This is the Morning Shift , our one-stop daily roundup of all the auto news that’s actually important — all in one place at 9:00 AM. Or, you could spend all day waiting for other sites to parcel it out to you one story at a time. Isn’t your time more important? More » Go here to read the rest: Mo’ MyFordTouch Problems, Hyundai’s Super Bowl Commercials, And Toyota ‘Reinvents’ Camry With Ad [Video] Read the original post: Mo’ MyFordTouch Problems, Hyundai’s Super Bowl Commercials, And Toyota ‘Reinvents’ Camry With Ad [Video]

Hyundai made a big splash at the Super Bowl three years ago with the mid-financial-crisis “Hyundai Guarantee.” This year their big game strategy is more funny than financially sound motoring purchases. More » View original here: Watch Hyundai’s ‘Rocky’-Themed Super Bowl Ad Blitz [Video] See the original post here: Watch Hyundai’s ‘Rocky’-Themed Super Bowl Ad Blitz [Video]

Volvos and V8s go together like Ikea furniture and orthogonality. Today’s Nice Price or Crack Pipe trumped up 240 is probably pretty good on the straights, but will its price throw you for a curve? More » Go here to see the original: For $3,500, Børk at the Moon [Nice Price Or Crack Pipe] More: For $3,500, Børk at the Moon [Nice Price Or Crack Pipe]

MINI published this weekend an extensive photo gallery with MINI Roadster, the latest addition to the MINI family. MINI Roadster is the sixth model in the brand’s current line-up and the first open-top two-seater in its history, and is currently having its press debut in Portugal. The Roadster sits more than 20 millimeters lower than the MINI Convertible and has an elegantly sweeping roadster look thanks to heavily raked A-pillars and a waistline rising up slightly along the length of the body towards the flat rear end. Under the hood, the MINI Roadster includes latest-generation four-cylinder engines with the most powerful petrol and diesel units in the MINI line-up: MINI John Cooper Works Roadster with 155 kW/211 hp, MINI Cooper S Roadster with 135 kW/184 hp, MINI Cooper Roadster with 90 kW/122 hp, MINI Cooper SD Roadster with 105 kW/143 hp. See more here:  Photo Gallery: MINI Roadster

MINI published this weekend an extensive photo gallery with MINI Roadster, the latest addition to the MINI family. MINI Roadster is the sixth model in the brand’s current line-up and the first open-top two-seater in its history, and is currently having its press debut in Portugal. The Roadster sits more than 20 millimeters lower than the MINI Convertible and has an elegantly sweeping roadster look thanks to heavily raked A-pillars and a waistline rising up slightly along the length of the body towards the flat rear end. Under the hood, the MINI Roadster includes latest-generation four-cylinder engines with the most powerful petrol and diesel units in the MINI line-up: MINI John Cooper Works Roadster with 155 kW/211 hp, MINI Cooper S Roadster with 135 kW/184 hp, MINI Cooper Roadster with 90 kW/122 hp, MINI Cooper SD Roadster with 105 kW/143 hp. View original here:  Photo Gallery: MINI Roadster

Filed under: Latest News After a late May 2011 debut in concept form, the production Aston Martin V12 Zagato is ready to be seen in the wider world. The car will be first seen at the Kuwait Concours d’Elegance in mid-February. It’ll be seen alongside some of the world’s rarest and most beautiful metal. Only 150 V12 Zagatos will be built and customers will get their cars later this year. Each car will cost an eyewatering £330,000 (excluding local taxes). Also at the Concourse will be a selection of rare and historic Aston Martins from owners all over the world – one of the motors on display will be the iconic DB4GT Zagato, the first Aston to bare the Zagato name. The DB4GT Zagato came to be when, 50 years ago, Aston wanted to remove more weight from the ’standard’ DB4GT . To achieve this Aston asked Zagato to give it a working over as the Italian firm was known for undertaking such projects. Zagato got the designs for the original DB4GT Zagato finished in just a week. 19 were built and all of them are still around. Dr Ulrich Bez, CEO of Aston Martin said: “We are excited to show the new V12 Zagato for the first time in production form at the Kuwait Concours d’Elegance. Over 50 years since the introduction of the iconic DB4GT Zagato, Aston Martin and Zagato have collaborated to create this modern interpretation which remains true to the original focus of craftsmanship, performance and exclusivity.” The new V12 Zagato is a little more powerful than the DB4GT, though. Its 6.0-litre V12 produces 510bhp and 420lb ft of torque. That should be enough for daily driving, racing and dramatic car chases across foreign mountain ranges.   Go here to read the rest: Production Aston Martin V12 Zagato to make Kuwait debut Read the original post: Production Aston Martin V12 Zagato to make Kuwait debut

