BMW has been working on a different balance with its Concept 7 Protection, presented on October 12.

Based on the 7 Series sedan, the concept is intended for customers who need additional security in everyday situations but don’t necessarily require the highest levels of ballistic protection.

The interesting part is how little BMW wants the car to stand out.

From the outside, the idea is to retain the appearance of a regular luxury sedan. That’s important for customers who would rather avoid advertising the fact that their vehicle has been specially prepared.

The company also wants to preserve the comfort and driving characteristics associated with the standard 7 Series.

That won’t be an easy task.

Protective materials add mass, and additional weight affects braking, suspension behaviour and fuel consumption. Engineers have to account for those changes without making the car unpleasant to use.

BMW already offers dedicated protection vehicles, including the X5 Protection VR6 and the 7 Series Protection. The new concept is positioned below those higher protection categories.

In other words, it isn’t intended to replace the most heavily protected models.

Instead, BMW is exploring a vehicle for customers whose security requirements are more moderate. The distinction matters because different threats call for different levels of protection.

The company hasn’t presented the Concept 7 Protection as a universally suitable solution for every security situation.

Another aspect worth examining is how the vehicle would be maintained.

BMW emphasises an integrated approach involving development, production and aftersales support. For a specialised car, that matters considerably more than an unusual paint finish or an exclusive interior package.

Replacement components, servicing procedures and repairs need to account for the protective equipment fitted to the vehicle.

A conventional workshop may not be equipped to handle every aspect of that work.

There’s also a difference between adding protective accessories to an ordinary sedan and engineering a vehicle around a defined security concept.

BMW clearly favours the latter approach.

For most private buyers, the Concept 7 Protection will remain a curiosity. Its appeal is limited to a relatively small group of customers with specific requirements.

But the project raises an interesting question about luxury vehicles.

If extra protection can be incorporated without sacrificing the comfort, appearance and everyday usability of a 7 Series, the result could appeal to customers who previously considered an armored sedan unnecessarily conspicuous.

For now, it’s a concept rather than a confirmed production model.

The most powerful version develops 612 hp.

That’s the iX4 M60 xDrive, which also produces 875 Nm of torque. BMW plans to introduce two other versions when sales begin in March 2027, with the M60 arriving later.

But 612 hp isn’t what makes this car unusual.

BMW has been selling coupé-shaped SUVs for years, despite the obvious contradiction. Customers pay for a large vehicle, then sacrifice some of its interior space to make it look sportier.

Apparently, enough people like the idea.

The iX4 follows that formula closely. Its roof slopes towards a distinctive rear spoiler, while the front adopts BMW’s latest interpretation of the kidney grille and twin headlights.

The M60 gets additional aerodynamic details and yellow lighting accents. They’re intended to give the flagship a stronger connection to BMW’s performance models.

Underneath, however, this is a very different machine from the old X4.

Neue Klasse brings a new electrical architecture, updated vehicle electronics and a software system responsible for coordinating several driving functions.

There’s also 800-volt technology, with DC charging rated at up to 400 kW.

That’s a substantial improvement over what many older electric BMWs can accept. It should make longer journeys easier, provided the charger can deliver enough power and the battery is at the right temperature.

The interesting question is what BMW has done with the chassis.

An electric SUV with 612 hp will accelerate quickly. That’s hardly surprising anymore. Making a heavy vehicle respond naturally through corners is a considerably harder engineering problem.

BMW has traditionally sold its sporting models on steering feel, balance and the way they behave when the road becomes interesting.

The iX4 M60 will be judged against those expectations. And then there’s practicality.

A conventional SUV gives rear passengers more headroom and generally makes better use of its luggage compartment. The iX4 trades some of that potential space for its appearance, just as the combustion-powered X4 did.

That won’t bother everyone. Buyers who want a more traditional body style have other BMW SUVs to consider.

The iX4 is for those who prefer something less conventional, even if the engineering underneath is shared with the wider Neue Klasse family.

Whether that combination works will depend on more than its power output.

BMW has already shown that it can build very fast electric cars. With the iX4, it now has to make another SUV-coupé feel worth choosing over a more practical alternative.

BMW has gone slightly further for the Nürburgring’s 100th anniversary.

Its new “100 Jahre Nürburgring” collection includes no fewer than nine vehicles: six BMW M cars and three BMW Motorrad models. The automotive side covers the M2, M3 Sedan, M3 Touring, M4 Coupé, M5 Sedan and M5 Touring, while the M 1000 RR, M 1000 R and M 1000 XR represent the motorcycle division.

