WATCH: Speed demon sets record for the fastest single lap around Manhattan

Speed demon’s Manhattan record

It was a Manhattan-ball run.
A driver set an illegal land speed record for a single lap around the borough — cutting and weaving through the 26.5-mile route in a hair-raising 24 minutes.
The anonymous speed demon averaged about 66 mph during the late-night circuit, which was captured on a dramatic dashboard-cam video and posted to YouTube under the username AfroDuckProduction.
The drive breaks the previous mark of 26 minutes set in 2010. In both runs, the drivers cut out the top of Manhattan above the Cross Bronx Expressway.
“You frankly can’t identify who I am by just looking at the video,” AfroDuck boasted to the car-geek Web site Jalopnik about his Aug. 26 ride, “and records were meant to be broken.”

ZIP CAR: Weaving in and out of traffic at an average speed of 66 mph, a driver using a dashboard cam in a BMW Z4 (like this, above) made it around Manhattan in 24 minutes.

Police Commissioner Ray Kelly promised to hunt down the dangerous driver, saying, “We now have license-plate readers in the city that will assist in this type of investigation.”
AfroDuck used a 2006 BMW Z4 for the breakneck drive.
The video clip, with a stopwatch superimposed on the screen, shows a clockwise run beginning on the southbound FDR Drive at the 116th Street entrance.
From there, the car barrels under the East River crossings, through the Battery Park tunnel and onto West Street, where the driver ran just one red light.
The real action takes place on the last leg, with AfroDuck handling the Cross Bronx on and off ramps like a luger on amphetamines.
AfroDuck insisted no other motorists were endangered, telling Jalopnik, “Being a fast driver doesn’t mean that you’re inherently a bad or reckless driver.”
AfroDuck practically dared anybody to challenge the record: “Go ahead. Just watch out for the speeding tickets.”



Credit : NY Post

Autos : Check Out The 2013 BMW M3 Coupe Lime Rock Park Edition

Vital Stats

Engine:

4.0L V8

Power:

414 HP / 295 LB-FT

Transmission:

7-Speed DCT

0-60 Time:

4.5 Seconds

Top Speed:

155 MPH

Drivetrain:

Rear-Wheel Drive

Curb Weight:

3,704 LBS (est.)

Seating:

2+2

Cargo:

11.0 CU-FT

MPG:

14 City / 20 HWY

Base Price:

$70,100

As-Tested Price:

$82,295

I like difficult cars. I like turbo "moments," dramatic weight distribution, low-grip, peaky power delivery, and overly quick steering, along with ultra-short wheelbases and any number of other non-racecar-perfect dynamic foibles. I love the newest generation of BMW cars and engines – all turbo'd up with tons of torque and power everywhere in the rev range, too. But what I think the enthusiast community will miss when this 2013 M3 Coupe becomes the 2014 M4 Coupe – replacing its idiosyncratic, small-displacement, revvy V8 for something like a triple-turbo, directly injected, inline six-cylinder powerhouse in the process – is the work it takes to drive the car fast and perfectly. Sometimes small flaws just make things better; my mistress' eyes are nothing like the sun, and all that.

The idea of this E92 M3 going away then, magnified by the loss of the M3 badge for the coupe, is at best bittersweet for me. This generation of M car is already surpassed in terms of raw thrills by the better-than-ever Mercedes-Benz C63, a car that doesn't ask its driver to sacrifice low-end grunt or the very latest in amenities in return for stellar backroad performance. Yet any time I've been lucky enough to lap a track in the M3, it has quickly become clear that the Bimmer is the better on-edge tool. With the freedom to wring the neck of the 4.0-liter V8 and room to exercise the lovely balance of the car, the E92 is hard to match (even six years after its debut).

Still, when the 2013 BMW M3 Coupe Lime Rock Park Edition rolled into my driveway, its Fire Orange bodywork flashing over gloss-black 19-inch rolling stock, the car had me a little crossed up. BMW has been tossing out special edition M3s for the last few years now, all asking thousands of dollars extra for the limited production-run vehicles. I knew that the LRP was more than a mere trim and tape package, but would it be an appropriate send off for a spectacularly departing sports car legend, or just $10,000 down the drain where a stock M3 Coupe would have happily sufficed?

