BMW X3 Buyers will be able to see their Vehicles Being Built through an Online Video Portal

BMW wants to turn an ordinary sale into an emotional experience that drives brand loyalty and retention by offerings U.S. buyers of the 2011MY X3 a unique access to the creation of their crossover through an online video portal that will show them footage of their customized X3 being produced at the company’s plant in Spartanburg, South Carolina.

“Customization is essential to the new BMW X3. With more than 10 million distinct configurations available, we wanted to get customers excited about the birth of their unique vehicle,” said Trudy Hardy, Manager, BMW Marketing Communications and Consumer Events, BMW of North America. “This production footage of the BMW X3 vehicles from our Spartanburg plant enhances the overall customer experience that is part of the BMW brand.”

BMW makes use of a total of seven cameras which track the X3 through the various stages of final assembly. The company added that the videos do not have an expiration date and can also be downloaded and shared.

To watch or download the footage, customers will have to create a My BMW account on bmwusa.com website and entering their X3 order number or VIN. The BMW X3 Customer Video Portal program kicks off today, January 20th.

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New Rumors Surface about 4-Cylinder Turbocharged BMW Engine, this time for Z4 Roadster

Last time we reported about BMW's long-rumored family of turbocharged 4-cylinder engines, it was in the summer of 2010. Meanwhile, the German manufacturer hasn't revealed anything on the matter, giving the whole affair an almost mythical status.

However, a new rumor has surfaced, with Automobile Magazine tweeting that the entry level BMW Z4 will soon get a new, 4-cylinder force inducted engine, as a replacement for the naturally aspirated inline-six.

The exact tweet was “BMW new 4-cyl coming this year in Z4 roadster. Replaces nat asp 6, so at least 200 hp” and, seeing that average fuel consumption regulations and emissions standards are getting stricter by the day, it sounds like a logical move for BMW.

The Bavarian company sure knows how to build a fine turbocharged engine and there are many models in its line-up that could benefit from a more frugal, and equally if not more powerful four-pots. The 1-Series and 3-Series are just two that come to mind right, although we’re pretty sure that X3 owners wouldn’t mind better fuel economy as well.

Clearly, the question here is not “why”, but rather “when”, and at the rate things are going, we’d say let's meet up again this summer and we’ll hopefully have some more official info for you.

By Csaba Daradics

Source: Automobile via Bimmerpost

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READ MORE - New Rumors Surface about 4-Cylinder Turbocharged BMW Engine, this time for Z4 Roadster

New Rumors Surface about 4-Cylinder Turbocharged BMW Engine, this time for Z4 Roadster

Last time we reported about BMW's long-rumored family of turbocharged 4-cylinder engines, it was in the summer of 2010. Meanwhile, the German manufacturer hasn't revealed anything on the matter, giving the whole affair an almost mythical status.

However, a new rumor has surfaced, with Automobile Magazine tweeting that the entry level BMW Z4 will soon get a new, 4-cylinder force inducted engine, as a replacement for the naturally aspirated inline-six.

The exact tweet was “BMW new 4-cyl coming this year in Z4 roadster. Replaces nat asp 6, so at least 200 hp” and, seeing that average fuel consumption regulations and emissions standards are getting stricter by the day, it sounds like a logical move for BMW.

The Bavarian company sure knows how to build a fine turbocharged engine and there are many models in its line-up that could benefit from a more frugal, and equally if not more powerful four-pots. The 1-Series and 3-Series are just two that come to mind right, although we’re pretty sure that X3 owners wouldn’t mind better fuel economy as well.

Clearly, the question here is not “why”, but rather “when”, and at the rate things are going, we’d say let's meet up again this summer and we’ll hopefully have some more official info for you.

By Csaba Daradics

Source: Automobile via Bimmerpost

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READ MORE - New Rumors Surface about 4-Cylinder Turbocharged BMW Engine, this time for Z4 Roadster

U-SPY: Carscoop Reader Snags a Fleet of BMW Prototypes in Austria

The BMW Group is quite busy these days as the Bavarian automaker is developing a raft of new models, ranging from the upcoming Megacity electric-vehicle and the MINI Coupe and Roadster, to the next generation of the 3-Series and the production version of the Vision ED concept sports car.

Carscoop reader Andras from Hungary was vacationing in Obertauern, Austria when he spotted this convoy of BMWs comprising of both masked prototypes and normal production cars, including a sedan in full body cladding. Check out Andras' photos and story after the jump.

Andras Deak's Scoop:

"I am currently in Obertauern, Austria for my holidays and discovered a small parking place dedicated to BMW. I walked there to check the cars and took some pictures.

There were 4 "cooling boxes" for cars. At the parking area I recognized a heavily camouflaged next-gen BMW 3-Series (possibly a hybrid version), the brand new X3 with some light camouflage (also possible hybrid version) and several 5-Series... Note that all the cars were plugged into something which looked like an electric charger to me.. Maybe a plug-in hybrid?