Filed under: Consumer The refreshed Fiat Punto range has been given a cosmetic tweak or two and a couple of new engines. The range starts at £9,990 for a 1.2-litre Punto Pop. However, the lowest spec model does without the likes of air con. Fine if you live somewhere chilly all the time, but it might prove a little problematic when the summer comes. A top-spec 1.3-lite MultiJet Lounge Punto will set you back £15,600, though for your money you seem to get most of the toys in the Fiat parts bin. Two new engines join the Punto line up – an 85bhp MultiJet diesel and the award winning 0.9-litre 85bhp two cylinder MultiAir petrol engine. Fiat has simplified the trim levels to three: Pop (base), Easy and Lounge (high). That said, Fiat’s also introduced a GBT spec to sit between Easy and Lounge. GBT adds sport suspension, rear spoiler and side skirts. Cosmetically the Punto now gets colour coded bumpers outside while the inside gets an updated dashboard and new seat fabrics. Want one? The new Punto is on sale now.   See the original post: Facelifted Fiat Punto prices announced View original here:  Facelifted Fiat Punto prices announced

Filed under: Humour Ah, the Aston Martin Cygnet. Many people rather violently dislike it. Aston isn’t selling as many of them as it would like, too. Is it the high price tag? Are they simply not cool enough to be an Aston Martin ? Still, Aston has made videos about how brilliant a concept the Cygnet is before . Admittedly they involved using a pretty lady and a jazzy soundtrack. So far, so cliché. They’ve all been a bit… naff. Until now. Khurrum M Sultan, a London Film School student, took his creative eye to the Cygnet to see how he could make it appealing. You know what? We think he’s managed. Oh, and the driver does behave like a bit of a fool but like all good stories there’s a bit of a twist.   See the rest here:  Video: Aston Martin – this is how you make a Cygnet film Read more from the original source: Video: Aston Martin – this is how you make a Cygnet film

BMWBLOG just learned that the long-time rumored BMW 3 Series GT will come to market in March 2013 . According to a BMW source the 3 Series GT features more attractive and sleeker lines than its older brother, the 5 GT, but it maintains a somewhat bulky look. The 3 GT is said to offer same trunk space as the 5 Series Sedan and interesting enough, more legroom. Last year, we learned that the 3 Series Gran Turismo  will come with a hatch as seen on the 5 GT and raised ride height. The car has a high belt line that completely wraps around the car, therefore allowing the roof to be lower and sleeker. The core idea of a Gran Turismo vehicle remains, traveling in style and luxury, but without sacrificing performance. Internally the 3GT is referred as the “Progressive Activity Coupe.” BMW calls this prototype “Progressive Activity Coupe” because of the way the roof slopes down at the rear, but instead of a larger glass area as in a Touring, there is an additional quarter light and a wrap around tailgate. The rear end is a combination of Touring and a Shooting Brake. BMW sees the 3 Series Gran Turismo as “the alternative to alternatives, a style conscious car with the dynamic prowess to match its looks.” The BMW 3 Series GT will inherit the motoring options from the recently unveiled 3 Series Sedan, so we expect to see a high-end 335i GT as well. With the new 3 Series Touring coming to the U.S. as well, it remains to be seen if BMW will offer the Gran Turismo version to American customers. View post: Exclusive: BMW 3 Series GT launching in March 2013

