BMW held a press event for its 2011MY 5-Series saloon in Lisbon, Portugal. The 2011 5-Series is based on a new vehicle architecture also featured in the 5-Series GT as well as the 7 Series luxury sedan. The 530d is powered by a 3.0-liter turbo diesel with 245hp and 540Nm of peak torque (398 lb-ft) that propels the car from standstill to 100km/h (62mph) in 6.3 seconds and on to an electronically-limited top speed of 250km/h (155mph).

The new 535i gets a new 3.0-liter straight-six with a single, twin-scroll turbocharger pushing out 306HP and 400Nm (295 lb-ft) of torque for a zero to 100km/h (62mph) sprint time of 6.0 seconds and an electronically-limited top speed of 250 km/h or 155mph.

In Europe, the new 5-Series will also be available with two more diesels, a 184HP 2.0-liter four-cylinder unit (520d) and a 204HP 3.0-liter inline six (525d) as well as three more petrol engines, a naturally aspirated 3.0-liter straight six with 204HP (523i) and 258HP (528i) and a twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V8 with 407HP (550i).

All versions of the new 5 Series saloon are available as an option with BMW’s new eight-speed automatic transmission.

BMW has announced that the company has scheduled to debut the Activehybrid concept model of the new 2011 5 Series (F10) at the upcoming 2010 Geneva Motor Show, which will take place in March. According to the car manufacturer the sales of the vehicle in Europe will begin shortly after its presentation. However, it should be noted that there is information on whether the BMW ActiveHybrid 5 will be available in the vehicle market in the USA or not.

It is also said that the Touring (station wagon) version of the vehicle will not likely be available in the US dealerships as well. According to the official information fewer than 1,000 previous E60 generation 5 Series Touring models were sold in US market last year.

“I don’t think we will sell it because in the past, station wagons have not sold well,” said Klaus Draeger, BMW AG board member for Research and Development. The addition of the quirky 5 Series Gran Turismo has also thrown a spanner in the works for a buying public that is exposed to an ever-increasing choice of models.

When the vehicle arrives at the dealerships in June only the 535i and 550i will be available. The BMW 535i is equipped with a turbocharged 3.0-litre straight six engine with the output of 225kW (306hp) and 400Nm. The BMW 550i, on the other hand, comes with a twin turbo V8 engine, which has the output of 300kW (408hp) and 600Nm of torque.

BMW’s has announced official details on the new 335is Coupe and Convertible models. The 335is is a detuned version of the 340HP N54 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged straight six found in the also new Z4 sDrive35is.

The 335is are also the first 3-Series models in the U.S. to be suggested with BMW’s 7-speed DCT (Double Clutch Transmission) with Launch Control. The top speed of the 335is will be limited to 150 mph or 241km/h.

The 335is Coupe makes 0-60 mph (96km/h) runs in 5.0 seconds with the dispensable 7-speed DCT and 5.1 seconds with the manual 6-speed. The 335is Convertible, meanwhile, requires 5.2 seconds for the 0-60mph run whether supplied with the 6-speed manual or optional 7-speed DCT. The 335is has M Style bumpers, the rear with an integrated diffuser, new kidney grille surrounds in high gloss black, Shadowline black window trim, wing mirror caps in high gloss black, and standard 18-inch light alloy wheels in ferric grey color (19-inch are optional).

The 335is will initially be available only in the U.S. and Canada with prices in the States beginning from $50,525 including destination for the 335is Coupe, and $59,075 including destination for the Convertible.

The Bavarian automaker BMW has released images and information about its updated 2011 3-Series Coupe and Convertible models, which come with minor cosmetic touches and updated engines.

The most significant exterior changes of the model include the widened kidney grille, reshaped LED headlamps, front and rear bumpers with restyled lower fascias, new exterior mirrors and finally, reworked tail light cluster with a new color scheme. Due to these changes the front and rear overhangs are extended by 1.14 and 0.12 inches respectively.

The interior changes of the 2011 BMW 3-Series include mainly the convertible models. The vehicle is now equipped with of sun-reflective technology to mitigate temperatures on leather seating, armrest surfaces, headrests, and gear shifter.

The 2011 3-Series Coupe and Convertible models will be available for car buyers in North America in two flavors, the 328i and 335i.

