A mantra during the development of the Cadillac ATS was “every gram counts.” The result is a vehicle that should be the lightest in its class when it debuts. With pressure from consumers to improve efficiency, as well as new Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards being put into place, the race is on to save weight. Saving weight includes elimination of things (good look with that) as well as lighter materials. These materials include carbon fiber, aluminum and magnesium – all considerably more expensive than traditional steel. The Detroit Free Press has reported on this, quoting engineers who say the next target could be…..your CD player? At 5 whopping pounds, it doesn’t seem like the most obvious target. Apparently it is something manufacturers would like to remove though, for weight as well as center stack real estate. We think it has something to do with cost reduction as well, but that’s another story. Big news was made last year when Chevrolet ditched a CD player on the Spark. it was one of the first cars on the market to do that. As we all know, old technologies stick around for a while after most people write them off. Just think about VHS tapes and in-car tape decks. Some choose to hold on longer than others – the 2010 Lexus SC430 has the dubious distinction of being the last car on the market with a tape deck. Still, CDs are much more recent. Automakers are betting that a younger generation of buyers won’t see the need for them. A good many older buyers still do though, so we think it’ll be a while before we see a disappearance of them completely. Besides, this writer still uses them. Uses them as in, burns MP3s onto CD’s for in-car use. With smarter and more widespread integration of iPod connections and high-quality audio though, will that be a factor in the future? We’ll see. What do you guys think, should automakers ditch the in-car CD player soon? No related posts. Automoblog.net – A Car Blog for Auto Enthusiasts Read more here:  In-Car CD Players Not Long For This World?

Set in an apocalyptic theme, the video shows the super car Mercedes-Benz SLS in Berlin with all the angels and demons hullabaloo. The car features its huge lip, which was altered and tuned by MEC Design. The earth-shattering sound of the V8 engine is really something, as the tuner emphasize it and used it as a ‘soundtrack’. The clip is directed by Daniel Michaelis, and produced by Format67.net. The video narrated by Claudia Black is beautiful, worthy to be called a film in itself. Although made by a tuning company, we can say that it has great value, so go ahead and watch. The almost 2 minutes you’ll spend doing so will not be a waste. Go here to read the rest: Mercedes SLS by MEC Design in a Video – Angels Over Berlin

Built in 1922 and essentially abandoned in 1923, Autodromo de Sitges-Terramar is the second oldest remaining track in Europe. Unlike the oldest, England’s Brooklands, it was built so well that it remains useable today. Here, rally legend Carlos Sainz laps its 80 year old banking in an Audi R8 LMS . More » More here: Watch Carlos Sainz Drive An Audi R8 LMS Around Europe’s Second Oldest Track [Video] Here is the original post:  Watch Carlos Sainz Drive An Audi R8 LMS Around Europe’s Second Oldest Track [Video]

The auto industry is full of progress. Most of the time we know that new cars are just going to weigh more, be less engaging to drive, and basically be less good than the models they replace. Sometimes, though, innovations turn out better than expected. More » View original post here: COTD: Know Your Meme Edition Edition [Commenter Of The Day] Original post:  COTD: Know Your Meme Edition Edition [Commenter Of The Day]

BMW is preparing to launch a new X-model: BMW X4. The entry-level Sports Activity Coupe is set to launch in 2014 and will be manufactured at the Spartanburg Plant in South Carolina. Built under the code F26, the X4 shares the same platform as the new X3, and will be positioned, price wise, below the X5. According to our sources, the X4 is 4.65 meters long (183 inches), same length as the F25 X3. From a design standpoint, the 2014 X6 will mimic some of the design cues seen on the much larger X6 SAC, but with the latest BMW design language deeply embedded into the final product which translates into a redesigned front fascia and athletic rear end. To give the “baby SAC” a more dynamic and sportier look, the designers have drawn a swooping roofline. Under the hood, we expect the X4 to make use of the engine lineup from the X3, including both four and six-cylinder petrol and diesel engines. The ZF eight-speed automatic will most likely be offered as standard. The X4 will take on the Land Rover Evoque, as well as the forthcoming Q6 and Cajun models being co-developed by Audi and Porsche. While the renderings below might not be the most accurate, they should at least give you an idea of proportions. [Renderings Worldcarfans | Autobild ] Read more from the original source: Renderings: New BMW X4

We just took delivery of a car that is made for spring: a “Mars Red” SLK250 . This two-seat convertible is just what the doctor ordered to get us out of the winter doldrums. And if the cold weather reappears, our SLK has a folding hardtop, heated seats, and the automaker’s exclusive “airscarf neck-level heating system,” which features vents in the head restraints that blow warm air on your neck. It’s a nice touch that we really liked in the last SLK, and its SL big-brother we tested. What’s new with this generation? Joining the Audi TT and BMW Z4 , the SLK is now available with a small, turbocharged four-cylinder engine. The new SLK engine puts out 201 hp; we equipped ours with the six-speed manual transmission. As with many things, the fun in the sun comes at a price. We fitted our SLK with several options that boosted its $42,500 base price, including parking guidance, dual-zone climate control, and the Premium 1 Package. Adding those items resulted in a $48,045 bottom line. The last SLK we tested was fun to drive, with quick, communicative, and well-weighted steering and a direct and smooth-shifting manual transmission – traits we normally don’t experience in a Mercedes. We look forward to seeing if the new generation measures up. Stay tuned as we put on break-in miles with our SLK and get ready to test it against the Audi and BMW… and maybe another competitor. See the rest here:  Our new 2012 Mercedes-Benz SLK250 brings top-down fun to the track

