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The 2012 BMW M5 has finally landed on U.S. shores and BMW has trotted out its oldest sibling – the same E28 we drove last year – at California’s Laguna Seca raceway to mark the occasion.

After its debut at the Nürburgring early this year, BMW boxed up its latest M machine for the festivities here in Monterey and will be shuffling it around to various events throughout the week.

Our first in-the-flesh impressions are beyond favorable, with an exterior that’s far less gauche than its predecessor, finally putting the “executive” back in “executive sports sedan.” Inside, the professional demeanor carries over, with less flash and a more driver-focused interior.

As if you need a reminder, the M5 now packs a modified version of the same twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V8 fitted to the X5 M and X6 M, putting out 560 horsepower and 500 pound-feet of torque – the latter of which is available from 1,500 to over 5,750 rpm. Redline is a decidedly un-M-like 7,250 rpm, but the blast to 60 mph happens in claimed 4.2 seconds when fitted with the seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox.

And what about a manual option? BMW officials delivered the standard “we’re looking into it” line, but we suspect they’re already testing a six-speed ‘box that could be an option after the M5 goes on sale in the U.S. this February. Check out our high-res gallery above and let us know what you think in Comments.

2012 BMW M5 makes North American debut at Laguna Seca

Attention Formula One fans, your work day is officially ruined. Well, it will be come the first quarter of 2012. That’s when Codemasters plans on releasing a new browser-based F1 game. Top teams, tracks and cars will be available on the same machine that you normally use to read Autoblog.com when you should be updating the TPS reports.

F1 Online: The Game will allow you to race for McLaren at Silverstone or Lotus at Monaco. Feeling more adventurous? You can create your own team and manage all aspects of it. That means running the research, marketing and team functions of your very own F1 entity. Excited? We haven’t even told you the best part yet – the game is free. Hear that noise? It’s the sound of IT departments battening down their firewall hatches across the country.

If you can hardly contain your excitement, you can sign up on the game’s website for updates on its launch.

Codemasters announces free-to-play, browser-based F1 Online: The Game

Back in April, Ron Adamwicz’s electric 1981 Chevrolet Camaro ripped down the quarter-mile track at Palm Beach International Raceway in just 11.253 seconds. In addition to its record-setting quarter-mile run, the electrified Camaro, dubbed “Warp Factor II,” set a world record with a 6.8-second eighth-mile run at 93.43 miles per hour. And get this: those records were set with just one of the Camaro’s two electric motors operational.

On August 6, with both electric motors functioning correctly, the Team Haiyin EV Racing Chevy Camaro tore down the strip at Lebanon Valley Dragway in 10.08 seconds, hitting a top speed of 127 mph. That time puts the electric Camaro within spitting distance of the Black Current, the converted Volkswagen Beetle that holds the world record for “street bodied” electric vehicles.

The time to beat stands at 9.51 seconds. That’s simply amazing considering the 1,001-horsepower Bugatii Veyron roars down the quarter-mile in the mid-10s. Hit the jump to watch the electric Camaro rip down the tarmac.

Continue reading Electric Chevy Camaro tears down the 1/4-mile in 10.08 seconds

Electric Chevy Camaro tears down the 1/4-mile in 10.08 seconds

Maserati is recalling Quattroporte and GranTurismo vehicles from the 2009 model year over poorly machined rear tie-rods that could fail. The loss of rear tie-rods is not something to be taken lightly – nothing like rear suspension destruction to soil your luxurious driving experience. The recall should begin next month and affects a total of 763 cars.

The affected cars were built between July and September of 2008. Maserati dealers will replace the shoddy tie-rods, install a tie-rod kit and do a wheel alignment. Of course, the repairs won’t cost Maserati owners a cent.

Maserati Quattroporte and GranTurismo recalled over tie-rods

Plug your ears and keep your eyes glued to the screen. What we present here is rare footage of a Tesla Model S and a Tesla Roadster side-by-side on a picturesque, chicane-filled road. The music, in typical Tesla fashion, drowns out any automotive noise, including the wondrous whirring that emanates from these magnificent machines as they whiz on down the road.

So, here’s what we’d suggest: plug your ears and imagine those sounds echoing off the nearby hills as the Roadster and Model S strut their electric stuff. Realize, too, that these electric machines are pricey and that the cost of owning one, at least for most of us, is beyond reach. At least the video if free (if, perhaps, not yet supposed to be viewable, says Green Car Reports). Hit the jump to check out the dreamy duo of Teslas in their side-by-side brilliance out on the open road.

