Spotted: 2014 BMW X5 xDrive35d

Due to launch in early 2014, the BMW X5 xDrive35d was spotted during high-altitude test rounds in Colorado.

Todd Hauer, a reader of Autoweek, spotted the test mule:
“I happened to catch this somewhat disguised X5 (notice the BMW logos are covered on hood, tail and wheels but X5 emblem isn’t) at a filling station in Lone Tree, Colo., just south of Denver. Talked briefly with the driver, who was German. He said he had driven cross country from South Carolina for altitude testing here. It is the the turbo-diesel model; he acknowledged the turbo diesel was a good choice for the mountains and that the driving characteristics of the new X5 were a bit different than the current model.”


At launch time this summer, BMW will offer to U.S. customers the TwinPower Turbo inline-six X5 sDrive35i and X5 xDrive35i as well as the TwinPower Turbo V8 X5 xDrive50i.
The 2014 BMW X5 xDrive35d retains the 3.0-liter diesel engine, whose BMW TwinPower Turbo technology comprises VNT turbocharging and common rail direct injection, now develops maximum power of 255 hp and maximum torque of 413 lb-ft which is delivered between 1,500 and 3,000 rpm.

In spite of the slight reduction in output from its predecessor, the new BMW X5 xDrive35d has a 0-100 km/h (62 mph) sprint time of 6.9 seconds (preliminary), making it just as quick or quicker. With the latest technology and the addition of an 8-speed automatic transmission, the new model is expected to post significant improvements in efficiency (EPA mileage estimates will be available closer to launch). The new X5 xDrive35d uses the latest in emission reduction technology. Lower nitrogen oxide limits are met using a close-coupled NOX adsorber catalyst and an SCR catalyst with urea (AdBlue) injection.

Just last month, Wards Auto named the BMW X5 the first premium model in the 2012 Top Selling Diesel list (with 10,276 units sold), followed with 6,688 units by Mercedes-Benz GL.

BMW Car Feature of the Day:Rear View Camera

The rear view camera provides extra support when you’re backing up or parking your BMW. The iDrive screen displays the area behind the vehicle, while interactive lines show the current and maximum steering angles.

The new BMW 4 Series Coupe

The new BMW 4 Series Coupe heralds the dawn of a new coupe era at BMW. Launched as the fourth generation of BMW’s sporty mid-size Coupe, the new BMW 4 Series Coupe embodies the very essence of aesthetic appeal and dynamics in the premium segment. Its stylistic features carry the promise of a powerful presence on the road, stand-out dynamic ability and driving pleasure in abundance. Indeed, the new BMW 4 Series Coupe represents a paragon of balanced proportions and the final chapter in a story of development. The “4” in its title headlines this new era for the Coupe and emphasises not only its stand-alone design, but also an even greater technical differentiation from its BMW 3 Series cousins.
The new BMW 4 Series Coupe is visibly larger in width and wheelbase than the outgoing BMW 3 Series Coupe, and its dynamically stretched coupe silhouette sits considerably lower to the road. This, together with its BMW-typical short overhangs, long bonnet and set-back passenger compartment with flowing roofline, lends the BMW 4 Series Coupe impeccable visual balance. The car’s striking front end – with its characteristic BMW design features, such as the double-kidney grille, twin circular headlights and a large air intake in the front apron – is keen to display its family ties with the BMW 3 Series. However, the more sporting interpretation of the BMW 4 Series Coupe also underlines its dynamic convictions. A new element of the BMW 4 Series Coupe are the Air Breathers, positioned rearwards of the front wheel arches to reduce drag in this area. The Coupe’s muscular wheel arches and wide track make a particularly prominent contribution to the hunkered-down design of the rear, with its prominent horizontal lines.

Individual equipment lines for the interior and exterior.The interior of the BMW 4 Series Coupe presents a stylish fusion of sporting allure and exclusivity. All the controls central to driving are arranged ergonomically around the driver and give him or her optimum access to all functions. In the rear compartment, powerfully contoured seats underline the sporting credentials of the BMW 4 Series Coupe. Recessed head restraints and broad, continuously moulded side supports give the rear bench the appearance of two individual seats. High-grade material combinations and unbeatable finish quality accentuate the premium ambience of the new BMW 4 Series Coupe. Customers can choose from three equipment combinations and an M Sport package as alternatives to standard specification. The Sport Line, Modern Line and Luxury Line packages allow visible individualisation of the car’s exterior and interior appearance.

Driving dynamics from the top drawer.
The defining ingredients in the involving driving experience laid on by the new BMW 4 Series Coupe are its impressive driving dynamics and assured handling properties. The BMW engineers have succeeded in making key improvements in areas such as steering accuracy, precision and agility, as well as honing, further still, the instincts of the new BMW 4 Series Coupe as an unadulterated driving machine. Sophisticated chassis technology, torque steer-free Electric Power Steering, 50:50 weight distribution, a programme of fine-tuning in the wind tunnel and an innovative lightweight construction concept gave them the tools to achieve their aims.
The new BMW 4 Series Coupe has a longer wheelbase, wider track and lower ride height than the BMW 3 Series Coupe it replaces. Its lower suspension brings the car’s centre of gravity down to below 500 millimetres, giving it the lowest centre of gravity of any car in the current BMW model line-up. As a result, the new BMW 4 Series Coupe is one of the sportiest series-produced cars in the BMW range and sets new dynamic standards in the segment.

