LEARN MORE ABOUT THE NEW BMW M3:
http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Drives/FullTests/ar
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE NEW BMW M3:
http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Drives/FullTests/articl eId=129086
We're on final approach into a tight corner, and our left index finger stretches for the minus paddle behind the 2008 BMW M3 Convertible's small, fat-rimmed steering wheel. All we want is a quick, rev-matched, 3-2 downshift from the car's seven-speed dual-clutch transmission.
Our downshift arrives in a violent, noisy spasm, a come-on to every sport biker in the canyon. Yet it still feels like one of the most precise gearchanges we've ever been able to take credit for. It also makes the BMW M3's 4.0-liter V8 very happy. Back down in 2nd gear, the free-revving engine howls to the bikers, and even through gusts of wind and gnats, we hear it tell us how much it hates neutral throttle. If you're not working this V8, you're killing it softly.
Messy emotions are inevitable when you're driving a hardtop-convertible version of a legendary performance car, as the thrill of a sunburn on a summer day has a way of obscuring unfortunate realities like excess curb weight and reduced structural rigidity.
But there's nothing messy or emotional about BMW's new dual-clutch gearbox (abbreviated as M DCT, or M DKG if you're German), which is all business in all of its 11 shift modes. It's also such an effective replacement for the 2008 BMW M3's conventional manual transmission that we wonder if it's not a greater threat to M-division purists than a bulky retractable hardtop.
(more)
(less)
Added: 1 day ago
Views: 3,042
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE LOTUS EAGLE:
http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/GeneralFuture/a
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE LOTUS EAGLE:
http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/GeneralFuture/articleId =126898
It's less than two months away from its official introduction, so it's no surprise that we're finally seeing prototypes of the 2009 Lotus Eagle. It's another midengine sports car from the famed British car builder and it was caught testing recently on the Nürburgring under heavy camouflage.
The Lotus Eagle will be the first production vehicle to use the company's new Versatile Vehicle Architecture (VVA). Built to accommodate various body types, the VVA was first shown beneath the APX concept at the 2006 Geneva Motor Show. That vehicle was a compact crossover, but the Eagle will be a midrange 2+2 coupe.
Judging by the photos of the prototype on the Nürburgring, the accommodations in back won't amount to anything more than miniscule jump seats. Although the VVA will allow Lotus to push the Eagle's wheelbase beyond the 90-inch mark found on the Elise, don't expect a significantly larger car.
Most of the extra room will go toward accommodating a V6 engine. Lotus CEO Mike Kimberley has said publicly that the Eagle will use a Toyota-built V6. Most speculation pins the power plant in the 3.0- to 3.5-liter range with roughly 230-260 horsepower. A six-speed manual is the most likely transmission, although Lotus might finally bow to customer concerns and offer an automatic as well.
The official unveiling of the 2009 Lotus Eagle is slated for the 2008 London Auto Show in late July. Production will begin later this year, with sales starting by early 2009.
(more)
(less)
Added: 2 days ago
Views: 5,566
CHECK OUT THE SPORT COMPACT COMPARISON:
http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Drives/Compa
CHECK OUT THE SPORT COMPACT COMPARISON:
http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Drives/Comparos/article Id=128908?tid=edmunds.il.home.photopanel..1.*
Thanks to three turbochargers, 724 horsepower and five limited-slip differentials, comparing the 2008 Mazdaspeed 3, 2008 Subaru Impreza WRX and 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart should be more entertaining than a cage match between Quinton "Rampage" Jackson and New Kids on the Block. Imagine the fun! Donny and Danny hangin' tough from the walls of the cage while Joey, Jordan and Jonathan get tossed into the crowd.
The way we see it, our Rampage vs. New Kids bout is no different from pitting the Mazdaspeed 3 — the current champ of the sport compact world — against the Lancer Ralliart and Subaru WRX. On the track, an epic ass-kicking is bound to ensue.
But comparison tests aren't always won on the track. Since these cars all share a focus on real-world driving for enthusiasts, we weighted performance as 25 percent of this test's scoring total, leaving the remaining points to price (20 percent), feature content (20 percent), fuel economy (15 percent), our subjective evaluation (15 percent) and personal and recommended picks (5 percent).
So performance is important, but in the end, the most well-rounded car wins.
(more)
(less)
Added: 3 days ago
Views: 12,620
|
http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/GeneralFuture/articleId =127892
Now that most of th
http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/GeneralFuture/articleId =127892
Now that most of the camouflage has come off the 2009 BMW 7 Series, we can finally see some of the details. The verdict? Inconclusive, as it still looks a lot like the current 7 Series, judging by what we can see.
The overall greenhouse appears almost unchanged, while the front and rear ends show only minor revisions. A taller hood area is the most noticeable difference up front, most likely a consequence of European pedestrian crash test standards. You can see it in the taller, narrower grille and more prominent crease in the hood.
If you hate the distinctive trunk design that pioneered on the 2002 7 Series, you're still out of luck, as it appears intact on this prototype. We expect to see a new taillight design that will reduce the 7's bulky rear end, but anyone hoping for a wholesale redesign will be disappointed.
