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After a long (long, long) break we’re back with a special episode of the BimmerCast. Special because we have special guest Bryan Joslin firmly of Vortex Media and now Editor and Chief of the forthcoming magazine Gran Turismo. Being a longtime BMW fan Bryan joins us to talk BMWs and his history with a very special 318is. We also touch on the M6 Gran Coupe that we both drove recently at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin Texas.

Next up we touch on the launch of BMWi and the i3. It’s a huge launch and one that everyone in the auto industry is watching with great anticipation.

Finally we get to Bryan’s new project, Gran Turismo Magazine. It’s an enthusiast-based automotive magazine that brings fresh perspective on the world of European motoring. Cars and motorcycles. New and classic. All European, all in one place.

Frankly we’d love to see it in the marketplace and are supporting it ourselves. And we’d urge you to check out the Kickstarter campaign and considering doing the same.

Oh and one more topic. In talking about the ideas behind Gran Turismo we started to wonder what you could buy new today that really hit on the simple principles of a sporty car. Steering, braking and acceleration with connection and feel. Is there still a car for sale that feels analog in all those ways? We come up with some answers.

The post BimmerCast #70: M6 Gran Coupe at COTA, i3 Launch, The Last Analog BMW & Gran Turismo Magazine appeared first on BimmerFile.

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We ‘re back with a quick recap and news and then a look ahead. The Geneva show is hours away and it serves as the perfect backdrop to talk about what BMW will be up to for the rest of the year. Here ‘s a quick look at the topics of BimmerCast #69.

– BMW i3 with range extender detailed

The post BimmerCast #69: M235i & the Future of the M3 – Can Either Live up to the E90? appeared first on BimmerFile.

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While at NAIAS we caught up with Victor Lelue, BMW 3 Series and Z4 Product Manager for the US. We used this opportunity to chat about everything you can imagine 3 Series. Starting with the 320i and why it exists without much if any improved MPG figures. We then moved onto the new 3 Series wagon and what we should expect with it. And yes that means only xDrive and 8 Speed auto.

But the big subject we tackled regarding the 3er is of course the new diesels. We learned from Victor that the new 3 Series diesel will be powered by a 2.0L four cylinder (as expected) with around 180 hp and 300 ft lbs of torque. And MPG? BMW is expecting 40 pus MPG on the highway.

The new 3er diesel (likely called the 328d) will be all about efficiency where the 335d was marketed mostly with performance in mind.

Yet the Z4 had a big day at NAIAS with the world debut of its LCI. Victor gives us some insight into why the LCI was so subtle (hint – it ‘s already pretty good looking). Additionally we asked Victor about the lack of a M Performance Line Z4 considering the 35is is basically just that. And what about that N54 sticking around? You ‘ll have to listen to find out the official answer.

The post BimmerCast #68: BMWUSA 3 Series & Z4 Product Manager Interviewed appeared first on BimmerFile.

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The 4 Series coupe concept not only marks the first time we ‘ve seen the letter four used by BMW, it also marks the first concept lead by BMW Designer Won Kyu Kang. Won Kyu (pronounced 1-Q) was visibly excited if not a touch anxious when we caught up with him at NAIAS shortly after the 4 Series concept introduction. Yet his enthusiasm for the concept and articulate and thorough walk-through of the design principles belied his youth and the fact this was his first NAIAs. In short if you ever wanted to see the future of BMW design, you ‘re listening to it in this interview.

The post BimmerCast #67: Behind the 4 Series w/Designer Won Kyu Kang appeared first on BimmerFile.

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It ‘s time for our annual look back at the year that was with a look ahead to what ‘s coming. As we ‘ve mentioned previously 2012 was a huge year for BMW. We look back and ahead at the following:

– The BMW ActiveHybrids (5 and 3 Series) and why they sell in small numbers

Jam packed to say the least. Also please note that to record this show in time for the new year it was recorded “on the road ” so to speak. So the quality isn ‘t as good as the last few shows.

The post BimmerCast #66: 2012 Reviewed & 2013 Previewed (Diesels in the US, M Performance) appeared first on BimmerFile.

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We ‘re back for the November episode of the BimmerCast with a full plate of BMW news to discuss. Here ‘s a quick run-down on what we cover:

– The M550d – Michael talks about his time in the diesel barn burner and how it might just be the perfect car.

As always if you have comments or suggestions for future shows let us know in the comment section below.

The post BimmerCast #65: M550d, Manual M5, Diesels in the US & the JCW GP appeared first on BimmerFile.

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The BimmerCast returns from summer vacation with a huge show… over an hour. Here ‘s a quick run-down on what we cover:

– First on the list; the introduction of the X1 to the US market. It ‘s the cheapest new BMW in the US and appears to be moving off lots quickly based on our sources. But what ‘s behind the X1 ‘s success in the US and worldwide? And is it the first BMW hatch-back in the US since the 318ti?

As always if you have comments or suggestions for future shows let us know in the comment section below.

The post BimmerCast #64: X1, M135i, F80 M3, M5, M6 & BMWNA\’s Sales Problems appeared first on BimmerFile.