2009 Bmw Z4 Sdrive35i Convertible 2-door 3.0l on 2040-cars

Auto blog

2014 BMW 740Ld xDrive does diesel in a big way

Slowly but surely, BMW is expanding its lineup of diesel-powered models here in the United States. In addition to the 328d sedan and wagon, 535d sedan and X5 xDrive35d crossover, we now have this, the BMW 740Ld xDrive (not to mention the refreshed 2015 X3 xDrive28d that also makes its debut here in Chicago). As its name - and the photos above - suggest, this means BMW is offering diesel power in its flagship, long-wheelbase 7 Series sedan, set to directly compete with the likes of the excellent Audi A8 TDI.
Under the hood is BMW's familiar 3.0-liter turbocharged diesel inline-six, delivering 255 horsepower and 413 pound-feet of torque, all of which is sent to the road via the company's xDrive all-wheel-drive system and ZF eight-speed automatic transmission. That torque thrust is available straight away from 1,500 rpm, and BMW says the 740Ld xDrive will sprint to 60 miles per hour in a very respectable 6.1 seconds. Official fuel economy estimates haven't been released yet, but we expect the car to net highway fuel economy ratings in the mid-30 range.
The 740Ld xDrive arrives in BMW showrooms this spring, priced from $82,500, not including $925 for destination. We're pretty stoked to drive it. But in the meantime, have a look at fresh images of the big sedan live from the Chicago Auto Show, above.

BMW i creates high-design solar charging carport

With the first deliveries of the i3 under way, and the recent i8 press launch, the marketing push in the US for the BMW electric sub-brand has begun. These i vehicles are supposed to have a completely different feel from the rest of the brand's lineup. To complement their earth-friendly ethos, the Bavarian company commissioned BMW Group DesignworksUSA in California to create a solar carport concept that could keep the models sustainably topped up on power. It premiered alongside the i8 in Los Angeles at the electric sports coupe's media launch.
At first glance, the BMW i Solar Carport Concept looks like a pergola from a winery or a well-groomed garden, but like the i vehicles, the deeper you look, the more high-tech features there are. The sides feature carbon elements in a similar way that the i3 and i8 have a carbon fiber-reinforced plastic body. Bamboo forms the uprights because its quick-growing nature makes it rather sustainable, and the solar panels are strung along the top to harness energy.
Obviously the sun can't provide all of the energy that the electric cars need, and a BMW Wallbox Pro charger is also connected to the power grid as a supplement. It includes a readout telling users the amount of solar energy versus municipal electricity it's using.

Toyota launches BMW-powered Verso in Europe

BMW makes some sweet-revving engines, but its own vehicles aren't the only ones running BMW engines. So do the latest from Rolls-Royce and Mini, of course, as well as a handful of Peugeots and Citroëns thanks to its joint engine program with PSA. Wiesmann uses BMW engines, as did the famous McLaren F1. And now we can add one more to the list.
That would be the Toyota Verso, a Corolla-based minivan which Toyota builds in Turkey and sells in Europe and a few other markets overseas. The Verso is also now officially the first beneficiary of the partnership between Toyota and BMW as the Japanese automaker has released the MPV with BMW's 1.6-liter turbodiesel four.
The 111-horsepower engine is coupled to a Toyota transmission and joins the Verso range as the fourth (and least powerful) engine in the lineup, alongside the 122hp 2.0 diesel and the gasoline options with 1.6 liters and 160 hp and 1.8 for 180. Future collaborations between the two automakers will include fuel-cell development, a new joint sportscar platform, lightweight bodywork research and a new generation of lithium-air batteries. See the press release below for further details.