***UPDATE*** For photos and full details on the 2011 BMW 5 Series Click Here ***UPDATE***

Set to officially debut later today, a select few shots of the partially revealed 2010 BMW 5 Series have turned up online. Code named the F10, these pics give us a decent look at the 2010 5 Series – at lest from the front. And we like what we see.

The style looks quite similar to the 5 Series GT (even though the car will apparently share little with it’s hatchback cousin) and there is also a significant resemblance to the new 7 Series. It pretty much goes without saying that the new 5 Series will be a big improvement, style wise, over the old Bangle-designed 5er.

We’ll be sure to bring you more details and photos when BMW send out the official pics in a few hours.

GALLERY: 2010 BMW 5 Series

[Source: 5post.com]

A recent report suggests the Canadian Car of the Year Awards may be fixed. CarChat Editor Michael Banovsky, citing an unnamed but trustworthy source, is reporting that members of the Automotive Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC), were told of a way to skew the results of the annual Canadian Car of The Year awards.

The plan has allegedly been in place for years and involves discounting perfect scores. The way it works is that if a journalist feels a car is the best in one attribute, they can give it a score of 10, which will then be ignored. This stems from the idea that “no vehicle is perfect.” Apparently the rule has been in place for several years, but only this year were journalists told of the plan. It would then seem that not all journalists were “in” on the plan in years past.

The conspiracy does seem a bit much, but arguably the best evidence that such vote rigging has been going on is the fact that in 2008 AJAC awarded the Lexus IS-F the top spot in the Sports Performance category, despite it being up against (what we have to admit are obviously superior rivals), the BMW M3 and Nissan GT-R.

AutoGuide contacted AJAC for a comment but as of the posting of this story we have received no reply.

CarChat is also reporting that several journalists, not wanting to participate in the scheme, have decided to now rank “perfect” vehicles a 9.9 out of 10.

AJAC just recently released the list of nominees for Canadian Car of the Year and Canadian Utility Vehicle of the year, after 70 of Canada’s “elite” automotive journalists spent the week testing a long list of 156 vehicles at the organizations annual Test Fest event. The 12 class winners will now be submitted for the 2010 Canadian Car of the Year or the 2010 Canadian Utility Vehicle of the Year, which will be announced at the Canadian International Auto Show in Toronto, Ontario on February 11. The list of winners is included after the jump.

[Source: CarChat]

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Just over a week ahead of the car’s scheduled debut, Cadillac has revealed the Coupe version of its popular CTS model, looking almost identical to the concept. Even more exciting is the confirmation that GM’s luxury brand will also deliver a 556-hp CTS-V Coupe, which is expected to debut alongside the standard version at the LA Auto Show.

The CTS Coupe enters a popular segment of the market, competing against vehicles like the BMW 3 Series Coupe and Infiniti G37 Coupe, as well as more high-end offerings like the Audi A5 and Mercedes E-Class Coupe.

One engine will be offered, a 304-hp 3.6-liter direct-injection V6 that achieves maximum power at 6400 rpm. Full torque of 273 ft-lbs will be available at 5200 rpm. A six-speed manual transmission will be standard with an available six-speed paddle-shift automatic. A limited-lip differential is also included. Cadillac rates this engine at 17/26 mpg (city/highway) for rear-wheel drive or AWD models equipped with the auto-box, while the manual transmission is rated at 17/25 mpg. AWD models will only be offered with an automatic.

The CTS Coupe is based on the same chassis as the sedan, with the same wheelbase, but an overall height that is roughly two-inches (51mm) lower and a length that is also 51mm shorter. Unlike the sedan, however, it is not a five-seater but a 2+2.

It may look significantly like the sedan, but little of the sheet metal (or anything else for that matter) is actually shared. In fact, the only identical arts are the headlights, front fenders and grille and the instrument panel and center stack. Original design cues on the two-door include the lack of B-pillars and the use of hidden door handles to give a smooth look to the coupe. Other highlights include a more steeply angled windshield and rear glass as well as a dual-exhaust setup with both pipes placed together in the center at the rear of the car.

Optional goodies include two performance packages, the first with 18-inch wheels and all-season tires, and a second with 19-inch wheels and high-performance Summer Tires. Also optional will be the 14-way power Recaro sport seats that until now could only be had on the CTS-V.

The CTS Coupe is scheduled to go on sale in the Spring of next year, with the the CTS-V version following shortly thereafter.

The car will officially debut at the LA Auto Show and AutoGuide will be there with live coverage starting December 2nd.

See AutoGuide’s Live 2009 LA Auto Show Coverage Here Starting December 2nd

GALLERY: 2011 Cadillac CTS Coupe

More details on the all-new Cadillac CTS Coupe after the jump:

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All future Hyundai products are likely to get direct injection technology, boosting both fuel economy and performance and allowing for smaller and lighter displacement engines to take the place of larger units.

