Latest news with #BMWM
ArabGT
5 days ago
- Automotive
- ArabGT
How BMW's Sub-Brands Saved the Day in 2025
BMW has always stood tall as a beacon of German engineering, elegance, and automotive performance. Yet, the second-quarter 2025 results delivered a curveball that few anticipated. Contrary to what many might assume, it wasn't the core BMW brand that carried the Bavarian empire forward—it was the power of its sub-brands that injected new life into the group's performance. Leading this charge were BMW M, MINI, and Rolls-Royce, each carving out a unique path to customer loyalty and sales dominance. M Division: Where Performance Translates into Sales BMW M continues to be a force to reckon with, redefining how performance cars connect with the market. The M4, M3, and the recently introduced M2 have seen a notable surge in demand, driven by their ability to blend dynamic handling with cutting-edge technology. This sub-brand has transcended its traditional niche audience, becoming a desirable badge across demographics that value precision, speed, and digital sophistication. MINI: Compact, Iconic, and Electrified While many automakers chase bigger dimensions, MINI thrives by staying true to its roots—compact cars with bold personality. Its design heritage and the evolution into electrification, particularly with the MINI Cooper SE, have helped rejuvenate its global footprint. The latest generation, featuring sleek digital interiors and forward-thinking styling, has resonated with younger, urban buyers eager for both character and eco-friendliness. Rolls-Royce: Resilience in Ultra-Luxury Rolls-Royce remains untouched by economic tides. Despite premium pricing, models like the electric Spectre and the stately Cullinan continue to find eager buyers—especially across high-net-worth regions like the Middle East and North America. The brand's unwavering commitment to craftsmanship and exclusivity ensures it remains a cornerstone of BMW Group's prestige and profit. The BMW Brand Stumbles—For Now In contrast, the core BMW brand experienced a mild decline in sales during the same quarter, sparking questions about its direction in an increasingly crowded premium market. Though it has introduced standout models such as the electric iX and the redesigned 5 Series, intense rivalry from Tesla, Audi, and Mercedes appears to be dampening momentum. Geographic Shifts: China Rises, Europe Retreats Regional dynamics paint an intriguing picture. Sales dropped sharply in Europe—where regulatory shifts and cost pressures drive consumers toward electric options—while China and North America offered bright spots. China, in particular, is proving to be a vital growth engine for the brand's EV offerings. EVs Quietly Fuel the Charge Electric vehicles are becoming the unsung heroes of BMW's evolving portfolio. Models like the iX1, iX3, and i4 have played a pivotal role in expanding the customer base, especially in markets where demand for cleaner, connected vehicles is growing rapidly. Collectively, EV sales surged by over 35% year-on-year—an indicator that the brand's electric strategy is gaining serious ground. Looking Ahead: A Strategic Turning Point What these results underline is a quiet shift in power dynamics within the BMW Group. Sub-brands are no longer secondary—they're becoming the key drivers of performance. Will BMW rethink its strategy to reflect this change? Could the next phase be led by the likes of MINI, M, and Rolls-Royce? Or does the core brand still hold a revolutionary EV ace up its sleeve?
