Manufacturer's History

BMW is an acronym for Bayerische Motoren Werke AG -- or, in English, Bavarian Motor Works. Whatever you call it, the German-based company is one of the world's most respected automakers, renowned for crafting luxury cars and SUVs that offer superior levels of driving enjoyment. 

Founded in Munich, the company began in the early 1910s as an aircraft manufacturer. BMW's current logo, designed to represent white propeller blades against a blue sky, reflects these origins; its blue-and-white color scheme also references Bavaria's blue-and-white checkered flag. 

It wasn't until 1928 that production began on the first BMW automobile, the Dixi. The car proved tremendously popular, and its success helped the manufacturer weather the Depression. BMW's best-known pre-World War II vehicle was the Type 328 roadster, a supple two-seater that racked up over 120 victories on the motorsport circuit between 1936 and 1940. Postwar BMW cars maintained this tradition, winning several racing, rallying and hill climb victories. 

The early 1950s saw the launch of the BMW 501, a roomy, voluptuous sedan that was resplendent with all of the hopefulness of that era. It was soon followed by the 502 which was powered by the world's first light-alloy V8, foreshadowing BMW's ongoing commitment to developing new technology. The best-selling BMW of that decade was the Isetta, a petite two-seat "microcar" typically powered by a 12- or 13-horsepower engine. The mid-'50s also saw the debut of the limited production and breathtakingly beautiful 507 sports car which had an alloy body and used the 502's V8 for propulsion. In the 1960s, BMW sales strengthened significantly, thanks in part to the immense popularity of the 1500, a sporty family sedan. 

By the 1970s, BMW was establishing itself as a full-fledged car company. It was a pioneer for many emerging technologies, including turbocharging and advanced vehicle electronics. This was also the period when BMW of North America was established and consumers, who coveted both sports and luxury cars, became loyal "Bimmer" owners. The '70s also saw the birth of BMW's three-tier sport sedan range consisting of the 3 Series, 5 Series and 7 Series cars and the creation of its performance M division. 

More recently, the company has been expanding its reach worldwide. It opened its first U.S. manufacturing plant in the latter half of the 1990s and has expanded its brand empire to include Mini and Rolls-Royce. BMW also continues to build motorcycles, something it has done since the 1920s. 

The automaker's famous advertising slogan describes each of its vehicles as "the ultimate driving machine," and it's not mere hyperbole. Over the past couple of decades, BMWs have become the standard for performance and luxury in most of the "over $30,000" segments. With family-friendly wagons, crisp sedans, distinctive coupes, nimble sports cars and spacious SUVs offered, BMW's model roster is diverse. But its luxury vehicles all share a common characteristic: the ability to make drivers feel gloriously connected to the road.

BMW M3. All-new M3 coupe and sedan get V8 power.

BMW has come a long way in the past 50 years, from the low point in the winter of 1959 when its fortunes were so bad that it was nearly sold to Mercedes-Benz, to becoming a world powerhouse of motorcycles, high-performance cars, luxury sedans and SUVS. Like Mercedes-Benz with its AMG in-house racing and high-performance specialists, BMW has created its M division, primarily responsible for motorsports, but also for high-performance cars, including the M3 version of the 3 Series, the M5 version of the 5 Series, and the M6 version of the 6 Series (no M7 yet, and no high-performance versions of their SUVs, but it's only a matter of time). The M3 is the one with the longest history and the most affordability, so it has become extremely popular over the last four generations of the 3 Series. 

Every generation of BMW 3 Series, for the past four generations, has offered the enthusiast driver an M3, something rare and special at the top of the lineup, something that the cognoscenti will recognize and appreciate every time it goes by, and something that is quicker, faster, flatter and flashier than the regular 3 Series, for the owner's maximum driving and bragging enjoyment. 

Every one of the previous generations was powered by a modified version of the famous BMW inline six-cylinder engine, but this new generation has broken with that long tradition to become the first V8-powered M3 in BMW history. 

For now, the BMW M3 in the North American lineup comes as the coupe and the less-expensive sedan, but if history is any indicator, these will soon be followed by a convertible version, the same model flow as the last two generations of M3. The first car to arrive, the M3 coupe, will be replete, including every available safety feature from ABS to stability control, traction control, six air bags, and run-flat high-performance tires. 

