Global Car

New three-door expands 1 Series line-up

2007-05-07T09:33:00.000+01:00

We test the 130i M Sport Limited Edition

Since the 1 Series was launched in 2004, it has become very popular with buyers seeking a rear drive hatch with compact proportions, yet it has always seemed rather expensive compared to its more established rivals (read Golf GTI). But BMW is not deterred, opting instead to move its premium level 1er even more upmarket with revised styling and the addition of a three-door variation scheduled to launch on 26 May.

Marking off the refreshed styling and three-door body style is the flagship130i M Sport Limited Edition, whose 3-litre powerplant is claimed to be the lightest six-cylinder production engine in the world. Fitted with BMW’s Valvetronic and bi-VANOS technology, the 130i creates 265bhp at 6650rpm and 232lb.ft of twist at 2750rpm. This level of performance combined with its1400kg weight enables the 130i to achieve 0 to 62mph in 6 seconds, sufficient verve to make it one of our favourite cars at BMW’s multi-car launch (the M5 Touring notwithstanding).

Read full road test here

SLR McLaren loses its lid

2007-05-04T10:41:00.000+01:00

Fun in the sun for the wealthy

Mercedes is one of the few automakers to offer a convertible in nearly every size of vehicle it produces; from the compact SLK roadster, mid-size CLK four-seater, to the large SL roadster. With the Ocean Drive concept the company unveiled in Detroit this year, it seems a four-door convertible may be added to the foray in the future, but for now the range-topping SLR McLaren Roadster will have to do.

This latest addition unites styling cues of the successful SLR racing models from the 1950s with the innovative technology of modern Formula 1 vehicles from the McLaren-Mercedes team. The arrow-shaped tip of the F1 Silver Arrow, a styling element in the SLR, establishes a visual link with the legendary racing cars, along with distinctive lateral louvers, side pipes behind the front wheels and wide-opening gullwing doors. Its lightweight semi-automatic top folds down in just 10 seconds, offering ‘undiluted open-air driving pleasure’ for two lucky occupants.

Power is sourced from the same front-mid-mounted AMG V8 compressor found in the coupe variant, delivering 626bhp and a maximum 575lb.ft of torque to the rear wheels. An AMG Speedshift R five-speed transmission shifts automatically through the cogs, while high-performance carbon-ceramic brake discs are charged with slowing the SLR once it’s completed 3.8 second stints to 62mph.

The SLR Roadster utilises many F1-bred technologies employed by partner McLaren. The body is made entirely of carbon-fibre reinforced plastic materials and two aluminium subframes cradle the AMG V8 compressor engine. Riding atop a specially-reinforced carbon-fibre monocoque chassis, the car benefits from low weight and high torsional rigidity, while its wind tunnel-honed aerodynamics have been optimised for handling at high speed. Like its coupe sibling, the Roadster incorporates an ‘airbrake’ to slow the car down from its 207mph top speed and a diffuser in the rear bumper to increase downforce.

Safety aboard the open top SLR is ensured by carbon-fibre crash elements consisting of steel-reinforced A-pillars and two fixed roll-over bars. Adaptive airbags, knee and side airbags, seat belt tensioners and a tyre-pressure monitoring system are all standard fare.

The carbon-fibre bucket seats - which can be specially adapted for occupants with individually sized seat pads - are covered in semi-aniline-leather, while the cockpit also features dual-zone automatic air-conditioning, a Bose audio system, multifunction sport steering wheel with gear-change paddles, and a navigation system with integral radio and CD player.

Built at McLaren's Formula 1 factory in Woking, England, the SLR will be available from September 2007.

Lexus: Japan takes on Germany in Geneva

2007-03-05T08:52:00.000Z

Toyota’s luxury division set to show performance models

Lexus is planning to add some Japanese flavour to the mix of European debuts at the Geneva show. On hand to represent Toyota’s luxury division will be the new IS flagship — aptly named the IS-F — which will take a spot beside the LF-A supercar concept and the latest iteration of the luxurious LS.

Both the IS-F and LF-A concept will be making their European debuts, having been first unveiled at the Detroit motor show in January. Lexus claims the ‘F’ designation identifies vehicles specifically designed and engineered for high performance and sports driving dynamics.

The F-badged vehicles will be the flagships of the brand, and further emphasise Lexus’s ‘pursuit of perfection’ mantra. With the IS-F, Lexus is aiming to pursue already firmly established rivals in the sport sedan category. The company’s competition from Ingolstadt already has a V8 fitted under the bonnet, and Munich’s M3 will have a V8 when it appears in Geneva.

Living up to expectations, the IS-F is powered by a 5-litre V8 engineers have shoehorned into the engine bay. It is claimed to deliver more than 395bhp and 369lb.ft of torque with sprints to 62mph achieved in 4.9 seconds, while top speed is governed to 168mph.

An eight-speed transmission, specially tuned for the IS-F, summons gear changes. The gearbox features what Lexus calls ‘sports shift control’ which allows manual shifting via ‘paddles’ on the steering wheel, or fully automatic gear engagement. The IS-F is also the first Lexus to feature a vehicle dynamics integrated management (VDIM) system, which can be switched between three arranged settings: ‘normal’, ‘sport’ or ‘off’; enabling the driver to modify the car’s reactions to steering and acceleration input.

The LF-A concept is Lexus’ second attempt at gauging public reaction to a forthcoming supercar. First seen at the 2005 Detroit motor show, this latest version has received certain styling tweaks reflecting the ‘L-Finesse’ design language. The supercar concept employs a racing-inspired 5-litre V10 engine claimed to generate more than 493bhp and giving the LF-A a top speed approaching 200mph. The forward/mid-engine layout with rear-mounted transaxle and radiators is said to give the car an ideal 50 per cent front/rear weight distribution for ultimate handling precision.

If both the IS-F and the LF-A demonstrate advances the luxury carmaker has made in developing performance technology, the LS 600h shows how a luxury vehicle can be refined to deliver power while retaining high efficiency. By combining a 5-litre V8 — fitted with two fuel injectors per cylinder and ‘intelligent valve timing’ on the intake — with a parallel hybrid system, the car manages to boost performance and reduce emissions.

Together with an electrically-controlled continuously variable transmission sending power to all four wheels, the LS 600h is claimed to deliver performance typical of a V12 while returning a combined fuel consumption rating of 29.7mpg and CO2 emissions of just 220g/km.

For more pictures of the IS-F click here

For more pictures of the LF-A click here

Lotus Sport 2-Eleven

2007-03-01T13:27:00.000Z

Lotus Sport’s new Exige-derived track tool

Track day warriors rejoice! Lotus’s performance division, Lotus Sport, is launching its long-awaited 2-Eleven at the Geneva show next week, and it looks the business.

Aimed at the true track day enthusiast, the 2-Eleven weighs in at just 670kg and produces 252bhp and 179lb.ft of torque through a supercharged and intercooled 1.8-litre engine. The power to weight ratio is claimed to be similar to that of a 1960's Formula 1 car, allowing the car to reach 60mph from a standstill in 3.8 seconds and top out at 155mph.

Under the 2-Eleven’s 40kg composite skin, mechanicals comprise of a Roots-type Eaton M62 supercharger (with a sealed-for-life internal mechanism negating use of the engine's oil), four high capacity injectors, an up-rated fuel pump, and a back-up engine oil reservoir with twin oil coolers. A sports-type clutch plate with heavy duty clutch cover put power down through the lightweight aluminium six-speed gearbox, mimicking the ratios of the Exige S.

The Lotus 2-Eleven uses a unique high-sided variant of the Lotus Elise lightweight chassis structure featuring epoxy bonded aluminium alloy extrusions. This package features a safety system with a glass-fibre reinforced composite front crash structure allied to a high sill chassis for side impact protection. Additional features include an FIA compliant six-point rollover structure with integral harness mounts and a galvanized steel rear sub frame.

A fully-independent suspension – utilizing unequal length wishbones and a set of two-way adjustable Öhlins dampers with coil over springs – are charged with keeping the car poised and predictable around bends, and the handling will certainly be enhanced by the adjustable front anti-roll bar and rear double shear track control arm brace. Lightweight five-spoke forged black alloy wheels (staggered 16-inch front and 17-inch rear) shod in Lotus Sport-specific Yokohama tires further serve to ensure grip at all four corners.

Stopping power for the car is provided by 288mm cast iron cross-drilled and ventilated discs with aluminium alloy AP Racing two-piston callipers at the front, and Brembo single sliding pistons at the rear. Lotus’ track tuned servo-assisted four-channel ABS system is also employed.

There will be two different versions of the 2-Eleven, though a ‘launch edition specification’ (comprising of a specific Lotus Sport colour scheme and racing decals) will be the initial offering. The road-legal car fitted with front and rear lights, exhaust catalyst, single plane rear wing and other items achieves compliance with UK requirements; while the track only version gets an enhanced aerodynamics package with a high-downforce single plane carbonfibre rear wing, high downforce front splitter, brake lights, rear indicators and a FIA approved driver’s race seat.

Production of the new track car is scheduled to start in April at Lotus’ manufacturing facility in Hethel, Norfolk, with pricing starting at £39,995.

Hyundai's plans for Geneva

2007-02-28T11:27:00.000Z

Korean automaker to unveil new i30 and a crossover-SUV concept

Hyundai has revealed two new vehicles will be making their debuts in Geneva next week. The Korean automaker has released details of its new i30 C-segment vehicle and a crossover-SUV concept made from plastic composite material.

Initially shown as the Arnejs concept car at the Paris motor show last fall, the i30 has been specifically designed for the European C-segment. Sound familiar? Well it should, the other Korean manufacturer with the three letter name is also singing the same song. In fact, the i30 was jointly-developed with Kia and shares the same platform as the recently launched Cee’d.

With a choice of three petrol and three diesel engines, the Hyundai will likely offer the same engine choices as the Kia, with 1.4-litre and 1.6-litre petrol units and a 1.6 litre diesel. We suspect there may be a few 2-litre petrol and diesel units joining the mix. The powerplants will be mated to either a manual or an automatic gearbox.

Hyundai will be ditching its previous nomenclature in favour of a new alpha numeric naming strategy claimed to “display a clearer technology-orientation”. The i30 will go on sale across Europe in summer 2007, initially as a 5-door hatchback and later as an estate car.

The crossover-SUV concept, code-named HED 4, is a joint project with GE Plastic. The concept vehicle is said to have “endowed designers with greater expressive freedom to create complex three-dimensional shapes that could not have been achieved with conventional production methods”.

Composite technology was used extensively in the new CUV. It employs a wrap-around Lexan windscreen and polycarbonate glazing materials to save of up to 50 per cent weight over conventional glass, while simultaneously allowing greater flexibility in the shaping process. The glazing features an Exatec technology which deposits a thin protective layer of glass on the Lexan for increased resistance to scratches and protection from the elements.

The HED 4 body panels also feature new curved side glazing – formed from Lexan – to boost impact resistance and increase both occupant and pedestrian safety. The car’s ‘Elastic Front’ safety system, which encompasses the front end of the vehicle, is claimed to be the world's first global pedestrian protection solution fitted to a CUV. With three energy-absorbing structures fully integrated underneath the styling, the system is claimed to realise outstanding results in computer-animated pedestrian safety tests.

More information on the cars will surely become available next week, and we’ll be sure to share it with you.

Gumpert Apollo Sport

2007-02-27T20:46:00.000Z

German niche manufacturer creates 800bhp supercar

Gumpert will show the new Apollo Sport supercar at the upcoming Geneva motor show. This latest supercar from the German manufacturer promises to top last year’s Apollo model with more power and a 1200kg kerb weight.

The Apollo project is the creation of Roland Gumpert, a former Audi employee who oversaw many a rallying success working as competitions chief in their Quattro division.

The new Apollo Sport employs a tubular space frame fabricated from chrome-molybdenum steel with an integrated safety monocoque carbon-fibre structure Enormous roof and side-mounted air intakes feed cold air to the twin turbo powerplant, based on an Audi-sourced 4.2-litre V8.

Output from the mid-mounted engine is claimed to be a staggering 800bhp, enabling the Apollo Sport to reach 62mph in just 3 seconds. The car’s top speed is estimated to be 233mph.

A full racing aero package with a massive rear wing and lower front spoilers separates the Sport edition from its lesser Apollo sibling visually.

The two-seat interior is swathed with such luxury amenities as Alcantara trim, air-conditioning, a CD player and a sat-nav system. A reversing camera is also included to avoid rearward obstructions.

Gumpert plans to sell the Apollo Sport for €299,500, pre-tax.

The Return of Abarth

2007-02-27T13:22:00.000Z

Fiat reveals new hot hatch and Rally derivative in Geneva

Fiat has resurrected the legendary Abarth nameplate from the 1950s and ‘60s for an unveiling at the Geneva motor show. Scheduled to make its long awaited comeback in both tuning and Rally form, the Grande Punto Abarth will appear on the manufacturer’s show stand beside its cousin, the Abarth S2000.

In the early ‘50s, ex-motorcycle racer Carlo Abarth started combining his racing activities with products for the mass market, and began to build his famous conversion kits – with the now reputable exhaust silencers – for standard production cars. These Abarth enhancements increased power, top speed and acceleration of the cars. Racing was the ultimate advertising conduit, and Carlo’s success on the racetrack in the Fiat Abarth 750 cars in the late 1950s garnered financial backing from Fiat. The Abarth name was eventually bought up entirely by Fiat in 1971.

This year, the Grande Punto Abarth and S2000 reappear under the design and manufacturing verve that only Fiat could muster. The Punto Abarth creates 150bhp from an inline 1.4-liter turbocharged four, though 98 RON petrol will apparently raise power by 5bhp. An add-on tuning kit which will appear later in the year is claimed to boost power to 180bhp, nearly twice as much power as the basic non-Abarth version. Peak torque of 152lb.ft is said to be achieved at 2000rpm, with 170lb.ft obtained at 3000rpm by activating a ‘sport’ mode.

With a six-speed gearbox, MacPherson front suspension (with anti-roll bar) and a torsion beam rear axle, the car will surely paint grins on drivers’ faces. The brakes have been heavily revised, employing 305mm ventilated discs at the front and 264mm rear discs. Distinctive 17-inch aluminium alloys riding on 215/45-17 tyres further differentiate the car from its lesser stablemates.

Fiat’s Abarth S2000 Rally car features a 2-litre lump, belting out 270bhp and 163lb.ft peak torque, achieved at 6500rpm. A six-speed gearbox with sequential control, frontal engagement and cut-off during changes will be the performing shifting duty, powering all four wheels.

Rally racing conditions being what they are, Fiat’s S2000 uses a MacPherson suspension layout front and rear, utilizing specific cross members and adjustable dampers.

To slow the rotation of the Michelin asphalt, dirt and snow tyres mounted on Goodrich rims (18-inch for asphalt and 15-inch for dirt), the Abarth S2000 has monolithic front calliper brakes with four pistons mated to 355mm front discs for asphalt, or 300mm for dirt roads. At the rear, a four piston rear calliper setup with 300mm discs is charged with the task.

A wide front and rear wing - up to a maximum width of 1800mm - has been fitted, and a massive (essential by technical regulations) rear spoiler serves to increase stability of the car, boosting aerodynamic load.

Fiat’s Racing Department will be entering in the 2007 Italian Rally Championship with driver Giandomenico Basso and his navigator Mitia Dotta. On the international scene, the Grande Punto Abarth S2000 will compete in the IRC (Intercontinental Rally Challenge) with drivers Andrea Navarra, his navigator Guido D’Amore, and young Umberto Scandola and Anton Alen.

Vauxhall’s VXR8 muscle car

2007-02-27T09:16:00.000Z

Australian-born ‘supersaloon’ fills the void left by the Monaro.

Vauxhall has announced a successor to the now defunct Australian-built Monaro VXR. The VXR8 is essentially a rebadged Holden HSV Clubsport R8, a ‘supersaloon’ which also hails from the land down under. And with this latest import, Vauxhall seeks to offer exceptional performance blended with four-door practicality.

The fire-breathing musclecar is powered by a 6-litre LS2 V8 from a Chevrolet Corvette (the same engine that propelled the Monaro VXR) sending power to the rear wheels.

We’re told this revised version of the V8 has been massaged for greater power and efficiency however, and now develops 414bhp and 406lb.ft of torque (up from the Monaro’s 404bhp and 391lb.ft). Vauxhall claims the saloon can accomplish 0-60mph runs in 4.9 seconds.

Scrubbing off speed will be the task of an upgraded braking system, which comprises of 365mm front discs. The company claim the setup will stop the car from 60mph faster than a Lamborghini Murcielago or BMW M5. Hmmm. We’ll have to see about that.

Unlike previous VXR models, the VXR8 will be offered with an automatic gearbox with manual shifting capability and a sport setting. The company claim the automatic only increases 0-60mph stints by a half second.

The VXR8 also comes fitted with a stability system and traction control, which can be turned off should drivers have a sudden urge to test their skills.

Styling seems a bit ungainly, but it’s certain to be more practical than its coupe forebear. The company claims the VXR8 has ‘a spacious boot’ and space for ‘all the family’. That is considering your family consists of no more than five.

Within the saloon body style, Vauxhall promises an emphasis on comfort, with the interior featuring climate control and leather trim. A satellite navigation system and 20-inch wheels will be offered as options.

The VXR8 will undoubtedly get strong competition in the form of the Audi RS4 and others, but given its £34,995 entry fee (add £1400 for the auto option) it considerably undercuts its rivals. Expect it on UK dealer forecourts from July.

Bellissima: Alfa’s new droptop hits UK

2007-02-25T10:08:00.000Z

Alfa Romeo’s seductive Spider convertible is now on sale in the UK.

The new Alfa Spider, the latest open-topped Alfa Romeo to be offered by the company, has just gone on sale in the UK. Derived from Giorgetto Giugiaro’s award-winning Alfa Brera design, the new Alfa Spider was developed by Pininfarina in collaboration with Alfa Romeo Centro Stile.

The Spider will be available in four versions and a choice of three engines. In the petrol variety, a 2.2-litre 185bhp 4-cylinder unit developing 170 lb.ft of twist at 4500rpm will be joined by a 3.2-litre 260bhp V6 with 237lb.ft twist. A 2.4-litre 20v five-cylinder MultiJet (JTDM) turbodiesel, claimed to be good for 200bhp and 295 lb.ft of torque at 2000rpm completes the range.

The 2.4-litre diesel is said to achieve a top speed of 142mph and complete a 0-62mph run in 8.2 seconds. The all-wheel drive 3.2 V6 will reach 62mph from not in 7 seconds and top out at 149mph, while the 2.2-litre four manages 138mph and 0-62mph stints in 8.8 seconds. All powerplants will be mated to six-speed manual gearbox, whilst the 3.2 JTS V6 unit can be specified with Alfa Romeo’s QTRONIC six-speed automatic transmission, featuring a manual sequential-shift override capability and optional gearshift ‘paddles’.

Sharing a platform and components with the Alfa Brera, the Spider is 17mm shorter and 23mm lower but has an identical 2528mm wheelbase. The suspension setup of the Spider combines a double wishbone system at the front with a multilink rear configuration; said to promote smooth, accurate steering response, exceptional stability and body control, allied to remarkable comfort over all road surfaces.

The 2.2 JTS Alfa Spider’s braking system comprises 305mm ventilated front discs and 278mm solid discs at the rear. Versions powered by the 3.2 JTS petrol and 2.4 JTDM turbodiesel engines feature larger, 330mm ventilated discs and Brembo four-piston monobloc aluminium callipers at the front, with 292mm ventilated discs at the rear.

