2011 BMW 6-Series – Not a Radical Change
Posted by admin on 23 Jun 2010
The next-generation 6-Series BMW will not be as radical a change as the current 6-Series introduction was that happened in 2004. However, BMW is expected to address all of the concerns with the current model when the new 6-Series is launched in the US in late 2010 as a 2011 model.
The 2011 BMW 6-Series will be longer, three inches in the wheelbase, than the outgoing model and will therefore have more legroom for the rear seat passengers. The interior is also supposed to be sportier than the current model and have a more driver-friendly interface. The rear of the vehicle will also be streamlined, similar to the BMW CS concept. The other design features should be similar to the 2009 7-Series.
As with the current 6-Series, the new 6-Series models will share a lot of the platform from the 5-Series that will first be introduced in the US later this year.
The European engine options for the 2011 BMW 6-Series will have horsepower options of 306, 408, and 507 all from gasoline engines. There will also be a diesel engine that is available to customers. However, some sources think that only the 408 and 507 horsepower gasoline versions will make it to the US market.
The 507 horsepower will be available in the M6 which is should be launched in 2011 and is expected to be an upgraded version of the BMW’s current 5 liter, V10 engine. The models will all be rear-wheel drive and will be coupled with a new eight-speed automatic transmission from ZF.
A convertible is also expected to be available in the new 6-Series. The top should be a folding metal roof, similar to the 3-Series convertible, despite the fact prototypes seen on winter testing were fitted with soft, fabric roofs.
The next-generation BMW 6-Series will not be a radical change for the marketplace. The new model will be a improvement and a refinement of the existing model and will be based on the new 5-Series platform. The refinement step is exactly what the 2011 BMW 6-Series needs to keep customers coming back into BMW showrooms.
2011 Saab 9-5
Posted by admin on 22 Jun 2010
Saab will be bringing out the new 9-5 sedan in 2010 as a 2011 model. Even though GM is planning on shedding itself of the Swedish brand, the new 9-5 will share the same platform as the 2010 Buick Lacrosse. The new vehicle looks like it will be bigger than the model it is replacing and will provide the 9-5 with a much needed overhaul.
The 9-5 was introduced in the US market in 1997 and has not had any major updates since. The new platform – GM’s Epsilon II – is capable of delivering both FWD and AWD vehicles. Expectations are that the new 9-5 will have a version of Saab’s XWD all-wheel-drive system as an option.
The 2011 Saab 9-5 for the US market is likely to have the 3.6L V-6 engine from the Buick Lacrosse and perhaps a hybrid powertrain as an option. The base European model will be powered by a 2.0L four-cylinder, turbo-charged engine that is capable of producing 210 horsepower. The European model will also likely have a diesel engine as an optional powertrain available to customers.
Although it is hard to spot anything under the camouflage photographs that are available of the new vehicle, it is predicted that the 9-5 will take design cues from Saab’s 9-4X BioPower concept vehicle. The vehicle will likely be heavier than the outgoing model because of its larger length and width.
Saab lost about $340 million in 2008, and GM has decided to relinquish ownership of the Swedish company on January 1, 2010. Despite Saab’s and its parent company’s difficult times, Saab is not likely to exit the US market. All internal sources questioned by the media have said that Saab is continuing plans for its new vehicles – like the 2011 Saab 9-5.
The new 2011 Saab 9-5 is expected to be officially released at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show in September. The new model should make a nice mark in its competitor segment. The new model will definitely give the Mercedies-Benz E-Class, the Cadillac STS, and the Volvo S80 something to worry about.
2012 Porsche 911 Carrera
Posted by admin on 21 Jun 2010
The next generation of the Porsche 911 Carrera is due out in Europe in the second half of 2011 and will go on sale in the U.S. in early 2012. The current 911 line-up was introduced in the U.S. in 2005. Although the current vehicle, which is also known as the 997 series, received an update for the 2009 model year, the 2012 Porsche 911 Carrera will be welcomed by Porsche customers when it is introduced.
The new 911 has a codename of 991 and will be a full redesign of the sports car. Porsche will not change much on the external styling, though. Why would they? It has, however, been reported that the wheelbase will be extended by four inches. It is also rumored that the wheelbase will be wider than the current 911.
The prototypes of the new 911 have already been spotted completing cold weather testing. The windshield on the test vehicles is more swept-back than the current 911. The front grill is also wider and lower.
The powertrain changes will be more extensive than those that will be seen in the body work. The base S-model will get a downsized 3.4L of the six-cylinder engine instead of the current 3.6L unit. Despite the small displacement, the 3.4L will produce approximately 350 horsepower which is five more horsepower than the 3.6L.
A new 2012 Carrera RS will use the same 3.8L engine that is available in the 2009 lineup. It will be tuned to have 15 additional horsepower to make a total of 400 horsepower available. All 911 engines will be coupled with standard six speed manual transmissions. An optional double-clutch gearbox will also be available.
