The V12 AMG S65 Is Proof Mercedes Is Dipping Into Bentley Territory

But how does it compare to an actual Bentley?

In the world of the 1 percent there is no such thing as not enough. While those pesky 99 percenters like to go on about how nobody really needs $1 billion, they fail to see that “enough” is not the point. It’s all about excess, and that’s something an automaker like Bentley knows well. But while the British brand has traditionally focused on the upper echelons of the super rich, Mercedes caters to those at the bottom of that tax bracket and in many cases, those who reside outside of it entirely.

However, in a true spirit of excess, the Tri-Star has recently been undergoing a push upwards to sell to the 1 percent and soak up the profits whether large or small. Cars like the Maybach S600 and Maybach S650 Cabriolet are proof of this, but for those too impatient to wait for the latter of the two cars, Mercedes already makes a drop top S-Class that’s fit for a king.

That would be the S65 AMG Cabriolet. While the badge only has a single difference between it and the S63 AMG Cabriolet, the two are separated by a $71,500 gulf and four cylinders. Not that the extra engine space makes for any difference in performance, but Mercedes knows well that the truly wealthy love bragging rights. Speaking of that, how does it compare to the ultimate car for braggers, the Bentley Continental GT Black Edition? While the two cars are nearly equals in terms of price, the Mercedes is refined to the point where it could win over most Bentley owners. However, it's the cumulative experience that dictates the winner, and that may come as a surprise to many.

The New BMW Z4 Is Proof BMW Won't Cave Entirely To SUVs

Because sports cars still matter. It's that simple.

Look at BMW’s lineup and you’ll see there’s roughly an equal number of sedans/coupes and SUVs. This wasn’t the case a decade or so ago. The upcoming arrival of the X7, more hybrids and EVs and, perhaps, an X8, is additional proof that SUVs and batteries are the real money-makers now and will be in the coming years. However, BMW remains committed to its sports car heritage, hence the decision to invest heavily in the soon-to-be-revealed Z4’s all-new platform.

Though it was jointly developed with Toyota, BMW opted to start from scratch instead of simply updating the outgoing Z4’s architecture. Speaking to Autocar, BMW driving dynamics boss Peter Langen was very open about the company’s sports car commitment. “For us, it’s really important. We made a decision to have more SUVs because customers want to have these cars, but it’s also important to underline sportiness and joy, which are the brand values of BMW. The Z4 will show those values very well.” Again, that new sports car architecture is definitive proof of BMW’s devotion to coupes and roadsters. “The task was to build a new sporty open car, not a follower of the old Z4,” Langen added.

“They’re completely different. We designed the new Z4 as a new kind of sportiness.” The all-new Z4 reveal is only two months away. That unveiling will take place at Pebble Beach this August. This weekend, however, is the debut of another non-SUV BMW model, the all-new 8 Series.

Here's Proof That Cars Can Not Drive Themselves

Perhaps people will stop putting too much trust in "self-driving" systems.

Self-driving cars are supposed to usher humanity into a world where accidents are a relic of the past, yet today's systems are far from reaching this point. Every time a Tesla is involved in an accident, the immediate story becomes whether or not Autopilot was at fault. Clearly cars with supposed "self-driving" systems are not ready to be trusted completely, but consumers don't seem to comprehend the limitations of these aids. As cars with driving aids continue to be involved in accidents, it is important to know why the systems may fail in real world situations.

Thatcham Research, a UK-based insurance research group, put together a video explaining why so many vehicles with semi-autonomous features are still getting into accidents. The video does a great job of explaining what we have noticed in some of our tests with these features.

The video shows two vehicles, a Tesla Model S and a BMW 5 Series, both demonstrating the limitations of semi-autonomous driving aids. The first issue lies with adaptive cruise control. ACC works great when following the car in front, but if the lead car pulls away suddenly, the system may not be able to stop in time to avoid a collision. The next issue deals lane keep assist systems. We've tested Volvo's system, which is one of the best on the market, and found it to work perfectly well on a straight highway. When the roads get twisty, systems like these can easily become lost and stray into the opposing lane. It pays to understand how these systems work, and how they should be used safely.

