BMW News

Koenigsegg's First V8 Client Gemera Breaks Cover at the Aurora Concours in Sweden

Three years after Koenigsegg confirmed a V8-powered version of its four-seat Gemera, the first customer example has finally been showcased in public. The hypercar maker unveiled the car this weekend at the Aurora Concours in Båstad, Sweden, finished in a vivid Johan Röd paint over Engel Svart leather and Alcantara with red stitching accents. This particular client, Gemera, is equipped with the full Crystal Clear sound system, bespoke red-tinted Ghosts on the Aircore seats, and rides on Trofast Aircore carbon wheels. The powertrain pairs a mid-mounted twin-turbocharged 5.0-liter hot V8 with Koenigsegg's Dark Matter electric motor via the brand's nine-speed Lightspeed Tourbillon Transmission (LSTT), a four-wheel torque-vectoring system that can send power independently to each wheel. Combined output is 2,300 horsepower, with a sub-2.0-second dash to 60 mph and a top speed in excess of 240 mph. The Gemera was the cover car in a feature we did last year on the most powerful production cars in the world. <- Gallery -> "Today is a big milestone for Koenigsegg, as we roll out the most technically advanced and most ambitious program in our history." - Christian von Koenigsegg, Founder, CEO, Koenigsegg The Gemera realizes a dream von Koenigsegg has held for decades, a proper four-seat, high-performance supercar capable of seating four two-meter adults in comfort with room for luggage. The idea traces back to his childhood, when he first saw his friend's father's Lotus Excel. According to von Koenigsegg, the Gemera itself began taking shape in the mid-2000s, long before its eventual reveal. It first broke cover in 2020 with three electric motors and a tiny twin-turbo three-cylinder engine, and we’ve followed the story from its evolving design phase to its first driveable prototype testing phase in 2022. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Christian von Koenigsegg (@heycvk) The production-spec hybrid version was revised in 2023 to employ Koenigsegg's single Dark Matter motor, lifting output to 1,400 horsepower, and news that the V8 variant was on the production line surfaced earlier this year in March. Production of the Gemera is capped at 300 units, a ceiling set at the car's original 2020 unveiling. Koenigsegg has confirmed all 300 build slots are already accounted for. Original pricing started from $1.7 million, though the industry estimates have placed fully specified V8 examples well above $2 million. For a company that has built its reputation on low-volume, two-seat hypercars, the four-seat Gemera represents a significant departure, one that doesn’t compromise on the brand’s core principles of high-performance speed and design details like the signature dihedral synchro-helix doors, now being offered in a more usable package as a Mega GT. View All Koenigseggs For Sale Images: @Koenigsegg

