BMW's Chinese Partner Brilliance Auto to Make U.S. Debut at 2009 NAIAS

The 2009 North American International Auto Show in Detroit in mid-January will see Brilliance Auto, BMW's Chinese partner, making its first appearance on U.S. soil. The Chinese automaker has already spread its wings to Europe but now its setting its eyes on the North American market as company officials say they want to begin selling cars in the U.S. as early as next year. Brilliance intends to show four vehicles in Detroit, the Pininfarina designed BS6 mid-sized sedan and BS4 compact sedan (pictured above and after the jump) and the BC3 compact coupe and FRV hatchback. In China, Brilliance builds BMW's domestic market 3 Series and 5 Series models.
NAIAS officials also revealed that another Chinese automaker, BYD will make an encore appearance in Detroit after its debut at the 2008 show. BYD has not disclosed any details of the vehicle premieres and models that will be on display at the Cobo Center.
The Chinese automaker made headlines recently when American billionaire investor Warren Buffett's MidAmerican Energy Holdings paid $230 million for a 10-percent stake in the firm to support its green technologies. BYD is currently developing electric-hybrid cars that it plans to sell in China later this year, Europe and Israel by 2010 and eventually in North America.
Just for the record, the number of Chinese auto manufacturers that displayed cars at this year's NAIAS show were five: Changfeng Motor Group, BYD Auto, Geely, China America Cooperative Automotive, Inc./ZXNA (Chamco) and Li Shi Guang Ming Auto Design.

BMW's Chinese Partner Brilliance Auto to Make U.S. Debut at 2009 NAIAS

The 2009 North American International Auto Show in Detroit in mid-January will see Brilliance Auto, BMW's Chinese partner, making its first appearance on U.S. soil. The Chinese automaker has already spread its wings to Europe but now its setting its eyes on the North American market as company officials say they want to begin selling cars in the U.S. as early as next year. Brilliance intends to show four vehicles in Detroit, the Pininfarina designed BS6 mid-sized sedan and BS4 compact sedan (pictured above and after the jump) and the BC3 compact coupe and FRV hatchback. In China, Brilliance builds BMW's domestic market 3 Series and 5 Series models.
NAIAS officials also revealed that another Chinese automaker, BYD will make an encore appearance in Detroit after its debut at the 2008 show. BYD has not disclosed any details of the vehicle premieres and models that will be on display at the Cobo Center.
The Chinese automaker made headlines recently when American billionaire investor Warren Buffett's MidAmerican Energy Holdings paid $230 million for a 10-percent stake in the firm to support its green technologies. BYD is currently developing electric-hybrid cars that it plans to sell in China later this year, Europe and Israel by 2010 and eventually in North America.
Just for the record, the number of Chinese auto manufacturers that displayed cars at this year's NAIAS show were five: Changfeng Motor Group, BYD Auto, Geely, China America Cooperative Automotive, Inc./ZXNA (Chamco) and Li Shi Guang Ming Auto Design.

2012 BMW 6-Series Convertible Snapped Without Camouflage?

Those quick fingered camera jockeys over at Motor-Talk.de have got what appears to be an undisguised 2012 BMW 6-series convertible. This could be our first look at the new convertible, which is set to go on sale next year, au natural.
Soon after, the Photoshop magicians over at Autobild cleaned up the picture, taking out the cameraman and other foreground obstructions and removing some of the grainy-ness.
It has to be said, this picture looks very close to the artist's impression by e90post forum member 'Alpince325ci', even down to the shape of the bootlid. Well done, sir.
The 6-series Convertible will the most expensive drop top in BMW's lineup, slotting in above the cheaper 3-series convertible and Z4 roadseter. Oddly, it still retains its fabric top, something the current-gen 3-series and Z4 have done away with. Carscoop will have more details and pictures as they come through.

By Tristan Hankins

Sources: Motor Talk, e90post and Autobild

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2012 BMW 6-Series Convertible Snapped Without Camouflage?

Those quick fingered camera jockeys over at Motor-Talk.de have got what appears to be an undisguised 2012 BMW 6-series convertible. This could be our first look at the new convertible, which is set to go on sale next year, au natural.
Soon after, the Photoshop magicians over at Autobild cleaned up the picture, taking out the cameraman and other foreground obstructions and removing some of the grainy-ness.
It has to be said, this picture looks very close to the artist's impression by e90post forum member 'Alpince325ci', even down to the shape of the bootlid. Well done, sir.
The 6-series Convertible will the most expensive drop top in BMW's lineup, slotting in above the cheaper 3-series convertible and Z4 roadseter. Oddly, it still retains its fabric top, something the current-gen 3-series and Z4 have done away with. Carscoop will have more details and pictures as they come through.

By Tristan Hankins

Sources: Motor Talk, e90post and Autobild

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BMW Officially Confirms New Sportscar based on Vision ED Concept for 2013

A little over a year after the presentation of the Vision EfficientDynamics [ED] concept study at the 2009 Frankfurt motor show, and following a month-long tease of what turned out to be an early prototype mule with the body of a 6-Series of the plug-in hybrid on the 'Dontblogaboutthis' website (see pictures below), BMW today officially confirmed plans to build a production version of the eco-friendly sports car.
"There was a widespread desire to put the car on the road, and the realisation of this desire is moving considerably closer," the Bavarian firm said in a statement. And by this, BMW means it will have the Vision ED on the road and ready for sale in 2013.
"By developing a sports car based on the BMW Vision EfficientDynamics concept study for serial production, the Munich-based premium automobile manufacturer underscores its position as a global leader in the production of sporty vehicles with exemplary efficiency," said BMW.
Set to stand out as a technological tour de force, the production model will keep the 2+2 seater concept's innovative plug-in hybrid system. We'll remind you that the Frankfurt show car combined a 1.5-liter three-cylinder turbo diesel producing 163HP and 214 lb-ft of torque located behind the back seats, with two electric motors.
The first is positioned between the diesel engine and the six-speed double clutch transmission delivering a continuous output of 33HP and 214 lb-ft, and up to 51HP momentarily. The second electric motor is located in the front of the vehicle and churns out a continuous output of 80HP and peak torque of 162 lb-ft. It can produce 112HP for up to 30 seconds, and, for a 10-second "burst," 139HP.
According to BMW, the system's overall output is rated at 328-horsepower (241 kW). This allows performance figures at the level of a sports car -think M3- with 4.8 seconds for the 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) sprint, while returning city-car efficiency with an average fuel consumption of 3.76 litters/100 kilometers, equal to 62.6 mpg US / 75.1 mpg UK, and a CO2 emission rating of just 99 grams per kilometer.
The Vision ED is fitted with a lithium-polymer battery housed centrally in a longitudinal chassis element that can be fully charged at a conventional power socket within two and half hours. BMW says the use of electrical energy alone permits zero-emissions motoring with a range of some 50 kilometres or 31 miles, while a 24-litre diesel tank extends the total driving range up to 700 kilometres or 435 miles.
BMW didn't give a price for the production model but it is expected to be the most expensive car in the firm's range.

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