A Quick History of the BMW 3-Series, from 1975 to Today

In 1975, BMW launched the 3-Series as a successor to the 02 series and essentially established the premium compact car segment. The company went on to produce five generation of the 3-Series selling more than 12 million cars worldwide. Even though it changed considerably from one generation to another, the 3-Series kept its core characteristics: a compact body with a classic design, rear-wheel drive, sporty handling characteristics and potent engines.

Launched initially as a two-door coupe, the 3-Series gained throughout the years new body variants such as the sedan, station wagon, coupe, convertible and even a three-door hatchback model (Compact). Scroll down to read a brief history on each generation.

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SCOOP: 2012 BMW 1-Series Caught with Less Camouflage

As BMW is getting closer to launching the second generation of the 1-Series, more and more scantily disguised prototypes are being spotted out testing. These latest scoop pictures afford us our clearest view yet of the five-door hatchback version, not only because BMW has reduced the amount of swirly sheeting but also due to the fact that the cars appear to be final prototypes with production headlamps and tail lights.

As you can see, the Bavarian automaker sticks with the tradition of keeping a design for two generations before radically changing the styling. This means the next 1-Series hatchback takes an evolutionary styling step keeping the basic shape of the current model.

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BMW Gives us a Video Insight into the World of Secret Prototypes

Ever wonder why BMW went from the bulky metal or plastic panels to foam and swirly sheeting on its secret prototype models or what goes on during testing of upcoming vehicles at Death Valley, California? Then follow the jump to watch a pair of official BMW videos that provide us an insight into the world of prototypes at the firm’s Research and Innovation Center called ‘Plant Zero’ as well as a clip from the heat testing team.

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VIDEO: BMW M3 Pickup Truck Filmed Out on the Road

As it turns out, the BMW M3 sport pickup truck that has been making the internet rounds recently is nothing more than an expensive hoax being prepared by the Bavarian automaker for April Fools’ Day. Nevertheless, we can’t say we’re not interested in a ute that’s based on one of the most coveted sports cars in the market. If you’ve had your fill of spy shots and want to see the M3 sport ute on the move, all you have to do is hit the break and watch the video.

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VIDEO: 2012 BMW M5 Prototype Put Through its Paces

Leading up to the world premiere of the 2012 M5 that’s believed to take place at the Frankfurt Motor Show this fall, BMW is releasing a series of videos slowly uncovering its high-performance sports saloon.

This time, we get a three-and-a-half-long video clip of the M5 flung around on the snow. There’s also a lot of talk going on, but unfortunately, it’s all in German, so if any of you out there can translate the basic bits, we’d appreciate it. We’ll remind you that the new M5 will be motivated by a twin-turbocharged V8 engine with direct-injection pumping out close to 600 horsepower. Take (another) look at the M5 in the video after the jump.

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BMW i8 Hybrid Sports Coupe Spied Testing on the Snow [with Videos]

With BMW having already announced to the world the creation of its new ‘i’ sub-brand, through which the Bavarians intend to market a line of stand-alone hybrid, range-extended and full-electric plug-in vehicles, the company is now concentrating on the development of the first cars to wear the i logo.

In this series of spy videos, we see the test driver sub-brand’s halo car, the i8 hybrid sports coupe, which is based on the 2009’s Vision Efficient Dynamics concept model, undergoing cold weather tests in Northern Europe.

Up until now, it was believed that the i8 would keep the concept model’s mechanical hardware with a 163HP 1.5-liter three-cylinder diesel engine located behind the back seats, and two electric motors, one positioned between the diesel engine and the six-speed double clutch transmission, and the other in the front of the vehicle.

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VIDEO: Chris Harris Takes 2012 BMW M5 F10 for a Spin on the Ice

After the first couple of somewhat cryptic teaser films, BMW allowed Evo Magazine’s Chris Harris to sit behind the wheel of its upcoming 2012 M5 sports saloon and share the video with the rest of the world.

The Bavarian company is still keeping mum on the performance details, but officials confirmed that the twin-turbocharged V8 lump that replaces the outgoing M5’s 507HP V10 will have more oomph than on the X5 M / X6 M. “Do you really think we would give it less than an X6M?”, BMW officials told Harris. In the X6 M, the twin-turbo V8 kicks out 555HP and 680Nm or 501-lbs/ft of peak torque.

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VIDEO: BMW Vision EfficientDynamics “Spied” in Abu Dhabi

As previously reported, BMW has officially green-lighted a production version of the Vision ED plug-in hybrid sports car. So, it was only a matter of time before new information on the eco-friendly model would surface online. First we saw some pictures hit the Teamspeed forum, followed by this here video, but we’re not entirely convinced that both are part of a lucky scoop.

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U-SPY: Carscoop Reader Snags a Fleet of BMW Prototypes in Austria

The BMW Group is quite busy these days as the Bavarian automaker is developing a raft of new models, ranging from the upcoming Megacity electric-vehicle and the MINI Coupe and Roadster, to the next generation of the 3-Series and the production version of the Vision ED concept sports car.

Carscoop reader Andras from Hungary was vacationing in Obertauern, Austria when he spotted this convoy of BMWs comprising of both masked prototypes and normal production cars, including a sedan in full body cladding. Check out Andras' photos and story after the jump.

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SCOOP: 2012 BMW 5-Series Hybrid Spied on the Roads of Munich

It's no secret that BMW is preparing a hybrid version of its latest generation [F10] 5-Series sedan as the Bavarian automaker teased the model at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show with the Concept 5 Series ActiveHybrid study. And even though the prototype model seen in our latest spy pictures carries the 535i badge, the "Hybrid Test Vehicle" label on the boot pretty much explains everything.

