Officially Official: 2012 BMW 1 Series M Coupe is ready to cut and thrust

2012 BMW 1 Series M Coupe

2012 BMW 1 Series M Coupe – Click above for high-res image gallery

BMW’s long, agonizing roll-out of information about the 2012 1 Series M Coupe has been a bit maddening. In addition to an early video reveal, we were invited to get some seat time in a prototype of the 1M, leaving us with just the final production-spec images and details in the world of the unknown. Well, wait no more – BMW has officially taken the wraps off of its hot new 1 Series, and while we’re still very eager to put this sporty coupe through its paces, we can’t help but wish for just a teensy bit more… oomph.

Let’s start with power. The 1 Series M Coupe uses BMW’s twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six, and while early estimates had the car pumping out as much as 350 horsepower, the final numbers are: 335 hp and 332 pound-feet of torque – exactly what you get out of this engine in the current Z4 sDrive35is. The car’s ECU has an overboost function that provides an additional 37 lb-ft of twist at full tilt, and with your foot pressed hard into the right pedal, 0-60 will happen in just 4.7 seconds. Top speed is electronically limited at – you guessed it – 155 miles per hour.

2012 BMW 1 Series M CoupeThe only transmission available is a six-speed manual, though rumors have circulated about a possible twin-clutch DCT box making its way into the car down the road. Like all M cars, the 1M features an M Drive button on the steering wheel that improves throttle response. Additionally, the car is equipped with an M Dynamic Mode button that allows the electronic driving nannies to kick in slightly later than normal.

Compared to a 2011 135i coupe, the 1M is 0.2 inches longer, 2.1 inches wider and 0.5 inches taller. Both the front and rear tracks have been increased by 2.8 and 1.8 inches, respectively. Weighing in at 3,296 pounds, the 1 Series M Coupe is 77 pounds lighter than your off-the-shelf 135i. The 1M rides on standard M-specific 19-inch wheels wrapped in 245/35 rubber up front and beefy 265/35 out back. BMW hasn’t made great strides to rework the 1 Series’ interior for the M, but things like sport seats and a fat sport steering wheel are standard fare.

Don’t get us wrong, we’re drooling over the 1 Series M Coupe, but we can’t help but wish for a bit more power and perhaps a larger reduction in weight. After all, BMW is comparing this car to the E30 M3 coupe (see for yourself in our high-res image gallery), which is perhaps one of our all-time favorite Roundel sports cars. Still, BMW needs to position the 1 Series M Coupe in a way that it doesn’t step on the toes of it’s big brother, the M3, and we’re sure that this M Coupe treatment will provide more than enough moxie for us enthusiasts to get our kicks.

We’ll have plenty of live shots direct from the 1M’s Detroit Auto Show debut, but see the unwrapped beauty for yourself in our image gallery, below. BMW’s prolific press release is available after the jump, as well.

Gallery: 2012 BMW 1 Series M Coupe

2012 BMW 1 Series M Coupe2012 BMW 1 Series M Coupe2012 BMW 1 Series M Coupe2012 BMW 1 Series M Coupe2012 BMW 1 Series M Coupe

[Source: BMW]

Continue reading Officially Official: 2012 BMW 1 Series M Coupe is ready to cut and thrust

Officially Official: 2012 BMW 1 Series M Coupe is ready to cut and thrust

    



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    Slow Down app curbs music tempo when you speed [w/video]

    Slow Down App

    Slow Down app – Click above to watch video after the jump

    For many of us, music and driving go hand-in-hand. A great song can complement a great road and the overall experience of piloting a vehicle can be raised a few notches. Of course, you might even get a little overeager behind the wheel when allowing yourself to get wrapped up in the cadence of the music instead of looking at the speedo (Metallica, anyone?). Well, now there’s an app for that.

    By way of the Belgian organization OVK, Parents of Children Killed in Road Accidents, comes an application in the iTunes App Store called Slow Down. Play music through your Apple iPhone while the app is running and it will keep an eye on the local speed limits. Should you exceed the posted limit, the music will quite literally slow down. Push that gas pedal even harder so that you are going more than 10 miles per hour over, and the tunes will go mute. All you have to do to get them back is slow down.

