Want a convertible that’s somewhere upscale of budget rental-car convertibles like the Chrysler 200, more refined than ragtop versions of pony cars like the Ford Mustang, more affordable than luxury convertibles like the BMW 1-Series Convertible or Audi A5, and more practical than roadsters like the Mazda MX-5 Miata? Your options in… …read more
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BMW showed off its new 4 Series coupe in concept form at the 2013 Detroit Auto Show earlier this year, but it won’t be long before we see the production model, evidenced by this modestly camouflaged prototype spotted testing. In case you forgot, the 4 Series serves as the replacement for the two-door versions of the BMW 3 Series, just as the upcoming 2 Series will effectively be the new version of the 1 Series coupe and convertible sold in our market.
This isn’t our first glimpse of the 4 Series out testing, and we’ve even spied its droptop, Gran Coupe and too-hot M4 kin. We don’t expect the final design to stray too much from the concept car seen in Detroit, albeit without the normal conceptual goodies like oversized wheels and with the overstyled front fascia toned down a bit. Our spy photographers even caught the 4 Series coupe hanging out with an Audi A5, giving us a good glimpse at how the two cars will stack up in terms of size and design.
It’s still unknown exactly what engines will power the car when it comes to production, but since this thing is a derivative of the 3 Series, we expect the usual range of turbocharged four- and six-cylinder engines to be available, likely in 428i ad 435i guise (though, to be fair, the larger 640i coupe uses a 3.0-liter turbo engine, so there’s even the potential for 440i nomenclature to work its way into the mix). We’ll have to wait until the car officially bows later this year to know for sure.
BMW 4 Series spied with its future competition originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 20 Feb 2013 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Source: FULL ARTICLE at Autoblog
By Jens Meiners
Each week, our German correspondent slices and dices the latest rumblings, news, and quick-hit driving impressions from the other side of the pond. His byline may say Jens Meiners, but we simply call him . . . the Continental.
BMW has sold off Husqvarna to the Austrian Pierer Industrie AG, which owns motorcycle-maker KTM. The Bavarians had bought the (originally) Swedish company in 2008 and never achieved the sales and financial targets that were set with the purchase. Now BMW is serving up a politically correct explanation, saying that the realignment of its motorcycle business without Husqvarna will focus on “urban mobility and e-mobility.” It kind of reminds me of the reasoning in 2009 for pulling out of F1, in which reasons of “sustainability and environmental consciousness” were cited.
BMW has announced it is expanding its remaining motorcycle presence with an electric scooter called C Evolution and also talks of “further innovative vehicle concepts.” Perhaps the time is right for something like BMW’s C1, the Bertone-built city scooter sold between 2000 and 2003. It offered partial weather protection and was conceived as an alternative to city cars, but only sold in low numbers and was yanked from the market prematurely.
Meanwhile, work is progressing on the Visio.M, an electric city vehicle developed by the Technical University of Munich with assistance from consortial leaders BMW, Daimler, and a number of suppliers and public entities. The passenger cell will be made of carbon fiber, and it will be powered by a asynchronous electric motor coupled to an extremely lightweight transmission. Anti-lock brakes are standard, as is a torque-vectoring system. It is an interesting project, but I know for a fact that it does not rank highly on BMW’s list of priorities. The Visio.M is a tiny vehicle, and as of today, there are no plans to integrate it into BMW’s model range—ever.
Adieu, C6!
It has been over a month, but this deserves mention: The Citroën C6 is history, and the last one rolled off the assembly line in December. Based on the smaller C5 sedan, the C6 was a car that was compromised in many ways. I have tested several of them over the years, and while the air suspension provided a generally good ride, it was jittery over smaller bumps; the steering was utterly overboosted, Cadillac XTS–style; and the frameless side windows tended to be pulled out of their guides at over 130 mph. To get them fully up again, you needed to slow down to 80 mph. In 2009, the C6′s gasoline V-6 was killed, somewhat disingeniously leaving the luxurious Citroën only with diesel engines.
