BMW iX3 Looks Ready To Battle The Mercedes EQC

BMW's first fully electric crossover is expected to have a range of 249 miles.

Next month, the highly anticipated Mercedes EQC and Audi e-Tron will finally break cover. These aren’t the only German electric SUVs currently in development, however, as BMW is also preparing to unleash a fully electric version of the X3, expected to be called the iX3.

First previewed by a concept at Auto China, the iX3 is slated to launch in 2020 as BMW’s first all-electric crossover to rival the Mercedes EQC, Audi e-Tron and Jaguar I-Pace and the first of many EVs based on existing BMW models. It will also be the automaker’s third pure EV to launch after the facelifted i3 and the upcoming Mini E.

While the last prototype we saw looked practically identical to its combustion engine counterpart, this new one spotted by our spy photographers has been updated with production bodywork. Of course, you can still tell it’s based on the X3, but the electric crossover features a new front fascia with a restyled bumper and grille hiding under the camouflage to help distinguish it. The lower front intake also closely resembles the concept, but it isn’t clear if the production model will adopt the concept’s polarizing rat-toothed grille. At the back, the rear bumper has also been modified since there’s obviously no need for an exhaust system.

Like the concept, the production BMW iX3 is expected to have a 70+ kWh lithium-ion battery pack that takes just 30 minutes to charge using a 150 kW fast-charging station and an electric motor producing around 270 horsepower. This enabled the concept to deliver a range of 249 miles on a single charge. Production will take place at BMW’s China factory in Shenyang.

Audi Might Be Ready To Rent You A Car Instead Of Selling One

They way Audi is testing this concept sounds great to us.

Many of the big automakers are gearing up for a future where people share vehicles instead of owning them. Each company seems to have a different idea of how this future might work. Mercedes-Benz wants to create a sort of Airbnb for cars, and Tesla wants your car to be able to drive by itself and earn you money on the side. Audi has also prepared for this future where people will inevitably buy fewer cars. Currently, Audi has a goal of selling 2 million cars per year, and just finished 2016 by selling a record 1.87 million cars.

In an interview with Autocar, Audi sales and marketing boss Dietmar Voggenreiter said that Volkswagen Group's strategy for 2025 was ready for a "sharing economy", with "more ride sharing and more mobility". Voggenreiter pointed to a new pilot program in Hong Kong called "Audi On Demand". The program is currently being operated in an apartment building with 1,000 flats but only 150 parking spaces. Residents of the building are able to rent a Q7, TT RS, or A3 from an app on their phone from any of those 150 spaces. Cadillac has a similar new program that allows customers to lease every car in the Cadillac lineup for a flat rate of $1,500 per month. We love the idea, but Cadillac hasn't been able to keep up with demand.

The concept of being able to live in an apartment where you don't need to own a car is interesting, but we could also just rent a sports car, SUV, or sedan based on what you needed on a particular day. Apartment rental firms could sign deals with certain automakers, and renting an apartment could become more than just looking at the neighborhood and how many bedrooms it has. Shoppers would have to see which cars can be rented to make a decision. If the apartment in the better neighborhood only had a Toyota Prius to rent, we would much rather take the apartment that was worse if it had a Corvette Z06 available.

Get Ready Because BMW Will Be Killing The Manual Fairly Soon

Put it like this, it won't be offered a decade from now.

We know. We’ve heard this rumor before. Heck, this writer has asked more than one top BMW executive this very question, only to be reassured the manual transmission is alive as long as there’s enough demand, which mainly comes from the US. But not one of those executives could definitively tell us the manual will be around forever. That’s because it won’t be. According to Bimmerfile, BMW will be permanently ditching the manual over the next 2-6 years. And yes, this timeline also includes the US market.