Top Gear
5 days ago
- Automotive
- Top Gear
BMW is crafting a 'street legal track day pack' for the bombastic little M2
BMW is crafting a 'street legal track day pack' for the bombastic little M2 Swan neck rear wing and more aggressive front lip? Yes please Skip 4 photos in the image carousel and continue reading Turn on Javascript to see all the available pictures. 1 / 4 Hot on the heels of the fighty M2 CS is this new road-legal 'track pack' upgrade for Bimmer's baby M car, arriving next year with a feisty new attitude. It's been developed by the M Performance Parts team - most likely for the standard M2 - and the most obvious change is the angled swan neck rear wing and front splitter extension. There's a red tow hook thrown in too, because… track pack. Advertisement - Page continues below Essentially, everything that's been covered up by that black and white prototype livery looks to have been tweaked in some form, likely for more aero, def for more aggression. And how cool are those new wheels? Very, is the answer. No word on any additional oomph from that 3.0-litre twin-turbo straight-six, but any potential increase will sit between the standard car's 473bhp and the CS's mighty 523bhp. BMW said it's been testing this track pack around the 'Ring, but just how close it'll get to the CS' time of 7m 30s remains to be seen. More as we get it. Advertisement - Page continues below Top Gear Newsletter Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Look out for your regular round-up of news, reviews and offers in your inbox. Get all the latest news, reviews and exclusives, direct to your inbox. Success Your Email*
Auto Blog
5 days ago
- Automotive
- Auto Blog
SPIED: Electric BMW M3 Shows Off More Of Its Unique Take On Performance
By signing up I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . You may unsubscribe from email communication at anytime. BMW's Most Controversial M3 Yet Takes Shape The BMW M3 will someday go electric, and if these new spy shots captured at the Nürburgring are anything to go by, that momentous occasion isn't very far away. For the first time, an electric M3 prototype has been captured with its production body, though it still has several deceptive elements pasted on top of it. The development mule in question appears to have been pushed hard, as evidenced by a single brake rotor on the right rear of the car turning blue, like titanium does. Previous Pause Next Unmute 0:00 / 0:10 Full screen What is the Sony Honda Mobility Afeela 1? Watch More The close-up shot was captured while the development mule was being recharged, and we can also see a pale blue light alongside the connector, which all but confirms that most of the production hardware has been finalized. Smaller details like the production lighting units will go on at the last moment. Blue Brakes Raise Questions As you'll see in these photos, it was only one drilled brake disc that changed color. Was this the result of binding, an ineffective cooling system, or substandard materials? Perhaps it was one of those elements, all of them, or a combination of just two, but another possibility is that BMW was testing some sort of vehicle dynamics controller that brakes an inside wheel to better rotate the car. Since the Nordschleife is driven clockwise, the right rear would most often be the inside wheel, but given that the course is nearly 13 miles long, it still seems odd that one brake would suffer more than the others. Whatever the case, the front brake calipers are finished in blue like most M cars, while the rears are unpainted, indicating that this prototype is not wearing carbon-ceramic brakes (signified by gold calipers). It is, however, wearing production wheels, and while there are false panels on the hood, trunk, and fenders, the temporary bumpers show parking sensors, again indicating that the finished product is near. What To Expect From The Electric M3 BMW M3 EV Spy Shot Autoblog Newsletter Autoblog brings you car news; expert reviews and exciting pictures and video. Research and compare vehicles, too. Sign up or sign in with Google Facebook Microsoft Apple By signing up I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . You may unsubscribe from email communication at anytime. This electric M3 was snapped as it entered the BMW M Development Test Center at the Nürburgring, so we can look forward to seeing it on the track soon. Our spies are told to expect between 700 and 750 horsepower. The electric M3 is expected to enter production in March 2027, which suggests a reveal mid-way through next year, and it's likely to feature the new flax fiber composite technology that BMW expects will replace carbon fiber as a lightweight but environmentally friendly material. 20-inch wheels will reportedly be standard with a staggered 20-/21-inch setup available, and carbon-ceramic brakes will be optional. The M3 sedan will arrive first, and though no wagon has appeared on leaked internal production reports, it's all but inevitable. We expect to see the M3 shed more camouflage in the coming weeks, so stay tuned. In the meantime, a summary of everything we know about the electric M3 so far will have to suffice. About the Author Sebastian Cenizo View Profile
