Car Moon

The all-new 2012 BMW M5 sports sedan will be making its first public appearance at The Goodwood Festival of Speed, which takes place in the UK between July 1 and 3, the German automaker announced today.

The most powerful production version of the M5 series to date comes with a high-revving 4.4-liter turbocharged V8 pumping out 560hp from 5,750-7,000rpm and 680Nm [501.5 lb-ft] of torque from 1,500rpm. It goes on sale this fall.

With automakers scrambling to meet stricter fuel economy and emissions standards, four-cylinder powerplants with turbocharging are becoming increasingly popular these days. Even BMW has jumped on the bandwagon with the release of a new 2.0-liter TwinPower Turbo 4-Cylinder unit that made its debut on the X1. Today, BMW announced that the Z4 hardtop-roadster will be the first U.S. model to receive the force-fed four-pot.

The new BMW Z4-based 99d roadster and the BMW 550i-based ACS5 sports saloon will hog the limelight on AC Schnitzer's stand at this week's 2011 Geneva Motor Show. Both models were developed to offer performance without compromising on fuel efficiency and CO2 emissions. The Z4 99d comes with a 190HP 2.0-liter turbo diesel engine, while the ACS5 features a 4.4-liter turbocharged V8 gasoline unit pumping out 540-ponies. Scope out the first promotional videos of AC Schnitzer's newest tunes right after the break.

BMW's decision to create the new 'i' sub-brand for the growing number of eco-conscious buyers has apparently rubbed off its partners like AC Schnitzer, as the German tuning firm will be launching a production ready concept based on the Z4 hardtop-roadster at next week's Geneva motor show.

Developed as an eco-friendly sports car that adapts to AC Schnitzer's new motto "Efficient Performance", the 99d gets its name from its CO2 emission levels and the diesel powerplant housed under its hood.

We knew BMW's brand-new 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine was coming to the States but now, the Bavarian automaker has made it official. The German company released a statement saying the first cars to be equipped with the force-fed four-banger will "arrive later this year" in the USA.

The 2.0-liter unit made its debut on the X1 compact crossover and will eventually replace BMW’s trademark normally aspirated 3.0-liter inline six. While BMW's US division has yet to announce which models will get the new engine, in Europe, the automaker has already confirmed the powerplant for the Z4 coupe-roadster and the 5-Series range.

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, expect to see both models towards the end of the year or early 2012, depending on the market. Read more »

Last time we reported about BMW's long-rumored family of turbocharged 4-cylinder engines, it was in the summer of 2010. Meanwhile, the German manufacturer hasn't revealed anything on the matter, giving the whole affair an almost mythical status.

However, a new rumor has surfaced, with Automobile Magazine tweeting that the entry level BMW Z4 will soon get a new, 4-cylinder force inducted engine, as a replacement for the naturally aspirated inline-six.

This year’s Top Gear Christmas Special saw Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May embark on their most dangerous challenge yet: following the path of the three wise men, which took them on a 1,200 mile (1,932 km) journey, from Iraq to Bethlehem. In classic Top Gear fashion, the TV show hosts completed the trip in a trio of specially modified cars. These vehicles are now on display in the World of Top Gear exhibition at Beaulieu, UK.

German tuner G-Power has decided to share some of the technology found on the 800-horsepower M5 Hurricane RR and M6 Hurricane RR with the masses by offering a modified version of the supercharger system on the [previous generation] E85 BMW Z4 as well as the E46 Series with the 3.0-liter straight-six engine. On both models, the redesigned SK Plus supercharger system replaces the previous ASA TM3 supercharger.

Another day, another BMW special for the Japanese market. Following the recent launches of the X6 xDrive35i and 120i Coupe Performance Unlimited editions, BMW has released another limited production model for Japan, this time based on the Z4 hardtop roadster.

BMW's North American division has issued two separate voluntary recalls of some 151,000 vehicles sold in the USA to fix fuel-pump defects that may reduce engine performance and in some models, even a loss of power assist for the steering and brakes.

The first recall concerns certain model year BMWs equipped with twin-turbo inline six-cylinder engines, including the MY2007-2010MY 335i, MY2008–2010 135i, 535i and X6 xDrive35i Sports Activity Coupes, and MY2009 – 2010 Z4 Roadster sDrive35i. The Bavarian company said approximately 130,000 vehicles are potentially affected from this recall with about 40,000 expected to require a new high pressure fuel pump.

Thanks to one of Carscoop's commentators, we can now show you a video of Top Gear's trio of power obsessed presenters -that would be Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond- filming an episode in the Holy Land. As noted in our previous article with the scoop pictures, the cars of choice for Top Gear's latest escapade, are a trio of older generation roadster models - the BMW Z3, Mazda MX-5 and Fiat Barchetta.

