If you’ve been saving your spare change to pick up one of these new models later this year, well, now you can more accurately estimate how many wheelbarrows full of nickels you’ll need to dump into the Coinstar machine at your local grocery store.
We’ll start with the . While we already knew the six-cylinder 640i Gran Coupe would , prices on the V8 models have now been set. The 650i will sell for $87,395, while the 650i xDrive model will command $90,395. Both are powered by a twin-turbo, 445-horsepower, 4.4-liter V8, which BMW says can propel the all-wheel-drive version from 0-62 miles per hour in 4.5 seconds. (The rear-wheel-drive model is a tick slower at 4.6 seconds.) The 640i goes on sale in late June, with the V8 models coming towards the end of summer.
The M series cars will command substantially more, with the 2012 Convertible commanding all of $113,995 when it goes on sale in June. The M6 Coupe and will go on sale in late summer as 2013 models, with the M6 carrying a $106,995 MSRP and the M5 listing at $90,695. All three models will share a twin-turbo, 560-horsepower, 4.4-liter V8.
The price of a fourth M vehicle, the revised 2013 , has also been announced. It will sell for $93,795, a $2,600 increase from this year’s model. For more details, to check out the official release.
has finally pulled the sheets back on its . The convertible counterpart to the hardtop that debuted at the Geneva Motor Show bows with the same vicious turbocharged 4.4-liter V8 under the hood. Good for 560 horsepower and 500 pound-feet of torque and mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox, the convertible should be able to launch to 62 mph in around 4.1 seconds. BMW hasn’t mentioned the weight difference between the hardtop and the convertible, though the automaker stressed the 2013 model has shed significant weight over its predecessor. The “base” 2013 BMW M6 Convertible will leave the showroom with 19-inch M-designed wheels, though larger 20-inch alloys are also available.
The vehicle will land on U.S. shores this summer ahead of its hardtop brethren. The big question is whether or not BMW will offer the convertible with an honest manual gearbox. So far, BMW hasn’t said much in that direction beyond saying the possibility is “under consideration.” Given the M6 Convertible target demographic, we’d say that we doubt it, but you never know – BMW has had a noteworthy habit of building America-only manual transmissions models as of late. for the full press release.
Everything has been thrown at the 2013 to make it not only the largest SUV Mercedes offers, but the equivalent of a jacked-up . It grows by an inch in length and gets fractionally wider and taller, with the extra size providing more head, shoulder and elbow room for all three rows of passengers. It is also loaded with new standard features like a “photo quality” color instrument display, self-leveling air suspension, Collision Prevention Assist and Crosswind Stabilization.
Three flavors are available: the V6 GL350 BlueTec, and the two twin-turbo V8s in the GL450 and GL550, each with more power than before. The GL350 gets 240 horsepower and 455 pound-feet, up 30 hp and 55 lb-ft; the GL450 returns 362 hp and 406 lb-ft, a raise of 27 hp and 67 lb-ft; the kingly GL550 turns out 429 hp and 516 lb-ft, up by 47 hp and a not-inconsequential 127 lb-ft.
Of course, being Mercedes, the options list has expanded, too, with details such as the On- and Off-Road Package and Active Curve System to help you maintain steady control of the beast no matter the surroundings. for all the details, and take a glance at it in the gallery of high-res photos above.
General Motors has just unveiled its facelifted at the today. The big crossover has abandoned the company’s corporate grille in favor of a new design that’s expected to eventually make its way to the rest of the utility vehicle stable. With three chrome-finish bars across the upper grille inlet, more expressive headlamp arrays and a new foglight design, the 2013 Traverse looks a bit more conservative and polished than it did before, at least from up front. Move past the A-pillar, however, and the vehicle looks plenty familiar. Even with a new hatch, redesigned taillamps and a modestly massaged rear valance, the 2013 Traverse hasn’t strayed too far from its family-minded original recipe.
Likewise, the 2013 model’s drivetrain remains untouched as well. The same 3.6-liter V6 puts down 288 horsepower and 270 pound-feet of torque through either the front wheels or an all-wheel drive system and the six-speed automatic has been reworked for quicker shifting.
