Hamann Motorsports Reinterprets the BMW 530d GT

[Updated] BMW/Land Rover/Ferrari tuner Hamann just revealed its take on BMW's unfortunate 5-Series GT. Coming from Hamann, one would expect a car as divisive as the 5GT to be insane and over the top. Sadly, it's more subtle and understated.

Hamann's 5GT (all engine variants) gets a new suspension setup across the range, functional front/rear spoilers, skirts, and a special rear apron to effectively house Hamann's new mufflers.

Especially for the 530d GT, the German tuner has developed a reprogrammed Motronic, allowing it to pick up 30 ponies to peg output at 275 horsepower (and a huge 620 Nm / 457 lb-ft of torque); wheels are standard Hamann (bling-y).

Hamann hits the nail on the head, saying that the 5GT is "an unusual top-class, multi-purpose vehicle when it leaves the plant". After it's tuned you're still driving an unusual top-class, multi-purpose vehicle; just one lightly-tuned by Hamann.

By Phil Alex

Larger-than-life BMW Ad Resides over Hong Kong Audi Dealership

The BMW/Audi ad war continues, and the latest attack recently took place in Hong Kong. BMW marketing picked up some prime ad space above an Audi dealership, and it looks as if the building owner is making a double-edged killing. Floor space to Audi and wall space to BMW? Genius.

Now if only the owner could get Mercedes to shoot a commercial there, they'd have the German luxury trifecta in their pocket.

By Phil Alex

Photo Source: Chris Junker / flickr , Via: Worldcarfans & Jalopnik

BMW Adds xDrive AWD Option on all 5-Series GTs and the 740d

BMW is completing the range of the new 5-Series Gran Turimso with the introduction of its so-called "intelligent" xDrive all-wheel-drive technology that will be offered on all engine variants of the crossover model.

Beginning from June 2010, 5-Series GT customers will have the choice of two versions of the car featuring xDrive, the 530d with a 245HP inline-six diesel, and the 550i with a 407HP 4.4-liter turbocharged V8 petrol.

According to the German firm, the 550i GT xDrive accelerates to 100 km/h (62mph) in 5.4 seconds while top speed is cut off by the engine's electronic control unit at 250 km/h or 155 mph. Average fuel consumption in the EU test cycle is 11.8 lt/100 km, equal to 23.9 mpg imp, with CO2 emissions amounting to 275 g/km

The 530d xDrive GT accelerates from a standstill to 100 km/h in 6.9 seconds and reaches a top speed of 235 km/h or 146 mph. It returns an average fuel consumption of 6.9 lt/100 km, equal to 40.9 mpg imp, in the EU test cycle. The CO2 rating, finally, is 183g/km.

In September, the xDrive range will be rounded off with the 535d xDrive GT and the 306HP 535i xDrive GT. Performance and fuel economy figures for these two models will be released at a later date.

Finally, the same all-wheel drive system will also make it appearance on the 740d limo that's powered by a 306HP turbo-diesel unit in autumn of 2010.

2012 BMW M5 Sedan Realistically Rendered

A member of the F10 bimmer forums has put his photoshop talents to good use creating a series of realistic renderings of the upcoming 2012 (or 2011, depending on which side of the Atlantic you're on) BMW M5 Saloon.

Due to arrive in 2011, the Bavarian automaker's new high-performance super saloon will be powered by a downsized, 4.4-liter twin-turbocharged V8 engine that was first used on the X5M and X6M.

In those two models, the V8 produces 555HP at 6,000 rpm and 680Nm or 501-lbs/ft of peak torque. However, it has been suggested that BMW's M division may further tweak the twin-turbo engine boosting output closer to the 600HP mark.

Via: F10 Forums (by Alpine325ci)