In 2013, BMW will bring to market their first mass-production electric vehicle. Dubbed i3 , the Megacity EV is the first model to emerge under the Project i umbrella, a BMW initiative that started five years ago. Part of the new BMW i sub-brand, i3 is one of  BMW’s biggest bets in its entire history and along with the i8 sportscar, will have an important impact on the company’s future. Project ihe lays under the umbrella of maximum sustainability: from the production process, starting with the first supplier, through to component recycling at the end of the vehicle life cycle, sustainability based on the three cornerstones of eco-friendliness, economic efficiency and social compatibility must be the main process driver. To maintain some of its core values, BMW will offer the 2013 i3 with a rear-wheel drive platform. The car will be built in Leipzig, Germany and will make extensive use of carbon fiber materials, ultra-light components that would help with the weight issue. Aluminum parts will harmoniously integrate with carbon fiber to offer increased safety. The combination of carbon fiber and aluminum will offset as much as 350 kilograms (772 pounds) of additional weight from battery and electronic components, Klaus Draeger, BMW’s development chief, told Bloomberg earlier this year. BMW is building its electric drivetrain as well as its battery, in-house. In the development of the battery, BMW’s partnerSB LiMotive will contribute with the battery cells. SB LiMotive is also supplying battery cells for the ActiveE vehicle that goes in a pilot across this fall. The Megacity family will carry on BMW’s core values and according to BMW executives, will look and drive as a premium product, and will not be a compromise between looks, performance and safety. Quoting Van Hooydonk, “the car looks solid, with a higher riding position that inspires safety. Some iconic BMW design elements might be omitted in the MCV, but other new design elements will be introduced that in their turn, could turn the car into a sub-brand. At launch, Megacity will be offered in a two-door, four-seat configuration. The car will measure around 157 inches. In the future, the MCV sub-brand will include two additional models. First one due in 2015 and dubbed ICV, short...

Following reports that TomTom had sold traffic data collected from GPS device users to police who then used it to determine locations for speed traps, the company has issued a statement and video in an effort to appease angry customers. In the video, TomTom CEO Harold Goodijn stresses that the tracking of its devices is voluntary and that customers can choose not to allow it. He also says the data is provided anonymously, and is valuable information the company uses to improve the guidance of its devices, by identifying problem areas and routing customers around them. TomTom says the company has provided this data to police departments and other authorities to help them identify congested areas for safety reasons and to help determine where road capacity needs to be increased. Mr. Goodijn says TomTom had been unaware Dutch police were using the data to choose locations for speed traps and that the company would prevent that type of usage in the future. With revenue from standalone GPS devices falling as more motorists turn to their smart phones for navigation, it is not surprising that TomTom is looking for other sources of income. And traffic information that might help identify overloaded roads, danger spots, and help prevent crashes can hardly be looked at as anything but a good thing, particularly if lives are saved–so long as privacy is protected. Whether it is a good or bad thing to use that data as a tool to capture speeders who may well be endangering other motorists is an interesting question. Is TomTom serving its customers, community safety, or its business demands. Can all three be addressed fairly? What do you think? Original post: Back fire: TomTom sold user data to police, motorists then targeted with speed traps

In the “strange but true” (and really cool, by the way) category comes this story from Popular Science . The world isn’t short of people who love to go fast, and that kind of fun comes in various forms – cars, motorcycles, dirt bikes, ATVs, snowmobiles. Chris McIntosh decided to take a different route, with a motorized recliner. McIntosh is a student at University of Southern California and he first made an electric powered recliner a year and a half ago. Powered by batteries, the chair had a top speed of 15 mph. However, McIntosh had bigger plans for the recliner when the engine went bust. Instead of electric power, he purchased a four-stroke dirtbike engine that makes nine horsepower. Incidentally, the engine fit perfectly in the space where the electric engine formerly resided. In true performance fashion, the recliner is rear-wheel drive, and this time to both wheels. The journey from electric to gas power wasn’t entirely complete with that however. The recliner was pulling accidental 45-degree wheelies on its first outing. Extra weight was needed, so McIntosh added 30 pounds to the rear of the kart, as well as a roll bar and harness. Also a dirtbike engine can generate a lot of heat, and one under the seat of a recliner it can be a dangerous proposition. To remedy the problem, McIntosh rerouted the glowing hot exhaust pipe and covered it in a fireproof wrapping. Crisis averted. The result is a gas-powered recliner that now goes up to 40 mph, all for about $1,000. Related posts: UK Government Funds Jet Turbine-Powered Jaguar-Land Rover EVs Nissan powered ’67 Mustang to appear in F&F: Tokyo Drift So, Where is GM’s Fuel Cell-Powered Car? View original post here: College Student Builds $1,000 Gas Powered Recliner