McLaren W1 First Drive: Ferocious Hypercar Transcends the Track

You know things are getting serious when McLaren rolls-out the ‘1’ suffix. The origin story is, of course, the very first road car McLaren ever built, the F1. Designed by visionary Formula 1 aerodynamicist and engineer Gordon Murray, it arrived in 1992 and rendered all other supercars obsolete. The tiny, lightweight F1 embraced carbon-fibre material technology, adopted a radical centre seat driving position with two passengers set back and either side and was powered by a 6.1-litre V12 engine from BMW that might as well have been passed down directly from the Gods. Game-changer? That doesn’t even come close to describing its impact, even if at the time sales didn’t come easy… The P1 was very different. Rather than a unique side project from the Formula 1 team, it was instead a statement piece for McLaren Automotive, a new road car division still in its infancy. It arrived in 2013 and was a wild-eyed showstopper. It traded the long-legged gait and supple suspension of the F1 for a weaponized hybrid system capable of delivering 903bhp and huge blue flames from its drainpipe exhaust. In Race mode, it lowered by 2-inches and its massive concave rear wing extended into the sky. The P1 was all about aerodynamic downforce, crazed acceleration and a snorting, angry soundtrack that mixed venomous twin-turbocharged V8 with the manic whirr of electric motors. Not so much a car as a force of nature. And now there’s this: The W1. It’s a true successor to the P1 with a similar brief and, on the face of it, it evolves rather than radically reinvents McLaren’s vision for the ultimate hypercar. This is not a criticism. How could it be when the result is this dramatic and has such staggering, other-worldly potential? The W1 has 1258bhp delivered to the rear wheels. It’s capable of 0-124 mph in 5.8-seconds, the quarter mile in 9.6-seconds at 167 mph and produces 2205lbs of downforce at 174 mph. The active aerodynamics – particularly a rear wing that extends way out beyond the rear of the car – are pure performance art and deliver massive aerodynamic efficiency. The result, aside from looking extremely cool, is that the W1 is McLaren’s fastest road car around a racetrack. Ever. Their benchmark circuit is the breath-taking Handling Track at the Nardo proving ground in southern Italy, where the W1 beats their previous benchmark, the flyweight McLaren Senna, by three seconds per lap. Or “a lifetime” as they call it in racing. Maybe two lifetimes! Core to the W1’s performance is the new ‘Aerocell’ carbon fibre tub. With integrated seats and a raised footwell to allow for inboard pushrod-operated front suspension – which in turn gives air a clean path to the huge underbody diffuser – it’s light, stiff, space efficient and has been instrumental in McLaren realising a full ground-effect concept. Just like last year’s F1 cars, which were the fastest ever made. There is also an active front wing and the aforementioned complex rear wing dubbed ‘Active Long Tail’. All of which is very admirable. But the ‘anhedral’ or gullwing doors and the fantastically shirnked-wrapped feel to the minimalist, highly-focussed interior are a pretty good side effect. The W1 feels special. Those fixed seats are perhaps a shade more upright than expected, and the driving position is less obviously racecar than, for example, the Aston Martin Valhalla or Ferrari F80. However, once you’ve adjusted the pedals (they move on a slider) and the delicate, slim-rimmed and alcantara-trimmed steering wheel, there’s an overwhelming sense of purpose. The cabin is so tightly tailored and imparts a sense of lightness and agility before you so much as start the all-new 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 engine, which makes 916bhp all on its own and revs to 9200rpm. Reach up to a roof-mounted control panel to find the starter button. Maybe this fighter plane trope is a little corny, but somehow you feel thrilled rather than manipulated. The W1 has a sense of humour as well as all that motorsport-derived sophistication. There’s a short delay, but when the engine does fire it’s instant – as the high-powered hybrid system negates the need for an old-school starter motor. A sharp flare of revs tells you that this engine is hyper-responsive and angry. On some deep level your brain and body have been sent all the signals required to prepare for something new and intense. Ahead of us, an empty Mugello racetrack, so press and hold the blue button next to the red starter to select Race mode. The centre display graphic shows the W1’s transformation in real time as it lowers by 37mm at the front and 17mm at the rear whilst simultaneously undocking all that active aero goodness. Race mode is not road legal and is geo-locked. You can show your friends and neighbours the aero dance, but it won’t allow you to select a gear to actually drive unless you’re at a circuit. Incidentally, the rocker switches either side of the display binnacle allow further options now: Toggle up the Handling control on the left for Race+ (for F1-spec super smooth tracks) or stick to Race for gnarlier ones. On the right toggle select ‘GP’ for sustained performance over a stint or ‘Sprint’ to unleash all 1258bhp for a time attack. There’s also a DRS and Boost function on the steering wheel. But I guarantee you won’t have the mental capacity to use them… Exit the pitlane, pin the throttle and W1 takes maybe a millisecond or two to gather its might (the gearing stretches to around 60mph in first, nearly 100mph in second, primarily to aid traction), but then lunges at the first turn with incredible ferocity. It instantly feels light, almost like inertia is no longer a thing. McLaren really does prize lightweight engineering, and at 3084lbs (dry) the W1 has a 278lbs advantage over the Ferrari F80. Plus, Ferrari uses figures for cars fitted with every single carbon fibre option. In reality, the gap is probably wider still. The impression of agility and stunning control continues as the track is unravelled at startling pace. The electric motor mounted to the side of the new 8-speed dual-clutch transmission is good for 342bhp and 324lb ft and it boosts any low rev lethargy the new flat-plane crank V8 might have (spoiler alert: It doesn’t appear to have any), so the W1 just feels massively, almost impossibly powerful at any revs. Even so, there’s real reward for wringing it out to 9200rpm and the power curve feels superheated but organic, too. In Race mode the steering – still hydraulically powered – has less assistance and it is noticeably heavier than other McLarens. However, that resistance is welcome as it gives you something to push against and imparts so much information about the front grip level. New Pirelli Trofeo RS tyres with a bigger front footprint than P1 or Senna really help. The front-end feels incredibly secure and the rear-axle follows with perfectly-aligned precision. The whole car feels super-stiff, completely locked into the surface and inspires confidence, but there’s an inherent agility and adjustability that means you’re quickly confident to push at its limits and really impose yourself on the chassis. It’s such a complex car but the driving experience is intuitive, and the driver feels a key contributor rather than just amazed (or terrified) observer, holding on for dear life. Every dynamic ingredient really is shockingly effective and yet has a subtlety and lightness of touch. From that delicious steering to the incredible brakes, the W1 just feels so mission-focussed, so hooked-up. Only the new 8-speed gearbox is a slightly disappointment. It’s fast and punchy, but after the scintillating energy of the Ferrari F80 ’box it feels competent rather than inspired. Other quibbles – it’s okay to quibble when the starting price is $2.1-million before tax and destination charge. Well, that new twin-turbocharged V8 sounds tightly wound and aggressive but if you have a P1 tucked in the garage you’ll miss the snorting, Darth Vader-style soundscape and all the drama that goes with it. Ferrari does this better, too. The F80 sounds deathly dull from the outside but is a riot of turbochargers, electric motors and all sorts of mechanical fury within the cockpit. Even so, the W1 is wildly entertaining on track, and the rear-drive configuration makes it more of a challenge and more satisfying than the F80 when chasing lap times or just sliding around for fun. In the Ferrari, you must second-guess what the front e-axle might do, whereas in the W1 it’s all on you. There are plenty of tools to help, including the ingenious Variable Drift Control, but somehow the W1 is more heroic. Or at least fools you into feeling more heroic – which is surely the point! On the road? Nimble, loaded with feel and sublime response. The ride is noticeably tougher than, say, a 750S but the control is ramped-up too, and with a bit more speed the whole car finds a delicious rhythm. Sport mode for the drivetrain brings some nice turbo whooshes and chirps, but the noise remains high-quality rather than extreme excitement. It is perhaps the one area the W1 feels just a little too tame. Of course, there’s nothing tame about the raw performance… which is genuinely shocking and literally hurts your neck muscles after a few hours. How McLaren has given the W1 such immense traction through just two driven wheels is beyond me. So, is it worthy of that ‘1’? I think so. Perhaps we won’t be talking about $25-million auction results for the W1 in 30 years from now, as we are for the F1. Perhaps it doesn’t quite have the amazing presence and jaw-dropping star quality of the simply gorgeous P1. But it is such an intense experience and the way it marries stunning track performance with delicate poise and entertainment on normal roads is something akin to magic. Maybe not ‘the one’ but definitely a searing, outrageous addition to McLaren’s fiercest family line. Just 399 W1’s will be built and they’re all sold. I’m not surprised at all. View All McLarens For Sale Images: McLaren Automotive

