VIDEO: BMW Releases Second Teaser of 2012 M5 Sedan

Turns out BMW's statement "We're all looking forward to Friday" was referring to yet another teaser video of the upcoming M5 sports saloon. This time, the Bavarian automaker showed the car testing in Northern Europe, albeit partially wrapped in the firm's traditional swirly camouflage. The official clip also hosts Dr. Kay Segler, president of BMW M GmbH, who describes the new M5 as "a bold business car, but with the push of a button, you have a sports car".

As you probably already know by now, the next M5 will come with a twin-turbocharged V8 engine, most likely based on the same unit found on the X5M and X6M crossovers. The official presentation of the M5 F10 is expected to take place at the 2011 Frankfurt Auto Show in September. Video follows after the break.

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BMW Video Teases 2012 M5 F10, Says More to Come on Friday

Apparently BMW is getting ready to introduce its hotly anticipated F10 M5 sports saloon as the Bavarian automaker released a teaser video on its official Youtube page this week. While the video itself doesn't really show anything, BMW's statement "We're all looking forward to Friday" hints at a reveal for tomorrow. That or another lame teaser. We shall see.

The new M5 is expected to drop the V10 in favour of a smaller but even more powerful V8 lump with twin-turbocharging and direct-injection technologies, which could flirt with 600-horsepower mark.

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VIDEO: Chris Bangle Butts Heads with Jason Castriota at SAAB's Geneva Motor Show Stand

You might think watching two world-renowned designers talking cars would be entertaining . . . and you'd be right on the money. Rising star and Saab's current hot shot design director Jason Castriota penned the PhoeniX concept. Chris Bangle, known for turning BMW on its head with his flame surfaces and unique rear ends, was hanging around Geneva and decided to chat with Castriota about his "aero" style.

Check out the video below for a minute and a half of a little (friendly?) banter between two polarizing designers as they discuss what makes the PhoeniX a Saab.

By Phil Alex

Source: Cardesignnews via Jalopnik

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Geneva 2011: Alpina BMW B5 Bi-Turbo Touring is a 5-Series Estate on Steroids

Catering to the needs of those looking for an über fast premium station wagon, longtime BMW tuning house Alpina has developed the B5 Bi-Turbo Touring based on the station wagon version of the latest 5-Series. With 507HP and 700Nm (516 lb-ft) under the hood and up to 1,670 liters of storage space, Alpina's creations is a party animal at the front while keeping it...professional at the back.

The Alpina-prepped bi-turboocharged V8 engine accelerates the Touring from 0-100km/h (62mph) in 4.8 seconds and on to a top speed of 303km/h (188mph). A performance braking system with 375mm discs up front and 345mm at the back ensures that the Touring will come to a halt. Power is transferred to the rear-wheels through a modified version of BMW's 8-speed Sport automatic transmission.

A lowered suspension with sports springs and new 20-inch lightweight alloy wheels wrapped around in Michelin Pilot Super Sports tires size measuring 255/35 ZR20 at the front and 285/30 ZR20 at the rear complete the performance upgrades.

As for the styling updates, the Touring benefits from a discrete aero package with a front apron, roof spoiler and a rear diffuser, while interior mods include a bespoke leather treatment for the sports seats and steering wheel, along with blue ALPINA gauges and unique decorative trims.

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Geneva 2011: BMW's Vision ConnectedDrive Roadster Concept

We now seem to live in a world where it is more important to check Facebook updates and check who's tweeting who than it is to drive. You have seen it, you may have possibly done it and the car industry wants to introduce the fun and productivity of Mobile social networking to our daily drive.

It makes actually some sense, why leave all our best means of communication and keeping in touch at home? This is where BMW's Vision ConnectedDrive roadster steps in. BMW is keeping silent about whether the Vision CD will ever make its way onto the market as the focus of the car is simply to showcase their new take on Mobile Communication and new style language.

First off the new design is cleaner, more aggressive and features a return to the angry style, shark-esque style front end. The Vision CD is a stylized modern roadster designed under supervision of BMW's new head of design, Adrian von Hooydonk. The interior on the other hand is far more impressive. The two person cockpit incorporates a completely customizable gauge cluster, an enhanced Head-Up Display that delivers a three-dimensional display of driving and communication information. This 3D HUD apparently provides "an optical fusion of the actual view of the road ahead with virtual content." There is an information device for the passenger also.

So what does this all mean? Well simply put, the car provides a "Connected Driving Experience".

Sensors in the rear and front lights monitor traffic flow, the vehicle monitors the driving environment and can communicate to other future Vision CD vehicles. The passenger can surf the Internet and tweet how awesome their car is compared to other cars in front and behind them while the driver has his portable devices connected and read by the vehicle. It reads the drivers calendar and notes and suggests ways of efficiently getting to his or her appointments and meetings in the shortest amount of time via the satellite navigation.

So the possibility of driving home checking who liked your BMW related status and ordering some pizza for collection on your route home. Then selecting a film to watch when you get home just got a little closer to reality. The Vision ConnectedDrive roadster shows the future of linking our online world with our driving world while also previewing a new design language possibly making its way towards your future Beemer.

It's only a matter of time before you can Jailbreak your car to do anything. The possibilities are endless!

By Rory Farrell

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