BMW Car of the Week: Dodge Viper Convertible

As subtle as a sledgehammer and quiet as a…well…front engine V10 American Muscle Car!

BMW Reveals London 2012 Fleet

BMW and LOCOG – that’s London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games – unveiled the London 2012 fleet including cars, motorcycles and bicycles. BMW is the official automotive partner of London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, playing a major role in the committee’s environmental ambitions by providing low-emission, diesel, hybrid and electric cars, motorcycles and bicycles.

The BMW fleet – including BMW 1 Series ActiveE (EV), MINI E (Electric Vehicle), MINI Countryman Cooper D, BMW 320d Efficient Dynamics, BMW 520d Efficient Dynamics, BMW 5 Series Active Hybrid, BMW X3 xDrive 20d, BMW X5 xDrive 30d, R1200 RT Motorcycle, and BMW Streetcruiser Bicycles – will take on different jobs during the games, such as pulling boats out of the water at Weymouth, providing a mobile camera platform for the marathon, towing a horse ambulance across Greenwich Park or carrying medal winners around the Olympic Park to media interviews, the BMW and MINI fleet will perform an extremely wide range of duties during the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

What’s truly astonishing is that the BMW and MINI fleet beat the committee’s expectations regarding fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. They average 64.5mpg and 116g/km CO₂.

Richard George, Transport Director, LOCOG said: “From motorcycles to electric vehicles and 4x4s, the requirements of the 2012 fleet are hugely diverse. BMW and MINI have provided a variety of different cars, ideal both for city driving and long distance, to travel to Olympic and Paralympic venues around the country. It was vital that our partner in this field could deliver a one-stop shop solution and meet our sustainability targets. BMW has surpassed our requirements and we are delighted to be working with them.”

Get excited about the 2012 BMW 535!

This is an excellent vehicle at an affordable price! The engine breathes better thanks to a turbocharger, improving both performance and economy. BMW prioritized handling and performance with features such as: leather upholstery, heated front and rear seats, and power front seats. It features all-wheel drive versatility, an automatic transmission, and a 3 liter 6 cylinder engine.

Click here for more information

TUESDAY TECH TIP: Adaptive Brake Lights

Bumper-to-bumper collisions most often occur when the driver behind you didn't realize how hard you were braking. Our Adaptive Brake Lights help eliminate that scenario by emitting a larger, brighter light the more force you use. It allows those behind you to clearly see whether you're lightly tapping the brakes to slow down or applying full force for a sudden stop.

BMW Car of the Week:

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We call it The M3.  The uber-sports car, in 3 versions…all of which are incredible.  Our competition has been chasing it since the 1980’s…find out why!

BMW Helps U.S. Olympians Prepare For London

If a successful Olympic athlete manages to land a nice endorsement deal after the games, he or she might be able to buy a nice new BMW.

However, before U.S. athletes even get to the Olympics, the German automaker will be helping competitors prep for the London event. BMW announced that they teamed with the United States Olympic Committee and USA Track & Field to develop the first Olympic technology project, a velocity measurement system for use by long jumpers.

According to BMW, the system “captures an athlete in motion and provides immediate performance data to coaches and athletes in training scenarios.” BMW came up with the tech in response to a USA Track & Field request because the training system they had weren’t relaying results fast enough. The system is now installed and in use at the Olympic Training Center at Chula Vista, Calif. being used now by Olympic hopefuls in the lead up to the Team Trials in Eugene, Ore.
 
Media was allowed to witness the system in action while Bryan Clay (2008 decathlon Olympic gold medalist) tested the system during the development process.
 
It took the BMW Technology Office in Mountain View, Calif. about a year to put a system together that captures an athlete in motion and calculates performance metrics for coaches to use in training long jumpers.
 
It all works by measuring and providing real-time analysis of three parameters in the execution of a long jump – horizontal approach velocity, vertical take-off velocity and take-off angle.
 
To capture and analyze the athlete’s motion, the system uses an advanced stereo-vision technology and machine vision software like that used in BMW’s research vehicles to improve automotive active safety systems.

Clay said the precision of the BMW system is important for an athlete at his level.
 
“As a decathlete, my reality in centimeters and thousandths of a second are the difference between an Olympic gold medal and no medal,” Clay said. “The feedback this tool is able to provide immediately, during a practice as opposed to days afterward, will enable me to make minor adjustments to my jumps that could equate to significant performance gains.”
 
