2011 BMW K1300S Photo Gallery

2011 BMW K1300S Pictures

2011 BMW K1300S White Series

2011 BMW K1300S Sportbike

2011 BMW K1300S Red

2011 BMW K1300S Blue Color

US Trying to Perfect its Safety Rating System; Can't we Just Meet EU Standards and Call it a Day?

US Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood has announced a new and improved 5-star safety rating system for 2011 vehicles. If you're interested about your new car, scroll on down for some of the vehicles tested. As of now, the BMW 5-Series (RWD) and Hyundai Sonata are the only vehicles to be top-rated (33 of the 55 models to be tested have been graded thus far).

The NHTSA says the new protocols will also test "side-pole" accidents and crash-prevention systems, as well as using new dummies (hopefully these will be set up properly). One new addition will be the use of a smaller "female" dummy to gauge accidents involving women. Also, new "injury criteria" will be implemented, as well as the use of an Overall Vehicle Score.

NHTSA Administrator David Strickland says, "We want consumers to embrace these new safety technologies as a way to make vehicles safer. We believe electronic stability control, lane departure warning, and forward collision warning offer significant safety benefits and consumers should consider them when buying a new car." Well, yeah.

By Phil Alex

2011 BMW K1600GT Motorcycle

2011 BMW K1600GT in Action

2011 BMW K1600GT Photos

2011 BMW K1600GT Images

2011 BMW K1600GT Motorcycles

2011 BMW K1600GT Sport Touring

2011 BMW K1600GT Pictures

2011 BMW K1600GT First Look

BMW Sends Draped 1 Series M Coupe for a Photo Shoot in Paris

Welcome to another round of insignificant teaser pictures of BMW's upcoming 1 Series M Coupe. This time, the Bavarians took a pre-production version of the high-performance compact coupe over to the Arc de Triomphe, just off the Place Charles de Gaulle in Paris, for a quick photo shoot. Once again, the car was fully wrapped so nothing really new to see here. And before you ask, we don't know anything about the man or the young woman posing with the car.

BMW hasn't really given out any specific details about the car, but we do know it will be powered by a turbocharged straight six producing somewhere around 350-ponies with the Germans also hinting that it's meant to be a spiritual successor to the original E30 M3 of the late 1980s / early 1990s.

The newest member of BMW's 'M' model family is scheduled to be launched into the market sometime next year.

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2012 BMW M6 Rendering Based on Paris Show Concept Car

BMW fan-boy and talented photoshop artist Gerald Alvarez (aka Bimmerpost forum member Alpine325ci), continues his series of future BMW renderings, this time with a new 'chop of the next generation M6 sports coupe. Alvarez used the freshly revealed at last week's Paris Motor Show, Concept 6-Series Coupe, as the base car to create the M6 rendering adding typical 'M' model styling traits such as the bumper, side skirt and alloy wheel designs.

The actual 2012 M6 should make its appearance either alongside or shortly after next year's presentation of the production F12 6-Series Coupe and Convertible models.

As we've repeatedly mentioned, the new M6 says 'bye-bye' to the previous model's naturally-aspirated 507HP 5.0-liter V10, and 'hallo' to a downsized, twin-turbocharged V8 sourced from the X5 M and X6 M crossovers, with power being delivered to the rear axle through the Bavarian firm's seven-speed twin-clutch transmission.

We don't have any numbers (yet), but it is believed that in the M6, the re-tuned V8 will deliver more than the 555HP and 680Nm or 501-lbs/ft of peak torque it does on the X5 M and X6 M models.

Via: E90Post , Photo: Gerald Alvarez / Alpince325ci

BMW Announces Performance Accessories for North American X6 Models

Starting from late October, BMW will begin offering to North American buyers a suite of parts from its 'Performance Accessories' division for the X6 crossover. The range includes a power kit, styling package, unique alloys and a flat-bottomed steering wheel.

The power kit will be available for xDrive35i and xDrive50i models built between 2008 and 2010. New engine software is claimed to increase engine output and responsiveness without increasing fuel consumption or exhaust emissions.

On the xDrive35i, output is bumped up from 300-hp to 320-hp, and on the on the xDrive50i, from 400-hp to 440 hp. Torque is likewise improved, from 300 to 332 lb. ft. (407 to 450 Nm) on the xDrive 35i, and from 450 to 480 lb. ft. (610 to 651 Nm) on the xDrive50i.

Both models are 0.2 seconds faster to 60 mph (96 km/h); 6.3 seconds for the six-cylinder xDrive35i and 5.0 seconds for the V8 xDrive50i. Overtaking acceleration (50 to 75 mph / 80 km/h to 120 km/h) has also been improved by half a second.