Visually, they’re difficult to mistake for ordinary versions.

Historical Nürburgring Green paint is available across the collection, together with circuit graphics, “Nürburgring since 1927” lettering and a centenary logo. The M cars receive model-specific graphics on areas including the doors, C-pillars and rear quarters, while several versions get roof stripes incorporating grey, green and black.

It’s all appropriately dramatic. But underneath the anniversary decoration sits something considerably more interesting.

BMW’s six-cylinder M2, M3 and M4 models now use a technology called BMW M Ignite. Instead of conventional spark ignition alone, the system uses patented pre-chamber ignition technology derived from motorsport. BMW says it improves efficiency particularly when the engine is working hard, reduces fuel consumption under racetrack conditions and helps the engines comply with Euro 7 regulations without sacrificing performance.

That’s an unusual combination.

Emission regulations are normally discussed as something performance-car engineers have to work around. Here, BMW is using technology developed for extreme combustion conditions to satisfy those requirements while keeping the character of its straight-six engines.

The M5 versions take a different route with their existing M HYBRID powertrains, but receive the same anniversary treatment outside and in. Depending on the model, you’ll find green wheel accents, Nürburgring embroidery, carbon roofs and contrasting green and white stitching.

The motorcycles are more exclusive still.

Each of the three BMW Motorrad models is limited to 100 units worldwide. They receive carbon wheels with green accents, a painted fuel tank carrying the Nordschleife outline, an Alcantara-look seat embroidered with “100” and individually marked airbox covers. BMW isn’t picking the Nürburgring simply because it makes a good decal.

The 20.8-kilometer Nordschleife contains 73 corners and remains one of BMW M’s most important development environments. BMW points out that its connection with the circuit stretches all the way back to 1927, when BMW Motorrad took its first victory there.

Most of the M car editions can be ordered from September 2026, while the M2 version follows in January 2027.

Would these cars still be excellent without green paint and a map of the Nordschleife stitched into the seats? Obviously. That’s why the M Ignite technology matters. The centenary graphics celebrate what BMW did at the Nürburgring in the past.

The combustion technology underneath them shows why the circuit still matters to the cars BMW is building now.

The BMW iX5 Hydrogen is moving closer to production.

New prototypes are now being tested under real-world conditions, while BMW is simultaneously preparing the manufacturing process for its third-generation fuel-cell system. Unlike some hydrogen experiments that seem permanently stuck in concept-car territory, this one is being developed with series production in mind.

The timing is interesting because the new family already covers an unusually broad range of powertrains. BMW is preparing conventional combustion versions, plug-in hybrids, the fully electric iX5 and this hydrogen fuel-cell derivative. Instead of deciding that one technology must immediately replace everything else, BMW is effectively letting several approaches coexist.

Hydrogen works differently from a battery EV even though an electric motor ultimately drives the wheels. Rather than storing most of the energy in a huge rechargeable battery, the vehicle carries hydrogen in high-pressure tanks. A fuel cell combines that hydrogen with oxygen to generate electricity on board, with water as the main local by-product.

The obvious attraction is refuelling time. Filling hydrogen tanks can take only a few minutes, making the technology potentially interesting for drivers who regularly cover long distances and don’t want to spend time at charging stations.

The less convenient part is finding somewhere to fill them.

Hydrogen infrastructure remains limited across much of Europe, and that’s arguably a larger obstacle than the vehicle technology itself. BMW can engineer a sophisticated fuel-cell SUV, but it can’t make a sparse network of hydrogen stations disappear.

That hasn’t stopped development.

BMW’s latest prototype programme includes ordinary road testing as well as refuelling trials, and the company is preparing for another assembly phase of the third-generation fuel-cell system in Munich. Plant Steyr in Austria is also being readied for future series production.

BMW’s relationship with hydrogen isn’t new. The company has experimented with the fuel for decades, including combustion-powered hydrogen prototypes long before the current iX5 programme. The important difference now is that fuel cells allow hydrogen to power an electric drivetrain rather than simply replacing petrol inside a conventional engine.

There is also a Toyota connection. BMW and Toyota have collaborated on fuel-cell technology, an arrangement that gives both manufacturers a way to share some of the enormous development costs involved in bringing the systems closer to mass production.

Whether customers will eventually want hydrogen passenger cars in meaningful numbers remains a much harder question.

Battery charging networks are expanding, EV ranges continue to improve and home charging gives battery cars an advantage that hydrogen can’t easily reproduce. For many drivers, plugging in overnight is more convenient than visiting any kind of filling station.

