BMW X Models 2008 News

Just in time to be the latest status symbol for summer.The X6 is an unlikely marriage between an X5 SUV (on which it's based) and a 6 Series coupe, producing a supersized offspring.This is niche marketing at its best, a low-volume model targeting a specific but high-profile audience. BMW has even coined a new designer name: the Sports Activity Coupe.Calling it a coupe may be a bit of marketing tongue-in-cheek, but in Europe, where it has only been on sale for a couple of months, it's been getting plenty of nods of approval and attracting plenty of head turning.The X6 xDrive 50i, priced at $145,000, joins the lesser-powered bi-turbo six-cylinder petrol ($114,705) and diesel ($120,530) which gives BMW a three-model line-up to steal sales from rivals, Porsche and Range Rover.BMW is still counting the numbers but says it has already found homes for about 105 of the six-cylinder X6s. It has tipped total X6 sales for the year will exceed 300 with the arrival of the V8 in three months time.Those sales are predicted to rise to between 400 and 500 wagons next year.And who is buying it? Obviously those with plenty of testosterone in reserve.BMW spokesman Toni Andreevski says the X6 will appeal to Range Rover or Porsche buyers or those seeking a more macho wagon than conventional SUVs such as the X5 which attracts women drivers.“We see it appealing to people like 911 owners who want a second car, one which seats more than two and has the luggage space so they can take their friends down to their yacht, or away for a skiing weekend,” Andreevski says.The X6 is anything but conventional; purists would argue it is not a coupe because it has four doors, the plump styling with its dramatically sloping rear roof line is, to be polite, challenging. It only seats four, rear head room is passable, the view through the letterbox rear window is almost non-existent and the V8 is less than green friendly.But while history is littered with one-hit wonders it also shows some of the world's greatest cars were less than conventional, so BMW may have the last laugh after all.There's no question the X6 packs an awesome punch: the direct injection, twin turbo (one for each cylinder bank) 4.4-litre V8 is a first from BMW. Neatly tucked away under the bonnet, the V8 provides 300kW and 600Nm of torque to play with through a six-speed sequential auto transmission.Peak torque is on tap from 1750 to 4500rpm, providing wonderful flexibility and outstanding sports car-like performance. The same engine, slightly detuned, will also be used in the next Seven Series due next year.BMW points to its “frugal” fuel consumption (a relative description for such a powerful all-wheel drive vehicle that weighs in at over two tonnes) of 13.8 litres per 100km.On fuel consumption and gas emissions the X6 however betters the naturally aspirated Porsche Cayenne (15.1 litres per 100km; 361g/km) and the Range Rover supercharged Sport (15.9 litres per 100km; 374g/km).It's also more powerful, in both peak kilowatts and torque, than its rivals.While X6, governed to 250km/h, can't quite match the maximum speed of the Cayenne, it is quicker in acceleration, taking a claimed 5.4 seconds to hit 100km/h.As for the drive? The X6 is both remarkable and a little annoying. You would expect a cumbersome looking all-wheel wagon to be a pig when pushed. Far from it. There's sports car handling in its road manners.That is helped of course by its power and torque output, but that's all well managed on the road thanks to some very clever electronics that BMW has used.While xDrive distributes drive between front and rear axles, the really smart bit is the inclusion of what BMW calls Dynamic Performance Control, which varies the torque between the rear wheels — designed to deliver more torque to the outside wheel which needs it to drive it out of a corner. Add massive 385mm brakes and 20-inch wheels shod with wide rubber, adaptive steering, a self-levelling pneumatic suspension and the X6 has an ability to rocket out of corners.Creature comforts for Australian models will include a revised version of BMW's controversial iDrive, a choice of four trim finishes, power adjustable front seats leather upholstery, heads-up display, four-zone automatic air conditioning and a 16-speaker hi-fi audio system. SNAPSHOTBMW X6xDrive 50iPrice: from $145,000Engine: 4.4L/V8 twin turbo; 300kW/600NmTransmission: 6-speed sequential autoPerformance: 0-100km/h 5.4 sec. 

