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Translogic 182: CXC Motion Pro II Racing Simulator

Translogic gets some seat time in the CXC Motion Pro II to test if the high fidelity racing simulator can impact our host's real-life track times. Host Jonathon Buckley hits the track at Auto Club Speedway of California in a 2015 BMW M4 to put down a baseline lap time before his virtual training session in the Motion Pro II. After learning the lines of the track in a simulated setting, Jonathon returns to the track to put his skills to the test. "We designed it, originally, as a professional training tool for race car drivers," says CXC Simulation's founder and president Chris Considine. "Make it authentic. Make it real." The Motion Pro II boasts "thousands of cars and track models," ranging from street cars, to rally and off-road vehicles. Will this hyper realistic racing simulator help Jonathon improve his lap time? Have an RSS feed? Click here to add Translogic. Follow Translogic on Twitter and Facebook. Click here to learn more about our host, Jonathon Buckley. BMW Mazda Technology Coupe Racing Vehicles Translogic Videos Original Video

2016 BMW 650i Coupe Beauty-Roll

For those of you paying attention, we've really ramped up the old Autoblog video game these days. Our new series Car Club USA joins Translogic and The List, and there are more Daily Drivers and Short Cuts than ever. But sometimes, all you care about is the car. The Autoblog Beauty-Roll video series has one goal: bring you glossy videos of cars, and nothing but. We're collecting moving pictures of all the cars we test, inside and out. Each episode comes with a hit of engine sound – start-up and with a few revs – to round out the package. Set your resolution to max, kick it into full-screen, turn up the sound, and enjoy today's subject, the 2016 BMW 650i coupe. Oh, and if you'd like more Beauty-Roll, click here to see the back catalog.

BMW could expand 'i' lineup

Well, this isn't exactly a surprise. BMW CEO Harald Krueger (shown above) has hinted that the i3 electric car and the i8 plug-in supercar could soon be blessed with a bouncing brother, perhaps in the form of the oft-rumored i5. Specifically, Krueger told Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung (as reported by Automotive News) that there was certainly room in the middle of the i sub-brand's current two-model lineup "from the number point of view." The exec declined to offer any additional information. Unlike the i3 and i8, which are their own unique products independent of the rest of the BMW range, the i5 will allegedly be based on 5 Series sedan. It would also eschew the all-electric approach of the i3 in favor of a new and different version of the plug-in hybrid powertrain used in the i8. Rather than that car's turbocharged, three-cylinder gas engine, 129-horsepower electric motor, and 357 total system hp, the rumored i5 – according to our most recent report – would be significantly more powerful. There are rumblings that the new model would have anywhere from 544 hp to 640 hp, with at least two electric motors (one on each axle, making it effectively all-wheel drive). On top of the high performance, the i5 will have no issue running on EV power. According to one report, there'd be up to 78 miles of electric range, and would run purely on electricity up to 36 miles per hour. Even then, the gas engine would only join the party when under hard throttle. What do you think? Will BMW come out with a four-door PHV that could potentially outrun the current M5? Have your say in Comments. Related Video:

BMW 7 Series to get quad-turbo diesel?

Sometime in 2016 BMW will ask its customers, "Would you like more turbos with your turbos?" Reports are the Bavarian company is working on an inline six-cylinder quad-turbocharged 3.0-liter diesel engine to replace the tri-turbo 3.0-liter diesel currently used in performance products like the all-wheel-drive X5 M50d and X6 M50d sold in other markets. The current N57 performance diesel is called the M Performance TwinPower Turbo. The new one, said to be codenamed B57 TOP, will first make its way into the new 7 Series that will be called the M750d. The coming quad-turbo diesel is expected to produce at least 400 hp and 590 lb-ft. It isn't known yet whether the additional turbo will be electric or conventional, nor how the new turbos will be sized relative to one another. At least one outlet figures the power numbers will be conservative for this first outing, so they could go up. After its launch in the 7 Series, it could migrate to create the next-generation G30 5 Series M550d, and the X5 M50d, X6 M50d, and X7 M50d. It's unclear if BMW has plans to bring this high performance engine to the US market. Related Video: The video meant to be presented here is no longer available. Sorry for the inconvenience. News Source: BMW Blog, AutocarImage Credit: Copyright 2015 AOL BMW Crossover Diesel Vehicles Luxury Performance Sedan engine bmw diesel

