Filed under: Latest News As we predicted over a month ago , MINI chose its MINI United event to pull the wraps off its fastest model yet, the John Cooper Works GP II. Claimed extensive use of motor sport technology, means that prototypes have already lapped the infamous Nurburgring circuit in 8:23 seconds. This is a whole 19 seconds faster than than the first GP that also debuted at MINI United in 2006. Again limited to 2,000 cars, GP II is identified by its unique thunder grey colour and GP decals, a body kit with red detailing and a revised version of the three-spoke wheels with uprated brakes. Other unique body parts for the GP include a bespoke rear wing and diffuser. Inside, like the first car, GP II is just a two-seater, with a stowage box where the rear seats used to be. Apart from the Nurburgring lap figure, performance and engine details are scarce, these will be revealed closer to the GP II’s on-sale date at the Paris Motor Show in September.   More here: MINI John Cooper Works GP II officially revealed Original post: MINI John Cooper Works GP II officially revealed

‘Tis the season for so many things: Final exams. Mother’s Day. Termite swarms. And, of course, proms. On the first three, our staff of auto hounds don’t have much to say. Study hard. Mom would probably love a new car. And if you have a car made of wood, send in a pic. (Unless it’s a Rinspeed Bamboo. We’ve seen enough, thanks.) However, when it… Read more here: Prom Night Rides: We Were All Such Losers, How About You?

In our first drive of the 2012 Scion iQ, last summer, we were pleasantly surprised—almost smitten—with this new minicar (sold as a Toyota in other world markets), and impressed that such a daring product is coming to the U.S. Compared to the Smart Fortwo, which is really the only other vehicle in the U.S. that’s close to the same size… Excerpt from: 2012 Scion iQ: Driven

After the video teaser released yesterday, BMW UK has now published the first photos of the M3 and M5 M Performance Editions. The two super sporty M vehicles are available in three frozen paint colors, equally distributed over the 30 units of each car that will be built. Judging by the photos, the special Ms get 20 matte-black wheels, piano-black interior trim, along with special stitching and laser-etched ‘ONE OF 30′ plaque. The 30-off M5′s exclusivity comes at quite a cost, however – at £95,140, its price is a whopping £22K more than a regular M5. The M3 is marginally better value, a mere £19K pricier than standard at £74,080. No power upgrades are being offered therefore the M5 continues to produce 560 horsepower. We have reached out to BMWNA to confirm whether the two vehicles are coming to the U.S. as well. Read more from the original source: BMW M3 and M5 M Performance Edition – £95,140 and £74,080

Today’s tale of a man getting fined $500 for eating chicken in his car reminded me that, while we constantly tell people how to get out of tickets , we don’t often advise them on how to not get into them in the first place. What’s the stupidest way to get a ticket? More » Read the rest here: What’s The Stupidest Way To Get A Ticket? [Question Of The Day] Here is the original post: What’s The Stupidest Way To Get A Ticket? [Question Of The Day]

The 2012 Kia Rio and 2012 Kia Soul models are poised to be eco-tech trailblazers, as the first affordable mass-market models in the U.S. to offer stop-start, which smartly shuts down the engine when it would otherwise be needlessly idling and automatically (and quickly) restarts it. But plans have changed, and now neither of those models will… See the original post here: 2013 Kia Rio: Green Light For Fuel-Saving Stop-Start Option

“It is eating me alive. Literally. It is killing me. Literally.” I hope those are the first words of nerd/sex/techblogger Jen Friel ’s write up of the Dodge Dart , which she’s currently in Austin reviewing on an all-expense paid trip from Chrysler, and not just the painfully hyperbolic moaning of an oversharing blogger. More » Excerpt from: Don’t You Want To Know What This Nerdy Relationship Blogger Thinks About The Dodge Dart? [Video] Go here to see the original:  Don’t You Want To Know What This Nerdy Relationship Blogger Thinks About The Dodge Dart? [Video]

Can you guess where the Q7 is? We’re taking the Audi Q7 S-Line on a road trip this week, and if you’re the first person to guess where exactly in the world the Q7 is, you will win your choice of an Audi hat or Audi A8 t-shirt! We’ll be posting 4 pictures of the Q7 on our Facebook page sometime on Thursday, May 3, 2012 . To enter the contest, simply visit our Facebook page and share your answer on the Facebook post that contains the pictures. Contest Rules: * Contest open to everyone (U.S. and International) * First person to correctly answer where the Q7 is on the Facebook post containing the 4 pictures will win their choice of the Audi performance mesh cap OR the Audi A8 t-shirt . * Your answer must include the city AND state. * Winner will be notified via Facebook message, plus we will post the name on Twitter and Facebook. * Winner must respond within 3 business days with their shipping information. Read more: Contest: Where Is the Q7?

