy. ActiveE drivers who power their vehicles with renewable energy for the estimated mileage usage will offset 9,900 lbs of CO2 during the course of their two year lease, the equivalent of not driving 11,000 miles in a conventional gas-powered car.

The BMW Group’s commitment to sustainability goes far beyond the automobile. In addition to this opportunity to purchase RECs from Green Mountain, ActiveE drivers can take advantage of a separate BMW offer to further commit to a clean energy lifestyle. As of May 2012, ActiveE drivers can install solar panels on their homes for a discount of approximately 35 percent. With this program, not only are customers receiving lower installation costs, but they are also capitalizing on the opportunity to power their homes – and their zero-emissions BMW ActiveEs – using clean, renewable solar energy. This solar program, along with the new partnership with Green Mountain, demonstrates BMW’s truly holistic approach to sustainable mobility.

Courtesy of: BMW USA News

The new BMW M6. 2012.

The new BMW M6 combines maximum performance and attractiveness the "M" way. The BMW M6 comes as a coupé and convertible to make race-tracks, country roads or city streets a little more elegant. Have a closer look at these two BMW M cars, where people will look at.

BMWs by the Day: A Luxury Feast in Bite-Sized Portions

BMW anticipates the road to ownership will be paved through short-term car rentals.

The automaker is inviting customers in select markets in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut to rent its 328i sedan by the hour, day or week, starting on Aug. 13, through a pilot program called BMW on Demand.

At the outset, 12 dealerships in the New York area will participate, and 100 of the 328i sedans, equipped with a technology package that includes a navigation system, will be rotated based on demand, according to Ed Robinson, president of BMW Financial Services, which oversees the program.

Other BMW models may be added to the mix. Customers must register first, after which they would be directed to Bmwondemandusa.com once the site goes live. Unlike other car-sharing programs, there is no membership fee. Cars are picked up and dropped off at dealerships.

 

BMW, which introduced BMW on Demand first in its home market of Munich two years ago, is looking for a certain clientele of customers who are willing to pay a premium for a luxury car, Mr. Robinson said, because they know they do not have to pay for insurance, maintenance, gas or parking.

“They want the car when they want it,” Mr. Robinson said. “They want a car they can enjoy and that fits their lifestyle.”

The hourly rate is $35 and, if the car is returned by 6 p.m., the daily total is $140, he said. The overnight rate is $210.

The weekend deal allows a Friday afternoon pickup and 9 a.m. Monday drop-off for $350, he said.

Full insurance coverage is included in the rental price, Mr. Robinson said, so customers are covered for liability and bodily injury. A customer involved in an accident would have to pay a $750 deductible for the vehicle, he added.

Of course, New York-area consumers who lust after luxury-brand cars by the hour can rent models like the BMW 328xi and Audi A3 from car-sharing services like Hertz on Demand or Zipcar.com. Mr. Robinson contends, however, that his company is providing more of a luxury experience, with representatives ready to hand over the keys and acquaint renters with their cars.

The BMW test runs for 90 to 120 days, Mr. Robinson said, and the company expects to evaluate whether it will continue and be introduced in other cities.

Meanwhile, over the longer term, Mr. Robinson views the program as a way to provide a more fulfilling test drive experience for potential buyers, who can use the car when and how they want.

“The business model to this is that when you as a customer, who doesn’t have a car today, goes out into the market and decides to purchase a car,” he said, “you are going to be predisposed to BMW.”

BMWs by the Day: A Luxury Feast in Bite-Sized Portions

BMW anticipates the road to ownership will be paved through short-term car rentals.

The automaker is inviting customers in select markets in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut to rent its 328i sedan by the hour, day or week, starting on Aug. 13, through a pilot program called BMW on Demand.

At the outset, 12 dealerships in the New York area will participate, and 100 of the 328i sedans, equipped with a technology package that includes a navigation system, will be rotated based on demand, according to Ed Robinson, president of BMW Financial Services, which oversees the program.