Buyers will be able to opt for Chevrolet’s new MyLink system, complete with Internet-based applications like Stitcher and Pandora as well as Bluetooth voice and audio capability. Like its fellow Lambda-platform sibling, the reworked , the Traverse will also be available with a new center airbag that bisects driver and front-seat passenger. for the full press release and peruse our live shots for more views of this Chevy staple.
Harmless as it may seem, the new-for-2013 actually packs quite a punch. Rated at an estimated 38 miles per gallon, it boasts the best four-cylinder fuel economy of any midsize sedan, and that’s without the use of any electric motors, turbochargers or even direct injection. Impressive stuff, and considering that the sleek new Altima starts at a cool $21,500 (not including $760 for destination), it should prove to be a worthy opponent for rivals like the and .
The engines – a 2.5-liter inline-four and 3.5-liter V6 – carry over without many changes, but the big powertrain news is that the Continuously Variable Transmission has been heavily massaged. It’s the smoother-running transmission’s revised gear ratio spread that is largely what allows for that huge fuel economy win. The fact that the Altima is 79 pounds lighter than its predecessor – the lightest car in its class, actually – certainly helps, as well.
With the Altima, also debuts its new infotainment platform, Nissan Connected, which seems to be like, well, just like every other new infotainment system that’s come to market lately. The Altima is also available equipped with lane departure warning, blind spot monitoring and moving obstacle detection that’s all wrapped in to one single wide-angle camera mounted on the car’s rump.
Check out our live shots of the Altima direct from the show floor, and to read our in-depth deep-dive of Nissan’s new midsizer.
General Motors has officially unveiled the at this year’s New York Auto Show. Riding on the same bones as the , the next-generation Impala boasts a considerably more attractive exterior with plenty of personality. Borrowing the best elements of design from the GM stable, we see more than a little and in the sedan’s front fascia and stylized hips. Buyers can look forward to either standard 18-inch wheels or a slew of larger options, including massive 20-inch rollers. Under the hood, GM has graced the 2014 Impala with a range efficient direct-injection engines, including a 2.4-liter four-cylinder paired with the automaker’s eAssist hybrid system.
With 182 horsepower and 172 pound-feet of torque, the drivetrain falls well short of the 288 horsepower offered up by the , though it does so while returning significantly better fuel economy. GM Says the four-cylinder Impala will return 35 mpg highway, six mpg better than the full-size .
Those who need a little extra grunt can step up to the company’s tried-and-true 3.6-liter V6 with 303 horsepower and 234 lb-ft of torque, and there’s also a naturally aspirated 2.5-liter four-cylinder available that produces 195 horsepower, while all three engines are mated to a six-speed automatic gearbox. for the official press release from Chevrolet, and check our galleries of live and official images while you’re at it.
is hard at work on the newest interpretation of the Cooper S John Cooper Works GP we recently . Speaking just ahead of the New York Auto Show, Kay Segler, the senior vice president of the Mini brand, said the vehicle will debut in around five weeks time at the Circuit Paul Ricard F1 track in Le Castellet, France during a Mini community event.
That’s exciting, but not nearly as much as news that the new machine is plenty quick. As you may recall, our spy photographers spotted the Cooper S JCW GP just outside of the infamous Nürburgring. Segler says he’s personally driven the machine, and that he knows for a fact that the vehicle is a full 20 seconds faster around the road course than its predecessor. Segler declined to announce the exact time.
Twenty seconds is a huge amount of time in any form of motorsports, and that’s doubly true for ‘Ring times. The original Cooper S JCW GP boasted just 215 horsepower but shed an impressive amount of weight to stay quick. The new model is expected to bring around 220 hp to the party along with significant weight reductions of its own. Still, a 5-hp nudge hardly explains a 20-second improvement around the Nürburgring. Stay tuned.
To hear tell the story, the is super popular with the public. True, it was one of the ten best-selling cars the U.S. last year, but take away sales to rental, government and commercial fleets, and we’d bet our last dollar that the Impala is no more popular than its competitors, probably less so considering its age. That’s why Chevrolet is hoping its all-new Impala for 2013 will do what the last model couldn’t: attract folks who don’t buy their large sedans in bulk.