The 2012 Hyundai Veloster, as we have it for our first Six-Month Road Test, includes a lot of standout technology for the money. Many of the Veloster’s features, whether we’re talking about mechanical underpinnings like the direct-injection engine, or its excellent connectivity and infotainment interface, are way ahead of other small cars with the… Read more from the original source: Six-Month Road Test Hyundai Veloster: Dual-Clutch Differences

Impressive comeback: Dirk Werner (DE) finished third in the DTM qualifying at the Hockenheimring (DE) at the wheel of his E-POSTBRIEF BMW M3 DTM. The BMW Team Schnitzer driver led the pack of strong BMW drivers, with four out of six making it into the top-ten. The first DTM pole position of the year went to Audi driver Mattias Ekström (SE). Andy Priaulx (GB) will start from seventh on Sunday’s grid in his Crowne Plaza Hotels BMW M3 DTM, with Bruno Spengler (CA) behind him in ninth in the BMW Bank M3 DTM. Next to him on row five of the grid is reigning DTM champion Martin Tomczyk (DE, BMW M Performance Parts M3 DTM), who will start from tenth. Joey Hand (US, SAMSUNG BMW M3 DTM) and Augusto Farfus (BR, Castrol EDGE BMW M3 DTM) qualified in 16th and 19th respectively. In summery conditions and temperatures of around 28 degrees Celsius, the six BMW drivers went up against the opposition for the first time in the four-part DTM qualifying format. Spengler was the first to demonstrate that the BMW M3 DTM is competitive, clocking top times in the first and second qualifying sections. However, a technical problem on his car hindered the Canadian on his crucial flying lap in Q3. Team-mate Werner stepped up to the mark, making it into Q4 and completing a generally excellent qualifying for BMW by claiming third place on the grid. Jens Marquardt (BMW Motorsport Director): “The BMW M3 DTM took to the track for the first time on 4th July 2011. Now, just ten months down the line, it was a special moment for both me and the entire team to see our new car in its first qualifying session here in Hockenheim. Third place for Dirk Werner and four cars in the top-ten is a fantastic opening result, and far more than we expected. It proves that the hard work put in by the whole team over recent months was worth the effort. Tomorrow’s race represents another debut for us. I am looking forward to seeing the balance of power over the longer distance. The fans here gave us a fantastic reception. You can feel how excited people are that we are back in the DTM after 20 years. This enthusiasm gives us an extra boost.” Dirk Werner (car number 8, BMW Team Schnitzer): “I am overwhelmed by this result. I think BMW has made a great start to the season. I had a fantastic car in qualifying....

At the 2012 Detroit Auto Show, Honda/Acura unveiled the new NSX, which has a target launch of spring 2014. Like the original NSX this new iteration will feature a two seat design with a mid-mounted V6, but the similarities stop there. The new design incorporates a V6 hybrid powertrain, the latest version of SH-AWD (super handling all-wheel drive) system, and a newly designed dual clutch transmission. The original NSX was born back in 1991 as a lightweight rear wheel drive sports car. It was sold around the world as a Honda and as an Acura in the states. The NSX was never known for its power, rather its handling, silky smooth transmission, lightweight, and easy-to-drive nature were its strong suits. It was a remarkable, ground breaking vehicle in its day. According to Ben Cochran, Director of Dealer Services at GoAuto , the NSX was the first car with an all-aluminum monocoque body, first equipped with variable valve timing (VTEC), and the first variable volume intake manifold. What is even more remarkable is that in a short five years after selling cars outside Japan, the NSX was born. This passion for pioneering technology, innovative design, quality, making driver’s cars led Honda to many successful vehicles, such as: Civic Si Integra & Integra Type R RSX Type S CRX Si Del Sol Prelude S2000 NSX Type R Only one of those cars is still produced today, the Civic Si, and in its class of compact fun-to-drive cars it trails far behind the competition of the Subaru WRX, Mazda Speed 3, and Volkswagen GTI. In fact the Civic Si came in fifth in a seven car test for Car and Driver. The Civic model line was redesigned for 2012 and tested so poorly that Honda is going back to the drawing board and promises an update for 2013. In the 90’s Honda was an innovator and lead the charge. VTEC was such a ground breaking innovation that separated the brand from the competition, but now everyone has variable valve timing. And while everyone else is exploring turbo charged engines, Honda discontinued it’s only turbo motor (RDX). Most manufacturers have six and seven speed automatic transmissions, while most Honda’s have five speeds. So what happened to the manufacturer that had the passion and drive to build the first NSX? Where did they stray from their values? Did they...

