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We’ve waited a long time for this. And not just for the official name. BMW has released the first teaser video of its upcoming 1 Series M Coupe and “excited” doesn’t begin to describe how we’re feeling.

The video after the jump is devoid of hard details, but it confirms what we’ve seen in countless spy shots and the rumors that have made the rounds for nearly a year.

Early reports indicate that the twin-turbocharged inline-six (N54) in the standard 135i will be upgraded to 335 horsepower, with the M Coupe’s newfound grunt channeled through a six-speed dual-clutch manual gearbox and down to the rear wheels via a torque-vectoring M rear differential. The results are a 0-60 time of around 4.5 seconds and an electronically limited top speed of 155 mph.

Naturally, firmer springs, dampers and bushings are part of the package, along with lightweight 18-inch wheels and a full body kit consisting of a new fascia, flared wheel arches, larger side sills, rear diffuser and a small spoiler. Being an M-fettled product, expect a quad-tipped exhaust to reside out back and – judging by previous spy shots and the official video – BMW’s trademark fender vents.

BMW kindly requests you to register at M-Power.com for more details and to sign up for an exclusive test drive. The rub: it’s only open to “German and Austrian” drivers. Here’s hoping that unjust regionalism doesn’t extend to sales when the 1 Series M Coupe hit dealers in the second quarter of 2011.

Continue reading Video: BMW teases 1 Series M Coupe [*UPDATED]

Video: BMW teases 1 Series M Coupe [*UPDATED]

We’ve waited a long time for this. And not just for the official name. BMW has released the first teaser video of its upcoming 1 Series M Coupe and “excited” doesn’t begin to describe how we’re feeling.

The video after the jump is devoid of hard details, but it confirms what we’ve seen in countless spy shots and the rumors that have made the rounds for nearly a year.

Early reports indicate that the turbocharged inline-six in the standard 135i will be upgraded to around 350 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. The M Coupe’s newfound grunt will be channeled through a six-speed dual-clutch gearbox and to the rear wheels via a torque-vectoring M rear differential, resulting in a 0-60 time of around 4.3 to 4.5 seconds.

Naturally, firmer springs, dampers and bushings are part of the package, along with lightweight 18-inch wheels and a full body kit consisting of a new fascia, flared wheel arches, larger side sills, rear diffuser and a small spoiler. Being an M-fettled product, expect a quad-tipped exhaust to reside out back and – judging by previous spy shots and the official video – BMW’s trademark fender vents.

BMW kindly requests you to register at M-Power.com for more details and to sign up for an exclusive test drive. The rub: it’s only open to “German and Austrian” drivers. Here’s hoping that unjust regionalism doesn’t extend to sales when the 1 Series M Coupe hit dealers in the second quarter of 2011.

Continue reading Video: BMW teases 1 Series M Coupe

Video: BMW teases 1 Series M Coupe

When it comes to Acura’s corporate schnoz, you likely fall into one of two camps: you either loathe the chrome nose or you really loathe the chrome nose. There doesn’t seem to be much in between. So to address its derisive looks, Acura appears to be tweaking the front end of the TL for the 2011 model year.

While it’s highly doubtful that Acura is going to completely dispatch the metal overbite found throughout its lineup, the new nose appears more refined and slightly toned down. Judging by the heavily-camo’d shot above, there’s sure to be some revisions to the lower fascia, but the real changes can be seen on the pic to the right, including some new slatting and a slightly smaller shield.

On this particular prototype, there’s also a fair amount of wires protruding from one of the exhaust outlets and leading into the trunk, so it’s likely safe to assume that some kind of engine or electronics upgrades are in the works for this mid-cycle refresh. With hot-weather testing fully underway, we suspect the mildly restyled TL will debut later this year before going on sale in the first half of 2011.

[Source: KGP Photography]

Spy Shots: Next Acura TL getting rhinoplasty?

Review: 2010 Aston Martin Rapide is a modern day Femme Fatale

The Rapide may be one of the most gorgeous sedans ever produced, but it comes at the expense of refinement.

Deep-Dive: Behind the scenes at Toyota’s R&D center, Part 1

In our first installment from Japan, we take a critical look at how Toyota is dealing with the engineering and organizational failures that lead to this year’s massive recall debacle.

2011 Alpina B5 Bi-Turbo – Full details and images

The next M5 is right around the corner, but Alpina has already created its own uber-5 Series, complete with a 507-hp, twin-turbocharged V8.

