BMW releases new M Sport package for X5

BMW has unveiled its new M Sport package for all members of the X5 range, giving the SAVs a sportier look and feel inside and out. A new bodykit gives the X5 a more aggressive appearance, with updated fascias, flared fenders, black low-profile roof rails, and a choice of different 19" and 20" wheels. Inside, electrically-adjustable sport seats and an M steering wheel can be

augmented with any number of customization options from BMW Individual, and the X5's already-sporting character is further enhanced by a retuned suspension that reinforces the "sport" in Sport Activity Vehicle (hey, that's what they want to call it, so who are we to argue?). A variety of available paint finishes complete the deal.

German pricing for the M Sport upgrades is €6,350 for the X5 3.0si and 3.0sd, and €4,840 for the more-powerful X5 4.8i. There's no word yet on if or when the package will be available stateside.

AC Schnitzer's BMW S3 does diesel right

When the next generation of clean diesels finally make their way into the hands of anxious American consumers, we expect some tuners to welcome them with open arms. After all, vehicles equipped with turbos from the factory are begging to be tweaked, and when it comes to diesels, the results can boost fuel economy, along with performance.




AC Schnitzer is already making inroads with BMW's dual-turbo 3-liter diesel, boosting output of the oilburner from 231 HP to 265 HP through a remapped ECU and a dual exhaust. Their S3 package not only includes tweaks to the engine, but also a fully reworked body kit. Designed for the new 3-series convertible, the kit comes complete with a new front spoiler, rear apron and side skirts, while the suspension gets a strut tower brace and a revised rear stabilizer bar.




An AC Schnitzer makeover wouldn't be complete without some trick rolling stock, so customers can choose between either 19- or 20-inch rims, with the latter sporting 245s up front and 295s in the rear.




While we can espouse the virtues of diesel all day long, what we're really looking forward to from AC Schnitzer is it upcoming tweaks to the twin-turbo three-liter six in the 335i. If the S3 is any indication, good things are on the way.

BMW Concep Car - CS

BMW's surprising CS concept car is likely to beget a new flagship sedan for the Munich-based automaker. This news comes from the mouth of BMW North America honcho Tom Purves, who told Automotive News, "We have a reasonable number of examples where we have built a concept car and relatively small examples where we have not built a concept car."

Additionally, Purves noted that his US dealer network is already very excited about the concept. If the post-Shanghai market research brings positive news, it's pretty likely that a production 4-seater based on the CS would get the green light. The new car would be positioned above the 7-series in the automaker's lineup.

BMW misses profit expectations, shares fall sharply

The world's largest premium automaker, BMW, reported that its third-quarter pretax profit fell short of expectations, leading to shares falling sharply.

Before tax earnings rose 6.3 percent to 765 million euros ($1.11 billion), missing the average estimate of 913 million euros from a Reuters poll of analysts. Shares of BMW fell more than 4 percent, performing worst than other European automakers.

"The main reason for the weaker than expected result appears to be found in the 'Other & Consolidation' line. This is usually heavily impacted by one-offs and is very difficult to estimate," Tim Schuldt told Reuters.

Investors have been criticizing BMW CEO Reithofer's vision as unambitious, despite his recent plans to increase automobile retail to 1.8 million units by 2012. Speaking to the press, Reithofer recently said, "As far as retail volume is concerned, we intend not only to remain the world's leading premium provider in the automotive industry. By 2020, we want to lead all of the segments in which we are active," said Reithofer.

Reithofer said that BMW's main goal is to increase automobile retail to more than two million units by 2020.

BMW won't extend Panke's contract

Automobilewoche says that BMW AG won't renew its chairman's contract past its end in 2007. It was recently reported that BMW would extend the contract of Dr. Helmut Panke, who turns 60 next year, to 2010; however, now it seems that BMW will go along with its customary practice of retiring its board members at 60.

The decision is interesting given Panke's success -- at this point in Panke's tenure, BMW is hitting record numbers.

Last BMW X5 rolls of the line, makes way for next generation.

The last of BMW's current generation X5 rolled off the line at their Spartanburg, SC plant on Friday. The Toledo Blue 3.0is X5 with Truffle Brown leather interior and Dark Grain Poplar wood trim will be kept by the factory and displayed in its Zentrum museum. BMW is one of the first manufacturers to take the SUV segment popularized by American companies and manipulate it into a sporty car-like vehicle while still maintaining the SUV stance. This model has been very successful for BMW, despite the initial outcry from BMW purists (I have to admit, I was one of them). This popularity has enabled BMW to design a new generation, which will now be built at the South Carolina facility.

MAKING WAY FOR THE NEW X5 - THE LAST OF THE FIRST GENERATION X5 MANUFACTURED
09/22/2006

The last of the first-generation X5 Sports Activity Vehicle was produced Friday at BMW Manufacturing Co. in Upstate South Carolina, making way for the production of the next generation X5.
The Toledo Blue 3.0is X5 sports a Truffle Brown leather interior with a Dark Grain Poplar wood trim. Due to its significance to BMW, the factory will keep the vehicle and display it in the Zentrum museum as part of the BMW Mobile Tradition Collection.

With the introduction of the X5, BMW opened a new market segment known as the Sports Activity Vehicle and the X5 as the first sports activity vehicle combined the powerful acceleration and exceptional handling of a car with the advanced traction technologies and all-wheel drive of an SUV.

The first X5 sports activity vehicle rolled off the production line on September 1, 1999. The X5 is built exclusively at BMW Manufacturing for distribution to more than 120 markets worldwide. Less than two years after its introduction, the 100,000th X5 milestone was reached on August 23, 2001 and on June 9, 2005, and the 500,000th X5 was produced, just five and a half years after its market introduction. The Spartanburg plant has produced 616,867 of the current generation of X5 Sports Activity Vehicle.

In 2000, the X5 was rated "Best Pick" by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, outperforming all other SUVs tested. The X5 not only rated higher than other SUVs, it earned a higher rating than all other vehicles previously tested by the Institute.

BMW Manufacturing Co., a subsidiary of the BMW Group based in Munich, Germany, is the exclusive manufacturer on the Z4 and M Roadster, Z4 and M Coupe and the X5 Sports Activity Vehicle. Its website address is www.bmwusfactory.com. In addition to the South Carolina manufacturing facility, BMW's North American subsidiaries include sales, marketing and financial services operations in the United States, Canada and throughout Latin America, and a design firm in California.

Rendered speculation: BMW building a supermini?

According to Motor Authority, word on the wire is that BMW will be making a minicar below the 1-series that will share the current MINI platform. The car will also be front wheel drive, and cost less than the MINI, which would make it the cheapest BMW one could buy.

Apparently the car is driven by several factors, including the fact that green is increasingly seen as corporate gold. There are also regulatory issues, in light of EU fleet averages and CO2 standards -- that Z6 and hypothetical supercar are going to need some sort of frugal foil. BMW is also paying attention to Audi, which is coming out with a small car of its own, though that car is aimed at the MINI. Apparently development work is already underway. If such a car is on the way, what would it be called? The BMW Zero?