Earlier this year, BMW launched the second generation 1 Series. The rear-wheel drive F20 1 Series will continue to be positioned in the entry-level luxury premium market where it will compete with the offerings from Audi, the A3, and Mercedes-Benz with its A-Class. The entry-level bimmer is being built at the Regensburg plant. Official pictures from the production lines show the painting, cathodic dip and body shop, along with assembly process of wheels, seats and doors. At launch time, the F20 1er is offered in a variety of exterior colors: Black Sapphire, Alpine White, Crimson Red, Mineral Gray, Midnight Blue, Deep Sea blue, Glacier Silver, Mineral White, Liquid Blue, Valencia Orange. In the fall, the M Sport package becomes available and among the usual exterior and interior upgrades, will also include the historical Estoril Blue paint. Today, BMW releases a new video showing the production process of the F20 1 Series. Video is in German Here is the original:  New Video: 2012 BMW 1 Series production at Regensburg plant

  Before the emergence of the Tesla Roadster, electric cars were in danger of becoming a victim of an undeserved stigma. As most electric vehicle is built to feature a minimized carbon footprint, the common belief was to think of battery-powered cars as lacklustre performers. In truth, the characteristics of electric powertrains lends surprisingly well to preppy performance attributes for a vehicle. Planning to change minds on the way all-electric vehicles will be viewed is German automotive performance company Brabus. Having already worked magic on the Tesla Roadster in late 2008 and showing off an electric powered Smart Fortwo in 2009, the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show served as the premiere for Brabus’ latest zero emissions concept car. Honed from a Mercedes-Benz E-Class sedan, the Brabus High Performance 4WD Full Electric invokes the initial reaction of allure as the fuel-powered examples from this German car customizer. Brabus body enhancements, including aluminum front fenders with carbon fiber inserts, not only allows the prototype sedan to command performance authority but also assists in aerodynamic efficiency. Brabus has also outfitted LED daytime running lights to the vehicle achieving minimal energy consumption. When looking at the rear of the Brabus High Performance 4WD Full Electric, a notable item is the exclusion of the exhaust pipe.     A suspension system for the Brabus High Performance 4WD Full Electric was created in cooperation with Bilstein featuring gas-pressure shocks and adjustable height settings. Perhaps some of the most dramatic wheels ever to be found on an electric wheel, 19-inch Brabus Monoblock Q wheels spins on this unique technology showcase. Rather than Mercedes-Benz 4Matic drivetrain, the Brabus has turned to Protean Electric to showcase in-wheel electric drive on the converted E Class sedan. Providing acceleration and braking assist, the total 320 kilowatts of electric current is fed by a 56 kWh lithium-ion battery. An electric motor connected to each wheel, all-wheel drive on the Brabus car is supplied with assistance of individual computer controls. Weighing 68 pound each and perfectly located behind the sporty Brabus wheels, the in-wheel system displayed on the Brabus High Performance 4WD Full Electric...

Image by pure9 via Flickr Five models and about 7,000 Mercedes-Benz vehicles are being recalled. The cars, namely the 2011 E-Class, M-Class, R-Class, GL-Class and 2012 S-Class are being recalled because of potentially fuel filters that are leaky “around the heating component.” Starting November, Mercedes-Benz USA will be calling owners for free inspection and replacement. Here’s the press release: Report Date : October 17, 2011 at 09:34 AM NHTSA Campaign ID number : 11V496000 Vehicle Make / Model: Model Year(s): MERCEDES BENZ / E 2011 MERCEDES BENZ / GL 2011 MERCEDES BENZ / ML 2011 MERCEDES BENZ / R 2011 MERCEDES BENZ / S CLASS 2012 Manufacturer: MERCEDES-BENZ USA, LLC. Mfr’s Report Date: SEP 30, 2011 NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number: 11V496000 NHTSA Action Number: N/A Component: FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL Potential Number of Units Affected: 6,872 Summary: MERCEDES-BENZ USA (MBUSA) IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 VEHICLES INCLUDING E-CLASS (212 PLATFORM), MANUFACTURED FROM JULY 2010 THROUGH FEBRUARY 2011, R-CLASS (251 PLATFORM), MANUFACTURED FROM APRIL 2010 THROUGH APRIL 2011, ML-CLASS (W164 PLATFORM), MANUFACTURED FROM JANUARY 2010 THROUGH MARCH 2011, GL-CLASS (X164 PLATFORM), MANUFACTURED FROM MARCH 2010 THROUGH MARCH 2011, AND MODEL YEAR 2012 S-CLASS (221 PLATFORM) VEHICLES. THE DIESEL FUEL FILTER MAY LEAK FROM THE AREA AROUND THE HEATING COMPONENT. Consequence: DIESEL FUEL MAY BE DEPOSITED ONTO THE HIGHWAY AND CREATE THE POTENTIAL FOR A CRASH. FUEL LEAKAGE, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE. Remedy: MBUSA WILL CONTACT OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE DIESEL FUEL FILTER IF NECESSARY, FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING NOVEMBER 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MERCEDES-BENZ USA AT 1-800-367-6372. Notes: OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION’S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV . Source: Daimler Here is the original post: Mercedes-Benz Recalling About 7,000 Vehicles