Here's Some Hard Proof Of The BMW M8 Competition Model

Like the M2 and M5, the M8 will get its own hardcore version.

Ever since BMW revealed the 8 Series Coupe in M805i xDrive trim, speculation has begun on what the full M version will be like. Even BMW teased an M8 Gran Coupe Concept and has already confirmed that an M8 Coupe is on its way. Powertrain details are still unknown but it is expected to borrow the M5's 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 pumping out over 615 horsepower, which is a bit more than the standard M5's 600 hp figure.

While a 615-hp M8 would be more powerful than the standard M5, it would actually be less powerful than the M5 Competition, which has 625 hp. The M8 should be BMW's flagship M car, so it seems likely that a more powerful version is also in the works.

A leaked document on Bimmerpost appears to show various trim levels of the 8 Series Coupe, including the 840i and 840d, the M8, as well as the M8 Competition. Like the recent M2 and M5 Competition, it seems BMW will reveal a more hardcore version to go along with the M8.

The M2 Competition acts as a replacement for the M2, while the M5 Competition will be sold alongside the standard M5. According to this document, the M8 Competition will likely be offered alongside the M8.

If we had to guess, the M8 Competition will likely gain an additional 25 hp over the standard M8, putting the figure at around 635 hp. BMW will also sell a base 840i version, which will likely receive the latest turbocharged straight-six from the 340i producing at least 382 hp. There will also be a diesel version, though we doubt it will be sold in the US market. So if you're already on the waiting list for an M8, you may want to wait for the M8 Competition.

The New BMW Z4 Is Proof BMW Won't Cave Entirely To SUVs

Because sports cars still matter. It's that simple.

Look at BMW’s lineup and you’ll see there’s roughly an equal number of sedans/coupes and SUVs. This wasn’t the case a decade or so ago. The upcoming arrival of the X7, more hybrids and EVs and, perhaps, an X8, is additional proof that SUVs and batteries are the real money-makers now and will be in the coming years. However, BMW remains committed to its sports car heritage, hence the decision to invest heavily in the soon-to-be-revealed Z4’s all-new platform.

Though it was jointly developed with Toyota, BMW opted to start from scratch instead of simply updating the outgoing Z4’s architecture. Speaking to Autocar, BMW driving dynamics boss Peter Langen was very open about the company’s sports car commitment. “For us, it’s really important. We made a decision to have more SUVs because customers want to have these cars, but it’s also important to underline sportiness and joy, which are the brand values of BMW. The Z4 will show those values very well.” Again, that new sports car architecture is definitive proof of BMW’s devotion to coupes and roadsters. “The task was to build a new sporty open car, not a follower of the old Z4,” Langen added.

“They’re completely different. We designed the new Z4 as a new kind of sportiness.” The all-new Z4 reveal is only two months away. That unveiling will take place at Pebble Beach this August. This weekend, however, is the debut of another non-SUV BMW model, the all-new 8 Series.

Here's Proof The Bentley Continental GT Is Getting The Plug-In Hybrid Treatment

Let’s hope it inherits the Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid’s powertrain that produces 680 hp.

After the coupe broke cover last year, the Bentley Continental GT range is about to rapidly expand. Spy shots have shown a convertible Continental GTC is in the works, and we recently got a first look at a prototype of the hardcore Continental Speed.

The expansion won’t end there however, as our spies have spotted a plug-in hybrid version of the luxury grand tourer. Aesthetically, it looks virtually identical to the standard model apart from a few subtle tweaks and the addition of a charging port on the rear left fender opposite the fuel cap on the other side.

Word on the street suggests the Continental GT PHEV will get the same hybrid powertrain as its SUV sibling, the Bentayga PHEV, which uses a 3.0-liter turbocharged V6 petrol engine paired with an electric motor. If the specs match the hybrid Bentayga, the electrified Continental GT should deliver a pure electric range of up to 31 miles in the NEDC test cycle.

Oddly, Bentley still hasn’t revealed any technical specifications for the Bentayga plug-in. However, the Porsche Panamera 4 E-Hybrid shares the same powertrain and produces a combined 462 horsepower, which gives us a rough idea of the Continental GT PHEV’s potential power output.

