Latest News & Reviews from Indian Auto Industry
BMW has joined forces with Lego to create a futuristic flying motorbike concept, called the Hover Ride.Based on the Lego Technic BMW R 1200 GS Adventure kit, designers used the same 603 parts to create a flying motorbike Lego model and BMW was so taken with the Lego version, that it decided to create a full-sized replica, complete with front wheel propellers.
Continue reading “BMW Motorrad Shows Off Its Hover Ride Design Concept”
The centrepiece of BMW’s SUV line up, the X5 M is now available for sale in India. The car is the beefed up edition of the regular X5 and comes at a price tag of Rs.1.55 crore.
The car has tons of features which includes the 4.4-litre, twin turbocharged V8 engine which develops 575bhp in terms of power as well as 750Nm in terms of torque. The M5 and the M6 are also powered by the same engine and is paired with an 8 speed automatic gearbox. The car also comes with an all wheel drive and takes a mere 4.2 seconds to go from 0-100kmph which is unbelievably fast considering the size of this beast.
The car looks quintessential M class too with an aggressive front bumper, quad tail pipes as well as large air intakes. The car has extreme street credentials and carries itself across brilliantly. It has an M leather steering wheel, aluminium gearshift paddles, climate control, park distance control, aluminium interior trim strips and a whole host of accessories which set it apart from almost all competition.
Alongside the X5, BMW has also released the X6 M and both will be looking to break into the high end SUV segment here in India. The cars will be taking on the likes of the GL63 AMG from Mercedes Benz and the Cayenne Turbo from Porsche here in India.
The BMW X6 has seen its fair share of controversy since its launch owing to its unique design and now, the company has released the X6 M edition of the car which has been developed by the M division of the car maker and has priced it at Rs.1.6 crore.
The car is an absolute powerhouse and runs on the 4.4-litre, twin turbocharged V8 that delivers 575bhp in terms of power and 750Nm when it comes t
o torque. This means that it has a standstill to 100kmph time of just 4.2 seconds and has a top speed of 250kmph to which it has been electronically limited.
What makes the “M” model different is that it has the distinguishing characteristics of the brand. This includes side grilles with a model badge, large front air intakes, quad tail pipes as well as signature M exterior mirrors. A rear spoiler is also being offered by BMW for this crossover.
In terms of interiors too, the car has an M specific look and feel, which includes a unique steering wheel, aluminium gearshift paddles, as well as an M specific display that comes with rev band, shift lights and gear indicator.
In addition to the X6M, the company has also launched the X5 M here in India. The car is likely to take on the mighty Cayenne Turbo from Porsche and will be much sought after for its sporty looks and appearance.
The entry level SUV from BMW, the X1 has got another minor update in terms of looks. It is now available in only the M Sport variant and sees many interior as well as exterior changes. This includes alloy wheels, new front and rear bumpers as well as a leather-wrapped M steering wheel among other additions.
The car has been on sale in India since 2011 and had seen an update in 2013 as well. The X1 is powered by a 2.0-litre diesel engine that delivers as much as 181.4bhp of max power as well as 38.74kgm in terms of torque. The car has an eight-speed automatic transmission and can be bought in two shades i.e. Le Mans Blue and Alpine White.
The new M Sport is likely to be the last cosmetic update to this line with an all new model set to replace it in the coming year. Presently, the M Sport line up here has both the 530d M Sport as well as the X3 M Sport. The X1 M Sport is priced at Rs.37.9 lakh (ex-showroom, Thane) and apart from the introduction of this new car, the company has also just released the 1-series facelift in the country. BMW is clearly looking at an aggressive campaign in order to woo more customers and with a slew of new launches expected soon, this may just be a warm up for the Indian consumers.
BMW has started a program called 360 degree in some of its dealerships in India that lets the customers choose a BMW car which fits perfectly to their requirement. Through this program BMW customers can choose a BMW car, duration of the financial contract and yearly mileage requirement. After the expiration of the contract term the customers can either return the car to the dealership or make a full downpayment to own the car for eternity or they can choose to enter into another similar contract or can exchange the existing model for another one. Currently, the program will be available for the BMW X3, 3-Series and 5-Series.
Other features of the 360 degree program include things like low downpayment amount, three year complementary service and maintenance, exchange bonus, buyback guarantee on completion of the financial contract and attractive options to refinance upgradation of the cars.
Currently this offer is only available on selected dealerships across India. Here is a list of those dealerships that are offering the 360 degree service to BMW customers.
| City | Dealership |
|---|---|
| Mumbai | Infinity Cars and Navnit Motors |
| Delhi | Deutsche Motoren |
| Hyderabad | KUN Exclusive |
| Chennai | KUN Exclusive |
| Gurgaon | Bird Automotive |
| Ahmedabad | Parsoli Motors |
| Bangalore | Navnit Motors |
| Nagpur | Munich Motors |
| Raipur | Munich Motors |
| Jaipur | Sanghi Classic |
Grapevine has it that the 2016 BMW 750D, which will be part of BMW 7-Series, will make its debut in the international market fitted with a six-inline quad turbo engine. This engine is also slated to be offered with the 50D versions of the X5 and X6 as well as with the upcoming X7 SUV. This engine will probably replace BMW’s inline-six tri turbo engines.
