2009 BMW M5 Sedan

2009 BMW M5

The current M5 has a maximum power of 507 hp, and it’s already a rocket ship; so, the 2009 M5 will be something insane, beyond our imagination!

Until very recently, the German car makers was something of a purist concerning petrol engines, preferring naturally aspirated over forced induction. But the current twin-turbo straight-six petrol in the 335i and 535i proves BMW can do ’charging as least as well as anyone else. Usually better. And a turbocharger or two would do wonders for the M5’s low-down torque, which we’ve found to be a little lacking in the past.

Spy photographers report that the 2009 M5 sound incredible aggressive (imagine that!) and that it may have also been using a DSG transmission in place of the current SMG unit.

2008 BMW 1 Series Coupe revealed

Light, affordable, agile, sublime. The attributes that made BMW's 2002 an instant classic from its European premier in 1966 will do the same for the 128i and 135i models of the 2008 BMW 1 Series Coupe if they're as good by the seat of the pants as they are on paper.

Designed to fill the price space between two icons, the Mini Cooper and the 3 Series, the 1 Series features a lightweight aluminum front suspension and five-link rear axle, frameless doors, new L-shaped taillamps with LED highlights and corona daytime running lights ... the type of features that make more expensive Bimmers such magic.

The 128i comes with the 230-horsepower, 200 pound-foot 3.0-liter with Valvetronic, and the 135i gets the twin-turbo 3.0 of course, good for 300 horses, 300 pound-feet from 1400 rpm, and BMW says, a 5.3-second 0-62 mph time and electronically limited 155 mph top speed.

BMW M5

We all think we are pretty smart but when it comes to what is cool-leave it to the kids. Every time grandson Freddie comes to see us he will always make a detour first to see what is in the parking lot. If it meets with his approval he’ll race up the stairs with a huge smile on his face and instead of hello, how are you and all that he’ll simply say “can we please take this baby for a spin”.

It was most certainly the case with BMW’s 97 thousand dollar dream machine. It may become a museum piece as a result of European legislation but in the meantime it most definitely is a mechanical tour de force, the sort of car only very dedicated and talented engineers can create.

For a start it has a 5 liter V10 engine with an 8,250-rpm red line. It also has a button to increase power from 400 to 500 horsepower, something I’ve never come across before. Pretty amazing if you think about it.

Did I hit 155 miles per hour? Alas, no. Marin County may be beautiful and friendly most of the time but when it comes to driving at over 100 miles per hour the jail beckons. Were Freddie and I naughty? Of course, but just once.

Some desperately boring young man in a tuned Toyota (of all things!) wanted a drag race from the lights. Well, he got somewhat more than he asked for. I hit the power button for the extra 100 horses, watched the lights change and boooom! We were off. 1st, second, 3rd before I lifted off in order not to get a ticket and b. to look for the hero in the Toyota. He was so far behind we needed binoculars to catch sight of him. Imagine going through all 7 (!) gears at 7000rpm all the way to 155 miles per hour!

BMW GINA

BMW's design department has been working overtime lately. Just last month, the German automakerunveiled its M1 Homage Concept at the Villa d'Este Concours on the shores of Lake Como, Italy. Now, Munich has officially taken the wraps off of a new design study called the GINA Light Visionary Model, a creation BMW says shouldn't be thought of as "just another concept car," but rather "a whole new approach to automotive design."

The diesel X6

Style is undoubtedly a subjective thing, but sometimes agreement is nearly universal. The Mona Lisa has been revered through the ages, while the bowl-cut hair style is a perpetual laughing stock. Somewhere toward the latter end of the spectrum lie creations like Hartge's latest X6 variant, sporting a beefy diesel powerplant and a face only a mother (or father) could love

the BMW 335i Coupe

Racing Dynamics, or RDSport as the Milan-based tuning firm is also known, is renowned for its work with modifying cars from BMW. Now, RDSport has just unveiled its new take on the E92 BMW 335i twin-turbo coupe, and a number of aesthetic and mechanical upgrades bring the car much closer in performance and appearance to its M3 big brother.The first impression you get of the car is its lower, more aggressive stance courtesy of a suspension kit consisting of new custom-valved Bilstein struts, stiffer springs and anti-roll bars.