The Alfa Spider is fitted with an automatic, double-layer fabric roof which can be retracted in less than 25 seconds via a dashboard mounted switch. A separate dedicated roof storage compartment is claimed to not compromise stowage space, and the luggage compartment offers a 200-litre capacity even with the roof in the down position. The storage compartment is concealed beneath a flush-fitting body panel which incorporates aerodynamic ‘blisters’ resembling roll-over bars, fitted with a transparent wind break to reduce air turbulence within the cabin.

Inside, the Spider features driver-orientated ergonomics and an instrument binnacle with large, deeply hooded speedometer and tachometer dials joined by subsidiary fuel and temperature gauges. A brushed aluminium-faced centre console incorporates an electronic key-activated engine start button, and standard equipment includes automatic Dual Zone climate control, cruise control, rear parking sensors, a multi-function display and trip computer, and a six-speaker audio system with CD. A leather interior is standard on V6 versions.

Pricing for the new Alfa Spider starts at £25,995 OTR for the 2.2 JTS and climbs to £32,700 OTR for the 3.2 JTS V6 Q4 automatic.

New Kia convertible concept set for Geneva

2007-02-23T13:06:00.000Z

Kia ex_cee’ds expectations with a new cabrio concept

Kia shows its ambitions for the new C-segment platform are indeed high as it bestows yet more images of a convertible concept it will unveil at the Geneva motor show. The ex_cee’d cabrio concept is the work of Peter Schreyer, Kia’s new Chief Design Officer, and hints at the future direction Kia vehicles could be taking under his guidance.

Based on the three-door cee’d hatchback, set to go into production at Kia’s Zilina factory in Slovakia from December, the ex_cee’d concept features all-new exterior panels and a powered folding fabric roof rather than a hardtop roof employed by so many new production convertibles coming to fruition in recent times.The fabric top is meant to showcase a ‘retro’ styling path the company has decided to embark on. It will likely decrease weight and production costs, while retaining a low centre of gravity, essential for a sporty drive.

Peter Schreyer, design guru for the original Audi TT, claims the traditional fabric roof will have a renaissance, evoking the romantic notion of open-air driving. The concept is a four-seat cabrio with a steeply-raked windscreen, longer sloping bonnet and a short rear deck, reminiscent of latter day sporty cabrios. The ‘meringue white’ exterior paint scheme and contrasting ‘bitter chocolate’ fabric roof harp back to simpler open air times, and the colours carry over to the interior, with two-tone leather seats.

An aggressive nose with dynamic front styling echoes the three-door hatch concept’s clothes, featuring a slight ‘wedge shape’ profile and ‘muscular wings’ draped over the now familiar 19-inch alloy wheels first seen on the three door concept shown at the Paris motor show in September. A chrome strip below the door opening also draws attention to the curvaceous rocker panel design

The ex_cee’d concept aims to stand out from crowd of current cabrio offerings and score with potential young, style-conscious buyers wishing to combine elegance with dynamics. If this car can make it to production without design interference from cost-cutting higher ups, Kia could have another strong candidate with which to steal sales away from other well-established rivals.

Jeep launches car-based 4X4 for the road

2007-02-22T14:01:00.000Z

Compass compact SUV will make its European debut in Geneva

Jeep is poised to offer a competitor in the small SUV segment when it launches the new Compass at the Geneva motor show in a few weeks time. The new soft-roader places emphasis on on-road stability and fuel economy rather than off-road ability, and has been designed to appeal to younger and female customers who value the brand’s four-wheel drive attributes.

The Compass is built on the same platform as the Dodge Caliber C-segment car and will compete against other established compact SUV offerings like the Honda CR-V, Land Rover Freelander, Toyota Rav4, and Nissan’s recently launched Qashqai. The Compass is the Jeep brand’s first front wheel drive-based product and also the first with a fully independent suspension for increased on-road comfort and car-like handling.

A choice of VW-sourced diesel and petrol powerplants will be offered. The 2-litre diesel will be paired to a six speed manual gearbox, while the 2.4-litre petrol can be specified with a five speed manual or a CVT automatic transmission. The diesel is claimed to return 43mpg on the Combined Cycle, making it one of the most fuel efficient in the segment.

An all-new full-time, active four wheel drive system the company calls ‘Freedom Drive 4WD’ will drive the front wheels 90 per cent of the time, but if road conditions call for more traction the system can automatically shift power to all four wheels. This intelligent system promises to provide tangible benefits in every day driving conditions such as wet and icy tarmac, but will also prove more economical.

Roughly the size of a Ford Focus, the Compass is said to offer a spacious interior with room for five adults. The interior design is modern and simplistic, highlighting its user friendly appeal. Numerous storage compartments line the cabin, and the rear seat folds in an uneven 60/40 split.

With the market indicating that customers are increasingly interested in family hatchbacks with four wheel drive systems, Jeep has played its cards right in creating this car. European sales of compact four wheel drive vehicles are projected to increase to nearly 400,000 units by 2010, and Jeep wants a piece of the pie. At a starting price of £17,990, the Compass will likely appeal to those seeking an alternative to conventional family hatchbacks, but they will need to get over the awkward styling.

The Jeep Compass is intended to reflect the new ‘Jeep-modern’ design theme, fulfilling public demand for a modern family car with the credibility and characteristics associated with the Jeep brand name. The front end draws heavily on past Jeep designs (think WW II Willys) but the profile is slightly controversial as it struggles to combine the historical front with the modern rear.

The Compass will launch in May 2007 and be joined by the Jeep Patriot in July 2007. The Patriot will be built on the same platform and share the same engines, but it has a more traditional Jeep look and design.

Kia to launch new Cee’d Sport Wagon in Geneva

2007-02-22T09:53:00.000Z

Korean automaker enlarges the scope of its C-segment competitor.

Kia’s new estate variation of the cee’d was first revealed by The Car Enthusiast back in September. Now the company has officially announced it will show the production version of the cee’d sport wagon alongside the recently launched five-door hatchback at the Geneva motor show next month. This new addition to the cee’d range intends to offer elements of practicality and versatility in a sporty package.

The Kia cee’d C-segment estate – dubbed the ‘Sporty Wagon’ – celebrates the first anniversary since the cee’d was originally shown in concept form at last year’s Geneva motor show. Measuring 4.5 metres in length, the estate derivative is 235mm longer than its five-door counterpart, with the increase being found aft of the rear wheels. A long wheelbase also aims to provide superior cabin space and a more comfortable ride.

Keeping with the youth-oriented brand image, the cee’d wagon seeks to provide buyers with an upmarket feel devoid of bland features. The cee’d wagon features design cues that are reminiscent of the Peugeot 407 estate, particularly in the rear quarters, and the rear pillar-mounted tail lamps are also evocative of other established segment leaders, reinforcing quality perception.

Out back, the cargo area is accessed by a wide opening tailgate and a low load floor. The extended tailgate design is fitted with top hinges which have been moved forward by 225mm compared to the cee’d hatchback, enabling users to stand closer to the car while gaining access to the boot. Rear cargo space is said to have been augmented by 200 litres (to 534 litres) over the hatchback, and overall height of the car is up 10mm.

Like the five-door, the estate variant will be offered in three trim levels: S, GS and LS. Engine choices for the hatchback include two petrol and two diesel engines, so it’s fair to assume that these powerplants will be carried over to the wagon. In the hatchback, the petrol engines consist of either a 1.4-litre 16-valve producing 105bhp and 101lb.ft of torque, or a 1.6-litre unit generating 122bhp and 114lb.ft of twist. The 1.6-litre petrol powerplant can also be fitted with an automatic transmission. A diesel 1.6-litre diesel offering creates 90bhp and 173lb.ft of torque or, as a more finely tuned derivative, 115bhp and 188lb.ft of torque.

Kia has big plans for the cee’d lineup. They are the first-ever cars designed and manufactured by the company in Europe and made to compete with established market leaders like the Volkswagen Golf and Ford Focus. The cee’d estate promises to offer highly competitive levels of equipment and state-of-the-art active and passive safety.

The estate is set to go on sale in the UK by summer 2007, with a three-door hatch joining the range in late 2007. The new cee’d wagon will be built at Kia’s new facility in Zilina, Slovakia, alongside the five-door and three-door versions. The wagon and three-door will also benefit from Kia’s best in class seven year/100,000 mile warranty, first seen in the cee’d five door.

Audi A5 photos leaked

2007-02-21T15:32:00.000Z

Audi’s new coupé has Munich in its sights

Official photos of Audi’s upcoming A5 coupé, scheduled to be unveiled at the Geneva motor show, have been leaked from the automakers dedicated microsite.

The A5 coupé shows how Ingolstadt plans to take on the BMW 3-Series coupé and Mercedes Benz CLK, and fill the void left in the automakers luxury coupé offering since the departure of the Quattro coupé years ago.

An elegant and understated design is brimming with characteristic Audi design cues: the front end styling and head lamps bear resemblance to the carmaker’s TT coupé, and the rear of the car evokes an A4-inspired decklid and evolutionary tail lamps. A deep and characterful groove runs the length of the wheelbase, and the wheel arches are flared for a purposeful sporting stance.

The new coupé will be built on Audi’s B8 architecture, a platform which is likely to be shared with the forthcoming A4 and A6 models. According to the photos, Audi’s 3-litre turbodiesel powerplant from the A4 and A6 saloon will find a home under the A5’s bonnet, but will be pushed further to the rear for better weight distribution and handling characteristics.

A range of petrol and diesel 4- and 6-cylinder engines will be available in the A5, and be accompanied by the V8 powerplant from the RS4 in the S5 and RS5 models. As rival BMW plans to unveil the next generation M3 in Geneva, it’s fair to assume the S5 variation of the coupé will be alongside the A5 on Audi’s show stand, though it is customary for Audi to hold off for the fire-burner’s reveal until a later date.

Transmission choices for the new coupé will likely include the six-speed manual and Audi’s DSG gearbox currently on offer in the TT. There is also speculation the carmaker’s renowned Quattro system will drive the wheels on most models.

The interior of the A5 is a familiar habitacle, with supportive leather seats, a stitched leather steering wheel and gear shift, and a reworked driver-oriented dash layout. The instrumentation is a variation of the gauge design first seen in the Q7 SUV, while the next-generation telematics – incorporating Audi’s MMI system – also features prominently.

Further details will become available when the car launches March 6th at the Geneva motor show, and we’ll be there to share them with you.

Maserati's new GranTurismo coupé

2007-02-20T10:01:00.000Z

Latest GT from Maserati heads over the Alps for its Geneva motor show unveiling.

Italian automaker Maserati is poised to reveal its new coupé at the Geneva motor show in March. Until then, they’ve released these tantalizing images. The Maserati GranTurismo has been styled by Pininfarina and will replace the Maserati Coupé first launched in 2002.

While the 2002 Coupé made do with 390bhp produced from it’s naturally aspirated 4.2-litre V8, the latest incarnation has been tweaked to generate 400bhp at the rear wheels. The GranTurismo will also employ the new ZF automatic gearbox currently offered in the Quattroporte saloon, but will retain the steering wheel mounted paddles of the Cambiocorsa. The new transmission is equipped with an adaptive control system which adjusts shifts depending on driving style and road conditions. A more powerful performance edition fitted with the Quattroporte’s ‘DuoSelect’ transmission will likely join the lineup later in the year.

The familial resemblance between the Quattroporte and the GranTurismo coupé is also no accident. The design is at once elegant but unmistakably sporting, something Pininfarina accomplishes very well. The 3 port holes on the flanks emphasize power and performance, as do the bulged wheel arches, particularly at the rear. The long, sloping bonnet and short rear deck evoke the quintessential sport coupé stance. A nearly dead-even 49 per cent front and 51 per cent rear weight distribution should ensure this car holds true to its sporting flair and reinforce the company’s reputation for renowned roadholding aptitude.

The GranTurismo makes no excuses in the interior, and there’s no reason it should. Longer and wider than the car it replaces (and nearly the same length as the Quattroporte saloon), interior space and comfort is the obvious benefit. There are four proper seats – each swathed in Italian leather – with high levels of luxury and detail enveloping the cabin. Maserati is keen to demonstrate that a sporting coupé need not trade comfort for driving dynamics.

Maserati has quite a bit of history producing grand touring coupés. In 1947 the company produced its first GranTurismo (the A6) following client demand, and subsequently unveiled the car at the Geneva motor show. It was the first Maserati road car, and it was designed by coachbuilder Pininfarina. Since then, the company has produced numerous GTs: from the 5000GT, the Sebring, Ghibli II and the 3200 GT before finally culminating in the 2002 Coupé. A slew of design houses were called upon to design the various models, but it’s nice to see the relationship Pininfarina and Maserati forged all those years ago is once again in full swing.

Mazda’s new city car arrives in Geneva

2007-02-18T14:15:00.000Z

The Mazda2 gets more than a facelift this time around

The Mazda2 never quite made an impact in the UK since its launch at the 2002 Birmingham motor show. The model was given a mild freshening in 2006, but it still retained a boxy, tall, and wedge-like shape which had defined the model since its inception. This latest redesign hopes to shake the model’s stodgy image and drive more customers into Mazda dealer forecourts.

The new Mazda2 is a striking visual departure from the previous model. It has been transformed into a sleek, low-slung 5-door hatch which appears to have ditched the tall wagon look entirely.

The exterior shape features design cues first seen on both the MX-Micro sports concept and the Sassou concept car unveiled at the 2005 Frankfurt motor show. Heavily scalloped body panels, a sporty pointed nose and a rising beltline combine to reflect the new design’s sporting attributes whilst preserving the practicality of the outgoing car.

Though Mazda is not currently disclosing any specific details about the forthcoming model, we expect the next generation Mazda2 will employ a range of petrol and diesel 4-cylinder engines. It is also possible the latest iteration of the compact B-segment car will continue to be based on Ford’s DY architecture, utilizing McPherson front suspension and a twist beam rear axle.

Production of the new Mazda2 will take place at Mazda’s factory in Hiroshima, Japan. The previous generation of the Mazda2 was built in Valencia, Spain, and was also sold as the Demio in Japan, though never made it to the United States. There is good indication that this new model may in fact make the trip to compete with the Toyota Yaris and Honda Fit (Jazz in Europe) in the US market.

Mazda’s new 2 should begin arriving in select markets late this summer.

Maserati Quattroporte Automatica

2007-02-16T19:20:00.000Z

Maserati answers the call of the public and fits an automatic transmission to its sporting, luxury saloon.

The Maserati nameplate conveys both luxury and sporting characteristics. Its Trident emblem is evocative of the brand’s time-honoured racing traditions, and the company’s heritage is synonymous with grand touring elegance. There is no better example of this than the Quattroporte saloon, now available with a fully automatic transmission.

When Maserati launched the current, fifth generation Quattroporte in 2003, it garnered praise from the automotive press and won 28 major international awards for its power, handling, and opulence. But until now the sole transmission offering in the saloon was an electronically actuated ‘DuoSelect’ semi-automatic with steering wheel mounted paddles. Some complained the transmission was a tad erratic for their tastes, and a more conventional automatic was summoned to cater to the needs of these fastidious buyers.

This year the Quattroporte’s Ferrari-developed 32-valve 4.2-litre aluminium alloy V8 engine becomes available with a new hydraulic six-speed transmission, a result of the collaboration between Maserati and German transmission builder ZF. The new automatic transmission’s gearing is said to emphasize smooth shifts at low engine speed, propelling the1990kg car to 0-62 mph in a scant 5.6 seconds and a claimed top speed of 167mph.

In ‘Automatica’ trim, the Quattroporte’s V8 – developing 400bhp at 7000rpm and a prodigious 339lb.ft of torque at 4250rpm – is adorned with blue cylinder head covers and employs a wet sump for more gradual and progressive power delivery. The transmission is equipped with a torque converter to ensure full use of the engine’s power, while sixth gear is said to act similarly to an overdrive feature; reducing revs, improving fuel consumption and decreasing interior noise on motorway journeys. Cogs can also be convened manually via a sequential lever on the central tunnel if desired.

The ‘DuoSelect’ model is mated to the same V8 powerplant in dry sump derivative, for more enhanced performance geared towards the enthusiast. Its cylinder head covers are painted red to denote the sporting slant.

Fitting the new transmission required Maserati to make certain adjustments to maintain the Quattroporte’s rear biased weight balance. While the rear-mounted gearbox and differential enables DuoSelect models to achieve a 47 per cent front and 53 per cent rear weight distribution, the Automatica’s front mounted gearbox meant the engine had to be moved a further 9mm towards the rear. The result is a 49 per cent front and 51 per cent rear weight distribution, a figure which won’t negatively affect the vehicle’s renowned driving dynamics.

The Maserati Quattroporte Automatica went on sale in the UK on 14 February, with prices starting at £77,000. Like the DuoSelect variation, it is available in Quattroporte, Quattroporte Sport GT, and Quattroporte Executive GT trim levels.

Ford launches all-new Mondeo in Geneva

2007-02-14T10:38:00.000Z

The Mondeo has long been the company car choice for reps. Now Ford’s gone and made it better.

The Mondeo has a stellar reputation in the UK, having appeared in the nation's top 10 favourite cars every year since its launch in 1993 and selling more than 1.5 million models. First seen in prototype guise at the Paris motor show and then making a cameo in the latest James Bond film, the new Mondeo has a lot to live up to. And it looks like it’s got what it takes.

The latest iteration of the Mondeo employs Ford's 'kinetic design' language, creating a distinctive front end with bevelled corners and a deep offset between the top of the bonnet and the front fenders. A muscular shoulder line accentuates the flanks – rising gradually toward the rear – while a strong undercut line runs from the front wheel arches through the side of the car.

Three distinct body styles will be available from launch: A saloon, five-door hatchback and an estate. Within these are four distinct trim levels: the entry-level Edge, mid-spec Zetec, and the top of the range Ghia and Titanium X models.

Power for the new Mondeo will be supplied by a range of Duratorq diesels and Duratec petrol engines. The diesel units can be specified in 1.8-litre or 2-litre guise, with power ratings between 99bhp and 138bhp. The low-range 1.8-liter will be fitted with a 5-speed manual transmission and a 6-speed will be available in the 123bhp version. The 2-litre can be ordered with either a 6-speed manual or ‘Durashift’ automatic, but the auto option will drop power down to 128bhp.

There are four petrol engines to choose from. Four-cylinder units consist of a 1.6-litre with 108bhp or 123bhp, a 2-litre with 143bhp, or a new 2.3-litre with 159bhp. Topping the range is a 2.5-litre five-cylinder powerplant with 217bhp mated to a 6-speed automatic. Transmission options for the four-cylinder engines include a 5-speed manual for the 1.6- and 2-litre, while the 2.3-litre gets the 6-speed auto.

A wider track, with MacPherson front and multi-link rear suspension incorporating an isolated subframe mounting system, promises to make the Mondeo’s ride more refined for motorway cruising.

Inside the driver-oriented cockpit is a high beltline and flow-through centre console which combine to create a cosseted feel for occupants. 'Piano black' interior styling accents and soft-touch material give the car more luxury appeal than its predecessor, and extensive use of ambient lighting emphasises quality and refinement.

The new Mondeo aims to please in the features department. Standard equipment across the range includes ESP, a capless refuelling system with fuel inhibitor (to prevent misfuelling), a Thatcham alarm, air conditioning, and an MP3 connector socket. Keyless entry and start, a new ‘Human Machine Interface’ (HMI) instrument display, adaptive cruise control, and interactive vehicle dynamics control with hill launch assist round out the list of available options.

Peugeot’s product onslaught in Geneva

2007-02-13T14:33:00.000Z

French automaker reveals three more additions to 207 lineup, and an SUV

Peugeot is planning an onslaught of new product launches at its show stand in Geneva this year. Among them will be the new 207 in GTi and CC (coupe cabriolet) derivative, and its latest entry into the SUV segment. Peugeot also plans to uncover a version of the upcoming 207 SW (sportwagon) and two other concepts which made their debut at the Paris motor show.

