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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

BMW to launch loaner program to avoid range anxiety on i models

BMW is looking to stave off electric vehicle range anxiety with a new program that offers buyers a free gasoline loaner with every i3 purchase. Ward's Auto reports BMW is confident that the EV will give buyers the kind of transportation they need for 90 percent of their trips. The loaners, meanwhile, will be available for those few occasions when drivers need to cover more ground than the machine's batteries will allow. The i3 gets around with help from a 180-horsepower electric motor paired with a lithium-ion battery pack.
The combo is good for trips of between 80 and 100 miles depending on driving habits and weather conditions, though BMW also plans to offer a model with a small two-cylinder range-extending gasoline engine as well. That option will likely set you back an additional $4,000. When the machine bows in 2014, it will likely come with a charge time of four to six hours when suckling from a 220-volt outlet.
As far as the conventionally powered loaner car goes, the cost of the program is included in the i3's purchase price, though BMW has yet to figure out how many free loans will be offered, or what happens after that threshold is reached.

Daimler, BMW, Audi consortium nabs Nokia maps for $2.72B

A consortium of German automakers made up of Daimler, BMW, and Audi has reportedly banded together to buy Nokia's Here mapping division for the equivalent of about $2.7 billion. The particulars of the deal aren't yet official but could be announced at the end of July. Reuters claims that this info comes from anonymous insiders speaking to Manager Magazin in Germany. It might be too soon, however, to declare a buyer. Reuters also spoke to two other insiders, and they said that no deal has been completed yet. None of the firms involved has officially spoken about the negotiations. Some of the other bidders for the division have reportedly bowed out. Here is a high-definition digital mapping company that controls about 70 percent of the auto market. The company has a fleet of vehicles with cameras and LIDAR (pictured above) to generate all of the necessary information. It also partners with trucking companies to use their GPS data. Nokia started looking for potential buyers for Here earlier this year. Tech giants that reportedly included Uber and Apple were rumored to be interested, while German automakers also teamed up to submit a joint bid in part to protect their access to the maps. On paper, Here is only valued at around $785 million, but a sale in the billions now seems assured. Related Video: News Source: ReutersImage Credit: Nokia Here Earnings/Financials Audi BMW Technology here nokia here