The M3 also packs a tremendous amount of electronic wallop, with dynamic stability control having new interconnected control features, electronic damper control for the shock absorber settings, iDrive for the radio, navigation and telephone as well as two different power steering modes, normal and sport, that can be selected through iDrive.

2008 BMW X6 - сrossover coupe a new kind of car.

The crossover SUV market has grown by leaps and bounds over the past couple of years. Along the way, a few vehicles have tipped the scales more toward car than SUV. The Infiniti EX35 comes to mind. Now, BMW is pushing the crossover idea further than ever by introducing the world's first crossover coupe. BMW calls it a Sports Activity Coupe. 

The 2008 BMW X6 is a high-riding, four-passenger, four-door coupe, a combination of sports car and SUV. The X6 is offered in two twin-turbocharged models, with inline-6 or V8 power. Both engines provide ample power for everyday use and even for towing. The V8 makes the X6 a hot rod, but we recommend the inline-6 because it has plenty of pep and is more fuel efficient. Shifter paddles on the steering wheel add to the sporty character of the X6. 

We found the X6 handles well on the road and on the track. It's better than any SUV but not as good as BMW's own sporty coupes and sport roadsters. It corners with little body lean, but the stiff suspension makes the ride somewhat harsh, especially with the Sport Package and optional 20-inch wheels. We recommend buyers test these options before they buy. 

Inside, the X6's ambience is upscale, with lots of leather and soft-touch surfaces. BMW's iDrive control system is standard. It can complicate some interior controls, but programmable buttons are provided to ease control of some of your favorite functions. 

Front-seat passengers have plenty of room, though visibility to the rear is restricted by a small, flat rear window. Two rear-seat occupants should be comfortable, too, provided they're not tall. 

The rear hatch lifts up and the rear seat folds down to give the X6 a nice amount of cargo storage space. It's on par with other hatchbacks but isn't as good as an SUV. Also, the liftover is higher, so you'll have to lift cargo higher when loading. 

It's hard to pigeonhole the X6. It rides high, so it doesn't handle as well as a sport coupe, and it doesn't have the cargo and people carrying capacity of an SUV. But overall it's a fine vehicle. Pricing is high, especially for the V8 model, so we'd recommend the six-cylinder model for anyone considering this vehicle.

BMW 335d Test Drive

The common perception of a diesel engine and the common perception of a BMW 3-Series are completely incompatible. Most car shoppers seem hooked on the idea that a diesel engine is a noisy, clattering and dirty device, while most also recognize the BMW 3-Series as the total opposite. 

Surprise! The German automaker's just added a diesel-powered 3-Series to their North American lineup. Interested shoppers unfamiliar with the capabilities of modern diesel power may be in for a shock. Of course, environmentally-minded performance enthusiasts have been celebrating the impending arrival of the 335d since it was announced last year. 

The 3-Series Sedan has undergone a mild makeover for 2009 with several visual revisions and tweaks to interior trim and controls. Fans will notice a different set of bumpers, slightly widened rear stance, and added chrome within the cockpit. 

BMW's second-generation iDrive system is also on board. iDrive assigns a slew of vehicle functions to a single control knob and industry-leading 22-centimetre display screen. It allows easy, centralized access to numerous operations with a more user user-friendly and intuitive approach than ever.

Of course, the big news here is what's under the hood: namely an award-winning three-litre twin-turbo diesel engine. The powerplant, also available in the automaker's X5 'Sport Activity Vehicle', puts 265 horsepower and a potent 425 lb.-ft of torque to work for drivers. 

Opting for the diesel engine is an environmentally responsible solution- but it doesn't mean taking a hit in the performance department. The engine fires up eagerly and idles as smoothly and quietly as a comparable 323i or 328i gasoline model. Pushed, it lacks the sweet, high-revving wail of other 3-Series powerplants, though the massive low-end torque, authoritative sound and liquid-smooth, head-planting thrust more than compensate. Gears can be switched by clicking on a set of steering-wheel mounted shift paddles too - just like a race car.

