2002 Bmw Z3 Roadster Convertible 2-door 2.5l on 2040-cars

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BMW exec says public chargers not important for EV success

What has BMW learned from years of electric vehicle test programs and working with Mini E drivers and the ActiveE Electronauts? According to BMW board member Herbert Diess, it's that public charging is not an important piece of the puzzle of making EVs a success. The way those early EV drivers used their vehicles told BMW that, "public infrastructure is not really very important because most people are charging their cars at home," Diess recently told Wards Auto. It's a message we've heard before. Diess' personal experience fits with this conclusion, he said. After driving his company's new i3 city EV for over a year, "not once have I touched public charging." Of course, the i3 does let the driver search for public charging stations and BMW has a partnership with ChargePoint, and Diess is not hinting that BMW is totally against the idea of public charging. Still, Diess' comments are not likely to find a warm welcome with everyone in the EV scene. An August 2012 UCLA study titled "Financial Viability Of Non-Residential Electric Vehicle Charging Stations" (PDF) clearly states: Adoption by consumers will largely be a function of the electric vehicle charging options available. Studies show that most EV charging currently takes place in the home (Carr 2010). Even so, in order for EVs to gain widespread consumer adoption, it is critical for an infrastructure of electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSEs) to exist outside the home. Even BMW's own electric drivers have been sending mixed messages. In 2010, a study of Mini E drivers found that 87.5 percent said a public charging infrastructure is necessary, though 75 percent later said they could manage without such a network.

Revised 2015 BMW 6 Series family shows its tweaked face to the world [w/video]

BMW is unwrapping refreshed versions of its luxurious 6 Series family for the 2015 model year, and the range features some styling tweaks inside and out, along with new standard tech. The biggest change for 2015 is a redesign at the front end to make the 6 look even sharper than before. Only BMW superfans might notice one of the reasons why, though. There are now nine slats in the kidney grille instead of 10 to create larger openings. In addition, all versions get standard Adaptive full-LED headlights with a slightly more angular shape. They're joined by new side mirrors with integrated indicators in thin strips of lights. Lower down, a revised front air dam boasts a tweaked design and LED foglights at each top edge. Updated side window surrounds are exclusive to the four-door model and feature the Gran Coupe name embossed into them near the rear doors. Buyers of any of the models can choose among a palette of new colors including: Jatoba metallic, Cashmere Silver metallic, Glacier Silver metallic, Mediterranean Blue metallic and Melbourne Red metallic. For 2015, the interior revisions are subtle. There's high-gloss black trim covering the center console, and LEDs are used for some lighting. Navigation, heated front seats, two-zone climate control, dynamic cruise control and heated exterior mirrors all come standard for all models, though. If the regular leather doesn't suit you, then there are now Ivory White/Black and Cognac/Black two-tone Nappa options. Mechanically, the 6 Series family carries over from last year. That gives the 640i a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six making 315 horsepower and the 650i a turbo 4.4-liter V8 with 445 hp. The M6 carries over its 560-hp version of the V8, too. Standard models get an eight-speed automatic with optional all-wheel drive, and the M has a seven-speed dual-clutch. If all this isn't enough for some buyers, there are also two new optional packs. The Black Accent Package adds high-gloss black parts for the grille, window surrounds and pipes, plus includes Cognac/Black leather inside with wood trim. The M Sport Edition brings an M body kit, steering wheel and 20-inch wheels, along with cabin additions like a leather dashboard, ventilated seats and soft-close doors. Read all the details about the latest crop of 6 Series models in BMW's verbose press release below, and while you're there, check out an official BMW video.

All the crazy stuff we saw at McCall's Motorworks Revival

Every year, Gordon McCall puts on a lavish event packed with rare cars and planes (and the type of people that can afford rare cars and planes). And every year, more ridiculous stuff shows up. It's the good kind of machine overload. It's likely the only place in the world where you'll see a line of BMW 3.0s next to some Paganis next to a Porsche 911 by Singer Design next to a Ferrari salt racer next to a custom Olds Riviera next to the latest from Koenigsegg next to he coolest stuff Shelby ever made next to a hangar filled with McLarens, including a few P1 GTRs. And then all of that is surrounded by private jets, fighters, and planes that could have flown in directly from WWII. In a word, it's insane. Walk through the gallery above to get a taste for what was there this year for the event's 25th anniversary. Related Video: Featured Gallery 2016 McCall's Motorworks Revival View 29 Photos Image Credit: Copyright 2016 Drew Phillips / Autoblog Motorsports Misc. Auto Shows BMW Ferrari McLaren Porsche Koenigsegg