‘Superb Performance, Luxury and Infotainment’ Midsize crossover sport utility vehicles continue their strong demand by consumers looking for a vehicle that they can use for many purposes-comfortably transporting up to five adults, cargo carrying flexibility, and towing capabilities for their boat, atv’s, jet skis, etc, up to 3,500 pounds. With its distinctive styling, high levels of performance, luxury, comfort infotainment inside and advanced technology inside, the new Platinum Edition is like no other crossover sport utility on the road.  This new addition to the Murano nameplate is distinguished by adding standard 20 inch aluminum alloy wheels, DVD players behind the front head restraints, and Nissan’s latest Navigation system. All 2012 Murano’s feature a powerful yet fuel-efficient 260hp VQ-Series 3.5 liter, all-aluminum, DOHC V6 engine that incorporates a Twin Nissan Variable Induction Control system, microfinished camshaft and crankshaft surfaces.  Diamond Like Carbon coated valve lifters, resin intake manifold, forged crankshaft, digital knock control system, high capacity mufflers round out this truly high-tech engine.  It is mated to a smooth and quiet advanced Xtronic CVT transmission that is one of the best that I have ever tested.  It also comes with Nissan’s Adaptive Shift Control that provides you with a sporty driving experience and the smoothness that only a CVT offers. Murano is available in standard front-wheel drive or the optional Intuitive All-Wheel Drive system, and all Murano’s come with standard Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) and Traction Control to help you maintain control of the vehicle when driving on the edge of adhesion in sharp turns. Murano’s sculpted exterior features a wide front end with a dynamic front fascia design and wide grille.  Murano is again available with quad-cylinder style HID, bi-functional Xenon projector headlights and standard foglamps to lighten the darkness up ahead and increase your safety.  The wide hood sweeps into the sculpted dynamic bodylines, with pronounced wheel arches that the Platinum’s 20X8 inch tires and wheels fill up giving it a more aggressive stance.  Large chrome door handles and optional roof rails add both functionality and visual accents.  Murano’s equally distinctive...

No short list of ten items is going to adequately prepare you, the complete novice, for self-sufficient driving in the absolute wilderness. But, here are ten essential items of survival equipment, picked by Jalopnik readers , that might just keep you alive. More » Continued here: Ten Essential Pieces Of Automotive Survival Gear [Answers Of The Day] The rest is here: Ten Essential Pieces Of Automotive Survival Gear [Answers Of The Day]

Today at High Gear Media, Guy Fieri is going to drive the pace car at the Indianapolis 500 and someone is posing as a fake cop and killing people. Audi designed a chair and we reviewed the 2013 Kia Rio. All this and more in today’s car news, right here on The Car Connection. The 2012 Hyundai Elantra is being investigated after an airbag severed a… View original post here:  2013 Kia Rio Reviewed, Audi Created A Chair, Fiat Giving Away Cars: Car News Headlines

Crowdsourcing is everywhere these days. Astronomers are using it to find rogue asteroids. City planners use it to revitalize downtown promenades. And it’s the ethos behind the game-changing Kickstarter.com. So naturally, when Audi’s Lightweight Design Centre needed to crank out a new chair, it followed suit. Audi’s designers were tasked with… More here:  Audi Cops A Thousand Feels To Design The Perfect Chair

Releasing these new photos of the Porsche 918 Spyder , the company has announced some exciting development news: with the aid of its electric motors, the plug-in hybrid prototype is currently developing 770 HP and returning up to 74 MPG. Also, ummm…I messed my pants. More » Here is the original: 770 HP, 74 MPG, Looks That Can Kill [New Cars] Excerpt from: 770 HP, 74 MPG, Looks That Can Kill [New Cars]

Filed under: Motorsport , Latest News No this isn’t a story from the mid-eighties that got mislaid. The “too fast to race” rally cars that were banned in 1986 are going to compete in a multi-stage rally in Cheshire in August 2012. Group B cars were fire-breathing monsters (literally spewing flames from the exhaust on nearly every gearchange), with up to 500 bhp. They were banned after two fatal crashes in 1986 in which three spectators and two competitors were killed. It was felt that the cars were simply too fast for narrow forest tracks with open access for spectators. There will be five locations for the UK rebirth, including Oulton Park circuit and Cholmondeley. Lest you think the latter is a comedy name from The Fast Show, Cholmondeley is the location of the Pageant of Power, a sort of Goodwood Festival of Speed of the north, The publicity photographs show all the Group B classic cars – Audi Quattro, Peugeot 205 T16, Ford RS 200 and even a Lancia 037. They are also promising a wide range of other cars, including WRC rally cars and historic classics. There is a nice looking Rover SD1 race car on their website, which suggests a pretty broad church of interesting motors. They are still interested in new entrants and will include static displays and non-competitive runs on the course, so anyone that has an interesting classic from the 1970s and 1980s might want to get in touch The event will take place on the weekend of 25/26 August and (a few) more details are available at the rallygroupeb website.   Here is the original post: Quattro lives! Group B rally weapons return to UK Excerpt from:  Quattro lives! Group B rally weapons return to UK