The 2013 Chevrolet Impala clearly looks considerably better and more modern than the car it replaces, which hadn’t received a thorough redesign since 2005. The face up front is the Bowtie brand’s new corporate visage, which can also be seen on the refreshed . It’s an attractive mug with clean lines, little-to-no clutter and a full suite of high-tech HID and LED lighting elements. At least in pictures, the rest of the new Impala looks brawny and muscular compared to the last model’s antiseptic lines. Its wheels, meanwhile, will range in size from a large 18 inches in diameter to a super-sized 20 inches.
We also universally approve of the Impala’s new interior design, which sports a dual-cockpit concept, as well as a 4.2-inch information screen between the gauges and an eight-inch screen atop the center stack. However, we’re having a hard time with that steering wheel, which doesn’t live up to the rest of the cabin’s aesthetic standards.
Power for the new Impala will come from a range of three engines, all featuring direct injection: a 2.4-liter four-cylinder with eAssist producing 182 horsepower/172 pound-feet and achieving an estimated 35 mpg highway, a 2.5-liter four-cylinder producing 195 hp/187 lb-ft and a 3.6-liter V6 producing 303 hp/264 lb-ft. All will mate to a six-speed automatic and drive the front wheels only.
The Impala has also received a slew of new available active and passive safety systems, including Full-Speed-Range Adaptive Cruise Control, Collision Mitigation Braking, Forward Collision Alert, Lane Departure Warning, Side Blind Zone Alert and Rear Cross Traffic Alert.
We’ve included the official press release from Chevrolet below and will update the gallery will more official images as soon as they’re available. And later today we’ll show you what the Impala looks like in person from the floor of the .
Overheard at the reveal event for the this evening: This is the car you buy your secretary.
Yes, the altogether good-looking Atlantic sets a new high for plug-inhybrid looks, and even though is tight-lipped about things like all-electric range, cost or an estimated delivery date, for now the car speaks for itself. All anyone would tell us is that the Atlantic will come in at “a much lower price point than the Karma,” as Fisker executive chairman Henrik Fisker put it, suggesting something in the range of the or “the upper end of the .” So, $45,000? In any case, Fisker seems to have learned its lesson with the Karma situation/delay, and is keeping mum about its future plans.
One thing Fisker was very happy to talk about was that the Atlantic is a car that will be built and will go into production. It is “a promise we are going to deliver,” he said.
Whenever the Atlantic arrives, it is most likely going to be incredibly similar to what we see in the pictures here (and in ). Fisker said that his company does not do concepts – see how little the Karma changed between auto show reveal and showroom. And that’s fine by us. The lines and angles of the little Karma might be too busy for some, but in person they most certainly work. One thing to note is that in person the headlights have a frozen/frosted look that offers an ‘eagle eye’ with a strength of strong character not seen on a production car before,” the Fisker press release says.
Despite the off-hand suggestion from the peanut gallery that this is a car for those with a bit of money to throw around, Fisker repeatedly emphasized the practicality of the Atlantic. For one thing, it will have the second-generation EVer (Electric Vehicle with extended range) powertrain that incorporates a BMW four-cylinder gasoline engine, because, Fisker said, “range equals freedom.” He also showed the gathered media how the rear seats fold down and called it “a pure family vehicle.” Must be nice to be in that family.
Among the many exploits of Ken Block we’ve posted on over the years, we’ve always loved of his fitted with tracks at all four corners. So when we got a tip on an eBay Motors auction for a similarly equipped , we were tempted to head up I-75 to check out the car in person.
The is for sale in Chassell, MI, some 550 miles north of Detroit in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, way up in the Keweenaw Peninsula, which extends into the middle of Lake Superior. With apologies to our friends in Canada, it’s about as far north as you want to go when the snow flies. And the snow flies a lot in the Keweenaw, thanks to a wicked lake effect that dumps more than 200 inches of the white stuff every winter. Yes, that’s over 17 feet of snow, but it’s nothing compared to the winter of 1978-1979, when the area got almost 30. So if you’re wondering why anyone not named Ken Block would fit a track system to their , well, now you know.
Alas, this year Michigan has not seen much in the way of winter, even up in the frosty north country. With just 120 inches of snow through the end of February and temperatures that pushed into the upper 70s on St. Patrick’s Day, getting around the Keweenaw right now does not require tank-like traction – or even four-wheel-drive.