The Sport setup makes the LRP M3 a stabbing weapon with which to stick curvy roads.

It's helpful to understand at the start just what your ten large buys, over and above the typical M3. Perhaps the most important component of the LRP suite is BMW's Competition Package, which lowers the suspension by 0.4 inches, includes 19-inch Y-spoke wheels and electronic damping control. That EDC system ("Dynamic Damper Control" in the BMW options catalog), offers three settings: Comfort, Normal and Sport. The three settings give the car a truly malleable range of ride characters, with the Sport button doing the automotive equivalent of a boxer bouncing up onto the balls of his feet. Engaged at speed, the sporting damper setting is immediately palpable, and allows for heightened mid-corner response from an already very good suspension setup. Combined with the hyper-sticky Pirelli P-Zero rubber (245-section tires in front, and 265 in the rear), the Sport setup makes the LRP M3 a stabbing weapon with which to stick curvy roads.

Of course, one of the beautiful things about the M3 is that is doesn't always have to be completely punishing. I put a fair few hundred of highway miles on the coupe while I had it, and I'm not ashamed to admit that a lot of them were spent with the Comfort setting selected (as well as having the shift speed turned down, and the rather plebian "D" engaged... more on that later). That tamest suspension setting doesn't magically transmute the ride of the car to that of a 7 Series, but it does tame the otherwise chatty road feel via the floorboards.

Like Yo-Yo Ma Pete Townshending his cello across the back of your head.

The Lime Rock Park Edition also offers a lightweight exhaust made from the comic-book-sounding "Inconel-titanium," from M Performance. The pipes shave an impressive 20 pounds from the undercarriage of the car. M says they also reduce backpressure and optimize exhaust flow, but makes no claims to increasing output past the standard 414 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. (Bimmerfiles with the Inconel kit fitted and a penchant for dyno runs should tell us in comments if power increases have been found... we have our suspicions.) In any event, the resultant exhaust sound is brutally, wonderfully lurid. Like Yo-Yo Ma Pete Townshending his cello across the back of your head – loud and a bit weird, but special all the same.

The potent heart of the M3 imperfection that I love so much is, of course, the high-strung S54 V8 engine. This motor, specifically its relatively short torque output, has been earning qualified praise since its introduction in 2007. Kept on boil, the engine is downright spectacular, with throttle response razor sharp as long at the V8 is spinning over 5,000 rpm and the driver at the helm is keeping close attention to the task at hand. The lower torque output means that the M3 never does feel rocketship quick out of the gate, but rather must be approached like the proverbial "momentum car," albeit one that can maintain spectacular velocities through even very twisty bits of road. I've driven standard M3 coupes on racetracks and seen how the car and motor come absolutely alive in those settings; I only drove the LRP car on public roads, but I got the sense there's even more goodness here.



Road and track experiences also codify the optional DCT transmission. The Lime Rock car can be had with either the dual clutch or BMW's six-speed manual, but my test car was optioned with the former. I found that, as ever with this 'box, it punishes low-speed driving with jerky shifts, whether you've chosen to shift yourself or let the computer select the ratio. Creeping around in city traffic is far from smooth.

There are few cars that have such a gulf between what they're like at their best and at their worst.

Turn up the pace quite a lot, however, and the DCT comes into its own with ultra snappy shifts via the steering wheel-mounted paddles, or even by letting the system pick its own gear. In a way then, the dual-clutch trans is well-matched for the lovely 4.0-liter, with both pieces of hardware asking the driver to fully commit to have the very best experience.

If it sounds like I'm overselling the bitchiness of the M3 as a daily driver, I might be a little guilty. Dostoevsky said "Man is a creature who can get used to anything..." and I think even old Fyodor could have swallowed a bit of herk-and-jerk around town for the reward of driving the magical M3 on country roads outside of Moscow. It's just that there are few cars that have such a gulf between what they're like at their best and at their worst, which is yet another little piece of character that makes this coupe one of my all-time favorites, even with a less-than-perfect transmission.

A special car, in perhaps its best ever specification, that's leaving us all too soon.

