Munich. MINI will release an innovative TV spot produced with cutting-edge film technology in September as part of its launch campaign for the new MINI Countryman. Under the campaign motto “MINI Countryman. Getaway”, this impressive piece of cinema showcases the versatility of the vehicle concept, and takes the viewer on a ride through the heart of Milan and around Lake Como. The MINI Countryman’s journey along every imaginable route is quite an adventure…

The new MINI Countryman commercial breaks the mould for traditional film advertising. New high-tech film technology mixes real cars with computer-generated images to produce unique, previously unseen effects.

The commercial was filmed in collaboration with well-known American director, Brian Beletic, and Sway Studios of Los Angeles, on location in Italy. The creative agency was BSUR, Amsterdam.

TV short clips

Several other commercials have already appeared on German television to mark the launch of the new MINI Countryman. Each of the short films adopts an unconventional storyline to highlight the MINI Countryman’s product features – 4 doors, more space (up to 5 seats), “All4” 4-wheel-drive and the versatile “MINI Centre Rail”

Print campaign

The MINI Countryman is also taking a new approach when it comes to print advertising. The focus here is on the “getaway” from the city to the country. These ads take MINI’s signature “look and feel” to the next level: The solid black backgrounds used in the past have been broken up to create a new dimension and “light boxes” added to make headlines stand out in 3D.

We have seen a couple of 2012 M5′s testing around Nurburgring, but this is the first time that it is spotted in a different color: white. What does this mean? The car is now in the FEP stage. The LED angel eyes are showed off nicely despite the camouflage of the front and rear bumper. The mirrors and wheels are already production intent.

The 2012 M5 is expected to make its debut at the 2011 Frankfurt IAA autoshow in September 2011.

Source: 5post

BMW launches “Unscripted” — a video series about people, talking about their life, passion and joy with the brand BMW. This unscripted video is focused on an ordinary man named Murray Fowler, 81 years old, and how his life is intertwined with his beloved BMW. His story is full of emotion and love for a BMW that most BMW enthusiasts can really relate to. Enjoy!

Onyx Concept, a well known tuner of Range Rover, now tries their hand on the BMW M3 (E92/E93) and created their very own styling and performance package.

The package includes modified bumpers, revised side skirts, and several carbon fiber front spoiler, rear diffuser, ventilated hood, and trunk lid.

On the interior, a “buffalo hide” leather upholstery and carbon fiber trim which has a range of colored weaves can be ordered.

It has a 4.0-liter V8 powerplant capable of 630 PS (463 kW / 621 hp). The standard BMW M3 (E92/E93) is just capable of 420 PS (309 kW / 414 hp).

Pricing information has not been released yet. The Onyx package will be launched on October 31, 2010.

Press Release:

Onyx have turned there attention away from the SUV market to concentrate on the BMW E92/93 M3. The Onyx exterior consists of the following front and rear bumper, sideskirts, front carbon fibre lip, rear carbon fibre difusser, carbon fibre bonnet, carbon fibre boot lid and carbon fibre roof tip spoiler. The interior has an onyx designed bufallo hide leather package which can be choosen in numerous different colour combinations and to compliment this has a 12pc carbon fibre panelling kit which has a range of coloured carbon weaves from black to orange to blue. The power has also be increased to a breathtaking 630HP from the standard 420HP.

The Competition Package option for E92 M3was intended for owners of M3 Coupe who want to feel closer to the CSL model. It includes a set of performance-oriented enhancements launched this year.

It includes a lot of visual improvements like modified rear lights with glass covers in a homogeneous red color. The highly responsive chassis is further enhanced by installing a 10mm lower suspension and 19” wheels which offers greater offset for a wider track. It also has a remapped Electronic Damping Control and Dynamic Stability Control system. With all of these, it is safe to say that the M3 with Competition Package is the best handling production M car that BMW has ever built.

Car Magazine, a UK publication, reviews the BMW M3 competition package and has all praises to say about its handling, performance and feel-good factor. Here’s an excerpt of their review:

When you get on and enjoy the engine when it’s running…You’ll experience one of the best cars on sale today, and one of the world’s great engines. Once you’ve let it warm through of course – set off in a cold M3 and you’ll have to wait for the oil temperature needle to swing towards 100deg and the adjustable red zone on the rev counter to head towards 8000rpm before you feel comfortable giving it full beans. But when everything is warm there’s a crisp rasp to accompany the slightest twitch of your right foot, and a completely addictive V8 roar when you head for the red line. It’s no deep-chested muscle car, but something much more highly strung, a little delicate but nonetheless brilliant. And when you’re homing in on 8300rpm, watching the shift lights flickering on, you’ll think there’s no better place you could possibly be.

The Competition Package itself is a £3315 option (), and because it includes a set of 19-inch wheels and the adjustable dampers (ordinarily £1265 and £1295, and a must-have for most M3 drivers) BMW reckons it’s not only good value but will be taken up by 60% of customers. The bonus is that the bigger wheels are clearly inspired by the E46 CSL – they’re very tasty. A 10mm suspension drop, lifted from last year’s M3 Edition, and a special M mode for the DSC system complete the package. And does it make a difference? Unfortunately we didn’t have a track to play on, but the reality is this latest M3 feels better than ever, with a sharp turn-in, strong resistance to understeer, and the ability to let you schlep along with the hoi polloi one moment, and act like a complete hooligan the next. Just make sure you leave the dampers in their regular setting – anything overtly sporting is just too stiff for the UK.

Verdict

The 4.0-litre V8 engine alone is enough to award the M3 five stars, but that the fact it steers brilliantly, goes bloody fast, looks great, and now does its bit for the environment too, makes it better than ever, and one amazing motor car. We love it. We want one.

Source: Car Magazine