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Alpina is as familiar to German enthusiasts as Shelby, Hurst, Saleen and Yenko are to American gearheads. And like its American counterparts, Alpina has made a business out of taking the best vehicles from one marque and making them substantially better than anything rolling off the assembly line.

The relationship between BMW and Alpina started in 1962 when a German enthusiast named Burkard Bovenseipen realized his BMW 1500 had plenty of untapped potential. Bovenseipen developed a dual carburetor kit for the 1500’s four-cylinder, and as the carbs flew off the shelves, he realized there was a serious market for BMW-based performance parts. Mr. B formed ALPINA Burkard Bovenseipen KG in 1964 and in the decades since, the company has become known simply as Alpina.

But while the name has changed, its mission remains the same, and its line of upgrades have grown considerably since its inception. Bovenseipen’s team continues to recognize the potential in almost every new BMW product, and the small but competent company, now managed by Bovenseipen’s son Andreas (his staff calls him Andy), delivers better, less compromised, higher-performance versions of BMW production cars.

In Europe, Alpina offers variants of the 3 Series, 5 Series and 6 Series, dubbed the B3, B5, and B6, respectively. However, production constraints (and some concerns about M cannibalization, we’re sure) prevents sales of these hotted-up Bimmers in the States. That’s a crime, because the Alpina B7 – the only Alpina available in the U.S. – is easily the best 7 Series we’ve driven.

Photos by Rex Roy / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading First Drive: 2011 BMW Alpina B7 breaks the luxo-barge mold

First Drive: 2011 BMW Alpina B7 breaks the luxo-barge mold

Ah, the BMW M3. In coupe, convertible or sedan form (the latter of which may be making its exit in the near future), we’ve always been quite fond of this track day stunner. Now, owners have the chance to add some tasteful upgrades to the full range of M3 models by way of BMW Performance carbon fiber aerodynamic accessories.

Made of carbon fiber reinforced plastic, the mirror caps and front splitters can be fitted to any current M3, and a rear deck lid spoiler is available for coupe and sedan models. (Sorry, droptop lovers.) Naturally, these upgrades are covered under the BMW Performance two-year warranty, and can be purchased from authorized BMW dealers. Official pricing hasn’t been dished out just yet, but if these accessories are like the rest of BMW’s options list, don’t expect any bargains. Hit the jump for the full details in BMW’s press release.

[Source: BMW]

Continue reading BMW offering carbon fiber components for M3

BMW offering carbon fiber components for M3

The minds at Consumer Reports have just wrapped up testing on a handful of family sedans. The publication lined up the Chevrolet Impala, Hyundai Sonata, Nissan Altima and Suzuki Kizashi for a four-door throw down, and by the time the dust settled, Nissan and Hyundai reigned supreme. Both the four-cylinder Altima and Sonata racked up ‘Excellent’ ratings from the Consumer Reports testers, but only the Altima managed to walk away with the coveted ‘Recommended’ badge – the Sonata is too new for CR to weigh in on the Big Hyun’s reliability.

Likewise, the Kizashi secured an ‘Excellent’ rating, though missed out on the honor of being ‘Recommended’ for the same reason. The same can’t be said for the Chevrolet Impala. The Bowtie only managed a ‘Good’ rating, though it fared poorly enough in testing to be ‘Not Recommended.’ According to Consumer Reports, the big Chevrolet’s disappointing fuel economy, clumsy four-speed transmission and lackluster fit-and-finish simply mean that it’s due for a new model in a big way. Hop the jump for the full press release blast.

[Source: Consumer Reports]
Photos by Michael Harley / Copyright (C)2009, (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading Consumer Reports gives top marks to Nissan Altima and Hyundai Sonata among family sedans

Consumer Reports gives top marks to Nissan Altima and Hyundai Sonata among family sedans

Chrysler’s long-lived PT Cruiser will finally roll off into the sunset next month after a decade in production. According to the Detroit Free Press, when the 2010 model year winds down at Chrysler’s Toluca, Mexico plant on July 9, the final Cruisers will be produced. The retro-styled five door hatchback was a sensation when it debuted and inspired customers to pay a premium over the sticker price to get one. Over the years, the styling was tweaked only slightly its competitiveness declined significantly as DaimlerChrysler steadfastly refused to invest in it.

