Alpina to debut B6 GT3 and B7 at Geneva show
 

<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/aftermarket/" rel="tag">Aftermarket</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/tunertuesdays/" rel="tag">Tuners</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/geneva-motor-show/" rel="tag">Geneva Motor Show</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/bmw/" rel="tag">BMW</a></p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/alpina-b6-gt3/771538/"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/01/alpina-b6-gt3.jpg" /></a><em><strong><br /></strong></em>
<div align="center"><em><stron g><small>Click above to view the Alpina B6 GT3 in high-resolution</small></strong></em><br /></div>
<br />BMW may have its own tuning division that carries its vaunted M badge, but Alpina enjoys a close relationship of its own with the Bavarian automaker. Alpina's tuner cars are built right off the BMW assembly line and available directly through BMW dealerships. One of the largest tuner firms in the industry, Alpina is preparing to debut two of its newest offerings at the upcoming <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/Geneva-Motor-Show/">Geneva Motor Show</a> in March.<br /><br />First up to bat is the B6 GT3, the racer with which Alpina has returned to motorsport competition after a 20-year absence. Those <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/24/alpina-ends-20-year-racing-respite-with-b6-gt3/">details have already been released</a>, but joining the race-tuned 6 Series is tipped to be the new B7, Alpina's take on the latest F01-generation BMW 7 Series sedan that's anticipated to pull over 500 horsepower out of its centrifugal-supercharged 4.4-liter V8. So far, all we've seen is a <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2008/12/22/alpina-teases-with-sketch-of-next-b7-sedan/">teaser sketch</a> and a raft of speculation on the supercharged 7, but we'll be looking forward to getting more solid information as we get closer to the Swiss show in the coming weeks..<br /><br />[Source: <a href="http://www.topcarblog.ch/692/exclusive-premieres-at-geneva-motor-show/">topcarblog.ch</a>]<p style="padding:5px;backgr ound:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/28/alpina-to-debut-b6-gt3-and-b7-at-geneva-show/">Alpina to debut B6 GT3 and B7 at Geneva show</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblo g</a> on Wed, 28 Jan 2009 17:59:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.topcarblog.ch/692/exclusive-premieres-at-geneva-motor-show/>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/28/alpina-to-debut-b6-gt3-and-b7-at-geneva-show/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/1443668/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/28/alpina-to-debut-b6-gt3-and-b7-at-geneva-show/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>

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BMW preparing new Z10 ED green supercar for production?
 

<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/hybrids/" rel="tag">Hybrids/Alternative</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/green/" rel="tag">Green</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/tech/" rel="tag">Tech</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/supercars/" rel="tag">Supercars</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/bmw/" rel="tag">BMW</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/rendered-speculation/" rel="tag">Rendered Speculation</a></p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/29/report-bmw-preparing-new-z10-ed-green-supercar-for-production/"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" align="right" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/01/bmw-z10-ed-rendering-280-crop.jpg" alt="BMW Z10 rendering nose crop" /></a>The only thing better than a major automaker rolling out a supercar concept is when they actually put it into production. Usually, if the green light is given, it happens after the show car's public debut. In this case, however, early word from <em>Autocar</em> indicates that things are working backwards. BMW reportedly originally envisioned this effort as a concept car, but instead it has decided to put it into limited production to showcase its high performance and green capabilities. <br /><br />The car in question, according to AC's latest reports, is a new flagship supercar from BMW to be called the Z10 ED. With a two-seat, front-engine layout, the Z10 ED (for Efficient Dynamics - BMW's term for its green tech) is being prepared by the company's Technik skunkworks department. As you may recall, this is the very same crew that brought the Z1 and Z8 roadsters to showrooms. <br /><br />As the story goes, after BMW canceled plans to revive the <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/27/modern-retro-bmw-m1-homage-officially-revealed/">M1 with a mid-engine, R8-eating supercar</a>, Munich's decision-makers apparently gave the go-ahead for another project to highlight the company's tree-hugghing and road-hugging technology. For starters, integrated door frames and extensive use of carbon fiber will be employed to keep curb weight down and rigidity up. Power is tipped to come from a high-output version of the company's 3.0-liter six, with all the bells and whistles: twin turbos, variable valve timing and compression, along with a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox, F1-derived regenerative braking, and start-stop engine management. All of which should yield an anticipated 400 horsepower out of a relatively compact engine. <br /><br />No telling when we might see the Z10 hit the roads, but sources suggest a $110,000+ price tag when it arrives.<br /><br />[Source: <a href="http://www.autocar.co.uk/News/NewsArticle.aspx?AR=23739 9#">Autocar</a>]<p style="padding:5px;backgr ound:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/29/report-bmw-preparing-new-z10-ed-green-supercar-for-production/">BMW preparing new Z10 ED green supercar for production?</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblo g</a> on Thu, 29 Jan 2009 09:58:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.autocar.co.uk/News/NewsArticle.aspx?AR=23739 9#>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/29/report-bmw-preparing-new-z10-ed-green-supercar-for-production/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/1444236/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/29/report-bmw-preparing-new-z10-ed-green-supercar-for-production/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>