Other BMW models may be added to the mix. Customers must register first, after which they would be directed to Bmwondemandusa.com once the site goes live. Unlike other car-sharing programs, there is no membership fee. Cars are picked up and dropped off at dealerships.

 

BMW, which introduced BMW on Demand first in its home market of Munich two years ago, is looking for a certain clientele of customers who are willing to pay a premium for a luxury car, Mr. Robinson said, because they know they do not have to pay for insurance, maintenance, gas or parking.

“They want the car when they want it,” Mr. Robinson said. “They want a car they can enjoy and that fits their lifestyle.”

The hourly rate is $35 and, if the car is returned by 6 p.m., the daily total is $140, he said. The overnight rate is $210.

The weekend deal allows a Friday afternoon pickup and 9 a.m. Monday drop-off for $350, he said.

Full insurance coverage is included in the rental price, Mr. Robinson said, so customers are covered for liability and bodily injury. A customer involved in an accident would have to pay a $750 deductible for the vehicle, he added.

Of course, New York-area consumers who lust after luxury-brand cars by the hour can rent models like the BMW 328xi and Audi A3 from car-sharing services like Hertz on Demand or Zipcar.com. Mr. Robinson contends, however, that his company is providing more of a luxury experience, with representatives ready to hand over the keys and acquaint renters with their cars.

The BMW test runs for 90 to 120 days, Mr. Robinson said, and the company expects to evaluate whether it will continue and be introduced in other cities.

Meanwhile, over the longer term, Mr. Robinson views the program as a way to provide a more fulfilling test drive experience for potential buyers, who can use the car when and how they want.

“The business model to this is that when you as a customer, who doesn’t have a car today, goes out into the market and decides to purchase a car,” he said, “you are going to be predisposed to BMW.”

2012 BMW M135i

Here is a sign that (1) BMW is still intent on having fun with its ultimate driving machines and (2) it realized quickly that it got it wrong on the 1 Series hatchback redesign and needed to dress it up, literally, to save face. Whatever the justification for its existence, this M135i three-door hatch is as close to outrageously fantastic as the recently decommissioned 1M Coupe.

The new hatch comes with BMW's turbocharged N55 direct-injection 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine producing 315 horsepower at 5,800 rpm – just 20 fewer horses than that 1M Coupe – and exactly the same torque rating of 332 pound-feet between 1,300 and 4,500 rpm. Plus, the M135i weighs a precious 120 pounds less than the 1M, even when carrying the eight-speed Steptronic sport automatic (155 pounds less with the six-speed manual).

Among top-tier hot Euro hatches like this, the M135i is the first one on the field, to be followed by the future Mercedes-Benz A45 AMG, next Audi RS3 and hopefully a worthy MkVII successor to the Volkswagen Golf R32 legacy. Nothing says "niche" like a high-priced 300-hp hatchback, so it's a fool's game. And we feel foolish. You can get the M135i – actually, if you're North American, you cannot get this M135i at all – with the supreme six-speed manual shifter, but BMW had only automated manuals available on our test day in Munich. BMW estimates the manual shifter will get you to 62 miles per hour from a standstill in 5.1 seconds, while the eight-speed automated manual will do it in 4.9. Looks like we've reached a crossroads. How much longer can BMW continue with manual transmissions on any of its mid-to-high powered cars?

The four tires touching the ground on our particular tester were Michelin Pilot Super Sports measuring 225/40ZR18 88Y in front and 245/35ZR18 92Y out back. No matter how much we played with chassis, transmission and traction control settings, the wider rear Michelins just refused to skip a beat unless supremely forced to do so. The rear differential is a pseudo setup that relies on instantaneous but smooth application of the brakes to both minimize understeer and also get you through tougher curves more quickly by keeping the right line. There's also the adaptive M suspension stiffening things up and lowering the car by nearly half an inch. Variable sports steering also comes with this M Performance model, which works intuitively based on the type of driving it senses you are up to.There were several requisite naysayers present while we were testing the M135i who just had to pick on something until it bled, though they purported to "really love the car." Most were noodling around with the suspension settings, saying that things got a bit rough in a few of the calibration combos available.

