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So many names used to illustrate the 2010 BMW V Series. Latest one getting thrown around the halls of BMW headquarters in Munich is “progressive activity sedan.” Judging by the looks of the new model could look as odd as its name.

BMW’s attempt to find some middle ground between its all-wheel-drive SUVs and its rear-wheel-drive sedans. Mercedes-Benz already took a shot at this segment with its R-Class wagon, but BMW insists that this new model is not a direct R-Class competitor.

As an alternative, the V Series (as it’s expected to be called) will seat only four or five passengers, but its high roof line will give it the feeling of a much larger vehicle inside. Luxury automakers have been trying to pin down the appeal of SUVs for years now, and it appears as though they’ve settled on spacious visibility as the main draw. The higher roof line is the result of the raised seating position that will give the V Series its SUV-like feel.

BMW’s original plans called for a vehicle built on the same chassis as the 5 Series sedan, but the prototype shown in our exclusive spy video appears to have larger dimensions that suggest it’s using 7 Series hardware. And like the 7 Series prototype we spotted months ago, this V Series prototype had quad exhaust pipes in back, so there’s a good chance it will offer BMW’s new turbocharged V8 under the hood as well.

One remarkable difference between the V Series and the upcoming 7 Series sedan is the design of the C-pillar. There is no Hofmeister kink on the V Series prototype, a design element that has defined BMWs for decades. This could be nothing more than clever camouflage, but it’s more likely the result of the need for a more radical design in back to achieve space conditions.

BMW will be the first automotive maker to allow full unrestricted access internet in cars with their new features called the BMW ConnectedDrive. The new feature allows the driver and the passengers the option to surf the internet by entering a site URL address through the iDrive system or accessing it through their list of favorites.

BMW is guarantee fast data transfer with the use of EDGE technology, allowing you to view flash and other internet applications with ease.

BMW ConnectedDrive will allow you to receive and send emails straight from the car with other applications such as online banking coming in the future. Of course as a safety feature, internet sites can only be accessible when the car is at a standstill. Once your BMW has passed the speed of 3mph the internet site will disappear from the iDrive display. The internet is only accessible at speeds above 3mph for backseat passengers in BMW’s with an optional DVD system in the rear.

Internet surfing will be available as an option on production models later this year.so enjoy your browsing and surfing.

Finally BMW revealed info of that have been hearing about for the 2008 Geneva Motor Show. Marking the world premiere of BMW Vision EfficientDynamics, the concept will showcase an X5 equipped with mild ActiveHybrid technology combined with a twin-turbocharged diesel engine.

According BMW, the concept delivers the best fuel-economy and lowest emissions of any large SUV currently on sale. The BMW Vision EfficientDynamics gets 43.5mpg (converted to 36mpg U.S.) and delivers just 172g/km of CO2 emissions.

With Powered by a 2.0 liter 4-cylinder twin-turbo diesel engine, the BMW Vision EfficientDynamics produces 204 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque. 0-62mph comes in at 8.9 seconds. The engine is combined with a mild hybrid system that delivers a further 20 horsepower and 154 lb-ft of torque under acceleration.

It’s a combine of the portly adaptable we drove last year, and the edgy, electric V-8-powered GT BMW dropped on us last fall in the Spanish countryside. BMW’s established an M3 Convertible will join its lineup in Europe in the near future, and while preparations to bring the car to the U.S. aren’t complete, technical details of the new convertible have made their way on the Interwebs.

The M3 Convertible starts with the M-essentials, shared with the coupe and sedan sportscars already available from BMW. The powertrain for the new vehicle will be based around BMW’s 4.0-liter, which develops 420 hp in European spec, along with 295 pound-feet of torque. It’s a light-alloy block manufactured alongside BMW’s Formula One engines and weighs 445 pounds, 33 pounds less than the six-cylinder engine in the previous-generation M3. European-spec engines also feature regenerative braking.

Outfitted with a six-speed manual gearbox, the M3 Convertible should dash to 60 mph in less than 5.3 seconds; the stock M3 coupe delivers the same scoot in less than 4.8 seconds. Both coupe and convertible (and coordinating sedan) are limited to 155 mph.
Like the 3-Series convertibles, the M3 Convertible offers up a retractable hardtop with a steel frame and a three-piece roof system. The lid flips and stores itself in the trunk in 22 seconds, and is paired with a wind deflector and a specially programmed automatic climate control for open-air driving.
With the extra heft of body stiffening measures and the top mechanism, the M3 Convertible’s put on a few hundred pounds more than the coupe. So the Convertible version of the M3 gets a retuned suspension, along with body reinforcements and a high-performance braking system.

Many brands have grown more than BMW in the past decade. This fact can be seen in their sales figures and the cars themselves. Today’s 335i is larger than 1986’s 535i, for instance, and it certainly sells in much greater volumes. This trend toward bigger and heavier has altered the brand’s lineup to the point that there’s now room for a cheaper, smaller entry-level car. Stepping boldly into the gap is the 2008 BMW 1 Series.
The 1 Series already debuted in Europe earlier this decade as a four-door hatchback, but that body style’s limited appeal to American shoppers prevented its journey across the pond. With the introduction of new coupe and convertible body styles, however, BMW believes the timing is right for a small car revival.
With their compact two-door bodies, high-performance engines and scalpel-sharp handling, the 2008 BMW 128i and 135i are arguably the spiritual successors to BMW’s classic 2002 coupe. Yet the 1 Series features many of the modern high-tech and luxury features that have become just as much a part of BMW during this decade as the raw driving experience. Some features like active steering and navigation with iDrive are dubious in terms of value, while others like keyless ignition/entry, premium hi-fi stereo and the convertible’s heat-reflective leather seating are welcome niceties in a small car.
The 1 Series coupe is 8.7 inches shorter than a 3 Series coupe and a bit narrower as well. Though its front engine, rear-wheel-drive configuration is pretty unpopular in this size category because of its lack of space efficiency, BMW reckons its layout has unique appeal to people who care more about driving than carrying passengers. As such, the 1 Series comes with the same engines as the 3 Series: a 3.0-liter, 230-horsepower straight-6 for the 128i and a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter six good for 300 hp in the 135i.

Considering its $30,000-plus price tag and its rear-wheel-drive layout, this is a coupe and convertible without any real apples-to-apples competitors. Potential rivals are either too big (Infiniti G37), have front-wheel drive (VW Eos), are too mechanically different (Mazda RX-8) or are more an unrefined muscle car (Ford Mustang GT) than a finely balanced sport coupe/convertible. Plus, with its tiny backseat, the 1 Series toes a very fine line between usable four-seat coupe and a 2+2 sports touring car like an Audi TT.
Therefore, the 2008 BMW 1 Series may have a limited audience, but it’ll reward that audience with brilliant engines and sublime handling that harken back to Bimmers of yore.