Last week, BMW unveiled the 2013 BMW X6 facelift that brings visual updates to the popular Sports Activity Coupe. Previewed along with the standard X6 model is also the refreshed BMW X6 M that gets a similar life cycle impulse. BMW says that the new X6 is the first vehicle in its segment to be available with adaptive LED headlights. At the rear, the taillights are now two LED-fed light banks which create the brand’s hallmark night design as a harmoniously glowing light mass. The fact that they are horizontally aligned and stretch far out to the sides emphasizes both the width of the vehicle and the flowing transition between the rear quarter and the tail-end. Attractive new paint finishes, light alloy wheel and leather trim further enhance the new look, including the Marrakesh Brown metallic, Orion Silver metallic and Midnight Blue metallic. The new BMW X6 comes standard as a four-seat model. A three-seat rear bench is available as an option. As an additional option, the M Performance Package is available in the US. This attractive equipment package is not just cosmetic. It includes an engine upgrade of +15hp and +30 lb-ft of torque on the X6 xDrive35i giving it 315 hp and 330 lb-ft. The increase is +40 hp +30 lb-ft of torque on the X6 xDrive50i for total peak output of 440 hp and 480 lb-ft. In addition, the M Performance Package includes 20-inch light alloy wheels, black chrome exhaust tips, stainless steel pedals, M foot rest and door sills, shadowline exterior trim, anthracite headliner, and optional Carbon Black metallic paint. No info has been released at this time on the 2013 BMW X6 M, but we expect another announcement shortly. Originally posted here: Wallpapers: 2013 BMW X6 and 2013 BMW X6 M Facelifts

With fewer than 8000 miles to go before the conclusion of its stay, our Mazda 2 continues to serve primarily as a spunky ’round-town runabout. The car has racked up nearly 10,000 miles since September, most of which were turned within the borders of our home state; a sprint to Virginia accounted for the rest. Keep Reading: 2011 Mazda 2 Touring – Long-Term Road Test Update More: 2011 Mazda 2 Touring: 30K Long-Term Update Excerpt from:  2011 Mazda 2 Touring: 30K Long-Term Update

The EPA just released fuel-economy ratings for the recently debuted 2012 BMW 3-series , and the numbers are very impressive—and not just for the luxury sports-sedan segment. The 328i , which is powered by a turbocharged 240-hp four-cylinder engine, is rated at 24 mpg city and 36 highway when equipped with the optional eight-speed automatic transmission. The 328i is rated at 23/34 with the six-speed manual. These are, frankly, great numbers. You can see how the 328i’s fuel economy compares to other competitive vehicles in the chart below, but let’s compare apples to oranges for a moment: The Toyota Corolla, which has a great reputation for being frugal, is motivated by a 1.8-liter four with just 132 hp and is rated at 26 mpg city/34 highway when equipped with a four-speed automatic. Even the turbocharged six-cylinder 335i has done well by the EPA’s yardstick. At 23 mpg city/33 highway, Bimmer’s 300-hp sports sedan betters most everything in its class. (That’s for the car with the autobox; figures for the stick-shifted 335i drop to 20/30.)  The automatic 335i makes the dual-clutch-equipped Audi S4 (18/28) look like a thirsty pig in contrast, and the BMW even trounces the heavier—but diesel-drinking— Mercedes-Benz E350 BlueTec , which is rated at 21/32. We know a diesel engine is coming to the 3-series, and a hybrid will be out soon. But with numbers like these, we have to ask whether these alternative powertrains are worth the cost—for BMW or for future consumers. Look for our complete instrumented test of the 335i soon; in the meantime, you can read our first drive of the 328i here . Original post: 2012 BMW 3-Series Fuel-Economy Ratings Out, 328i Scores 36 MPG Highway Continued here: 2012 BMW 3-Series Fuel-Economy Ratings Out, 328i Scores 36 MPG Highway

We don’t usually geek out to manufactured viral marketing fluff, but trust us, this video is pretty good. The marketing team behind the movie Chronicle flew three human shaped RC planes around NYC to make it look like real people were magically flying. From the ground, it really looked like you were watching a superhero do its flyin’ thang. More » View post: Watch These Fake Flying People Freak Out New York City [Video] See the original post: Watch These Fake Flying People Freak Out New York City [Video]

