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BMW’s M division comes up with some pretty crazy ideas – things like M3 pickups and M5 cabrios. Even the X6 M could be safely defined as ‘radical.’ And while some make it into production, there are plenty other awesome projects that never see the light of day.

While giving us a preview of the new M5 Concept, the Bavarian skunkworks division also showcased a few of those stillborn projects. One of them was a CSL version of the recently-departed M6 coupe, unburdened of 220 pounds of excess weight, given a power boost and fitted with active aerodynamics and an electronically deployed rear spoiler. But while the prototype was reportedly fully developed, the beancounters in Munich ultimately passed on its production.

The same fate reportedly befell an M8 prototype that would have slotted in above the 850 CSi. That particular coupe that was available packed with a 375-horsepower V12, but the never-was M8 was blessed with a lofty 550 hp from its 12-cylinder engine. After the M8 project was canceled, the engine was retasked for use in another supercar: the McLaren F1.

Another variant of that high-revving V12 – originally bound for LeMans duty – was also placed in a first-gen X5 prototype with a six-speed manual, 700 horsepower and a 186-mile-per-hour top end. Another rear-drive X5 prototype developed by the M division was in attendance and, naturally, never reached production, along with an M-ified 318ti (yum), E46 M3 wagon (double-yum), E39 M5 wagon (quadruple-yum) and one horribly overwrought red roadster (above) with a clear connection to the Z1 and Z3 convertible. And as for the E92-based M3 pickup; it was built as a replacement for beheaded and bedded E30 the M crew developed way-back-when to haul parts.

Finally, last year, BMW toyed with shoehorning the V12 engine into the outgoing M5 to replace its V10 and celebrate the model’s 25th anniversary (it was first introduced in 1985), but found the engine bay just a little too tight for the Le Mans-based engine. Sigh.

You can check out all the stillborn Ms in our galleries below.

Photos copyright (C)2011 Damon Lavrinc / AOL and BMW

BMW M projects that didn’t make it

Review: 2011 Airstream Avenue

The open road is always calling and, when a friend is ready to join in, it means the stars have aligned for a road trip. Thankfully, a brief call from Airstream put my name on the keys of a 2011 Avenue slumbering in a Los Angeles parking lot.

Ford delivers 2012 Mustang Cobra Jet racers, lays claim to quickest production car [w/video]

Ford recently threw a party at the Auto Alliance Mustang factory in Flat Rock, MI to celebrate the official delivery of its new 2012 Mustang Cobra Jet, a vehicle that the company proudly maintains is quickest accelerating production vehicle ever made.

Officially Official: BMW M5 Concept bound for Shanghai [w/video]

From our discussions with BMW engineers and spokespeople here in Germany, the automaker has taken the (hard) lessons learned from its last M5, gone back to the drawing board and injected this newest M with the best it has to offer. And we should know if they’ve succeeded well before you’re ready to place your down payment early next year.

Also of interest:

• Nissan Altima outsells Camry, Accord in March, named best-selling sedan in America for first time
• Current generation BMW M3 to be last naturally aspirated M car
• 2012 Audi A7 to start at $59,250,* configurator live
• Kentucky reportedly approves incentives for next Chevrolet Corvette – but will GM bite?
• BMW’s i Ventures gets new president, board

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Daily U-Turn: What you missed on 4.4.11

Tesla has gone to great lengths to publicize its libel suit against Top Gear for the program’s 2008 review of the Tesla Roadster. The suit claims that TG’s review of the car was rigged, and its assertion that the car doesn’t work in the real world had been decided even before Clarkson drove the car.

Until now, there had been no response from the BBC or Top Gear, other than to say they would defend themselves. According to Top Gear producer Andy Wilman, it’s their policy to hold back any comment until the matter goes to court. Since Tesla has been so vocal about the case, though, Wilman decided to issue a response.

Wilman responds to Tesla’s claims that the show lied about the car’s brakes being broken, that its range is only 55 miles and that an overheated motor immobilized the car. Top Gear says the 55-mile range claim came from Tesla engineers who studied data gathered from the car after the test day. Wilman stands by his show’s claim that the brakes broke, saying a blown fuse in the vacuum pump made pedal effort abnormally high, and that Tesla wouldn’t let them continue the test until the problem was solved.

Whatever side of the matter you stand on, the facts of the case will have to shake out in court. The only thing that seems certain at this point is that the case will likely be long and messy. Click past the jump to see Top Gear’s original review and draw your own conclusions.

