Similar to the Audi event presented earlier this year, BMW is presenting its Ultimate Drive event. Unlike Audi, which was something of a bonanza at a local convention hall and which featured five-minute-long drives in a half-dozen different vehicles, the BMW event is going to be held at a dealership and will involve two approximately hour-long drives.
Also unlike the Audi event, I've had to reserve time slots for specific cars: the Z4 3.0si and the 550i.
The Z4 3.0si is an awful lot like the 3.0i, except that the engine is turning out an additional 40 horsepower. It also features meaner bodywork and what are assuredly a bunch of little tweaks to the suspension. The 3.0si sits a bit below halfway between the 3.0i and the Z4 M in terms of price and performance—and from what I know from the 3.0i, this should be fun.
The 550i is an evolution of the standard E60 5-Series sedan—one that includes a 360hp 4.8L V8. That's a good deal less than the current generation M5's 507hp, but it's right underneath yesteryear's 390. I'm hoping that the 550i has the soul of the old E39—and I'll get to find out in about a month.
P.S. All of you stuck back in New Mexico will be slightly saddened to know that although the BMW Ultimate Drive tour is headed through Albuquerque, it's already completely booked. Don't lose all hope, though: they do take walk-ins!
P.P.S. They specifically said you had to be 25 or older to drive the 550i, 650i, or 760i/L. I guess that makes sense—the most practical of the three (the 550i, which was the only one left when I went to register) bases at around $60k.
I just read an article about the new(?) M6 convertable. The author was impressed with the power and handeling but concludes that its "just another toy from BMW to throw/spend your money on."
Agreed—the day's of M's innovation are largely long gone. They're a shop that deals almost exclusively in refinement.
It's the same game that Audi's S team and AMG play. BMW's M division is probably the best at it—but none of the three have done anything genuinely new in the last ten years.