BMW M Models 2006 News

The new M5 is out testing every week at the Nurburgring and, despite heavy camouflage, Carparazzi has caught it clearly. These pictures show a car which still has some plastic cladding but has also picked up BMW's signature ‘psychedelic’ body wrapping to disguise its final lines. Even so, the shape of the front bumper and fascia, and the size of the giant new air intakes, is clear. They point more than ever to the use of a hot new engine, confirming talk from Germany that BMW is switching the M5 to the 4.4-litre twin- turbo engine already used in the M-power versions of the X6 and X5 SUVs. It makes more than 410kW, a little short of the V10 power in the latest Audi RS6 but with more torque than the outgoing V10 in the current M5. There is also a hint of a power bulge on the bonnet of the new M5, which would be needed as the layout for BMW's engine has the twin turbochargers tucked into the vee at the top of the engine. It is fine for clearance in the X6 and X5 but would call for more space in a low-line 5 Series sedan. Apart from the engine, the pictures point to the M division's signature four exhaust pipes at the back, as well as large cross-drilled brakes at each corner of the car.

Well that's one of the rumours coming out of Europe as BMW's M division moves into top gear for the next-generation M5. Unlike typical regenerative braking systems, KERS uses the stored energy for extra power and the touch of a button. The next-generation 5 Series upon which the M5 is based is expected to be shown at this year's Frankfurt Motor Show with the M5 expected to follow late next year or early 2011. BMW Australia's Toni Andreevski says he's not aware of the next-generation's M5's specification, or powerplants. Some reports have suggested BMW will downsize from the massive V10 to a twin-turbo V8 while other sources are suggesting the V10 will grow in capacity to 5.5-litres developing around 410kW and introduce direct injection and turbocharging. "Whether or not the new M5 would have a smaller overall capacity or less cylinders, I guess the first priority is to make sure the performance meets what an M5 buyer expects," Andreevski says.

The new car market is facing the doldrums, but BMW will inject some red-hot summer sizzle to the family sports saloon mix next weekend (SUBS Nov 22) with the launch of its first - for Australia - M3 with four doors. The sports saloon market has been dominated by the potent 6.2-litre Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG saloon, leaving rival BMW out in the cold with nothing in its weaponry to counter. But that's all about to change. BMW's 4.0-litre V8-packing M3 sedan will join the M3 coupe and cabriolet to give its German rival a serious run for its money. The M3 saloon will hit the streets running with, according to BMW, a price advantage over C63 AMG - but that depends on how you look at it. The Benz sells for $144,365 and comes with a seven-speed auto G-tronic transmission. The base M3 with a six-speed manual box has been priced at $145,000 which is $17,901 under the M3 coupe and $31,142 cheaper than the M3 cabriolet. But the M3 saloon fitted with BMW's new Getrag seven-speed dual clutch robotised sequential manual/auto is priced at $152,309. BMW charges a hefty $7309 just for the sequential box. BMW spokesman Toni Andreevski says the M3 manual still holds a price advantage over the C63 AMG: "The M3 saloon comes standard with a rear locking axle which Benz sells as a $5826 option and our saloon has keyless entry; Benz charges $1800 for that as an option and there's no 19-inch alloy wheel availability on the Mercedes." BMW sells the optional larger wheels for an extra $4000. The five-seater M3 offers serious performance from its 309kW V8 with 400Nm on tap which redlines at 8400rpm. Andreevski expects most buyers will opt for the dearer version of the M3 because it packs more performance for less fuel usage over the manual. The dual clutch model is marginally quicker, if set in launch mode, taking a claimed 4.7 seconds to hit 100km/h; the conventional manual takes 4.9 seconds. BMW says the semi-auto is rated at 11.9l/100km, while the best the manual can do is 12.4l/100km. Standard gear includes a brake regeneration system which recharges the battery on overrun or braking, and 18-inch alloys shod with 245/40 ZR-rated rubber up front and 265/40s in the rear. The optional 19-inch alloys have an even lower profile, with 345/35 up front and 265/35 in the rear. The saloon also boasts a full satellite navigation system with 8.8-inch colour monitor, TV, LOGIC7 hi-fi, bi-Xenon headlamps, Novillo leather upholstery, and M-seats which are power adjustable and heated.    

