Pricing on the 2014 BMW 5 Series Sedan and Gran Turismo has been announced, with the 528i Sedan starting from $50,425 including a $925 destination and handling fee.

Moving up the lineup, the 535i Sedan will start from $56,025 while the new 535d is priced from $57,525. The top-of-the-line 550i starts at $64,825 while xDrive variants cost $2,300 extra.

SEE ALSO: 2014 BMW 5 Series Models Revealed

As for the Gran Turismo model, the 535i Gran Turismo has a starting MSRP of $60,925 while the 550i GT will be $68,825 while xDrive variants are also $2,300 extra over the conventional model.

As for the ActiveHybrid 5, starting price will be from $62,325. All prices listed include a $925 destination and handling fee.

The 535d is powered by an inline-six diesel with 255 hp and 413 lb-ft of torque while the 535i sports 300 hp and 300 lb-ft of torque. The 550i is powered by a V8 with 445 hp and 480 lb-ft of torque. The entry-level 528i features a 2.0-liter, four-cylinder with 240 hp and carries over from the previous model year.

The 2014 BMW 5 Series lineup will be on sale at dealerships in the U.S. starting in August, 2013.

GALLERY: 2014 BMW 5 Series Sedan

GALLERY: 2014 BMW 5 Series Touring

GALLERY: 2014 BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo

GALLERY: 2014 BMW 5 Series ActiveHybrid

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Sometime over the weekend, the 100,000th plug-in vehicle was sold in America.

It’s not as impressive a figure as the industry and government had hoped for, but it proves that plug-ins are making progress in the market. It took almost three years for the milestone to happen though sales recently have improved thanks to vehicles such as the Tesla Model S.

SEE ALSO: 10.7 Million Charging Stations Available Globally by 2020: Report

But plug-ins still have a ways to go before they’re considered a success. To put it all into perspective, the Ford F-Series sold over 59,000 units in April alone. Technology, however, is improving, and brighter days are definitely foreseeable for the electric vehicle market; especially if range can continue to improve and batteries begin to cost less.

The sales data comes courtesy of Plug In America, which will be giving away a free vehicle charger to celebrate the milestone.

“Our current estimate, based on monthly sales figures from automakers, is that the 100,000th highway-capable plug-in vehicle will be sold on May 20,” says Tom Saxton, Plug In America’s chief science officer, in a statement. “We are calling this the #PIA100K mark, and we are excited to see the continued growth of the market.”

[Source: USA Today]

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BMW has formally announced its 5 Series lineup for the 2014 model year, revealing the updated Sedan, Touring, Gran Turismo, and ActiveHybrid models.

Since the launch of the current-generation 5 Series, BMW has sold over one million units worldwide, and for the 2014 model year, the German automaker has tweaked its design, added new engine variants, and expanded the range of available equipment to build on the lineup’s success. The changes to the exterior are subtle, but include additional contour lines on the surround of the kidney grilles and newly structured lower air intakes. An extra crease was added to the rear apron and the taillights get a slight change to give it an even more striking appearance.

SEE ALSO: 2014 BMW M5 Officially Revealed with Minor Updates

Xenon headlights are standard on all models with Adaptive LED headlights available as an option. The side indicator lights are now integrated into the mirrors while the automaker has added its Luxury Line and Modern Line packages to the 5 Series lineup.

Minor interior changes include chrome trim on the Control Display while storage compartments and cup holders in the center console have been increased in capacity. The 5 Series Gran Turismo gets additional trunk space.

Added to the lineup is the BMW 518d, a four-cylinder diesel engine with 143 hp on the sedan and touring models. The top-of-the-line engine now offered on the 5 Series lineup is a new V8 unit with BMW TwinPower Turbo technology pushing out 450 hp. In total for the sedan and touring models, there are four gasoline engines and six diesel engines, including what’s offered on the M550d xDrive. The Gran Turismo has two gasoline engines and three diesel powerplants to choose from.