    We wouldn’t want this for ourselves because we love music and never, ever speed. However, we could see this being the perfect tool for quelling a newly licensed hot-shoe in your family. The best part about it? It’s free.

    Hop the jump to see the app in action.

    [Source: OVK Slow Down via Engadget]

    Continue reading Slow Down app curbs music tempo when you speed [w/video]

    Slow Down app curbs music tempo when you speed [w/video]

          



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      Video: GT5 physics are completely realistic

      Gran Turismo 5 snafu

      Gran Turismo 5 pileup – Click above to watch the video after the jump

      Gran Turismo 5 has been billed as a hyper-realistic driving simulator. And while it’s almost impossible for Polyphony Digital’s golden egg to live up to six years of hype and hope (we called the gamean incomplete title“), there are plenty of gamers out there who feel the driving dynamics are second-to-none. But no matter how hard the hundreds of GT5 developers tried, perfection and pixels are still miles apart.

      For instance, what happens when you’re driving a Nissan GT-R really fast on a banked oval track, and as you begin to ease left, an equally fast Porsche 911 taps you on the driver-side door? In real life, there is a solid chance that you’d lose control and perhaps come to a stop with your wheels pointing skyward. In GT5, you can apparently lose control, land on a Lamborghini Gallardo and still finish the race. Want proof? Hit the jump to watch the replay of one gamer’s hilarious but not-so-realistic experience. At least the Lambo slowed down once it began piggybacking an extra 4,000 pounds.

      Gallery: Gran Turismo 5: Review

      24239 gt5 2010 11 29 1024 12.jpg thumbnail Video: GT5 physics are completely realistic24239 gt5 2010 11 29 1024 14.jpg thumbnail Video: GT5 physics are completely realistic24239 gt5 2010 11 29 1024 13.jpg thumbnail Video: GT5 physics are completely realistic24239 gt5 2010 11 29 1024 08.jpg thumbnail Video: GT5 physics are completely realistic24239 gt5 2010 11 29 1024 09.jpg thumbnail Video: GT5 physics are completely realistic

      [Source: YouTube]

      Continue reading Video: GT5 physics are completely realistic

      Video: GT5 physics are completely realistic

            



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        Quick Spin: 2011 Ford Flex Titanium

        Where Useful Crossover Meets Luxury Sport Wagon

        2011 Ford Flex Titanium

        2011 Ford Flex Titanium – Click above for high-res image gallery

        Ford has been hard at work building the finest arsenal of in-cabin technologies in the auto industry, and our recent reviews of its products suggest the effort is paying off. But offering a huge collection of amenities means the customer must choose from a laundry list of options that can make the car-buying process overly complicated. Some options aren’t available on some trim levels, while those same options come standard on others. Ford also uses “Rapid Spec” packages that can range in price from $1,000 to well over $4,000, depending on how much luxury and technology you care to pile on. And, of course, there’s nothing worse than checking a box with an asterisk, a bit of punctuation that means you have to add another option before earning the right to check the box you wanted in the first place.

        Ordering a new vehicle gets a lot easier when you use the “I’ll take everything” approach. This is the simplest way to shop, but it’s also the priciest. And what happens if “everything” isn’t enough? Ford thinks it has the answer to that question: a Titanium model that bungees on every conceivable extra to already loaded-up Limited models. Already a hit in Europe, Ford’s Titanium trim level is chugging across The Pond this year with a maiden voyage aboard the S.S. Flex. We just spent a week with the 2011 Flex Titanium to see if the Blue Oval’s ultimate trim level is worth its premium price.

        Continue reading

        Gallery: 2011 Ford Flex Titanium: Quick Spin

        2011 Ford Flex Titanium2011 Ford Flex Titanium2011 Ford Flex Titanium2011 Ford Flex Titanium2011 Ford Flex Titanium

        Photos copyright (C)2010 Chris Shunk / AOL

        Continue reading Quick Spin: 2011 Ford Flex Titanium

        Quick Spin: 2011 Ford Flex Titanium

            



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          Daily U-Turn: What you missed on 12.8.10

          32cc5 u turn banner Daily U Turn: What you missed on 12.8.10

          32cc5 lead 2011 dodge avenger thumbnail Daily U Turn: What you missed on 12.8.10

          Quick Spin: 2011 Dodge Avenger

          Dodge’s old dog learns a few new tricks with the help of a reworked interior and a much-needed horsepower injection.