Continue reading Together at last – Tesla Model S and Roadster hit the road

Together at last – Tesla Model S and Roadster hit the road

If Land Rover – or for that matter, any automaker that specializes in making vehicles that aren’t particularly efficient – has any hopes of meeting strict future standards for fuel mileage and emissions, it’s going to have to take some drastic measures.

Sure, hybrids are one potential option that we’re sure the automaker is working on, as are more diesels, but these high-tech powertrains are expensive. And, though often overlooked, diesels and hybrids are also heavy, which is one issue Land Rover would have problems with overcoming since its SUVs are already big, bulky and, well… pleasantly plump.

And so it comes as little surprise that the British bred (and Indian owned) automaker has decided to introduce a smaller, friendlier model called the Evoque. But that’s just the start of Land Rover’s apparent plans. The Detroit Bureau reports that the automaker is planning to shed as much as 1,100 pounds from its ‘utes over the next decade using materials like aluminum and carbon fiber in place of conventional steel, without actually altering the size of its vehicle’s footprints.

The first sign of Land Rover’s far-reaching goals will reportedly be seen in the form of a new Defender concept that’s set to debut at the upcoming Frankfurt Motor Show. We’ll be paying close attention to this machine, as the company claims it is designing the next Defender to meet U.S. regulations.

Land Rovers could lose 1,100 pounds over next decade

If there’s any one vehicle that can realistically challenge the Beetle in the annals of historic Volkswagens, it’s the Transporter. More often referred to as the Microbus or just the Bus, the real original minivan first saw the light of day in 1950 as the Type 2 (the Beetle, naturally, was the Type 1).

As with the Beetle, it’s the earliest models that incite the most butterflies in the hearts of air-cooled VW enthusiasts, though the machines remained collectible all the way through the early 1990s. And, if Volkswagen executives have their way, the iconic Bus may once again enter production.

Previewed by the Bulli Concept from the 2011 Geneva Motor Show, the production model would likely ride atop the same platform as the latest Volkswagen Beetle and sport seating for five occupants and their cargo. If that’s the case, expect a range of four-cylinder engines (maybe even a five…) sending power to the front wheels.

If Autocar is to be believed, the next Microbus may be ready for the road by 2014, and it would likely come to the States. We’ll begin the finger-crossing now.

VW execs want Bulli to compliment Beetle in Heritage Collection

The relentless Gymkhana hype-machine is ramping up yet again and the first teaser is officially upon us.

Ken Block’s Hybrid Function Hoon Machine will play the lead roll in Gymkahana 4 and we get a brief (and appropriately loud) taste of the turbocharged rally machine’s anti-lag system. Nine GoPro cameras catch the two-foot-long flame projecting out the Ford’s titanium exhaust, and you can get your first taste after the jump before the real show begins on Tuesday.

Continue reading Ken Block releases first teaser of Gymkhana 4

Ken Block releases first teaser of Gymkhana 4 originally appeared on Autoblog 5.0 on Thu, 11 Aug 2011 15:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

General Motors built the Futurliner to promote a traveling show called the “GM Parade of Progress” in the 1940s and ’50s. The slippery-lined bus, which was penned by the legendary Harley Earl, is one of 12 that traveled the U.S. to show Americans the future of motoring and technology.

GM Futurliner #10, which was fully restored in 2007, recently made a trip out to the Pontiac Nationals in Norwalk, Ohio. The 30-ton, 33-foot-long bus was on display at the event, but that didn’t mean that the massive antique wasn’t allowed to also take a whack at the quarter mile. The 70-year-old sign of progress didn’t exactly light up the tarmac, but it can hold its head up high for even finishing the run. The final time? 48 seconds at 28 mph.

Follow the jump to watch the Futurliner in (slow) motion. And no, your YouTube connection isn’t running poorly… the Futurliner is powered a four-cylinder diesel engine (30 tons!) and only has a top speed of 40 miles per hour.

Continue reading GM Futurliner runs quarter mile like a Boss

GM Futurliner runs quarter mile like a Boss originally appeared on Autoblog 5.0 on Wed, 10 Aug 2011 12:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Motorcycle technology has risen in leaps and bounds over the last decade or so, and nowhere is that more evident than at the highest level or competition on two wheels: MotoGP. Electronics packages, engines that spin through the roof and even gearboxes that can engage ratios at lightning speed all signal the way forward to ever-quicker lap times.

