The 2014 BMW M6 Gran Coupe made its grand debut at the recently past Detroit Auto Show and from the first glance it was evident that this new offering from BMW would live up to the high expectations for the discriminating group of drivers this Beamer was built for. Doing a quick walk around you can’t help but notice how this sleek auto has an intriguing combination of luxury smoothness, but with an aggressive stance to show this coupe means business in every sense of the form.

2014 BMW M6 Gran Coupe host a twin turbocharged 4.4 liter V8 engine that is designed for optimal power and performance. Rivaling even the supersportscars, this engine gives you 553 horsepower and 502 pound feet of torque that will take you from 0 to 60 in just 4.1 seconds. As for cruising speed, you have to watch it because you will feel as if you are strolling along on a Sunday slow-drive and realize you are actually pushing way past the speed limit. About 190 miles per hour is the top speed, but that’s not something you want to try out unless you have a private speedway to maneuver around in. That speed is stealthy and smooth all the way, nothing like driving a muscle sportster, which is both good and bad depending on what driving experience you are looking for.

Talking about cruising at high speeds as smoothly as if you were drinking a cool glass of water, the interior of the 2014 BMW M6 Gran Coupe adds additional elegance and luxury that shows up nowhere other than BMW made vehicles. This Beamer is an investment though. You’re looking at a starting price of about $115,195 which is $4,650 more than the M6 Coupe and of course the price goes up depending on what options you choose.

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As if the BMW M5 and M6 models didn’t have enough get up and go, they are now set to get more by way of a brand new Competition Package option. This option will be available for all the M5 and M6 sedans including the convertible and Gran Coupe editions. Keep in mind, the versions without the Competition Package (If that’s what they are going to call it) still have 560 horsepower which is way more than most drivers will able to get full use out of, but for those who love high performance along with their luxury, the Competition Package is going to be the way to go.

The BMW M5 and M6 models currently host a 4.4 liter twin turbocharged V8 and that is what currently gives the 560 horses. Adding the Competition Package will add another 15 horses to the mix which will put these luxury chariots up to speed with some of the most powerful supersportscars. To give you an idea of what that feels like, imagine going from 0 to 60 in about 3.5 seconds and reaching a top speed of around 190 miles per hour (Kids, don’t try that at home). That’s what this package will give you.

The new package by BMW for the M5 and M6 models will offer a collection of other features as well. The suspension will be revised to fully handle the additional power, distinct wheels will be added to set it apart from the other M5 and M6 versions with black exhaust tips added to further enhance the sportier appeal. There will also be crisper handling and a more direct steering ratio to better complete that sporty/luxury combination the package is offering. The full details won’t be released for another couple of months, but that will give you time to save up some extra cash because this package probably isn’t going to come cheap.

Source BMW Blog

The BMW X1 is a diminutive luxury model for those who want the top quality driving experience in a car you can park just about anywhere you have in mind. It has rear wheel drive and when we mention its compact, we mean it’s small. It’s about 4.4 inches shorter than the Mazda3 to give you an idea of what to compare it to. The Mini Countryman is about the same size.

The 2013 BMW X1 can easily be likened as a small dog that has large dog syndrome because of the power it has to power not very much car. It hosts an N20 2.0 liter turbocharged four cylinder engine or a N55 3.0 liter six cylinder depending on what your choice of performance is. The N20 will give you 240 pound feet of torque and 260 pound feet of torque. The larger N55 will give you 300 horsepower with 300 pound feet of torque. Either choice you make will leave you zipping around at an adventuresome pace.

While you might think this small dog would be cramped and claustrophobic, you will actually be surprised when you step inside the 2013 BMW X1. It is surprisingly roomy although we aren’t quite sure how BMW managed to pull that off. There is generous room up front and even the rear passenger room is an acceptable size for smaller adults or children. On top of that there is 25 cubic feet of cargo space, enough to load up and go for a nice long road trip, or at least pack up the car with the weekly groceries.

No matter how small this car is, it’s still a BMW and the 2013 BMW X1 doesn’t let you forget it. That means high quality, elegant materials throughout the interior, comfortable seats and all the features you could expect. It starts at $32,350 (plus $895 for destination) and should be at your dealerships by now.