          32cc5 00 nike delorean shoes opt thumbnail Daily U Turn: What you missed on 12.8.10

          Leave a Facebook comment, win a pair of Nike DeLorean shoes!

          We sent our own Jeff Glucker to brave the mobs on Black Friday and bring us back on pair of Nike DeLorean shoes. Why? To give them away to one lucky Facebook follower.

          Daily U-Turn: What you missed on 12.8.10

              



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            Video: 2012 BMW 1 Series M Coupe gets early reveal

            2012 BMW 1 Series M Coupe

            2012 BMW 1 Series M Coupe revealed – Click above to watch the video after the jump

            BMW hasn’t done the best job of keeping its 2012 1 Series M Coupe a secret. The hot new two-door isn’t scheduled to make its public debut until the Detroit Auto Show next month, but we’ve already seen dozens of teaser images and videos. Heck, we’ve even driven a prototype.

            Now, BMW has released video of the production-ready 1M with all of its swirly paper removed. Its bulgy, brash front end and wider stance certainly look the part of a serious baby brother to the M3, and while official numbers have yet to be confirmed, we’re indeed looking forward to flogging all 340-ish horsepower via a standard six-speed manual transmission.

            Check out the video for yourself, after the jump, and stay tuned for the official details as they break.

            Gallery: 2012 BMW 1 Series M Coupe: Prototype Drive

            2012 BMW 1-Series M Coupe Prototype2012 BMW 1-Series M Coupe Prototype2012 BMW 1-Series M Coupe Prototype2012 BMW 1-Series M Coupe Prototype2012 BMW 1-Series M Coupe Prototype

            Gallery photos copyright (C)2010 Rex Roy/AOL, BMW

            [Source: BMW via YouTube]

            Continue reading Video: 2012 BMW 1 Series M Coupe gets early reveal

            Video: 2012 BMW 1 Series M Coupe gets early reveal

                  



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              Quick Spin: 2011 Dodge Avenger

              An Old Dog Learns A Few New Tricks

              2011 Dodge Avenger

              2011 Dodge Avenger – Click above for high-res image gallery

              Chrysler has chosen vastly different fates for its Sebring and the Dodge Avenger, despite the two essentially being identical vehicles. While the Sebring underwent a complete personality makeover for 2011 and emerged with new sheetmetal and a new nameplate to match, the Avenger was left to soldier on with more conservative tweaks. The Dodge version of Chrysler’s midsize sedan still wears the same basic body lines as before, masking over the significant adjustments to the vehicle’s interior, drivetrain and suspension. While the Chrysler 200 may be stealing (okay, borrowing) the show, the 2011 Avenger is no less improved, at least when equipped with the company’s new 3.6-liter V6 engine.

              With 283 horsepower and respectable fuel economy, the new six-cylinder turns the Avenger into a vehicle that no longer takes its driving cues from capital punishment, though lower-rung trim levels don’t fare as well. Buyers who opt for the old 2.4-liter four-cylinder will be met with visions from the vehicle’s less-than-award-winning past, including plenty of engine vibration and fuel economy that’s not on par with new hardware coming out from the competition. All this begs the question: Is there room for both the Dodge Avenger and the Chrysler 200 under the new company tent?

              Continue reading

              Gallery: 2011 Dodge Avenger: Quick Spin

              2011 Dodge Avenger2011 Dodge Avenger2011 Dodge Avenger2011 Dodge Avenger2011 Dodge Avenger

              Photos copyright (C)2010 Drew Phillips / AOL

              Continue reading Quick Spin: 2011 Dodge Avenger

              Quick Spin: 2011 Dodge Avenger

                  



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                Subcompact sales fail to impress; Ford Fiesta and Chevy Aveo selling similarly

                2011 Ford Fiesta

                2011 Ford Fiesta – Click above for high-res image gallery

                Despite the wave of all-new compact and subcompact fighters hitting the market right now, sales of small cars in the U.S. don’t appear to be budging much. According to Cars.com, models like the much-hyped Ford Fiesta are struggling to do much better than their older, stale counterparts at other automakers. So far, the Fiesta is number four in sales in the subcompact segment, falling well behind the Nissan Versa with 6,724 sales in November, the Honda Fit with 4,180 units and the Hyundai Accent at 4,052. In fact, Ford only managed to move 3,473 Fiesta units – just a hair above the 3,262 soon-to-be-replaced Chevrolet Aveo vehicles that rolled off of dealer lots last month.