What $55 Million Looks Like On Fort Lauderdale's Waterfront

There's something to be said about luxury living in South Florida, where year-round sunshine, waterfront views, and a lifestyle built around the outdoors have made it one of the world's most desirable places to call home. From massive estates along the Intracoastal to modern penthouses overlooking the beaches, it's a market where exceptional homes are part of everyday life. Recently completed, finding its space in Fort Lauderdale’s exclusive Sunrise Intercoastal gated community, 513 Middle River stands out as one of those incredible properties, listed by the team at Charles Rutenberg Realty FTL and now available on dR Realty for $55,000,000. GALLERY-EMBED Built by Prestige Homes on an oversized waterfront lot with 145 feet of frontage, the home immediately commands attention with clean, modern architectural lines, expansive glass, and uninterrupted views across the water. A newly constructed seawall and private dock make it just as appealing for boaters as it is for car collectors looking to enjoy the South Florida lifestyle. Privacy also plays a major role in the property's appeal. In addition to being located inside a gated community with dedicated police patrol, the residence sits behind its own private gates, creating a secluded, resort-style retreat with the convenience of nearby dining, shopping, and marinas. GALLERY-EMBED Inside, the focus shifts toward luxury, entertainment, and everyday comfort. The residence takes shape as a fully integrated smart home, giving owners the ability to manage lighting, climate, security, cameras, and entry systems through its own network. In addition to all the tech, the home's amenities mirror those of a private resort. A collector-focused eight-car garage flows directly into a stylish club room and lounge, while a custom 4K laser theater, professional-grade fitness center, spacious entertainment areas, sauna, and dedicated wellness spaces offer an environment for hosting guests or enjoying quiet weekends away. GALLERY-EMBED The outdoor spaces are where the home truly embraces the South Florida lifestyle. Centered around an 85-foot custom mosaic swimming pool with cascading waterfalls, the backyard is more like a five-star resort overlooking the water. Multiple lounge areas encourage indoor-outdoor living, while the rooftop entertaining space provides another vantage point to take in the views. It's a thoughtful touch that supports the property's focus on experience as much as its architecture. For buyers looking for a modern South Florida waterfront estate that offers privacy, smart tech, luxury amenities, and exceptional design, Prestige Homes’ 513 Middle River raises the bar for Fort Lauderdale’s waterfront living. Discover on dR Reality GALLERY-EMBED

