BMW - Repair and Service Redwood City -2020 BMW Alpina B3 is the M3 alternative we miss out on - Bosch European Redwood City - (650) 368-3000

BMW is almost ready to show us a new M3 but overseas, buyers are able to choose an alternative in the form of the new B3 from semi-official BMW tuner Alpina.

The car was unveiled in its Touring wagon body style in September at the Frankfurt International Motor Show, and on Wednesday at the Tokyo Motor Show the covers came off the B3 sedan.

Under the hood is the 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-6 normally found in the M340i. Here it's aided by a pair of turbochargers to help deliver 462 horsepower and a massive 516 pound-feet of torque. With such numbers, owners can expect 0-60 mph acceleration approaching 4.0 seconds and a top speed in excess of 186 mph. In comparison, the new M3 is expected to boast a 3.0-liter twin-turbo inline-6 that should have as much as 503 hp on tap.

Like its M counterpart, the Alpina B3 also benefits from a host of chassis mods in addition to the extra power. For its latest B3, Alpina worked with ZF to ensure the B3's version of the 3-Series' 8-speed auto has faster response and quicker shift times. Alpina also added the 3-Series' all-wheel-drive system to ensure maximum traction.

Other chassis mods include sport-tuned suspension, a limited-slip differential, and uprated brakes.

On the outside, Alpina has added unique fascias front and rear, along with quad-exhaust tips, and the company's signature multi-spoke wheels. A 19-inch set is standard but the 20-inch set with a 20-spoke design as shown here is available.

The B3 is currently available to order and due to start deliveries in mid-2020. While the car is unlikely to reach the U.S., other Alpina models are sold here. The latest to arrive is the B7 based on the 7-Series, and an Alpina-enhanced version of the BMW X7 should join it in the not too distant future.

 

 source: https://www.motorauthority.com/news/1125665_2020-bmw-alpina-b3-is-the-m3-alternative-we-miss-out-on

by Viknesh Vijayenthiran

http://www.boscheuropean.com

Range Rover - Repair and Service Redwood City - Land Rover Road Rover reportedly a road-biased electric SUV - Bosch European Redwood City - (650) 368-3000

Land Rover's oft-rumored Road Rover will be an electric crossover SUV to challenge the Tesla Model X and upcoming electric Porsche Macan.

That's according to Autocar which reported on Monday that Land Rover is developing the Road Rover alongside Jaguar's redesigned XJ due in 2020, with the Road Rover to arrive a year after the new Jaguar flagship sedan.

It will reportedly be the most road-biased model in Land Rover's lineup, though still more capable on rough terrain than rivals. Think a soft-roader along the lines of the Audi A6 All road but with a battery-electric powertrain.

The concept of a road-biased Land Rover isn’t new. The British automaker as early as the 1950s sought to offer a vehicle that bridged the gap between the original Land Rover and cars of the day, under the Road Rover code name. The first prototype was a shooting brake-style vehicle code-named the SNX 36.

Land Rover SNX 36 'Road Rover' prototype from the 1950s

The Road Rover name isn't confirmed for this modern Land Rover but Jaguar Land Rover did make moves to trademark the name in 2018.

The redesigned XJ will be the first model based on Jaguar Land Rover's new MLA platform which will support battery-electric, plug-in hybrid, and internal-combustion powertrains. Information from an investor meeting earlier in 2019 revealed the MLA will support battery sizes up to 90.2 kilowatt-hours, or enough for a range of around 250 miles.

The redesigned XJ will be built at Jaguar Land Rover's Castle Bromwich plant in the United Kingdom, which is being transformed into the automaker's EV hub. Thus, there's a good chance the Road Rover will also be built at the plant.

It was previously thought that the redesigned 2020 Defender would be Land Rover's first EV. However, this has been ruled out since the redesigned off-roading icon is based on a version of Jaguar Land Rover's existing D7 platform which was never designed for battery-electric power.

source: https://www.motorauthority.com/news/1118089_land-rover-road-rover-reportedly-a-road-biased-electric-suv 

by Viknesh Vijayenthiran

http://www.boscheuropean.com

 

Porsche - Repair and Service Redwood City - Porsche says there's potential for the Taycan to go faster at 'Ring - Bosch European Redwood City - (650) 368-3000

In the days leading up to the reveal of the Taycan in early September, Porsche released a video of a production-spec prototype lapping the Nürburgring in a time of 7:42.

Even though this is already a record for production EVs at the famous German racetrack, Porsche has hinted that the car could post a faster lap.

2020 Porsche Taycan

In an interview with Cars Guide published on Wednesday, Lukas Kramer, the product manager for the Taycan, confirmed that the version used was the Taycan Turbo and not the Taycan Turbo S, whose boost function produces more power and chassis upgrades are better suited to setting fast lap times.

"If you have all the performance equipment and torque (of the Turbo S), there’s probably some room left," Kramer said. "We’re really happy with our time but there would be some potential."

 

2020 Porsche Taycan preview

Both the Turbo and Turbo S come with 616 horsepower but whereas the Turbo can boost output to 670 hp, the Turbo S can boost output to 750 hp. Torque also gets a boost. The boost on the Turbo sees torque rise to 626 pound-feet, and on the Turbo S it sees torque rise to 774 lb-ft. The boost only lasts for a few seconds but this could make all the difference on the Nürburgring.

The Turbo S also features some chassis upgrades. We're talking things like carbon-ceramic brake rotors, rear-wheel steering, and an active anti-roll system designed to reduce lateral body movement during cornering.

Tesla Model S Plaid spy shots - Photo credit: S. Baldauf/SB-Medien

What this means is that even if Tesla gets around to launching its new Model S Plaid sometime next year, as promised, it might not necessarily be the fastest production EV at the 'Ring. All we know is that the Plaid option will bring a three-motor powertrain and some chassis upgrades.

Prototypes for the Plaid started lapping the 'Ring in the weeks after Porsche announced the Taycan's lap time and were putting in times close to 7:20, though the testers featured much wider wheels than anything offered on the Model S at present. And despite the full tints, including on the windshields, the cars were also discovered to be running stripped interiors.

source:  https://www.motorauthority.com/news/1125367_porsche-says-there-s-potential-for-the-taycan-to-go-faster-at-ring

by Viknesh Vijayenthiran

http://www.boscheuropean.com