Only in America. Most countries aim to celebrate their accomplishments. Only here would we develop a revolutionary product and then turn it into an object of partisan derision. And that is exactly what has happened with the Chevrolet Volt. Ridiculous. The whole situation is subject to a lot of eye-rolling by most in the automotive industry. The Volt has nothing to do with the Obama Administration, unlike those would make it so. But, we digress. In Europe, the Volt is sold as the Opel Ampera and it begun deliveries just recently. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration investigation into the Volt’s battery caused a delay in the Ampera’s on-sale date. Earlier this month, the car was announced as the 2012 European Car of the Year. According to Plug In Cars , orders have reached 7,000 units, putting the Ampera on track to hit its 10,000 unit sales goal by the end of the year. The Ampera has a few changes versus the Volt that we think improve its appearance. That includes a redesigned front fascia with Opel’s signature swoosh design. In the interior, the Ampera has a two-tone color scheme and piano black plastic center stack that gives off a very upscale appearance. More substantive is a switch that enables the driver to run the gas engine exclusively. At first glance it might not seem to be an important distinction, but it is. Instead of running out the battery quickly on the highway, an Ampera driver can run on gasoline and switch to electric around town. This is not only far better for fuel consumption, but it is also a way to avoid the steep penalties drivers can incur traveling at certain times of the day in high-trafficked areas. Enno Fuchs, Opel e-mobility director, says that “We are extremely pleased with the continuing demand for our Ampera…this news shows us that our sales target of 10,000 units for 2012 is well within reach.” General Motors’ five-week shutdown of Volt/Ampera production could delay some of these deliveries though Opel says the Ampera is attracting buyers from premium brands like Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz. You think we have it bad with our gas prices? In Europe, gas price averages are often double or more what we pay. Ouch. The Ampera’s sales mean the car could sell more...

BMW South Africa, in collaboration with ADF Motorsport, has unveiled an F30 BMW 335i racing car, which will compete in the SA Production Car championship in 2012. According to the company, this is the first F30 3 Series racing car in the world and it will debut at Wesbank Super Series race meeting at Killarney in Cape Town on March 31st. ADF Motorsport was responsible for the development of the car which will have behind the wheel the 2010 Production Car Champion Anthony Taylor and Etienne van der Lindec. Team principal Donovan van Heerden said it took the team less than two months to build the first race car, at a cost of R2 million or $260,000 US dollars. The F30 335i racer weighs just over 1360 kg and is powered by the N55 TwinPower turbocharged engine. No power upgrade was given to the 335i due to the SA Production car regulations which stipulate a 40mm restrictor plate on the turbo inlet and no more than 0.7 bar of boost. However, thanks to a modified engine management system, exhaust and turbocharger have been, it still delivers more than 300kW and 600Nm of torque. To keep the weight in check, ADF Motorsport used plenty of carbon-fiber parts from BMW’s new M Performance aftermarket catalogue, including 370mm M Performance front disk brakes, 18” BBS rims and a very authoritative Akrapovic exhaust system. “The partnership with ADF Motorsport represents a big step for BMW South Africa in showcasing various BMW M Performance parts available for customers to fit in their cars without compromising on their warranty, especially those who appreciate performance parts in their vehicles and are eager to have these parts fitted in the new BMW 3 Series. We are excited to partner again with Team Afrox and anticipate a successful season together,” says Rod Baxter, general manager of Aftersales supply chain at BMW South Africa. “In addition, we installed a MoTeC engine control unit featuring the new M1 system which makes this car the first in the world to run direct injection on a production based race car. We have also fitted a GPS data logging process system, which draws data from the engine management system to warn the driver of any electronic faults during racing,” says van Heerden. Excerpt from: BMW SA shows off a F30...

