BMW - Repair and Service Redwood City - 2025 BMW Alpina B3 spied: Second facelift planned - Bosch European Redwood City - (650) 368-3000

 

 

BMW is rumored to be planning a second facelift for its current 3-Series to extend the car's life until a successor, still with gas engines, is launched around 2027.

That will give the current 3-Series a lifespan of nine years, which is about two years longer than the typical BMW product cycle. An electric sedan in the 3-Series segment based on the Neue Klasse platform is known to be arriving around 2026, likely badged as the i3, which suggests BMW may lead its next 3-Series family with an EV first, with the gas model to follow.

Adding some credibility to the rumors is the sighting of an updated BMW Alpina B3 out testing in prototype form. The Alpina B3 is a tuned version of the 3-Series, and like the BMW sedan on which it is based it was given an initial update for the 2023 model year.

The B3's second update is expected to arrive later this year as a 2025 model. That is likely when BMW will also introduce a second update for the 3-Series. Camouflage gear points to revised fascias at both ends, and not much else.

 

2025 BMW Alpina B3 second facelift spy shots - Photo credit: Baldauf

 That fits with rumors that suggest the second update for the 3-Series will only introduce minimal changes on the outside. The focus is expected to be on the interior, which is rumored to be getting better materials and possibly some updates to the interface. Tweaks to the powertrains are also expected, with some engines becoming more powerful and others losing a few horsepower to meet the latest emissions rules.

The current B3 packs a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-6 borrowed from the M3, with Alpina's version of the engine delivering 488 hp. Alpina also offers a diesel option in some markets, in a separate model labeled the D3 S. In both cases an 8-speed automatic and all-wheel drive are standard.

The B3 currently isn't sold in the U.S. It isn't clear whether that will change with the updated version. Stay tuned.

 source: https://www.motorauthority.com/news/1142896_2025-bmw-alpina-b3-second-facelift-spy-shots

by Viknesh Vijayenthiran
http://www.boscheuropean.com

Range Rover - Repair and Service Redwood City - 2025 Defender OCTA spied: Hardcore SUV coming- Bosch European Redwood City - (650) 368-3000

 

 

JLR (formerly Jaguar Land Rover) in 2022 launched a Defender equipped with a V-8, but a more hardcore V-8 grade is still in the works for the rugged SUV.

It was confirmed this week by JLR as the Defender OCTA, and prototypes have been spotted in the wild. It's set to make a debut later this year, and it'll likely arrive as a 2025 model should it reach the U.S.

All JLR has said about the vehicle is that it will come with a twin-turbocharged V-8 and a version of the automaker's 6D Dynamics suspension. Both features are found in the related Range Rover Sport SV, which generates 626 hp from a BMW-sourced twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V-8.

The 6D Dynamics suspension is a fancy name for a combination of hydraulic interlinked dampers, height-adjustable air springs, and pitch control. According to JLR, the setup is designed to keep the vehicle's body at an almost level stance during hard cornering or driving over rough terrain.

Prototypes reveal a number of additional details. These include a titanium exhaust with quad tips, along with flared wheel arches, a raised suspension, mud flaps, and BFGoodrich all-terrain tires. The tires are wrapped around 20-inch wheels and measure 275/60 front and rear.

In case you're wondering about the name, it likely refers to certain diamond shapes in geometry known as octahedrons. It's likely JLR wants to convey that the Defender OCTA embodies resilience akin to a diamond, the toughest naturally occurring substance on Earth. Teaser photos released alongside this week's confirmation of the vehicle revealed tiny diamond logos.

JLR's Special Vehicle Operations came close to launching a similar hardcore Discovery SVX a few years back. It was going to be powered by a V-8 and fitted with off-road upgrades. It would have established a new off-roading range for SVO, similar to the division's SVR track-focused range and the SVAutobiography ultra-luxury range. While the Discovery SVX was ultimately canceled, JLR never ruled out future vehicles like it.

 

source: https://www.motorauthority.com/news/1125689_2025-defender-octa-spy-shots

by Viknesh Vijayenthiran
http://www.boscheuropean.com