BMW Grand Coupe is set to enter production in 2012 and complete the 6 Series range. The model is intended to the 7 Series customers who do not want a driver to drive their cars.

Klaus Draeger, the head of development of the BMW brand, announced that it will transform the Grand Coupe concept. As anticipated, the model will be rival for the future Mercedes-Benz CLS, Porsche Panamera and new Audi A7. BMW Grand Coupe concept was presented at the Beijing Auto Show in April 2010. Later, Klaus Draeger has indicated that this model will be positioned close to the BMW 6 Series range.

Klaus Draeger said that next step is to create a hybrid version of a model, since they use the same propulsion system architecture for 5 Series, 6 Series and 7 Series. They can not yet announce the development of a hybrid version of its series of six or Grand Coupe.

BMW Grand Coupe will debut somewhere in 2012 and will be preceded by the 6 Series coupe’s debut. The next generation of 6 Series Coupe will debut in 2011 and will represent the third generation of this model, after E24 and E63/64. In the coupe and convertible versions, the model will keep the figure that characterized for the previous generation, while the four-doors version will look similar to the Grand Coupe concept.

The guys from BMW will sell the Grand Coupe model to the 7 Series customers who prefer to drive their own car but do not need so much space. In light of the four-doors model will maintain a practical side, can carry four or five passengers without their struggles to access the back seats.

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Surely you’ve wondered why the very strong German cars have the top speed electronically limited to 155 mph.

Are models of over 500 HP which is very hard to believe that can reach only 155 mph, when there are capable of exceeding 186 mph. Moreover, the automakers always specify in technical data that the maximum speed is electronically limited, to be clear that can much more.

BMW, Audi and Mercedes (and also Vokswagen) limit their cars to 155 mph, although in recent years have appeared the exceptions. Exceptions that show that this “rule” is about to become history.

It is not about the German law, but it is about an initiative of the guys from BMW, which dates from 1987, when the Germans had present the first V12 engine for 7 Series (E32). It have a 5.0-liters engine and develops 304 HP. The car can reach speeds significantly greater than 155 mph(they say could reach almost 186 mph), but BMW has decided to limit it to 155 mph.

The German highways have many areas with no speed limit and the Bavarians believed that 155 mph is a sufficient speed for “speeders” and want to protect their clients. In addition, at that time, the tires not support very well the speed over this limit.

In recent years, the German automakers begin to depart from this rule. Especially for the RS models, AMG and M, the German automakers offer the possibility to eliminate this electronic restriction, “on demand”, but without extra cost. And who would refuse a top speed of 174 mph, instead of 155 mph, when it costs nothing extra?

However, even before, when the Germans respect this limit, the customers could easily remove the electronic limitation, at the tuning service or workshops.

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Following the acquisition of approximately $1.5 billion, the Chinese from the Geely wants to create a rival for Mercedes S-Class and BMW 7 Series by Volvo S80 and to sell a total of 380,000 units per year.

The Chinese from Geely wants to make from Volvo a top rival in the premium segment. According to the some rumors, Volvo will fight with BMW and Mercedes-Benz in the premium segment. For Volvo to become profitable, the Chinese expected to sell about 380,000 units per year. During 2009, the automaker from Gothenburg has sold 335,000 units and has lost $653 millions.

“We want to make more high-level cars that compete with the S-Class of Mercedes-Benz and the 7-Series of BMW. We need products to compete in that segment.”, said Shufu Li, the Geely Auto CEO. He hopes to boost Volvo’s global reputation, especially in China, and step up research and development efforts in order to maximize sales bring Volvo back into profitability.

Geely is one of the automakers with the fastest growth, but the Chinese are far from the German conglomerates that own BMW and Mercedes-Benz brands, regardless of the field compared. In addition to the substantial differences in financial capacity, the Chinese from Geely will have to pass over the cultural issues and the Swedish automaker image, subtle hit when it was purchased by a Chinese automaker.

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BMW announce the introduction of the xDrive system on the new generation of 5 Series range and the launch of a M body package for both versions.

BMW announces a series of significant changes in range, the main target being 1 Series, 3 Series, 5 Series, X1, Z4 and 5 Series GT.

The main novelty is the introduction of the xDrive all-wheel drive system on the new generation of 5 Series model 5, targeted versions are 550i and 535d with six-cylinder and 306 HP. Nor 5 Series GT is not forgotten, the xDrive sign will be found on the 550i and 530d versions. 7 Series receives the four-wheel drive system on 740d xDrive.

