In 2010, at the Paris Motor Show, MINI unveiled three Scooter electric models and the automotive world has already begun to ask if  “MINI has gone too far” . A recent report from Autocar UK shows that MINI was on the right track. Volkswagen  is the latest brand to pickup the electric scooters trend and unveiled their own version at the Shanghai Motor Show. According to Autocar, the E-Scooter has a 350-watt electric motor and nickel-metal-hydride battery, which can be removed to be charged indoors. The scooter weighs 44 pounds without batteries, and should be able to travel up to 40 miles at up to 30 mph on a single charge. Future upgrades may include regenerative braking, LED lights, a leather saddle, and lithium-ion batteries. Volkswagen plans to sell the electric scooter directly to consumers or introduce them in a lease program around major cities. A trial version of the VW E-Scooter will begin in China in 2012. The MINI Scooter E’ drivetrain is based on that of the MINI E: a single electric motor is integrated into the rear wheel hub, and power comes from a compact lithium-ion battery stored under the seat. The battery can be charged from any standard A/C power outlet, via a retractable cable at the back of the scooter. Its driving autonomy is estimated between 50 and 60 miles with a recharge time of four to five hours. While not officially confirmed, top speed is rumored to be between 28 and 31 mph. We expect other automakers will follow this trend in the future. Original post:  Volkswagen to launch a competitor for MINI Scooter E

Sex sells. It has been proven over and over again, and it is used across many industries and advertising mediums. But when do you cross the line? When “too much” or “too revealing” becomes uncomfortable and the expected results are quite the opposite? The fellows at SkiddMark compiled a list of video ads that use sexual imagery or references used by automakers to increase the marketing effect of their products. The ads are certainly PG13, a term used commonly in the US, but we know that European regulations are a little less loser, so we wonder if the line will be crossed in the future. Let’s have a look at a few of them. Nissan Juke – Model vs Model Simply a side-by-side comparison between the new Nissan Juke and a bikini model, Amber. Lexus LFA – “Supercar Meets Supermodel”. The LFA comes with high premium tag and the Japanese automaker believed using supermodels will enhance the exclusiveness of their new car. Lexus recently joined the photoshoot for the 2011 Sports Illustrated: Swimsuit Issue, bringing its LFA supercar along to run rings (or donuts to be precise) around supermodel Rianne ten Haken. Ken Block – MWRT 2011: all new WRC Ford Fiesta Ken Block found an interesting way to promote his 2011 WRC schedule. Along with the new WRC Ford Fiesta, Ken teams up with the beautiful Monster Girls to tell us “this will be an amazing year.” Renault Clio – Va Va Voom TV commercia Burlesque dancer Dita Von Tees goes the extra mile to promote the Renault Clio. Renault chose to revive the ‘Va Va Voom’ strap-line in its latest Clio ads set in a contemporary art exhibition and featuring music from David Bowie, Clare Maguire and Rihanna’s latest single ‘S&M’. A little too much? Not sure, but this is without a doubt the most sexy automotive ad we have seen in years. VW Golf R32 – Beautiful Chassis This one gets thumbs up for actually being quite funny. Porsche Carrera – It Pulls From the archive, we have a TV ad coming from Porsche to promote their new 911 Carrera. But the ad came with a beautiful woman as well….the result… For more videos, please see the article at SkiddMark . So nothing from BMW? Well, for a conservative company, they did push the envelope a few years back,...

A U.S. Court of Appeals has ruled that the state of California can continue to pass air pollution standards that are stricter than federal law. The court blocked a legal challenge to California’s ability to manage air pollution standards when it ruled that the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce did not… More: National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) And Chamber Lose Court Ruling

Bruno set a time of 1:34.270 on the final lap of single-lap qualifying, this is his eighth DTM pole and his second at Hockenheim Read the rest here: Bruno Spengler Secures First Pole Position of the New DTM Season

