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BMW and Alpine 'Sinister Six' Car - Car Pictures

BMW and Alpine 'Sinister Six' Car - A BMW 645 convertible, modified by Alpine and named Sinister Six. This car is equipped with 26-inch wheels, 7 monitors and four 12″ sub woofers and seven 4″ speakers.

The car started life as an $83,000 BMW 645Ci and was transformed into one of the most amazing demo vehicles ever! This car has made it's rounds to many different shows, so those that have had the pleasure of seeing it in person can attest to its sheer brilliance.

It's hard to choose just which aspect of this car is more amazing.... The motorized entry and exit? The LCD screen taillights? The fact that it has no steering wheel, just a steering knob? The 26x13 rear wheels? I could keep going. One thing the Alpine guys did people is that this car has one of the most expensive remote start systems ever.

Since the car was so new, no bypass module was available to integrate with the factory alarm system, so the team had relocate the factory ignition switch, leave a key in it, and the use a motorized actuator to remotely turn the key in order to start the car!!

Full specification on Alpine website

BMW Sinister Six Videos:

BMW X5 Wallpapers

BMW X5

BMW X6 tuning kit by Status Design

BMW X6 tuning kit by Status Design

The legendary F-16 Falcon fighter jet is synonymous with lightweight and innovative design, not to mention ammunition that can level a small city. Russian tuner Status Design has recently unveiled a tuning kit for the BMW X6 that follows the plane’s philosophy.

Given the designation SD F 16, the package comprises of a body kit that includes a front bumper, back bumper with carbon fibre diffuser, two-tone design with black roof, CF mirrors, window mouldings, back spoiler, front grille and 22-inch Hartge wheels.

The F-16 Falcon was originally designed as a day time fighter, but Status Design’s “F 16″ will have no problems with darkness thanks to LED angel eyes, a strip of LED driving lamps and Hella fog lamps that turn with the steering. It’s all meant to be easy to install, with no effect to ground clearance.

To match the decked out exterior, Status Design has increased power output from the X6 xDrive35i’s twin-turbo 3.0-litre engine to 380 hp (from 306 hp) by tuning the ECU along and adding a high flow air filter and sports exhaust. SD says that the F 16′s price is “pleasantly surprising”.

Lumma Design CLR 730 RS BMW M5 with 730 HP

With its latest creation, the CLR 730 RS, it seems that Lumma Design is making a play for the title of Europe's most garish tuner. However, this two-tone widebody BMW M5 is actually subtle compared to previous Lumma Design models, and we think the title still firmly remains with Mansory.

So what's special about the CLR 730 RS? For starters, 730 horsepower. The 50% increase in chutzpah comes from a set of twin-superchargers courtesy of G-Power, and Lumma Design claims an impressive top speed of 228 mph. Additional performance upgrades come in the form of a sport suspension, six-piston front and four-piston rear brakes, and an upgraded exhaust system.

The candy cane interior of the CLR 730 RS is even more over-the-top than the outside, with a combination of carbon fiber, leather, and suede. It's not really our style, but we would probably be more accepting of it in a more subtle color. We have plenty of high-res photos in the gallery below, and Lumma Design's press release has full details after the jump.

[Source: Lumma Design & Autoblog ]

Mini Crossover Concept Trademark Applications Reveal Potential New Part Names

BMW has filed for new trademarks with the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Two of the trademarks seem to relate to the MINI Countryman, a crossover SUV set for a 2010 launch.

Thanks to tipster JordoWeasel for the heads-up.

BMW filed for a trademark on the name "All4" in July, 2009. The designation gives BMW the approval to exclusively use the term as it relates to "Motor vehicles and parts," as well as "Miniatures of motor vehicles." They also filed for "MINI Center Rail" several months earlier. This would give BMW the right to use the term as it relates to "Structural parts of automobiles."

Several features were announced with the MINI Crossover Concept's unveiling at the 2008 Paris Motor Show. The precursor to the Countryman included a system that passes torque to the wheels via a new all-wheel-drive. The crossover was also shown with a "universal, multifunction fastening rail," that is supposed to provide innovative storage space, while allowing front passengers to pass items to rear passengers.

In a press release, the automaker referred to this as the "MINI Center Rail." Recent reports have also suggested that the "All4" term would be used to describe MINI's AWD. We should find out for sure at the MINI Countryman's expected unveiling in Geneva next March.

BMW 535i looking at cheaper Gran Turismo

The famed automotive pot-stirrers at Autocar are at it again. According to two blurbs from the UK publication, BMW's new 5 Series Gran Turismo may spawn at least one less costly, less powerful variant, but a high-performance M version is apparently off the table.

On the fuel and financial economy front, Bimmer is reportedly considering adding four-cylinder powerplants to the controversial new five-door, including the 175 bhp diesel from the 320d. A twin-turbo diesel may also be in the cards. The fear here is that the premium-priced 5GT may in fact be priced too aggressively, as it stickers above a comparable 5 Series Touring model. In any case, we don't expect to see the less-powerful diesel Stateside, although we wouldn't be terribly suprised if the company chose to shoehorn in something like the twin-turbo 3.0-liter diesel already on offer in the 335d.

On the M side of the equation, Autocar says that the gasoline V8-powered 550i will remain the pinnacle of the range, as BMW has "ruled out" a M-Technik variant. Given that BMW has recently seen fit to move M beyond traditional cars (see: X5 and X6) and that these higher performance models often have thicker margins attached, this strikes us as somewhat curious decision – especially as the 5GT figures to be the most dynamically promising of the bunch. This source also doesn't jibe with what we heard from BMW officials just last month when we drove the car in Portugal. At that time, the official line was that no decision had been made, but knowing glances and meek smiles seemed to indicate that things looked good for the model.