Are the Big Three innovative enough to rethink mobility? Is it easier to maintain the status quo? Great corporations, at least from a shareholder’s perspective, provide great corporate guidance, enabling them to meet or beat most quarterly expectations. Consequently, it often seems that an in-ordinary amount of corporate attention is focused on quarterly statements rather than the future. But, is this corporate mindset the best environment for innovation, especially innovations that might lead to very disruptive technologies and business models? Can automakers truly embrace out-of-the-box thinking when it comes to automotive change? Recently, a report by AutoPOLIS suggested that the future of mobility must be decoupled from GDP. Coming off the heals of a major US government takeover of a huge chunk of the US auto industry, this line of thinking doesn’t seem terribly far-fetched. But that wasn’t even the point of the AutoPOLIS decoupling theory. Instead, the massive growth predicted for the future of auto sales throughout the world will simply become unsustainable. The world already has a hard enough time managing billions of people, and billions of cars will be even worse according to AutoPOLIS. Thus, a new business model for mobility must be embraced, and the sooner the better. Of course, Big 3 companies aren’t rushing into China’s exploding auto market to redefine the automobile, they are rushing there for sales – Chinese auto sale’s growth is already written in to next quarter’s guidance, duh. Unfortunately, with so much focus on sales and guidance, can the Big 3 – as well as most of the rest of the established auto industry – be the driver of new business models, of game-changing disruptive technologies, in the automotive industry? What game-changing disruptive technologies? Better Place, for instance, believes the future of the auto-industry could be much more like owning a phone than a car. Rather than owning the costly battery in your plug-in, subscribers simply own an amount of energy or range. According to Better Place, this will be the key to cost-effective electrification. Why own an expensive battery-powered vehicle? Instead, own a much cheaper vehicle that includes a subscription...

To keep the masses gasping between the Aventador ’s March debut and its first deliveries in August, the Lamborghinis have offered up some video of a pair of LP700-4s gallivanting about the Italian countryside. Well, gallivanting some of the time. At other points, the red and white Italianate superdupercars are fairly tear-assing it for the cameras, rudely slashing through the majestic score with a twelve-cylinder Sant’Agata Stihl. Then again, Lamboghini’s very existence is predicated upon appealing to the baser instincts of the hoity-toits, so perhaps we’re not so far off the mark with the chainsaw reference. Dude from Jackyl probably wants one bad . See the rest here: Lamborghini Cries Havoc, Lets Slip the Video of Aventador See the original post:  Lamborghini Cries Havoc, Lets Slip the Video of Aventador

Next magazine to review the BMW 1M is UK-based CAR. The North American reviews will start to show up in mid-May, including ours, but our European counterparts managed to get their hands on the “baby-M” before anyone else. So is this another positive review? Here is the verdict first: “The 1-series M is a proper M car, no doubt. Sure, it’s different from what’s gone before, but different doesn’t mean it’s not as good. Our first experience of a proper turbocharged M Division machine has unveiled a 1-series with a character all its own. It’s definitely not a hotted-up 135i, and now we’re looking forward to the future of M.” And how did they get here? Has the 1M got the same engine as the 135i? Nope, the engine’s different too – but not unique to M. Outgoes the newer, single blower 3.0-litre straight six, and in its place is the older, twin-turbo 3.0-litre straight six from the Z4 sDrive 35iS. And it means the 1-series M Coupe is a different sort of M car, one that has low-down, almost-any-gear/any-rev gruns, and one that doesn’t need to be extended to an 8000rpm-plus redline to get the very best from it. The new forced induction philosophy means it’s much more urgent than an M3 in the bottom half of the rev range. And it sounds good too: way more convincing than a 135i, deep chested and damn mean. And it’s all controlled via a slick, short-throw six-speed manual. The M3’s dual-clutch M-DCT transmission isn’t an option, but it doesn’t matter – gone is the knuckly shift that’s plagued both BMW and M Division products in the 21st century. What else? BMW M is steadily improving its steering too. The M3 has taken a step forward since launch in 2007, the helm of the latest Competition Pack cars offering up more clarity to the driver, and the steering of the 1-series M is even crisper. But without the M3’s adaptive EDC dampers, the firm one-size-fits-all suspension means a fair bit of pitch and enough yaw to deflect you from your chosen path. And that extra low-down oomph means less provocation is needed to send yourself slewing sideways, but despite that M diff it’s a little trickier on the limit that expected. Full review at CarMagazine . Here is the original post: Car Magazine drives the BMW 1M