Also of interest:

• 2011 Ford SYNC system can block features while vehicle is moving
• Chrysler expands 60-day ‘risk-free’ return policy to Jeep, Dodge and Ram
• Mercedes-Benz CL63 and CL65 AMG hit the interwebs
• Toyota to open six new product quality field offices
• Former Audi employee convicted Nazi war criminal

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Daily U-Turn: What you missed on 7.8.10

A few days ago we posted video of a Porsche GT3 RS doing the Goodwood hillclimb. It was a great POV run through the hay bales with quality commentary from driver Gordon Robertson. But we couldn’t hear the car, and you really don’t know the GT3 RS until you’ve really heard the GT3 RS. And preferably, that might be in this kind of setting: on tarmac and dirt stages of the SachsenRallye, with that exhaust note filling the countryside and booming off of stone walls down narrow streets. True, this is a GT3 minus the RS, but you won’t miss those 15 horsepower once you hear the sound of Vulcan’s rear-mounted foundry. Follow the jump for the dirty fury. Hat tip to CPM

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading Video: But will it blend rally? Porsche GT3 does the SachsenRallye

Video: But will it blend rally? Porsche GT3 does the SachsenRallye

Our neighbors to the north may recall the Nissan X-Trail a little better than the rest of us. The Japanese manufacturer recently stopped sale of the SUV in Canada, which a shame considering what’s on offer for 2011. Next year, buyers in other parts of the world will be able to snap up their X-Trail with an efficient clean-diesel engine bolted to a six-speed automatic transmission. Power figures for the engine and auto trans combo are still MIA, but Nissan claims that the mill will be capable of power on par with a 3.5-liter V6.

The rest of the changes to the globe-wandering SUV are mostly aesthetic. Outside, the truck gets a slightly reworked front fascia, including the headlights, bumper and grille, along with LED tail lights. Inside, the driver is treated to larger gauges and a new vehicle information display, while passengers get to play with an all-new heated or cooled glove box. Looks like a little bundle of SUV joy to us. Hit the jump for the press release.

[Source: Nissan]

Continue reading Nissan X-Trail gets modest refresh, new diesel

Nissan X-Trail gets modest refresh, new diesel

Ford is continuing to milk the social marketing cow for all its worth. The company has announced it might give away an all-new 2011 Explorer to one lucky fan and slipped the web another teaser of the unibody ute. We say might because the whole shindig is dependent on whether or not the company can rustle up a total of 30,000 Facebook “likes” for the model. If the online community makes it happen, the company will pick one person who “likes” the new unibody ‘ute and hand over the keys. Something tells us they’ll have no problem finding that kind of participation.

The campaign is a lighter version of the company’s Fiesta Movement, which managed to put 100 Fiestas into the hands of the movers and shakers of the social media universe for six months in order to build buzz about the car. We aren’t exactly market researchers, but we’d say the ploy was pretty successful. While the new scheme with the 2011 Explorer isn’t likely to see the same kind of attention, it will likely build interest in the SUV just the same.

[Source: Facebook]

Ford to give away 2011 Explorer on Facebook

Lotus plans to reinvent itself, and in addition to a range of new products, a dealership makeover is in the cards. PistonHeads reports that Lotus CEO Dany Bahar sent out a letter to the company’s European dealers informing them that their contracts will be terminated as of July, 2012. Why the long notice? The company’s current contract with its dealers stipulates that Lotus must give two years notice prior to contract termination. The move will likely result in many dealers losing their ability to sell Lotus’ wares, but current dealers will reportedly be given the opportunity to re-apply for a new contract.

Back in June Lotus announced to the world that it was entering the “Dawn of a New Era.” Lotus has reportedly been spending its time and money picking up ex-Ferrari, Porsche and Aston Martin employees in an effort to build up its brand as a high-performance luxury make.

[Source: PistonHeads]

Report: Lotus terminating entire European dealer network

It takes quite a bit to build one of the world’s hottest hatches. We are, of course, talking about the Ford Focus RS 500. While the car may start life as nearly identical to the standard Focus hatch, the hottest Focus quickly sets about a path of factory modification that starts with a unique hood and wraps up with a special intercooler, bodywork, spoiler and wheels – all slathered on by hand. In between, everything from the car’s trick flexy bits to the wild 350 horsepower, turbocharged 2.5-liter engine make their way on board via the miracle of the assembly line.

How do we know all this? Ford has released a video, of course. The company recently churned out a quick flick detailing the production of the devilishly fast little hatch at its Saarlouis manufacturing facility. We even get a look at the guys and gals from 3M as they wrap the car in matte black vinyl. Hit the jump to enjoy.

