BMW M Car Sales Increase by More than 14 Percent in 2010

Sales of BMW's M car series continue to sprout as the Bavarian company's performance division concluded the 2010 business year with a 14.2 percent increase to 16,967 units, despite the phase out of the V10-powered M5 and M6 models.

The M brand's most popular model remained the M3 with 5,729 units of the coupe, 2,544 units of the Convertible and 1,843 Saloons. Worldwide sales of the newly introduced all-wheel drive X5 M and X6 M totaled 2,778 and 3,082 respectively.

The USA was once again the most important single market in 2010 for the performance brand with overall BMW M car sales up by more than 6 percent to 6,821 units. As before, the number two sales region was the German domestic market with sales of 1,716 cars, followed by Britain and Northern Ireland with 1,264 units.

BMW M's division saw its most dynamic growth in China where sales rose by 355 percent to 1,088 units, making the country the fourth-strongest market for the brand. Significant gains were also registered in Brazil (+ 237 percent) and Russia (+ 104 percent).

The German company said that it also recorded a 1 percent increase in sales of the M Sport packages, with 138,800 units in 2010. The main market for M Sport packages was Britain and Northern Ireland, followed by Germany and the USA. The was also a significant jump in the demand for the firm's Individual program, with 24,155 options being ordered in 2010, an increase of 47 percent over 2009.

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Video Spoof of Hitler Criticizing BMW 1 M Coupe's N54 Turbo Engine

We've lost track of how many times we've seen crazy edits to the English subtitles of a scene from the 2004 German-language movie titled “Downfall" in the United States, in which Adolf Hitler explodes with anger. This four-minute-long video spoofs BMW and the company's decision to make use of the N54 twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter straight-six engine on the 1-Series M Coupe. Enjoy some laughs in the video after the jump.

Source: Youtube via Autoblog.nl

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ItalDesign’s Nazca Reborn in Sabino Leerentveld Homage

Ever since the demise of BMW’s M1 in 1981, designers and illustrators alike have speculated on the look of a possible successor to the Bavarian automaker’s only mass produced, mid-engined vehicle. Some – like industry stalwart ItalDesign – have gone so far to build full scale, drivable mock-ups.

One such speculative mock-up was ItalDesign’s Nazca M12 of 1991 featuring a mid-mounted V12 and BMW’s ubiquitous rear wheel drive. The Italian design house also presented a race-spec version of the car called the Nazca C2 at the 1992 Tokyo Motor Show, followed by a Spyder model in 1993.

Now, twenty years later, Dutch designer Sabino Leerentveld has resurrected the Nazca C2 in the form of this rather slick homage.

With its sculpted aerodynamic flanks, EfficientDynamics-inspired nose and pillars cleverly secreted behind its massive glasshouse, Leerentveld’s Nazca homage is quite a wonder to behold. In fact, one could also most say it's more production ready than ItalDesign’s 2008 concept. And, dare I say it, slightly less fussy in the styling department.

As always, you shouldn’t take my word for it. Check out our gallery below and deliver your verdict in the comments.

By Tristan Hankins

Source: Sabino Leerentveld

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BMW Prices U.S.-Spec 2011 1-Series M Coupe and 2012 650i Convertible at NAIAS 2011

At the 2011 Detroit Auto Show, BMW announced pricing information for the U.S.-spec 2011 1-Series M Coupe, face-lifted 2012 1-Series, and the all-new 2012 650i Convertible.

The revised entry-level 128i Coupe starts from $31,825, while the much anticipated 1-Series M Coupe with the 335HP turbocharged inline-six is priced at $47,010 and will be available in limited quantity. The new generation of 650i Convertible starts at $91,375. All prices include an $875 destination and handling fee.

For the 2012 model year, all 1-Series variants received a mild exterior makeover and come with iPod/USB integration. Furthermore, certain models feature an innovative Air Curtain system (128i), which reduces wind resistance, Xenon adaptive headlights and power seats with adjustable lumbar support as standard (135i).

The 128i Convertible models get larger, 17-inch alloys, while the 135i Convertible comes with 18-inch rims. By adding a through-loading system, engineers also managed to improve the storage capacity of all open-top versions.

The complete price list of the 2012 BMW 1-Series is as follows:

128i Coupe $31,825

135i Coupe $39,925

128i Convertible $37,475

135i Convertible $44,675

The 2012 BMW 650i Convertible is powered by a 4.4-liter turbocharged V8 engine, rated at 400 hp and 450 lb-ft (610 Nm) of torque, which can be mated either to a 6-speed manual or an optional 8-speed automatic transmission. BMW says that the new model offers more passenger space, improved ergonomics and better materials. Just like the previous generation, the new 6-Series Convertible has a soft top that can retract in just 19 seconds at speeds up to 25 mph (40 km/h).

Sales of the 2012 1-Series, 2011 1-Series M Coupe and 2012 650i Convertible will start this spring.

By Csaba Daradics

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Three World Premieres for BMW at the 2011 Detroit Show

In less than three weeks from now, the 2011 North American International Auto Show [NAIAS] will open its doors at the Cobo Hall in Detroit, and BMW will be there with three world premieres. These include the new 6-Series Convertible, the punchy 1-Series M Coupe and the revitalized for the 2011MY, 1-Series Coupe and Convertible. We've already had a chance to see all three models, so no surprise there, that is, unless the Bavarians have something else up their sleeves.

In more detail, the first version of the next generation 6-Series sports car is the Convertible, which will launch as the 650i equipped with a 400HP 4.4-liter turbocharged V8 linked to either a six-speed manual or an 8-speed automatic transmission. The new 650i Convertible will go on sale in the spring of 2011 as a 2012 model for the United States, while the Coupe model will follow shortly after.

Next in line is the beefed up 1 Series M Coupe boasting a twin-turbocharged, all-aluminum, 3.0-liter inline-6 with 335 ponies driving the rear wheels through a standard close ratio 6-speed manual transmission. The new 1 Series M Coupe will be available in limited quantities next spring.

Finally, the 1 Series Coupe and Convertible enter the 2011 model year with some subtle styling tweaks and interior improvements, while keeping the same hardware. As with the other two BMWs, the updated 1s go on sale in spring of 2011.

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