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BMW solar roof helps i3 drivers even when sun isn't shining

At the Consumer Electronics Show, BMW has announced a release window for its i Wallbox Pro that unites domestic solar power and the electricity grid. The box itself was shown off during last year's i8 drives and it rests inside a solar carport to control the simultaneous delivery of both solar power and the electric grid energy to recharge an i8. One drive attendee wrote how the Wallbox Pro display showed that it was providing 3.4 total kW to the coupe, with 2.8 kW from the sun and 0.6 kW from the grid. At CES, BMW said the i Wallbox Pro, brought to life by BMW DesignWorks, will be available in 2016. For homes that aren't equipped with solar power, or when solar isn't available, the system will draw power from the grid when it's least expensive. The Munich manufacturer also announced a concept storage solution using discarded batteries from its electric cars, where excess energy from solar or other sources could be held for later use for a vehicle or the home itself. BMW will be demonstrating the i Wallbox Pro at CES and the press release below has more information. BMW i Home Charging Services unveiled at the CES Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas Pioneering integrated charging solution for electric vehicles brings further reduction in charging costs and integrates home solar generating systems with the household electricity system. Munich / Las Vegas- January 5, 2015... At the Consumer Electronics Show CES 2015 in Las Vegas (6 – 9 January 2015) BMW i will unveil a further innovative product from its 360° ELECTRIC portfolio: BMW i Home Charging Services. This smart solution for home charging of electric and plug-in hybrid BMW models is based on the smart home-enabled BMW i Wallbox Pro system already presented by BMW in spring 2014. How the smart charging service works. Using BMW i Home Charging Services, the vehicle is charged with homegenerated solar power whenever this is available. At other times, or if the household does not have a solar generating system, the vehicle is automatically charged at the cheapest off-peak rates. This makes it possible to take advantage of flexible electricity pricing that varies depending on the time of day. In the USA, this can result in savings of up to 800 dollars a year. With this fully automated charging service, customers get a simple-to-operate system that integrates vehicle charging with the household electrical system and online-based data systems.

2014 BMW 6 Series gets Frozen Brilliant White convertible, manual option for M6

BMW has announced updates to the 6 Series lineup today, including a special "Frozen" edition of the convertible, and a 640i Gran Coupe in all-wheel-drive trim.
The 2014 BMW 6 Series Convertible Frozen Brilliant White Edition (catchy name, right?) will be available from select BMW dealers this May, and will offer buyers the signature paint, Frozen Black mirror caps, a black grille and uniquely designed, 20-inch M Performance wheels. Just 100 examples of the FBWE 6er will be produced, with both rear-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive cars in the mix, for starting prices of $106,995 and $110,095, respectively (both prices include $895 in destination and handling charges).
BMW has also informed us that all of its 6 Series Gran Coupe models will now be available with the company's xDrive all-wheel-drive system. No pricing has been given for the xDrive versions of the car as of yet.

BMW already considering four cylinders for next M3

The cylinder count in BMW's M3 has fluctuated over the years. The original M3 debuted in 1985 packing a 2.3-liter inline-four, but subsequent models went with sixes until the outgoing generation upped the cylinder count to eight. With its latest model, BMW has dropped back to six cylinders with a pair of turbos taking the place of the extra pistons. But the next M3 sedan and M4 coupe could go back to the model line's roots with a four-cylinder engine.
Speaking with BMW M product manager Carsten Pries at the launch of the latest M3 and M4 in Portugal, our Aussie compatriots at Motoring.com.au report that "you could see a future [M3] powered by a four-cylinder engine." Offsetting the reduction in cylinders, the lighter engine would benefit the vehicle's weight and balance, thus enhancing performance.
We wouldn't expect the next M3 and M4 to lose any power in the process, though: Output in the M3 has only risen over the generations, from 192 horsepower in the four-pot original to 282 hp in the six-cylinder E36, 338 hp in the six-cylinder E46, 414 hp in the V8 E90 and 425 ponies in the new turbocharged six-cylinder F80 model. With that latter model having just debuted, it'll likely be a good six or seven years before the next version comes along, giving BMW plenty of time to settle on an engine - however many cylinders and turbochargers it has. In the meantime, you'll have to forgive us for taking a romp down M3 memory lane in the fresh gallery of images above.