“With fewer than three months to go until the U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Track & Field in Eugene, Ore., USA Track & Field will have the opportunity to utilize the velocity measurement system in the lead up to these races, the London 2012 Olympic Games and beyond.”

During the press event, USATF Chief of Sport Performance Benita Fitzgerald Mosley was on the record stressing how essential the “right now,” real time data feedback was to the process of preparing an athlete. Essentially, a coach needs to know right then and there what input to give his athlete.
 
“The amount of real-time data presented by this tool will help coaches and sports scientists to make better decisions and maximize the efficacy of athlete training sessions,” Fitzgerald Mosley said. “This is of tremendous benefit to our athletes and coaches at the Training Center. We’re grateful to BMW for the level of commitment they’ve demonstrated to our partnership and our individual athletes, and we look forward to utilizing the tool for years to come.”
 
It would seem this is only the beginning for combining car testing science with human performance. There’s no official word yet if BMW will be developing other training systems for different kinds of athletes, but American athletes will have to be careful not to rub it into their British hosts that a German firm helped the U.S. bring home the gold.

Test A BMW 3-Series & Support The U.S. Olympic Team

If you're a fan of luxury cars and the Olympic Games, BMW has devised a way for you to enjoy both at the same time. According the MediaPost, BMW has planned over 300 test-drive events, where shoppers and sports fans alike can put the BMW 3-Series through its paces. For every test drive taken, BMW will donate $10 to Team USA, up to $200,000.

It's no secret that BMW has a strong affiliation with the Olympic games. The automaker has talked a good bit about its fleet of 4,000 vehicles that will shuttle VIPs to various events in London this summer, and BMW has signed on as the Official Mobility Partner for the United States Olympic and Paralympic Teams through 2016.

But for folks who can't make it to the London games, the "BMW Drive for Team USA" test-drive program could be the next best thing. BMW hasn't published a full list of test-drive events, but you can register to be notified of the ones in your area by visiting the Drive for Team USA section of BMW's website. 

Simply click the "register today" button at the bottom of the screen, and you'll be taken to a standard-looking registration page. There, you'll enter your contact information and select the BMW nearest you. Then, wait to hear about the next event and prepare to join in the fun. 

Every test drive will generate money to help future athletes train and qualify for the Olympics. BMW will also contribute funds to help the families of U.S. Paralympic athletes attend the games in London.

Stop in and see this beauty in person!

If you are looking for real value on a great used car, BMW of Minnetonka invites you to call and make an appointment to view this 2009 BMW X5. It's a fantastic SUV with great low mileage! 

Thank you Will for writing up a great review for us. We hope you enjoy your brand new BMW 535i!

"Great Job Guys! Bought a new BMW 535i. There were a couple of major problems with transaction but Craig, Dan and Dave went the extra mile to make it right! C ya'all soon..."-Will

TUESDAY TECH TIP: Park Distance Control

So intuitive, it helps you see things you normally can't. 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.

CAR OF THE WEEK: All New BMW 3 Series!

‘Don’t mess with perfect’…hardly, we’re BMW! Come see for yourself what Motor Trend is praising as the best car in its class!

