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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BMW X6M Receives the AC Schnitzer Treatment

Well-known BMW tuning house AC Schnitzer has set its eyes on the M version of the X6 sport crossover. The company said it is still working on a performance upgrade for the X6M's twin-turbocharged V8 engine that churns out 555HP in standard form, but buyers can choose from a variety of options that revamp the crossover's look.

The aero bodywork includes a front spoiler, roof spoiler, bonnet air-vents, rear wing, rear diffuser and design elements for the front skirt and chromed front grille. There's also a new carbon piece for the bonnet with a Plexiglas window through which the engine is visible.

AC Schnitzer offers a wheel arch extension kit that adds 40 mm on each side as well as numerous alloy wheel designs available in sizes 20-, 22- and 23-inches. The company also offers a new sport exhaust system with chromed tail-pipes.

Interior options include a restyled speedometer and rev counter with white dials and red lighting, carbon trim, aluminium footrest and pedal set, specific floor mats and a an AC Schnitzer steering wheel.

BMW Launches Performance and Styling Accessories for X6 Crossover

BMW is milking offering buyers of its X6 that might want the M version of the Sports Activity Coupe but need to think of other things in life such as house payments an alternative proposal in the form of a new line of retrofittable performance and styling options that can be bought separately.

Starting from June, BMW's Performance division will offer a new Power Kit that includes an ECU update for the V8 powered unit in the X6 xDrive50i and the straight-six in the X6 xDrive35i.

The kit raises maximum output of the twin-turbo V8 in the xDrive50i by 41HP and 50Nm to 448HP and 650 Nm or 479 lb-ft, while the xDrive35i's turbo-six shows an increase of 20HP and 50Nm to 326HP and 450Nm or 332 lb-ft.

With this kit, both models accelerate 0.2 seconds faster from a standstill to 100 km/h (62mpg), the xDrive50i completing this sprint in 5.2 seconds and the xDrive35i in 6.5 seconds. Acceleration in gears from 80-120 km/h (50- 75 mph) is 0.5 seconds faster in each model.

Also available is a lightweight sports exhaust system with chrome-plated tailpipes.

Owners can complement the power upgrades with an aero kit that is made up of the front bumper, side-sills, an insert for the rear bumper, a rear spoiler, rear fins in matt black and a front grid finished in high-gloss black paint.

BMW also offers a set of 21-inch alloys shod in super-chunky tires size 285/35 R21 at the front and 325/30 R21 at the rear.

As for the interior, BMW Performance's option include numerous accessories such as aluminium pedals and footrest and a sports steering wheel with a flattened rim at the bottom and alcantara coating.