At the recent Detroit Auto Show, BMWBLOG had the opportunity to interview Karim Habib, BMW’s Head of Exterior Designer. The 40-year old designer has been known as the creator of the new BMW 7 Series and CS Concept exterior design. On completing his design studies in California, Karim Habib held various posts in interior and exterior design before being appointed Team Leader, Advanced Design for the BMW Group. After a short stint at Mercedes-Benz, Habib returned as the head of the Exterior Design BMW Automobiles department. BMWBLOG: Which BMW product that you’ve worked on are you most proud of? Karim Habib: It’s always very difficult for me to point one out because the focus shifts, but I would say the new F30 3 Series. Even as a designer, when you know the car for years and then you see the car on the road for the first time, there are still elements that you discover right then. I’m still discovering it and feel more and more impressed about the 3 Series when you see the car on the street, so it’s probably one of the cars I like best. The new BMW 3 Series BMWBLOG: When it comes to the new 3 Series, can you tell us about the overall design and what BMW has done with the new F30 3 Series? Karim Habib: Generally, the 3 Series is obviously a very important car. The car has always been the leader in its category – so when we approach a car like that, we pay very close attention to the fact that we want to and we strive to still be the best. This car is a bit longer and a bit wider than the previous generation, and proportion-wise, I think we took a pretty good car and made it a little better. In terms of the design language we liked to play as well with sportiness and elegance. One major thing about the new 3 Series is the new front fascia – it’s the first time we’re introducing the headlights that connect to the kidneys. I believe we managed to do something that looks sportier – you have a directing graphic from one side to the other, which makes the car wider. You can see more chrome and have the feeling that the kidneys have a 3D effect, a sculpted one; we tried to make the car look more elegant, more luxurious. BMWBLOG: Speaking of the front fascia – we know about the air curtain technology, which contributes towards a drag coefficient...

At the recent Detroit Auto Show, BMWBLOG had the opportunity to interview Karim Habib, BMW’s Head of Exterior Designer. The 40-year old designer has been known as the creator of the new BMW 7 Series and CS Concept exterior design. On completing his design studies in California, Karim Habib held various posts in interior and exterior design before being appointed Team Leader, Advanced Design for the BMW Group. After a short stint at Mercedes-Benz, Habib returned as the head of the Exterior Design BMW Automobiles department. BMWBLOG: Which BMW product that you’ve worked on are you most proud of? Karim Habib: It’s always very difficult for me to point one out because the focus shifts, but I would say the new F30 3 Series. Even as a designer, when you know the car for years and then you see the car on the road for the first time, there are still elements that you discover right then. I’m still discovering it and feel more and more impressed about the 3 Series when you see the car on the street, so it’s probably one of the cars I like best. The new BMW 3 Series BMWBLOG: When it comes to the new 3 Series, can you tell us about the overall design and what BMW has done with the new F30 3 Series? Karim Habib: Generally, the 3 Series is obviously a very important car. The car has always been the leader in its category – so when we approach a car like that, we pay very close attention to the fact that we want to and we strive to still be the best. This car is a bit longer and a bit wider than the previous generation, and proportion-wise, I think we took a pretty good car and made it a little better. In terms of the design language we liked to play as well with sportiness and elegance. One major thing about the new 3 Series is the new front fascia – it’s the first time we’re introducing the headlights that connect to the kidneys. I believe we managed to do something that looks sportier – you have a directing graphic from one side to the other, which makes the car wider. You can see more chrome and have the feeling that the kidneys have a 3D effect, a sculpted one; we tried to make the car look more elegant, more luxurious. BMWBLOG: Speaking of the front fascia – we know about the air curtain technology, which contributes towards a drag coefficient...

Is your torrent of the first episode of Top Gear Season 18 not yet done ? Then click through for our open thread on the episode that sees Jeremy, Richard and James travel to Italy for a Supercar Shootout in the Lamborghini Aventador, the McLaren MP4-12C and the Noble M600. Also, Will.i.am gets behind the wheel of the reasonably-priced car! More » More:  Top Gear Season 18, Episode 1: Video Open Thread [Video] Read more from the original source: Top Gear Season 18, Episode 1: Video Open Thread [Video]

Is your torrent of the first episode of Top Gear Season 18 not yet done ? Then click through for our open thread on the episode that sees Jeremy, Richard and James travel to Italy for a Supercar Shootout in the Lamborghini Aventador, the McLaren MP4-12C and the Noble M600. Also, Will.i.am gets behind the wheel of the reasonably-priced car! More » More:  Top Gear Season 18, Episode 1: Video Open Thread [Video] Read the original here: Top Gear Season 18, Episode 1: Video Open Thread [Video]

