BMW 3 Series Sport Wagon Coming to the U.S.

Posted on May 18, 2012 by BMW Cars

Wagon fans, rejoice. BMW has revealed that the 2013 3 Series Sport Wagon will be brought to the U.S. next year. BMW will be redesigning the 3 Series for the 2013 model year, making the next wagon slightly larger than the current model.

The 2013 wagon is expected to offer the same engine and option packages as the outgoing model, but the redesign will make the car slightly lighter and more efficient. It is likely that the new design will be powered by BMW’s 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine that outputs 240 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque, although the N55 3.0-liter turbo-six producing 300 horsepower should also be available. The wagon will continue to offer transmission options of either a 6-speed manual or 8-speed automatic.

The 2013 wagon will receive interior updates as well, although the majority of these remain to be seen. The current model offers a 40:20:40 fold down arrangement to accommodate long cargo, such as skis, and a roof rack is also available. When the roof rack is not in use, a panoramic roof option helps to open up the wagon.

BMW has not yet announced a date when we can expect the 3 Series Wagon, but it will likely not hit showrooms before 2013.

20-Minute EV Charger to Become Standard in US and Abroad

Posted on May 11, 2012 by BMW Cars

Many people love the idea of an electric vehicle, but worry about its practicality when it comes to charging. To help combat this fear, several U.S. and German automakers have agreed to share a common EV charger, which will re-charge a car in just 20 minutes.

Ford, GM, Porsche, Audi, BMW, Chrysler, Daimler, and Volkswagen are all part of the conglomerate of automakers who are contributing to the research on the proposed charger. Engineers from each company have developed this new technology, which combines one-phase AC-charging, fast three-phase AC-charging, DC-charging, and ultra-fast DC-charging to cut the charge time for most electric vehicles from hours down to as little as 20 minutes. The DC-fast charging with a Combined Charging System will be on display at the Electric Vehicle Symposium (EVS26) May 6-9.

The Society of International Engineers has chosen to make this new charging method its standard and the European association of vehicle manufacturers has endorsed the technology, meaning that it will be the charging interface for new EVs beginning in 2017. According to Chrysler, “Industry-wide adoption of this system will only enhance the image of EVs and lead to greater consumer acceptance.”

The Combined Charging System is expected to be available by the end of the year, and vehicles compatible with the technology should start rolling out in 2013.

BMW Announces Hamann-Tuned M5

Posted on May 5, 2012 by BMW Cars

The BMW M5 doesn’t need much help to turn heads, but German-tuner Hamann Motorsport has pushed the envelope on performance, and taken the car to a new level. With upgrades inside and out, the Hamann package is sure to turn heads.

First up, Hamann has created a new body kit, starring widened fenders, new front and back aprons, and side skirts, all of which enhance the car’s aerodynamics. The new spoilers, mounted on the roof and the truck, are reported to increase down-force, amplifying the already stunning power. Where both the proverbial and literal rubber meets the road with the exterior of this sports sedan, however, are the titanic 21×9-inch front tires and 21×12-inch rear ones.

On the interior, the luxurious features continue, starting with the upgraded leather seats and aluminum pedals. Buyers will also be able to choose between three different types of trim: Piano Black, Leather, or Alcantara.

Saving the best for last, Hamann has developed an enhanced exhaust and engine management system which ups the output from 560 Horsepower to 718 and 500 pound-feet of torque to 662. In summary, this car will undoubtedly wow drivers and passersby at a breakneck pace.

Build Your Dream Car Online

Posted on April 27, 2012 by BMW Cars

Do you have a specific BMW in mind but worry that we won’t have your ideal vehicle on our lot? No need to fret, you can build your own BMW on the Union Park BMW website, choosing all of the details from the model to the color to the options and accessories.

First you will choose between the 1 Series, 3 Series, 5 Series, 6, Series, 7 Series, X3, X5, X6, Z4, and M models. Next, you can select the body style and trim level you’re looking for. In order to help you build your dream car, you can make your vehicle choice in several ways, including by series, horsepower, price, drivetrain, fuel efficiency, or body style. After selecting a car, you will then have the opportunity to customize it.

