Fans of the original might not be enamored by the current V8 model, but the upcoming 1 Series M Coupe promises to bring it back to the source. The Bavarian automaker has released on the more compact M ahead of its where it’ll be finally revealed to the public.
The 1 Series M Coupe packs a 340-horsepower version of the twin-turbo 3.0-liter six from the in a package weighing about 3,300 pounds, with power fed to the wheels exclusively through a six-speed manual. This a departure from the “bare-bones” that packs a dual-clutch gearbox.
Pricing is slated to come in between those of the existing 135i and M3, placing it somewhere around the $45k mark. Click below to check out the updated gallery of teaser images, including some new swirly ones.
Above are Autoblog’s two current long-term test vehicles, the and the . At the moment, they are separated by some 2,460 miles of road with the Legacy at my house in the Greater Cleveland area and the diesel Jetta with Senior Editor Damon Lavrinc in San Francisco. Come next Monday, they will have swapped places.
We could have called a carrier service to deliver the cars across the country. In fact, we looked into it, but who wants to pay over two grand to have a company do what we’ll gladly do for free? So myself and Lavrinc are embarking on a cross-country road trip from nearly opposite ends of the great 48 to swap these cars somewhere in the middle. We’ll both be leaving at the crack of dawn tomorrow morning and plan to return home late Monday night with different vehicles than the ones we left in.
This being my last night with the Legacy 2.5GT, I’ll sum up my feelings towards it by saying that it’s not the sporty sedan I expected. It’s not a true sports sedan at all, in fact, but more like a mid-sizer with a very comfortable ride that injects an extra element of driver involvement with its six-speed manual transmission. Unfortunately, it’s not the most precise six-speed I’ve ever rowed, but the 265-horsepower turbocharged 2.5-liter flat four-cylinder is a willing dance partner, even if the transmission occasionally has two left feet. And where else can you get a manual transmission paired with a powerful engine that starts under $30,000 in this segment? Not many places, that’s for sure.
So while Damon and I hunker down for the long haul, ask us any questions in Comments that we haven’t answered already in our updates. We’ll try to tweet answers from the road on Autoblog’s officialTwitter account () or we’ll save the answers for future updates on the site.
If you’re looking for a Euro-flavored premium hatch with the allure of a hybrid badge and the fuel economy to match (42 mpg city/41 mpg highway), the 2011 Lexus CT 200h is, frankly, your only option.
Our special-ops spy photographers have managed to lay their lenses on the next BMW 1-Series Coupe, and from the looks of things, BMW won’t be putting the car under for any serious surgery for the 2011 model year. Instead, buyers can look forward to a raft of small updates to keep the design fresh.
The story of James Glickenhaus’ P4/5 Competizione continues with Chapter 1 of the story put together by Kinetic Fin.
If you thought the recently green-lit is little more than an over-glitzed version of the Toyota iQ, then you’ve got another thing coming. Well, to Germany, anyway. And it comes straight from .
It’s called the iQ Disco, and it’s here to remind us that if you like the latter, the former needn’t apply. Fortunately it’s a promotional one-off. Aside from the disco-ball mirror finish, the show car features Lambo doors, multi-spoke 18-inch alloys and a full DJ booth, complete with a set of Numark NDX 800 turntables and a two-channel mixer pumping through 1000 watts and 130 dB worth of speakers and amplifiers.
Suddenly that looks decidedly tasteful. The iQ Disco will be hitting the floor at a concert in Cologne and will then tour Toyota’s dealerships across Germany as a promotional tour. Makes us want to put a down-payment on an Avensis, how about you?
A little number on your friendly local gas station pump might be about to change. Instead of 10 percent (E10), America’s national gasoline supply can now contain a blend of fuel that contains up to 15 percent ethanol (E15) following an announcement by the Environmental Protection Agency today. The caveat, for now, is that this fuel is only to be used in cars built since 2007.
So, that means that there could easily be five liquid fuels at a single gas station: , E10, E15, E85 and diesel – and this isn’t counting different octane blends of “standard” gas. It also means that some gas station owners are saying they’re not too interested in adding E15 pumps right now. says it is likely the EPA will approve E15 for older vehicles after more tests are conducted this month. The USDA – which cares because so much domestically grown corn is used to make the ethanol – and the ethanol industry support the EPA’s decision. The CEO of ethanol company Poet, Jeff Broin, said in a statement that:
The arguments being made right now against E15 are the same as those made about E10 back in the late 1980s, when I entered the ethanol industry. Seventy billion gallons later, we have proven those arguments false, just as research on E15 is proving critics wrong today.
