A 5-Door 2012 BMW 1 series has been spied and photographed during winter testing, recently. It’s a good thing that the site isn’t called American Car Fans because North American dealings with this model will be on a look but don’t touch basis. There will be no true 1-series on this side of the Atlantic until at least 2014, from what I’ve heard. And, even then don’t expect the 5-door to make the trip. This is very disappointing news to someone with an affinity for stylish, sporty hatchbacks. If you’d like to know what driving a hatchback BMW is like without going to Europe, your best bet might be to get behind the wheel of a Mini. Or, maybe a competitor will fill the void with their own luxury compact and try to give North America what BMW won’t. A production version of the Lexus LF-Ch could serve that purpose if that doesn’t end up as a Europe only model too. By the way, if this is your first encounter with the term “5-door”, I’m talking about a 4-door hatchback (Don’t laugh – it confused me the first time, too!).
The production version of the 2011 Honda CR-Z has made its debut at the 2010 Detroit auto show, and the company believes the car will combine the sportiness of the CRX with the eco-friendliness of the original Honda Insight. The output of the engine and the electric motor combine for 122 hp and 128 lb-ft of torque. When power is routed through the standard six-speed manual transmission, the CR-Z is said to achieve 31 mpg in the city and 37 mpg on the highway. Opting for the CVT bumps fuel economy to 36/38. As a reference, the Honda Fit is rated as high as 28 mpg city and 35 mpg highway. CR-Zs should be hitting dealerships by the end of the summer, and starting prices are expected to be less than $20,000.
Driving is what many people have to do to get around, and some have a passion for it! So how do you take care of the planet while getting around? Carbonfund.org, a nonprofit organization, lets you reduce your impact on climate change from auto emissions by supporting carbon emissions reduction projects in the US and abroad. An innovative truck stop electrification project, for example, lets long-haul truck drivers connect to electricity to heat and operate their cabs rather than burn fuel and emit exhaust. When you support these projects, which are third-party verified to reduce emissions, you are balancing out your own emissions. You can calculate and offset your auto and aspects of your carbon footprint at www.carbonfund.org/calculators. The organization also offers business programs for small and large businesses to reduce their climate impact and has a product certification program, featuring the CarbonFree® Certified label, the nation’s first carbon neutral product label.
The next-generation BMW 3 Series will again be offered in number of body styles, including a wagon, coupe, and cabriolet, which will keep the heavy and complex retractable hardtop. BMW will also offer a five-door hatchback dubbed the “Gran Turismo” which is based off of the concept of the 5-series GT but will be more car-like and less imposing on the road.
BMW’s diesel-engine lineup will largely carry over in Europe, but there are imminent changes for its current range of rewarding but thirsty gasoline engines. Variable valve timing, single- and twin-turbocharging, direct fuel injection, and stop/start systems are in the works for a new generation of modular, four-cylinder engines producing 140 to 230 hp. A 2.0-liter version with close to 300 hp is possible, but we are optimistic BMW will keep at least one of its 3.0-liter inline-sixes in the portfolio.
The 3-series will be equipped with a wide array of features such as lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, and speed-limit recognition. BMW’s night-vision system is technically possible but unlikely to be offered in the 3. However, you will be able to tinker with the engine and chassis setup by means of a “driving dynamics” button.The styling of the next 3 will be a rather conservative evolution of the current model, with a protruding kidney grill similar to that of the 7-series and the 5-series GT. The interior will look decidedly richer and will lose the center hump that houses the current model’s optional navigation system.
Look for the next 3-series at the 2012 Geneva auto show. It should arrive at U.S. dealers later in 2012 for the 2013 model year.
I want to pass along information concerning an extremely informative website that could help you the next time you are buying a car. The AskPatty.com website and blog is a fantastic resource for all women to get advice on car buying, maintenance and other automotive related topics. On the site, women can shop for cars, tires and automotive service at AskPatty’s network of Certified Female Friendly retailers across the U.S. Women of all different backgrounds contribute to the site making it a very informative resource for all.
