WOODCLIFF LAKE, N.J. — BMW is reinventing the legendary BMW 2002 with the arrival of the BMW 128i and 135i Coupes. The 1 Series Coupe is expected to re-create the niche that the iconic 2002 introduced 40 years ago.
The 1 Series Coupe goes on sale in the U.S. in the spring of 2008, and will be available in two versions: the 128i and the 135i. The entry-level 128i will use a 230-horsepower 3.0-liter inline-6 that generates 200 pound-feet of torque, and the 135i Coupe gets a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-6 making 300 hp and 300 lb-ft of torque. The 135i Coupe is expected to close the 0-62-mph gap in 5.3 seconds. Top speed is electronically limited to 155 mph.
A long hood and short overhangs make the small car appear larger than it is. The 135i Coupe receives a standard M Aerodynamic Kit, 18-inch wheels, a sport suspension and an additional lip spoiler to provide increased downforce. Adaptive xenon headlights with integrated cornering lights are standard on the 135i and optional on the 128i.
Inside, the cabin is trimmed with leatherette upholstery or upgraded Boston leather. The optional Sport Package includes sports bucket seats with increased side bolsters. A 60/40-split rear seat is standard to optimize cargo capacity, and the controller featured in the iDrive system with the optional navigation system is integrated in the center console. Galvanized pearl gloss surfaces dress up the interior door handles, radio and automatic air-conditioning system knobs, and iDrive controller.
Entertainment options include a premium sound system, Sirius Satellite Radio, HD radio and a Bluetooth interface. An auxiliary input jack is standard, and a USB port for direct control of an Apple iPod or iPhone media player is available as an option.
What this means to you: True BMW performance in a striking, compact package.
Saturday, June 30, 2007
Sunday, June 24, 2007
Early Test-Drive of the 2009 Dodge Durango Hybrid
CHELSEA, Mich. — Dodge offered short test-drives of the 2009 Durango Hybrid earlier this week, and provided a few specifications as well. The Durango and Chrysler Aspen will use the same two-mode hybrid system that we experienced earlier this year in the hybrid Chevy Tahoe and GMC Yukon.
The system was developed in cooperation with General Motors and BMW. This means it can run on electric motor only (as it does in reverse and for low-speed forward trundling) or it can use the electric motor to augment the big gas motor.
Think of it more like a Prius than a Honda Accord Hybrid, which is a so-called mild hybrid. Chrysler estimates that the Durango Hybrid will get about 40 percent better fuel economy in the city. The average Hemi Durango can't even manage 15 miles on one gallon of fuel around town.
One similarity to Honda's soon-to-be-discontinued Accord Hybrid is that both use cylinder deactivation to improve highway fuel economy. Dodge says that the addition of the electric motors mean that the V8 will run on four cylinders more often than a standard Durango and should account for a 25 percent improvement to the Hemi Durango's 19 mpg highway performance.
Eventually, Chrysler is expected to do a two-mode hybrid powered by one of its upcoming family of V6s. The company's current V6s have no cylinder-deactivation capability.
What this means to you: We'll be able to tell you more next year when we get our first lengthy drive in the finished product. It should go on sale in the third quarter of next year.
The system was developed in cooperation with General Motors and BMW. This means it can run on electric motor only (as it does in reverse and for low-speed forward trundling) or it can use the electric motor to augment the big gas motor.
Think of it more like a Prius than a Honda Accord Hybrid, which is a so-called mild hybrid. Chrysler estimates that the Durango Hybrid will get about 40 percent better fuel economy in the city. The average Hemi Durango can't even manage 15 miles on one gallon of fuel around town.
One similarity to Honda's soon-to-be-discontinued Accord Hybrid is that both use cylinder deactivation to improve highway fuel economy. Dodge says that the addition of the electric motors mean that the V8 will run on four cylinders more often than a standard Durango and should account for a 25 percent improvement to the Hemi Durango's 19 mpg highway performance.
Eventually, Chrysler is expected to do a two-mode hybrid powered by one of its upcoming family of V6s. The company's current V6s have no cylinder-deactivation capability.
What this means to you: We'll be able to tell you more next year when we get our first lengthy drive in the finished product. It should go on sale in the third quarter of next year.
