BMW 3-Series GT

 The 3-Series GT adopts the two-piece tailgate design that debuted in the 5GT, admittedly managing to make it look less ungainly. According to info from British publication Autocar, the changes made by BMW's designers and engineers are more than skin-deep.

That’s because the GT is around 200 mm longer than the 3-Series Touring on which it is based, with 110 mm of that increase being accounted for by the stretched wheelbase. It’s also around 80 mm taller and 20 mm wider measuring 1,510 and 1,830 mm in height and width respectively and its 520-lt trunk is 20 lt larger than the Touring’s (with the rear seats up).

The bigger dimensions will offer a more spacious cabin. According to insider info, the rear-seat passengers will have as much as 70 mm extra legroom at their disposal, while the driving position has been elevated by 60 mm to increase visibility.

Although we’ll have to wait for the official announcement for the full engine line-up, we anticipate that it will mirror that of the existing 3-series versions with a wide range of turbocharged petrol and diesel engines combined with six-speed manual or 8-speed auto transmissions and rear- or all-wheel drive.

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BMW Active Tourer Concept

The Active Tourer Concept as well as the production vehicle it will spawn next year are based on the BMW Group's UKL1 platform that will be available in two lengths.

The tall-five door hatchback has an exterior length of 4,350mm (171.2-inches), a width of 1,834mm (72.2-inches) and a total height of 1,560mm (61.4-inches), while it rides on a relatively long wheelbase of 2,670mm (105.2-inches).

For reference, the new Mercedes-Benz B-Class measures 4,359mm long, 1,786mm wide and 1,557mm tall.

According to BMW, the study is geared towards "customers of the premium segment who appreciate a high level of comfort, a raised seating position and a generous amount of space," adding that it will also be attractive to families "who attach importance to functionality and versatility as well as lifestyle and athletic flair."

The design of the Concept Active Tourer is in line with BMW's newest creations, namely the 1-Series, 3-Series and 5-Series models.

While the exterior won't change much (think of less fancy trim and 16- instead of 20-inch wheels), the design of the five-seat interior will evidently be toned down several notches when the car enters production within the next year.

Some notable features include the large panoramic glass roof, the versatile luggage compartment thanks to the variable rear backrests, which can be split 40/20/40, and a clip-on track system that allows folding tables to be easily added to the back of the front seats.

Under the hood, the concept sports a plug-in hybrid drivetrain comprising BMW's newly released 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder petrol engine driving the front wheels, and a synchronous electric motor that acts on the rear axle, and which if necessary, can power the car on its own.

BMW says the total system output is in excess of 188hp (190PS), which is good enough for a 0-100km/h (62mph) sprint time of under eight seconds and a top speed of around 200km/h (124mph).

It returns an average fuel consumption of less than 2.5lt/100km (94mpg US or 112.9mpg UK) with CO2 emissions of less than 60g/km. Keep in mind the aforementioned consumption figure is with the use of the battery that can power the car by itself for more than 30 kilometers (19 miles).

It remains to be seen if the production 1-Series GT will be offered with hybrid / plug-in hybrid drivetrains, but it is certain that BMW's new 1.5-liter turbochaharged petrol and diesel engines will be on the list.

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BMW XS Crossover

The BMW XS Concept seen in these renderings is the work of George Manolache, a self-taught 2D/3D artist and graphic designer from Romania.

Manolache's detailed design study is for a hydrogen-powered, luxury crossover with a bulky front end that looks over to BMW's past and its 1950s and 1960s creations like the 501 and 502 sedan models for inspiration.

The rest of the vehicle, however, is modern with clean lines and four sliding doors that open up to reveal an equally contemporary interior with a minimalistic design.

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BMW M135i Concept

Despite the fact that the Bavarian company is calling it a concept, it's not hard to see that the M135i is essentially ready to enter production, which it will within the next year.

Aside from previewing the next member of BMW's new M Performance range, the M135i also gives us our first look at the three-door version of the latest 1-Series range, which is currently available only in five-door form.

BMW's answer to the Audi RS3 is the first M Performance car with a gasoline and not a diesel engine. Under the hood lies a 3.0-liter Twin Power Turbo straight-six that BMW says delivers "more than 300 HP". Our sources state that it will produce 320-horsepower in production trim.

Other upgrades include a reworked suspension, larger brakes and 18-inch M light alloys with a double spoke design.

The concept model that will be on display in Geneva sports an aero kit comprising a new front bumper with large air intakes, a different rear bumper with a diffuser and double tailpipes in a dark chrome finish, while the sides of the body and the lower end of the tailgate are adorned by decals in the distinctive M Division blue and red colors.

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2013 BMW X6M

The first official photos of the high-performance 2013 X6 M, which gains the same cosmetic touches as the rest of the series while maintaining the mechanical hardware of the 2012 model.

At the front end of the sports crossover, the new X6M gets a tinkered double kidney grille with different slats that angle in the lower section and redesigned headlamps with LED units fitted as standard. At the rear end of the car, we find adaptive new LED headlights.

A couple new colors for the body and some new leather trims inside complete the subtle revisions for the new model year.

We'll remind you that the X6M sports a 4.4-liter twin-turbocharged V8 lump that pushes out 555-horses at 6,000 rpm and 680Nm (501.5 lb-ft) of peak torque from 1,500 to 5,650 rpm to all four wheels through a 6-speed M Sport automatic transmission.

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