I have been a travelling fool for the last few weeks with the Detroit Auto Show, Mercedes C-Class intro in Stuttgart and the Kia Rondo drive this week in Phoenix. And the schedule is not going to get any easier over the next few months…Â On my trip to Stuttgart, I heard what could be one of the biggest ‘Disses’ ever when (I won’t reveal their identity or what company they work for) threw a real backhanded slap at BMW. Continue reading Does a Mercedes REALLY last three times longer than a BMW?
Categories:BMW, Mercedes Benz
BMW of North America is on track to set a sales record this year, despite the changeover of its X5 crossover. “The 2007 model year cars are just coming onstream now,” said Tom Purves, CEO of BMW (US) Holding Corp. “It’s tough to predict. But we will be better than last year, and the momentum is very good.” Last year BMW AG, including Mini and Rolls-Royce, sold 307,402 vehicles in the United States. In an interview with Automotive News, Purves touched on a variety of other issues. 
Car companies and electronic manufacturers are always conspiring to come up with new high-tech gimmicks for our cars. Almost invariably, they either distract the driver from driving or else help him keep his eyes on the road. Champions of road safety (and cool flashing lights) that we are, of course we prefer the latter. With more cars on the road each passing day – and average driver skill not improving one bit – staying on the road is enough of a challenge without toying with an unintelligible driver interface (iDrive, we’re looking at you), being distracted by in-dash DVD players or looking for directions from a sat-nav screen. 
BMW decided that it would do its hydrogen vehicle in a different way than most. Rather than building a hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle, BMW chose to stick with what it already knew well, internal combustion engines. Set to debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show at the end of this month, the resulting Hydrogen 7 uses a dual-mode drive that is driver selectable at the flip of a switch. 
Back in June, BMW released all the details about their new M6 convertible, except one – price. Well, the mystery has been solved and those of you who want to own what could possibly be the fastest production drop top in the world can get it at the bargain price of $105,095, including shipping. As a comparison, the carbon fiber, fixed roof model will only set you back $96,795, with shipping and the highfalutin Neiman Marcus Individual M6 will liberate $139,000 from your corporate expense account. 
BMW is going to launch a new model, in order to compete with Volkswagen Golf models. he 135ti will be powered by a 3.0-litre turbo-engine with an output of 306 hp. The biggest part of the 135ti-sales will be the 3-door hatchback. The BMW 135ti will debut in 2007 for the 2008 model year. 
The new BMW 7-Series Sedan will debut in late 2008 and “will finally draw the line under the flame surfacing era”. The new car will have a sleeker, more refined design. Power comes from an updated range of petrol and diesel engines, and there’ll also be a hybrid version. The new 7-series will be a ground-breaking model, for its design, chassis and powertrain. As you can see the roofline is faster, the glasshouse more coupe-like and the overall look more compact and dynamic. 
BMW is expected to have its X1 mini-ute on the road by 2010. Based on the 1-Series, the X1 sets its targets on the popular Toyota Rav4. The X1 will use its slightly-bigger brother X3’s all-wheel drive system and the range of engines from the 1-Series, with four- and six-cylinder gas engines ranging between 145 and 220 hp and diesels producing 135-231 hp. 
Volga is known mostly for small Soviet-era sedans used by the KGB and as limos for the communist party central committee members – a little less so for customized German luxury cars. But in a revolution against Western propaganda, the Russian automaker has unveiled its second coachbuilt BMW. 
The first generation Audi TT was one of the big automotive hits of the last few years – and with waiting lists for the new model already growing, it’s continued sales success looks pretty much assured. But does Audi’s sporting coupe deserve the plaudits that have been heaped upon it – does it have what it takes to enter at the top of its hard-fought segment? 
Theoretically, you could launch just about any motorised vehicle in Germany – a Korean sports car, a Yank tank, a hulky bulky SUV, you name it – and it would end up feeling fabulous. The joy of driving the country’s speed-limitless freeways and its smoothly surfaced and spectacularly twisty back roads is such that it rubs off a feeling of wellbeing onto whatever you happen to be piloting. 
MSRP starting at $46,595 Second Generation of the Original Sports Activity Vehicle Arrives in US Showrooms this November. The all-new 2007 BMW X5 Sports Activity Vehicle arrives in US showrooms this November with a base MSRP of $46,595 for the six-cylinder X5 3.0si. The V8 X5 4.8i will be priced from $55,195. Both prices include destination and handling.