Skip Barber is the current owner of Lime Rock Park, the jewel of a track in Connecticut that lent its name to this end-days M3, as well as being the first place that the car was evaluated. The LRP M3 did some shakedown laps at the track before being offered to the public, and the result was (and is) a BMW that suits the high standards of the racing guru, as well as the undulations of one of our country's best circuits. I've got to guess that the extra money spent on this limited edition car is well worth it, if the owner has any intention at all of doing track days or otherwise participate in motorsport. (Besides, being 1 of just 200, it's likely to make up the difference in long-term residual values as a collector's piece). The tuning may not show as dramatic a change over the base car as, say, a Boss 302 over a Mustang GT, but a lot of that comes down to just how competent the M3 is right out of the box. But I suspect that anyone tracking the LRP will find it quicker and more competent on a lap-by-lap basis. In other words: this is a really good car for the M3 Coupe to go out on.

BMW's own 335i is almost a perfect car, if you like to drive but don't care to work at it mile after mile. It's still very fast and sweet-handling and offers a better big-picture balance of ride and handling than does the very firm M3. The 335i is also a lot less expensive to start, never mind how much more of a value it is versus this $71k-and-up Lime Rock Park Edition. But... in the moments where road and engine speed and steering feel and suspension response come together just perfectly, there's hardly a car on the planet that can reward as richly as the M3. That's the God's honest truth. A special car, in perhaps its best-ever specification, that's leaving us all too soon – the Lime Rock M3 is an imperfect car for the ages. Glory fades, but the memory of this car will hang with me for a while.

Credit : Autoblog

Car Porn : 2013 Nissan GT-R and 2013 Alpina B6 mix it up on track and street

Here we have Autocar making an unforeseen comparison: the Nissan GT-R against the Alpina B6 at Brands Hatch and on public roads. Steve Sutcliffe clobbers the circuit in the 3,828-pound, all-wheel-drive sports car, then sees how well the 4,114-pound, rear-wheel drive grand tourer does against it.

Sutcliffe says there are quite a few similarities between the two cars, but that's really only on the spec sheet. The Nissan's got two turbos attached to its 3.8-liter V6, 542 horsepower and 465 pound-feet of torque. The Alpina's got two turbos attached to its 4.4-liter V8, 532 hp and 528 lb-ft. But one's brief is to be a monster on the track, the other on the boulevard, and if there's anything the video demonstrates, it's each car's focus. The results are lopsided, and so is the way the winner was chosen. Sutcliffe's still fun to watch, though, and you'll find him in action in the video below.

Rides : 2014 BMW 5 Series starts at $50,425* and gets a new diesel, 5 Series GT starts at $60,925*

BMW itself says it is making "Precise modifications to the design" of the facelifted, sixth-generation 5 Series, and this is the result. The 2014 5 Series will come in four flavors – sedan, Touring, Gran Turismo and ActiveHybrid 5 – the biggest news probably the addition of a diesel engine for the US market.

When they go on sale in August, the 528i sedan will start at $50,425, a $1,700 increase over the 2013 model, and if you want xDrive that adds $2,300 to the price across the model range. The 535d employs a 3.0-liter twin-turbo inline six-cylinder diesel with 255 horsepower and 413 pound-feet of torque and starts at $56,025. BMW portends "substantial fuel efficiency gains over its gasoline-fueled counterpart," but the exact numbers won't come until closer to the on-sale date. The $64,825, top-dog 550i holds pat with 4.4-liter, twin turbo V8, with output upped to 445 hp and 480 lb-ft – an increase of 45 hp and 30 lb-ft of torque. The outputs haven't changed on the twin-turbo four-cylinder in the 528 nor the 3.0-liter six-cylinder gasoline engine in the 535, and *all prices include the $925 destination charge. The engines are also fitted with a coasting mode that uncouples the powertrain when rolling downhill.

Outside there are new "contour lines" for the grille and air intakes, slimmer taillights and elements that accentuate the car's width - as if that were necessary. Xenon adaptive headlights will be standard along with side indicator lights on the rearview mirrors, the options list adds LED headlights, the Luxury Line and Modern Line packages. The former package adds chrome trim to certain exterior elements, the latter adds matte chrome trim.

Inside will be more storage and more cup holders, additional luggage capacity in the 5 Series GT, an optional rear seat entertainment system that puts tablets on the front seatbacks, and a touchpad iDrive controller.

There's a lot more besides which you can read about in the press release and video below, and you can pair words with images in the four high-res galleries above and below. 