Daimler’s breadwinner, Mercedes-Benz, has been able to present a lot of new models recently, starting with the renewed C-Class, the C-Class Coupe and its accompanying AMG variant, and last but not the least, the SLK hardtop roadster. Now, news has spread that the German manufacturer is planning to roll out another round of new models beginning with the next-generation M-Class SUV. Want proof? Well, here are some spy photos courtesy of a reader of Carscoop . Gal Leibovici was able to snap these pictures while he was in Germany during a trip. He was able to capture on camera what could possibly be the prototype M-Class on two very different days. The first time that spy photos of the 2012 M-Class came about, the SUV was prepped up with bodywork from AMG. Underneath its hood purred a 5.5-liter V8 that is reportedly capable of more or less 530 horsepower. News is that the next M-Class will be offered with Mercedes-Benz’s newest line of gasoline engines, two to be exact – the 3.5-liter V6 and the 4.6-liter V8. Of course, there will be a variant powered by a V6 diesel, whilst forecasts of a hybrid model aren’t too farfetched either. So watch out for the Frankfurt Motor Show, guys. That’s because that is where this baby is set to make its debut appearance in public. Source: Car Scoop Go here to read the rest: Spied in Germany: the next M-Class SUV

The federal government’s National Highway Traffic Administration (NHTSA) is looking into claims that the fuel gauges on many General Motors [NYSE: GM] sport-utility vehicles could be inaccurate. “Consumers have reported incidents of inaccurate and random fuel level reading while driving, resulting in the vehicle running out of fuel and causing… Here is the original post: Feds Investigating GM SUVs For Fuel-Gauge Issues

Bob Lutz's baby, the Chevrolet Volt at its concept debut The Volt is the future One of the most interesting characters in the auto industry, ever, is former GM vice chairman Bob Lutz. Love him or hate him he’s always candid, interesting and entertaining. And soon he’ll unload even more auto industry tales in a way only Lutz can in the book Car Guys vs Bean Counters: The Battle for the Soul of American Business. MotorTrend’s Angus Mackenzie recently offered up a summary of the book, particularly as it relates to the Chevy Volt , and in a nutshell the Volt is the future, at least as far as Lutz is concerned. “The skeptics, the pundits, the GM haters, and those who detest lithium-ion as a chemistry will all be dragged, however unwillingly, to the same conclusion,” Lutz writes. “Volt paved the way; Volt was the first with the extended-range EV concept; Volt demonstrated the will and the technological capability of General Motors. And to all the doubters, opponents, critics and skeptics… [including] Glenn Beck, I say: ‘Eat your hearts out. Volt is the future’.” And Angus seems to agree, citing the fact that BMW recently bought a Chevy Volt and hired former lead engineer of the Volt team, Frank Weber. Personally, I believe that calling the Volt “the future” is a bit of hyperbole, a very Lutz-ian habit. While, I have few doubts the Volt and the Voltecs powertrain will be part of the future, I believe pure hybrid and pure electric powertrains will be just as important, if not more important. Besides, it’ll probably be decades before one powertrain dominates the future as the ICE powertrain has dominated the last century, and there’ll be massive innovations, even multiple-changers during that time that could change everything. For now the Volt is a great option for those absolutely committed to reducing their foreign oil footprint, but whom also want the convenience of ignoring range anxiety and are willing to pay a little extra for this capability. Anyway, Car Guys vs Bean Counters: The Battle for the Soul of American Business, is due to be released June 9. I know I’ll be buying a copy. Source: MotorTrend See the rest here:  Bob Lutz stands by the Chevrolet Volt

