The advertising battle between Audi and BMW continues with a new episode. The unofficial online ad duel started in 2009 when we first and exclusively reported on Audi and BMW billboard s placed in Los Angeles. Coined by us at the time as the “Billboards War”, the content spread virally all over the web and print publications. Over the months to come, Audi continued their aggressive marketing campaigns and majority of their ads and videos would poke fun at the competitors, and most of the time, mainly against BMW. So it comes as no surprise that the latest Audi video commercial follows the same path. Audi is playing a new spot suggesting their own supply crunch with which the explanatory sentence at the end of the video: “More people are leaving BMW, Mercedes and Lexus for Audi than ever before.” Remains to be seen whether the ad will help the Ingolstadt-based automaker on their long journey to the top of the American premium market. Here are other Audi and BMW commercials that poke at each other: “Meet the Beckers” “BMW Jump for Joy Part 1 ” “BMW Jump for Joy Part 2″ “Audi sticking it to its rivals” [Source: BimmerToday ] Read the original here:  Advertising battle continues: New Audi ad pokes at BMW

Don’t be alarmed if the next time you go out to your favorite restaurant, you pass by something that looks like a gas pump out back. It’s probably not a gas pump. It may just be a BioPro automated biodiesel processor. Chico, California, based Springboard Biodiesel makes the BioPro devices that convert waste cooking oil into biodiesel fuel. The company predicts they’ll be the only exhibitor displaying such a product at the upcoming National Restaurant show in Chicago. Most restauranteurs attending probably aren’t looking for something along the lines of a gas pump, but the BioPro 190 actually sounds like an interesting idea. Fully automatic and compact, the BioPro 190’s 22- by 22-inch footprint makes it easy to tuck into a kitchen corner or storeroom. All you do is fill it with 50 gallons of used cooking oil, add a predetermined amount of catalyst and methanol, a bit of sulphuric acid, and walk away. A complicated process of mixing, heating, more mixing, and separation occurs next, but it’s all automatic. Then, 48 hours later, you’re good to go with what Springboard says is high-grade fuel good enough to pour directly into your car. The company says no biodiesel car conversion kit is necessary and that it will work with any diesel-powered vehicle. The BioPro 190 is priced at $9,995, plus shipping, and it includes a one-year warranty. Other models are also available. Materials required for processing can add substantially to the cost. More details can be found at http://www.springboardbiodiesel.com . Or look for them at the show. They’ll probably be located near an exhibitor frying egg rolls. Excerpt from:  BioPro automatically turns waste oil into Biodiesel

In less than a month, Mercedes’ European markets will see the launch of the new C-Class coupe, which the German maker intends to place in a leadership position. Slated as options for the new coupe will be a choice of three gasoline and two diesel engines, namely the C 220 CDI BE, C 250 CDI BE, C 180 BE, C 250 BE and C 350 BE. The BE (BlueEfficiency) designation stands for several engine efficiency technologies that Mercedes is introducing to the C-Class Coupe, such as direct injection and an ECO start/stop function. Mercedes’ excellent 7G-TRONIC PLUS seven-speed automatic transmission is part of the powertrain choice. Driver aids such as ATTENTION ASSIST and DISTRONIC PLUS complement the engine technologies while occupant safety, which has been a Mercedes hallmark, is further enchanced in the C-Class Coupe by the standard count of nine airbags. Prices range from 33,000 Euros for the C 180 BE equipped with a 6-speed manual to 47,540 Euros for the 7G-TRONIC PLUS-equipped C 350 BE. Here is the original post:  Europe To See C-Class Coupe In Less Than A Month

