BMW Classic, the division responsible for maintaining and restoring historic BMW vehicles, is auctioning off an M1 and a 3.0CSL at the Bonhams classic car auction in Dubai next month.
BMW will use the sale to promote its racing heritage and raise the profile of the brand. BMW also plans to auction other vehicles in the future. Bonhams has previously auctioned large collections of BMW motorcycles.
Hit the jump to read the official press release
[Source: BMW Blog]
Gallery: BMW M1 and 3.0 CSL
Mercedes-Benz has unveiled their A-Class E-Cell electric car, with an extremely limited production run of 500 units. Available only to customers in Germany, France and the Netherlands, buyers will be able to lease the cars only, but terms have not been disclosed.
While the gasoline powered A-Class has always been a bit of a slowpoke, the electric version will hit 60 mph in just 5.5 seconds, giving it straightline acceleration on par with some high-end sports cars. The electric motor itself is good for 95 horsepower and 214 lb-ft of torque, with a 124 mile range and a 93 mph top speed.
Hit the jump to read the official press release
[Source: Mercedes-Benz]
Gallery: Mercedes-Benz A-Class E-Cell
Ford has launched an iPad app focused (no pun intended) on the 2011 Fiesta subcompact. The app is intended to act as a brochure for the car, as a way of taking advantage of the multimedia features of Apple’s tablet computer.
With manufacturers increasingly going to electronic brochures, the iPad app is a novel way to promote your new vehicle – although we will always love the tactile elements of a paper brochure, and would be a little upset if they went the way of the dodo. But for Fiesta buyers, most of whom have lived their entire lives with digital devices, the iPad app is likely going to appeal to their target demographic.
Hit the jump to read the official press release
[Source: Ford]
Back in June the GoldRush Rally snaked 1,500 miles from Seattle to Las Vegas as fast cars and their wealthy owners laughed at speed limits and partied the night away. Essentially a cleverly crafted marketing opportunity disguised as a road rally and traveling nightclub experience, the event was organized by the founders of Luxury4Play.com, a luxury lifestyle forum that centers around a car culture and a core group high-rollers in the Bay Area.
The entire event was filmed by the team at Wagenwerks and the official trailer has been just been released. It’s well worth a watch, with plenty of high-priced exotics and some incredible cinematography.
We’ll be sure to keep you updated on the release of the official film, due out November 4th.
Get more info at GoldRushRally.com and check out the trailer after the jump
Saab will release 70 electric vehicles based on the 9-3 SportCombi station wagon as part of a test fleet for its upcoming electric vehicle program. The vehicles, dubbed the ePower, will be offered in Sweden starting in 2011, with a mass production EV hitting the market in 2011.
Using a 184 horsepower electric motor and a single speed gearbox, the ePower will hit 60 mph in 8.5 seconds and top out at 93 mph, with a range of 125 miles. “This program is designed to evaluate the potential for developing a high performance, zero emission electric vehicle and is an important next-step in the extension of our EcoPower propulsion strategy,” said Mats Fägerhag, Executive Director, Vehicle Engineering at Saab, in a statement released by Saab.
The initial testing will also show how EVs perform in frigid temperatures, something that any mass produced EV will have to cope with.
[Source: Left Lane News]
Jaguar debuted an XF sedan that utilizes a new type of hybrid system, one that recaptures energy through a mechanical flywheel rather than a battery system.
Dubbed Flywheel Hybrid System for Premium Vehicles(FHSPV), the new technology is being developed with engineering powerhouses like Ricardo, Prodrive and Xtrac, who all have significant experience developing parts for race cars. “The FHSPV is really an engineering due diligence exercise,” says the project’s engineer Daniel Loftus. “We need to look at mechanical flywheels and see how they compare with electric hybrids. And then see if they have a production future.”
The flywheel puts power to the ground via an Xtrac-developed CVT gearbox, and can produce an extra 80 horsepower for a seven second time period. Combined with a start-stop system and a package size that weighs half of a traditional hybrid system, the FHSPV can also deliver a 20 percent fuel economy savings.
The one obstacle stopping the FHSPV from production is the falling cost of battery systems. Hopefully, the technology sees the light of day, as it seems to offer a lot of promise.
