#GermanCars

At least that’s the case in the U.S. In Europe a production version of this wagon has been on sale for several months, but despite being on display at this year’s New York Auto Show, the official line from Volkswagen was  just a study designed to gauge public reaction.

BMW clearly has a bit of an open air theme at this year’s New York Auto Show. Call it spring fever (the buds are already blooming in Manhattan as I write), or call it simply a more relaxed approach, it’s definitely about going topless.

Besides recently announcing the i8 Spyder, the Munich based automaker has just unveiled a drop top version of the M6, (shown in coupe form in Geneva last month). In terms of specs, the roofless version essentially mirrors its tin top counterpart.

It’s got the 4.4-liter twin-turbocharged V8 under the hood, cranking out 560 horsepower and 500 lb-ft of torque, it’s got the 7-speed dual clutch transmission with Drive Logic and an active rear differential that can automatically adjust from fully open to fully locked, enabling the back tires to provide the maximum amount of traction depending on the road conditions.

We also knew its life on the production line would be very short. Now, after just one year of production, BMW has stopped taking orders of this ultra special 1-series. The factory will now just fulfill the orders already placed, and it plans to have all of those ready by this summer.

Shortly after images of the BMW 2013 X1 crossover leaked onto the internet today, the automaker released official pricing details.

Scheduled to go on sale in September and to debut on Wednesday at the New York Auto Show, the 2013  BMW X1 is the latest car to be leaked ahead of the show.

25 years ago, when the 4,301 meter hill climb was pure gravel, Rohrl threw his Audi around 156 cliff-side corners, four-wheel drifting his way to the summit to set a record breaking time of 10 minutes, 47.85 seconds.

Since then, Rohrl has been dethroned by the likes of Nobuhiro “Monster” Tajima and the Unlimited class Suzuki SX4 Hill Climb Special, climbing the modern Pikes Peak in 9 minutes 51.278 seconds. However, the hill climb course itself is now completely paved with tarmac and while that provides better grip for the cars to climb faster, this dampens the sheer danger and spectacle of its gravel past.

This year, Walter Rohrl and his record-setting Audi Sport quattro S1 will return to Pikes Peak for an exhibition drive. Although Rohrl will not be competing on the main event, race fans will certainly be excited to see their childhood heroes back together again.

Check out footage of Walter Rohrl’s 1987 Climb in his Audi Sport quattro S1 after the jump:

The i8 plug-in hybrid is the product of BMW‘s best engineering and innovation in an effort to create the most advanced automobile to ever come from the Bavarian automaker.

Set to hit the track today for the first time in competition is an all-new RS5 race car. Competing in the Superstars Series in Europe, Audi officially unwrapped the car just hours ahead of the series kick-off.

Volkswagen revealed its new Alltrack Concept ahead of the upcoming New York Auto Show.

From the Porsche European Delivery Program to the Master Italian Lifestyle Maserati Driving Experience, European automakers go the extra mile to make customers feel special.

An all-new Mercedes-Benz SL does not come very often. Since 1954, Mercedes-Benz has only introduced five generations of its luxury grand-touring coupe. For the 6th generation 2013 SL that will hit showrooms later this year, Mercedes-Benz spared no expense, packing it full of all the most desirable luxuries available to make it a true successor of its iconic heritage.

Starting at $106,375, the new SL features advanced driving aids including ECO Start/Stop engine technology, Active Body Control, Distronic Plus adaptive cruise control, and Active Lane Keeping Assist. What’s more, conveniences such as Keyless-GO, surround sound system with forward bass, sun-reflecting leather, Adaptive Wipers, COMAND online, a fully integrated electric draught stop, and a Panoramic Vario Roof Magic Sky Control are available as well.

In order to deliver performance that matches the SL’s level of technology and luxury, the Mercedes-Benz SL550 boasts a 4.7-liter V8 turbo producing 429-hp and 516 lb.-ft. of torque. Mated to a seven-speed automatic gearbox, this Mercedes sports car can cover a 0-to-60 mile sprint in just 4.5 seconds, a full second quicker than the outgoing SL. Even though it’s more powerful, the new SL will be efficient as well. Thanks to an all-aluminum frame construction, the new SL is up to 300 pounds lighter than its previous generation equivalent.

