Monday
Jun182018
JUNE 20, 2018
Monday, June 18, 2018 at 08:37AM 
(BMW images)
BMW has released official images and product details of its all-new 2019 BMW 8 Series Coupe (the press release was so long we fell asleep reading it), which will be initially available here as the BMW M850i xDrive. The big BMW coupe makes its return to the U.S. after 20 years. The coupe will be built at the BMW Dingolfing plant in Germany, home to BMW 7 Series sedan production. BMW PR minions say that the directive for the all-new BMW 8 Series Coupe’s design was "to provide a thrilling driving experience and that body, powertrain and suspension were honed to achieve the agility, precision and poise expected of a top-class luxury sports coupe." The launch of the BMW M850i xDrive Coupe also marks the premiere of a new BMW 4.4-liter TwinPower Turbo V8 engine. Details include two twin-scroll turbochargers with charge air cooling located within the V-shaped space between the cylinder banks, High Precision Injection, VALVETRONIC fully variable valve control and Double-VANOS variable camshaft timing giving "a substantial boost to maximum power, torque and efficiency," according to BMW. The new BMW TwinPower Turbo V8 engine delivers 523HP between 5,500 and 6,000 rpm and 553 lb-ft of torque from 1,800 to 4,600 rpm. The new 850i goes 0-60 mph in 3.6 seconds and has a limited top speed of 155 mph. By the way, BMW says it weighs 4,478 lbs. It will be available here in the U.S. next fall.
BMW has released official images and product details of its all-new 2019 BMW 8 Series Coupe (the press release was so long we fell asleep reading it), which will be initially available here as the BMW M850i xDrive. The big BMW coupe makes its return to the U.S. after 20 years. The coupe will be built at the BMW Dingolfing plant in Germany, home to BMW 7 Series sedan production. BMW PR minions say that the directive for the all-new BMW 8 Series Coupe’s design was "to provide a thrilling driving experience and that body, powertrain and suspension were honed to achieve the agility, precision and poise expected of a top-class luxury sports coupe." The launch of the BMW M850i xDrive Coupe also marks the premiere of a new BMW 4.4-liter TwinPower Turbo V8 engine. Details include two twin-scroll turbochargers with charge air cooling located within the V-shaped space between the cylinder banks, High Precision Injection, VALVETRONIC fully variable valve control and Double-VANOS variable camshaft timing giving "a substantial boost to maximum power, torque and efficiency," according to BMW. The new BMW TwinPower Turbo V8 engine delivers 523HP between 5,500 and 6,000 rpm and 553 lb-ft of torque from 1,800 to 4,600 rpm. The new 850i goes 0-60 mph in 3.6 seconds and has a limited top speed of 155 mph. By the way, BMW says it weighs 4,478 lbs. It will be available here in the U.S. next fall.
Father's Day in Beverly Hills.
By Tom Pease
Los Angeles. Way back in 1993, someone had the bright idea that for Father’s Day, the City of Beverly Hills and the Rodeo Drive Committee would shut down Rodeo Drive to traffic and have a show of classic cars. Not just any classic cars, but some of the rarest and most beautiful ever seen, many from private collections rarely open to the public. Thus was born the Rodeo Drive Concours d’Elegance.
Do I have to type that I’ve been to every one?
This year was the Silver anniversary. So of course the theme of the 400 block was silver cars - ranging from Adam Carolla’s 1965 Lamborghini 350 GT to the Mullin Auto Museum’s Bugatti EB1 - with everything in between.
As in each year, everything was in between, literally. The ends of the event are reserved for sponsored stands, on the North by Ferrari and Aston Martin (Okay the new one is drool-worthy) and on the south by Tesla and Lexus. I didn’t waste much time on these ends because I have a decent chance of being hit in a cross-walk in Beverly Hills by any of those. I also didn’t linger because although the width and breadth of the 2, 3 and 400 blocks of Rodeo have not grown, the number of people who are attending has. I was there spot on at 10:00 a.m. and it was already crowded. I can’t imagine what it would have been like at say, 2:00 p.m.
In any event, I've attached a few snaps I took before the camera battery died (note to self, spare battery next year) and I fled to the local Coffee Bean for an ice-blended.
The 2019 Concours d’Elegance should be Sunday, June 16. It will be, once again, a fun event and free, but bring sunscreen, water and patience.
By Tom Pease
Los Angeles. Way back in 1993, someone had the bright idea that for Father’s Day, the City of Beverly Hills and the Rodeo Drive Committee would shut down Rodeo Drive to traffic and have a show of classic cars. Not just any classic cars, but some of the rarest and most beautiful ever seen, many from private collections rarely open to the public. Thus was born the Rodeo Drive Concours d’Elegance.
Do I have to type that I’ve been to every one?
This year was the Silver anniversary. So of course the theme of the 400 block was silver cars - ranging from Adam Carolla’s 1965 Lamborghini 350 GT to the Mullin Auto Museum’s Bugatti EB1 - with everything in between.
As in each year, everything was in between, literally. The ends of the event are reserved for sponsored stands, on the North by Ferrari and Aston Martin (Okay the new one is drool-worthy) and on the south by Tesla and Lexus. I didn’t waste much time on these ends because I have a decent chance of being hit in a cross-walk in Beverly Hills by any of those. I also didn’t linger because although the width and breadth of the 2, 3 and 400 blocks of Rodeo have not grown, the number of people who are attending has. I was there spot on at 10:00 a.m. and it was already crowded. I can’t imagine what it would have been like at say, 2:00 p.m.
In any event, I've attached a few snaps I took before the camera battery died (note to self, spare battery next year) and I fled to the local Coffee Bean for an ice-blended.
The 2019 Concours d’Elegance should be Sunday, June 16. It will be, once again, a fun event and free, but bring sunscreen, water and patience.
