Click to enlarge It’s time to present this week’s shifter, and because of the holiday weekend we are bumping our normal Name That Shifter schedule back one day. You’ll have until mid-day Thursday to identify the make and model of the vehicle from whence this shifter came. The first person to respond correctly in the Backfires section below will win a Save the Manuals button and sticker. Good luck! Originally posted here: Name That Shifter, No. 26 View original post here: Name That Shifter, No. 26

The F-Cell World Drive is nearly home, having most recenlty crossed Russia & Scandinavia Read the rest here:  2011 Mercedes-Benz F-Cell World Drive Nearly Home

Ahead of its M Festival debut, the new 2012 BMW M5 is teasing us once again. An M5 test mule was filmed during high-speed testing at the Nardò Ring in the south of Italy, an important part of the new BMW M5′s development program. Between June 23 and 26th, 2011, BMW will host an M Festival to celebrate the 24hr race at the Nurburgring race track. On this occasion, BMW invites fans around the world to have a look behind the scenes at the famous race and also visit the playground where every M car is developed and tested. Also, the new M5 and M3 EVO will be officially introduced. Full details around the powerplant remain unknown, but we learned in the past that the 2012 BMW M5 is powered by an updated version of the S63 engine found in the BMW X5 M and X6 M. The 4.4-liter V8 twin-scroll powerplant will peak at somewhere in the 570-horsepower range and 530 lb-ft of torque. The 0-62 mph dash should take about 4.4 seconds, The updated unit delivers both performance and efficiency significantly increased in comparison to the previous engine. Numerous drivetrain innovations and other enhancements have lead to a reduction in fuel consumption and emission levels by more than 25 percent. The new engine is mated mated to a 7-speed M double-clutch transmission with Drivelogic. The combination of the new engine with M Drivelogic is supplemented by an Auto Start Stop function. A manual option will be offered for US customers. The super sporty sedan goes on sale in early 2012 and it is rumored to have a base price around $100,000 mark. View original post here:  2012 BMW M5 – New Teaser

Nico Rosberg finished outside of the points in 11th place and Michael Schumacher retired on lap 33 in Monaco See original here:  MERCEDES GP PETRONAS: F1 Monaco Grand Prix Race Results

I swore off turbo-charged cars after the mid 1980s, I’d had enough of the lag until 3500 RPM and then the boost would come on with a rush (though it was fun), the nasty side affects of a turbo-charged FWD car pulling wildly under power when exiting corners, and the all-around amateur feel of the OEM turbo-chargers on affordable cars of that era. And then the siren song of the N54 bit me . . . Twenty years after my last turbo-charged car, I bought another. This one equipped with BMW’s N54B30 (‘N’ is for ‘New’, 5 = the cylinder count (no, it’s not 5, but because 8 cylinders is represented by BMW as a ’6′, then 6 cylinders has got to be something else, in this case ’5′), ‘B’ = ‘Benzine’, and ’30′ = displacement in deciliters). It also employs direct gasoline injection and two tiny turbo chargers in parallel. If there’s one knock on this type of turbo setup, it’s that the twin turbos have to be throttled back at higher engine RPMs in order to avoid spinning themselves to death. Those little turbos have to spin much too quickly at higher engine RPM to produce the same boost pressures they did at lower RPM. And that’s why the torque curve on the N54B30 is a tall mesa between 1400 – 5000 RPM, but falls off the face of the earth afterwards. BMW TwinPower Turbo shown here So, how can that be fixed, we’ll take an approach known as compound supercharging. In this case, utilize the two small turbos for low RPM operation and employ a third turbocharger for higher RPM operation. A BMW tri-turbo engine can be done in a couple of ways. One is to plumb the turbos to operate sequentially. This will run the smaller turbos up to a specific engine RPM, boost level where a transition to the third turbo will take place and the intake track is supplied from the output of the bigger, third turbocharger at high RPM. The drawback to this system is the Rube Goldberg plumbing necessary to make it work (and the system tweaking needed to make sure the transition is seamless). Another way of accomplishing it is through staged turbo-charging. This would use two turbos (or a combination thereof) of similar size to provide a multiplying effect on boost. If the first (set...