                Fortunately, the news is a little better for larger vehicles like the Chevrolet Cruze. General Motors managed to sell 8,066 of its small sedans in the vehicle’s first full month on the market, and a total of 8,955 new-for-2011 Volkswagen Jetta models found homes during the second to last month of the year as well. Even the aged Ford Focus saw its sales jump by 27 percent to 13,030 in November thanks in no small part to an aggressive incentive program.

                Head over to Cars.com for a full breakdown of America’s disappointing subcompact sales, then chime in with your thoughts on the matter in Comments.

                Gallery: Review: 2011 Ford Fiesta SES

                6f353 01fiestasesreview2011 thumbnail Subcompact sales fail to impress; Ford Fiesta and Chevy Aveo selling similarly6f353 02fiestasesreview2011 thumbnail Subcompact sales fail to impress; Ford Fiesta and Chevy Aveo selling similarly6f353 03fiestasesreview2011 thumbnail Subcompact sales fail to impress; Ford Fiesta and Chevy Aveo selling similarly6f353 04fiestasesreview2011 thumbnail Subcompact sales fail to impress; Ford Fiesta and Chevy Aveo selling similarly6f353 05fiestasesreview2011 thumbnail Subcompact sales fail to impress; Ford Fiesta and Chevy Aveo selling similarly

                Photos copyright (C)2010 Drew Phillips / AOL

                [Source: Cars.com]

                Subcompact sales fail to impress; Ford Fiesta and Chevy Aveo selling similarly

                    



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                  Daily U-Turn: What you missed on 12.7.10

                  30d21 u turn banner Daily U Turn: What you missed on 12.7.10

                  30d21 lead audi quattro concept drive thumbnail Daily U Turn: What you missed on 12.7.10

                  Quick Spin: Audi Quattro Concept

                  Thirty years after the original, Audi wants to build another all-wheel drive masterpiece.

                  30d21 compass630opt thumbnail Daily U Turn: What you missed on 12.7.10

                  Spy Shots: 2011 Jeep Compass sharpens up

                  The Jeep Compass is getting a much-needed makeover for the 2011 model year and should make its debut at next month’s Detroit Auto Show.

                  30d21 five oh 630 thumbnail Daily U Turn: What you missed on 12.7.10

                  Wards announces 10 best engines

                  Wards Auto has announced its 10 Best Engine Winners for 2011, and not surprisingly, fuel-efficient creations like the Chevrolet Volt and Nissan Leaf have taken top honors.

                  Also of interest:

                  Browse our archive of Daily U-Turn posts or subscribe to the RSS feed

                  Daily U-Turn: What you missed on 12.7.10

                      



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                    X-Raid previews Mini All4 for Dakar

                    v

                    X-Raid Mini All4 Racing – Click above for full-size image

                    Mini is going to Dakar, or at least the 2011 Dakar Argentina-Chile race. Monster Energy has partnered up with the X-Raid Team to bring a diesel-powered Mini Countryman to the sands of South America in just 90 days. The team started on the project last month, and the reworked Countryman has to be in Argentina before the New Year. Between now and then are hours of wrenching and a few shake-down runs in France on December 13 and 14.

                    X-Raid has previously campaigned a BMW X3CC, helping the team to nab three FIA World Cup titles for cross country racing, and last year the vehicle helped the team walk away with fourth and fifth place finishes in the 2010 Argentina-Chile race. To that end, the team will be using a turbo-diesel engine borrowed from the bad Bimmer. With 315 horsepower and 523 pound-feet of torque, the engine brings a substantial bump in power to the table while using the same architecture as the lump found in the 2010 X3CC.

