Kelleners Sport Tunes the BMW 1-Series M Coupe to 410HP

German aftermarket firm Kelleners Sport is one of the first official tuners to get its hands on the new BMW 1-Series M Coupe and offer a complete conversion. Named KS1-S, the modified 1 M Coupe�s turbocharged straight-six now delivers 410-horses, or a good 20% more than the standard car, and just 10HP short of the E92 M3, while torque is increased from 450 to 550 Nm or 405.7 lb-ft.

As a result, the power to weight ratio drops from 4.4kg per HP in the stock model to 3.8 kg per hp in the KS-1 S.

Visually, the KS1-S differs from the standard 1 M Coupe thanks to new aerodynamic parts designed to minimize drag and increase downforce at high speeds, as well as the quad 83 mm exhaust pipes.

Kellener�s 1 M Coupe now rides on new 20-inch alloy wheels shod in tires size 245/30 at the front and 265/30 at the rear.

The company also worked on the suspension settings and added an adjustable coil-over system, which gives the driver the opportunity to adjust both rebound and compression independently.

Changes were also made also in the interior with two-tone black and white perforated leather and alcantara covering the dashboard, door panels and front and rear seats.

BMW to enter the hatchback market in India with the 1-series

Downsizing is the buzzword for premium carmakers, especially for developing countries like India. After creating ripples in the premium car market with its sub-25 lakh X1 SUV, BMW seems to be planning to take the game further down the segment hierarchy. The company recently unveiled the 2012 version of its 1-series hatchback (also known as the F20 internally), and will put it on sale in the international market by September. The same car will be launched in the Indian market as well, sometime in 2012.

The cheapest car in BMW�s international lineup is expected to carry a sub 20 lakh price tag, and is expected to take the sales volumes to a new high. The 1 series may not be the prettiest cars around, but who cares, really � all that matter is that round blue and white logo on the grille, a rear wheel drive, and some of the most intoxicating engines under the bonnet. It�s bigger than your usual hatchback for sure though, and the cabin space and comfort would be more than your 5 lakh hatchback any given day.

BMW�s distinguishing points to justify the extra money spent would be powerful engines, driver oriented chassis, immaculate handling, liberal equipment levels and well, a rear wheel drive layout. Sadly, BMW seem to be working on FWD cars, I would rather be dead than having to witness one.

Under the hood there will be choice of petrol and diesel engines. The 1.6-liter petrol engine in available in two states of tune producing 136 PS and 170 PS. Then there would be a 2.0-liter diesel engine with power outputs ranging from 143 PS to 184 PS.

Transmission options are also impressive for this class of car and include the 8-speed automatic from ZF. There will also be a six speed manual for those want to shift ratios the good old way.

So if you were looking to buy a car for Rs. 15 lakh, start saving up a bit more. You�ll get your shot at driving a BMW without having to loot a bank very soon!

The 1 series won�t be the only �cheap premium� car looking for those greenbacks in your wallet though. Mercedes-Benz too will be launching it�s A and B Class hatchbacks to offer a proper fight to the Bavarian carmaker. You can check out our earlier stories on the A and B class by searching Motoroids.

But does it make sense to you? A 15+ lakh rupee premium hatchback, would you ever buy one? I for one would love to have one parked in my garage with a diesel engine. Do let us know your views.

BMW introduces new 520d EfficientDynamics

BMW have revealed the first official pictures of the 2011 520d EfficientDynamics. The new car, true to the EfficientDynamics tag will boast extraordinarily low CO2 emissions (119gm/km) and great fuel efficiency.

The 520d ED will achieve the feat of being clean, green and mean at the same time by employing some clever tech. BMW have made the final drive ratio quite tall to enable the new 520d ED to cruise at the maximum possible efficiency on the open freeways. The new alloys comprise of a design which reduces drag significantly. The tyres on the new car have much less rolling resistance than normal. In addition to all this the car comes with a start stop system which saves fuel when the car is idling. The 520d ED also has a optimum gearshift indicator to help the driver stay in the best gear for best efficiency.

The car will be introduced in the European market by September. An Indian launch should follow in a couple of months.

BMW 2012 1-Series Pictures Leaked

We reported to you earlier about BMW planning to enter the small car segment in India in the next two year or so with their 1-Series, BMW was keenly developing the 2012 version of their 1-series which is expected to make its way to the Indian shores by 2013.