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BMW sketches out Progressive Activity Sedan; genre-bender now rumored to debut before Geneva
 

<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/frankfurt-auto-show/" rel="tag">Frankfurt Auto Show</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/wagons/" rel="tag">Wagons/Estates</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/geneva-motor-show/" rel="tag">Geneva Motor Show</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/crossovers-cuvs/" rel="tag">Crossovers/CUVs</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/hatchbacks/" rel="tag">Hatchbacks</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/bmw/" rel="tag">BMW</a></p><div align="center"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/30/bmw-sketches-out-progressive-activity-sedan-genre-bender-now-ru/"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/01/bmw-sav-scribble.jpg" alt="" /></a><br /></div>
<div align="center"><em><stron g><small>Click on the image above to watch a video teaser of BMW's forthcoming PAS</small></strong></em><br /> </div>
<br /> BMW seems to enjoy confusing us with new cross-segment body-styles. Next up to bat is the <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2008/12/31/report-bmw-green-lights-5-series-progressive-activity-sedan/">Progressive Activity Sedan</a>, a sort of hatchback version of its upcoming 5 Series, positioned in between the 5-Series sedan and <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/05/spy-shots-bmw-5-series-touring/">touring </a>models. We've seen the PAS (which hopefully won't turn out to be a PoS) <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/06/spy-video-bmw-progressive-activity-sedan/">in test mule guise</a> racking up the development miles, but sources now suggest that BMW is preparing to give the quirky concept its press debut at a dedicated event on February 11-12 in Munich. <br /> <br /> Lending credence to that notion has been the appearance of an odd video sketch centering on the design philosophy behind the PAS. The video gives precious few details, but it does hint at a dual-access hatchback configuration and illustrates BMW's priorities with the model, most of which center around occupant accommodation. (The video makes alarmingly little mention of driving dynamics).<br /> <br /> If the rumored debut dates are true, that's almost a month ahead of the <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/Geneva-Motor-Show/">Geneva Motor Show</a>, and it could mean that its public debut will be held there in Geneva after the press has had its fill. Alternatively, BMW could decide to launch the conceptual pre-production PAS in February, the conventional <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2008/12/29/front-end-of-2010-bmw-5-series-leaked/">new 5-Series</a> in March at Geneva and <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/24/bmw-progressive-activity-sedan-coming-to-frankfurt-in-09/">wait to debut the production PAS until Frankfurt</a> in the spring. With this kind of gradual reveal in the cards, we're starting to understand what BMW means by "Progressive."<br /><br />[Sources: BMW; <a href="http://www.worldcarfans.com/9090127.016/bmw-pas-set-for-february-unveiling-in-munich">World Car Fans</a>]<p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/30/bmw-sketches-out-progressive-activity-sedan-genre-bender-now-ru/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>BMW sketches out Progressive Activity Sedan; genre-bender now rumored to debut <i>before</i> Geneva</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;backgr ound:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/30/bmw-sketches-out-progressive-activity-sedan-genre-bender-now-ru/">BMW sketches out Progressive Activity Sedan; genre-bender now rumored to debut <i>before</i> Geneva</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblo g</a> on Fri, 30 Jan 2009 10:29:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.worldcarfans.com/9090127.016/bmw-pas-set-for-february-unveiling-in-munich>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/30/bmw-sketches-out-progressive-activity-sedan-genre-bender-now-ru/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/1444273/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/30/bmw-sketches-out-progressive-activity-sedan-genre-bender-now-ru/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>

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BMW prefers 8-speed automatic over dual-clutch for volume vehicles
 

