BMW M Car Sales Increase by More than 14 Percent in 2010

Sales of BMW's M car series continue to sprout as the Bavarian company's performance division concluded the 2010 business year with a 14.2 percent increase to 16,967 units, despite the phase out of the V10-powered M5 and M6 models.

The M brand's most popular model remained the M3 with 5,729 units of the coupe, 2,544 units of the Convertible and 1,843 Saloons. Worldwide sales of the newly introduced all-wheel drive X5 M and X6 M totaled 2,778 and 3,082 respectively.

The USA was once again the most important single market in 2010 for the performance brand with overall BMW M car sales up by more than 6 percent to 6,821 units. As before, the number two sales region was the German domestic market with sales of 1,716 cars, followed by Britain and Northern Ireland with 1,264 units.

BMW M's division saw its most dynamic growth in China where sales rose by 355 percent to 1,088 units, making the country the fourth-strongest market for the brand. Significant gains were also registered in Brazil (+ 237 percent) and Russia (+ 104 percent).

The German company said that it also recorded a 1 percent increase in sales of the M Sport packages, with 138,800 units in 2010. The main market for M Sport packages was Britain and Northern Ireland, followed by Germany and the USA. The was also a significant jump in the demand for the firm's Individual program, with 24,155 options being ordered in 2010, an increase of 47 percent over 2009.

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G-Power’s BMW M5 HURRICANE GS is the World's Fastest LPG-Powered Car

After the standard BMW M5 and M6 Hurricane editions, BMW tuning specialists G-Power has now released a more eco-friendly iteration of the same package, in the form of the LPG-powered Hurricane M5 GS.

The German firm's engineers performed several modification to the M5 and M6 Hurricane's 5.0-liter bi-supercharged V10 engine which now comes with one fully sequential five-cylinder LPG system per cylinder bank. G-Power says the benefits of LPG fuel are both economical and ecological in nature, as LPG is not only around 50 percent less expensive per liter than petrol, it also reduces CO2 emissions by about 15 percent.

As an added bonus, the V10 is slightly more powerful than its gasoline counterpart producing 660-horsepower (+25HP) and 650Nm of peak torque at 5,500 rpm.

The M5 Hurricane GS can go from standstill to 100 km/h (62 mph) in only 4.6 seconds and reach the 200 km/h (124 mph) mark in 11.4 seconds, while topping out at 333 km/h (207 mph), which, according to the tuning firm, makes it the world’s fastest LPG-powered car.

For improved stability and handling, the sports saloon has been fitted with a G-Power RS coil-over sport suspension, high performance braking system and lighter, 20-inch Silverstone Clubsport alloys, clad in 255/35 front and 285/30 rear tires.

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Sabine Schmitz “Queen of the Nürburgring” stars in new BMW Unscripted Video

Remember Murray Fowler and his BMW 2800 CS? Then you probably wondered who the next impromptu actor in BMW's "Unscripted" series would be. Well, your wait is over: it's none other than female racer and television personality Sabine Schmitz, also known as the "Queen of the Nürburgring" or the "fastest taxi driver in the world".

She earned these nicknames for lapping the German race track more than 20,000 times (according to her own estimates), mostly behind the wheel of the famous BMW M5 Ring Taxi. Other highlights of her carrier include two wins (in 1996 and 1997) and a third place finish (2008) at the 24 Hours Nürburgring.

Sabine got involved in the world of racing as a young child, when many famous drivers and motorsport personalities stayed at the Schmitz family hotel in Nürburg. As a result, all three Schmitz sisters started racing, but only Sabine had real success.

Charismatic and very natural on camera, Sabine pursued a television career as well, co-hosting a number of German motoring shows. Perhaps her most memorable moments in television are linked to several appearances on BBC’s Top Gear.

By Csaba Daradics

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Rossin-Bertin Vorax: Brazil's BMW M5 V10-Powered Supercar

Behold Brazil's newest supercar, the Rossin-Bertin Vorax that will make its debut at the Sao Paulo Auto Show later this month. Looking a tad like the result of an unfortunate accident between a Nissan Juke and a Mazda RX-8, the Vorax features a carbon fibre body and aluminium chassis. According to its makers, it will weigh in at just 1,300 kg (2,866 lbs) and be powered by the same (albeit tuned) 5.0-liter V10 from the BMW M5.

SPY VIDEOS: 2011 BMW M5, M6 and 6-Series Convertible

Featured in this latest batch of scoop videos are the all-new 2011 M5 sedan, M6 Coupe as well as the 6-Series Convertible [notice the Mercedes SLS AMG Gullwing?], all of which are most likely to go on sale sometime next year. Both the new M5 saloon and M6 coupe say bye-bye to the current models' naturally-aspirated 10-cylinder unit and welcome a reworked version of the X5 / X6 M's twin-turbocharged V8.

