Automotive News, Car Reviews, and Podcast
Range Rover took over a Carmel hotel. Lamborghini has a private villa. A guide to the invitation-only tier of Monterey Car Week, and the free events that rival it.
Read moreBMW debuts the M Concept Neue Klasse and Vision BMW ALPINA at Monterey Car Week 2026, plus 40 years of M3 and the 473-hp M3 CS Handschalter.
Read moreThe BMW M5 Touring is the first M5 wagon ever sold in the US. Against the sedan it costs $2,000 and 140 pounds more. Here is what the wagon buys and what it costs.
Read moreBMW outsold Mercedes-Benz by nearly 24,000 units in the first half of 2026 and won the US luxury race. Mercedes fell to third behind Lexus. The full scoreboard.
Read moreBMW confirms iX5 Hydrogen production for 2028 with a 7-kg tank system and Toyota fuel cells, while the US counts 47 hydrogen stations, all in California.
Read moreI ran the math on 2026 plug-in hybrid SUVs against their gas counterparts. Recovery percentage, charging access, premium fuel, and what changed when the federal credit ended.
Read moreThe BMW iX3 won World Car of the Year and World EV at NYIAS 2026. All six category winners are electric vehicles for the first time in the awards' history.
Read moreBavarian Motor Works (BMW) is a few years away from its centenary as an automaker. It introduced its first sports utility vehicle 25 years ago as the industry continued its dominating switch from family sedans to sport utility vehicles. The 2024 BMW X5 M Competition and its rivals take the SUV saturation to another level. It’s a luxury family hauler with track-level performance. It’s needed for the high speeds necessary when visiting the local nursery, hauling lumber and groceries or transporting youth soccer players. In other words, it’s a vehicle that defines automotive excess. Key Takeaways Test car: the 2024 X5 M Competition, with a turbocharged 4.4-liter V8, an eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive. 617 horsepower, a 48-volt electric
Read moreElectric and continuously variable transmissions are increasingly refined. So much so, dismissing the once-dominant manual transmission makes sense for new car buyers. Why bother with all that three-pedal fuss? Still, while the industry is always in flux, one prominent publication recently reported 17 mainstream manufacturers offer 31 cars in 2023 models with manual transmissions. Key Takeaways Test car: the BMW M2 with a 3.0-liter six-cylinder engine, 453 horsepower and a six-speed manual transmission. $75,000 for the coupe as described, in Zandvoort Blue. 0-60 mph in 4.1 seconds for the manual; the manufacturer rates the eight-speed automatic at 3.9 seconds. 16 mpg city, 24 highway and 19 combined, from a 13.7-gallon tank. Interior: a 12.3-inch cluster and a 14.9-inch touchscreen. Driving:
Read moreThe 2023 BMW i7 xDrive60 is among a small group of luxury electric sedans with good intentions and still trying to appeal to a not-yet-convinced consumer majority. Matched primarily against the Lucid Air, Mercedes-Benz EQS and Tesla Model S, the i7, like its competitors, is a compelling choice for many reasons. It’s electric, fast off the line and further impressive accelerating at highway speeds. It’s plush and spacious and built with top-line material and innovative features. Key Takeaways 544 horsepower from dual electric motors, all-wheel drive and a single-speed transmission. 0 to 60 mph in 4.7 seconds on 21-inch wheels, with top speed restricted to 149 mph. 310-mile range, in a four-door, five-seat sedan. $119,300 base price, rising to $156,595
Read moreThe 2023 BMW 760i xDrive combines the best of an executive sedan and a luxury car without visible pretentiousness. It’s comfortable and stylish, smooth and quiet. It has a sizable backseat theater screen that unfolds from the headliner with controls embedded like smartphones into the rear seat handles. From its exterior, the new BMW looks more sporty than extravagant, with its aggressive nostrils grille, 21-inch M sport package wheels, brakes and black calipers. The sportiness continues on the interior, mixed with its luxury elements. Key Takeaways $149,045 as reviewed, with a handful of options packages and standalone features adding nearly $35,500 in extras. 536 horsepower from a turbocharged V8 with a hybrid system, an eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive.
Read moreSixteen years ago, the BMW 3 Series reached its yearly sales peak as an entry-level luxury compact sedan. It was stylish, featured top-line technology and combined keen driving characteristics with prestige. The vehicle’s lineup was three years old and was purchased 142,488 times in 2007. It has surpassed 140,000 in yearly sales only twice since and the figure has drastically stumbled in recent years. The 3 Series tally was only slightly more than 30,000 last year. And while no longer BMW’s top-seller, the BMW 3 Series, notably the 2023 330i, remains vital among the ever-increasing competition. Acura, Audi, Cadillac, Kia Genesis, Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen and Volvo all offer formidable rivals, with some brands featuring more than one choice in the
Read moreNearly 80 percent of all vehicles on American roads have white, black, gray or silver exterior paint. White cars lead the parade of plainness at nearly 26 percent, a dominance related to ease of fleet maintenance and public convention. BMW in recent years has decided not to always conform. The German automaker makes plenty of cars within the spectrum of the mundane. But three 2023 models stretch the limits. The M8 Competition Gran Coupe includes an offering with an Urban Green exterior matched with a Black Full Merino leather interior. The X7 xDrive40i is available with a Sparkling Copper Metallic exterior and Ivory White Merino Leather. The iX M60 EV has an Oxide Grey Metallic exterior choice matched with Oyster
Read moreA year after BMW debuted its iX electric sport utility vehicle, it one-upped itself. For 2023, BMW iX M60 joins the two-car stable. It has the same interior beauty, superior performance and a peculiar front grille resembling the two halves of a rear-end or a set of flared nostrils. Competition at the high end of the electric SUV segment includes the Tesla Model X, Mercedes EQS, Audi e-Tron, Cadillac Lyriq and the Rivian R1S. The Polestar 3 is scheduled for a 2024 debut. The BMW is the only vehicle in the group without third-row seating. But the distinction is overridden as a minor inconvenience considering the M60’s upside. Key Takeaways Test car: BMW iX M60 with 610 horsepower, 811 lb-ft
Read moreThe 2023 BMW X7 is the fifth edition of the manufacturer’s largest and most expensive sport utility vehicle. It’s a seven-passenger, three-row family hauler available in two trim levels. Both are luxurious, ideally showcasing the German carmaker at its best. Announced in 2014 and unveiled in 2018, the public debut of the BMW X7 began in 2019 in the XDrive40i and M60i trims. The xDrive40i is powered by a turbocharged 3.0-liter, inline-six-cylinder engine with 375 horsepower and 383 lb-ft of torque. The M60i has a turbocharged 4.4-liter V8 rated at 523 horsepower and 553 lb-ft of torque. Both engines feature an eight-speed automatic transmission, all-wheel drive and adaptive air suspension. It gives the BMW its soft, smooth ride, more reminiscent
Read moreJust when every niche in the automotive industry appears filled, another arises. The 2022 BMW 2 Series coupe 240i is a leader in the small luxury car fraternity. It’s a small group, which includes country rivals from Audi and Mercedes-Benz. Following the discontinuation of the convertible offering, the redesigned 2022 BMW 2 Series coupe is available in two trims, 230i and the reviewed M240i xDrive. The base 230i features a turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 255 horsepower. Key Takeaways Test car: the M240i xDrive, with a 3-liter, 24-valve, 6-cylinder, 382 horsepower engine matched with an eight-speed transmission. $48,550 base price; the car prices out at $57,295 with options. 0-60 mph in 5.5 seconds. Options: Premium Package $2,750, Driver Assist Package $1,450,
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