While all of that is well and good, if there’s one place where motorcycle design has mostly become stagnant, it’s the general layout of the engine, rider and suspension packaging. With one notable exception: Vyrus. The tiny manufacturer’s calling card is its hub-center steering technology, which may very well give the machine a leg up on its fellow Honda-powered rivals.

There are other innovations in the Vyrus 986 M2 as well, including a frame that uses the 600cc four cylinder engine as a stressed member, a laterally mounted rear shock and radiators that are positioned below the engine. Thought-provoking tech for sure… but how does it all work where it matters most: on the track?

Click past the break to check out some footage of the Vyrus 986 M2 at the Misano circuit in Italy from Motorcycle News in the UK. Looks pretty awesome to us… especially the shots of the front suspension and steering systems working together at speed.

Continue reading MCN takes us for a ride on Vyrus 986 M2 Moto2 race bike

MCN takes us for a ride on Vyrus 986 M2 Moto2 race bike originally appeared on Autoblog 5.0 on Tue, 09 Aug 2011 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Entering Its Silver Years With A Supercharged Six

Life for us mammals is comparatively finite. Lacking the luxury of a mid-cycle refresh, the average human in the United States can expect to live about 80 years before their clock stops ticking. That isn’t too terrible in the grand scheme of things. After all, the typical mountain lion is lucky to get 20 years as a feared predator while most guinea pigs go quietly after just eight years in the household cage. Mammals don’t have many options when it comes to getting old.

Not so with the automobile. With few exceptions, the average lifecycle of a passenger vehicle is a short five to seven years. However, instead of sitting idle as its beloved machinery ages into senility, manufacturers treat passenger vehicles to mid-cycle makeovers with new fascias, upgraded electronics and more efficient engines. The intent is to breathe new life into models and make them more appealing lest they get lost amid a sea of younger designs.

The Audi Q7 is in the middle of its fifth model year – pushing 60 in human years. And fresh off a facelift just last year, the full-size SUV receives a complete heart transplant for 2011. The new supercharged V6 is not only engineered to make the seven-passenger vehicle more competitive in a difficult market, but to carry Audi’s first crossoffer towards its eventual retirement. Or behind the shed.

Continue reading 2011 Audi Q7 3.0T S line [w/video]

2011 Audi Q7 3.0T S line [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog 5.0 on Tue, 09 Aug 2011 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Harley riders like riding Harleys. But even for the HDMC faithful, certain situations – from bad weather to transporting cargo – call for something with a little more utility. That’s where the Harley-Davidson edition Ford F-150 comes in.

Since the two iconic American motor companies first teamed up in 1999, the collaboration has produced ten special edition F-150s, six Super Duty F-250 and F-350 models and even an F-450 a couple of years ago. All in, more than 70,000 examples have been sold.

For 2012, Ford has given the Harley-Davidson F-150 a revised interior, a new set of wheels, a new color option and some updated graphics. The interior now features snakeskin accents (which ought to go perfectly with those snakeskin boots yer kickin’). The new wheels are machined aluminum, measure a massive 22 inches across and feature painted accents and new hubs. The White Platinum Tri-Coat pictured above now joins the catalog, along with the new (and relatively subtle) gray flame along the flanks.

The enormous 6.2-liter V8 packs a hefty 411 horsepower and 434 pound-feet of torque – just a teensy bit more than the V-twin in a Harley hog, and you can read all about the whole package in the press release after the jump and scope it out in the high-res image gallery for more.

Continue reading 2012 Ford Harley-Davidson F-150 arrives, now with more snakeskin

2012 Ford Harley-Davidson F-150 arrives, now with more snakeskin originally appeared on Autoblog 5.0 on Tue, 09 Aug 2011 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Ford has big plans for Lincoln. The luxury brand from Dearborn has been producing solid machinery as of late, but its vehicles often seem to get lost in the shuffle. The cars look too much like their Ford-branded siblings, and that means a major injection of new style is in order, and quick. That’s just what Ford has in mind, and Lincoln will now have its own in-house design studio working right alongside the product development team.

