BMW has announced a whole slew of products it intends to showcase at the rapidly approaching Geneva Motor Show, with the biggest reveal being the first public showing of the five-passenger 6 Series Gran Coupe.
But that’s just the tip of the Bavarian iceberg. Another highly anticipated machine, the BMW M6 Coupe, will make its world debut in Geneva before going on sale in the U.S. in the late summer as a 2013 model. The M6 Convertible, which is a big seller for BMW in the States, will debut in April at the 2012 New York Auto Show and will go on sale shortly thereafter.
Also on hand will be the BMW M550d xDrive, M550d xDrive Touring, X5 M50d and X6 M50d. Together, these four diesel-powered machines launch BMW’s line of M Performance automobiles (not to be confused with M-badged models like the M3 and M5). Sadly, these oil-burners are not headed Stateside.
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A diesel Maserati? Perish the thought! But if Porsche and the BMW M division can make diesels, anything is possible. And that appears to be just what Maserati has planned.
The Modenese automaker, as you may recall, is planning not just one replacement for the current Quattroporte, but two. The Quattroporte itself (pictured above) will grow in size to proportions similar to the Mercedes-Benz S-Class and Jaguar XJ, while a smaller model – internally dubbed Maseratina – will be closer to the E-Class or XF. It’s that model that’s tipped to get a diesel version. Read More »
What a difference a letter can make. Having an extra one or two after your name shows the world you’re better schooled than most. But the right application of a special letter on a luxury sedan signals something else altogether: it’s a mark of performance. So a BMW 5 Series becomes an M5. A Mercedes-Benz E-Class becomes an E63 AMG. A Jaguar XF becomes an XFR or even an XFR-S. An Audi A6 becomes an S6 or RS6.
You get the picture, and so does Cadillac: with the CTS-V it launched its own assault on the best European machinery. But while an ATS-V is expected to follow with the same formula applied to GM’s new 3 Series rival, don’t expect the same of the Cadillac XTS flagship.
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A few months ago, we heard word Audi was hard at work on an even sharper version of its TT RS, and as it turns out, those rumors were true. Well, sort of. The German automaker has unveiled the Audi TT RS ‘plus’ in the EU, though the vehicle produces the same 360 horsepower as the fire-breather we sampled last year. The 0-60 mph dash takes the same 4.1 seconds, though buyers in the old country will have the option of outfitting their purchase with a seven-speed dual-clutch S-tronic gearbox. Likewise, the TT RS plus is available in both hardtop and convertible configurations, whereas buyers in the U.S. can only have theirs as a fixed-roof coupe with a manual gearbox.
Interestingly enough, Audi lists the vehicle’s curb weight at 3,196.7 pounds, which is just over 100 pounds lighter than what the company quoted us for the U.S.-spec model back in October. Given the weight reduction, we would expect slightly improved performance over the American TT RS, but the 0-60 mph figures are nearly identical.
It wasn’t long after we drove the TT RS that whispers of an even brawnier TT RS ‘plus’ surfaced. The vehicle was rumored to have 385 horsepower and weigh in at 130 pounds less than the standard model. You know what they say: One out of two ain’t bad… or something. Hit the jump for the press release. Read More »
Peter Nefischer, head of engine development for BMW, has said the automaker is currently working on developing three-cylinder engines to be used across the company’s vehicle line. The powerplants would likely be different than the one found in the BMW i8 and wouldn’t be partnered with an electric motor. Instead, engineers would turn to forced induction to maintain acceptable power levels. Nefischer said engineers have gone as far as possible with current engine technology, and the next step is smaller, more powerful variants.
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Automotive News reports Hyundai is still mulling the possibility of a luxury sub-brand. Vehicles like the Equus, Genesis Sedan and Genesis Coupe would all sail under a new Genesis brand sold through Hyundai dealerships. The models would also receive a new alphanumeric naming system to avoid redundancy. Dave Zuchowski, executive vice president of sales for Hyundai Motor America, told Automotive News the automaker is currently discussing whether or not selling premium vehicles with a Hyundai badge on the hood is restricting the company from moving more units.
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Ten years wouldn’t seem like much of an anniversary for an automaker, or even a sub-brand. But we’re not talking about a make here, we’re talking about one model. That’s right: The current Range Rover has been on the market for a decade, which is a rather long life-cycle for any automobile, but Jaguar Land Rover isn’t the least bit embarrassed. In fact, it’s celebrating the anniversary with a series of special edition models. Read More »