The 207, launched in the UK in June 2006, has become a sales success for the company, with over 334,000 produced in 2006. Peugeot plans to build on that success by launching the new 207 CC (the successor to the best-selling 206 CC) which benefits from all of the 207 attributes, but with the added luxury of a fully automatic foldaway roof.

Picking up where the last 206 GTi left off is the next generation 207 GTi. The latest incarnation of the hot hatch features a 1.6-litre THP (Turbo High Pressure) petrol engine – co-developed by PSA Peugeot Citroën and the BMW Group – with turbo direct injection producing 175bhp and 177lb.ft of torque at 1,600 rpm. We’ve yet to discover the other parts of the formula, but the result should be favourable.

The 207 SW Outdoor concept (pictured) will be hinting at the design of the upcoming SW model. The panoramic glass roof, split-opening rear hatch, and improved interior space likely reflect what will be on offer in the forthcoming model. As a concept car, the ‘outdoor’ styling theme doesn’t work all that well judging from the photos. We’ll have to see it in the metal before we cast our final decision.

Making its debut in Geneva is the 4007 SUV. It is the latest of a trio of all-terrain SUV vehicles built on a platform jointly developed by Mitsubishi Motors and DaimlerChrysler. According to Peugeot the 4007 ‘is a versatile product that [seeks to] combine everyday adventure with driving enjoyment’. It will be powered by a new 2.2-litre HDi diesel engine (with particulate filter system) claimed to produce 156bhp and 280lb.ft of torque, and driven by either two- or four wheels.

Initially unveiled at the Paris motor show in September, Peugeot is again bringing out its stunning 908 RC concept car and the 207 Epure concept. The sinister-looking 908 RC saloon is fitted with a mid-mounted V12 HDi diesel engine derived from the 2007 LMS Championship-competing Peugeot 908, while the 207 Epure is testimony to Peugeot’s commitment to protecting the environment. The Epure concept is a ‘technological demonstrator’, devised to showcase the advancements Peugeot has made in the research and development of fuel cell and battery technology. Both concepts are masters of technology and innovation.

The 77th Geneva motor show will take place March 8-18 2007.

Mitsubishi touts the past, present and future in Geneva

2007-02-13T10:31:00.000Z

Mitsubishi’s theme at this year’s Geneva motor show will be “yesterday, today and tomorrow”, spanning the company’s 90-year history. The new Outlander SUV, scheduled to arrive in the UK in March, will be introduced alongside a more purposeful concept version, and the Prototype X concept car, first seen in Detroit, will also be on show.

For the ‘yesterday’ motif, Mitsubishi will take show goers down memory lane with an exhibit spanning the 90-year timeline of Mitsubishi Motors Inc.’s automotive division, unveiling an exact replica of the 1917 Model-A, Japan’s first attempt at a series production passenger car. The stand will also represent Mitsubishi’s 45-year heritage in motor sports, likely with historical rally cars and Dakar contenders on hand.

Showcasing the company’s 70-year history of building 4x4s will be the new Outlander SUV, built on a platform jointly developed with DaimlerChrysler and employing diesel engines sourced from both Volkswagen and PSA. The 2-litre ‘pump-jet’ VW diesel producing 138bhp and 229lb.ft of torque will be available at launch, while a 154bhp 2.2-litre common-rail PSA unit with 280lb.ft of twist will join the lineup toward the end of the year. Mitsubishi’s own 2.4-litre petrol engine with 159bhp and 167lb.ft of torque is scheduled to be launched during the fourth quarter of 2007, and a 3-litre unit producing 217bhp and 204lb.ft of torque is also said to be in the pipeline.

By Mitsubishi’s own admissions, the Outlander is not an ‘authentic off-roader’. Though it features an all wheel drivetrain, the Outlander is more of a soft-roader than a hardcore mud plugger. Mitsubishi claims it brings ‘car-like levels of driving pleasure’, accentuated by its 4-wheel independent suspension, high performance brakes and low centre of gravity realized through its use an aluminium roof panel.

A more potent Outlander V6 Concept Livery fitted with Mitsubishi’s new 3-litre V6 MIVEC engine will also be unveiled at the show. Said to have been inspired by the Pajero Evo 2+2 concept first displayed at the 2002 Geneva motor show, the ‘muscular fenders’, flared wheel arches and matt metallic grey paint (with a white roof and accents) will presumably emphasize the concept’s potential.

Mitsubishi’s highly anticipated next-generation Lancer Evolution will again be previewed in Prototype X concept form, hinting at the design for the upcoming model. The Prototype X concept shares much of the design language of the Lancer sports sedan unveiled in Detroit, itself incorporating cues from the 2005 Concept-X and Concept-Sportback concept cars. A turbocharged version of the aluminium 4B11 2-litre DOHC MIVEC powerplant used in the new Lancer is claimed to achieve the highest power rating ever in a Lancer Evolution model. No word yet on when the actual model is scheduled to hit dealer forecourts.

Citroën jumps on the SUV bandwagon

2007-02-12T13:29:00.000Z

Citroën is scheduled to make its entry into the burgeoning crossover SUV segment with the C-Crosser at the 2007 Geneva motor show in March. A derivative of the Mitsubishi Outlander, the C-Crosser (and Peugeot 4007) shares the Japanese SUVs underpinnings, co-developed by Mitsubishi and DaimlerChrysler.

Exterior styling is a significant departure for the automaker, normally accustomed to building hatchbacks and saloons, but the C-Crosser also wears familiar Citroën design cues. The Citroën chevrons are a prominent feature across the multiple-ribbed bonnet and join elongated headlights which stretch far into the fenders. Bulged wheel arches, chrome detailing and two-tone wheels accentuate the C-Crosser’s exterior design and differentiate it from its platform siblings.

The C-Crosser features Citroën’s 156bhp 2.2-litre HDi diesel engine which produces 280lb.ft of torque at 2,000rpm. It is paired to a six-speed manual gearbox. The engine is claimed to return 40mpg fuel consumption on the combined cycle and features a diesel particulate filter as well as the ability to run on 30 per cent bio-diesel fuel, improving its eco-friendliness.

A MacPherson front strut suspension with multi-link rear axles is said to provide an even balance between comfort and roadholding, further enhanced by 18-inch wheels fitted with Michelin tyres.

A choice of three transmission settings can be selected depending on road conditions and driving style. Drivers can switch between two-wheel drive, electronically controlled four-wheel drive and a lock setting for low-grip conditions; all of which can be selected using a control mounted on the centre console.

At 4,640mm long, 1,810mm wide and 1,730mm tall, the C-Crosser stresses usability and practicality. Interior space benefits from these exterior proportions and includes a flexible 5+2 seating configuration with a second row that slides 80mm fore and aft for increased passenger comfort or cargo space. It also features an electrically controlled 60:40 split/fold function activated via two boot-mounted switches. The third row can be folded into the recessed boot to create a flat load space accessed via a split-opening tailgate, with the lower part able to support up to 200kg.

The C-Crosser offers a selection of optional hi-tech equipment including a reversing camera to assist with manoeuvring and parking in tight spaces. Located above the number plate, the camera is automatically activated once the vehicle is shifted into reverse and the image is displayed on a dash-mounted navigation screen.

Citroën’s C-Crosser is set to go on sale in Europe later this summer.

Mazda Hakaze concept to bow in Geneva

2007-02-08T22:18:00.000Z

New concept seeks to combine roadster driving qualities with extracurricular activity practicality.

Car makers are known for unveiling innovative and curvy concepts at auto shows. Mazda is no different. Over the last few years auto show turntables have been graced with the Senku, Kabura, Nagare and Ryuga; cars that made the press and public drool but will likely never see production – let alone a dealer forecourt. Let’s hope the latest Hakaze concept will.

The Mazda Hakaze is what the automaker calls “a compact crossover coupe with a roadster feel”. That assertion remains to be proven, but the overall size of the concept is good indication that the company will effectuate its claim. Measurements for the concept mean that it will fit somewhere between the now iconic MX-5 roadster and the larger Mazda5 people carrier, roughly the same size as the Mazda3 but wider and taller.

Like the automakers’ previous concepts shown in Los Angeles and Detroit, the Hakaze incorporates Nagare design language (meaning “flow” and “the embodiment of movement” in Japanese) developed by Mazda’s global design director, Laurens van den Acker. The Hakaze design is meant to convey a sense of agility while retaining a practical aspect for those who pursue active lifestyles.

Clothed in futuristic body work sans door handles or mirrors, the flowing lines and textures along the flanks create a muscular and purposeful stance accentuated by large 20x9 wheels wrapped in 255/50 R20 tyres. The steeply raked windscreen extends behind the front passenger compartment and encompasses the entire roof, the rear two-thirds of which can be taken off and stored in a slide-out compartment in the rear bumper.

The Hakaze is no less impressive inside. Its two pop-up doors (incorporating a wireless, multi-functional “data shell” capability) unlock and open automatically to provide access into a cabin fitted with an asymmetrical wraparound dash design. Instrumentation sits on either side of the steering column to give the driver an impression of depth while the “data shell” doubles as an ignition key and gear shift lever.

Steering is accomplished by turning the rim of the fixed hub wheel, the centre of which contains an LCD screen with navigation information, images from the car’s rear view and side cameras, and warning indicators. Its four bucket seats – mounted high on the centre tunnel – are finished in “high-tech” leather with a surface coating similar to the material used for wet suits, and the floor is made of natural leather for enhanced comfort.

Power for the Hakaze concept comes from a turbocharged 2.3-litre direct ignition spark injection (DISI) petrol, but could also be provided by a diesel engine. It is coupled to Mazda’s active torque-split all-wheel drive transmission with 6 automatically summoned forward gears. A MacPherson front strut and multi-link rear suspension is said to ensure agile driving while retaining sufficient ground clearance for off-road excursions. Zoom-zoom.

TVR could change hands again

2007-02-08T16:18:00.000Z

Photo credit: EVO

Just as British sports car builder TVR is poised to unveil its new 200mph Typhoon supercar at the Geneva motor show comes news that 26 year old Nikolai Smolensky may be relinquishing ownership of the company. According to a report published by Autocar editor-in-chief Steve Cropley, TVR could be changing hands again in less than two weeks.

Since the company was bought in 2004 by the son of Russian billionaire Alexander Smolensky, it has promptly gone downhill; hemorrhaging money at an alarming rate and eventually being forced to close the Blackpool-based factory – where it had been manufacturing TVRs since the company’s inception. Coventry-based TVR Power, which built engines for the cars, was also subject to a management buyout at the end of last year.

Cropley writes: "The administrator of Blackpool Automotive, the company created last year by Smolenski to contain TVR's Blackpool assets, will announce the successful new owner on February 23, from a field of around half a dozen serious bidders, all of whom were required to provide proof of £2 million funding to be considered. It is possible, though observers say increasingly unlikely, that Smolenski will bid again for the company.

“Another prominent bidder is the Rochdale millionaire and engine designer Al Melling, already in the news after recently showing a full-size concept model of his own-brand super-performance sports car, the £185,000 Melling Hellcat, powered by a 1200 bhp, quad-turbo V10 engine of 6.3 litres. Melling designed TVR V8 and in-line six-cylinder engines, and has already hot-housed plans to revive the company, which would continue to be based in Blackpool.”

CAR magazine confirms that more than 30 bidders have expressed interest in purchasing the ailing company, including the afore-mentioned Al Melling and some unnamed Asian investors.

Sources: Autocar, CAR magazine

Powerful and spacious, plus a baby seat

2007-02-06T14:29:00.000Z

Swedish automaker Volvo has released details on the third generation V70 estate, scheduled be unveiled at the Geneva motor show in March. The new car features a complete redesign, new engines, additional safety and increased interior space.

The V70’s styling, though still conservative, assumes a more athletic stance. The front end bears resemblance to its larger stablemate, the S80, while the rear facia sports styling cues first seen on the C30 and reinforced by the XC60 concept unveiled in Detroit. The V70’s revised tailgate includes a larger boot aperture and rear window which extends further down to improve rearward visibility. The rear pillars are adorned with prominent tail lamps -- a now familiar Volvo trait -- fitted with LED brake lights that flash during emergency stops.

Volvo will offer a range of five- and six-cylinder transverse mounted petrol and diesel engines. In petrol form, a turbocharged 2.5-litre197bhp five-cylinder will be joined by a normally-aspirated 235bhp 3.2-litre six-cylinder and a turbocharged 282bhp 3.0-litre T6 creating 295lb.ft of twist. Volvo claims the flagship T6 model can accomplish 0-62mph runs in 7.2 seconds and reach a top speed of 155mph.

The diesel variety will include two five-cylinder engines: a 2.4-litre with 161bhp and 251lb.ft of torque, or a more potent D5 producing 182bhp and 295lb.ft of torque. A 145bhp four-cylinder FlexiFuel alternative will also become available later in the year.

All engines in the V70 range will be paired with Volvo’s six-speed Geartronic automatic transmission, which can be shifted manually. The flagship T6 model will feature a Sport mode for quicker gearshifts, whilst the 2.4D, D5 and 2.5T will be available with a six speed manual gearbox.

Cabin space has been augmented in every area of the new car: rear legroom has increased by 48mm, rear knee clearance has grown by 21mm, and front shoulder room by 30mm. The new V70 also pushes versatility, featuring a 40-20-40 three-part split rear seat with 16 different combinations and a boot which can accommodate 55 litres more than the outgoing car.

Volvo is a nameplate that has long been associated with safety, so it’s no surprise the V70 is loaded with a patented front body structure and side impact protection system, enhanced crumple zones that use differing strength steels, a whiplash protection system, dual compartment side airbags for the hips and chest, and dual-stage front airbags. The rear seat can also be fitted with the world’s first integrated and height adjustable child booster seat.

The V70 is already a staple in many suburban car parks, and Volvo hopes the latest iteration will draw additional buyers into the premium estate segment it has arguably created. The new car is set to go on sale in the UK in September, with pricing announced in June this year.

New BMW 1-series Coupe spied

2007-02-04T11:33:00.000Z

When the BMW 1-Series finally comes to America as 2009 models, two versions will make the transatlantic journey. And now, the two-door coupe has been spied by Brenda Priddy photographers.

The 1er's engine lineup has yet to be confirmed, but BMW officials have said they do not plan to offer a four-cylinder engine in America, although we believe a range of fours will be available in European markets. We expect a version of the 3.0-liter six-cylinder found in the European 130i, as well as the 3- and 5-Series, Z4 Coupe and Roadster, and X3 and X5. There is also a strong possibility the 3.0-liter turbocharged six from the 335i coupe and sedan could find its way into an M version of the 1-Series Coupe.

Since the 3-Series Coupe and Convertible have grown large and luxurious, the 1-Series will step in as the price-leading BMW - and as the spiritual successor to the BMW 2002. Sales begin at the end of 2008.

Sources:
The Car Connection
2Addicts.com

2008 KIA cee'd

2007-02-02T15:50:00.000Z

Ambitious Korean automaker Kia’s C-segment offering hits UK forecourts this week. The much anticipated cee’d, developed by German and French designers, was specifically designed to meet European tastes and is the first car to be built in the company’s new factory in Zilina, Slovakia. The result is a car rich in European design cues which bears a certain similarity to rivals like the Mazda3 and Ford Focus. Like the Focus, the cee’d offers an independent rear suspension.

Initial cee’d models will be offered as a five door hatchback, with three trim levels and a choice of two petrol and two diesel engines. Entry level S and mid-range GS models are offered with either a 1.4-litre 16-valve petrol engine producing 105bhp and 101 lb-ft of torque, or a 1.6-litre unit producing 122bhp and 114 lb-ft. The 1.6-litre powerplant will be the sole petrol offering in the top of the line LS model, and can be mated to an automatic transmission in the GS and LS. A 1.6-litre diesel engine is also available across the model range. In the S and GS models the diesel produces 90bhp and 173lb-ft torque, but creates 115bhp and 188 lb-ft in the LS.

As the cee’d vies for its share of C-segment sales, it comes to the table with a strong hand. Standard comfort and convenience features on the S include air conditioning, a fully-integrated MP3-ready audio system with CD player, front electric windows, central locking, six airbags and active front headrests. The GS variation adds 16-inch alloy wheels, remote central locking, body-coloured electric and heated door mirrors, a metallic centre-fascia, and a six-speaker sound system with USB and auxiliary audio ports. LS versions gain fully-automatic climate control with an air-quality system, rear electric windows, front fog lamps and half-leather upholstery. Electronic stability control (ESP) with brake assist is also available as an option on LS models.

Kia is so confident in the cee’d that they are offering a fully comprehensive 5 year (transferable) warranty and a class leading seven year, 100,000 mile powertrain warranty. Prices for the cee’d start at less than £11,000 for the S and stretch to just over £14,000 for the LS, severely undercutting its competitors. An estate version and a three door hatchback are set to arrive in mid- and late 2007, and a 140 bhp 2.0-litre turbodiesel with a six speed manual gearbox will also be added later in the year.

2008 Dodge Avenger

2007-01-11T16:36:00.000Z

DiamlerChrysler also unveiled the 2008 Dodge Avenger, another vehicle making its North American debut in Detroit. The Avenger, which replaces the Stratus, has the looks of a scaled down Dodge Charger, continuing the aggressive brand identity.

The mid-size 2008 Avenger sedan design features a wide stance, muscular fenders and the signature Dodge crosshair grille. It will share its four-cylinder and V-6 engines with the Chrysler Sebring, shifting through either a four- or a six-speed automatic transmission.

Avenger is the Dodge brand’s first mid-size car to offer all-wheel-drive capability combined with a sport-tuned suspension, performance steering and Electronic Stability Program (ESP) with Traction Control.

From the cluster bezel to climate control knobs, circles are a primary graphic element repeated throughout the Dodge Avenger’s interior which has been upgraded and refined, with space growing to 100.9 cu. ft., an full 7 cubic feet more interior passenger volume compared to the vehicle it replaces.

Four models designations will be offered: Avenger SE, Avenger SXT and Avenger R/T, and the range-topping Avenger R/T AWD powered by a 232hp V-6 and a six-speed automatic appearing shortly after the initial launch.

The 2008 Avenger will become available toward the end of 2007 at a starting price of $18,895, $1,605 lower than a comparable outgoing Stratus. A very competitive price in the most competitive segment of the U.S. passenger car market.

For more pictures of the car click here.

Chrysler Nassau Concept

2007-01-11T13:08:00.000Z

The Chrysler Nassau concept is the latest incarnation of the ‘shooting brake’ derivation once produced by elite manufacturers and coach builders. The four-door Nassau concept is a luxury four-seat ‘coupe’ — influenced by the Mercedes-Benz CLS — which bears absolutely no resemblance to its mechanical and platform sibling, the Dodge Magnum/Chrysler 300C SRT-8.

The Nassau concept gets its power from the 425hp 6.1-litre HEMI V8 (delivering 420 lb.-ft. of torque at 4,800rpm) sent to the rear wheels via a five-speed automatic transmission. The company claims it’s enough to propel the 4500(est.) pound vehicle to 60mph just 5 seconds, reach the standing ¼ mile in 13.5 seconds, and hit a top speed of 165mph. Not bad considering you could also use it to stow rifles for a weekend grouse hunting jaunt or a few sets of golf clubs.

The design is clean and forward thinking, with the wheels mounted far into the corners to create what Chrysler calls a ‘toned stance’. Short front and rear overhangs make the vehicle appear more compact than its 4981mm length would have you believe, and large 10-spoke 22-inch wheels wrapped in 245/40R22 rubber fill the wheel wells. The absence of a centre B-pillar and thin A-pillars improve outward visibility while the roof is adorned with two longitudinally-mounted glass panels to provide entry of natural light.