The next step allows you to truly design your own BMW, starting with the exterior color. All optional colors for each model are available. Following this, you will choose interior leather and trim colors, followed by any optional packages, such as the Luxury Seating Package or Cold Weather Package. Then, you can choose among options, such as heated front seats or a rearview camera, and accessories like a BMW Touring Cycle and Mountain Bike Holder.

As you build your ideal BMW, the MSRP is calculated based on color choices, packages, options, and accessories. Once the car has been built, you can request a quote, after which we will contact you regarding the new vehicle. To build your new 2012 BMW, visit http://www.unionparkbmw.com/Build-Your-Own.aspx and start customizing away.

April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month

Posted on April 19, 2012 by BMW Cars

April is National Distracted Driving Awareness Month and across the country, the Department of Transportation has one message for drivers: “One Text or Call could Wreck it All.”

There are many distractions drivers can face behind the wheel. Visual distractions occur when you take your eyes off the road, manual distractions take a driver’s hands off the wheel and onto something else, such as food or drink, and cognitive distractions occur when the driver stops thinking about driving and starts thinking about something else. While there are many ways to get distracted, cell phone use is by far the most alarming, as it requires visual, manual, and cognitive attention.

In 2010 alone, over 3,000 people were killed, and nearly half a million injured, in accidents caused by distracted driving. Cell phone use was reported in 18% of these fatalities. Sending or receiving a text takes a driver’s eyes off the road for an average of 4.6 seconds, meaning they are driving roughly the length of a football field, blind, at 55 mph. Drivers using a hand-held device are also 4 times more likely to get into a crash serious enough to cause an injury due to the lack of reaction time.

Now that you know the facts, you’re probably wondering what you can do to get involved and help make our roadways safer. First, you can take the pledge to drive phone-free, encourage your family and friends to drive phone-free, and speak out if the driver of your car is distracted. You can also share a “Faces of Distracted Driving” video on social media to help raise awareness, download a poster to hang up, and make a company or family pledge to commit to distracted-free driving.

For more distracted driving facts and ways to get involved, visit http://www.distraction.gov.

BMW Reveals i8 Concept Spyder

Posted on April 12, 2012 by BMW Cars

Never has a plug-in hybrid car looked so good. BMW’s concept car, the i8 Spyder, has been released and its sleek, sporty look is catching the eye of car enthusiasts everywhere, but that’s just the beginning.

The i8 Concept Spyder combines a 233 horsepower motor, which can go from 0 to 60 miles per hour in five seconds, with an estimated fuel economy of 94 miles per gallon. It’s the combined electric gasoline engine that provides such impressive fuel efficiency, but what’s more remarkable is that the i8 Spyder can be fully charged by a standard wall outlet in just two hours. A full charge allows the Spyder to travel up to 19 miles in pure electric-mode.

There are several other factors the make the Concept i8 Spyder so aesthetically pleasing. One of which is the windowless, upward-swivel doors. The transparent hood makes the electric engine below visible to all, and the U-shaped headlights flaunt new laser light technology. There is also a large 3D display, which can act as a navigation system or provide critical information such as the vehicle’s current charge, and the flow of energy within the hybrid system.

Unfortunately, the i8 Spyder remains only a concept for now, so we won’t get to test drive it anytime soon. To view a full gallery of the photos visit BMW’s photo gallery.

First BMW Arrives in London for the 2012 Summer Olympics

Posted on April 6, 2012 by BMW Cars

BMW has been named the official automotive partner of the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games by LOCOG (The London Organizing Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games) and will supply them with a full fleet of vehicles to facilitate the 2012 Summer Olympics taking place in London.

The fleet of BMW vehicles will consist of electric, hybrid, and diesel cars in order to meet the strict limit of carbon dioxide emissions LOCOG has put in place. In fact, BMW will even be shipping bicycles to London, which will aid in transportation and clearly have no adverse effect on the environment.