Feats of performance aside, 335d cruises comfortably and silently when drivers prefer to relax. There's a lovely split personality at work here- the car coming off as equal parts sports sedan, responsible green machine and premium luxury model. Add in legendary steering and braking reflexes, and you'll undoubtedly find the 335d incredibly fun to drive, as well as very reasonable to refuel.

New 'ultra low sulfur' diesel is now available at about half of North America's fueling stations. Automakers, in turn, are rushing vehicles here which burn it as an alternative to gasoline. End result, cars like the 335d consume it about 30 percent more slowly than gasoline, with no performance or refinement penalties. After all, cake is always best if you can eat it. 

The 335d comes solely as a sedan with six-speed automatic gearbox, and is available for test-drives at BMW dealers now.

Justin Pritchard is an Ontario-based automotive journalist and automotive consultant to News Canada. His work can be seen in various Canadian newspapers, magazines and websites - and he also hosts a weekly TV and web car review segment.

2008 BMW X5 - sport over utility.

Overview 

The BMW X5 puts emphasis on the sport half of the sport-utility equation. While it offers more utility than ever, it comes up short in cargo-passenger flexibility compared to many luxury SUVs. As opposed to hauling acres of equipment and gear, the X5 provides the essential equipment enthusiast drivers expect when they want to enjoy the art of driving as much as they're able. 

Indeed, BMW shuns the SUV tag entirely, describing the X5 with it own copyrighted label: Sport Activity Vehicle, or SAV. This may be a tacit acknowledgement that the X5 can't tow or carry as much stuff as some of its competitors, or it may simply highlight the X5's strength. That strength is its ability to get down the road in the step-on-the gas, shove-through-corners fashion of a genuine sport sedan. 

BMW focused on improving utility for 2007, when a redesign stretched the X5 by seven full inches and delivered a substantial increase in rear seat legroom. For 2008, X5 upgrades have re-focused on sport. Both the six-cylinder and V8 engines are new, with a revised six-speed automatic transmission. 

The V8 in the BMW X5 4.8i increases in displacement, while the 3.0-liter inline six is an all-new design, with a substantial increase in power. These are BMW engines, which means plenty of usable torque and turbine-like smoothest. The 4.8i might be the chest-beater, but the BMW X5 3.0si still delivers the kind of response we expect in a sport sedan, and it shouldn't leave owners pining for the V8. 

The X5 is styled in obvious BMW fashion, only taller, with traditional Bimmer cues like the twin-kidney grille and dual-beam headlight clusters. Like it or not, its look and badges are often enough to get the X5 one of the high-profile valet spots at a trendy club. 

Inside, the X5 offers plenty of room for five, with a nice, rich finish and nearly all the bells and whistles one expects in a high-line luxury sedan. The back seat is more than roomy enough for two adults, three in a pinch, and there's enough cargo space in back for a two-day family outing. 

The X5 can expand to seven-passenger capacity with an optional third-row seat. Of course, that third seat won't look particularly inviting to anyone asked to ride in it, and it pretty much wrecks the cargo space. 

With all seats lowered for maximum cargo capacity, the X5 offers less space than virtually every competitor, from Acura to Volvo. It's not a class leader in fuel economy, either. 

Sport in the X5 context does not mean off-roading. Its all-wheel-drive system was developed for slippery roads and sporty driving characteristics, rather than sand dunes or steep, rutted hillsides. Yet It can tow a substantial 6,000 pounds, and the all-wheel-drive can be a great friend in a blizzard. 

The X5 gets high marks for safety. It performs well in both government and insurance industry crash tests, and it has been designated one of the Top Safety Picks by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Besides the full complement of front, side and head protection airbags, the X5 offers some of the most advanced active safety systems available. These include anti-lock brakes that periodically sweep the discs dry in rainstorms and electronic stability control that works with the all-wheel drive system and even to steering to manage skids. 

Still, the X5's calling card is its driving dynamics. It's not quite as refined or holistic as BMW's best sedans, but the comparison is generally on the mark. Think of the X5 as a 5 Series sedan with more headroom and a bit more cargo space. 