Established in 1911 as sweepstakes race for motor vehicles, the Indianapolis 500 was held to demonstrate through competition the incredible progress of the still-infant automobile. As vehicles like the Ford Model T began to introduce the mainstream American public to the thrill of motoring, imagine the amazement of the first Indianapolis 500 fans as cars manoeuvred around the 2.5 mile, rectangular-shaped track achieving speeds over 80 miles per hour a lap. A Marmon Wasp crossed the line first in the 1911 Indy 500 establishing the Marmon Motor Car Company with important publicity. In fact, several participating automakers benefited from the early promotion. Unfortunately for early automotive manufacturers, which included the Marmon Motor Car Company, the automotive marketplace would be an endurance test they were unable to win. Case, Knox, National and Lozier are a few of the names that competed in the inaugural Indy 500 that would not exist past the 1920s. One automaker who endured the stresses of the 500-mile race and the 100 years of market pressures was Buick. A General Motors brand just recently enjoying resurgence, the younger Buick was significant in bringing another soon-to-be important name to American motorists. Driving a #16 Buick, a Swiss expatriate named Arthur Chevrolet started 14th in the 1911 Indianapolis 500. Though Arthur Chevrolet’s effort in the race ended with a mechanical problem after 30 laps, the surname would gain prominence in less than six months following the Indy 500. Arthur’s older brother Louis had made a business contact with early automobile magnate William Durant. Together the automaker Chevrolet was created. As the Indianapolis 500 marked 100 years as America’s top motorsport event, 2011 is also the centennial for another United States automotive staple. Both iconic to past as well as current motoring culture, Chevrolet and the Indianapolis 500 share a closely-knit existence. In the early years, Chevrolet at the Indy 500 would be found on the driver sheets. All three Chevrolet brothers Arthur, Louis and Gaston would drive at the speedway. Youngest brother Gaston Chevrolet would win the 1920 Indianapolis 500 race achieving the most successful result. Sadly, Gaston would die in November of that year at the wooden track called...

Established in 1911 as sweepstakes race for motor vehicles, the Indianapolis 500 was held to demonstrate through competition the incredible progress of the still-infant automobile. As vehicles like the Ford Model T began to introduce the mainstream American public to the thrill of motoring, imagine the amazement of the first Indianapolis 500 fans as cars manoeuvred around the 2.5 mile, rectangular-shaped track achieving speeds over 80 miles per hour a lap. A Marmon Wasp crossed the line first in the 1911 Indy 500 establishing the Marmon Motor Car Company with important publicity. In fact, several participating automakers benefited from the early promotion. Unfortunately for early automotive manufacturers, which included the Marmon Motor Car Company, the automotive marketplace would be an endurance test they were unable to win. Case, Knox, National and Lozier are a few of the names that competed in the inaugural Indy 500 that would not exist past the 1920s. One automaker who endured the stresses of the 500-mile race and the 100 years of market pressures was Buick. A General Motors brand just recently enjoying resurgence, the younger Buick was significant in bringing another soon-to-be important name to American motorists. Driving a #16 Buick, a Swiss expatriate named Arthur Chevrolet started 14th in the 1911 Indianapolis 500. Though Arthur Chevrolet’s effort in the race ended with a mechanical problem after 30 laps, the surname would gain prominence in less than six months following the Indy 500. Arthur’s older brother Louis had made a business contact with early automobile magnate William Durant. Together the automaker Chevrolet was created. As the Indianapolis 500 marked 100 years as America’s top motorsport event, 2011 is also the centennial for another United States automotive staple. Both iconic to past as well as current motoring culture, Chevrolet and the Indianapolis 500 share a closely-knit existence. In the early years, Chevrolet at the Indy 500 would be found on the driver sheets. All three Chevrolet brothers Arthur, Louis and Gaston would drive at the speedway. Youngest brother Gaston Chevrolet would win the 1920 Indianapolis 500 race achieving the most successful result. Sadly, Gaston would die in November of that year at the wooden track called...

New spy photos from Landshut reveal to us the yet-to-be introduced BMW 6 Series Convertible with M Sport Package. The high-end cabriolet made its official debut earlier this year, with US press test drives taking place in Cabo, Mexico back in April. The car spied also features the Imola Red Metallic color, paint not available to order at the moment. In addition, the test mule sports the new LED-lightning units and a new set of alloy wheels. The 20-inch double-spoke 373 M are offered as an alternative to the 19-inch 351 M. At the front-end, the 6 Series Convertible gets the usual M-Sport Pack treatment with an aggressive bumper that incorporates larger air inlets. In the back, a set of dark chrome exhaust pipes reflect the sportier package available on the car. As usual, the M Sport Package also include various components for the interior cabin, including the M Sport steering wheel with shift paddles. Full details and photos will be revealed in a few weeks. [Source: BimmerToday ] Go here to see the original:  Exclusive: BMW 6 Series M Sport Package in Imola Red color

Munich, Germany – The last stop for me on Innovation Day was a walk from the FIZ on BMW-Allee to the BMW Classic facility. Located on Schleissheimerstrasse, the multi-story building houses pieces of the BMW collection that are not on display in the museum, corporate archives, and vehicle workshops. BMW Classic used to be called BMW Mobile Tradition and it was primarily an in-house restorer and maintainer of BMWs owned by the corporation. That role has changed however. As appears in the BMW Classic press release, “BMW Group Classic coordinates all the activities of the BMW Group which are associated with the history of the company, its products and three brands. The relevant classic activities of BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce are unified under the auspices of BMW Group Classic. The platform is formed by the classic mainstays of museum, archives, club support and the BMW Centre, as well as event organisation and specific classic communication. Classics from the BMW Group’s own collection are not simply housed in the museum, they are on the road at events throughout the world. “The BMW Classic Centre has been available for friends of the BMW brand since autumn 2008. The big advantage for customers who take their vehicle to the original manufacturer is complete service from a single source. The Classic Centre possesses the theoretical knowledge of the vehicles, the technical know-how, the original BMW parts and the infrastructure necessary to integrate all these aspects systematically. Classics in immaculate condition have been sold since autumn 2010 alongside the service and restoration activities. ” So they now work on customer vehicles. And they have the resources to do that are better than any independent shop. They have the technicians, the parts, and the know-how (including their extensive archives) to restore pre-war, and more frequently, post-war BMWs. While the facility in Munich is limited in total space, they are rolling out the notion of a project “Customer Workshop” in other locations around the world in conjunction with top flight local facilities. And they not only work on classic road going cars and motorcycles, but racing vehicles also. But that building on Schleissheimer Strasse is still the heart of the enterprise. Herr Florian Moser was...

