Thursday, December 29, 2011

BMW i8 breaks out of Mission: Impossible and into the real world!

If you went to the movies over the holiday, chances are pretty good you saw the latest box-office-topping Tom Cruise vehicle. We're not talking about the globetrotting explosion-fest it came wrapped up in, Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol; we're speaking of the BMW Vision EfficientDynamics concept car that featured heavily in the movie (along with seemingly every other model in Munich's arsenal).

But the Vision EfficientDynamics coupe isn't just a flight of fancy for the world's auto show circuit or for Cruise's Ethan Hunt character – it's set for production sooner than you think, albeit carrying the i8 moniker. Snapped undergoing testing through a fence, the extended-range plug-in supercar looks ready for the street, if only we could peel away the Van Gogh camouflage. This BMW 2+2 is widely expected to deliver a 0-62 mph time of 4.8 seconds, and we're expecting the lightweight flyer to lose the unique lower glass door panels of the 2009 show car (a design change hinted at by this prototype's swirly coverup).

Speaking of the doors, they also look to be more conventional in size and possibly operation – the concept car featured elongated butterfly doors that afforded accesses to both the front and rear seats. The prototype seen here would appear to have more conventionally sized apertures. We're guessing that mundane real-world considerations like crash-worthiness and ease of operation had something to do with the transition. Another likely concession to the realities of production auto-making appear to be a pair of rather ungainly bumper-level nacelles in the rear fascia that weren't present on the show car. We're not sure if these are merely reflectors, actual taillights or if they're simply clever camouflage, but we're hoping for the latter.

While the concept was powered by both an electric drivetrain and a small diesel generator, our spies suggest that the production car may switch over to a more conventional turbocharged four-cylinder range-extender. Whether it burns gas or oil, however, the i8 is sure to be one of the most radical cars on the road... and it's likely to carry an exotic price tag to match.

Source: autoblog.com

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Come by today and add some extra horsepower under your hood with our BMW Performance Power Kit!

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Come by today and add some extra horsepower under your hood.  More horsepower; more torque and unlimited exhilaration. With sporty performance, outstanding driving dynamics and innovative technology, the Version 1 Power Kit maintains all of BMW's key attributes but allows you to put a personal touch on your BMW.  Hurry in, this amazing offer is only good till December 31st! 

Learn more.

Tuesday, December 27, 2011

TUESDAY TECH TIP: BMW Assist response center is ready to help if your BMW is ever stolen!


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In the unfortunate event that your vehicle is stolen and once you have filed your police report; the BMW Assist response center is ready to help determine its location, even if your BMW is turned off. The BMW Assist response center will alert the police to its GPS coordinates in order to aid in its recovery.

Thursday, December 22, 2011

BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe - Sneak Preview

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Just the Facts:

  • BMW's head of exterior design, Karim Habib, says the 6 Series Gran Coupe is the "most extreme statement of BMW design."
  • It is 4.4 inches longer than the two-door coupe.
  • There is genuine space for four but the fifth seat is compromised.
  • U.K. prices are in line with the 7 Series, with U.S. prices to be announced nearer the summer 2012 on-sale date.

LONDON — According to BMW's head of exterior design, Karim Habib, the new 6 Series Gran Coupe is the "most extreme statement of BMW's sporty, elegant design." Habib revealed BMW's first ever four-door coupe at a press dinner in London, attended by Inside Line.

The car was being shown for the first time ahead of its debut at next month's 2012 Detroit Auto Show. So secretive was the presentation that we were only able to view the car on the proviso that we didn't take photographs. What we can reveal, though, is that the car looks even better in the metal than it does in photographs. Some 4.4 inches longer than the two-door, the four-door's proportions actually look more harmonious. Fears that the Gran Coupe would look uncomfortably "stretched" can be allayed.

It is also much more practical than the standard coupe. While the rear of the two-door is a tight squeeze for anyone post-adolescence, the Gran Coupe can seat a quartet of 6-footers with comparative ease. The fifth occupant will suffer, though. The extension of the center console to meet the rear seat means that the central passenger must pose as if riding a horse. It'll be fine for short trips, but no more.

BMW is keen to present the car as the boutique option, no doubt to counter the similarly priced 7 Series' greater practicality. Among the niceties on display in London were LED front headlights and a Bang & Olufsen surround-sound audio system, which makes an art form of the speakers. This car is not short of desirability.

The Gran Coupe goes on sale next summer and the price list for the U.S. has yet to be announced. European prices have been revealed, though, and make interesting reading. In the U.K., the 640i will cost £61,380 ($96,270), which is just £1,815 ($2,847) more than the equivalent Coupe and, intriguingly, £155 ($243) more than a 740i. It also places the Gran Coupe at a significant premium compared with the both the Mercedes CLS (from £50,500 ($79K)) and the Audi A7 (from £45,240 ($71K)). Habib will be hoping that the "extreme elegance" of the Gran Coupe will be enough to encourage luxury car buyers to dig a little deeper into their pockets.

