Jalopnik: bmw sedan

BMW Progressive Activity Sedan Spotted Again With Buick Ventiports

Andrew Stoy — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 08:30:00 EST

Remember the V5 that's no longer the V5? That's because it's now the BMW Progressive Activity Sedan, which is apparently German for "5-Series Fastback." The PAS appears to be on track to compete with the Porsche Panamera, but the tent-like rear camo makes it tough to determine what the rear slope and proportions will end up looking like. We are totally digging the Buick ventiports on the front fender camo...or are those speed holes? [Paul Tan]

BMW M-Division Working On New 8-Series

Mark Arnold — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 11:20:00 EDT

As has been expected for some time, BMW is indeed working on a new 8-Series to sit atop the BMW range. Expected to look much like the CS Concept, the coupe-shaped sedan is now reportedly being developed by BMW's special M-division. After all, the 8-Series will be going up against the likes of the Porsche Panamera and Aston Martin Rapide. But don't expect to see it wearing the tri-color 'M' badge. In an interview with Drive.com.au, BMW M president Ludwig Willisch explained: “It’s a car that doesn’t have any resemblance to the other cars built by BMW AG, so it was decided to give the project to us.”

Interesting he should claim it "doesn’t have any resemblance to the other cars," because most are suggesting the car will be at least somewhat based on the chassis of the new 2009 BMW 7-Series. Though the powerplant is still a mystery, everything from a 550 HP 6.0-liter V12 based on the M5's V10, to the next generation M5's alleged twin-turbo V8 has been suspected. Either way, we won't be seeing the 8-Series on the road for at least a couple years still.

Jalopnik Snap Judgment: It's good to see BMW's M-division developing an actual car in addition to the rumored X5 and X6 M-models. However, this new 8-Series is nothing like the original coupe from the '90s. That first car was a spiritual successor to the E24 6-Series, but this new car doesn't hearken back to anything. [Drive via MotorAuthority]

Facelift On 2009 BMW 3-Series Officially Minor

Ben Wojdyla — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 09:20:00 EDT

We're struggled to spot the differences between the beaten-with-a-broom-handle good looks of the 2008 BMW 3-series sedan and wagon and the just-revealed facelift of the 2009 BMW 3-Series sedan and wagon. We've actually been struggling since the first spy photos revealed tape over the changed body parts. Now, after an exhaustive morning of "Spot The Difference"-like game play, we think we found the changes.

On the exterior — changes to the head lights and tail lights, and umm — oh yeah, they changed the profile of the curves on the bumper.

Now that we have the exterior details differentiating the old from the new out of the way, let's talk about the interior. The dash gets extra buttons to further imbue i-Drive with irrelevance. Along with those new buttons you get a bigger, brighter 8.8" screen and an optional 80 GB entertainment-storing hard drive. No changes have been made to the powertrain, so these and any other changes you're able to spot to the baby Bimmer's beauty treatment, only go skin deep. [World Car Fans]