The Cruiser was originally earmarked for discontinuation a year ago, but when Chrysler emerged from bankruptcy, it needed product, so the automaker kept it alive for another 12 months. The Toluca factory will now be re-tooled for production of another retro-design small car, the Fiat 500 which joins the Chrysler lineup later this year.

Photos copyright (C)2009 Sam Abuelsamid / Weblogs, Inc.
[Source: Detroit Free Press]

Report: Final PT Cruiser to roll off Chrysler assembly line on July 9

It’s time to stoke the raging fires of the rumor furnace once again. The good people at Motor Trend have let it slip that Caroll Shelby may be planning something interesting for the 50th anniversary of the Ford Mustang. We’re not just talking some fancy badges and a sticker program here, either. Evidently, the man behind some of the meanest snakes on four wheels has been camping out in Dearborn as of late, supposedly hard at work in the FoMoCo labs on the next creation to carry his name.

Those whispers are made all the more interesting by the fact that John Luft, Shelby American’s head honcho, has said that his company is currently eying whether or not to bring a rash of new R models to life. The cars would be fit for track duty straight from the factory, and given the Mustang’s new found ability to handle a road course, odds are we’re not just talking about quarter mile bruisers. Either way, you can bet Ford will pull something special when its pony hits the big half-century. Whether or not that means a fresh new Shelby remains to be seen.

Photos by Jonathan Ramsey / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.
[Source: Motor Trend]

Ford Mustang’s 50th anniversary approaching – is a special Shelby in the wings?

We’ve got to say, we’re inclined to give this one to the seller. The 1987 Chrysler Conquest TSi you see above has only managed to rack up a mere 9,800 miles in its 23 years on this planet, and as such, the car looks like it’s spent the last two decades in a vacuum-sealed baggie. The current owner claims to have done a little bit of work to keep the car looking its best, including having the wheels refurbished (though the original tires are still in place), painting the front splitter and replacing the stock exhaust system with a cat-back kit from Magnaflow (hopefully he saved the original plumbing). The windows have also been tinted, but that’s removable.

The Mitsubishi-built beastie (which was also sold as a Dodge model previous to 1987) is miraculously clean, and the seller says that the car comes with a raft of original paperwork and trinkets, including the original Chrysler keychains. If you want it, get ready to shell out some serious coinage, though. The car is on eBay Motors with a buy it now of $18,900. As we write this, there are six days left on the auction and 10 bids have brought the price to $15,099, suggesting that a BIN taker might not be far behind.

[Source: eBay Motors]

eBay Find of the Day: 9,800-mile 1987 Chrysler Conquest TSi lays claim to world’s best

Tesla Model S – Click above for high-res image gallery

A lot of analysts were bullish on Tesla’s initial stock offering, and a report from Bloomberg proves that the electric car start-up is a buy with the investors of the world. Tesla reportedly raised $226 million with its IPO, or 13.3 million shares at $17 per. The $226 mil total went above and beyond the high-end figure of $16 per share.

The news has to come as a pleasant surprise for Elon Musk, the company’s CEO and largest shareholder. Musk has reportedly spent $70 million of his own personal fortune propping up Tesla while the company’s losses mounted. The successful IPO is even more surprising given the fact that the company has yet to turn a quarterly profit and lost a substantial $230.5 million since 2003. Even at the expected median price of $15 per share, Bloomberg data shows that Tesla was valued at 5.5 times its net tangible assets, which doesn’t exactly sound terrific. Tesla’s IPO was likely helped out by recent investments by Toyota and Daimler, giving the first U.S. automaker IPO in over 50 years some much-needed street cred. Interestingly, Tesla is the first U.S. automaker since the Ford Motor Company to throw its hat into the public stock ring, with the Blue Oval doing so way back in 1956.