Dominique Gargiulo, head of marketing for M automobiles at BMW GmbH, talks about details and highlights ot the upcoming M Festival where BMWBLOG will be present as well. Mr Gargiulo, “The M Festival” – what is it about? Gargiulo: Fun and excitement, the smell of gasoline, the M Community. M – the most powerful letter in the world – invites all fans and drivers of M cars to the Nürburgring for four days of joint celebration. Why the Nürburgring? Because the North Loop of the Nürburgring is where BMW M automobiles regularly celebrate glorious victories. Just think of the BMW M3 GT2 at last year’s 24h event. But more than that, it is the place where every M automobile has its typical characteristics, its M genes, instilled into it. Will the M Festival be taking place throughout the entire 24h race from June 23 to June 26, 2011? Yes it will. Our guests will have the chance to follow the racing events up close, from start to finish. We have even reserved our own spectator areas, just to make sure. And that is not all – we also plan pit visits, interviews with drivers, and even helicopter flights over the track. But the M Festival has even more to offer. You’re talking about the M Night at the end of day one? That is just one example. At that evening event, we will be taking the opportunity to exclusively present two brand-new M automobiles for the very first time – for the enjoyment of our most faithful customers and fans. One of the attractions of Friday’s programme is the M Parade. Yes, that’s right. The first hundred participants to register their M automobile can also take part in the M Parade. The parade will encircle the North Loop of the Nürburgring with nothing but M vehicles, accompanied by the enthusiastic support of fans and spectators. What can guests expect for the start of the 24h race on Saturday afternoon? At 4.00pm, 200 M fans will be able to watch the start of the race from the M Power stand; we have exclusively booked their places especially for them. We expect two BMW Motorsport M3 cars to take part, along with numerous private teams with their M racing cars. There will be plenty of opportunities to witness the events of the race from up close, throughout the entire contest. And who knows – maybe this year’s race...

The tuner INDEN Design from Flammersbach has taken on the daunting task of upgrading the SL 65 AMG V12 BiTurbo View post:  Mercedes SL 65 AMG BiTurbo by INDEN Design

Like a spider trying to climb up the backrest of a bath tub, Cadillac doesn’t seem to give up. Following its several attempts of trying to break into the European market, the American brand is now considering a soft-top convertible to rival the likes of the BMW 3 Series cabriolet, Audi A5 cabriolet, Infiniti G-Series convertible, and Lexus IS coupé-cabriolet. This follows as the marque previously deleted the XLR back in 2009, where the company faced some woeful times. The vehicle will underpin a forthcoming ‘Alpha’ platform that will also provide the architecture of the upcoming 2013 ATS compact and CTS mid-sized sedan. However, the model will be standalone and not just another variant of the ATS and will slot nicely between the two new models. Cadillac has promised to price the new model competitively, possibly undercutting rivals too. See original here: Cadillac planning compact executive convertible Read the original:  Cadillac planning compact executive convertible

To celebrate a new dealership opening in Maputo, Mozambique, Fiat has revealed a 500 art car. The unique car was painted by celebrated artist Malangatana Valente Ngwenya – who suddenly passed away on 5th January 2011 – and is dubbed the Italian Woman. The car will be auctioned off with all the takings benefiting the Malangatana Foundation which helps disadvantaged citizens. A spokesperson for the charity said: “The recent death of Malangatana did not allow him to personally introduce his ‘Italian Woman’ to the world. That task instead fell to those of us that were closely involved with the project and, in a small way, allowed us to pay homage to an all-time great Africa artist, an icon in the Mozambican cultural landscape and, above all, an extraordinary human being. ‘The Italian Woman’ is a crowning tribute to a memorable artist’s fruitful life and serves to commemorate and perpetuate his name in space and time.” Photo: Gloria Santos Photo: Gloria Santos Photo: Gloria Santos Continued here: Local artist paints Fiat 500, to be auctioned off (MZ) More:  Local artist paints Fiat 500, to be auctioned off (MZ)