This is an M Performance car, though, and if it didn't rattle us occasionally, even just a little bit, only then would we be irked. The F21 hatch in M135i trim is so tossable and smooth in transition that we were peeling off almost no momentum in faster sections of road. What came to mind most during these exercises was the naturally aspirated V8 setup of the M3, but really (and appropriately) the M135i falls squarely between the M3 and the total aggression of the 1M Coupe. Through zesty curve combinations, we came away feeling this M135i creation may have done the better job overall versus those other two.A unique bushing strategy throughout the front axle assembly makes a positive driving difference here as well, which is good since the M135i doesn't benefit from the 1M Coupe's dedicated lighter weight alloy assembly. The huge brake discs of the 1M are also not present here, with the M135i settling for a slightly smaller set with four-piston front calipers and two-piston rears, but the braking power is still fine.

While we initially moaned about there being no standard six-speed manual available to test, the behavior of the eight-speed Steptronic, particularly via the shift paddles of the M Sport steering wheel, was never tedious, not even on downshifts to find higher revs going into and through curves. We'd have to see about all that on a closed circuit, but the transmission was honestly terrific out here on roads meant for true sports cars. Pulling the revs higher toward the engine's 7,000 rpm redline while accelerating produces a proper and authoritative upshift, while short shifting under heavy throttle gets a nudge that's understandably a little improper, but all in fair play.The dual sport exhaust on this wee M performs some wonderful orchestral maneuvers of its own. The popping and pipping off throttle is great stuff for the ears, but not self-conscious and overcompensating like, for example, the optional sport exhaust for the new Porsche Boxster S we recently drove. Again, this M Performance treatment is about finding a right balance of supersport in an everyday car, meaning it's not for poseurs either.

One of the sweeter bits of a well laid-out hatchback body is that, should you ever need it, there's a goodly bunch of cargo room, especially when you remove all obstacles behind the front two seats. The space in the new three-door 1 Series ranges from 12.7 cubic feet on up to 42.4 cu-ft, and it is wide, flat and all usable. The three-door version of the M135i is not so impractical as it's cracked up to be.On the exterior, the primary change is one that helps make those large expressionless lights at least fall into a better balance with the rest of the design. The air intakes in the chin spoiler are much larger now, which alters the whole facial expression for the better, much like the 6 Series with its far better M6 face versus the civilian trim cars. The optional 18-inch wheels are a very good choice for the everyday, but 19-inchers would look better in the wheel wells despite the sacrifice to comfort that would be required. Between the lowered chassis and the added flair along the wheelbase, above the rear glass and rear fascia, the 1 Series three-door fills out quite nicely.

Much like BMW is doing with the 3 Series coupe and convertible, renaming them as the 4 Series, the wondrous notchback coupe body and convertible versions of the 1 Series are set to be renamed the 2 Series, which ought to show up in time for deliveries in early 2014. So while we are not getting this M135i hatch in North America, BMW is instead formulating an M235i coupe for us that will follow on the spiritual heels of the 1M Coupe.Messing around with cross-ocean mathematics a bit, this M135i three-door in base setup would start around $37,000 USD, roughly $10,000 less than the 1M... before dealer markup.

Europeans should also have the choice of both an all-wheel-drive version of the M135i as well as a five-door body by November of this year. It is doubtful that all of these 1 variations will reach North America when the M235i starts its commercial life, but at least the BMW experts didn't laugh in our faces when we asked, so consider that all yet to be determined.

The M135i, the second official model from the newly coined M Performance group following the recent launch of the M550d sedan, is bringing us closer to being convinced that this whole new effort isn't just for marketing and profits. The cars being thought up are, at least so far, refreshingly quirky in their packaging and tech mix. And very Euro, which is why we can't wait for this exact powertrain on the new architecture of the Yankee-bound 2 Series.

