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BMW slapped $4,500 rebates on its two diesel-engine vehicles, the BMW 335d sedan and the BMW X5 xDrive35d SUV, that makes them about $3,000 cheaper than their gasoline-powered equivalents. Diesels usually cost $1,000-$3,000 more. BMW calls the rebates Eco Credits and the $4,500 amount, valid through August, happens to equal the most you get out of the federal Cash for Clunkers (CARS) program, which wouldn’t apply to the X5 diesel anyway since there’s a $45,000 eligibility cap on the price of the purchased vehicle.

BMW X5 diesel savings. With the $4,500 rebate and an $1,800 hybrid/diesel tax credit, the 22 mpg (overall) X5 diesel is $48,375 (with shipping but none of the long list of BMW options), $3,475 less than 18 mpg the gasoline X5 30i. Driving 12,000 miles a year, the diesel uses $500 less fuel because diesel now costs the same as regular (on average), $2.50 a gallon, while gasoline BMWs need premium, which costs about $2.75 a gallon now.

Sure, Garmin’s zumo 660 was designed with the biker in mind, but BMW’s taking it one step further with the latest in its branded Motorrad series, the Navigator IV. Based on Garmin’s GPS ditty, it’s got the same 4.3-inch “glove friendly” touchscreen, voice control, and A2DP support. It can withstand heavy vibration, fuel sprays, UV rays, is waterproof and most importantly, can play your favorite adrenaline-pumping tunes for when those other precautions are being handily tested. Additionally, we’ve got a four-button motorcycle mount and it comes pre-loaded with a database of BMW dealers, just in case you ever need one in a jiff. Coming third quarter to US and Europe, there’s no word on price yet, but as a basis for comparison, the cost of the zumo 660 is about $700.

[Via NaviGadget]

Filed under: GPS, Transportation

BMW kicking Garmin’s zumo 660 up a notch with the Motorrad Navigator IV originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 06 Jul 2009 03:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BMW’s Z4 roadster (convertible) sports car employs technology that belongs in lots of cars, not just $50,000 two-seaters. The double-clutch transmission smoothly combines the power and performance of the manual gearbox it really is with the ease of an automatic (no clutch pedal). And the transflective LCD display is unaffected by sunlight. In fact, the more sun shines down, the brighter it gets. The iDrive controller finally works, and well. HD Radio is now free (some models) but the iPod adapter remains an overpriced option. It’s a great car if your stock portfolio is fully recovered. 

Just hours after General Motors put forth a proposal for a standardized plug for electric vehicles, in flies this. German energy firm RWE has stated that a cadre of respected automakers and energy firms have all come together in agreement on a three-point, 400-volt plug that will enable electric cars the world over to be recharged anywhere, regardless of which recharging station they stop at. Caroline Reichert, an RWE spokeswoman, noted that the idea here is to ensure that “a car can be recharged in Italy in exactly the same way as in Denmark, Germany or France.” We’re told that the agreement includes nods of acceptance from the likes of Volkswagen, BMW, Ford, General Motors, Fiat, Toyota, Mitsubishi, Eon, Vattenfall, EDF, Npower, Endesa and Enel, and while there’s no time frame for when it’ll be introduced, we’re pretty stoked to hear that at least something has been decided upon.

Filed under: Transportation

Automakers agree on common plug to recharge electric vehicles originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 19 Apr 2009 16:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Finally, HD Radio is being priced right in the new-car market: free. It’s now standard equipment on the 2009 BMW 7 Series sedan (starting price $80,200 and BMW 6 Series coupe and convertible ($78,200).

BMW was the first automaker to offer HD Radio and to offer it across the line, and now it’s free on some models. On its more expensive cars, BMW rolls in the price of niceties such as the BMW Assist emergency calling service, leather seats, a navigation system, and now HD Radio.

HD Radio is a freebie not because BMW wants to help you ride out the recession. Here it’s free for a different reason: BMW integrates the HD Radio circuitry into its latest Car Infotainment Computer (CIC)–the in-car box that typically handles the radio and CD player–so it doesn’t cost much to include. On other BMW models, HD Radio remains a separate trunk-mount module and BMW tags the customer $350 for HD Radio for the privilege of hearing what the HD Radio alliance calls “free radio.”