The design theme is carried over into the interior which combines refinement with function and style. The instrument panel is a showcase for new technologies in data display, personal control interface, and home theatre-inspired entertainment. Gear selections are accomplished via a pod control mounted on the instrument panel and the steering wheel incorporates auxiliary paddle shifters. Leathers and fabrics derived from futuristic architectural interiors and inspired by the design of contemporary cell phones, computers, iPods and MP3 players, seek to present a new world of luxury to a younger, aspiring audience.

Time and public opinion will determine if this car will grace Chrysler showrooms in the future.

Lexus IS-F

2007-01-10T16:01:00.000Z

2007 marks not only the 100th anniversary of the Detroit Auto Show but also the 19th year that the show has held the ‘International’ title, competing with the likes of Frankfurt, Geneva and London. 19 years ago there were far fewer foreign cars on the showroom floor than there are today. The open and liberal market in the United States has allowed the influx of automobiles from all over the world to be sold provided they meet required safety and emissions regulations. And that’s not a bad thing.

Competition spurs innovation. That’s why Lexus, the luxury division spawned from parent company Toyota, unveiled a new vehicle sporting the ‘F’ designation designed to cater to enthusiasts. The IS-F, set to become the new sporting flagship of the IS model line, was the brainchild of chief engineer Yokihiko Yaguchi who went against company rules and broke the mold. In a bid to make the IS a competitor to its German rivals, Lexus shoehorned a 5.0 liter V8 engine - said to produce an excess of 400hp and more than 350 lb ft. torque - between wider front fenders.

But the large engine with specially engineered heads fed by a two-stage intake system clearly wasn’t enough. To get all that power down Lexus also developed the world's first eight-speed direct sport-shift transmission fitted with a torque-converter lock-up control The car is claimed to reach 60 mph from a standstill in under 4.9 seconds.

A car this fast also needs to stop well, so engineers fitted huge Brembo-developed 14.2-inch cross-drilled discs with six-piston aluminum calipers in front and 13.6-inch two-piston cross-drilled discs at the rear. Wrapped around the brakes are BBS designed 19-inch forged alloy wheels built to Lexus specifications and surrounded by high-performance sport tires.

Handling also being a chief concern, Lexus engineers tuned the lesser IS’s double-wishbone front and multi-link rear suspension which now rides a full inch lower to the ground than the standard car fitted with 18-inch wheels. It is expected to be in dealerships by this time next year.

Click here for more pictures of the car.

Kia Kue concept

2007-01-10T09:29:00.000Z

Kia Motors caused a stir among the European market when it unveiled the Cee’d small car at the Paris Motor Show last September. Now the company is looking continue its product assault in the United States by branching out into the burgeoning crossover market. The Kue concept is the vehicle they are set to do that with.

Unlike ordinary crossover vehicles, the Kue has been designed as a performance-oriented driver’s vehicle. A supercharged 4.6-liter V8 producing 400hp and 400 lb-ft of twist finds a home under a bonnet. The Kue puts down all of this power via a full-time all wheel drive system which the automaker claims is equally apt on- or off-road.

Built on a monocoque platform that sits on 22-inch tyres, the Kue was developed as an expression of Kia’s global design language. Purposeful and poised, it has a wheelbase of 290cm, and an overall length of 473cm. Draped muscular wheel flares and headlights which extend far into the fenders contrast crisp bevelled sections found elsewhere on the body. A single side door that incorporates a negative skive shape opens scissor style for easy ingress and egress.

Power, responsiveness and handling all take precedence over interior space. A four-passenger seating arrangement and custom-built bucket seats adorn an interior complemented by the use of sophisticated seat and surface materials. Carefully selected materials and textures are vital components to the interior design, and they create an upscale feel that is both modern and inviting. A mid-dark interior theme with highlights was chosen in place of the typical light interior common to many concept cars.

The Kue interior is abound with technology and presents a new perspective of upscale function with an emphasis on comfortable, user-friendly interaction. Features include pad and motion-sensing controls to adjust the audio and climate controls, with the entire system programmable to each individual user. One surface may activate the stereo for one driver or the temperature for another. Rear passengers also have their own, separate interface.

Kia insists the model is purely a concept, though it does hint at the company’s future styling direction.

Honda Accord Coupe concept

2007-01-09T17:15:00.000Z

Honda‘s Accord Coupé Concept demonstrates the styling direction for the eighth-generation of the North American-spec car, the company’s best selling model in the US.

Stylistically the car is not a great departure on current design trends and it won’t win any medals for innovation. It is, however, a drastic change for Honda. Designers seem to have struck a balance in creating a car which is upmarket, sporty and tasteful, and won’t alienate the Accord’s conservative client base.

The result is a wider stance with a long bonnet, steeply raked glass, and a sloped ‘fastback’ roofline which tapers off into the short rear deck. The design seeks to convey a purposeful, muscular and sporting flair along with an increased level of refinement and style.

The front end features projector beam headlamps — reminiscent of Alfa Romeo’s Brera and 159 models — with a small indicator light trying to fight its way into the cluster. The rear end seems to take styling cues from Toyota’s Scion tC model sold in the US. The narrowed rear fascia, with square taillamps mounted high the corners, features a black lower section below the bumper, attempting to replicate the look of F1 diffusers. This section also houses quad tailpipes, recessed so far into the moulding that they are barely visible. No chrome-tipped eye-catcher coffee cans here, subtlety reigns.

Blacked out windows indicate Honda is still working on the interior bits. It’s a safe bet that the company will move into a bolder styling direction than the characterless design of the current model and incorporate additional technology to take on the competition.

Honda is not very forthcoming in providing details on the power source, other than to say it will be an iVTEC V6 which will boost performance while retaining frugal characteristics through the incorporation of Honda’s next-generation Variable Cylinder Management system. It will likely continue to send power to the front wheels via a six speed gearbox, and may even be offered with Honda’s phenomenal SH-all-wheel-drive system.

2008 Chevy Malibu

2007-01-09T11:17:00.000Z

General Motors kicked off the third and final day of the North American International Auto Show press preview days. Having won two coveted automotive industry awards for the Chevrolet Silverado and the Saturn Aura, GM also holds the top spot as the largest automaker in the world. If the company continues to unveil stunning new products like the Aura, CTS and Malibu it may well retain that top spot.

The 2008 Chevrolet Malibu is the car the company hopes will knock rival Toyota off the midsize segment pedestal. It has grown more than three inches in length and the wheelbase has been lengthened six-inches over the model it replaces. This increase will provide a more spacious cabin with greater occupant comfort.

The redesign of the Chevrolet Malibu carries a ‘dual-port grille’ in the fascia, what the company says will be the new face of Chevrolet, and twin round taillamps. Careful attention has been paid to detail in creating the Malibu’s exterior, which includes smaller panel gaps.

A 2.4 liter four-cylinder Ecotec with a four-speed automatic and an available 3.6 liter V6 powerplants promise to deliver performance and fuel economy benefits. A technically advanced six-speed automatic transmission is standard on the V6 and can be specified in the four-cylinder model.

The interior features premium materials to convey quality and value, an integrated instrument panel featuring a dual-cockpit design with prominent gauges backlit in blue, and a choice between metallic or wood grain accents.

The new Malibu will be offered in three trim levels: LS, LT and LTZ – all with standard head-curtain side air bags and front-seat thorax air bags, OnStar Gen 7 with remote diagnostics, and XM Satellite Radio. StabiliTrak electronic stability control is standard on both the LT and LTZ models, visually distinguished by front fog lamps and LED-lit taillamps.

2008 Cadillac CTS

2007-01-08T20:34:00.000Z

Cadillac came to the podium in Detroit with a performance recipe of its own. Contrary to common practice the redesigned 2008 Cadillac CTS didn’t increase power with a larger engine but through technology instead.

The new car can either be propelled by the existing 2.8 litre V-6 or fitted with a new 3.6 litre direct-injection V-6 engine, claimed to produce power levels of a V-8 but with better fuel economy. The 3.6 delivers an estimated 300hp and 270 lb.-ft. of torque due largely to direct-injection technology which increases power and reduces fuel consumption and hydrocarbon emissions.

The 2008 CTS will be available in both rear and all-wheel-drive configurations and a choice of either a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission. Vehicles equipped with the all-wheel-drive system and automatic transmission will also gain a new active transfer case that automatically transfers torque from rear to front or front to rear for optimal traction.

Cadillac’s bold, taut and angular styling direction is continued in this iteration of the CTS, but much of the improvements are below the surface. Engineers implemented numerous tweaks and revisions to the suspension using extensive computer modelling, combined with development driving of prototype cars on racetracks around the world.

The car’s revised chassis includes a two-inch wider track front and rear but the wheelbase remains identical to its predecessor. This translates into better roadholding and grip according to Bob Kotarak, lead development engineer.

The 2008 CTS represents a new design theme for Cadillac interiors, emphasizing technical precision with elegant, hand-crafted details. French stitching is used throughout the interior and the integrated centre stack can be specified in either a satin metallic finish or genuine Sapele wood. Strict attention to packaging, premium materials, surface development and comfort combine to meet the discriminating tastes of luxury performance sedan buyers.

New Chrysler and Dodge Minivans

2007-01-07T17:29:00.000Z

Chrysler invented the minivan back in 1983 and has seen a lot of competition from foreign rivals. Still Chrysler and Dodge minivans have retained their top spot on the podium, and they don’t intend to give it up. Tom LaSorda, with help from TV chef Bobby Flay, donned an apron at the launch of the 2008 Chrysler Town and Country and Dodge Grand Caravan and called the vehicles Chrysler’s “bread and butter”.

There’s a lot to be excited about. Many innovative new features have found their way into the minivans over the years and this fifth generation intends to pick up right where the last one left off. There are 35 new or improved features on what Chrysler like to call a “family room on wheels”, including three distinct seating positions and storage systems.

The newest addition is the new ‘swivel and go’ seating system which offers a second row of seats that swivel 180 degrees to face the third row. A table can then be placed between the two rows. This system also features storage bins integrated in both the floor of the second row (covered) and on either side of the third row, which can also fold flat into the floor via a one touch power down button, another industry first.

The large center console slides forward and aft and can accommodate anything from laptops to DVDs, which can prove particularly useful considering the dual DVD multimedia entertainment system which is capable of playing different media at the same time.

Both the 2008 Chrysler Town and Country and Dodge Grand Caravan will be offered in five models with three distinct seating and storage systems and three powertrains, including a minivan-first six-speed transaxle.

Camaro Convertible concept

2007-01-05T15:57:00.000Z

Following from the highly acclaimed Camaro coupe concept unveiled in Detroit last year, Chevrolet will unveil a convertible variant of the car at the 2007 NAIAS. Like the coupe concept, the convertible evokes retro styling of the original car from the late 1960s, a design which - alongside the Ford Mustang - was the quintessential definition of the muscle car.

The Camaro convertible concept mimics the coupe’s exterior proportions but features a bright windshield surround, modified to accommodate the cloth roof. The classic long hood/short deck proportions and a wide track riding on 21/22 inch wheels front and rear accentuate the car’s muscular stance. The ‘halo’ style headlamps and LED taillights are contemporary details, while the rear fender gills and ‘Hugger Orange’ paint pays homage to the classic car offered in 1969.

The interior features a light-and-dark colour scheme with platinum-tone leather and suede-like Alcantara inserts on the seats with black, sculpted seatbacks. The instrument panel, inspired by first-generation Camaros, includes a deep, three-dimensional gauge cluster with white faces and red pointers. The classic design theme is also carried over to the recessed three-spoke steering wheel.

A ‘spine’ motif runs through the centre of the vehicle and on the seatbacks, including a prominent centre console that stretches to the rear seat. The car’s interior trim plates, vents and seat handles are all finished in smoke satin aluminium and a tri-coat platinum paint accents the door and instrument panels to give the car a modern appearance. The billet aluminium shifter and pedals and separate ignition button complete the classic to modern transition.

True to muscle car form, the Camaro convertible concept is powered by a version of GM’s small-block V8 engine, sending power to the rear wheels via a manual transmission. A contemporary four-wheel independent suspension system and four-wheel disc brakes are an evolutionary addition and a contrast to the car’s forbears.

Chevrolet expects to begin selling production versions of the Camaro convertible in the US following the launch of the coupe in 2009.

Volvo XC60 Concept to Bow in Detroit

2006-12-14T11:03:00.000Z

Since Volvo's XC90 and XC70 have enjoyed considerable success, the company has decided to add yet another soft roader to the stable. This one, called the XC60, will be shown in concept form at the Detroit Motor Show in January.

The XC60 concept sees a refreshing and elegant design, which approaches parity with Ford Europe's compelling "kinetic" design language. The rear design is original (and very Volvo), while the front end design is reminiscent of the recently launched C30. The sheetmetal appears stretched and angular, with styling designed to give the vehicle a sporting appearance and convey an illusion of momentum.

The car will be based on the same platform as the Land Rover Freelander (nee LR2 in the States), and feature all-wheel drive and a choice between several four - and five cylinder engines. The baby XC90 is expected to debut in production trim for the 2009 model year.

Links:
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Chrysler's new Sebring Convertible

2006-11-29T14:14:00.000Z

The Chrysler Sebring Convertible will be completely redesigned for the 2008 model year. Launched at the Los Angeles International Auto Show, the car is built on the company's new D-segment platform and will feature three automatically latching convertible top options: vinyl, cloth and a body-color painted steel retractable hard top, all of which can be retracted with a push of a button on the key fob.

In markets outside North America, the Sebring Convertible will be the first D-segment cabriolet for the Chrysler Group to offer both a diesel engine and right-hand-drive availability, thereby equipping the vehicle to become a stronger competitor in the segment.

From the front, the new Sebring Convertible shares many traits with its sedan sibling, including the distinctive signature eggcrate grille and a uniquely sculptured hood that features the Chrysler brand's elegant lines. Large quad headlamps wrap around to the side of the vehicle, where the car’s profile takes on a shape all its own. From the rear, wide tail lamps are mounted on the corners and deck lid for greater visibility impact.

The wheelbase is 2.9 inches longer than the outgoing model, and the car is 3.5 inches taller and more than 2 inches wider. Its overall length also is 3 inches longer than the sedan, which lengthens the side profile and increases trunk space.

There will be three engine options on offer in the United States: a standard 2.4-liter four-cylinder producing 173hp, an available Flexible Fuel Vehicle (FFV) 2.7-liter V-6 engine with 189hp and 191 lb.-ft. of torque, and a 3.5-liter V-6 engine good for 235 hp and 232 lb.-ft. of torque. The 3.5 liter will be paired with a new six-speed automatic transaxle that comes with a manual mode Chrysler calls ‘Auto Stick’

Chrysler claims the 2008 Sebring Convertible was engineered to have an extremely rigid body structure to provides a quiet, comfortable ride, devoid of cowl shake even when the top is down. The new architecture and three-box vehicle design contribute to a body that is 2.5 times stiffer in twist and 1.5 times stiffer in bending than the previous generation convertible.

Production will begin in the first quarter of 2007 at the newly refurbished Sterling Heights (Mich.).

VW Tiguan unveiled in LA

2006-11-28T17:55:00.000Z

One of the highlights at this week's LA auto Show was Volkswagen's Concept Tiguan, a small SUV based on the Golf platform. The car, which has a more traditional SUV shape than the 'Concept A' unveiled in Geneva, is close to the finished product set to be released in early 2008, sans bespoke 19-inch tires created by Continental.

Touareg pulls 747

2006-11-23T17:27:00.000Z

A VW Touareg V10 TDI towed a 155-ton Boeing 747 down an auxiliary runway at Dunsfold airport, 60km south-west of London – seven times today. The vehicle was a standard production Touareg fitted with a special towing adaptor to connect it with the aircraft towing link and loaded with 4345kg of metal ballast to bring its total weight to 7030kg, including the driver.

The Toureg's engine, self-levelling air suspension, wheels, tyres and structure were all standard but the outer body panels were changed so this example was visually the same as the next-generation Touareg, due to be launched in 2007.

The Touareg dragged the 109m airplane along the runway, maintaining an even 8km/h, rendering the use of the 4.56 axle ratio from the Touareg V8 in place of the 3.27 gearing of the V10 unneccesary. It used second gear rather than first for the job.

A theoretical towing capability in excess of 200 tons was calculated by multiplying the V10 TDI's 750Nm of torque through the standard transmission's lowest ratio, without taking into account the torque multiplication benefits of the torque converter – but assuming a dry surface and loading the Touareg's body and suspension well in excess of its rated limits.

The aircraft towed was an ex-British Airways Boeing 747-200, complete with 500 seats, 11 toilets and landing gear but without engines or brakes but with 28 tons of water ballast in the fuel and nose tanks.

Conditions for the tow were far from perfect with a strong headwind and heavy rain, prompting concerns over traction on the wet surface, but with the Touareg's engine was warmed up and tyres checked, the adapted towing bracket was hooked up to the nose wheel collar of the Boeing and the chocks were removed.

With the second gear setting on the Touareg's six-speed gearbox selected, the driver depressed the accelerator halfway down to overcome additional resistance caused by the flat spots on the Touareg's tyres formed under the aircraft's 155 tons, and the car began dragging the 109m plane along the runway, maintaining an even 8km/h. After about 150m the sriver eased off the throttle and let the car come to a gradual stop on its own so as it not fry the brakes and both came to a stop.

The Touareg was checked after the repeated runs and no ill effects were found. The engine temperature remained normal, as did the transmission - and the tyres survived without a hint of the forces passed through them.

New Hardtop for 3 Series

2006-10-24T23:51:00.000+01:00

BMW released pictures of the fourth generation 3 Series convertible today, more than two months before its debut at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit. As with so many other modern day convertibles, BMW has opted to fit the 3 Series with a retractable hardtop instead of a fabric top. According to the company, the three-piece roof is made of lightweight steel and opens in just 22 seconds.

The car definitely looks good judging from the photos, but fitting the car with a hardtop rather than a conventional fabric top has added 400 pounds of unsprung weight over the coupe version. BMW claims the new roof structure will make the cabin of the new 3 series quieter at speed, and that the platform will retain the torsional strength and rigidity to keep the car's handling at levels BMW customers have come to expect.

To offset the weight added from the metal roof, BMW has added plastic side front fenders which weigh 50 per cent less than conventional steel panels. The new top is also claimed to improve visibility to the rear by 38 per cent and the rear side windows are also 30 per cent larger than the outgoing car.

In the US, two versions will be available: the 335i and the 328i. The 330i features twin turbochargers and an intercooler said to produce 300hp at 5,800 rpm and 300 lb-ft of torque at 1,400 – 5,000rpm. Claimed acceleration times to 60 mph are 5.5 seconds for the six-speed manual, and 5.7 seconds for the six-speed Steptronic automatic transmission. Standard cars will see their top speed electronically-limited to 130mph while top speed on vehicles fitted with the Sport Package will be governed at 150mph.

The lesser 328i features a 230hp 3.0 litre inline six-cylinder engine with Valvetronic technology and aluminum/magnesium construction. The horsepower peak is acheived at 6,500rpm and 200 lb-ft of torque is available at 2,750 rpm. BMW claims acceleration from 0 to 60mph can be accomplished in 6.7 seconds for the six-speed manual and in 7.2 seconds with the six-speed automatic. Like the 335i, the 328i is limited to 130 mph or 150 mph if equipped with the Sport Package.