Winter routinely takes a toll on cars and motorists. This passing season was no exception as few North American residents were spared from the blitz of snow and frigid weather. Battling reduced vision of snowdrifts, jumping the slush-filled walkways, enduring those first few minutes of sitting inside of a cold car seat, these loathed moments of winter driving is slowly melting. Surviving inclement weather conditions of the year’s coldest months, it is an ideal time to recover within a pristine driving climate. Commonly associating spring-cleaning with our homes, this time of year is also a great time to address your neglected vehicle. Taking care of more crucial maintenance matters first, the first step embracing the spring season involves insuring mechanicals are in check. If you are one of the many northernmost drivers opting for the safety and control of winter tires, think about changing rubber as we enter a more hospitable climate. Since winter tires are given a softer construction to aid in cold weather traction where summer or all-season tire rubber would lose elasticity. However, once weather warms, excessive driving on winter tires can wear more rapidly. Requiring skilled planning as well as a little luck from Mother Nature, many motorists will opt for changing from winter to summer tires at the end of April. During regular vehicle maintenance, one aspect of an automobile requires special attention. Entering into hotter days, heat wears heavily on an automobile’s engine. For this reason, it is important to be sure your vehicle’s cooling system is ready to resist potential disaster. To start checking coolant levels, open the hood and find the engine coolant reservoir. The reservoir is often semi-transparent with level markings indicating the ideal fluid amount. If system needs filling up to levels, promptly refill with the mixture the auto manufacturer suggests. Taking care of the mechanicals, an automobile next earns a suitable detailing inside and out. While car washes and other detailing centers are available yearlong, some car owners allow the three month-plus time period of winter chooses to not use these services due to cost and potential of damage. Thoroughly wash over the entire exterior of the vehicle with water and/or a respected automotive...

Integration of Pandora® internet radio service enabled on all MY 2011 BMWs equipped with BMW Apps option BMW integration available with latest version of free Pandora® iPhone app BMW Drivers operate Pandora® using existing vehicle controls Woodcliff Lake, NJ – April 28, 2011… BMW of North America announced today that the free Pandora® internet radio iPhone app, the first third party app approved for the new BMW Apps feature, is now live and available for download at www.itunes.com/appstore. Beginning today, all MY 2011 and 2012 BMW vehicles equipped with the BMW Apps option will be able to stream Pandora internet radio through the iPhone app. Once the iPhone is connected to the vehicle, the Pandora personalized radio functions are operated by the vehicle’s existing controls. The Pandora integration, like the BMW Connected app features, is seamless. Popular Pandora features available to MY 2011 BMW drivers include the abilities easily access existing stations, create new stations, thumb-up or thumb-down tracks, and bookmark songs. “The seamless integration of a highly desired service like Pandora demonstrates the enormous potential of the new BMW Apps,” said Stephan Durach, Director of the BMW Group Technology Office. “We are pleased that we are able to partner with Pandora in order to now offer this function across the BMW product range in a way that is simple to access and safer to operate.” “We’re excited that BMW is making Pandora available to customers across its full range of vehicles and that drivers will be able to tune into their personalized radio stations from the road,” said Jessica Steel, Executive Vice President of Business Development for Pandora. Customers can download the BMW Connected iPhone app, which is also available for free from the Apple App Store. The flexible design of BMW Apps allows unprecedented integration of smartphone functions, taking the in-car integration of iPhone, entertainment and online functions to a whole new level. BMW Apps adopts the familiar BMW display and controls to ensure that all functions can be operated comfortably, simply, safely and intuitively while minimizing driver distraction. The iPhone is linked to the car either via USB cable or through the center armrest with an available...