What’s more, the C6 is a prime example of how not to launch a car. The C6 Lignage—which previewed the design of the production C6—was shown in 1999, a full six years before the car went on sale. Offered at a far higher price point, it never matched the success of its predecessor, the angular and futuristic XM.
On the plus side, the C6 was a daring design, evoking memories of the classic Citroën DS and CX sedans. Its interior was stunning, with details such as gliding covers in the doors, and generously applied Mukonto wood, the sort used by the Zulu tribe to make spears. Far from perfect, the C6 had character. I liked it.
SEAT’s Flawed Hot Hatch
The hot hatch segment is in full bloom again in Europe. The latest entry is the SEAT Ibiza Cupra, a sister model to the Volkswagen Polo GTI with a 180-hp, turbocharged and supercharged 1.4-liter engine and a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic. Sadly, no manual is offered. Come on, in this class? Surely, there should be enough volume in the sporty versions of the Ibiza (and the architecturally similar Audi A1, Škoda Fabia, and VW Polo), to justify the application of a six-speed manual, like in their lesser siblings. It’s a good thing that PSA still offers two vehicles in this class with a manual: The Citroën DS3 Racing and the Peugeot 208 GTi. I’ll take one of those over an automatic VW Group car any time.
Sampling an American Favorite
It was interesting to spend some time behind the wheel of the U.S.-market Honda Accord. For over a decade, the European and American Accord models have been different vehicles. American customers get a variation of the European Accord in the form of Acura’s TSX. I sampled the U.S. Accord in all available engine and transmission configurations, and my hands-down favorite, unsurprisingly, was the V-6 coupe equipped with the manual transmission. It handled so well and sounded so sweet that I would consider it against a 3-series coupe or Audi A5. It’s less of a love affair with the CVT, which seems to reflect a little too long before actually performing the belt adjustments needed for acceleration. The standard inline-four is surprisingly silky, the body is tight, and the suspension is competent, almost BMW-like, under spirited driving.
When you look closely at the Accord, you can see some cost-cutting, like the exposed trunk hinges. And I don’t get the instrument panel, which is a garbled assemblage of buttons and monitors. There are many ways to enter data into the navigation system, none of which works intuitively. And the styling? It is better than the previous generation, which displayed a jarring disconnect between the front end and the rest of the car, but I wouldn’t call it exciting. Nevertheless, I am not surprised at the Accord’s popularity among Americans. The too-innocent skin hides a chassis and an engine that tease you to play.
Source: FULL ARTICLE at Car & Driver
By Jens Meiners
Each week, our German correspondent slices and dices the latest rumblings, news, and quick-hit driving impressions from the other side of the pond. His byline may say Jens Meiners, but we simply call him . . . the Continental.
BMW and Toyota have announced the next steps in their cooperation: Following an exploratory phase, they have come to binding agreements to work on a fuel-cell system, high-energy lithium-air batteries, light-weight technology, and a mid-size sports car. The feasibility study on that sports car will be finished by the end of 2013, and it could lead to a common platform. The project is connected to the light-weight technology effort, which will contribute know-how to the sports car’s development, if it comes to fruition.
We already know about BMW’s contract to supply Toyota with 1.6-liter and 2.0-liter four-cylinder diesel engines. BMW can be congratulated on finding a partner that actually means business; previously announced contracts with Saab and Carbon Motors have led to nothing. Toyota is obviously as serious about becoming a maker of sporty cars as BMW is about becoming “green.” Toyota’s new strategy is a welcome change seeing as how memories of the Celica, MR2 and Supra have been buried under an onslaught of hybrids and J.D.Power–inspired family barges.
Meanwhile, Nissan is underscoring its sporty credentials with the launch of its NISMO sub-brand in Europe. The first two dedicated models will be the Juke NISMO and the 370Z NISMO. The Juke receives a body kit, red mirror caps, 225/45 rubber on 18-inch rims, and a mild power and torque boost that raise output from 188 horsepower to 197 and from 177 lb-ft of torque to 184. The cheerful car on steroids comes with either a six-speed manual and front-wheel drive, or a CVT automatic and all-wheel drive. Neither of these two combinations, I regret to say, is particularly pleasant. A more-powerful version with around 220 horsepower is in the works. No details on the 370Z Nismo are available yet.