Porsche is working on weight reductions for the 2012 Carrera. The target is 130 pounds less than the outgoing 911. The weight reduction and engine upgrade is expected to allow the RS version to go 0 to 60 mph in four seconds. Porsche will use carbon-fiber and plastic composite materials to achieve the weight savings, which will help the line-up achieve improved fuel economy and lower CO2 emissions.
The 2012 Porsche 911 Carrera will probably be introduced to the public at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show. The European version will be out first, but the U.S. version will follow close behind. As always, the new 911 will carry on the tradition of former generations and continue to delight Porsche customers.
2011 Volkswagen Tiguan at Beijing 2010
Posted by admin on 26 Apr 2010
Curtains has been raised over 2011 Volkswagen Tiguan in Beijing. The new model i.e refreshed Tiguan is just in production for a little over two years and is getting a facelift. The new car is going to hit the roads this fall when the 2011 models arrive.
The new look for Volkswagen Tiguan is going to give the car a wider appearance with its new corporate horizontal bar grille. The car is also going to have new bumpers and a pedestrian friendly reshaped bonnet. Other then these cosmetic changes not much has changed for the car. The other models which got similar type of treatment are Mk VI Golf and next generation Touareg SUV.
The pricing for 2011 Volkswagen Tiguan might remain consistent.
2012 BMW 1-Series
Posted by admin on 22 Apr 2010
BMW will bring out their new 1-Series in 2011 in time for the 2012 model year. At least five models are being considered in the future 1-Series line up by BMW – a 3-door hatchback, a 5-door hatchback, a 2 door coupe, a 2 door convertible, and a small crossover vehicle. Also, as part of this 1-Series debut, a new Super Sport version is expected that will come to the US in either late 2011 or 2012.
The entry level model is currently being called the 115i and is expected to have a 1.3L turbocharged engine that is capable of producing 136 horsepower. The next 1-Series and 1-Series Super Sport models will also use the Efficient Dynamics system which should include an integrated starter generator and a start-stop feature for the automatic transmissions. Direct injection technology will also be expanded throughout the powertrain line up.
At the other end of the spectrum, the US version of the BMW 1 Series Super Sport is expected to feature a 2.0 or 2.2 liter, approximately 300 horsepower twin-turbocharged, four cylinder engine. The model will be rear wheel drive with a six-speed manual or a semi-automatic transmission.
The base model and the Super Sport will have different external looks. The Super Sport look will include dual round headlamps that are very similar to those that were seen on the BMW concept vehicle, the 2002 tii.
The new model will also be larger than the current 1-Series. The larger footprint, which includes a front and rear trackwidth increase, will improve the car’s dynamics and ride and handling. The rear seat should also be improved for passengers. The current 1-Series has often been criticized that no full-size adult can fit in, and engineers are planning on taking advantage of the increased footprint to make a change to improve the ergonomics.
It has been difficult for BMW to expand the 1-Series lineup without taking sales away from their other models. On the low end, the have the Mini, and on the high end there is the 3-Series. They may just have the right mix and the right timing with the new 2012 1-Series lineup.
2012 Tesla Model S
Posted by admin on 20 Apr 2010
Tesla is planning to introduce a sporty EV sedan, currently called the Model S, for the 2012 model year. The Model S will be Tesla’s second model which will join the Roadster sports car. Tesla has not announced the on-sale date, but the new vehicle will go into production in late 2011 and will appear in the market as a 2012 model year vehicle.
The Model S is a five-door vehicle that will be capable of carrying up to seven passengers. The new vehicle will also be built solely by Tesla unlike the company’s first model – the Lotus Elise-based Roadster.
The Model S will be powered by a water-cooled electric motor and will have a coefficient of drag of a low 0.26. The two of these features combined will allow the vehicle to reach 60 mph in 5.6 seconds and have a maximum speed of 130 mph. A future sport version is also planned that has a predicted 0-60 time in the 4 seconds range. The first Model S will be a rear-drive vehicle. However, Tesla does plan to offer an all-wheel-drive option in the future.
Tesla claims that the new vehicle will be available with a variety of battery pack options – 160-mile, 220-mile, and 300-mile range options. The 300-mile option will be an increased range capability over the smaller Roadster which has a 244-mile maximum range. The battery pack will weight in the region of 1200 lbs. The body panels are lightweight aluminum and so is the majority of the chassis. The complete vehicle will weigh approximately 3825 lbs.
The 2012 Tesla Model S will have other state of the art technologies features in addition to the battery electric technology. The Model S will come with a 17 inch touch-screen infotainment system that is fully programmable like a desktop computer.