The news comes from Hyundai Motor America’s top engineer John Juriga, who made the comments during a technical presentation at Hyundai’s North American Engineering facility in Michigan.

Juriga said the technology is likely to roll out across the product lineup over time, to V6 and even V8 engines. He likened it to the change from carburetors to fuel-injection and said that while new alternative-fuel engines will be coming, over the next 5 to 10 years the internal combustion engine will remain dominant and so there will be a focus on improving it.

When asked if future Hyundais will get a combination of direct injection and turbochargers, Juriga didn’t confirm anything but did say that the two technologies were, “made for each other.”

Hyundai has just announced its first direct-injection engine, a 200-hp 2.4-liter four-cylinder that gets 35-mpg highway and will debut on the new 2011 Sonata (above).

Hyundai Motor America has confirmed the introduction of the company’s first direct-injection gasoline engine will debut in the 2011 Sonata.

Called the 2.4 GDI Theta II, the engine will make 200-hp at 6300 rpm and 186 ft-lbs of torque at 4250 rpm in the SE model. Hyundai has also confirmed that despite the engine’s 11.3 compression ratio it will get full power on regular 87 octane gas. A GLS model will make slightly less power, with 198-hp on call.

In total, this is an increase of 25-hp and 18 ft-lbs of torque over the old 2.4-liter motor.

Along with DI technology, the GDI Theta II will also get a six-speed automatic transmission that is more compact, has 62 fewer moving parts and weighs about 20 lbs less.

The result is what Hyundai believes will be best-in-class fuel economy of 23 and 35 mpg.

Rather than the more traditional venue of Detroit, the Ford Motor Company will use the LA Auto Show to debut its new lineup of 2011 Mustang models. Just last year the car was significantly revised with a modernized exterior and a significantly improved interior that is now well beyond what the competition is offering. There’s only one problem, with just mild updates to the engine, both the V6 and V8 are lagging well behind in the horsepower war.

Ford is expected to rectify the situation with the 2011 models, with reports indicating that a new V6 could offer up as much as 300-hp, while a new V8 could deliver 400-hp – with a displacement of 5.0-liters, no less! Expect news of six-speed transmissions as well. The other rumor is that the GT500 will get an aluminum block, helping it shed pounds and improve the car’s overall balance.

Ford won’t confirm or deny these reports but Ford’s global product boss Derrick Kuzak did tell the folks at Autoblog that all questions would be answered at the LA Auto Show in December. Also, when asked about the aluminum-block GT500, Kuzak said, “That’s a good thought.”

The engine updates are much needed for the Mustang to put it back on top. The car has suffered significantly in sales in 2009, being beaten out by the Camaro for three straight months. While the Mustang is quite capable, even with the less powerful engine, horsepower numbers sell cars. And if the Mustang can offer everything it has now, plus more power and (presumably with a six-speed transmission), better fuel economy, then there’s no reason to buy anything else.

AutoGuide’s live coverage of the LA Auto Show starts December 2nd.

See AutoGuide’s Live 2009 LA Auto Show Coverage Here Starting December 2nd

[Source: Autoblog]

Buick appears to be serious about getting into the sporty entry-level luxury market, first unveiling that the 2011 Regal and announcing it would come with a turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder, and now confirming that it will be offered with a six-speed manual transmission.

This top-level model, boasting 220-hp and 258 ft-lbs of torque, won’t be available until next Summer, with the initial offering being a direct-injection 2.4-liter four-cylinder with 182-hp. No doubt it will be the manual transmission that will help the more powerful Regal model to achieve 29-mpg highway, which almost matches the standard car’s 30-mpg rating. The 2.0T model will also be available with a new Interactive Drive Control (IDC) option that will let the driver choose from three settings (Sport, Tour and Normal) for the suspension, throttle, steering and transmission.

The Regal is based on the same chassis as the award winning Opel Insignia, which was made in (and for) the German market. This is also the same chassis used for the new Buick LaCrosse, but is shortened by four-inches between the wheels and shrunk by 6.7-inches in total. The smaller overhangs should make for a more dynamic driving experience, as should the standard 18-inch wheels and six-speed manual transmission.

GALLERY: 2011 Buick Regal

[Source: Autoblog]

With the car’s debut at the LA Auto Show fast approaching, Porsche has released a large gallery of photos of its latest model, the Boxster Spyder. The photos show the car in detail, including the Carrera GT-inspired clamshell rear with bulges to accentuate this car’s two-seat layout. Other design features include lower side windows for a chop-top look.

But what really makes the Spyder special is its light weight chassis and more powerful engine. In total 176 lbs of weight has been cut from the car, to deliver a curb weight of just 2,811 lbs. Power comes via the same direct-injection 3.4-liter flat-six as in the Boxster S, but with a 10-hp jump to 320-hp. Combined with Porsche’s new dual-clutch PDK transmission, the car can hit 60 mph in just 4.6 seconds.

