Two new BMW concepts will be introduced at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance

By Ronan Glon July 20, 2015

BMW Pebble Beach concept teaser — Image used with permission by copyright holder

BMW has announced plans to launch two new concepts at the annual Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance that will kick off near Monterey, California, on August 16.

The Munich-based car maker is keeping its lips sealed about what it has in store for the world-renowned event, and the teaser sketch it published reveals precious little. However, a number of media outlets speculate that one of the concepts will be a close-to-production show car designed to give enthusiasts a thinly veiled preview of the long-awaited M2.

Likely billed as a heir to the original E30 M3, the M2 will be lower, wider, and meaner-looking than the 2 Series on which it will be based. The coupe will benefit from BMW’s expertise in carbon fiber, and it will boast an evolution of the 3 Series’ new 3.0-liter straight-six engine tuned to make about 370 horsepower.

Linked to either a six-speed manual transmission or an eight-speed automatic, the straight-six will send the M2 from zero to 60 mph in a little over four seconds. An electronic limited-slip differential, bigger brakes on all four corners, and a comprehensively updated suspension system will keep the power in check.

The second model will also be a close-to-production concept, but this one will preview the M4 GTS that is scheduled to arrive as a limited-edition model. The M4 GTS wil be a more hardcore version of the M4 that will inaugurate BMW’s innovative water-injection technology. The extra power will be complemented by a noticeable reduction in weight and, all told, the GTS will be much faster than the M4.

Regardless of what BMW has in store for Pebble Beach, both concepts will be unveiled online in early August. If the rumors are correct, look for both the M4 GTS and the M2 to greet the public for the first time at a major auto show in Europe or in the United States before the end of the year.

Topics

Contributor

Ronan Glon is an American automotive and tech journalist based in southern France. As a long-time contributor to Digital…

Cars

Best electric car charger deals: $100 off home charging stations

The handle of the Grizzl-E EV charger plugged into a vehicle.

A few years ago, electric vehicles were pretty rare or cost a fortune, but with more and more of the larger car brands getting into the game, there are a lot of excellent and even budget-friendly choices nowadays. That said, the electrical network for charging your cars might not be that widespread, so instead you'll have to rely on charging your car at home. Luckily, there are a lot of excellent car chargers at a discount, so if you've just bought an EV or want to upgrade your current charging solution, be sure to check out our favorite deals below.
Shockflo EV charger — $205, was $220

This EV charger by Shockflo is a Level 2 EV charger, which offers six times faster charging than a standard charger. It delivers 24 miles with just one hour of charging, and it can act as a mobile charger you can throw in the trunk or be mounted to a wall. It has an LCD display with useful information like charging rate, voltage, and charging time, as well as LED indicator lights that lets you know charging progress and errors.

Cars

Mercedes-Benz EQG: range, price, release date, and more

Concept image of the larger electric G-Wagon

The G-Class is going electric. We already knew that Mercedes-Benz was working on an electric, small-size G-Wagon, but it looks like the company is also working on a larger G-Class SUV, in the form of the EQG. In fact, Mercedes has gone as far as to show off a concept version of the off-roader.

While there's much we don't know about what will become the production model of the EQG, Mercedes has also shared a lot about it. Curious about whether the Mercedes-Benz EQG could be the EV for you? Here's everything we know so far.
Design
Fear not -- the EQG will retain many of the design aspects of the G-Class that you already know and love but with a modern face-lift. The EQG will keep the boxy design that gives the G-Class a classic look but with some additional modern styling, at least if the concept version is anything to go by.

Cars

Rivian R2 vs. Kia EV9: battle of affordable electric SUVs

Kia EV9 GT-Line Three Quarters

The long-awaited Rivian R2 has finally been announced, and it's an excellent option for those who want an electric SUV that doesn't completely break the bank. Sure, the R2 isn't cheap -- but it's a whole lot cheaper than most other EVs out there, especially when it comes to SUVs. But Rivian isn't the only company trying to tackle the problem of the budget electric SUV. The Kia EV9 is finally available, and it too offers a modern design and a range of helpful features.

Given the fact that the Rivian R2 and Kia EV9 are two electric SUVs in a similar price range, you might be wondering which is better for your needs. That's why we put the Rivian R2 and the Kia EV9 head-to-head.
Design
Both the Rivian R2 and the Kia EV9 are actual SUVs -- not crossovers pretending to be SUVs, like plenty of other EVs out there. The two vehicles offer big, boxy designs and plenty of interior space, making them excellent options for families or those who need that extra storage.