The new six-speed automatic transmission available on both models is claimed to be quicker and more responsive thanks to the hydraulic control system and torque converter which ensure reaction times that are 40% faster than conventional automatics. Gear change timing has been almost halved in this model, while The torque converter clutch connects the engine more directly to enhance performance, engine response, and fuel economy.

Optional gearshift paddles on the steering wheel can also be ticked on the options list on models with the Sport package and automatic transmission. These paddles can be activated directly at any time - even if the gear selector lever is in Drive making it easy to acheive spontaneous performance.

The new convertible features a double-pivot McPherson strut-type aluminum suspension in front and a five-link independent rear suspension, with 17-inch alloy wheels wrapped in 225/45R17 runflat tyres. Even with a complete loss of pressure in one tire, the vehicle can continue to be driven for up to 150 miles at 50 miles per hour to get to the nearest service station. The Tire Pressure Monitor watches the pressures in each tire and will warn the driver as soon as the pressure drops more than 25 percent below the optimum level.
In the interior, BMW has increased shoulder room at the rear by 3.15 inches and elbow room by 4.72 inches. The company has also fitted special leather treated with Sun Reflective technology on the seat upholstery and on the armrests to prevent body contact with excessively hot surfaces. This new leather treatment is able to reduce surface temperatures on dark interior colours by up to 68 °F, and also offers advantages on light-colored upholstery, where the heating effect of sunshine is less severe developed for the seating upholstery. Modified color pigments serve to reflect the infra-red radiation by the sun, very effectively preventing excessive temperatures on the seat surfaces otherwise encountered in weather that would be perfect for open-air motoring.

TVR in Breif

2006-10-19T13:25:00.000+01:00

TVR was the brainchild of Blackpool-based engineer Trevor Wilkinson who began building light alloy specials in his workshop as a hobby. The first three cars were built on an Alvis Firebird rolling chassis and powered by a 1172cc side-valved Ford engine with Austin Devon suspension components and a Morris 8 rear axle. The number two car is still in existence today.

Martin Lilley, a shareholder in TVR's former partner Grantura Engineering, purchased the company in 1966. He is credited for transforming the company from a small kit car maker to a veritable sport car manufacturer. Throughout his tenure the company expanded, adding the Vixen, Tuscan and M-Series models which carried on through the 1980s.

Peter Wheeler took over at the helm in 1982 and put the company on the map. He is credited with making the switch from naturally aspirated and turbocharged 6 cylinder engines in favour of a revised Rover V8. In 1990 Wheeler decides to start producing engines in-house and creates the AJP8, a lightweight alloy V8. Originally destined for the Griffith and Chimaera, development took longer than expected and it only became available in the 1996 Cerbera and Tuscan race car.

The 1992 Rover V8-powered Griffith has largely been commended for the company's renaissance. When launched at its first Motor Show, orders were taken every eight minutes. Wheeler continued the product onslaught with the Chimaera, Speed Eight -powered Cerbera and the turbocharged six cylinder (Speed Six) Tuscan model which appeared alongside John Travolta in 'Swordfish'. 1998 saw TVR enter the GT1-class with the 7.7 liter Speed Twelve the engine which propelled the Cerbera to win at its debut in Silverstone.

In 2004, 24 year old Nikolai Smolensky, the son of a Russian billionaire, purchased TVR from Wheeler for an estimated £15 million. The first model produced under the new management was the Sagaris, widely acclaimed as the best TVR ever produced. Sadly, and after much negotiation, Smolensky has opted to close the factory in Blackpool, where the company has been based since its inception. There is no word yet on where the company will relocate.

TVR production leaving Britain

2006-10-18T13:03:00.000+01:00

TVR, one of Britain's few remaining independent automakers, said today it will end vehicle production at its Blackpool factory and move operations elsewhere.

The company, which was bought in 2004 by Nikolai Smolensky, employs 260 people in the Blackpool factory, where it has been building cars since Trevor Wilkinson established the company in 1947. Production will likely move to either Russia or France, but engines will remain British built.

"We need to secure the future of the company and move it forward," Nikolai Smolensky said in a statement, "I am afraid we see no other way to do so."

Only last month TVR had raised employee's hopes when it assured them it would stay in Blackpool though it had announced it would cut 71 jobs and cut production nearly tenfold in April this year.

Ford won't sell

2006-10-16T16:09:00.000+01:00

A report in The Detroit News states Sir Anthony Bamford, chairman of JCB, has abandoned his pursuit of Ford Motor Co.'s Jaguar division.

In August, the head of the large construction equipment manufacturer had expressed an interest in purchasing Jaguar if it would be cut loose of Land Rover, but Ford has decided it would not split the two. According to a report in today's Financial Times, Bamford said, "I am not interested in buying the two together and am therefore not getting involved".

Ford, who has been suffering considerable losses from the Jaguar division which it bought in 1989 for $3.03 billion, put sport car maker Aston Martin up for sale in August and recently announced it would sell Automobile Protection Corp., an extended warranty service. The company lost an estimated $1.4 billion in the first half of this year and continues to struggle with massive legacy and restructuring costs.

Unless JCB or another British-based company (Prodrive?) show interest in purchasing Aston Martin, it seems the British car industry will continue to solely consist of small niche manufacturers.

Peugeot set to close Ryton plant early

2006-10-10T22:32:00.000+01:00

PSA/Peugeot-Citroen announced today that the Ryton plant will close in January 2007 rather than in July as previously stated.

In April, the automaker announced plans to close the plant in stages, the first of which began in August this year. In all 2,300 workers will effecively be made redundant.

Peugeot issued a statement saying the closure had been accelerated due to "an increasing number of requests to leave from employees wishing to start new jobs". It also said the number of these requests was growing.

Unions have fervently criticized the automaker's decision to close the plant while it opens a state of the art facility in Slovakia, where labor and running costs are cheaper. The Transport and General Workers Union (T&G) have said they would maintain a campaign urging customers to boycott Peugeot and Citroen vehicles.

Peugeot has consistently maintained that higher raw material costs are to blame and denied that benefits from cheaper manufacturing costs in eastern Europe are the reason for the closure.

Volkswagen and Ford Sales on the Rise in China

2006-10-10T22:30:00.000+01:00

According to Reuters, Volkswagen AG sales in China have risen 28.7 percent in the first nine months of this year, compared with the same period last year.

Including imports, the maker of Volkswagen and Audi brand cars sold 524,558 vehicles in China during the period, compared with 407,548 units a year earlier, according to a company press release.

Sales of the Volkswagen brand group, including Skoda, came to 464,589 units during the period, up from 371,425 units a year earlier, while sales of the Audi brands amounted to 59,883 units, versus 36,086 units, the report stated. Volkswagen AG market share in China is expected to reach 17.5 percent, slightly above the previous year. Last year Volkswagen sold 570,876 vehicles and had a 17.3 percent market share.

Ford Motor Co., which has been a relative late comer to the growing Chinese automarket, saw China sales surge 105.5 percent to 114,685 units in the first three quarters of this year, bringing the company'stotal sales up to 114,685 vehicles in the first three quarters according to a statement issued by the company.

Sales of Ford/Lincoln brand vehicles, both locally produced and imported, came to 106,523 units during the period, up 111 percent, while those of affiliated brands, including Volvo, Jaguar and Land Rover, rose 42 percent to 8,162 units.

Demand for the Ford Focus sedan was particularly strong, helping push up sales at Changan Ford Mazda Automobile - a joint venture with Mazda Motor Corp. and Changan Automobile Co. Ltd., by 147 percent to 87,930 units.

Ford, along with Changan and Mazda, are expanding a facility in the southwest city of Chongqing. They are also building a plant in Nanjing, some three hours by road from Shanghai, boosting its annual production capacity to 360,000 by 2007.

No more confusion at the pump

2006-10-09T11:05:00.000+01:00

Land Rover has announced that the new 2007 Range Rover TDV8 will be the first ever vehicle to offer a system which prevents filling the diesel tank with conventional petrol. The 'petrol fuel guard system' as it is called, helps prevent drivers filling the diesel vehicle with petrol by incorporating a mechanical shutter into the vehicle's diesel filler head which automatically prevents petrol being dispensed.

Unleaded petrol dispensers are thinner than the diesel fillers and go deeper down the neck of the vehicle's fuel tank, thereby activating the shutter when the system detects the petrol nozzle.

Land Rover's chief programme engineer Paul Walker claims the new TDV8 engine is so powerful and refined that there is a greater danger of the driver mistaking the vehicle for a petrol-powered derivative. I, on the other hand, remain convinced that his innovative solution is more of a gimmick than anything else, especially when its only available on a vehicle which costs between £54,000 and £75,000. But if you're into gadetry and big luxury trucks, the 2007 Range Rover goes on sale this week.

2008 S-Type

2006-09-25T00:07:00.000+01:00

Until JCB boss Sir Bamford decides whether the future and fate of Jaguar will again be in British hands, the bosses at FoMoCo are attempting to once again re-invent the luxury car brand by injecting some new and youthful design cues into the struggling automaker's models. For Jaguar to succeed in the future it will need some contemporary new styling, especially for the bread and butter sedans — the S-Type and XJ.

As reported by Automotive News, the two cars will lose the retro styling which they currently adorn in favor of a new look intended to make Jaguars much more desirable — and profitable. The new look, which incorporates a new grille desing is said to evoke the sports car pedigree of the brand and be reminiscent of the 1960s E-Type.

Project X250 (pictured above) will be the 2008 S-Type, an all new design (just under 16.5 feet long), powered by a range of V6 and V8 engines driving the rear wheels through an automatic gearbox. The S-Type is rumored to be built from a steel monocoque, unlike its larger sibling who is clothed in aluminum, though the hood and trunk lid may be made from the lighter material.

The well-known Jaguar face will also evolve, though the grille opening will harp back to the late 60's and feature two openings rather than just one. Jaguar designers will switch to one-piece headlights (a la new XK) but will enclose twin projector beams, giving the impression of a traditional twin-headlight Jaguar front end.

Other sporting and modern styling features will be a gently rising beltline creating a wedge, a subtle bulge over the rear haunch and a narrow greenhouse. Think of the Mercedes CLS with a slightly more cramped rear seat quarters and a higher trunk lid.

The S-Type will also be fitted with two new engines, including the company’s first 5.0-liter V8, producing about 350bhp. A supercharged R version is rumored to produce close to 460bhp. Current V6 gasoline powerplants will be available at launch, but will ultimately be replaced by a Jaguar version of the new Volvo inline-six. A turbocharged 3.2-liter in-line 6 is also under consideration as it gets better fuel economy than the V8s.

Alfa's New Flagship

2006-09-15T19:26:00.000+01:00

It's official! Alfa Romeo's 8C Competizione - which made aficionados drool when it was unveiled almost three years ago - is set to debut in its final production version at the Paris Motor Show.

The car will be the company's new flagship, sporting a carbon fiber body over a steel platform borrowed from the Maserati Coupe. It will be powered by a 450hp, 4.7-liter V-8 engine (also derived from the powerplant used in the Coupe), and the car will be rear wheel drive.

The Italian supercar is poised to go on sale in Europe next autumn for roughly €160,000, and only 500 units of the two-seat coupe will be built. This latest announcement will certainly increase interest in the brand Stateside, and may advance the introduction of the brand.

VW Atacama

2006-09-10T13:59:00.000+01:00

Volkswagen has created the perfect set of wheels for the survivalist.

Taking some cues from the all wheel drive Syncro van from the 1990s, Volkswagen's new Atacama is a van design study that's [hopefully] set to become a limited production reality and 100 vehicles could be made.

The study is named after a South American desert and has all the gear needed to keep you safe in the wild. There's also a roof rail and carrier system to strap all your essential supplies should you need additional space.

A 2.5-litre turbodiesel - good for a respectable 161bhp - powers the Atacama through the same six-speed gearbox as the Kombi.

JCB shows interest in snatching Jaguar

2006-08-25T00:14:00.000+01:00

Ford's financial troubles are no secret to anyone. The company's financial troubles have graced the headlines of many newspapers in recent years. Maybe it's time for them to part ways with what has likely been the largest financial drain, second only to the massive legacy costs.

And so British construction machinery group JCB has expressed interest in buying carmaker Jaguar from U.S. owner Ford Motor Co. A JCB spokeswoman confirmed a report in the Financial Times newspaper which said JCB Chairman Anthony Bamford would only want to buy Jaguar if Ford was prepared to split the loss-making carmaker from Land Rover.

Ford bought Jaguar in 1989 for 1.6 billion pounds ($3.03 billion) but has struggled to make money with the brand, part of PAG. PAG also includes Volvo, Land Rover and Aston Martin.

"If they [Ford] can separate Jaguar out [from Land Rover] then I'd like to buy it," Bamford was quoted by the newspaper as saying. The JCB spokeswoman confirmed the comments.

Based on recent sales trends, Ford said it expects PAG will be again be unprofitable in 2006. In December last year it had injected another 1.2 billion pounds into Jaguar to cover heavy losses and investment writedowns, the second recapitalization in two years. In 2004, Ford cut 1,150 Jaguar jobs in England, scaled back production at the Browns Lane plant in Coventry and shifted output to another factory near Birmingham.

So maybe it is time for JCB to inject the same amount of stamina into Jaguar as it has into its Dieselmax, which beat its own land speed record for diesel-powered cars, reaching 350.092 miles per hour a day after breaking a three-decade-old record.

And Britain will again have a luxury car it can call its own.

Camaro in Chevy's Future

2006-08-14T11:58:00.000+01:00

The reborn Chevrolet Camaro, due in early 2009, will be a muscle car tailored to an era of expensive gasoline, Chevrolet's top marketer said today.

Speaking at a press event, Chevrolet General Manager Ed Peper said: "We will offer V-6 and V-8 engine variants. We think we'll be able to have really strong gas mileage, certainly on the V-6 model and the V-8, too."

General Motors uses cylinder deactivation, which it markets as Active Fuel Management, to boost mileage on its new crop of full-sized SUVs. Peper said that technology could be used on the Camaro.

"We may well have Active Fuel Management on the V-6, if that's what somebody wants," he said. "But remember, we produce Corvettes now that get over 400 hp and get 28 miles to the gallon."

Despite rising gasoline prices, the Camaro gives GM an entry into the growing muscle-car revival that includes cars such as Ford's Mustang-based Shelby GT500 and the Dodge Challenger, scheduled to reach showrooms in 2008 with a Hemi engine.

Peper identified the Mustang and Challenger as key competitors. GM has declined to reveal Camaro pricing, but Peper said the car is "going to be the best value in every segment where we can be."

Production in 2008

GM has big plans for the Camaro. CEO Rick Wagoner said today that the car will go into production in late 2008 and will go on sale in early 2009. The production Camaro will closely resemble the concept car unveiled in January at the Detroit auto show, he said.

Wagoner said the sports coupe will be available with a variety of engines and transmissions. He hinted that a convertible version might also be in the works.

"It will come in many shapes and sizes," Wagoner said.

The car will be engineered by GM's Holden subsidiary in Australia but built in North America, Wagoner said today at the Management Briefing Seminars in Traverse City, Mich.

GM will announce the car's production site later, Wagoner said. He made no comment on the potential for a Pontiac Firebird version of the car.

Before GM killed both cars in 2002, the Firebird was a sibling vehicle of the old Camaro. But giving Pontiac a new Firebird appears to be a subject of debate within GM.

John Larson, GM's general manager of Pontiac-Buick-GMC, says he intends to push for a Chevrolet Camaro-type product for Pontiac, possibly to replace the GTO. Pontiac will kill the GTO at the end of this model year. But company insiders have said Pontiac will not get a Firebird.

Independent rear suspension

Wagoner did not offer many technical details, but he did say the new Camaro would have an independent rear suspension system to improve handling. That is a feature that Mustang fans clamored for but did not get.

High-performance variants of the Camaro will likely be powered by a version of GM's classic small block V-8 engine -- such as the one used in the outgoing GTO, which developed 400 hp.

The 2009 Camaro will share some styling cues with the 1969 model, but GM does not view it as a retro car, Wagoner said. The goal of the new car's styling was to appeal to those who like the '69 model, along with younger buyers, he said.

Since showing the concept version of the Camaro at the Detroit auto show, GM has been flooded with requests to build the car and has been offered deposits by enthusiasts.

It took GM about eight months to make a business case for the Camaro. Wagoner said today that he agreed with GM Vice Chairman Bob Lutz's assessment that the company could sell 100,000 Camaros a year. Ford Motor Co. sold 100,995 Mustangs through July of this year.

GM was widely expected to approve the car for production. In April, a Detroit area GM dealer even started advertising the car for sale.

BMW's New X5

2006-08-09T15:31:00.000+01:00

BMW Announces New X5 (UK Press Release)

The BMW X5 defined a new segment of the car market when it first appeared in 1999. It was the first SUV-type vehicle to offer a genuinely sporty car-like drive. BMW coined the phrase Sports Activity Vehicle to define its dynamic attributes over its rivals’ utilitarian construction. Year-on-year record sales since its launch in the UK are evidence of its appeal to customers and it set a new standard for the competition.

Seven years after its 1999 Frankfurt Motor Show debut, BMW is pleased to announce the arrival of an all-new X5 Sports Activity Vehicle that aims to redefine its class courtesy of an enviable list of firsts. The new BMW X5 is the world’s first SAV to be offered with Head-up Display and an active suspension system – BMW’s Adaptive Drive package. It is the first SAV that can be specified with Active Steering for unsurpassed manoeuvrability and the first to be shod with Run-flat tyres for added safety. It is also the first BMW to offer a third row of seats for added practicality.

New standards in economy and emissionsThe new BMW X5 is powered by the latest, most advanced engines. A choice of three units is offered, all of which feature increased power compared to the engines in the outgoing model, while also posting more economical consumption figures and reduced emissions. The biggest seller in the UK will be a 2,993cc six-cylinder diesel but, for those preferring the characteristics of petrol power, the X5 can also be specified with a 2,996cc six-cylinder or a 4,799cc V8 engine.

Diesel economyThe BMW X5 3.0d uses an engine with high-precision piezo crystal injection technology for better economy and emission figures. This advanced technology, combined with the introduction of an all aluminium crankcase that saves 25kg in weight compared to the former 3.0-litre diesel engine, sees the new X5 record improved performance figures. It is now seven per cent more fuel efficient with a combined fuel consumption figure of 32.5mpg while also emitting eight per cent less CO2. The 3.0d engine records 231g/km.

While the new X5 is more economical it still comes with increased power. Output from the 3.0d engine is 231hp, up six per cent compared to the previous model, and maximum torque is 520Nm, up four per cent. This peak torque is available from 2,000 to 2 ,750rpm offering near instantaneous reactions for swift yet refined motoring. Such an advanced engine powers the BMW X5 3.0d from zero to 62mph in 8.3 seconds before going on to a top speed of 134mph (130mph for a non-Dynamic Package equipped model).

Petrol powerBased on the world’s lightest production six-cylinder petrol engine, the BMW X5 3.0si comes equipped with BMW’s patented Double VANOS and VALVETRONIC variable valve technologies for high performance, yet economical, motoring. Put simply, Double VANOS determines when the engine’s valves open, while VALVETRONIC determines by how much. The net effect of both systems is that the engine is always operating at its optimum efficiency with only the exact amount of fuel needed being used. This is why the X5 3.0si has a combined fuel consumption of 25.9mpg (an 18 per cent improvement compared to the previous X5 3.0i) and an emissions figure of 260g/km, but still delivers maximum driver enjoyment.
Developing 272hp at 6,650rpm, the high-revving nature of the engine and its sonorous exhaust note set it apart from the competition. Peak torque of 315Nm is attained at 2,750rpm for in-gear responsiveness, with zero to 62mph dispatched in 8.1 seconds. Top speed for the new BMW X5 3.0si is140mph (when fitted with the Dynamic Package).