                    Switching to the Countryman has a number of benefits, including better handling from the vehicle’s lower center of gravity and shorter wheelbase, though the team says that ingress and egress is a little more complicated compared to the BMW. Look for the Mini All4 Racing during this year’s Argentina-Chile this January.

                    [Source: X-Raid]

                    X-Raid previews Mini All4 for Dakar

                        



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                      Project Kahn working on Cosworth-powered Range Rover Evoque

                      ad8b6 kahn evoque preview Project Kahn working on Cosworth powered Range Rover Evoque

                      It’s not every day that a new Range Rover is introduced. But when one is, you can count on Azfal Kahn and his crew to go to work on it. And the new Evoque appears to be no exception.

                      Beyond the photo above, all Project Kahn has released so far about its tuning program for the Evoque is that (a) it’s working on one, (b) it’s coming some time in the new year and (c) it’ll be powered by Cosworth. Kahn has worked with the racing engine manufacturer on previous projects, so that’s no big revelation by itself, but it’ll be interesting to see what the two British firms have got in store for the new baby Rover beyond a set of flashy rims.

                      [Source: Project Kahn via autoblog.nl]

                      Project Kahn working on Cosworth-powered Range Rover Evoque

                            



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                        Autoblog Podcast #207: Fun CR-Z, Lincoln’s new designer, the return of the Dodge Viper

                        5b769 autoblog podcast 3 Autoblog Podcast #207: Fun CR Z, Lincolns new designer, the return of the Dodge Viper

                        Click above for the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes, RSS or listen now!

                        Episode #207 of the Autoblog Podcast is staffed by Chris Shunk, Dan Roth, Zach Bowman and Chris Paukert. We hit the Autoblog Garage first and then salivate at the possibility of a non-hybrid Honda CR-Z. The defection of Max Wolff to Lincoln from Cadillac is next, and we ponder what that might mean before turning our attention to the return of the Dodge Viper as a 2013 model. We finish with your questions at the end for an hour and thirty-two minutes total. Thanks for listening!

                        Autoblog Podcast #207: Fun CR-Z, Lincoln’s new designer, the return of the Dodge Viper

                        In the Autoblog Garage:

                        2011 Buick Regal
                        2012 Dodge Durango Citadel
                        2011 Nissan Versa

                        News Topics:


                        Hosts:
                        Dan Roth, Chris Shunk, Zach Bowman, Chris Paukert
                        Runtime: 1:32:44



                        Get the podcast:
                        [iTunes] Subscribe to the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes
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                        [MP3] Download the MP3 directly

                        Feedback:

                        Email: Podcast at Autoblog dot com
                        Voicemail: 734-288-8POD (734-288-8763)

                        Review the show in iTunes
                        and take our survey

                        Autoblog Podcast #207: Fun CR-Z, Lincoln’s new designer, the return of the Dodge Viper

                              



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                          Quick Spin: Audi Quattro Concept

                          Thirty Years After The Original, Audi Wants To Build Another Masterpiece

                          Audi Quattro Concept

                          Audi Quattro Concept – Click above for high-res image gallery

                          Blue and red flashing lights filling the mirror after a spirited canyon run are never welcomed. Yet this time, I’ve fully embraced them. Why?

                          I’m driving down California’s Pacific Coast Highway in Audi’s one-of-a-kind Quattro Concept with a full police escort. In front, law enforcement is clearing the road ahead as if sweeping for mines, pushing civilian traffic off to the side. I’ve got another unit behind me, shooing the restless natives off my flanks. The parade is impressive, but I’m wary of the pageantry. Are the cops there to solely maintain a generous cushion around the multi-million dollar concept, or has Audi paid them to keep me from rocketing off into the sunset off with their turbocharged 190-mph sports coupe?

                          I’m tempted to floor it and find out.

                          Continue reading

                          Gallery: Audi Quattro Concept: Quick Spin

                          Audi Quattro ConceptAudi Quattro ConceptAudi Quattro ConceptAudi Quattro ConceptAudi Quattro Concept

                          Photos copyright (C)2010 Drew Phillips / AOL

                          Continue reading Quick Spin: Audi Quattro Concept

                          Quick Spin: Audi Quattro Concept

                              



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                            Next Nissan Sentra to look more like a baby Altima?