Press Release

The New BMW 5 Series Sedan and BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo

Updated styling, a new BMW Advanced Diesel engine, Standard Navigation and BMW Apps increase the appeal of the BMW 5 Series family.

Woodcliff Lake, NJ – May 18th 2013, 6:00pm Eastern Time . . . Athletic ability, efficiency, compulsive allure, and innovations designed to enhance the driving experience: the BMW 5 Series has always contained the signature ingredients of a best-selling BMW model. Consistently rising sales figures have fortified its position as a global leader in its class. Now, for the 2014 model year, another new chapter in this success story is poised to begin. Precise modifications to the design, the addition of a new inline-6 BMW Advanced Diesel engine for the Sedan, and even more of available equipment all raise the appeal of the BMW 5 Series family a notch higher.

The enhanced, 2014 BMW 5 Series Sedan and 5 Series Gran Turismo will go on sale at Authorized BMW Centers in the US in August, 2013.

MSRP for the 5 Series Sedan and 5 Series Gran Turismo:

528i Sedan - $50,425
528i xDrive Sedan - $52,725
535i Sedan - $56,025
535i xDrive Sedan - $58,325
535d Sedan - $57,525
535d xDrive Sedan - $59,825
550i Sedan - $64,825
550i xDrive Sedan - $67,125
535i Gran Turismo - $60,925
535i xDrive Gran Turismo - $63,225
550i Gran Turismo - $68,825
550i xDrive Gran Turismo - $71,125
ActiveHybrid 5 - $62,325

All prices include $925 Destination and Handling

Design: Developing the Five's signature sporty character.
Fresh contour lines for the surround of the BMW kidney grille and redesigned lower air intakes reinforce the sporty appearance of the 2014 BMW 5 Series Sedan. The accentuated width of the rear end is underlined by an extra crease in the apron, as well as slim, sharply contoured and therefore more striking rear lights.

The 2014 BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo receives a modified front apron exuding presence and solidity. Its redesigned rear end creates a longer and lower visual impression. A three-dimensional surface design for the area around the license plate holder and a chrome strip in the rear apron add further depth to its dynamic character.

Xenon Adaptive headlights are fitted as standard on all 5 Series models, while Adaptive LED Headlights join the options list for 2014. Elsewhere, the side indicator lights are now integrated into the exterior mirrors. Also new in the BMW 5 Series are the Luxury Line and Modern Line, in addition to the popular M Sport choice, each containing select design and equipment features.

Functionality and desirability at new levels.
New details lend further refinement to the premium impression of the new BMW 5 Series' interior and a new layer of functionality. The Central Display of the standard iDrive operating system is now bordered in the Sedan by chrome trim. The storage compartments and cup holders in the center console of these models now have increased capacity.

A revised rear section increases the luggage capacity of the new BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo by 2.1 cu-ft to 17.7 cu-ft (European figures, preliminary). New exterior paint colors, light-alloy wheels, upholstery colors and interior trim elements for all BMW 5 Series models enhance their appeal and increase the scope for individualization.

Engines: more power, now with the choice of BMW Advanced Diesel.
The introduction of the 2014 BMW 5 Series family also heralds an expansion of its engine range. The BMW 535d has been added as BMW's latest diesel variant in North America. Its inline-6 BMW Advanced Diesel engine with BMW TwinPower Turbo technology makes 255 horsepower at 4,000 rpm and 413 lb-ft of torque from 1,500 – 3,000 rpm (preliminary figures). Simultaneously, the new BMW 535d Sedan is expected to show substantial fuel efficiency gains over its gasoline-fueled counterpart. US EPA figures will be available closer to the on-sale date. BMW's xDrive intelligent all-wheel drive system is also available on the new 535d Sedan.

The top-of-the-line engine of the new BMW 5 Series Sedan now features an updated V-8 with BMW TwinPower Turbo technology and BMW's Valvetronic throttle-less intake technology, developing a monstrous 445 horsepower and 480 lb-ft of torque.

The 5 Series chassis technology – which includes a double-wishbone front axle, integral rear axle and Servotronic variable power steering function – has been honed to deliver an unrivalled balance between sporty performance and ride comfort. The BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo comes with standard air suspension, including automatic self-leveling rear suspension. The Driving Dynamics Control switch on the center console is standard on all models. Adaptive Drive and Integral Active Steering are systems unmatched by other players that can be specified as options.

