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Reconfirmed: BMW developing FWD, four-cylinder small car line for sale in U.S.

Filed under: Technology, BMW, Rumormill, Luxury

BMW seems to think American buyers are ready to sink their teeth into small luxury vehicles. The automaker has reconfirmed plans to unleash a wave of small, front-wheel drive creations positioned below the 1 Series and due to go on sale in the U.S. market. The vehicles will be sold under a new class called UKL, and there are supposedly several different body styles just waiting to pounce on unsuspecting North American buyers. The news came via Ian Robertson, a BMW board member for sales and marketing, who also said that the full line will pack a four-cylinder engine when the cars debut before 2013.

BMW is looking to move around 100,000 units of its new UKL series vehicles worldwide, though the company hasn’t said exactly how it expects that figure to be broken up by market. Automotive News reports that while the company has also been tight lipped about exactly how many different vehicle types will fall under the new front-wheel drive, four-cylinder philosophy, other reports have pointed to a total of four body styles at launch.

[Source: Automotive News – sub. req.]

Reconfirmed: BMW developing FWD, four-cylinder small car line for sale in U.S. originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 04 Oct 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Audi ready to play hot odds: A1 S-Line, S1, RS3 and RS7 on deck

Filed under: Frankfurt Motor Show, Sedan, Performance, Paris Motor Show, Hatchback, Audi, Luxury

Audi A1

Audi’s lineup is expanding so quickly you’d think its cars were spawning new models by mitosis. In a few days at the Paris Motor Show we’ll be seeing the newest hot addition to the A1 range: the 185-horsepower 1.4 TSFI with thrust provided by a twin-charged four cylinder. That’s not the S1, it just has the S-Line package thrown on for racy looks. Next year, the S1 itself will step forward, with the Golf GTI’s turbocharged 220-hp engine sitting up front. It is a sure bet to shave serious time off the TSFI’s 6.9-second run from zero to 62 miles per hour.

After that comes the Audi RS3, using the same 340-hp, five-cylinder turbo from the TT RS. Sub five-second runs to 62 mph are in the offing, and its 250 kph (155 mph) top speed can be raised to 280 kph (174 mph) for a nominal fee. Then, at the Frankfurt Auto Show in the fall, the RS7 Sportback takes a bow. Powering the four-door fastback will be the 4.0-liter, 550-hp twin-turbo V8 that’ll be shared with the 2011 Bentley Continental GT. That would put it about 100 horses clear of the rumored output in the S7 we should see next week in Paris, and the V8 is said to be 20 percent more fuel efficient than the 5.0-liter V10 in the RS6.

[Source: Auto Bild via German Car Blog]

Audi ready to play hot odds: A1 S-Line, S1, RS3 and RS7 on deck originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 25 Sep 2010 15:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Rolls-Royce to expand Ghost line

Filed under: Sedan, Rolls-Royce, UK, Luxury

2010 Rolls-Royce Ghost – Click above for high-res image gallery

It sounds like Rolls-Royce is looking to pull a few more Ghosts out of its hat. According to Bloomberg, the company has its eyes on doubling sales figures in a hurry, and part of that plan may involve more variants of the Baby Roller. As the second model line in the company’s stable, the Ghost has done plenty to generate growth for the company, primarily due to its smaller size and (slightly) more accessible price tag. The Ghost starts at $245,000, while the next step up, the Phantom, hits luxury buyers for a less manageable $380,000.

Rolls-Royce is currently producing around three Ghosts for every Phantom, thanks largely to increased interest in the brand from China. China has already moved up to become the company’s second biggest market after the U.S. – a slot formerly occupied by the UK.

Bloomberg didn’t offer much in the way of details as to what to expect from any upcoming Ghost variants, so full-line Rolls collectors will want to keep their Dom Perignon on ice for the moment. Stay tuned.

Gallery: First Drive: 2010 Rolls-Royce Ghost

[Source: Bloomberg]

Report: Rolls-Royce to expand Ghost line originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 21 Sep 2010 16:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Straight to the Finnish line: Kimi Raikkonen wins his first rally

Filed under: Motorsports, Europe, Citroën

Kimi's Raikkonen's rally car

Okay, so it wasn’t a championship-level international stage, but just the same, Kimi Raikkonen has won his first rally. The event in question, called Rallye Vosgien, forms part of the French national series, and was contested by Kimi’s Citroën Junior Team as practice ahead of the WRC Rally of France.

The former F1 world champion and his co-pilot, Kaj Lindstrom, took their Citroën C4 to the finish line over three minutes ahead of the nearest competitor, Quentin Gilbert, driving a Renault Clio Maxi. Given the similar conditions – and that Citroën Junior Team had used up all its allotted test time – Vosgien proved an ideal warm-up to the main event set to take place at the end of the month.

[Source: Autosport | Image: Nikolay Doychinov/AFP/Getty]

Straight to the Finnish line: Kimi Raikkonen wins his first rally originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 19 Sep 2010 17:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Toyota plans budget sports car line

Filed under: Aftermarket, Concept Cars, Coupe, Budget, Hybrid, Japan, Hatchback, Toyota

Toyota MR2 Sports Hybrid Concept – Click above for high-res image gallery

Akio Toyoda may want to bring driving excitement back to Toyota, but he and his team have two major hurdles to overcome: The brands’s limited enthusiast base and the fact that Japan’s youth have very little interest in cars.

To combat both fronts, Toyota plans to launch a new line of budget-oriented vehicles that offer a modicum of sport. But so far, things don’t look too promising.