Whether that’s motivated the seller or not, we don’t know, but we do know what would motivate us to buy: The promise of next winter.
Click to see video of this eBay Motors find kicking up rooster tails, or check out all the pictures in our .
Though it’s never going to post particularly impressive sales figures, the is, at least to us driving enthusiasts, the most important debut at the 2012 . As such, it comes as little surprise that has done its best to keep its new snake under cover ahead of its official debut.
Despite those efforts, here we have what appears to be photographs snapped during a video presentation showing the 2013 SRT Viper looking rather sinister in crimson. Based on previous , , and other , these pics sure look like the real thing, and the reborn Viper looks just as venomous as ever.
There’s plenty of inspiration drawn from the first and second generations of the Dodge Viper, especially the gorgeous Coupe model, but we also note a fair bit of European flair courtesy of the automaker’s recent tie-up with Italy’s . Some of the coupe’s sinuous and feminine curves recall the Alfa Romeo 8C in particular.
You won’t have to wait long for the 2013 Viper’s official debut, as the New York Auto Show gets underway tomorrow. In the meantime, feel free to browse the image gallery above and let us know what you think of the new Viper in Comments.
It boasts the best highway fuel economy for any non-hybrid midsize sedan: 38 miles per gallon.
Perhaps more than most people realize, the is a hugely important car here in the United States. In 2011, it was the second best-selling car in the country (trailing its classmate, the ), and with the launch of this fifth-generation Altima, appears to simply be going for an evolutionary enhancement rather than completely reinventing its successful midsize sedan formula.
That said, this step forward for the Altima should make it more competitive than ever in one of the most highly shopped segments of North America’s automotive marketplace. Nissan has not only been able to shed enough weight to make the Altima the lightest car in its class, it now boasts the best highway fuel economy for any non-hybrid midsize sedan: 38 miles per gallon when paired with the 182-horsepower 2.5-liter inline-four. Combine that with a new rear suspension setup, class-exclusive driving aids such as Active Understeer Control and a slew of new infotainment functionality, and Nissan’s midsizer looks to have what it takes to keep running with the segment’s best.
for an in-depth look at what’s in store for the 2013 Altima.
, but the is now history. While is still building out the model run, it has closed ordering and “all cars are spoken for,” according to Car and Driver.
The report comes from the magazine’s European correspondent, so we assume any remaining cars are destined to remain in Europe, meaning that our friends across the Atlantic are just now catching up to our situation here. Perhaps this news should come as no surprise, as the 1 Series M Coupe was sold in the U.S. for just a single model year, 2011.
Of course, if your heart is set on owning one of fewer than 1,000 1 Series M Coupes that were offered in the States, the only thing standing between you and your dream is money. We imagine values of these cars will not depreciate much (the at the moment has been essentially bid up to MSRP), though whether the 1 Series M Coupe will achieve the cult status of the remains to be seen.
Toyota has been teasing us with of the redesigned 2013 over the last month, and now we get to see its modest makeover just before the vehicle’s debut.
The new, less fussy grille is the first thing you’ll notice. Fewer horizontal bars above the bumper and a chrome accent goes some way toward below classing up the crossutilitywagon thing. The headlamps are new, and the fog lights have also been blacked out with chrome accent ring. Finishing off the new light fixtures are reworked door mirrors fitted with the obligatory built-in turn signals.
In back, the taillights have been slightly updated, but everything else seems to be much the same as the 2012 model. Venzas can now be ordered in Attitude Black, Cypress Pearl and Cosmic Gray Mica.
Interior changes also seem to be minimal except for updated steering wheel buttons and the option of adding Toyota’s package that integrates your smart phone with the vehicle’s dashboard display. The interior is also available in black for 2013.
Engine choices stay the same, with a 2.7-liter four-cylinder and a 3.5-liter V6 on offer.
Check the for more photos and to the press release for more details.
The has been a boon for since it arrived in 2007, with impressive sales complemented by profitable transaction prices. And even though the big Buick has gone without a refresh since its debut, the Enclave managed its best year ever in 2011, with a segment-leading 58,000 units sold.