But there are use cases where fast refuelling and long-distance operation remain attractive. BMW apparently thinks those use cases are worth pursuing.

The interesting thing about the iX5 Hydrogen, then, isn’t that it proves hydrogen will replace battery EVs. It doesn’t.

What it proves is that BMW still doesn’t believe the future needs to have only one answer.

The same applies to the iX5, the first fully electric member of the X5 family.

BMW revealed the accessories on September 14, and this isn’t a handful of badges and different floor mats. The catalogue includes carbon-fiber exterior parts, rear diffusers, roof spoilers and wheels measuring up to 23 inches.

Some of it is exactly what you’d expect from the M Performance catalogue.

The front end can receive carbon-fiber trim around the redesigned illuminated kidney grille, while additional front attachments make an already substantial SUV look considerably more aggressive.

Move around the back and things become more interesting. There’ s an aramid-fiber rear diffuser, a carbon-fiber rear bumper trim and, for combustion-powered X5 models, a rather conspicuous Gold Bronze tailpipe finisher.

Subtle it isn’t. But perhaps subtlety stopped being the objective somewhere around the point when 23-inch wheels became a factory-backed accessory for a family SUV.

BMW offers complete summer and winter wheel sets ranging from 21 to 23 inches. The new 23-inch Y-spoke 1110 M wheel uses a matte Jet Black finish, giving owners another opportunity to make their X5 considerably more noticeable.

The interesting thing is that BMW hasn’t forgotten what people actually use an X5 for. Alongside the cosmetic M Performance catalogue sits a much more practical collection of accessories.

BMW has developed new aerodynamically optimized roof boxes in 350-, 450- and 550-liter sizes. There are bicycle carriers, ski and snowboard holders, all-weather floor mats, luggage-compartment protection and the familiar Travel & Comfort accessories for passengers.

That’s particularly relevant to the iX5, and putting a large box on the roof of an EV isn’t exactly ideal for efficiency, so reducing aerodynamic drag becomes more than a marketing detail when every extra bit of resistance affects range. It also highlights the slightly strange position occupied by modern performance accessories.

Once upon a time, tuning a BMW SUV meant choosing louder exhausts, larger wheels and perhaps suspension modifications.

Now the same accessories catalogue has to work with an electric X5 that doesn’t have exhaust pipes at all. BMW’s answer is essentially to separate appearance from propulsion.

Carbon fiber still looks like carbon fiber whether there’s an engine or battery underneath. Big wheels remain big wheels. And apparently people still want their practical family SUV to look slightly angry while carrying three bicycles.

The new X5 itself is unusually important for BMW because the fifth generation has been designed around several different powertrain technologies. The iX5 adds the first full-electric version to the family, while BMW is also developing hydrogen fuel-cell technology around the platform.

That makes this accessory launch more interesting than it initially appears. BMW isn’t creating one visual identity for the electric version and another for everything else.

Whether someone chooses combustion or electricity, the company still wants to sell them carbon fiber afterwards.

Some things about the automotive industry really don’t change.

A new combustion-powered 3 Series is on the way, and prototypes have entered their final round of summer testing at BMW’s Miramas proving ground in southern France. More importantly for long-time 3 Series buyers, BMW has confirmed both four- and six-cylinder engines.

The engines will use 48-volt mild-hybrid technology. BMW hasn’t released the complete powertrain line-up yet, so we’ll have to wait for the individual model badges and output figures. Still, confirmation of a six-cylinder option matters. At a time when downsizing and electrification are reshaping performance cars, BMW clearly isn’t ready to give up one of the ingredients closely associated with its sports sedans.

There is another interesting part to this story. The petrol 3 Series and electric i3 won’t look like cars from two different families.

Both use BMW’s Neue Klasse design language, including the latest interpretation of the familiar four-eyed front end. BMW says the cars share their basic proportions, with a long wheelbase and short overhangs, while powertrain-specific details will separate the electric and combustion versions.

The same idea carries over to the cabin. BMW Panoramic iDrive and Operating System X are coming to the new 3 Series, meaning buyers choosing a petrol engine won’t be getting an older interior simply because they skipped the EV.

Then there’s the driving side of things.

Miramas isn’t being used merely to rack up development kilometres. BMW is concentrating on chassis tuning, handling and ride comfort there, using everything from a high-speed oval to dedicated handling tracks and different road surfaces. The prototypes have already been through winter testing in Arjeplog and development work at the Nürburgring.