Representing the flagship of the range, the BMW X5 4.8i with its 355hp engine is faster from zero to 62mph and has a higher top speed than the supercharged Range Rover Sport or a Mercedes Benz ML500 Sport. The 4,799cc V8 powers the car to 62mph in just 6.5 seconds before going on to a top speed of 150mph (when fitted with the Dynamic Package). Despite such scintillating performance, fuel consumption is a respectable 22.6mpg on the combined cycle and emissions are 299g/km.

New six-speed automatic gearboxThe new BMW X5 comes with an all-new faster-shifting six-speed automatic transmission. The gearbox now features a new torque converter with enhanced software resulting in gearshift times up to 50 per cent quicker compared with the previous automatic gearbox. A new design of gearstick also creates more space on the centre console for additional storage space and cupholders. The use of an electronic parking brake in place of a conventional handbrake aids ergonomics further.

Driving dynamics and safetyThe BMW X5 offers unsurpassed safety credentials and on-road ability. Not only does its intelligent xDrive four-wheel drive system transfer power between front and rear wheels depending on available grip for optimum handling, but it can now be specified with Adaptive Drive and Active Steering – two advanced systems never offered before on a BMW X model.

Adaptive Drive uses active hydraulic anti-roll bars to counteract the cornering forces of the car to keep the body from leaning too heavily and unsettling the occupants. In addition to this Adaptive Drive incorporates an Electronic Damper Control system that uses sensors to continuously adjust the damper setting for optimum comfort.

Active Steering uses an electronically operated planetary gear intersecting the steering shaft that adds more lock than inputted by the driver at slow speeds to make parking effortless. When driving at speed the opposite occurs for a smoother, more composed ride.

First SAV with Head-up Display and Run-flat tyresThe BMW X5 can be specified with Head-up Display – a first for a Sports Activity Vehicle or SUV. For enhanced safety the system projects speed, navigation and check control messages into the line of sight of the driver. Such a system allows the driver to keep his eyes on the road ahead while still being made aware of important instructions.

A further safety benefit is the fitting of Run-flat tyres – again a first for an SAV or SUV. Run-flat tyres allow a driver to continue his or her journey in the event of a puncture for up to 90 miles at speeds of 50mph. Run-flat tyres also provide the best stability in the event of a blowout. The BMW X5 comes fitted with 18-inch alloy wheels and Run-flat tyres as standard with optional 19- and 20-inch alloy wheels offered.

The latest in traction control technology, Dynamic Stability Control+, is also standard on the new X5. DSC+ comes with four unique functions for added safety and comfort. Brake Pre-tensioning shortens stopping distances during an emergency stop by priming the brakes should it detect the driver lifting off the accelerator sharply in reaction to an incident ahead. Brake Drying improves braking performance in the wet by periodically applying the brake pads to scrub away the film of water that can build up on the brake discs. Hill Start Assistant allows a car to pull away smoothly on a steep gradient without rolling backwards, courtesy of the brakes being held for the short time it takes the driver to apply the accelerator after releasing the foot or handbrake. Brake Fade Compensation applies additional braking without any extra effort from the driver should sensors detect that the brake pads are starting to lose ‘bite’ due to heat build up.

The driver of a BMW X5 will now also be able to select the Dynamic Traction Control (DTC) function of DSC+. DTC allows for a greater degree of wheel slip for more spirited driving without the main traction control system safety net intervening. This option can be selected via a button on the centre console.

Additional seating practicality comes with new designIn a first for a BMW, the new X5 can be specified with an optional third row of seats allowing up to seven occupants to be transported in comfort. An increase of 19cms in overall body length and an increase in body width of 6cms, combined with innovative design, has made it possible to introduce a brace of seats in the rear, while still retaining luggage space. However, unlike many competitors even with all seven seats in place there is still 200 litres of boot space. The two extra seats, complete with three-point seatbelts and head restraints, are stowed under the boot floor when not in use. BMW X5 owners who do not specify the third row of seats benefit instead from an additional 90-litre storage compartment situated below the boot floor.

Whatever seating combination an owner chooses, the new BMW X5 is capable of taking most payloads. In a standard five-seat configuration the boot measures 620 litres – up 155 litres compared to the outgoing X5. For those looking to move sizeable objects, luggage capacity increases to 1,750 litres with all the rear seats stowed – a figure greater than that of any other BMW.

While being one of the most practical cars BMW has ever made, the new X5 still has a luxurious interior feel and a dynamic and sporty exterior shape. A drag coefficient as low as 0.33 places the BMW X5 at the top of its segment as the most aerodynamically efficient large SAV or SUV. This low figure is partly achieved by a rear tailgate that incorporates a roof spoiler and a near flat underbody to aid airflow. Nine exterior colours are offered initially alongside four levels of trim and seven upholstery colours to allow owners to personalise their X5s.

BMW’s innovative iDrive control system also comes to the X5 for the first time. A new ‘wave’ style of dashboard houses the colour display while the iDrive controller sits on the centre console adjacent to the new style of gear selector. The controller is complemented by eight buttons integrated as system short cuts for ease of use.

Parking cameraSupplementing the standard fit front and rear Park Distance Control, X5 customers have the option to specify a rear camera for added parking convenience. Automatically activated when the reverse gear is selected, the driver is presented with a wide-angle colour image on the iDrive display in the centre console.

The BMW X5 has proved to be a huge global hit since it was launched in 1999 with more than 580,000 sold. In the UK its sales reached record levels each year. In 2001, the car’s first full year, BMW UK sold 5,650. In 2005 a record 10,808 X5s found customers in the UK. Prices for the new BMW X5 and details of the Dynamic Package will be revealed nearer to the spring 2007 UK market launch date.

And here's The North American Release

Woodcliff Lake, NJ - August 8, 2006... Its predecessor paved the way for a brand-new type of vehicle. Now the new BMW X5 raises the Sports Activity Vehicle (SAV) driving experience to an even higher standard. Powerful eight and six-cylinder engines, unique suspension, enhanced BMW xDrive all-wheel-drive technology, as well as a weight-optimized bodyshell with extreme torsional stiffness all interact to ensure excellent agility and dynamic performance.

The new BMW X5 is the only vehicle in its segment available with both Active Steering, developed by BMW, and AdaptiveDrive (a combination of Active Roll Stabilization and Electronic Damping Control). It is also the first SAV fitted with runflat tires as standard equipment. The powerful elegance of the exterior design, just like the flexible and elegant interior, clearly underlines the dynamic character of the new BMW X5.The new X5 will be available in the U.S. with either a 4.8-liter V8 capable of 350 horsepower or a 3.0-liter inline-six with 260 horsepower.

The all-new X5 has all the attributes that made the original Sports Activity Vehicle such an innovative concept, and elevates them to new standards.

The interior of the original X5 was one of its hallmarks. The interior in the new BMW X5 combines the most sophisticated materials with numerous innovative options, thus a first-class ambience. With sales of approximately 580,000 units worldwide since its launch in 1999, the BMW X5 has become an outstanding global success and still enjoys great popularity to this day. Of course the U.S. is the market where the X5 has had the greatest impact. Over 240,000 BMW X5s have been sold in the U.S. alone.

As it was with the original, the goal was to offer the customer a generously dimensioned, luxuriously appointed and, at the same time, highly robust premium vehicle. With BMW’s xDrive all-wheel drive and greater ground clearance the X5 possesses all the requirements for venturing out on rough terrain. By combining these attributes with outstanding on-road driving dynamics, BMW has initiated a completely new trend in the global vehicle market.

Will Ford part ways with British Luxury Brands?

2006-08-07T18:51:00.000+01:00

A report in this week's Sunday Times reported that Ford Motor Co. may sell Land Rover and Jaguar as part of a shake-up of its British brands.

I'm not sure how mush truth there is to that story seeing as Land Rover is currently bringing in a huge profit for the ailing parent company. Jaguar on the other hand...

The Times said it was understood that Ford's senior management, led by Chairman and CEO Bill Ford Jr., was considering packaging the two marques together and selling a majority stake to a financial investor.

Apparently banking sources had also said that it was still not certain whether Ford would part company with Jaguar and that there was a chance it would be retained, but with reduced production and a concentration on exclusive luxury sports cars.

The Sunday Times said Bill Ford had told staff in a memo last week that adviser Kenneth Leet would explore strategic options. It added, however, that its sources in Detroit pointed out that Leet's expertise was in mergers and acquisitions, making it more likely Ford would look to sell assets, including Jaguar. Ford said last week that no decisions on disposals had been taken.

Bill Ford has said money-losing Jaguar, which it bought in 1989, would take time to turn around, but he was considering all options for the brand. If Ford did decide to sell Jaguar it may just have to throgh the other British brand in to the mix to sweeten the deal.

The new Mercedes-Benz CL-Class

2006-06-27T20:12:00.000+01:00

Stuttgart -- The international launch of the new CL-Class in autumn 2006 (UK arrival spring 2007) will be the culmination of a Mercedes-Benz coupé tradition going back over 50 years. The two-door model combines peerless exclusivity and charismatic design with the sort of cutting-edge technology that no other manufacturer can match worldwide. Mercedes innovations such as the Active Body Control (ABC) suspension system, the Intelligent Light System with five lighting functions and PRE-SAFE® anticipatory occupant protection all come as standard. Furthermore, the luxury Coupé raises the bar in terms of vehicle safety with the PRE-SAFE® brakes: the unique system automatically brakes the Coupé before an imminent rear-end collision. Two powerful engines with eight or 12 cylinders are available, delivering a notable increase in output and torque. Thanks to their exemplary smoothness they also live up to the Mercedes heritage of superb motoring refinement.

The large Mercedes Coupés have been synonymous with style and exclusivity in the automotive industry for decades. They set the standard in terms of design and equipment, combine exemplary safety with an outstanding level of comfort and assured handling. In short, Mercedes Coupés are extraordinary dream cars -- automobile classics.

The new CL-Class is another Mercedes-Benz masterpiece. Just as the luxury coupé points the way to the future with its innovative technology, the design has also set the mould for a new Mercedes style. Its hallmark is the interaction between distinctive tightly drawn lines with large, unruffled surfaces. This design lends the Coupé its own particular expressive power, emphasising the calm and power of its powerful, self-confident nature.

Familiar Mercedes features have been given a contemporary twist, resulting in a harmonious blend of the classic and contemporary. Examples include the hallmark Mercedes radiator grille with its wide chrome louvres, and the design of the C-pillar. The unique, slightly downwards-tapering pillar configuration is a typical feature of the large Mercedes Coupés whose roots go right back to the 1950s: in 1956 the 220 S/SE Coupé (W 180/W 128 model series) first captured attention with this striking C-pillar design, and a few years later the concept was further refined in the successor model, the 220 SE Coupé (W 111/112).

Other design features which were already acclaimed back then have also been reinterpreted for the CL-Class, keeping alive the large coupé tradition of the Mercedes-Benz brand: the fully retractable side windows, for instance, whose continuous aperture is not interrupted by a B-pillar, and the large, curving panoramic rear window. In the early days this was a typical styling feature of the Mercedes Coupés, and in its stylistically evolved form for the new CL-Class it is just as appealing as in the 220 SE Coupé of 1961.

Interior: equipment for even the most discerning driver
Style finds its way into the interior too: the large side window aperture draws the eye to the stylish dashboard, exquisite wood trim and soft leather upholstery. In an instant you realise that everything in the interior of the new CL-Class is designed for comfort and relaxation. The atmosphere is reminiscent of an exclusive club: take a seat and enjoy. Five stylish colour combinations are available; automatic climate control, COMAND with car radio and CD/DVD player as well as a glass sunroof are all part of the standard specification, elements that come together to deliver a unique motoring and comfort experience.

In the top-of-the-line CL 600 the Exclusive PASSION leather appointments, specially selected poplar wood and an Alcantara roof liner with quilted seams provide the finishing touches to an exquisite first-class ambience, a look and feel also echoed in the seats with their designo styling, the chromed door sill panels and floor mats with leather edging. The standard specification also includes dynamic multicontour seats with massage function and seat ventilation, the hard-disc navigation system COMAND APS, the LOGIC7® surround sound system with DVD changer and the KEYLESS-GO access and drive authorisation system.

Compared with the outgoing model, the new Mercedes-Benz top-of-the-range coupé has grown slightly in every dimension. 5065 mm long, 1871 mm wide and 1418 mm high, the body is 75 mm longer, 14 mm wider and 20 mm higher than before, providing even more comfort and space on all four seats. The boot capacity has been increased by 40 litres to 490 litres (VDA measuring method).

Control concept: fewer switches for more functions
A newly developed control concept, which has already been successfully implemented in the S-Class worldwide, refines driver-vehicle interaction even further. Above all, it provides convenient, rapid access to frequently used functions such as car radio, DVD player, car phone or navigation system. Depending on the driver's own preference, these systems can be controlled using switches in the centre console, pressing a button on the multifunction steering wheel or using the COMAND controller on the centre console. This central control unit is linked to the large, pivoting COMAND colour display next to the instrument cluster, providing access to the user-friendly main and sub-menus that activate the various functions.

The standard-specification automatic climate control with four independently adjustable temperature zones is also integrated into the new control concept. The driver and front passenger can select temperature, air distribution and other settings either using the COMAND controller and menu-based control, or by means of an attractively styled switch array beneath the air vents. The COMAND system allows other individual climate settings to be adjusted such as air distribution and the footwell temperature.

The newly developed integral seats in the CL-Class provide maximum individual seating comfort. "Integral" means that all components of the seatbelt system are incorporated directly into the seat; hence the seats form an important component in the occupant protection system. The standard specification already provides electric adjustment of the fore-aft setting, incline of the seat and backrest, seat height, head restraint and length of the front seat cushions.
Pneumatic lumbar supports allow the driver and front passenger to adjust the backrest contour to suit their build and consequently reduce the strain on the back muscles.
Optional extras include luxury seats with active ventilation (standard in the CL 600) that provide even more individual comfort, along with the further enhanced multicontour seats with nine air cushions, and dynamic multicontour seats with massage function (standard in the CL 600). The driver and front passenger seats with multicontour function have been awarded the AGR ("healthy back campaign") seal of approval.

Active Body Control: the perfect combination of dynamism and comfort
The standard specification in the new Mercedes Coupé features technological innovations that no other manufacturer can match anywhere in the world. First and foremost is the Active Body Control (ABC) suspension system, which in its latest, even more sophisticated guise delivers unprecedented handling dynamics while offering an equally appreciable improvement in ride comfort. Based on sensor signals and using specially designed hydraulic cylinders at the axles, ABC all but entirely eliminates the customary pitch and roll of the body that occur when moving off, cornering and braking. ABC responds with split-second speed to ensure the body damping is adjusted instantly to any situation. At speeds above 60 mph, ABC lowers the body by up to 10 millimetres to reduce drag and improve handling stability.

Intelligent Light System: five lighting functions to match driving and weather conditions
The Intelligent Light System, which makes driving even safer in the dark, is equally unique. Together with bi-xenon headlamps it forms part of the standard specification for the new CL-Class and provides five different lighting functions that are activated to match driving and weather conditions: the new country mode illuminates the left-hand edge of the road more widely and brightly than the existing low-beam headlamps.

Motorway mode, which comes on automatically when driving above 56 mph, delivers a uniform cone of light that illuminates the entire road width. In the centre of this cone the driver is able to see around 50 metres further. The enhanced fog lamps are also new, which Mercedes-Benz uses to provide better orientation in adverse weather conditions. Active light function and cornering light function are also part of the standard-fit Intelligent Light System on the CL-Class.

PRE-SAFE®: automatic partial braking before an impending accident
Mercedes-Benz is the world's first car brand to develop an anticipatory occupant protection system that recognises a potential accident situation in its early stages and takes anticipatory occupant protection measures: PRE-SAFE® is standard-equipment on the new CL-Class. During emergency braking or when skidding is imminent, the system moves the passenger seat into the most favourable position so that seatbelts and airbags have maximum effect on impact. It also inflates air cushions in the dynamic multicontour seats (standard in the CL 600), which envelop and support the driver and front passenger. PRE-SAFE® also closes the side windows and the sunroof in critical situations where high lateral dynamics are generated.

Mercedes-Benz has just made this multi-award-winning anticipatory protection system even better in the CL-Class with the newly developed PRE-SAFE® brakes. They operate in tandem with Brake Assist PLUS (BAS PLUS), which warns the driver of an imminent rear-end collision with visual and audible signals and automatically calculates the required braking pressure to prevent an accident. This braking-power support is available as soon as the brake pedal is operated. If the driver does not react to the BAS PLUS warnings, the PRE-SAFE® brakes trigger automatic partial braking where an accident is imminent and slow the CL-Class down using around 40 per cent of the total braking power.

The automatic partial braking provides the driver with another clear warning to act. If the driver then immediately applies the brakes, the maximum braking force is available and the accident can -- depending on the situation -- be averted at the last moment. If an accident is unavoidable, the PRE-SAFE® brakes reduce the impact severity and, in turn, the risk of injury to the vehicle occupants.

As with Brake Assist PLUS, the new PRE-SAFE® brakes also utilise state-of-the-art radar technology to scan the situation in front of the car and detect a potential accident. Two short-range radar sensors with a range of 30 metres and a scanning angle of 80° are located behind the front bumper fascia on the CL-Class. The additional long-range radar in the radiator grille has a range of 150 metres. Mercedes-Benz also offers BAS PLUS and PRE-SAFE® brakes in conjunction with the optional DISTRONIC PLUS proximity cruise control.

Assistance systems: radar sensors make parking child’s play
The newly developed parking guidance system (optional extra) also works on the basis of radar technology: the sensors measure the length of a parking space when driving past and show on the cockpit display whether there is sufficient space to park. The display then includes a symbolic representation of the parking manoeuvre; guide lines show the required steering angle and indicate the path into the parking space. In this way the system helps the driver park inch perfect.

Night view assist with infrared headlamps, reversing camera, voice control for car radio, DVD changer and navigation as well as tyre pressure monitoring system are other optional Mercedes assistance systems for increased handling safety and comfort.

Engines: eight and 12-cylinder powerplants with noticeably more power
The new luxury Coupé is ready for any challenge on motorways and rural roads thanks to the most powerful Mercedes engines to date. The eight-cylinder powerplant in the CL 500 delivers 285 kW/388 hp and generates a maximum torque of 530 Nm from 2800 rpm. As such the newly developed engine outperforms the existing V8 unit by 26 per cent in terms of output and 15 per cent when it comes to torque. Equipped with four-valve technology, variably adjustable shifting camshafts, a two-stage intake module and tumble flaps in the intake ducts, the new V8 is among the most advanced, powerful engines in its displacement class. The CL 500 accelerates from zero to 62.5 mph in just 5.4 seconds (previous model: 6.3 seconds).

An ultra-modern biturbo 12-cylinder engine under the bonnet of the new CL 600 generates its impressive power. Mercedes engineers have enhanced numerous details of the power unit and, compared to the predecessor model, have increased output by 12 kW/17 hp to 380 kW/517 hp. The maximum torque, already on tap from 1900 rpm, has been improved further by 30 Nm to 830 Nm and remains constant up to 3500 rpm. The new CL 600 accelerates from 0 to 62.5 mph in just 4.6 seconds (previous model: 4.8 seconds). And despite the significant performance boost the V12 engine is 0.6 mpg more efficient than the outgoing model.

Mercedes-Benz has combined the standard-fit automatic transmission with the new DIRECT SELECT gearshift: the driver can select the transmission settings "P", "N", "R" and "D" by nudging a lever on the steering column. Operating commands are transmitted electronically by wire.