[Source: Top Gear]

Continue reading Top Gear presents its side of story about Tesla Roadster [w/video]

Top Gear presents its side of story about Tesla Roadster [w/video]

A Deluxe Apartment On The Move

This is the time of year when you can’t help but realize that you’ve been tucked away in an office while the desk calendar has been the only one getting a workout. It’s time to look at a map and pack a bag. Coincidentally, my friend Tom had the same thing in mind. He’s about to have his first baby, doing work on his first home, and he’s getting a look in his eye that suggests it’s time for a breather. For me, the open road is always calling and, when a friend is ready to join in, it means the stars have aligned for a road trip.

Those two little words create all kinds of questions, the first of which centers upon what type of vehicle to use. We’re both 30, so we’d like a little luxury but… we’re both 30, so we’d like a little adventure too. Thankfully, a brief call from Airstream put my name on the keys of a 2011 Avenue slumbering in a Los Angeles parking lot.

Continue reading Review: 2011 Airstream Avenue…

Photos copyright (C)2011 Jeff Glucker / AOL

Continue reading Review: 2011 Airstream Avenue

Review: 2011 Airstream Avenue

Last summer, there was some wild speculation that the next-generation Chevrolet Corvette could be produced at a plant other than the legendary Bowling Green, Kentucky facility that has built the iconic sports car since 1981. Not true, a General Motors spokesperson told us at the time, but a report from a Lexington, KY NBC affiliate may suggest otherwise.

The site reports that the bluegrass state has approved $7.5 million in tax incentives for a future $131 million expansion of the plant, presumably to accommodate the next-generation Corvette. That’s just an offer, though, as local GM spokeswoman Andrea Hales told the affiliate that The General is considering other sites for the investment, and that the automaker has nothing to announce at this time.

Is GM giving us a hint that the C7 Corvette could be built elsewhere, or is the automaker simply holding out for more incentives from the state of Kentucky? We have no idea, but we wouldn’t be surprised to learn that GM is doing its due diligence and shopping around. Corvette sales have been anemic the past couple of years, and it may not make sense to keep Bowling Green open if it’s only building a vehicle that struggles to hit 1,000 sales in a given month. Top tip, Taylor!

Photos copyright (C)2009 Sam Abuelsamid / AOL

[Source: Lexington 18]

Kentucky reportedly approves incentives for next Chevrolet Corvette – but will GM bite?

More than anything else, Bernie Ecclestone is a businessman. And as a businessman, he’s interested in increasing the spectacle in Formula One racing. To that end, reports suggest that the F1 chief is talking with Simon Cowell and Simon Fuller – the creative forces behind American Idol, among countless other reality TV shows – about how to make F1 more attractive to a broader audience.

One proposal the Simons have reportedly put forward would be a thorough reformatting of the grand prix weekend. Instead of practice, qualifying and racing over a three-day weekend, Cowell (pictured above in the Red Bull Racing garage) and Fuller have reportedly suggested cutting the schedule down to two days with two races: the actual grand prix on Sunday, preceded by a preview race on Saturday contested between the teams’ test drivers. The Saturday race would count only towards the constructors’ championship.

This isn’t the first time that Fuller, for his part, has been connected with F1. Just recently we reported on Lewis Hamilton signing with Fuller’s talent agency. Fuller was also the brains behind the lamentable MyEarthDream initiative fielded by the Honda F1 team before it pulled out of the sport.

[Source: Pitpass Image: Andrew Hone/Getty]

Ecclestone consulting the American Idol Simons on increasing showmanship in F1?

Legendary automotive journalist David E. Davis, Jr. passed away earlier this week at the age of 80. Davis (known to his countless friends and colleagues simply as “David E.”) was a prolific writer, with published bits of wit and wisdom dating back over fifty years.

David E. spent a lengthy tenure atop the masthead of Car and Driver, and the magazine has put together a collection of his most memorable pieces published in the 1960s, ’70s and ’80s. Davis had a passion for driving “great cars on great roads,” and stories like his April, 1968 C/D review of the BMW 2002 showcase his influence. In writing about the 2002, Davis brought BMW front and center within the mind of the American automotive enthusiast.

A total of nine stories are offered in C/D’s collection, available as either text or downloadable magazine-layout PDFs. Head over to Car and Driver’s website to read the lot.

[Source: Car and Driver Image: Winding Road]

Car and Driver offers up the best of David E. Davis, Jr.

The 2012 BMW M5? Here it is in the “concept” form that will make its official debut later this month at the Shanghai Motor Show, courtesy of photos leaked from an embargoed preview event held this weekend in Germany.

As is BMW’s wont when it comes to these things, “concept” simply means, “This is exactly what the production car looks like, and we’ll reveal the rest of the juicy details at a future date. And maybe the production wheels won’t be black.”

