BMW will launch a series of front-wheel drive

The new model will not replace, for now, the current 1 Series, but provide an entry-level model, with front engine and the most common technology-based TwinPower Turbo with 3 cylinders and 1.5 liters of cilindrada.No future the current 1 Series can spend a. .. Series 2.

The development of the new model for the 1 Series is entering its final phase and is made parallel to the third generation of the Mini, the Auto Sapo already here showed with images and details.

With this new model to emerge at the end of this year, the current 1 Series may well be replaced or the Coupe and Cabriolet versions pass the Series 2 and five-door hatchback now be offered in variants of front or rear wheel drive.

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BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe revealed

The model will reach the Portuguese market in the next semester and have the task of replacing the unloved 5 Series GT and give it to the Mercedes CLS and Audi A7, the real four-door coupes niche market opened for the first Mercedes with the CLS . Here are the first details and photos of the new BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe.

It took only 20 months between the presentation of the model as a prototype in the Hall of Beijing, after BMW has already offered a first image of what it would be 4 door coupe with the CS Concept presented in 2007. Interestingly, this prototype would lead to the four-door coupe and a sedan that would take the place of the Series eight, having been abandoned due to the recession experienced since 2008. So, the rival to the CLS and the A7 will be a model that will complement the 6 Series, joining the coupe and cabriolet.

When it comes to style, the Grand Coupe is much like the Series 6, with the front grille and squalid leaning forward with the side to be equally similar to the coupe / cabriolet. Then everything is different, with a roof of course longer, wider B-pillars with traditional doors opening, the rear doors with the famous "Hofmeister kick" and the absence of doors in frames to complete the look of this Gran Coupe.

The total length is 5.007 meters, with a width of 1.894 meters and a height of only 1.392 meters, ie, the Gran Coupe has 11.2 cm more than the coupe and has more than 2.7 cm in height and is based on Series 6 platform, but with the wheelbase stretched to 11.3 cm for 2968 mm. Interestingly, exactly the same as the Series 5 ... matter of habit, even if the interior of the Gran Coupe is only for four.

With regard to mechanical, once again the powerful BMW chooses to block market entry. All blocks have the technology TwinTurbo Power, starting with the 640i range, with the 4-liter six-cylinder with 320 hp, offered through dual turbocharging, direct injection and Valvetronic system. Following is the 640D with the excellent 313 hp turbo diesel, with the top of the range is the 650i, equipped with the 450 hp V8. As regards performance, the 640i goes from 0-100 km / h in 5.4 seconds, spends 7.7 l/100 km and emits 179 g / km of CO2. As for the 640D, consumes 5.5 l/100 km and emits 146 g / km of CO2, accelerating from 0-100 km / h in 5.4 seconds. But the 650i emits 199 g / km, accelerates from 0-100 km / h in 4.6 seconds and consumes 8.8 l/100 km. All of them are limited to 250 km / h.

As part of the Gran Coupe equipment, we find the power steering so, the dynamic control of dampers (Dynamic Damper Control), while as an option customers may opt for active steering (Integral Active Steering) and the Adaptive Drive. Noted that the xDrive all-wheel drive is available for the 650i Gran Coupe.

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BMW and Toyota partnership hit medium / long term

The official press conference that this memorandum of collaboration in research and development of environmentally friendly technologies, will be held at 15 hours (GMT) in Tokyo, but Auto Toad is in a position to forward all details of this partnership between BMW and Toyota.

The basis of this agreement of medium / long term it is very simple: BMW and Toyota agree to work together to develop environmentally friendly technologies for their cars of the future. This will include research and development of new lithium-ion batteries and it is also established that the BMW diesel engines will provide 1.6 and 2.0 liters to Toyota Motor Europe.

This is the basis of the agreement signed today at the Tokyo Motor Show between the two constructors, a memorandum of understanding for a partnership of medium / long-term research and development of the next generation of environmentally friendly technologies.

As mentioned, this partnership will extend also to research and development of new lithium-ion batteries that could be used in electric and hybrid models, this memorandum is expected to extend this collaboration to other areas that are identified by both builders and advantageous to both parties.

This partnership will bring the diesel engines of 1.6 liters and 2.0 for models sold by Toyota Motor Europe from 2014, which shows a reversal in the brand strategy in Europe. We recall that in 2009, Akio Toyoda, Toyota's president, said the company's focus on Europe would be the hybrid models, away from the diesel that Toyota does not get lost in the crowd read, other builders with diesel ranges. In fact, at that time, the president of Toyota ended up with plans to develop a block 1.6-liter turbodiesel in partnership with Isuzu, Toyota brand owned by 5.9 percent.

