Posts Tagged ‘BMW’
Friday, March 25th, 2011
Review and photos by Chris Chase, Autos.ca
Most reviews of the BMW 3 Series include two things: a reference by the reviewer to the car being the most desirable in its class, and comments from readers that BMW must be paying auto writers for so many unanimously positive opinions of the car.
2006 BMW 330xi
BMW must be paying 3 Series buyers too, then, because the car is perennially a strong seller in Canada. In 2010, 14,009 Canadians bought 3 Series’, which made it the most popular luxury car and put it in the same league, sales-wise, as the Honda Accord (14,659 sales in 2010) and the Chevrolet Malibu (13,092 sales). (more…)
Tags: 2006-2011, 3-Series, BMW
Posted in Gallery, Used Cars | 1 Comment »
Tuesday, February 15th, 2011
By Chris Chase, CanadianDriver.com
The BMW X3 was introduced for the 2004 model year as a smaller alternative to the brand’s original crossover, the X5. When it went on sale, the X3 shared its compact, luxury crossover status with just one other vehicle, the Land Rover Freelander, and it wasn’t until 2007 that it would have another competitor in the Acura RDX. The only other vehicles that might be seen as true competitors were fully-loaded versions of more affordable crossovers like the Ford Escape or Subaru Outback, for just a couple of examples.
2010 BMW X3
By 2009, Audi had joined the fray with its Q5, and the 2010 Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class was available in calendar-year 2009 too.
The original X3 was available with two inline six-cylinders, one being a 2.5-litre (184 hp; 2.5i model) and the other a 3.0-litre (225 hp; 3.0i model), both borrowed from the 3 Series sedan line. In 2007, the engine line-up was revised: the 2.5-litre was dropped, and a 215-hp version of the original 3.0-litre became the base engine, while a 260-hp motor was the upgrade. (more…)
Tags: 2004-2010, BMW, X3
Posted in Gallery, Used Cars | No Comments »
Thursday, January 6th, 2011
Review and photos by
Chris Chase, CanadianDriver.com
*featured make=’BMW’ model=’X5 xDrive50i’
*relatedNew make=’Audi’ model=’Q7′
*relatedNew make=’Mercedes-Benz’ model=’GL’
*relatedUsed make=’Infiniti’ model=’FX’
*relatedUsed make=’Volvo’ model=’XC90′
Before the BMW X5 came along, sport utility vehicles – despite the very word being in the designation – were not sporty. They were utilitarian, like the Jeep Cherokee, the granddaddy of all SUVs, or the Ford Explorer, which you can credit (or blame) for making this kind of vehicle so popular in the first place.
2011 BMW X5 xDrive50i
And then along came the X5, which proved that an SUV – or crossover, as these not-designed-for-off-roading SUVs came to be called – could be entertaining to drive, paving the way for other vehicles that so many enthusiasts love to hate, such as the Porsche Cayenne.
For 2011, this second-generation X5 (it was redesigned in 2007) gets a mid-cycle refresh that includes small styling changes to the front and rear fascias, and new colour choices inside and out. More significant, though, are a couple of new engines, and an eight-speed automatic transmission to go with them. (more…)
Tags: 2011, BMW, X5, xDrive50i
Posted in Gallery, Reviews | No Comments »
Tuesday, December 7th, 2010
Review and photos by
Chris Chase, CanadianDriver.com
*featured make=’BMW’ model=’335is’
*relatedNew make=’Audi’ model=’A5′
*relatedNew make=’Lexus’ model=’ISC’
*relatedUsed make=’Infiniti’ model=’G37 coupe’
*relatedUsed make=’Volvo’ model=’C70′
There’s a road close to my house that runs under a train track, with a cement wall close on one side. Driving it means taking the long way home, but that’s a small price for getting a good listen to a car with a nice exhaust note: lower windows, flatten throttle; repeat as necessary. I saw a lot of this road after I brought the 2011 BMW 335is home with me.
2011 BMW 335is
The 335is is a new addition to the 3 Series line this year. The ’s’ designation, available on the coupe and convertible, points to a number of extras – mostly functional – including a unique exhaust system that BMW says was designed to enhance its 3.0-litre turbocharged six-cylinder engine’s rumble. And rumble it does, as well as snarl, growl and even pop-pop-pop when the car is coasting. It’s a tasty sound that keeps you on the lookout for open stretches of road, not just for the soundtrack, but for excuses to use the extra 20 horsepower and 32 lb-ft of torque this car gets, compared to the 300 of each found in the standard 335i. The 335is is also the only non-M 3 Series to get the option of BMW’s new seven-speed Double Clutch Transmission (DCT). (more…)
Tags: 2011, 335is, BMW
Posted in Gallery, Reviews | 1 Comment »
Thursday, October 14th, 2010
Review and photos by
Paul Williams, CanadianDriver.com
With BMW’s ActiveHybrid 7 L, you get everything you’d expect from a 7 Series BMW, and a little less.
2011 BMW ActiveHybrid 7
A little less fuel consumption, that is. Rated at 12.0/8.1 L/100 km, city/highway, this full-size luxury sedan betters its non-hybrid 750Li sibling by about 15 per cent in fuel economy; the 750Li returning an estimated 14.8/9.3 L/100 km, city/highway.
