BMW

BMW India, the Indian wing of the celebrated luxury automaker from Germany and the topmost seller of luxury cars in India, launched the diesel range of Mini Cooper Countryman on May 7, 2013. Presently comprising of not more than just two models - the Cooper D Countryman and the Cooper D Countryman High (where ‘D’ represents ‘Diesel’), this new Cooper series introduces the first Mini models in India ever to have oil-burners sitting under their attractive little hoods. Until now, only a petrol version of the car, called as the Cooper Countryman S, was available in the country, having been launched about a year ago along with three other Cooper siblings - Cooper, Cooper S and Cooper Convertible.

BMW, by dint of its extraordinary cars that it has introduced over the years, has established itself as one of the leading automobile manufacturers. Some of its marvellous creations, as you all know, are BMW Nazca M12 , BMW X5 Le Mans Concept , BMW M8 Prototype. However, it is not merely the automobile sector in which it excels. There is, at least, one more area in which BMW proves to be among the bests – inventing April Fool Pranks. There is hardly any automobile company or any corporate organization that is so innovative in playing pranks.

BMW has run multiple print ads on or right before 1st April almost every year. They come up with news updates that announce unbelievably awesome technologies that their cars would feature. Though unbelievable, people tended to believe them since it came from a brand as esteemed as BMW. Most of these pranks were played in Europe. Some of the features it has announced on 1st Aprils in different years include devices to locate parking, warm the road to melt snow and ice with lasers, escape traffic cameras etc. Let us place before you the funniest five April Fool pranks from BMW.

BMW, the topmost manufacturer of luxury cars in India, rolled out an exciting new facelift of its magnificent 7 Series Coupe at a launch event held in Malaysia on 28 February 2013. Presenting a fleet of three gorgeous variants, which have been named as the 730Li, the 740Li and the ActiveHybrid 7L, the company has provided the luxurious sedan with the much-needed mid-life revamp or the ‘Long Cycle Impulse’ (LCI) like the Germans like to call it. Introduced for the first time in the year 2008, BMW 7 Series is expected to arrive in India in its brand new avatar quite soon. And once it does, it will have other royal warriors to fight against, including Mercedes Benz S Class, Jaguar XJ, Audi A8 and the likes. To tackle the newly announced customs duty policy of the Indian Government, which has increased the tax rate on imported cars from 75% to 100%, and to keep the BMW 7 Series price under check, the German automaker will be bringing this new car to India via the CKD (Completely Knocked Down units) route to be assembled later at the Chennai production facility of the company.

BMW car is all set to welcome the new year with a blast, and by blast we mean the 2013 BMW Z4 Roadster. The German car manufacturer officially unveiled the 2014 BMW Z4 Roadster, an updated version of the classic BMW that will be displayed at the 2013 Detroit Auto Show and will go on-sale globally next-year. And the 2013 BMW Z4 Roadster's Indian launch is slated to happen sometime in the second half of 2013. The 2013 Detroit Motor Show will see BMW presenting the audience with new models now entering series production and pioneering vehicle concepts. The list of these vehicles include BMW Concept 4 Series Coupe, BMW M6 Gran Coupe, BMW 1 Series Coupe and Convertible Limited Edition lifestyle and BMW Z4. The company has already unveiled the 4 Series Concept Coupe, M6 Gran Coupe, BMW 1 Series coupe, and today the company has also unveiled BMW Z4 ahead of its debut at the Detroit Motor Show 2013. Talking about the 2014 BMW Z4, it has received only minor changes on the outside, and the refresh can be termed as a mild facelift at best. Rendering the reports of the BMW Z4 being inspired by the Zagato Roadster untrue, the 2014 BMW Z4 Roadster gets only a handful of additional features other than the minor exterior and interior refinements.

A modern house in the picturesque setting of Hollywood Hills definitely did a brilliant job of providing the perfect setting for the launch of BMW's latest concept car, the BMW i3 Concept Coupe. The car, launched ahead of the Los Angeles Auto Show press preview, highlights the company's new found fascination with electricity as a way of powering cars. The BMW i3 concept coupe is the first all-electric car to come out from the BMW stable. It is based on the study that the German car manufacturer presented at the Los Angeles Auto Show, 2012. The BMW i3 Concept Coupe is a two-door version of the fully electric i3 Concept four-door hatchback car that BMW has been flaunting for over an year now. The i3 concept coupe has been fashioned keeping contemporary urban mobility in mind. The coupe's exteriors boast of a carbon fibre body with a poised roof line. Furthermore, the side windows also give an impression of lightness, transparency and streamlined aerodynamics. However, BMW is building an i3 five-door electric sedan for sales across the world, which will be followed by an i8 electric sports car. As for the i3 concept coupe, it is just a design exercise.

From the looks of it this festive season is turning out to be a pretty good one for everyone. Here is some news for BMW loyals. At the launch of the BMW 6-Series 640d Gran Coupe, the Indian subsidiary of this German auto giant announced they are now getting ready to bring the much desired BMW 1-Series hatchback to Indian shores by late 2013. Codenamed F20, the BMW 1-Series' current generation model has been available for purchase in the international markets since September last year. The 1-Series is BMW's smallest and the most affordable car in their entire range, a fact that renders the five-door hatchback a perfect car for the Indian automobile market. And as if that wasn't good enough news, Philipp von Sahr, President, BMW India, announced that the 1-Series and 7-Series, which will hit the Indian market soon, will be manufactured locally. This move in turn, will make the mentioned cars considerably cheaper because of the import and excise duty benefits.

The German Trio of Audi, BMW and Mercedes Benz is the undisputed ruler of the luxury segment of the Indian auto-industry. As true as that fact is, so is this that whenever one of these three members of the ruling community releases a new model in the market, the fight that ensues between the three titans is worth a watch. Now, the festive occasion of Diwali is just around the corner, and with a clear intention of taking advantage of the festive mood that consumes the country during this period, BMW India have decided to introduce the latest member of their 6-Series clan to the Indian audience. And this new entrant is not just any new entrant; it is the first ever BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe of BMW to have come with four doors. Being a 4-door Coupe, this car is sure to reach out to a wider range of customers in India, not to mention that the scope of competition expands as well. This newbie from the prestigious factories of BMW, which is about to be rolled out on the 8th of this very month, will be locking horns straight away with none other than Audi A7 and Mercedes CLS. In short, be ready for yet another legendary clash between the German Titans.  

It is said that the number of cars on road define how a country’s economy is doing. Talking in favor of the Indian market the sales of luxury sedan cars have been crawling slowly. The cause of the journey down hill is said to be steep import duty, rupee depreciation and not to forget ever rising petrol prices. Not only in the Indian market but all over the world, markets are left with no choices except to slow down production of the high end sedans.

The BMW 3-Series sedan is the original in the compact sports sedan segment and all these years it has come to be associated with aesthetic appeal, brilliant dynamics and best in class sporting capability of BMW. This 3 Series version is the sixth generation of the world's best-selling vehicle. It further highlights the sporting character of the brand's mid-size model.

BMW 3 series is here…let’s have some drum rolls and some trumpets because this beast is one delightful machine that is a perfect blend of mean and muscular looks at the same time is elegant, stylish and has a panache that’s unmatchable. The BMW 3 series is here to challenge the Audi A4, Mercedes C Class and the likes. Gracing the launch event was none other than the first brand ambassador of BMW India, Master Blaster, Sachin Tendulkar along with Dr. Andreas Schaaf, President, BMW Group India. The new improved 2012 3 series comes at a starting price of Rs. 28.90 Lakh for the 320d.