Early Reveal for 2011 BMW 5-Series Touring: First Photos and Details

There's no need to wait for next month's AMI motor show in Leipzig, Germany, to get a look at the new 2011 BMW 5-Series Touring as the first official photos and details of the premium station-wagon were leaked online ahead of its intended debut.

Based on the latest generation 5-series sedan which itself was only just revealed a few months ago, the new Touring model continues to be more about style and handling and less about outright functionality and boot capacity.

That's even more evident when you compare the 5-Series Touring's to the also new, 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Estate.

Despite a 60-liter increase in load space with the rear seats up (from 500 to 560lt) and 20-liters with the same seats down (from 1,650 to 1,670lt), the Bimmer still lacks in comparison to Merc's E-Class Estate that boasts a cavernous load space ranging from 695-liters (seats up) to 1950-litres (seats down).

The improve practicality, the 5-Series Touring is equipped with 40/20/40 flat-folding rear seats and an independently opening window on the rear hatch.

When the Bavarian automaker's largest station wagon model hits European showrooms in September, it will be offered at launch with two petrol engines, a 204HP naturally aspirated straight-six in the 523i and a 306HP single-turbocharged six in the 535i, as well as two turbo diesels, a 184HP four-pot in the 520d and a 245HP six-cylinder unit in the 525d.

No word yet if BMW will offer the Touring version of the new 5er in the U.S. market.

Via: BMWblog

2009 BMW Porsche Cayman

MSRP: $50,300 - $60,200

Invoice: Not Available

The 2009 Cayman is a 2-door, 2-passenger luxury sports car, available in two trims, the Base and the S.

Upon... introduction, the Base is equipped with a standard 2.9-liter, H6, 265-horsepower engine that achieves 19-mpg in the city and 27-mpg on the highway. The S is equipped with a standard 3.4-liter, H6, 320-horsepower engine that achieves 19-mpg in the city and 26-mpg on the highway. A 6-speed manual transmission with overdrive is standard on both trims, and a 7-speed automatic transmission with overdrive is optional.

The 2009 Cayman is redesigned for 2009.

2010 BMW Z4

MSRP: $45,750 - $51,650

Invoice: $42,090 - $47,520

The 2010 Z4 is a 2-door, 2-passenger convertible sports car, available in two trims, the sDrive30i and the... Drive35i.

Upon introduction, the sDrive30i is equipped with a standard 3.0-liter, I6, 255-horsepower engine that achieves 18-mpg in the city and 28-mpg on the highway. A 6-speed manual transmission with overdrive is standard, and a 6-speed automatic transmission with overdrive is optional. The sDrive35i is equipped with a standard 3.0-liter, I6, 300-horsepower, turbo engine that achieves 18-mpg in the city and 25-mpg on the highway. A 6-speed manual transmission with overdrive is standard, and a 7-speed manual transmission with overdrive is optional.

The 2010 Z4 is a carryover from 2009.

2011 BMW 135i Coupe and Convertible get New Twin Scroll Turbocharged 3.0-liter N55 Straight-Six

BMW is gradually replacing its N54 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged inline-six (featured in models like the 335i) with the firm's new twin-scroll turbocharged 3.0-liter inline six cylinder engine, designated N55. The latest Bavarian products to get the N55 are the 2011 model year 135i Coupe and Convertible that will go on sale in the United States in Spring 2010.

With a maximum output of 300HP at 5,800 rpm and a peak torque of 300 lb-ft available from 1,200–5,000rpm (U.S.-spec version), the new six-cylinder produces the same level of performance as the current twin-turbo six-cylinder.

However, BMW says that thanks to the adoption of the single, twin-scroll turbocharger and the integration of VALVETRONIC throttle-less intake technology, the new engine promises better throttle response and even more fuel efficiency.

In addition, the automaker claims that peak torque is reached 100rpm earlier than with the previous engine while engine boost response is improved across the entire engine speed range.

Both the 135i Coupe and Convertible will be optionally available with BMW's 7-speed Double-Clutch Transmission (DCT) that now features dedicated steering wheel paddles for upshifting (on the right) and down shifting (on the left).

For the 2011 model year, BMW also replaced the HiFi System Professional with a new Harman Kardon Surround Sound System while the climate control instrument unit features a new alignment and optics.

BMW Adds New Four- and Six-Cylinder Gasoline Engines to X1 SUV Range

Starting from March 2010, BMW's most compact X model will be available (in most markets) with a new entry-level four-cylinder version and an additional six-cylinder power unit expanding the engine portfolio available in the X1 to a total of three gasoline and three diesel engines.

The new entry-level X1 sDrive18i is powered by BMW's 2.0-liter four-cylinder gasoline unit producing 150HP at 6,400 rpm and a peak torque of 200Nm or 147 lb-ft at 3,600 rpm.

When fitted with the standard six-speed manual gearbox, the rear-wheel drive (that's what the 'sDrive' moniker stands for) crossover accelerates from standstill to 100 km/h (62mph) in 9.7 seconds and reaches a top speed of 202 km/h or 125 mph.

In conjunction with the optional six-speed automatic transmission, the X1 sDrive18i reaches 100 km/h in 10.4 seconds and has a top speed of 200 km/h or 124 mph.

BMW announces a combined fuel economy in the EU test cycle of 8.2 lt/ 100km (equal to 28.7 mpg US and 34.4 mpg UK) with a CO2 rating of 191 g/km for the manual model. The corresponding figures on the automatic transmission model are 8.4 lt /100 km (equal to 28 mpg US and 33.6 mpg UK) and, respectively, 195 g/km of CO2.

Supplementing the top-of-the-range 258HP X1 xDrive28i is the new X1 xDrive25i that comes with a straight-six petrol that delivers an output of 218HP at 6,100 rpm and 277Nm/204 lb-ft at 2,500 rpm.

Featuring BMW's intelligent xDrive all-wheel-drive system and a six-speed automatic transmission as standard, the X1 xDrive25i sprints from 0- 100 km/h (62mph) in 7.9 seconds and has a top speed of 223 km/h or 138 mph.

According to the Bavarian firm, the xDrive25i's combined fuel consumption in the EU test cycle is 9.3 lt/100 km (equal to 25.2 mpg US and 30.4 mpg UK) with a CO2 emission rating of 217 g/km.

In addition to the two new engine variants, for 2010, BMW has extended the availability of its six-speed automatic transmission to the X1 xDrive18d, X1 sDrive18d, and the X1 sDrive20d models while the range of paintworks has been enhanced with five new shades - Space Grey, Cashmere Silver, Tasman, Sparkling Bronze, and Graphite Blue metallic.

We remind you that BMW's baby crossover / SUV model is scheduled to go on sale in the U.S. in 2011.