Within three years, production-line workers will build cars with names they can't pronounce.It's nothing new but when the Russians start pumping out Mitsubishis and Peugeots and Citroens, it is another step in the process that sees car makers move out of their backyard and onto foreign soil.The reasons are cheap.Picking a developing country with available employment, low yet aspiring standards of living and government incentives such as free land and tax breaks is the financial equivalent of a Stephanie Rice wall poster.And there's no reason to feel shy about deserting the homeland in search of reduced manufacturing costs even if Porsche boss Wendelin Wiedeking is scathing of the practice — though the Cayenne body is made in Slovakia — and says so in his new (only) book “Don't Follow The Crowd”.Look around.You probably know it because you're on the carsguide.com.au site, but most car owners haven't a clue where their metallic ego in the driveway was born.The Honda Accord and Jazz are from Thailand, the Volkswagen Caddy in Poland, the Suzuki APU (named after the 24-hour shop owner in The Simpsons?) van in Indonesia, the Chrysler Grand Cherokee in Austria — on the same line as the BMW X3, no less — the Volvo XC70 in Belgium and the Volkswagen Golf, Ford Focus hatch and BMW 3-Series four-cylinder models in South Africa.As these countries grow richer on their ability to make cars cheaper for the world, so their prices — of labour and taxes and energy — will rise.Are there any countries left that have even lower costs that car makers can exploit? While you sift through the Atlas (get a current one, some countries and borders have changed in the past decade) let me tell you about one that has it all.And only recently is word out that this could be the next big think in car manufacture.Unlike Russia or Thailand or Slovakia, this country has English as its predominant language.It has an able workforce and rising unemployment.Its needs are many because the country has high consumer goods consumption.Yet the workforce — perhaps through desperation — can be turned to receive a modest wage.There are tax breaks and land going on offer throughout the country, most close to the ocean or rivers for easy transportation of raw materials and finished product.The icing on the cake is that it has existing infrastructure to support car assembly.The country is the USA.Now the focus turns from outward looking to the manufacturing equivalent of navel gazing.Now European countries have seen a weakened USA become ripe for domestic manufacture.The US dollar is so weak that it makes importing European cars too expensive.Far better to look at camping on US soil, in the way a cuckoo camps in another nest to exploit its personal needs.While General Motors seeks manufacturing in China, Volkswagen is looking at the USA.Volkswagen is not alone, European suppliers are also sniffing out what the USA can offer.The tide has unexpectedly changed and perhaps the only hindrance will be a revival in the US economy.Preoccupied with the 'war with no end' in the Middle East, the US is poised to become the world's next big car factory.Who would have thought that possible?

Seven of the 11 winners in Germany last week were turbo-charged units, which reflects the major part the technology is now playing in efforts to improve fuel economy and curb emissions.Six companies collected prizes, but one brand had more reason than most to celebrate.BMW dominated the competition, claiming half of the awards including the top honour, International Engine of the Year.That accolade went to its 3.0-litre twin-turbo six-cylinder unit available in the 135i, 335i and X6.It is the second year in a row the engine has won the top gong.The German firm also claimed the New Engine of 2008 title with its 2.0-litre turbo-diesel, available in the 123d.Other winners for the company were the 4.0-litre V8 found in the new M3 and the 5.0-litre V10 in the M5 and M6.BMW's joint venture with French company PSA also paid off. The 1.6-litre turbo-charged four-cylinder used in the Mini and Peugeot 308 won its class.“BMW rightly views these awards as the highest industry recognition of its outstanding achievements in engine technology and manufacturing,” BMW director of power-train Peter Langen says.“It is an honour for our 3.0-litre twin-turbo engine to have earned the highest accolade for the second year running. And we are truly delighted that so many of our other engines have been judged class leaders.”The other multiple winners were Toyota and Volkswagen/Audi.Toyota's hybrid synergy drive, which powers the Prius, won the inaugural Green Engine of the Year prize.It's not the first time the engine has been honoured, though. It has previously won 10 gongs in the annual awards.Toyota's other winner — the 1.0-litre unit that powers the Toyota Aygo, Peugeot 107 and Citroen C1 — came in the under 1.0-litre category.Like BMW, Volkswagen/Audi was honoured for its forced induction engines.The 1.4-litre TSI engine, which uses super-charging and turbo-charging, won its category. It's other winner was the 2.0-litre turbo motor in the Audi A3, VW Golf GTi and Skoda Octavia.That engine drew particular praise for not only its performance and economy but its flexibility.The 2.0-litre unit comes in a variety of tunes — 125kW, 147kW, 195kW and 200kW — to suit different vehicles, including the new Audi TTS.“The benchmark for efficiency and performance in its category,” was one comment from the judges. “A great example of an engine that's so flexible it can deliver the right solutions for a variety of vehicles.”Porsche won the performance engine award with its 3.6-litre turbo from the 911 turbo and 911 GT2.Subaru was the only other winner with its 2.5-litre turbo.British specialist magazine Engine Technology International is responsible for the awards, which are voted on by 65 motoring journalists from 32 countries, including Australia.The ceremony was held as part of the 2008 Engine Expo in Stuttgart, Germany.The awards are held in high regard by the automotive industry because the judges consider the full range of engine criteria: performance, fuel consumption, driving behaviour, driving comfort and the use of technology. The highest industry recognition of its outstanding achievementsThe Winners of the International Engine of the Year 2008 BMW 3.0-litre twin-turboBest new engineBMW 2.0-litre diesel twin-turboGreen engine of the yearToyota 1.5-litre hybrid synergy driveBest performance-enginePorsche 3.6-litre turboBest sub 1.0-litreToyota 1.0-litreBest 1.0-litre to 1.4-litreVolkswagen 1.4-litre TSI twinchargerBest 1.4-litre to 1.8-litreBMW-PSA 1.6-litre turboBest 1.8-litre to 2.0-litreVolkswagen/Audi 2-litre turboBest 2.0-litre to 2.5-litreSubaru 2.5-litre turboBest 2.5-litre to 3.0-litreBMW 3.0-litre twin-turboBest 3.0-litre to 4.0-litreBMW 4.0-litre V8Best above 4.0-litreBMW 5.0-litre V10 

