BMW finally decided to reveal the new 2-Series Convertible, the open-top version of the German model which is slated to debut at the upcoming Paris Motor Show.

There’s a good tradition among carmakers to reveal new models few weeks before their debut at a major automotive event. The BMW 2-Series Convertible is no exception too.

To begin with, the main difference is the multi-layer fabric soft top which comes in black, anthracite and brown finishes. It needs 20 seconds to open/close and can be operated at speeds up to 50 km/h. The base model benefits from a 2.0-liter unit producing 184 horses and 270 Nm of torque.

A 2.0-liter turbodiesel with 190 horses and 400 Nm of torque is there too. If you want more power, there’s the BMW M235i powered by a 3.0-liter TwinPower Turbo engine with 326 horses and 450 Nm of torque.

This particular version sprints from 0 to 100 km/h in 5 seconds when linked to an eight-speed automatic gearbox while the manual transmission adds 0,2 seconds to the time.

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Marcus M.

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Ever considered the Paris Motor Show as an occasion for glamorous event, one that you’d love to attend in hoping you’d see some great cars?

That used to be the case but this year it was rather poor. BMW’s presence there didn’t really help the situation, as they don’t seem to have made too big an effort.

The Bavarians turned up with the four wheel drive version of the 1 Series, the FWD version and this, the more enthusiast friendly M Performance toys for the 3 Series.

The F30 BMW 335i showcased at the French motor show gets all the goodies M Performance can throw at you, be them functional or just for looks.

See those 20 inch light alloy wheels? Apart from being stunning, they hide a big brake kit and are connected to an upgraded suspension package.

Redesigned lines, minor decals and improved aerodynamics make themselves felt in the tweaked looks of the F30 and they help out the engine and handling as much as possible.

On a slightly unusual note, it’s the engine that comes a little short here. M Performance showcased the 335i but it’s actually the 2.0 liter diesel 320d that gets the attention.

That powerplant would normally develop 184 horsepower and 280 lb-ft of torque but M Performance takes it up to an even 200 hp and 310 lb-ft.

This change is going to make a difference of nearly one second in acceleration. The same M Performance tweaked 2.0 liter will be available on the 1 and 5 Series models.

Interestingly, the Bavarians promise that this won’t make a difference in terms of fuel economy. The oil burner will be as efficient as ever.

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Marcus M.

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The trip from Germany to France is usually quite fine on the motorway route. Munich to Paris is easily accessible.

Paris to St Moritz might be a little trickier. Particularly in a BMW with its sporty RWD that may raise your BPM on a twisty road with ice.

That’s where xDrive comes in. BMW’s brilliant all wheel drive system works great on the larger cars. Now though, it’s been introduced on the 1 Series as well.

The enhanced practicality, the improved usability and the option to drive this car all year round without any concerns about getting going in the morning.

A few details may be missing here and there as we’re not yet sure if all the powerplants available in the F20 1 Series will get the xDrive option.

What is for certain is that the M135i, the hottest version of the 1 Series will be getting it since the Paris Show stand had this car in particular on display.

Volkswagen’s Golf R32 was always a cheaper car but, thanks to its four wheel drive, always seemed like a more sensible way of getting the power down.

Now that the F20 1 Series has the M135i xDrive option in the lineup that appeal has simply disappeared. The VW car also comes with less power.

The inline six cylinder turbocharged powerplant in this car develops 320 horsepower and 332 lb-ft in the silkiest way possible.

Power is available from just over tick-over up to near the redline, making for yet another brilliant driver’s car.

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Marcus M.

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And thus it has come. The prophecies were all wrong, people are running in the streets without a sense of direction. No compass, no hope and no ideas about where their journey will take them.

This is the effect the BMW Active Tourer Concept is having on the population. It’s not the most flattering of situations but BMW are adamant about going through with it.

A front wheel drive model is what they feel they need and it is what they are making. Don’t be taken in by the concept title. That’s not likely to last.

BMW are using the Active Tourer Concept as a showcase study for both design and technical possibilities. What we’re seeing here is the future of BMW.

Granted, we’re not getting a long list of front wheel drive models replacing the ultimate driving machines we’re used to, but it’s safe to say that this isn’t the only one.