Since its 2002 introduction, MINI USA has proven that there is a place for premium small cars in the American car market; and on the 10th anniversary of the brand’s launch, its leaders can confidently say that MINI has successfully established itself as the leader in this growing segment. Over the last decade, MINI has grown its vehicle portfolio from the single Hardtop body style that it launched with in 2002, to include six unique models today; it has expanded its dealer network by two-thirds; and has cultivated a loyal owner community, the likes of which few brands have the honor to call upon as their own. “MINI launched in the U.S. during the time when gas was cheap and large trucks and SUVs ruled the road,” said Jim McDowell, Vice President MINI USA. “Many thought the brand would be a one-hit wonder, and we are extremely proud that we were able to surprise some the toughest critics, and at times, even ourselves.” MINI challenged the notion of small meaning “cheap” by delivering a premium vehicle experience in a small package with inspired design. The brand also demonstrated to many motorists that MINI can meet their everyday driving needs. The sales success first peaked when fuel prices spiked in 2008; but another best-year sales record was set in 2011 when fuel prices were more stable, indicating that the brand had successfully come into its own and that motorists’ positive perception and acceptance of premium small cars was growing. Today, one in every five BMW Group vehicles sold in the U.S. has a MINI badge on it, making it a significant contributor to the company’s overall success. The brand has grown to include six models, Hardtop, Convertible, Clubman, Countryman, Coupe and Roadster, each of which complements the others as part of the lineup. Each vehicle in the portfolio has been developed to have a distinct personality while still delivering on the brand’s longstanding promises regarding sporty performance, striking design, overall efficiency and value. MINI USA’s dealer network has grown from 66 dealers in 2002 to 112 dealers today, and up to 125 outlets are expected to be open within two years. While all MINI dealers have dedicated showroom space, approximately 60 percent of the existing MINI showrooms are stand-alone facilities....

Car racing is indisputably a glamour sport, attracting those who seek a bit of excitement in between public appearances and script readings. Some actually turn out to be decent drivers. Who is the greatest celebrity to have turned a wheel in competition? More » Read the original post: Who Is The Greatest Celebrity Race Driver Of All Time? [Question Of The Day] The rest is here: Who Is The Greatest Celebrity Race Driver Of All Time? [Question Of The Day]

Filed under: First Drive As we said when we drove it first last year, ‘the only way is up!’ and it seems that the UK media agree as What Car? magazine recently crowned the up! its Car of The Year 2012. Well, now the fun and funky small car is available in the UK. We got to drive most high-spec versions at the international launch in Rome last year with positive views. So when Volkswagen gave us the chance to try the entry-level Take up! and Move up! versions at the UK launch, we were keen to see if the cheapest up!’s were still worth a look for budget conscious buyers. The fancier alloys might be gone but the up!’s basic exterior design looks modern and fresh. Without the luxurious details, the neatest parts of the up!’s design become more obvious and include the side windows which are steeply upswept at the back, the glass rear tailgate, the circular elements of the headlights looking like eyes, the Volkswagen badge the nose and the grill bumper treatment almost looking like a smiley face. Move inside and though these two versions of the up! perhaps don’t feels as special, there’s still the spacious interior. The Take up! in particular feels very basic, there’s no gloss black trim for the dashboard for example, but quality is up to usual Volkswagen standards and the dashboard design is elegant. It is quite a novelty to wind up your own windows and to lock each of the doors via a key. Some of the instruments, such as the rev counter might be smaller than the Volkswagen norm, but they are beautifully detailed and easy to read. The switchgear placement is also sound. I’m over 6ft tall and found it easy to get a decent driving position; the high-backed single piece front seats are also comfortable. This was despite the lack of reach adjustment for the steering column. All round visibility is excellent too. Despite me sitting in the front of the up!, I’m sure there would be enough rear legroom for a couple of adults to travel in reasonable comfort. This is down to the 2,420mm wheelbase. There is also a class-leading 251 litre boot, but we wonder how good the uncovered painted areas will look after being scratched and chipped with everyday use. The Take up! and Move up! are priced at £7,995 and £9,330...

Subaru is bolstering its nanny-tech chops with the introduction of its EyeSight system at next month’s New York auto show . We first previewed this new technology in the Impreza concept at the 2010 L.A. auto show, although it’s been available on the Japanese-spec Legacy since mid-2008. EyeSight is a driver-assistance system that purports to act as a second pair of eyes for the driver. It uses stereoscopic cameras mounted above the rearview mirror to determine the distance to a car or pedestrian ahead. Subaru claims that at closing speeds up to 19 mph, EyeSight can detect any obstacle in the car’s path and, if the driver does not react in time, can apply the brakes to slow the car or stop it completely. When the closing speed is above 19 mph, the car will still apply the brakes when it detects an object or vehicle, but won’t necessarily bring the car to a complete stop. The effect is much like that of  Volvo’s Pedestrian Detection (radar- and camera-based) or one of the functions baked into Mercedes-Benz’s Distronic Plus system (radar-based). You might notice that those are premium brands; Subaru’s introduction of EyeSight will bring this sort of technology at a lower price point. EyeSight also will bring lane-keeping and adaptive cruise-control functionality. Its adaptive cruise system will operate at speeds between 1 and 87 mph and can stop the vehicle completely if the situation requires. The system initially will be offered on the 2013 Outback wagon and Legacy sedan; it should spread to other Subaru models in the future. Of course, you know our take: While such technology may help in specific situations—if a driver is particularly fatigued, for example—there’s no replacing an alert human constantly scanning the road ahead. Plus, for enthusiasts, a car that drives itself is no fun at all. View post: Subaru EyeSight Driver-Assistance System Coming to 2013 Legacy and Outback [New York Auto Show] View post:  Subaru EyeSight Driver-Assistance System Coming to 2013 Legacy and Outback [New York Auto Show]

