BMW used the 2010 Sharjah Auto Show to launch the 2011 BMW 316iA in the UAE. The 316iA is a new base model for the wide-ranging 3-Series line-up, to offer “poorer” buyers a chance to buy a proper BMW sedan at an affordable price instead of being forced to squeeze into a 1-Series hatchback.
BMW has released first images of the upcoming redesigned 2011-2012 BMW 6-Series Coupe, as usual badging it as a concept, even though it looks pretty much production-ready.
The special-order BMW Z4 GT3 is a fixed-roof racing car offered by BMW to anyone ready to cough up US$ 400,000. The only problem is, in true IKEA style, you end up overpaying for something that comes in self-assembly-required boxes. Swedish racing team, Team West Coast Racing, bought the Z4 GT3, powered by a 480 hp 4.0-litre V8, and took 600 hours to finish building it, over 25 days.
Following up on the G-Power M5 Hurricane RS, with its tuned 750 hp engine powering it to a ‘world’s fastest sedan’ record of 367.4 kph earlier this year, G-Power has created a new version of their modified BMW M5 called the Hurricane RR, now capable of 372.1 kph.
Since my last report, much has happened with the “Z.” Besides getting a job in Abu Dhabi which called for multiple trips in the week to Abu Dhabi and back to Dubai, I had taken the car twice to Fujairah, became airborne with the car (almost becoming airborne myself!), and eventually selling it where it was shipped to Iran in June 2010. As a petrolhead, it was a fun experience to keep it always waxed up, hearing the deep exhaust and induction noise and most of all, driving with the roof down. An added minor benefit of having blue xenon lights is that traffic seems to get out of one’s way much faster.
The 2011 BMW 5-Series sedan and the 2010 BMW 5-Series GT, both barely out on the streets yet, have all been recalled for a faulty fuel gauge that shows more fuel than is really there. We had a Gran Turismo for testing recently, and while we didn’t have this problem, it’s probably a good thing we didn’t let it hover too close to empty.
The new-for-2011 BMW X3 has finally been revealed, and it looks exactly as one would expect it to look. It is longer, wider and taller than the old model, but its exterior and interior hold no surprises. It looks like BMW has at once chosen to release it with its larger 6-cylinder engine offerings, saving the smaller 4-cylinder engine choices for later.
BMW claims that their X6 is a “coupe” while it has four doors. While that tidbit was thought up by marketing types, and is completely wrong, BMW still had hit on their hands. The X6 is the best-selling BMW in the UAE and possibly the whole GCC. The four doors ensured its success. But Russian tuners Apmotex wondered what a real X6 coupe would be like.
BMW tuner Alpina, who like to refer to themselves as a “manufacturer” as per German laws, has released details on their latest model, the 2011 Alpina B5 F10 Bi-Turbo, based on the BMW 5-Series. It is sort of a pre-emptive strike on the upcoming BMW M5.
BMW is apparently working on a project called the Megacity Vehicle (MCV), due for release by 2013. They say the Megacity Vehicle will be a “revolutionary” electric car, and will be the world’s first volume-produced vehicle with a passenger cell made from carbon-fibre.