The explosive growth of the BMW model range is about to be defused in Australia, with the line-up being trimmed to cut competition and duplication, making it easier for customers in showrooms.The plan is to have only three choices of any individual model, with two petrol engines and one diesel.The current list includes 36 individual models in the 3 Series sedan line-up ... without counting the coupe, convertible or station wagon.“We get a lot of questions about whetherwe have too many models,” BMW Australia managing director Guenther Seemann says.“I think we do have too many.”He believes BMW must cut the choices to streamline business, though he says there will still be all-new models in future — with the X6 four-wheel-drive and M3 sedan up next — asthe German company looks for customers.The work has begun, though there are a dozen individual BMW lines, from the baby 1 Series to the four-wheel-drive X5 and flagship 7 Series, with 50 official engine choices. BMW has 189 individual models on the list.“We've already begun tidying up. The 116i hatch has been removed from the range, there are the manuals in the 3 Series and one of the X3 manuals,” Seemann says.“In the 5 Series range, one of the V8s will go.I believe for each and every model line-up in the future, as we add models, we need two petrol and one diesel variant in each case. No more. We have so many different model lines, it is not practical or possible to display them all in a showroom.”He says it will take time to get things sorted, partly because there are so many models.“It will happen in the next two years. Globally, there are five petrol and five diesel engine choices. And that is just in the 3 Series range,” Seemann says. But there is definitely space for some additions, like the four-door M3 sedan.“We will bring the four-door version, but I do not know at what price. We have to price it lower than the M3 two-door.” 

That is at least partly true, but those inside the companies do have hearts — and many share our worries. Some have even bigger concerns. BMW, for example. It would be easy to dismiss the German carmaker as a badge brand that is all about flash cars.Look at its headliners — the M3, the new 135i coupe and the forthcoming X6 — and you wonder where the company is going. And why.But talk to its Australian chief, Guenther Seemann, and you see another side.The transplanted German, who arrived in Australia after time in South Africa, China and Dubai, is a deep thinker worried about the future. And not just the future of his sales and profits.“What do we do when petrol is $4 or $5 a litre? Or even when it is $2 a litre?” he asks.“People will react. They will decide it does not make sense to be burning this oil, that it must be used for other things that are more important, like making medicine.”He knows we are approaching a tipping point in the car industry and, while batting the BMW position on future technology, asks how others will get through.“People will not give up their mobility,” he says. “Humans are a mobile race. We will not want to lose our personal transportation. We believe hydrogen is the solution. We've been working on this for more than 30 years.”Seemann is not just talking about electric fuel-cell cars, which use hydrogen to generate on-board voltage, but internal-combustion engines that can use hydrogen as a replacement for petrol. BMW has taken a high-profile approach to its first luxury hydrogen concept car, the Hydrogen7, by offering it to film stars and celebrities for testing.Keys to the cars have been handed to Prince Albert of Monaco, actors Cameron Diaz and Will Ferrell, television presenter Jay Leno and opera star Placido Domingo.However, Seemann knows there is no way of creating that hydrogen or delivering it to the equivalent of a 21st-century petrol station.“The alarm clock went off some years ago, but many people are still sleeping,” he says.“No government, anywhere in the world, is thinking ahead far enough."“They only think about the next four years, to the next election. Australia is the best country for making hydrogen. We have so much sunlight and water. And yet ...”He believes green pressure will grow quickly in coming years, but so will the demand for cars that do more with a litre of fuel — whatever that fuel might be.“Car companies can react very quickly to pressure. But the only real pressure comes from customers,” Seemann says.BMW will build its first hybrid using the new X6, but has yet to commit to any sort of fuel-cell car for production. 

