2011 BMW X5

For 2011, BMW has revised the fourth-generation X5's now all-turbo engine offerings and added a standard eight-speed automatic to a vehicle that reportedly contains nearly 4,000 parts that are all new. And thanks to some pretty remarkable work at the company's Spartanburg, South Carolina plant, production of the new model commenced over the course of a single weekend. In short, BMW utilized a process that it calls "digital changeover" to stop production of the 2010 X5 on March 19 without slowing production at all, and just two days later on March 22, production examples of the 2011 model were flowing down the assembly line.

2011 BMW X11

2011 BMW 535i

BMW announced the prices of its 535i ($50,475) and 550i ($60,575) sedans ahead of the show’s opening its doors to the public at the cement palace known as the Javits Center in the Big Apple.
The 535i is powered by a new 3.0-liter, inline-6, turbocharged motor producing 300 hp that’s able to be hooked up to either a 6-speed manual transmission, the marque’s new 8-speed automatic or a new “Sport Automatic” 8-speed transmission.

The driver assistance systems offered with the new 5 Series include an all-new Parking Assistant, Top View cameras, and Frontal Collision Warning with application of the brakes when ordered with Active Cruise Control plus Stop & Go. Other driver assistance features available include Blind Spot Warning, Lane Departure Warning, a Head-Up Display, BMW Night Vision with Pedestrian Detection.

2011 BMW 535i

2011 Mitsubishi Eclipse

The 2011 Eclipse is a 2-door, 4-passenger family coupe, or sports coupe, available in 3 trims, ranging from the GS to the GT.

Upon introduction, the GS is equipped with a standard 2.4-liter, I4, 162-horsepower engine that achieves 20-mpg in the city and 28-mpg on the highway. A 5-speed manual transmission with overdrive is standard, and a 4-speed automatic transmission with overdrive is optional. The GT is equipped with a standard 3.8-liter, V6, 265-horsepower engine that achieves 16-mpg in the city and 24-mpg on the highway. A 5-speed automatic transmission with overdrive is standard.

The 2011 Eclipse is freshened for 2011.

Porsche Cayenne S Hybrid

Details on the 2011 Porsche Cayenne models were revealed back in February, and the new Cayenne series made its official debut at the Geneva Motor Show. All four Cayenne models (Cayenne, Cayenne S, Cayenne S Hybrid and Cayenne Turbo)will make their North American debut at the New York Auto Show next week.

Powered by a 333 hp supercharged 3-liter V6 and a 47 hp electric motor, the Cayenne S Hybrid spits out 380 horses and 427 lb-ft of torque. Despite that hefty power at your foot, the hybrid system boosts the Cayenne’s efficiency by 20 percent.

The Cayenne S Hybrid will hit dealers this fall.
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Mazda to Launch Midsize Hybrid Using Toyota Hybrid System II

The two automakers have reached a final agreement under which Toyota will supply the Toyota Hybrid System II, comprising a high-capacity battery, an electric motor, a generator and a power control unit. This system, designed for use with an engine of 2 liters or smaller, is ideal for small and midsize hybrids. Among Toyota hybrids, THS II is employed in the current-generation Prius.



The hybrid systems for Mazda will be supplied by Toyota group parts manufacturers at an initial rate of tens of thousands of units a year. Mazda plans to combine the components with a new gasoline engine and create the hybrid version of a mainstay midsize passenger car.

Kia Motors Launches New Sportage

Kia Motors Corp., South Korea's second-largest automaker, launched sales of its new compact sport-utility vehicle on Tuesday, hoping to compete with Honda Motor Co.'s CR-V and Toyota Motor Corp.'s RAV4 at home and abroad.

The all-new Sportage comes equipped with either a 2-liter petrol or diesel engine, which produces 166 horsepower at its peak, with a six-speed manual or automatic transmission.

Kia, an affiliate of Hyundai Motor Co., expects to sell 140,000 units of the new Sportage this year, including 37,000 units at home.
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2011 Mercedes-Benz E550 Cabriolet

Specs & Performance

Vehicle
Model year: 2010
Make: Mercedes-Benz
Model: E-Class
Style: 2dr Cabriolet

Drivetrain
Drive type: Rear-wheel drive
Engine type: V8
Block/head material: Aluminum/aluminum
Valvetrain: Double overhead camshaft, four valves per cylinder, variable valve timing
Redline (rpm): 6,500
Horsepower (hp @ rpm): 382 @ 6,000
Torque (lb-ft @ rpm): 391 @ 2,800
Transmission type: Seven-speed automatic
Transmission and axle ratios (x:1): I: 4.337, II: 2.859, III: 1.921, IV: 1.368, V: 1.00, VI: 0.82, VII: 0.728, R:3.416; FD: 2.65:1

Chassis
Tire brand: Pirelli
Tire model: P Zero Nero All-Season
Tire type: All-season
Wheel size: 18-by-8 inches front -- 18-by-8.5 inches rear
Wheel material: Cast-aluminum