The Boxster Spyder will be priced from $61,200 and will go on sale in February of next year as a 2011 model.

AutoGuide’s live coverage of the LA Auto Show begins December 2nd.

See AutoGuide’s Live 2009 LA Auto Show Coverage Here Starting December 2nd

GALLERY: 2011 Porsche Boxster Spyder

Along with a hybrid 7 Series and a hybrid X6, BMW will use the LA Auto Show as the venue to introduce North America to its Vision EfficientDynamics Concept. Built as a show-piece to display BMW’s fuel-efficiency expertise, the Vision ED Concept is also a true BMW, offering impressive fuel economy while not sacrificing performance.

A mean-looking 2+2 sports car, this concept uses both a turbo-diesel three-cylinder engine, as well as two electric motors in a full plug-in hybrid layout. BMW says the goal of the project was to build a vehicle that has the performance of one of its M cars, while delivering fuel-economy that is superior to current small cars. This they most certainly achieved with a 0-62 mph time of 4.8 seconds and a claimed fuel economy figure of 62.6 mpg.

The diesel engine used is essentially half of that found in the current BMW 335d, displacing 1.5-liters. On its own the diesel makes 163hp and 214 ft-lbs of torque. The car also gets BMW’s impressive six-speed dual-clutch transmission.

Two electric motors are paired to this engine, which is located in a mid-rear configuration. A 33hp motor sits between the engine and transmission while a second 80-hp motor delivers power to the front axle. The result it a total of 356hp and 590 ft-lbs of torque. Storing that energy is a lithium-polymer battery pack that runs down the center of the car for optimum weight distribution.

BMW says the Vision EfficientDynamics Concept can be plugging in a charged at a conventional outlet in just 2.5 hours and can travel up to 31 miles on pure electric power. A 6.6 gallon diesel tank will then allow an extended range of 400 miles.

To keep the weight of the vehicle to a minimum, BMW engineers build the chassis and suspension entirely out of aluminum, meaning the car weights just 3,076 lbs. Engineers also worked hand-in-hand with the designers to create the body of the concept, with a light weight polycarbonate body that boasts a aerodynamic drag coefficient of just 0.22 cd. BMW says part of the reason for the impressive aerodynamics is due to their ability to work on the front end of the car, made possible by moving the engine to the rear. New thermostatically controlled slats in front of the radiator can also close at speed to redirect air around the car when cooling isn’t a top priority.

In addition, one of the vehicle’s most progressive technologies is what BMW calls “Forward looking energy management.” BMW hopes that by using technology to foresee what is coming on the road ahead it can save energy by shutting down or powering up other systems. An example would be using the radar system built into the active cruise control to see when traffic is slowing down ahead, and then shut of the car’s engine while activating the regenerative braking ahead of time.

While some have speculated that the Vision ED Concept will make its way into production as a future BMW exotic car, it’s more likely that the vehicle was built to showcase new technologies that will eventually make their way into BMW products in the future.

See AutoGuide’s Live 2009 LA Auto Show Coverage Here Starting December 2nd

GALLERY: BMW Vision ED Concept Debut in Frankfurt

GALLERY: BMW Vision EfficientDynamics Concept

A project that was vehemently denied to exist by Audi executives, the E-Tron electric R8, was officially unveiled at the Frankfurt Auto Show in Germany a few months back. Now it is making its first trip to the U.S., with a planned North American debut at the LA Auto Show.

Living up to its “Tron” name the oddly shaped E-Tron appears to be part Audi TT and part R8, with plenty of strange body work including a front grille that features air intakes than open when necessary to cool the electric motors. The same goes for flaps in front of the rear wheels. The headlights are original units too, with LED lighting that illuminates the entire field of vision (as opposed to having high beams and standard beams). When the car detects an oncoming vehicle, the angle of light in that car’s way is simply shut off.

The car is powered entirely by electricity with four individual motors. In total they produce a modest 313hp and a ridiculous 3,319 ft-lbs of torque. That’s no typo.

With all that power you would think this electric exotic could muster up a better 0-62 mph time than 4.8 seconds. The car’s total weight is 3527 lbs, although over 1,000 lbs of that is the battery pack situated behind the passenger compartment but ahead of the rear axle.

Like a true Audi, the E-tron is a quattro car with the four individual electric motors positioned at each wheel, ensuring power can be distributed to each corner individually.

A final piece of innovation on the E-Tron is what Audi calls car-to-x communication that allows the car to communicate with traffic lights or to know if traffic is slowing ahead or if an emergency stop of maneuver is needed.

Audi of America President Johan de Nysschen has said that a car based on the E-Tron concept will be built and rumors have suggested it will wear the R4 badge. He expects fully functional examples to be ready in two years, but a production version may take slightly longer.

See AutoGuide’s Live 2009 LA Auto Show Coverage Here Starting December 2nd

GALLERY: Audi E-Tron Debut in Frankfurt