Buick is hoping to stretch that streak with the Enclave’s first refresh for 2013. The tweaked three-row crossover will receive several updates, starting with a new front fascia that includes a black chrome waterfall grille and redesigned hood. The front also includes a new headlight design with standard Xenon headlamps and LED daytime running lights. Out back, the 2013 Enclave features new LED taillights and a fresh design with integrated exhaust outlets.
Overall, the exterior redesign is evolutionary, but more dramatic changes await inside. The Enclave’s cabin was fast becoming outdated, but Buick upped its game with a fresh dash that includes more modern-looking materials and contemporary center stack. There are also tasteful wood treatments, a smattering of chrome accents and attractive stitching throughout. The cabin also features blue LED ambient lighting that accentuates the size of this voluminous crossover.
The 2013 Enclave will also inherit Buick’s IntelliLink infotainment system, which offers a brilliant LCD and interactivity with smart phones via Bluetooth and USB connections. The Enclave also features tri-zone climate control and an industry-first front center airbag for additional crash protection.
Buick engineers hasn’t made any changes to the tried-and-true 3.6-liter V6 or the six-speed automatic, but the ride and handling setup has been given a bit of love. The front and rear dampers were revised for a smoother ride, with adjustments that also ensure big bumps don’t loosen your fillings. The ride has also received more “Quiet Tuning,” (read: insulation) which keeps even more unwanted road noise out of the re-imagined cabin than before.
The 2013 Buick Enclave will make its official debut at the tomorrow. Scroll down to read over the press release from Buick and peruse official high-resolution images in the gallery above.
is getting in on the diesel craze with its first diesel-powered vehicle ever offered in the U.S. The 2013 will be available with a turbo-diesel V6 option pumping out 240 horsepower, permanent all-wheel drive and a staggering 406 lb-ft of trailer-towing torque. That’s enough power to propel the super-SUV to 60 in 7.2 seconds and 135 miles per hour on the track. That’ll outrun your neighbor’s base Cayenne by .2 seconds, but don’t try to take on a Cayenne Turbo (0-60 in 4.4 seconds).
Porsche says the diesel’s estimated fuel economy numbers are 20 city / 28 highway. The offers the same diesel engine but with 15 fewer horses and EPA estimates of 19/28 mpg. Bad news, however, for anyone who likes shifting their own gears. Looks like only the 8-speed Tiptronic will be available with the diesel.
While the least-expensive Cayenne will set you back at least $48,850, adding the diesel engine runs the base price up to $55,750. That’s not too bad when you consider the platform-sharing Touareg TDI starts at just below $47k and runs all the way up to $59k for the Executive level VW.
Car spotters can ID the latest Cayenne variant by the “Diesel” badges behind the front wheel wells.
Check out the gallery above for more pics and for the official details from Porsche.
It takes but six months to crown a new American Idol, but the search for a replacement New York City taxi has taken five years, and is finally ready to collect its flowers and contract.
The production taxi version of the NV200 is, except for its looks, just about all a cabbie and his passenger could want from their voyages together: more room, more lighting, a panoramic roof, airbags front and rear, climate control for back-seaters, charging ports and an active carbon headliner to absorb odors are just the start.
We’ve seen , but the is where locals will get a chance to meet their lemony carriages before they enter service next year. A mobility version for disabled passengers is being developed with Braun and will go on sale next year as well. for the full skinny on the Taxi of Tomorrow, and click the image above to enlarge.
debuts production NV200 “Taxi of Tomorrow” for New Yorkers
Ladies and gentlemen, this is the 2013 Lincoln MKZ, which Ford hopes will turn around its stagnant luxury brand. Based on the that was at the , the production version looks largely unchanged except for practical concessions like visible door handles and larger side mirrors. Whether or not the new look, described by Lincoln Design director Max Wolff as “elegant simplicity,” will resonate with buyers remains to be seen, but it has the Autoblog team split right down the middle.
Where the 2013 MKZ sets itself apart most from rivals are its suite of driving and safety technologies.