Fans of the movie Vanishing Point will recall that a ’70 Dodge Challenger R/T was the ride of choice for Kowalski, the movie’s one-named hero. Well, one Dodge dealer has decided to pay homage to the film and the car by building a very limited-edition replica with the current Challenger. By very limited, we mean all are spoken for. Sorry. The… Here is the original:  Dodge Dealer Builds Kowalski Edition Challenger SRT8 392

As a former car salesman, I was surprised at how often customers brought their trades in for evaluation, still subject to a list of recalls that had not been completed. Car owners usually receive written notice from their automobile manufacturer telling them to bring their vehicle to a dealership for a free repair of a recognized safety issue… Original post: Vehicle Safety Recalls: Get Them Done, And Be Safe

The Britax Chaperone and Advocate 70 CS car seats provide the absolute highest level of safety for your kids while driving More here: Britax Chaperone and Advocate 70 CS Car Seats

The ActiveE, BMW’s first-ever full-electric road vehicle made its North American debut at the 2011 New York Auto Show. Similar to the MINI E, ActiveE field trial begins first in the United States when later this fall, selected consumers will have the opportunity to take over a 24-months lease offered by BMWNA at a monthly price of $499 with a down payment of $2,250. ActiveE represents BMW’s last step before the new “i” sub-brand will launch in 2013. Several key technologies tested during the ActiveE trials will make their way into the first Megacity car, the i3. To create an open dialogue between potential buyers, fans of the brands and the company, BMW hosted another episode of their BMW Conversations series. From the NYC auto show floor, Tom Plucinsky, Manager BMWNA Communications, and Rich Steinberg, Manager, Electric Vehicle Operations and Strategy at BMWNA, took the time to address some of the questions posed by the online readers. What makes this electric car unique? Is it right for me? How does it charge? How fast can it go? These and more in the video below. Original post: BMW Conversations: ActiveE Live Q&A

BMW announced today that its South Carolina plant has increased its ranking to No. 4 on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) Top 20 On-site Generation list of the largest green power users. In 2010, through BMW’s on-site landfill gas energy system, the company generated nearly 62 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of power. This represents about 37% of the company’s overall electricity use, the highest usage percentage of the EPA’s top 10 Green Power Partners. It also underscores the company’s decision to exchange the traditional sources of electricity generation in support of cleaner, renewable energy alternatives. “This achievement confirms our company’s commitment to protecting the environment and continual implementation of sustainable methods of capturing renewable energy, including our landfill gas program,” said Josef Kerscher, President of BMW Manufacturing. Since 2003, methane gas has been collected, cleaned and compressed from a local landfill and used to power more than 50% of the BMW plant’s total energy requirements. In 2009, the company invested $12 million in its landfill gas program to further improve overall efficiency. Implementation of the program has reduced CO2 emissions by about 92,000 tons per year and saves about $5 million annually in energy costs. More recently, the company announced the addition of a hydrogen storage and distribution center within their on-site 11 Megawatt Energy Center to facilitate on-site fueling of a hydrogen-fuel cell material handling fleet inside the new 1.2 million square foot assembly plant that produces the all-new BMW X3 Sports Activity Vehicle. “BMW Manufacturing is leading the way by using renewable energy sources,” said Elizabeth Craig, EPA Acting Director of the Office of Atmospheric Programs. “Their actions are helping to protect air quality and green our power supply.” According to the Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes, the BMW Group is currently the world’s most sustainable automobile manufacturer. In 2010, the company was named industry leader in this important global sustainability index for the sixth consecutive year. Earlier this week, the EPA updated each of its National Top Partner lists, highlighting some of America’s largest green...