A latecomer to the small SUV market, Volkswagen introduced the Tiguan in 2009, after the segment pioneers were well into their third generation. Competing in a popular category that is seeing several key models redesigned, we bought an updated 2012 Tiguan SEL 4Motion to see how it has progressed and chart how it stacks up. Compared to big-selling models like the Ford Escape , Honda CR-V , Subaru Forester , and Toyota RAV4 , the Tiguan typically costs a lot more money. An all-wheel-drive Tiguan starts at $27,115 for a fairly barebones model. Perhaps part of the pricing problem is that the Tiguan is only sold in the States with a 2.0-liter turbocharged four—the uplevel engine in other markets. (Too bad a diesel isn’t available here, but that would make it even more expensive.) Decked out with standard features that include full power leather seats and a giant sunroof, as well as a basic navigation system, our Tiguan SEL stickered at $37,020. Whether that’s expensive or not depends on the comparison. It’s about $5,000 more than a well-equipped turbocharged Subaru Forester 2.5XT or Toyota RAV4 V6 Limited. (The Tiguan SEL does come with features they lack, like a memory driver’s seat and adaptive HID headlights.) But it’s also just $5,000 less than premium small sporty SUVs like the Audi Q5 , BMW X3 , and Volvo XC60 . Surprisingly, the Tiguan competes well with all of these. Quick acceleration and nimble handling make this an especially enjoyable SUV to drive. Updates to the six-speed automatic improved fuel economy. The cabin is especially well-finished, a reminder of how nice VW cabins uniformly were before the new Jetta and Passat . Unfortunately the SEL’s low-profile 19-inch tires contribute to a stiff ride and lots of road noise; saving some money and buying a lower trim level Tiguan, with its smaller wheels and tires, will help on both counts. For more insights, enjoy our video below. Click over to the model page for the compete road test and Full Track Report . See the original post here: Test complete video: 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan SEL 4Motion

Before the green flag waved over the big enduro race, cars from the Continental Tire series hit the track for the BMW Performance 200. Our friends at MotorSportMedia were there to bring you photos from the race. More » Originally posted here: BMW Performance 200 At Daytona: Über Gallery [Car Porn] Read more:  BMW Performance 200 At Daytona: Über Gallery [Car Porn]

Gas prices are up around the country compared to the week before . The national gasoline average is $.34 above the price this time last year. Diesel fuel is about $.41 above this time last year. Premium fuel is $3.72, up seven cents from last week. National regular gasoline prices Price Change from last week Regular gasoline/gallon $3.44 ↑ .05 Diesel fuel/gallon $3.85 0 Regional regular gasoline prices East Coast $3.52 ↑ .07 —New England $3.58 ↑ .07 —Central Atlantic $3.55 ↑ .05 —Lower Atlantic $3.49 ↑ .07 Midwest $3.35 ↑ .04 Gulf Coast $3.29 ↑ .06 Rocky Mountain $3.03 ↑ .02 West Coast $3.65 ↑ .03 —California $3.74 ↑ .03 Source: Energy Information Administration, 1/30/12. Figures rounded to the nearest cent. See our guide to fuel economy for advice on saving gasoline, including reports on how to get the best gas mileage and where to find the cheapest gas . Learn about future technologies in our guide to alternative fuels . View original here: Average gas prices–January 30, 2012

The X plug-in SUV makes sense, but I'd like something more daring Could a higher plug-in standard be set? If you believe in the trickle down theory of technology, the Tesla Model X — teased today by Tesla — makes a lot of sense. A luxury electric SUV compliments Tesla’s Model S, creating greater scale, while enabling the company to better leverage the technologies it is outsourcing to the likes of Chrysler and Toyota, such as for the RAV4 EV. But I think that as visionary as Tesla has been this early in the plug-in game, they’ve missed a big opportunity. While I understand the trickle down economics of plug-in vehicles, I also believe that the future of plug-in vehicles — at least the interim future — has been miscalculated. Not every vehicle will be a plug-in, as Tesla CEO Elon Musk has suggested in the past, by 2030, for instance. Plug-ins have a much tougher road ahead and the science is evermore reinforcing that point beyond any doubt — assuming a plug-in future based upon today’s auto sale’s story. However, and fortunately something many in the plug-in community understand, consumer expectations and perceptions have to change in order to accelerate plug-in adoption. Unfortunately, even those in the plug-in community aren’t seeing the even bigger picture. The change in consumer psychology needed is even far more disruptive than accepting less range, and plugging-in instead of liquid refueling. That suggestion might seem a bit far-fetched today, but I don’t think it will before even 2020 — probably still long before batteries are really ready to shake up the industry. Technologies like carbon fiber, self-driving programs, and telematics, for example, offer the potential to change everything about transportation. And millennial consumer studies demonstrate just how ripe the future of consumers is to such revolutionary change. But few are aggressively pursuing this future, including Tesla. While many can see a future where a gasoline engine is replaced with a battery, few can envision change beyond just powertrain swapping. Think about the many baby boomers and gen x’ers tethered to their cell phones these days. It’s pretty amazing compared to the telecommunications experienced...

