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The changes are mostly to enhance individuality as well as further fine tune the suspension.

Fro the outside, the M sport package is noticeable thanks to a unique set of body-colour front and rear bumpers, side skirts, colour-coded door protection strips and wider wheel arches to fit the 19 or 20 inch alloy wheels.

Furthermore, aluminium side window surrounds and roof rails finished in high-gloss satin chrome complete the exterior treatment. The Package is only available for cars ordered in Alpine White, Titanium Silver, Space Grey, Monaco Blue, Black Sapphire and Carbon Black.

Suspension is changed for firmer damper settings as well as revised spring rates. This is fitted only when Adaptive Drive is not optioned.

The Sport Package comes with 19-inch V-spoke M light alloy wheels (style 223 M), wrapped in run-flat safety tyres sized at 255/50 R 19 at the front and 285/45 R 19 at the rear. An extra $2,648 will get you to the next level with 20-inch M light alloy wheels (style 227 M), shod with 275/40 R20 front and 315/35 R20 rear run flat safety tyres.

The interior gets a treatment as well, a new M leather steering wheel will take focus, so will the finely brushed aluminium interior trims and an anthracite BMW Individual roof lining. Last but not least, electrically adjustable sport seats (comfort seats for the X5 xDrive48i) for the front row are upgraded with a memory function for the driver’s setting.

The BMW X5 M Sport Package is available for all X5 models, with different pricing:

• For the BMW X5 xDrive48i, the M Sport Package is priced from $5,400
• For the BMW xDrive30i/d/sd Executive models, the M Sport Package is priced from $8,000
• For the BMW xDrive30i/d models, the M Sport Package is priced from $11,000

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The new battery technology developed for Mini E, which was specially engineered for automotive use, has a theoretical range of more than 240 kilometers. Mini E will initially be made available to select private and corporate customers as part of a pilot project in the US states of California, New York and New Jersey with the possibility of the program being extended to European buyers.

Peak torque of 220Nm is available from word go and delivers seamless acceleration to 100 km/h in 8.5 seconds (top speed is electronically limited to 152 km/h to save battery life). The suspension system has also been modified to match the weight distribution characteristics offered by a car laden with batteries. Surprisingly though, Mini E is said to lose none of the agility and outstanding handling made famous by the brand.

By introducing the Mini E, the BMW Group has drawn strongly on its unique technological expertise in the field of drive systems to develop a vehicle concept enabling zero emissions without renouncing the joy of driving. Putting the cars on the road under real daily traffic conditions will also make it possible to gain widely applicable hands-on experience.

Evaluating these findings will generate valuable know-how, which will eventually be factored into the engineering of mass-produced vehicles. The BMW Group aims to start series production of all-electric vehicles over the medium term as part of its Number ONE strategy. Mini E will give its world premiere at the Los Angeles Auto Show on November 19 and 20, 2008.

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BMW is also seeking to outgun the Porsche Boxster on the performance front, with the new range likely to include the award-winning twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre straight six-cylinder unit.

Diesel power will also be available in the Z4 line-up for the first time, with speculation the M model could receive the new 4.0-litre V8 engine from the M3.

A broad line-up of four-cylinder and normally aspirated six-cylinder petrol powerplants will continue to be offered throughout the Z4 range as expected.

These similarities with the new 3-Series are hardly surprising considering they both share the same platform.

Insider sources also speculate production is likely to shift from South Carolina in the US to BMW’s plant at Regensburg, Germany with sales to start late in late 2009.

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It boasts a relatively identical footprint to the current Toyota RAV4, although this is where the similarities end, especially in regards to the price tag.

The cabin will share a high degree of commonality with the 1-series, complete with the latest iDrive and BMW’s signature swan-necked gearlever.

Like all BMW’s, it will also use the Efficient Dynamics system which utilises stop-start and alternator control technologies to improve economy and lower emissions.

A hybrid version of the X1 is an almost certainty, likely to carry over from the system currently in development for the new 7-Series.

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“Our high-performance diesels offer low emissions, low consumption and the benefit of far greater torque to deliver a typically dynamic BMW driving experience,” said Guenther Seemann, Managing Director of BMW Group Australia.

Seemann predicts Australian customers will continue their burgeoning love affair despite the higher pump price for diesel.

“Even with a 30 cent price differential for diesel at the pump, a customer who purchases a 530d and travels 15,000 km in the course of a year will still spend less on fuel than their petrol counterpart in a 530i. Given that some diesel models will now be subject to less tax, due to the change in the Luxury Car Tax, diesel sales will continue their rise in the short to medium term,” he said.

Seemann also says the new tax landscape will encourage premium manufacturers to continue to roll out more new diesel models which are incredibly frugal yet deliver outstanding performance.