   

The 3 Series sedan, Touring (wagon) and Coupe all get the treatment to enhance buyers' choice. The M Sports package offered on the 3 Series Coupe is for drivers who want to get some of the reflected glory of the potent M3 model. Yet the M Sports pack is not just dress-up; it promises extra grip through larger wheels and tyres and lowered, sports suspension. The M Sports pack is available on the BMW Coupes in 323i, 325i and the exciting twin-turbo 335i versions at a premium of $6200, $4700 and $2600. The price varies because of the standard equipment on those models. The M Sports pack has asymmetric 18-inch diameter wheels. These are 8J wide for the front with 225/40 tyres, while at the rear the wheels are 8.5J and are fitted with 255/35 tyres. An option is 19-inch alloys; 8J at the front with 225/35 tyres and 9J at the rear with 255/35 tyres. The sports suspension, which is part of the pack, lowers the Coupe by 15mm. The M Sports pack brings a more aggressive design to the front of the Coupe, including larger intakes. It has sideskirts and distinctive rear bumper panels to aid aerodynamics. Inside, the pack adds sports seats to give greater lateral support when cornering and a leather-clad steering wheel with leather touches on the shift lever and handbrake. The M Sports pack can be ordered on BMW 3 Series Coupes from November. An Individual Luminance Edition is available on 3 Series sedans; bringing special exterior paint and higher levels of luxury. Seats and door inserts have Merino (cattle) leather. Sports seats and luxury steering wheel add to the package, which costs $7500. The Individual Luminance can be ordered on all 3 Series sedans; 320i, 320d, 323i, 325i and 335i.  

While Andretti's comments were motor racing-related they conversely were relevant to road car technology. Sitting in the lagoon restaurant of the Marriott Hotel at Surfers Paradise, Andretti was having a good old natter about whether driving skill has been taken away in this age of electronic overload. “I look at the computer as a tool and I've said it a thousand times, a tool to advance your knowledge.” The 1978 F1 world champion qualified his opinion by saying “a computer does not do the work for you — it gives you information. “But you have to ask the computer what you want to know therefore it's not a substitute for what you know.” That conversation was recalled when a letter to the editor in an issue of Forbes magazine in March appeared where a reader proclaimed his horror at electronic advances in cars. He wrote: “Allowing software unfettered control of our automobiles removes one of our chief assets; human decision making.” Well thanks for coming and don't mind us because for all the fancy pants technology there isn't a car you can buy that does the driving for you. The letter writer suggested if a child stood in the middle of the road and a car was programmed not to swerve into another car then it may instead swerve towards the child and put it at risk of being run over. One car which ranks as a gold medallist in terms of electronic wizardry, if not complexity, is BMW's M6 convertible. For $296,000 there are a trillion things you can program it to do — but you can't program it to run over a human. The M6 soft top possesses the same complex and sometimes awkward SMG Drivelogic 7-speed transmission attached to the 5-litre V10 engine as the hell-raising M5. But the real trickery is in the spider's web framework of M car's software. The driver has an arsenal of tricks from which to chose, depending on mood, road conditions or whether you can hire a track for a day to let the full complement of the M6's considerable athletic juices flow. There are a welter of different settings to suit your taste with the EDC (Electronic Damper Control) smoothing, or firming, ride in three distinct settings. The SMG gearbox is good for 11 different driving programs — six for manual S