2008 Detroit Auto Show

Last Saturday I ventured down to the Detroit Auto Show with several members from E90Post.com. I took several images of the BMW display at the show and have a full set available for all to view on Flickr.

The show was complete with three major debuts: 1-series, M3, and X6. Unfortunately, no concept vehicles were on display especially since I was really looking forward to seeing the 2002tii Concept BMW showed at the Tokyo Auto Show. The CS concept shown in China was also not on display in Detroit. Concepts aside, the new vehicles look great. All of us were impressed by the look and interior room available in the 1-series. I even climbed into the back seat of a coupe and it really didn't feel much different from my 335i convertible. All in all, the 1-series is an impressive car. Would I swap a 135i convertible for my 335i? Not a chance. I love the hard top and the extra room which I need for carting around my twin boys. The 135i convertible while roomier than expected certainly gives up some interior space primarily back seat width and legroom.

The X6 is an interesting vehicle. Beautiful interior and an impressive V8 twin turbo engine. But I just don't get this SUV. It's huge like the X5 but lacks the interior hauling capacity of a SUV. So who wants a SUV that can't really haul anything??? I suppose if you just want to sit high and suck gas, BMW has a new vehicle for you. Just not my taste.

The M3 coupe and sedan were on display. Unfortunately no M3 convertible yet. I'm sure next year. The M3 wheels are stunning and something I may consider for a future wheel upgrade in 2008. The front reflector is horrid on the M3 and isn't flush with the front bumper. It distracts from an otherwise gorgeous car.

more images.

M3 Cabrio Images Leaked

Finally some non-camouflaged images of the upcoming M3 convertible made their way to the Internet late last week. Autoblog has a brief write-up with a gallery of images on their site.

Personally, I think the pictures don't do the car justice since the car is shown in white. The white 3-series cabriolets show the roof fold lines too much and with the additional body mold changes on the M3, the car just looks too busy with too many creases that visually interrupt the flow of the car. Of course, this could just be me being jealous in the coming year as I get passed by a M3 convertible thinking "damn! If only I had waited a year."

"The folding-roof M3 doesn't officially debut until the Geneva Auto Salon in March, but a German magazine jumped the gun and posted images on their website. Embargo apparently broken, the pictures continue to propagate about the internet." more.

Diesels Coming to 3-Series US Model Line

As much as I wanted a diesel E93, I just couldn't wait. I was looking forward to the new convertible and just bit early on a 335i. No real regrets, but for those of you who are still looking to buy you might want to wait to gain some nice fuel savings and still get BMW performance.

From Autoblog: "n the U.S., the 3.0L twin-turbo diesel is expected to produce 265 hp and 425 ft-lbs of torque, which is plenty for us. At the same time, it will return 23 city/33 highway mpg and take the 335d sedan to 62 mph in 6.2 seconds. Talk about having your cake and eating it, too." more.