The BMW 3 series is an accomplished car in its segment in India. However, pretty soon the F30 (the successor model) will replace the E90 (the older generation) in India. But something interesting caught our eye from the international automotive scene.
Here is a spyshot of the long wheelbase (LWB) version of the new F30 prepping up for its China debut. LWB version are essentially longer version of the cars with more back seat legroom. They are especially for people who like to be chauffeur driven around. They are big business in China and most manufacturers have a LWB version of their luxury cars.
The F30 seen over here is a 335Li and as one can see that it has a slightly longer rear door and expanded rear cabin to give that extra leg room over the regular 3 Series sedan. It is powered by a 3.0-liter twin-turbo straight-six with 306 horsepower and 400 Nm of torque. It will feature other goodies also such as 8.8-inch control display, an auto start-stop system and a blind-spot awareness system. The LWB 335Li will debut at the Beijing Auto Show in April and will not be available in the United States or Europe.
However, back home, we only have an LWB version of the 7 series. The BMW 3 Series is increasingly being chauffeur-driven in India. In such a scenario, doesn’t the LWB version of the F30 makes absolute sense over here?
BMW is betting big of green cars to drive the growth in the future. Recently, they partnered with Toyota to get access to their hybrid technology. Dust hasn’t settled yet and BMW is already in talks with General Motors to get access to their fuel cell technologies.
German weekly business magazine Wirtschaftswoche reported that the two companies plan to join forces over the development of fuel cell technology.
The talks between the two companies are in highly advanced stage according to the media report and the plan would give BMW future access to GM’s fuel cell technology and in exchange, BMW would contribute to the research costs.
Previously, BMW has developed fuel-cell version of both the 1-Series and 7-Series. However, with a dedicated ‘i’ brand in place just for green vehicles, the company is on a rampage to test new fuel saving technologies that could power the future.
With spiraling research and development cost, most companies are forced to have a joint venture that could help them ease the burden. And at the end of the day, the customer gets a value proposition that he/she could afford and enjoy.
Inset – BMW X6M from Auto Expo 2010 has no relation to the story.
Entry posted on August 11, 2011 by
Shrawan Raja;
Read More on BMW
For those who don’t know, we must inform that BMW started its operations producing aircraft engines.
The company’s history spans for more than 90 years and for this period, mystery surrounding the logo of the company has deepened. As BMW started with aircraft engine’s it was easy to guess that the logo resembles an engine propeller in motion but the truth is something else and is explained in the video.
The truth, as explained, is rather very simple. The blue and white colors on the logo are inspired by the colors on the Bavaria’s flag, BMW’s birthplace.
Struggling to match up with the existing competition, Daimler CEO Dieter Zetsche has called for war on the rivals BMW and Audi. In the recent years, Mercedes Benz has been constantly outsmarted by the fellow German rivals globally in terms of sales as well as product innovation.
If it’s product innovation, BMW certainly takes the cake. The company from Bavaria has managed to create a new segments and innovative products for itself. If it’s marketing and product design, Audi is more successful in these aspects. Where does that leave Mercedes?
Zetsche takes no shame in admitting that the rivals have zoomed passed Mercedes and something needs to be done – hard and fast. He wrote a letter to all Daimler employees motivating them to pull up their socks.
He writes: “Some of our competitors are now growing faster and more profitably than we are. Granted, those are just snapshots in time and should not be overestimated. After all, many of our best new products are yet to come.”
Do you dream of owing a BMW 7 series or a Rolls Royce Ghost every single day? Of course, you do. Well, then we have some really good news for you. The proposed India-EU FTA (free trade agreement) is actively seeking the removal of import duties on automotive products. If the agreement goes through, we can expect a drastic reduction in prices of imported luxury cars by as much as [ Read More ]
Entry posted on December 23, 2010 by
Shrawan Raja;
Read More on BMW
Our man Kaustubh Shinde has communicated this piece of text from the just concluded BMW X1 press conference at Deutsche Motoren in New Delhi.
- The BMW X1 for India has a different air filter, higher ground clearance and different suspension setup
- New BMW 6 Series coming during the first of second quarter of 2011
- Deliveries of the new X1 begin today. The vehicle has already been sold out in many parts of India.
- BMW says there’s no further update on Mini brand for India
- BMW, with its limited sales network, has still managed to register 1,000 pre-orders for the X1
- Plant capacity will be increased from current 5,400 units to 8,000 units per year to counter this massive order
Entry posted on February 19, 2010 by
Anish;
Read More on BMW
BMW X6 – 2010 models recalled in US
It appears that Toyota and Honda are not alone in the recall game. Joining the bandwagon is the premium car maker BMW. The company has intimated the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in US of a fault in X5 and X6 models manufactured between December 14, 2009 and December 16, 2009.
There have been no reports or complaints filed with NHTSA by customers. This is a notification by the company to the administrator of a safety defect in case of a rollover crash.
We do not know the number of vehicles under the recall, but this could be merely in hundreds. What is of more significance is the nature of the notice and the probable safety issue being reported.
A bunch of new Bimmers arrive at the Auto Expo next year
The Auto Expo 2010, which goes on from January 5 to 11 next year in Pragati Maidan, New Delhi, will be packed with new models from BMW, reports Autocar India. The German brand will show new cars as well as its existing line-up in its booth next year.
Apart from the currently running BMW models, the Indians will have the first look of the 400 bhp, twin-turbo direct-injected 4.4-liter V8 550i Gran Turismo. The new compact SUV BMW X1 will also make an appearance along with the new 760Li with 535bhp twin-turbo, 6.0-liter, V12 engine.
Besides all this, the new BMW X6 M with the 4.4-liter, 555 bhp V8 engine will also be among the exhibits.
