Photo credit: 1320 Video
Most auto enthusiasts already know that the 2020 Toyota Supra is based on the Z4, and one new owner of the former from Ontario, Canada decided to install BMW badges on his vehicle just because. Confusion (and rage) quickly ensues on social media, but many were quick to point out the facts. In any case, the fifth-generation Supra comes equipped with two BMW-sourced engine options: a turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four or a turbocharged 3.0-litre inline-six engine. Read more for additional pictures and information.
Many already know that Vantablack, developed by Surrey NanoSystems in the United Kingdom, is the darkest substances known, absorbing up to 99.96% of visible light. We covered the BMW X6 that was covered in Vantablack a couple weeks ago, but now, this material has been put to the test against LiDAR at the Frankfurt Motor Show. Read more to see what happened.
Vantablack, a material developed by Surrey NanoSystems in the United Kingdom, is touted as the darkest material on Earth yet, capable of absorbing up to 99.96% of visible light. BMW recently teamed up with Surrey Nanosystems and creative agency Levitation 29 to coat one of its new X6 SUVs in this material. The black blob you see above is the result, and no, it has not been Photoshopped. Read more for a video, additional pictures and information.
If you demand nothing but the most secure luxury SUV, look no further than the 2020 BMW X5 Protection VR6. Offering passengers an extremely high level of protection against attacks with firearms and/or explosive devices, thanks to an armored passenger compartment with molded components made from high-strength steel adapt perfectly to the contour of the body within the area of the doors, side frame, roof and front wall. Power comes from a 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 producing 523 horsepower and 553 pound-feet of torque, enabling it to hit 60 mph in a respectable 5.9 seconds and a top speed of 131 mph. Read more for a video, additional pictures and information.
An 18-year-old from Haryana’s Yamunanagar in India was given a BMW for his birthday instead of the Jaguar he requested. So, he did the least logical thing possible…pushed it into a swollen river in a fit of anger. That’s not all, “when the youth was plunging the high-end BMW car into the river, he also made a video and put it on social media,” said a police official. Read more for the news report and additional information.
Video Credit: CarWow
CarWow has pits the 2020 Toyota Supra against the BMW Z4, of which it shares the same platform, in a drag racing showdown. Aesthetically, both vehicles look very different, but under the hood, you’ll find BMW’s straight-six engine, which generates 335 horsepower and 369 pound-feet sending power to the rear axle with an 8-speed ZF 8HP automatic torque converter transmission. One thing you may not already know is that the fifth generation Supra is being assembled alongside the G29 BMW Z4 in Graz, Austria by Magna Steyr. Read more for the video and additional information.
The BMW X7 is the automaker’s flagship Sports Activity Vehicle (SAV), but recently their vocational trainees teamed up with the Munich plant’s Concept Vehicle Construction and Model Technology divisions to create a one-off pickup truck version. This was made possible by extending the body 4-inches and adding a bed that measures 55-79 inches, depending on the closed / open position, respectively. Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer Composites (CFRP) was used on the roof, rear doors and rear lid to cut 441 lbs from the factory X7 weight. Read more for additional pictures and information.
What could make the BMW Vision M Next Concept coupe eve more futuristic? Hiring Hans Zimmer to engineer the motor sounds of course. Before we get to that, this EV boasts a four-cylinder gasoline-electric hybrid powertrain generating a combined output of 600 horsepower, enabling it to accelerate from zero to 62 mile-per-hour in just 3.0 seconds, while topping out at 186 mph. There’s also a “BOOST+” function that adds extra power at the push of a button, while offering 62 miles of pure electric driving. Since EVs don’t produce any engine noise, legendary film composer Hans Zimmer developed a Blade Runner-inspired sound for the Vision M Next. Read more for another video, additional pictures and information.
We have seen the future of electric motorcycles, and it includes the BMW Motorrad Vision DC Roadster. The original Motorrad is a two-cylinder motorcycle that has been in production since the 1920s, but the company decided to give it a modern makeover with an electric battery pack, which offers massive torque from the get-go and unique U-shaped LED daytime running lights. This new bike also features a carbon fiber and aluminum chassis to keep things extra light. Read more for another video, additional pictures and information.
BMW introduces the first-ever 2020 M8 lineup ($133,000+ coupe / $142,000+ convertible), including sleek M8 Competition models ($146,000+) powered by a twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V8 generating 617 hp and 553 lb-ft of torque, enabling it to hit 60 mph in just three seconds. For those who like open-top cruising, there’s the standard 600 hp convertible, but without the stiffer springs, 15.5-inch front brakes with six-piston calipers, and optional 15.75-inch carbon ceramic brakes found in the Competition models. Read more for two additional videos, pictures and information.