BMW is has also prepared a performance aero kit consisting of redesigned front and rear bumpers, side skirts, rear bumper insert and the additional option of rear fins and a rear deck spoiler (which sits beneath the rear windshield).

Unique 21 inch alloys will also be offered: 10" x 21" wheels clad in 285/35/R21 rubber at the front and 11.5" x 21" wearing 325/30/R21s at the rear.

A racing-style, flat-bottomed multifunction steering wheel covered in hand-stitched Alcantara will also be available.

The performance aero kit and 21-inch alloys are available on all models except the X6 M and ActiveHybrid X6, whilst the multifunction steering wheel is unavailable on the X6 M and X6s equipped with the Lane Departure Warning system.

A high performance exhaust for the V8 and inline-six X6 models is also in development and is expected to be available this winter.

By Tristan Hankins

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BMW’s Concept 6 Series Coupe Live from Paris: What do You Think? [Updated]

*Post has now been updated with a video of the car from the Paris Show floor featuring BMW's Design Director Adrian Van Hooydonk

Here are the first live pictures of BMW's Concept 6 Series Coupe at the Paris Motor Show. As previously reported, this is nothing more than a thinly disguised 2011 6 Series Coupe, which is set to arrive in showrooms next year with straight-six and V8 engine options.

Here's the skinny: Bangle is out, Van Hooydonk is in (as the Bavarian firm's design boss, as Van Hooydonk was responsible for the exterior of the previous 6er). Phil has already given you his 'Two Dents' on the concept based on the pre-show photos. Now here's my take on the live pictures:

The front there-quarters remind me of an aging actress who has recently had a facelift: her lips have been pulled long and thin, her eyes bulge out of the sockets and her ears are drawn back. The rear three-quarter, on the other hand, is a little too much like the current 3-series coupe.

Many of our readers were very vocal with their opinions on our last post. So our question is this: what do you think of BMW's Concept 6 Series Coupe now that you've seen the live pictures? Is it better, or worse? Tell us in the comments section below.

By Tristan Hankins

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BMW Gran Coupe reportedly go for launch

BMW Concept Gran Coupe – Click above for high-res image gallery

Not to be outdone by the likes of the Mercedes-Benz CLS, Porsche Panamera, Aston Martin Rapide or Audi A7, BMW will reportedly be building a production version of the Gran Coupe concept that debuted at this year's Beijing Motor Show. It may be a late arrival to the growing segment of swoopy luxury sedans, but BMW will indeed poise the Gran Coupe to offer just as much in the way of technology and refinement as the lot of its competitors.

Based on the next-generation 6 Series, the Gran Coupe is set to launch sometime in 2012 and will share its powertrains with what we're seeing in the 5, 6, and 7 Series BMWs, including a possible hybrid variant. Naturally, the production Gran Coupe will slot between the 5 and 7 Series in terms of size and price, and if the overall design doesn't change too much, it'll certainly be an attractive addition to the BMW lineup.

BMW M5 And Its Bulging Hood Snapped Again

It's been almost three whole months since we last saw M5 spy shots, but someone from BMW decided to change that by leaving the slightly camo'ed M-powered sedan unattended in a parking lot. There isn't much more to note on the exterior, save for catching what could be the production wheels and their whopping Pirelli tires. But now there are shots of the interior and new items like the seats, shift knob and tachometer with the greatly reduced redline. Click the link for more photos, and get ready to see it in person soon.

Double Bill - C/D and MT pit Cadillac CTS-V Coupe vs. Audi RS5 vs. BMW M3

Click above to watch the video after the jump

The Cadillac CTS-V Coupe has some serious performance chops. The potent angular coupe is loaded with a blown 6.2-liter V8 capable of 556-horsepower, 15-inch front and 14.7-inch rear Brembo brakes and a Magnetic Ride Control suspension setup. Impressive stats to be sure, but does Cadillac's sleek two-seater have the goods to take on the BMW M3 coupe and Audi RS5?

Both Motor Trend and Car and Driver have obviously been pondering the same question, as the competing buff mags dusted off their camcorders and cut up a pair of comparison videos featuring the three super coupes doing a ménage à trois of the automotive kind.

Make the jump to experience both videos. In the first video, MT goes all-out with its comparison, bringing both Editor-in-Chief Angus McKenzie and the spanking new CTS-V Coupe to Germany to take on the pair of well-established Bavarian competitors. The second video shows the unique C/D approach, with no first, second or third place finishers and not a single word is uttered. C/D just let the hot coupes speak for themselves with beautiful pictures and heavenly exhaust notes.

[Sources: Car and Driver, Motor Trend]

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