Ex-BMW styling boss Chris Bangle gets Lifetime Achievement from Eyes On Design [w/video]

Even to casual car enthusiasts, Chris Bangle needs no introduction. One of the most controversial designers of all time, the "Bangle Butt" redesign of the BMW 7 Series is still hotly debated even today. Introduced in 2002 during Bangle's tenure as chief designer at BMW, the E65 7 Series only began to develop Bangle's new design language for BMW, later dubbed "flame surfacing." Whether you love or hate his work – and there seems to be no middle ground – the man's influence is undeniable. Many manufacturers have since borrowed aspects of his designs for their own vehicles.
It's only fitting, then, that the 25th anniversary Eyes On Design car show should award Bangle its prestigious Lifetime Design Achievement Award. Held each summer at the Edsel and Eleanor Ford House just outside Detroit in Grosse Pointe Shores, Eyes On Design is a real insiders club, in that only those designers who have won the Lifetime Design Achievement Award are eligible to vote.

While we knew Bangle would be receiving this award from his peers since November 2011, the actual ceremony was held this past weekend at the Detroit Yacht Club. Retired Ford designer Jack Telnack, General Motors design chief Ed Welburn, and Ford director of exterior design Joel Piaskowski were among those who spoke. Bangle joins a pretty famous crew of past award winners, including Italian design legends Giorgetto Giugiaro and the recently deceased Sergio Pininfarina, William "Willy" G. Davidson of Harley-Davidson, and former Chrysler and GM "car guy in chief" Bob Lutz.

Our Technicians love BMW so much, they service them for free.

Report: BMW 7-Series may get M treatment, details on next gen 7

Automotive news outlets around the world have all heard through the grapevine that BMW was considering the thought of producing an M-tuned 7-Series.

While Mercedes-Benz kept the full-sized luxury Autobahn-stormer segment alive with their AMG S-Class, Audi with their S8, Jaguar with their XJR, and now, Porsche with their Panamera, the only one who seems to be lagging behind are Lexus and BMW—Alpina B7 excluded, as BMW’s M-Division has no connection to that car.

Some new reports are out are suggesting that BMW may perhaps get a little closer to producing an M7, though, not quite exactly. To be more specific, the BMW 7-Series will soon be offered with a special M-Package, donning a name that seems to have been chosen by picking a random name in a hat: “M770i xDrive.” I can already sense the cringing from the BMW enthusiasts…

The reports say that this new M770i xDrive will don a 4.0L twin-turbocharged V8 that will produce 475hp and 480 lb-ft of torque.  Right off of the bat, those numbers don’t best the 7-Series’ top dog, the V12 powered 760Li, which produces 570hp and a whopping 665 lb-ft of twist.

And that’s because this new M770i xDrive has been described to be much more like an agile 7-Series. That may seem like a bit of an oxymoron, but the Germans have clearly proven that they could make a land yacht quick on its feet, much like a 280-pound linebacker.

The roof, trunk, and hood are said to be composed of carbon fiber, while other weight saving technologies will also be found. To add, the same sources of the reports also said that the next generation 7-Series will feature carbon fiber architecture, while the rest of the car will be composed mostly of aluminum, and a dollop of steel.

Speaking of which, other details have been shared surrounding the next generation 7-Series, which may include a 260hp four-cylinder, two plug-in electric variants, as well as the traditional inline-six and V8 powered 7-Series. Lastly, the next gen 7 is also expected to get ZF’s all-new nine-speed automatic.

Goodyear uses the old "surprise gymkhana road test with stunt driver" routine

It's a familiar tactic: if you want a customer to know what a car can do, you've got to get them in it and take them for a ride. To truly impress a customer, though, you've got to take them, *ahem,* for a ride. It works so well that NASCAR driver Carl Edwards recently did it with Ford engineers in a Taurus SHO – the very sedan those engineers worked on.

