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BMW, Mercedes ponder challengers to Uber

With autonomous vehicles seemingly just on the horizon of actually arriving to consumers, companies in the auto industry are already thinking about how the innovations could radically change how they do business. For example, BMW and Mercedes-Benz are considering a time where they might transform into ridesharing companies, according to Reuters. It almost sounds like the sci-fi motoring world Bob Lutz is predicting. The German brands foresee a future where some people hail their driverless cars like taxis and use them for short trips. The automakers could run those fleets, essentially making them Uber competitors. In fact, Tesla is reportedly mulling the idea, and Google might be, too. Alternatively, ridesharing services could buy the companies' models directly. "New mobility concepts will emerge with autonomous vehicles, which are robot cars. Fleet management will become a much more significant business," Peter Schwarzenbauer, BMW board of management member in charge of Mini, said to Reuters. With BMW's DriveNow and Daimler's Car2Go car-sharing services, both automakers are already experimenting with alternative ways to get their vehicles on the road. It's not too hard to imagine one of the brand's peppering a few autonomous cars into those fleets someday to test these new theories in the real world. "The ability to use a car, and then walk away is a serious business," Ian Robertson, BMW's head of sales and marketing, said about the future of driverless tech to Reuters. Related Video:

2016 BMW X1 packs more into its little footprint

BMW is rolling out the second-generation of its X1 crossover, promising a roomier interior, greater efficiency and more technology in a compact form. The 2016 BMW X1 clearly embodies more dynamic styling than the model it replaces, with a more upright form punctuated by a higher seating position as compared to its low-slung predecessor. Inside you'll find a fully redesigned cabin space with more room for both people and cargo, and a long list of features. A 6.5-inch dashboard display comes standard along with a seven-speaker audio system and cloth seats, but buyers can upgrade to an 8.8-inch monitor, a 12-speaker Harman Kardon system, and a number of leather upholstery options. Upgrade to the Premium Package and you get a larger panoramic moonroof than that offered on the outgoing model, along with adaptive LED headlights and a head-up display. The Drive Assistance Plus package throws in features like lane departure, automatic high-beams, frontal collision warning, pedestrian detection, active cruise control, and park assist. There'll be an M Sport package available later as well, offering sports seats, paddle shifters, and a retuned suspension. Though BMW will surely be offering an array of engine options in other markets, for the US it's offering the new X1 exclusively in xDrive28i spec. Its 2.0-liter turbo four drives 228 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque through an eight-speed automatic transmission to all four wheels for a 0-60 time of 6.3 seconds. That ought to help the Bavarian automaker move even more than the nearly 62,000 units of the X1 it's sold since its introduction here in 2012. Pricing for the new version of BMW's littlest crossover will be released closer to its arrival in showrooms in the Fall, but you don't need to wait that long to delve into the full details in the press release below and the high-resolution images in the gallery above. The All-New BMW X1: - Greatest interior roominess and versatility in its class - Highest power with reduced emissions - Commanding presence, robust proportions, dynamic lines - Innovative connectivity and groundbreaking BMW EfficientDynamics technology unparalleled in the segment Woodcliff Lake, N.J. – EMBARGO: June 2, 2015 – 6:00pm EDT/3:00pm PDT... Today, BMW announced the all-new BMW X1 Sports Activity Vehicle.

BMW M5 arrives in Monterey packing 600 hp and matte paint

What's a sure-fire way to make a vehicle better? Well, you can add power or make it more exclusive. BMW has done both, just in time to celebrate the thirtieth anniversary of the legendary M5 sedan.
Only 300 examples of the car you see above, the M5 30th Anniversary Edition, will be sold to the public, and those lucky owners will enjoy the most exclusive, most powerful M5 ever made. Power continues to flow from the standard M5's twin-turbocharged, 4.4-liter V8, which has had its wick turned up to 600 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque. The sprint to 60 now happens in just 3.7 seconds, which is still a scarcely fathomable speed among sports cars, let alone comfortable, finely upholstered sedans.
Speaking of that upholstery, Alcantara and leather seats and an Alcantara steering wheel identify the exclusive M5, while special sill plates further call out the car's unique spec. Outside, the standard Competition Package adds 20-inch wheels and black chrome badges, while 30th Anniversary Editions wear BMW's Frozen Dark Silver matte paint.