Koenigsegg's First V8 Client Gemera Breaks Cover at the Aurora Concours in Sweden

McLaren W1 First Drive: Ferocious Hypercar Transcends the Track

What $55 Million Looks Like On Fort Lauderdale's Waterfront

Koenigsegg's First V8 Client Gemera Breaks Cover at the Aurora Concours in Sweden

McLaren W1 First Drive: Ferocious Hypercar Transcends the Track

What $55 Million Looks Like On Fort Lauderdale's Waterfront

Koenigsegg's First V8 Client Gemera Breaks Cover at the Aurora Concours in Sweden

McLaren W1 First Drive: Ferocious Hypercar Transcends the Track

What $55 Million Looks Like On Fort Lauderdale's Waterfront

By Caitlin Duffy – August 07, 2015

Bang & Olufsen Sound for the BMW X5 & X6

In your hands, you can feel the steady vibrations of the steering wheel. 445 hp is at your disposal, pulled along by 480 lb-ft of torque. A 4.4-liter V8 creates it all, sending a rumble through the body of the car. But something more clear, deep and crisp overpowers it all - the steady beat of a bass drum, enveloping you in music from every angle. The Bang & Olufsen patented Acoustic Lens emerges from the dashboard as the system turns on.It sounds like an experience reserved for a night out with your favorite car - but it's not. It's a daily drive in your BMW X5 or X6 with the High End Surround Sound System from Bang & Olufsen.With the Bang & Olufsen sound systems found in BMW's vehicles, the marque has made sure it never leaves drivers or passengers wanting for rich beautiful sound. Since 1925, Bang & Olufsen has been recognized worldwide as being the front runner of high-quality audio systems, but it wasn't until 2005 that they introduced their first system for the automotive market. In the ten years since, they've mastered the art, and the BMW X5 and X6 both feature this stunning sound.The X5 and X6 are the latest BMW models to feature the high-end Surround Sound system. They bring the same deeply layered, yet completely homogeneous sound that drivers have enjoyed in BMW's sedans to the sport activity vehicle (SAV). The system features Bang & Olufsen's patented Acoustic Lens Technology, which accurately spreads music's high-frequency sounds throughout the cabin, ensuring all passengers are in the best listening position. The Acoustic Lens is integrated into the dashboard and precisely emerges and gently illuminates when the system is turned on.Other innovative technologies on board include a powerful, yet efficient Class D amplifier with a dedicated channel for each speaker in the vehicle - 16 in total. TrueImage Processing is the brains behind the system, offering the most life-like 5.1 surround sound expereince on wheels. Dynamic Sound Optimization (DySop) technology ensures your listening experience is always optimized. This intelligent technology actively adjusts all system parameters to compensate for changes in the cabin's listening environment, whether coming from within our outside the vehicle.While the technology is impressive, the biggest contributor to the quality of this sound is the 400 hours of sound tuning each model undergoes during development. Bang & Olufsen's world-renowned Acoustic Engineers tested and tuned by ear and by digital measurement, both in their labs and on the Autobahn at speeds up to 155 mph. Take your X5 to the track and enjoy a Sonata at 100 mph - only your adrenaline will keep you from hearing every note.[infobox bg="gray" color="black" opacity="on" subtitle="Speakers: 16 Fully Active PremiumAcoustic Lens Technology: Delivers 180 degrees of sound dispersionAmplifier: Class D 16-Channel with 1,200 wattsSound Features: 5.1 Surround Sound with Bang & Olufsen TrueImage ProcessingSpeaker Grilles: Anodized Aluminum"]Quick FactsOf course, the beauty of this sound system is found in its visual presentation as well. You won't necessarily need to see the Bang & Olufsen name laser-engraved into the surfaces of the grilles to know who crafted them. Round, solid aluminum and anodized in BMW's exclusive Perlglanz (Pearl Gloss) color, each is crafted at Bang & Olufsen's state of the art aluminum processing facility in Denmark.Two distinct audio modes can also help refine the system's ability to match your desired listening experience. The "Expanded Mode" option is meant to broaden the sound stage and imitate the feeling of concert hall acoustics, while "Studio Mode" lets you hear the music as the artist initially intended, fully incorporating the original recording's complete atmosphere.No day is ordinary when experienced by an extraordinary person, and each mode ensures your aural experience matches the quality of a BMW drive.For the best selection of models equipped with the Bang & Olufsen system, reach out to one of their preferred dealerships throughout the United States. Scan the list below to find the one closest to you, and find the aural and automotive experience you didn't know you'd been craving.Advantage BMW Group | Houston, Texas BMW Encinitas | Encinitas, California Classic BMW | Plano, Texas Global Imports BMW | Atlanta, Georgia Vista BMW Coconut Creek | Coconut Creek, FloridaGallery Sponsored by Bang & Olufsen See More BMW News

