Chapman BMW on Camelback

Oh My i!  BMW’s Latest 15 minutes of Fame Debuting the new i8 Concept Car, and the New 6 Series…………..

We cant deny the movies that are coming up for release look pretty entertaining, and in my opinion Tom Cruise, fast action, great locations, and two of our very own favorites, being BMW’s of course, Mission Impossible Ghost Protocol is going to be a must see for many.  We are even featured in the movie’s trailer, not just the i3 but also the 6 Series so we are feeling quit honored.  You can watch the trailer at: http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi696687641/

The first cast member of our brand is the The BMW i8 – a sporty, hybrid all-rounder.  This screen stealer uses the same electric motor as the i3 (which I will talk about further down the blog), this time mounted over the front axle, in conjunction with a three-cylinder, 220 horsepower gas engine over the rear axle. Combined, you’re looking at a 354 horsepower all-wheel-drive with 550 Nm of torque.  The i8 constantly proportions the power between the front and rear drive systems according to how the car is being driven. With a much smaller battery system than the i3, the i8 can only manage around 35 km (20 miles) in fully electric drive mode – but then, that would cover an emission-free commute for the majority of people. The real value of the hybrid system comes with longer range driving, where on the EU cycle, the i8 manages a whopping 104 miles per gallon, and no that is not a typo – I wrote 104MPG. Driven hard, as some of us like to do…. the fuel consumption will double, but don’t forget that the Toyota Prius is advertised as a 50 mpg hybrid and is nowhere near as much fun.  Prius Schmius we say!  And for the end of my technical details, the i8′s top speed is electronically governed, but this time at a very sporty 155 mph, and will reach 62 mph in a short 5 seconds or less, decent sportscar territory right here, and the car’s entire underbelly is totally enclosed to boost aerodynamic efficiency and reduce fuel consumption.  Woot Woot look at our BMW Designers getting all futuristic.

And just a little blurb about the BMW i3 as promised:  The i3 is a fully-electric city car with an everyday driving range of around 100 miles per charge, making widespread use of carbon fiber-reinforced plastic (CFRP) to keep weight down and tagged the all-electric city slicker acceleration is in the range of 8 seconds to 62 mph, and should be fairly zippy off the line, as it develops 100 percent of its torque from a standstill. Top speed should be around 93 mph.  The i3′s large battery pack sits under the floor of the vehicle in a slab that’s protected from crash damage by a number of buffer zones in the structure. As batteries are typically the most expensive part of an electric vehicle, you’d certainly want to protect them.  170 hp electric motor, single-gear drive system and differential are located over the driven rear axle, and there’s room there for an optional range extender – a high efficiency gas engine that putts away and generates electricity to charge the batteries. With the range extender on board, you can roughly double the i3′s range, and fill up at any gas station.

And now for the 2012 BMW 650i Convertible, Co-Star, and personal favorite, I can tell you this: With a sweeping hood, aft-set passenger compartment, long wheelbase and muscular profile embody the hallmark proportions of a BMW Convertible. The new BMW 650i Convertible combines these features with a classic soft-top roof with flying buttress design. Powerfully contoured surfaces of its lines promise the anticipated BMW driving experience. The luxurious ambience of the interior is highlighted by a driver-oriented cockpit which wraps the front and rear passengers in a feeling of aesthetic security. Nowhere is the high-class functionality of the interior underlined more prominently than in the redesigned freestanding 10.2″ Central Display of the standard iDrive control system.

With a V-8 engine with High Precision direct injection and turbocharging.  The 4.4-liter V-8 engine develops a maximum 400 hp between 5,500 and 6,400 rpm, and makes peak torque of 450 lb-ft between 1,750 and 4,500 rpm (preliminary). This unique “reverse-flow” engine, whose turbochargers are positioned in the V-area between the cylinder banks, produces an instantaneous and sustained wave of power, making it an energetic delight for the enthusiast driver.  Instantaneous power and torque are the stand-out features of the V-8 engine available of the new BMW 650i Convertible. The engine combines sporting character with outstanding smoothness, linear power delivery, and exceptional efficiency. The engine can be paired with either BMW’s new 8-speed Sport Automatic gearbox or BMW’s traditional 6-speed manual transmission, quite popular with our loyal enthusiasts.