More than half of clients who specified a Rolls-Royce Ghost in 2011 turned to bespoke personalization. The service, which includes anything from the application of unique paint colors, coach lines and tread plates to whole vehicle designs featuring champagne sets, humidors and picnic cabinets, helped drive Rolls-Royce to record sales last year. In total, 56% of Ghost and Ghost Extended Wheelbase models sold around the world featured bespoke design in 2011. The move to highly personalised Rolls-Royce Ghost models follows an increase in sales of bespoke Phantom family cars last year. More than eight in every ten Rolls-Royce Phantom models passed through the hands of the team’s designers and skilled craftspeople, before being delivered to a client. In some markets in the Middle East every Phantom featured bespoke content. “It is always our goal to exceed our clients’ highest expectations and fulfill their innermost desires,” said Torsten Müller-Ötvös, Rolls-Royce CEO. “With highly bespoke Phantom and Ghost models, we are able to achieve this. The passion with which our bespoke craftspeople create these beautiful cars is reflected in some truly outstanding examples delivered across the globe last year.” The proportion of Phantom family cars with bespoke content delivered to Middle Eastern clients rose from 75% in 2005 to 99% last year, while in Europe the figure increased from 50% to 89%. In North America it rose from 30% to 84% over the same period and in Asia Pacific from 50% to 79%. In the United Kingdom, the third largest single market for Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, the proportion of Phantom family cars featuring bespoke content increased from 60% to 88%. In August 2011 Rolls-Royce announced an expansion of its bespoke operation to meet growing demand, doubling the number of bespoke experts working at the Home of Rolls-Royce in Goodwood by the end of the year. The company is also about to expand its manufacturing facility, partly due to the increase in demand for bespoke cars. Work will begin next month.   Read the original: More Rolls-Royce Ghost clients turn to bespoke personalisation

These pictures, published in the appropriately-titled Italian magazine Quattroruote , claim to reveal the new Lamborghini SUV concept. Aventador styling on a tall Audi platform? Maybe. One thing’s for certain, this ain’t no rough-and-ready LM002. More » Continued here: Is This The New Lamborghini SUV? [Spy Photos] See the rest here:  Is This The New Lamborghini SUV? [Spy Photos]

Last we heard about the Shelby SuperCars Tuatara, it was finding new buyers in Dubai – 10 in fact. When you’re selling a $1.3-million super car, that is a blow out showing. The Tuatara, as its name implies, is nothing like anything out there. In the rarefied company of exotics, that isn’t an easy feat. The Tuatara looks futuristic, like a concept car. The company brought on Jason Castriota, a big time designer, to pen the car’s design. The Tuatara is a replacement for the much cruder Aero and Ultimate Aero. Those Ultimate Aero gave the Bugatti Veyron a run for its money, capturing the title of world’s fastest road going car for a time. For the most part, those in the automotive world came to refer to the Aero by the SSC tag. We all equate Shelby with Carroll Shelby and the Ford Mustangs right? Well most of us. But the fact is that Shelby SuperCars has nothing to do with either of those. Instead, Shelby comes from the last name of the company’s founder – Jerod Shelby. Despite that, Inside Line reports that Carroll Shelby Licensing wasn’t too keen with this confusion going on in the marketplace. A settlement between the two entities was reached and the result is that the company has changed its name to SSC. That is what most of us have called them anyway, but it’s official now at least. It’d be interesting to know what was involved with the suit though. Its a sketchy legal area given that the founders name is indeed Shelby too. If it wasn’t he wouldn’t have any grounds to continue use of the name. For both companies, settlement is the best decision. SSC has gotten a lot of attention for its products. The famous name might have helped get them on the map, but they are past that point. Now the focus can be on the 1,350 horsepower Tuatara. Related posts: Shelby SuperCars Introduces New Supercar, Names it Tuatara SSC Tuatara Finds 10 Buyers In Dubai The Only Shelby Mustang GT-H Sold for $250,000 Automoblog.net – A Car Blog for Auto Enthusiasts See the original post: Shelby Who? Shelby SuperCars Changes Its Name

