bmw alpina d3

Alpina and tuned BMWs are synonymous.
Alpina has turned out some stunning versions of the BMW range over the years (and some not so stunning – their 8 Series springs to mind) and they fill a gap that is either not profitable in small volume for BMW or, in some cases, a hole that BMW hasn’t plugged.
And this one is a good hole to fill with the BMW Alpina D3 Bi-Turbo, a 3 Series diesel with the heart of a hot hatch. Alpina has taken the engine out of the 1 Series 123d and given it a boost to 240bhp, in the process dropping the 0-60 time to a very creditable 6.9 seconds
But it’s not the sprint that count,  but the way this peppy diesel unit delivers it. With a big (relatively) lump of torque at it’s disposal it feels much quicker than the headline times. In fact, it’ up there with the 330D, but drinks like a miser. Fuel economy is  stunning 52mpg, and just 143g/km Co2.
This is an updated version of last years car and a clever car it is. I can’t think of many cars off the top of my head that would be such a perfect daily drive. Great performance and good economy, in  a well-built and classy looking car, with the added kudos of the Alpina badge.

bmw alpina b7

The Abu Dhabi dealer for BMW is the first importer in the world to officially take delivery of the new 2010 Alpina B7 Bi-Turbo, which is based on the latest BMW 7-Series. The Alpina-tuned model comes with a unique ‘001’ number, marked on its headliner plate.

The Bi-Turbo is powered by a 507 hp 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8, with maximum torque of 700 Nm available from 3000 rpm. This allows the Alpina B7 to do the 0-100 kph sprint in 4.7 seconds, and pressing on to an electronically-limited 280 kph top speed. Even the automatic transmission, computer-controlled air suspension and stability control system have been modified to handle the power.

Common Alpina features include the traditional 20-spoke 21-inch Alpina Classic wheels and other Alpina Individuality options including an ALPINA Green exterior colour, special wood trim, as well as a two-tone green and silver interior in Lavalina leather. The Alpina B7 is also available with the full range of BMW 7-Series technologies such as Head-up Display, Lane Departure Warning, i-Drive control system, and 4-wheel steering.

The Alpina range is sold with a full factory warranty through BMW dealers in the UAE.

The BMW ALPINA B7 Bi-Turbo represents ALPINA's fourth generation based on the BMW 7 Series. Prominent predecessors include the BMW ALPINA B12 6.0 and B7, which raised the bar in the high-performance luxury saloon segment. Newly interpreted and in every way state-of-the-art, the B7 Bi-Turbo unites exclusiveness, athleticism and comfort in perfect harmony.

Yielding exquisite levels of torque and power from the charged 4.4 litre V8, and in conjunction with the electronically-adjustable suspension with active roll stabilisation, the B7 Bi-Turbo promises to offer a spectrum of driving experiences so varied as to be unheard of in this class of automobiles.

The evolution of the traditional 20-spoke 21” ALPINA CLASSIC wheels underline the fresh design language found throughout the B7 Bi-Turbo and impart it a distinctive appearance and powerful stance.

bmw z4

The 35is engine is great. The twin turbo-charger means that turbo lag doesn't exist - anywhere above 2,000rpm and you've instant power. And plenty of it too - the 60mph dash only takes 4.8 seconds and it will cruise to 100mph in a blink.

In this Z4, you can only get the dual-clutch gearbox, but that's no bad thing. Changes are smooth and predictable and whether you're in auto or manual, it's effortless.

Driving fast, though, is not at all relaxing. BMW has a sorry history with the way its Z cars handle and this one is no different. Drive Dynamic Control and Adaptive M Sport suspension come as standard in the 35is. You get three settings for the dampers - Normal, Sport and Sport +. Worryingly, the Z4 doesn't feel right in any of them.

In Normal, the rear end is too soft so the car rolls around too much. It feels quite squirmy and is unnerving, to be brutally honest. Whereas in something like an M3 there's an honest and predictable way it lets you know there's an awful lot of power going through the rear wheels, this Z4 doesn't feel as connected to the tarmac or you.

Sport and Sport + do lessen this effect, but the flipside is they make the ride so hard you're in danger of popping your haemorrhoids.

The revised steering doesn't help matters, because it's too vague around the dead centre. When you turn in, the nose doesn't react quickly enough and the back end moves around at the same time. Very disorientating because you're not sure whether to react to the front or the rear.

toyota vitz car

Toyota revealed its latest Vitz, a B-segment car better known here as the Toyota Yaris, today in Japan. This car likely will come to the American market as a 2012 model after a trip to the plastic surgeon trims the front fascia, a Toyota logo is added, and the car is generally tweaked for our market.