The Model S will rival other EVs – electric vehicles – as well as traditional luxury vehicles like the BMW 5-Series. The Model S 160-mile battery pack option is expected to retail for approximately $50,000 after tax credits. The vehicle will be built in Southern California. Telsa is already taking orders and is expecting to produce approximately 20,000 Model S vehicles per year.
2013 Audi A3 Plus
Posted by admin on 19 Apr 2010
It is rumored the Audi will bring a sedan/coupe version of the next generation A3 to the US for the 2013 model year. The new variant is currently known by Audi engineers as the A3 Plus and will definitely be a welcome addition to Audi’s US lineup.
Although the original A3 was introduced by Audi in 1996, a North American A3 was not introduced until 2005 as a 2006 model. The only model available in the US at the time was the five-door Sportback. There are many other versions of the A3 already available in Europe but not in North America. However, Audi obviously think that a small four-dour version may just be the right vehicle to add to the five-door variant that is currently available in the US.
The new Audi A3 lineup will make its official introduction in mid-2010 in Europe and mid-2011 in the US. Audi has delayed the introduction by one year to concentrate on a few of its other all-new models like the A1 hatch and the Q3 soft-roader. The all-new A3 will be designed to compete with BMW’s 1-Series range.
The entire A3 range, including the A3 Plus will share its platform with the VW Golf. The A3 footprint will also increase in size from the current model, and the styling is rumored to be much sleeker than the current model.
The 2013 Audi A3 Plus is said to have been inspired by the Mercedes-Benz CLS. Little is known about the A3 Plus, but it is expected to have start-stop technology on it including energy regenerating brakes. The model will also come with low-rolling resistance tires and a fuel efficient transmission.
The A3 worldwide range will likely get a few different four-cylinder engines. It is not exactly clear which engine will be available for the US market. However, the rumors are that it will be the 2.0L TFSI engine that will deliver 200+ horsepower and 350Nm of torque.
Although there is not a great deal of information available yet about the 2013 Audi A3 Plus, the new vehicle should be a very nice addition to Audi’s lineup in the US market.
2013 Jaguar Crossover
Posted by admin on 18 Apr 2010
There are rumors around the Jaguar will enter the crossover market in 2013. Many other luxury car makers have already entered this segment, and it looks like Tata, Jaguar’s owner, may move the British automaker in that direction as well.
Some luxury makers are moving into the SUV and crossover segment together. Jaguar is unlikely to enter into SUVs because Tata also owns Land Rover. If Jaguar also came out with an SUV, it would compete directly with the Land Rover products that are already in the marketplace. However, crossovers are really possibility for Jaguar. Jaguar will be looking to compete with similar models from Porsche, Audi, Mercedes, and BMW in the 2013 time frame with this new entry, if it does get approved by company directors.
If Jaguar decides to go ahead with the crossover vehicle for 2013, it could be built using the Freelander platform. The four-wheel-drive system from the Freelander could also be used for the new crossover. Land Rover is also owned by Tata, and the two brands could easily share a platform if the Jag crossover got the green light. The brands already share a diesel engine and are fairly integrated in terms of product development.
Top end models of the Jaguar crossover could use the new AJ-V8 Gen III engine. This new engine will deliver 510 horsepower. The new crossover would likely have a higher ground clearance and more interior room than the X-Type Estate. The styling would definitely have to take some cues from the Jaguars of the past but be stylish enough to compete with the German vehicles that are already in this segment.
A few sketches are available of the new vehicle, so obviously Jaguar is considering going ahead with the 2013 crossover entry. However, some purists think that the British brand should stick to its roots and get back to high performance, luxury sports cars. If Jag concentrates on sports cars, there would be no possibility of the two Tata brands cannibalizing each other’s sales.
A new Jaguar crossover vehicle could be in the plans for 2013. Although not yet approved by Tata, it is fun just considering what the new entry would be like if it does go forward into production.
Petrol Car vs Diesel Car and Hybrid Car vs Fuel Cell Car
Posted by admin on 17 Apr 2010
I would quite like to make an informed decision but currently cannot.
I’m an engineer and quite capable of working out the pros and cons given the basic data. The problem currently is that the data is either produced by vested interest or is incomplete.
I spent 20 years when younger and fit, cycling 5000 miles a year to and from work so hopefully that gives me some green credits.
So here are some of my problems with the entire what car debate:
- Most investment now has to have a green slant, this does tend to shoot the green argument in the foot as everyone wants the money. We’ve seen several cases recently where a tower of research has been undermined because the premis has been based on opinion or a cynical grab for chash. I’d like to think the green debate is a good one but I can’t see the truth through the bull****.
- The anti-green lobby produces just as much effluent, the reply tends to be flac rather than reasoned unbiased argument.