The explosive growth of the BMW model range is about to be defused in Australia. The line-up is being trimmed to cut competition and duplication, making it easier for customers in showrooms.The plan is to have only three choices of any individual model, with two petrol engines and one diesel. The current list includes 36 individual models in the 3 Series sedan line-up . . . without counting the coupe, convertible or station wagon.“We get a lot of questions about whether we have too many models. I think we do have too many,” BMW Australia managing director Guenther Seemann says.He believes BMW must cut the choices to streamline business, though he says there will still be all-new models in future — with the X6 four-wheel drive and M3 sedan up next — as the German company looks for customers.The work has begun, though there are a dozen individual BMW lines, from the baby 1 Series to the four-wheel-drive X5 and flagship 7-Series, with 50 official engine choices. BMW has 189 individual models on the list.“We've already begun tidying up. The 116i hatch has been removed from the range, there are the manuals in the 3 Series and one of the X3 manuals,” Seeman says.“In the 5 Series range, one of the V8s will go. I believe for each and every model line-up in the future, as we add models, we need two petrol and one diesel variant in each case. No more. We have so many different model lines, it is not practical or possible to display them all in a showroom.He says it will take time to get things sorted, partly because there are so many models.“It will happen in the next two years. Globally, there are five petrol and five diesel engine choices. And that is just in the 3 Series range,” he says.But there is definitely space for some additions, like the four-door M3 sedan.“We are starting the business case. It looks good, I must say,” he says.“We will bring the four-door version, but I do not know at what price. We always follow the normal BMW pattern, where a two-door is more expensive than a four-door. We have to price it lower than the M3 two-door.” 

Its latest bonny baby, the compact four-wheel-drive GLK, is heading our way.But when the pre-shrunk version of the M-Class gets here, probably late in 2010, it will be missing one vital ingredient - all-wheel drive.Benz has confirmed the Daimler-developed GLK compact will initially be sold here as a rear-wheel drive.An all-wheel-drive version won't hit our market until the second-generation model, now under development, is released. It is also tipped to feature a hybrid diesel/electric power train.By then Benz will have sorted out an oversight in the GLK's design.The right-hand-drive versions can't be fitted with all-wheel traction because there is no room for the system without making costly engineering changes.The GLK wasn't on the radar for Australia because it was designed for left-hand-drive markets.That left Benz without a contender in the booming Australian SUV market to fight BMW's X3, Audi's Q5, VW's Tiguan and the Volvo XC60.Now it appears Benz has had a change of heart after reviewing a business case study put up by Britain and Australia. When it does arrive, there will be a choice of 3.5-litre V6 petrol or a 2.2-litre diesel with 400Nm of torque on tap.Meanwhile, Australians are being denied one of the more potent models in the Benz coupe line-up - the 4Matic version of the stunning C-Class CL500.It's the first time the all-wheel-drive system has been fitted to a luxury coupe and would have fitted the Australian market well, but it is also not made in right-hand drive.The lightweight 4Matic system splits drive between front and rear wheels through a planetary gear centre differential, which also has a twin-plate clutch to allow some variance in torque between axles. 

BMW has combined its diesel expertise with innovative Active Hybrid technology in a concept car that could go into production sooner rather than later.Based on a BMW X5, the concept car demonstrates the potential of technology developed as part of the BMW Efficient Dynamics program.Boasting the worlds first all-aluminium diesel with a specific power output of over 65kW per litre of capacity and a generator as part of a mild hybrid concept, the vehicle uses a frugal 6.5-litres of fuel per 100km and emits 172g of carbon dioxide per kilometre.It has sporty driving dynamics and will accelerate from 0-100km/h in 8.9 seconds.The engine features a 2.0-litre four-cylinder diesel engine with variable twin turbo, latest generation common rail injection and all-aluminium gearbox housing.It develops 150kW/400Nm.A compact generator, integrated in the gearbox housing, contributes to vehicle acceleration with 15kW and a maximum torque of 210Nm. The total output of the vehicle is 165kW.