For the past 18 months or so, the E10/E15 story has been hard-fought on both sides, with supporters for the increased biofuel content saying that the fuel and opponents saying there because of . The Renewable Fuels Association . Feel free to read more from some of the parties involved .
While every other major automaker in the world is pouring billions of dollars into research for electric vehicles, Fiat doesn’t seem to be all that interested in electric cars. Instead, it’s putting its efforts into producing cars that can run on compressed natural gas. Even more importantly, it’s offering what it calls bi-fuel cars, which can run on both gasoline and CNG.
In fact, the Italian automaker is more bullish on bi-fuel cars than it is on diesels. It prides itself on having the lowest average CO2 emissions of any major automaker in Europe. Low emission ratings are a big deal to European car buyers. And Fiat believes it can continue to maintain its lead with engines that can run on both gasoline and CNG.
Most of Fiat’s sales come from the low-end of the market, tiny A- and B-class cars that don’t cost a lot of money. The people who buy these cars typically can’t even afford to pay the premium to get a diesel engine. And forget about hybrids or electric cars, they’re simply further out of their price range.
Now Fiat thinks it has another idea that could push it far ahead of everyone else when it comes to reducing CO2 emissions. It wants to combine hydrogen gas with compressed natural gas and offer the cleanest burning engines in the industry.
John McElroy is host of the TV program and daily web video . Every week he brings his unique insights as a Detroit insider to Autoblog readers.
Electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids like the (and we’ll let you decide which of those two categories green halo car fits into…) promise to save drivers money on fuel bills. But, just as operating expenses for traditional cars rises and falls with the price of gas, so too will battery-powered cars vary in their running costs as electric utility rates fluctuate.
GM has announced a new website for Volt owners called that seeks to help consumers keep their electric charging rates in check. Statistics for battery usage and fuel economy will be transferred to the user’s Facebook and Twitter accounts, and utility companies are expected to use this data to help owners choose times to plug their cars into the grid. These utility companies can also make sure their power grids are up to the challenge of keeping EVs on the road.
Other techy benefits offered to Volt owners include a display to show whether the car is plugged in (and whether it’s charging at 120 or 240 volts), the creation of a charging schedule to make use of the best rates and the ability to monitor current battery state of charge and predicted range. One intriguing feature will allow OnStar to create its own charging schedule where the program will choose the lowest rates possible in order to achieve a full charge by a set time.
There will also be a provision to remotely start the Volt to get the interior up to a set temperature, and future updates will allow further customization of the car, such as setting radio presets. Want to know more? Check out the official press release .
The is ready for an update, something that of North America has been . A concept version of the next generation Yaris is expected to make an appearance at the 2011 and we may have gotten a glimpse of what that car will look like thanks to a few scanned images courtesy of French automotive site, Turbo.fr.
The images show an updated Toyota Vitz in standard and Modellista trim. If you’re not up on our Euro/JDM parlance, Vitz is the model name for the Yaris in other markets, and the modellista versions are fitted with sporty body-kits. Thanks for the tip, Chanh!
It seems that the is set to get a wee bit less naughty for the 2012 model year as the Swedish automaker rolls out a base model for the American market. Sure, and were mostly impressed by the safety-first company’s latest effort, but so far, only the range-topping S60 T6 model with all-wheel drive (shown above) has been available.
While has yet to offer up all the details of what’s in store for 2012, a document from the Volvo Overseas Delivery program managed to make its way online, and it leads us to believe that the base engine for the S60 will indeed be a turbocharged five-cylinder as before. The good news is that the workhorse mill, otherwise known as the T5, has been upgraded a bit for its new duty, reportedly putting out 250 horses rather than the 227 currently on offer.
In related news, the same documentation indicates that the cost for a new S60 using Volvo’s overseas delivery program will be $29,880. Expect the U.S. MSRP to be somewhat (though not substantially) higher. In addition to the T5 engine, that will net you a front-wheel drive S60 without the T6’s Dynamic Chassis, speed-sensitive steering or leather seats (Volvo’s T-Tec upholstery will be standard). Want to know more? Hit up the to see the full leaked document.
Gallery:
Photos copyright (C)2010 Chris Paukert / AOL
[Source: ]
Autoweek reports that wants to add yet another small SUV to its lineup. Called the X4, the vehicle is rumored to take more than a few cues from the big-daddy in both design and driving characteristics. The report says that early concept drawings show the vehicle as having the same upright nose and long, arching roof line as the biggest X as well as a very similar angled rear hatch.