Brake Energy Regeneration, the Auto Start-Stop functionality, and ECO PRO mode, the suite of standard-fitted BMW EfficientDynamics technologies now also includes a coasting mode (which disengages the powertrain while coasting), and the ECO PRO Route function, which can be selected via the Navigation system. Additionally, updated aerodynamics is a key factor in the latest advances made by the engineers in the area of fuel efficiency.

More innovative than ever: BMW ConnectedDrive.
The galaxy of innovations on the options list borne by BMW ConnectedDrive technology allows the 2014 BMW 5 Series family to underline its leadership in the areas of connectivity, infotainment, convenience, and safety. For example, the function of the optional Comfort Access system, which allows the tailgate or trunk to be opened hands-free, has been extended to include a closing mechanism, which means that a movement of the foot under the rear apron can now be used to prompt the tailgate to close as well as open.

In addition, the 2014 BMW 5 Series offers customers a new rear-seat entertainment system with tablet-style displays, a Harman Kardon Surround Sound system and a new version of the ambient light option with a facility which allows the interior lighting to be alternated in tone between orange and white.

The range of BMW ConnectedDrive business solutions and driver assistance systems is more advanced and richer in variety than ever. The BMW 5 Series enables a scope of intelligent connectivity unique in the marketplace, allowing it to set the benchmark for in-car use of office applications.

Alongside the globally unrivalled Concierge Service for hotel reservations and a selection of other services, BMW ConnectedDrive also offers an unusually extensive suite of office functions, including internet-based services. The dictation function, for example, provides a convenient way of entering text for SMS messages and emails during a journey. The array of search, travel, office and social media services can be accessed via the car's integrated SIM card or the customer's smartphone.

iDrive4.2: Now with touchpad.
The newly-standard iDrive4.2 Navigation system makes use of an optimized menu display and allows access to Advanced Real Time Traffic Information. A new iDrive rotary controller with an integrated touchpad allows the input of characters for destinations, phone numbers, and other functions within the iDrive4.2 operating system.

BMW 5 Series: A success story.
A global bestseller, winner of a string of comparison tests and "Germany's favorite car" – the BMW 5 Series represents a quite unique success story. Its sales figures, the verdicts of experts and the response of the public make a compelling narrative. And now the BMW 5 Series Sedan and BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo are preparing to build on their standout presence in the world's car markets with the help of cutting-edge technological innovations and sensitively modified design features.

The introduction of the 2014 BMW 5 Series provides the latest highlight in the development of the company's longest-serving model family; the BMW 5 Series has been a fixture in the BMW portfolio since 1972 – longer than any other current model. It didn't take the 5 Series long to establish itself as a paragon of driving pleasure and aesthetic appeal in its segment. And today it can add efficiency and innovation to the list of disciplines in which it leads the way in the executive car market.

The BMW 5 Series Sedan currently rolling off the assembly line is the sixth-generation model. A harmonious balance between sporty flair and elegance has been a defining feature of the four-door variant since it first made the leap from the drawing board to the road and went on to become the most popular executive car in one market after the next. The BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo, unveiled in 2009, has seen BMW introduce drivers to an all-new type of car. Its extravagant design represents the expression of sports performance, luxurious long-distance comfort and versatility.

Global market leader: BMW 5 Series defends leading position.
To date, over 6.6 million BMW 5 Series cars have left the factory. And the current BMW 5 Series is in excellent shape to surpass the record set by the highly successful last two generations, each of which sold in excess of 1.4 million units. A total of more than one million units of the current BMW 5 Series Sedan have been delivered to customers since the sales launch of the 5 Series in 2010. No other generation has bettered these sales figures over such a short period of time.

Acclaim: BMW 5 Series top ratings, design awards.
The quality and popularity of the BMW 5 Series are reflected in the host of prizes and distinctions awarded to the members of the model family around the world. In early 2013 the BMW 5 Series secured class victory – for the third year in succession – in the readers' survey "The Best Cars" conducted by the German motoring magazine "auto, motor und sport". This success came not long after the BMW 520d EfficientDynamics Edition with BMW BluePerformance technology had been voted "Car of the Future" and awarded the ADAC automobile association's "Yellow Angel". The BMW 5 Series as a whole had been named "Germany's favorite car" in the same competition in 2011.