Despite debuting an FT-86-based concept at this year’s Tokyo Auto Salon, Toyota’s G Sports line of products have mainly focused on the Voxy and Noah minivans, while a “sports” version of the Prius is apparently in the works.

More interestingly, the Mainichi Daily News reports that a version of the GRMN sports car concept has been given the greenlight, meaning a mid-engined hybrid successor to the MR2 is in the works.

All these developments come after Toyota established a sports vehicle management division in January, which now has a hand in the brand’s overall product planning. We should get a look at the fruits of their labors during next year’s auto show season and could see this new breed of budget sports vehicles on the market – at least in Japan – within the next few years.

Gallery: Toyota MR2 Sports Hybrid

[Source: Mainchi Daily News]

Report: Toyota plans budget sports car line originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 05 Sep 2010 18:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Infiniti Performance Line debuts with 348-hp IPL G Coupe

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Infiniti, Luxury

2011 Infiniti IPL G37 Coupe – Click above for high-res image gallery

Up until recently, Infiniti wasn’t entirely sure what its brand was all about. But since its latest reboot, the brand has staked a claim as an unabashedly Japanese performance luxury automaker – in essence, the anti-Lexus.

Today, it’s taking another step in that direction with the introduction of the Infiniti Performance Line and unveiling the first vehicle to wear the new badge: the IPL G Coupe. And anyone expecting an answer to BMW’s M division or Mercedes’ AMG line might be slightly disappointed.

Like most in-house component offerings, Infiniti is putting an emphasis on style, performance and OEM-level fit and finish, beginning with new front and rear fascias, side sills, rear spoiler and 19-inch seven-spoke graphite wheels. Matching the Graphite Shadow or Malbec Black exteriors are a new set of sport seats with thicker bolsters, manual thigh extenders (ala BMW), torso and thigh support adjustment, along with de rigueur contrasting red stitching.

Far more important is what’s been done under the hood and at each wheel well. A new high-flow exhaust partners with a recalibrated ECU to raise output to 348 horsepower (at 7,400 rpm) and 276 pound-feet of torque (at 5,200 rpm), an increase of 18 hp and six pound feet over the standard G37. Channeling that additional grunt to the ground is a close ratio six-speed manual with a short-throw shifter (a seven-speed auto is available with paddles), a viscous-type limited slip differential and Bridgestone Potenza RE50A summer rubber sized 225/45 in front and 245/40 in the rear. A retuned suspension is also included, increasing spring rates by 20% in the front and 10% out back, along with slightly upgraded brakes.

Infiniti hasn’t released an MSRP for the IPL G Coupe yet, but considering the performance components and litany of standard features, we’re hoping the price premium isn’t excessively high for what’s essentially a glorified sport package. Get all the details in the press release after the jump.

Gallery: 2011 Infiniti IPL G Coupe (G37)

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Infiniti Performance Line debuts with 348-hp IPL G Coupe originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 12 Aug 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Buick to expand line with coupe, convertible and wagon?

Filed under: Convertible, Coupe, Wagon, Buick, Rumormill

2008 Buick Regal Concept – Click above for high-res image gallery

Buick conducted another in its series of webchats and this time product marketing director Roger McCormack attended the party. One of the first real signs of the brand’s rebirth came three years ago with the debut of the Riviera concept. Since then, Buick has focused on launching its mainstream, higher volume products like the LaCrosse and Regal, and the Riviera coupe has languished on the sidelines.

However, McCormack says the coupe concept could live on as a production model. He acknowledged that a coupe is receiving “very strong consideration” and admitted that a convertible would help excite customers, but wasn’t prepared to make any announcements. Even a wagon was not ruled out and could be among the first to join the lineup. A be-hatched version of the Insignia already exists in Europe and a prototype with Regal badges has been spotted in Michigan in the past. No doubt Buick will be watching the sales of the Acura TSX Sportswagon when it arrives this fall in deciding what to do with the Regal. The full transcript of the chat is available here.

Gallery: Buick Riviera Concept – Studio Shots (new)

[Source: Buick]

Buick to expand line with coupe, convertible and wagon? originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 23 Jul 2010 16:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Happy Birthdays: Chopard celebrates Alfa Romeo with special line of timepieces

Filed under: Etc., Alfa Romeo, Design/Style

Chopard GT XL Chrono Alfa Romeo (above) and table clock (below right) – Click either image for high-res image gallery

In a field of automotive-inspired wristwatches, one marque stands above the rest as the connoisseur’s choice: Chopard. From its ongoing sponsorship and participation in the annual Mille Miglia revival rally to exquisite timepieces like the LUC Engine One Tourbillon, Chopard’s made a name for itself among lovers of classic cars. And this year they celebrate their 150th anniversary, conveniently in the same year as Alfa Romeo marks their 100th.

To celebrate, Chopard has rolled out not just a single model, but a whole line of timepieces honoring Alfa Romeo. The range includes the Gran Turismo XL Alfa Romeo and the GT XL Chono Alfa Romeo (available in either stainless steel of carbon-coated steel), both of which feature COSC-certified in-house automatic movements, 46-hour power reserve, anti-reflective sapphire crystal, 44mm cases and Chopard’s signature vintage Dunlop-inspired rubber straps. Only 500 of each of the three variants will be offered, along with a table clock in PVD-coated steel and a black leather, red-stitched case, and an additional travel alarm clock.

All in all, not a bad way to celebrate a birthday. Read about ’em in the press release after the jump and take a closer look in the gallery below.

Gallery: Chopard for Alfa Romeo

[Source: Chopard]

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Happy Birthdays: Chopard celebrates Alfa Romeo with special line of timepieces originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 15 Jul 2010 08:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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