Step 1 – Ordering Your BMW It was only a short time ago that Horatiu, my friend and Editor-in-Chief called me with exciting news: we’re going to Germany. But this isn’t another trip to an International auto show, or tour of BMW’s head quarters or manufacturing facilities; this is a trip to pick up a dream car – BMW’s new 1M. As you can imagine, my ears were somewhat perked, and at the mention of the ‘N’ word (Nurburgring), I was into a full fledged salivation and drool-fest, usually indicative of rabies. Just the thought of wringing out an M car on the famed German racetrack is enough to get most enthusiasts’ hearts pumping. Of course there is more to this process than meets the eye – a little bit of foot-work is required behind the scenes, and that is exactly what this series of articles is purposed to layout: the European Delivery Process . Step one happens somewhere in your heart. The point at which you finally decide to ‘pull the trigger’ and purchase a new BMW. Once that decision has been made, it’s time to consider how you will take delivery of your new car. There is the traditional way: pick it up from the local dealership, drive home, and savor. Or the bold and adventurous way: experience the European road trip of a lifetime, unleash on the Autobahn, drive home, and savor. Now that I have your attention, let’s get into the nitty gritty. Once you’ve chosen which vehicle and options you will purchase, it’s time to head down to your local BMW dealership to complete paperwork. The typical vehicle purchasing documents will be filled and signed, and a deposit will likely be required by the dealership. Now it’s time to talk about a delivery date from BMW’s famed BMW Welt. The amount of time required before your vehicle is built and ready for pickup from the factory in Munich will depend on several factors, including its popularity, speed of production, and how many others are ahead of you in line. In BMWBLOG’s case, the vehicle was purchased with Manny Antunes at JMK BMW dealership on April 7th, 2011, and an assigned pickup date of June 21st was arranged. The 1M is a limited production car, and requires a bit of M specific tender loving care along...

Cadillac’s SUV line is a huge success story. Whether or not we like it, buyers are snatching up the new SRX, and the Escalade remains one of the country’s most recognizable automotive status symbols. It’s not surprising, then, that the company is looking to expand its SUV family. Jim Vurpillat, Cadillac’s global marketing chief, tells us that there is room in the portfolio for another SUV to slot in between the SRX and the Escalade. The SRX got smaller in its second generation, leaving room for another model in the $50–60K range. This model, according to our industry sources, likely will be based on the GM Lambda platform, which serves as the basis for the Chevrolet Traverse, GMC Acadia, and Buick Enclave. Like those vehicles, it will probably offer three rows of seating, but that doesn’t mean it will replace the Escalade. Frankly, it couldn’t: The Lambda platform is front- or all-wheel drive and powered by V-6 engines—even a turbocharged four is possible. The customer base of the current Escalade, on the other hand, is as loyal as it is affluent, which means Cadillac’s big body-on-frame SUV will get a truck-based successor that could be limited to an annual output of a few thousand high-priced and high-powered units. In the past, the Chevy and GMC Suburbans were referred to as “Texas Cadillacs.” Now that Cadillac has established its own full-size icon, it is smart to stay committed to its evolution. Meanwhile, those who want better fuel economy will be able to choose the Lambda crossover, which could get a three-letter nameplate like the rest of the Cadillac line or could, like the Escalade EXT and ESV , be branded as a member of the Slade family. See the rest here: Cadillac to Get Another Three-Row SUV, Keep Escalade See the original post here:  Cadillac to Get Another Three-Row SUV, Keep Escalade