In addition to the red dot award, iF Product Design Award and Design Award of the Federal Republic of Germany, the BMW 5 Series has also picked up a notable collection of international distinctions in recognition of its successful exterior design. Beyond these, the BMW 5 Series has been voted "Car of the Year", "Best Car", "Premium Car of the Year", "Family Car of the Year" and "Executive Car of the Year" in various countries.

This broad spread of qualities has been recognized with a swathe of impressive ratings elsewhere as well. German car journal "Auto Bild" crowned the BMW 525d Touring "Value Champion 2012" on account of its high value retention in the used car market. The title had been awarded to the BMW 520d Sedan the previous year. And the BMW 5 Series emerged from both the Euro NCAP and the US NCAP crash tests with the highest rating of five stars. It was also the first vehicle to achieve a 100 per cent score in the Safety Assist category of the Euro NCAP crash tests.

Design and body.
Instantly captivating and compelling, the aesthetic qualities of the BMW 5 Series models have secured sales success around the globe and a wealth of awards and distinctions. "We haven't completely redesigned the BMW 5 Series, we've just given its character a slightly sharper sporty edge," says exterior designer Won Kyu Kang, describing the modifications made to the BMW 5 Series Sedan.

Sporty elegance is the identity of the BMW 5 Series Sedan. Its design is defined by the hallmark BMW proportions created by a long hood, long wheelbase, short overhangs and set-back passenger compartment. At the front end, additional contour lines for the BMW kidney grille surround and the restructured lower air intake accentuate the car's sporty appearance. All the variants of the new BMW 5 Series model family are fitted with xenon headlights as standard.

Joining the options list are Adaptive LED Headlights. Here, both the low and high beams are generated by LED units positioned on horizontal ribs in the center of the two light rings, which are leveled off at the bottom. Sweeping chrome inserts with engraved BMW lettering add the finishing touches to the distinctive and extremely high-class appearance of the Adaptive LED Headlights. The side indicators are now integrated into the exterior mirrors on all 2014 BMW 5 Series models. And the Sedan has newly structured rear lights with particularly thin and strikingly contoured LED light strips. These lights and an additional crease in the rear apron emphasize the wide track of the Sedan.

The 2014 BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo combines signature BMW proportions with an innovative body concept. The elegantly stretched coupe roofline, four doors with frameless windows and a high-opening tailgate exude sporty intent, luxurious long-distance comfort and extensive variability. Carefully targeted modifications to the car's design shine an even brighter spotlight on its unmistakable character, which meets the highest standards across an extremely wide spectrum.

A new air intake highlights the powerful presence of the BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo's front. The tailgate, meanwhile, has been extended aft and gives the roofline's transition into the rear an even more harmonious appearance. All of which allows the car as a whole to cut a lower-slung and dynamically stretched figure. These sharpened contours have also had a positive effect on the trunk capacity of the new BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo, which has been increased by 2.1cu- ft to 17.7 cu-ft (preliminary).

Horizontally structured and three-dimensional surfaces play a defining role in the new look of the rear end. Vibrant light and shade effects around the license plate mount, a dynamically sweeping crease extending into the flanks and a chrome trim strip in the rear apron give the tail end a lighter and sportier feel. This impression is reinforced by the new outline of the two-section rear lights. Their horizontal layout is accentuated internally by a light design distilled into two LED light strips.

Interior.
New details inside the 2014 BMW 5 Series provide a refined impression and increased functionality. In all models the Central Display of the iDrive operating system is now bordered by high-quality chrome trim strips. The storage compartments and cup holders in the center console of the Sedan now have increased capacity.

Generous levels of space, exquisite materials and high-quality workmanship all contribute to the premium ambience characteristic of the BMW 5 Series model family, as do exclusive interior design details like the standard iDrive and the black-panel technology of the instrument cluster and automatic climate control system's display.

The iDrive controller with the now standard Navigation system features a touchpad surface allowing character recognition. For example, a destination can be programmed into the Navigation system by spelling out the desired address using finger movements on the touchpad surface. The existing "rotary speller" in the Central Display may also still be used, and the driver can alternate freely between the two operating methods while entering a command. Voice Command may also be activated from the touchpad.

BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo.
The BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo offers an unmatched blend of luxurious long-distance comfort and versatility, fusing the imposing elegance of a Sedan with the variable-usage interior of a Sports Wagon model and the versatility of a Sports Activity Vehicle. Its seating position – slightly raised to a height somewhere between that offered by a sedan and an SAV – allows particularly comfortable entry and exit. Rear passengers can enjoy legroom and headroom normally the preserve of luxury cars. The rear seats slide forward by (inches?) 73 millimeters and the angle of their backrests can be adjusted through 33 degrees. When released from its locked position, the partition behind the rear seats follows the longitudinal movements of the seats, allowing trunk capacity to grow from 17.7 cu-ft to 23 cu-ft. The partition and rear seat backrests can be split 40 : 20 : 40. Folding down all the elements and moving the rear seats all the way forward allows the Gran Turismo to reveal its maximum 62 cu-ft of load capacity. To load items into the trunk, one can either open the full, high-opening tailgate or a separate trunk lid below the rear window. Similarly to a sedan, this smaller opening allows access to the load area without disturbing rear seat passengers.

Automatic tailgate operation comes as standard on the BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo and is also available as an option for the BMW 5 Series Sedan. The function of the optional Comfort Access system that allows the tailgate to be opened hands-free has been extended – for all members of the new BMW 5 Series model family – to include a closing mechanism, which means that a movement of the foot under the rear apron can now be used to prompt the tailgate to close as well as open. After unloading items from the luggage compartment, customers can also close the tailgate without having to put down the items they're holding.

New to the BMW 5 Series: BMW Lines.
2014 BMW 5 Series customers can choose from a wide selection of exterior paint colors. New additions to the range – and available for all models – are Calisto Grey metallic, Jatoba metallic, Mineral White metallic and Glacier Silver metallic. New variants have also been added to the line-up of optional light-alloy wheels.

Exclusively composed BMW Lines are now available for the first time to all members of the new BMW 5 Series model family as an alternative to standard specification. Customers can choose between the Luxury Line , Modern Line, and M Sport, which shine the spotlight on selected facets of the car's character to great effect. All Lines also include the option to upgrade to luxurious Nappa Leather upholstery at no additional charge.

The Luxury Line exudes a high level of elegance and exclusiveness thanks to a carefully assembled selection of high-class features for the exterior and interior. The chrome finish of the trim bars in the outer sections of the lower air intake, the fronts of the black kidney grille slats, the window recess finishers, the trim strip in the rear apron and the exhaust tips all add gleaming touches. Leather upholstery with exclusive stitching, a black sports leather steering wheel and interior trim strips in exquisite Fine-line anthracite wood create a particularly refined interior ambience.

The Modern Line displays a strikingly contemporary and dynamic edge. The air intake bars, kidney grille slats, rear trim strip and exhaust tips come in matt chrome, and the instrument panel and sports leather steering wheel can be specified as an option in the Oyster light color shade . Interior trim strips in dark Pearl and exclusive stitching for the leather upholstery ensure the interior creates an eye-catching impression.

All variants of the new BMW 5 Series can also be ordered M Sport Package, which now features a new M steering wheel, LED fog lights, and no-charge Nappa Leather upholstery to further increasing the scope for individualization.

Powertrain and Chassis.
The engine is the heart of every BMW. The new BMW Advanced Diesel 535d Sedan model, additional availability of xDrive intelligent all-wheel drive, and an even more powerful and fuel efficient V-8 join the action for 2014. The line-up for the new BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo is comprised of two gasoline engines.

The cutting-edge chassis technology underpinning the 2014 BMW 5 Series family delivers a balance of dynamic performance and ride comfort without peer. The BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo is also fitted as standard with automatic self-leveling air suspension at the rear axle.

Among the options available for all members of the BMW 5 Series family are the Integral Active Steering and Adaptive Drive systems, which no other model in this segment offers. Enhancements of acoustic and suspension comfort in the BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo, meanwhile, lend even further emphasis to its role as a supreme long-distance specialist.