By the sheer number of entries one might have assumed a BMW team would be on the top step of the podium in the Continental Tire BMW 200 at Daytona Speedway. While a BMW did lead in both the GS and ST field the end result was 3 BMWs on the podium steps but none on that slightly higher step occupied by the race winner. The BMW M3s from Fall-Line battled the Mustangs from Roush all day in GS and the Bimmerworld 328s battled the Kia Forte and Mazda Speed3. David Levine piloted the 328 to perfection in his opening stint on a wet track. Eventually taking P1. Gregory Liefooghe hopped in to close and as late as 1:40 remaining held P1. At Daytona you can live and die by drafting and unfortunately very late the drafting was used against him. Bimmerworld had a strong performance in the Roar Before Test and followed up with a strong 3rd place finish. Fall-Line fielded three M3s and a strong driver line up lead to a P2 and P3 finsih from the boys from Illinois! Full Timing and Scoring -  www.Grand-Am.com BMW Performance 200: The Stats GS 1st: Billy Johnson and Jack Roush Jr., No. 61 Roush Performance Ford Mustang Boss 302 R GS 2nd: Charles Putman and Charles Espenlaub, No. 48 Fall-Line Motorsports BMW M3 GS 3rd: Bryan Sellers and Mark Boden, No. 46 Fall-Line Motorsports BMW M3 ST 1st: Pierre Kleinubing and Jayson Clunie, No. 31 iMoto/Cybernation.net Mazda Speed 3 ST 2nd: Nic Jonsson and Andy Lally, No. 10 Kia Motors American Kia Forte Koup ST 3rd: Gregory Liefooghe and David A. Levine, No. 81 BimmerWorld Racing BMW 328i Margin of Victory:  1.061 seconds (overall); .021 seconds (ST) Average Speed:   109.365 mph (overall); 101.926 mph (ST) Cautions: Six for 25 laps Photographer Halston Pitman MotorSportMedia View original post here:  BMW Performance 200 at Daytona International Speedway Race Day

By the sheer number of entries one might have assumed a BMW team would be on the top step of the podium in the Continental Tire BMW 200 at Daytona Speedway. While a BMW did lead in both the GS and ST field the end result was 3 BMWs on the podium steps but none on that slightly higher step occupied by the race winner. The BMW M3s from Fall-Line battled the Mustangs from Roush all day in GS and the Bimmerworld 328s battled the Kia Forte and Mazda Speed3. David Levine piloted the 328 to perfection in his opening stint on a wet track. Eventually taking P1. Gregory Liefooghe hopped in to close and as late as 1:40 remaining held P1. At Daytona you can live and die by drafting and unfortunately very late the drafting was used against him. Bimmerworld had a strong performance in the Roar Before Test and followed up with a strong 3rd place finish. Fall-Line fielded three M3s and a strong driver line up lead to a P2 and P3 finsih from the boys from Illinois! Full Timing and Scoring -  www.Grand-Am.com BMW Performance 200: The Stats GS 1st: Billy Johnson and Jack Roush Jr., No. 61 Roush Performance Ford Mustang Boss 302 R GS 2nd: Charles Putman and Charles Espenlaub, No. 48 Fall-Line Motorsports BMW M3 GS 3rd: Bryan Sellers and Mark Boden, No. 46 Fall-Line Motorsports BMW M3 ST 1st: Pierre Kleinubing and Jayson Clunie, No. 31 iMoto/Cybernation.net Mazda Speed 3 ST 2nd: Nic Jonsson and Andy Lally, No. 10 Kia Motors American Kia Forte Koup ST 3rd: Gregory Liefooghe and David A. Levine, No. 81 BimmerWorld Racing BMW 328i Margin of Victory:  1.061 seconds (overall); .021 seconds (ST) Average Speed:   109.365 mph (overall); 101.926 mph (ST) Cautions: Six for 25 laps Photographer Halston Pitman MotorSportMedia More: BMW Performance 200 at Daytona International Speedway Race Day