It’s rare for BMW to be caught napping. But the German firm has only just given the green light to its stunning four-door Gran Coupe, which will take aim at the Porsche Panamera, Mercedes CLS and Audi A7. (more…)

The Apple iPhone has a built-in accelerometer that rather accurately detects even the slightest motions. Developers have been quick to create applications that capitalize on the iPhone’s hardware, including software that helps enthusiasts obtain g-force and 0-60 times from their phone. We’ve tested a few ourselves and they work pretty well, although most of these apps come at a cost, ranging from $4.99 to $10 or more. If you like the idea of timing your vehicle with the aid of an iPhone but don’t want to pay for an app, BMW has a free solution for you. (more…)

BMW’s 5 Series Gran Turismo was unveiled at Frankfurt:

The BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo took a whirl on the plinth and we have to admit it doesn’t look the least bit absurd standing in person. We completely forgot to be offended at the fact we’re being handed this instead of the perfectly fantastic 5 Series Sport Wagon. At least, until we played around with the dual-action lift gate — then the word “gimmick” did flit through our cranial region for a moment. (more…)

After several months of speculation and official teases for the past week, we now finally have all the details on the Vision Efficient Dynamics Concept that BMW will show at the Frankfurt Motor Show in a couple of weeks. The speculation about the concept’s power train has gone in several directions, almost all of which were correct. The new concept is a plug-in hybrid with a three-cylinder turbo-diesel engine. Conceived with the idea of melding the performance of a M3 with exceptionally low fuel consumption, BMW claims a 0-62 mph time of 4.8 seconds while scoring 62.6 mpg (U.S.) on the E.U. combined test cycle. (more…)

Following the teaser video we saw two nights ago, the first official teaser image of BMW’s Vision EfficientDynamics Concept has hit the Internet. BMW is remaining very tight-lipped about the concept that is scheduled to debut next month at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show. (more…)