BMW 6-Series official pictures

Luxury coupé uncovered before Paris debut, angular lines replaced by a sleek shape.

Auto Express Car Reviews

Sleek, sporty and oozing style – that’s the promise of BMW’s new 6-Series, revealed here before its official unveiling at the Paris Motor Show next week.

The newcomer displays classic coupé proportions, with its long bonnet, short front overhang and low-slung silhouette. Smooth lines mimic the design cues first seen on the latest 5-Series and 7-Series.

A shark-like nose features glass inserts at the top of the grille bars for a modern look, while the distinctive headlights are, for the first time, entirely LED, producing a dazzling white light and reducing energy use. Adaptive light technology also means they swivel according to the steering angle and speed of the car, while the daytime running lights are in BMW’s familiar ring design.

At the rear, twin trapezoid exhaust tips create an aggressive look, while LED light strips inside the rear clusters ensure the 6 even has a distinctive appearance at night. Unique 20-inch alloy wheels, each milled from a solid piece of aluminium, finish off the handsome exterior design. The elegant new 2+2 cabin has a full-length glass roof to flood the interior with light, and a tilted centre console to put the emphasis on the driver. Two individual leather-lined rear seats have enough room to accommodate a pair of adults.

There’s a wealth of technology, too. Taking pride of place is a huge 26cm flatscreen displaying the audio, climate and sat-nav menus. A head-up display and digital panel, in place of traditional dials, show a range of information, while a Bang & Olufsen stereo with 16 speakers, including one that rises from the top of the dash, delivers superb sound quality.

The engine range is likely to match the current line-up, with straight-six and V8 petrol offerings. But since the diesel 635d accounted for around 70 per cent of sales, a new range-topping 306bhp 640d is expected to scoop up the majority of buyers.

Still officially a concept, the BMW Concept 6-Series Coupé, to use its full name, could receive some minor tweaks before it arrives in showrooms. But essentially this is the car that will make production.

Despite the coupé breaking cover, it will be the convertible that arrives first in March. The hard-top follows in September.

Read more: http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/autoexpressnews/257239/bmw_6series_official_pictures.html#ixzz10FWvoks6

MINI Countryman - official!

MINI reveal official pictures and details of upcoming 4x4 crossover

Auto Express Car Reviews

It's the 4x4 MINI that wasn't supposed to be revealed until next month! Following the arrival of three leaked pictures yesterday, MINI has decided to release official details and pictures of the newcomer- now known to be called the MINI Countryman.

With four-doors and an optional four-wheel drive system, the new car is taking the MINI brand into previously unexplored territory. But the BMW-owned company are keen to show that the essence of MINI hasn't been lost. Despite its chunky off-road design, styling elements of the firm's smaller cars are clearly noticeable, including the high-window line, large head-lamps and upright tail-lights.

>>SEE A VIDEO OF THE COUNTRYMAN IN ACTION

On top of that, engineers have also done their best to maintain the go-kart style handling that has characterised MINI cars in the past.

The familiar variant naming scheme is also carried over. The entry-level MINI ONE Countryman is powered by an 89bhp engine while the range-topping Cooper S model is powered by a 181bhp turbocharged 1.6-litre engine. Engines are mated to a six-speed manual gearbox as standard but all petrol models are available with an ultra-efficient six-speed automatic gearbox with steering-wheel mounted paddles.

Other fuel-saving additions include brake energy recuperation, a stop/start system and a gearchange indicator.

MINI's new four-wheel drive system, known as 'All4' is optional on the flagship Cooper D and Cooper S models, while all other variants will be front-wheel drive only. MINI claims that under normal conditions the 'All4' system divides power equally between the front and back wheels. However, in extreme conditions the rear-wheels can deliver as much as 100 per cent of the car's power.

Inside, the Countryman has room for four adults and includes a centre-rail which runs the length of the cabin and allows rear-seat passengers more space and comfort. An optional three-seat arrangement in the back is available at no extra cost. Depending on how the seats are arranged, boot space can be increased from 350 litres to a cavernous 1150 litres.