Of course, some stuff related to the F10 M5 is pretty much set in stone already, courtesy of Chris Harris’ first drive for Evo magazine.

• The twin-turbo V8 should out-power the one in the X6M, which makes 546 horsepower.
• Shifts come via a seven-speed DCT.
• Selectable driving programs include Comfort, Sport, and Sport-Plus, plus the let-it-all-hang-out M Driving Mode.

Snap judgement: this is the best-looking BMW M vehicle since the E39 M5, and whatever BMW’s cooked up underhood should have no problem backing up the looks. Stay tuned for more info on the BMW Concept M5 as we receive it.

[Source: M5Board via Motor Authority]

2012 BMW M5 Concept leaked ahead of Shanghai debut

Ford hasn’t said much about its supply situation in the wake of the earthquake in Japan, but now the automaker has no choice but to spill the beans. The Detroit News reports that Ford will shut down its Louisville, Kentucky plant next week due to a parts shortage. The facility produces the Ford Expedition, Ford Super Duty trucks, and the Lincoln Navigator. Ford sales analyst George Pipas did not identify the part that was in short supply, though he did add that high gas prices have helped slow sales of these vehicles anyway.

Ford will also shut down its Flat Rock, Michigan plant, where the Mustang is produced, because the automaker already has a 116-day supply of the pony car. In Europe, Ford will idle the Genk, Belgium plant that produces the Mondeo, S Max and Galaxy minivan to help prevent future shortages.

Ford announced that events in Japan could further affect future production, but at this point it isn’t interested in divulging the extent of its supply issues. Ford is actively searching for other parts sources wherever possible.

Photos copyright (C)2010 Sam Abuelsamid / AOL

[Source: The Detroit News]

Ford to idle first plant as a result of Japan disaster

In recent years, Ford and Dodge have produced limited-edition, drag-race-only models built to compete in various NHRA classes. Both automakers have amped up their programs for 2011, with Ford releasing the revised Mustang Cobra Jet and Dodge unveiling its V10-powered Challenger Drag Pak at SEMA last November.

Will Chevrolet join the party? While General Motors hasn’t hinted that it will, its competition at Ford Racing appears to know otherwise. In an interview regarding the Cobra Jet, Ford Racing’s drag racing competition manager, Jesse Kershaw, hinted at a new Camaro built for drag racing:

“Some people revel in competition and some people don’t like the competition, but what is really interesting is that we’re seeing a resurgence of the muscle car wars from the late ’60s. So we see where the competition like Dodge has produced a Challenger to compete with us, and now they’ve had to step up their ante with a V10 version. We know that General Motors is on track to release a Camaro version. I think that the NHRA fans as well as the racers themselves are very excited to get out there and have this new era of horsepower war.”

Both Ford and Dodge unveiled their purpose-built drag racers at SEMA, so we’ll have our eyes and ears open for any potential news from GM come November.

Photos copyright (C)2011 Drew Phillips / AOL

[Source: Ford Racing TV]

Chevrolet to take on Mustang Cobra Jet and Challenger Drag Pak with race-only Camaro?

Quick Spin: 2012 Buick LaCrosse eAssist

While some hybrid systems vastly change a car’s overall driving experience, we walked away from our time in the Buick feeling as good as we ever have in a LaCrosse. The beauty of eAssist is that it functions in an almost entirely transparent manner, and that’s a very, very good thing.

Confirmed: BMW i3 to be RWD, mid-”engine”

As if the spy video we featured previously wasn’t enough proof, today we’ve confirmed that the smallest BMW i family offering, the i3, will be coming to market in 2013 with a rear-wheel-drive powertrain, and the electric motor powering those wheels will be mounted amidships.

Honda Accord Crosstour Cabriolet coming to take on Nissan’s topless Murano

Historically averse to convertibles (small-volume jobs like the S2000 excluded), Honda now plans to offer a soft-top CUV of its own, and the unlikely choice for a roofectomy is the slow-selling Honda Accord Crosstour.

Also of interest:

• Officially Official: 420-HP BMW M3 Pickup hauls ass, nearly 1,000 pounds
• Jeep offers sneak peak at Moab Easter Safari vehicles
• Report: Bugatti gets green light to build Galibier sedan
• Report: 2012 Audi A6 to be offered with 2.0T, RS4 not in the cards for U.S.
• BMW bringing lightweight M3 sedan to Nürburgring M Festival

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Daily U-Turn: What you missed on 4.1.11

The Caparo T1 is the devil on four wheels. There are widespread tales of the T1 attempting to harm anyone who tries to tame it. Autocar must’ve heard these stories and decided to leave the driving to two-time Formula One World Champion Mika Hakkinen.