Tuning company Project Kahn has come up with a wonderful idea to celebrate the Royal Wedding of Kate Middleton and Prince William. They’ve decided to give the royal couple a tribute to their wedding in the form of an adrenaline pumping Maybach 57 limousine, tuned of course. As you can see in the images, the car has been fitted with a “4 HRH” license plate which is short for “For His Royal Highness”. It’s a far cry from the traditional stamps, memorabilia and coins which are made to commemorate grand events. Modern times however demand a modern twist to show appreciation for Britain’s nobility, Project Kahn takes matters into their own hands with a masterpiece that is the Maybach 57. Wearing 22-inch Kahn RS’s and smoked taillights against a bespoke pearl white exterior, the Maybach 57 befits the royal couple perfectly in terms of admirable potential. Its interior has been blessed with some neat accessories such as an ultra lightweight golf umbrella, made even lighter by its carbon fiber shaft, plus a Kahn key ring. Project Kahn chief Afzal Kahn shares that his company “understands the meaning of travelling in style and with the conversion we perform on this prestige vehicle there is no more of a stylish way to travel. The 4 HRH number plate is worthy of befitting a vehicle such as the Project Kahn Maybach 57. And as a proud Englishman and designer, this is our way of wishing the royal couple many happy years together.” Well, let’s hope Kate and William do end up well. For now, check out their gift in the gallery below. Source: Car Scoop View original post here: Project Kahn creates Royal Wedding gift

As a car salesman in a former life, a third of my pre-owned customers refused to consider a car that had been a rental in a former life. They envisioned drivers abusing the car in ways I couldn’t even imagine. What they failed to realize is many rental cars are driven by busy executives, retirees, and families on vacation. These are people… Go here to see the original:  Would You Buy A Previous Rental Car?

Toyota president Akio Toyoda — scion of the Toyoda family for which the company is named — recently held a press conference on the subject of the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami that hit northern Japan on March 11. And in the middle of it all, in response to what could’ve been a pre-arranged question from someone in the audience, Toyoda launched… View original post here: Worried About Natural Disasters? Akio Toyoda Says Buy A Prius

Startup Sedans: Five perfectly respectable rides for up-and-comers establish a new standard for compact sedans. Even if two weeks’ worth of Maruchan ramen drains your savings account, there’s something about a rusting mid-’90s Accord on sagging springs that fails to inspire confidence among financial backers or real-estate agents. And when you and the missus are just starting out, you feel that need to be taken seriously more acutely than most. There are certainly cheaper new cars than the group gathered here, but—wrong as it may be—“cheap” is the only reputation many B-segment cars have. Keep Reading: 2011 Chevrolet Cruze LT vs. 2012 Ford Focus SEL, 2011 Hyundai Elantra Limited, 2011 Mazda 3 s Sport, 2011 Volkswagen Jetta 2.5 SEL – Comparison Tests Excerpt from: 2011 Chevrolet Cruze LT vs. 2012 Ford Focus SEL, 2011 Hyundai Elantra Limited, 2011 Mazda 3 s Sport, 2011 Volkswagen Jetta 2.5 SEL – Comparison Tests Continued here:  2011 Chevrolet Cruze LT vs. 2012 Ford Focus SEL, 2011 Hyundai Elantra Limited, 2011 Mazda 3 s Sport, 2011 Volkswagen Jetta 2.5 SEL – Comparison Tests

