BMW has jumped into the Super Bowl Commercial Game to score big with about 6 spots advertising the new 3 Series. Many of them are focused on new features offered on the new BMW 3 Series and the idea of BMW building only one thing, The Ultimate Driving Machine. These commercials are pretty clever and are sure to give other automotive ads a run for the money during Super Bowl XLVI. Enjoy! Original post: BMW Jumps Into Super Bowl XLVI Game With 6 Clever 3 Series Commercials View post:  BMW Jumps Into Super Bowl XLVI Game With 6 Clever 3 Series Commercials

Saab apparently is not dead —it’s just in a persistent vegetative state. A total of five parties have stepped forward to bid on all or parts of the Trollhättan-based automaker as a bankruptcy court in Sweden manages the sale of the company’s assets. The aim is to recover some money for Saab’s creditors. The three parties receiving the most attention are two Chinese companies and Mahindra & Mahindra, an Indian automaker. Zhejiang Youngman Lotus Automobile Co. is said to have made a bid in the hundreds-of-millions-of-dollars range for as much of Saab as it can get. Details of the offer haven’t been disclosed, but some very careful contracting must be on the table: Youngman tried to buy Saab before the bankruptcy, but General Motors ultimately vetoed that deal since it would have put so much GM-engineered Saab technology into the hands of a relatively small Chinese firm. It’s not clear what’s different this time around that might placate GM. Beijing Automotive Industry Holding Company (BAIC) also has expressed serious interest in picking at Saab’s carcass. Saab sold the tooling and rights to build the old 9-5 to BAIC in 2009—it’s re-skinning them with more-modern sheetmetal—so this seems like a predictable move. Analysts like to say that the Chinese auto industry is developing quickly, which it is, but the benefit of building a car on even an old western platform can’t be understated. Indian firm Mahindra & Mahindra—a major manufacturer of passenger cars, commercial vehicles, and agricultural equipment—is reported to have entered preliminary discussions to buy at least portions of Saab. These reports date back to December 30, however. As of this writing, Mahindra spokespeople weren’t available for comment. If you’re confused by this quagmire of news, it’s understandable. And you’re not alone. Saab is a relatively large industrial firm, and it’s going through a sophisticated bankruptcy process in Sweden. State- and privately held Chinese manufacturers are in some cases declining to be forthcoming about their positions in negotiations—and in other cases are legally required to stay quiet. Even international news organizations...

According to Automotive News Europe, the SUV planned to replace both the Jeep Compass and Patriot, has been delayed until 2014. Originally intended to go into production in 2013, the code-named B-SUV has been delayed so that Fiat can expedite engineering on its European products, like the Sedici compact. The delay also means a one-billion-Euro… View original here:  Jeep Compass And Patriot Replacement Delayed Until 2014

Lexus has just announced a new Facebook application it calls, Points Of No Return. This is the first time an automaker has created a Facebook Timeline inspired application, beating other automotive social media leaderssuch as Ford, Audi, and General Motors. Similar in appearance to Facebook’s new Timeline profile layout, the app shows events that… See original here: Lexus Introduces Points Of No Return Facebook App

The Fiat-Chrysler partnership has opened up all kinds of interesting possibilities. Chrysler and Lancia are now paired together, Dodge and Alfa Romeo are sharing platforms and Fiats are making their way to the United States. For those not attuned to the automotive industry it can be confusing. Unthinkable a few years ago would have been the thought that Jeep and Ferrari are under the same roof. No way right? Jeep (excuse me, SRT) is making use of the connection in creating awareness for the Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT-8. Two models have been delivered to Ferrari’s Formula One drivers, Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa. They aren’t just any Grand Cherokee SRT-8s though – they have been specially-outfitted “Ferrari style.” Alonso and Massa will be given all the cars they ever need at this rate – Fiat gave them both Abarth 650 Tributos in 2010. Beth Peretta, marketing director for the SRT brand says: “We are excited and proud to be able to hand over the exclusively personalised “Ferrari-style” versions of the most powerful and fastest Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 of all time to two of the most talented drivers in the world….we are sure Fernando and Felipe will feel perfectly at home at the wheel of these cars that take styling cues from Ferrari with Rosso Corsa bodywork and that represent the pinnacle in terms of performance for the Jeep brand” Ferrari-style means a finish in the brand’s signature Rosso Corsa red (what else?) with black and silver contrast racing stripes, along with a matte black grille, alloy wheels and roof. It makes for a special Grand Cherokee unlike any other – and we’re glad to see there aren’t any Ferrari logos anywhere to be found. Both models are matching, and under the skin powered by the same 4.6-liter V-8 making 465 horsepower and 465 pound feet of torque. That is enough to send Alonso and Felipe to 60 mph in 4.8 seconds. Related posts: Extreme: Hennessey Tunes Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT-8 Jeep Ascends with 2011 Grand Cherokee Overland Summit Grand Cherokee-Based SUV Coming to Maserati Automoblog.net – A Car Blog for Auto Enthusiasts View original post here: Jeep Delivers Special Grand Cherokee SRT-8s to Ferrari Scuderia Racing Drivers