This part of the agreement with BMW, which sees the German diesel engines under the hood of Toyota from 2014, is the assumption of the error committed with the stated bet on hybrids. The continuing loss of market share in Europe is the biggest proof of that, because the market of the Old Continent is dominated by more than half of its volume for diesel cars that use less fuel and emit less CO2 than petrol models, and much more interesting in using the hybrids. And beads made, the hybrids have not been above 2% market share in Europe, which is too little to allow a bet as deliberate as it did in hybrid Toyota and its Lexus counterpart.

Anyway, with this agreement, Toyota reverses its strategy from 2014 and will offer an expanded product range, and these two years to develop, which will translate in a frantic period of the new Japanese brand.

At the time of signing of the memorandum, Norbert Reithofer, chairman of the board of BMW AG said "Toyota is the market leader in providing environmentally friendly technologies usable in mass-produced products and the BMW Group is the world's most innovative and Premium between sustainable producers. Let us now join forces to further develop environmentally friendly technologies and expand our technology leadership in their respective segments. Provide Toyota with our dynamic and efficient diesel engines is more important in a planned expansion of our business from sales of engines and powertrains. "

On the side of Toyota, Akio Toyoda, president of Toyota Motor Company, said that "it is a great joy for us to enter into this partnership for medium / long term with BMW, a company with its very own culture and a rich history of success as manufacturer in Europe, a brand that makes cars fun to drive. In the spirit of contributing to the future development of automobile industry and society, both companies will bring this agreement to its comprehensive know-how '- starting with environmental concerns - to build the best cars ever. "

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BMW ActiveHybrid 5 in Tokyo Motor Show

Based on the 535i, the ActiveHybrid5 promises to be spared the model it is based.
According to BMW, the ActiveHybrid5 is 16 percent cheaper than the 535i that it is based and will go on sale in early 2012.

CV extracted from the 300 block of six-cylinder supercharged 3-liter double the ActiveHybrid5 adds 55 hp electric motor, combining to achieve 335 hp and a torque of 450 Nm to the rear wheels passed through the automatic eight speeds. This package is good to take the ActiveHybrid5 from 0-100 km / h in 5.9 seconds with top speed limited to 250 km / h. As for consumption, BMW announces 6.4 l/100 km and emission of 149 g / km of CO2.

Housed in the rear is the battery pack that allows ActiveHybrid5 has the ability to scroll mode only tram to reach a speed of 60 km / h with a range of 4 kilometers at an average speed of 35 km / h.

The new ecological model of BMW will not release the energy regeneration system, system, stop / start and start-up aid climbing. On the cosmetic side, the same recipe ActiveHybrid7, or logos in the C-pillars, front grille and door sills and 17-inch wheels.

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Maybach ends in 2013

The decision by Dieter Zetsche, CEO of Mercedes, not to approve the plans for the replacement model of the Maybach 57 and 62 was more than halfway to the ax fell on the mark of prestige restored in 2002 after Mercedes have failed to buy Rolls-Royce group Vickers.

And why exactly well placed sources spoke to the CEO of Daimler, Dieter Zetsche, who said in an interview with German newspaper "Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung" that "would not be wise to develop a successor to the current Maybach, because the numerous conversations we were having about what the future of the luxury segment eventually reveal that the greatest success in this niche is the part of the Mercedes Maybach. "

That is, without telling the CEO of Daimler announced the end of Maybach and will pull even more Mercedes-up to the division of Rolls-Royce and Bentley. It is also the assumption of the failure of the strategy of Mercedes in recovering an ancient name for combat success of Rolls-Royce under BMW and Bentley hat under the protection of the VW group.

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BMW joins the Toyota

Essentially, the idea is to provide the BMW Toyota with its excellent Japanese brand diesel engines and send to Munich hybrid technology is well established to be developed by BMW.

The announcement of this partnership will be officially in the Hall of Tokyo, but rumors have circulated for a long time and a source at BMW told several media that talks between the two brands are a reality, declining, however, confirm the official announcement that this exchange of technology.

In simple terms, it is an exchange of interests. BMW to Toyota will provide the building blocks of 4 and 6 cylinder turbodiesel with common rail technology and TwinPower for this use in the range of expanded and revised models to market in Europe and other markets, offering top engines in the Toyota and Lexus.

The part of Toyota, BMW to deliver the current and future hybrid technology, properly tested and make more reliable for the German brand to develop its range of environmentally responsible models. In addition to making the brand BMW i alternatives to purely electric models.

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