The 1-series was supposed to be showcased at the Frankfurt Auto Show but somehow the images are leaked in advance. The 2012 1-Series draws inspiration from its elder siblings such as the 5-Series GT and the 7-Series. The new model is substantially longer than the previous model which solves the rear passenger leg room issue. The car will also boast better quality interiors and a LCD iDrive display with speed limit detector and internet connectivity.

Engine options which we can expect on this small Beemer are the 1.6lit petrol with variable power figures options of 136PS\170PS\250PS on the other side the diesel will have the 2.0lit turbocharged engine which also will be offered in different power bands of 116PS\143PS\184PS, all these engines will be mated to a six speed manual or the eight speed autobox.

You can also spot the Start\Stop Button & regenerative brakes under the EfficientDynamics package. The 1-series is going to be pure executive city driving enthusiast�s car in India. BMW as a car is a dream for many enthusiasts and BMW can make use of this emotion keeping the pricing right. Not to forget that the other two rivals Audi & Mercedes is coming with their own small car version.

Spied 2012 BMW 3 Series

The 3 series BMW badly needed a make-over, with the new 5 & 7 series the 3 series appeared to be left a little side-lined. Not any more as BMW is ready with a new 3 series and a test mule was spotted recently.

The new 3 series which is codenamed F30 has incorporated features like day-time running LED lights and the square angled headlights. In the design department, the new 3 series looks more like a scaled down 5 series. It also looks lower and longer than the car it is meant to replace.

On observation on the front you will see that the trademark BMW kidney grill looks more flat plus there are LED signal indicators on the side mirrors. This car is said to share a lot of its parts with the new BMW X3 which will also feature host of new gadgetry like Head Up Display, Rear view camera, lane departure warning, parking assist, lane change assistance and eight-speed ZF automatic transmission which will maintain the thin line between performance and mileage.

Under the hood we can expect 4 and 6 cylinder engines where the 6 cylinder will translate power figures to a max of 350hp. 2012 BMW 3 series should debut in the 2012 Geneva Auto Show and after its international debut it will make way in India by end of 2012. In India the 5 series is the most loved Beemer looking at the sales figures, with a new approach in design and innovation the 2012 BMW 3 series is expected to please many.

What do you think about this new beemer ?

Glass house BMW Concept 6 series.

The last you must have seen the panoramic glass roof was on the Nissan Teana. BMW has now come up with a similar idea for the BMW 2012 Concept 6 series coupe. Spy images of the car shot at Munich support the story. Even though they are prototypes we can clearly see distinct marks of the concept 6 series coupe which make its debut at the Paris fall. Under the hood we have a massive 3 litre turbocharged inline six-dialed to the 320bhp mark also another 4.4 litre V8 maxing 407bhp. Gearbox options available are either the 6 speed manual for the 8 speed automatic.

Canadian Joy Rider Takes BMW for a Spin, gets Caught going 240km/h - 150mph

An unnamed 20-year old man in a BMW (reportedly an SUV model) was arrested by police in Montreal on Saturday for driving 240 km/h or 150 mph on the A-720 highway in a 70 km/h or 44 mph speed zone. And here's where the story gets a bit more interesting as not only is this one of the worst cases of speeding in the country's history, but according to the police, the BMW did not belong to the young man. Some Canadian newspapers are even suggesting the man may have been a hotel valet that took the car for a late night spin on the highway.

The Montreal Gazette said local police "would neither confirm nor deny reports" he was a valet at a downtown Montreal hotel, and that he was taking out a guest's BMW for a joyride

Sgt. Guy Lapointe of the Quebec provincial police told The Star, "The only thing that I can tell you is that there have been no reports of a theft of the vehicle that was pulled over". CBC reported that the police said "the car has now been returned to its owner".

Hotel valet or not, the joy rider's "need for speed" earned him a hefty CA$2,598 (equal to about US$2,623 or �1,932) fine and 42 demerit points, which means he loses his license for at least six months.

BMW M Car Sales Increase by More than 14 Percent in 2010

Sales of BMW's M car series continue to sprout as the Bavarian company's performance division concluded the 2010 business year with a 14.2 percent increase to 16,967 units, despite the phase out of the V10-powered M5 and M6 models.

The M brand's most popular model remained the M3 with 5,729 units of the coupe, 2,544 units of the Convertible and 1,843 Saloons. Worldwide sales of the newly introduced all-wheel drive X5 M and X6 M totaled 2,778 and 3,082 respectively.

