Autoesque

BMW Motorrad Canada has teamed up with some independent builders to create a trio of customised R 18 motorcycles.

When the X7 was first launched in 2018, its challenging front-end styling caused some controversy. BMW could have used a just-revealed mid-life facelift as an opportunity to give the seven-seat SUV a more conventional appearance, but that didn’t happen.

This year’s World Car Awards include a World Electric Vehicle of the Year category for the first time. However, it seems to be somewhat redundant, because all of the top three finalists for the main World Car of the Year prize happen to feature pure-electric powertrains too.

In 2010, Jeff Koons produced a one-off M3 GT2 Art Car for BMW. Now, the American artist and the German manufacturer have collaborated to create the 8 x Jeff Koons, a limited-run model based on the M850i xDrive Gran Coupé.

After 35 years, BMW is due to stop producing V12 engines for road-going vehicles in June. Such an event deserves a commemorative limited edition, hence ‘The Final V12’ which is based on the M760i xDrive.

104,932 new cars were registered in Ireland during 2021. Although that figure represented a healthy rise of 18.8% compared to 2020’s total of 88,325, it was still short of the 117,109 deliveries achieved in pre-pandemic 2019.

2021’s new car registration statistics were markedly different from those of previous years, thanks to supply issues, the ongoing pandemic and changing buying habits.

A 0-62 mph (100 km/h) time of 3.8 seconds and an electronically-limited 155 mph (250 km/h) top speed demonstrate that the new iX M60 isn’t lacking in performance potential.

In what is probably a sign of the times, the first stand-alone model from BMW M GmbH since 1978’s mid-engine, two-seat M1 won’t be another sports car. Rather, it’ll be a big five-door SUV with questionable styling.

Toyota is still the world’s most valuable automotive brand, according to the latest Best Global Brands study by Interbrand.

Various chassis changes just announced for the BMW M35i xDrive are intended to improve its driving dynamics and responsiveness.

Supply issues caused by the ongoing semiconductor shortage were largely responsible for dismal third-quarter new car registrations in the UK. In fact, 2021’s September performance – just 215,312 units – was the worst since the two-plate-change system was introduced in 1999.

BMW Motorrad has unveiled the Vision AMBY concept at the IAA Mobility 2021 show in Munich.

BMW Motorrad has added two more models to its ‘Big Boxer’ line-up. The new R 18 B bagger and R 18 Transcontinental tourer both feature an enlarged front mudguard, a handlebar-mounted fairing, a 24-litre (5.3-gallon) fuel tank, and body-coloured panniers.

BMW has introduced the X5 Black Vermilion Edition, X6 Black Vermilion Edition and X7 M50i Frozen Black Edition. All combine BMW Individual Frozen Black metallic paintwork with some cosmetic and equipment upgrades.

Long, low proportions and a rather uncomfortable-looking ‘floating’ seat give the new BMW CE 04 electric scooter a distinctive appearance.

909,973 new cars were registered in the UK during the first half of 2021. Although that total was 39.2% higher than 2020’s corresponding figure, the industry is now experiencing supply problems caused by a global shortage of semiconductors.

Against a background of difficult trading conditions, there has been a big change at the top of the UK’s new car registrations league table.

Although they both look the same as before, the 2021 BMW C 400 X and C 400 GT mid-size scooters have received some worthwhile technical improvements.

As the R 18 ‘Spirit of Passion’ demonstrates, it’s not just BMW cars that can have a controversial front grille.