BMW outlines plans at Pebble, teases new Zagato concept

All-New BMW Zagato Makes World Debut at 2012 Pebble Beach Concours.

Updated BMW 7 Series makes North American debut among other highlights at 2012 Monterey Motorsports Reunion and Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance.

Woodcliff Lake, NJ – August 15, 2012 ... BMW will be highly visible this weekend at the 2012 Pebble Beach Concours, Monterey Motorsports Reunion, and Legends of the Autobahn. Making its world debut late in the week will be a new BMW Zagato concept, the second collaboration between these two legendary car companies. The new 2013 BMW 7 Series will make its North American debut with a special highlight on the new 540-hp BMW ALPINA B7 supersedan. Other product highlights include the stunning new BMW 650i Gran Coupe and, in honor of 2012 being the 40th anniversary of BMW M, the all-new BMW M5 and M6.

BMW activity at the Monterey Motorsports Reunion will not be limited to its display in the paddock but will also include three vintage race cars participating in the Reunion, including the 1986 BMW-March GTP, the 1980 BMW M1 Procar as well as the 1975 BMW 3.5 CSL like the one that won the 12-Hours of Sebring that year. The 3.5 CSL will be piloted by BMW of North America President and CEO, Ludwig Willisch. Please stop by the paddock and say "Hello."

BMW M will be a focus at Legends of the Autobahn. In addition to the new M5 Sedan and M6 Coupe, the legendary M8 Prototype, which never saw production and has never been shown in North America, will also be featured Friday. The mid-engine BMW M1, the very first BMW M supercar from 1979, will also be seen out and about this weekend.

Details about and images of the newest BMW Zagato collaboration will be available closer to the weekend.

BMW Group In America
BMW of North America, LLC has been present in the United States since 1975. Rolls-Royce Motor Cars NA, LLC began distributing vehicles in 2003. The BMW Group in the United States has grown to include marketing, sales, and financial service organizations for the BMW brand of motor vehicles, including motorcycles, the MINI brand, and the Rolls-Royce brand of Motor Cars; DesignworksUSA, a strategic design consultancy in California; a technology office in Silicon Valley and various other operations throughout the country. BMW Manufacturing Co., LLC in South Carolina is part of BMW Group's global manufacturing network and is the exclusive manufacturing plant for all X5 and X3 Sports Activity Vehicles and X6 Sports Activity Coupes. The BMW Group sales organization is represented in the U.S. through networks of 338 BMW passenger car and BMW Sports Activity Vehicle centers, 139 BMW motorcycle retailers, 114 MINI passenger car dealers, and 32 Rolls-Royce Motor Car dealers. BMW (US) Holding Corp., the BMW Group's sales headquarters for North America, is located in Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey.

View the original article here

This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.

2012 Pebble Beach Concept Car Lawn offers a tutorial in cars to come

The Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance is a showcase for some of the world's most exquisite vintage vehicles, but if newer metal is more your speed, the Concept Car Lawn is the place to be.

This year saw models from Bugatti, Lamborghini, Aston Martin, McLaren and Bentley as well as SRT, Hennessey, Infiniti and Lexus among others. The ultimate sampler platter of exotic and concept vehicles saw the Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse mingle with the Lamborghini Urus Concept and the mighty Hennessey Venom GT, though we found ourselves particularly smitten with the BMW Zagato Roadster and the Aston Martin Vanquish.

Not that we could go wrong anywhere we looked. The 2013 Bentley Continental GT Speed seemed perfectly content parked on the manicured putting green, as did the McLaren MP4-12C Spider. Get cozy with the full gallery below to see the smattering of metal on the lawn.

View the original article here

This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.

BMW Zagato Roadster lurks on the Concept Lawn of Pebble Beach

Never underestimate what at an automaker can accomplish with a little determination. We spotted the BMW Zagato Roadster sulking on the lawn at the 2012 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance among the various other concept cars on display in front of the lodge. Built in just six weeks, BMW executed the roadster as an encore to the delectable Zagato Coupe, and the two share plenty of hand-hammered aluminum body panels. There are a few notable differences, however. The roadster boasts a completely unique hindquarters befitting a soft top. We aren't entirely smitten with the blacked-out tail lamp treatment, though the angular exhaust, flowing haunches and sculpted rear deck are straight winners in our book.

A quick stroll around the convertible revealed a number of clever details, including the Z-mesh grille, beautiful two-tone interior and leather-clad roll hoops. Do love. You can take a closer look yourself by jumping into the full gallery above.

View the original article here

This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.

BMW bringing M3 'concept' to Geneva

Six months, 26 days. That's the countdown until we get our first live, in-person look at the next iteration of the BMW M3, according to AutoWeek.

The F80 M3 will be appear on the BMW stand at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show in "lightly veiled concept" form, according to the report, with the production car bowing at the Frankfurt show next fall. The performance sedan won't go on sale until the end of 2013 here in the U.S., with coupe and convertible versions and one of BMW's odd Gran Coupe models following in later years.

AutoWeek says the M3 will be a mix of steel with some aluminum body panels, powered by a turbocharged inline-six making about 450 horsepower and 350 pound-feet of torque. Although rumors of a 3.3-liter V6 based on BMW's larger V8 engine persist, the more shocking speculation involves the gearbox, which is said to be a dual-clutch with seven speeds. That's right, no manual transmission will be offered, according to the report.

Of course, BMW has attempted to make that move before with the M5. Fortunately, enough complaints from American customers caused the company to change its mind. So, car guy purists, start your grousing now, as the clock is already ticking.

View the original article here

This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.

Suzuki S-Cross concept car (2012) teased ahead of Paris show

By Tim Pollard

First Official Pictures

10 August 2012 10:52

Suzuki today showed us the first glimpse of its new S-Cross concept car ahead of its debut at the 2012 Paris motor show. It's a compact crossover in the C-segment, aka a replacement for the Suzuki SX4 in its twilight years.

This pair of teaser images show little of the S-Cross, but we can see a stubby five-door crossover in the mould of the Nissan Juke.

The design sketch provides a few clues about what to expect from the S-Cross: expect a skid plate at the front and some body cladding around the sills for that 4x4-lite crossover look. As for the rest, well, you'll have to reach for your children's colouring-in pencils and your imagination.

The S-Cross is no mere pie-in-the-sky show car, according to this morning's announcement. It's a 'concept car heralding a C-segment crossover model from Suzuki.'

Judging by these teaser images, we'd say the real McCoy would follow soon after; we'd expect an S-Cross on sale in late 2013, replacing the Suzuki SX4.

The deal struck in 2006 to co-produce the Suzuki SX4 and Fiat Sedici at Suzuki's plant in Hungary is coming to an end. The Italians are now working with Jeep to build a range of new, small SUVs – leaving Suzuki to go it alone.

The car you see here could have spawned a Polo SUV, too, had the relationship between Volkswagen and Suzuki not soured to the point that they're now in arbitration in court.

View the original article here

This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.