Tesla’s IPO was considered a bit of a crap shoot given the recent failures of other stock offerings coupled with the fact that the EV maker doesn’t have a lot of product to make it an attractive buy. Tesla has managed to sell about 1,000 copies of its pricey roadster, but now that the First-on-the-Block crew has theirs, the battery-packed two-seater isn’t exactly flying off the shelves. The Model S sedan, which will reportedly go 160 miles on a single charge, won’t arrive until 2012 at the earliest.

[Sources: Bloomberg via BusinessWeek]

Tesla reportedly raises $226 million with IPO of 13.3M shares

It would seem that the recall notices were piling up at BMW’s Motorrad division, leading the company to release safety notices for three separate issues all at once. The largest recall will go to 15,500 owners of BMW’s 2007-2008 K 1200GT; 2007-2009 R 1200 GS, R 1200 GS Adventure, R 1200 R, R 1200 RT and finally 2007 R 1200 ST. That issue involves the front brake line, which could develop stress cracks and eventually leak, leading to the loss of braking performance.

Next up is the 2007 and 2008 G 650 models (X Country, X Moto and X Challenge) for a roll-gear pin that could dislodge and jam itself between the drive chin and rear sprocket. Naturally, that’s not good. And neither would the potential drive chain failure due to improper manufacturing on the 2009 and 2009 F 650 GS and F 800 GS. Both of those problems could either cause an accident or make the bike inoperable until repaired.

Click on past the break to see all three recall notices in their entirety.

[Source: NHTSA]

Continue reading BMW recalls over 15,000 motorcycles

BMW recalls over 15,000 motorcycles

The global economy is currently doing its best impression of your uncle Larry’s waterbed on a Friday night, and while that means you can get a swinging deal on a vacation to Greece right now, it also means the value of currencies around the planet are all over the map. Few manufacturers know that better than Audi. The company has just announced that it has suspended plans to build a U.S.-specific model here in the States. Originally, Audi had toyed with the idea of either building a car alongside Volkswagen at the new Chattanooga manufacturing facility or even building its own Tennessee plant, but as the value of the Euro has fallen off against the dollar, that option has become less attractive.

According to Automotive News, Audi still plans to double its sales here in the land of the free by 2018, with or without an American manufacturing facility. What’s more, a the new U.S.-specific model hasn’t been put on hold just because the four-ringers aren’t interested in breaking ground on a new factory on this side of the pond. The company says that it can have an existing production line geared up and ready to go for a new vehicle in around three months, compared to the three years it would take to construct an entire factory from scratch.

[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req.]
Photo by Drew Phillips / Copyright (C)2009 Weblogs, Inc.

Report: Currency fluctuations put plans for U.S. Audi plant on hold

General Motor’s VP of Marketing Joel Ewanick has found a home for the wandering Cadillac account: Fallon. That home, however, wasn’t empty: last December Fallon won the Chrysler account and created the Pentastar’s “Coming Home” ad campaign that aired during the Super Bowl earlier this year. It’s unlikely that Chrysler will want to share a bed with Cadillac, so the seven-month-old account will most likely be the next one to move on.

Fallon held the BMW account until 2005 and oversaw the BMW Films that continue to rule the landscape of extra curricular automotive video marketing. We’re not saying that we want them to do the same thing with Cadillac, but if Fallon can conjure something even half as cool it would be an awesome start for everyone. As for Chrysler, perhaps it could step over to Wieden+Kennedy, who did the new and critically approved 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee ad. Just stay away from the high concept stuff for a little while longer…

[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req.]

Cadillac ad account goes to Fallon, so Chrysler’s account goes to… ?

	Average American auto expenses: $5,477 (that’s more than food) What do you pay?		Report: Honda to offer Fit Hybrid for $16,570, let the price wars begin Reuters wonders if more competition will kill the hybrid market.
	UK Tesla superfan goes 772 miles from London to Lands End in a Roadster And GM thought the Ampera’s 170 miles was a big deal.	Other news: David Frum: Getting America off oil will require more than magic machines – think higher gas tax Coda tweaks exterior design of electric sedan 2011 Honda Accord ups the ante by increasing mpg rating to 23/34 city/highway

AutoblogGreen for 06.29.10

When the new 2011 Explorer goes on sale later this year, Ford plans to highlight the new unibody ‘ute’s safety and fuel efficiency. The Explorer will be exclusively powered by four- and six-cylinder EcoBoost engines, which are expected to increase efficiency by 20-25 percent, while delivering the power consumers crave. Expect more drivetrain details to be forthcoming, but before then, Ford invited us out to its Dearborn proving grounds to see what it has in store on the safety front.