Saturday, June 23, 2007
Ferrari con Carne: FXX Mille Chili Concept
MARANELLO, Italy — The centerpiece of Ferrari's future-tech presentation at the Fiorano test track was the FXX Mille Chili, described by several European journals as "the most important concept ever presented" by the House of Maranello.
Not intended for production, the Mille Chili (Italian for 1,000 kilos) displays a grab bag of innovative future technologies, many derived from Formula One racing, that Ferrari intends to begin applying to production cars over the next five years.
Among those technologies: hybrid drivetrains, carbon-fiber chassis and bodywork, fixed seats with adjustable pedals and steering, carbon-ceramic brakes and active aerodynamics.
The Mille Chili resembles a shrunken Enzo; in fact, it is more than 3 feet shorter and weighs more than 600 pounds less than the Ferrari supercar. The company says it could easily accommodate the Enzo's 6.0-liter V12, but Ferrari seems more intent on trumpeting its recent development work on high-performance hybrids.
The Ferrari system appears to be unique in that it ties an electric motor to the gearbox rather than the engine. The system is said to provide a seamless and near-instantaneous burst of torque during shifts, when the conventional engine is powered down. Coupled with an electronically controlled transmission, the system could find its way into Ferrari production cars by 2012. Ferrari also says that most of its future vehicles will be able to run on bioethanol.
What this means to you: Maranello joins such other prestigious marques as BMW and Lexus in exploring the performance parameters of future hybrid technology — certainly a promising development for green-minded enthusiasts around the globe.
Not intended for production, the Mille Chili (Italian for 1,000 kilos) displays a grab bag of innovative future technologies, many derived from Formula One racing, that Ferrari intends to begin applying to production cars over the next five years.
Among those technologies: hybrid drivetrains, carbon-fiber chassis and bodywork, fixed seats with adjustable pedals and steering, carbon-ceramic brakes and active aerodynamics.
The Mille Chili resembles a shrunken Enzo; in fact, it is more than 3 feet shorter and weighs more than 600 pounds less than the Ferrari supercar. The company says it could easily accommodate the Enzo's 6.0-liter V12, but Ferrari seems more intent on trumpeting its recent development work on high-performance hybrids.
The Ferrari system appears to be unique in that it ties an electric motor to the gearbox rather than the engine. The system is said to provide a seamless and near-instantaneous burst of torque during shifts, when the conventional engine is powered down. Coupled with an electronically controlled transmission, the system could find its way into Ferrari production cars by 2012. Ferrari also says that most of its future vehicles will be able to run on bioethanol.
What this means to you: Maranello joins such other prestigious marques as BMW and Lexus in exploring the performance parameters of future hybrid technology — certainly a promising development for green-minded enthusiasts around the globe.
Sunday, June 17, 2007
The No-Frills Gorilla From Manila: Philippine Utility Vehicle
MANILA, Philippines — Feast your eyes on the Philippine Utility Vehicle, or PhUV, the latest attempt from this island country's government to create a national car. To be priced at around $7,500, it is cheap, but is it any good?
The Philippines is a very small market, and most people can't afford a new car. There are several businesses in the country, especially around the city of Cebu, that specialize in converting used Japanese vans into pickup trucks. Public transportation is partly handled by jeepneys, minibus-like contraptions with fiberglass bodies. Seven-seat closed light commercial vehicles are popular here and all over Southeast Asia. Assembly operations here by Toyota, Ford and some other companies exist, but with small output numbers.
The Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturers Association of the Philippines (MVPMAP) last year launched the local production project that has led to the creation of this utility vehicle. Dreamco, the local assembler of Chinese Foton trucks, provided the chassis and a 2.1-liter diesel engine from China, and hundreds of local companies submitted other bits and parts.
The finished prototype was unveiled at the 109th Independence Day Festival here earlier this week. It appears sturdy but behind 21st-century standards in the quality department. MVPMAP has high ambitions for local production, and Dreamco is all set to manufacture the PhUV. But there's no final word yet on the fate of this intriguing idea.
What this means to you: The efforts of Philippines entrepreneurs are laudable — but the PhUV looks dated before it gets onto the market and is unlikely to stand a chance against more accomplished competitors.
The Philippines is a very small market, and most people can't afford a new car. There are several businesses in the country, especially around the city of Cebu, that specialize in converting used Japanese vans into pickup trucks. Public transportation is partly handled by jeepneys, minibus-like contraptions with fiberglass bodies. Seven-seat closed light commercial vehicles are popular here and all over Southeast Asia. Assembly operations here by Toyota, Ford and some other companies exist, but with small output numbers.
The Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturers Association of the Philippines (MVPMAP) last year launched the local production project that has led to the creation of this utility vehicle. Dreamco, the local assembler of Chinese Foton trucks, provided the chassis and a 2.1-liter diesel engine from China, and hundreds of local companies submitted other bits and parts.
The finished prototype was unveiled at the 109th Independence Day Festival here earlier this week. It appears sturdy but behind 21st-century standards in the quality department. MVPMAP has high ambitions for local production, and Dreamco is all set to manufacture the PhUV. But there's no final word yet on the fate of this intriguing idea.
What this means to you: The efforts of Philippines entrepreneurs are laudable — but the PhUV looks dated before it gets onto the market and is unlikely to stand a chance against more accomplished competitors.
Saturday, June 16, 2007
Ferrari To Party Hard at Goodwood Festival of Speed
GOODWOOD, England — Ferrari's show-stopping appearance at this month's Goodwood Festival of Speed includes a display featuring an "iconic car" from each of the company's six decades, as well as the appearance of a 612 Scaglietti HGTS in one-off police livery.
Ferrari has been partying heavily in 2007 as it marks its 60th anniversary. The Goodwood event promises to be an emotional retrospective of the evolution of the Prancing Horse "from its debut in motor racing to today's state-of-the-art GT cars," the company said in a statement.
The 1950s will be represented by the 250 Testa Rossa, celebrated for winning the 12 Hours of Sebring, the 1,000-km in Buenos Aires and the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1958. The 250 GTO will represent Ferrari in the 1960s, while the Daytona is the seminal car of the 1970s. The F40, created to celebrate Ferrari's 40th anniversary in 1987, marks the 1980s and the F50 celebrates the '90s. "The last decade of the 21st century is represented by the Enzo," Ferrari noted, saying the car "set a new benchmark for the development of engineering solutions and demonstrated the synergies between F1 and GT cars."
The cop-shop version of the 612 Scaglietti HGTS led the U.K. leg of the Ferrari worldwide relay tour earlier this year. It will be driven by a member of the Sussex Police Force and will be the center of the company's historical display. Attendees can also get a look at the Ferrari relay baton, along with a gallery of the 60 images that are enameled on it.
What this means to you: Nobody knows how to throw a party like Ferrari.
Ferrari has been partying heavily in 2007 as it marks its 60th anniversary. The Goodwood event promises to be an emotional retrospective of the evolution of the Prancing Horse "from its debut in motor racing to today's state-of-the-art GT cars," the company said in a statement.
The 1950s will be represented by the 250 Testa Rossa, celebrated for winning the 12 Hours of Sebring, the 1,000-km in Buenos Aires and the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1958. The 250 GTO will represent Ferrari in the 1960s, while the Daytona is the seminal car of the 1970s. The F40, created to celebrate Ferrari's 40th anniversary in 1987, marks the 1980s and the F50 celebrates the '90s. "The last decade of the 21st century is represented by the Enzo," Ferrari noted, saying the car "set a new benchmark for the development of engineering solutions and demonstrated the synergies between F1 and GT cars."
The cop-shop version of the 612 Scaglietti HGTS led the U.K. leg of the Ferrari worldwide relay tour earlier this year. It will be driven by a member of the Sussex Police Force and will be the center of the company's historical display. Attendees can also get a look at the Ferrari relay baton, along with a gallery of the 60 images that are enameled on it.
What this means to you: Nobody knows how to throw a party like Ferrari.
Friday, June 15, 2007
Test Mule Spotted at the Nurburgring Is Next-Gen Nissan 350Z
NURBURG, Germany — When Nissan showed up at the Nürburgring test track in Germany with a new prototype coupe earlier this week, we initially pegged it as the production version of the Urge concept. Since then, we've dug into the details and it's now looking more like the next-generation 350Z.
Although the prototype is clearly shorter than a standard Z coupe, it's not dramatic enough to signal a completely new vehicle. Our information indicates that the reworked chassis is nothing more than Nissan's attempt to shave some weight from the Z.