GM Europe has taken the wraps off the upscale Zafira Tourer – which sticks to its concept-car looks – that will premier at the upcoming Frankfurt motor show in Autumn. While the current Zafira rivals the Ford C-Max and Citroen C4 Picasso, the Zafira Tourer is aim squarely at the Ford Galaxy and Citroen C8. Unlike the smaller Zafira, the new Zafira Tourer underpins GM’s Epsilon II architecture, shared with the Opel Insignia /Chevrolet Vectra (in Latin America), Buick Regal/La Crosse, Saab 9-5 , Chevrolet Malibu , and Orlando. Like the Insignia , the new Zafira Tourer arrives with an optional FlexRide adaptive damping that will offer three settings. Inside, the ‘Flex’ continues with the marque’s 7 seats. Over the regular Zafira, Zafira Tourer has a 57mm longer wheelbase to allow more interior space. With five seats in place, the Zafira Tourer offers 710 litres (65 more than the current Zafira) and rises to 1,860 litres when all rear seats are down. Lots of technology will be offered like adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning system, forward collision alert, advanced park assist, and automatic forward lighting. FlexFix, GM’s bicycle mounting system hidden in the rear bumper, will also be available. The Zafira Tourer will be offered with three variants of the 2.0 CDTi common-rail diesel, producing 110bhp (109PS/82kW), 130bhp (128PS/97kW) and 165bhp (163PS/123kW). Petrol units include a 138bhp (136PS/103kW) 1.4 litre turbo and a normally aspirated 1.8 with the same output. Stop-start will also be offered across the engine range. A CNG and LPG variants will also be offer later on in Mainland Europe. Standard gearbox will be a 6 speed manual, but the larger petrol obtains a 5 speed manual. Orders will be taken before the end of this year. Press Release: Vauxhall has confirmed that the Zafira Tourer concept, previewed at this year’s Geneva Motor Show, will become a production reality, with first cars in UK showrooms by early 2012. Called the Zafira Tourer, the new model will sit above the current Zafira model in Vauxhall’s line-up and is set to raise the bar for design, luxury, flexibility and innovation in the MPV sector. The production car’s design, shown in these first official images, has deviated very...

GM Europe has taken the wraps off the upscale Zafira Tourer – which sticks to its concept-car looks – that will premier at the upcoming Frankfurt motor show in Autumn. While the current Zafira rivals the Ford C-Max and Citroen C4 Picasso, the Zafira Tourer is aim squarely at the Ford Galaxy and Citroen C8. Unlike the smaller Zafira, the new Zafira Tourer underpins GM’s Epsilon II architecture, shared with the Opel Insignia /Chevrolet Vectra (in Latin America), Buick Regal/La Crosse, Saab 9-5 , Chevrolet Malibu , and Orlando. Like the Insignia , the new Zafira Tourer arrives with an optional FlexRide adaptive damping that will offer three settings. Inside, the ‘Flex’ continues with the marque’s 7 seats. Over the regular Zafira, Zafira Tourer has a 57mm longer wheelbase to allow more interior space. With five seats in place, the Zafira Tourer offers 710 litres (65 more than the current Zafira) and rises to 1,860 litres when all rear seats are down. Lots of technology will be offered like adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning system, forward collision alert, advanced park assist, and automatic forward lighting. FlexFix, GM’s bicycle mounting system hidden in the rear bumper, will also be available. The Zafira Tourer will be offered with three variants of the 2.0 CDTi common-rail diesel, producing 110bhp (109PS/82kW), 130bhp (128PS/97kW) and 165bhp (163PS/123kW). Petrol units include a 138bhp (136PS/103kW) 1.4 litre turbo and a normally aspirated 1.8 with the same output. Stop-start will also be offered across the engine range. A CNG and LPG variants will also be offer later on in Mainland Europe. Standard gearbox will be a 6 speed manual, but the larger petrol obtains a 5 speed manual. Orders will be taken before the end of this year. Press Release: Vauxhall has confirmed that the Zafira Tourer concept, previewed at this year’s Geneva Motor Show, will become a production reality, with first cars in UK showrooms by early 2012. Called the Zafira Tourer, the new model will sit above the current Zafira model in Vauxhall’s line-up and is set to raise the bar for design, luxury, flexibility and innovation in the MPV sector. The production car’s design, shown in these first official images, has deviated very...