Of course, nothing’s set in stone at this point, so the X4’s appearance could change considerably by the time it hits the scene in 2014. There is some speculation that the vehicle will be manufactured at the company’s Spartanburg, South Carolina facility, which would makes sense considering America’s seemingly boundless thirst for high-riding hatches.
The story of the P4/5 Competizione – Click above to watch video
The story of James Glickenhaus’ continues with Chapter 1 of the story put together by Kinetic Fin. The car has , and although we have no idea how many chapters will be involved in this tale, it looks like we’ll be seeing the completed racer soon.
So while you won’t get a glimpse of the finished product in the video, Glickenhaus will explain his motivation and he’ll do it among some of the other eye-pleasing cars in his collection. for the prologue, and let the road to the 2011 Nürburgring 24 begin.
2012 BMW 6 Series Convertible – Click above for gallery
Look what’s been caught without its camo: the 2012 BMW 6 Series Convertible. The image you see above originated from the folks at E90 Post, and is supposedly a clandestine shot snapped during a photo shoot of the big, topless . The crew over at Autobild then set about doing a little Photoshop forensics to remove the pesky cameraman and shadows from the shot, giving us an unobstructed view of exactly what the new Sixer will look like with its cloth top stowed.
So what do we know about the 2012 6 Series? BMW hasn’t come out and revealed exactly what will lurk under that massive hood, but if we were laying down our hardly-earned paychecks on an educated guess, we’d say that a smattering of the company’s range of turbocharged inline six-cylinder engines would be a good bet. Meanwhile, the topped-out M6 is likely to pack something with a few more cylinders and another turbo. Thanks for the tip, Jen!
2011 Chevrolet Volt – Click above for high-res image gallery
Did ? The and public got extremely swept up by the fact that told the world its range-extended electric vehicle would not use the on-board internal combustion engine to power the wheels, when it will under certain conditions. This bit of news has , but does it change the fact that the Volt is still a pretty amazing piece of automotive engineering? Motor Trend spent a couple of weeks with one and came away impressed by what the could do. In fact, lead flip-flop lead-foot and was able to hit 127 miles per gallon.
The 127 mpg figure was achieved over a variety of Los Angeles city streets, canyon roads and highways. During the trip, the car ran out of battery power and the gasoline engine quietly turned on to give it more juice. Not to the wheels, but to the battery. If the car gets up over 70 miles per hour, then the ICE will send a small amount of power to the wheels, but by doing so it makes the car more efficient.
The M/T editors took the car on another trip and really tried to push it hard. They ran the Volt up to its 101 mph top speed, had the A/C cranked and traveled across some hilly terrain. The result? The returned nearly 75 mpg. MT feels the takeaway from its time with the Volt is that the car is incredibly efficient and the fact that the gasoline engine occasionally pitches in doesn’t make it any less remarkable of a vehicle.
Gallery:
Photos Copyright (C)2010 Sam Abuelsamid / Weblogs, Inc. [Source: ]
2011 BMW X3 – Click above for high-res image gallery
We’re about to drive the 2011 BMW X3, but before we get behind the wheel, has announced pricing for its next-gen. cute ‘ute, and as before, the new CUV will be offered in two trims. The base X3 xDrive28i, which features a 240 horsepower inline-six, will start at $37,625. The more powerful xDrive35i, which boasts a 300-hp turbocharged six-cylinder engine, starts $41,925. Both models come standard with all-wheel drive and BMW’s eight-speed automatic transmission. The 2011 BMW X3 will arrive in dealer showrooms at the end of 2010, and both models will be available at launch.
Additionally, Blackberry users will have something to be excited about. The X3 is fitted with technology to pull loads of utility out of its smartphone integration. The navigation screen can display emails when the car is stationary, and when it’s in motion, the system utilizes a text-to-speech program to read messages through the audio system.
The base price of the 2011 BMW X3, even though the car has been refreshed and features more standard items, is less than the 2010 model it replaces. It’s a $2,100 price drop down from the 2010 base MSRP of $39,725.
Gallery:
Live photos copyright (C)2010 Chris Paukert / AOL [Source: BMW]
Our special-ops spy photographers have managed to lay their lenses on the next , and from the looks of things, won’t be putting the car under for any serious surgery for the 2011 model year. Instead, buyers can look forward to a raft of small updates to keep the design fresh. This prototype was spotted on public streets wearing camouflage over what we assume to be updated body componenets. Judging from the photos, the next 1er will feature a redesigned front fascia with newly sculpted air intakes set low to the ground.