The F30 3 Series sedan represents the sixth generation of the 3er. BMW followed the captivating 2002 with the 3 series, and while the 2002 brought the buzz to the brand, the 3 series brought the sales. The E36 3er was the last of the truly ‘compact’ 3 series. The F30 may be bigger than the original E23 7 series (a quick check of the numbers show that the wheelbase of the F30 3er is just a smidgen longer than the E23 7er). Another odd comparison to the E23 7 is that the top of the line 745i produced 249 HP from a 3.4L turbo charged I6, about on a par with the entry level F30 328i. The proliferation of ConnectedDrive ‘apps’ continues. And an odd feature, the trunk opening sensor on cars with Comfort Access, is brought to the 3er. I demo’d the feature in Frankfurt, it would be handy when you have your hands full. There is no word on when and what diesel engine options will be available on the 3er in the US. My hope would be for a 325d – a fairly quick and exceptionally frugal turbo four. In 525d guise it accelerates decently and returns excellent fuel mileage. It can only be better in the F30 chassis. The F30 3er gets additional themed ‘lines’. Whereas the new 1er has the base, Sport, and Urban lines available, the 3er gets the base, Sport, Luxury, Modern, and soon the M Sport lines. So is the Modern line a nod to ‘hipsters’? And why can’t we mix and match from the various themes? (Will the 3er be available as a BMW Individual? Maybe the coupe model eventually?) The move to electrically assisted rack & pinion power steering will cause untold amounts of wailing and gnashing of teeth from enthusiasts. But the fuel economy gains are to significant to ignore. We’ll have to look to see how the next M3 handles power steering – we know how the latest M5 does. The new 3er has a good sized trunk, almost 17 cubic feet. The ActiveHybrid 3, however, steals some of the trunk space for the battery pack, it chews up about four cubic feet of the available space. The 8 speed automatic is now available throughout the model lines. It really does help with fuel economy. It is light and adds two overdrive ratios beyond a six speed auto. It shifts quickly and can utilize the fuel saving Active Start-Stop...

Owners of 2005-07 Chevy Trailblazers, Buick Rainiers, GMC Envoys and Saab 9-7s share a common problem: in some vehicles, the fuel level indicated by the gas gauge doesn’t correspond with the amount of fuel actually in the tank. The cause of the problem is a fuel level sensor that can deliver an erroneous reading as the mechanism wears. This… Read more:  GM Agrees To Subsidize Cost Of SUV Gas Gauge Repairs

The 2010-12 Audi A3 TDI models are being recalled for a potential fuel line leak at the second fuel injector. Per the NHTSA recall notification–and just as with recalled Volkswagen TDI models–the fuel injection pulses could coincide with the natural frequency of injector line number two under certain engine load conditions, creating additional… View original here:  2010-12 Audi A3 TDI Recalled For Leaking Fuel Injector

  For almost 100 years of automotive development, the most accepted notion for improving vehicle horsepower was to build a big engine. As many auto enthusiasts know, stricter fuel economy standards and vehicle downsizing have required 21st century auto manufacturers to find equal or more horsepower in a small engine. Turning otherwise underused exhaust air into improved engine efficiency, the turbocharger has ventured from high-performance vehicles into the general vehicle marketplace. Ford Motor Company’s popular EcoBoost engine, the TDI powerplant produced for Volkswagen and Audi vehicles, as well as the most popular Porsche performers are members of the modern turbocharger revolution. In recent update of the BMW M5, the German auto company downsized their V-10 engine in favour of a twin-turbocharged V-8 powerplant. The result for the 2012 BMW M5 was more than 560 horsepower (60 horsepower extra than the previous engine) but capable of running roughly 4 miles further per gallon in average driving. As the turbocharged engined 2012 model year vehicles are being sold with great enthusiasm, the forced air induction technology marks a 50-year trip since entering into production automobiles.     When pondering the first auto manufacturer to install a factory turbocharger, today’s assumptions would make us believe a Japanese or European company that found promise in the engine component. In fact, the first major factory application of a turbocharger on a gasoline engine was found on the American made Oldsmobile F-85 Jetfire and Chevrolet Corvair in 1962. Called the Turbo Rocket powerplant, the aluminum V-8 produced an additional 60 horsepower over the conventional 215 cubic inch (3.5 liter) engine. Producing 215 horsepower, the Oldsmobile F-85 Jetfire became a late member of the ‘one horsepower per cubic inch’ fraternity in the American auto industry. Unusual for the era, the early exercise with turbochargers saw Oldsmobile engineers add a rather unorthodox cylinder treatment procedure. Added to the air/fuel mixture, distilled water and methyl alcohol was injected into the 215 cubic-inch turbocharged engine’s combustion chambers to help maintain a proper operating temperature. Debuting in mid-1962, the Oldsmobile F-85 Jetfire with the turbocharged...