Despite an incident in Kazakhstan which left one of the cars unable to continue, the Mercedes F-Cell World Drive has soldiered on to the point that it is now on its final leg of its epic journey around the world. The remaining F-Cell hydrogen-powered cars are now on the European continent, where the event is scheduled to culminate when it reaches Stuttgart on June 1. At that point, the remaining duo will have covered 30,000 kilometers in 125 days. Powering these cars is a system comprising a 136 horsepower electric motor with 290 Nm of torque. The range of this F-Cell car is 400 kilometers, or 250 miles, before needing a refill. During the trip, the cars were refuelled via available refilling stations and tanker trucks in the more remote areas. It was in the U.S. that the lack of a hydrogen infrastructure was highlighted because only one public fueling was achieved during the leg. As a result, fuel-cell vehicles are expected to lag behind hybrid electric vehicles in terms of public acceptance. See more here: F-Cell World Drive Reaches European Continent

Debuting its new shape at the 2011 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, the 9th generation Honda Civic prompt presence in the current auto market is paramount. Showing strong sales despite of the future release of a refreshed car, the Honda Civic sales in the United States grew modestly to 260,218 vehicles at the end of December 2010. As the Civic continues to be a forerunning benchmark in the small car market, vehicles like the Chevrolet Cruze, Hyundai Elantra and the 2012 Ford Focus are new entries set to present a formidable challenge for compact honours in the United States. Sporting their refreshed 2012 Civic, the push for Honda to enter the fight in the compact car category took an emotional backseat after March 11th as the effects of the Japanese earthquake and tsunami greatly impacted their corporation. Currently, the operations in Japan are now rendered to 50 percent production capacity as the company is continuing to manage shortages among some part suppliers and the country’s energy resources. Suffering no considerable effects immediately after the natural disaster in Japan, Honda’s vast North American manufacturing continued for several weeks. However, while 80 perfect of vehicles sold in North America is built on the continent, the interruption of interaction with impeded Japanese operations began to affect assembly of vehicles in the United States and Canada. Held in peril is the production of the 2012 Honda Civic built at facilities in Greensburg, Indiana and Alliston, Ontario. A question would stand if this all-so important compact car would face an interrupted introduction. Fortunately for 2012 Honda Civic watchers (and perhaps unfortunate for the fast-charging competition), the march of the new sedan and coupe will be ongoing. Since manufacturing plants were already tooled to produce the 2012 Honda Civic by March, there was no delays in setting up the assembly lines due to the Japan disaster. Richard Jacobs, Manager of Public Relations with Honda Canada, has provided confirmation to the company’s production of the new Civic. In relations to the Alliston plants, the 2012 Honda Civics is moving through production at a relatively consistent pace. However, due to the dependence of some pieces to the car, assembly of new Civic...

It’s been almost 60 years since the Mercedes Unimog made its appearance and through the decades, these practically unstoppable 4-wheel drive truck has endeared itself to its various owners. In the case of Autotechnik Seiner, their Unimog is used for hauling timber. Using a crane fitted to the Unimog’s structure, the operator of the Unimog then loads a trailer connected to the truck to load its cargo. In using roll-off containers to haul the timber, Seiner explains his logic, “In this way no difficulties arise when securing a load with two metre trunks lying crosswise to the direction of the road; also it is virtually impossible to overload the vehicle and there are a lot fewer empty runs as there is always scrap metal, rubble or other debris to be carried on the return journey.” Even with rising fuel prices, operating costs are comparatively lower, since the Unimog U400 uses a 4.2 liter engine that uses diesel for its fuel. Consumption is 11 liters per hour of operation. In a testament to its versatility, the Unimog is also used to clean roads, mow verges and green areas, build trails, act as a utility truck on construction sites and tow cars. Excerpt from:  Unimog Shows Its Varied Utility Over 60 Years