The interior of the next-gen 3-Series looks like all the new BMWs these days. It looked like a small 7-Series from the inside. The navigation screen is huge. I could see several fingerprints on the screen (maybe touchscreen?), but also an iDrive controller..."

Köszönöm for the pictures Andras!

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2011 BMW X3 gets M Sports Package and New Inline-Six Petrol and Diesel Engines

The lightly refreshed Coupe and Convertible versions of the 1-Series aren't the only new BMW models unveiled today as the Bavarian automaker also announced the introduction of an M Sports Package and two new engines for the latest X3 crossover, which was first shown in July.

Beginning from Spring 2011, buyers of the new X3 will be able to order an M Sports package that adds some sporty aesthetic touches inside and out, and revised suspension tuning. In detail, the kit consists of an aerodynamics package with unique front and rear bumpers, side skirts and a roof spoiler. Other exterior amenities include the high-gloss shadow line trim for the side window surrounds and roof rails, chrome tailpipes and 19-inch or optionally, 20-inch alloy wheels. As an exclusive option in conjunction with the M Sports package, buyers can opt for a Carbon Black metallic paintwork.

Inside, there are sports seats with exclusive Pearlpoint fabric/leather upholstery, an M leather-trimmed steering wheel with multifunction buttons including a Cruise Control button, door sills with the M logo and an M footrest.

The roof lining in anthracite, brushed aluminium interior trim, an M shift lever (only for the X3 xDrive 20d with manual transmission) and a stainless steel insert in the loading sill, round off the interior upgrades.

Performance improvements are limited to the sports suspension calibration across the range and on the X3 xDrive35i, a Sports automatic transmission, steering wheel shift paddles and variable sports steering, including Servotronic.

The M Sports package will be available for all engine versions of the new X3.

In addition to the sport kit, BMW also announced the presentation of two new powerplants for the European market X3. These are the 3.0-liter naturally aspirated inline-six petrol with 258HP and 310 Nm (228 lb-ft) for the X3 xDrive28i (the North American xDrive28i is powered by a 240HP unit), and 3.0-liter straight-six turbo diesel with 258HP and 560 Nm (413 lb-ft) of peak torque.

The petrol model completes the standard sprint in 6.9 seconds and hits a top speed of 230 km/h (143 mph). Its average fuel consumption is 9.0 lt/100 km (26.1 mpg US) in the EU test cycle with CO2 emissions of 210 g/km.

The new X3 xDrive30d goes from standstill to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 6.2 seconds en route to a top speed of 230 km/h (143 mph), while returning 6.0 lt/100 km (39.2 mpg US) and 159 g/km.

Both engine variants of the X3 will go on sale in Europe next Spring.

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BMW's Paris Show Highlights Include EfficientDynamics X3, New Engines and AWD for 5-Series

BMW has released details of what it will be presenting at the 2010 Paris Motor Show. Alongside the world premiere of the Concept 6 Series Coupé, 2011 X3 SUV and 5-series Touring are new engines, AWD and phone tech for the 5-series and an Efficient Dynamics version of the X3.

The Bavarian automaker is touting standard electromechanical servotronic steering (which adjusts the responsiveness of the steering depending on the vehicle's speed) along with optional Drive Dynamic Control, adaptive headlights, HUD and a "top view" rear view camera available across its 2011 X3 range.

An EfficientDynamics variant of the X3 with stop-start technology and a six-cylinder engine / eight-speed automatic transmission combo will also be shown, but will not be available in the US and Canada.

BMW will also unveil several new engines for its latest 5-series range, including a 3.0-liter in-line six 525d producing 204 hp (150 kw) and a 528i with 258 hp (190 kw) for the Touring (wagon). A twin turbo straight-six 535d diesel with an impressive sounding 300 hp (220 kw) will also be offered in both body styles.

An all-wheel-drive derivative of the 5-series sedan and Touring called xDrive - which will be available with both 535i and 530d engines - will also be officially launched (again, not available in the USA and Canada). xDrive will also be available as an option on all Gran Turismo models and as a sedan-only 550i model.

The 5-series will also get the options of a hands-free tailgate from Q2 2011 and ConnectDrive, which allows Blackberry and iPhone integration. Now you can read and dictate emails from the comfort of the driver's seat, while your back seat passengers take advantage of the wireless internet access. No word on pricing information, of course.

New accessories for the M3 focused on the areas of aerodynamics and the interior, along with M-sport packages for the 5-series sedan / Touring and X3 SUV will also debut in Paris.

By Tristan Hankins

READ MORE - BMW's Paris Show Highlights Include EfficientDynamics X3, New Engines and AWD for 5-Series