Tradition: seven generations of the Mercedes-Benz Coupé
The new CL-Class ushers in the seventh generation of the large Mercedes Coupés. The two-door model replaces the world-beating outgoing model, which joins the ranks of the best-selling luxury coupés with around 46,800 units sold.

The history of the large Mercedes Coupés stretches back to 1952 when Mercedes-Benz launched the legendary 300 S Coupé -- a "car for the world's elite" was the verdict of the motoring press in its day. In 1956 it was followed by the 220 S Coupé as part of the W 180 model series, which fired the public’s imagination with its unitised "Pontoon" body in particular. And in 1961 the derder 220 SEb Coupé (W 111 model series) took up the baton with its stylish elongated body.

In 1981 the SEC Coupés from the C 126 model series were based on the then S-Class and remained in the Mercedes-Benz line-up for 10 years with over 74,000 units produced. In 1992 the Geneva Motor Show was host to the launch of the successor model (C 140 model series), powered for the first time by a 290-kW/394-hp twelve-cylinder engine. The predecessor to the new CL-Class Coupé celebrated its world premiere in March 1999, setting new standards with leading-edge Mercedes innovations such as the Active Body Control (ABC) suspension system and bi-xenon headlamps.

World's Most Expensive Lemon

2006-06-18T22:22:00.000+01:00

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) - The owner of a Los Angeles car dealership is suing Mercedes-Benz, its parent company DaimlerChrysler and other affiliates, alleging that a $1.7 million car purchased in 2004 wouldn't run for more than 10 blocks without problems.

The car, a Mercedes-Benz AMG CLK-GTR Limited Edition Roadster, was supposed to be one of only five made. In the lawsuit, the owner of exotic car dealership Grand Prix Motors also alleges that six were actually made, reducing the value of his car.

A two-door sports car, the CLK-GTR has a carbon fiber body and a 6.9-liter 12-cylinder engine enabling it to go from zero to 124 mph in 9.9 seconds. It has a top speed of 198.4 mph. According to the dealership's Web site, the car's intended retail selling price was $2.5 million.

The car is believed to be the only one of its kind in the U.S., said plaintiff Mark Johnston. It is intended to be a street car but, because of differences in safety and emissions rules between the U.S. and Europe, it cannot legally be driven on public roads here.

"Unfortunately, the car turned out to be 'exotic' in the worst possible way," dealership owner Johnston said. "When we took it off the lot in 2004 for its first customer test drive, [dealership co-owner Ernest Johnston] drove the car all of 10 blocks with a prospective buyer when the oil light came on. We've been trying to get it fixed ever since, but the Mercedes folks have refused to stand behind the car as promised in our contract."

Additionally, according to Johnston, the car's transmission failed to shift properly, the hydraulic jack system failed and the car's windows came unglued. Mercedes ultimately determined that the car suffered from an oil pressure-related engine failure, the plaintiffs allege, but refused to make any repairs.

"It's unfortunate the defendants have forced us to bring a lawsuit in order to have our contract honored," said Johnston. "We obviously cannot sell the car in its current condition, which right now represents nearly $2 million of scrap metal."

Mercedes-Benz USA spokeswoman Donna Boland said she could not comment on the lawsuit since the car was purchased directly from Germany and not through Mercedes' U.S. arm. Mercedes-Benz USA is named as a defendant in the suit.

Mercedes-Benz officials in Germany could not immediately be reached for comment.

The suit seeks a full refund of the car's purchase price as well as legal fees and other expenses.

CNN.com

DiamlerChrysler to start selling Smart in US

2006-06-05T13:23:00.000+01:00

It's official- well almost. DiamlerChrysler has gotten wise to the need of a frugal and compact city car in the United States market and plans to (possibly) begin importing the ForTwo city car.
Sun Jun 4, 9:49 AM ET

DaimlerChrysler (DCXGn.DE) is leaning toward launching its Smart minicar in the United States, DaimlerChrysler Chief Executive Dieter Zetsche said in a newspaper interview on Sunday.

"At the moment, the tendency is clearly positive," Zetsche said in an interview with Germany's Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung.

A final decision on whether to sell the car in the United States will be taken this month, he said.
Zetsche repeated that he expected the loss-making Smart unit to turn a profit in 2007.

Smart is focusing on building only a two-seat model after deciding to scrap its slow-selling four-seater earlier this year.

The unit, which has been restructuring to stem losses, had already dropped its roadster model a year ago and also abandoned plans for a Smart offroader.

-Reuters

GM bids farewell to H1

2006-05-13T13:32:00.000+01:00

by Michelle Maynard and Nick Bunkley

General Motors is preparing to give a final salute to the hulking Hummer H1, the ultimate in sport utility might and, to its many critics, the ultimate in environmental incorrectness.

General Motors
About 12,000 H1's have been sold to the public, and the current price is around $140,000.

G.M. said Friday that it expected to stop building the H1, flagship of its Hummer line, next month. The move comes 14 years after it first went on sale to the public.

The H1, originally called simply the Hummer, and lately known as the H1 Alpha, is derived from the military vehicle called the Humvee.

The wide, rugged Jeep-like vehicle captivated many television viewers, who watched it trek across the Iraqi desert during the Gulf War. Hoping to capitalize on Humvee-mania, its maker, A.M. General, quickly brought out a street-legal version.

Despite its $140,000-plus price tag, rough ride and a fuel economy rating of about 10 miles a gallon, well-heeled buyers and celebrities like Arnold Schwarzenegger snapped up the H1 when it first reached the market in 1992.

"It started out as a huge image boost for G.M. — everyone knows what a Hummer is," said Ron Pinelli, the president of Autodata, an industry statistics firm in Woodcliff Lake, N.J.

About 12,000 H1's have been sold to the public, including 4,000 by G.M., which bought the marketing rights to Hummer from A.M. General in 2000.

Since then, G.M. has added two slightly smaller Hummers, the stately H2, introduced in 2002 and the relatively petite H3, which went on sale last year.

Perhaps because there are more choices of Hummers, or because H1's moment of military chic simply has passed because of the conflict overseas, sales of the H1 have plummeted.

G.M., which sold 875 H1's in 2000, sold just 374 in 2005, and 98 in the first four months of 2006, according to Autodata.

With diesel fuel prices around $3 a gallon, it costs more than $150 to fill up the H1's two gas tanks, which together hold 51.5 gallons.

And with G.M. on a push to recast its image as a green company, "it's time for it to go away," Mr. Pinelli said of the biggest Hummer.

Environmentalists, who have used the H1 as an automotive punching bag since it first heaved onto American streets, could hardly contain themselves.

"It's one thing if it's carrying soldiers to and from a fight," said Daniel Becker of the Sierra Club, which maintains an anti-Hummer Web page called "Hummerdinger.org." "It's another if it's hauling lattes home from Starbucks."

For its part, G.M. said high fuel prices were not the reason it pulled the plug on the H1. Instead, G.M. said Hummer's maker, A.M. General, "will dedicate its engineering, manufacturing, marketing and dealer resources to bringing more new or significantly revised models to market."

Despite the decline in H1 sales, Hummer dealers expressed disappointment that the gargantuan vehicle's days were numbered.

"The H1 is where it all started," said Ben Olin, sales manager at Ed Schmidt Hummer, a Maumee, Ohio, dealership that was one of the first in the country to sell the H1. "There's a lot of heritage that goes along with it."

Mr. Olin sold just two H1's last year. Many buyers, he said, are now turning to the less overbearing H2, which is based on the Chevrolet Tahoe S.U.V.

Indeed, G.M. has sold more than 100,000 H2's and more than 50,000 H3's, based on the Chevy Colorado pickup, since each went on sale. Leo Karl III, president of Hummer by Karl in New Canaan, Conn., said he was surprised at G.M.'s decision to discontinue the vehicle after investing money to make it street-legal. The H1 has a "beautiful interior and unbelievable" 6.6-liter, turbo diesel V-8 engine, Mr. Karl said.

Mr. Karl said he would miss the H1. "If there's one vehicle on the road that's like nothing else, that's it," he said.

Reprinted from the New York Times 5-13-06

BMW Concept Car Mille Miglia 2006

2006-05-12T13:11:00.000+01:00

New BMW concept car unveiled at the Mille Miglia 2006

Modern technologies and dramatic historical styling combine in the new BMW Concept Coupe Mille Miglia.
BMW has unveiled a brand new concept car prior to the 2006 Mille Miglia. With hints of today’s BMW Z4 Coupe and one of BMW’s most famous racing cars, the BMW 328, the BMW Concept Coupe Mille Miglia 2006 took pride of place in Brescia, Italy yesterday (May 10) as this year’s entrants were scrutineered ahead of the event.

The Mille Miglia was resurrected in 1977 as an annual rally to celebrate one of the world’s great motor races. All vehicle models that competed in the original races between 1927 and 1957 are permitted an entry. Highlighting the 22 BMWs that have entered this year’s event, BMW’s latest concept looks back to these great racing cars. In particular the BMW 328 Mille Miglia Touring Coupe that was driven into the record books and past the chequered flag in the 1940 race.

It also looks ahead to future motor sport achievements, with a modified drivetrain and suspension from the new Z4 M Coupe providing the car’s power and control. A body 23 centimetres longer, and four centimetres lower, than BMW’s latest production sports car is set off by bespoke 20-inch alloy wheels on 245/40 R 20 tyres that complement the car’s powerful presence.

The concept car looks to both the past and the future in its styling and construction; it pays homage to the outstanding achievements of the engineers who contributed to BMW’s successful motor sport heritage, whilst confirming the passion to construct dynamic cars from the most modern materials and processes available. This remains a fundamental concept for today’s BMW road and race cars.

In the drive to win races and manufacture the ‘ultimate driving machine’, the techniques and materials may have changed beyond all recognition, but the drive and ambition remains the same.

Steeped in History
In the 1940 Mille Miglia, the winning BMW 328 Mille Miglia Touring Coupe recorded an incredible, and thoroughly modern, 166.7 kmh average speed over the course’s 1,000 miles. This remains the fastest average speed for any Mille Miglia.

The BMW 328 was one of the most successful competitive vehicles in BMW’s long motor sport history. Introduced in 1936 the racing specification 328 won its class in almost every race in which it competed between 1936 and 1940, and continued winning races in the 1940s and 1950s.

In 2004, the BMW 328 Mille Miglia Touring Coupe became the first car to win both the Mille Miglia (1940) and the modern-day classical version of the race.

The design team responsible for the original 328 succeeded without the benefit of computers. Building models was the only option. But despite the digital revolution, modelling remains a fundamental part of the design process for today’s BMWs. The company’s designers remain loyal to this process as it connects them emotionally to the form of a new product. During the design of the BMW Concept Coupe Mille Miglia 2006, the designers took a step back in time and formed the car from plaster models rather than clay. Quite literally a more ‘hands-on’, labour intensive process. The result is a greater appreciation within the design team of why classic racing cars are perceived as more emotional and artistic objects than today’s computer-generated racing cars.

The concept car’s hinged hard-top roof is a reference to the relaxation of the rules at Le Mans when racing cars moved from soft-top to hard-top construction as closed vehicles became eligible to race. This precipitated the development of the 328 Touring Coupe from its roadster origins, allowing the model to develop further as a lightweight, aerodynamic ‘bespoke’ racing car. Similarly, the new Z4 Coupe has been derived from the Z4 Roadster soft-top as a ‘behind-the-scenes’ project driven by the designers’ enthusiasm. This coupe development leading to the production of the new Z4 M Coupe Racing car.

Thoroughly Modern Mille
While the hinged roof structure recalls past events, the principle function of the hinged system, that also raises the cockpit, negates the requirement for doors (reducing weight) and increases torsional stiffness.

The car benefits from an extremely lightweight chassis. The most modern design processes were used to ‘stretch’ an aluminium shell over a lattice frame. The body is also constructed from lightweight materials, with carbon-fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) clothing the entire vehicle. As a nod to the past this is painted in ‘fine silver’, a full-gloss paint colour with extremely fine pigments that hints to classic silver race colours.

The large circular headlamps inspired by the shape of the 328 units are not integrated into the body of the car, but attached as flat elements. Modern LED technology facilitates this design function that frees up the designers to develop more flowing and unbroken body forms. This manifests itself on the Concept Coupe by uninterrupted bonnet and side panels.

Inspired by BMW’s glorious motor racing heritage, the science of aerodynamics was addressed with thoroughly modern techniques and design resolutions. Side panels and the rear section of the car were designed to allow turbulence-free flow of air up to the tail where the airflow is separated. Carbon-fibre underbody fins and diffusers on the front and rear aprons also contribute to the car’s aerodynamics. Meanwhile air intakes in the A-pillars, arranged in a slim Z-line, direct cooling air from the six-cylinder in-line engine and contribute to developing downforce and reducing turbulence at the wheel housings.

The Concept Coupe is powered by the multi-award winning BMW six-cylinder inline petrol engine that powers the new BMW Z4 M Coupe. Modifications have been made to the inlet and exhaust systems of the 343 hp unit to give the concept car more of a ‘racing’ sound at both idle and full throttle.

The interior retains the functional simplicity prevalent in both 328 racing cars and Z4 production cars, but in a modern presentation. Only three materials are used; thin stainless steel, untreated cowhides, Lycra fabric. This purist form even extends to letterings, logos and symbols embossed into surfaces using laser technology.

Mazda RX-8 PZ

2006-05-12T13:07:00.000+01:00

‘MAZDA RX-8 PZ’ – The Driver-Focused Coupe

Responding to enthusiastic customer feedback, Mazda is introducing an even more ‘focused’ version of its highest performance, four-door, sports coupé. On sale in the UK from 1 July it will be called the ‘Mazda RX-8 PZ’.

Based on the 231ps high-power version of Mazda RX-8 with leather trim, the PZ has been further developed by Mazda jointly with leading motorsport company Prodrive, and specialist component suppliers Bilstein, Eibach and OZ Racing. Mazda’s brief to Prodrive was to build on the remarkable attributes of the standard Mazda RX-8 and create a special model that delivers greater driver involvement and an even more rewarding motoring experience, with enhanced ride and handling, while staying true to the original concept and without compromising the car’s passenger comfort as a unique four-seater sports car.

Ensuring a touch of exclusivity, just 800 examples of the Mazda RX-8 PZ will be available, priced at £25,995 on-the-road with an insurance rating of 17E compared to 16E for the standard RX-8 231ps model.

Distinguishing features include a choice of two colours Brilliant Black (solid) or Galaxy Grey (metallic), unique 18-inch OZ alloy wheels, rear silencer and aerodynamic rear spoiler, lowered suspension, sporty door mirrors, grille mesh inserts on front and rear bumpers as well as ‘PZ’ and 'Prodrive' badging. Additionally, inside RX-8 PZ features the black leather seat trim, plus black leather-wrapped steering wheel, gear knob and hand brake lever that features as standard on all RX-8 231ps models.

While the PZ certainly looks sophisticated and different from regular RX-8s, the changes and components that deliver the ‘greater driver involvement’ lie beneath the car’s stylish exterior. Bespoke suspension settings were developed by Prodrive during extensive testing of the prototype car at its Warwick test centre, the MIRA proving ground and on selected public roads, including challenging A and B roads as well as motorways.

The final specification derived by Prodrive for the Mazda RX-8 PZ sees the ride height lowered by 15mm all round, while the car is equipped with top-quality components from three companies at the leading edge of world-class motorsport.

To reduce roll and pitch, and achieve an even flatter cornering attitude, special Bilstein dampers and Eibach coil springs, made to Prodrive specifications, are fitted. The spring rates are increased by over 60 per cent, while the specially tuned gas-filled mono-tube dampers give tighter body control, yet maintain good compliance over ridges and bumps in the road. The front bump stop is changed for a new Bilstein item, (10mm shorter than standard), to achieve enhanced handling. The suspension geometry has also been revised to optimise the steering and handling. The anti-roll bars, rear bump stops and tyres are to the standard RX-8 specification to maintain rear passenger ride comfort.

The RX-8 PZ is also fitted with uniquely designed 10-spoke, 18-inch diameter lightweight alloy wheels, finished in dark silver with carbon fibre centre caps, branded with Prodrive and OZ logos. The OZ Racing wheels are just one ingredient of the subtle visual makeover given to the PZ. The standard boot lid spoiler is removed and replaced with an aerodynamic spoiler developed in the MIRA wind tunnel. Specially created for the RX-8 PZ by Prodrive, the spoiler is designed to generate down-force and enhance high-speed stability, while also endowing the PZ with a more pronounced appearance.

Black mesh grilles are fitted to the outer and central front air intakes and to the rear bumper vent. Lower-drag sporty door mirrors (similar to those used on the RX-8 Evolve) are also featured. Branding is applied to the front wings alongside the air vents, the rear spoiler, the twin chrome exhaust tailpipe surrounds and the wheel centres.

The PZ also sounds different from other RX-8s. An upgraded rear silencer was developed to give a sportier sound inside and outside the car.

In terms of acceleration and top speed, the Mazda RX-8 PZ performance matches that of the standard 231ps model, with a 0 to 62mph time of just 6.4 seconds and a maximum speed of 146mph. However, the spring, damper and aerodynamic changes result in a significantly more focused car, with greatly enhanced appeal for drivers wanting to fully exploit the car’s dynamics including better cornering ability and a more precise steering feel.

The changes embodied in PZ will inspire driver confidence and make the Mazda RX-8 range even more attractive to motorists in search of a seriously capable sports car with the unique ability to take the family for an exciting drive.

Taking Mazda’s Zoom Zoom experience to a higher level, the RX-8 PZ is set to build on the whirlwind success of the Mazda RX-8, voted ‘Best Coupé 2006’ by the influential What Car? magazine earlier this year – for the third year running. Since launch more than 17,000 RX-8s have been delivered to customers in the UK.

Mazda promises:
• More ‘focused’ ride and handling for new version of 231ps Mazda RX-8
• Created jointly with Prodrive to deliver greater driver involvement
• Touch of exclusivity with only 800 examples available
• Priced from £25,995 on-the-road

Mazda RX-8 PZ - At a glance
Lowered ride height
Upgraded coil springs and dampers
Unique 18-inch OZ alloy wheels
Unique aerodynamic rear spoiler
Unique upgraded twin rear silencers

Appearance
Exterior colours, Brilliant Black (480) or Galaxy Grey (320)
Front and rear mesh grilles
Sporty door mirrors
PZ side badges
PZ and Prodrive branded rear spoiler
Prodrive and OZ branded wheel centre caps
Prodrive branded silencer surrounds

Aston Reveals New Bond Car

2006-05-12T12:59:00.000+01:00

Aston Martin reveals James Bond’s DBS for “CASINO ROYALE”

Gaydon, 4 May 2006:Aston Martin has unveiled the new DBS which will be driven by James Bond, the legendary British secret agent, in the next 007 film, “CASINO ROYALE”, to be produced by Michael G Wilson and Barbara Broccoli for EON Productions.

In true Bond style, specific details of the new DBS remain top secret, although Aston Martin Design Director, Marek Reichman, said: “This car encapsulates a link between our elegant DB9 road car and the powerful DBR9 race car. It signals an evolutionary development of Aston Martin’s world renowned style and elegance.

“While hinting at our future design direction, the DBS also has very clear links with our heritage — it is instantly recognisable as an Aston Martin.”

Aston Martin Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Dr Ulrich Bez added: “The DBS continues our proud and lengthy association with James Bond.

“The DBS is not of the understated elegance of a DB9, nor the youthful agility of the V8 Vantage. It is explosive power in a black tie and has its own unique character which will equal that of James Bond.”

Starring Daniel Craig as James Bond, “CASINO ROYALE” is scheduled for release in November 2006.