                            2010 Nissan Sentra SE-R

                            2010 Nissan Sentra SE-R – Click above for high-res image gallery

                            It’s not that the Nissan Sentra is a ‘bad car,’ so to speak, but it’s about as exciting to anyone with even a modicum of automotive enthusiasm as a haircut. Sadly, that milquetoast feeling even extends to the more powerful SE-R and 200-horsepower SE-R Spec V. Said another way, the current Sentra is a long time gone from the SR20DE-engined B13 Sentra SE-R of the early ’90s.

                            But there may be light at the end of the tunnel: Nissan knows that its current Sentra is too boring. Al Castignetti, Nissan Division Vice President of Sales recently admitted to AutoWeek that “We miss the heart of the market right now. A lot of people reject the Sentra because of its looks… it is not a natural progression to move down to it from the Altima.”

                            While you could certainly argue that the Sentra needs more than just a restyling – like, perhaps having more content and sporting potential to properly differentiate itself from the almost-as-large and significantly cheaper Versa – looking more like the handsome Altima sounds like a solid step in the right direction.

                            One thing’s for certain: Nissan has big hopes for its next-gen compact car, which should hit the market in about two years. Castignetti believes that Nissan has the opportunity to increase sales from 100,000 units per year to 300,000. Lofty goals for sure, but both the Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla prove that it can indeed be done.

                            Gallery: Review: 2010 Nissan Sentra SE-R

                            c9a9b 01 nissansentraser2010review thumbnail Next Nissan Sentra to look more like a baby Altima?c9a9b 02 nissansentraser2010review thumbnail Next Nissan Sentra to look more like a baby Altima?c9a9b 03 nissansentraser2010review thumbnail Next Nissan Sentra to look more like a baby Altima?c9a9b 04 nissansentraser2010review thumbnail Next Nissan Sentra to look more like a baby Altima?c9a9b 05 nissansentraser2010review thumbnail Next Nissan Sentra to look more like a baby Altima?

                            Photos copyright (C)2010 Chris Shunk / AOL

                            [Source: AutoWeek]

                            Next Nissan Sentra to look more like a baby Altima?

                                



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                              CR-Z, Crosstour, Insight sales hurting – Odyssey lone bright spot among new Honda models

                              2011 Honda CR-Z

                              2011 Honda CR-Z – Click above for high-res image gallery

                              Honda has hit rough water with sales of its new CR-Z, Accord Crosstour and Insight models According to Automotive News, the three models are underperforming in a big way.

                              Take the Insight hybrid, which is falling 40,000 units short of even the most conservative estimates inside the company. Outsold 8-to-1 by its Toyota Prius rival, Honda has only managed to shift 19,325 units through November – the company originally targeted sales of 60,000 to 80,000.

                              Likewise, thus far this year, Honda has sold nearly 20,000 fewer Crosstour models than its biggest competitor – the Toyota Venza, selling just 25,927 units compared to the Toyota’s 43,325. Need we remind you, Honda’s original sales goal for the Crosstour was 40,000 units per year, a number we were deeply skeptical of after first driving the vehicle at its launch last November.

                              Although it hasn’t been on the market that long, early sales for Honda’s new CR-Z hybrid coupe aren’t any more encouraging. Automotive News reports that Honda had conservatively intended to sell around 15,000 of the two-seat hybrids per year, but so far, only 4,373 have made their way off of dealer lots and another 3,000 are currently sitting in inventory. Thankfully, there is one bright spot in the Honda stable – the 2011 Odyssey. The minivan bowed in September, and it’s performing well against a minivan segment that has heated up with a range of new competitors.

                              Automotive News suggests that the problem boils down to a change in Honda’s image from a company with compelling products to one that plays it safe. Throw in styling that isn’t for everyone and aging (but still selling) models like the CR-V and Accord, and you’ve got a recipe for decreased market share.

                              Honda, meanwhile, says that it doesn’t focus on market share because that leads to bad habits (read: incentives), instead opting to focus on percentage-increases in vehicles sold. That’s a fair strategy, but slow sales of key new models suggest that Honda needs to do some soul-searching. Might we suggest getting back to its roots as an engineering-driven car company?