In Japan, the Vitz will be sold with a choice of a 1.0-, 1.3-, or 1.5-liter engines. Expect the Yaris-badged version to forego the first two for sure; the 1.5-liter matches the current U.S.-market car’s displacement and is a strong possibility. In the home market, the 1.5-liter is paired with either a five-speed manual or a continuously variable transmission. The latter could come here to replace the optional automatic in the lineup, although no nonhybrid American-market Toyotas currently offer CVTs.We do hope the Vitz’s interior, seen above, carries over to the U.S. car. The gauges have finally moved to our preferred position above the steering wheel, rather than in the center-mounted pod of the current Yaris and the Echo before it. Otherwise it’s a very simple layout, although it looks like high art when compared to the interior

bugatti car

Bugatti presents the Veyron Grand Sport Wei Long at Beijing Motor Show, a one off Grand Sport model equipped with unique porcelain dragon relief parts at the in- and outside paying homage to the year of the dragon. The one off Grand Sport model “Wei Long 2012? was developed together with the Königliche Porzellan Manufaktur Berlin and has been fitted with dragon relief sculptures on finest... Following the success of the L’Or Blanc (created in cooperation with Berlin-based porcelain makers Königlichen Porzellan-Manufaktur), Bugatti is currently working on further unusual ways to individualize the Grand Sport. Bugatti, the world’s most exclusive car manufacturer is presenting a version of the roadster in visible carbon fibre in a brownish finish for the first time. One challenge for..With an increase in power up to 1,200 HP, the Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse has entered a new dimension of open-top driving. Optically aligned to the Bugatti Veyron Super Sport, which holds the current world speed record of 431 km/h, the Vitesse also impresses with its dynamic driving characteristics. Bugatti’s engineers have developed the current Grand Sport, with its 1,001 HP and...The Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport L’Or Blanc is the world’s first automobile to be equipped with porcelain, and the development team invested a lot of effort to guarantee that each item is capable of performing in every driving situation in the most powerful car on the market. Before their application to the car, the porcelain elements were extensively examined in regard to automotive safety... 

Bugatti presents the Veyron Grand Sport Wei Long at Beijing Motor Show, a one off Grand Sport model equipped with unique porcelain dragon relief parts at the in- and outside paying homage to the year of the dragon. The one off Grand Sport model “Wei Long 2012? was developed together with the Königliche Porzellan Manufaktur Berlin and has been fitted with dragon relief sculptures on finest... Following the success of the L’Or Blanc (created in cooperation with Berlin-based porcelain makers Königlichen Porzellan-Manufaktur), Bugatti is currently working on further unusual ways to individualize the Grand Sport. Bugatti, the world’s most exclusive car manufacturer is presenting a version of the roadster in visible carbon fibre in a brownish finish for the first time. One challenge for..With an increase in power up to 1,200 HP, the Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse has entered a new dimension of open-top driving. Optically aligned to the Bugatti Veyron Super Sport, which holds the current world speed record of 431 km/h, the Vitesse also impresses with its dynamic driving characteristics. Bugatti’s engineers have developed the current Grand Sport, with its 1,001 HP and...The Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport L’Or Blanc is the world’s first automobile to be equipped with porcelain, and the development team invested a lot of effort to guarantee that each item is capable of performing in every driving situation in the most powerful car on the market. Before their application to the car, the porcelain elements were extensively examined in regard to automotive safety... 

bmw m3

Fasten your seat belt and get ready for the breathtaking BMW M3 Sedan. The fourth generation continues the BMW M tradition of M3 motorsport technology for everyday driving. However, as soon as you have taken your first journey in the BMW M3 Sedan, everyday driving will never be the same again. This is thanks components such as the chassis that has mastered the ultimate test on the Nürburgring's legendary Nordschleife, a high-rev concept with up to 8,400 rpm of driving pleasure and the double-clutch transmission M DKG Drivelogic that transfers engine power to the M differential lock and then to the rear wheels without the slightest disruption to tractive force. And for efficiency without any waste the BMW M3 Sedan is equipped with an Auto Start Stop function, a BMW EfficientDynamics technology that switches off the engine when the vehicle comes to a standstill.

bmw cars

For 25 years now, the fascinating combination of supreme driving comfort experienced in a premium upper midrange sedan and the handling characteristics of a high-performance sports car has been described by one single unmistakable model designation - BMW M5. In 1984, with the first generation of this model, the BMW M GmbH laid the foundation stone for a completely new vehicle category. The BMW M5 was the first car of its kind to offer racing-oriented high performance in a sedan that could be driven without restrictions in everyday road traffic. This unique concept developed into a remarkable success story spanning four model generations. The BMW M GmbH is now drawing the attention of racing car enthusiasts to a four-seater yet again. The BMW M5 Concept, which is making its public debut at the Auto Shanghai 2011, presents itself as the latest reinterpretation of this unmistakable vehicle character. Superior sportiness and typical M aesthetics in a BMW 5-Series Sedan format provide the basis for the exclusive BMW M5 driving experience. With each model generation, the advancements made in the development of premium sedans in terms of comfort, safety and premium ambience were accompanied by new possibilities to intensify that unsurpassed 'M feeling'. The world premiere of the BMW M5 Concept at the Auto Shanghai 2011 gives clear signals for the continuation of this tradition. Based on the design vocabulary developed for the BMW 5-Series Sedan, the near-series concept car ...