The German based carmaker is planning to extend the “i” range by adding an i5 to the already existing all-electric i3, the model reportedly coming as a crossover, and not as a sedan or a longer i3, as previously reported.

The new report comes from Auto Express auto magazine, stating that the future BMW i5 is more likely to come as a crossover, which would prove more successful in the crossover segment.

We might be also looking here at a keen competition, especially since the upcoming i5 crossover would have to compete against other high-end models from the segment, such as the Audi Q6 e-tron or the newly arrived Tesla Model X, which basically has no competitor at the moment.

The same report also states that the BMW i5 crossover might come with a lightweight carbon fiber body style, along with an all-electric powertrain, which would come with a range mile of around 321 km. As expected, the autonomous driving technology would be also implemented.

As a reminder, the BMW i3 all-electric packs a rear-engine and a rear-wheel drive system.We are talking about an electric motor, which outputs a great 250 Nm of torque, hooked to a single-speed transmission, while the 650cc two-cylinder petrol range extender, provides an additional of 34 horsepower.

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Marcus M.

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The post BMW i5 Reported Coming as a Crossover appeared first on BMWCoop | BMW Blog, BMW News, BMW Reviews.

As a BMW fan, or even a supporter of the opposition among Mercedes, Audi or Lexus, you’re likely well aware of the fierce fight for sales in this segment.

Over the last few months, BMW’s established lead was starting to get eroded by the fierce competition and their relentless quest to produce new models.

Last month’s results seem to be swinging in a more favorable direction for the Bavarian brand. Sales are up for all, but BMW is running ahead.

Main rivals Audi were up by 12.7 percent for a total of 1.34 million units whereas Mercedes managed 1.19 million, thus growing by 5.1 percent.

These are the statistics that were totalled up over the first eleven months of the year, compared to 2011. Under the same conditions, BMW shifted 1.38 million vehicles (10.9 percent up).

The bulk of those sales came from the more and more popular crossover segment. It was the BMW X1 and that shone once again.

Alongside it however, the brand new F30 3 Series has left its mark on the sales pitch for November. In other words, the bread and butter sedan has done its job properly.

While BMW is on pole position and the race is going strong, there’s no time to rest and take a break with all that oposition breathing down your neck.

Recent incentive efforts have cut BMW’s profit margin by a reported 2.3 percent and might still happen this month for a further reduction.

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Marcus M.

http://www.bmwcoop.com

The post Luxury sales race favors BMW again appeared first on BMWCoop | BMW Blog, BMW News, BMW Reviews.

It’s not uncommon for design students or amateurs to have a go at drawing whatever interesting concepts they can think of. As BMW makes dream cars, it happens quite often for the Bavarians.

The newest such creation comes from a Romanian self-thought 2D/3D modeller, designer, artist and overall creative person. It’s called the BMW XS concept and it allegedly runs on hydrogen.

Truth be told, this concept is a real love and hate kind of machine. It’s not love or hate, it’s genuinely both and I will explain why.

The exterior does carry some historic BMW lines and ideas but truth be told, it looks shocking. And not in a good way either.

Basically retro is to be the key aspect of the car but some of the reactions that deem it to be “fugly” aren’t far off. Due to the size and nature of crossover/SUV concepts they don’t mix with classic shapes without appearing bulbous and unevenly proportioned.

That’s the hate part. The lovable part is the interior. It is so brilliantly drawn out and yet it looks like something car makers will be ready to put on the market in a few years.

There’s nothing unbelievably complicated in there and nor is there any unusual material that needs to be mined on the moons of Jupiter.

Oh, and the fact that it’s powered by hydrogen also seems interesting. It may take a while to implement but that won’t be the biggest hurdle really.

My guess is that perhaps George Manolache, as the designer is called, should have changed a few lines at the front end and then stuck an Infiniti badge on it.

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Marcus M.

http://www.bmwcoop.com

The post BMW XS – an odd crossover concept appeared first on BMWCoop | BMW Blog, BMW News, BMW Reviews.

BMW’s market success has a lot to do with the quality of the products they make but you really can’t know off their marketing department for doing a great job.

After all, few brands can brag about having as much of a market value as the blue and white roundel and a whole lot fewer brands can say show off these kinds of sales.

Summing all this stuff out sounds like a boring powerpoint presentation designed for black and gray business men. Which it is.

Thankfully, BMW know that we’d much rather stick to rather simpler ways of communicating so they’ve unveiled a new video for their X1 crossover.