                              Gallery: 2011 Honda CR-Z: Review

                              9b428 hondacrz2011   01 thumbnail CR Z, Crosstour, Insight sales hurting   Odyssey lone bright spot among new Honda models9b428 hondacrz2011   02 thumbnail CR Z, Crosstour, Insight sales hurting   Odyssey lone bright spot among new Honda models9b428 hondacrz2011   03 thumbnail CR Z, Crosstour, Insight sales hurting   Odyssey lone bright spot among new Honda models9b428 hondacrz2011   04 thumbnail CR Z, Crosstour, Insight sales hurting   Odyssey lone bright spot among new Honda models9b428 hondacrz2011   05 thumbnail CR Z, Crosstour, Insight sales hurting   Odyssey lone bright spot among new Honda models

                              Photos copyright (C)2010 Steven Ewing / AOL.

                              [Source: Automotive News - sub. req.]

                              CR-Z, Crosstour, Insight sales hurting – Odyssey lone bright spot among new Honda models

                                  



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                                Pagani Zonda Absolute joins the ranks of special-edition Paganis

                                a61c4 web630 zonda absolute Pagani Zonda Absolute joins the ranks of special edition Paganis

                                Pagani Zonda Absolute – Click above for high-res image gallery

                                Another day, another special-edition Zonda. Pagani has been crankin’ them out seemingly without end, each one-off commissioned by one wealthy client or another. Examples have included the PS, Uno, Tricolore, HH, 750 and RAK editions, and have now expanded to include yet one more: the Zonda Absolute.

                                Reportedly commissioned by a customer in China, the Absolute edition has nothing to do with the vodka brand of similar name, but packs just as much of an intoxicating punch. Bare carbon fiber and a Tricolore Italian-flag stripe running up the nose and over the roof-mounted air intake set it apart in a package that’s probably as close to the track-bound Zonda R as any street-legal version yet.

                                Gallery: Pagani Zonda Absolute

                                a61c4 523452934175a345e123b thumbnail Pagani Zonda Absolute joins the ranks of special edition Paganisa61c4 15486347663377480173352 thumbnail Pagani Zonda Absolute joins the ranks of special edition Paganis4b90d 15680747663357480173352 thumbnail Pagani Zonda Absolute joins the ranks of special edition Paganis4b90d 15600447663338980173352 thumbnail Pagani Zonda Absolute joins the ranks of special edition Paganis

                                [Source: Teamspeed.com]

                                Pagani Zonda Absolute joins the ranks of special-edition Paganis

                                      



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                                  Rumormill: Honda planning turbocharged, non-hybrid CR-Z

                                  Honda CR-Z Hybrid R Concept

                                  Honda CR-Z Hybrid R concept – Click above for high-res image gallery

                                  As much as Honda wants us to believe that its CR-Z hatchback is some sort of “sport hybrid,” the truth is that it doesn’t exactly live up to our expectations. It’s a decent steer, but it’s not exactly a sports car, and its meager fuel efficiency is easily bested by the majority of non-hybrid B-segment offerings. According to a report from Autocar, however, Honda is rumored to be working on a CR-Z that ditches its conventional hybrid powertrain in favor of a small-displacement, turbocharged mill.

                                  The proposed new engine is an all-new 1.6-liter unit that will produce around 160 horsepower. Autocar states that a higher-output CR-Z Type R may follow shortly thereafter, rumored to produce around 200 hp. This new powerplant is reportedly slated for use in the Honda Jazz (Fit), Civic and Accord, and could provide the basis for the next-generation Civic Si engine.

                                  We saw a preview of Honda’s hot hatch intentions at this year’s SEMA show in the form of the CR-Z Hybrid R concept. That show car featured a turbocharged version of the Honda’s current 1.5-liter engine, but it shows that Honda is indeed serious about reworking the CR-Z’s sporting image.

                                  Sales of the hybrid CR-Z have started to fade in Honda’s home market, despite the hatch being named the Japanese Car of the Year. Honda hopes that a turbocharged CR-Z would broaden the vehicle’s appeal in other key markets, as well, such as the United States and Europe.