Motive power is a 4.4-litre, twin-turbo V8 gasoline engine supplemented by an electric motor which together produces 465 hp and 516 lb.-ft. torque. (more…)
Tags: 2011, ActiveHybrid 7, BMW
Posted in Gallery, Reviews | 2 Comments »
Sunday, September 19th, 2010
Review and photos by
Chris Chase, CanadianDriver.com
*featured make=’BMW’ model=’135′
*relatedNew make=’Audi’ model=’TTS’
*relatedNew make=’Volvo’ model=’C70′
*relatedUsed make=’Porsche’ model=’Boxster’
*relatedUsed make=’Mercedes-Benz’ model=’SLK’
One might be the loneliest number, but seven surely makes for one sexy party. At least, I’d bet BMW thinks so, as it rolls out a new transmission for 2011, the seven-speed Dual Clutch Transmission (DCT) that now serves as the extra cost option in 1 Series models powered by the company’s turbocharged six-cylinder engine.
2011 BMW 135i Cabriolet
In the 2011 BMW line-up, the DCT can be ordered in the Z4 sDrive35i and 35is, as well as the 335is coupe and convertible. Lower-end versions of those cars, as well as all versions of the 3 Series sedan and the 128i, use the six-speed automatic carried over from 2010, while the 5 and 7 Series both use a new eight-speed automatic.
The DCT is the biggest bit of news for BMW’s smallest model, the 1 Series, for 2011. In North America, this little Bimmer is offered as a two-door coupe or convertible with a choice of two engines – a naturally-aspirated 230-hp, 3.0-litre six-cylinder in the 128i and a turbocharged 3.0-litre six making 300 horsepower in the 135i. Note that this motor used to be a twin-turbo but is now a single turbo engine that BMW refers to as a TwinPower turbo setup. Confusing, no? (more…)
Tags: 135i, 2011, BMW, Cabriolet
Posted in Gallery, Reviews | 1 Comment »
Wednesday, February 10th, 2010
10 Questions with the Brother and Sister Team from Bullrun’s 3rd Season
Michael Schlee
Excitement is building as the 3rd season of Speed TV’s hit reality show Bullrun is set to return February 18th. The automotive gauntlet is set to excite viewers once again as 12 teams race across America in hopes of claiming the $200 000 grand prize.
Over the past few weeks I have been conducting interviews with several of the competing teams from the 3rd season of Bullrun. This time around I had the pleasure of interviewing Team BMW, the only brother sister team on this year’s rally. Consisting of driver Jason Arias and co driver Kristina Arias, Team BMW entered Bullrun with their BMW 335i.
(more…)
Tags: 335i, BMW, Bullrun, Michael Schlee, reality tv, speed tv
Posted in Gallery, Most Popular Articles, News, Uncategorized | 4 Comments »
Thursday, July 9th, 2009
.
Rally Begins July 11, 2009 in New York City
Michael Schlee
Sometimes things do not go according to plans. It is 3 days before I need to be in New York City for the start of Bullrun and my official Bullrun vinyl kit is M.I.A. I need it to be able to partake in the official start of the Bullrun rally. Now normally this would onset panic and dismay. I mean, I am an amateur when it comes to applying vinyl at the best of times and this is a substantial kit. Working fulltime would only leave me 3 evenings at best to get the 10 hour job done. Not to worry though, I have an ace up my sleeve; more on that later.
Bullrun RX-8 Lacking Decals
The event I am preparing for is the 2009 Bullrun Rally. For those not familiar with Bullrun, think of it as a mix between a road rally, a race and a week long non-stop party. With nothing more then a destination and road map, teams of two travel from checkpoint to checkpoint all over the USA during the course of one week. First one there (as determined by their starting and ending time) wins. Of course at the end of each day the teams enjoy some of the wildest and most exclusive night life each host city has to offer.
(more…)
Tags: BMW, Bullrun, Michael Schlee, Mustang, New York, Panoz, race, Rally, Road trip, RX-8, SLR, Superduty, Trans Am
Posted in Gallery, News | No Comments »
Thursday, June 18th, 2009
6-Cylinder Engines That Pack a Serious Punch
Michael Schlee
The 6 Cylinder engine once was the ‘small guy’ in the North American automotive world. If you wanted an efficient vehicle in the 1950’s and 1960’s, you would opt for the 6 cylinder engine.
Nissan GT-R
With the exception of a few European and Japanese makes, the 6-cylinder engine was not the first choice for sports cars.
(more…)
Tags: 6 Cylinder, Audi, BMW, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Hyundai, Michael Schlee, Nissan, porsche
Posted in Gallery, News | No Comments »
Wednesday, June 3rd, 2009
.Models That Have Stood The Test of Time
Michael Schlee
Everywhere in life there are icons. They can be found in movies, music, business, sports, and yes, even the automotive world. Automotive icons are a rare breed. They represent more then just a model line for their manufacturer.
Car Icons represent a manufacturer’s ideals, technology, passion and purpose. Okay, that may be overstating things a bit, but for the most part it is true.
Ford Mustang Shelby GT500
So what qualifies as car as an Icon? Many great cars have come and gone in North America over the years, such as the Countach, Viper, Supra, Chevelle, Cobra, etc. But the question is, were they truly icons? Great cars, yes; amazing cars even, but true long lasting icons? They were all important during their time in history, but for one reason or another, they were all discontinued. Also, being that we live in North America, we are only dealing with icons that made it to our shores.
(more…)
Tags: 3-Series, Aston Martin, BMW, Camaro, Chevrolet, Corvette, DB, Ford, Icon, M3, Michael Schlee, Mustang, Shelby, SS, ZR1
Posted in Gallery, News | No Comments »
