The new 520d will likely be the 5 Series’ most popular model

Its mixture of power and efficiency will likely make the new 2017 BMW 520d the best seller of the 5 Series in Germany and Europe. The 190 hp four-cylinder diesel B47 engine will also show its qualities as an all-rounder in the new 5 Series and all the more likely to prove why it is one of the most important engines for BMW. The 1,540 kg weight of the G30 BMW 520d will also make it easier on the new 400 Nm engine.

On the outside, the 2017 BMW 520d, for the first time, will feature a tailpipe on the left and right side, an appearance previously reserved for the more powerful six-cylinder engines.

The BMW 520d is also available with a manual six-speed gearbox, while all other engines are equipped with the eight-speed automatic transmission. While the acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h with manual transmission comes in 7.7 seconds, the BMW 520d with eight-speed automatic delivers 7.5 seconds. Depending on the drive concept and transmission, the maximum speed is between 232 and 238 km/h. BMW’s all-wheel drive xDrive system is also offered as an option.

With a base price of 45,200 euros, the 520d is the market leader of the 5 Series when it launches in February in Europe. Thanks to the eight-speed automatic, the price already climbs to 47,450 euros, with xDrive the 520d costs at least 50,000 euros. Further options like the Luxury Line will increase its price.

The article The new 520d will likely be the 5 Series’ most popular model appeared first on BMW BLOG

from BMW BLOG http://ift.tt/2gRykdI

See the new BMW 5 Series decked out with M Performance Parts

In just a few days we will get behind the wheel of the new BMW 5 Series, but in the mean time, we’re bringing you a new set of photos illustrating the middle class sedan with its M Performance Parts program. In the rain there was a BMW 540i, with its sportive-aggressive appearance and plenty of carbon fiber parts that beautifully contrast with the Alpine White color.

The most striking design changes at the front are the black kidney grille and the splitter attachment for the front apron, as well as the two outer air inlets additionally decorated with carbon attachments. The dark carbon exterior mirrors are another addition to the exterior design. The sporty side skirts with the BMW M Performance lettering, the two-color rims, the rear spoiler lip and the diffuser insert for the M package rear apron are further differentiating the stock 540i from the ones tuned by M Performance.

Also from a technical point of view, there are good reasons for the intensified look of the M Performance 5 Series, because besides the design, there are also some aerodynamic optimizations. Behind the 20-inch light-alloy wheels, a high-performance braking system is installed at the front, which makes sense for sporty drivers.

From the outset, the BMW M Performance Power Kit will be available for the 540i’s B58 engine. The straight-six cylinder will then send 360 hp and 500 Newton meters to the rear wheels and will offer even better performance at high speeds. Another power kit for the BMW 530d with B57 diesel is already in works, this is due to the performance increase to 292 hp and 650 Nm of torque.

[Source: Bimmertoday]

The article See the new BMW 5 Series decked out with M Performance Parts appeared first on BMW BLOG

from BMW BLOG http://ift.tt/2gd5apv

Dunne avoids snake bite, hits superb 66 to share lead at Leopard Creek

Leopard Creek

Paul Dunne had to sweat to save his European Tour card in 2016 but not even the threat of snakebite stopped him firing a super 66 to grab a share of the lead with Alfred Dunhill Championship specialist Charl Schwartzel in his first outing of the new campaign.

Despite a double bogey six at the ninth, where he drove deep into a bush and decided not to risk getting bitten by one of Leopard Creek’s slippery locals, the Greystones man compensated with a tally of eight birdies.

At six under par, Dunne and Schwartzel are just one clear of a six-strong chasing pack formed by Q-School graduate Max Orrin, Scot Scott Jamieson, South Africans Jean Hugo and Brandon Stone, Spaniard Pablio Larrazábal and Swedish Challenge Tour graduate Alexander Bjork. 

Scores

“I pushed my drive on nine to the right, and it wasn’t too bad until it hit the cart path,” said 24-year old Dunne, who sandwiched his double bogey six at the ninth between birdies at the first, fourth, seventh, eighth, 11th, 13th, 15th and 17th. 

“It went deep into the bush and I wasn’t fancying going in there. It’s not worth getting bitten by a snake.”

Schwartzel has eight top twos and four wins in his 11 starts in the event and he’s on track for that fifth win after he followed a one under front nine with a homeward 32.