As far power and output of the engine is concerned, rumors has it that the engine will churn out a whopping 400bhp of peak power and 800Nm of peak torque. The power from engine will be delivered to all four-wheels and the engine will be mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission.
The engine will have a higher mileage compared to the tri-turbo unit that BMW currently employs.
In order to take on its rivals in the Indian market, BMW is now planning to adopt a more aggressive approach with the introduction of seven new models this year. The company had already launched the i8 in the country, which was incidentally its first hybrid in the country. But the German automaker is going to stop there.
The automaker is now planning to bring in its 1, 3 and 5 series facelifts as well as X5M, X6M and its ultra-premium segment 7 Series. Apart from these 6 cars, BMW may also bring in its 2016 X1 in India this year itself. As it can be seen, apart from the M Series of cars, other would be merely upgraded versions of their previous avatars. The extent of upgradation that would be seen in these cars is still unknown.
The facelifts of 1, 3 and 5 series have already been showcased in various international markets, but whether or not the features shown in those markets would remain the same for Indian versions is still not known. These facelifts are expected to be launched in India before the end of this year.
It is quite obvious that BMW was spurred by Mercedes Benz’s rather aggressive stance for the Indian market and it decided to match its German rival pound for pound. Well as long as these two giants of the automobile world try to outflank each other, the consumers will have a good time.
BMW has added one more car to their list of X-series of vehicles in India with the launch of the 2015 X6 at an ex-showroom price of Rs.1.15 crore. Currently, the company offers the X1, X3 and the X5 crossovers in the country.
As far as heart and soul is concerned, the new X6 is quite similar to its older cousin. But it still is a new vehicle with a much sharper and evolved look. Although the X6 is available around the world in two different petrol options, in India the car will be available in a single diesel option where the diesel engine would be a 6-cylinder 3.0-liter inline turbo diesel.
The engine fitted on the 2015 BMW X6 in India is capable of giving a peak output of 313PS @4400rpm and a peak torque of 630Nm @2500rpm. The engine is mated to an eight speed automatic transmission and possesses four wheel drive capability.
With all this power under its bonnet, the new X6 goes from zero to 100kmph in just 5.8 seconds and can achieve a top speed of 240kmph. Since fuel-efficiency is a big thing in India, the X6’s 15.87kmpl mileage is not so bad for a high end car like this.
Compared to its older cousin, the new X6 is not just more efficient in terms of performance and looks, but is also 40kg lighter. It is also being said that in the coming times BMW will introduce an M version of this car in the Indian market.
A new teaser released by German automaker BMW indicates that the company is planning to showcase two new concepts at the upcoming Pebble Beach Concourse in August this year. From the teaser it seems one of those two concepts is slated to be a sports car.
Since BMW debuted in the American market 40 years back with their 3.0-liter M3 CSL, the company is planning a tribute to that milestone by launching one vehicle with the same engine. This time the car is rumored to be a much evolved version of the M4 Hommage that was revealed back in May at the Concourso d’Eleganza Villa d’este.
If one were to go by what Autoevolution says, the other car could well be the mysterious M spec i8. Until now BMW has denied even the existence of such a car, but it seems the company is planning to produce a limited number of that performance vehicle in order to celebrate its 100th anniversary which the company is slated to celebrate next year.
It is not the first time that BMW is showcasing new concepts that the Pebble Beach Concourse. It has a history of showcasing new cars and concepts at this event. For instance, back in 2013 it had showcased a M4 coupe concept variant at this event.
The next BMW vehicle poised for Indian launch is the 2015 X6 that’s known as King Of The Road. Well, that’s what BMW says! To be launched in the country via CBU route, the 2015 BMW X6 will be sportier and bolder unlike its predecessor that was discontinued in 2014. Revealed at Moscow Auto Show last year, the vehicle’s interior and exterior has been changed.
In India, the 2015 BMW X6 will be propelled by a turbodiesel 3.0 liter engine, which is good for producing 306PS of power with 600 newton meters of torque. The engine will be paired with ZF 8-speed transmission with BMW’s xDrive four-wheel drive system, which means the X6 can accelerate from 0 to 100 kilometers per hour in 5.8 seconds with the top speed of 240 kmph. Nice, isn’t it?
After the diesel version of BMW X6, the automaker is planning to introduce the petrol variant X6M, which will be motivated by a bi-turbo V8 4.4 liter powerplant good for churning out 560PS of power with 750 newton meters of torque.
Some of the exterior features include redesigned rear and front end with new bumpers, multibeam LED headlamps, new kidney grille, 17, 18, and 20 inch alloy wheels, in addition to four new color choices. On the inside, you will find a heads up display and dual-tone leather upholstery quality fabric. The next generation BMW measures 1702mm in height, 1989mm in width and 4909mm in length, which means it is 12mm higher, 4mm wider and 34mm longer unlike the previous model.
Expect the 2015 BMW X6 to be priced between Rs. 80-85 lakhs. For more details, you will have to wait till 23rd July!