So when Goodyear wanted to show off the finer attributes of its Eagle F1 Asymmetric All-Season tire, it grabbed Ben Conrad, director of Ken Block's last two Gymkhana videos, to choreograph some shenanigans. A Goodyear tire store in California was used as bait – an actor posed as a salesman who got his fellow store helper, professional stunt driver Danny Downey, to take customers for a little demo in a BMW.

We don't know what the conversion rate was, but there were probably a few tires sold that day. Have a look below to watch the videos.

Tackling the Tail of the Dragon with a flock of Minis

Tucked on the western edge of North Carolina in the Great Smoky Mountains is a strip of road that has more curves than the Playboy Mansion on movie night, and, most likely, is more fun: The Tail of the Dragon.

It's a mere 11-mile stretch of US 129, this cambered ribbon of asphalt that weaves back and forth 318 times along trails that began hundreds of years ago. Indians, settlers and civil war troops all made their way through this mountainside pass through Deals Gap that legend says began as an animal trail.

None of them had as much fun on it as I did Friday along with the hundreds of other drivers on the Mini Takes the States road rally. We were heading to Nashville but took the long way there to drive the Dragon. As in life, road trips deserve the long route, and some of the best things come during detours.

Simply put: The Tail of the Dragon is one of the most exciting pieces of American roadway ever. Under the shade of poplars and kudzu, bikers, drivers and others ready themselves to dash through the public road, hoping to beat the Dragon and, often enough, the police setting up ticket factories for the 35-mph stretch of road.

The advice was straightforward: Don't drive beyond your means. If someone is coming up quickly behind you, pull over at the next available spot and let the driver pass. Stick to second gear, sometimes third will do. And make sure everything is secure inside your vehicle – if it's not, you'll learn that your cabin is about to become a pinball machine.Friday, my whip was a 2011 Mini Countryman S with all-wheel drive. It was the perfect low-speed, high-performance vehicle that stuck to the corners like barbeque sauce to a pulled pork sandwich (exactly the lunch I chowed down a few minutes before heading down the Tail – which, after completing the run, I would not recommend).

In June, two people died on the Tail. This is serious.

Now, I'm not crazy behind the wheel. In fact, driving-wise, I'm as conservative as I imagine many of those ministers are who fill the countless churches I saw through the foothills of the Smokys.

But still, the Tail tests everyone. The curves are sharper than you expect, there never seems to be a rhyme or reason to them and it's impossible to focus on anything else. In June, two people died on the Tail. This is serious.

Nonetheless, I did what any other red-blooded American would do facing this type of course. I gunned the Countryman and let 'er rip.That's where I learned, when you start to bite into the Tail, it bites back. The road is extremely narrow and the shoulder is either the face of the mountain or a long drop down it. There's no cheating by crossing the yellow line because when you do, there's always someone else coming right at you. Almost every corner is blind, which is probably why they have names like Horns of the Dragon, The Wall and Rocket Corner. I'm surprised they didn't have names like Miss-Shift Death or Quarter Panel Crusher.

Every turn requires absolute concentration, and if you don't give it your all, you'll feel your car quickly losing speed because of an improper shift or an unnecessarily hard brake. I'll readily admit, I misjudged more than a few corners as I raced through the Tail, one eye on the road, one eye searching for flashing blue lights. At one point, I briefly looked up and saw that one police officer had pulled over an entire motorcycle club, which is one of the moments I knew I could speed up. He was, after all, very busy.Every now and then, I would hit my downshift perfectly as I pushed into the curve. The 1.6-liter turbocharged engine of the Countryman would whine with delight as its 181 horsepower and 177 pound-feet of torque grabbed all four-wheels and chewed at the asphalt. I was cornering on those invisible rails you always hear us auto journalists ramble on about. The stiff body never gave an inch and I could feel my body push against the seat. The pulled pork sandwich rebelled a little in my tightening stomach, allowing me to taste just a whiff of it again.