The first batch of 40 BMWs has already arrived in London, but there are still many more to come; some of which will have modifications for handicapped drivers. “We will supply almost 4,000 vehicles, in addition to the 400 bicycles, from diesels to electric cars, hybrids to motorcycles, as well as innovative new products like the Pedelec. I am also personally delighted that we are able to adapt a number of our vehicles for disabled drivers so that volunteers of different physical abilities can drive our cars,” said Global Sales and Marketing Director for BMW Group, Ian Robertson.

Prepare to see plenty of BMWs driving around the streets of London this summer as you watch your favorite athletes compete; they’ll be pretty difficult to miss with eye-catching graphics as the ones seen above.

Get Your Car Ready for Spring

Posted on March 30, 2012 by BMW Cars

Now that Spring is officially here, it’s time to start preparing your car for the change in weather. To help with this, we are offering up 5 tips to get your car in Spring-shape:

Remove salt from the undercarriage – road salt eats away at the undercarriage, which causes rust. To remove this damaging salt, use a garden hose on full water pressure or take your car through a car wash.
Check your tires – tire pressure changes with temperature, up to one pound per square inch for every 10 degrees in outdoor temperature change. Tires that are underinflated can wear unevenly on the sides and can negatively affect gas mileage.
Change your wiper blades – snow, ice, and wind can damage your wiper blades over the winter, so it is a good idea to replace them when the temperatures warm up and more rain enters the forecast.
Change the oil, coolant, and spark plugs – Along with the windshield wipers, spark plugs take a beating in the winter. So it is a good idea to have these – along with your car’s oil, air filter, and coolant – changed along with the seasons.
Give your car a good spring clean – clean out the cabin to get rid of any winter grim that made its way in. The beginning of spring is also a great time to wax the exterior so spring rains will roll right off.

To make sure your car comes out of winter in even better shape than it was going in, bring your vehicle by the Union Park BMW service center for routine maintenance and auto detailing!

The BMW X1 Prepares for its U.S. Debut

Posted on March 22, 2012 by BMW Cars

After waiting for over a year, it appears the BMW X1 is finally ready for its U.S. debut. BMW is expected to reveal its smallest SUV at the New York Auto Show this April. The X1 will likely appear in dealerships by late 2012 as a 2013 model.

The BMW X1 will receive only minor updates for the 2013 model year, as it was just introduced in 2009. The updates are expected to be relatively small things, such as side mirror-integrated turn signals and possibly a new turbocharged 2.0-liter, 4-cylinder engine.

The BMW X1 has been a popular model for the automaker in other countries, and now BMW expects the X1’s launch in the U.S. to be just as successful.

Professor Drives Coast to Coast on 2.15 Gallons of Gas

Posted on March 16, 2012 by BMW Cars

Concerned about the rising cost of gasoline? One professor who is dedicated to alternative energy decided to take action against this seemingly ever-rising cost by driving coast-to-coast on less than 3 gallons of gas.

Cliff Ricketts, an agribusiness professor at Middle Tennessee State University, and a team of student technicians made the 2,532 mile journey from Tybee Island, GA, to Long Beach, CA, on just 2.15 gallons of gasoline. They did so using 3 vehicles that had been refitted to run on compressed hydrogen, batteries, or E95.

Ricketts original goal was to do so on just 10 gallons of fuel from a gas pump, but he secretly hoped to complete the journey on less than 5 gallons. Instead, the team crushed both of these goals by arriving at the Pacific Ocean having used just 2.15 gallons of gasoline on top of solar, electric, ethanol, and hydrogen fuel.

Prior to his journey, Ricketts said that the reason for the mission was to find an alternative for petroleum-based gasoline, whose prices can be volatile. The professor stated, “In case there was a national emergency now, it wouldn’t be unrealistic for gas to go to $10 or $15 a gallon in the U.S. If that happens, people will go, ‘What do we do?’ Well, we’ve got a backup plan.”

Ricketts is planning another coast-to-coast trip in 2013, in which he plans to travel on just sun and water.

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