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading Video: Ford of Europe shows how the Focus RS 500 comes together

Video: Ford of Europe shows how the Focus RS 500 comes together

Tesla has, if nothing else, crafted a unique automobile in the Roadster. It’s electric, very attractive and highly desirable. Up next, assuming all goes according to plan (a rather big assumption, granted), the Model S sedan will be equally special in the global automotive marketplace.

Such machines deserve an equally unique buying experience and the Silicon Valley firm has hired former Apple and Gap Executive George Blankenship to turn that idea into reality as Vice President of Design and Store Development.

Blankenship will go right to work, with his initial projects said to include opening Tesla Stores in Tokyo, Toronto and Washington, DC. For his part, Blankenship sounds ready to take on the project, saying:

Joining Tesla allows me to work with some of the boldest and brightest people on the planet while changing the world for the better. I’m excited to create a retail experience that is as thrilling as my first drive of the Tesla Roadster.

Judging from his past efforts, we are expecting big things from Tesla’s retail developments… and it sounds like Elon Musk got a head start on his wish to make his Tesla Stores “a cross between an Apple Store, a Starbucks and a good kitchen.”

[Source: Tesla]

Continue reading Tesla hires former Apple retail strategist to revolutionize buying experience

Tesla hires former Apple retail strategist to revolutionize buying experience

It seems most studies of amber lights focus on whether cities are using them to gather revenue. The theory – and let’s face it, sometimes the fact – is that the light time is so short that drivers end up tripping the red light camera and getting a fine. Conversely, a new study by the University of Cincinnati and Ohio Department of Transportation has taken a look at how drivers behave when they encounter a yellow light no matter how long it’s illuminated.

More than 1,500 drivers were caught on camera in suburban Ohio as they approached high-speed intersections and entered the “dilemma zone.” Without offering any hypotheses for the discoveries, a few of the most interesting finds were:

• Drivers in the left lane – the high speed lane – tended to stop for yellow lights, drivers in the right, slow lane, did not tend to stop.
• Longer yellow lights tended to have more drivers running them.
• If the street had a higher posted limit, there was a larger tendency for drivers to go through yellows – more drivers in 55 mph streets ran yellows than those on 50 mph streets.
• 18-wheelers ran yellow lights more than pickups, SUVs, light trucks and sedans. According to some police records, however, truckers weren’t more likely to run or be cited for running red lights.

America’s lack of high-speed lane discipline tends to put drivers of different defensive inclinations at different speeds in every lane no matter how many lanes there are. Part of making yellows more predictable has been installing countdown timers at crosswalk signals so drivers can tell how much time they have before the light turns yellow. In our experience, a fair number of drivers either hit their booster rockets and zoom through a green light or start slowing down before the light’s even turned yellow. We imagine we’ll be seeing more of this kind of research soon enough…

[Source: Kansas.com Image: Corbis]

Study: Drivers in right-hand lanes tend to speed through yellow lights, left-laners do not

Britain has produced more than its fair share of memorable classics, but arguably few as seductive as the classic Aston Martins of the 1960s. Introduced in 1963, the DB5 benefited from several generations of DB4 development, largely retaining the Touring bodywork but replacing the old 3.6-liter engine with a new 4.0-liter unit and several other advancements.

Over two years of production, over a thousand DB5s were built, the vast majority of coupes outselling the 12 Radford coachbuilt shooting brakes and the 23 convertibles. Of those few roadsters, only nine were outfitted with the more powerful Vantage engine, and one of them has just sold for a record £551,500 ($833k) at the Bonhams auction at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. The example in question, with original “VDB 5″ license plates, had three previous owners who saw it through two comprehensive restorations (one at the Aston Martin Works Service in 1992 and another at Aston Service Hamburg in 2004), and was displayed last year at Villa d’Este.

Along with the DB5 Vantage Convertible (the Volante name only coming into use on the subsequent DB6), Bonhams also auctioned off the 1937 Bentley featured in the Bond film “Never Say Never Again” for £221,500 ($335k), a rare Lister-Jaguar for £232,500 ($351k) and several more, totaling £3,707,687 ($5.6m) in sales. Details in the press release after the jump, with photos of the beautiful Aston in the gallery below.

[Source: Bonhams]

Continue reading Rare Aston Martin DB5 convertible drives $5.6 Million in sales at Goodwood

Rare Aston Martin DB5 convertible drives $5.6 Million in sales at Goodwood

Ford has given Fiesta buyers a chance to turn their purchase into something a little unique. The company is offering a number of customization options for the new pint-sizer, including a rash of interior options and exterior graphics. For starters, the car can be equipped with a number of interior lighting accents, including an illuminated shift knob and door sill plates, or LED mood lighting for the cup holders and foot wells. Outside, Ford will be happy to set you up with an aggressive body kit and rear spoiler, for a price.

