Hamann Motorsports Reinterprets the BMW 530d GT

BMW/Land Rover/Ferrari tuner Hamann just revealed its take on BMW's unfortunate 5-Series GT. Coming from Hamann, one would expect a car as divisive as the 5GT to be insane and over the top. Sadly, it's more subtle and understated.

Hamann's 5GT gets a new suspension setup across the range, functional front/rear spoilers, skirts, and a special rear apron to effectively house Hamann's new mufflers.

The 530d GT used as a show car has a reprogrammed Motronic, allowing it to pick up 30 ponies to peg output at 275 horsepower (and a huge 620 Nm / 457 lb-ft of torque); wheels are standard Hamann (bling-y).

Hamann hits the nail on the head, saying that the 5GT is "an unusual top-class, multi-purpose vehicle when it leaves the plant". After it's tuned you're still driving an unusual top-class, multi-purpose vehicle; just one lightly-tuned by Hamann.

By Phil Alex

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Larger-than-life BMW Ad Resides over Hong Kong Audi Dealership

The BMW/Audi ad war continues, and the latest attack recently took place in Hong Kong. BMW marketing picked up some prime ad space above an Audi dealership, and it looks as if the building owner is making a double-edged killing. Floor space to Audi and wall space to BMW? Genius.

Now if only the owner could get Mercedes to shoot a commercial there, they'd have the German luxury trifecta in their pocket.

By Phil Alex

Source: Chris Junker / flickr , Via: Worldcarfans & Jalopnik

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BMW Adds xDrive AWD Option on all 5-Series GTs and the 740d

BMW is completing the range of the new 5-Series Gran Turimso with the introduction of its so-called "intelligent" xDrive all-wheel-drive technology that will be offered on all engine variants of the crossover model.

Beginning from June 2010, 5-Series GT customers will have the choice of two versions of the car featuring xDrive, the 530d with a 245HP inline-six diesel, and the 550i with a 407HP 4.4-liter turbocharged V8 petrol.

According to the German firm, the 550i GT xDrive accelerates to 100 km/h (62mph) in 5.4 seconds while top speed is cut off by the engine's electronic control unit at 250 km/h or 155 mph. Average fuel consumption in the EU test cycle is 11.8 lt/100 km, equal to 23.9 mpg imp, with CO2 emissions amounting to 275 g/km

The 530d xDrive GT accelerates from a standstill to 100 km/h in 6.9 seconds and reaches a top speed of 235 km/h or 146 mph. It returns an average fuel consumption of 6.9 lt/100 km, equal to 40.9 mpg imp, in the EU test cycle. The CO2 rating, finally, is 183g/km.

In September, the xDrive range will be rounded off with the 535d xDrive GT and the 306HP 535i xDrive GT. Performance and fuel economy figures for these two models will be released at a later date.

Finally, the same all-wheel drive system will also make it appearance on the 740d limo that's powered by a 306HP turbo-diesel unit in autumn of 2010.

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2012 BMW M5 Sedan Realistically Rendered

A member of the F10 bimmer forums has put his photoshop talents to good use creating a series of realistic renderings of the upcoming 2012 (or 2011, depending on which side of the Atlantic you're on) BMW M5 Saloon.

Due to arrive in 2011, the Bavarian automaker's new high-performance super saloon will be powered by a downsized, 4.4-liter twin-turbocharged V8 engine that was first used on the X5M and X6M.

In those two models, the V8 produces 555HP at 6,000 rpm and 680Nm or 501-lbs/ft of peak torque. However, it has been suggested that BMW's M division may further tweak the twin-turbo engine boosting output closer to the 600HP mark.

Via: F10 Forums (by Alpine325ci)

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The Chinese Connection: 2011 BMW 5-Series Long Wheelbase Sedan

Chinese consumers like their saloons with extra long wheelbases. Abiding by the logic that the client is always right, BMW placed the new 5-Series sedan on the procrustean bed and stretched its wheelbase up by 140mm or 5.5-inches. The car now measures 5,039mm or 198-in. in length with a wheelbase of 3,108mm or 122.4-in

Developed exclusively for the Chinese market, the 5-Series LWB model is built at BMW's plant in Shenyang in cooperation with a large number of regional partners.

To justify its limo-like character, BMW came up with what it calls "a high-comfort rear seat bench" that was developed specifically for this model.

Chinese buyers that intend to spend of not all, most of their time at the back seat can opt for an array of goodies including four-zone automatic a/c, rear-seat entertainment, a cooling box as well as electrically adjustable sunblinds on the rear side windows and a folding table integrated in the backrest of the front passenger's seat.

The Chinese-market 5er is offered with three straight-six gasoline engines, all combined with BMW's eight-speed automatic transmission.

The entry-level 523Li is powered by a 204HP 2.5-liter unit, the 528Li by a 258HP 3.0-liter engine and the range-topping 535Li by a turbocharged 3.0-liter engine with 306 horsepower.

The new 5-Series LWB will have its world premiere at the Auto China 2010 that will be held in Beijing from April 25 to May 2.

It's worth mentioning that in 2009, China was BMW's fourth largest market with sales of 90,536 units.

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