In 1998, many Porsche enthusiasts solemnly expressly concerns that the heart of the classic 911 sports car was going to be lost as the brand left their trademark air-cooled engines in favour more common liquid-cooling. As the air-cooled era of Porsche came to an era through the introduction of the 996 model, the German sports car maker’s effects to win over their loyalists was aided through the increasing power the new engines provide. The current Porsche 997 version made a lauded entrance in 2005 offering naturally aspirated and turbocharged engines pushing to new performance heights. For 2011, the Porsche 911 Turbo GT2 RS high-performance flagship pumps out 620 horsepower through a twin-turbocharger setup. As the 911 Turbo GT2 RS becomes the fastest Porsche 911 ever produced, the performance boundaries of the non-turbo variants is also a focus of continuous improvement by German-based engineers. Never backing away from their racing activities which date back as long as the automaker itself, Porsche issued normally-aspired competition variants of the 911 seeing more preferential inclusion rules for series such as the Grand Am and American Le Mans Series. The Porsche 911 GT3 RSR was developed as the ultimate fighter to the Chevrolet Corvette, Ferrari 550 Maranello and the Aston Martin DB7 sports cars at races like the 24 Hours of Le Mans. In 2010, the mighty Porsche 911 GT3 RSR campaigned by Team Felbermayr-Proton conquered victory in the GT2 class of the grand French endurance race. Produced by a slightly larger version of the street-going Porsche 911 GT3 RS’ flat-6 engine, the race version vehicle had an enticing advantage. For a limited run of just 600 cars, the undisturbed racing pedigree is brought to the streets with the Porsche 911 GT3 RS 4.0 model. Featuring the Porsche 911 body covered in Carrara White, the limited edition GT3 RS 4.0 trim first puts the sports car on a diet. Adding carbon fiber front fenders and luggage compartment, the Porsche GT3 RS 4.0 also uses the exotic lightweight material inside for the two-tone colour sport bucket seats. European versions of this special production model from Porsche are mentioned to have plastic rear windows replacing glass. Differences between North American and European automotive safety requirements appear...

Business Wire has released a new report on just how important car dealerships are to our national economy. The report discloses that 45,000 new and used dealerships across the country account for $600 billion in annual revenue. The report goes on to say that new vehicle sales account for half of all industry revenue. Pre-owned vehicles make-up 30… Here is the original post: The U.S. Retail Car Industry: A $600 Billion Venture

Higher Toyota Prius prices inevitable? Are Prius supplies really adequate? My local Toyota dealership isn’t the biggest SoCal dealership, but it isn’t small either. On a normal day, for instance, finding 30 or more Toyota Prius hybrids on the lot isn’t unusual. Of course, these aren’t normal days. Thanks to rising gas prices and a tsunami-caused supply constraint, today my local dealership had only 6 new and 2 used Prius hybrids available for sale – oddly reminiscent of 2008 – and that could be as good as it gets for Prius supplies for some time. According to representatives at my dealership, once the current supplies of Prii are gone, new Prius supplies might not be available until November or later. Of course, this could be just salesmanship hype, especially since my salesperson quickly noted that if any new Prius hybrids do become available, they’ll come with higher prices because of “limited supplies”. Are these higher Prius prices the already announced May price hike, or are dealer markups on the horizon? The real point, however, is you can buy a Prius today. Sure, the greatest selection isn’t available, at least not at all dealerships, especially in hot hybrid areas. For instance, 5 of the 6 available Prii at my dealership were black, but at least 3 different packages were available, including a Package 2 with a MSRP of almost $24,000. On the other hand, a loaded 2007 Prius with 60,000 miles was going for $20,000. For new Prius hybrids, however, expect to find little wiggle room below MSRP until the supply problems are resolved – or gas prices crash. Ultimately, MSRP for a new Prius isn’t the greatest of Prius deals. Just a few months ago, deals were much better. Nevertheless, if you’re serious about buying a Prius, even in hybrid hot Southern California, you can find one. In a few months from now……..I’m not so sure. Even if you can find one, higher prices – even the Prius dealer markups of 2008 – seem quite possible. Regardless, I’ll be out on some serious hybrid shopping trips over the next few weeks keeping an eye on the Prius and all other hybrid supplies from the dealership floor, so stay tuned. Read more: The Toyota Prius is available,...

