Last we saw the BMW i8 hybrid sports coupe prototype it was being tested during the dead of winter in Northern Sweden. It’s now Spring and the i8 mule is being tested in the much more pleasant settings of Southern Germany.

The camouflage remains the same as before, but with these clear prototype i8 photos and the recently revealed i8 Spyder Concept, we already have a pretty good idea of the size, proportions, stance, and styling details of the 2014 i8 production car. It will resemble the car seen in the renders posted below.

Powertrain and Sales Target:

The concept i8 specs should give a great idea of what to expect for the production i8 model. The concept i8 features a high performance 3-cylinder petrol engine (164 kW) in … CONTINUED

We bring you the first ever track footage of the F31 touring. These F31 3 Series Touring Sport Line models were spotted just this week getting in some test laps at the Nurburgring. It won’t be long now until the F31 reveal (though not much is left camouflaged) so these are the last stages of development being conducted. Despite the extra hatch that the F31 carries, it looks quite nimble handling the challenges of the Nurburgring.

The F31 touring is confirmed to be making a return to the North American market. It will launch in Europe before hitting North American shores. Only BMW knows how long the gap will be, but we don’t expect it to be any longer than a few months. The F31 should launch … CONTINUED

The M6 Gran Coupe opened the Nurburgring testing season in March and we’ve now caught it on video, giving you a good idea how just how well it tackles the track. That such a large car can perform like this on a challenging track is an impressive sight.

As the M6 Gran Coupe will utilize the same S63Tu engine as the F10 M5 (although the M6 Gran Coupe may be introduced with a slightly uprated power figure from the M5′s 560hp), it’s seen testing with and benchmarked against several M5s in the video, including the M5 Ring Taxis.

The M6 Gran Coupe will feature the same front and rear design as the M6 Coupe and Convertible and will have a similar carbon roof to the one on the … CONTINUED

Here are photos from the latest F31 3 series touring sighting. Are we possibly looking at the first indication of a 328i xDrive with manual transmission? When we previously interviewed BMW on which F30/F31 xDrive models would receive a manual transmission, all we were told was that there would be at least one xDrive model with manual transmission. So, *if* this particular F31 is a 328i xDrive model (the front suspension appears to sit a bit higher?), then it would appear that the 328i may be one of the xDrive models to receive a manual transmission option.

The 3 Series Li Long Wheelbase model has just premiered in China (for the Chinese market only), so the next 3 series variant to be introduced will be the F31 touring wagon. We expect it to make its debut at the AMI auto show in Leipzig, Germany in early June.

Seen here are FEP (final evaluation phase) F31 Sport Line and a F31 Luxury Line models being put through the paces on the Nurburgring.

To repeat, the F31 touring is confirmed to be making a return to the North American market. When will it hit the States? In our interview from the 2012 NYIAS, we learned that the F31 will be available in the European market before it launches into North America. Only BMW knows how long the … CONTINUED

Powered by a 320hp version of the N55 3.0-litre inline 6, the M135i will be the fastest 1-series currently available. As BMW puts it, “moreover, the characteristic handling precision of BMW M Performance automobiles is obtained through model-specific suspension technology that includes an M sports braking system and is perfectly adapted to match the supreme road performance. 18-inch M light alloys with a double spoke design additionally complement the car’s sporting character.” So we expect the M135i’s performance to come quite close to the already-legendary 1-series M Coupe.

The M135i has been confirmed to be coming with optional manual transmission and AWD xDrive. The coupe version of the M135i (which may be called the M235i as the F22 coupe may take on the 2-series badge) has been … CONTINUED

The camouflage on BMW prototypes usually comes off slowly like a strip tease as prototypes advance from one test stage to the next. But, this time we’ve spied some parts of the next generation 2014 BMW X5 (codename: F15) in exposed form much earlier than expected.

It looks like an automotive version of the Sci-Fi horror film Predator, but this post crash test X5 prototype actually reveals much – the headlight shape, hood lines, fenders, and the side body character line. Keep in mind that some of the lines and panels you see up front are distorted due to the crash test.

Judging by what’s seen here, the X5 retains its muscular shape and will not be much larger than the current E70 X5 (based on previous comparison … CONTINUED

We’ve spied an advanced 7 Series LCI facelift prototype and it’s looking like the reveal is coming in the very near future.

The refreshed 7 Series’ biggest change will be to the front fascia. Full LED headlights will come to the 7 series for the first time, with the turn signal lights now integrated into the eyebrow. We can now also make out a more aggressive lower bumper, with more pronounced and longer splitter fins on the lower lip, in an overall look similar to the BMW Concept 7 Active Hybrid from 2008.

The Kidney grilles receive a thicker and more pronounced grille surround and the side mirrors now incorporate side indicator lights.

The interior does not show too many cosmetic changes. What we see is that the trim … CONTINUED

Wagon fans should be smitten over this one. We’ve spied for the first time the F31 3 series touring in M Sport form, in the stunning Estoril Blue II color.

The camouflage remains a formality at this point since the F30 3 series sedan M Sport has already been revealed and the F31 touring will share the same front and rear bumpers/diffusers and sideskirts.

What’s missing from this test car are the M Sport wheels and brakes.

The next 3 series touring / wagon is expected to make its debut at the AMI auto show in Leipzig in early June.

The F31 has been confirmed to be making a return to the North American market. In an interview we had at the 2012 NAIAS with Paul Ferraiolo, Manager, Product Planning … CONTINUED