Luxury SUVs: The carmaker’s SUV range starts with the BMW X1 compact luxury SUV, and comprises the X3, X5, and X7 luxury SUVs. In addition, BMW offers the Z4 and Z4 M40i two-door roadster, and the M2 Competition, M5 Competition, M760Li, and M8 performance sedans. The 3 Series is also available as a long-wheelbase Gran Limousine and a sportier M340i sedan. Luxury Sedans: BMW offers the 3 Series, 5 Series and 7 Series sedans, and the 2 Series, 6 Series and 8 Series Gran Coupes in India. It has been able to keep car prices in check with local assembly, but new fully imported electric vehicles attract a premium. The 5 Series and 3 Series luxury sedans were its first cars, and later in 2012, it introduced the Mini brand in the country. It began operations over a century ago as an aircraft engine manufacturer, and has been producing cars since the 1930s.Īs a carmaker, BMW landed in India in 2006, and had a new plant in Chennai by 2007. One wants to clink a champagne flute against it.German automaker BMW has a legacy of building driver-centric luxury cars with cutting-edge technology. Up front is the best place to be, roomy for both driver and passenger, with plenty of soft, aromatic leather to stroke-especially on the comically thick steering wheel-and lots of private tea-room glamour, like the ridiculous yet compelling cut-crystal shifter knob and faceted infotainment dial. Although the ride is just as smooth, the rear seats are smaller, and the bottoms are deeply dished with an extreme rake that looks suave when you open the door, but sitting in them feels a bit like falling through the seat of a worn-out rattan patio chair. Perhaps if you were a back-seat passenger, you'd be less excited about an extended stay in the B8. But the best use of the B8 is as it's intended, to bring elegance to mundane commutes and comfort to long trips. It's still a willing partner on a winding road, however, with all-wheel drive, a limited-slip differential, rear-axle steering, and active anti-roll bars that keep it upright and pointed in the right direction. Gone, it seems, are the days when a big luxury car would float over the roads, cushioning the driver and passengers. When you get home, you'll find all your toaster strudel on the far side of the trunk from where you placed them.Ī reoccurring complaint with many performance sedans, and particularly the M8 Competitions, has been ride quality. (Make it a big one this is a large automobile.) Even in the Sport settings, there is a slight delay to all that power coming in that might fool an impatient driver into thinking this is not a quick car. We were unable to test the top-speed claim while running errands, the Nürburgring sadly not on the way to our local Target, but the car's stoplight scoot is plenty to get ahead of other traffic in order to nab the best parking spot. Changing drive modes adjusts shift points and response leaving everything in Comfort mode will make you forget the car shifts at all. Backing the V-8 is an eight-speed ZF automatic transmission, again with Alpina's tune for a focus on smooth performance. In our hands, the lighter M8 Competition Gran Coupe has reached 60 mph in 2.7 seconds, so consider Alpina's estimates conservative. Alpina says zero to 60 mph takes 3.3 seconds and that the B8 can cruise at a top speed of 201 mph. That's in keeping with the tuner's mission, which is not necessarily to outdo BMW's versions in all-out performance but to make that performance feel more effortless. With 612 horsepower and 590 pound-feet of torque, the Alpina is just 5-horsepower short of the M8 Competition, but 37 pound-feet ahead in torque. The B8 uses the same engine as the BMW M850i, a twin-turbo 4.4-liter V-8, albeit with Alpina's own tune. Tested: BMW M8 Competition Hits 60 in 2.5 Seconds.
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