mode and five in automatic or D mode. Most are plain useless and make you wonder why BMW don't simplify the whole deal and cut the number of settings to normal, sporty, and hyper performance, for example. In sequential mode, the pure driving program is position six and this can only be activated if Dynamic Stability Control is switched off. The magic button to cut all the nonsensical steps you have to take to personalise the settings is M on the steering wheel. Press M (the “magic button”) and it lights everything up like a pinball machine. It gives you an instant extra 100bhp to lift maximum grunt to a neat 500bhp or 373kW, it firms up the dampers to their hardest setting and it gives you the maximum position of the Drivelogic gearbox. Whammo, everything is instantly maxxed out for a red-hot launch. All this smart-alec stuff is no gimmick. The personna of the M6 softtop changes from a little old woman shuffling down the street to a manic pole dancer on an endless prescription of No-Doz. Trying to convey the extent of the grip levels, the integrity of the rebound damping and the quality of the meaty steering feel of this convertible in words seems impossible. You need to taste the real thing to fully understand how the ragtop M6 can transfer all of its considerable energy on to the road with prodigious ease. In fact the dare is to find a road where you can explore the car's limits and the truth is they are few and far between. What helps harness all the brutality is the tricky M differential lock that keeps torque nice and balanced while it feeds varying amounts of torque to the rear driven wheels. That is one of the main reasons why the M6 convertible is such a traction attraction. Flaws in rigidity are always the issue with softtops but flex and shake here is negligible and you really need to be a test engineer who knows how to lap the Nordschleife blindfolded to detect any weakness. The M6 fires from 0-100km/h in less than 5sec but it does not lose marks when it comes to changing direction. Blip the right peg and the induction note and exhaust note coming from the four barrels sticking out the rear spoiler are infectious. This ballistic convertible is simply a car for all seasons, all conditions. It is as comfortable trucking along the city grind as it is in the spaghetti twists. Every now and then you need to glance at the head-up display that beams a colourful graphic of revs, speed and gear selection on to the windscreen. Of course all this silky performance is backed up by a braking package that can bring the M6 convertible to a stop from 100km/h in 36 metres. The two-stage brake lighting display is handy in stop-go traffic particularly if you need to give the pedal a serious nudge in a hurry which is when the area of brake lights grows more intense. Removing the carbon fibre roof that defines the M6 coupe has lost little in the way of dynamics. This V10 is a weapon and like many supercars these days, they are engineered to be driven way above what is socially acceptable on public roads. Expect to clock up the fly-buy points big-time at the petrol bowser as this is a demon on the drink and shows no respect for premium petrol prices heading towards $1.50 a litre. This test car averaged 19-litres/100km on a 450km drive that comprised 300km of 110km/h running and the rest in stop/start weekday traffic. Separately, a spirited run on fast winding back roads lifted the guzzle-rate to well over 20litres/100km. The M6 convertible is not a car for everyone, the price alone backing up that statement. But it is a car you need to spend a lot of time in if you are to have any chance of becoming intimate with the performance and electronic gadgetry. You need to tell it what to do in order for you to extract the best from the experience and learn what particular settings work best in particular environments. And for that, the BMW M6 convertible is truly gifted.