Fiat and Mazda have finally signed the contract to produce an Alfa Romeo roadster at the Mazda plant in Hiroshima, Japan, beginning in 2015. The rear-wheel-drive two-seater will be a sister model to the Mazda MX-5 Miata, and it will fill a gaping void in Alfa Romeo’s lineup. The brand last offered a Spider in 2010. The Alfa Romeo and Mazda versions will have unique engine portfolios, according to the companies’ joint statement.
Meanwhile, Fiat-Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne promises that the mid-engine Alfa Romeo 4C sports car will hit North American turf before the end of the year. I hear it will be an expensive car, rivaling the Porsche Cayman and Boxster, and that its styling language should not be seen as indicative of future Alfa Romeo models. The face of the 4C, like those of the MiTo and the Giulietta, is still inspired by the 8C Competizione. Other future Alfa Romeo models will be more angular and contemporary in style.
Some German Cars
Opel has announced pricing for the Astra-based Cascada convertible, which begins at €21,802, before taxes, or $29,350 at current exchange rates. At this price, it comes with a 118-hp gasoline engine, fabric seats, and hubcaps. However, Opel is trying to position the droptop as an Audi A5 cabriolet and Mercedes-Benz E-class competitor, the latter of which costs twice as much as the Cascada. But the Cascada’s true competition is the Peugeot 308 CC, Renault Mégane coupe-cabriolet, and the slightly more compact Volkswagen Golf cabriolet. The Cascada is priced right and should do well in this less-expensive yet competitive field.
Volkswagen shows that you don’t have to take your heritage all that seriously by displaying a T3—known in the U.S. as the Vanagon—fully clad in knitware. A couple of VW commercial vehicle employees spotted a classic bus thus treated while vacationing in Thailand and decided to replicate the application. It turns out that the employees’ female spouses were required to finish the ambitious project. About 2500 hours went into the 100-pound-plus knit sweater for the unique T3, which can be admired in the Volkswagen Museum until the end of March.
The German magazine Auto Bild reports that Audi will launch a Q6 crossover, positioned just above the Q5. Following the recipe of the rakish BMW X6, it will be distinguished by a steeply raked windshield and a low, fastback roofline. The car will be built in Mexico, according to Auto Bild.
Former Renault chief designer Patrick Le Quément, one of my personal design heroes, not only is creating a new design school, but also works as a successful designer of upper-crust yachts. Two of his designs, the Outremer 5X catamaran (pictured above) and the trawler Garcia GT54, were just named European Boats of the Year at the Düsseldorf boat show. Congratulations!
Highway Tested: Mercedes-Benz Geländewagen
Have I ever mentioned I am in love with the Mercedes-Benz G-wagen? It has been a couple of years since I last drove a one, but I recently had the pleasure of spending a week in a G550. Since then, the G received an interior makeover for 2013, which works well. I was surprised at the standard, 5.5-liter V-8′s aggressive tuning and growl—this Benz sounds like an AMG, and it takes off with a vengeance. Although the cabin is lavishly equipped, the G-Wagen does not and cannot hide its roots as a military vehicle engineered in the 1970s.
But it is relatively quiet, comfortable, effortless, and fast. It is a miracle, considering what the original G-wagen handled like (it was bad), and Mercedes has not exactly invested vast funds into updating the vehicle. There are a bunch of dashboard components from the corporate parts bin, and the exterior trim is off-the-shelf fare. But all that is part of the G’s charm. I wonder if Land Rover could pull off a similar job with the Defender, instead of reinventing it at the risk of turning it into a Toyota-FJ-Cruiser-like caricature.
Source: FULL ARTICLE at Car & Driver
For more information, including pricing with options, see our full review of the 2013 Audi A5. The Audi A5 and its sporty S5 and RS5 derivatives are two-door luxury cars, first introduced in the U.S. for the 2008 model year. The A5 coupe and Cabriolet convertible are offered only with four-cylinder engines, while the supercharged six-cylinder S5…
Source: FULL ARTICLE at The Car Connection