We knew that Kia would have a hard time topping last year’s Super Bowl epic, which featured everything from a fake motorcycle cop through Optima-worshipping Mayans. We weren’t sure where they were going when we first saw the brief video of Adriana Lima waving the checkered flag, and then we were pretty sure Kia had lost its mind when it posted a five-hour video of Lima waving a checkered flag. We’ll admit that she’s easy on the eyes, but a five hour video of anyone, doing pretty much anything, is about four hours too long for our attention spans. Somehow, however, Kia pulled it off. Their Super Bowl ad may be the best we’ve seen this year, and it’s as bizarre as last year’s effort. We’ll let you be the judge, though – take a look at the video below, and tell us if it beats the efforts from Toyota, Volkswagen and Acura. And just in case you want to verify that five hours of Adriana Lima waving a checkered flag is indeed too much of a good thing, here’s today’s extra special bonus video.   View post: And In Super Bowl Ads, It’s Kia For The Win Go here to see the original:  And In Super Bowl Ads, It’s Kia For The Win

We knew that Kia would have a hard time topping last year’s Super Bowl epic, which featured everything from a fake motorcycle cop through Optima-worshipping Mayans. We weren’t sure where they were going when we first saw the brief video of Adriana Lima waving the checkered flag, and then we were pretty sure Kia had lost its mind when it posted a five-hour video of Lima waving a checkered flag. We’ll admit that she’s easy on the eyes, but a five hour video of anyone, doing pretty much anything, is about four hours too long for our attention spans. Somehow, however, Kia pulled it off. Their Super Bowl ad may be the best we’ve seen this year, and it’s as bizarre as last year’s effort. We’ll let you be the judge, though – take a look at the video below, and tell us if it beats the efforts from Toyota, Volkswagen and Acura. And just in case you want to verify that five hours of Adriana Lima waving a checkered flag is indeed too much of a good thing, here’s today’s extra special bonus video.   View post: And In Super Bowl Ads, It’s Kia For The Win Read the original here: And In Super Bowl Ads, It’s Kia For The Win

The 2006 Honda Civic Hybrid. Image: American Honda Motor Co. If you side with plaintiff and 2006 Honda Civic Hybrid owner Heather Peters, the automaker misled buyers in its claims that the 2006 Honda Civic Hybrid could return up to 50 mpg fuel economy. If you side with Honda, the automaker claims that actual fuel economy delivered (by any car) is largely determined by driving style and maintenance performed. While enough 2006 – 2008 Honda fell short of projected mileage to file a class action lawsuit against Honda, Peters knew better than to jump on that particular bandwagon. Under the proposed class-action settlement, Civic Hybrid owners would receive just $100 and a coupon valid for $1,000 off the purchase of a new Honda automobile. The trial lawyers involved, on the other hand, would get some $8.5 million. Instead, Peters took the novel approach of taking Honda to small claims court, seeking the maximum of $10,000 in damage for her time and trouble. As the Los Angeles Times reports, the court sided with Peters, a former attorney, awarding her $9,867 in damages. Honda will appeal the ruling, so the case is likely far from over. Peters claims that some 500 other Civic Hybrid owners have contacted her in regards to pursuing a small claims case, and given the population of Civic Hybrids on the road, such a groundswell could get very expensive for Honda. Which, in turn, means that Honda products could get more expensive for everyone else. There is, after all, no such thing as a free lunch. If you read any new car window sticker, called a “Monroney” in the business, fuel economy numbers are clearly labeled with a disclaimer and an “expected range.” A vehicle rated at 28 mpg highway may have an expected range of 23 to 33 mpg on the highway, a variance of nearly 20 percent. Window stickers also include the statement, “Your actual mileage will vary depending on how you drive and maintain your vehicle.” In other words, no one is guaranteeing that a car will hit the numbers advertised. While we don’t know if Peters was informed of this, or if her car even came with a window sticker, every single published mileage claim we’ve ever seen contained the same disclaimer, albeit in fine print. Peters’ victory may be a win for her, and potentially for...