Chinese manufacturing a tough nut to crack for America Is US energy policy too fixated upon batteries? I’m pretty confident that electrification is the future of the auto industry, but I’m not sure whether that electrification will be dominated by batteries, or whether fuel cells will also have a role to play. OK. That’s not really true. I’m confident both fuel cells and batteries will dominate the future of the auto industry. If I have any doubts, it’s whether chemical fuels, such as those derived by artificial photosynthesis, could make both batteries and fuel cells less relevant. Even if fuel cells and/or batteries are the future, however, I’m really beginning to wonder if the current US focus on plug-in technologies is going to be an expensive exercise in futility. Earlier this year an Accenture automotive study suggested that plug-in vehicles were not the key to long term US automotive success based on many reasons, such as the very expensive cost of replacing legacy energy systems — a cost countries like China don’t have to worry about because they are mostly building their infrastructure from scratch. Likewise, Asia isn’t just expected to drive the future of auto sales, but forecasts suggest it will also drive the majority of hybrid and plug-in sales. Furthermore, not only does Asia already dominate the battery manufacturing game, it can produce batteries for a fraction of the cost of US-based manufacturing. And recent moves demonstrate that mainstream automakers know that the road to battery-powered success will be paved in China. For instance, Honda recently announced plans to produce batteries and electric motors in China to bring down the costs of its hybrid vehicles, following in the footsteps of hybrid king Toyota. Likewise, GM isn’t just going to build electric cars in China, they are going to move much of their advanced vehicle R&D programs to China, and Ford appears ready to follow suit. Several European automakers have, or have expressed, similar plans. Inevitably, it seems to me, that most core components of hybrid and electric cars are ultimately going to be produced in Asia, especially China. Americans might still assemble these components into hybrids and plug-ins here in the...

Prius V a great combination of price, cargo space and fuel economy Prius V heads to dealerships in October There have been many Toyota Prius V reviews in the last few weeks, and today there are several more on the web that potential buyers of the Prius V might find interesting. For instance, how does the V compare to the conventional Prius? What about the competition? Is there any competition? Scott Burgess of the DetroitNews isn’t a hybrid or Prius fanboy and that makes his recent time behind the wheel of the Prius V pretty interesting. Overall, Burgess was impressed with almost every aspect of the car. The only issue that Burgess noted was “lackluster” steering. OK. So, the V is a quality car. No real surprise there, but how does it compare to the current Prius ? Well, the two core issues are fuel economy and size. The current Prius averages about 50 mpg in combined driving, whereas the larger Prius V achieves about 42 mpg. Those are still pretty good mpg’s for a car with 60 percent more interior space than the current Prius. Of course, there’s also the $4000 price difference to take into consideration. But Cars.com claims for families, the larger Prius is worth the extra costs. The extra space makes a family of 4 cross country trip a breeze, and much more comfortable than the current Prius. Fine, but how does the Prius V compare to a small SUV, such as the Ford Escape hybrid or a wagon such as the Jetta TDI? At 42 mpg combined, the V easily tops the fuel economy of both the Escape hybrid and the TDI. In city driving the numbers aren’t even close. Likewise, the V hybrid also offers more cargo space than both vehicles. And, in terms of price, the Prius is cheaper than the Escape hybrid and about the same price as the Jetta. So in many ways, the Prius V seems the best choice. Check out MotorTrend to see what others think about this comparison. When it comes to a solid family car, the Prius V is hard to beat. For the price, cargo space and fuel economy offered, the V stands above the competition. See the rest here:  How does the larger Toyota Prius V rate?