Model Lineup 

The BMW X5 comes in two variations, distinguished primarily by engine type, both with all-wheel drive. For 2008, both models get an upgrade in standard equipment, new engines and a six-speed automatic transmission. 

The BMW X5 3.0si ($46,200) is powered by a 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine delivering 260 horsepower. It comes well equipped, with a 12-speaker, single-CD stereo, niceties such as a choice of wood trim, rain-sensing wipers, power tilt/telescoping steering wheel, driver's seat memory and, for 2008, a power sunroof. The standard upholstery is BMW's Leatherette vinyl, and the wheels measure 18 inches in diameter. 

The BMW X5 4.8i ($54,800) is powered by a V8 with 350 horsepower. The 4.8i model comes standard with leather upholstery. 

The Sport Package ($3,700) adds Active Roll Stabilization and Electronic Damping Control suspension, 19-inch wheels, heavily bolstered sport seats and Shadowline exterior trim. Other option groups include the Premium Package ($2850 for the 3.0si, $1,850 for the 4.8i), which adds front-seat power lumbar support, Ambiance Lighting, auto-dimming interior and exterior mirrors, a digital compass, power-fold exterior mirrors, Bluetooth phone interface, BMW Assist with a 4-year subscription and leather seating for the 3.0si. 

The Technology Package ($2,600) includes Park Distance Control, Rearview camera and a navigation system with voice command and Real Time Traffic information. The Cold Weather Package ($900) adds retractable headlight washers, heated steering wheel, heated front seats and a ski bag with rear-seat pass-through, while the Rear Climate Package ($900) adds four-zone climate control, manual rear sunshades and privacy glass. 

Options that are standalone include a premium sound system with 16 speakers and a six-CD changer ($1,800), Active Ventilated 20-way front seats with a massage feature for the driver ($2,100), rear-seat DVD entertainment system ($1,800), ultra-soft Nappa leather ($1,000), Comfort Access keyless starting ($1,000), satellite radio ($595), iPod and USB adaptor ($400), and HD radio ($350). A powered Automatic Tailgate ($500) is offered for the first time in 2008. 

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has designated the 2008 X5 a Top Safety Pick, and it performs better than many SUVs in the insurance industry's crash tests. Standard safety features include front airbags with two-stage activation, side-impact airbags built into the front seats, and curtain-style airbags providing head protection for outboard passengers front and rear. The X5 also comes standard with the full array of active safety features, including electronic stability control and advanced anti-lock brakes with a pre-loading and water-sweeping feature. The 2008 models come standard with run-flat tires, which allow operation at 50 mph for up to 90 miles when completely flat.

V10-Powered BMW Z4

With the arrival of the new BMW Z4 looming on the horizon, this previous-gen Z4 packs a little something extra to grab your attention.: the 5.0-liter V10 from the BMW M5.

A lot of you were enraged when we referred to the 2009 BMW Z4 as a hairdresser’s car. Today we bring you the non-hairdresser version of the Z4 and it’s not the M Roadster.

OK, we lie, it was an M Roadster at one point, but the owner wasn’t content with the paltry 343 HP inline six it was packaged with from the factory. No, they needed more -– much more. The six was ripped out and replaced by what some call a technical marvel or possibly just the 2005 Engine of the Year — the 5.0-liter V10 from the BMW M5 / M6.

It appears the M5’s donor V10 fits perfectly under the hood of the Z4 and it likely packs quite the wallop when the go pedal is stomped. But when you decide to go, it’s not the stock 507-hp that you’ll be feeling, but a Hartge-tuned 551-hp instead. All this power is routed through a six-speed manual gearbox allowing this non-hairdresser’s Z4 to rocket to 60 much faster than the stock M5’s 4.7 seconds.

The Z4 appears mostly stock from the exterior with the exception of a set 20-inch Hartge wheels – a true sleeper indeed. The asking price for this little beast is a non-carpocalypse friendly 97,900 Euros which rounds out to roughly $140,000 U.S. For that money, you could almost buy five standard M Roadsters to strut your pretty self in, but we’d rather have just this one so we could lay to rest the hairdresser debate once and for all.