Chrysler has turned around a lot faster than most in the industry imagined. Sales for Dodge, Chrysler and Jeep are all up by big margins, led by new and refreshed models like the Jeep Grand Cherokee and Chrysler 200. The Fiat 500 misfire not withstanding, Chrysler has experienced a a good success rate. These models are powered by Chrysler’s Pentastar V-6. This engine was talked about a lot leading up to its debut, because it was an all-new unit. The 2010 Grand Cherokee was the first model to be powered by this engine. Since then, Chrysler has introduced it in a host of other models. At Dodge there is the Avenger, Caravan, Challenger, Charger, Durango and Journey. At Chrysler there is the Town and Country, 200 and 300. The Pentastar is a powerful unit, making 283 horsepower from 3.6-liters. Today, an important milestone has been reached. In 18 months of production, 1 million units have been produced. This is especially impressive considering it was only launched in one model at first. Availability has slowly expanded across the company from there – for instance the 2012 Jeep Wrangler just got the engine. Production has taken place at two plants – primarily at the Trenton Engine Assembly Plant but also at a Chrysler factory in Saltillo, Mexico. Brian Harlow, head of Chrysler Powertrain Manufacturing, says: “To build one million of anything, and in an impressively short amount of time, is a significant achievement. But to do it with such a high degree of quality is a testament to our skilled and dedicated workforce at both Trenton South and Saltillo engine plants.” So far, the all-aluminum engine has been received very well by consumers, with good reliability scores as well.m The Pentastar has replaced numerous legacy power plants – six in total. Streamlining like this helps increase profitability and economies of scale. Not to mention, it is much smoother and more powerful than what Chrysler had before. Sounds like a winner! No related posts. Automoblog.net – A Car Blog for Auto Enthusiasts See original here: Chrysler Announces 1-Millionth Pentastar V-6

Loving Ferris Bueller’s Day Off doesn’t make you weird. That’s normal for any child of the ’80s. Even more normal is feeling pissed off at Honda for its “Ferris Bueller” Super Bowl ad . More » More here: SAVE FERRIS From Honda’s Sacrilegious Super Bowl Ad [Video] Continued here:  SAVE FERRIS From Honda’s Sacrilegious Super Bowl Ad [Video]

This weekend was the 50th anniversary running of the Rolex 24 at Daytona , and the race brought out an incredible assortment of talent to compete in both the Daytona Prototype and GT classes. It was a “who’s who” of international road racing, and Speed TV deserves credit for its non-stop coverage of the event. There was another, lesser-known race over the weekend, which pitted both amateur and pro rally drivers against one another in some of the worst imaginable conditions. The Rally America series kicked off its 2012 season this weekend, with the 38th annual Sno*Drift rally in Atlanta, Michigan. Conditions were treacherous, with road surfaces ranging from gravel to glare ice. Since the Rally America series doesn’t allow studded snow tires, the race was more about smoothness and driving style than it was about horsepower. David Higgins and co-driver Craig Drew took the win for Subaru Rally Team USA, followed by the Rockstar Energy team of Antoine L’Estage and Nathalie Richard. For the first time in series’ history, the event was streamed live over the Rally America website , and the series even used night vision cameras to capture the in-the-dark stages. Next up is Missouri’s 100 Acre Wood rally on February 25 and 25th. If you’re interested in attending (or watching the live stream), head on over to the Rally America website for details.   Read more: The Other Race You (Probably) Missed This Weekend: Video The rest is here:  The Other Race You (Probably) Missed This Weekend: Video

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has opened an investigation into incidents of inadvertent air bag deployment without a crash in 2002 and 2003 Jeep Liberty vehicles. According to NHTSA’s Office of Defect Investigations, 87 reports of inadvertent air bag deployment resulted in 50 alleged injuries. The injuries included burns, cuts and bruises. Forty two of the 87 incidents involved the front driver air bag, and the other 45 involved both the driver and passenger front air bags inadvertently deploying. The incidents occurred both at vehicle startup or while the vehicle was being operated on the road. Some owners noted that the air bag warning light had illuminated, or had intermittently illuminated, and occurred just prior to the air bag deployment, while others stated they did not observe any illumination of the air bag light. Inspection of the occupant restraint control module by Chrysler indicates that an internal electronic circuit (an ASIC chip) that controls air bag deployment failed due to an electrical over stress condition, possibly caused by a transient voltage spike. Chrysler is in the process of identifying potential root causes of the component failure and the source for electrical over stress. In addition, Chrysler noted that there have been no reports of inadvertent air bag deployment in vehicles manufactured after March 19, 2003. However, Chrysler has not identified a component or other change that would explain why the inadvertent deployments ceased. Accordingly, the engineering analysis is being opened in order to further study the alleged defect and its consequences. The ODI reports can be reviewed at www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/complaints under the following identification numbers: 10435710 10429579 10429306 10428411 10407276 10399551 10335637 10283484 10249231 10166706 10055405 See the original post:  NHTSA investigation: Inadvertent air bag deployment in 2002-2003 Jeep Liberty vehicles