Tag Archives: Hybrid

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The Forgotten Hybrid: BMW 328i Baur Topcabriolet Was a Sedan with a Secret

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There’s rare, and then there’s Baur rare. Only 311 BMW 328i Baur Topcabriolets were ever built — a quirky, coachbuilt blend of sedan practicality and open-air freedom that today stands as one of the most unusual offshoots in BMW’s long lineage of driver’s cars.

If the name “Baur” rings a faint bell, that’s because the German coachbuilder has been entwined with BMW’s history for decades. Long before BMW started cranking out its own convertibles, Karosserie Baur was the go-to company for chopping roofs and adding folding tops. From pre-war Mercedes tourers to the E21 3 Series “TopCabriolet,” Baur earned a reputation for doing what manufacturers wouldn’t — or couldn’t — do themselves.

By the time the E36 3 Series arrived in the early 1990s, BMW had its own factory-built convertible, so Baur needed a new angle. The result was the Topcabriolet TC4, a fascinating middle ground between coupe, cabriolet, and sedan. It kept the E36’s four-door layout intact but added a folding targa-style top and removable rear roof section. Think of it as a convertible designed for people who still wanted to bring their kids — or at least their dignity — along for the ride.

And if that wasn’t strange enough, this particular version came powered by the M52B28, BMW’s 2.8-liter inline-six. With 190 horsepower and a creamy, torque-rich delivery, it was the most potent non-M engine of its day — just a few ponies shy of the American-market M3. Paired with a five-speed manual, the 328i Baur wasn’t just a novelty; it could properly hustle.

The example seen here wears Montrealblau Metallic, a deep, rich blue that flatters the E36’s clean proportions. But no paint can distract from the architectural oddity of that roofline — a curious lattice of canvas and glass that looks equal parts genius and madness. To modern eyes, it’s somewhere between a Saab 900 Cabriolet and a Volkswagen Golf Cabrio’s “basket handle” frame. The engineering rationale was safety; the aesthetic outcome, well… debatable.

Interestingly, BMW never seemed quite sure what to call it. Some literature refers to the model as the Baur TC4 or TC4 Landaulet, yet this car’s badges proudly proclaim 328i Baur Topcabriolet. Maybe BMW was just showing off the bigger engine. Either way, the name is almost as long as the roof mechanism’s folding sequence.

For Baur, this was the last hurrah. After decades of crafting convertibles for others, the company pivoted away from building whole cars. Its resume, however, includes some heavy hitters: final assembly of the BMW M1 and even the Porsche 959. Not bad company for the folks behind one of the strangest 3 Series ever made.

Today, the 328i Baur Topcabriolet is a rolling time capsule — a reminder of when coachbuilders still experimented at the edges of mainstream design, when BMWs could be both practical and peculiar, and when the line between sedan and convertible wasn’t yet fully drawn. It’s a car for enthusiasts who appreciate quirks, craftsmanship, and a healthy dose of “what on earth is that?”

Because in a sea of predictable classics, few things stand out like a four-door convertible with a BMW roundel and a Baur badge.

Source: BMWBlog

News

The Next BMW M3 Inline-Six Heads Into a Hybrid Future

BMW’s M division is writing a new chapter in one of its most celebrated stories. The next-generation M3 Sedan—known internally as the G84—is officially in development, and yes, it will still pack an internal combustion engine. BMW M CEO Frank van Meel has confirmed the car’s existence, and now, thanks to a set of spy shots, we’re getting our first look at the next evolution of Munich’s performance icon in motion.

The Mule Takes Shape

The prototype recently spotted in testing isn’t yet wearing its final production skin. Instead, it’s cloaked in a mix of widened fenders, temporary panels, and development camouflage—classic BMW pre-production attire. Even so, its proportions tell a story: this M3 has a broader stance and a more planted look than the current G80 model, signaling tweaks to both chassis geometry and suspension setup.

Peek closer, and you’ll notice familiar M hallmarks. The test car rides on lightweight M aluminum wheels shod in wide rubber, with cross-drilled brake rotors and massive M calipers visible behind them. Around back, the quad exhaust setup—a tradition stretching back to the E46 M3—leaves no doubt about what kind of prototype this is.

A New Face for the M3

Underneath the camouflage, there’s a hint of what’s to come for BMW’s design language. The G84’s front end appears to move away from the polarizing, oversized kidney grilles of recent M models. Instead, the prototype shows an elongated, horizontal grille layout, reminiscent of the Neue Klasse concept cars and the upcoming all-electric M3 (ZA0). Slim, dual-LED headlight units flank the grille, though the rest of the bumper design remains under thick covers.

From the side, flush door handles further tie this prototype to BMW’s future design direction, while at the rear, a subtle trunk lip and the signature M quad pipes carry the brand’s DNA forward. The taillights are still heavily disguised, suggesting BMW isn’t ready to show off the final light signature just yet.

