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BMW Tests First-Ever Hydrogen-Powered Luxury Sedan

BMW Blogger — Thu, 09 Aug 2007 04:42:32 +0000

Today, BMW of North America announced the successful completion of the first-ever hydrogen-powered luxury sedan. The test was done with cooperation from NASA.

The BMW Hydrogen 7 is based off of the BMW 760Li. It has an internal combustion engine that’s capable of running liquid hydrogen and gasoline.

“We are very proud to have been able to offer this test period of the BMW Hydrogen 7 to NASA,” BMW of North America VP of Engineering, Karl-Heinz Ziwica, said.

According to a BMW press release, NASA personnel tested a fleet of BMW Hydrogen 7s. They were all running on liquid nitrogen, which is similar to the fuel the space shuttles use.

The BMW Hydrogen 7 features a V12 cylinder engine—260 hp. It takes 9.2 seconds to go from 0 to 60 and the top speed is 143 mph.

This vehicle is part of BMWs focus on alternative energy. When the BMW Hydrogen 7 is running in liquid nitrogen mode, the emissions are mostly water vapor.

BMW Tops Rival Mercedes in July Sales

BMW Blogger — Thu, 09 Aug 2007 04:12:41 +0000

The July sales numbers are in and it’s no surprise that BMW increased its lead over rival Mercedes-Benz.

In July, BMW is reporting sales of 123,017 vehicles worldwide, which is a healthy 20 percent increase. Look at 2007 so far, BMW has sold 853,202 vehicles—according to a Reuters articles—which is a 6.5 percent increase in sales.

The 1 and 3 series BMWs showed very strong sales. The X5 also did very well.

Even sales of the Mini brand were higher.

When you build a great vehicle, people will buy it and BMW is proving just that.

2008 BMW 550i

BMW Blogger — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 19:52:32 +0000

The 2008 BMW 550i is my BMW of choice. It’s sleek and beautiful. The 2008 model is a wonderful blend of luxury and power. With the V-8 engine, which runs smooth, you’ll have no problem passing anyone. Many will be surprised at just how powerful the 550i is. It will fly past 100 without working.

The 19-inch wheels look amazing and I think it’s worth passing on the 535i to get them. The BMW 550i comes with night vision, so you can see people and animals in the dark up to 328 yards away, which gives you some peace of mind.

You can get RTTI with your BMW navigation system. The Real Time Traffic Information System, as you might expect, gives you up to the second traffic information to help make your commute smoother. As far as I’m concerned, this is a must. Granted, if you live in small rural area or city, it’s probably not needed. But, for those in congested cities, the upgrade is well worth it.

BMW iDRIVE

The 2008 BMW 550i is equipped with iDrive to enhance your driving experience. Here’s a description of the iDrive system and snapshot from BMWUSA.com.

“The iDrive Controller, conveniently located on the center console, allows access to a variety of comfort functions displayed on the monitor. The turn/press button enables front-seat occupants to access the menu system and fine-tune settings for climate control, audio system, navigation system and communication with BMW Assist.”

The 2008 BMW 550i is priced around $60,000 and if you’re looking for a luxury vehicle with power, precision and comfort, it’s worth it.