New Ritchie B-51 Explorer Compass (black) on 2040-parts.com

Design Essay: BMW i – Setting the industry agenda for the next decade

Many have already dismissed BMW i as a radical experiment too far ahead of its time, but looking beyond the glossy carbon fiber facade reveals three ways it will change the automotive landscape during the next decade: 1. Re-define the EV category Despite Tesla, Nissan, GM, Renault and Toyota all operating in the EV space, global sales in 2012 totaled just 54,000. Many put this down to high-cost and range anxiety, but another key factor is nearly always overlooked.

Five most-watched car ads of 2011

Page views: They're life and death on the Web, and for an automaker trying to make an advertisement go viral, page views and the eyeballs viewing them are what it's all about. This year was big for the top-five viral automaker ads: Volkswagen's “The Force” spot hit 63 million views, while Fiat grabbed 27 million with its Jennifer Lopez song. The Chrysler “Imported From Detroit” Super Bowl ad was next, with 22 million views.

BMW 640d xDrive – another 4WD BMW NOT coming to the UK

The BMW 640d xDrive - NOT coming to the UK BMW has added the BMW 640d xDrive to the 6 Series range – in coupe and convertible – with a 313bhp diesel and 4WD. But it won’t hit the UK. BMW broke the taboo of a diesel engine in a range-topping coupe in the last generation 6 Series, and takes that a step further in the new 6 Series by adding 4Wd to create the BMW 640d xDrive, which will be available as both a coupe and convertible.