The ActiveHybrid 5 has also been slightly tweaked with its Proactive Driving Assistant to improve its intelligent energy management.

No pricing was announced for the 2014 BMW 5 Series lineup.

GALLERY: 2014 BMW 5 Series Sedan

GALLERY: 2014 BMW 5 Series Touring

GALLERY: 2014 BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo

GALLERY: 2014 BMW 5 Series ActiveHybrid

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Recently, the University of Wyoming’s researchers released data that showed the state’s Rock Springs Uplift could provide up to 18-million tons of lithium.

While looking for sites to store carbon dioxide, the researchers came across brines that could yield several hundred years’ worth of production for lithium battery cells used in plug-in electric vehicles. The brines were discovered 10,000 feet below the ground, and could give the U.S. the supply it needs to be self-sufficient in manufacturing electric car batteries.

Currently, the U.S. imports 80 percent of its lithium with the remaining 20 percent supplied from brines found in Nevada. Chile and Argentina are currently the world’s largest exporters of lithium, but the discovery proves that there is an abundance of lithium sources yet to be discovered.

[Source: Green Car Reports]

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Yesterday, Porsche unveiled the 918 Spyder in production form and now we’ve gotten our hands on even more photos of the hybrid supercar.

Powered by a mid-mounted, 4.6-liter V8 mated to a pair of electric motors, the 918 Spyder makes 887 hp and accelerates to 62 mph in just 2.8 seconds. To bring it up to supercar status is a monocoque carbon fiber shell helping bring the vehicle to a respectable 3,615 pounds.

SEE GALLERY: Porsche 918 Spyder Detailed in Production Form

For a true driving experience, the 918 Spyder offers five different drive modes: E-Power, Hybrid, Sport Hybrid, Race Hybrid, and Hot Lap. As you can tell, the German automaker is not shying away from the fact that its latest supercar is a hybrid.

Best of all, nothing about the 918 Spyder’s styling shows that it’s supposed to be a hybrid. But in reality, the term hybrid isn’t exactly pairing up with being eco-friendly anymore; automakers are turning to the alternative powertrain to enhance performance of their vehicles without sacrificing fuel efficiency.

GALLERY: Porsche 918 Spyder

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According to a recent study released by IHS Automotive, an estimated 10.7-million charging stations will be available globally by the end of the decade.

That’s a tenfold increase to where we are at today, but as sales continue to grow for electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids, a rise in charging stations worldwide is expected. Compiled by IMS Research, the study also noted that there were 135,000 charging stations worldwide in 2011.

As expected, the largest concentration of charging stations will be found in the United States, China, Japan, and Germany. All those countries have domestic automakers that are focusing on developing EVs along with government support to expand e-mobility.

Currently, the United States has over 5,800 public charging stations. Of course with more charging stations available worldwide, the less range anxiety consumers will have when shopping for PHEVs and EVs.

“While volumes may not reach the levels imagined in the hype of 2009, it is clear that there needs to be charging infrastructure in place to support this change in mobility,” Alastair Hayfield, associate director at IMS, said in a statement.

[Source: IHS Automotive]

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Porsche has designed a new hybrid module that will fit into all of its future cars, suggesting that all Porsche models in its lineup will inevitably have a hybrid variant.

The module, which combines an electric motor and clutches in one unit will reduce fuel consumption while driving at normal speeds. The first phase of Porsche’s hybridization efforts is shown off in the new plug-in Panamera, where the German automaker’s engineers reduced the “revolutions per kilometer” of the engine.

SEE ALSO: 2014 Porsche Panamera S E-Hybrid Starts at $99,000

The next phase, which is due in 2016-2017, Porsche models will interact more intelligently with its environment by using data from a variety of sources, such as detailed road maps. By analyzing data such as inclines and corners, Porsche models will select the correct driving mode for the circumstances, maximizing fuel efficiency and performance.

The new hybrid module will be both water- and air-cooled and will be more powerful than the 94-hp hybrid electric motor that will be used in the upcoming plug-in Panamera, which is set to hit dealerships this summer. The automaker is also working on an induction charging system that can be used in home garages.