A couple of paint-and-tape jobs stretch the Gallardo lineup. In the seven years since our first Lamborghini Gallardo test, the factory has produced some 10,000 copies. Compared with, say, a Honda Accord—about 6000 sold last week —that number is paltry enough to qualify each Gallardo as special. Keep Reading: 2011 Lamborghini Gallardo Bicolore LP550-2 and 2012 Gallardo LP570-4 Spyder Performante – First Drive Review View post: 2011 Lamborghini Gallardo Bicolore LP550-2 and 2012 Gallardo LP570-4 Spyder Performante – First Drive Review See the original post: 2011 Lamborghini Gallardo Bicolore LP550-2 and 2012 Gallardo LP570-4 Spyder Performante – First Drive Review

Back in February, Inside Muscle Car listed the top five movie and TV muscle cars that should be made into a production special edition. One of them was a new Dodge Challenger based on the white 1970 model driven in the movie Vanishing Point, the made-for-TV remake. The movie featured some great chase scenes and has become a cult classic, mostly… Read more:  Dealer Makes Kowalski Edition Challenger For Mopar Fans

There’s been a lot of discussion the past few weeks about gas prices and the effect they’re having on vehicle sales. One the one hand, we’ve seen studies indicating that fuel efficiency is now the leading factor in new car purchases — data that jibes pretty well with the increased popularity of fuel-efficient cars during the 2008 gas spike. On… Read the rest here: High Gas Prices Mean More Scooters On The Road — But Are They Right For You?

2011 Cadillac CTS Coupé Ever since Cadillac debuted the suave rear-wheel-drive Sixteen concept way back in 2003, rumours have been flying around suggesting the marque will put it into production. However, those comments were swiftly subdued by GM. Now the rumours are alive again. Despite gossip regarding the platform will be a long-wheelbase Zeta architecture, reports out of the U.S suggest Cadillac will utilise a special standalone architecture, dubbed “Omega.” Internal sources state that six and eight-cylinder petrol engines will be used, alongside all-wheel-drive. While a diesel engines have been ruled out, a hybrid set-up may be possible. Whether the sources were talking about the XTS concept – which will reach production sometime in 2013 – we don’t know as apparently the Sixteen will rival the Audi A8 , Mercedes S-Class , BMW 7 Series, and Lexus LS. Another set of insiders say the car will compete with the Rolls-Royce Phantom and Bentley Flying Spur, which sounds more suitable. While it sounds more like the latter, look out for a £130,000 ($217,000) price tag and a launch date of beyond 2015. Read the original here: Cadillac working on rear-wheel-drive range-topping sedan Original post:  Cadillac working on rear-wheel-drive range-topping sedan

Without a doubt, BMW has hit the jackpot with the new 1M. The limited production numbers, the positive drive reviews and the back-to-roots angle, has made the new “baby-M” one of the most desirable BMWs in 2011. In the U.S., initial production numbers were said to be around 600 units, but first allocations released to dealerships showed a lower number of 1Ms being produced. We learned from BMW that the production will ramp up in the upcoming months and the number of production slots for the U.S. may increase. Initial reports show that dealerships are getting 1 to 2 units at the moment, and some of the stores are only getting them later this fall. Clearly, the high demand and the “hotness” of this car have created a shortage at the moment and U.S. buyers are struggling to find available units in their state, and sometimes, outside their area. This applies to BMWBLOG as well. Even though we are Chicago-based, we ended up going out of our “comfort zone”, all the way to New Jersey where JMK BMW secured a May production for us. With this backstory in mind, we would like to use our reach in the BMW world and try to connect potential buyers with BMW dealerships that still have unsold 1M models. The idea is simple. Potential Buyers If you are interested to buy an 1M, please leave a note in the comments section below, including the state and the timeframe when you would like to purchase the 1M. If you would like to have your information private, feel free to fill out the form below. Loading… U.S. Dealerships If you are reading this article, and many of you do, please indicate in the same comments section below if you have any units available and the city and state you’re located in. Same as above, if you would like this information to be private, fill out the form below. Loading… Our goal is to simply connect the two parties and give back to the community; BMWBLOG does not benefit in any way from this and we have NOT receive any incentives from BMW dealerships. . View original here:  Looking for an 1M? Connect with U.S. BMW dealerships