The Shanghai Motor Show is closing its doors this week and the biggest Chinese event of the year is shaping up to become one of the most important automotive shows of the year. With the Chinese market continuing its accelerated growth, automakers turn their attention to the “new” market and develop products that appeal or are sold only to Chinese customers. BMW is one of these companies and this year’s auto show represents their biggest investment into an Asian motor show. With an impressive exhibit featuring several new and existing models, BMW made the statement of how important this market has become for them. As world premieres, BMW showcased the new F10 M5 Concept, a vehicle that was previously unveiled only to a small group of journalists in Munich. While U.S. remains, for now, their biggest M market, the Asian customers’ appeal for M products needs to be addressed, and the F10 M5 was one of the most exciting vehicles at the show. Addressing a smaller niche, the enthusiasts one, BMW also brought out the 1M in Valencia Orange, the “baby-M” that runs in low production numbers and sold out in many markets. Next, we have the world premiere of the 6 Series Coupe, the redesigned, elegant high-end coupe that also debuted at the NYC auto show. The Vermilion Red Metallic 6er with full-LED treatment was one of the stars at their exhibit. Luxury plays an important role in the life of new upper class in China, therefore BMW showcased the ActiveHybrid 7 Steinway & Sons . ConnectedDrive and mobility of the future was tied to the new Vision ConnectedDrive Concept, the same vechile showcased for the first time in Geneva. Since we mentioned mobility of the future, BMW and Brilliance Automotive displayed their 5 Series New Energy Vehicle, a long wheelbase 5 Series driven by an electric setup. Last but not least, another star of the show came from Mercedes-Benz: Concept A-Class. The impressive study is said to replace the A-Class lineup in 2012 and to appeal to a younger demographic. In 2012, the Chinese motor show of the year will take place in Beijing. [Source: BimmerToday ] View original here: Exclusive Photos: BMW at the Shanghai Motor Show 2011

As we prepare for our BMW European Delivery this summer, we thought it would be useful to remind how exciting this buying process can be. In a following post today, we will describe our pre-ordering experience of the 1M and some details before the pick-up date at the Welt. But for now, we wanted to share with you some exciting photos of a BMW M3 E93 Convertible with the Dakar Yellow II Individual paint. The car was picked up in Munich by “danik”, a member of m3post . The price to be unique? $5,000 for each color in the Individual catalog. We’re not sure if this is the first M3 Convertible in Dakar Yellow to appear on U.S. roads, but certainly not the first M3 we have seen. IND-Distribution added an M3 Coupe Dakar Yellow in their portfolio in 2009, followed a year later by another one at South Bay BMW. The photos seen below really don’t do any justice to this unique paint job, the color is far more attractive in person, vibrant and eye-catching. Adding some blacked out wheels and kidney grille to the car will really make a nice contrast with the special yellow. To make the European Delivery process even more special, BMW decided to place the upcoming i8, in disguised, unfinished form, on the floor at the Welt. Enjoy the photos! Read the rest here:  European Delivery: BMW M3 E93 Convertible in Dakar Yellow II

Audi Urban Future Initiative Exhibit in New York City Audi continues to think about the future and how their cars will fit in with the future – especially the urban landscape.  Remember when people were clamoring to buy those huge, gas-guzzling SUVs?   I don’t see this happening in the future.  As long as gas continues to rise, cities continue to grow, and car manufacturers continue to make SUVs with low miles per gallon, the demand for smaller SUVs will emerge…and Audi has seen the window of opportunity. Audi is marketing the Q3 as a “lifestyle” crossover, hoping to capture the attention of urbanites who want the feel of a sports car, but want more cargo space than a sedan. Here is a video that gives us an overview of the Audi Q3… Speaking of urban, the “Audi Urban Future: Project New York” initiative has been launched which will bring together different perspectives and visions of future transportation in urban areas. A 50-foot interactive exhibit will debut in New York City at the Openhouse Gallery, May 7 through 9. This exhibit features concepts of five emerging NYC-based architects and offers a glimpse into what the city of the future could look like. I like how Audi continues to tap into the creativity of artists and designers in the community.   To find out more about the Audi Urban Future Initiative, visit www.audi-urban-future-initiative.com . View original post here: Audi Going Urban