“The newly unveiled six-cylinder BMW 330d, boasting 180 kW and 520 Newton metres of torque, yet consuming 6.8 litres per 100 kilometres is now under serious consideration for Australia,” he said.

BMW currently offers nine diesel models in Australia across the following series: 1 Series Hatch; 3 Series Sedan; 5 Series Sedan; X3 Sports Activity Vehicle; X5 Sports Activity Vehicle; and, X6 Sports Activity Coupé. Of these model ranges, diesel sales account for, on average, 40 per cent of all deliveries.

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As usual, CarAdvice has been given a sneak peek into the third instalment of Top Gear Australia which features the first trademark Top Gear cheap car challenge.

In the next episode, Charlie Cox, Warren Brown and Steve Pizzati will visit a local junkyard to piece together their own race car and compete in a series of challenges at Oran Park.

“Charlie, Warren or Steve threw themselves, and their cars, into this challenge with extraordinary gusto - all in the name of Top Gear Australia of course!” said Head of Production, Peter Abbott.

Warren will then take the BMW X6 Coupé 4WD and put it through its paces in a uniquely Australian manner while Pizzati road tests Clarkson’s favourite car - the F1-inspired Mercedes CLK 63 AMG Black Series coupe.

The “Celebrity in a Bog Standard Car” for this week is host of RocKwiz Julia Zemiro.

Top Gear Australia airs Mondays at 7:30pm on SBS.

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As a result, 2008 has become the most successful year on record for the M range in Australia, having already surpassed the previous full-year record of 409 cars sold in 2003.

The E92 M3 Coupé has been by far the best seller for the brand, almost doubling the sales rate of its predecessor.

Since its launch late last year, 483 examples of the M3 Coupé have been sold to the Australian public largely thanks to the addition of a high-revving V8 engine and delivering 309 kW.

The next most popular model in the BMW M range is the M5 Sedan, however this is likely to change in the coming months as the M3 Coupé will be joined by the M3 Convertible (November) and for the first time in Australia the M3 Sedan (December).

BMW M currently offers six models in Australia including the M3 Coupé, M5 Sedan, M6 Coupe, M6 Convertible, Z4 M Roadster and Z4 M Coupe.

Since the brand was first introduced locally, a total of 3,924 BMW M vehicles have been delivered in Australia.

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The concept had been a dream for a number of years and even Stuart admits it’s “a bit out of left field”, but determined to see it through, the M5 was unveiled at Deni to a very positive crowd reaction.

Originally purchased in 2006, the M5 sedan was converted by Shane Rowe, owner of Southern Rod & Custom here in Deniliquin. Shane over saw all design, fabrication, mechanical and custom work to deliver Stuart a “turn key” M5 Ute, just in time for Deni.

For more info and pics on Stuart’s M5 ute click here. I’m sure you’ll agree the result in pretty impressive.

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Although labelled as a concept, these first images essentially reveal the production model due by late 2009 whilst giving BMW some breathing room should its reception be more luke than warm.

Details are scarce at this point, however we do undersand the new BMW X1 will be loosely based on the underpinnings of the current 1-Series and utilises BMW’s xDrive all-wheel-drive system.

Source: CarScoop

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The BMW Concept 7 Series ActiveHybrid is based on a BMW 750i, which is powered by a mighty 300 kW (600 Nm of torque) V8 petrol engine with twin turbochargers and high precision jnjection.

The petrol engine is kept intact, with an electric engine added only as an aid, making this B-em-veh what the industry calls a mild hybrid.

Generating its power from brake energy regeneration, the main purpose of the electric motor is to supply electric power to the power-consuming items on board. Allowing the petrol engine to run more smoothly

Fuel and emissions ratings have both improved by a respectable 15 per cent compared with the stock 750i. Meanwhile the electric engine has added an additional 15kW of power and peak torque of 210 Nm (this does not necessarily mean the concept has 810 Nm of torque).

The concept sounds rather familiar as its core design philosophy is similar to that of the Toyota Prius. However it does differ, in the most important way, batteries!

The Big T has had well documented problems integrating Lithium-Ion batteries in the new Prius, meanwhile BMW has equipped this concept with a high-performance lithium-ion battery integrated in the luggage compartment.

Of course, it is just a concept and whether or not the Germans have a lead over the Japanese in terms of Lithium Ion battery development still remains to be seen.

From the outside the concept is differentiated by an aluminium band stretching across the entire width of the front end beneath the number plate as well as its 20-inch light-alloy rims in V-spoke design.

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The new PAS would be again in a different league, allowing more headroom than in the X6 while being significantly smaller than Mercedes’ R-class.

The more car-like approach seen on this prototype seems better-suited to BMW’s values than a full-size van, and although these spy-photos do not reveal all of the car’s design, it does appear to resemble a kind of coupé-like design.

We expect more or less all 5-series’ engines to be available for the PAS, too. There are currently no details about the car’s release date in Europe or in Australia.

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