BMW 3-Series Coupe

2006-05-12T12:57:00.000+01:00

THE ALL NEW 2007 BMW 3 SERIES COUPE

Woodcliff Lake, NJ - April 21, 2006… Introducing the latest expression of individual style - the all-new BMW 3 Series Coupe. With totally new looks, the newest BMW Coupe once again sets the benchmark for elegant design, luxury and value. In true BMW tradition, it also establishes a new standard of performance and driving dynamics with the introduction of an exceptional engine: the first inline six-cylinder with twin-turbochargers, high-precision fuel injection, and an all-aluminum crankcase.The performance potential of this new 300 horsepower engine ensures that the 335i Coupe offers a significant improvement in performance while maintaining a level of efficiency for which the BMW 3 Series is renowned.

The 335i Coupe will be joined in the U.S. by the 230 horsepower 328i Coupe. In addition to the standard six-speed manual, both models will be offered with an available six-speed STEPTRONIC automatic transmission. Designed for responsiveness, the new automatic enhances driving dynamics without sacrificing fuel efficiency.An additional dimension of driving dynamics, with the benefit of outstanding traction, will be offered with the introduction of BMW's xDrive all-wheel drive. BMW xDrive is the most sophisticated and responsive all-wheel drive system on the market. It has proven its merits, in terms of agility and safety, in the ten models currently offered with xDrive in the U.S.

Beginning this fall these merits will become available to Coupe drivers for the first time.The premium character of the newest BMW Coupe is recognizable from the very first glance. Over and above the basic shape of the car and its elegant lines, the graphic design of the headlights, the detail of the rear taillights, the interior and even the exterior mirrors were specifically crafted for the new Coupe. These unique design elements reflect the unique character of this elegant and sporty new car.The buyer who chooses a Coupe wants a car that satisfies their demand for elegant looks as well as driving dynamics. With all this in mind, BMW engineers and designers set out to create a unique yet unmistakable blend of design, features and - most particularly - driving pleasure.

Designed to reflect performance and elegance in the tradition of BMW CoupesThe new Coupe is unquestionably a BMW 3 Series. Yet despite its close technical ties to the Sedan and Sports Wagon, the new BMW 3 Series Coupe is unique in its design details. A genuine BMW from every angle, the new Coupe is an individualist through and through.The character of any coupe is reflected in its profile. On the new BMW 3 Series Coupe the profile is unmistakably BMW. The long hood reflects BMW's adherence to its tradition of inline six-cylinder engines. The long wheelbase, the passenger compartment set back as well as the low, sleek roofline which slopes gently into the trunk, are all characteristic of BMW Coupes.

In addition to the classic proportions, the shoulder, character and sill lines serve to enhance the sleek appearance. Both the shoulder line and character line stretch uninterrupted to the back of the car, allowing one's eye to move quickly and smoothly from front to rear along the entire length of the car. The sill line on the lower edge of the door also flows into the front and rear air dams, reinforcing the dynamic nature of BMW's newest Coupe.

The combination of lines flowing into one another reflects the performance potential. While the shoulder line rises slightly but consistently from front to rear, the character line flows in a long, stretched arch all the way from the front fender to the taillights. As the sill line, by contrast, moves up slightly to the rear in a slow and gentle curve, the distance between the character and sill lines becomes smaller around the rear wheel arches. The flare of the fender around the wheel also serves to give the character line extra tension in both an upward and outward direction. The front view also shows a significant distinction from the 3 Series Sedan and Sports Wagon. The contours of the hood as well as the design of the front air dam and headlights give the new BMW 3 Series Coupe a particularly low and sporty look. The powerdome on the hood foretells the performance potential which lies beneath. Its lines follow a powerful silhouette extending all the way from the A-pillars to the outside corners of the BMW kidney grill.

The kidney grille, a typical feature of every BMW, stands out from the surfaces around it. Interaction with the three-dimensional kidney frame creates a look of power and unique style.

The headlight units on the new BMW 3 Series Coupe also have a unique look. With the hood extending beyond the headlights as such, the characteristic four round headlights appear to have been cut-off at the top creating a sense of powerful, concentrated focus.The new 3 Series Coupe will come standard in the U.S. with xenon adaptive headlights, accented by BMW's corona light rings. The corona light rings not only serve as daytime running lights, but also draw attention to BMW's characteristic four round headlights, making this new Coupe instantly recognizable as a BMW, day or night.The design of taillights is also unique to the new 3 Series Coupe. Integrated flush into the body of the car, the lights are split into two sections and extend all the way up to the trunk lid, blending with the character lines from the side profile. Horizontal LED taillights give the car an unmistakable look at night. The horizontally flowing lines accentuate the wide track and low stance of the new Coupe.The designers' objective was to give the new 3 Series Coupe a balanced and harmonious look. The traditional "Hofmeister kink" at the bottom edge of the C-pillar now extends at an even more distinct angle into the shoulder line. To further accentuate this flow of lines, the window accent surround is now made in one single piece.

The exterior mirrors have been specifically designed and matched to the unique character of the new 3 Series Coupe. The contours of the mirrors reflect the profile lines while the mirrors blend seamlessly with the car's overall design.The emphasis on individual style, dynamic performance and exclusivity continues within the interior. Horizontal lines dominate the surfaces on and around the instrument panel which blend with the lines of the center console and door panels to give the interior a light but dynamic feel. In true BMW fashion the instrument cluster and key controls are angled toward the driver. Controls for the climate control as well as the audio and navigation systems are within easy reach of the front passenger. Given that the new Coupe is a four passenger car, the rear seat passengers are treated to a storage compartment between the rear seats.

An elegant ambience is created in the interior by special lighting and switches with a premium look and feel. The light contour edge on the door and side panels, which runs from the door pillar all the way to the rear passenger area, creates a particularly warm, indirect lighting effect. Controls and switches used frequently by the driver and passengers such as the door handles and gearshift are finished in high quality metallic trim for an elegant appearance as well as a premium tactile experience.

Inline six-cylinder engines enter new dimensions of performance. The first impression the new BMW 3 Series Coupe delivers is one of stylish elegance and powerful dynamics. Its long hood reflects BMW's longstanding tradition of inline six-cylinder engines. The new BMW 3 Series Coupe will arrive in the U.S. with a choice of two six-cylinder engines including the world's first inline six with twin turbos, high precision fuel injection, and an all-aluminum crankcase. It is the most powerful engine within BMW's wide range of inline six driving machines that does not wear an "M" badge. This brand-new version develops maximum output of 300 hp in US-spec from 3.0 liters and generates peak torque of 300 lb-ft for powerful acceleration in any situation. The combination of turbocharging and direct gasoline fuel injection offers a new dimension to efficient dynamics. Featuring high-precision fuel injection, the engine boasts a highly sophisticated and advanced direct fuel injection system. In true BMW fashion this results in outstanding performance combined with a significant reduction of fuel consumption. A further advantage of turbocharging is that this is the most economical option to boost engine power and performance. For example, the turbocharged inline six weighs approximately 150 lbs less than an equally powerful eight-cylinder displacing 4.0 liters. And this lower weight means a significant advantage not only in fuel economy, but also in balancing the weight distribution of the overall car. This new high-performance engine gives the light, aerodynamically sculpted Coupe truly outstanding acceleration and flexibility on the road. The twin turbo powerplant in the BMW 335i Coupe develops its power and performance much more spontaneously than a turbocharged engine of conventional design. Thanks to their lower inertia, the two small turbochargers build up pressure much faster than a single, large turbocharger, thus eliminating even the slightest turbo "lag". At the same time the new engine offers all the smoothness and refinement which has made BMW's award-winning inline sixes so admired. Last but certainly not least, the impressive increase in power on the twin turbo engine versus a conventional normally aspirated six-cylinder comes without any significant increase in fuel consumption. Featuring two turbochargers each supplying compressed air to three cylinders, the new turbocharged engine offers a new standard of spontaneity and responsiveness. Peak torque of 300 lb-ft comes smoothly and without delay, extending over a wide speed range from 1,400 - 5,000 rpm.On the road, this power and torque result in outstanding performance. The 335i Coupe accelerates from 0 - 60 mph in just 5.3 seconds. This sense of urgency continues all the way to the electronically-limited top speed of 150 mph, when equipped with sport package.

This extremely efficient increase in power and performance is attributable in large part to gasoline direct injection. The high-precision fuel injection concept developed by BMW ensures a measurable advantage in fuel economy, without limiting the dynamic qualities of the engine. To enhance this efficiency to an even higher level, the turbochargers are made of a particularly heat-resistant material which makes them immune to high exhaust gas temperatures in the interest of a fuel-efficient combustion process particularly under full load. As a result, the twin turbo technology in the BMW 335i Coupe represents a significant achievement in terms of both performance and fuel economy. The advantages over a conventional turbocharged engine are not only clearly measurable, but also easy to feel on the road. BMW's new twin-turbo inline six is making its debut in the new 335i Coupe. One cannot overlook the new 328i Coupe with its normally-aspirated inline six-cylinder engine. This is the latest model to take advantage of BMW's weight-saving blend of magnesium and aluminum for the crankcase. The cylinder head cover and the bedplate are also made of aluminum. Fully variable Valvetronic valve management, an electric coolant pump and a fully controlled oil pump are features which serve to enhance the 328i Coupe's efficiency and responsiveness.

The new engine in the 328i Coupe offers 230 horsepower and 200 lb-ft of torque. With 0 - 60 mph acceleration in just 6.2 seconds, this new "entry-level" Coupe is quicker than the previous top-of-the-line 330Ci Coupe.

Both models come standard with a six-speed manual gearbox for the pure driving enthusiast. For those who prefer an automatic a six-speed STEPTRONIC automatic is available. When ordered with the available sport package on the 335i Coupe, steering wheel mounted shift paddles are included, maximizing the sporting potential of the automatic.

The new six-speed STEPTRONIC automatic uses an innovative torque converter and enhanced management software to improve shifting responsiveness. The response time of the automatic transmission on the new BMW 3 Series Coupe is down by approximately 40 per cent compared with a conventional automatic transmission. While fast, responsive gear changes can make driving more fun, the optimized selection of the appropriate gear for all driving conditions helps to reduce fuel consumption. This new automatic is a textbook example of BMW's pursuit of Efficient Dynamics.

Chassis and suspension: where power becomes performance.Even with great looks and outstanding performance, it would not be a BMW Coupe if it did not also offer equally outstanding handling and responsiveness.The new 3 Series Coupe offers class-leading agility through a combination of significantly enhanced dynamic potential on one hand, with the most sophisticated chassis control and assistance systems on the other. Together they provide a margin of safety for any situation in which the car might reach the limits of driving physics. In other words, the driver and passengers in a BMW 3 Series Coupe enjoy superior safety at all speeds. Traditional rear-wheel drive and a near 50:50 front-to-rear weight distribution give the new BMW 3 Series Coupe ideal qualities for optimum driving dynamics. This, in combination with the high-tech suspension, enables the driver to convert the power and performance of the engine into an exhilarating driving experience. Boasting a double-pivot front suspension with spring struts made almost entirely of aluminum in combination with a five-link suspension at the rear, the new BMW 3 Series Coupe has the most advanced and sophisticated suspension in its class. Reinforcement and support elements on the underfloor of the car serve to optimize the stiffness of the chassis which enables the suspension to work with the highest possible degree of precision. Interacting with the low centre of gravity and the specific set-up of the shock absorbers, the chassis and suspension work in perfect balance. BMW's rack-and-pinion steering has been widely praised for its precision and feedback and the steering in the new 3 Series Coupe is no exception. For the ultimate balance between agility at lower speeds and stability at higher speeds, BMW's innovative Active Steering will be available. By adjusting the steering ratio, steering angle and power assistance to the speed of the car, Active Steering enables the driver to maneuver the 3 Series Coupe with minimum effort when parking and keep the car precisely on track at higher speeds. The high-performance brake system requires 17-inch wheels to match the larger diameter of the brake discs which ensure outstanding stopping power and deceleration. Brake performance is further enhanced by BMW's latest Dynamic Stability Control. Introduced on the 3 Series Sedan, BMW's latest DSC incorporates several new functions. For example, DSC works to counteract the slightest brake fading effect even at extremely high brake temperatures by increasing brake pressure accordingly. This ensures maximum brake power even under the toughest conditions, without requiring the driver to exert any higher pressure. Brake Standby positions the brakes closer to the discs after sudden lift off of the accelerator pedal to further reduce stopping distances in an emergency. Dry Braking, in turn, optimizes brake performance in the wet by using the brake pads to periodically dry the brake discs. Dynamic Brake Control automatically maximizes brake pressure whenever required in an emergency stop. Start-Off Assistant briefly holds the car when setting off on an uphill grade. In a 3 Series Coupe equipped with Active Steering, DSC helps keep the car stable and under control when applying the brakes on surfaces varying in their frictional coefficient. DSC corrects the steering quickly and precisely for optimum control. Dynamic Traction Control is another feature of DSC. Activation of DTC raises the threshold for intervention by the brakes, enabling the driver of a BMW 3 Series Coupe to set off smoothly on low friction surfaces such as snow. A benefit of DTC for the enthusiast is that it allows slight, easily controllable slip on the drive wheels even on a dry surface. Of course, as in all BMWs, the driver also has the option to completely deactivate DSC in the new 3 Series Coupe. BMW's intelligent xDrive all-wheel-drive system will be available as an alternative to rear-wheel drive for those who need an extra measure of traction with BMW responsiveness. Acknowledged as the most sophisticated and responsive of all-wheel drive systems, BMW xDrive allows the new 3 Series Coupe driver to enjoy the ultimate driving experience in all types of weather and driving. xDrive not only distributes power to each of the four wheels as road conditions require, it partners with DSC to play an active role in helping to stabilize the vehicle at the onset of oversteer or understeer. It will be available this fall in the 328xi Coupe.The new BMW 3 Series Coupe comes standard with runflat tires for both models. Featuring the most advanced failsafe running qualities, these tires allow the driver to continue for up to 150 miles even under complete loss of pressure. The standard Tire Pressure Monitor gives plenty of warning and alerts the driver when the pressure of any tire falls 30 percent below the ideal level. Ultra-modern body structure: lower weight, greater safety, improved responsiveness.The new BMW 3 Series Coupe is light, strong and stable at once. Its structure is tailored to improve agility, safety and comfort while also contributing to overall vehicle efficiency. Low vehicle weight and a high standard of torsional body stiffness is also crucial to the car's agility. In the event of a collision, the use of high-strength steel in critical areas, together with the exactly defined deformation zones, ensures effective absorption and, respectively, transfer of forces acting on the body of the car. Reinforced B-pillars are a particularly impressive example of the high standard of development and excellence in design that the new BMW 3 Series Coupe has achieved, with a tubular structure throughout the B-pillars featured for the first time for added strength. This tubular reinforcement is made of ultra-strong steel in a warm-molding process and is heat-treated for top quality while still in the mold. The reinforcement tube is variably contoured in its cross-section, exactly matching the space available. Together with the crash box tailored to the loads, which act on the body, this ensures maximum safety. The choice of materials and the arrangement of components at other points on the body also serve to optimize crash safety. The various properties of different types of steel and other materials are used to best effect. The space available for deformation on the new BMW 3 Series Coupe is used to minimize even the slightest impairment of the passenger cell. In a head-on collision, for example, dynamic deformation areas at the front keep impact energy away from the bulkhead and, accordingly, from the car's footwells. In the event of a side-impact collision, the specially designed floor assembly ensures controlled transfer of forces acting on the car to the opposite side of the body. The bulkhead support is made of innovative multi-phase steel offering outstanding strength and stability even on thin-gauge panels. Efficient interaction of the doors, the reinforced b-pillars, the seat structure and the instrument panel between the A-pillars serves likewise to maximize the strength of the side structure. The consequences of a collision from the rear are minimized by longitudinal carrier bars, a wide range of reinforcement elements, as well as the extra-strong luggage compartment floor panel, rear panel and side walls. Stable pillars and crossbars also help protect the passenger area in a rollover.

Naturally, BMW's safety engineers sought from the start to fully maintain the passenger cell as a safe environment even in the most severe crash impact. Centrally masterminded restraint and support systems within the passenger compartment ensure individual occupant safety tailored for any contingency. The frontal, hip, side airbags along with curtain-type Head Protection System, belt latch tensioners and belt force limiters are activated by sensor-controlled electronic safety systems as a function of the type and severity of a collision. With its robust body enhanced by a wide range of active and passive safety features, the new BMW 3 Series Coupe meets all requirements for optimum results in all crash tests. With active driving calling for optimum visibility at night, the new BMW 3 Series Coupe comes standard in the U.S. with xenon adaptive headlights. Light rods in the rear light clusters stand out distinctly for a significant improvement of safety in the dark. Whether in the dark or during the day, two-stage adaptive brake lights make an important contribution in enabling following drivers to recognize a dangerous situation well in advance. Whenever the driver applies the brakes particularly hard, and when the ABS function is activated, light intensity in the two-stage taillights is increased accordingly, prompting drivers following from behind to brake harder, too. Impressive standard and optional equipmentThe list of comfort features boasted as standard equipment in the new BMW 3 Series Coupe is just as long and impressive as the list of safety elements. Particularly in the area of top-quality audio, navigation and telematic solutions, BMW offers optional high-tech concepts originally developed for the most outstanding luxury performance cars. Here again, the focus is on the actual driving experience. The seating position at the rear is lower than in the Sedan, for example, gives the car's occupants optimum headroom despite the low roof line of the Coupe. At the same time not only the driver and front passenger, but also the rear passengers will immediately feel and enjoy excellent side support. The door handle trim, gearshift lever cover and vent grille adjusters, as well as the decorative trim in the leather sports steering wheel all come in Pearl Gray chrome surface finish developed exclusively for the new BMW 3 Series Coupe. The starter button is also finished in this material.Through its design and configuration, the cockpit emphasizes the sporting and driver-oriented character of BMW's new Coupe. Taking a seat behind the wheel, the driver will immediately focus on a newly designed instrument cluster which includes an oil temperature gauge positioned below the tachometer.

The mission to develop a coupe has always been a particularly demanding but interesting challenge for the automotive engineer. After all, the driver opting for a coupe is a truly discerning driver looking for the ultimate driving experience. With this in mind, BMW has succeeded time and again over the years in meeting the great demands made of the coupe buyer while, at the same time, consistently resetting the benchmark in this segment. The coupe has a long tradition at BMW. Even back in the 1930s, the BMW 327 was lauded as a truly outstanding two-seater and remains a legend to this day. Even back then, the coupe was widely appreciated as a particularly sporting grand tourer with two doors and a fixed roof. These fundamental features remain virtually unchanged to this day. The lines typical of a coupe combine a long and sleek front section with a dynamic roof line tapering out gently to the rear. Unlike a thoroughbred sports car, the typical coupe offers ample space for more than just two occupants as well as a separate luggage compartment providing room for ample luggage. The new BMW 3 Series Coupe takes up proven traditions in terms of drive technology as well. Developing a coupe, BMW always seeks to enter new dimensions in driving dynamics. This is why particularly powerful engines and new chassis control systems regularly make their debut in a coupe. Now the new BMW 3 Series Coupe is continuing this tradition with BMW's new twin-turbo inline six featuring high-precision fuel injection.

As a modern interpretation of a traditional car concept, the new BMW 3 Series Coupe is unquestionably a very special car. Even more than its predecessor, the new 3 Series Coupe stands out from its Sedan counterpart through its distinctive design. In the process the new BMW 3 Series Coupe ensures a particularly refined combination of active driving pleasure and visual appeal. The new BMW 3 Series Coupe is, above all, a BMW designed to deliver the ultimate driving experience. The all new BMW 335i Coupe and 328i Coupe will arrive in U.S. showrooms this September.