The new BMW 650i Convertible hops from 0 to 60 mph in 4.9, and a top speed is of 155 mph. This engine also boasts extraordinary efficiency for a model in its output class.

I could go on about 8-speed Sport Automatic Transmission, Chassis Management and optional Integral Active Steering.  The Active Roll Stabilization optional feature, Driving Dynamics Control and two-part rear light clusters.  Heated, vertical glass rear window, Freestanding Central Display with flatscreen design. The World debut of new-generation Head-Up Display. Rear-View, Top View, and Side View Cameras.  And on and on and on but I wont and there are a lot of sites out there with intricate details on all of the above and more.

While we have inventory on the all new 650i that you can view at www.azbmw.com or come in to the dealership at 830 E Camelback Road for a personal test drive, we will all have to wait with baited breath for the i3 & i8 cars to become available in the scheduled 2014 timeframe!

Thats Right BMW’ers - TOP 5 IN THE WORLD! 

Had to Blog about this because really why not!  We are proud of our product and with over eleventy thousand and something companies out there to be ranked in the Top Five IN THE WORLD!  Why not spread the word a little wider.

This just in:  NEW YORK, June 8, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Google and Apple share the top spot in a study of the world’s most reputable companies conducted by Reputation Institute. Disney, BMW, and LEGO round out the top five in the 2011 Global RepTrak™ 100, a consumer study developed by Reputation Institute to assess the reputations of 100 of the world’s most prominent companies.  The study provides an assessment of the global reputation landscape—the companies that are most liked, trusted, and respected by over 48,000 consumers across 15 countries.

 “To build a strong reputation on a global level requires a broad platform that covers all seven dimensions of reputation, including Products & Services, Innovation, Workplace, Governance, Citizenship, Leadership, and Performance,” says Reputation Institute Executive Partner Nicolas Georges Trad. “Companies need to integrate reputation management into the way they do business.”  A second key finding of the study is that companies generate tangible benefits from building strong emotional bonds with consumers.  Across the 15 largest countries in the world, companies with strong reputations receive, on average, three times the support of their less reputable competition.  

The Impressive Details:  About the Global RepTrak™ 100 Study

In January 2011, Reputation Institute measured the reputations of more than 1,000 of the world’s largest companies in their home countries.  The highest rated companies across 41 countries were then selected as candidates for a second study that rated these companies provided they had above average home country reputations and a global footprint.  The outcome of the first study was a roster of 100 companies—The Global RepTrak™ 100—that are well regarded at home and are exporting their reputations around the world.  

In April 2011, online consumers were invited to rate the Global RepTrak™ 100 in each of 15 countries: Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Russia, South Korea, Spain, United Kingdom, and United States.  Each respondent rated a maximum of five randomly assigned companies from the list with which they were somewhat or very familiar with, using Reputation Institute’s standardized RepTrak™ Pulse methodology. In interpreting results, all RepTrak™ Pulse scores that differ by more than +/-0.5 are significantly different at a 95% confidence level.

 The 2011 Global RepTrak™ 100: The World’s Most Reputable Companies

With gas prices on the rise and more stringent corporate fuel-economy standards on the horizon, it’s only right that BMW have a solution for its BMW drivers to consider.  A 4 cylinder TwinPower (single turbocharger) the first in the brand since 1999 is on its way to our showroom starting this fall.

BMW is substituting its much loved two turbochargers with a single TwinPower turbocharger on some engines, A single turbocharger with two scrolls is more efficient, and we like those words a lot, on engines that have cylinders positioned in a straight line  Do not fret our BMW enthusiasts, the twin-turbo technology will persist on high-performance 6- and 8-cylinder models, as well some diesel engines.

We are looking forward to welcoming the new BMW Z4 sDrive28i to the family and being able to offer our customers the option of going with something efficient and yet still carrying the undeniable class and performance the BMW vehicles have earned.

The Scoop: This Z4 is the first BMW to get the company’s new turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine, which takes this sports car back to its roots. Its predecessor, the Z3 roadster, was only offered with a 4-cylinder when it first launched in 1996. The new turbo 4-cylinder replaces the base inline 6-cylinder engine on the current Z4, which means the sDrive30i model is discontinued. Although it makes 15 horsepower less than the 6-cylinder it replaces, the new 4-cylinder cranks out 40 lb-ft more torque, which is a lot. It’s also 20 percent more efficient. The twin-scroll turbocharger makes it all possible, along with a litany of other mind-boggling feats of engineering. 