Output figures remain a secret, but it is believed that in the M5 and M6, the V8 turbo will churn more than the 555HP and 680Nm or 501-lbs/ft of peak torque it does on the X5 M and X6 M, flirting closer to the 600HP mark.

As for the next-generation of the 6-Series Convertible, it's looks like it will keep using a canvas top and seating for 2+2. Expect to see a less controversial design language inspired from the recent Concept Gran Coupe (click here for pictures).

Source: BMWblog & E90post

SPIED: 2011 BMW M5 Super Saloon Sheds More Camouflage

Now that there's less reason for secrecy since we've already seen the standard versions of the new F10 5-Series on the road, BMW has started peeling off the psychedelic camouflage from its 2011 M5 prototypes.

Key stylistic highlights of the new M5's look will include the four tailpipes, chunkier front and rear bumper designs, unique exterior mirrors and alloy wheels while there's also talk about a carbon fiber roof and bootlid which should also help reduce weight.

As we've already told you in earlier posts, BMW's new uper saloon will be the first M5 to adopt turbocharging with power coming from a reworked version of the X5 M and X6 M's 4.4-liter bi-turbo V8 that replaces the current model's V10 unit.

Details of the new engine remain secret but it is believed that in the M5, the V8 engine will produce more than the 555HP and 680Nm or 501-lbs/ft of peak torque it does on the X5 M and X6 M, flirting closer to the 600HP mark.

The new unit will not only be more powerful and lighter than the outgoing V10, but also more efficient. Fuel consumption and CO2 emissions will be further reduced thanks to a suite of BMW EfficientDynamics technologies including a start and stop system, electronic flaps in the front fascia of the car that can close to improve aerodynamics, Brake Energy Regeneration and Electric Power Steering.

Along with the new V8 powerplant, the F10 M5 will get a re-engineered version of the BWM M3's seven-speed twin-clutch transmission (DCT), and hopefully for purists, a 6-speed manual gearbox (this has not yet been confirmed).

Like today's model, the new M5 will also benefit from suspension, brake and steering system upgrades to further improve handling and driver's feedback.

We could see the M5 in the flesh as early as this fall at the Paris Motor Show, though it's more likely to be unveiled at a major international car show in 2011 with sales to start towards the end of the same year.

Video Shootout: Corvette ZR1 vs Koenigsegg CCR, BMW X5M vs Range Rover Sport, Audi R8 vs Porsche 911 and More

Since we're suckers for speed, we jumped at the opportunity to show you these awesome videos from a sports car shootout, courtesy of the folks over at M5Board. If you haven't done so already, follow the jump to watch some mega power throwdowns including Switzer's Nissan GT-R P800 versus the Koenigsegg CCR Evo and BMW's M5 Touring going against its X5M SUV stable-mate.

Via: M5board - Thanks for the nod Gustav!

SPY SHOTS: 2011 BMW M5 with Twin-Turbocharged V8

Having already introduced the next generation 5-Series sedan, BMW and in particular, its M division, is now concentrating on the development of the flagship version of the series, the M5 that was caught here testing at the Nordschleife. The hotly anticipated M5 will debut about a year after the standard 5-Series that is due to make its first public appearance at the 2010 Geneva Show next March.

Until recently, it wasn't clear if the new M5 would continue to use the current model's exotic V10 powerplant or if the Bavarian's would go for the new 4.4-liter bi-turbo V8 that debuted in the X5M and X6M. However, BMW officials have now confirmed that the new M5 will indeed be equipped with the turbocharged V8.

In the X5M and X6M, the bi-turbocharged unit produces an output of 555 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 680Nm or 501-lbs/ft of peak torque, available between 1,500 and 5,650 rpm. In comparison, the current M5's naturally aspirated V10 makes 507HP and 520Nm or 383-lbs/ft of peak torque.

Details on the new M5's engine specs remain scarce, though it has been suggested that the direct-injection V8 may be further honed, boosting output closer to the 600HP mark.

The new V8 will not only be more powerful than the V10, but also more compact in size, lighter in weight and more fuel efficient with lower CO2 emissions.

Along with the new powerplant, the 2011 M5 will get a re-engineered version of the BWM M3's seven-speed twin-clutch transmission (DCT), and hopefully for purists, a classic manual gearbox.

As with every other product bearing the M badge, the 5-Series-based model will benefit from suspension, brake and steering system upgrades to further improve handling and driver's feedback.

Even though the prototype model seen in these spy pictures features the standard roof, it is rumored that BMW is working on a carbon fiber top similar to that of the current M3 and M6. Other cosmetic differences will include engorged wheel arches housing larger rims and of course, a full body kit.

If BMW keeps its usual time schedule, we should see the new M5 breaking cover at a major auto show in 2011, with sales starting in Europe towards the end of the same year, and the rest of the world including the U.S., in 2012.