“Patience was the key,” Schwartzel said. “That’s true for any tournament. You don’t want to put yourself out of it, which you can very easily do, so on the front nine, I was just really grinding hard to make pars, and when I did find some good shots, I capitalised by making birdies, which was nice.”

Michael Hoey made a good start to life without a full European Tour card after missing out at Q-School as he made five birdies and two bogeys in a 69 worth a share of 18th on three under.

Rookie Jack Hume bogeyed the first and third before mixing two birdies with one more birdie for aone over 73 and a share of 91st while losing European Ryder Cup captain Darren Clarke finished with a quadruple bogey nine for a six over 78 to lie tied 141st.

from News - Irish Golf Desk http://ift.tt/2gL7TtD

VIDEO: Watch a BMW 650i rally car get muddy

Rally racing has always been my favorite style of racing. More so than even Formula One and Le Mans. The reason is that the cars aren’t pretty and the work is dirty. Its just cool to see cars get muddy and dirty and broken and battered all in the name of speed. It also just seems like good fun, as the speeds are high but the traction is low. It’s especially fun to see rear-wheel drive rally cars, as they aren’t popular anymore. So when we saw this BMW 650i rally car, we were very excited.

The BMW E63 650i is many things but light and/or nimble it isn’t. It’s big, it’s heavy, it’s powerful and it’s fast. But it isn’t exactly razor sharp and it doesn’t have the grace of its smaller M siblings. So it probably wouldn’t make a good rally car. Or would it?

Australian rally driver Andi Aigner decided that it would and did indeed make a rally car out of the big V8 6 Series. The stock BMW 650i developed 360 hp and 360 lb-ft of torque from its 4.8 liter naturally-aspirated V8, but we’re not sure what’s been done to it or how much power it puts out now. However, we do know it has a Remus exhaust, thanks to the sponsorship ad in the video and we know that it sounds fan-flipping-tastic.

The V8 rumble and roar is addictive and makes us long for the days before turbocharged BMW engines. Hearing it rip and snort as the 650i slides around corners in the mud is mesmerizing and I could watch it all day. In fact, I want to live in that car as it slides around.

It also looks great. The E63-gen 6 Series was never exactly pretty, with its weird squinty eyes and fussy rear end, but it looks great with a racing livery and covered in mud. It looks like a big, tough brute. And it is one. Except it also has some grace to it, as it’s fully capable of being a ballet dancer in the dirt and mud. Check out this video and tell me you don’t want to do that, too.

[Source: Jalopnik]

The article VIDEO: Watch a BMW 650i rally car get muddy appeared first on BMW BLOG

from BMW BLOG http://ift.tt/2gcTeUB

CoffeeShop "Christmas Tree 8x10 Storyboard"!

Today I have a brand new Christmas Tree 8x10 storyboard for print or web. This professional template is a layered psd file so you can add your images using clipping masks (tutorial and free action). The background and star color are completely customizable, and you can even add some pretty background paper!

Thanks to Jill Wellington (Etsy Shop, Facebook, Blog, YouTube Videos) for allowing me to use her images in my example storyboard.

Download the CoffeeShop "Christmas Tree Storyboard". You can also download it here.

Do you want to download my favorite CoffeeShop PSE/Photoshop Actions and Lightroom Presets or Design Elements in one convenient zipped file AND help support this blog? Just click here for my action pack or here for a download of some of my most popular design elements, storyboards, and textures.

For complete info on installing all of my actions, click here.

More from Rita:
Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | Twitter

from The CoffeeShop Blog http://ift.tt/2fKmzcQ

VIDEO: Carfection drives the new BMW G30 5 Series

There’s been a lot said about BMW’s new G30-generation 5 Series as of late. With journalists from around the globe doing test drives in Portugal as we speak, there are several reviews making their way towards the interwebs. But just reading about what others have experienced doesn’t quite capture it enough. Maybe that’s more to do with the writers than the car, but you get the idea.

So Carfection made a video, as they always do, and in it we get to see the 5 Series in action. Maybe it’s the beautiful Portuguese coast line in the background, but I personally think the new 5 Series looks really good. The big kidney grille surrounds, I’m not in love with, but the rest of it looks great, especially with the M Sport package. Inside, the cabin is very much a 7 Series interior, albeit with some lesser materials and less flair. However, I actually think it works better for the 5 Series than the 7 Series. Alex Goy seems to mostly agree, though he isn’t in love with the exterior looks.

