News

M Performance carbon kit for BMW i5 Touring and Series 5 Touring

In February, BMW expanded its fleet with a new station wagon version of the 5 Series, the BMW i5 Touring and Series 5 Touring, and now the Bavarian company has prepared the M Performance equipment package that puts these models on a higher level.

The wagon is longer, taller and wider than its predecessor, and now thanks to carbon fiber parts like the new three-piece M Performance front splitter, the car gets a sportier look. There are also new side mirror housings and door sill extensions, and owners can also order Frozen black trim strips, which run along the side line, and M Performance decals for the door sills.

Inside, the car is equipped with Curved Display with 14.9-inch touchscreen, 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, sports seats, and BMW Operating System 8.5 that supports video streaming and AirConsole gaming. Customers will also have a wide range of options, including a glass panoramic roof, BMW Individual Merino leather, Bowers & Wilkins premium sound system with 18 speakers, as well as the BMW Interaction Bar. The M Performance package brings aluminum sill plates, new door projectors, M Performance floor mats with contrasting thread and stainless steel pedals. Owners can also order a special key case made of leather and Alcantara, as well as a carbon fuel tank cover.

When it comes to the powertrain, the i5 eDrive40 Touring will be powered by an electric motor with 340 hp (250 kW) and 317 lb-ft (430 Nm) of torque. It accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 6.1 seconds with a top speed of 193 km/h (120 mph). It will be equipped with an 82.1 liquid-cooled Li-ion battery that will provide a range of 560 kilometers WLTP. It will have RWD.

Those who want more power can choose the BMW i5 M60 xDrive Touring. It is powered by two electric motors with a total output of 601 hp (442 kW) and 605 lb-ft (820 Nm) of torque. it reaches 100 km/h (62 mph) in 3.9 seconds with a top speed of 230 km/h (143 mph). It is equipped with 81.2 kWh Liquid-cooled Li-ion which enables a range of 506 km WLTP, and all-wheel drive.

Customers can choose between 20″ and 21″ wheels, and those who want top performance during the summer can also choose 19-inch M Performance “Y” rims in matte black, with high-performance tires.

Source: BMW

Gallery:

M Performance carbon kit for BMW i5 Touring and Series 5 Touring
Future

Quintessenza – dynamic GT that can be turned into a pick-up truck

Italian design and engineering company Italdesign revealed the futuristic GT concept Quintessenza, which can easily be transformed into a pickup.

Quintessenza brings a design that combines the sporty and dynamic character of the GT with the character of a pickup. Sculpted aerodynamic body, high ground clearance and the size of the vehicle are the first things that attract attention. The car has a wheelbase of 3.2 meters, and for the sake of comparison it is longer than the shortest version of the Ford F-150.

The concept in the photos is finished in dark color and is decorated with black wide fenders, scissor doors, 24-inch wheels and a large windshield that extends to the rear, and the rear part of the roof can be removed turning the car into a pickup. The ground clearance can be increased up to 280 mm, making it suitable for off-road driving.

The cockpit of the vehicle is minimalisticly designed with an interface system that is compatible with numerous smartphone models, through which the functions of driving mode, speed, direction indicators, battery level, date and time can be managed. The central part of the cabin is occupied by a large central console, and thanks to the large glass roof, passengers can enjoy more natural light, which gives the feeling of more space. The rear pair of seats can be rotated 180 degrees to give passengers a rearward view.

The Quintessenza concept is powered by three electric motors, one at the front and two at the rear pair of wheels, with a total power of 777 hp (579 kW), which is enough to accelerate to 100 km/h (62 mph) in less than three seconds. It is equipped with a 150 kWh battery, and Italdesign did not reveal more technical details about this concept.

Source: Italdesign

Gallery:

Quintessenza - dynamic GT that can be turned into a pick-up truck
News

XPeng is considering production in Europe

The European Union’s war with Chinese car manufacturers, which, with the help of state subsidies, are trying to dominate European soil, has been going on for a long time. New regulations on tariffs on cars imported from China have made it even more difficult for Chinese cars to dominate Europe. Therefore, some have already started production of their cars in Europe (BYD, Chery and Dongfeng), and XPeng may soon do the same.

XPeng, like other Chinese brands, wants to expand its international business in order to increase exports from 10% to 11-12% this year. XPeng already sells in the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Germany, and plans to enter other European markets, including France, Italy and the UK. The company intends to increase its investment in technological innovation, as customers demand more high-tech features when choosing their cars.

Two months ago, the company’s management pointed out that it plans to hire an additional 4,000 people this year and invest $482 million in the development of artificial intelligence and the next level of autonomous driving. However, after 10 years of development, XPeng also plans to launch a flying car, an eVTOL aircraft for vertical take-off and landing, but which can be a full-fledged road car. The aircraft should reach the market in the last quarter of this year.

In 2023, VW invested 700 million dollars in the Chinese car manufacturer XPENG, becoming the owner of nearly 5% of the company, with which it agreed a partnership on the production of two models of this German brand. Both models will hit the market in 2026.

Source: XPeng

Gallery:

XPeng is considering production in Europe

Cars and catalogues