We’re all in agreement, however, about the improved interior design, especially the Push Button Shift gear selector that makes for a smooth, uncluttered center console. The MKZ will of course be available with SYNC and MyLincoln Touch, which are complemented by a large 10.1-inch LCD instrument cluster and 8-inch center touchscreen. The interior is covered wall-to-wall in leather, real wood trim and metal accents, and Active Noise Control, which cancels out offending audibles, is standard equipment. Optional is a unique 15.2-foot Retractable Panoramic Roof that takes sunroofs to the extreme.
Three powertrains will be available for the MKZ at launch. Standard is a turbocharged 2.0-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder engine producing 240 horsepower (on premium fuel) and 270 lb-ft of torque while returning 22 mpg city / 33 mpg highway. More power is available via a 3.7-liter V6 generating 300 hp and 277 lb-ft of torque, which returns 18 mpg city / 26 mpg hwy. The MKZ Hybrid is also back offering a combined output of 188 hp from its 2.0-liter four-cylinder and electric drivetrain. EPA estimates aren’t available for the MKZ Hybrid, but Lincoln says it should remain America’s most fuel-efficient premium sedan. All-wheel drive is an option for both non-hybrid models, which also receive six-speed automatic transmissions and paddle shifters, while the MKZ Hybrid is front-wheel-drive only with a CVT.
Where the 2013 MKZ will set itself apart most from rivals are its suite of driving and safety technologies. First up is Lincoln Drive Control, which effectively coordinates every system on the car to continually refine the ride and handling in real time. The most interesting of these systems is the Continually Controlled Damping suspension system, which offers normal, comfort and sport modes and activately adjusts the dampers up to 50 times per second.
As for safety, the MKZ may set a new benchmark for the number of sensors onboard. There’s a mono-vision camera integrated into the rearview mirror to read lane markers on the road, radar sensors for the adaptive cruise control and active Collision Warning with Brake Support, and more short-range wide-angle radar sensors for help with parking and backing up. The MKZ will also class-exclusive inflatable second-row seatbelts that compliment the eight airbags located elsewhere around the vehicle.
We’re very eager to see the 2013 Lincoln MKZ in person at the New York Auto Show this week, so until we can bring you our own in-person live shots, take a look at the gallery above and scroll down for Lincoln’s official press release.
It’s that time of year again. April Fools’ came and went over the weekend, and a handful of the world’s automakers joined in on a little Spring time fun. From intelligent anti-theft devices and TSA-inspired driver aids to automated NASCAR racers and high-performance hybrids, this year’s raft of pranks were as good as any we’ve seen in past years. With April 1 falling on a Sunday, we saw fewer wise-cracking creations than before, but that didn’t spoil the fun, so we thought we’d recap them for your enjoyment.
took the cake this year with the company’s Cowley Caravan and Swindon Roof Top Tent. The automaker went through the trouble of working up a full press release, complete with 20 photos and translations into a wide range of languages. We’ll admit to being a little disappointed when we discovered the add-ons were a clever rouse. We’ll just have to scrap our plans for a Mini safari. For now.
The has been leaked ahead of its official announcement at the , and it seems to boasts a fresh face and a reasonable price tag. The smallest of crossovers will feature a revised front fascia that includes tweaked headlights and a new bumper with silver-painted accents. The LED highlights and light rings are available only as part of the optional xenon light package.
The same silver accents can be found on the side body sills, and BMW has penned new side-view mirrors. The rear also received a revamped bumper, plus fresh taillights. Inside changes include a shallower center console that has been tilted towards the driver, while chrome touches have been added for a more premium feel.
Under the hood, U.S. buyers will have a choice of turbocharged four- and six-cylinder engines. The X1 28i will feature the powerful 2.0-liter turbo four, boasting 240 horsepower. The X1 xDrive35i will up the ante with BMW’s tried-and-true turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six, which will be good for 300 horsepower.
Those well-regarded powertrains should provide enough punch to make the X1 a blast to drive, and luckily we won’t have to wait long to find out for sure. The X1 will arrive Stateside beginning in September with a palatable $31,545 price tag that includes the $895 destination charge. The xDrive28i tips the sales at $33,245 and the xDrive35i will start at $39,345. Not bad for an attractive little BMW, though we’re sure a few options will send the MSRP to $50,000 and beyond. to read over the BMW press release.