The cabin is crammed full of kit too. On top of the standard air-con and built in CD player, buyers can opt for a panoramic roof, adaptive headlights and high-end audio and navigation systems. Exterior additions include alloy wheels ranging from 16 to 19 inches and lowered sports suspension.

The Countryman will go on sale in September, with prices starting at around £17,000.

Read more: http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/autoexpressnews/247405/mini_countryman_official.html#ixzz10FWivW38

Today in Car News: Electric Cars, VW Passat

2010 Aston Martin One-77

How about a 750-horsepower Aston Martin One-77? Why yes, we'll take two, thanks very much. [AutoExpress]

California wants to see one million electric cars on its highways by the year 2020. Those Mattell boys need to get cracking. [Detroit News]

We've been reporting it ad nauseum since last October; now there's some other believers in the death of the current Volkswagen Passat. [Inside Line]

While the Hyundai Sonata Hybrid takes aim at greens in Los Angeles, it'll be joined by the eerily similar Kia Optima Hybrid. It's like they're cousins or something. [LLN]

Former Hyundai designer Joel Piaskowski is now also former Mercedes-Benz designer Joel Piaskowski, now that he's headed to design Fords and Lincolns. [Automotive News]

We think somebody knows what we know, but can't tell you until a week from Thursday. You didn't hear it from us. [Autoblog]

It's not the economy, stupid, nor is it the housing crisis. The Automotive X Prize is the most important thing going on today, according to one dopey Congressperson. [AutoblogGreen]

India's plans to conquer the U.S. truck market, one off-roader at a time, may be in jeopardy. Or they could just be on hold. Or stuck in traffic. Not even the Grey Lady's getting clear answers. [New York Times]

Finally today, while German tuner PPI Automotive has found a way to make the Audi R8 V10 quicker, they've also found a neat 'n easy way to remove its good looks. Hint: you don't always have to destroy the thing you love.

2011 Lexus CT 200h Hybrid Will Get 42mpg Combined

In brief: The upcoming Lexus CT 200h is a premium compact hybrid which will come to market in early 2011 at a 42mpg combined US efficiency.

Vehicle in the news

Make/Model: 2011 Lexus CT 200h
Manufacturer: Toyota

The word

The series/parallel system of the hybrid is the next generation of Toyota's technology made famous in the Prius. The 200h will have acceleration of 0-60mph in 9.8 seconds, get 42mpg combined (EPA rated), and lower NOx and particulate emissions than similar vehicles in diesel.

The CT 200h uses a 1.8L engine, a 60kW motor, a high-performance NiMH battery, and other components in its series/parallel hybrid drive. All hybrid components are contained in a gear-box-sized and situated unit.

Automotive X Prize Winners Announced

In brief: The long-anticipated results for the Progressive Automotive X Prize competition have been announced.

The word

At a ceremony in Washington, D.C., X Prize officials announced the winners of the hotly-contested Side-by-Side class as well as the foregone conclusion for the Mainstream category plus the fun Tandem category.

Mainstream
The Mainstream category went to the Edison2 team, which had the only two cars left in the category. The Edison2 team takes home the $5 million prize. Their top mileage was 102.5mpg using E85 ethanol. Despite being the only team left in the running, the Edison2 cars were nearly unable to complete the competition due to mechanical issues.

Tandem
In the Tandem category (seating fore and aft), it was already clear that the X-Tracer and its Swiss team were the clear winners. This was solidified and the team takes the $2.5 million prize for this category. The winning X-Tracer got 205.3mpg (equivalent).

Side-by-Side
The class with the most competition right up to the end was the Side-by-Side class. With high-profile competitors such as Aptera Motors in the running, this one was definitely not a foregone conclusion.