We don’t really thrive on phrases like “year on year”, “similar period”, “growth” or anything like that. We do like the way BMW X1 “in action” sounds:

As you can see, the video was published by BMW USA and there are some major figures of this establishment featured. The point of the video rather hangs on getting US customers excited about the idea.

Over the Atlantic, the BMW X1 is going to be available starting next month in two kinds of engines and two options for the drivetrain.

You can have the 2.0 liter turbocharged four cylinder engine with rear or all wheel drive or the 3.0 liter turbocharged inline six with xDrive only.

The pricing for the newly unveiled crossover will start at somwhere around $31,545 for the 28i versions and some $39.345 for the xDrive35i.

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Marcus M.

http://www.bmwcoop.com

The post 2013 BMW X1 video unveiled appeared first on BMWCoop | BMW Blog, BMW News, BMW Reviews.

The BMW X1’s newest facelift hasn’t really been seen since its New York Auto Show debut. The small crossover is about to make a comeback however.

Thanks to the Bavarian firm’s UK division, we’re now getting a followup on the X1, together with pricing information for their market and a substantial gallery.

The new market for the X1 may be the US and it might be getting petrol powered engines but in the UK (and most other markets in Europe) the crossover will be powered by diesel engines only.

Thankfully, even the British get the option of two or four wheel drive and a couple of new trim levels to pick from called Sport and xLine.

BMW’s trusted turbocharged 2.0 liter four-cylinder diesel can be had with anything between 143 and 218 horsepower though we should mention the top of the line model is only hooked up to all wheel drive.

Each of them implies certain concessions in terms of fuel economy and the only other restriction the X1 driver has is the manual gearbox and RWD delivery on the EfficientDynamics model.

As for the new trim level choices, they’re both high end with the Sport sitting above the previously available SE model just as the xLine sits above the Sport.

Both come with a similar flavor though; larger alloy wheels (17 vs 18 inch), chrome, and a few interior tweaks that are either aimed at sporty driving or luxury cruising.

In the UK, the BMW X1 is priced between 24.660 and 31.860 GBP, roughly 30.000 and around 39.000.

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Marcus M.

http://www.bmwcoop.com

The post 2013 BMW X1 facelift details and gallery appeared first on BMWCoop | BMW Blog, BMW News, BMW Reviews.

With all the love the Bavarians have gotten for their BMW X1 compact crossover in Europe and Australia, they are now getting ready to send it over to the U.S.

At least, that’s what the rumor says. The same rumor also says that the first version to come in would be the BMW X1 M35i xDrive version.

Americans haven’t exactly been strangers to power but I love BMW’s take on this idea. Instead of making the X1 an M Division product they’ve shuffled it over to M Performance.

Getting back to the engine and performance, the branding and name would suggest it would get a similar version of the engine that’s going to power the recently spied M135i.

That means we’re looking at a 3.0 liter inline six cylinder engine, with a turbocharger, which should develop somewhere around 320 horsepower.

Since it is an M Performance model, the engine won’t be the only aspect of the X1 that has changed so the suspension and aerodynamic package will also get refreshed.

Though it is a crossover and a compact one, somehow I don’t think the BMW X1 M35i xDrive will be slow or pay too much attention to leaning when in the corners.

An official release date isn’t available and BMW still tells us they’re not in a hurry to send the X1 stateside.

However the same rumor which brought us all this info also claims that the US launch of the BMW X1 will take place sometime in the fourth quarter.

In slightly more boring news, the Americans are going to get two diesel engines available on the X1.

As seen on xbimmers

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Marcus M.

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The post BMW X1 M35i xDrive rumored for an US arrival appeared first on BMWCoop | BMW Blog, BMW News, BMW Reviews.

First I want to notice a thing namely the camouflage. As you may see, it is almost the same as from BMW namely that it has something like spirals (on this MINI are just yellow instead of white) and also those stripes from the mirrors.

Recently MINI unveiled a Crossover concept for MINI but if I would still call it a concept I would be wrong because few time ago it was accepted to go into production so these should be great news. From photos you can’t realize pretty easy what’s new at this 2011 MINI Crossover and even the sizes of it but if you see real photos, you can do this easily.

I must admit that I would not expect from MINI to become bigger but the contrary, I was expecting to become smaller like a Smart. Anyway, I think that for the starting price of $29,000 this car is pretty cool.

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Marcus M.

http://www.bmwcoop.com

The post Spy Shots with the 2011 MINI Crossover appeared first on BMWCoop | BMW Blog, BMW News, BMW Reviews.