Bimmerfile managed to get hold of a future product schedule for several redesigns of existing models and the six-speed manual, currently a no-cost option, is nowhere to be found. The demise begins in 2020 when the next 2 Series arrives. The ZF eight-speed automatic will likely be standard across the board for all 2 Series variants. And that includes the 2026 M2. Yes, it is a ways off, but Bimmerfile believes the next M2, M3, and M4, the latter two will arrive in 2020 or so, will be the last M cars to offer a manual. Chances are the ’26 M2 will be developed on the same drivetrain as the M3 and M4, thus allowing to cut development costs. Tossing a manual option into the mix, even for just the M2, makes absolutely no financial sense.

Also looking ahead to 2026, the replacement for the soon to be revealed next-generation 3 Series (yes, we know it’s far into the future) won’t have a manual option at all. Nor will the 2027 4 Series. Even the 2019 3 Series will only offer a manual in non-M models and in the 330i four-cylinder variant. Call this a manual transmission phase out. It won’t end abruptly, but it’ll be gone for good in BMWs within a decade.

New Bentley Continental GT3 Racecar Ready To Tear Up The Track

New race car comes packing 550-hp twin-turbo V8 and 900 kg less weight than its road-going counterpart.

Hot on the heels of the achingly gorgeous all-new Bentley Continental GT comes the hardcore variant of the grand tourer in the shape of the Continental GT3 racecar, unveiled today by Bentley Motorsport. The second-generation Conti GT3 has a lot to live up to given the success of the first-gen model. The championship-winning endurance racer managed 45 wins across 528 races across the globe, scoring 120 podiums in the process.

“After four years of success with our Continental GT3, we’re excited to reveal our second-generation car,” commented Brian Gush, Bentley’s Director of Motorsport. “The new car leaves no area or system untouched in the search for even better performance, and the early test results are promising. The new Continental GT road car has proved to be a great starting point for the development of a new racer, and the engineering development work is true to Bentley’s impeccable standards.” Bentley has a long history of producing winning racecars with former Le Mans winners including the 4 ? Liter, Speed Six and Speed 8.

Based on the all-new Continental, Bentley Motorsport’s in-house team of engineers, along with designers and technicians from M-Sport, utilized the road car’s aluminum structure to ensure a race-ready weight of less than 1,300 kg. Power comes from Bentley’s race-proven 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 rated at over 550 horsepower. The power plant boasts a Cosworth management system, a totally redesigned dry sump system, as well as all-new intake and exhaust systems. Aerodynamic enhancements, forged in the wind tunnel, have been applied to the muscular road car to create additional downforce, including a carbon-fiber front splitter, rear wing, bumpers, hood, side sills and fenders.

The GT3 also comes with a bespoke suspension (double wishbone and four-way adjustable racing dampers) and Alcon ventilated iron disc brakes (with six-piston front calipers, and four-piston rear). The GT3 sits on a set of 18-inch BBS Motorsport wheels, while the interior comes fitted with a steel roll-cage and six-point safety harness. A six-month test program is currently underway, which will include 24-hour endurance race simulations. For the 2018 season, Bentley will run a pair of Continental GT3 racers in the Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup across Europe, as well as around the world in the Intercontinental GT Challenge. The new Bentley Continental GT3 will make its race debut in Monza.

New BMW 3 Series Touring Looks Ready To Rock

But we still don’t know if it will be sold in America.

BMW lifted the wraps off the new G20-generation 3 Series at this year’s Paris Auto Show and it was certainly worth the wait, boasting more power, less weight, and significantly improved handling. In short, it’s better than its predecessor in every way. Two trims will be available in America: the 330i, which is powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder producing 255 horsepower, and a more potent M340i with a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six producing 382 hp.

Sadly, it will only be available with an automatic transmission, whereas the 318d and 320d diesel models will be equipped with a six-speed manual gearbox in Europe. Now that the sedan has broken cover, the new 3 Series family will soon expand with a new 3 Series Touring and a full-fat M3.

A recent report claimed that the new 3 Series Touring will debut at the Geneva Motor Show next year, which makes sense since the current model is expected to end production in June 2019. In the meantime, our spies have caught a prototype of the new 3 Series Touring being carried on a transporter, and it’s already started strip teasing.