Chris Bangle had just demonstrated how to make a perfectly symmetrical origami-style dinghy out of a sheet of paper when he glanced over his shoulder to gaze at one of Australia's most recognisable structures."That building, design, shape and form is an icon," Bangle says of the Opera House from his vantage point on the far side of the Quay. "Look at some of the other buildings on the Sydney skyline: they haven't the same effect or lasting design."The Opera House was a huge departure from conventional design, the striking spherical shells making it one of the most prominent designs of the 20th century. When it opened in 1973 it was widely accepted as an iconic structure; quite the opposite to the impact Bangle had on the car world with his radical design direction at the once ultra-conservative BMW at the start of the 21st century.Bangle, the world's pre-eminent car designer, was in Sydney last week for the motor show. And there was intense interest in him for causing the greatest stir in recent automotive history. Bangle rose to fame or infamy — depending on which side of the fence you sit — with his self-proclaimed "flame design", first shown to the world with the arrival of the E65 7-series in 2001.It was revised last year with the E66 sporting a smoother rump, the infamous "Bangle Butt" having some cosmetic surgery.Bangle-hate websites have sprung up since he headed off in his radical mish-mash of concave and convex lines that filtered through to the 5-series and Z4 roadster and coupe. They're full of nasty stuff, some personally attacking American-born Bangle, others calling for his axing from the Munich maker.Bangle acknowledges the wave of protest, admitting he looks into the often murky world of the worldwide web."I look at them. I don't bathe myself in them but I certainly look," Bangle says."You know Andy Warhol said everyone will have their 15 minutes of fame in the future and it's just that I got in before a lot of people," he chuckles."But seriously (websites) are like the faceless media, its a one-way discussion and it's like a wall coming at you."I think in the future everyone is going to have their own hate website and we're just seeing the beginning of it."Bangle qualifies his response by saying he is not immune to criticism."I think criticism is OK, it's healthy as long as there is open dialogue," he says.The car world has to some degree lessened its dislike of the so-called Bangle angles.And Bangle, 50, is very much in-demand on the speaking circuit. In Melbourne recently, Bangle addressed a gathering at the national design centre at Federation Square.He says Australia has a lot to offer the world from a design point of view."You know a lot of the magazines I pick up in Europe say that Australia is the most influential place for residential architecture."I hope to pick up some ideas from my first visit here and take them back and maybe put them to use in the car world," Bangle says.As with most designers in the game, Bangle is totally absorbed by cars. But he is more than simply a one-dimensional character.He used his 50th birthday on October 14 as a premise to throw a party around his personal art exhibition in Munich."I showed 130 pieces of my art collection from portraits and sculptures and had 270 people show up," Bangle says.Among three pieces auctioned on the night with money going to Medicins Sans Frontieres was a steel sculpture reflecting Bangle's trademark flame design.Age has given him a new urgency as one of the most powerful figures in car design: "I guess my sense of impatience has increased in terms of where the industry's going."Bangle's unconventional designs have polarised opinion on the BMW family's looks.He does not see the revision to the 7-series last year as an indication that his styling went too far. "It was half-time in the model cycle and a time for second helpings," Bangle says. "You use those moments to harmonise the whole family and the 7-series is now that much more elegant."