Ford confirmed last fall that the Explorer would be the first vehicle to get its new inflatable rear seat-belts, but the latest – and arguably more interesting – feature on the Explorer is dubbed “Curve Control.” The system is a software enhancement built on top of the existing roll stability control (RSC) and electronic stability control (ESC) systems, and we had a chance to experience it first hand. Make the jump to find out more.

[Source: Ford]

Continue reading Deep Dive: Curve Control on the 2011 Ford Explorer [w/video]

Deep Dive: Curve Control on the 2011 Ford Explorer [w/video]

The record that everyone was talking about at the 2010 Pikes Peak Hill Climb, the overall course record, will remain for at least one more year, but there were plenty of other records broken in 2010. The extra 1.9 miles of pavement at the top of the mountain made for some very fast times, and some of the old times were smashed by a wide margin.

For starters, perhaps the most impressive record was one that was set in the Time Attack 2WD class. The previous record was just set last year by Rhys Millen in his Hyundai Genesis Coupe, but Jeff Zwart smashed Millen’s time of 12:09.40 with a 11:31.095 in his Porsche 911 Cup. Other record-breakers include Clint Vahsholtz in Super Stock (Ford Mustang, 11:33.320), Doug Mockett in Vintage (Oldsmobile Super 88, 13:05.71), and Ikuo Hanawa in Electric (EV Sports Concept HER-02, 13:17.575).

Of course, not all of the records were about time. Colorado Springs native Randy Schranz tied the record for the most completed hill climbs at 36, matching Louie Unser. He also set the propane fuel record at 11:57.098 in his Shelby Cobra (pictured above). In her very first run, Denver resident Savannah Rickli became the youngest female to ever complete the race, finishing third in the Time Attack 2WD class with a time of 13:58.232 in her Mini Cooper S. Finally, Jason Taylor was the first person to complete the hill climb in a rock buggy, finishing with a time of 14:07.620. You can see all of the record-breakers from this year’s Pikes Peak in the high-res gallery below.

Photos by Drew Phillips / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.

Pikes Peak 2010: The record-breakers

Review: 2010 BMW X5 M is illogically sound

It’s one of the most insane SUVs on the planet, but its further proof that evolution works in very mysterious ways.

Pikes Peak 2010: Tajima fastest man on the mountain, but ten minute mark remains unbroken

The elusive 10-minute mark remains unbroken, but Tajima, Millen and the rest of the Unlimited crew put up a fight at this weekend’s Pikes Peak festivities. We were there and we’ve got the inside story on the men, the mountain and what’s in store for next year.

2011 Dodge Challenger SRT8 to get 480 HP?

There’s a lot the Challenger needs to keep up with the competition, and a serious horsepower bump is near the top of the list.

Also of interest:

• BMW developing M8 hybrid sports car
• Ford Explorer to get ‘curve control’ system
• Congress mulling in-car alcohol detectors [w/poll]
• Aston Martin refreshes the DB9
• Kia may lose names, use numbers for future models
• Mini shows off updated 2011 Cooper lineup
• Gordon Murray’s T.25 city car revealed

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Daily U-Turn: What you missed on 6.28.10

The 28th Annual Dana Point Concours d’Elegance took place this past Sunday, once again adorning the Monarch Beach Golf Links at the St. Regis Resort with some of the most beautiful pieces of rolling sculpture ever created. Celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2010 is Alfa Romeo, so it was only fitting that this maker of some of the most incredible Italian sports and racing cars be one of the featured marques at this year’s concours.