The win goes to Li-Ion Motors from North Carolina with their beautifully unique (and bright green) car, the Wave II. The team takes home the $2.5 million prize for their category, having achieved a 187mpg equivalent.

And so ...

Congratulations to all who participated and especially to the winners. Great competition and we hope to see another one next year!

Mercedes E-Cell: AMGee Whiz!

Built on the high-performance SLS AMG speedster, the E-Cell version will have performance nearly matching its famous 6.3L V8 gas-engine counterpart. Speed, acceleration, and handling are all optimized in this sexy electric car from Daimler's Mercedes-AMG unit.

Photos from Daimler.com

by Aaron Turpen

Specs:

• Type: Electric Supercar
• Class: 2-Seat Sports Coupe
• Manufacturer: Mercedes-AMG
• Propulsion system: Electric
• Top Speed: Unknown
• Vehicle range: Unknown
• Battery system: 48kWh Lithium-ion
• Time to full battery recharge: 6-8 hours
• Price: Not Firmly Stated
• Availability: 2013

The manufacturer says

We take social responsibility very seriously and with the SLS AMG E-CELL we are demonstrating a further milestone in our "AMG Performance 2015" strategy. It is our goal to continually reduce the fuel consumption and emissions of new models in the coming years, while at the same time enhancing the core brand value of performance

Overview

Introduced in 2006, the SLS AMG is a high-end sports car that's received fame and popularity amongst supercar enthusiasts. Now the car is set to become the platform of an all-electric sibling, the SLS AMG E-Cell. The new E-Cell is being designed to not only fit the new drive train within the existing SLS aluminum space frame, but to closely match the awesome performance of the 6.3L V8, 571hp original it is based upon.

The E-Cell has a power output of 526hp (392kW) and 880Nm (649lb-ft) of torque and a 0-62mph speed of 4 seconds, just 2 tenths (0.2) shy of its gasoline-powered sister. That's extremely impressive, but the beauty doesn't end there. This performance car includes a lot of style.

The signature Mercedes-AMG gullwing doors set off the sleek and powerful styling of the SLS, but under the hood and body are some extremely high-tech and high-performance enhancements to match the new electric drive given this speedster.

The E-Cell is powered by four, 3-phase AC synchronous motors, one for each wheel. Rather than mounting them directly to the wheels and tires, Mercedes opted to attach them to high-torque drive shafts. This reduces the amount of non-floating weight (weight directly on the ground), which improves performance and comfort.

The motors can each achieve up to 12,000 RPMs and, of course, torque is instantaneous with electric motors, which gives the E-Cell a power advantage over the standard SLS.

The liquid-cooled, high-voltage lithium-ion battery system is modular in design. It holds an energy content of 48kWh with a 40Ah capacity giving it a maximum load potential of 480kW. Using an intelligent parallel circuit design for each individual battery module maximizes safety and reliability and also allows for slightly better efficiency in regenerative braking power recuperation. The cooling circuit for the batteries can be boosted by the car's air conditioning system. Battery packs are positioned in front of the firewall, along the center tunnel, and behind the seats to evenly distribute their weight ñ each module is the same as the others, allowing for easy replacement when required.

The even distribution of weight and design of the components meant that the weight-optimized aluminum space frame of the original SLS required no modification for the new E-Cell powertrain. The suspension was modified, however, from the double-wishbone of the original to a more robust, independent multilink suspension with pushrod damper struts. This also allowed for room for the extra drive shafts (the original SLS is a front-wheel-drive, rather than all-wheel). The new motorsport-based suspension means better handling for the weight characteristics of the E-Cell.

Finally, AMG ceramic composite brakes are mounted on all four wheels to maximize stopping power. The oversized discs are made of carbon fibre-strengthened ceramic and are in radial floating arrangements with their aluminum bowls. These brakes are higher-performing and 40% lighter than their iron counterparts.

Body enhancements to the electric car removed some of the intake and airflow requirements of the gasoline engine to further improve aerodynamics for the electric drive. The automatic rear spoiler remains, moving to optimize airflow according to vehicle speed.

