BMW has already confirmed that the BMW X3 (F25) will be all new for 2011. Additionally, production is to be moved to South Carolina in the newly expanded plant alongside the other X vehicles.

The car itself is built upon a shared platform with the next generation 3-series (F30) and since the X3 will be released before the next generation 3-series it will actually serve as a preview for the 3-series.

Benefiting from the 3-series lineage, the X3 will now come up to par with the rest of the BMW lineup and no longer considered a pariah in the BMW family. Technology, engines, chassis and quality will all be roundly improved as well as styling.
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Here you see a rendering of the upcoming BMW M1 from Autozeitung magazine. According to BMW marketing insider Scott26, “The look is very close to the aerodynamic pack that adorns the M1″ (minus the metallic crossbars). The magazine also mentions that the M1 will go on sale in Summer 2011, with 355 bhp, 0-60 mph under 5 seconds, and M3 suspension!

The concept M1 is expected at the Geneva Auto Show.

Katarina Witt to be Olympic ambassador for the BMW Group. Two-time Olympic winner and BMW Group campaign for the 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in Munich.

Munich. As a National Sponsor of Munich’s Olympic bid, the BMW Group is turning to high-profile support from the sporting arena: two-time Olympic figure skating champion Katarina Witt (44) has been appointed the BMW Group’s ambassador in the bid to host the 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in Munich and Garmisch-Partenkirchen.

As part of this collaboration, Witt will be making public appearances on behalf of the BMW Group. She also chairs the Munich 2018 Bid Committee.

Ian Robertson, Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, Sales and … CONTINUED

This F10 M5 photoshop was posted by BMW insider Scott as he mentioned that the F10 M5 photoshops floating around have all relied too much on the M3s looks. Instead, its suggested that we look to the X5M/X6Ms "sharper" looks for the upcoming M5 and M1s design. We take this to mean that the M5s bumper will be more aggressive as in this image, rather than the M3-like bumper seen in most M5 photoshops.

The rear valence and diffuser on the new M5 is also said to be more sculptured than the M3-like bumper seen in M5 photoshops.

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Lumma didnt stop at just tuning the regular X6 (with their CLR X650 GT), but has now taken on the X6M! The result is the Lumma CLR X650 M which features a similar bodykit as the GT, but gets a nearly 100hp power bump (from 555hp/680nm to 650hp/830nm)! 0-62 is achieved in 4.5 seconds with a 194mph top speed. The CLR X650M will debut at the 2010 Geneva Auto Salon in March.

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It’s not often that any BMW related pricing drops, but luckily for all E9x 3-series owners, BMW has reduced the retail pricing of its entire range of BMW Performance Parts for the E9x 3-series lineup! New pricing is listed below. Full pricing list inside.

BMW’s sport utility and crossover vehicles had a most impressive showing in the Off-Roader of the Year awards. The BMW X5 was voted “Off-Roader of the Year” in the “Luxury SUV” category, and the BMW X1 and BMW X6 came first and second in the “Crossover” category. Even the outgoing BMW X3 took second place in the “SUV” category. The BMW ActiveHybrid X6 took the Eco Award for its innovative powertrain.

Currently, BMW/MINI engines are supplied from a partnership between BMW and Peugeot, and now BMW have signed an agreement with PSA Peugeot to continue the relationship indevelopment of a next generation 4 cylinder engine which would likely be found again in the MINI, but the application there is certainly not limited.

Press release:

Paris. The BMW Group and PSA Peugeot Citro

Larry Koch, M Brand Manager of BMWNA, finally shares the reasons why the M3 GTS will not be available in North America (namely, high cost of preparing the GTS to be US-compliant). Also discussed is the just announced M3 competition package (which will be coming to NA).