President of the Fiat Lancia Unlimited car club (FLUCC) John Montgomery has recently published a list of 75 reasons why to someone should choose a Fiat 500 over a MINI. With the Fiat 500 going on sale for the first time in the United States, comparisons between them and MINI are inevitable. 120 U.S. Chrysler dealerships across the country have begun selling the popular European model and automotive magazines have already began placing the two vehicles head-to-head. Both cars have a long automotive history and at the same time, they both compete in the the small premium segment. But would Fiat follow the successful path of MINI brand in the U.S.? Time will tell, but for now, let’s have a look at these 75 reasons why you should buy a Fiat 500 over a MINI. Stay tuned for a similar list from MINI enthusiasts. 1. The Fiat 500 base price MSRP is $4600 less (-23%) than the base BMW Mini MSRP. 2. The Fiat has a 5 star European NCAP rating for driver & passenger safety. Mini has a 4 star rating on driver & passenger safety. Mini has 5 stars for rollover protection only. 3. The Fiat has better aerodynamic CD; Fiat: .35, base Mini: .37, Cooper S: .39 4. The Fiat base weight is 352 pounds less than the Mini’s base weight. 5. The Fiat’s maximum passenger/cargo capacity is 970 lbs., 154 lbs more than Mini’s 816 lbs. 6. The Fiat’s 34.8 ft. turning radius is over 3 foot tighter than the Mini’s 38 ft. 7. The Fiat’s ground clearance is 4.1 inches; the Mini’s ground clearance is 5.5”. 8. The Fiat has lower insurance rates than the Mini yet the same warranty; 4 years, 50K miles. 9. The Fiat has 3 year 36K free maintenance, includes car rental and is transferable! 10. The Fiat suspension sub frame is attached w/o rubber isolators that could fatigue or wear out. 11. Fiat has twice the percentage of USA/Canadian content and Fiat’s engine is made in Michigan. 12. Fiat parts prices compare lower in price than BMW Mini parts. Exterior Comparison: 13. Fiat has 14 exterior colors but only two are $500 extra. Mini: 7 of 10 colors are $500 extra! 14. The Fiat is taller overall with more upright seating position for better road view than the Mini. 15. Fog lights on Fiat Sport & Lounge are standard. Fog lights for base Mini cost $250. 16. The Fiat Lounge has...

German tuner Kelleners Sport announced today their new Kelleners BMW 6 Series Convertible upgrade program. Kelleners Sport uses the elegant concept of the new model generation of the 6 series convertible as a basis to perfect it with even more elegance and sportiness. Various wheel and tire combinations in 19 and 20 inch as well as first accessories for the interior are already available. The in-house upholstery shop also can virtually satisfy any customer demands if pricing is no object. Further products like performance kits, sport exhausts, suspension solutions, upholstery and sport steering wheels are in preparation and will be available soon. The BMW 650i by Kelleners will receive a power upgrade from 407 horsepower to 490 and an impressive 720 Nm of torque (531 lb-ft). With this comprehensive package, Kelleners Sport enhances both the dynamics and the individuality of the BMW 6 series convertible (F12). Read more from the original source:  BMW 6 Series Convertible by Kelleners Sport

BMW selected a trio of design greats to compete in this year’s Mille Miglia. Head of BMW Group Design Adrian van Hooydonk and Swiss industrial designer Alfredo Häberli took part in the world’s most renowned classic car rally in a white BMW 328, which celebrates its 75th anniversary this year. One of almost 400 participating teams, the duo set out from Brescia in northern Italy on 12 May. Following staging posts in Bologna and Rome, the team cleared the finish ramp in Brescia on 15 May. Designer duo in a historic racer Adrian van Hooydonk, who had already taken part in last year’s race, was particularly happy about his co-driver for 2011: “I have long admired Alfredo Häberli for his design style – refined, unpretentious, with humour and a fine sense of detail.” Van Hooydonk and Häberli have known each other for many years and enjoy a professional exchange that is mutually inspiring and opens up new avenues for both. Their involvement in the rally prompted van Hooydonk to commission his colleague to design a leather jacket specially for the Mille Miglia 2011. The model created by Häberli features a classically clear silhouette that draws attention to the high-grade leather, discreet stand-up collar and elaborately detailed workmanship. The timelessly modern and functional design of the jacket is representative of Häberli’s creative approach, which in future will increasingly focus on interpreting classics. “I’m glad we were able to test Häberli’s Mille Miglia jacket during the rally,” notes van Hooydonk. “It proved to be highly practical and shows the professional skill of its designer.” The jacket was made by leather specialists Meindl in an exclusive edition of just two. “For me the race was a first,” said Häberli, a keen motor sport fan since childhood. “I was particularly delighted to be driving in the Mille Miglia with Adrian van Hooydonk. Plus, it was a tremendous opportunity to get a close-up look at the many classics taking part. They all combine emotion with functionality – two criteria on which I also place great value.” Häberli’s latest creation bears out his words – the Mille Miglia jacket not only looks great but also features “invisible” details such as an integral, adjustable kidney protector. Completing...