<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/bmw/" rel="tag">BMW</a></p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2009-bmw-7-series-3/901909/"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/02/bmw_7-series_trans_580.jpg" /></a><br />
<div align="center"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><small>Click above for a high-res gallery of the 2009 BMW 750i</small></span><br /></div>
<br />In the fierce competition between luxury automakers, every detail is a potential battlefield, including the number of forward ratios in an automatic transmission. Mercedes-Benz struck first with its seven-speed automatic, which prompted eight-speed responses from <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2006/01/08/lexus-ls-460-world-introduction-part-i/">Lexus</a>, along with <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/14/next-gen-bmw-7-series-to-get-8-speed-automatic/">BMW</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/12/audi-and-bmw-to-utilize-8-speed-gearboxes-to-take-on-lexus/">Audi</a> and <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2008/11/07/hyundai-genesis-sedan-to-get-8-speed-automatic/">even Hyundai</a>. These slushboxes are packed with technology and can either rifle off extremely fast up- and downshifts or coddle their occupants with velvety smooth transitions. <br /><br />The newest front, though, replaces the traditional torque converter with a set of clutches that hand off gearchanges from one to the next in a fraction of a second. While these new dual-clutch gearboxes are a performance home run, they are still more costly and complex than their more traditional automatic brethren, so it's not surprising to hear that the famous Bavarian automaker is sticking with the tried-and-true autobox in its volume sellers, for now at least.<br /><br /><div class="postgallery"><p><s trong>Gallery: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2009-bmw-7-series-3/">2009 BMW 7 Series</a></strong></p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2009-bmw-7-series-3/901911/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/07/2009bmw7_1280_17_thumbnai l.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2009-bmw-7-series-3/901919/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/07/2009bmw7_1280_18_thumbnai l.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2009-bmw-7-series-3/901925/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/07/2009bmw7_1280_19_thumbnai l.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2009-bmw-7-series-3/901923/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/07/2009bmw7_1280_16_thumbnai l.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2009-bmw-7-series-3/901920/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/07/2009bmw7_1280_02_thumbnai l.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a></div><br />[Source: <a href="http://www.autonews.com/article/20090202/ANE03/901270250">Automotive News</a> - Sub. Req.]<p style="padding:5px;backgr ound:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2009/02/02/bmw-prefers-8-speed-automatic-over-dual-clutch-for-volume-vehicl/">BMW prefers 8-speed automatic over dual-clutch for volume vehicles</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblo g</a> on Mon, 02 Feb 2009 18:32:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.autonews.com/article/20090202/ANE03/901270250>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2009/02/02/bmw-prefers-8-speed-automatic-over-dual-clutch-for-volume-vehicl/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/1447807/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2009/02/02/bmw-prefers-8-speed-automatic-over-dual-clutch-for-volume-vehicl/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>

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BREAKING: Chris Bangle quits BMW, auto industry
 

<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/hirings-firings/" rel="tag">Hirings/Firings/Layoffs</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/bmw/" rel="tag">BMW</a></p><a href="http://www.dowjones.de/site/2009/02/bmw-says-van-hooydonk-replacing-bangle-as-design-chief.html"><img hspace="4" border="1" vspace="4" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/02/chris-bangle-bmw-getty-oleg-nikishin.jpg" alt="" /></a><br /><br />You won't have Chris Bangle to kick around anymore. The BMW Group design chief famously (or infamously, depending on your point of view) took BMW styling in a radical new direction beginning with the 2002 7-Series, a car that featured the extremely controversial "Bangle Bustle," and then really pushed the envelope (and some enthusiasts' patience) with the "flame-surfaced" 2002 Z4. The automaker's designs have mainstreamed considerably in the intervening years, but Bangle's impact is <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/23/bmw-influencing-low-cost-housing-with-gina-concept/">without question</a>. Cues he pioneered have since been aped by other automakers; take the bustled trunklid of the <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2007/11/12/in-the-autoblog-garage-2008-acura-rl/">Acura RL</a>, for example. <br /><br />And now he's quit BMW.<br /><br />According to a brief statement released by the automaker, the 52-year-old Bangle has left to "...pursue his own design-related endeavors beyond the auto industry." From the sound of things, the breakup would appear to be an amicable one, as he will "maintain strong ties to the BMW Group." Then again, that could simply be an oblique way of noting that Bangle's influence on the vehicle lineup will be felt long after his departure. <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2006/01/07/life-since-bangle-butt-businessweek-interviews-adrian-van-hooyd/">Adrian van Hooydonk</a>, the head of design for the BMW brand, will succeed Bangle at the top of BMW Group design. <br /><br />[Source: <a href="http://www.dowjones.de/site/2009/02/bmw-says-van-hooydonk-replacing-bangle-as-design-chief.html">Dow Jones</a> | Photo by Oleg Nikishin/Getty]<p style="padding:5px;backgr ound:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2009/02/03/breaking-chris-bangle-quits-bmw-auto-industry/"><i>BREAKING</i>: Chris Bangle quits BMW, auto industry</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblo g</a> on Tue, 03 Feb 2009 09:34:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.dowjones.de/site/2009/02/bmw-says-van-hooydonk-replacing-bangle-as-design-chief.html>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2009/02/03/breaking-chris-bangle-quits-bmw-auto-industry/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/1448699/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2009/02/03/breaking-chris-bangle-quits-bmw-auto-industry/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>

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