The 2011 BMW 335i comes with the company’s new twin scroll single turbocharged 3.0-liter straight six, designated N55, that replaces the previous model’s N54 twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter straight six. According to the manufacturer the output of the vehicle is the same (horsepower and 300 lb-ft of torque), but the new engine is more responsive, more fuel efficient, and cleaner-running than its predecessor.

BMW claims that the rear-wheel drive 335i Coupe and Convertible accelerate from 0 – 60 mph (96km/h) in just 5.3 (5.5 coupe automatic) seconds and 5.5 (5.7 cabrio automatic) seconds, respectively, when equipped with a six speed manual gearbox.

The BMW 328i comes with the same features as the2010 model: 230 horsepower, 200 lb-ft, 3.0-liter inline-6 engine.

The 2011 3 Series Coupe and Convertible models are scheduled to go on sale in the U.S.A. and Canada in Spring 2010.

BMW is expected to take the wraps off its Concept ActiveE, a new plug-in electric version of the 1-Series Coupe, at the 2010 Detroit Show in January.  According to the information known so far the vehicle will be produced in limited units and will be offered as a lease vehicle to customers within the next two years.

BMW Concept ActiveE comes with the standard model’s internal-combustion engine, which was completed with a new synchronous electric motor specially developed for this vehicle. The vehicle has an output of 125kW or 170hp and a maximum torque of 250Nm or 184 lb-ft.

It should be noted that the vehicle is pretty heavy 1,800 kg or about 3,970 pounds, though there are a number of weight-saving measures. The Concept ActiveE comes with a pair of lithium-ion battery packs developed jointly by BMW and SB LiMotive. The car’s lithium-ion batteries can be recharged by a conventional power outlet at public charging stations or at a special wall   box. In North America, using a high-current (32 ampere continuous) residential wall box, the charge time is expected to be around 4.5 hours.

According to BMW their new all-electric 1-Series is able to reach from zero to 60km/h (37mph) in less than 4.5 seconds, while 100km/h (62mph) is accelerated in less than 9 seconds. The maximum speed of the vehicle is electronically limited to about 145 km/h or 90 mph.

BMW has released photos and information about its new vehicle, the BMW Z4 sDrive35is, which will make its world debut at next month’s 2010 Detroit Auto Show. The vehicle is scheduled to go on sale worldwide in Spring of 2010.

The Z4 comes with a powerful version of the BMW’s 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged straight six and M-Sports styling and chassis packages. The company’s 3.0-liter engine features optimized air supply and increased boost pressure, which allows the vehicle to reach 340HP at 5,800 rpm (more than the previous version with 306HP). The peak torque is increased to 450Nm or 332 lb-ft and is available from 1,400 rpm all the way to 4,500 rpm.

The vehicle is equipped with a revised version of the firm’s seven-speed double clutch transmission. According to BMW representatives the vehicle can accelerate from 0 to 100km/h in 4.8 seconds (0-60mph in 4.7sec), while the top speed is limited to 250km/h or 155mph.

Compared to the Z4 sDrive35i, the BMW Z4 sDrive35is has a better performance and delivers the same fuel economy of 9.0lt/100km.

The new Z4 sDrive35is features an M Sports Package including the M Aerodynamics Package and adaptive M Suspension. Te most significant characteristics of the M Suspension are the electronically controlled dampers, lowers the entire car by 10 mm or almost 0.4-in.

The company will also offer unique 18-inch alloy wheels with 19-inch rims, a new front bumper, re-trimmed kidney grilles, matte silver exterior mirror caps, a new rear bumper with an integrated diffuser and specific tail pipes, as an option with the M package.

First WSTO’s BMW 135i Coupe was shown in September. Now you’re, for certain, going to love it. The WSTO has an improved compact bimmer with a front apron, trunk lip spoiler, shadow line grilles, H&R sport springs that lower the vehicle’s ride height, aluminum sport pedals, alloy wheels, reprogrammed ECU and exhaust system.

WSTO, to this second stage of the project, added an exemplar US-spec quad exhaust system from Bastuck with modified tips that are wrapped inside 3D Design’s carbon fiber diffuser.

The team displaced the 19-inch black mixture from Klassen with a new set of 19-inch Advan RS wheels in a gunmetal finish, this time shod in Yokohama Advan AD08 tires size 225/35 R19 up front and 255/30 R19 at the back. The tuning house transfered the matte black stickers from the 135i’s sides and added two stripes stretching from the headlights all the way back to the tail lights. We must  definitely say that this particular scheme works very well on the small bimmer coupe.