What he does seem to like is the way it drives. He hits the nail on the head with his description of what a 5 Series should be — it’s supposed to be everything. The BMW 5 Series needs to be comfortable, good looking and smooth while also being fun to drive, dynamic and exciting. And it seems that this new 5er is exactly that.

With a smooth and comfortable suspension, even in Sport and Sport Plus modes, the new 540i M Sport can be a relaxing car to drive home from work. It has all of the fancy new toys that the 7 Series has, including the new iDrive system which incorporates Gesture Control as well as touch screen compatibility. A word on the Gesture Control, Goy finds it gimmicky, as we all do, but seems to use it without explanation as to why. I recently tested a 7 Series and found similar results.

But when the road gets twisty and the kids are already dropped off, the 5 Series can turn into an exciting and dynamic sport sedan. It has the athletics to really hustle down a road and is significantly better than the previous car.

Add its dynamics to a good looking, comfortable and technology-filled package and the new BMW 5 Series seems to be exactly the kind of car we all wanted it to be and something that can genuinely compete for the top spot in its class.

The article VIDEO: Carfection drives the new BMW G30 5 Series appeared first on BMW BLOG

from BMW BLOG http://ift.tt/2fKee8R

November 2016: BMW USA brand vehicles decreased 18.2 percent

Sales of BMW brand vehicles decreased 18.2 percent in November for a total of 26,189 compared to 32,003 vehicles sold in November, 2015.  Year-to-date, the BMW brand is down 10.0 percent in the U.S. on sales of 280,339 vehicles compared to 311,398 sold in the first eleven months of 2015.

Notable vehicle sales in November include the BMW 7 Series which increased 18.0 percent to 1,233 cars, the BMW X1 which increased 53.2 percent to 2,745 vehicles, and the BMW X5 which increased 18.4 percent to 4,693 vehicles.

“Only a month remains in this year and we are beginning to bid farewell to the current generation 5 Series and getting ready to welcome the all-new BMW 5 Series which will make its world debut at the Detroit Auto Show in January,” said Ludwig Willisch, President and CEO, BMW of North America.  “The dynamic driving character of the new 5 Series will be a complement to our 7 Series and make for a stronger model lineup heading into 2017.”

BMW Group Sales
In total, the BMW Group in the U.S. (BMW and MINI combined) reported November sales of 30,696 vehicles, a decrease of 15.8 percent from the 36,447 vehicles sold in the same month a year ago.  Year-to-date, BMW Group sales are down 10.2 percent on sales of 327,711 vehicles in the first eleven months of 2016 compared to 364,903 in the same period in 2015.

MINI Brand Sales
For November, MINI USA reported 4,507 automobiles sold, an increase of 1.4 percent from the 4,444 sold in the same month a year ago.  Year-to-date, MINI USA reported a total of 47,372 automobiles sold, a decrease of 11.5 percent from 53,505 automobiles sold in the first eleven months of 2015.

Table 1: New Vehicle Sales BMW of North America, LLC, November 2016

	Nov. 2016	Nov. 2015	%	YTD Nov. 2016	YTD Nov. 2015	%
BMW brand	26,189	32,003	-18.2	280,339	311,398	-10.0
BMW passenger cars	15,947	21,807	-26.9	188,812	221,949	-14.9
BMW light trucks	10,242	10,196	0.5	91,527	89,449	2.3
MINI brand	4,507	4,444	1.4	47,372	53,505	-11.5
TOTAL Group	30,696	36,447	-15.8	327,711	364,903	-10.2

BMW Pre-Owned Vehicles

• November 2016 sales of BMW Certified Pre-Owned set a November record with 10,606 vehicles, an increase of 26.4 percent from November 2015.
• Total BMW Pre-Owned sales also set a November record with 19,995 vehicles, an increase of 43.2 percent from November 2015.
• Total BMW Pre-Owned cars sold year-to-date were 210,541, a 25.4 percent increase from the first eleven months of 2015.

MINI Pre-Owned Vehicles

• In November, sales of MINI Certified Pre-Owned set a November record with 918 vehicles, an increase of 13.1 percent from November 2015.
• Total MINI Pre-Owned sales also set a November record with 2,265 vehicles in November 2016, an increase of 18.8 percent from November 2015.
• Total MINI Pre-Owned sales year-to-date were 26,025, a 6.3 percent increase from the first eleven months of 2015.

The article November 2016: BMW USA brand vehicles decreased 18.2 percent appeared first on BMW BLOG

from BMW BLOG http://ift.tt/2fPXmZt