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The BMW X4, planned to be the next BMW crossover model, has been leaked.

The leaked official photos show us a concept of the BMW X4. Which means it features lots of bits of Chrome and tech that we will most likely not see in the production model.

No information is attached to the images that leaked ahead of the Auto China 2013 show in Shanghai scheduled from April 21-29. We are assuming during BMW’s press conference we will see a lot more of the X4, which is a smaller version of the X6.

In my opinion it looks like an interesting vehicle and honestly one of the more attractive SUV/crossovers I have seen from BMW, let’s hope the production version lives up to the leaked images of the concept X4.

Via: CarScoops

Congratulations go to the winners of the 2013 Kelley Blue Book Brand Image Award. This is the sixth year for this award from Kelley Blue Book. The “Judges” of these awards are about 12,000 shoppers that visit KBB.com over the year and have their say on 13 categories including non-luxury cars, luxury cars and truck segments.

Hwei-Lin Oetken, vice president of market intelligence for Kelley Blue Book, said, “The Kelley Blue Book Brand Image Awards are unique because they reflect the opinions of actual in-market new-car shoppers, providing automakers with a glimpse into what potential customers really think of their brand and showcasing their perception strengths. While other awards from KBB.com are based on data calculated by Kelley Blue Book experts, the information that comprises the Brand Image Awards comes directly from the opinions of thousands of new-car shoppers over the period of an entire year. The insights gleaned from the Brand Watch study can be an invaluable tool for automaker marketing teams and their agencies.”

The Winners of the Kelley Blue Book’s 2013 Brand Image Award Are:

Award-Winning Non-Luxury Brands

• 2013 Honda for the Best Overall Brand
• 2013 Honda for the Most Trusted Brand
• 2013 Honda for the Best Value Brand
• 2013 Chrysler for the Most Refined Brand
• 2013 MINI for the Best Performance Brand
• 2013 Ford for the Best Car Styling Brand

Award-Winning Truck Brand

• 2013 Toyota for the Best Overall Truck Brand

Award-Winning Luxury Brands

• 2013 BMW for the Best Overall Luxury Brand
• 2013 Lexus for the Most Trusted Luxury Brand
• 2013 Buick for the Best Value Luxury Brand
• 2013 Mercedes-Benz for the Most Refined Luxury Brand
• 2013 Porsche for the Best Performance Luxury Brand
• 2013 Porsche for the Best Car Styling Luxury Brand

Many critics are surprised by these results and the serious question remains, are these vote in by actual owners of these cars, or just website visitors who are imagining what the Best Brand Image is? Either way, these are the results and you have to admit, most of these picks are definitely some top selling models.

Source Kelley Blue Book

You wouldn’t think that the words “underdog” and “BMW” would ever be mentioned in the same sentence, but for the 2014 BMW 3 Series Gran Turismo, it seems positioned on one hand to be the sedan to beat in its class, and on the other hand the whole Gran Turismo lineup has been taking a thrashing from the automotive critics. Therefore, underdog it seems to be and BMW seems to have a great handle on that, and knowing how to create a hero’s proposition for the little sedan that can.

At the first glance the 2014 BMW 3 Series Gran Turismo is an attractive looking sedan from all angles, not too staid, not too sporty, but pretty okay with creases in just the right spots. But we all know the looks only last long as what’s beneath them and for this model, it should be a pretty long time. A N55 twin power turbo 3.0 liter inline six cylinder is hosted under the hood. That will give you about 302 horsepower and 295 pound feet of torque. In this size vehicle, that will take you from 0 to 60 in 5.2 seconds if you have the Drive Dynamics set to Sport+, and that’s nothing to sneeze at.

As far as the interior, of course, the 2014 BMW 3 Series Gran Turismo has all the high quality materials and features you would expect the German automakers to line the nest with. Including the high tech, safety and comfort features enough for the most discriminating driver. You can take it for a spin yourself later this fall. The 2014 BMW 3 Series Gran Turismo 328i GT is set to sell starting at $38,500 and the 335i GT will start at $45,500, but if you want all the bells and whistles those prices will easily escalate in the 60s range.

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