Under the Hood: Six Cylinders, Now Electrified

While the exterior still hides in plain sight, insiders are already sketching the G84’s mechanical blueprint. Expect a 3.0-liter inline-six engine, likely an evolved version of the S58 unit, paired with a 48-volt mild-hybrid system. The small electric assist won’t turn the M3 into a hybrid heavyweight but will instead sharpen throttle response, smooth out low-end torque, and improve efficiency—similar in philosophy to Porsche’s upcoming 911 Hybrid.

Sources suggest power will start around 525 horsepower, with higher-output versions pushing closer to 560 hp. The hybrid integration isn’t about chasing numbers; it’s about maintaining balance, response, and precision—the qualities that have always defined the M3’s character.

Farewell, Manual

There’s one inevitable casualty of progress: the manual transmission. The new M3 will reportedly launch exclusively with an eight-speed automatic paired with xDrive all-wheel drive. With the G80/G82 M3/M4 and G87 M2 marking the end of manual M cars, the G84 will carry the torch for BMW’s performance future without the clutch pedal. Purists, take a deep breath—this is the reality of the modern performance car landscape.

Why Not Plug-In?

In contrast to the larger M5, which embraces a plug-in hybrid system, the M3 will deliberately avoid the PHEV route. BMW’s engineers argue that the extra battery weight and packaging demands would dull the car’s agility and compromise its track-day readiness. Instead, the lighter mild-hybrid setup offers a way to meet tightening emissions targets without sacrificing the M3’s razor-sharp handling.

The Road Ahead

The G84 M3 isn’t expected to debut before 2028, but its early test outings are a clear sign that BMW intends to keep the M3 nameplate alive well into the hybrid age. The brand’s challenge is clear: merge cutting-edge efficiency tech with the raw, emotional performance that made the M3 a legend.

If these first glimpses are any indication, BMW might just be on the right track—literally. The M3’s next chapter won’t abandon its roots; it will evolve them, bridging the past and the future one turbocharged, electrified rev at a time.

Source: BMWBlog

News

Lamborghini’s Next Chapter: Hybrids, High-Riders, and a Hint of Madness

Once upon a time, Lamborghini was chaos in sheet metal. The Countach years were loud, wild, and unforgettable—but they were also a financial disaster. By the late 1970s, the Raging Bull was flat on its back, bankrupt and changing owners more often than it built new models. Stability only arrived in the late ’90s, when Volkswagen Group stepped in, put Audi in charge, and gave Sant’Agata the resources to match its ambitions.

Fast-forward to 2024: Lamborghini just set another sales record, delivering 10,687 cars. Business has never been better, and that financial cushion is allowing the company to do something very on-brand—get weird again.

When “Crazy” Is a Business Plan

Federico Foschini, Lamborghini’s head of sales and marketing, recently told Autocar that the brand isn’t slowing down when it comes to niche models. The Huracán Sterrato proved that buyers are hungry for high-riding, dirt-spraying exotics, and a follow-up based on the new Temerario seems inevitable. Foschini hinted at more “crazy” derivatives across the lineup, with the flagship Revuelto a prime candidate. Don’t rule out an off-road Revuelto in the mold of the Sterrato, or stripped-back, rear-drive versions of the mid-engine cars. As he put it: “We are always looking for crazy things in all dimensions.”

The Urus SUV, Lamborghini’s cash-printing machine, looks like the most logical platform for another off-road special. A hardcore ST-X concept has already been shown, though it never reached production. Considering the popularity of adventure-spec SUVs, Lamborghini might finally greenlight something rugged for its best-seller.

The Hybrid Middle Ground

What Lamborghini isn’t ready to do, at least not yet, is go fully electric. The second-generation Urus will stick with a combustion engine paired with a plug-in hybrid system, shelving earlier rumors of an all-electric future. Even the Lanzador—a 2+2 grand tourer originally previewed as a pure EV—will likely land in 2029 as a hybrid, and a year later than initially promised.

For Lamborghini, hybrids aren’t a compromise—they’re survival. Low-volume automakers can’t afford to pump out compliance EVs the way mainstream brands can. Hybridization is the bridge that keeps V-12s and V-10s alive while still passing ever-tighter regulations. And if anyone can make a hybrid sound, feel, and drive like an event, it’s Lamborghini.

The Sky Is the Limit

The Revuelto already has the hardcore Fenomeno, Lamborghini’s most powerful production car to date. The Temerario could spawn both dirt-hungry specials and rear-drive purist editions. The Urus might finally become a true rally-inspired SUV. And the Lanzador, once envisioned as a sterile EV, may arrive with a little more fire in its belly.

Audi might have tamed Lamborghini’s finances, but the Italian wild streak is alive and well. If Foschini’s hints are anything to go by, the next decade will be about more than survival in the hybrid era—it’ll be about proving that “crazy” still sells.

Source: Autocar