Miami Herald
5 days ago
- Automotive
- Miami Herald
BMW's New M2 Track Pack Teased To Torment Audi Again
Now that the second-generation BMW M2 has been around for a few years, the German marque is hard at work rolling out more focused versions of the compact two-door sports coupe. Just last month, the M2 CS arrived with more power, and it has already shattered the Audi RS3's Nürburgring record for compact cars. Now, BMW M has teased a street-legal track package for the M2, and our spies have also captured the M2 with this pack being tested on a track. The various M Performance Parts will no doubt turn this into an even more vicious track toy, so let's take a closer look. The teaser shots are of a yellow M2 with the front and rear ends partially concealed by a camo wrap. The new rear wing is unmissable, though, and should increase the car's downforce. To the eye, it looks like this model sits a bit lower to the ground than the standard M2, while the front lip also seems to protrude a little more, which is evident in the spy shots below. We can also spot Pirelli P Zero Trofeo RS rubber, and these performance-focused tires should help to extract maximum performance from the coupe. One partial shot offers a glimpse into the cabin, but we can't make out much more than the widescreen display found in other M2s. Rear headrests suggest that any weight-saving measures haven't gone as far as removing the back seats, as is the case on the more extreme M4 CSL. "The BMW M2 hits the Nürburgring, pushing BMW M Performance Parts to the limit," said a post from BMW M, more than a hint that the coupe will be chasing another Nürburgring record. "BMW M Performance Parts is developing a street legal track day package to deliver pure performance." Right now, it's not clear whether the Track Package applies to the normal M2, the M2 CS, or both. Nevertheless, we expect BMW will be making a few changes under the skin, beyond the visual updates we can see. The standard M2's 3.0-liter turbocharged six-cylinder engine makes 473 horsepower, while the one in the CS goes all the way up to 523 hp. We doubt that BMW will want to step on the toes of the CS, so an output between these two M2s seems likely. If applied to the standard M2, it's possible the Track Package could come with a manual gearbox. Remember, the CS sticks with an automatic, as its output of 523 hp was deemed too much for the manual gearbox to handle. Set to be introduced in 2026, we hope to see a full reveal of the M2 with the Track Package later this year, which is also when pricing is likely to be announced. Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Car and Driver
5 days ago
- Automotive
- Car and Driver
2026 BMW M2 Ups Its Performance with a Street-Legal Track Package
BMW's M division is teasing a new performance track package for the M2. Details on what the package includes are light, but there's a sizable rear wing on the back, and BMW promises the changes keep the car road-legal. There's no word on cost, but BMW expects to put the track package on sale in 2026. When the current BMW M2 generation launched with three pedals and 453 horsepower on tap, we managed a 3.9-second sprint to 60 mph and countless laughs caused by the BMW coupe's feisty attitude. BMW added another 20 horsepower to the standard trim for 2025, with the 2026 model adding an even more aggressive CS version. Based on a new teaser from BMW's M division, the M2 is also gaining a new track-focused performance package. According to the post, BMW M Performance Parts is developing a new street-legal track-day package to make the M2 even more aggressive. BMW promises that M2s equipped with the package will be "pushing BMW M Performance Parts to the limit." Most of the car is shrouded in camouflage, which unfortunately does a stand-up job at hiding any changes to the bodywork. One thing the camo can't hide—though not for lack of trying—is the rather large rear wing stuck to the trunklid. And there are likely other changes under the skin too. We'd wager there are chassis tweaks, carbon brakes to prolong stopping power, and maybe some extra horsepower squeezed from the M2's twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six. BMW BMW Full details on the package remain to be seen. We're also unsure if customers will need to order the package when they spec their car or if dealers can install it on cars people already own. Either way, we shouldn't have to wait too long, as BMW is expecting to launch the new package in 2026. Jack Fitzgerald Associate News Editor Jack Fitzgerald's love for cars stems from his as yet unshakable addiction to Formula 1. After a brief stint as a detailer for a local dealership group in college, he knew he needed a more permanent way to drive all the new cars he couldn't afford and decided to pursue a career in auto writing. By hounding his college professors at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, he was able to travel Wisconsin seeking out stories in the auto world before landing his dream job at Car and Driver. His new goal is to delay the inevitable demise of his 2010 Volkswagen Golf. Read full bio