Is the Yaris hybrid still alive? Geared towards women and younger drivers OK. We know for sure that Toyota is building at least one compact hybrid that uses the same hybrid drive as the current Toyota Prius . In the last year, for instance, Toyota has debuted the Prius C Concept as well as a few teaser shots of a possible Yaris hybrid that could fill this compact slot. And recently, Toyota has discussed some new details regarding the Aqua hybrid. So, is the Aqua just the Japanese name for the C, the Yaris hybrid, or a new hybrid altogether? I’m assuming the Aqua is probably the Prius C . Regardless, the new Toyota hybrid should achieve about 62.5 mpg in the US based upon the numbers provided by Toyota and spit out by the EPA. In addition to the 25 percent improvement in fuel economy, I’m expecting a price as much as 20 percent cheaper compared to the current Prius. $19,000 for a 62.5 mpg compact hybrid? While ‘40 mpg ONLY on the highway’ has become a big number in the current compact and subcompact space, 62.5 mpg would provide a blow out number in comparison. In combined driving, or what I like to call the real world, the new Toyota hybrid could achieve twice the fuel economy of any non-hybrid competitor. If Toyota can package this new hybrid correctly in terms of design and standard features — with a focus on millennial-coveted tech — while keeping the price around $19,000, we might not ever have to hear another 40 mp on the highway commercial again. Source: GreenCarCongress Read the original: New Toyota hybrid to achieve about 62.5 mpg, in the real world

The 2011 Hyundai Genesis is an impressive example of a premium sedan, providing a luxury driving experience, with premium comfort, and high-performance all for an unbelievable and very affordable price considering its segment. While the Genesis may not have a luxury vehicle price, it certainly has plenty of luxury vehicle competition such as the Mercedes E-Class, Lexus GS and Cadillac CTS; to name a few. With a striking exterior design and all the necessary assets to compete, the Genesis has definitely earned its place amongst its counterparts. At first glance, the 2011 Hyundai Genesis can easily be mistaken for one of its high-end luxury competitors. You can’t help but stare at its smooth, delicate lines, lean elegant body, dual chrome exhaust and chrome accents. Hints of elegance shine through the Genesis from the chrome handles, chrome grill, and chrome trim along the windows and bumper. The 2011 Hyundai Genesis comes in eight different exterior colors (Black Noir Pearl, Cabernet Red Pearl, Champagne Beige Metallic, Platinum Metallic, Sapphire Blue Pearl, Sterling Blue Metallic, Titanium Gray Metallic and White Satin Pearl) and three different interior colors (Cashmere, Jet Black, and Saddle), giving the consumer a pretty good variety of combination options regarding appearance. The Genesis also comes equipped with 18-inch Hypersilver alloy wheels, HID Xenon adaptive (auto-cornering) headlights and heated auto-dimming outside mirrors with turn signal indicators. The auto-dimming mirrors provide ample ground light as you approach or leave the vehicle; a great safety feature, especially at night. The Hyundai Genesis comes equipped with a 4.6L DOHC V8 Aluminum Engine with Dual CVVT providing 378 horsepower at a mere 17city/25hwy MPG; definitely has the power but lacks the fuel efficiency. When Hyundai is compared to its counterparts in the arena of power and fuel efficiency, Lexus, Mercedes Benz and Infiniti all share similar and better fuel efficiency however, they don’t compare to the power under the hood of the Genesis. The Genesis demonstrates easy handling and a smooth driving experience with its 6 speed automatic transmission with SHIFTRONIC , Electronic Stability Control with Traction Control, ABS with Electronic Brake Force Distribution and...

At the Frankfurt auto show , we chatted with Subaru about its plans to drastically increase the fuel efficiency of its cars while maintaining their current levels of dynamics. The Japanese company says it wants to improve fuel economy across its lineup by 30 percent by 2015. New engines and revised transmissions will contribute to two-thirds of the increase, while lightweight body and chassis technology will provide the rest. 1.6- and 2.0-Liter Direct-Injected Turbos Turbocharged, lower-displacement engines are today’s new hotness for achieving improved efficiency—Ford’s EcoBoost technology is the most marketed example—but for most companies, widespread turbocharging is new. Subaru, on the other hand, has extensive forced-induction experience and intends to put that knowledge to work. The new-for-2012 Impreza sedan ’s new, naturally aspirated 2.0-liter flat-four is part of a new FB engine family ( click here for a dive into the new engine ), as is the Forester’s current 2.5-liter flat-four . While the 2.0-liter has boosted the new Impreza’s fuel-economy numbers significantly—the Forester saw only minor gains—Subaru plans to add direct injection (which we’re told nets a two-percent reduction in fuel consumption on its own) and turbocharging to the FB mix in the near future, both to the 2.0-liter and a new 1.6-liter variant. Turbo BRZ? Maybe, but Not Yet Ah , you’re thinking, this means a turbo version of Subaru’s sports car, the BRZ ! While that hasn’t been explicitly ruled out—and we believe one is in the works—this isn’t a confirmation either. The engine in Subaru’s forthcoming coupe actually is codenamed FA, and exactly how it differs from the FB—likely only in its use of Toyota’s port- and direct-injection heads—isn’t known at this point. Hybrid Coming in 2013 Furthermore, we learned that the FB will form the basis for a new, Subaru-developed hybrid system that will be introduced in Japan by 2013. It’s unclear if direct-injection, turbocharging, and hybridization will be utilized simultaneously, but for those with a long memory, Subaru’s Hybrid Tourer concept from the 2009 Tokyo auto show featured a 2.0-liter boxer-four with both direct-injection and turbocharging, a front-mounted motor/generator, and a...