Like the current 7 Series, there will be the usual range of V8 and V12 engines. The twin-turbo 4.4-liter V8 that debuted in the X6 will most likely power the standard version. With 400 horsepower and 450 pound-feet of torque, the next 7 Series should be one of the faster V8 luxury sedans around, especially if BMW goes ahead with an eight-speed automatic transmission as the rumors suggest. A V12 version with even more power should follow shortly after.
Given BMW's participation in a hybrid development program with Daimler and General Motors, it's a good bet that the 7 Series will offer the option of a gas-electric hybrid drivetrain at some point, too. Diesel is another possible option, although BMW may want to wait and see how the 335d and X5 diesel fare in the U.S. before sending any oil-burning 7 Series our way.
Look for the official pics and information to arrive sometime this summer. An official auto show debut is expected at the Paris auto show in October, with European sales beginning later this year. Sales in the U.S. should start by the spring of 2009.
(more)
(less)
Added: 5 days ago
Views: 9,519
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE NEW 5 SERIES:
http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/GeneralFuture/
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE NEW 5 SERIES:
http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/GeneralFuture/articleId =127846?tid=edmunds.il.futurelanding.latestnews..3.*
We've seen test mules of the 2011 BMW 5 Series before, first on the streets of Germany and then in the snow of the Arctic Circle. Our latest spy video shows the next-generation 5 Series in the mountains of Austria and on the Nürburgring test track in Germany.
Like the prototypes seen earlier, these latest 5 Series mules are covered in heavy camouflage. It doesn't matter much, as this evolution isn't expected to change drastically from the current model. The overall size of this prototype doesn't appear substantially different, so we don't expect any major changes in terms of passenger room, either.
The real unknowns lie in the choices BMW will make when it comes time to put an engine under the new sheet metal. Given the somewhat higher sales volume of the 5 Series compared to the more expensive 7 Series, fuel economy will play a slightly more important role. The twin-turbo 4.4-liter V8 that's expected to power the 7 Series might prove too thirsty, so BMW could opt for a more efficient V8 to keep overall fuel consumption down. Meanwhile, expect to see the continued use of BMW's inline-6s for base and midrange models.
On the tech side, this 5 Series will be the third car in the BMW lineup to use FlexRay for the vehicle's internal control systems. The electronic technology system is designed to allow much faster communications among all the various vehicle systems.
BMW first introduced FlexRay for the new-generation X5, although only the vehicle's electronic damping control system exploits the system's faster processing speed. The upcoming 2009 BMW 7 Series is expected to use FlexRay technology for at least a dozen systems, so the 5 Series will most likely go even further. Expect to see even more driver adjustability built into the car as well as additional integration among systems like Active Steering Control, Electronic Differential Control and the usual traction and stability control systems.
You can expect to see the official debut of the 2011 BMW 5 Series at the 2009 Frankfurt Auto Show, with U.S. sales beginning a year or so after.
(more)
(less)
Added: 1 week ago
Views: 23,403
FOR MORE ABOUT THE ACURA NSX SPY VIDEO:
http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/GeneralFutur
FOR MORE ABOUT THE ACURA NSX SPY VIDEO:
http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/GeneralFuture/articleId =127446?tid=edmunds.il.futurelanding.latestnews..4.*
The latest prototype of the 2011 Acura NSX has finally hit the Nürburgring and it's looking — and sounding — better than ever. Unlike the previous prototypes — which were nothing more than cobbled-together test mules built from the S2000 platform — this NSX has bodywork that looks close to production specification.
Although the design of the original concept didn't get favorable reviews, it appears as though Acura has stuck with similar styling for the production car. Instead of going for an all-out sports car, Acura is aiming for high-end GTs instead. Think Aston Martin DB9, not Nissan GT-R. As a result, Acura has abandoned its former midengine concept and adopted a traditional front-engine 2+2 layout. The company is after prestige, not just speed.
That said, the 2011 Acura NSX is still expected to offer supercar performance. According to our sources in Japan, Takeo Fukui, Honda's CEO, has tasked his R&D team with building an NSX that's faster around the Nürburgring than both the 2009 Nissan GT-R and the upcoming Lexus LF-A.
Sounds optimistic, but according to our shooters Honda is already close to its goal. One hand timed lap came in at 7:37, just 8 seconds longer than the GT-R's fastest lap. Not bad considering that this was Honda's first trip to the Nürburgring with this prototype.
Credit the NSX's formidable new power plant, a 5.5-liter V10 with as much as 550 horsepower and 420 pound-feet of torque. The engine is a slightly larger version of the V8 that Honda will use for the next-generation rear-wheel-drive RL sedan, and it will use cylinder deactivation under light loads for maximum efficiency. Additional efficiency gains will come from the use of an eight-speed automatic transmission that will feature shift paddles on the steering wheel.