The T1’s unusual layout allows for a passenger to ride slightly behind the driver. That’s the vantage point from which Autocar magazine’s Mark Tisshaw took in the action. His narrative is a bit dry, but we’re assuming that’s because Hakkinen and the Caparo fried his senses. Click past the jump to watch footage of a Caparo T1 not harming anyone. Thanks for the tip, Tim!

[Source: Autocar via YouTube]

Continue reading Video: Caparo T1 gets driven by Mika Hakkinen

Video: Caparo T1 gets driven by Mika Hakkinen

General Motors posted its seventh consecutive sales gain for the month of March, with 206,621 total sales. A good month, no doubt, but Ford had a better month for just the second time since 1998. Ford last bested GM in February, 2010. The Blue Oval posted sales of 212,295, thanks in part to a 21-percent jump in truck sales.

That’s a victory of 5,674 units for the Dearborn, MI-based automaker, but the real drubbing came in the ongoing battle of Ford Vs. Chevrolet. The Bowtie brand moved 148,197 units, compared to 203,794 for Team Ford. That’s a 28-percent sales jump for the Blue Oval, which admittedly amped up fleet sales for the month, but retail sales were also up 14 percent.

Ford had plenty of hot products moving off dealer lots, with 53,272 F-Series trucks sold, a record 9,787 Fiestas and record March sales for the Escape and Fusion. One factor holding back GM sales was a $700 per vehicle cutback in incentive spending, though that will probably help the automaker’s bottom line more than a few extra Malibu sedans rolling off the line.

While Ford was victorious in March, GM is still up for the year by 97,000 units. Stay tuned to Autoblog for our monthly By the Numbers update, which will lay out sales totals for all of the major automakers selling in the U.S.

[Source: Automotive News - sub. req.]

Breaking: Ford beats GM in March sales

General Motors posted its seventh consecutive sales gain for the month of March, with 206,621 total sales. A good month, no doubt, but Ford had a better month for just the second time since 1998. Ford last bested GM in February, 2010. The Blue Oval posted sales of 212,295, thanks in part to a 21 percent jump in truck sales.

That’s a victory of 5,674 units for the Dearborn, MI-based automaker, but the real drubbing came in the ongoing battle of Ford Versus Chevrolet. The Bowtie brand moved 148,197 units, compared to 203,794 for Team Ford. That’s a 28 percent sales jump for the Blue Oval, which admittedly amped up fleet sales for the month, but retail sales were also up 14 percent for the month. Ford had plenty of hot products moving off dealer lots, with 53,272 F-Series sold, a record 9,787 Fiesta sales and record March sales for the Escape and Fusion. One factor holding back GM sales was a $700 per vehicle cutback in incentive spending, though that will probably help the automaker’s bottom line more than a few extra Malibu sedans rolling off the line.

While Ford was victorious in March, GM is still up for the year by 97,000 units. Stay tuned to Autoblog for our monthly By the Numbers update, which will lay out sales totals for all major automakers.

[Source: Automotive News - sub. req.]

BREAKING: Ford beats GM in March sales

The TriShield’s Big Sedan Does The Electric Slide

It’s hard to talk about all of the good things General Motors is doing these days without referencing the Chevrolet Volt – it is perhaps the most talked-about car on the scene, green or otherwise. In showing the world that highly efficient, practical cars aren’t so far out of our reach, GM is preparing to launch a slew of fuel-sipping vehicles in the near term.

We’ve already spent time with the honest-to-goodness 42-mile-per-gallon Chevrolet Cruze Eco, but the next chapter of GM’s efficiency story lies in Buick’s eAssist mild hybrid system, coming to both its LaCrosse and Regal sedans later this year.

We recently had the chance to drive the 2012 Buick LaCrosse eAssist on the roads near GM’s proving grounds in Milford, Michigan, and while some hybrid systems vastly change a car’s overall driving experience, we walked away from our time in the Buick feeling as good as we ever have in a LaCrosse. The beauty of eAssist is that it functions in an almost entirely transparent manner, and that’s a very, very good thing.

Continue reading Quick Spin: 2012 Buick LaCrosse eAssist…

Photos copyright (C)2011 Steven J. Ewing / AOL

Continue reading Quick Spin: 2012 Buick LaCrosse eAssist

Quick Spin: 2012 Buick LaCrosse eAssist

Are unconventional droptops becoming the darling of the automotive industry? Honda is evidently paying close attention to the new Murano CrossCabriolet from Nissan, and apparently it likes what it sees. Historically averse to convertibles (small-volume jobs like the S2000 excluded), the Japanese automaker now plans to offer a soft-top CUV of its own, and the unlikely choice for a roofectomy is the slow-selling Honda Accord Crosstour.