It’s odd to think that this quintessentially Italian firm actually started out as a French company way back in 1906, but its SAID (Società Anonima Italiana Darracq) ancestor quickly dropped off the map when the Anonima Lombarda Fabbrica Automobili (A.L.F.A.) opened its Milanese factory doors on June 24, 1910. It wasn’t until 1915 that Nicola Romeo came on board and the company we know and love finally started to flourish after the war, with its return to car building in 1920 under the Alfa Romeo name. It wasn’t long before Enzo Ferrari and other drivers were establishing the racing prowess of the marque, eternally cementing the legacy of the automaker.

The Alfa Romeo turnout at most concours is usually pretty healthy, so with the special centennial this year, it wasn’t surprising to see such a spectacular display of Alfas at Dana. Check out our gallery below and you’ll see some of our favorites, from the Villa d’Este above, to the pair of Giulia Sprint Speciales, to the audacious ‘65 TZ2 GT Coupe of General Lyon.

Photos by Frank Filipponio/ Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.

2010 Dana Point Concours: 100 Years of Alfa Romeo

The sixth round of GP racing for 2010 from the Assen circuit marked not only the 80th anniversary of the Dutch TT but also the further dominance of Fiat Yamaha rider Jorge Lorenzo. With Rossi still out, Lorenzo’s winning ways seem untempered by any of the fields competitors. The Spaniard’s start-to-finish victory also places him within an elite grouping of riders who have taken victory in three unique (125cc, 250cc and Premier) classes at the Dutch track.

As right wrist exercises began, Lorenzo secured the starting lead, with a confident Ben Spies following closely behind. The young American, still charged from his podium finish at Silverstone, would flicker early in the race allowing himself to be passed by a heavy-handed Dani Pedrosa – who was making his way forward from a seventh place start – but also the Ducati of Casey Stoner to fill the top three positions and chase the series points leader.

This is where tire choice began to play a key role in the action. As Pedrosa and Stoner began to reel in Lorenzo in the beginning, it became clear that the softer tire compound was paying early dividends for the runners-up. As lap-after-lap action continued though, the Yamaha shod with a firmer compound rubber held up well and was said to be a critical component in the overall victory by a margin of just under three seconds. Pedrosa would go on to hold off a very driven-looking Casey Stoner (who must have wanted to prove us wrong for calling his performances thus far marginal) to hold on to second place, stationing the Aussie on the last tier of the podium.

The final two spots in the top five belong to the Repsol Honda of Andrea Dovisioso and the non-factory Yamaha of Ben Spies. If Spies keeps this pace up though, future descriptions of his ride will probably not include the term non-factory for long. The sun has set on round six, and it would appear that a clear direction is forming in the championship hunt. Just remember, we are only one third of the way through this great season, and there will be a whole lot more opportunity for thrills, spills and good or bad tire choices to come. For now you can click past the break for a full listing of the top ten finishers, but don’t fear, we’ll see you next round in Catalunya!

[Source: motogp.com Vincent Jannink/AFP/Getty Images]

Continue reading MotoGP 2010: Tire choice plays a key role for top finishers at Assen [Spoilers]

MotoGP 2010: Tire choice plays a key role for top finishers at Assen [Spoilers]

The 28th Annual Dana Point Concours d’Elegance took place this past Sunday and once again found the Monarch Beach Golf Links at the St. Regis Resort to be a perfect venue. As beautiful as the resort is, though, we were a bit perplexed to hear visitors talking so openly and enthusiastically about all of the snakes they had been seeing there.

“Did you see The Snake? There are four snakes up on the hill! The Snake was riding around in a golf cart a few minutes ago, make sure you go see him.”

The well-traveled Reptilia was none other than Don “The Snake” Prudhomme, the honorary chairman of this year’s concours. “The Snake” didn’t come empty-handed to this party either. No, he brought with him a quartet of his funky funny cars from the 1970s, including the sole remaining Mattel Hot Wheels 1970 Plymouth Barracuda Funny Car that became famous during the “Snake vs. Mongoose” match races between Prudhomme and Tom “The Mongoose” McEwen. Back in the day, these two warriors famously squared off in match races across the country while also making countless appearances at toy stores, retail outlets and other locations.