The USA was once again the most important single market in 2010 for the performance brand with overall BMW M car sales up by more than 6 percent to 6,821 units. As before, the number two sales region was the German domestic market with sales of 1,716 cars, followed by Britain and Northern Ireland with 1,264 units.

BMW M's division saw its most dynamic growth in China where sales rose by 355 percent to 1,088 units, making the country the fourth-strongest market for the brand. Significant gains were also registered in Brazil (+ 237 percent) and Russia (+ 104 percent).

The German company said that it also recorded a 1 percent increase in sales of the M Sport packages, with 138,800 units in 2010. The main market for M Sport packages was Britain and Northern Ireland, followed by Germany and the USA. The was also a significant jump in the demand for the firm's Individual program, with 24,155 options being ordered in 2010, an increase of 47 percent over 2009.

BMW and PSA Peugeot Citro�n Form Joint Venture to Produce Hybrid Components

Already partners in developing 4-cylinder petrol engines, BMW and PSA Peugeot Citro�n have decided to set up 50-50 equity joint venture named the BMW Peugeot Citro�n Electrification, which will primarily focus on developing hybrid components. Sharing the cost of research and development as well as production and component purchasing, the two companies expect to achieve significant economies of scale.

The hybrid components in question include battery packs, E-machines, generators, power electronics and chargers, alongside the necessary software to operate them that will also be jointly developed. The new technologies will be used by the two automakers for their upcoming electric vehicles and could be sold to other companies as well.

The joint venture is expected to be fully operational in the second quarter of 2011 and it�s estimated that the first series production hybrid components will arrive in 2014.

�This cooperative venture will enable us to achieve significant economies of scale in the field of electrification. It also represents an important step on the road to sustainable mobility�, said Norbert Reithofer, Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG.

�With this joint venture, we are sure to develop and expand our expertise and to build a European leader in the field of automotive hybrid innovation�, noted Philippe Varin, Chairman of the Managing Board of PSA Peugeot Citro�n.

BMW Officially Confirms 2.0-Liter Turbo for Z4 and 5-Series

Earlier this week, BMW unveiled its new 2.0-liter turbocharged gasoline engine which will effectively replace the firm's classic, naturally aspirated straight-six. The force-fed four banger made its debut on the X1 compact crossover, but today, the Bavarian automaker officially confirmed that the new engine will be available in other models "such as the BMW Z4 and 5 Series in due course." While BMW did not give out a launch date.

BMW Launches the X1 in India @ 22Lakh ex-Delhi

BMW has launched its cheapest model in India, the X1. The new SUV is priced between Rs 22 lakh � Rs 29.9 lakh. The new vehicle will be assembled locally in India at BMW�s plant in Chennai.
Bmw is offering two engine options for the X1. There is one 1.8-ltre petrol and a 2.0-litre diesel. The petrol sDrive (2WD) 18i, will be available for Rs 22 lakh. The diesel variant will have two options � X1 sDrive 20d, priced at Rs 23.9 lakh and X1 sDrive 20d Exclusive priced at Rs 29.9 lakh respectively.

The power output for the petrol and diesel engines is rated at 150bhp and 177 bhp respectively. The troque from the diesel engine is rated at 350 Nm from 1750 to 3000 rpm while the diesel mill dishes out a peak torque of 200 Nm at 3600 rpm. The claimed 0-100 km/h sprint timings for the petrol and diesel variants are 10.4 seconds and 8.3 seconds respectively.
The ARAI certified fuel efficiency for the petrol and diesel versions is 11.24 and 15.24 kmpl respectively.

Speaking on the occasion, Andreas Schaaf, BMW Indian President said �The new BMW �X1' sets the benchmark by bringing together features of a sports activity vehicle with spontaneous flexibility and outstanding fuel economy,�
With the X1, BMW is planning to bring is a substantial chunk of sales from the competitors, as there is no other such vehicle in the market at this point. The net compact SUV is also expected to cannibalize into the sales of SUVs such as the Toyota Fortuner , Nissan X-Trail , Hyundai Santa Fe and the Mitsubishi Outlander.

BMW regains the top spot. To launch X1 on 23rd Dec.

BMW has regained its number-one spot again!

According to SIAM (Society Of India Automobile Manufacturers), the German manufacturer managed to sell 5,345 units in the last 11 months of 2010, which is more than the current leader and closest competitor Mercedes� 5,109. The third German in the luxury car category, Audi managed to sell a total of 2,803 in the same period.