Mercedes-AMG says that the SLS AMG E-Cell will likely see a limited production run as early as 2013.

What we like

This is an extremely high-performance electric with a lot of sexiness to attract the masses. That's a definite bonus when it comes to convincing Joe Public that an electric car doesn't have to be nerdy, but can enter the realm of James Bond.

Very innovative in its design, the SLS AMG E-Cell has beautiful looks which outclass most others in a way that only Mercedes-AMG can do.

What we don't

Still an out-of-price-range sports car that will see limited production. Just like the Tesla Roadster, Audi E-Tron, and others, the AMG E-Cell is estimated to be priced over $300,000. That makes it more than just an exclusive supercar.. it makes it unattainable and persists the rumor that electric cars are not affordable.

Conclusions

The instant-classic SLS was a heart-stopper as a gasoline engine vehicle. Now with electric drive, it will be beyond classic, even legendary. The performance specs and very high-tech systems underlying the SLS AMG E-Cell make it one of those cars whose posters will adorn the walls of dreamers and mechanics world-wide.

New Peugeot 309 In The Works; Spy Cams Get A Peek

New Peugeot 309 In The Works; Spy Cams Get A Peek

What would the successor to the Peugeot 308 hatchback look like? We haven’t had much info on the Peugeot 309, but now spy pictures have revealed some details of the new upcoming model.

Complete with the latest family grille, akin to what the 508 family model has been sporting, the new car would come christened the Peugeot 309. The model would be one among the 14 new cars that would arrive.

The Peugeot 309 is expected to be ready in the next five years’ time. Not much change in design and exterior is expected when compared with the 308. However, the 309 is likely to take off from the SR1 concept which we all got to see at the Geneva Motor Show this March.

Among the few alterations would be a jutting front bumper with LED running lights, deep grooves along the bonnet and subtle creases in the doors, says a report. We hear the car would be powered by 1.4 and 1.6-litre HDi diesel engines.

In all honesty, it doesn’t look as good as the Peugeot 508 we’ve seen a few days ago.

Fiat 500 Blackjack Special Edition For Key European Markets

Fiat 500 Blackjack Special Edition For Key European Markets

Fiat’s new special edition 500 Blackjack has been outed. To be driven in to dealerships by September, the car would be made available in the European markets by then. We get to learn that Fiat would sell the high end version for prices starting at €18,350 in the Italian car market.

The Fiat 500 Blackjack will come with four different engines. The petrol variants will sport a 900cc TwinAir with 84 bhp (63 kW / 85 PS). The 1.2-liter with 69 bhp (51 kW / 70 PS), and a 1.4-liter with 100 bhp (75 kW / 101 PS) will be part of the pick. Meanwhile, the diesel variant would offer 95 bhp (71 kW / 96 PS) 1.3-liter Multijet II.

To be rolled out in matte black hues and glossy accents, the car will have 16-inch alloy wheels, and red brake calipers. Leather upholstery and silver trim will be part of the package. That’s a bit different than the Fiat 500 pink we’ve seen some time ago. Eh?

Lamborghini To Add Sports Car And SUV To Line Up

Lamborghini To Add Sports Car And SUV To Line Up

Lamborghini is set to roll out two entirely new models. The line up is to have a V8-powered entry-level sports car and another model – most likely an SUV. The V8-powered entry-level sports car is said to be likely to be positioned just below the Gallardo. This model will be Lamborghini’s attempt afresh to get back into the sports car segment. If you would remember, the car maker had in the 70s and 80s unveiled the Urraco, Silhouette and the Jalpa. These models were pitted against the Ferrari/Dino 308 GT4 and the Maserati Merak those days.

Meanwhile, the new upcoming SUV is said to take off from the LM002. The Lamborghini SUV might see itself positioned on the same platform as the Porsche Cayenne and the VW Touareg. However, we might get to see the car in a distinct design when it arrives.