A mid-size crossover, the 2011 Toyota Highlander combines Toyota reliability with the utility of a SUV. Unlike some SUVs, the Highlander feels tight on corners with little sway and top heaviness. The Highlander also maintains safety at all speeds, giving the driver a sense of stability, reaffirmed by the lack of any major blind spots. Although no major exterior design changes were made for the 2011 model year, the front fascia has been significantly improved, modernizing the vehicle. Overall the exterior is both stylish and attractive for the crossover segment, avoiding a minivan appearance completely. Exterior fittings are tight, designed with quality materials, for a pleasing visual aesthetic. SUV lines and 19-inch wheels gives the current Highlander an aggressive look that its predecessors lacked. Drivers have the option of multiple exterior colors including white, shades of silver, shades of tan, crimson, blue, green and black. Toyota offers the Highlander with two different engines; a standard 2.7-liter 4-cylinder engine that produces 187 hp/186 lb-ft of torque and an optional 3.5-liter DOHC V6 engine that yields 270 hp and 248 lb-ft of torque. The V6 engine is mated to a 5-speed electronically controlled automatic transmission that delivers smooth shifting and continuous power when needed. Power is plentiful, making the transition from city to freeway driving a breeze. Electronic steering lacks responsiveness but thanks to power assisted 4-wheel disc brakes the Highlander has reasonable stopping distance and control. The interior of the car suffers from typical Toyota woes; a basic interior that lacks attention to detail. That being said, all controls are in functional locations and all climate, audio, steering, and mirror settings are incredibly intuitive. Steering wheel mounted controls and a large horn area add to convenience, but a few obstructions on the leather trimmed steering wheel may make it difficult to find a comfortable resting place for your hands. The quality of interior materials is adequate but nowhere near luxury level even though Toyota offers several premium features; voice activated touch-screen navigation, tri-zone climate control, and a nine speaker audio system. Seating, optimal for driver and passenger due to a 10-way power seat...

Before 2000, the BMW brand had no presence in sport-ute land. Then BMW introduced their game changing, all new, X5 “Sports Activity Vehicle.” Unlike most other truck based SUVʼs at the time, the X5 was based on a 5 series car chassis. The remarkable thing about BMWʼs X5 was not only did it provide all the things you expect in a SUV, it added something new – driving feel. The X5 also had the patent Ultimate Driving Machine driving feel right down to the perfectly weighted steering. Plus, the interior looked and felt like a quality BMW sedan, not a truck. The first generation of the X5, the E53, was produced for model years 2000-2006. For the US, it came with either an in-line 3.0 six-cylinder or a 4.4 V8. BMW even had a manual transmission option, though this was only available in the 3.0 and the first gear was so low, you had to shift as soon as the vehicle started rolling. The E53 X5 was a huge sales success for BMW, spawned virtually a whole new automotive segment and sold around 600,000 world wide. For 2007 BMW introduced their second generation X5, the E70. The X5 grew in size and weight, though some how looked sleeker. Car and Driver deftly described the new 07 X5 as, “Bigger, heavier, and lighter on its feet.” The 260 hp 3.0 version seemed somewhat under powered having to hustle the 5000lbs curb weight around, but the 350 hp 4.8 though was perfect! BMW added optional third row seating to accommodate up to seven. The luxury and quality of the interior went up as well. BMW added helpful electronic features like iDrive, and heads up display for nav. For 2011 the X5 was thoroughly updated in BMWʼs patented mid-cycle refresh. This was no minor refresh because it included over 4,000 new parts and two new motors! The V8 X5ʻs horsepower went from 350hp to 400hp, and the 6 cylinder went from 260hp to 300hp with both motors now turbocharged. No longer did the base X5 seem under powered. BMW upgraded the electronics too, giving the X5 a new iDrive system and they borrowed active cruise control from the 7 series. BMW sourced the ZF eight speed transmissions for both X5 xDrive35i and X5 xDrive50i. The diesel retained itʼs 6 speed auto. I was fortunate to attend the 2011 X5 international media launch in Miami and made a video for Roundel, BMW Car Club...