Nokia Here Purchased by BMW, Audi, Daimler | Autoblog Minute

In a three company partnership the German automakers BMW, Audi and Daimler are set to take ownership of Nokia?s Here mapping technology. Audi BMW Autoblog Minute Videos Original Video Nokia nokia here

Autoblog Minute: Nokia to sell Here mapping for $3.1B

In a three company partnership the German automakers BMW, Audi and Daimler are set to take ownership of Nokia's Here mapping technology. Autoblog's Eddie Sabatini reports on this edition of Autoblog Minute. Show full video transcript text [00:00:00] In a battle for Nokia's highly coveted mapping technology the auto industry claims victory over Silicon Valley. I'm Eddie Sabatini and this is your Autoblog Minute. In a three company partnership the German automakers BMW, Audi and Daimler are set to take ownership of Nokia's Here mapping technology. The Wall Street Journal writes that the automakers had concerns that the technology might fall under the [00:00:30]control of companies like Google, Uber, or Apple. The purchase, worth a reported 3.1 billion dollars, is still subject to antitrust evaluation before it's finalized; but this early news is already a big win for the German three. Ownership of Nokia's Here tech means that automakers won't lose control of the information systems that go into their cars. The deal, if approved, is expected to close in first quarter of 2016. For Autoblog, I'm Eddie Sabatini. [00:01:00] Autoblog Minute Logo Autoblog Minute is a short-form video news series reporting on all things automotive. Each segment offers a quick and clear picture of what's happening in the automotive industry from the perspective of Autoblog's expert editorial staff, auto executives, and industry professionals. Audi BMW Autoblog Minute Videos Original Video

Audi, BMW, Daimler buy Nokia's Here digital mapping business

The fight for control of Nokia's Here digital mapping service appears to have drawn to a close as a consortium of German automakers has announced a deal to jointly acquire the business from the Finnish telecom giant. As anticipated, ownership in Here will now be taken over jointly by Audi, BMW, and Daimler, beating out reported rivals bids from the likes of Apple and Uber. Here is one of the largest and most advanced digital mapping and location systems. It started out in Chicago in 1986 as Navteq before Nokia acquired it in 2007, and is now slated to change ownership again. The cloud-based service maintains high-definition digital maps for nearly 200 countries and supports over 50 languages, gathering data from users to update the data continuously. Rather than transition the service into their own proprietary technology, however, the automakers insist that it will remain open "to all customers from the automotive industry and other sectors." Ownership will be shared equally between the three companies, with "none of them seek[ing] to acquire a majority interest" in Here. For another, Here's management is promised to remain independent, and "the consortium will not interfere into operational business." Though the purchase price has not been disclosed, it is rumored to be worth in the neighborhood of $2.7 billion. Assuming it passes regulatory approval, the acquisition is slated to be completed in the first quarter of next year. The German automakers anticipate implementing the service to provide connected vehicles with accurate, up-to-date information on road and other conditions. Examples it outlines include warning other drivers of icy conditions based on outside temperature and ABS activation. It could also warn drivers of impending traffic jams, or even guide traffic through green lights in an urban environment. In the future, the highly detailed maps are envisioned to enable fully automated driving as well. Related Video: AUDI AG, BMW Group and Daimler AG agree with Nokia Corporation on joint acquisition of HERE digital mapping business Ingolstadt, Munich, Stuttgart, Aug 03, 2015 - Acquisition will secure and strengthen HERE as an independent company serving customers from all industries - Real-time maps and location based services will be the basis for the mobility of tomorrow - Transaction expected to close in first quarter 2016 Ingolstadt, Munich, Stuttgart – August 3rd, 2015.