BMW also says an M Performance version of the 3 Series will get “Drift Moment for the first time”. It works with the electronically controlled M Sport differential to allow a greater degree of controlled oversteer when the driver selects the appropriate settings.

Whether anybody genuinely needs a drift setting on their daily 3 Series is another question. It’s nevertheless a revealing detail about what BMW wants this car to be.

The company could have treated the combustion 3 Series as the conservative alternative to its new electric sedan. Instead, it’s giving the ICE model Neue Klasse styling and cabin technology while continuing to spend development time on the thing that made generations of 3 Series popular in the first place: how they drive.

That’s probably the bigger news here. The i3 represents BMW’s electric future, but the new 3 Series suggests Munich isn’t forcing every buyer into that future at the same speed. For now, at least, there will still be another choice — and one of those choices will have six cylinders under the hood.

The concept itself joined a growing list of recently introduced vehicles with divisive styling. Among them are the 2027 Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door Coupe, which has moved into the electric segment, the Ferrari Luce EV, and BMW’s own M Neue Klasse Concept, a model intended to preview a future zero-emission M3.

Opinions on BMW’s newest design vary widely. Some observers see a forward-looking performance sedan, while others question whether the shape deserves the famous M badge. Regardless of which side of the debate you fall on, the concept has attracted attention. Unsurprisingly, digital artists have already started experimenting with alternative interpretations.

One of the latest comes from social media creator @rob-zom_b. Instead of changing body panels or inventing a future production version, the artist chose a different direction. The project imagines the concept after years of neglect, as if it had been parked and forgotten long before reaching collector status.

The exterior receives a full aging treatment. Dust covers much of the bodywork. Bird droppings appear on the front hood. The BMW roundels normally found at the front and rear are missing. Spiderwebs stretch across portions of the vehicle, while dried leaves have collected around the wheel arches and tires. Additional dirt scattered across various components reinforces the abandoned appearance.

The same theme continues inside. The main display screen is shown cracked. Dust and grime cover surfaces throughout the cabin, creating the impression of a vehicle left untouched for years. Even the center armrest between the front seats shows visible wear. The leather upholstery appears damaged as well, and traces of dirt are visible across the bucket seats.

Interestingly, this is not the first digitally aged concept associated with the same artist. A similarly weathered Ferrari Luce EV appeared recently, and both projects belong to a broader portfolio featuring several automotive interpretations.

The result is unusual because the BMW M Neue Klasse Concept has barely entered public discussion. Most renderings attempt to predict future variants, production models, or performance derivatives. This one moves in the opposite direction, imagining what the electric sports sedan might look like after decades of abandonment.

Whether viewers find the concept attractive or controversial, the rendering offers a completely different perspective on one of BMW’s newest performance-focused studies.

BMW M Concept Neue Klasse Renderings

The car did not appear through an official Mansory announcement. Instead, the images surfaced on Wheels Boutique’s Instagram account. The wheel specialist described the sedan as “gorgeous” and stated it was “commissioned by our friends @exoticshunter.” According to the same post, Mansory supplied the body conversion while the wheel package came from HRE.

The project centers around a set of forged monoblock HRE L108M wheels wrapped in Pirelli P Zero tires. Buyers looking at the same wheel design face a substantial bill. The smallest available size measures 21 inches, with pricing beginning at $4,875 per wheel. A complete set therefore starts at no less than $19,500 before tires enter the equation. HRE also lists the design in 23-inch and 24-inch diameters and sells multiple finish options.

Body modifications remain visible from every angle. The Phantom receives a redesigned lower front bumper section, a chin spoiler, side skirt extensions, and a ducktail spoiler at the rear. Mansory branding appears throughout the exterior. The overall approach avoids excessive visual clutter, though nobody would mistake this limousine for a factory-standard example.

Color selection changes the car’s character as much as the hardware itself. Black covers the upper sections of the body while silver occupies the lower areas. The suspension sits lower than stock, pulling the large sedan closer to the pavement and altering its proportions in a noticeable way.

Interior details remain difficult to evaluate because available photographs reveal little of the cabin. No visible evidence points toward extensive changes inside. Then again, Rolls-Royce already provides an enormous catalog of factory personalization choices, so additional modifications were never a requirement.

Performance figures are another area where information remains limited. The available material does not mention engine upgrades or tuning work beneath the hood. For reference, a standard Rolls-Royce Phantom leaves the factory with a twin-turbocharged 6.75-liter V12 producing 563 bhp, equal to 420 kW or 571 ps. Torque reaches 664 lb-ft, which corresponds to 900 Nm.