A new diesel engine for the Sedan.
BMW TwinPower Turbo technology ensures an exemplary balance of driving pleasure and fuel consumption across the engine range. In the new diesel engine, which powers the BMW 535d Sedan, this package of technology consists of a variable-geometry turbocharger and high precision direct fuel injection with solenoid valve injectors. The 3.0-liter engine develops a maximum output of 255 HP, generates peak torque of 413 lb-ft.

The new generation of the V-8 engine with BMW TwinPower Turbo technology for the BMW 5 Series model family takes to the stage armed with a 10 percent rise in output yet also significantly reduced fuel consumption. Found under the hood of the BMW 550i Sedan and BMW 550i Gran Turismo, it now also combines its two twin-scroll turbochargers and high precision direct fuel injection with BMW's Valvetronic throttle-less intake valve control. The engine generates 445 horsepower and maximum torque of 480 lb-ft from its 4.4-liter displacement. The new BMW 550i Sedan, for example, roars from 0 to 60 mph in just 4.5 seconds.

The 2014 BMW 535i Sedan and 535i Gran Turismo retain BMW's multi-award-winning "N55" 3.0-liter inline-6 engine with 300 hp and 300 lb-ft of torque. An award winning BMW TwinPower turbo "N20" four-cylinder gasoline engine is retained for the 2014 BMW 528i Sedan.

The BMW 535i Sedan can be fitted with a 6-speed manual transmission as a no cost option. All BMW 5 Series models receive the extremely fast and precise, not to mention extraordinarily efficient, 8-speed automatic transmission provided as standard equipment. The 8-speed automatic now comes with a coasting function and can also be ordered with Sport Automatic shift paddles on the steering wheel. The Sport Automatic option, standard for the 2014 BMW 550i Sedan models, stands out with impressive shift dynamics and now includes Launch Control.

Driving Dynamics Control.
The fine-tuning carried out on the chassis for the 2014 BMW 5 Series models makes for an even more assured conversion of engine power into dynamic performance and ride comfort. Both the double-wishbone front axle and the integral rear axle are made largely of aluminum. They allow the spring and damper systems to respond with great precision to inconsistencies in the road surface and ensure optimum road holding at all times. The overall result is a balance between sporty ability and ride comfort that no rival can better. What's more, the car's set-up can be adapted to suit individual needs or the driving situation at hand using the standard equipment Driving Dynamics Control switch on the center console. Pressing the button changes the driving mode, altering the responses of the accelerator and steering, as well as – if so equipped – the shift characteristics of the automatic transmission and the settings of the electronically controlled dampers.

The car's driving characteristics are further enhanced by the Adaptive Drive system, which includes Active Roll Stabilization and Dynamic Damper Control. Electronically controlled anti-roll bars help to reduce the car's body roll through quickly taken corners and in sudden changes of direction, for example.

In addition to controlling the amount of speed-dependent steering assistance generated and regulating the steering angle of the front wheels, Integral Active Steering also adjusts the steering angle of the rear wheels. This system imbues the car with impressive agility in dynamic driving situations, comfortable and assured reactions when changing lanes and through corners, and optimized maneuverability through tight bends and in city traffic.

The newly updated 2014 BMW 5 Series Sedan and Gran Turismo will arrive in US later this year in August 2013.

BMW Group In America
BMW of North America, LLC has been present in the United States since 1975. Rolls-Royce Motor Cars NA, LLC began distributing vehicles in 2003. The BMW Group in the United States has grown to include marketing, sales, and financial service organizations for the BMW brand of motor vehicles, including motorcycles, the MINI brand, and the Rolls-Royce brand of Motor Cars; DesignworksUSA, a strategic design consultancy in California; a technology office in Silicon Valley and various other operations throughout the country. BMW Manufacturing Co., LLC in South Carolina is part of BMW Group's global manufacturing network and is the exclusive manufacturing plant for all X5 and X3 Sports Activity Vehicles and X6 Sports Activity Coupes. The BMW Group sales organization is represented in the U.S. through networks of 338 BMW passenger car and BMW Sports Activity Vehicle centers, 139 BMW motorcycle retailers, 117 MINI passenger car dealers, and 34 Rolls-Royce Motor Car dealers. BMW (US) Holding Corp., the BMW Group's sales headquarters for North America, is located in Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey.

Information about BMW Group products is available to consumers via the Internet at: www.bmwgroupna.com

Credit : AutoBlog