At roughly 3,900 pounds, the current model is on the heavy side compared to its competitors. Instead of employing exotic materials to get the weight down, however, Nissan is simply carving down the chassis a little. With a current wheelbase of 104.3 inches, the next Z isn't likely to go as small as the 95.1-inch-wheelbase Porsche Cayman. We're guessing something in between the two numbers is a safe bet.
Another clear sign of this prototype's intentions were the cars on hand as benchmarks. According to spy photographers in the area, Nissan was testing the Z prototype alongside a BMW Z coupe and a Cayman. As lofty as Nissan's goals are, it's not realistic to think it's benchmarking an entry-level $20K coupe against that kind of European iron.
Also consider that the current 350Z is at the end of its lifecycle. The 2008 model will mark six years on the market, so it's clearly due for a heavy redesign. Look for a name change, too, as we fully expect to see the 3.7-liter V6 from the Infiniti G37 under the hood of this new Z.
What this means to you: A cheap, rear-wheel-drive Nissan sports car may come eventually, but this prototype isn't it.
Although the prototype is clearly shorter than a standard Z coupe, it's not dramatic enough to signal a completely new vehicle. Our information indicates that the reworked chassis is nothing more than Nissan's attempt to shave some weight from the Z.
At roughly 3,900 pounds, the current model is on the heavy side compared to its competitors. Instead of employing exotic materials to get the weight down, however, Nissan is simply carving down the chassis a little. With a current wheelbase of 104.3 inches, the next Z isn't likely to go as small as the 95.1-inch-wheelbase Porsche Cayman. We're guessing something in between the two numbers is a safe bet.
Another clear sign of this prototype's intentions were the cars on hand as benchmarks. According to spy photographers in the area, Nissan was testing the Z prototype alongside a BMW Z coupe and a Cayman. As lofty as Nissan's goals are, it's not realistic to think it's benchmarking an entry-level $20K coupe against that kind of European iron.
Also consider that the current 350Z is at the end of its lifecycle. The 2008 model will mark six years on the market, so it's clearly due for a heavy redesign. Look for a name change, too, as we fully expect to see the 3.7-liter V6 from the Infiniti G37 under the hood of this new Z.
What this means to you: A cheap, rear-wheel-drive Nissan sports car may come eventually, but this prototype isn't it.
Thursday, June 14, 2007
Blue Devil: Ford Reveals Details on 2008 Shelby GT Convertible
DEARBORN, Mich. — The 2008 Ford Shelby GT, which goes on sale in August, gets a new convertible body style and a new standard color combination, Ford announced on Wednesday. The automaker said about 2,300 Shelby GT coupes and convertibles will be built for the 2008 model year. And while pricing on the '08 convertible has not yet been announced, it is expected that dealers in some markets will be able to command as much as $50,000 for the drop top.
For 2008, the Shelby GT coupe and convertible gets a new paint combination of Vista Blue with silver stripes. The 2007 model, a retail version of the Hertz Shelby GT-H coupe, was only available in "performance white" or black. Ford said each car will have an "authentication plate" on the dashboard and a matching tag under the hood for "documentation in a forthcoming registry."
The drop top is beefed up with a Ford Racing power upgrade package to increase output of the 4.6-liter V8 to 319 horses and 330 pound-feet of torque. It comes standard with a five-speed manual transmission with a Hurst short-throw shifter. A five-speed automatic transmission is optional. Exterior details include 18-inch polished wheels.
The 2008 Shelby GT convertible made its formal debut on Wednesday at the Mid-America Ford Performance and Shelby Meet in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
What this means to you: Meet one of the most desirable domestic convertibles for the summer of 2008.
For 2008, the Shelby GT coupe and convertible gets a new paint combination of Vista Blue with silver stripes. The 2007 model, a retail version of the Hertz Shelby GT-H coupe, was only available in "performance white" or black. Ford said each car will have an "authentication plate" on the dashboard and a matching tag under the hood for "documentation in a forthcoming registry."
The drop top is beefed up with a Ford Racing power upgrade package to increase output of the 4.6-liter V8 to 319 horses and 330 pound-feet of torque. It comes standard with a five-speed manual transmission with a Hurst short-throw shifter. A five-speed automatic transmission is optional. Exterior details include 18-inch polished wheels.
The 2008 Shelby GT convertible made its formal debut on Wednesday at the Mid-America Ford Performance and Shelby Meet in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
What this means to you: Meet one of the most desirable domestic convertibles for the summer of 2008.
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