Mercedes-Benz is slated to make a big splash at the upcoming Frankfurt Motor Show when it debuts a powerful new hydrogen-powered concept. Dubbed the F125!, this gullwing coupe concept goes for 231 horsepower with a top speed of 137 mph—all on four motors powered by hyrdrogen. The concept takes many design cues from the  F800 Style Concept, which was unveiled at last year’s Geneva Motor Show. It also has CL-line styling—intended for the 2025 model year, that is. The F125! chassis is made with different materials: plastics, aluminum, and carbon fiber. It is also equipped with a carbon fiber hydrogen tank, plus a li-ion battery that lets drivers go for 31 miles prior to the fuel cell kicking in. According to the leaked specifications, the concept requires 0.79 kg of hydrogen to travel 100 kilometers, which means a maximum range of 621 miles with just a single full tank. The Frankfurt Motor Show is slated for September 15 through 25. Photo credits: Omni Auto See more here: Frankfurt-bound F125! Hydrogen-powered Coupe Concept Leaks

You know electric cars are really in our future when premier Mercedes tuner Brabus not only develops an EV, but sets up a division to develop such vehicles, called Brabus Zero Emission. One of its first developments that has been made public at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show is its E-Class based 4WD Full Electric concept car. Compared to the supercar performance that Brabus cars normally show, this car can be best described as having adequate performance, hitting 0-100 km/h in just under 7 seconds. But having a top speed of 220 km/h without emitting a single gram of CO2 or any other particulate is performance of a different sort. Notably, it has a range of 350 kilometers, and can be recharged from a 220V AC outlet, so it’s a very practical car that’s not necessarily limited to an urban environment. Since it’s a Mercedes E-Class, one can expect the high standard of comfort and luxury Benzes are known for. In addition, the electrive drive means a ride orders of magnitude quieter and smoother than a car driven by a conventional engine. More: Brabus Zero Emission Presents Full Electric 4WD

There is another Daimler vehicle we can anticipate at the Frankfurt Motor Show, but this time it is not a four-wheel drive. After a cooperation agreement was signed between Ducati and Daimler in November 2010, everyone were kind of expecting a vehicle to be produced as a fruit of this agreement. Just months after, here it is, the Special Edition Ducati Diavel AMG. The matte black, AMG inspired two-wheel with carbon fiber grilles, five spoke wheels, sport exhaust system, aluminum trim and Alcantara seat, will be officially showcased at the Frankfurt event starting September 15. Official press release from Ducati.com : Ducati and Mercedes AMG have proudly announced that the first public showing of the Ducati Diavel AMG Special Edition will be at the 64th International Motor Show in Frankfurt, Germany from 15-25 September. The 2012 flagship model of the Diavel family is a tribute to the AMG luxury-sport brand and is intended for passionate connoisseurs of technology, engineering detail and exclusive style. Based upon the Diavel Carbon, the Diavel AMG Special Edition features AMG’s signature 5-spoke wheel styling, carbon fibre lateral radiator grills with aluminium trim, AMG-style sport exhaust system with engraved end-caps and AMG-style horizontally ribbed seat upholstery. The model’s incredible attention to performance detail also ensures that every engine has its Desmodromic cam-timing set by hand and authenticated with the name of the engine technician engraved on the left-side engine casing. Further underlining the model’s exclusivity, each motorcycle will have a numbered plaque on the fuel tank. The award-winning Ducati Diavel has had massive first-year success for the Italian motorcycle manufacturer, its bold design merging the worlds of power and style with absolute precision to set a new industry standard for the segment. Hand-built – as with all Ducati motorcycles – the exclusive new Diavel AMG Special Edition is dressed in matte black carbon fibre bodywork with AMG’s very own “Diamond White Bright” stripe and frame colour contrasted with black wheels. The special edition wheels, seat and exhaust end-caps are all AMG branded while “AMG” is also laser-engraved into the air-duct panels either side...