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SPIED: BMW X1 Tries Out M Sport Package

The idea of an M-Package is hardly fresh news for BMW as the Bavarian automaker has been spiffing up its normal production models with sports accessories for years now, the most recent recipients being the latest 5-Series sedan and Touring, and the X3 SUV. Next up on the menu is BMW's smallest crossover model, the X1, which went on sale in Europe and other markets in March 2010, but won't arrive in the U.S. until later in 2011.

As with other M Sport Package models in the range, the upgrades for the X1 will include a host of unique styling cues inside and out, plus larger alloy wheel designs shod in wider tires and a sports tuned suspension.

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New Spy Shots of 2012 BMW 1-Series Hatchback

Here are the latest spy shots of the forthcoming successor to the current 1-Series hatchback. Being that BMW has confirmed the launch of a smaller model with front-wheel drive, it remains to be seen if the Bavarian automaker will keep the 1-Series moniker or baptize its new C-segment hatch as the 2-Series.

Tipped for launch in late 2011, the next-generation 1-Series hatch, codenamed F20, will incorporate BMW's new and softer (as in more mainstream) design language with a more pronounced front grille. Our spy pictures also show the revamped interior with the center console slightly tilted towards the driver.

The big news, however, concerns the available powertrains. Just the other week, BMW revealed that the next 1-Series and 3-Series models as well as its upcoming FWD supermini, will all be offered with a hybrid engine.

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BMW to Launch New 2012 6-Series Convertible on 26 March, 2011

While snooping around on BMW's UK website we discovered that one of the cars featured in the 'Quick model selector' was the new 6-Series Convertible. While there are no photos of the drop-top model, BMW offers select clients the opportunity to sign up for an exclusive BMW Dealer pre-launch preview event.

Here's what the invitation says:

"The new BMW 6 Series Convertible will be launched on 26 March 2011. So to make sure we keep you up to date with the latest news and send you an invitation to an exclusive BMW Dealer pre-launch preview, just register below."

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2012 BMW 6-Series Convertible Snapped Without Camouflage?

Those quick fingered camera jockeys over at Motor-Talk.de have got what appears to be an undisguised 2012 BMW 6-series convertible. This could be our first look at the new convertible, which is set to go on sale next year, au natural.

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BMW Sends Draped 1 Series M Coupe for a Photo Shoot in Paris

Welcome to another round of insignificant teaser pictures of BMW's upcoming 1 Series M Coupe. This time, the Bavarians took a pre-production version of the high-performance compact coupe over to the Arc de Triomphe, just off the Place Charles de Gaulle in Paris, for a quick photo shoot. Once again, the car was fully wrapped so nothing really new to see here. And before you ask, we don't know anything about the man or the young woman posing with the car.

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2012 BMW F30 3-Series Spy Shots, Now With a Better View of the Interior

Here are some more spy shots of the upcoming next-gen BMW 3-Series with a closer look at the interior. Codenamed the F30, BMW is likely to play its next bread and butter 3-Series pretty safe with an evolutionary design. Even without looking at the pics, we all know it'll be the 3-Series version of the 5-Series.

As stated in our previous post (read here), power is likely to come from a series of inline-4 and -6 cylinder gasoline and diesel engines that'll see some boost from turbochargers. Also, with BMW downsizing and boost-raising, the next M3 could see either a turbo V8 or possibly even revert to a lighter but high-output 6-cylinder.

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2011 BMW 1-Series M Coupe Realistically Rendered

Talented photoshop artist 'Alpine325Ci' from the 1Addicts bimmer forums is at it again. This time he created a very realistic CGI of the upcoming BMW 1-Series M Coupe based on what we've seen of the car up until now in the official teaser videos. If you want our opinion, the wheels need to be a bit larger (especially the rear set), but other than that, the rendering looks pretty accurate.

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2012 BMW 1-Series 5-door Scooped, Shows its Insides for the first time

Following last week's teaser preview of the current generation 1 M Coupe and more relevantly, spy shots of the next 1-Series hatchback in three-door form, today we bring you pictures of the new five-door variant and for the first time, scoop images of the baby BMW's cabin that give us a flavour of the interior styling.

Our new spy photos reveal a redesigned center console that is slightly angled towards the driver and comes with new controls. As with the current BMW 1-Series, the iDrive / navigation screen is located at the top of the dashboard. We can also see a newly styled three-spoke steering wheel with a chunky girth.

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BMW drops another 1-Series M Coupe Teaser Video

Ask and yes shall receive! Apparently someone was listening, because just a day after putting up some spy shots of the new upcoming F20 1-Series, BMW has dropped a second teaser video of the 1-Series M Coupe.

While everyone is still waiting breathlessly for final specs and details, it's clear that the baby M is supposed to be something magical. People at Oktoberfest up Wisconsin way may be getting a sneak peak tonight (we told you about that earlier today), so get at us and let us know how that goes.

The only official details are what you've seen so far: quad exhaust tips, big cross-spoke rims, an M fascia, and beefed-up fenders. The car will likely get a tweaked version of the 135i's twin-turbo 6-cylinder, M goodies front to back, a locking diff, and the requisite suspension/steering/brake upgrades.

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BMW to show 1M Coupe tonight at Oktoberfest meeting in Wisconsin?

It's been a while since we last heard something new about the forthcoming BMW 1M Coupe. However, an announcement from the BMW CCA (that would be BMW Car Club of America) concerning a "sneak peak" at this week's Oktoberfest gathering in Wisconsin, USA, hints at the possible presentation and the release of more details about the car at tonight's banquet, which will be attended by BMW Motorsport Division boss, Dr. Kay Segler. There's a possibility the tease may concern a different model, but our money would go to the 1M Coupe.

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