Australia should have a diesel future within six years.BMW Australia boss Guenther Seemann believes the local car industry will follow Europe and become 80 per cent diesel, but only if Holden and Ford produce oil-burning Commodores and Falcons.“If I were CEO of these companies I would develop a diesel V8,” Seemann says.His comments come after BMW's own sales of diesels hit 33.1 per cent in January as the brand expands its diesel line-up.Seemann believes diesel will continue to grow because “there is no way down for petrol prices." The other factor in diesel growth, he says, is the advances in performance.BMW has entered the high-performance, four-wheel-drive fray with its new X5 3.0sd, a twin-turbo version of its six-cylinder diesel.It is aimed at taking on the sports-orientated diesel four-wheel-drives, including the Audi Q7 V8 TDI, Volkswagen Touareg V10 TDI and Range Rover V8 Turbo Diesel.Though BMW reps concede the new model will take some sales from its current X5 3.0d, they are adamant the new car is crucial to the growth of the X5 and BMW's diesel future.“X5 business is very important to us,” the product and market planning manager for BMW Australia, David Lederer, says.“There's potential to grow that business by having a diesel that can get additional incremental sales.”He says thanks to the fuel efficiency of the diesels now being matched by performance, customers no longer see them as a compromise.“That's what our figures are showing. Diesel offerings are so good in terms of torque that I don't think people are buying them just because of efficiency. I think people are responding to the torque and dynamism.”On the road, the new X5 3.0sd is as expected. The strong chassis still stands out and the new engine provides even more of a chance to exploit it.BMW's solid reputation for building superb powerplants remains intact. The X5 is smooth and has plenty of torque to get the two-tonne four-wheel-drive up to speed.With 565Nm on tap from 2000 revs, the X5 isn't sluggish to accelerate, but it does lack some of the punch of the Touareg with its 750Nm.BMW's claimed consumption figure of 8.8 litres for 100km in combined city/country driving was optimistic during our test drive. Over the course of four hours of spirited driving on country roads, we averaged 11.7 litres for 100km.Given that this is another addition to the X5 range, BMW has kept the model line-up simple with only two variants; a standard 3.0sd and the option of a sports package.Prices for the entry-level 3.0sd start at $102,800 and the sports package begins at $107,300. 

Australia should have a diesel future within six years.BMW Australia boss Guenther Seemann believes the local car industry will follow Europe and become 80 per cent diesel, but only if Holden and Ford produce oil-burning Commodores and Falcons.“If I were CEO of these companies I would develop a diesel V8,” Seemann says.His comments come after BMW's own sales of diesels hit 33.1 per cent in January as the brand expands its diesel line-up.Seemann believes diesel will continue to grow because “there is no way down for petrol prices”. The other factor in diesel growth, he says, is the advances in performance.BMW has entered the high-performance, four-wheel-drive fray with its new X5 3.0sd, a twin-turbo version of its six-cylinder diesel.It is aimed at taking on the sports-orientated diesel four-wheel-drives, including the Audi Q7 V8 TDI, Volkswagen Touareg V10 TDI and Range Rover V8 Turbo Diesel.Though BMW reps concede the new model will take some sales from its current X5 3.0d, they are adamant the new car is crucial to the growth of the X5 and BMW's diesel future.“X5 business is very important to us,” the product and market planning manager for BMW Australia, David Lederer, says.“There's potential to grow that business by having a diesel that can get additional incremental sales.”He says thanks to the fuel efficiency of the diesels now being matched by performance, customers no longer see them as a compromise.“That's what our figures are showing. Diesel offerings are so good in terms of torque that I don't think people are buying them just because of efficiency. I think people are responding to the torque and dynamism.”On the road, the new X5 3.0sd is as expected. The strong chassis still stands out and the new engine provides even more of a chance to exploit it.BMW's solid reputation for building superb powerplants remains intact. The X5 is smooth and has plenty of torque to get the two-tonne four-wheel-drive up to speed.With 565Nm on tap from 2000 revs, the X5 isn't sluggish to accelerate, but it does lack some of the punch of the Touareg with its 750Nm.BMW's claimed consumption figure of 8.8 litres for 100km in combined city/country driving was optimistic during our test drive. Over the course of four hours of spirited driving on country roads, we averaged 11.7 litres for 100km.Given that this is another addition to the X5 range, BMW has kept the model line-up simple with only two variants; a standard 3.0sd and the option of a sports package.Prices for the entry-level 3.0sd start at $102,800 and the sports package begins at $107,300.