One six-cylinder and two four-cylinder engines available from launch.
The sporting two-door model will be available from launch powered by the following engines: the six-cylinder in-line petrol engine in the BMW 435i Coupe, the four-cylinder petrol unit for the BMW 428i Coupe and the four-cylinder diesel for the BMW 420d Coupe. All the engines work using the latest BMW TwinPower Turbo technology and cover an output spectrum stretching from 135 kW/184 hp to 225 kW/306 hp. These state-of-the-art engines not only imbue the BMW 4 Series Coupe with outstanding acceleration and elasticity, they also join forces with the car’s intelligent lightweight construction concept to deliver further improvements in driving dynamics and lower fuel consumption.

Six-speed manual gearbox or eight-speed Sports automatic.
The power from the engines is sent to the rear wheels via a six-speed manual gearbox as standard. BMW will also fit all the engine variants – as an option – with an eight-speed Sports automatic gearbox, which allows the driver to change gear manually as well using shift paddles on the steering wheel. The two petrol-engine model variants can be specified from launch, as an option, with the BMW xDrive intelligent all-wheel-drive system.

BMW EfficientDynamics.The driving pleasure available on board the new BMW 4 Series Coupe is a product of outstanding economy as well as sporting dynamics. The force behind this talent for fuel saving is the BMW EfficientDynamics development strategy, whose fruits can be found in almost every area of the new model. In addition to the petrol and diesel engines, with their optimised fuel economy, the car’s intelligent lightweight construction concept and honed aerodynamics – headlined by the Air Curtains and Air Breathers – also help to maximise efficiency. The BMW 4 Series Coupe may be set up to specialise in dynamic excellence, but other technological features, such as the Auto Start Stop function, Brake Energy Regeneration, Optimum Shift Indicator and on-demand operation of ancillary units, do their bit to ensure it impresses with low fuel consumption and emissions, too. Indeed, ECO PRO mode gives the car the potential to cut fuel use by as much as 20 per cent. In conjunction with the optional automatic transmission, the BMW 4 Series Coupe now also features a coasting mode for the first time. Another innovation is the Proactive Driving Assistant.

BMW ConnectedDrive.
The new BMW 4 Series Coupe deploys a unique combination of driver assistance systems and mobility services (available as standard or as an option under the BMW ConnectedDrive banner) to set the benchmark in terms of safety, comfort and infotainment. Among the highlights are a new generation of the Navigation System Professional, which offers extra capability, sharper graphics and 3D elements for the map display, the full-colour BMW Head-Up Display, Driving Assistant Plus, which warns the driver of a potential collision with a pedestrian, the intelligent, glare-free LED High Beam Assistant, Active Protection with Attentiveness Assistant and the latest development stage of the Active Cruise Control with Stop & Go function. As far as infotainment is concerned, extremely efficient interface technology enables the integration of smartphones and numerous Bluetooth office functions. The latter now also offer the driver the services of a dictation function with full speech recognition.

Identifying the BMW Driver Assistance Systems

5 Tips for Summer Car Maintenance

1. Be kind to your engine.
Your engine gets hot very quickly in the summer. You can save a lot of trouble — and expense — by doing some routine checks to make sure it stays lubricated and cooled. Check the oil level and make sure the oil looks clean. If it doesn't, get an oil change. Sears will change it for less than $20. Also look for cracks in the hoses, which pump coolant from the radiator to the engine block.

2. Replace your fluids.
Many drivers don't think about fluids beyond their motor oil. But your car also has coolant for the engine in the radiator, and fluids for the transmission and brakes.
They're critical for keeping parts lubricated and preventing your engine from overheating. Over time, all of them lose their effectiveness and get dirty, with little metal parts floating in the liquid.
"Coolant starts to eat everything. It becomes like an acid," says Hisham Ebrahim, a mechanic at Fawzi's Westgate Auto Repair in Ann Arbor, Mich. Both low fluid levels and old fluid can damage the parts in your car.
If you follow your car's maintenance schedule, you shouldn't have to worry about fluid levels, which are often checked and replaced around 60,000 miles.
Ebrahim says it costs about $200 to $300 to flush out and replace all the fluids. That can be far less expensive than the alternative: An overheated engine or blown transmission.

3. Replace your windshield wipers.
Don't wait until you're caught in a summer downpour to find out your wipers aren't working well. Winter can take a toll on wipers, and it's a $25 fix to replace them. You can also get wiper refills — which just replace the worn rubber — for half the cost of new blades.
4. Switch out your tires and check the tread.
If you have winter tires, change them. The compounds used in winter tires are softer, which helps them grip better in ice and snow. But they also wear down more quickly in summer heat. You need plenty of tread in the summer, when sudden showers create slippery roads.

The Rubber Manufacturers Association suggests several ways to check the tread. Tires have built-in "wear bars," or narrow strips of rubber across the tires that appear when the tread is worn down to one-sixteenth of an inch. If you can see wear bars, your tires need to be replaced.
You can also use the old penny trick: Stick a penny in the tread. If you can see all of Lincoln's head, it's time to replace the tire.
Consider a tire rotation in the summer to make sure all your tires are getting equal wear. Tires should be rotated every 5,000 to 10,000 miles, according to vehicle information site Edmunds.com. That can cost around $50, but prices vary widely.
5. Check your tire pressure.
Overinflated tires have less traction on rainy streets, while underinflated tires can bulge out, putting pressure on the sidewalls and making the tires more vulnerable to blowouts on hot roads. Check your tire pressure before you start driving, and make sure you're meeting the manufacturer's recommended level. You can buy a tire gauge for $5 or less, or a digital tire pressure gauge for $25, and keep it in the glove compartment.

Source: MainStreet

All BMW X5 generations. A work of progress.

BMW Tire Pressure Monitor