This build focuses on appearance rather than confirmed mechanical enhancements. Whether the result fits traditional old-money tastes depends entirely on the viewer. What is beyond debate is the scale of the transformation. Between the two-tone finish, the lowered ride height, the Mansory bodywork, and the costly HRE wheels, this Phantom projects a different personality from the one that left Goodwood.

Rolls-Royce Phantom by Mansory – Photo Gallery

The matchup pairs Audi’s latest RS 5 Sedan with BMW’s new i3, though neither appears in standard form. The creator places the two compact executive performance cars side by side after extensive visual modifications, creating an unusual comparison between a combustion-based plug-in hybrid and an electric newcomer.

Audi’s side of the story stretches back to July 2024. At the time, company leadership reshuffled naming conventions by assigning even numbers to e-tron electric models and odd numbers to combustion-powered vehicles. As part of that plan, the third-generation A4, A5, S5, RS 5 Sedan, and RS 5 Avant effectively replaced the outgoing A4 family. The coupe and cabriolet disappeared from the lineup, leaving the Sportback as the remaining member of the A5 range. Audi later expanded the family with the A5L sedan for China and the A5L Avant station wagon. Then, in February 2026, the fifth-generation RS 5 arrived globally in liftback and Avant form.

Power comes from an updated 2.9-liter twin-turbo V6 working together with an electric motor and battery pack. Combined output sits near 630 horsepower, while torque reaches 609 lb-ft.

BMW’s path looks more straightforward. The i3 serves as the first production representative of the Neue Klasse design philosophy and rides on a dedicated electric vehicle architecture. The model debuted in March 2026, only weeks after the new RS 5. Although BMW has not introduced an M version, the company has repeatedly hinted at performance levels associated with traditional supercars.

For the Audi interpretation, the artist applies a Satin Dark Blue finish accented by red details on the brake calipers and seatbelts. A dramatic widebody conversion changes the proportions considerably. Inside, a full roll cage reinforces the track-focused character. Large round exhaust outlets remain visible at the rear, a reminder of the V6 powertrain beneath the sheet metal. Brushed Aluminum HRE Wheels FF10 complete the package.

The BMW receives its own imagined “M CSL” identity. Finished in Pearl White Satin, the electric sedan gains blue highlights and contrasting black trim pieces. Pale gold Brixton Forged Y-spoke wheels sit at each corner, while the front end adopts yellow LED lighting and a CSL-inspired hood treatment.

Neither machine exists outside the digital world. Still, the contrasting approaches make for an interesting visual battle between Audi’s latest plug-in hybrid performance sedan and BMW’s emerging electric direction.

BMW i3 M CSL vs Audi RS 5 Sedan Renderings

This X7 looks like it has been finished in a classic red BMW Individual shade – Melboune Red Metallic. The example here is the 523 hp/553 lb-ft of torque M60i model that features a mild hybrid version of the 4.4-liter TwinPower Turbo V8. The SUV has been built to the requisite muscle standards, but with performance not being the main interest on the agenda here.

The main change comes from the wheels. Vossen fitted the SUV with GEN-04 three-piece aftermarket wheels, measuring 24 inches. Their brushed face and lips create the visual connection some commenters made with Alpina-style designs. The wheels also feature black floating center caps, which add contrast against the bright body color. Look closer, and the light blue brake calipers become part of the same visual story, giving the setup another small but clear BMW-adjacent cue.

The X7 already sits at the top of BMW’s 7 Series-based SUV family, and the current version gained its striking front-end design after the 2022 mid-cycle refresh. It also keeps the practical part of the formula intact, with three rows of seating. That matters here, because the appeal of this type of build is not limited to a weekend toy. It remains a full-size premium crossover SUV capable of carrying a family, kids, grandparents, and luggage included.

The article also places this BMW in a wider context of high-riding premium machines. It mentions the Ford Bronco Filson, due in early 2027, and the Audi Nuvolari, expected during the second part of next year if units remain available. The Bronco Filson will be capped at 499 units, and the Blue Oval targets a price of around $70k. The Audi Nuvolari is listed at 600k euros in Germany.

For those who prefer a different large SUV flavor, Vossen also has a Land Rover Range Rover SV fitted with three-piece LC3-05 aftermarket wheels. In that case, the red details move to the non-floating center caps, where a red-background Vossen logo appears. This red BMW X7 M60i takes the louder route, though. The color, the wheel design, and the brake calipers work together without turning the SUV into a full custom build.