Calculate finance and lease payments for Mercedes-Benz cars anywhere?You can do that with the new tablet or smartphone app that can be downloadedfrom http://eff.m.mercedes-benz-bank.de/ ! This application works best for people who are already interested in a Merc car, for example, the person is in the showroom of a dealership. What the app does is it scans the price tag QR code of the car and then brings the information directly to the mobile rate calculator. Lease offers can also be computed as run time, mileage and payment can be altered. A customer can finance a lease with the right monthly rate for him or her. The rates and offer will be sent to the customer’s email and they can even send it in social networks. Jay Schell of Mercedes-Benz Bank said, “The mobile rate calculator is for us a further step in providing our products for customers to easily and quickly accessible. We bring our financial services for Mercedes-Benz in particular the younger audience closer. ” This app is also targeted for salesmen in dealerships as this can also be used to tailor fit payment plans for prospective customers during a sales call. Source: Mercedes-Benz Bank Read the original here:  Mobile Rate Calculator by Mercedes-Benz Bank

The facelifted BMW 7 Series goes on sale this July and along with mild exterior upgrades, it also brings to market new exterior colors, engines and features. BMW introduces a new model in the 7 Series lineup: 750d and 750Ld. The high-end diesels are powered by the new tri-turbo 3.0 liter engine which is based on the popular 3.0 liter inline-six (N57D30), but with an extra turbocharger. The innovative powerplant produces 381 horsepower and 740 Nm (546 lb-ft) of torque. With 93.6 kW/127.3 hp per liter of displacement, the N57 sets a new benchmark standard for diesel engines. Another diesel model to receive an upgrade is the entry level 730d. The updated N57D30001 unit now produces 254 horsepower and 560 Nm of torque (413 lb-ft). The two diesels, in both rear-wheel-drive and xDrive, are available only to European customers. Both the F01 and F02 7ers will offer their customers an extensive range of exterior colors, with the latest additions being Havana, Glacier Silver and Midnight Blue. Starting as of July 2012, the next generation iDrive navigation system will be available on the 7 Series. The new system offers faster processing and an enhanced design over the current iDrive system. A new multi-touch iDrive knob, similar to the Audi system, will allow the driver and passenger to easily enter numbers and characters through gestures without looking at the system. The new iDrive also includes software upgrades: Streamlined radio/menu and navigation structure, Advanced Real-Time Traffic Information, Weather info and more Google Search features. Moving outside the car, the F01 and F02 7er LCI models will feature full LED headlights that were redesigned to look sleeker and are smaller in size. A new eyebrow now hosts the turn signal indicator. All 7 Series LCI models will get the signal indicator integrated into the side mirrors. We anticipate a web debut of the 2013 BMW 7 Series in the upcoming weeks. See the original post here:  2013 BMW 7 Series LCI brings new colors, engines and features

The new BMW 3 Series Touring F31 will have to compete in the next few months against offerings from Audi and Mercedes. The all new 3er Touring runs head-to-head with the Audi A4 Avant and Mercedes-Benz C-Class Estate. While the 3er is a brand-new offering, the Audi A4 Avant received a facelift this year. The C-Class Estate went through that process in 2011. As always with a new BMW model, we put together a visual comparison that highlight the design features of similar models in the segment. In standard form, BMW and Mercedes offer their sports wagons with a rear-wheel drive transmission, while Audi stick to its front-wheel-drive architecture. Of course, an all-wheel-drive optional transmission is offered across these models. Other differences arise in the automatic transmission: BMW F31 offers a ZF eight-speed box, Mercedes relies on an in-house seven-speed automatic transmission and Audi offers a variable multitronic or seven-speed dual clutch transmission.  All three vehicles can be upgraded with numerous assistance systems. Exclusive to BMW is the Head-Up Display and a rear window that opens separately into the operable standard tailgate by pressing a button. With 1,500 liters of stowage space with rear seat folded, the BMW also offers the most cargo space. The new BMW 3 Series Sports Wagon will launch in Europe later this year and is set to arrive in US showrooms in Spring 2013. Powertrain details for the US as well as pricing, specifications and standard/optional equipment will be announced at a later date. [Images: BimmerToday ] Original post: Photo Comparison: New BMW 3 Series Touring vs. Audi A4 Avant vs. Mercedes-Benz C-Class Estate