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BMW X4 reclaims dash of utility with Clemson student project [w/videos]

BMW seems willing to exploit every automotive niche it can find with creations like the four-door, 'crossover coupe' X4 and X6. Of course, these designs come with a compromise. That svelte fastback means that they just can't haul as much cargo as a more traditional, boxier hatchback. Fortunately, students at Clemson University's International Center for Automotive Research might have a novel solution: the engineering graduate program has turned the crossover into a unique pickup.
Dubbed Deep Orange 4 concept, this functional prototype has an enclosed cargo area with a sliding glass panel that opens up to expose a pickup bed if more room is needed. Think of it as the GMC Envoy XUV of German crossovers. This isn't just an X4 with its roof hacked off, though. The students actually started with an X3 and grafted on this top later in addition to the two barn doors for access to the bed.
To make this project even more impressive, this pickup-crossover could conceivably be produced. The graduate students conducted an in-plant analysis of BMW's manufacturing abilities and went back to the university to create a plan for a low-volume vehicle that could actually be built. "The students working on this phase of the project did an excellent job of keeping costs down while finding optimal integration opportunities," said Rich Morris, vice president of assembly at BMW Manufacturing, in the university's release.

BMW i8 will be first production car to use Gorilla Glass

What do smartphones and the BMW i8 have in common? Glass. Scratch-resistant Gorilla Glass, that is. The i8 will be the first production car to use the chemically hardened material, which is more durable, lighter and provides more sound deadening than conventional laminated automotive glass. We thought it would be a natural replacement for windshields, but, according to Autoweek, BMW said it will be used for the rear window for sound deadening purposes. The Gorilla Glass will still be laminated, with two 0.7mm thick layers of it sandwiching an acoustic sheet, reports Autoevolution.
BMW reportedly claims the i8 will weigh less than 3,285 pounds, and to offset the heavy hybrid powertrain to reach that goal the automaker has implemented lightweight materials normally not found in mass-production automobiles. With a carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) monocoque used for both the (relatively) pedestrian i3 and the upscale i8, it's not surprising BMW was also the first to jump onto Gorilla Glass, especially given the timing of a report that a high-end automaker would introduce it within the year.
Be sure to check out our First Drive review of the i8 to see if BMW's newest sports car is living up to the hype.

BMW 2 Series Coupe priced from $33,025* ahead of Detroit debut

BMW is definitely going to have its hands full at next month's Detroit Auto Show. The big news might be the debut of the M3 and M4, which were previewed in our Deep Dive, but joining those performance cars under the bright lights will be the all-new 2015 BMW 2 Series Coupe.
While we already know most of the details about the 2 Series and its available M Performance parts, BMW has now announced that the Coupe will go on sale in the first quarter of next year with a starting price of $33,025 (*plus $925 for destination) for the base 228i. This price is about $1,500 more than the current 1 Series Coupe, which starts at $31,500, while the M235i's starting price of $44,025 is almost $500 more than the existing 135is Coupe. There is still no indication as to when we'll see 2 Series Convertible unveiled.
In addition to new M cars and the 2 Series, BMW's display will also reveal another new color-theme package for the Z4. Last year we saw the Hyper Orange package, and this year will give us the Ivory White Burnt Sienna Z4 available in an exclusive Sparkling Brown Metallic exterior paint color. Scroll down for the full press release of production vehicles BMW has planned to showcase at Detroit's Cobo Hall next month.