U.S. magazine Car and Driver compares some of the biggest luxury cars on the market: BMW 750Li vs. Audi A8L and Jaguar XJL Supercharged. But surprisingly, the 7 Series ranks third in their comparison test. Here are some of the highlights from their article, along with the decision on why the 750Li came third. “The ideal big car is a calm and reassuring presence, deliberate and proficient in motion and abundantly powerful. We’ve pulled three such candidates from the luxury-car class, all European—oh, excuse us, one is British—all stretched to the maximum available wheelbase, all with V-8 engines that’ll knock on 100 mph as softly as the knocking that awoke Stalin on Sunday mornings, and all with a base price of about 85 to 90 large. Two of them, the Audi A8L and the Jaguar XJL, are constructed primarily of aluminum, while the BMW 750Li’s unibody is a mix of steel and aluminum. The Jag is only 164 pounds heavier than the new Chevrolet Camaro SS convertible despite being more than 17 feet long. Redesigned in 2010, the all-wheel-drive Audi is the longest car here (207.4 inches), and it packs the smallest-caliber munitions: 372 horses from its 4.2-liter V-8. The longest BMW in the catalog is the shortest car in this test, with 205.3 inches separating the 750Li’s flaring nostrils from its fluid stern. However, it is the wheelbase champ, outstretching the Jag by more than two inches. Lastly, we come to the Jaguar. The brand overhauled its flagship last year, finally ditching the four-headlight, flat-roof theme that dated to the original 1968 bombshell. The slinky new lineup includes an XJL Supercharged model that brings forth 470 horses from its 5.0-liter V-8. The only option aboard our $91,950 example: a $375 heated windshield. So why is the 750Li third? BMW simply seems to have less fun building these luxury liners than its smaller stuff. Every BMW should be the best driver in its class. Otherwise, why pay the premium? This one just elicits a shrug. A wider on-center dead spot in the amply boosted steering gives the car license to wander freeway lanes, and the chassis was judged less lively and entertaining than the Jaguar’s. When a BMW is outdriven by a Jag, there’s trouble in Munich. Though we admired the band of matte-finish wood inside, the...

Advertising Agency Grey West, the same ad shop responsible for the Sony Ericsson Open in Miami, reintroduces us to the “Ultimate Driving Machine” slogan through a new 5 Series ad. After the controversial “Joy” campaign, BMW returns to its roots and emphasizes once again the UDM image. In a 30-second ad, the ad agency showcases the new BMW 5 Series along with….a refueling airplane. The idea behind the marketing gimmick is to show the increased fuel efficiency of the new 5er sedan. The computer generated ad spot ends with the Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker refueling the driver’s coffee mug rather than the car’s fuel tank. A bit cheesy? Yes. Does it send the message across in an “efficient” way? Sure. Let’s have a look at the video and welcome back “Ultimate Driving Machine” [Source: Grey West via Autoblog ] Originally posted here:  Video Ad: BMW 5 Series Refuel reintroduces the “Ultimate Driving Machine” slogan

The folks over at AutoGespot spotted the new BMW 1M in Belgium. These are some of the few photos of the 1M in Valencia Orange rolling down on European roads and the color certainly stands out. Initial 1M orders for 1M customers show that the two most popular paint jobs for the 1M are Alpine White and Valencia Orange. While Alpine White and Sapphire Black are available on other BMW models as well, the new Valencia Orange metallic is unique to the 1M. The 1M official launch for the US market is nearly two weeks away and first units will arrive at BMW dealerships in just a few days. Since allocation is relatively low at the moment, first 1M vehicles are sold out. Production will ramp up in the following months so expect your local dealerships might receive extra units. The new “baby-M” continues to make waves on the interwebs and not only, the car is slowly starting to prove itself and all the first reviews have been nothing short of positive. Just last week, German Magazine Sport Auto reported that the 1M was clocked at 1:14.1 minutes at Hockenheim race track, faster than the M3 Coupe with DCT gearbox, 1:14.2 minutes. At Hockenheim, the 340 horsepower “baby-M” was also nearly a second faster than the Audi TT RS (1:15) and the RS5 Coupe (1:15.3). The Porsche Cayman S with manual transmission fell a bit short as well 1:14.3, but the PDK driven Cayman S lapped below the 1 Series M Coupe 1:13.9. As an interesting tidbit, the 1M was only 0,6 seconds slower than M3 E46 CSL. Stay tuned for more 1M news in the upcoming weeks as we prepare for our BMW European Delivery in June . Originally posted here: BMW 1M Valencia Orange spotted on the road

<iframe width=”595″ height=”368″ src=”http://www.youtube.com/embed/YSajAPY5ilA” frameborder=”0″ allowfullscreen></iframe> View original here: Video of the Day: The 2012 Mercedes-Benz CLS Commercial