There’s some camouflage covering the rear, but the front fascia is completely exposed. Unsurprisingly, the front looks nearly identical to its sedan sibling, sharing the same sleek LED headlights and redesigned kidney grille. The G20 3 Series sedan is also larger than its predecessor, so the new Touring model should provide occupants with more room inside than the current 3 Series Wagon.

The 3 Series Touring should also share the same engines as its sedan sibling, including the aforementioned 255-hp 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder and 382-hp 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six. Rumors also suggest BMW will launch a high-performance M3 Touring to rival the Audi RS4 Avant.

It isn’t yet clear if BMW will sell the new 3 Series Touring in America. While the automaker currently sells the 3 Series Wagon Stateside, wagons aren’t very popular in the US so it seems unlikely.

11 Convertibles For Every Budget To Get You Ready For Summer

A selection of open-topped sports cars for every occasion.

It is just about time to start enjoying some warm weather again and a convertible is just the thing to make the most of the sunshine. We have picked 11 of our favorite models on the market today, from affordable little roadsters to some of the fastest and most powerful convertibles on the planet. Some offer comfort and luxury for four while others are capable of blow-drying your hair at 200 mph. The choice is yours.

Mazda Miata

The Miata is a roadster that eschews any superfluous distractions that detracts from the joy of driving. Rear-wheel-drive, a revvy naturally aspirated engine and a featherweight body shell combine to make this $25,295 roadster the perfect weekend companion. You can also have an RF hardtop convertible for $31,910, but whichever you take please stick to the manual transmission versions.

Fiat 124 Spider

The 124 Spider is heavily based on the Miata but it comes with its own 160-hp turbocharged motor and styling that emulates drop-top Fiats of the past. Prices are similar to the Miata too and if you are more into boulevard cruising than apex chasing then a well-equipped automatic 124 could be the ideal fit.

Chevrolet Camaro

The Camaro is all about aggressive performance and big horsepower. You can scare yourself silly in the 650-hp 6.2-liter supercharged V8 if you like but even the 335-hp 3.6-liter V6 is plenty of fun and you won’t want or need more performance on the streets. At $34,395 it is conspicuously good value and worth the extra $1,500 over the base 2.0-liter turbo engine.

Ford Mustang

The Mustang is about as American as motoring gets. In convertible form the experience is even more enjoyable and as with the Corvette, there is a lot of performance to be had for the money. The base 2.3-liter EcoBoost motor is not short on power although you will miss the V8 soundtrack with the top down and that is why the $44,690, 460-hp 5.0-liter Mustang GT Premium Convertible is our choice. Perfect for cruising the beaches and blasting up a mountain pass.

BMW 4-Series Convertible

It may not be able to compete on pricing with the Camaro and Mustang but once you get behind the wheel and explore the luxurious interior you will see where the extra money has been spent. The 4-Series is also one of the few hardtop convertibles around and the rear seats are more useable than in the Mustang too. While the 320-hp 6-cylinder 440i is the pick of the bunch, even the base 248-hp 430i has plenty of power on offer if not much aural excitement to go with it. It is however a tad more affordable at $51,650 before options.

Mercedes-Benz E-Class Cabriolet

The recently released E-Class convertible is a beautiful grand tourer that sits in the middle of Mercedes’ convertible offerings in both price and performance. The E 400 comes with a twin-turbo 329-hp 3.0-liter V6 which is good for a 5.5 second 0-60 mph time. The pricing starts at $66,300 but that can easily rise if you add some desirable extras like adaptive air suspension and a Burmester audio system.

Jaguar F-Type Convertible

British sports cars have long been full of charm and character and with the F-Type they also deliver on the performance front. The 296-hp 2.0-liter turbo motor is strong, if not a tad characterless, but there are plenty more to choose from. For example, a V6 that delivers up to 400-hp depending on the trim and a supercharged 5.0-liter V8 that makes 575-hp in the top SVR. $63,000 is your starting point for the four-potter but don’t expect much change back from $100,000 if you go for a V6 model with some nice extras.