In August 1985, a rumour surfaced in motor magazine Auto-Deutschland which emanated from a new sports car. An A Group Car from BMW that was a thoroughbred racing car according to the rules but was also to be produced in a version licensed to drive on open roads for everyday use. Speculation about this dream car that could take to normal roads and was intended for the “Most dynamic among BMW 3 Series drivers” was right on target. But the pundits missed the mark about the motor-sport car by a mile on one prediction: They were convinced that anyone who “wants to be a key player in the A Team needs to be turbocharged under the bonnet”. Not true. The BMW M3 had a naturally aspirated engine. And it became the most successful touring car in the history of BMW. The M3 project was launched just a few months earlier. Production of the M1 mid-engine sports car had already been discontinued for some time and BMW CEO Eberhard Kuenheim commissioned a design for a successor, almost as an aside, according to legend. After one of his regular visits to Motorsport GmbH in Munich’s Preußenstraße he said, almost as he was leaving: “Mr. Rosche, we need a sporty engine for the 3 Series.” His aspiration was in good hands. Motorsport GmbH with its managing director of technical development Paul Rosche had demonstrated its expertise with the legendary 5 Series saloons driven by M engines as well as developing the Formula 1 turbo engine that powered Brazilian Nelson Piquet to win the World Championship in the Brabham BMW in 1983. Power source: a four-cylinder engine with 2.3 litres displacement and four-valve engineering. The new 3 Series engine had something in common with this: the crankcase. It originated from volume production and actually formed the basis for the two-litre engine with four cylinders. Four cylinders meant less weight and high torque, an ideal platform for a sports engine in the projected displacement class.  Naturally enough, the series four-cylinder engine was much too tame for a sports engine. A comprehensive power boost was called for in order to turn the plucky daily workhorse into an athletic and sporty power unit. The BMW design engineers increased the displacement to 2.3 litres and applied a formulation that had already achieved significant successes...

In 2013 MINI will launch the third-generation of their successful hatchback which first appeared in 2001. The next generation MINI will be a more radical departure from the current MINI (R50 & R53) compared with the previous development cycle. Sonny Lim , a former Senior Designer at BMW DesignworksUSA in Singapore, decided to use his skills to draw a speculative concept. The MINI Zero concept reclaims the true heritage of the brand.  At 3571 mm it is slightly smaller than the MINI Cooper, but longer than the cancelled MINI Rocketman. The design of the MINI Zero is modern, sophisticated and athletic. It evolves the current design language but still stays true to the main iconic MINI characteristics. These iconic elements have helped shape the identity of the brand and its cars. However, the concept also challenges other aspects of the brand which have overshadowed the original intent of Sir Alec Issigonis’ classic MINI.” The MINI Zero presses the reset button and goes back to the humble roots of the classic MINI. In short this concept embodies: Zero “schnickschnack” (gimmicks) – it is the most basic, entry-level car in the range and is positioned under the Mini ONE. Zero compromise – it is a pure & tailored design and does not rely on chrome exterior trim & other plastic bits. Zero “schicki-micki” (trendy-fancy) – it is authentic and the spiritual successor of the classic MINI. Zero fat – all the above results in an ultra-lightweight MINI (840 kg) and a very good power-to-weight ratio without a large carbon footprint. The future generation of MINIs will be powered by a range of turbocharged three-cylinder engines (shared with BMW). The new MINI family is moving to the new modular F-platform which will also be shared with BMW’s front-wheel-drive models. As a result, the new platform is also expected to give birth to a range of four-door MINIs in addition to the two-door variants. This will allow MINI to compete with cars such as the Audi A1 Sportback and the new Mercedes A-Class. [Source: Behance ] Read the original here: Renderings: MINI Zero Concept

LOCOG and BMW, Official Automotive Partner to the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, today revealed full details of the London 2012 fleet. Set to play an essential role in delivering a successful Games, LOCOG’s deployment plans for the low-emission, diesel, hybrid and electric cars, motorcycles and bicycles were unveiled for the first time. Whether it be pulling boats out of the water at Weymouth, providing a mobile camera platform for the marathon, towing a horse ambulance across Greenwich Park or carrying medal winners around the Olympic Park to media interviews, the BMW and MINI fleet will perform an extremely wide range of duties during the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Naturally making sure the right people are in the right place at the right time, across more than 30 venues in London and beyond, is another key role of the cars, motorcycles and bicycles which constitute the fleet. Media will be users of the fleet, as well as judges, event organisers, Games officials and staff, ranging from medical officers, IOC photographers and crew to official rights holders and technical delegates. Richard George, Transport Director, LOCOG said: “From motorcycles to electric vehicles and 4x4s, the requirements of the 2012 fleet are hugely diverse. BMW and MINI have provided a variety of different cars, ideal both for city driving and long distance, to travel to Olympic and Paralympic venues around the country. It was vital that our partner in this field could deliver a one-stop shop solution and meet our sustainability targets. BMW has surpassed our requirements and we are delighted to be working with them.” LOCOG’s challenging average fleet emissions target of 120 grams CO2 per kilometre was set significantly below the UK total new car emissions average of 138 grams CO2 per kilometre / 54.2mpg. (Ref. CleanGreenCars.co.uk) The BMW and MINI fleet surpasses the target with average CO2 emissions of 116 grams CO2 per kilometre or 64.5mpg. Chris Brownridge, UK Marketing Director, BMW said: “Our London 2012 fleet shows what BMW technology can achieve today in terms of fuel economy and low emissions, including the first major presence of super clean EU6-compliant cars on UK roads. We look forward to sharing our vision of sustainable urban mobility during the...

Our Six-Month Road Test fleet is growing. Just three weeks ago, our first-ever SMRT car, the 2012 Hyundai Veloster, took up light housekeeping at our Portland bureau. This week, the 2012 VW Passat TDI has descended on Atlanta HQ for an extended stay, and we have big plans for the big four-door turbodiesel. We like the newest Passat, and rank it… Read more from the original source: 2012 Volkswagen Passat: TheCarConnection’s Six-Month Road Test