Our friends at Autoline Daily got a sneak peak of the future styling and, while they can’t reveal anything yet, say that Lincoln is moving into a design space of its own. The automaker will utilize fresh styling alongside Lincoln-specific interiors and powertrains. Autoline says that the new engine and transmission options will also result in huge jumps in fuel economy. New styling, upgraded interiors and more efficient vehicles? Sounds like a smart plan, and it shows that Ford understands that Lincoln needs help.

It’s also worth noting that Ford recently announced a $1 billion investment into the improvement of the Lincoln brand. It seems we’ll have Lincolns to get excited about in as little as three to four years.

Lincoln gets its own design team and studio within Ford originally appeared on Autoblog 5.0 on Mon, 08 Aug 2011 17:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

BMW is apparently the Ultimate Selling Machine. The German automaker has retained the title of top luxury brand after its most successful July in history, moving 108,721 units for the month. Overall sales are up 17.9 percent for the entire BMW Group through the first seven months of the year.

One of the BMW products moving off lots quickly is the redesigned X3. Sales of the compact crossover rose 193.2 percent, which equates to 9,763 units finding a new home in July. The X5 also helped total volume numbers by improving 51.7 percent in July, with 24,196 examples sold.

With 106,000 total sales in July, Audi isn’t very far behind, and it hopes to stand in the top spot ahead of BMW by 2015. BMW is aiming for 1.6 million in sales this year, while Audi is shooting for 1.2 million. Mercedes-Benz came in at number three with 100,391 units sold in July.

BMW leads global sales race among luxury brands through July, Audi second originally appeared on Autoblog 5.0 on Mon, 08 Aug 2011 16:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

We’ve got to hand it to Mercedes-Benz. The Australian arm of the German automaker was so convinced that its iconic G-Wagen is one of the world’s most capable off-road vehicles, it decided to stage a demonstration run that would have seven of its boxy SUVs traveling from Halls Creek in Western Australia to Wiluna – a distance of 1,150 miles.

As it turned out, the distance, though definitely a long way to go in the wild’s of Australia in just 14 days, wasn’t the real issue encountered by the intrepid group of drivers. You see, the trip was organized along the historic Canning Stock Route, which was created at the beginning of the 20th Century as a way to get cattle from remote ranches in Kimberly to Perth, where it could then be sold.

Suffice it to say that driving cattle along the Canning Stock Route was a treacherous undertaking, and deaths were not uncommon. Today, the Route is considered one of the world’s greatest adventures and can only be tackled by serious four-wheel-drive machinery. Like the Mercedes-Benz G-Wagen, right?

Well, sorta. As MB Australia found out the hard way, no amount of planning can guarantee a successful journey, as six out of its seven G-Wagons have been crippled by broken rear shock absorbers seven days into the drive. The lone undamaged vehicle is actually a specially modified military-spec vehicle called the G-Professional that the German automaker is considering importing into Australia… might not be a bad idea, eh?

For their part, MB’s reps are taking the damage in stride. While all machines remained drivable (of course, that term just means the machine is capable of moving under its own power…), new shocks were flown in on chartered airplanes at significant cost. Sounds like there’s absolutely no way in the Australian Outback Hell that this demonstration drive will end up a failure.

Australian Outback cripples fleet of Mercedes G-Wagens during PR event originally appeared on Autoblog 5.0 on Mon, 08 Aug 2011 15:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

When a group of Salt Lake City auto enthusiasts decided they wanted to celebrate their love of European automobiles, Josh Clason brought along his Depth of Speed cameras to find out what it’s like starting up a new car show from scratch. The resulting footage combines Clason’s sharp visual style, great accompanying music, and good looking machines.

A Car Show Born tells the story of Jordan Melville and his friends bringing their car-show vision to life. We only wish we could have been there to dissuade them from calling it the Euro SL,UT Fest. A nice cross-section of Euro metal showed up to be captured by Clason’s cameras, so click past the jump to watch the video.

Continue reading Depth of Speed shows us how a first-year car show comes together

Depth of Speed shows us how a first-year car show comes together originally appeared on Autoblog 5.0 on Sat, 06 Aug 2011 14:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The shadowy crowd behind motorcycle marketing must be a strange bunch. A quick survey of the landscape yields a host of eye-rolling slogans from the “I wanna ride” of Honda to the painfully cliché “Let the good times roll” of Kawasaki.

For all of the genuine passion that bike enthusiasts have for their machines, manufacturers tend to rely on trite sayings and played-out advertisements that gloss over the whole purpose of a machine as ludicrous as a motorcycle. Bikes aren’t safe, particularly comfortable or even really convenient in any meaningful way, but they offer a level of mental distance from the rest of the world that’s otherwise unobtainable by legal means.