And in case you’re thinking the 911 range isn’t getting hybridized, it is.

[Source: Autocar UK]

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With all the attention the Ferrari LaFerrari and the McLaren P1 have received in recent months, it’s hard to forget that Porsche is working on its own hybrid supercar, the 918 Spyder.

Powered by a 4.6-liter V8 paired with an electric motor, the 918 Spyder will pack 875 hp and accelerate to 62 mph in 3.2 seconds. But according to the German automaker, it’s the 918 Spyder’s technology that will allow it to be faster than its European counterparts in certain conditions, despite being a heavier vehicle.

SEE ALSO: Porsche 918 Spyder Still Available

The 918 sports torque vectoring and independently-driven front wheels, allow it to “maintain better drive and achieve higher entry and mid-corner speed,” according to James Eastwood, Porsche’s product manager. The Porsche 918 Spyder is expected to weigh in at around 3,750 pounds, though a lightweight Weissach package will be available to knock off around 110 pounds.

Though the 918 Spyder isn’t sold out yet, Porsche is still confident that it’ll have no issues selling them all. Eastwood didn’t reveal any actual sales figures, but did mention that half the orders placed so far have opted for the Weissach package.

[Source: CAR]

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Acura has announced that the all-new NSX will be produced at Honda’s new Performance Manufacturing Center in Ohio.

The production facility will cost the Japanese automaker $70 million and will encompass 184,000 square feet housed inside Honda’s former North American Logistics facility. It will also be in the midst of Honda’s existing R&D and production engineering operations.

SEE ALSO: Acura NSX an Affordable Ferrari Fighter says Chief Engineer

The new production facility will be Honda’s third plant in Ohio and is merely a few miles away from Honda R&D Americas, Inc. Ohio Center that is also engineering the supercar for production. Approximately 100 manufacturing associates will be employed at the site while associates from Honda’s engine plant in Anna, Ohio will assemble the NSX’s powertrain.

The automaker also announced today that Honda R&D chief engineer Ted Klaus is leading the global team developing the new NSX while Clement D’Souza, associate chief engineer at Honda of America, is leading the production team for the NSX.

“We have a very clear understanding of the high customer expectations luxury buyers around the world have for a supercar, and our challenge is to exceed them and create new value for the customer,” said Klaus.  ”This new Performance Manufacturing Center will be key to this challenge.”

GALLERY: Acura NSX Concept

GALLERY: Acura NSX Concept

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To creatively paraphrase NSX chief engineer Ted Klaus, the upcoming Acura supercar will be like a Nissan GT-R, but built for drivers.

Exactly what does that mean? In essence it will deliver truly world-class performance without an ultra-exotic price tag. It also will maintain the brand’s core man-machine synergy principle.

HOW MUCH WILL IT COST?

Speaking during a recent round-table with journalists Klaus would not, however, reveal anything (or at least not much) about the car’s projected price. In fact, he wouldn’t even provide a give-or-take-$50,000 estimate.

Instead he chose a wider spread commenting that it will fall within the range of the Porsche 911. Hardly helpful, that currently covers a range from $80,000 to just over $180,000.

Perhaps suggesting it won’t be near the top of that range Klaus revealed that the, “person excited to own and drive this vehicle will have a tremendous sense that they got back a … sports car experience at a price that is a fraction of those vehicles.”

HOW FAST WILL IT BE?

As for what “those vehicles” are, Klaus elaborated, commenting that benchmarked cars range into the truly exotic, including the Ferrari 458 and McLaren MP4-12C. Less pricey, though equally capable rivals include the Corvette, Audi R8 and perhaps the car the NSX will be compared to most (based on factors of performance and price) the Nissan GT-R.

SEE ALSO: Acura NSX II Concept, First Look Video

Not set to launch for two more years and with the first concept being shown over a year ago there’s some worry that with the ever increasing horsepower numbers of modern cars and their heightened capabilities, what would have made the NSX a winner a year ago simply won’t stack up when it finally hits the street.

