While we try to get our hands on the new 3 Series, why don’t you have a look at the latest 3 series commercial released by BMW. Brownie points for guessing the song played during ad. This ad comes as buzz around this year’s London Olympics picks up.

Leave your answers in the comment box.

The Bavarian giant is again tripping on creativity and plans to introduce a smaller X6. BMW plans to bring the X4 in the market which will challenge the Range Rover Evoque, Porche Cajun et al. AutoExpress gives us a glimpse of what this future model would look like:

The design of the X4 is clearly a cross between the X3 and the new 1 Series. It has a much sharper coupe-like roofline than the big brother X6. It is expected to be powered by the same engine options as the X3 mated to six-speed manual or eight-speed auto gearboxes.

Expect the BMW X4 to enter production by 2014.

[Source: Autoexpress.co.uk]

The sixth generation 3 Series is quite a looker than the older E90. Unlike the new 5 series, BMW has adopted a very aggressive design for the new 3 Series.

Some exquisite details such as low slung nose, carefully sculpted headlamps, a new wider grill are signs of a future classic in-the-making. The new 3 Series is also shares a lot of its components from the new 5 and 7 Series models.

Our sources tell us that for India the following models are planned:

• Petrol – 320i (2.0-liter – 152hp) , 328i (3 liter straight six producing between 200-230 hp)
• Diesel – (same 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with two outputs) – 320d (175hp), 318d (146hp)

Our sources add that production of the new 3 Series will start around April at the Chennai plant.

Expect an official announcement from BMW India in the coming months.

[Source: TeamBHP.com]

Oh come on, Why would a guy who owns a BMW 5 series be worried on how he spends on fuel, you ask?

Here is a little exercise – next time you see a BMW 5 Series, look at the model number at the top right of the tail. 95% of the time, it will either be a 525d or 530d, which means it’s a diesel. And it doesn’t matter whether it is Mercedes or Audi, the story remains the same. Diesel sells. Period.

BMW recently unveiled the M5 for India at the 2012 Auto Expo. The Bavarian manufacturer has also committed to focus on the high performance M brand in India for 2012. So BMW India how about bringing in the BMW M diesel range to our streets?

And yes, those speculation were definitely true because BMW has unveiled the 2013 X6 with minor by significant updates. Here is a roundup of what has changed in the new X6.

Exteriors

• Redesigned front bumper
• Flat bottom, adaptive corona rings (like the new 3 series) along with an optional full LED headlamps.
• Newly designed taillights with LEDs
• New Alloys
• Three new colours – Marrakech Brown metallic, Orion Silver metallic and Midnight Blue metallic

Interiors

The interiors have not been touched one bit. A few leather option have been added to the customization list.

Engines

A ‘M Sport’ option has been added to the list. This is not an X6M but a normal X6 with little more power. The M Sport package adds 15 hp and 30 lb-ft of torque in the six-cylinder model and 40 hp and 30 lb-ft for the V8. The M Sport packages also adds 20-inch wheels, black chrome exhaust tips and stainless-steel pedals

What about the X6M?

The X6M also gets updated along with the current lineup. It gets a slightly tinkered double kidney grille with different slats that angle in the lower section and redesigned headlamps. The adaptive LED headlamps are fitted as standard. More color choices and interior customization complete the subtle updates.

No changes to the mechanicals of the X6M have been reported. It continues to be powered by a 4.4-liter twin-turbocharged V8 that smacks 555-horses at 6,000 rpm and 680Nm (501.5 lb-ft) of peak torque

The 2013 BMW X6 will receive its world premiere at the Geneva Motor Show in March.

Source: CarAndDriver.com

However, BMW is planning an entry level X3 for the US market which might be able to rectify the tilt in India. The biggest change in this entry level X3 is the downsized engine.

Say goodbye to the 3.0-liter inline-6 and say hello! to a 2.0-liter four-cylinder pot.  The engine will continue to be paired with an eight-speed automatic. BMW India is offering this same engine (xDrive20D) but the variant is loaded heavily with equipment.

When we asked the same question to BMW’s head honcho Andreas Schaff, he made it quite clear that there will not be any ‘Corporate Editions’ models in the near future.

Sure, the Audi Q5 will always have the price advantage over this new entry level X3. However, BMW has shown in the past that it can wage price wars that leave the competition short of breath.

Do you think it makes sense to introduce a corporate edition X3 to ruffle Audi’s feathers?

[Source: InsideLine.com]

The new X5 according to our friends at BMWBlog will carry plenty of design changes, the surfacing will lend it the X3′s look while the widened grille and smaller tail lamps will have a 3D effect in them. The designers are reportedly aiming for a more masculine stance.

The current demand for the X1 is very good and there is no immediate need for changes either to its appearance or its mechanicals. The X1 is not expected to be launched in a 4WD avatar (xDrive variant) leaving that assignment for the X3 and its elder  brothers to handle.

In the next 2-3 years the competitor models from the other two Germans Mercedes (crossover on the MFA platform) and Audi (Q3 previewed at the Delhi Auto Expo) would have settled down in the Indian market and to keep the X1 fresh the company will consider the mild cosmetic makeover option seriously. BMW can also use the facelift’s entry to market a more powerful diesel variant carrying a higher level of equipment.