New York 2012: BMW Drops Top on i8 with Spyder Concept

BMW has already shown what appear to be near-production versions of its upcoming i3 and i8 electrified models, and we’ve even seen some mules out testing. But BMW is now adding a third variant to the mix. Behold the i8 Concept Spyder.
Although clearly similar to the coupe, there are a few key differences with its fixed-roof sibling. Whereas the coupe is a 2+2, the Spyder is strictly a two-seater, with a slightly shorter wheelbase and overall length.
But the fundamental power train arrangement carries over from the coupe. Namely, a plug-in hybrid powerplant featuring a lithium-ion battery, front and rear electric motors, and a 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine. Combined system power is a claimed 354 hp and approximately 406 lb-ft of torque, giving the Spyder an estimated 0-60 time of under five seconds, and a top speed of 155 mph. Despite this formidable performance capability, fuel economy is an estimated 3 liters per 100 km (78 mpg US). Because all four wheels are driven, the i8 Spyder’s drive train can send power through the front, rear or all four wheels at the same time, depending on conditions.
BMW claims the battery can be fully charged in just two hours using a standard household plug-in outlet. However, remember that most of Europe operates on a 220v standard, whereas the U.S. and North America operate on a 110v standard, so figure roughly doubling that charge time for a standard outlet on this side of the Atlantic. When the i-series cars make it to the U.S., a higher-voltage quick-charge option (likely using the SAE J1772 standard) will be offered.
Efficiency is obviously a key design principle with the i-Series cars, and the i8 Spyder makes extensive use of lightweight materials in its construction. The car’s “Life Module” is made of carbon fiber-reinforced plastic, while the drive train modules are made from aluminum. Running through the middle of the chassis and cabin is what BMW is calling the “energy tunnel” which is essentially the housing for the lithium-ion battery pack.
As expected in an advanced-technology, efficiency-oriented car, the dashboard is configurable to display a wide variety of information through an 8.8-inch center display. And, appropriately for our constantly-connected age, integrated mobile apps can help drivers find the vehicle, get updates on the charging status, and with the Last Mile navigation function, offer guidance for the final destination on foot, as well as connections to public transportation through the Intermodal Route Planning function. The intelligent navigation system also incorporates information such as traffic congestion and elevation changes to proactively optimize the powertrain mode for maximum efficiency.
Yet for all the emphasis on engineering and efficiency, BMW did find room for some whimsical flights of fancy. Tucked away into the rear tailgate, electric kickboards (think Razor scooters) are for “relaxed cruising along promenades and paths or around city squares.”
How many of these features will reach production? It’s anyone’s guess. But many of them are not that far-fetched. Will we get the designer scooters as part of the deal? Well, there are those pesky NHTSA crash standards to deal with, so they might be moved to a different storage location, but hey, it could happen. Regardless, if the future means 78-mpg, 5-second 0-60 fun, we’re all for it.

Source: BMW

TUESDAY TECH TIP: Night Vision

Night Vision is BMW's amazing system that lets you see pedestrians or animals up to 328 yards ahead - in the dark. Using an infrared camera built into the front of the vehicle, you will be able to see potential road hazards displayed on your navigation system monitor, and avoid them well before they are visible to the naked eye. This optional feature will make night driving far more pleasurable and worry-free.

BMW Car of the Week: Porsche 997 C2S Cabriolet

6 speeds, 3 pedals, lots of letters in its name – let us show you how picky we are with our exotic inventory!

BMW 3-Series Long Wheelbase Set For 2012 Beijing Auto Show

April is a typically busy time of the year for new model announcements as the month plays host to two major international auto shows, one in New York and the other alternating between Beijing and Shanghai each consecutive year.

So, on top of all its announcements at this week’s 2012 New York Auto Show, BMW also announced some new reveals for the 2012 Beijing Auto Show commencing on April 23.

Most of the vehicles BMW is taking to Beijing have already been revealed though one vehicle making its debut will be the long-wheelbase 3-Series.

Designed exclusively for the Chinese market, the long-wheelbase 3-Series now gives BMW a direct answer to the long-wheelbase Audi A4 as well, on sale in China since 2009. It also follows BMW’s 2011 introduction of current-generation long-wheelbase 5-Series models in the Chinese market.

With its wheelbase extended by 4.3 inches, a conspicuously elegant design, and a claimed best rear seat travel comfort among the competition, the long-wheelbase 3-Series should prove popular among the executive crowd. The lineup is based on the latest 2012 BMW 3-Series range and offers three different options for buyers: the 320Li, 328Li and 335Li. The most powerful model, the 335Li, features the same twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter six-cylinder engine offered in the regular 335i and the full 300 horsepower and 300 pound-feet of torque that comes with it.

Production will take place at BMW’s plant in Shenyang, China.

Courtesy of Motor Authority

Summer is just a short time away!

What better way to celebrate that than a new 2011 BMW 335i Convertible? Picture yourself driving around the cities with the top down in this beautiful car. Stop in soon & take this out on a ride!

Click here for additional details!

CAR OF THE WEEK: Ford GT

Art in Motion. This ultra-rare American design Icon is well worth a close look! Looks even better from behind the wheel!

Come test drive this 2012 BMW 750!

It delivers style and power in a single package! A turbocharger further enhances performance, while also preserving fuel economy. It includes leather upholstery, adjustable headrests in all seating position power moon roof, and voice activated navigation.

Click here for more information!