• BMW recently increased the production capacity at its Chennai facility from 3000 vehicles per year to 5400 units. They plan to invest another Rs.70 crores by the year 2012 in order to increase the capacity even further.

• BMW will launch the X1 on 23^rd of this month in New Delhi, details of which will be available soon.

BMW fans get ready �cause this year these numbers will surely rise.

See all BMW cars available in India

MOTOROIDS

BMW launches the 520d in India

BMW India have quietly launched the 520d variant of their 5-series sedan in India. The new car is powered by a 2.0-litre (1995cc)  engine delivering 185bhp of power. This engine is the same as the one employed in the 3-series saloon. With this, the 5-series sports 5 engines under its bonnet in India. The new engine will be mated to an 8-speed auto gearbox.

Apart from the smaller engine, the 520d also goes a level down in terms of equipment list in favour of competitive pricing. The tyres are now 255 / 55 R17. The paddle shifter has been taken away and so has been the six-CD changer, to make for a single CD MP3 player. The system still supports USB, AUX � in and Bluetooth  pairing.

The new car is priced at Rs 36,90,000 (ex-showroom, Delhi) , cheaper by the 525d by almost 3 lakh rupees.

See all BMW Cars, Price list, Photos, Colours and Variants available in India in CarSalesIndia.com

 MOTOROIDS

Buried under a BMW M3

Are you a true fan of a particular car brand? Yes you may be! But not more than Steve Marsh who was a hardcore BMW fan. He was so much in love with BMW that he could not resist leaving the world without one. That�s true, as after his death he lies with a BMW M3 convertible replica above his grave. Steve was 51 when he died.

Strangely, Marsh was an engineer at Ford even though he had this high magnitude liking for BMW. The BMW M3 convertible was in the top of the list of his favorite BMWs. His wife and children believed that it would not be a problem to get a headstone designed in the exact shape of his favorite car. The replica is an exact copy of the car both in looks as well as dimensions and is carved out of a single block of granite.

The M3 convertible replica costs more than $75,000 and was shipped from China. The replica weighs a ton and took the aid of a crane and 20 operators to put it in place at the Manor Park Cemetery in East London. �You have to admit it's totally different to everything else around it. It's definitely not my taste. I think some people will say it's tacky and it could end up as a target to be vandalized. It could open the floodgates for anything to be built in a cemetery. When I walked past it the other day, though, I have to admit it did make me smile,� said a local resident Rene Dryden.

BMW 5 series will hit the streets on 30th April

BMW has confirmed that it will roll out its 5 series (F10) in India by the 30th of April which is a few months earlier than the actual date of its launch. The German manufacturer�s saloon however is slated for a few month later launch in Europe.

Originally, the German car maker had scheduled the launch of the car between the July-September period. Thus, the earlier-than-scheduled launch has proved to be a surprise to the Indian market. We can say that Newton�s third law has been applied here (every action has an equal and opposite reaction). BMW had to react aptly to its rival, Mercedes� action of introducing the new E-class and discounted sale of its 5-series, by introducing the new model as soon as possible. The firm has provided its Chennai plant with all necessary equipments and facilities for the 5-Series. The firm has also achieved record time shipping of its knocked down units to assemble the models well before time.

Mercedes managed to sell 642 E-class models in the first quarter of 2010 where in the other hand, BMW could only manage to sell 305 5-series. BMW expects to recover its market share in the luxury car segment with the introduction of the all new 5-series.

There is no confirmation as in which models of the 5-series will be available in India. However, there is a possibility for the 535i and 530d to hit the streets for sure.

5 variants of BMW 3 series + No more M3 sedan

Platform technology is something car makers love making use of. Take for instance the luxury segment where Mercedes-Benz has the E-class in various forms like sedan, cabrio and estate. Or our very own Tata Indica platform which has a hatchback, a sedan, an estate, a sub 4m sedan and a limousine made on the same platform. But having a Beemer in 5 different body styles based on the same car is a little hard to digest. The hard working guys in Munich however, who slog day and night to provide us 'Sheer Driving Pleasure' dont think the same way. They are about to create yet another landmark in BMW's history by making 5 variants of the same car!