By Edward Jones – July 10, 2015

Stunning 2000 BMW Z8 For Sale

Text and Images Provided by: LBI LimitedThe Z07 Concept was introduced at the 1997 Tokyo Auto Show, and with overwhelming interest it was quickly put into production as the Z8. Launched in Europe in 1999, then in the US in 2000, nearly 5,703 examples were produced with only 2,543 units destined for the US Market from 2000-2003.Penned by Henrik Fisker, who later acted as the Head of Design for both Aston Martin and Fisker Automotive, the Z8 has an overwhelming similarity to the 507 of 1956-1959. It evokes a sense of timelessness like its 507 predecessor and has design elements that give a classic look with creature comforts of the most basic nature, all while being the ultimate driving machine. Ordering for the Z8 offered few colors and options, but it was done to keep the vintage appeal pure while not spoiling any of the perfect lines of a long bonnet, two-seated, sports car.View Price and ListingZ8s aren’t necessarily rare, but with the rising market tide there has been quite a bit of interest and realization of the fact that they are an iconic car for little money. The performance is unequalled in the roadster class from 2000-2003, and the Z8 offers quite a bit for the collector actively seeking not only a reliable, modern performance car, but a car that is vintage in its design.The example on offer here, a 2000 Z8, has covered only 12,170 miles from new and is one of 317 examples for US distribution. It is finished in the ever popular and quite fitting color combination of Titanium Silver over Sport Red, and still retains both its soft and hard tops. Delivered new on December 15, 2000 to its first Texas owner, this example remained with only two owners until late 2014, when it came to New York and was put away for the winter.Upon spring, the current and third owner decided it was time for a new caretaker. It is apparent that the car has always been kept up with, serviced over the years and stored properly. The most recent service was just completed at BMW of the Mainline in Pennsylvania. The car received a total inspection and oil/filter service and was noted as otherwise totally in order. No doubt, it's a turn-key example with no known needs and a clean Carfax.Cosmetically, the car shows as nearly new overall. The paint is 100 percent original throughout as confirmed by a paint meter, touch and sight. The front of the car has been treated to a 3M Clear Bra and, as such, has none of the common “peppering” from high-speed road use. The panel fitment, glass, rubber, etc., are all factory, untouched and original with absolutely no previous accident repair of any kind.The lower valence on both sides has the ever so smallest imperfections in the form of light scrapes due to one or two instances of road rash from lack of ground clearance. Yet they're so minimal that they're not worth refinishing and hardly noticeable except upon extreme close inspection. The ever-contrasting red and black interior shows very well and is consistent with the mileage.There are signs of use, but no real wear to be concerned about. There are no blemishes, and overall the interior is basically new, tidy and clean, as is its consistency with the rest of the car.The engine bay is just as flawless as the interior, nearly new and without blemishes of any sort. It is here that one can plainly see factory markings and spot welds to uphold this example as completely accident-free, straight and factory original in every way. The trunk is of the same consistency and is complete with its compartments and accessories, nearly new and without complaints. Perhaps one other area that can be considered blemished is the passenger side rear of the hardtop, which shows one small chip on the corner/edge, likely from storage or installation/removal. The other is the soft top, which is slightly creased from storage, but with time up and in the sun it will easily return to normal. Neither item requires attention, and both are minor in their nature but worth disclosing to the benefit of a remote buyer.Overall, this Z8 is remarkable in its like-new appearance and condition; it's a nearly new car and easily an investment grade example. Included in the sale are the original tools, books, window sticker, two keys, a hardtop stand and cover. This is certainly an opportunity worth much consideration as the modern era of collecting will define this timeless BMW as a worthwhile investment and endless fun for true enthusiasts. (LBI Limited Facebook, www.LBIlimited.com) View Price and ListingGallery View More Cars For Sale

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