For a while, we thought bike makers didn’t focus on this aspect of the hobby because it’s hard to capture on film. Then we saw Barry Munsterteiger’s newest video. Munsterteiger and his audio-visual friends got together with a bunch of high-end equipment and summed up exactly what makes climbing on a bike before the sun comes up so damn appealing. Here’s hoping a manufacturer comes ringing on this guy’s door sometime soon.

Hit the jump to check it out for yourself.

Continue reading This is how to advertise a motorcycle

This is how to advertise a motorcycle originally appeared on Autoblog 5.0 on Fri, 05 Aug 2011 19:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Buying an exotic luxury car can be an exciting process. You’re not likely to run into other examples of your high-end machine on the street on a daily basis. Still, other examples do exist, and there will come a day when your rare ride meets its equal. Outfits exist to make sure that doesn’t happen, one of which has taken a customer’s Bentley Continental GT and transformed it into a bespoke one-of-one super coupe.

The company is called Imperium, and it’s turned up the exclusivity knob on this particular Bentley. Carbon fiber body panels have been shaped to replace the old metal ones, and new subtly aggressive features are achieved. A set of forged one-off wheels complete the look, resulting in the handsome Imperium Continental GT seen here.

Imperium doesn’t list a price to achieve this look. However, it states that only a few cars are completed each year, and every one is built to the exacting standards of the specific client, so you can bet it ain’t cheap.

Continue reading Imperium Bentley Continental GT is a maroon menace

Imperium Bentley Continental GT is a maroon menace originally appeared on Autoblog 5.0 on Fri, 05 Aug 2011 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Josh Clason (he of the Depth of Speed series) is teaming up with eGarage. Two great flavors that will certainly taste great together. Clason and eGarage plan to bring us plenty of visual automotive delight, and the duo have just realized a teaser clip of what’s in store.

Verbally, the pair are mum on what’s coming up. The teaser video, however, speaks volumes. We’ve seen the JDM Legends machines before, but the rest of the video takes on everything from rat rods and lead sleds to modern high-horsepower Bentley coupes. Click past the jump to watch the video.

One warning for the easily offended; there is a brief swear shown on screen. Don’t laugh… some have rather sensitive work environments, and we don’t want anyone getting in trouble.

Continue reading Depth of Speed’s Josh Clason teaming up with eGarage

Depth of Speed’s Josh Clason teaming up with eGarage originally appeared on Autoblog 5.0 on Fri, 05 Aug 2011 16:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Is the Acura Legend a bit too “Asian” for your late-80’s tastes? Perhaps you’re attracted to its 2.7-liter V6, but not the packaging surrounding it. Your love for Fawlty Towers, Manchester United and Winston Churchill push you towards an automobile that lets everyone know you prefer the Union Jack to the Stars and Stripes. Well, we’ve found your next car, and you can Buy It Now for a mere pence under four grand.

A former unidentified automotive journalist has decided to part with his Sterling 827SLi (sadly, he’s not an Autoblog scribe, or we’d have smacked him until he came to his senses). The rare five-door in question was a former member of Sterling’s press fleet here in the States, and it’s claimed to be the last one ever sold in the States. 150,000 miles or so later, it can be a proud part of your fleet.

In case you don’t remember, Sterling was a U.S. automobile company produced by Austin Rover Cars North America, the U.S. arm of British carmaker Rover. Engines (and in truth, most of the car beneath the skin) was supplied through a partnership with Honda, with the 827SLi you see here benefited from the same mill stuck under the hood as the Acura Legend. Unlike the Legend, which was arguably a paragon of precision and reliability in its day, Sterling’s reputation for build quality stood in opposition to its Japanese roots. Leave it to the British to make a Japanese car unreliable.

The Sterling legacy in America only lasted from 1987 to 1992, and most of the cars that were produced were the more conventional 825 sedan, not this comparatively rare 827SLi liftback. Toward the end of its run, Sterling products actually began to improve a bit, but it was too late in the minds of American car buyers. It’s not too late for you though, so head over to eBay Motors to check out what is probably the finest example of this dying breed while it lasts.

eBay Find of the Day: Last Rover 827SLi sold in America? originally appeared on Autoblog 5.0 on Fri, 05 Aug 2011 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.