Surprisingly, I’ve nearly shaken off my purist coat and gotten quite used to the idea. I’m really excited about the Active Tourer Concept, 1 Series GT or whatever it will be.

This has happened even before I got a chance to drive it, to test out its fuel economy claims or even trying out its funky new interior.

I’m also interested in the way practicality works with this car. The Active Tourer Concept is slightly shorter than the 1 Series yet thanks to its 5 inches of extra height and the new platform, it is much more spacious.

Could front wheel drive goodness change the thinking of more people who like BMW?

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Marcus M.

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While BMW have had quite a few interesting bit of news recently, their relatively newly introduced M Performance brand has kept quiet.

Hoping to amend that, the special ops division came up with a performance tune for their very popular 2.0 liter turbocharged diesel engine.

M Performance is a new name in the business but so far they’ve proven that they can make diesel engines interesting, can they do the same with what’s the most common one out there?

We’re going to find out exactly what’s going to happen with the engine, the production and the sales plan at the upcoming Paris Motor Show.

Until that happens though, we do get a bit of a taste of what’s to come. As we know the more capable version of the four pot diesel is 184 horsepower and 280 lb-ft of torque.

Having fiddled with the innards and the ECU of the engine it is now going to develop a more impressive sounding 200 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque.

Granted, the power boost isn’t as impressive as the M550dx but the price will certainly be less restrictive since the amount of work that goes into the engine isn’t as demanding.

The new 2.0 liter power boost will be a available with the 1 Series, 3 Series and 5 Series models to begin with. Almost certainly, the X3 will be the first to have it afterwards.

M Performance is also setting the stage for a new handling pack for the cars that are going to be equipped with this engine.

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Marcus M.

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BMW’s Paris Motor Show stand for this year will be full of stuff. The 1 Series GT will be there and so will the new 1.5 liter engine.

All interesting stuff, but, in true telemarketing sales fashion, wait… there’s more. The same Bavarian stand will feature this.

It looks like an F20 BMW 1 Series and it is but there’s something substantially different about what’s underneath it.

That showcased model will be the first ever 1 Series to feature the xDrive all wheel drive system. Apparently, luxury car buyers can’t do without it.

In truth, there is quite a bit of demand for some of these pumped up drivetrains but that won’t revolutionize the way the 1 Series sells.

The F20 BMW 1 Series xDrive will remain a niche product and there’s no getting away from the “price” you have to pay for the advantage of having all wheels driven.

Obviously, the xDrive option will cost more to purchase to begin with. Moving up the list, it will cost more to run since fuel economy will be worse in these conditions.

Even with the efficient dynamics ideology behind it, BMW’s new xDrive 1 Series will lose some of its fuel economy charm.

More importantly for the sales of this car, the xDrive system can only be fitted to the 3 and 5 door hatchback models.

That means that, for the time being, xDrive is only available on the Euro-spec F20 BMW 1 Series and not the coupe and convertible E80 series version that’s available in the US.

More details on the engines, performance and efficiency are to come once the Paris Show actually starts.

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Marcus M.

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Germany’s AutoBild magazine came up with a surprise today. Their newest issue features the world premiere of the BMW 1 Series GT.

So far, only one image of the new car is available (alongside an outline if that’s relevant) as the actual magazine will turn up tomorrow.

There’s no word out on exactly how much detail the German magazine has on the new car but if you don’t get a chance at it don’t worry, the car is going to be fully unveiled at the Paris Motor Show.

There are however a few things that have been known about the BMW 1 Series GT, or Active Sports Tourer as it seems to be called in some cases, for quite some time.

It will be somewhere between a hatchback and an MPV, meant to be yet another one of those BMW niche products we keep seeing so many of lately.

It will be a seriously practical car (for a BMW) and it should make mince meat of its main rival, the Mercedes A Class.

More importantly however, it will be the first BMW model ever made with front wheel drive. The platform underneath this car is called UKL1.

That’s a fresh design and though it will premiere in the 1 Series GT, it will eventually underpin the next generations of Mini products.

We’re likely to get a bit of a scoop tomorrow from the Germans that leaked it or from the ones that will present it if patience holds us until the end of the month.

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Marcus M.