In order to highlight all the features the new SL has to offer, Mercedes-Benz has concisely produced a manageable and informative promo trailer that touches upon many of SL’s clever functions. However, the ending proves that nothing is more important in the SL than the powerful V8 delivering rapid acceleration.

Check out the 2013 Mercedes-Benz SL550 promo video below. 

It’s too bad that even though David Beckham could make enough money to purchase a fine collection of luxury and sports cars, he could never find the time to enjoy them.

As we draw closer to the upcoming 2012 New York Auto Show, Mercedes-Benz continues promote its new 2013 GLK compact crossover.

Featuring multiple shots, the automaker highlights the GLK’s versatility, road manners and its ground clearance over a range of conditions. Interior shots reveal a luxurious, welcoming, and airy interior.

Competing against the likes of the Audi Q5 and BMW X3, Mercedes-Benz offers two engine choices for the GLK: an updated 3.5-liter V6 producing 302 hp for the GLK350 and a 190-hp turbo diesel 2.1-liter four-cylinder for the GLK250 BlueTEC. Both trims will be mated to a seven-speed automatic transmission and both the GLK 250 Bluetec and GLK350 will be available in either rear-wheel-drive or 4Matic all-wheel-drive. To further improve efficiency, the GLK will use engine start-stop technology and inform the driver of its performance over time via the ECO display within the instrument cluster.

Look out for the official debut of the Mercedes-Benz GLK at the 2012 New York Auto Show and our other coverage on March 4. In the meantime, watch the promo trailer after the jump:

BMW unveiled its specially decorated 3- and 5-series cars bound for the 2012 London Summer Olympics today. 

Nevada is the first state to pass laws regulating driverless vehicles. To qualify for a special state license, engineers at Continental have built and driven a heavily modified Volkswagen Passat with its brake and steering controls removed and replaced with sensors to digitally read and interpret surroundings. According to engineer Ibro Muharemovic, the Passat has logged almost 10,000 miles of autonomous driving and during a more recent trip from Las Vegas, Nevada, to Brimley, Michigan, home of Continental’s development and testing center, more than 90 percent of the journey did not involve the use of hands and feet.

Unlike Google’s ambitions to create a sophisticated fully autonomous vehicle, Continental went along to develop an interim semi-autonomous option that could take over duties during stop-and-go traffic or extended stretches of highway, the least satisfying of driving conditions. However, Continental and Google’s endpoint is identical: to create a solution that will reduce accidents, congestion, and fuel consumption. Continental director of engineering systems and technology Christian Schumacher said, “We still have a long way to go, but the technology is amazing.”

According to Ravi Pandit, CEO of India’s global IT and engineering company KPIT Cummins, “There is a strong business case for an autonomous car that can drop you off or a cab without the expense of a driver.”

Despite the optimism, mass production semiautonomous cars are still a couple years away. The technology exists but the idea raises questions of liability, regulation, and public acceptance. NHTSA will begin a study of autonomous driving in August with a one-year pilot project in Ann Arbor, testing 3,000 cars with the ability to communicate with one another to avoid an accident. What’s more, in an event of a crash, the law has yet to resolve who is reliable or whether the occupants of an autonomous car are legally exempt from bans on mobile devices.

As for passenger anxiety, Ravi Pandit is confident that, “A car can see better than a human can, and the car responds faster.”

Engineer Ibro Muharemovic commented, “I was surprised by how well it worked.” Continental’s Volkswagen Passat is fitted with a stereo camera that can monitor speed-bumps or potholes as far as 220 yards away and adjust steering, braking, and acceleration accordingly. Muharemovic adds, “The driver is always in control and can override the system any time.”

If testing is successful and Continental is qualified for Nevada registration, a special red license plate will be provided to distinguish the driverless car. In the future, production driverless cars would receive a green license plate.

Check out video footage of Continental’s autonomous Volkswagen Passat driving itself below.