Unimaginatively dubbed the Accord Crosstour Cabriolet, this convertible features a two-plus-two interior seating arrangement and unlimited headroom. Under the hood sits the familiar 3.5-liter V6 engine, which produces 271 horsepower and 254 pound-feet of torque. Like the fixed-roof Crosstour, the Cabriolet will be offered with front- and all-wheel drive, giving it more configurablility than the AWD-only Murano. Like the Nissan, the cabrio conversion has resulted in two fewer doors and the merciful exclusion of a basket-handle structural support. Oddly, to our eyes, the Crosstour Cabriolet almost looks more attractive than the hunchbacked hardtop – at least with the top down.

When it goes on sale this summer, the Honda Accord Crosstour Cabriolet will sit atop the Crosstour’s pricing structure. The fully-loaded Crosstour we reviewed in 2010 had a sticker price of $36,930, so expect the convertible to come in right at a stitch over the $40K mark. That’s a bit less than the $47,190 Nissan wants for its Murano CrossCab.

Continue reading Honda Accord Crosstour Cabriolet coming to take on Nissan’s topless Murano

Honda Accord Crosstour Cabriolet coming to take on Nissan’s topless Murano

Report: 2012 Audi A6 to be offered with 2.0T, RS4 not in the cards for U.S.

The Japan earthquake and tsunami has left the vast majority of Japanese auto plants without parts or power at least temporarily, and the good folks of California are beginning to feel the pinch. The Los Angeles Times reports that the Toyota Prius is in very short supply in The Golden State, leading many car buyers to move up their purchases in fear of not being able to get their precious hybrid at a later date.

It’s no surprise California would feel the pinch of limited Prius inventory first, as the state is the largest market for the ultra-efficient hatch. Many dealers have less than a two week supply, while others have zero models in stock. Meanwhile, Toyota restarted the Prius plant late last week in an effort to keep the popular hybrids flowing to the U.S. and around the world. But for the short term, the automaker is running the line at about half its normal pace, and the plant was shut down on Wednesday to gauge parts availability.

Given the fact that the Prius plant is one of the only Japanese facilities even up and running right now, California dealers will likely continue to see a trickle of new models hitting their showrooms. In the short term, the Prius supply issue could actually deteriorate, with May inventories looking worse than April. Just as big a concern is the fact that other plants still haven’t begun producing vehicles, which means that the situation playing out in California with the Prius could soon affect many Japanese autos in dealerships around the world.

[Source: Los Angeles Times]

Everybody Panic: California dealers reportedly running out of Prius models

Review: 2011 Lexus IS 250 AWD

The entry-level luxury sedan category is chock full of viable options and the 2011 Lexus IS 250 AWD is a perfectly acceptable (if run-of-the-mill) choice. The styling is conservative, the driving dynamics are a mixed bag of sport and luxury, but the engine is better than we anticipated.

2012 Kia Rio sedan confirmed for New York Auto Show

Kia will be unveiling its 2012 Rio sedan at the 2011 New York Auto Show. The four-door Rio will complement the hatchback bodystyle that bowed at the Geneva Motor Show in early March.

2012 Chevrolet Malibu teased ahead of Shanghai debut [w/video]

General Motors has released this official teaser shot of its new Malibu, showing off its new Camaro-inspired LED taillamps.

Also of interest:

• Hyundai Blue2 fuel cell concept brings ‘Intersected Flow’ design to Seoul
• Buick Envision crossover concept teased ahead of Shanghai reveal
• Video: Kobe Bryant uses Smart Fortwo Brabus to catch art thief
• Chevrolet Mi-ray Concept to wow Seoul Motor Show
• Kia Naimo EV concept ready for Seoul Motor Show debut

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Daily U-Turn: What you missed on 3.31.11

Honda has announced it will resume production at its Japanese plants effective April 11. Though the factories are ready to be up and running at full capacity again, Honda is keeping production levels at 50 percent due to a shaky parts supply.

The company says production at its U.S. facilities will have to slow in the coming weeks because of this parts issue. The reductions at American plants are scheduled to last until April 15, but may go on longer depending on when supplies come back on line. Honda says it’s working with suppliers who haven’t resumed production and is seeking new sources of critical parts in hopes of resuming full production soon.

Honda’s UK factory is yet to see slowdowns as a result of the earthquake in Japan, but it will likely face cutbacks if things don’t turn around soon.

[Source: Honda Image: Drew Phillips/AOL]

Continue reading Honda resuming production at Japanese plants

Honda resuming production at Japanese plants