Source: insideline.com

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Amazing finance rates are available through the end of the year on our certified pre-owned inventory!

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Plus, if you take delivery by December 31st, BMW will make your first two payments! Happy Holidays!

Click here to learn more.

TECH TIP: Being able to stop quickly is even more important than being able to drive fast

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We believe being able to stop quickly is even more important than being able to drive fast. That's why our enhanced braking system does more than just brake. If it's raining, it'll dry off the rotors. If you're stopped on a hill, it'll keep you from rolling. If you quickly pull your foot off the accelerator, it prepares to brake just as quickly. And, if you're braking repeatedly, it knows you need more force.

Monday, December 19, 2011

The 2011 BMW 535i: Performance, Comfort and Technology

Possessing an enviable combination of performance, comfort and technology, this 2011 BMW 535i is a top choice in the midsize luxury sport sedan segment.

Learn more about this vehicle.

Friday, December 16, 2011

Come join us this Saturday for our Ugly Holiday Sweater Party and enter to win a $700 Travel Voucher!

Come join us this Saturday for our Ugly Holiday Sweater Party! Don't want to venture out in the cold? We have over 350 vehicles in our climate controlled facility and over 5 acres of indoor show floor. Also, if you stop in this Saturday, you can enter to win a $700 Travel Voucher for a winter getaway!

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Thursday, December 15, 2011

BMW to Introduce Scooters to U.S.

BMW plans to bring their first scooters to the United States. At the International Motorcycle Shows event in Long Beach, the company says it plans to introduce next year to their U.S. lineup the C 600 Sport and C 650 GT.

For LA Times, BMW Motorrad USA vice president Pieter de Waal said these scooters are a “step in the dark” for the company that has produced motorcycles since 1923. He said BMW expects 70 percent of its scooter sales to come from Italy, France, and Spain, where BMW has garnered “overwhelming support” from the market to produce the two-wheelers.

Pricing hasn’t yet been announced either, but De Waal estimates that the scooters will cost about $10,000 when they enter the U.S. market next fall, most likely as a 2013 model.

The two scooters share the same 647 cubic-centimeter two-cylinder engine. The 2-cylinder inline engine of the C 600 Sport and C 650 GT is an all new development by BMW Motorrad with a displacement of 647 cc. In both models, its rated power output is 44 kW (60 hp) at 7500 rpm, and its max torque of 66 Nm is available at 6000 rpm. The power is transferred via a directly integrated CVT, or continuously variable transmission.

They’re capable of reaching a top speed of 100 mph. By comparison, the most powerful Vespa you can buy has an engine less than half as large and makes just 22 horsepower.

The differing characteristics of the concepts behind these two maxi scooters appeal to a wide target group: the C 600 Sport for the riders with sports ambitions, and the C 650 GT for customers attaching greater importance to comfort and touring ability.

The BMW C 600 Sport has a taller seat, flatter handlebars, and sportier styling. The C 650 GT will differ by having a larger saddle, higher handlebars, and adjustable backrests.

How they’ll do in the U.S. is “a step in the dark,” said Pieter de Waal, vice president of BMW Motorrad USA. Scooters aren’t nearly as commonplace in the U.S. as they are in Europe, and their sales are correlated with gas prices.

Source: bmwblog.com

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

BMW of Minnetonka has a holiday gift for you... Save $8500 on any in-stock 2012 BMW 7 Series

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Stop by BMW of Minnetonka today and save $8500 on any in-stock 2012 7 Series - Our Holiday gift to you! Hurry in, this amazing offer won't last forever!
Click here to view out inventory.

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

TUESDAY TECH TIP: Parallel parking not your strong suite? BMW can help you out!

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Park Distance Control uses sensors located in the rear bumper to measure exactly how far you are from other vehicles and unseen objects when parking. Beeping becomes faster as your bumper approaches the object, turning into a constant tone when the distance is less than 12 inches. Parking this effortless may just relieve backseat drivers of their duties.

Monday, December 12, 2011

Friday, December 9, 2011

Join us this Saturday at BMW of Minnetonka for our Sales Event and Chopard Watch Giveaway!

We have two beautiful watches up for grabs; his and hers. The gentleman's is a stainless steel sport watch, with a Dunlop racing tread on the rubber strap. The women's watch is a beautiful stainless steel, with floating diamonds that move around the face of the watch as she moves. Visit us Saturday and either of these watches could be yours until the end of time!

Your Mission: BMW of Minnetonka's Mission to Drive Sales Event This Saturday!

Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is simple: Attend the year’s most amazing sales event featuring both new and Certified Pre-Owned BMW models at BMW of Minnetonka this Saturday from 10am to 5pm! By participating, you can enjoy a credit of up to $2,500 toward the lease or finance of select 2012 BMW models.* RSVP by clicking here, to guarantee your place at the event and preview the lineup of BMW vehicles featured in the new movie Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol.
[[posterous-content:pid___0]]Act now as this offer will self-destruct.

tYour Mission: BMW of Minnetonka's Mission to Drive Sales Event This Saturday!

Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is simple: Attend the year’s most amazing sales event featuring both new and Certified Pre-Owned BMW models at BMW of Minnetonka this Saturday from 10am to 5pm! By participating, you can enjoy a credit of up to $2,500 toward the lease or finance of select 2012 BMW models.* RSVP by clicking here, to guarantee your place at the event and preview the lineup of BMW vehicles featured in the new movie Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol.
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Act now as this offer will self-destruct.

Gallery One at BMW of Minnetonka welcomes Elizabeth Simonson as the next Art Leadership Program's featured artist

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We will be hosting a reception to introduce the public to the installation, the Art Leadership Program and a toast to the artist Elizabeth Simonson on January 12th, 2012, from 5:30 pm until 7:00 pm at BMW of Minnetonka. We hope to see you there!  To learn more about the event, click here.

Thursday, December 8, 2011

Car and Driver: 2012 10 Best Cars – BMW 3 Series and M3

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U.S. magazine Car and Driver names, for 21 consecutive years, the BMW 3 Series and M3 as one of the 10 Best cars in 2012.The competition was represented by the new Audi A6 and A7.

Here is what the magazine had to say about the popular bimmers:

“The competition should have figured out a way to beat the BMW 3-series by now. It’s not for lack of trying: Every so often, another carmaker will pitch a worthy competitor into the mix, but none has been able to knock the 3-series from its pedestal or even maintain its consistent brilliance.

After 21 consecutive years on the 10Best list, BMW continues to evolve the 3-series toward some platonic ideal of sportiness. You don’t notice the seats, the steering, the suspension, or the brakes because everything feels natural. Everything feels right. And how has no other automaker matched the silkiness of BMW’s inline-six engines?

Don’t forget the M3, either, which remains magnificent in the twilight of a celebrated life, thanks largely to that lusty 414-hp, 8300-rpm V-8. The 3-series sedan is on hiatus until a new model drops in February. In other words, even as the entire current 3-series lineup is on the way out the door, it still roasts the competition. The biggest threat to its dominance is not from another carmaker but from BMW itself. An increased focus on gizmology has robbed a couple of recently introduced BMWs of the athletic, connected feeling that made the old Ultimate Driving Machine tag line ring so true. Here’s to hoping BMW doesn’t screw up the best one.”

Source: caranddriver.com

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

TECH TIP: Run-Flat Tires maintain their shape and full use

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Scared of getting a flat tire in the middle of nowhere? No me to worry, Run-Flat Tires are self-supporting tires with integrated reinforcements allowing the tires that have experienced a loss of air pressure to maintain their shape and full use. In fact, you can drive on a flat for up to 150 miles at reduced speeds!

Monday, December 5, 2011

2009 BMW 1 Series 128i: Sports Car Performance With Coupe Practicality!

It's hard to think of a car that puts together as much performance, handling, refinement and user-friendliness in one package as this 2009 BMW 1 Series.  It has sports car performance with coupe practicality! Stop in today and take this beauty for a spin!

Thursday, December 1, 2011

The BMW 6 Series Wins A 12th Annual Auto Style Award!

eCityofStyle proudly presents the 12th annual Auto Style Awards, in which we pick the five most stylish autos for the current model year. Finalists are selected after several qualities are evaluated and compared, such as exterior and interior style, fun-to-drive factor, exclusivity, and the all-important head-turning quotient. Nothing sums up “auto style” more than the public’s reaction to seeing these cars in person.

Walking up to the 6, our eye was immediately drawn to the convertible’s wide stance and sleek, swoopy lines. Like the Z3, we were pleasantly surprised by its overt shark-like features. In relative sizes, the Z3 is a Tiger shark to the 6 Series Great White. It’s a massive car with an intimidating demeanor.

Despite the aggressive look, the 6 is decidedly elegant and poised on the road. The V8 engine emits a refined symphony of muscularity rather than a confrontational one. If you need perfect silence, merely slow down to 25mph and raise the power top. No need to pull over like some kind of plebian convertible. Heavens no!

Inside, the 6 features rich surfaces and textures, such as Nappa leather-finished seats and dash, befitting pampered sensibilities like ours. The center console is dominated by a large, netbook-sized screen that, shockingly, was still easy to read with the top down and the sun directly overhead.

Source: ecityofstyle.com