You can’t choose your family, they say. Actually, with MINI you can. As of today citizens of Berlin, visitors to the German capital and Facebook users worldwide can make their choice when MINI presents the MINI family on Berlin’s Kurfürstendamm boulevard as part of the guerilla campaign “It’s personal”. Participants are invited to enter the on-site MINI Photo Box, clamp on a pair of vibrantly coloured headphones and select their favourite model from the MINI family with colour-matched exterior mirrors. There are four colours and four models to choose from: the MINI Hatch, MINI Convertible, MINI Clubman and MINI Countryman. Next, participants appear in real time on a 104-square-metre video screen together with their photo and personalised MINI model. The MINI campaign was set up overnight from 15 to 16 May and continues until 29 May 2011 at the intersection of Kurfürstendamm and Joachimstaler Straße. It is being run in parallel as an international campaign at http://www.facebook.com/MINI . “With our ‘It’s personal’ campaign, MINI fans interact individually and authentically in an urban environment,” says Julia Hartmann, MINI Brand Management. “Through the personal configuration of the model, along with their choice of colours, we encourage them to express their personality – in front of friends and a global audience.” This unconventional marketing campaign is set to reach more than two million people on location and over 1.8 million MINI Facebook fans. Dean and Dan Caten, creator of the fashion label DSQUARED2, are also taking part in the campaign. They will present this year’s Life Ball MINI in Vienna on Saturday. Facebook users can apply to participate online at http://www.facebook.com/MINI or direct at: http://apps.facebook.com/miniphotobox by taking a photo with their webcam, selecting their model from the MINI family and uploading it. They too appear on the video screen in Berlin. The images, in turn, are streamed live on the internet. Whether through Facebook or Photo Box, all pictures will be entered into a competition. For this purpose, visitors to the event in Berlin will be given an ID number – along with their printed photo – with which to register on Facebook. The winner will be announced in June 2011 and can enjoy...

The key to electrification, or just Congressional pork? Maybe more focus should be put on electric pickup trucks as well? If Sen. Debbie Stabenow’s Advanced Vehicle Technology Act of 2011 is approved by Congress a major focus of the legislation will be on the development of “scalable battery technologies that would allow large hauling trucks to run, eventually, on all electric drivetrains” according to the DetroitNews . So, why are the best selling hybrid cars and most plug-in efforts focused on small cars? I’ve long said that possibly the most important hybrid vehicle on the market today is the Chevy Silverado hybrid pickup truck. Ultimately, hybridizing pickup trucks would have a much bigger impact on US foreign oil consumption than small hybrids. Unfortunately, sticker shock has made hybrid pickup trucks almost non-existent, and one can only imagine that adding more batteries and a plug would result in even greater buyer apprehension, which is probably why automakers just aren’t going there yet. Consequently, one would then also imagine that plug-in semi truck costs would be even more alarming. Of course, on the other hand, electrifying such vehicles would save massive amounts of fuel. Still, is this legislation very realistic or is it just pie-in-sky pork barreling? Numerous and recent battery studies have suggested that battery R&D is in need of years – more than a decade – of breakthroughs and refinements before becoming even relatively cost-effective compared to gasoline. Some very prominent researchers have even suggested that, inevitably, a move beyond lithium-ion will be required. As a result, the logic behind this legislation seems a little hard to swallow, at least at first glance. Obviously, such legislation could help develop the battery industry in Stabenow’s home state of Michigan, and that could be a good a thing, a very good thing for the US auto industry in fact. Nevertheless, is rushing to build batteries that are essentially inefficient by nature in both design and production a sure path to success? Likewise, should the government drive such venture capitalism, or should venture capitalists? I’m not certain, but if the biggest battery packs are the key to success, shouldn’t there...

Will a one-fourth of all new vehicles be either hybrids, plug-ins, or electric vehicles in less than a decade? That’s what one of the world’s top auto-industry execs thinks—at least for his company. In a piece in Fortune Magazine, Ford Motor Company [NYSE: F] Chairman Bill Ford made that prediction, anticipating that about 25 percent of the… See the original post: Bill Ford: A Quarter Of All Vehicles Electrified By 2020

Hit play for an audio recording of a mystery car’s exhaust note, and then share your guesses or get a few hints from other visitors in the comments below. Be sure to check back on Thursday for the answer! Read more here: Name That Exhaust Note, Episode 89 The rest is here: Name That Exhaust Note, Episode 89