Bmw 1-series 135i Coupe on 2040-cars

Auto blog

Refreshed BMW 6 Series sports an understated redesign in Detroit [w/video]

BMW is keeping its refresh for the 2015 6 Series family very subtle. The tweaks amount to an understated nose job for the luxury models and some new standard tech, as well. The Bavarian brand is definitely not going too far with this redesign for the vehicles, and they even remain mechanically the same. The most obvious change for the latest 6 Series models is the sharpened front end. BMW explains that the grille now features nine slats, rather than ten. Clearly, this is a major change in design. The lower air dam is slightly reworked to accentuate the vehicles' width, and, in addition, the four-door benefits from a tweaked window surround with the Gran Coupe name embossed near the rear doors. All versions also get standard full-LED headlights. Inside, there's high-gloss black trim covering the center and LEDs illuminating portions of the interior. Beyond these minor alterations, BMW is offering two new options packs for the family that tweak the looks. While the company doesn't have any earth-shattering changes in store, they are there. Try to spot the changes in the refreshed 6 Series models as they sit on the floor of the 2015 Detroit Auto Show. The new BMW 6 Series: Three Body Styles Rejuvenated and Ready to Take on the Competition Woodcliff Lake, N.J. - December 10, 2014 6:00pm EST/3:00pm PST... Through three generations, the BMW 6 Series has defined that unique blend of style and elegance with the performance and handling that one would expect of The Ultimate Driving MachineTM. For the 2015 model year the third-generation of BMW 6 Series receives a range of enhancements that refine the character that is unique to the 6 Series. Now offered in three distinct body styles – traditional two-door Coupe, open-air Convertible and unique four-door Gran Coupe – all three are again offered with a choice of BMW TwinPower Turbo engines, the 315 horsepower inline-six in the 640i models and the 445 horsepower V8 in the 650i models. Sitting at the top of the 6 Series range, in terms power and performance, is the BMW M6 with its 560 horsepower M TwinPower Turbo V8, again available in all three body styles. The 2015 BMW 6 Series will make its world debut at the North American International Auto Show and arrives in US showrooms in the first quarter of 2015. Sports performance and luxury – a combination rich in tradition. The new BMW 6 Series model range follows in a BMW tradition of legendary dream cars which now stretches back more than 75 years.

8 automakers, 15 utilities collaborate on open smart-charging for EVs

We're going to lead with General Motors here. GM is one of eight automakers working with 15 utilities and the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) at developing a "smart" plug-in vehicle charging system. Why did we start with GM? Because it's the first automaker whose press release we read that mentioned the other seven automakers. Points for sharing. For the record, the collaboration also includes BMW, Toyota, Mercedes-Benz, Honda, Chrysler, Mitsubishi and Ford. The utilities include DTE Energy, Duke Energy, Southern California Edison and Pacific Gas & Electric. The idea is to develop a so-called "demand charging" system in which an integrated system lets the plug-ins and utilities communicate with each other so that vehicle charging is cut back at peak hours, when energy is most expensive, and ramped up when the rates drop. Such entities say there's a sense of urgency to develop such a system because the number of plug-in vehicles on US roads totals more than 225,000 today and is climbing steadily. There's a lot of technology involved, obviously, but the goal is to have an open platform that's compatible with virtually any automaker's plug-in vehicle. No timeframe was disclosed for when such a system could go live but you can find a press release from EPRI below. EPRI, Utilities, Auto Manufacturers to Create an Open Grid Integration Platform for Plug-in Electric Vehicles PALO ALTO, Calif. (July 29, 2014) – The Electric Power Research Institute, 8 automakers and 15 utilities are working to develop and demonstrate an open platform that would integrate plug-in electric vehicles (PEV) with smart grid technologies enabling utilities to support PEV charging regardless of location. The platform will allow manufacturers to offer a customer-friendly interface through which PEV drivers can more easily participate in utility PEV programs, such as rates for off-peak or nighttime charging. The portal for the system would be a utility's communications system and an electric vehicle's telematics system. As the electric grid evolves with smarter functionality, electric vehicles can serve as a distributed energy resource to support grid reliability, stability and efficiency. With more than 225,000 plug-in vehicles on U.S. roads -- and their numbers growing -- they are likely to play a significant role in electricity demand side management.

Permanent erection lawsuit against BMW thrown out

The California man who claimed that he suffered from a 20-month erection after a four-hour ride on his BMW K1100RS motorcycle (similar model pictured above) has had his case dismissed. It seems the court found his claims too hard to believe.
Henry Wolf filed a product liability lawsuit against BMW and seatmaker Corbin-Pacific in the California Superior Court in April 2012 after he claimed a motorcycle ride in September 2010 caused a long-term case of priapism from the "ridge-like" saddle design. He asked for compensation for lost wages, medical expenses and emotional distress from both companies.
Nearly two years later, according to Visor Down, Judge James J. McBride decided that the case didn't have enough supporting evidence. A urologist testified that the plaintiff had priapism, but the court rejected the testimony of a neurologist who claimed the motorcycle's vibration caused the disorder. The defendants presented testimony from the bike's former and subsequent owners. Corbin-Pacific CEO Mike Corbin also spoke in the company's defense.