Spyshots of the 2012 BMW 6 Series both coupe and convertibles have been seen around quite a bit and recently they’ve been dropping some of the camouflage as well but one particular model, perhaps the most eagerly expected one of the full F12 lineup hasn’t yet been seen around.

Things have changed today, the 20120 F12 BMW M6 has been spotted near the Nurburgring and showed up covered in camo from bumper to bumper.

Beside the obviously less revealing look of the car, the fact that this gave it away as a M6 are the massive and different wheels, the very low profile tires, the quad exhaust layout that’s visible on most M powered Bavarian creations and the drilled brake rotors.

The changes that can be spotted so far are the restyled front bumper and an LED strip used for the turn signal indicators can be found beneath the restyled headlight.

As a typical assumption based on past generations of BMW M6, the F12 variant will use the twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V8 used in the X5 M the X6 M and soon the M5 saloon but with more grunt, expect somewhere in the best part of 570-580 horsepower or so.

All signs point to a Paris Motor Show debut for the revised 6 Series, so we’d expect the M6 to debut early next year and go on sale as a 2012 model.

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Marcus M.

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The post Spyshots of the 2012 BMW M6 appeared first on BMWCoop | BMW Blog, BMW News, BMW Reviews.

BMW have announced today that the BMW ActiveHybrid 7 Series has received certification from the Internal Revenue Service for a tax credit which goes up to $900 under the Alternative Motor Vehicle provision.

In having done so, both versions of wheelbase of the 2010 BMW 7 Series ActiveHybrid join the list of Bavarian creations to qualify for the Alternative Motor Vehicle Tax Credit.

The first of the special German cars to obtain this distinction were the BMW X5 xDrive35d, the BMW Advanced Diesel 335d Sedan and the BMW X6 ActiveHybrid.

The BMW ActiveHybrid 7 is powered by a 4.4L V8 engine that produces 440 horsepower and a peak torque of 475 lb-ft which is mated to a 3-phase synchronous electric motor that produces an additional 15 horsepower and some 41 lb-ft of torque (available from 0 rpm).

The whole setup is teamed with a 8 speed automatic gearbox which will help get the car from 0 to 60 in 4.8 seconds and up to a top speed of 150 mph (electronically limited) and all of these happen while it achieves an EPA rating of 17 mpg city and 26 mpg highway.

If I were the Lexus LS600hL I’d be pretty worried, and this is despite the pretty consistent price bump which will take make the 2010 BMW ActiveHybrid 7 see list pricing start at $103,125.

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Marcus M.

http://www.bmwcoop.com

The post 2010 BMW ActiveHybrid 7 gets tax credit appeared first on BMWCoop | BMW Blog, BMW News, BMW Reviews.

Spotted may not be the proper term for BMW’s camouflage techniques but the 2011 F10 BMW M5 has been seen, and recorded at that, going round the Nurburgring.

As befits any sport car or sports sedan in this case, of the M5’s caliber Nurburgring testing is a must, especially when you are talking about a car that is a candidate for being a Ring Taxi.

Expectations are always high with BMW products and for BMW products that have an M badge attached to the name they are even higher. In order to meet those expectations the cars have to be properly designed, engineered, developed and tested before being unleashed on the public.

Since the new BMW 5 series has already been grabbing fans left and right more than it’s E60 predecessor the M5 will most likely get a fan club that’s never been seen before.

So far the data on it is quite scarce, the engine will no longer be a naturally aspirated 5 liter V10 engine as BMW have downsized to a 4.4 liter V8. That said though, downsizing is definitely not equivalent to downgrading as the twin turbos on this engine will give it more power than the out going model.

So here’s a short clip of a 578 horsepower attack on the 2011 BMW M5’s tires at the Nurburgring.

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Marcus M.

http://www.bmwcoop.com

The post 2011 BMW M5 spotted at the Ring appeared first on BMWCoop | BMW Blog, BMW News, BMW Reviews.

Since the new BMW 5 Series has been grabbing headlines left and right it’s about time BMW made it easy for you to buy your own.

In case you are planning on making that move, BMW’s USA site now features a car configurator specifically purposed in letting you get yourself the 550i or the 535i you want and the toys you deem necessary on either of them.

In case you’re wondering why BMW would only let you spec up the 550i and 535i it’s because these are the only models available in America at the moment so it would be foolish to let you configurate any others.

As a reminder, underneath the trim levels, optional extras and so on you still get two massive debates to yourself.

Do you need the 4.4L twin-turbo V8 giving you 400 horsepower the 550i has to offer or will you settle for the 3.0L twin-scroll turbocharged inline six engine that produces 300 horsepower. There is a bit of a price gap between the two but to be honest both are great picks.

Another area where you might be unsure is this; Do you want the typical sedan or are you going to go for the GT version?

Difficult decisions, good thing the online configurator is now available, right?

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Marcus M.

http://www.bmwcoop.com

The post BMW 5 Series online configurator available appeared first on BMWCoop | BMW Blog, BMW News, BMW Reviews.

The Nordschleife got a very interesting visit recently in the form of the 2011 BMW M3 GTS.

The limited edition of the E92 M3 will stand to replace the CSL version of the previous generation of M3 as this is still a lightweight, hardcore, track racing focused car that is still road legal.

Road legal is a relative term as all the modifications brought to the car will fail to make it past road-going legislation in many countries, the biggest of which will be the United States of America.

The GTS version of the BMW M3 is due to be on sale by next month and features a 4.4 liter V8 engine that has an output of 450 horsepower. The list of upgrades also includes a 7-speed M DKG Drivelogic gearbox, a multitude of weight saving materials used in the body and as a list of downgrades you know get no stereo, no air conditioning and no back seats. Reminds you of any recent BMW CSL’s list of equipment?

To sum up, other than a 419 pound diet you get a hardcore BMW M3 with a wing on it’s back. Well, not really. What you do get is probably one of the best driving machines made to date and one of the most amazing sounds ever to be heard round the Nurburgring.

Find that hard to believe? Listen to the following recording:

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Marcus M.

http://www.bmwcoop.com

The post BMW M3 GTS recored at the ‘Ring appeared first on BMWCoop | BMW Blog, BMW News, BMW Reviews.

BMW has announced the introduction of the xDrive intelligent all wheel drive systems on models that don’t have it available yet.

The list of models in cause includes the full 5 Series Gran Turismo range and the BMW 740d.

In the case of the BMW 5 Series GT the xDrive will be an option, starting June 2010, on all engines available for it, more specifically for the 3 liter diesel and the 4.4 liter petrol engine.

According to official BMW data, the 530d xDrive GT will do 0-60 mph in 6.9 seconds, will continue on to 146 mph and will do these feats and eventually average an estimated 41 mpg with a CO2 rating of 183 g/km. As far as the BMW 55oi xDrive GT is concerned, things are a bit different as the sprint to 60 mph from a standstill will be over in 5.4 seconds. The same can be said for the top speed which will be electronically limited to 155 mph. The green data from this beast of a car turns in at around 24 mpg and produces 275 g/km of CO2.

If you may want to have some other options you’ll have to wait for September as that’ll be the release date for the 535i and 535d versions of the GT.

Around that period, the autumn, the BMW 740d will get this option of the xDrive so that it’s 306 horsepower turbo-diesel engine can get down to road better.

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Marcus M.

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The post BMW xDrive finds new homes appeared first on BMWCoop | BMW Blog, BMW News, BMW Reviews.

If someone would ask me my favorite ActiveHybrid after something like 6 months, it would probably be this BMW ActiveHybrid 5 because I love the BMW 5 Series but at the same time I love the hybrids built by BMW so this would be in the top of my favorite BMW cars.

I also know that there is just one week left until the release at the 2010 Geneva Auto Show. I would also like to tell you that at the moment, this BMW ActiveHybrid 5 remains a concept comparing to BMW ActiveHybrid 7 or BMW ActiveHybrid X6.

People are expecting from this BMW ActiveHybrid 5 to come with a 3.0 liter turbocharged straight-six engine and of course that if it is a hybrid, that engine is combined with a 40 kW electric engine which makes this car to be a perfect city car but also a good car to travel with.

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Marcus M.

http://www.bmwcoop.com

The post Leaked photos with BMW ActiveHybrid 5 appeared first on BMWCoop | BMW Blog, BMW News, BMW Reviews.