[Source: Autocar]
Earlier this week Jeep hinted at expanding its product lineup by building a pickup truck and according to the latest reports, the new model has officially been given the green light.
The vehicle in question is said to resemble the 2005 Jeep Gladiator concept, using the Wrangler Unlimited platform but with two-doors and a bed in the rear. Said to be headed into production in 2011, it should arrive on dealer lots in 2012.
PickupTrucks.com reports that Jeep brand CEO Mike Manley has expressed interest in the past in building a small pickup, due to their popularity throughout the world. Plus, the creation of a small pickup for the Jeep brand would certainly work with Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne’s plan to expand the Chrysler brands internationally.
Jeep hasn’t offered a pickup model since the Jeep Comanche ended production in 1992.
[Source: PickupTrucks.com]
It’s a virtually unknown entity on this side of the Atlantic but in Europe MAN (Machinenfabrik Augsburg-Nurnberg) is a heavyweight contender in the commercial vehicle segment.
At the top end, where 44 tonne trucks rule the roost, MAN enjoys a more than 60 percent market share, but like other commercial vehicle makers, in an effort to improve fuel economy, it’s turning its attention to aerodynamics. Given that length restrictions are a significant factor in commercial vehicle design in Europe, conventional big rigs (those with hoods) are almost non-existent, with cab-over-engine (COE) trucks being the norm (a stark contrast to North America today, where drivers clearly prefer the conventional).
Cabover trucks, due to their flat fronted design, present significant problems in aerodynamic efficiency, but MAN is attempting to address them with the Concept S.
Although details are sketchy, the design features a cab with a narrower cross section than most current European large trucks, with flat top fenders, designed to improve airflow around the sides of the vehicle. It is in some respects a modern interpretation of some 1940s and 50s American Cabovers, including the heavy-duty Ford COEs and H-series Macks.
MAN says that the aerodynamics of the Concept S are said to reduce fuel consumption by around 25 percent, over a standard 44 tonne tractor on the market today. Given that truckers pay significantly more for diesel in Europe than they do over here, that in itself is worth noting. The Concept S will be on display at the IAA Commercial Vehicle show in Hannover, Germany which takes place this month.
For years Lotus has relied on Toyota engines to power its incredible sports cars. Tuned by Lotus engineers, powerplants like the 1.8-liter 2ZZ came alive in lightweight Lotus vehicles, while Toyota’s reputation for quality, reliability and durability meant that owners never had to worry about how many miles they put on their car or how hard they beat on them.
Today Lotus and Toyota announced a future partnership that will see the Japanese auto giant produce “tailor-made powertrain solutions” for Lotus vehicles in the future.
The announcement was bade the the British embassy in Tokyo where Lotus CEO Dany Bahar presented Toyota CEO Akio Toyoda with the very last Toyota 2ZZ-GE-powered Lotus Elise to ever be built.
“The presentation of Toyota’s last 2ZZ engine in the Elise is a symbolic gesture of our continued respect and deep appreciation for our partner not only acknowledging our past but also looking forward to our future together,” said Bahar.
More details of the continued partnership between the two automakers will be announced at the Paris Auto Show on September 30th.
Official release after the jump:
Set to debut at the Paris Auto Show, Chevy has already given us a look at the all-new 2011 Aveo – but these leaked photos are our first glimpse at the sub-compact car’s interior.
Taking design cues from the rest of the Chevy lineup and retaining some of the features from the Aveo RS Show Car, the new Aveo looks to be a tremendous step forward for Chevy in the small car segment. Of particular note is the final version of the motorcycle-inspired instruments with an analogue tachometer and digital speedometer.
Longer and wider than the current Aveo, Chevy promises more interior space that will but the Aveo “among” the best in class. Also promised is “involved handling” while all models will get electric power steering, stability control and ABS brakes.
As for what’s under the hood, Chevy will offer both a 70-hp and 86-hp 1.2-liter engine, a 100-hp 1.4-liter and a 115-hp 1.6-liter in Europe. (Sorry, no 1.4T…. not yet anyway). Both of the larger engines will, however, be available with a 6-speed automatic, while a 6-speed manual is standard. Also available (in Europe) are two 1.3-liter diesels making 75-hp and 95-hp respectively.
[Source: Carscoop]
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