Fuel Consumption
Fuel tank capacity (U.S. gal.): 17.4

Dimensions & Capacities
Curb weight, mfr. claim (lbs.): 4,057
Weight distribution, as tested, f/r (%) N/A
Length (in.):185.0
Width (in.): 70.3
Height (in.): 54.0
Wheelbase (in.): 108.7
Track, front (in.): 60.5
Track, rear (in.): 60.8
Turning circle (ft.): 35.3
Legroom, rear (in.): 32.9
Headroom, front (in.): 40.2
Headroom, rear (in.): 35.8
Shoulder room, front (in.): 54.1
Shoulder room, rear (in.): 48.9
Seating capacity: 4

Warranty
Bumper-to-bumper: 4 years/50,000 miles
Powertrain: 4 years/50,000 miles
Corrosion: 4 years/50,000 miles
Roadside assistance: Unlimited
Free scheduled maintenance: 3,000 miles

Safety
Front airbags: Standard
Side airbags: Standard dual front and dual rear
Head airbags: Standard front and rear
Knee airbags: Driver only
Antilock brakes Four-wheel ABS
Electronic brake enhancements Braking assist, electronic brakeforce distribution
Traction control: Standard
Stability control: Standard
Rollover protection: Standard
Tire-pressure monitoring system Tire-pressure monitoring
Emergency assistance system Blind spot and lane departure warnings, pre-collision safety system

Celeb and Car: Kristin Cavallari Gets A New BMW

Kristin Cavallari never lets anything get her down! She was in the middle of running some errands yesterday when she noticed a flat tire on her shiny BMW in Beverly Hills on March 15.

Kristin Cavallari - Leggy at BMW store in Beverly Hills

Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG F1 Safety Car

Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Safety Car, the SLS AMG F1 Safety Car is, for the most part, mechanically unchanged from the street-ready version, save its slightly augmented tailpipe. From there, Mercedes-Benz has outfitted a new carbon fiber hood with front-mounted camera, an all-LED roof light bar, and a rear number plate with an integrated camera.

2010 Subaru Legacy 2.5GT Video Review (Interior)

Subaru Legacy 2.5GT Road Test

GM to recall 1.3M Compacts

General Motors Co. said Monday it will recall 1.3 million Chevrolet and Pontiac compact cars sold in the U.S., Canada and Mexico to fix power steering motors that can fail.

The recall affects 2005 to 2010 Chevrolet Cobalts, 2007 to 2010 Pontiac G5s, 2005 and 2006 Pontiac Pursuits sold in Canada and 2005 and 2006 Pontiac G4s sold in Mexico.

The automaker said the vehicles are still safe to drive and never lose their steering, but it may be harder to steer them when traveling under 15 mph.

GM spokesman Alan Adler said it will take time for the automaker to get 1.3 million new power steering motors from the supplier, JTEKT Corp., and GM will notify car owners when the parts are available.

Adler said the failures are rare and the cars can still be driven until motors can be replaced by dealers. Drivers will see a warning light and hear a chime if the power steering fails, but they could be surprised when the steering becomes more difficult.

GM told the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration about the recall on Monday. NHTSA began an investigation into 905,000 of the models on Jan. 27 after getting 1,100 complaints that the cars lost their power steering assist. The complaints included 14 crashes and one injury.

The recall comes at a time of heightened interest in auto safety after sudden acceleration problems experienced in some Toyota Motor Corp. vehicles.

Toyota has had to recall 8.5 million vehicles worldwide to fix problems with sticky gas pedals, floor mats that can snag the gas pedal and cause unintended acceleration, and brake software problems with the Prius gas-electric hybrid.

Toyota executives have been summoned to testify before congressional committees investigating the company's actions and whether NHTSA did enough to make sure the Toyotas are safe.

Mazda Recalls 2010 CX-9

Mazda is recalling 12,300 CX-9 vehicles with optional heated front seats because the seat heater control circuit can overheat and result in smoke or fire, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The affected CX-9 vehicles were built in Hiroshima, Japan, from July 28, 2009, through January 14, 2010. Mazda said in other documentation filed with the federal government that it first became aware of the problem from a field report from the U.S. market "describing an incident where the seat heater could not be turned off even [sic] the ignition key position is turned to Lock [off] and resulting [sic] a battery run-out and/or burn damage on the seat cushion."

Mazda dealers will install an additional ground harness on the seat heater control system. The seat heater control circuit will be replaced if necessary and/or the seat will be repaired for free. The recall is expected to begin March 9.

BMW 328 1937

The old car but so classic, BMW 328 1937 to be auctioned by RM Auctions.

The BMW 328 is a roadster produced only for five years before the World War II, in alomst 500 copies. It had a tubular chassis, independent front suspension and a 2-liter engine and 80 HP. With a total mass of only 1830 pounds, the 328 BMW could reach 99 mph, remarkable for that period.

The specimen autioned by RM Auctions is the only one built especially for the 1940 Mille Miglia race. The designer William Maythofer created a more aerodynamic bodywork, welded to the tubular chassis to improve vehicle’s performance. So the engine and transmission could be fitted below the descent center of gravity for a better control.




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