“One of the challenges for a product at a future date is to set the bar quite high,” said Klaus. But not to worry. “We had to benchmark these brilliant existing targets (again, cars like the Ferrari 458) and set the goal above them.”

The original NSX was compared to the Ferraris of its day, and Klaus intends that the new NSX will be no different.

He explains that early proposals (like the Advanced Sports Car Concept, right) were shelved, in part, due to their lack of ambition. Executives told him, “if you’re not going to have intentions to build a halo product, don’t even bother.”

SO EXACTLY HOW MUCH HORSEPOWER?

On the horsepower figure Klaus is vague, but even his circuitous words highlight certain aspects of the car.

“When investing money, do you want a quick return or a comfortable retirement,” he analogizes. Explaining himself, Klaus goes on to indicate that the new NSX will carry on the original car’s ethos of delivering an amazing driving experience rather than just big horsepower numbers for the sake of bench racers.

Still he says, “We’re not unaware of how important those numbers are both to customers and the public at large.” The performance of the NSX, Klaus assures, will be “tremendous” looking good on paper and from behind the wheel. “We’ll have the right balance of bragging rights for the customer and for the brand.”

WHAT WILL IT BE LIKE TO DRIVE?

While the word hybrid brings to mind notions of dull throttle response, the new NSX will most certainly not be a Prius. Rather it aims to be one of the very first of a new wave of sports cars using electric power to add not just power but driving enjoyment. Both Ferrari and McLaren have already rolled out such products in the LaFerrari and P1, though with ultra limited production and seven-figure price tags.

There’s a worry that all that technology could detract significantly from driver involvement and the purity of the experience that the original car delivered. There’s also the inherent issue of electrical components adding weight.

While the exact layout isn’t confirmed the NSX is expected to use a mid-mounted hybrid V6 engine that will power the rear wheels, while individual electric motors will add torque to the front wheels for added power and unique all-wheel drive capability. Called Sport Hybrid Super Handling All-Wheel Drive Klaus says the car will reincarnate and continue the original’s “authentic legacy.”

He elaborates saying the goal is to build a car that will be amazingly capable in the hands of a novice but that more experienced drivers will be able to “peel the onion” revealing new levels of capability.

As well as benchmarking all-out performance of its rivals, Klaus says they also used them to set the bar in terms of driver feel and interaction. All of the rivals were driven with the NSX development team asking themselves the question. “Are these the best they can be?”

As for the engine itself, Klaus indicates it will provide a broad powerband as well as a “high specific power per liter”. That, after all, is “part of our DNA” he says.

On the issue of weight reduction Klaus acknowledges the inherent disadvantages of heavy hybrid components and batteries but says offsetting mass is something the development team is “going about systematically, benchmarking each system and component.”

However, rather than just tossing in light weight materials wherever, he says they want to “use the right materials in the right place,” focusing not just on rigidity and strength but also reliability – another hallmark of the original NSX.

WHERE WILL IT BE MADE?

The work of putting all that together will be performed at an all-new facility that, surprisingly, is not in Japan. Rather, Honda has elected to build the new NSX in a new Performance Manufacturing Center in Ohio, closeby to the brand’s Honda R&D Americas facility.

There, says Klaus the team of 100 will strive to find a, “Unique balance in terms of human craftsmanship and highly accurate and repeatable manufacturing techniques.” He also promises “worlds firsts” in how the monocoque and chassis are developed.

MANUFACTURING: WHY OHIO? WHY AMERICA?

Apart from leveraging the close proximity of the brand’s R&D facility and its factory in Ohio there’s a bigger reason why Honda chose to build the NSX in the US.

Honda PR boss Sage Marie says it’s a, “Testament management has in North America, to entrust the leadership of sch a globally important product to the North American team.”