Alternatively, Bentley could stuff the Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid’s powertrain in the electrified Continental GT. If this is the case, this setup would deliver a whopping 680 horsepower, making it the most powerful Continental in the line-up. Nothing has been officially confirmed yet and we aren’t expecting the Continental GT Plug-In Hybrid to be unveiled until next year considering we’re still waiting for the Continental GTC, Speed, and the new Flying Spur to break cover.

Here's Proof Alpina Is Working On BMW X7 M Alternative

If an X7 M never materializes, at least we have Alpina.

The BMW X7 is still pretty hot-off-the-presses after being revealed just a few days ago. Like the smaller X5, the X7 is powered by either a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six producing 335 horsepower and 330 lb-ft of torque or a 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 developing 456 hp and 479 lb-ft of torque. Two diesel engines are also available in Europe.

Even with well over 400 hp in its xDrive50i trim, we're waiting to see if BMW will actually build an M version of the X7. We've seen renderings of what an X7 M could look like but its production is far from guaranteed. Luckily, Alpina is working on its own alternative.

Alpina is a German manufacturer that works closely with BMW to produce high-performance models that are also comfortable. We've even argued that Alpina BMWs are even cooler than BMW M models for a certain type of buyer. Even if BMW doesn't do an X7 M, our spy photographers have just snapped pictures of a mysterious camouflaged X7 on the Nurburgring. Since the X7 has already been revealed, it doesn't make much sense for BMW to still hide it. That's because this is actually a prototype for the upcoming Alpina XD7.

It's hard to infer much about the styling because of the camo. The car appears to have intercoolers behind the front air intakes to help cool down the engine. On the standard X7, these intakes are purely aesthetic. Alpina will likely use the 3.0-liter quad-turbo inline-six diesel engine from the X5 and X7 M50d, which produces 400 hp and 556 lb-ft of torque, though it will likely be tuned to produce at least 450 hp. Along with the performance upgrades, the XD7 will be given a unique interior, quad exhaust tips, and the classic Alpina wheels.

Since BMW doesn't sell the M50d in the US, we doubt the Aplina will be sold here either. Unless Alpina also tuned the 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8, the XD7 will remain forbidden fruit. Expect the Alpina XD7 to arrive in September 2019 at the Frankfurt Auto Show.

Here's Proof The New BMW 6 Series Convertible Will Be No 911 Fighter

But that doesn't mean it won't sport two turbos and gut-punching acceleration.

All of the rumors we’ve recently heard about BMW’s next generation of the 6 Series may have been nothing more than just that, rumors. After hearing wild talk about a new 6 Series designed specifically to fight the Porsche 911 and the Mercedes-AMG GT, and then finding contradictory evidence stating that some variations would get the axe, we saw a test mule of the 6 Series coupe being driven just a few weeks ago. Now our ninja-like spy photographers have caught its convertible counterpart out for testing.

If successful the new 6 Series will help BMW keep an edge on the sub-Bentley grand touring segment. Much like the coupe we recently spied the convertible seen here is neither dead nor packing the changes necessary to scare Porsche. While the vehicle appears to be smaller than its predecessor, likely in order to make room for the lofty Bentley-beating 8 Series, it’s no lightweight sports car. Typical of BMW’s recent M vehicles, the new 6 Series has broad shoulders and looks like it will be more at home beating Porsches on the drag strip with its twin-turbocharged V8s than trying to compete through the corners. In essence, the new 6 is not much more than an evolution on the previous model, which isn’t exactly a bad thing.

It’s tough to see the headlights and grille through the camouflage, but we can probably expect the two front-end elements connect in order to maintain the design language that debuted on the new 5 Series. The rear windows on this 6 Series should preserve the angled lines of the coupe rather than rake forwards in a manner that’s non-conducive to the design. As usual, the engines available for the coupe will be optional on the convertible, which means that an M-tuned version should hit the market with either the current 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 or the rumored 4.0-liter turbocharged V8 that will introduce itself in the 8 Series. Expect to see this topless 6 Series hit the market six months or so after the coupe breaks cover.