U-SPY: Carscoop Reader Snags a Fleet of BMW Prototypes in Austria

The BMW Group is quite busy these days as the Bavarian automaker is developing a raft of new models, ranging from the upcoming Megacity electric-vehicle and the MINI Coupe and Roadster, to the next generation of the 3-Series and the production version of the Vision ED concept sports car.

Carscoop reader Andras from Hungary was vacationing in Obertauern, Austria when he spotted this convoy of BMWs comprising of both masked prototypes and normal production cars, including a sedan in full body cladding. Check out Andras' photos and story after the jump.

Andras Deak's Scoop:

"I am currently in Obertauern, Austria for my holidays and discovered a small parking place dedicated to BMW. I walked there to check the cars and took some pictures.

There were 4 "cooling boxes" for cars. At the parking area I recognized a heavily camouflaged next-gen BMW 3-Series (possibly a hybrid version), the brand new X3 with some light camouflage (also possible hybrid version) and several 5-Series... Note that all the cars were plugged into something which looked like an electric charger to me.. Maybe a plug-in hybrid?

The interior of the next-gen 3-Series looks like all the new BMWs these days. It looked like a small 7-Series from the inside. The navigation screen is huge. I could see several fingerprints on the screen (maybe touchscreen?), but also an iDrive controller..."

Köszönöm for the pictures Andras!

VIDEO: BMW Teaches us a Lesson about Winter and Summer Tires

When we shared with you a list with winter driving tips in our previous post -see here- we stressed the importance of using winter tires. The reason? Summer tires will lose most of their elasticity at 7 degrees Celsius (44.6 F) and it only gets worse as temperatures drop further. Grip will be almost non-existent and having four-wheel drive doesn’t help either. If you still have doubts, follow the break to check out a video from BMW showing the new X3 with summer tires rendered useless in the snowy Austrian Alps.

2011 BMW X3 gets M Sports Package and New Inline-Six Petrol and Diesel Engines

The lightly refreshed Coupe and Convertible versions of the 1-Series aren't the only new BMW models unveiled today as the Bavarian automaker also announced the introduction of an M Sports Package and two new engines for the latest X3 crossover, which was first shown in July.

Beginning from Spring 2011, buyers of the new X3 will be able to order an M Sports package that adds some sporty aesthetic touches inside and out, and revised suspension tuning. In detail, the kit consists of an aerodynamics package with unique front and rear bumpers, side skirts and a roof spoiler. Other exterior amenities include the high-gloss shadow line trim for the side window surrounds and roof rails, chrome tailpipes and 19-inch or optionally, 20-inch alloy wheels. As an exclusive option in conjunction with the M Sports package, buyers can opt for a Carbon Black metallic paintwork.

Inside, there are sports seats with exclusive Pearlpoint fabric/leather upholstery, an M leather-trimmed steering wheel with multifunction buttons including a Cruise Control button, door sills with the M logo and an M footrest.

The roof lining in anthracite, brushed aluminium interior trim, an M shift lever (only for the X3 xDrive 20d with manual transmission) and a stainless steel insert in the loading sill, round off the interior upgrades.

Performance improvements are limited to the sports suspension calibration across the range and on the X3 xDrive35i, a Sports automatic transmission, steering wheel shift paddles and variable sports steering, including Servotronic.

The M Sports package will be available for all engine versions of the new X3.

In addition to the sport kit, BMW also announced the presentation of two new powerplants for the European market X3. These are the 3.0-liter naturally aspirated inline-six petrol with 258HP and 310 Nm (228 lb-ft) for the X3 xDrive28i (the North American xDrive28i is powered by a 240HP unit), and 3.0-liter straight-six turbo diesel with 258HP and 560 Nm (413 lb-ft) of peak torque.

The petrol model completes the standard sprint in 6.9 seconds and hits a top speed of 230 km/h (143 mph). Its average fuel consumption is 9.0 lt/100 km (26.1 mpg US) in the EU test cycle with CO2 emissions of 210 g/km.

The new X3 xDrive30d goes from standstill to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 6.2 seconds en route to a top speed of 230 km/h (143 mph), while returning 6.0 lt/100 km (39.2 mpg US) and 159 g/km.

Both engine variants of the X3 will go on sale in Europe next Spring.