Automobile claims that the new 3er which is likely to be launched in 2012 will hit the market in 5 body styles. The new 3-series, codenamed F30, will be available in coupe, sedan, estate and a convertible. Each variant will be launched at a gap of 6 months (so that means Q2 2014 for the 5th variant). These are just four variants, the biggest surprise comes in the form of the fifth variant. The fifth one is going to be the Gran Turismo version which was first seen in the 5er family. Though it wont be getting the two piece hatch as found in the bigger 5-series GranTurismo, it will be sportier than the 5er GT. The wheelbase would be bigger than the normal 3-series for its GT variant. A full size panorama glass roof will be available as an option.

 

The new coupe will be donning a sportier design with a lower roofline while the convertible sibling will get a hardtop instead of a canvas one. And for all the sideways action lovers,the M3 will get a heart transplant. The newer powerplant is going to be an inline 6 which will manage to produce 450 horses, a clear increment of 30 over the current V8. Rumors suggest that a speedster might also get a place in the line up but chances are slim. But they might bring the shooting brake avatar of the 3 maybe to offer some competition to the E-Concept Fascination. This will make the 3er one of the most driver oriented sedan err platform among its peers. We will have to wait till 2012 to see all the action. Hope it is worth the wait. But another sad aspect of the new 3-series is that there won't be a M3 sedan anymore! All that you can lay your hands on is a M3 coupe or a M3 convertible...

by Motoroids

Last 20 Limited Edition Gran Turismo from BMW

BMW India, who recently launched the limited edition of the new Gran Turismo at the Auto Expo this year in New Delhi, has already hit the sales figure of 80 units till date. The company's target is set on selling 100 units of such kind in the country which means only 20 more units remain up for grabs!

The BMW Gran Turismo housed with a 3.0 diesel engine is priced at Rs. 6,300,000 and is available as a Completely Built-up unit (CBU). On the occasion, Mr. Peter Kronschnabl, President, BMW India said, 'The BMW Gran Turismo is a completely new vehicle concept, adding a unique and distinctive model variant to BMW�s product line-up. The BMW Gran Turismo combines the benefits of a prestige sedan, a modern Sports Activity Vehicle, and a classic Gran Turismo (Grand Touring). Only the elite few in India will have the opportunity to own one of the 100 exclusive limited edition BMW Gran Turismos.

Audi v/s BMW commercial wars

Remember the advertisement hoarding wars between Audi and BMW in the US that revolved around the R8 supercar? Well, it hasn't stopped there! The two German rivals are at it again, albeit with new cars this time. Audi has drawn first blood with a new commercial that highlights Audi's victory in three comparison shootouts recently conducted by the Car and Driver magazine. Further more it hits BMW where it hurts the most by stating that there is nothing wrong about finishing second in a 'friendly' competition. Sure! Let's cut the words then and watch the new video:

BMW unveils Gran Tourismo, X1 & the X6M

BMW just unveiled the new 5 series Gran Tourismo and X1. The GT will come with a price tag of Rs.63 lakh and only 100 of these kinds will be produced. Also on display in the BMW pavilion were the BMW X6 M and the 760 Li. The 5 Series GT will come with a price tag of Rs.63,00,000, the new BMW X6 M will be priced at Rs. 1,30,00,000, and the BMW 760 Li will cost Rs. 1,29,00,000.

The 760 Li houses a mighty 6.0 litre v12 engine with Twin Power Turbo technology, High Precision Injection and double VANOS camshaft and is able to churn out a max torque of 750 Nm at just 1,500 rpm. The 7- Series comes with brand-new eight-speed transmission, with its innovative gear set configuration, offering additional gears while maintaining the dimensions and weight of a conventional six-speed automatic.

New BMW 5-Series Unveiled

The oldest surviving mainstream BMW, the 5 Series is up for replacement. (has been around since the 3rd season of TopGear, you know!). Here are some leaked pictures released on the internet ahead of its release tomorrow. Thanks to Adrian Van Hooydonk�s (BMW�s design head) de-Bangling of all BMWs, the new 5 series looks much more conservative than its predecessor.

It is based on the recently-launched 5 series GT�s platform, which itself is based on a shortened 7-Series� platform.


What will be music for the enthusiast�s ears is the fact that the M division has already started work on the next M5, which will get the X5M�s force-inducted heart, a clean departure from its naturally aspirated lineage. And for the benefit of the geeks, BMW has gone all out and progressed one character further in their nomenclature calling it the F10 (there will be separate codes for the estate/touring � F11, F10M for the M5 and F7 for the GT).