There's also a guy with a white racing helmet driving what looks like an old Suzuki Alto, but we're not sure if he's part of the Top Gear crew or if some fans of the show decided to make fun of The Stig. As always, any help with the translation, would be welcome. Watch the video after the jump.

The crew from Top Gear [the original, not the US clone that some are persistently trying to shove down our throat - we get it, it's coming...], was snagged chilling at the border between Israel and Jordan.

According to one of our tipsters, Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond drove their specially modified BMW Z3, Fiat Barchetta and Mazda MX-5 roadsters from Jordan to Israel and their next stop will be at the Golan Heights and at Nazareth. Maybe we'll get some new photos from the shoot, but for now, enjoy some high-res pics after the jump.

Bulgarian teen Denislav Shishev seems to have all the right connections and one hell of a commitment to BMW. After all, one doesn't convert a battered and bruised Z3 Coupe into a V10-packing pocket rocket without a little love for the Roundel.

With the M5's 10-cylinder putting out a claimed 442-horsepower to the wheels, this should be one mega step up from the E30 M3 he currently takes to the track.

Interested in trying something like this yourself? Check out the pics below, or for the full photo album how-to guide, head on over to dude's site. You should also probably get your checkbook out.

A new and rather aggressive advertising campaign regarding the Nissan 370Z and GT-R sports cars has kicked off in Britain. The company launched a series of poster and print adverts highlighting the fact that both sports cars are better in terms of performance yet cost less than their equivalent German rivals.

And mind you, Nissan isn't being polite as the automaker is using tongue-in-cheek phrases in the ads such as "The Winner Hans Down," "The Germans Came Off Wurst," "Kaisers Chiefed" and "Deutschland Deutschland Über-Rated".

To further frustrate its German adversaries, the Japanese company took an Audi TTS bearing the slogan "More expensive, slower and less powerful than a Nissan 370Z" around the streets of London. It was joined by a Porsche Cayman adorned with the words "I dream of being as fast as a Nissan 370Z". Ouch...

Sometimes inspiration can come from the most unlikely sources. Take MWDesign, for instance. For their latest project based on the BMW Z4 E89 hardtop-roadster with straight-six turbo, the Vancouver-based tuning shop drew their design inspiration from Nike's Slingshot golf clubs series.

The tuner started out by adding an AC Schnitzer front spoiler complete with custom carbon fiber lower splitters, 3D Design matte carbon fiber rear diffuser and boot lid spoiler, BMW Performance kidney grilles, a carbon fiber hood strip and a set of 20-inch Modular alloy wheels with glossy black outer rims.

MWDesign's next assignment was to apply lime green accents on the front air-ducts, the alloy wheels, the tail pipe surrounds and the twin roll bars. The custom carbon fiber exterior accents with primer grey on the hood, the trunk and the retractable hardtop along with the matte black tailpipes complete the visual makeover.

Starting from September, BMW Z4 buyers will be able to outfit their roadster with a new styling package called Design Pure Impulse. The Bavarian automaker's new pocket digging scheme adds unique style to the two-seater model through a combination of colors and materials featured on interior elements, based on the recommendations of the BMW design team.

Japanese tuner 3D Design has come out with some new aero bits for owners of the E89 Z4 (that's the latest one with the retractable hard top).On the show car here you'll see the new urethane front lip and trunk spoilers and a diffuser made out of carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP).

Seventy years ago, BMW's racing division celebrated its greatest racing triumph so far in the world of motor sports by winning first, third, fifth and sixth places at the 1940 Mille Miglia with its classic 328.

To honor this anniversary, BMW Group's Italian arm has created a special edition version of the firm's hardtop roadster called the Z4 sDrive35is Mille Miglia, of which only 99 examples will be sold in Italy.

Based on the standard Z4 sDrive35is that's powered by a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter straight-six with 340HP, the Mille Miglia edition comes equipped with an M Sports aerodynamics package and 19-inch alloy wheels in a dark chrome shade, while the body is finished in a matte silver color called 'Polaris'.

Hamann, creator of some of the world's more excessive BMWs, is going to be releasing a tuning kit for the E89 Z4.

The lowered Hamann Z4 features the usual tuner appointments: a new front bumper with integrated LEDs, side skirts, a spoiler, and rear apron. All standard fare, until you realize how mean they make the Z4 look.

Wearing a Hamann sports exhaust and electronically tuned to 360 horsepower (265 kW), the car will reach a de-limited 177 mph (285 km/h). Torque peaks at a hearty 398 lb ft (540 Nm).