- One of my biggest concerns is the yard-stick. We currently have all this argument between various groups base on the levels of a few gases produced that directly effect the greenhouse layer of the atmosphere. To have the definitive bun-fight we need to see the whole picture.Take for instance diesel, in the uk over the last 20years there has been a move towards diesel vehicles but as far as I can see the particulates they produce are not even considered in the green debate. In the last 20 years the cases of asthma and chest complains have increased (no science here but I just find I wheeze when I follow a diesel 4×4). So is there a tie up or not and if there is what’s the extra overhead due to drug production and extra journeys to doctors/chemitsts etc. If a particular driving option has some secondary paths leading to “dirty processes” then looking at the basic data may result in the wrong conclusion.
- Government – may politicians all die a painful and hideous death. In the uk we have a government that claims it’s doing it’s green bit, we get taxed on buying a vehicle, we get taxed on the fuel – this is fine by me as the tax can relate to the pollution.
- Tax on engine size – why, your already paying for that in the fuel. If it is based on the CO2/mile then it should be related to the MOT production level. I keep my car serviced and replace faulty parts and my CO2/CO on a 10year old 2litre is 15% of the book level at my MOT. Where as a knackered 1litre may still pass the test pump out significantly more pollutants and pay less tax.
Finally some of us work in jobs where there are limited jobs available so a few years ago I found myself flying each week to and from work. I would have liked to move the family but we now have a large penalty tax on moving house so “financial sense” = screw the environment.
So please can we set loose a band of cynics with inquisitive minds and show the primary and secondary financial and environmental costs of:
- what is takes produce a car.
- full life cycle of vehicle (repairs and replacement parts).
- hit per mile (+ battery efficiency, power line and power plant efficiency).
- end of life costs.
- social change/impact.
Perhaps if we had the info the choice or solution may be more obvious.
Here’s some daft ones that might come out of the results:
If the media stopped equating the one unfortunate incident where a child is killed on the roads out of millions of journeys by children on our streets every day to: “your child will die if you let it walk to school”. Would this get the vast majority of kids walking to school, this would get the dosey parents in their 4×4s that wave to each other and probably do the vast majority of running over kids on their way to school, off the roads. Secondary effect, if the kids get exercise twice a day five days a week does that mean the 3 journeys to the gym a week disappear too?
Put the money in to fast cheap internet and get a large proportion of those who can “working from home”.
Would it be more cost effective pool all the money we pump in to hybrid technology, use it to lease all the farm land in equatorial countries and replant the rain forests.
Ps. I think fuel cell is the way to if we can get all the efficiencies up.
This is based on the fact that the vehicle itself runs clean and you fill it up like a petrol vehicle. Unfortunately the power to crack the hydrogen probably comes from a US power station burning brown coal – so what do I know (like most folks probably very little).
Submitted as a comment – Gordon
2010 Jeep Wrangler EV
Posted by admin on 17 Apr 2010
Jeep will introduce a new electric version of the Jeep Wrangler to demonstrate their fuel efficient technology to customers. The 2010 Jeep Wrangler EV was introduced at the 2009 Detroit auto show and is expected to be a hit with customers in that segment when it comes out as a 2010 model year vehicle.
The 2010 Jeep Wrangler EV will not be the first electric Jeep, but it is supposed to be more advanced than the DJ-5e. Most automakers are using small, fuel-efficient compact cars as platforms to introduce their extended-range electric vehicles (EERVs). However, Chrysler has chosen a minivan and the body-on-frame Wrangler to demonstrate and introduce their technology on.
Chrysler is using the two-wheel-drive model for the EV, and it is expected that the fuel economy gains for the EV model will be quite substantial over the base Wrangler vehicle. Chrysler claims that EV will achieve 40 miles per gallon fuel economy. The current two-wheel-drive Wrangler achieves around 20 miles per gallon.
Similar to other EERVs that are in the market, the 2010 Jeep Wrangler EV will run its electric motor as long as the lithium-ion batteries hold a charge. When the batteries are out of charge, the internal-combustion engine will act as a generator to both the batteries and the electric motor. The engine will not directly drive the rear wheels. Chrysler says the batteries can power the 268 horsepower, 295 lb-ft engine 40 miles on a single charge. During these 40 miles, the vehicle will have zero emissions and no fuel consumption.
The 2010 Jeep Wrangler EV is only available as a two-wheel drive vehicle and will be similar to the current Jeep Wrangler Unlimited in terms of styling. Many in the industry believe that Jeep customers would actually prefer a four-wheel-drive Wrangler. Chrysler has said that they are working on it, but it will not be available until the 2011-13 timeframe.
As other automotive manufacturers are using smaller, more fuel-efficient vehicles as donors for their EERVs, Chrysler is going a different route and using the Jeep Wrangler as the vehicle that they will introduce their latest electric offering on in 2010. The new vehicle is expected to be a hit with customers especially if Chrysler delivers on the fuel economy predictions.