That’s fancy, sure, but the neat part is wide variety of vinyl graphics available straight from the factory. Ford calls one of the decals a “body tattoo,” but it’s really nothing more than a big sticker that spells out Fiesta along the side of the vehicle. Those looking for something a little bolder can choose between over 18 other designs. Hit the jump for the press release.

[Source: Ford]

Continue reading Wrap It Up: Ford unveils new body kits, graphics and accessories for Fiesta

Wrap It Up: Ford unveils new body kits, graphics and accessories for Fiesta

The last 18 months have been a particularly painful period for Toyota Motor Company. Starting in early 2009, with the automotive industry facing a global economic recession, Toyota went from one of the world’s most profitable automakers to grappling with its first full-year loss in more than seven decades.

As Toyota operations around the world began to slash spending in an effort to return to black ink, quality issues bubbling below the surface for several years suddenly burst open like a ruptured oil well. And while most automakers have faced issues with product quality at various times in their histories, the past year has been especially gut-wrenching for Toyota. The company’s ascension to sales dominance was fueled in large part by its reputation for solidly engineered, reliable products with consistently excellent fit and finish. That reputation has now been brought into question.

As 2009 wound to a close, reports began surfacing that Toyota and Lexus vehicles were accelerating out of control, and the syndrome has been blamed for a number of fatalities. A string of related and unrelated recalls began and continue to this day, with the most recent coming just a week ago for a Lexus valve spring engine defect.

In an effort to show transparency and a concerted effort to improve its quality and safety, for the first time in its history, Toyota has invited a small group of journalists and analysts into its research and safety facilities in Toyota City, Japan. As part of that select group of media, in the coming days, we’ll have a chance to peek behind the curtain, look at how its products are developed and tested and talk to Toyota executives, including CEO Akio Toyoda as we try to fully understand not only how things went so horribly wrong, but how the automaker plans to get back on track.

Make the jump for Part One of our series

Continue reading Deep-Dive: Behind the scenes at Toyota’s R&D center, Part 1

Deep-Dive: Behind the scenes at Toyota’s R&D center, Part 1

Ray LaHood, the Department of Transportation’s boss, recently had the revelation that looking down at your phone for four seconds while behind the wheel means you’re “driving the length of a football field without watching the road.” The DoT goes on to claim that distracted driving took the lives of up to 6,000 Americans in 2008 alone, with many more severely injured. Ford knows the stats and believes that texting while driving should be banned, but at the same time, many of the company’s vehicles come with SYNC, arguably the most interactive infotainment system on the market.

The Detroit News reports that Ford’s second generation SYNC system will address distracted driving head-on with the ability to block out all external stimuli while the vehicle is in motion. The “Do Not Disturb” switch will be available first in the MyFord Touch-equipped 2011 Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX models. The DND button will block phone calls and text messages while retaining hands-free calling and 911 Assist, which dials up 911 in the event of an emergency. Also blocked is typing on a keypad for text or Internet and narrowing navigation and phone choices. The only question now is: Who’s going to turn the feature on?

[Source: Detroit News]

Report: 2011 Ford SYNC system can block features while vehicle is moving

Back in February, Chrysler rolled out its “Minivan Pledge,” which gave customers the choice of returning their vehicle within 60 days if they were unhappy in any way. The program must have been successful for Team Pentastar, because the program is now being expanding to all Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram Truck models. Chrysler Lead Executive for U.S. Sales Fred Diaz says in the company’s press release that the program will give customers “the confidence to know they made the right purchase or they can return the vehicle no questions asked.”

Chrysler has also announced July incentives, which, we’re guessing, will render the 60 day guarantee almost completely useless. See, customers will be able to choose from incentives like zero percent financing for up to 72 months, cash rebates of up to $4,000 or the 60-day guarantee. So if you’re in, say, a Dodge dealership and you’re given a choice of $4,000 on the hood or a 60-day return policy that can only add up to $1,000 ($500 per month), which would you take? Hit the jump to read the Chrysler press release.

[Source: Chrysler Image: Joe Raedle/Getty]

Continue reading Chrysler expands 60-day ‘risk-free’ return policy to Jeep, Dodge and Ram

Chrysler expands 60-day ‘risk-free’ return policy to Jeep, Dodge and Ram

This year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans was shaping up to be a second straight flag-to-flag romp for the Peugeot 908 diesels, right up to the point where they all started dropping like flies. Needless to say, the Peugeot Sport engineers have taken a long, hard look at why all four cars failed to finish – and in the case of three of them, it basically comes down to perfect race conditions leading them to be running too fast.