Rendering day here in the BMW world and the latest computer generated image attempts to portray the future BMW 2 Series. Confirmed last week by BMWBLOG with the help of inside sources, the new 2 Series will be the host of the upcoming 1 Series Coupe and Convertible models. The upscale 1er cars will join the 2 Series family and will go through a name change. In 2010, BMW has filed for U.S. trademarks for 2 Series model designation. BMW reserved the trademark applications for the monikers 228, 230, and 235, similar to the 3 Series family designation. While BMW is known for filling far in advance for multiple trademarks and naming conventions, and some of them are never used, this time the new BMW badge will host the upcoming redesigned F32 1 Series Coupe and F33 Convertible. In order to separate the performance and sportier body shape of the Coupe and Cabrio, BMW will rename the cars as the 2 Series, bypassing the need for overcrowding with the segment of the new 1er Hatch. The 2 Series showcases some new design movement with further progressive sporting interpretation of the hatch. The Cabrio model will continue offering a soft-top roof and clean design lines without compromising looks and performance. Following the steps of the current 1 Series Coupe and Convertible, the new 2 Series family will make its way onto the U.S. soil, with the 1 Series Hatchback remaining an European-only model. A rumored BMW M2 is said to be part of BMW’s plans, but a market launch won’t take place before 2014. Continued here: Rendering: BMW 2 Series Coupe

Mercedes-Benz officially unveiled their super sports car, the 2012 SLS AMG Roadster ahead of its Frankfurt debut View original here: 2012 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Roadster Officially Unveiled

Along with the first reports on a future BMW 4 Series, here come the first renderings of the rumored new 4 Series family. Similar to the 6 Series offerings, the 4er models will fit between the 3 and 5 Series and will feature a coupe-like look. By offering a higher positioned coupe, BMW will compete on the market with Audi and Mercedes, which is said to introduce a smaller SLS model. The new 4 Series will also allow BMW to price the vehicle slightly higher, at a premium price. The overall dynamic design would appeal to a younger demographic as well and will be a viable alternative to the high-end 6 Series Coupe. Beside the coupe and convertible variants, a four-dour coupe type of vehicle might be introduced as well. The new 4 Series will also allow BMW to price the vehicle slightly higher, at a premium price. The 4 Series Gran Coupe is said to compete with the A5 Sportback and it will feature a coupe-like roof line. The F35 4 Series Gran Coup e is said to launch in 2015, while the F33 and F34 3er Coupe and Convertible will come to market in 2013. [Source: Autobild via GCF ] Originally posted here: Renderings: BMW 4 Series Coupe and Convertible

The VÄTH SLS g accelerates to a sprint from zero to 100 km/h is completed in just 3.6 seconds Excerpt from: Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG by German Tuner VÄTH

Long one of our fuel economy kings, the Jetta TDI enters 2011 facing a few hurdles. In our test of the redesigned gas-version with the 2.5-liter engine, we were particularly disappointed with the Jetta’s cheapness. We also found that its handling, steering, braking, noise, and interior fit and finish took several steps backwards from the model it replaced. Our $25,100 TDI (equipped with a six-speed DSG transmission as well as alloy wheels, Bluetooth, a moonroof, and VW’s touch screen radio-features lacking in our Jetta SE) does have at least one trump card in its back pocket: previous tests of VW diesels have shown amazing fuel economy numbers, especially on highway cruising. But do the sins we found in the standard model also appear on the diesel version? Stay tuned as we rack up the miles and get an idea of whether or not the Jetta sequel is better than the original. See more here:  Just in: Volkswagen Jetta TDI

BMW’s largest on-off SUV has been at the centre of talk in both Munich, Germany and South Carolina, U.S as the luxury marque decides on whether it will be green-lighted for production. A new report now suggests the large three-row SUV may make production. Codenamed F17, the project is under serious consideration as BMW assesses at how popular it would be in China, the firms most moneymaking long-term market. Additionally, BMW will keep an eye on Audi as it schedules an SUV larger than the current Q7, which will offer more interior space. The large X5 SUV underpins the current 5-Series The F17 would arrive just before the next-generation X5 SUV, which is due sometime in 2016. The company could make the upcoming X7 lighter and more fuel-efficient than the current X5 by using the current 5-Series ‘ architecture, which can sport AWD. BMW’s fantasy of having a three-row SUV comes from Mercedes when it launched the ML-Class back in 1998. BMW previously cancelled the F17 in 2008 over high fuel prices. The rest is here: BMW reportedly green-lights X7 again Read more: BMW reportedly green-lights X7 again