Huge Markdowns on BMW Near You!

BMW says it makes “the ultimate driving machine,” and it has a heritage of brilliantly executed automobiles to back that up. The German company has been making cars for nearly a century, but its modern heritage came with the 1968 BMW 2002 — which brought delightful handling into a stylish yet sensible two-door sedan body. The 2002’s direct predecessor is the 3 Series, and it’s still the BMW that defines the brand’s values today. But while a 1968 BMW couldn’t match that year’s Mercedes-Benzes for relaxed refinement, current models aim to provide both excitement and opulent luxury, along with cutting-edge technology. This ranges from decadent luxury gizmos like gesture-based dashboard controls, to fuel-saving plug-in hybrid powertrains, to weight-reducing carbon fiber components.

The BMW lineup today comprises a wide range of car and crossover models. In its alphanumeric naming system, larger numbers mean a larger size. Even-numbered vehicles are the “coupe” versions of conventional four-door sedans and crossovers; most of these coupes have more rakish rooflines but still have four doors. BMW’s U.S. lineup starts with the 3 Series, 5 Series, and 7 Series sedans, with 2 Series, 4 Series, and 8 Series coupes. The corresponding crossover models start with an X — X1 through X7, with no gaps in the lineup. Other BMW codes, include “Z” (for a roadster, like Z4) and “i” (for an electric vehicle like the i3 and a roster of other EVs expected to join it in the coming years).

A full name tells you the approximate engine size; while there’s no longer a direct link to the engine’s displacement like in BMWs of yore, you know that in the BMW 7 Series lineup, the 750i has more power than a 740i. The letter M indicates higher performance beyond just the engine; a code like M40i or X3 M40i means a faster, better-handling version of the 4 Series or X3, respectively, while M4 or X3 M represent the lineup’s pinnacle of capability.

The relatively affordable 2 Series sedan and X1 and X2 crossovers use space-efficient front-wheel drive platform,s, but BMW’s other models use performance-oriented rear-wheel drive. Nearly every model is available with BMW’s xDrive all-wheel drive or comes with the system as standard equipment.