Most of all, I liked the unwritten code of the road along the Tail of the Dragon. Twice, motorcycles zoomed up behind me, and as soon as possible, I would make my way to a small asphalt or gravel perch and let them pass. Later, when I raced up behind a pickup truck, that driver did the same for me. I also passed two motorcycles, meaning I gave up position to two vehicles and got position on three (if you include the motorcycle in the bed of the pickup, it was four.) So I figured I was up and never during the run was I delayed.Of course, I could have gone quicker.

Everyone thinks that when they finish the Tail for the first time. But really, I could hardly remember any of the turns or corners after I finished. Your concentration is so focused on what's in front of you, you don't have time to download all of the information for your memory. You just get through this corner and move onto the next.
After I stopped near Fugitive's Dam, the unofficial end of the run (and the place from which Harrison Ford, while searching for a one-armed man, jumped in The Fugitive), I already started to kick myself over how I could have done this or that better. Of course I could have.

We all could. But no one tames the Dragon on the first run. Some of the Mini owners on the rally have driven the Tail dozens of times. They have never mastered it, either.

But they'll keep trying: Again and again and again.

BMW Guggenheim LAB Berlin. Starting.

Opening of the BMW Guggenheim Lab in Berlin, presenting the program, the team and the background of the lab

BMW and Toyota to partner on sports car and EV tech

If you are any other carmaker, this is really not what you want to hear on a Friday morning: The industry's 800-pound gorilla and one of its most profitable brands are joining forces. If you are an enthusiast (or environmentalist), however, the would-be products of this collaboration may have you cheering like a Miami Heat fan.

While details are admittedly scarce, the notion of BMW and Toyota throwing in on a sports car has us tickled, especially considering how well the Japanese giant's liaison with Subaru to produce the BRZ and Scion FR-S has turned out. The other aspects of this just-announced BMW-Toyota agreement – a fuel cell system, powertrain electrification and lightweighting technology – make the project sound even more like the stuff of dreams. The expansive partnership builds on a deal between the two automakers brokered in March to collaborate on next-generation lithium-ion batteries.

Count us among those waiting with bated breath to see whether they come true.

For more details, scroll down to read BMW's official press release.

BMW Group and Toyota Motor Corporation agree to further strengthen collaboration

29.06.2012

Companies sign MoU aimed at collaboration in four fields of technology

Tokyo/Munich. Akio Toyoda, President of Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC), met today with Norbert Reithofer, Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG, at BMW Group headquarters in Munich to announce the planned expansion of their existing cooperation initiated in December last year. The two companies signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at long-term strategic collaboration in four fields: joint development of a fuel cell system, joint development of architecture and components for a future sports vehicle, collaboration on powertrain electrification and joint research and development on lightweight technologies.

Also today, Norbert Reithofer and Akio Toyoda of TMC both signed a Joint Statement to reconfirm their companies' shared intention to strengthen the long-term, strategic collaboration between them.

Reithofer said: "We aim to further strengthen our competitive position in sustainable future technologies. We signed an MoU to this effect today. Toyota and the BMW Group share the same strategic vision of sustainable individual future mobility. Together we have a great opportunity to continue leading our industry through this transformation."

Toyoda added: "BMW and Toyota both want to make ever-better cars. We respect each other. And I think this is shown by our taking the next step only six months since the signing of our initial agreement. Toyota is strong in environment-friendly hybrids and fuel cells. On the other hand, I believe BMW's strength is in developing sports cars. I am excited to think of the cars that will result from this relationship."

In March 2012, the BMW Group and TMC signed a binding agreement on collaborative research in the field of next-generation lithium-ion battery cells. In addition, the BMW Group and Toyota Motor Europe entered into a contract under which the BMW Group will supply highly-efficient 1.6 litre and 2.0 litre diesel engines to Toyota Motor Europe, starting in 2014.

Today's MoU represents the companies' agreement in December last year to identify and discuss other possible collaborative projects.