Getting all this power to the ground will be a challenge in a front-engine car, so the new NSX will employ a modified version of Honda's Super-Handling All-Wheel-Drive (SH-AWD) system. Packaging could be tight, however, with the big V10 up front. A combination of steel and aluminum will be used for the chassis that will form the basis for what looks like a relatively small car.
We have reports of NSX mules being tested in the U.S. alongside the Aston Martin DB9, Mercedes-Benz SL550 and the Porsche 911 Turbo, so this should tell you about the kind of car the NSX will become. There's still time for changes, though, as the 2011 Acura NSX isn't expected to go on sale until late 2010. Who knows what Nissan and Lexus will have on the road by then, but from the sound of it, Honda is making sure that the NSX won't be lagging behind.
(more)
(less)
Added: 1 week ago
Views: 29,107
|
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE LOTUS EXIGE:
http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Drives/FullTests/a
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE LOTUS EXIGE:
http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Drives/FullTests/articl eId=128546
The last time we saw an American entrepreneur stuffing a powerful American-built engine into an unsuspecting British sports car, it was the 1960s and it was Carroll Shelby. The meek AC Ace roadster was, shall we say, invigorated by his fitment of the Ford V8 into its lightweight body shell.
Fast-forward nearly a half-century. Secant Vehicles, a small start-up headquartered in San Francisco, has developed a GM Ecotec engine conversion for every Lotus Elise (or Exige) built since the waspish midengine sports car's 2005 introduction.
The players are different, but the three-step formula for the Lotus Exige by Secant is the same as Shelby's:
Step 1 — Find a small car.
Step 2 — Add power.
Step 3 — Kick ass.
So has history been repeated? We drove Secant's development car, a 2006 Lotus Exige equipped with the optional Track Pack suspension, to find out.
(more)
(less)
Added: 1 week ago
Views: 10,032
LEARN MORE ABOUT CROSSOVERS:
http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Drives/Comparos/article
LEARN MORE ABOUT CROSSOVERS:
http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Drives/Comparos/article Id=128367?tid=edmunds.il.home.photopanel..3.*
We keep a couple seven-passenger crossover SUVs in our long-term test fleet and they're indispensable for carting around kids, terriers and lawn furniture. Of course, we still crack the obvious jokes. We'll tell you that these are minivans with hinged doors, SUVs trail-rated for the Starbucks drive-thru, tall wagons that think they're too good to be called tall wagons.
But there's nothing superficial or irrational about crossover SUVs like the 2009 Honda Pilot, 2008 Mazda CX-9 or 2008 Toyota Highlander. All three make good on the crossover promise of a vast interior, easy maneuverability and decent fuel economy. Maybe you're aghast that anyone would need three rows of seating, but maybe you've never tried to cram three toddlers in Britax car seats into a Honda Accord.
We have. You need that third row. But if that third row were in a minivan, you might find yourself filling a prescription for antidepressants. This leaves you to consider a crossover SUV of medium-to-large proportions.
Just about any current-day crossover will accomplish the basics, but the diversity of this vehicle genre might catch you off guard. Even though the 2009 Honda Pilot, 2008 Mazda CX-9 and 2008 Toyota Highlander seem to match one another airbag for airbag, their personalities are so different that you can't drive them without taking sides.
(more)
(less)
Added: 1 week ago
Views: 10,904
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE 2010 E-CLASS
http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/GeneralFuture/arti
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE 2010 E-CLASS
http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/GeneralFuture/articleId =122595
Despite an appearance that presently reminds us of an armored car, the 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class in our latest spy video is the real deal underneath its disguise. A revolutionary design is not in the works, but there are enough small changes to give this luxury sedan an updated look without alienating customers who like traditional Mercedes-Benz styling.
Up front, the oval headlights of the current model will be replaced with rectangular-shape lenses that will give the E-Class a more aggressive look. It might take some getting used to, but we think it's the right direction, as the current model was starting to lose its edge. The shape of the grille doesn't appear to have changed, however, and most of the other details of the front fascia look pretty standard.
Looking further back, the greenhouse appears relatively unchanged and the wheelbase isn't significantly longer either. Bolt-on taillights hide the true shape and style of the production units, but we don't expect anything groundbreaking there, either.
Under the hood, the new E-Class will get a familiar range of engine sizes. Despite the recent breakup of Chrysler and Daimler-Benz, we're still expecting base E-Class models to get a version of Chrysler's upcoming 4.0-liter Phoenix V6. Given that the current Mercedes V6 has 268 horsepower, the new 4.0-liter should top 300 hp, if not more.
An upgraded version of the Mercedes 5.5-liter V8 will power the high-line E-Class models. There will be an AMG version, too, although how far the performance guys will crank up the normally aspirated 6.2-liter V8 above its current 507 hp is unclear. All-wheel drive will continue in the E400 and E550 models, but the AMG version will remain rear-wheel drive.
Some of these specs could change, however, as this new E-Class isn't expected to start production for another two years. Between now and then, various prototypes will probably show up, but the official debut won't happen until the 2009 Frankfurt Auto Show.
(more)
(less)
Added: 1 week ago
Views: 14,332
|
|
See All 406 Videos
|