The website’s goal of assisting women consumers in car purchasing should not go unnoticed by auto industries. Women influence 80% of all vehicles purchased in the US and buy approximately 50% of all new and used cars and 40% of all trucks sold in the US. To check out this resource and become an educated consumer please check out: AskPatty.com
We usually do not post about non-Spied Car pictures at Car Spy Guide, but here is an exception. I want to bring your attention to the work of the Missouri S&T’s EcoCAR team. The EcoCAR competition is amongst 17 schools, and will challenge university engineering students across North America to re-engineer a Saturn VUE to achieve improved fuel economy and reduced greenhouse gas emissions while maintaining the vehicle’s utility, safety, and performance. What makes Missouri S&T’s project so unique is its commitment to hydrogen energy. Being the only school to use hydrogen as its source of energy shows Missouri S&T’s commitment to the future of transportation without relying on gasoline.
Photo Credit: http://ecocarchallenge.mst.edu/
Missouri S&T is also building onto its EcoCAR project by undertaking: E3 Commons. This focuses on the creation of practical fueling stations and a garage for their newly created hydrogen powered.
Motivated by AMG’s 6.2-liter 32-valve V-8, which makes 563 hp at 6800 rpm and 479 lb-ft of torque at 4750 rpm, the SLS coupe is promised to reach 62 mph in 3.8 seconds and accelerate up to a governed top speed of 196 mph is the new 2012 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG. The SLS roadster will be a big sports car, but it won’t be a direct replacement for the SLR convertible. It will cost about half as much and will be about 300 pounds lighter than that departed supercar, despite the SLR’s generous use of ultra-expensive carbon-fiber panels. We don’t yet know for sure how the doors will open, only that they obviously can’t be of the Gull variety—Mercedes could use regular doors or scissor-type doors such as those found on the McLaren SLR roadster.
Expect Mercedes’s flagship roadster to launch in late 2011, almost two years after the launch of the Gullwing coupe. The two models will be sold alongside each other, unlike the original W198 300SL coupe and roadster, which the SLS tries to replicate in spirit.
You may be wondering what this car is doing with what appears to be an upside-down Mitsubishi grille. Well, this is actually the new 2010 Audi A8. With a slimmed down design that looks more like the A4 or A5, the size of the next generation A8 seems to remain the same.
Expect Audi’s flagship sedan to be powered by the same silky smooth 4.2-liter V-8, but of course with further improvements to output and efficiency. The A8 will most likely be equipped with either a 7 or 8-speed transmission to send power to the Quattro all-wheel-drive system. Also expect a refreshed interior outfitted with all kinds of technology. Look for the official unveiling some time in the near future.
As SUV buyers are growing more concerned about their gasoline bill, Porsche is making the second generation Cayenne smaller and lighter. Getting rid of heavy and complex off-road technology means even better on-road performance. Spy shots reveal that the new Cayenne will be much better proportioned and far better looking than its predecessor.
Remaining a 5-seater, the rear seats can be slid back and forth. For more weight saving, the suspension will use more aluminum parts. The 2011 Porsche Cayenne will be equipped with Audi’s supercharged 3.0-liter V-6, producing around 290 hp. Carry-over units from the current Cayenne include a naturally aspirated V-8 that makes 400 hp and a turbocharged V-8 that makes 500 hp. However, these Porsche engines will be replaced in 2012 by a VW-developed 4.0-liter V-8 capable of producing up to 550 hp. With the current 550 hp Cayenne Turbo S capable of accelerating from 0-60 in a scorching 4.4 seconds, it would be interesting to see the performance numbers of a new Cayenne with this kind of power while carrying a few hundred pounds less.
Photo Credit: CarandDriver.com
Ferrari has finally officially announced the stunning new replacement for the beloved future-classic F430. The sexy 2010 Ferrari 458 Italia gets its name from the 4.5-liter V-8, and the way this car embodies the passion and flair of its homeland (according to Ferrari). With a whopping 570 horsepower and 398 lb.-ft of torque to go along with bigger wheels and more rubber, the Italia has an estimated 0-62 mph time of less than 3.4 seconds and a claimed top speed of 202 mph! Power is controlled with a paddle-shifted, seven-speed dual-clutch automated manual transmission.
Photo Credit: CarandDriver.com
What about slowing down? This reborn Italian stallion, equipped with a high-performance ABS braking system will come to a standstill from 62 mph in just 107 ft. Deceleration is aided by a unique function which lays the brake pads against the standard carbon-ceramic discs once the drivers lifts off the throttle.
Photo Credit: CarandDriver.com
Sculpted to aerodynamic requirements, the futuristic-looking 458 Italia is fitted with a new steering wheel and dash layout that comes directly from racing practice. Look for its official debut in September at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show.
Also, check out some new concept cars that you may see in the near future.