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The post BMW 1 Series GT leaked in Germany appeared first on BMWCoop | BMW Blog, BMW News, BMW Reviews.

It still seems like the BMW 3 Series has only scratched the surface of what is possible to do with the F30 chassis and design.

There’s just so many derivatives coming and so much promise seems to reside in what the Bavarians are cooking up right now.

One of the closest to production of these models is the 3 Series GT and it’s just been spied with a lot less camouflage than usual.

Unlike the last time we saw it, the BMW 3 Series GT didn’t have its own light fixtures, it’s got a proper radiator grille and has more of its lines exposed.

Essentially, the underpinnings are expected to be familiar. Though there’s probably going to be less engine choices than the regular 3 Series, things shouldn’t be too surprising.

The 2.0 liter turbocharged four cylinder engines in the 328i and 320d will be some of the more popular choices in terms of powerplants.

That’s not to say that at least one of the lovely 3.0 liter straight six units will be denied a chance at thrilling the whole family.

Rather unsurprisingly, the BMW 3 Series GT’s main selling point will be the practicality. That means there’s a lot of extra space at the back and an enlarged interior.

Everything should clear up in about a month. By then, the Paris Motor Show will have thrilled us with plenty of interesting and exciting cars but that’s where the 3 Series GT is expected to debut.

Until then, it’s quite unlikely that we get to see anymore about the 3 Series GT.

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Marcus M.

http://www.bmwcoop.com

The post BMW 3 Series GT spyshots come with less camo appeared first on BMWCoop | BMW Blog, BMW News, BMW Reviews.

Earlier today reports started coming in about people committing suicide after reading the morning papers. It seems there was some news from BMW in them.

The Bavarian brand confirmed the 2012 Paris Motor Show unveiling of their 1 Series GT model. That’s the front wheel drive version of the 1 Series.

Extra practicality, efficiency, all these things don’t really matter to the enthusiasts of the brand. Nor does the market fighting value of the equation.

For some reason, nobody cares if BMW will make this the greatest car ever made, it will always get knocked down for being front wheel drive.

Which is kind of annoying as the F20 BMW 1 Series gets knocked down for being rear wheel drive and often impractical.

Either way, even though I’m not the biggest fan of front wheel drive there’s just no doubt in my mind that the BMW 1 Series GT will be a great handling car.

Since the idea originally came up the 1 Series GT never got too many fans but when the first announcement of a Paris unveil came up most were hoping BMW would change their mind in the meantime.

It hasn’t happened, there’s a lot of disappointment and suicide going on and there’s not a lot of cheering going in the rival camps.

Now that the 1 Series can actually put up a serious fight in practicality the Audi A3, Mercedes B Class and Volvo V40 will shiver.

Especially as BMW promises the 1 Series GT will retain the incredible driving dynamics of the company. No torque steer, as little understeer as possible and utter joy should be felt from behind the wheel.

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Marcus M.

http://www.bmwcoop.com

The post BMW 1 Series GT confirmed for Paris appeared first on BMWCoop | BMW Blog, BMW News, BMW Reviews.

Got your calendar nearby? Good, jaunt down the end of September as the perfect time to be in Paris. Actually, anytime is a great time to be in Paris.

Moving on from the French capital’s appeal, if you’re there by the end of September, you’ll get a chance at being one of the first to see the BMW 1 Series GT Concept.

We all know that concept means it’s 98% the real deal but the 1 Series GT is considerably important for BMW and all its fans, particularly the enthusiasts.

This is because the BMW 1 Series GT will not be there as a weirdly shaped rear end version of the regular F20 1 Series but comes with a much more important change.

It will be the first actual BMW branded car that will come with wrong wheel drive front wheel drive as opposed to something more traditional.

What that means is that it will have more room in the back, more room in the boot, more room just about everywhere actually.

It also means that the BMW 1 Series GT Concept will feel like a less impressive motor since driving the front wheels obviously compromises the steering.

Who knows, maybe the fun to drive attitude of the Mini will shine through and the BMW 1 Series GT will still be lovely to drive.

Almost certainly it won’t be as good as the regular 1 Series or other models from the company but it seems that practicality has one over the fun factor these days.

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Marcus M.

http://www.bmwcoop.com

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