We’ve just spied the next generation BMW X5 M prototype beginning its testing! Although still clad in full camouflage, signature M features leave no doubt that we are looking at the next X5 M.

The most conspicuous items are the quad M exhausts, active differential and blue brake calipers, which have become the signature color for M model brakes (i.e. F10 M5 and F12/F13 M6). Seen behind the blue M brakes are drilled rotors, the first for any X5 model. Hiding behind the front end camouflage are huge air intakes and we get a very clear look at how the headlights will connect to the kidney grilles, in the same fashion as on the F30 3 Series.

This prototype comes just 6 months after the regular F15 X5 … CONTINUED

Good news for iPhone users. iOS6 is finally supporting iDrive Office integration via Bluetooth MAP (Message Access Profile). Bluetooth MAP is the protocol used to retrieve email messages through iDrive, which currently only works with Blackberry and a few other devices.

Here are a few photos showing a iPhone 4S connecting via Bluetooth MAP (wireless non-USB connection) using iOS6 Beta 1.

We took a recent trip to the BMW Museum and Welt where there’s currently a new exhibit on display - BMW Motorsports cars. The exhibit opened June 5th and will continue throughout the summer.

For those of our members not able to see it in person, we bring you plenty of photos, as well as photos of the M room and generation displays.

For the past few weeks, BMW has been offering a $300 discount on the 2012 3 Series for scheduling a test drive through the app, but they’ve now expanded the promotion to include all BMW models.

The discounts are as follows:

$300 Off 3 Series, 1 Series, X1, X3 and Z4 (all trims, including M models)
$500 Off 5 Series, 5 Series Gran Turismo and X5 (all trims, including M models)
$700 Off 7 Series, 6 Series, 6 Series Gran Coupe and X6 (all trims, including M models)

What you will receive is a voucher in the amounts listed above off the first payment on a new 2012 or 2013 BMW financed or leased through BMW Financial Services.

To receive your discount:

Step 1: Download The Ultimate Drive app (available on … CONTINUED

A BMW Driving Academy event was recently held at the famous Autodromo Nazionale Monza (Monza Track) which is located near the town of Monza, north of Milan, in Italy. The circuit’s biggest event is the Formula One Italian Grand Prix, but a fleet of BMWs recently took over the track for the BMW Driving Academy.

Available for the driving experience at the academy were many F30 3 series (with E90/E92 3 series for comparison), the F10 M5, the F12 M6 convertible, M550d xDrive 5 Series sedan, X5 M, and refreshed X6 Ms.

Check out some photos from the event inside.

“A company is like a human being. As long as it goes in for sports, it is fit, well-trained, full of enthusiasm and performance.” These were the words of Robert A. Lutz, BMW AG Board Member Sales, back in 1972. They were the words christening the youngest subsidiary of BMW AG at the time, BMW Motorsport GmbH. Today the company is called BMW M GmbH. But it is just as fit, well-trained, full of enthusiasm and performance as it was 40 years ago.

The early 1970s were the dawn of a new age for BMW: A new, young Board of Management under Eberhard von Kuenheim had set out to strategically power and pursue the ongoing success of the Company. This included the construction of a new head … CONTINUED

The M Performance Parts party continues. Just minutes after our Live Gallery of the F20 125i equipped with M Performance Parts, BMW has published the full M Performance parts catalog to coincide with its official release/announcement at the 2012 Geneva Motorshow.

M Performance Parts carry the M name because they have been developed together with M engineers for both performance and aesthetics enhancement. This collaboration with M engineers began just last year. This is what sets M Performance Parts apart from what used to be called simply “BMW Performance Parts” (which will be no more going forward).

As of now, M Performance Parts are or will be available for these models:

F10 5-series
F20 1-series
F30 3-serie… CONTINUED

The 555hp X5 M is fast, but not faster than the M3 around a track. That is unless it puts it capabilities to creative uses. Watch one way the X5 M with its AWD w/ torque vectoring rear differential can beat the M3 around turns on a track

The results are in from Car and Driver’s sixth annual Lightning Lap Tests @ Virginia International Raceway (VIR).

BMWs tested in this year’s Lightning Lap include the 1M coupe, 335is, X5 M, and Z4 sDrive35is. How did each model fare? See inside.