AUTO RED BOOK REVIEW: BMW CONCEPT 4-SERIES COUPE

 

On The Cover Review: BMW Concept 4-Series Coupe

Editor's Note: Welcome to our annual look at the concept vehicles that were revealed to the world at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit. Part of determining used vehicle values is predicting the future. With that in mind, it makes sense to look at what the manufacturers believe the future will bring us. Whether it’s new ways to power vehicles or new ways to package them, there are lots of great ideas on the horizon. This is the last in a series of The Automobile Red Book’s annual review of some of the best concepts from COBO Hall.

Get ready, BMW fans, this one is going into production. And probably the thing that created the most buzz about the BMW Concept 4-Series Coupe is the name. Gone is the ever-popular “3-Series” nomenclature. The 3 has been replaced by a 4. BMW thinks that makes it more exclusive. Perhaps. Whatever you want to call it, it is a pretty sharp-looking car. That’s about all we know about it, though. Powertrain information wasn’t revealed in Detroit, although we can probably assume it will follow along with what the current 3-Series lineup is at this point. It’ll probably even be better, because if it isn’t, what the heck’s the point? For now, just take a look at the picture.

AUTO RED BOOK REVIEW: 2012 BMW 535i

On The Cover Review: 2012 BMW 535i

The legacy of the BMW 5-Series took a bit of a detour over the past few years, but it seems to be back on track. For a long time, this car was sort of a bigger version of the nimble and sporty 3-Series. But then it became saddled with strange styling, the complicated I-Drive electronics control system, and so much braking and handling technology that enthusiasts felt disconnected from the driving experience. The latest version borrows styling cues from the early 1990s, appearing much less radical, and more of a bridge between the looks of the 3- and 7-Series. Red Book recently tested a 535i, which was equipped with a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine. This setup is good for 300-hp and 300-lb/ft of torque, which is similar to the previous generation, but does it with one less turbo. And while you wouldn’t mistake this for a race car, power is fairly plentiful throughout the range. Or test car was equipped with a smooth eight-speed automatic transmission, but a six-speed manual is also offered. Our biggest complaint is that throttle tip-in was fairly aggressive, so smooth takeoffs were a bit of a challenge. The interior is as luxurious as one would expect for a $60,000-plus vehicle. Like the previous generation, the cockpit of the 5-Series is still loaded with technology. It’s just a bit easier to navigate in the latest iteration.

AUTO RED BOOK REVIEW: 2011 BMW X6

On The Cover Review: 2011 BMW X6

If you were to put a sporty, coupe-like roof on a bulbous SUV body, you would nail the concept of BMW’s unusual X6.  If you want something that handles like a crossover, but has the interior limitations of a four-door sedan, this is the one for you.  At first blush, it’s easy to ask, “why?”  Fashion probably plays into a big part of the answer.  There has to be some kind of statement being made by someone who shells-out anywhere from 56- to 90-large for a vehicle that cuts the same swath of destruction as a more space-realized SUV (in this case the BMW X5) with all of the drawbacks and few of the advantages.  But lest you confuse this vehicle as a big middle finger to the world, you can opt for BMW’s Active Hybrid feature, which combines dead dinosaurs with dead Ben Franklin to achieve gas mileage numbers that achieve less than 20-mpg.  Of course, that is happening with a 4.4-liter V8 that churns out 480-hp.  The X6 is a love-it or hate-it affair.  Either you love the styling, and are willing to deal with a little less practicality than a comparable, traditional SUV or crossover, or you don’t understand the point and stay clear.  Whatever your position, there’s no denying that the X6 is one of the most unique entries in its field.