Important news and under the 5 Series Touring hood, the wagon will receive the gasoline and diesel units of 204 HP (525d) and 258 HP (528i). The diesel reaches to 60 mph in 7.3 seconds with an average consumption of 39 mi/gal, while the gasoline accelerates to 60 mph in 6.9 seconds and promises an average consumption of 29 mi/gal.

Both body variants of the new 5 Series will be spoiled with a M package, already announced in advance of press. The division performance kit will be available in September for all engines and includes aerodynamic changes, 18 or 19-inch alloy wheels, Alcantara leather, M logos at inside, leather steering wheel and shifter, aluminum inserts in the skirts.

Nor X1 no escapes from a number of improvements. We are dealing with xDrive 23d version with 204 HP, assisted by a manual gear box with six reports, which helps the car to obtain an average consumption of 39 mi/gal, even though the sprint from 0-60 mph is in 7.3 seconds.

All the current engines from 1 Series will be tailored to Euro 5 standards, including the 116d version by 2.0-liters and 115 HP, which consumes is just 52 mi/gal.

3 Series sedan and Touring versions will receive two new Exclusive Edition and Sport Plus Edition, that come with the package of accessories for diesel and gasoline with four-cylinders. It seems that the special editions will be launched at the end of the career of the 3 Series model.

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The good sales of its 5 Series F10 compelled those from BMW to establish waiting lists for interested customers in their new model class.

The guys from BMW are forced to form waiting lists for the new 5 Series F10 built because all the copies sold so far, on all the markets they serve. For a 5 Series F10, a client will have to wait about three or four months because of high demand for the new creation of the Bavarian automaker. Therefore, the BMW sales in the second quarter of 2010 are in keeping with growth in the first quarter of this year.

“Many markets are going very well. Overall, we register very good sales.” said Ian Robertson, the head of BMW brand sales department.

BMW is focusing on increasing profitability, as rivals from Audi and Mercedes Benz. However, the three brands focus to achieve as possible a hight market share. First, the profitability is assured that 70% of the technology implemented in F10 5 Series is offered also on 7 Series F01, which helps to reduce the development and the production costs, that increasing the model profitability without harming quality. In the first instance, the guys from BMW seeking to increase the sales more than 10 percent, after they which will change its approach.

Between May 2009 – May 2010, BMW has delivered 1.3 million cars and SUVs, after they managed to deliver 1.29 million units in May 2008-May 2009. The 2009 fiscal year was the worst period in terms of deliveries of BMW brand since 2004 until now. The BMW sales in May 2010 reached 552,864 units.

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The Bavarian Concern accustomed us with great performance hidden under greater looks. So, what he did? He took the astonishing-looking 7 series, added an electric motor and what did they got? The BMW 7 Series ActiveHybrid. It looks great, it’s luxurious, it’s safe, it’s BMW.

She's got the look...

You’ll be wondering: what’s so special about this electric powered whale? What about a 0-60 mph time of 4.9 seconds? Yeah, there’s a dot between 4 and 9. Your eyes are still functioning well. How’s that possible? Simple. The Germans mixed a 4.4-liter twin turbo V8 engine with an electric motor, managing to get 449 bhp and 479 ft-lb of torque. Imagine this with an average fuel consumption of 9.4 l/100 km (2.91 mpg) and emissions of 219 CO2 g/km. Now close your mouth. And yes, that’s the first time somebody has the courage  to do something like this. Another world wide premiere is that they managed to do this with a 8-speed automatic transmission. Yes, they are BMW, they are the real deal.

That's all you need to know: fuel, speed, rpm, oil

Even though the car has a 35-cell lithium-ion battery, that doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice the space in the trunk since the rear-seat air-conditioning unit from the standard 7 is gone. Don’t worry you won’t feel its absence as all the air-conditioning systems in the world won’t stop you from sweating when you’ll waltz the streets in this elegant lady.

Now you won't need a hotel room when your wife kicks you out of the house, saying you spend too much time with your car...

Yes, that’s true. Driving the new BMW 7 Series ActiveHybrid is like taking the most popular girl at the Prom. You’ll attract looks, everybody will admire you and in the same time hate you. What I’m saying here? It’s even better, the BMW will not refuse going to your place when the party is over.

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