And the orders and interest in prestige and luxury brands has continued with stand managers claiming an increase in figures, despite a slight decline in overall attendance.The Mercedes SL500 was bought by a customer who was part of a group of VIP guests and has since sold four more models."We're generally generating around 45 to 50 leads of interest every single day during the motor show," Mercedes Benz spokesman Peter Fadeyev said.The new Bentley GT Continental Convertible has also generated a lot of interest with its first appearance at the Darling Harbour event.Bentley spokesman David Jackson said up to six orders have already been taken for the $400,000 car."We generate a huge proportion of enquiries from the motor show and we sell a lot of cars as a result of it," he said yesterday.Two Ferrari 599 GTBs, worth $700,000 each, have been sold while on display in Australia for the first time.Audi spokeswoman Anna Burgdorf said there has been a lot of interest in its R8, with 10 strong leads and major interest in the much-anticipated new TT model.BMW has already sold two cars from its stand and has generated a lot of interest in the coupes and M6. What's on today* The third nightly fashion parade features Sydney designer Nicola Finetti, noted for high fashion and cocktail wear. There will be two shows at the Saab stand at 6.30pm and 7.30pm.* When: 10am-10pm* Where: Darling Harbour Exhibition Centre* Tickets: Adults $17, 5-16 $10.50, under 5 free, family (2 adults and 3 children) $42* Follow the show online at the official Australian Motor Show website

The Volkswagen Eos, BMW's M6 Convertible, Volvo's second-generation C70 and the Alfa Romeo Spider all debuted at the Show."Australia's deepening love affair with convertibles reflects the strong growth of the market segment," says FCAI chief executive Peter Sturrock."The Australian International Motor Show is the perfect forum for the latest convertibles to hit our shores - to showcase to the public their individual advances in technology, styling and performance," he said.Volkswagen is setting a world first with its new Eos - a four-seater with a five-section CSC hardtop convertible roof.Together with its length and height, the vehicle's width lends the Eos a powerful stance that contributes to the car's extra agility and safe handling.Another four-seater to be revealed at the motor show is BMW's M6 Convertible, featuring its internationally acclaimed five-litre V10 engine.Producing a massive 373kW, the M6 engine accelerates from 0-100km/h in 4.8 seconds.The M6 Convertible has the same performance package as its coupe counterpart in addition to the styling cues that clearly identify it as the work of BMW.Volvo's much anticipated second-generation C70 convertible, to be unveiled for the first time in Australia at the motor show, features a three-piece folding hardtop, which converts the car from coupe to convertible in less than 30 seconds.The new C70 offers comfortable interior space and world-first safety for four passengers.The motor show will also see the return of the Alfa Romeo Spider in a new-generation form.The rear of the new version of the classic two-seater sports car has been redesigned to focus attention on its open-top character.

Never mind the sunburn — from $35,000 to nearly $300,000,open cars are being lined up for eager buyers.The flood of new models is heating up the rivalry between traditional fabric-roofed convertibles and a new breed with foldaway hardtops.Holden, Volvo and VW will make the switch from their soft-tops to solid roofs as replacement models arrive.Mitsubishi is joining the trend, with an open-air version of its Colt hatchback due next month. The Italian-made cabriolet, expected to cost $35,000, will have a retractable hard roof.And Mazda is having an each-way bet. Its traditional canvas-topped MX-5 — billed as the world's best-selling roadster — has been joined by a folding hardtop version, called the roadster coupe.The $47,660 "coupe", costing $2930 more than the basic model, has a composite plastic roof that folds away in 12 seconds, claimed by Mazda to be the fastest in its class.MX-5 program manager Takao Kijima said he expected traditional enthusiasts to prefer the soft-top original."Even so, there are many potential customers who . . . have hesitated because of concerns about security and comfort."Mazda expects 60 per cent of MX-5 buyers in Australia to take the hardtop.The latest fabric-roofed models to arrive are the Audi A4 (from $83,000) and the Chrysler PT Cruiser cabriolet (from $36,000).On the way late this year is the Alfa Romeo Spider, based on the Italian marque's new Brera coupe, expected to be $70,000-plus.The soft-top ranks will be further boosted