Hartge introduces their own version of the BMW 1M. The baby-M now produces 420 horsepower from the standard 340 ponies. The German tuner offers a tweaked ECU and stainless steel rear silencer with dual round tail pipes (diameter 80 mm) giving the standard 3.0-liter N54B30A twin-turbo engine with its 340 HP (250 kW / 335 bhp) and 500 Nm (369 lb-ft) of torque a new power output level of 401 HP (295 kW / 396 bhp) and 530 Nm (391 lb-ft). 0 to 124 mph (200 km/h) is now achieved in only 11.34 seconds, over 2 seconds faster than the Garching produced 1M. Other upgrades included in the Hartge program are 30 mm lowering sports springs, boot lid spoiler, roof spoiler, aluminum pedals and HARTGE floor mats in black velour. Original post: Hartge BMW 1M – 420 horsepower

Brock Yates has a pretty damn impressive resume. He founded the Cannonball Run and made his money being one of the more divisive automotive writers in the business, working for Car And Driver in its glory years. Now you can buy his stuff. More » Original post: Brock Yates Is Selling His Stuff [Brock Yates] View original post here:  Brock Yates Is Selling His Stuff [Brock Yates]

Boris Becker, a champion tennis player embodies what Mercedes SL Roadster is all about. Classy and powerful, that is Becker on the tennis court, and that is also what this esteemed car speaks of. Well, not really. According to this commercial at least, Becker was kicked out by the driver after the latter was fed up with his narration. Apparently, his voice is not that good (at least that’s the idea of this ad.) See the original post: Boris Becker’s Voice-Over Commercial for the Mercedes SL

BMW Team RLL launches the defense of its titles in the GT class of the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) at the 12 Hours of Sebring (US) this Saturday. The “Sebring International Raceway” is the oldest circuit in North America and this year hosts the spectacular endurance race for the 60th time. This is not the only important anniversary this year: BMW M is celebrating its 40th birthday in 2012. A BMW M3 has triumphed in the GT class at Sebring on four occasions – 1997, 1998, 2001 and 2011. BMW also has two overall victories to its name. In 1975 the BMW 3.0 CSL won in Florida, while the BMW V12 LMR prototype crossed the line first after 12 hours in 1999. Joey Hand (US) and Dirk Müller (DE) return to the ALMS as reigning GT champions. This year they will once again alternate behind the wheel of the no. 56 BMW M3 GT. Twenty three-year-old Jonathan Summerton (US) will join them as the third driver in Sebring, and will also line up at a further three races over the course of the season. The no.55 BMW M3 GT, which finished runner-up in Sebring last season, will be driven by Bill Auberlen (US) and Jörg Müller (DE). Auberlen has finished third in the Drivers’ Championship for the last two seasons. Jörg Müller is contesting his first ALMS season since 2001, when he won the GT title in the BMW M3 GTR. BMW Team RLL has called on the services of another old hand as this car’s third driver, in the form of Uwe Alzen (DE). The German is also due to start at the “Petit Le Mans” in Road Atlanta (US). Jens Marquardt (BMW Motorsport Director): “This weekend BMW Team RLL gets down to business in the American Le Mans Series for the first time since it won its titles in 2011. Everyone has worked hard through the winter to ensure that we remain successful with the BMW M3 GT this season. We will be the team to beat, but we are ready for that challenge. I am delighted that we will once again be represented by such an experienced and impressive team of drivers. Everything is in place for us to enjoy another strong year. Now we are all excited to see how the balance of power pans out in Sebring.” Bobby Rahal (Team Principal): “We’ve made a number of changes this season. Although not as outwardly obvious as in previous years, we have continued to develop the BMW...

The late Louis Ruf made a handsome living for many years by lending more urgency to Porsches, and his company’s latest RGT-8 is a testimonial to his business acumen, to the expertise of the Ruf engineering staff, and most of all to the continuing appetite of clients for more power. Based on the 991 generation of the Porsche 911 , this latest RGT-8 continues to substitute a 4.5-liter V-8 for the Porsche’s standard flat-six. (The RGT-8 treatment also was applied to the 997-gen 911 .) As Ruf conversions usually do, the installation here looks very tidy and well-sorted. More important, is the serious kick in the butt it delivers when the driver tramps on the go pedal. Output of the 991 911’s naturally aspirated sixes ranges up to 400 hp and 325 lb-ft of torque. The Ruf V-8 ups the ante to 543 hp at 8500 rpm and 369 lb-ft at 4000 rp; the engine is a Ruf design, and is produced exclusively for the Bavaria-based company. The 32-valve design is all-aluminum and incorporates DOHC, a flat crank, and dry-sump lubrication. That’s basic racing practice, which isn’t surprising since the man overseeing its engineering was Hans Mezger, who developed the engine for Porsche’s mighty 917 race cars . The price for this conversion, which includes the car, is far from cheap—about €200,000, or a little over $263,000 at current exchange rates. Of course, 543 hp might not be enough to satisfy some of Ruf’s more power-hungry clientele. No worries. More muscle is gestating in the Ruf R&D section as we speak, via turbocharging. The goal for the boosted V-8 is 900 hp. If that’s not enough, you may need a Hennessey Venom GT . Or therapy. Or both. Ruf’s Geneva display also included a stretched Panamera sedan with unspecified performance enhancements and interior upgrades. While the lengthened body shell sort of mitigates the awkward appearance of the standard Panamera’s rear half, it’s still not an improvement—the RXL looks bizarre. But that probably won’t matter in chauffeur-mad China, where Ruf is likely to find a number of takers for the car. View original post here: Ruf Reveals 991-Based RGT-8 V8-Powered Porsche 911, Stretched Panamera [Geneva Auto Show] View original post here: Ruf Reveals 991-Based RGT-8 V8-Powered Porsche 911, Stretched Panamera [Geneva...