Porsche 911 Carrera Cabriolet

The 911 range has been the benchmark sports car for decades, its combination of everyday usability and stonking performance has never been better in the latest iteration. Even the base Carrera Convertible is a formidable offering, in PDK trim it blasts to 60 mph in 4.2-seconds yet still returns an average 25 mpg. All this ability does come at a price though, $94,310 to be precise. Budget another ￡10,000 for some options as it gets pricey pretty quickly.

Ferrari 488 Spider

661-hp from a 3.9-liter V8 is impressive, so is a 210 mph+ top speed and let’s not forget a price-tag that starts at $255,000 before options. Yes, the Ferrari 488 Spider is all about big numbers but it is also docile enough to trundle around at more sedate speeds when called upon.

Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Convertible

When it comes to the old bang-for-your-buck equation, the Corvette has the competition beat before even turning a wheel. The Z06 comes packed with a 650-hp supercharged V8 which launches it to 60 mph in under 3-seconds. All this for $85,585 in convertible form, it also comes packed with kit and sounds as ferocious as you would expect. Can it get any better? Why yes it can…

Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 Convertible

The ZR1 is what happens when you take a Z06 and feed it pure adrenaline. It pushes the power levels up to 755 hp and has numerous aero and chassis upgrades to help it stay stable at its 212 mph top speed. The price is a somewhat heftier $123,995 but still well below anything else that could potentially stick with it on the road or track.

Gone are the days when owning a convertible meant you had to accept a noisy and leaky cabin as part of the package. From the $25,000 Miata to the $250,000 488 Spider, the modern convertible is as practical as its hardtop counterpart (if it has one) and at the press of a button you get to enjoy open-topped motoring.

BMW Confirms Full M Version i8 Is Coming: Get Ready For The BMW i8M

Get ready for an i8 M Sport and i3 M Sport.

If rumblings under the San Andreas fault are supposed to indicate that we’ll have to kiss the west coast goodbye, then what do seismic leaps and bounds being made at BMW’s i moniker mean? For now, they mean that no BMW supercar to rival the Mercedes AMG GT will be made and that we can expect every model in the company’s lineup to have the option for a plug by 2020. But as VP of Sales and Marketing for BMW’s M division Peter Quintus told Motoring, the fault lines go deeper than that.

In a previous interview about the possibility of a BMW supercar, the company’s Director of Sales and Marketing, Dr. Ian Robertson claimed that the M division was too busy building up its M Sport portfolio since this is the sector that sells in higher volumes and in turn makes more money. However, thanks to comments made by Quintus, we now know just what the i division is so busy with. That would be M Sport versions of the i8 and i3, which will serve as a stepping stone into an eventual electrification of the M brand when BMW’s two brands merge. When Motoring pressed him about a full M version of the i8 or a collaboration on a car between M and i, Quintus said that it is the long term strategy.

Still, that doesn't mean BMW is ready for it quite yet. “In the longer-term there must be some kind of electrification of the M range. The question is, when do you do that?” said Quintus. “At the moment, if you look at the weight of batteries against the performance gains of electrification, it’s obvious the best blend of performance and dynamic technologies are still achieved by conventionally-powered models.” Put simply, the main impediment is the weight of the batteries, which could be mitigated by integrating carbon fiber into the chassis of a battery powered M car. The one issue is that mass production of carbon fiber chassis is still expensive, meaning that in the near future we’ll have to settle for BMW’s carbon core technology seen on the 7 Series.

What this does is to use a mix of carbon fiber, aluminum, and steel to reduce weight in key areas while saving cost over a full carbon body. The i brand has an easier time with such a transition given how new it is, but the changes will drastically alter how the M brand has done things for years. We are still years away from feeling the aftershocks of these tectonic shifts in the auto world, but just because the hand of change is inevitable doesn’t always mean its touch will be pleasant.