It’s no secret that BMW has aspirations to move into the compact premium FWD car market, having recently debuted its BMW Concept Active Tourer (which will launch as a production model next year). BMW believes that its new FWD architecture, known as the UKL platform (which will be shared with future MINI models), will be key to driving the company’s future growth.

The company projects that the premium small car market will become the fastest-growing segment and it needs to expand aggressively into this market in order to battle for the top spot in luxury car sales over the next decade.

Up to 20 New Models Proposed

So just how expansive will BMW’s FWD lineup be? According to some recent reports, very extensive.

Frank Niederlaender, the company’s product manager … CONTINUED

The new BMW M3 (F80) sedan will arrive in 2014, but what should it be like? Steve Sutcliffe puts three of its predecessors through their paces at Brands Hatch to find the perfect ingredients.

The ever persistent rumors of a BMW supercar surfaces again. This time, Automobile claims that a 600+ hp BMW M8 supercar is headed for a 2016 debut (to celebrate BMW’s 100th anniversary).

Although BMW CEO Norbert Reithofer is said to be ambivalent on the idea of a supercar, BMW M President Dr. Friedrich Nitschke remains dogged on the project while getting creative by considering the production of the M8 on the same carbon fiber / aluminum platform as the i8 hybrid electric sports car. This would not only create production economies of scale (less expensive production costs) while also giving the M8 a significant weight advantage over its rivals.

If such a supercar was indeed built, giving it an M8 nameplate shouldn’t pose an issue or conflict. … CONTINUED

As we pointed out yesterday, BMW had a not so subtle hint in its press release highlighting its 2012 LA Auto Show lineup about “more BMW i news at the show,” which we inferred as a possible clue regarding a debut of the recently rumored BMW i4 Concept.

BMW has just announced (see below) today that there will indeed by a new BMW i Concept Vehicle making its world debut at next week’s LA show. If this turns out to be the i4 Concept, expect that it may be a two seater i8-like sports car, utilizing the i3’s drivetrain.

Press release:
A new BMW i Concept vehicle will make its world debut and the BMW i8 Concept Roadster will make its North American auto show debut at the … CONTINUED

BMW today announced a portion of its lineup to be displayed at this year’s Los Angeles International Auto Show press days [public days go from November 30 - December 9]. From the exotic BMW Concept i8 Roadster to the versatile new BMW Concept K2 Powder Ride based on the popular new BMW X1 with graphics designed by Designworks USA, the company will showcase a comprehensive product arrangement which strikes the perfect balance of high performance, innovative efficiency, and outstanding design. There will be more BMW i news at the show.

BMW i4 Concept: The “more BMW i news at the show” alluded to in this official press release could be referring to the debut of a BMW i4 Concept, recently rumored to be coming to the … CONTINUED

Our friend from Car and Driver, Jens Meiners, reports that the concept version of the upcoming 4 Series coupe - the two door sports coupe model based off the current F30 3 Series sedan, will be unveiled at the 2013 Detroit auto show in January.

If the concept 4 Series coupe indeed makes its debut at the Detroit show, along with the concept X4 SAV which is also rumored to make the show, then the 2013 Detroit show would no doubt be one of the most memorable BMW showings in recent memory, as the just revealed M6 Gran Coupe is also making its debut at the show, with the 3 Series GT premiere also being a possibility.

The BMW X4 (F26) is being rumored to be debuting at the 2013 Detroit NAIAS in January. That the X4 is coming is no surprise as BMW previously officially announced its intention to build the X4. What wasn’t known however, was the timing of its debut.

The X4 is said to be coming in concept form at the NAIAS, to be followed in 2014 by the production model. The X4 will be built on the same platform as the X3 and is reportedly also the same length as the X3, at 183 inches. They will also share powerplants - a range of 4 and 6 cylinder petrol and diesel engines.

What will be different however, will be the X4’s sportier coupe-like styling. Think of the difference between … CONTINUED

We have added our side profile renders of the 2015 BMW M4 Coupe (F82) to our set of official renders.

We started with a photo of the F82 M4 right outside of the BMW M testing center at the Nurburgring and began peeling away at the camouflage based on details which can be discerned from this particular prototype, other F82 M4 and F80 M3 mules, as well as our other imagination and speculation.

Here are some render highlights:

• Sportier and sleeker kidney grilles (as seen on previous F32 4 series coupe prototype).
• Sleeker headlights than sedan (which has been rumored and is expected).
• Similar front apron/bumper styling as the F80 M3 - with combined styling from the M6 and 1M (seen clearly in spy pics)
• Air curtain … CONTINUED

BMW announced over the summer that the US would be getting new turbo diesel engines (a 180HP 4-Cylinder and 255HP 6-Cylinder), and now we see that BMW is planning 6 new diesel models for the NA market in 2013 and 2014.

The slide you see below was reportedly taken during a BMWNA meeting and it reveals the upcoming diesel model lineup and schedule:

• F30 3 Series sedan diesel - first half 2013
• F31 3 Series touring - second half 2013
• F10 5 Series diesel - third quarter 2013
• X5d diesel - end of 2013
• 7 Series diesel - first half 2014
• X3d diesel - first half 2014

No info yet on which models may receive what engines, but the 4-cylinder mentioned above may see duty in models … CONTINUED