The first car to go out was the #3 entrant that was built up from the tub that won the 2009 race. After two-and-a-half hours of racing, a suspension mounting point separated from the carbon fiber tub as the result of an undetected structural problem.

The other three cars all went out later in the race with what turned out to be an identical connecting rod failure. A combination of circumstances led to all of the cars running faster this year and putting increased stress on their engines. Not mentioned by Peugeot in its report is the fact that the new Audi R15+ ran considerably faster in 2010, pushing the Peugeots to the limit. At the same time, cool temperatures and a grippy track, blended with air-to-air intercoolers that didn’t clog up as much as they did in the past led to more air going into the combustion chamber. More air means more power and an increased load on the pistons – especially late in the race. No doubt Peugeot will be looking to increase its safety margins as the engineers prepare their all-new 2011 challenger.

[Source: Peugeot]

Continue reading Peugeot finishes analysis of four car Le Mans failure. Conclusion? They drove too fast.

Peugeot finishes analysis of four car Le Mans failure. Conclusion? They drove too fast.

Alpina has finally graced the world with a handful of images and all of the gritty details about the all-new 2011 B5 Bi-Turbo after its debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. The company has managed to bless the BMW 5 Series with a mythic 507 horsepower and 516 lb-ft of torque. How, you ask? The B5 makes use of the same twin-turbo, all aluminum V8 found in the car’s big brother, the B7. That means that there’s a full 4.4-liters of displacement sucking down 1 bar of pressure for the two turbos under the hood. Sounds like a party.

The eight-pot is bolted to an eight-speed automatic transmission that Alpina co-developed with the gear-swapping gurus at ZF. If the mood strikes you, the driver can click through the gears via buttons mounted on the back side of the steering wheel, though given the massive amount of work Alpina put into the transmission, odds are you’re better off letting the car do the work for you.

There’s also a completely reworked suspension on board that includes slightly shorter springs and unique control arms that help eek a little more camber out of the front wheels. Combined with the electronically adjustable suspension, the company claims to provide an altogether sharper driving experience. Speaking of wheels, Alpina has equipped the B5 Bi-Turbo with a set of the company’s epic 20-inch rollers. Check out the gallery of high-res images below and then click past the jump for the granddaddy of a press blast.

[Source: Alpina]

Continue reading 2011 Alpina B5 Bi-Turbo – Full details and images

2011 Alpina B5 Bi-Turbo – Full details and images

We’ve been talking about and looking at the McLaren MP4-12C for so long that it’s hard to believe the general population is only seeing it this week, but that’s indeed the case.

Ron Dennis’ newest creation has finally showed its face, engine and prowess to the admiring eyes at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. Not only that, it was driven up the hill by McLaren F1’s World Championship-leading drivers, Lewis Hamilton and Jensen Button. The runs weren’t timed, so everyone stays friends on this one, but there’s still plenty of on-road action after the jump.

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading Video: Hamilton and Button take to the hill at Goodwood in the McLaren MP4-12C

Video: Hamilton and Button take to the hill at Goodwood in the McLaren MP4-12C

Do you like noir? No, not the perfume, the literary and film genre. You know, hard-boiled crooks, wise-cracking private eyes, Los Angeles under cover of night and blondes so blonde they’ll kill you dead. Those blondes are, of course, are better known as femme fatales, and in truth, the color of their hair doesn’t really matter. Think Theda Bera, Rita Hayworth, Mary Astor, Barbara Stanwyck and Marlene Dietrich. And let’s not forget the lovely Lana Turner – she’s the one, in a case of life imitating art, with the daughter that killed Mickey Cohen’s strongman/goon Johnny Stompanato. In other words, women so pretty you’d throw your life away just so they know you’re throwing your life away.

Here’s the free, online-encyclopedia definition of femme fatale in case you’re still wondering: “An alluring and seductive woman whose charms ensnare her lovers in bonds of irresistible desire, often leading them into compromising, dangerous and deadly situations.”

Let’s state up front that the 2010 Aston Martin Rapide is not, to our knowledge, unsafe in any way, shape or form. But man, oh man, is it seductive enough to make us overlook every single bad thing about it. That, or walk into an uncovered manhole cover while staring at it. Anyhow, “irresistible desire” and “compromising situations” are this British superstar’s raison d’etre. Philip Marlowe would eat his fedora just for a ride. Thankfully, we had to perform no such theatrics: Aston Martin simply let us borrow their car.

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

Continue reading Review: 2010 Aston Martin Rapide is a modern day Femme Fatale

Review: 2010 Aston Martin Rapide is a modern day Femme Fatale