  While major auto brands such as Lamborghini, Audi and Hyundai drew the initial enthusiasm expected for the 2012 Geneva Motor Show, the acclaim of this Swiss exhibition also attracts the likes of smaller European firms. It is from these smaller companies some of the most imaginative expressions of design and technological creativity radiates through the automotive show. Whether being a small sports car manufacturer or an automotive component supplier, the temptation to leave a lasting influence on the Geneva exhibition leaves open the opportunity to eventually rival or work in concert with the better exhibitors at the auto show. A United Kingdom business already known in the automobile industry for supplying electric drive solutions, Zytek Automotive arrived at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show with a unique presentation. Pairing one of their 70-kilowatt energy motors with a lightweight Morgan Plus Series sports car, Zytek cooperated with the development of a concept vehicle. Working alongside the Morgan Motor Company and aluminum component manufacturer Radshape, Zytek explored how the zero-emissions power of an electric motor can merge with the driving experience of a timeless roadster. Creating the Morgan Plus E, the most innovative part of this development concept (other than being based on a classically designed British sports car) is the inclusion of a manual transmission. Typically, full electric cars will not require the need for a transmission based on the fact their motors generate maximum torque at zero RPMs. The Morgan Plus E contends that an all-electric powertrain involving a five-speed manual transmission could have some usable performance advantages.     Zytek Automotive managing director Neil Heslington said, “A multi-speed transmission allows the motor to spend more time operating in its sweet spot, where it uses energy more efficiently, particularly at high road speeds,”. The five-speed manual transmission on the Morgan Plus E is also said to provide stellar acceleration over similar single-speed electric vehicles. Functioning just like a conventional manual-shifting gearbox with the driver engaging a clutch at speed, the Morgan Plus E does not need application of the clutch when starting from a stop or slowing. Zytek also...

  While major auto brands such as Lamborghini, Audi and Hyundai drew the initial enthusiasm expected for the 2012 Geneva Motor Show, the acclaim of this Swiss exhibition also attracts the likes of smaller European firms. It is from these smaller companies some of the most imaginative expressions of design and technological creativity radiates through the automotive show. Whether being a small sports car manufacturer or an automotive component supplier, the temptation to leave a lasting influence on the Geneva exhibition leaves open the opportunity to eventually rival or work in concert with the better exhibitors at the auto show. A United Kingdom business already known in the automobile industry for supplying electric drive solutions, Zytek Automotive arrived at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show with a unique presentation. Pairing one of their 70-kilowatt energy motors with a lightweight Morgan Plus Series sports car, Zytek cooperated with the development of a concept vehicle. Working alongside the Morgan Motor Company and aluminum component manufacturer Radshape, Zytek explored how the zero-emissions power of an electric motor can merge with the driving experience of a timeless roadster. Creating the Morgan Plus E, the most innovative part of this development concept (other than being based on a classically designed British sports car) is the inclusion of a manual transmission. Typically, full electric cars will not require the need for a transmission based on the fact their motors generate maximum torque at zero RPMs. The Morgan Plus E contends that an all-electric powertrain involving a five-speed manual transmission could have some usable performance advantages.     Zytek Automotive managing director Neil Heslington said, “A multi-speed transmission allows the motor to spend more time operating in its sweet spot, where it uses energy more efficiently, particularly at high road speeds,”. The five-speed manual transmission on the Morgan Plus E is also said to provide stellar acceleration over similar single-speed electric vehicles. Functioning just like a conventional manual-shifting gearbox with the driver engaging a clutch at speed, the Morgan Plus E does not need application of the clutch when starting from a stop or slowing. Zytek also...