While the smart car has exceeded all sales expectations and created a nice following, it has also had some quality issues, especially the transmission. Owners complain about rough and slipping shifts between gears. MBUSA and smart USA is listening to the smart owners and is now sending letters to 24,622 owners of the 2008 smart car models; urging them to make an appointment at their local dealer to get a free software upgrade in hopes to smooth out the rough gear shifts. “We will upgrade your transmission software to the new 2009 operating mode which provides improved shifting dynamics as well as instant changing between automatic and paddle shifting just by touching the up or down shift paddles,” reads the letter to one owner. Smart spokesman Ken Kettenbeil acknowledges “a little hesitation between gears” in the ‘08 models, the first year that the Smart car was on sale, and that the software fix will bring about a “smoother transition.” The letter says the fix takes about 90 minutes. via Open Road Note: There is a rating embedded within this post, please visit this post to rate it. Related Posts Real world testing of the smart fortwo ‘ed’ in London Daimler AG has started a trial run of its electric smart fortwo (aka smart ed) vehicle in the city… Carlsson tunes the SL 63 AMG Carlsson, one of many respected Mercedes tuners, has taken the SL63 monster from AMG and given it … smart car gets 50% parking discount in NYC garages If you live in a metropolitan city or are just visiting the downtown area, you’re definitely famil… Mercedes-Benz planning an A-Class Roadster?!? smart fortwos being recalled Read the original post: 2008 smart cars to get free trany software upgrade to fix problems

The new Life Ball MINI created in Katy Perry style by American designer duo The Blonds made its debut at the Life Ball gala earlier this week in Vienna, Austria. For the ninth year in a row, MINI sponsored the Life Ball, Europe’s biggest AIDS charity event. The MINI Convertible inspired by Kate Perry, the artist behind the song “I Kissed a Girl”, was designed by Rican Phillipe and David Blond. Sporting a funky pink and black leopard paint, the Life Ball MINI was revealed in the presence of important personalities, from former U.S. President Bill Clinton to movie stars like Eva Longoria and former Playboy bunny, Pamela Anderson. The Kate Perry MINI Convertible edition will be offered in a prize draw to raise money for the fight against HIV/AIDS. A ticket costs 10 euros, approximately $13, and can be purchased at all Life Ball events, from all BMW and MINI dealers in Austria, directly from the Life Ball, from the official distributor of Austria’s “class lottery” Prokopp and, of course, over the Internet. Go to www.mini.at for detailed information on the various sources. More photos after the jump [Source: Carscoop ] You might also like: The Life Ball MINI 2009, designed by “The Blonds” for Katy Perry Detroit 2009: The unveiling of the MINI Convertible – Video MINI expecting record sales in 2009 MINI Speedster becoming reality Detroit 2009: Mini Cabrio takes its top off See the original post:  MINI by Kate Perry made its debut at the Life Ball gala

The Chrysler bankruptcy is leaving some consumers falling through the cracks. That’s the complaint of a number of consumer groups who filed an objection to the Chrysler sale this week. According to the filing, current Chrysler owners may not be able to sue Chrysler in the future if claims arise due to product defects, including lemon law claims , class action claims such as those for defective engines, and personal injury claims. Even those who currently have claims against Chrysler may be left scrambling for pennies on the dollar or less says Clarence Ditlow, executive director of the Center for Auto Safety , which filed the objection along with several other consumer groups. In the bankruptcy filing, these consumers are being considered “unsecured creditors,” he says. That puts them at the end in line to be repaid from the meager assets left over after the new Chrysler buys the bulk of Chrysler’s current assets. The “new Chrysler” will be partly owned by Fiat, the union employees pension fund, and the U.S. and Canadian governments. According to the current bankruptcy filing, the “new Chrysler” is set to emerge from the process “free and clear of all other encumbrances,” says Scott Nealey of Lieff, Cabraser, Heimann, and Bernstein, LLP, an attorney who represents consumers with claims against Chrysler. “Since claims under state law for defective products are not included in those items Chrysler says it will assume, they are by definition excluded, and the sale of the assets Chrysler proposes would be ‘free and clear’ of any liability,” says Nealey. “The sale of Chrysler as now proposed immunizes the new Chrysler from any liability for existing lawsuits and claims, even if a judgment has already been awarded,” says Larry Coben, who represents personal injury victims in the bankruptcy proceedings. He adds that the available funds will be dwarfed by the number of claims. “The old Chrysler is just going to become a shell of worthless assets, and all the creditors are going to be scrambling for pennies on the dollar, and I mean less than 10 cents on the dollar. Maybe no cents on the dollar,” says Ditlow. Asked about the claims, Chrysler spokesman Michael Palese says all litigation against the company is stayed by the bankruptcy...

With the new 2010 Mercedes E-Class Coupe officially on sale (in select markets, anyway), it’s only fitting that we turn our attention to tuning programs for the new model. Always ahead of the pack with their tuning prowess, the first such program comes from BRABUS, with the company offering substantial styling and performance upgrades for the new E Coupe. Outside, changes range from a new BRABUS front spoiler, front quarter panels, rocker panels and a rear apron to new BRABUS Monoblock light-alloy wheels in your choice of 17, 18, 19 or 20 inches. Complimenting its sportier appearance, BRABUS boosted the E500 (and E550) Coupe’s displacement to 6.1-Liters, resulting in a total output of 462 hp (456 bhp) / 340 kW and a peak torque of 615 Nm (453 lb-ft) at just 3,100 rpm. As a result, the tuned E500 Coupe can accelerate from 0-62 mph in 4.7 seconds before reaching a top speed of 196 mph. Originally posted here:  BRABUS Tunes The New 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupe

The growing segment of small luxury SUVs has suffered a bit from Goldilocks syndrome–nothing has been “just right.” Here’s the scorecard so far: The BMW X3 ? Stiff ride, even after a mid-life update. Land Rover LR2 ? Odd controls, less than luxurious interior, and lousy reliability. Infiniti EX35 ? Fast, but tight inside. Acura RDX ? Stiff ride, road noise, and an unrefined powertrain. Further complicating the value equation: more mundane small SUVs like the Volkswagen Tiguan and high-level versions of the Subaru Forester and Toyota RAV4 are very well-rounded and cost thousands of dollars less than the zootier nameplates. Enter the Audi Q5. Fashionably late to the party (or this market segment), the Q5 is based on Audi’s A4 sedan. Our typically equipped Q5 cost $42,800 including the Premium Plus package, a lot of money considering we didn’t get navigation. But putting the high price aside, how does the Q5 do at balancing utility, luxury, and sport? Let’s check the logbook: “Ride is firm at low speeds but has good isolation and is steady.” “Very quiet!” “Nothing like an Audi to make a VW look like a bargain! The Tiguan is very expensive compared to a Forester Turbo but cheap compared to this.” “Same old (Audi) control gripes.” “You can buy a new Acura MDX for this price.” “Huge sunroof that stretches from front to rear is nice on a sunny but cold day.” “Dislike controls – still too many steps to get to what is wanted.” “Nice engine; I like this V6 more than our A4’s 2.0T.” “Handling is quite agile.” “Seats comfortable, but push forward into shoulder blades.” “What a nice SUV–blows away X3 and RDX.” “I just wonder how many of the target buyers can swing the note on this right now…” “Nice size gives practicality and enough room without being trucky and balky.” “Awkward radio controls are frustrating to deal with.” “No rear view camera in a $43K SUV is disappointing.” (It’s packaged into the $3,000 navigation system option that our Q5 lacks.) “Pleasant to drive, plenty of power, and smooth.” So the Q5 is enjoyable to drive and a handy size, but the controls are a pain and you have to pay a steep price to play. – Tom Mutchler View original here:  From the Logbook: Audi Q5

We’re continuing our coverage on the new BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo with a new video that was just released by BMW. Back in March, right after the concept GT was unveiled, Hans-Jurgen Branz, Project Manager for the 5 Series GT, spoke about the idea behind this new somewhat controversial car and the expectations BMW has for it. We hope that by now you’re familiar with the 5 Series GT model, but just in case you missed our big news yesterday and the multiple photos, you can always go back here . As a last minute update, the BMW 5 Series GT will make its debut at the Frankfurt IAA motor show in September and European sales will start in October. The pricing for the German market has also been announced, the entry model 530i GT starts at 55,200 euro, followed by the diesel version, 530d GT at 55,700 euro. The high-end model, 550i GT, comes with a premium price of 75,300 euro, approximately $104,000. BMW North America expects the 550i GT to have a base price set between $65,000-$70,000. If you can see this, then you might need a Flash Player upgrade or you need to install Flash Player if it’s missing. Get Flash Player from Adobe. You might also like: Technical Specifications: BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo BMW 7 Series German Pricing Released BMW 8 Series/Gran Turismo due in 2010 So….what’s interesting about the BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo BMW 5 Series GT Production model almost ready View original here:  Video: BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo Production Model

General Motors has announced that it plans to reduce the number of dealerships in Canada by approximately 42 percent. As in the United States, the reductions will come from GM electing not to renew franchise agreements from the target dealerships when they come due in October 2010. The cuts target major metropolitan areas, minimizing issues related to customer access to rural dealers across the vast nation. However, this is a more dramatic reduction than seen in the United States, with about 300 of 700 dealers to stop selling GM products within 18 months. January 1st through April 30th, GM sales were down 52.1 percent compared to the same period the previous year. Also read: “ Watch for these problems from a failing or closing dealership .” Original post: GM cuts Canadian dealers by 42 percent

The last Monday in May is Memorial Day. The Day before that, is, for gearhaeds and car racing fans, A High Holy Day. It is a day for us, like The Hajj is to a Muslim. It is on this day, Memorial Day, that The Indianapolis 500 is run, and occasionally on the same day, the Monaco Grand Prix will run. For a car racing fan, Memorial Day is better than the Super Bowl, the World Series and the NBA Finals all rolled into one, and the reason is simple: Football, baseball and basketball are games, and racing is a sport. It has been attributed to Hemmingway, although no one seems to be sure who originated the quote. This provenance obscure in no way deters from the basic Truth of the sentiment: ‘Only mountain climbing, bull fighting and sportscar racing are true sports. Everything else is a children’s game played by grown men in costumes.’ You can say what you want about the skill of Michael Jordan, and there is much to be appreciated, but a simple, and undeniable fact is that if Mr. Jordan misses a crucial shot, he gets to take another one. When Willy Mays just got his second strike in the bottom of the ninth, he had another pitch coming. And if either of them, or Joe Montana or Wayne Gretsky missed it … well, there was always another game. Back when Willy Mays was playing, the average of a Grand Prix driver being killed, and we mean outright killed stone dead, was in the neighborhood of 30 to 35 percent over the length of his career. And getting killed meant things like being trapped in a magnesium bodied car and burning to death, or being thrown from your race car at speed and being hurled headlong into a grove of trees like a hundred mile a an hour pinball. The same thing still applies today, even with all the modern safety advances. Racing is serious business, and the bottom line is often written in blood. The difference between Willy hitting it out of the park, and squibbing one off as a foul ball is a matter of millimeters and arc-seconds of force. Those same measurements can, and will be applied, every Memorial Day at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway over a distance of five hundred miles, for a total of eight- hundred turns over three hours of time. There are no time outs. There is no half time. Yet we have seen racers like Rick Mears come...

In the market for a Prius? If you’ve been thinking about buying a Toyota Prius , then you’re probably pretty excited that the new 2010 Prius will soon hit US dealerships. Just don’t get too excited. Earlier this week, my dealer told me he was only expecting 5 new Prius hybrids for first month of sale. Fortunately, he also told me there would be no markups on the new Prius – we’ll see how long that lasts. But what if you need a car now, or you just want a great deal? Well, there are some deals on the current Prius. Already Toyota has slashed Prius prices by as much as a few thousand, and they are offering great financing options. Moreover, I came away with an obvious impression that dealers are willing to haggle Prius pricing down at least another grand, maybe even two. However, “we’re not going to give them away” my dealer confirmed. It seems to me Toyota knows full well that there will be a 2010 Prius shortage for several months, yet showrooms will probably be full of new Prius gawkers. So Toyota dealers might be happy to have a few Prii on the lot to push these buyers towards. Thus, I don’t anticipate a second generation Prius fire sale any time soon, if ever, especially not in hot hybrid markets. Nonetheless, if you’re heading out to find a deal on a Prius this weekend, don’t be afraid to make a low ball offer on a second generation Prius. You might get lucky, especially if this weekend is much slower than normal. More:  Toyota Prius Shopping: Ready to deal?

Coming in 2012 For several years there have been rumors about a Subaru hybrid built on Toyota technology, as Toyota has a 16 percent stake in Subaru. Now those rumors are official , Subaru will offer a new hybrid in either 2011 or 2012. Subaru hybrid vehicles ? Sounds like a perfect fit. See original here: Subaru hybrid confirmed

By Chet Huber President, OnStar It’s a situation that’s difficult to imagine. You or someone you love is severely injured following a crash, unable to call for help, knowing that the chance for survival can begin to drop as every precious minute ticks by. At OnStar, we’re thinking about this scenario every day, and working on ways to help our subscribers survive this real-life situation. Back in 2003, we announced Automatic Crash Response – a technology that automatically alerts OnStar following a crash. This technology allows an OnStar Advisor to receive real-time crash data using built-in vehicle sensors and to send first responders to the vehicle’s exact GPS location right away. To date, we’ve responded to and assisted with more than 110,000 Automatic Crash Response incidents and I’m very proud of the impact this service has made in helping to save countless lives. ACR creates a digital crash signature that includes detailed information such as crash severity, direction of impact and airbag deployment – valuable data for the first responder and emergency medical communities. In 2007, the CDC convened an expert panel of more than 20 of the nation’s leading emergency medical physicians, public safety and vehicle safety experts to review this real-time crash data to determine how it can be used to further improve the emergency transport and treatment of crash victims. You can read more about the report here. Thanks to the findings of this panel, OnStar was able to develop an important new tool to assist emergency responders in anticipating the seriousness of a crash. This new technology called Injury Severity Prediction will utilize our data to automatically predict if a crash is likely to have caused severe injury to passengers. Each crash will be given an Injury Severity Prediction of either “normal” or “high,” helping first responders better determine what level of care is required and what medical facility is most appropriate for transport. As we learned from the medical experts on the CDC panel, seconds are precious following a traumatic injury and complications can result from the delayed treatment of injuries. With this new tool, we’re hoping that when a medical professional responds to a crash scene, we’ve equipped them with...

Like many car owners, I’m holding onto my old car during these tight economic times. My Toyota Corolla is 11 years old and has 160,000 miles. While its appearance is showing its age, it’s still running well and hasn’t needed any major repairs. (I’m knocking on wood as I write this.) General rule of thumb: older cars must be properly maintained to keep them running reliably. The good news is that with proper maintenance, most modern cars can last to 200,000 miles. We have many owners who have reported going much further in our high-mileage club forum . This long holiday weekend is a great time to catch up on basic car care. To help your car go the distance, here are some basic tips: Follow your car’s maintenance schedule. Missing even one oil change can accelerate premature engine wear and cause engine damage. Check the level and condition of all fluids including the engine oil, coolant, brake fluid, and power steering monthly. Be watchful of wear items, such as belts, hoses, and filters. Check tire pressure weekly and inspect tires for wear and tear. Listen for odd noises from your engine, suspension, and brakes while driving. If you have any doubts about a noise, get it checked out by a mechanic. Give it a wash. Washing and waxing can help preserve the paint and keep the sheet metal below it from rusting. Further, being hands-on with the car will help you to identify minor issues before they become significant problems. For more information on car maintenance, repairs, and do it yourself tips, see our updated guide to car maintenance . — Liza Barth   See the rest here:  How to keep your old car running

Since many of you have requested to see the full details on all the three motor options available for the BMW 5 Series GT at this point, we decided to give you a short summary. For the past eight hours or so, we have posted many articles around the 5 Series GT launch , so please take the time to browse through them, we have shared some useful information and most important, some high-quality photos of the Gran Turismo. BMW 550i Gran Turismo : V8 gasoline engine with TwinPower Turbo and High Precision Injection Capacity: 4, 395 cc, max output: 300 kW/407 hp from 5, 500–6,400 rpm, max torque: 600 Nm/442 lb-ft from 1,750–4,500 rpm Acceleration 0–100 km/h: 5.5 seconds Top speed: 250 km/h (155 mph) Average fuel consumption to the EU standard: 11.2 litres/100 kilometres, equal to 25.2 mpg imp CO2 emissions to the EU standard: 263 g/km, emission standard: EU5 BMW 535i Gran Turismo : straight-six gasoline engine with TwinPower Turbo, High Precision Injection and VALVETRONIC, Capacity: 2,979 cc, max output: 225 kW/306 hp at 5,800 rpm, max torque: 400 Nm/295 lb-ft from 1,200–5,000 rpm, Acceleration 0–100 km/h: 6.3 seconds, Top speed: 250 km/h (155 mph), Average fuel consumption to the EU standard: 8.9 Liter/100 kilometres, equal to 31.7 mpg imp, CO2 emissions to the EU standard: 209 g/km, emission standard: EU5 BMW 530d Gran Turismo: straight-six diesel engine with aluminium crankcase and third-generation common-rail direct fuel injection (piezo-injectors), max injection pressure: 1,800 bar Capacity: 2,993 cc, max output: 180 kW/245 hp at 4,000 rpm, max torque: 540 Nm/398 lb-ft from 1,750–3,000 rpm Acceleration 0–100 km/h: 6.9 seconds Top speed: 240 km/h (149 mph) Average fuel consumption to the EU standard: 6.5 litres/100 kilometres, equal to 43.5 mpg imp CO2 emissions to the EU standard: 173 g/km, emission standard: EU5 You might also like: Dinan introduces Performance Engine Software for BMW 135i models BMW X6 M and BMW X5 M Official Specs Detroit 2009: Mini Cabrio takes its top off BMW launched 116d model in the UK – New 2.0 liter engine Mini Clubman, not so mini anymore See the original post:  BMW 5 Series GT: Engine specs

In the past 6 months or even more, we have heard many people criticizing the idea behind the BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo and shortly after, the design language chosen for this new invention coming out of the Munich gates. But in our opinion, we need to look past the design and move away, at least for a while, frorm all those heated discussions on whether this car will appeal to anyone or not. What we need to do next is to focus on what the 5 Series GT brings to the table, there are many new technologies in this new concept and they seem to have been overlooked by many of us, including the media publications. The scope of this article is to show you the “real” 5 Series Gran Turismo and the things that got us excited. So, let’s start with the design. The 5 Series Gran Turismo is also the first four-door/sedan BMW to have frameless doors, a feature available at this point only on the Coupe and Convertible models. The famous Hofmeister Kink gets a new form and it appears in “6-window” (3 windows per side) form in the rear quarter windows aft of the rear doors. As we announced recently, BMW is moving towards building cars with plenty aluminum elements and the four aluminum doors on the 5 Series GT save about 62 lbs compared to a steel frame. Another new design elements is 2-piece bi-modal trunk with independent functionality. The system consists of two pieces: a trunklid-like opening under the rear window and a large liftgate. The Panaromic moonroof which debuted in the first generation BMW X3 comes standard on the 550i model and it’s the first of this kind to be featured on a non-X model. Moving inside, the 5 Series GT supports variable seating accommodations where the 4-seater configuration can turned into a 5-passenger cabin. The highly awaited Instrument Panel in Black Panel Technology has just made our day. The entire instrument cluster is “in a high-resolution Black Panel display, in which four classic circular instruments are most prominent; other driving-relevant displays and readouts – including Navigation if present, vehicle-monitoring functions, upcoming service requirements and other information.” Add the Head-Up Display to this already amazing technology and we have the dashboard we have never dreamed to have. Now...

With the risk of being called again fanboys or BMW lovers(which we actually are), we  have no choice but to declare the interior design of the new 5 Series GT, the best we have seen to date. If the exterior design will receive its share of criticism as it happened with the X6 back in time, the interior design can only be cataloged as the most luxurious cabin in the BMW line-up. Let’s rewind back a few months and see what we said about the interior design: “This is the area that the BMW 5 Series GT shines. The 7 Series was the first vehicle launched by BMW in a while that brought back the interior design quality expected by its fans, followed shortly by the BMW Z4 and now, the 5er GT. It was designed by Oliver Heilner with luxury and comfort in mind. “We wanted a car you could enter without difficulty and feel comfortable in over long journeys.” The concept is a four-seater, but the production model will have five, losing the center console in the rear. The displays and controls are grouped according to their functions. The instrument panel enhances the very good visibility provided by the high seating position. The colors and materials for the interior design give the impression of total luxury, spaciousness, in my opinion, a very elegant approach which sends the right message to its potential buyers. The impression of luxury is further enhanced by the ceramic elements integrated within the solid wood trim. The panoramic sunroof comes to complete this image.” Now, if we were to rewrite the review, we will not only agree with everything we said, but we will have no other choice other than to praise it even more. If the concept was a little more conservative in a luxurious way, the production model is showing a far more sportier and realistic approach of the new interior design. Many of the wood panels have been replaced by other trim options, in a way reminding us even more of the new 7 Series. The seats are definitely a step up over any other model out there and we can only imagine how they feel and look in person. The dashboard and gauges are definitely one of our favorite design elements and they will satisfy even the most demanding BMW customer. We won’t to further praising this amazing cabin, so we will rather wait until we see...