In a perfect world you could build an automobile for the masses, no matter how daring or bold the design was, and the majority of auto enthusiasts would naturally be attracted to your new creation. The same thing can be said for many new crossover SUVs, especially in the luxury market. Here in America we have taken a special liking to luxury crossovers such as the Porsche Cayenne, Range Rover Evoque and even the BMW X5/X6. Undoubtedly, there is a vast market for such vehicles. The latest luxury automaker to reportedly have plans to roll out a new luxury crossover SUV, is Lamborghini. We already got wind of Bentley having an SUV on the drawing board while Maserati recently uncovered the Kubang concept, so this news is no surprise to us. Automotive rumors are sometimes like the bubonic plague; sure it spreads fast, but you never really confirm its legitimacy until you experience the real thing for yourself. According to Autonews , a senior source at Audi confirmed reports of Lamborghini getting into the SUV market with an aggressively styled crossover vehicle. Lately, images of such a vehicle have been circulating over the social networks and various automotive blogs from the Italian magazine Quattroruote. There is really no reason for us to doubt this rumor especially considering that Lamborghini has stated that they will have “two surprises” for upcoming auto shows. One surprise for Beijing and one for Geneva. Quite possibly, one of the two surprises will be a new Lamborghini Aventador Roadster while the other may be the rumored crossover SUV. Lamborghini Aventador Roadster rendering – source: ps-garage         Read the original: Report: Lamborghini Crossover SUV Rumored View post: Report: Lamborghini Crossover SUV Rumored

The 50th Rolex 24 Hours at Daytona this weekend was one of the best ever, even if everyone didn’t get to go home with a shiny watch. Our friends at MotorSportMedia were there to bring you photos from the race. — Ed. More » Here is the original post: 50th Rolex 24 Hours At Daytona: Über Gallery [Car Porn] Read the original here: 50th Rolex 24 Hours At Daytona: Über Gallery [Car Porn]

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

Alfa Romeo’s former test track in Balocco, Italy has hosted some of the most achingly beautiful cars in history. It is also where TRC OFF found this Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione dressed up like the Duke boys’ Dodge Charger. Who would do this? More » Read the original post: Someone Turned An Alfa Romeo 8C Into A ‘General Lee’ [LOLCars] Originally posted here:  Someone Turned An Alfa Romeo 8C Into A ‘General Lee’ [LOLCars]

Tesla has revealed a teaser shot of the electric Model X crossover in an email invitation to the car’s February 9 debut ; the image shows only a darkened front three-quarter view of the high-riding EV. The visible portions of the grille and hood imply that its basic look won’t differ greatly from that of its platform mate, the Model S sedan. (Check out our ride in a Model S prototype here .) It’s still unknown whether Tesla will unveil the production-ready Model X or a concept car next week; whatever it ends up being, we’ll bring you full details as soon as we have them. Read more from the original source: Tesla Teases Model X Crossover Ahead of February 9 Debut See more here:  Tesla Teases Model X Crossover Ahead of February 9 Debut

The 2012 Nissan Leaf electric car. Image: Nissan Motors Just when you thought that legislators in the Golden State had come to their senses, something happens to reaffirm our opinion that California may be the least-car-enthusiast-friendly state in the country. After showing some degree of sanity by agreeing to adopt the proposed EPA mileage standard of 54.5 mpg by 2025, California has announced that, by 2025, a minimum of 15.4 percent of sales must be of electric, plug-in-hybrid or hydrogen powered vehicles. To frame that mandate with a dose of reality, let’s look at the two commercially available electric cars. In 2011, Nissan sold 9,674 Leafs in the United States; excluding trucks, that represents just 1.6 percent of its car sales in the United States. Chevrolet sold 7,671 Volts, which represented just one percent of its new car sales in the U.S. market. Do we need to tell you that legislation requiring manufacturers to sell X percent of green cars is absurd, akin to requiring grocery stores to sell 15.4 percent of food from the produce aisle? While the penalties for non-compliance aren’t clear (yet), automakers can’t dictate whether or not customers will buy a “green” vehicle over a more conventional one. Sure, they can influence this via marketing, but at the showroom level it’s always the consumer who has the final say, unless, of course, the freedom of choice element is removed. As Autoblog and Automotive News (subscription required) report, some ten additional states (including New York and New Jersey) will likely follow California’s lead, requiring automakers to significantly ramp up sales of green vehicles. Automakers, oddly enough, back the plan, but with good reason – by mandating sales of electric and plug-in-hybrid vehicles, manufacturers get an artificially inflated market to sell into.   Go here to read the rest: California To ‘Require’ Sales Of Electric And Plug-In-Hybrid Vehicles Continued here: California To ‘Require’ Sales Of Electric And Plug-In-Hybrid Vehicles

Last week the world wondered what Matthew Broderick was up to in a short ten-second teaser clip on YouTube where he appeared to be playing Ferris Bueller, the character from his famous flick “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.” More » Read more here: Watch Honda’s Full ‘Ferris Bueller’ Super Bowl Ad [Video] View original here: Watch Honda’s Full ‘Ferris Bueller’ Super Bowl Ad [Video]