I could go on about the LDS-coated crankcase cylinder bores, height-staggered balance shafts and dual-mass flywheels,  increased torque, improved performance and much reduced fuel consumption  and emission levels but I am not going to lie that borders on being past my technical ability, this however does not: I think this new 4-cylinder is going to be a jewel of an engine. With its athletic design, agile handling and still powerful engine The fact that it’s lighter, too, will only make the Z4 even more fun to drive!

Keep your eyes and ears open for the announcement of the New 2012 Z4 arriving at your Chapman BMW on Camelback showroom soon!

What was the first BMW model assembled in the United States to feature in a movie you ask?  Why that would be the BMW Z3! The first modern mass-market roadster produced by BMW that rolled off the Plant Spartanburg assembly line beginning in October 1994.  It was introduced as a 1996 model year vehicle, and shortly after was featured in the classic must see movie ‘GoldenEye’.  James Bond was the proud driver of the Z3 that was equipped with the standard bullet proofing, full SATNAV tracking equipment, satellite downlink capabilities, a rear parachute, all-points radar, a great sound system and oh yes last but not least – Stinger missiles.  And no I am afraid these are not options on the Build Your Own BMW Website for 2012 models!

FUN FACT:

• Pierce Brosnan received a BMW 850 CSI from BMW, for his promotion of the BMW Z3 in Golden Eye. Unable to resist the urge to test the road with his gift, he was caught by the police doing 120 mph. He was not given a speeding ticket, but instead interrogated about the bungee jump stunt in the movie!
• BMW’s have been featured in other Bond movies including: Octopussy, Tomorrow Never Dies and The World is Not Enough.

But the fame does not stop there by any means…..After some research and some fun findings our beloved and much admired BMW models are sprinkled throughout today’s Movies and TV shows and are really quite the star studded vehicle of choice whether it be for a car chase, lots of car chases actually, to the chauffeured 7 Series, a little kidnapping, and lets not forget time travel, comedy scenes, being chopped in half by a helicopter……. The list goes on and makes me want to go and watch

All three of the great Bourne Movies feature BMW’s, there are thousands of movies and TV shows, like CSI, Beverly Hills 90210 and Dead Like Me to name just a few.  Literally thousands of U.S.A. and Foreign films and TV shows have BMW’s as part of the cast!

Now, what we would like to know if you can take the time to comment is what is your favorite movie scene involving a BMW?  One of mine for starters is the Tom Hanks movie ‘Splash’ where he takes the car on a wild drive, sliding, cornering and even a jump, it was awesome!  But hands down I liked the chase in Ronin – watch the video here: http://www.spike.com/video-clips/24bxap/ronin and of course I liked it all the more because they show it being driven by a woman….  That’s just my pick, now share yours with us please!

Tell us your favorite or even just one that you noticed and thought ‘hey that’s a BMW’ and drop us a line……  Go on what else do you have more pressing than something fun such as this!?!  Take a coffee break and talk to us.  Chapman BMW on Camelback wants to hear from you!

COME ONE – COME ALL!  REGISTER AT THE LINK BELOW AND MARK YOUR CALENDARS!!  BMW enthusiasts dont miss this one day event!  Experience the difference when the BMW X3 takes on the competition.  You are invited to an impressive one time, one day only comparison event being held at Champman BMW on Camelback.  Get behind the wheel of the exhilarating all-new BMW X3 SAV, and then, at the same event, get behind the wheel of one of its competitiors and experience for yourself the difference.

Experience firsthand  the all-new BMW X3 completely redesigned from the ground up.  Dont miss the chance to participate in the BMW X3 Difference Event.  As thanks from Chapman BMW on Camelback for your participation you will recieve a complimentary gift when you purchase or lease an all-new 2011 BMW X3!

All you have to do is:  register at: www.bmwusa.com/X3Difference or call 1-866-905-4269 to sign up for your preferred driving time slot.  Spaces are limited for this event so sign up now.  And mark your calendar for:  March 16th, 2011, Wednesday, 11:00Am – 6:45PM.  Chapman BMW on Camelback, 830 E Camelback Road, Phoenix, AZ 85014.

SEE YOU THERE!