The Barracuda was parked atop the same 1967 Dodge D-700 crew cab Hot Wheels Ramp Truck that was used to transport the race car on that promotional tour. The gorgeous yellow duo emerged from frame-off restorations just in time for SEMA last year, and seeing it there instantly transported us back to our youths, when our Hot Wheels checklist included not only this screaming yellow Plymouth, but Prudhomme’s red, white and blue Hot Wheels and ARMY cars as well. Imagine our delight, then, when we saw some of those cars parked right alongside the Baracuda and transport in Dana Point on Sunday.

Front and center sat the white 1972 Hot Wheels sponsored Plymouth ‘Cuda funny car, to its left the 1974 Army sponsored Chevrolet Vega funny car and to the right the 1978 Army Plymouth Arrow funny car which proudly carries the “Number 1,” reflecting Prudhomme’s fourth consecutive NHRA World Championship season. The Snake himself was also part of the attraction on Sunday, recounting old racing tales and signing autographs for the masses. He even took a few minutes to visit with the Cagahys, a couple who happened to bring their own Prudhomme car to the event – a 2009 Shelby Mustang Prudhomme Edition. We took lots of pics, which you can check out in the gallery below.

Photos by Frank Filipponio/ Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.

2010 Dana Point Concours: Don “The Snake” Prudhomme tribute

We’ve got sad news for the auto world – Autocar reports that Charles Spencer King, the father of the modern Land Rover, has passed away. The 85 year-old King died as a result of injuries he sustained during a traffic collision between his bicycle and a van almost two weeks ago. The man is most known for heading up the team that brought the iconic 1970 Land Rover to life, sparking a movement that would have the world clamoring for high-riding, comfortable off-road cable vehicles that continues on today.

King was so instrumental in Land Rover’s development that the company honored him with a special edition model in 1990 called the Range Rover CSK, limited to 200 individually-numbered units. But over his career, King also spent plenty of time working on a number of other interesting projects, including the Rover JET1 prototype and the wildly successful (if not reliable) Triumph TR6.

Our sincere condolences to his family and friends.

[Source: Autocar Image: Michael Dunlea/AFP/Getty]

Report: Spen King, father of the Range Rover, dead at age 85

Two anonymous sources have told Automotive News that Lotus is courting both Bob Lutz and retired BMW executive Tom Purves to become advisors to the British brand.

As previously reported, Lotus’ Malaysian parents at Proton are on a kick to increase both volume and model mix to take on its exotic rivals at Aston Martin, Ferrari and Porsche. In order to boost production to around 8,000 units annually, Lotus needs to take a long, hard look at what it’s offering and how it can expand the brand to take on Europe’s elite – possibly at the expense of Lotus’ core values. Or not.

To that end, Lotus could be looking at both Lutz and Purves for their product knowledge, which in the case of Maximum Bob is as wide and varied as it is successful. Lutz has already said he’s open to future gigs and he’s already accepted a board position at Transonic Combustion. But at this point, however, formal bids for both retired execs have yet to provided by Lotus.

[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req.]

Report: Bob Lutz, Tom Purves to advise Lotus?

The long wait is finally over and Top Gear is back for its 15th series of the modern era. We won’t spoil all of the fun for those who haven’t seen it, but we can say that the premiere was… highly educational. We got a look at the first flex-fuel Bentley and received further confirmation that James May was likely the cause of the Icelandic volcano eruption that shut down European air space for nearly two weeks.

We also saw the new reasonably priced car, a brown Kia Cee’d, get broken in by some British C-listers before the real celebrities start in on it next week.

By far, though, the highlight of the program was the physics lesson from Jeremy Clarkson that demonstrates why there aren’t more three-wheeled vehicles in the world. Clarkson set out on a treacherous 14-mile journey in a Reliant Robin to learn whether it’s worthwhile to save money on the vehicle registration tax with a three-wheeled conveyance. You’ll have to watch for yourself to learn the answer to that question, and since you are undoubtedly a resourceful bunch, we’re sure you know where to find the full episode if you don’t happen to live in the UK. But if you don’t, make the jump for the segment.

Continue reading Video: Clarkson demonstrates why there aren’t more three-wheeled cars

Video: Clarkson demonstrates why there aren’t more three-wheeled cars