Apple and BMW have been exploring partnerships on cars

Apple and BMW may eventually have more in common than just some features in your car's infotainment system. Sources for both Reuters and Manager Magazin understand that the two companies have had "exploratory talks," including a trip by Apple executives to Leipzig to see how BMW builds the i3. Apple reportedly likes that BMW rethought the conventional car manufacturing process for its electric vehicle, and might use what it learned to help make its own EV. While BMW claims that there aren't any active talks about jointly developing a car, a Reuters tipster hears that the firms may revive talks (not necessarily to co-produce a vehicle) later on. Not surprisingly, BMW is cautious about any deals. Research lead Klaus Froehlich says the doesn't want to "open [its] ecosystems" to a potential rival. However, it's hard to see the two avoiding each other when they could both use each other's help. Apple knows a lot about user interfaces and integrating mobile technology into cars, but it's a newcomer in creating the cars themselves – that's part of why it's hiring so many auto industry veterans. Meanwhile, BMW knows that it can only do so much to accommodate connected devices without collaborations. You probably won't see an Apple-designed Beemer or an Apple car with loads of BMW-sourced parts, but there's still lots of potential for the corporations to influence each other. This article by Jon Fingas originally ran on Engadget, the definitive guide to this connected life. Related Video:

BMW i3 owners in California get $1,000 to delay charging

It's fairly rare to get paid for doing absolutely nothing, but that's exactly the case for a select group of BMW i3 owners in California. A hundred people are part of the ChargeForward pilot program in coordination with BMW and Pacific Gas & Electric Company, and each participant gets a $1,000 gift card to not plug in their cars – at least not whenever they want to. It's all part of an attempt to develop strategies to reduce the strain on the grid during peak usage. The trial runs from July 2015 to December 2016 in California's Bay Area. According to the automaker's website, when plugged in, BMW has the ability to delay the charging of the i3s by up to an hour. There are no necessary mechanical or software modifications necessary, either. Although, if drivers desperately need the juice, they can also opt out of the program for a day. At the end of the experiment, the people are eligible for a second gift card for up to another $540, depending on their involvement. According to Bloomberg, with 65,000 electric vehicles in Northern California, the power company estimates the area has among the highest concentrations of EVs in the country. While all of those emissions-free miles are great for the environment, plugging them all in once just adds to the load on the system. As a second part of the program, used Mini E batteries are being repurposed to create a solar-powered, stationary storage system that Pacific Gas can also use to supplement the grid.

Options sheet for the BMW M2 leaks

The same folks over at the 2addicts forum that brought us preliminary specs on the BMW M2 have apparently gotten their hands on the option sheet for what will be the littlest M. Reports indicate 365 horsepower and 343 pound-feet of torque from turbocharged, 3.0-liter inline-six, working through either a six-speed manual transmission or a seven-speed dual-clutch. Other features on the car won't be so replete with choice. According to the options sheet provided by a forum member there's only one wheel style available, 19-inch black numbers, said to be the black light alloy double spoke wheels that can be specced on the M4. There's a parking sensor fitted to the rear, but no sensor option for the front of the car. Navigation Pro and carbon interior inserts are standard, as is the Shadowline black exterior trim, which swaps out chrome trim around the windows and other places for muted black. Among the options will be power heated seats, a rearview camera, adaptive headlights, an upgraded Harman Kardon stereo, and a five-year warranty. Those adaptive headlights are xenon; LED headlights aren't available. Neither is a carbon fiber roof. But there will be a moonroof option, BMW's Electronic Damper Control, and proper M seats by the looks of it - the coupe will get M235i seats as standard. Take this news with some salt - the order information comes from a Belgian member who ordered his Euro-spec car, so US option mileage might vary. Related Video: