We have just seen the photos of the BMW 3 Series E92 Coupe facelift and we are back with new spy photos, this time of the 3 Series E93 Convertible facelift. Courtesy of E90post , we have the opportunity to show you the first facelifted E93 model spotted in the old Munich. Same as the E92 facelift, the convertible will receive new headlights and taillights treatment, along with revised/redesigned front and rear bumpers. Looking closer at the taillights,  it seems that new LED bulbs are replacing the white signal strip found in the current model. The large mirrors can be seen on this test mule as well and there is no doubt that the final production model will feature them as well. Even though we’re not big fans of either these side mirrors or the ones found on the 335d Sedan, the new European pedestrian regulations are forcing all the car manufacturers to adopt a new styling. Unfortunately no official information on the release date, but we’re fairly comfortable speculating that both the coupe and convertible facelifts will be released at the same time, which puts them in the early next year timeframe. One thing that we’re working on finding out is if the new N55 or the upgraded N54 engines will make their way into one of these upcoming models. [Source: E90post ] Here is the original post: Spy Photos: BMW 3 Series E93 Convertible Facelift

To promote their Overseas Delivery service, Volvo is holding a contest for anyone to participate to win a free vacation to West Sweden. To win, simply head over to their Trip Planner , create an itinerary, and you’ll have a chance to win that vacation which will include two round trip tickets to Sweden, a one week car rental (surely a Volvo,) and all the accommodations and activities in your itinerary. The Volvo Overseas Delivery service (VOD) is set up for American Volvo customers. Buy a new Volvo here in the States and they will fly you (and a friend) to Gothenburg to pick up your new car and take it on a 2 week road trip through Sweden, and then ship it to your closest Volvo dealer once you’re back in the States. One night hotel will also be paid for in Sweden, as will the insurance coverage for the two week road trip you’ll be taking. The service is similar to some other premium car makers, and is a great idea to provide a unique service to buyers, which will ultimately making the buying experience more pleasant. The contest is easy enough to enter and is open to everyone (with fine print.) Head over to the Trip Planner to enter and try your luck at winning. © Gearhead Media – Please visit Automoblog.net for more great content. Here is the original post: Vacation in Sweden on Volvo’s Dime

Update: In a statement issued today, BMW CEO, Norbert Reithofer, talked about the new “i-Setta” being sold as a sub-brand. We’re not sure if it will be indeed a fourth brand without the BMW name in front of it or simply a sub-division as the Motorsport one. After months of debates and strategy planning, sources close to BMW confirm that a fourth BMW Group brand will be formed. It will be marketed under the name “i-Setta” and the megacity vehicle will be sold under this new brand. Quoting the source, “i-Setta ” will be a reimagining of the original cult classic using today’s and tomorrows technology to provide urban mobility and sustainability in a lovable modern design wholly inspired by the original.” Sounds fancy? Sure does and in our opinion, this is the best solution that BMW could have chosen in this current economic climate. Creating a new and fourth brand that focuses on electric/fuel efficient cars, will allow BMW to maintain their image of a sport luxury automaker without diluting that brand. The i-Setta brand will allow BMW to create the Megacity vehicles that are geared towards congested cities. The same source confirms that within the MINI brand, a new electric vehicle will be also sold under the name MIN-i . An Isetta/i-Setta marketing campaign has already started today when a new image campaign was launched by the BMW Museum. We’re working on getting more news related to this latest development, so stay tuned. Originally posted here:  “BMW i-Setta” – A fourth BMW Brand or a sub-brand?

BMW’s Project i is moving forward and today, BMW Group announced that a supplier for the future Megacity Vehicle has been chosen: SB LiMotive. The company is a 50:50 joint venture of Bosch and Samsung SDI. Built under the Project i program and referenced by BMW executives as the “BMW City”, the new all all electric vehicle is expected to reach U.S. soil by 2012.The “City” is rumored to be a three-door hatchback vehicle specifically designed for congested metropolis. BMW City or MegaCity as we heard it was called in the past, will be powered by an all electric engine and it will offer a four-seat configuration. The lithium-ion batter is expected to provide 100-mile range. Press Release The BMW Group has opted for SB LiMotive as the supplier of battery cells for the future project Megacity Vehicle. This gives the company access to state-of-the-art lithium-ion storage technology. “The decision is a major milestone along the way to serial production of the Megacity Vehicle. The battery is a key component in any electric vehicle – it determines the range and performance of the car. With SB LiMotive we have selected a supplier who offers the best available technology, combining leading German automotive expertise with future-oriented Korean battery know-how,” explains Norbert Reithofer, Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG. SB LiMotive is a 50:50 joint venture of Bosch and Samsung SDI. Here the two companies pool their expertise to develop and produce lithium-ion storage cells. Samsung SDI is a leader in the use of lithium-ion batteries in mobile phones and laptops. The technology has a proven track record in this area of application with millions of products to its name. However, integration in an automobile requires higher standards in terms of durability, operational stability and safety. Here, Bosch contributes its experience from a company history which goes back over 100 years. “In this collaborative effort, three global technology leaders are coming together to shape the future of the electric vehicle. With our SB LiMotive joint venture as a supplier for the Megacity Vehicle’s battery cells, we are sure that we can play a major role here,” says Franz Fehrenbach, chairman of the board of management of Robert Bosch GmbH. “Our...

Mercedes-Benz USA is reporting that for the month of July 2009, sales totaled 16,228 new vehicles – a drop of 21.7 percent when compared to July 2008. As a result, sales at MBUSA now total 101,316 new vehicles through the first seven months of the year, down 27.6 percent compared to the year prior. As for the models making headlines, the 2010 Mercedes E-Class took the volume lead in its first month on the market, with the sedan’s sales totaling 5,556 units. The C-Class and GLK-Class also noted high volume sales, selling 4,450 units and 1,809 units, respectively. Read the rest here:  Mercedes-Benz USA Sales Drop 21.7 Percent In July 2009

Finally, a Ferrari I can afford, more or less. In case you hadn’t noticed (although I did) Ferrari has been producing a TON of gear over the past however-long. They even have Ferrari stores where you can not only buy the usual car-maker stuff like t-shirts and whatnot, but also stuff like desk sets and bathrobes and even parts and bits and bobs off of old race cars. This being Ferrari, the stuff is amazingly expensive (think $80 polo shirts) but not all of it is too far out of line – I mean, after all, this is a pretty nice watch. Really, I’ve got nothing against Ferrari, or any other carmaker, doing stuff like this. I know that when I finally get a Lotus 7, I’ll be getting the fleece pullover with the nifty “7″ logo on it. It’s both stylish and practical for a car that doesn’t have a heater. If Bentley or Aston or whichever carmaker wants to have a line of stuff out there so the faithful can have a really nifty looking pen and pencil set, then so be it. I suppose the same thing applies for Ferrari related stuff. I don’t see it as diluting the brand (if they were to start building four-doors, THAT would be diluting the brand), and if the far-too-rich want to drop $100 on baby doll tees for their “girlfriends” then it’s their money. This watch though, does seem to have more practicality to it than stuff like baby doll tees. Actual details are scant, but it would appear to have basic timing functions, and the design is quite nice and it appears to be ruggedized and has that nifty looking rubber strap. Personally, I don’t like watches that are too frilly or delicate. I’m pretty hard on whatever watches I’ve ever owned, so I tend not to stray too far from the practical, nor do I tend to spend a lot of money on a time piece. This Ferrari watch, for example, will be in Ferrari stores worldwide by the end of August and priced at €295 or around $420 US at current exchange rates. $400+ is too expensive for me, not because I think that’s too much to ask for a watch but it’s too much to spend on something I’ll accidentally smash against a countertop or a vise or some such. But, if you’re easier on watches than I am, and also have a penchant for Ferrari stuff, you...

to hell with modesty… Edo Competition’s tagline for their tuned Mercedes-Benz C63 sedan is fairly accurate. After finding that the stock 457 horsepower 6.3-liter V8 engine wasn’t enough, they set off to make an even more impressive beast. For this car, edo decided to keep the C63 looking the same as stock. No typical tuner body kit or wild colors on this one. The only visual modification are the wheels, which are lightweight 19-inchers designed specifically for the car, and are for function over form. The biggest changes are in the form of performance modifications. Edo has taken the 6.3-liter V8 stock engine and added a new high-performance exhaust system, high-flow headers and catalytic converters, new air filters, and a tuned ECU. The remote controlled butterfly valve exhaust system helps keep torque high at low revs without restricting power higher in the RPM band. These changes boost the 457 hp and 442 ft-lbs of torque to 555 hp and 501 ft-lbs. A most significant upgrade that allows the new edo C63 to reach 62 mph from a stop in 4.3 seconds, and reach a top speed of 199 mph. The edo competition Mercedes Benz C63 is what you could call a sleeper, in a way. It’s already a high performance car, but these enhancements will help it leave other C63s in the dust while still appearing as a from-the-factory car, minus the “edo competition” decals on the sides. More pictures… © Gearhead Media – Please visit Automoblog.net for more great content. See the original post:  Edo Competition Mercedes C63