in December when Mini introduces a new cabriolet version, called the Chilli, from $41,100.And Sweden's Saab is marking 20 years of convertible production by releasing a $68,400 anniversary model.Holden dealers say the present Astra soft-top — now $39,990, a $6000 price cut — is to be replaced by a radically different TwinTop, so named because of its two-piece solid folding roof. It is expected to be unveiled late next month, and be on sale for summer.Mercedes-Benz already has both fabric-roofed (CLK) and hard-top (SLK, SL) convertibles.In the extra-pricey league, Audi says it will introduce a high-performance version of the A4, the $187,500 RS4, in January.Only 25 V8-powered cars will be imported from Germany, and the company says it has 15 orders already.Its rival, BMW, is to introduce an M6 convertible with a 10-cylinder engine, expected to cost about $290,000 and arrive before Christmas.Safety-minded Volvo has a second-generation C70 convertible on the way, introducing a three-piece steel roof in place of the previous model's fabric top. The five-cylinder model will be priced from $69,950.Early next year, VW is to release the Eos, a larger hardtop model replacing the fabric-roofed Golf convertible. The VW is likely to be the first convertible to have a diesel engine as an option.FAST FACTSMitsubishi Colt Cabriolet-Turbocharged 1.5-litre MIVEC engine.-110kW (150hp) @ 6000rpm and 210Nm of torque @ 3500rpm.-18-inch alloy wheels.Audi A4 Cabriolet-1.8T with 120 kW and 225 Nm.-new 3.2 FSI petrol direct injection V6 is also now available with 188 kW and 330 Nm.-$83,400 and $107,800 for the 4-cylinder and V6 models respectively.PT Cruiser Cabrio-power-folding soft retractable roof, which can be raised or lowered in just 10 seconds.-normally-aspirated 2.4-litre petrol engine.-105 KW at 5, 200 rpm and 214 Nm of torque @ 4,000 rpm.-16" alloy wheels.-$35,890Alfa Romeo Spider-3.2 JTS V6 and 2.2 JTS.-twin phaser continuous variator for control of the intake and exhaust valves.-191kW and 136kW.-Q4 permanent AWD.-0-100 km/hr in 7 seconds.-18” sport or multispoke.-$70,000-plusMini Chilli-1.6 litre, 4 cylinder/16 V.-85 kW (115 hp) at 6000 rpm.-150 Nm at 4500 rpm.-0-100 km/hr: 9.1 s.-top speed: 200 km/h.-$41,100Saab limited edition 20th Anniversary-turbocharged 2.0 L.-110 kW and a powerful 240 Nm of torque.-five-speed automatic transmission.-17-inch alloy wheels.-$68,400Astra Twintop-petrol and diesel.-77 to 147kW (105 to 200hp), with the top-of-the-line 2.0-litre turbo motor reaching a top speed of over 230 km/h.-two-piece electro-hydraulic retractable steel roof.-likely to be named 'Astra Convertible' in Australia.Mercedes CLK-5.5-litre V8 engine powering the CLK 500 (peak torque of 530 Nm).-0-100 km/h takes just 5.2 seconds.-top speed is 220 km/h (electronically limited).-CLK 63 AMG uses AMG 6.3-litre V8 engine and produces 354 kW of power and a peak torque 630 Nm.-CLK 200 KOMPRESSOR: $99,400-CLK 280: $109,100-CLK 350: $134,100-CLK 500: $163,100-CLK 63 AMG: $213,100SLK SL class-285 kW and 530Nm.-V8 engine in the SL 500.-0-100 km/h in 5.4 seconds.-six-cylinder engine in the SL 350 is another new unit, with 200-kW V6, and accelerates from 0-100 km/h in 6.6 seconds.-SL 600 has a V12 biturbo engine, with output of 380 kW and torque of 830Nm. Accelerates 0-100 km/h in 4.5 seconds.SL 350: $214,900SL 500: $299,900SL 600: $374,900SL 55 AMG: $374,900SL 65 AMG: $457,900Audi RS4-4.2 FSI V8 engine-V8 engine with an output of 309 kW and peak torque of 430 Nm at 5,500 rpm.-electro-hydraulic hood can be opened entirely automatically in 21 seconds and can be operated up to speeds of 30 km/h.-$187,500BMW M6-5.0-litre V10.-373 kW, 507 bhp, 520Nm.-0-100 km/h in 4.8 seconds with the standing-start kilometre completed in 22.9 seconds.-top speed limited electronically to 250 km/h.Volvo C70LE-2.4 (125kW), 170hp, 230Nm.-5-cylinder petrol.-0-100km: 10s (auto).-Max speed: 215km/hr (auto).-$69,950.00-T5-5-cylinder turbo charged petrol.-162kW, 220 hp, 320Nm.-0-100km/hr: 8s (auto).-Max speed: 235 km/hr (auto).-$79,950.00-VW Eos-two engines are available: a 2.0-liter turbo 4-cylinder motor putting out 200 horsepower and a 3.2L VR6 motor that makes 250 horsepower.-200hp 2.0T FSI or a 250hp 3.2l VR6 FSI (according to current data for the US market).-five-section roof structure with glass/sliding/tilting roof integrated as standard