The wee Bimmer will also enjoy new headlight and taillight designs, and while there may be a few interior updates along for the ride, we expect the drivetrain to remain largely unchanged for the majority of the lineup. That is unless of course we’re talking about , but that’s a different beast all together.
“Stealing” seems a touch harsh, so let’s go with “uninformed borrowing” instead. After all, Lexus did hand me the keys to a U.S.-spec hybrid, along with a vetted and approved route book through Northern France, but I had different plans. I was on a mini-mission.
You see, the wife doesn’t ask much when I travel abroad. A phone call or two a day, keep hydrated and avoid the brothels. A simple list. But when she caught wind I’d be in France for the Paris Motor Show, she requested one thing: macaroons. Specifically, the meringue confections from Paris’ world-famous .
So with a willing driving partner and the sat-nav set to a location a few blocks from the Arc de Triomphe, we headed south to snag some pastries and give Lexus’ hybrid hatch a thorough testing in its natural (read: European) environment.
Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen gifted to Chattanooga PD – Click above for high-res image gallery
is building the plant for its coming New Midsize Sedan (NMS) in Chattanooga, Hamilton County, Tennessee. And what better way to make friends with soon-to-be neighbors than to give them new cars? That’s what the German company did in handing over two SportWagen TDIs each to the Chattanooga police and the Hamilton County police.
To make sure the wagons are as stylish as they are secure, they get body kits and chrome exhaust tips for an “imposing presence” to go along with the custom interior to hold the authorities’ communications and lighting gear. All this really means to you is another set of headlights to learn. You can start practicing with the gallery of high-res photos below, and learn more about the plant and the gesture in the press releases after the jump.
2011Nissan Murano – Click above for high-res image gallery
The is on its way to a dealer near you, and it has a price tag to match its new features. The base Murano S FWD starts at $28,500 ($29,300 including destination charges*), a price increase of only $140 versus the outgoing model. That relatively small price bump will net you new 18-inch wheels, a new front grille, lower fascia and taillights and a standard 3.5-liter V6 mated to a CVT. The Murano’s new powertrain will net you 260 horsepower and 240 pound-feet of torque, down five ponies and eight pound-feet versus the 2010 model.
Also new for 2011 is the SV model, which slots above the S and replaces the base SL with a $31,910 MSRP ( $32,710 delivered). The SL FWD model will now set you back $35,450 ($36,250 all-in), will tell you that the SL will henceforth come standard with previously optional Premium, Leather, Moonroof and Technology Packages, though we’d add that the SL with 360 value package already came standard with all those packages. The top-of-the-line LE FWD tops the Murano range with a $37,540 price tag ($38,340 with destination*), $440 more than the outgoing model. Any of the Murano’s four trim levels can be had with all-wheel-drive for an additional $1,600. Hit the jump to read over the Nissan press release.
First Factory-Built Fisker Karma – Click above for high-res image gallery
Have you been anxiously waiting for the day you could spec out a sinuously-styled plug-inhybrid sports car of your very own? Then your dream is one step closer because the is now online.
What was , is now edging closer to reality. At the 2010 Paris Motor Show, we got to see the with our own eyes. The car is a rolling testament to the idea that one can simultaneously be “green” and enjoy an exciting driving experience. The Karma will reportedly be able to achieve an average of 100 miles per gallon yet it also claims a 0-60 time of under six seconds.
The configurator allows you to see the various colors that will be offered across the Karma’s three trim levels. The Fisker Karma is available as one of three ECO models; Standard, Chic and Sport. ECO Standard is only available with two exterior color choices; White Sand and Eclipse. ECO Sport adds five more options to the palette in the form of Shadow, Silver Wind, Deep Ocean, Laguna and Inferno. ECO Chic throws in one more choice with the color Earth. Want to know what those names mean? Check them out at the link below.
Fiat 500C “La Dolce Vita” by Fenice Milano – Click above for high-res image gallery
Top down or ground up? If you’re going to launch an over-the-top design statement, you’d better to both. So, hot on the tails of the , Fenice Milano has released a similar treatment for the far more humble Fiat 500C called La Dolce Vita.
Like the Diva, the Dolce Vita is dominated by more gold trim than one might expect to see in an entire Mansory showroom. 24 karat, no less. Fenice has also tweaked the titchy Cinquicento’s mechanical bits with an ECU reflash, new intake and exhaust systems and some suspension tweaks, the latter presumably to compensate for the extra weight of all that bling. Inside, the open-air cabin has been redone in teak, gold and leather, with a redesigned dashboard incorporating a rather -like oversized central gauge. Details in the press release after the jump, high-res photos in the gallery below.