Klaus adds that the reception the original NSX had on US customers factored in to the equation while Honda has a history of developing products close to their main market. And the NSX he says, “first and foremost, is an Acura.”

HITTING RESTART – MOTORSPORTS

As evidence the very first concept was unveiled not in Tokyo but at the Detroit Auto Show. While it will still be branded as a Honda in Japan and much of Europe, it will help build the brand in emerging markets like China, Russia and Brazil.

SEE ALSO: NSX Concept to Go Racing in Japan Next Year

Helping put further focus on the NSX and the Acura brand in general will be a considerable motorsports effort. Honda has already confirmed it will hit the track in Japan in 2014, with the possibility that it could do the same in the newly combined United SportsCar Racing series (formerly the Grand-Am and ALMS series).

Racing will help Acura not only create a better performing NSX, but build interest and awareness of the car. Klaus confirms that motorsports is a “unique aspect of development,” saying that, “a wining track car will improve the breed of the road car.”

“Success on the street is tied to success on the track,” he reiterates.

IS THERE A DRIVABLE PROTOTYPE?

In short, yes. Has it been tested on the Nurburgring? No.

Described by Klaus as a “finishing school” significant development must first occur before it tackles Germany’s famed ‘Green Hell.’

“It is in a state right now where the potential is there, but as you know the challenge is bringing all the pieces together.”

WHEN WILL IT FINALLY ARRIVE AND WHAT WILL THE FUTURE HOLD?

That won’t happen for two more years with Klaus confirming the project is on target for a 2015 launch.

Beyond that Klaus was reassuring that the new NSX will not be treated like the old car; left to grow stale over a decade with minimal improvements.

“There’s a different attitude this time around than maybe the first generation NSX,” he admits, with a “plan to grow performance.”

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Nissan’s luxury arm is going ahead with plans to build a hybrid sports car, using ideas from the Emerg-E and Essence concepts.

The halo sports car is likely to use range extending technology or be a full plug-in hybrid. Rumors of the car using the Nissan GT-R engine have been ruled out, with brand boss Andy Palmer calling it “not suitable for Infiniti”

Palmer also set the expectations for the new sports car, with the target market being Asia, buyers aged 20 with just one child.

The mission of the sports car is to raise awareness of the Infiniti brand in the emerging Chinese market. With the Infiniti-Red Bull Formula One team leading that charge in the Asian market, the benefits of a halo vehicle will help drive up sales. Infiniti is hoping for 500,000 global sales annually by 2020.

Still, there are no powertrain details set in stone for this new car. The Emerg-E concept was powered by a 1.2-liter engine along with two electric motors that made a combined power output of about 400-hp, while the Essence concept used a V6 gas-electric powertrain which made somewhere in the area of 592-hp.

[Source : AutoCar]

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There’s a lot to love about the 2014 Range Rover Sport and the British automaker is banking on its popularity by expanding the lineup by offering even more powertrain options.

Land Rover will be adding to its Range Rover Sport lineup with a diesel-electric hybrid model and a conventional model powered by the automaker’s V8. Further down the line, the Range Rover Sport will also be offered with a four-cylinder “EcoBoost” engine, which is now possible thanks to its weight loss.

SEE ALSO: 2014 Range Rover Sport is 15% Lighter, 100% Sexier

According to Stuart Firth, Land Rover’s Chief Program Engineer for the Range Rover Sport, by shedding over 925 pounds, the Range Rover Sport is now able to be powered by a smaller four-cylinder without compromising the performance and off-road capability that the SUV is known for.

The V8 model will bring 516 lb-ft of torque to the Range Rover Sport and will join the lineup later this year along with the diesel-hybrid model. The diesel-hybrid Range Rover Sport will be a diesel V6 engine and will have its hybrid goods located under the floor of the SUV, allowing it to retain its seven-seater configuration and cargo space will be left as is. The hybrid technology will also be introduced to the standard, larger Range Rover model at the same time.

GALLERY: 2014 Range Rover Sport Mega Gallery

[Source: Carsales.com.au]

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