                                  Gallery: SEMA 2010: 2011 Honda CR-Z Hybrid R Concept

                                  2011 Honda CR-Z Hybrid R Concept2011 Honda CR-Z Hybrid R Concept2011 Honda CR-Z Hybrid R Concept2011 Honda CR-Z Hybrid R Concept2011 Honda CR-Z Hybrid R Concept

                                  Photos copyright (C)2010 Zach Bowman / AOL

                                  [Source: Autocar]

                                  Rumormill: Honda planning turbocharged, non-hybrid CR-Z

                                        



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                                    BMW pondering special edition 1M Coupe?

                                    BMW 1M Coupe rendering

                                    BMW will officially unveil the 2012 1 Series M Coupe at the Detroit Auto Show in January, and while we’ve already driven a prototype of this hot new 1 Series, we’re indeed excited to see the production-ready car in person. As if the hotted-up 1 wasn’t potent enough, with around 345horsepower from its twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six (official power numbers haven’t yet been confirmed), reports are starting to crop up about an even more hardcore 1 Series M. Our friend Jon Sibal has spoken to BMW about the possibility of a lighter, faster 1M, and he offers up the rendering above – a CSL-ified coupe.

                                    Yes, we’re licking our chops at the idea of a race-ready 1 Series M Coupe CSL, and it’s good to know that BMW hasn’t quite ruled out the idea. In speaking with Sibal, BMW says that initial customer reaction to the 1M will determine the need for a GTS/CSL-type car, as well as potential droptop version. “We have a cabrio unofficially,” says BMW.

                                    The 1 Series M Coupe is expected to be produced through the summer of 2012 until the next-generation 1 Series hits the market, and when it comes to the possibility of a 1M CSL, consider our hands raised. Head over to Jon Sibal’s website for a high-res version of this drool-worthy rendering.

                                    [Source: JonSibal.com]

                                    BMW pondering special edition 1M Coupe?

                                          



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                                      Report: U.S., South Korea closer to new trade deal

                                      Flags

                                      The United States and South Korea have reached an agreement regarding revisions to the free-trade deal between the two nations. This move allows the U.S. and the South Korea to move forward and look at approving the legislation, which has been delayed due to issues on both sides.

                                      A rundown of what has been changed is as follows:

                                      • The U.S. can phase out its 2.5 percent tariff on automobiles over five years, instead of three.
                                      • Each U.S. Automaker can export up to 25,000 cars to South Korea annually provided they meet US crash standards.
                                      • The U.S. can continue charging a 25 percent tariff on trucks for eight years and then phase it out by the 10th year.
                                      • South Korea will eliminate its tariff on trucks.

                                      Both sides report that significant progress has been made, and the revised agreement continues to be reviewed. With $68 billion in trade floating between the United States and the Republic of Korea, getting this trade agreement signed should serve to boost our national export business.

                                      [Source: Automotive News - sub.req.]

                                      Report: U.S., South Korea closer to new trade deal

                                          



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                                        Video: The Smoking Tire drives Stasis’ 710-hp Audi R8 Spyder

                                        Matt Farah The Smoking Tire Stasis Audi R8

                                        The Smoking Tire’s Matt Farah spends some time with the 710 hp Stasis R8 – Click above to watch video after the jump

                                        Matt Farah gets his mitts on tons of great rides, and we’re thankful that he puts them on camera for us all to enjoy. This time around, Matt was handed the keys to Stasis’ Audi R8 Spyder. The crew at Stasis set to work on the 5.2-liter roadster, adding a supercharger, suspension upgrades, larger wheels and an exhaust that breathes a little easier. The result is a 710-horsepower ragtop rocketship. The car seems to be so much fun to drive that Farah is often reduced to uncontrollable giggles. But seriously, who can blame him? We’d likely have the same reaction.

                                        Hop the jump to watch Matt Farah have some canyon-carving fun courtesy of the Stasis Audi R8.

                                        [Source: YouTube]

                                        Continue reading Video: The Smoking Tire drives Stasis’ 710-hp Audi R8 Spyder

                                        Video: The Smoking Tire drives Stasis’ 710-hp Audi R8 Spyder

                                              



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