BMWBLOG gets a new look. After months of development and planning, BMWBLOG 3.0 is now live and brings lots of changes. Nearly five years ago, BMWBLOG launched as a website that acts as a single-point of BMW news. With the help of a great team, years later BMWBLOG grew to a level that very few of us imagined at the beginning of our journey. From just a few articles a month to over 3,000 posts now every year, BMWBLOG delivers the most comprehensive BMW content, starting with test drives and spy photos, and ending with editorials, exclusive interviews and driving events. MINI and Rolls Royce brands are represented as well in our coverage. With the increase of unique and exclusive content, we soon ran into an issue: inability to keep some of these great articles in front of our readers’ eyes. Shortly after being published, many of these articles would move to the second or even third page of the site, therefore becoming more challenging to discover them. And this is why BMWBLOG 3.0 comes online. More content just a click away Our goal was to keep the web design framework close to what you have been accustomed to, including the top section that features the most interesting stories. This section is manually edited by our team. But since we believe in the power of community, we decided to add another layer of top stories, this time operated by our readers. “Top Stories” section displays the most interesting articles based on your interaction with that content, from comments to page views and other unique metrics. Crowdsourcing is something we strongly believe in and by allowing the Top Stories to display the stories you find most interesting, we are moving the editorial process into your hands. At the top, we have also selected some of the most popular categories that will allow you to drill through the content with a single click. The front page also displays more Latest News, in a more compact design, with our Test Drives and Videos sections inserted between posts, another way for us to point to what we believe is interesting and exciting content. The sidebar is a combination of social media widgets and other manually selected content that will resurrect some our older stories. Facebook plays an important role in the “new media world”...

We get it. You’re here to see the C7 Chevy Corvette. Take a look at the photo gallery —we’ll wait—then read our prognostications below, and be sure to return later today for more on the seventh-generation Vette. Here’s what we know about the next Chevrolet Corvette. Chassis: As we’ve said before—and as these photos prove—nothing so drastic as a switch to a mid-engine layout was planned for the C7. The Vette will remain a front-engine, rear-transaxle sports car (until the C8 arrives, anyway). Something similar to the current car’s suspension, transverse leaf springs and all, will appear on this 2014 model. We also don’t expect any drastic dimensional changes; while mules we spotted in September appeared to have a narrower track, their bodies were donated by C6 Grand Sports, which have wider fenders and tracks than do base Corvettes. The C7 is likely to shed some mass, which will of course yield a better power-to-weight figure. Keep Reading: 2014 Chevrolet Corvette C7 Spy Photos – Future Cars See more here: 2014 Chevrolet Corvette C7 Spied! We Catch the Seventh Vette in Its Production Wrapper Here is the original post:  2014 Chevrolet Corvette C7 Spied! We Catch the Seventh Vette in Its Production Wrapper

The third generation of BMW’s big SUV is nearing its production launch. This prototype, caught in Munich by our spy photographers, looks almost production-ready despite the camouflage designed to obfuscate the vehicle’s lines. Keep Reading: 2014 BMW X5 Spy Photos – Future Cars Read more: 2014 BMW X5 Spy Photos: Same Basic Package, New Proportions Here is the original post: 2014 BMW X5 Spy Photos: Same Basic Package, New Proportions

Thanks to our reader Wouter, here is a photo gallery of the new BMW 3 Series from the 2012 Brussels Auto Show. The new F30 3er made its North American debut earlier this month at the Detroit Auto Show and it is now being shown at other venues around the world. The styling of the 2012 BMW 3 Series is an evolution of the previous model. The styling follows the design language seen in the new 5 Series, with concave and convex shapes providing a sporty stance and image. BMW has also redesigned the interior of the new 3 Series. The future model combines luxury with sportiness and different combinations of interior trim can be seen across the three lines: Sport, Luxury and Modern. The driver-focused cockpit is even more emphasized in the F30 3 Series being angled towards the driver by seven degrees As seen in some of the photos below, an M Sport package is also available for the new 3 Series. The super sporty pack adds 18-inch or 19-inch lightweight wheels as an option. Included in the M Sport pack is an M-tuned suspension which lowers the car by ten millimeters and offers stiffer spring rates and damper settings as well as stronger stabilizer bars. BMW says the decision to include M Sport brakes as standard has yet to be determined. BMW Individual High-gloss Shadowline trim gives the car the typical M look. An optional M paint is also offered – Estoril Blue, as well as M Sport brakes with contrasting blue paint finish. Special aerodynamics cues, front and rear bumpers, sill covers in body color and a striking diffuser insert in Dark Shadow Metallic on the tail, and chromium exhaust pipe finishers underline the sporting character of the M Sport package. BMW says will offer the M Sport package starting September 2012. Read more:  2012 Brussells Auto Show: New BMW 3 Series Photo Gallery

Would you believe that a MINI won the Dakar rally this year? Perhaps a car brand that’s as far from its roots in purposeful simplicity is a fitting metaphor for a rally named after a place in Africa that, for the first time this year, entered Peru. More » See original here: All The Best 2012 Dakar Rally Photos In One Place [Dakar] Original post:  All The Best 2012 Dakar Rally Photos In One Place [Dakar]

Affordable performance is making a comeback. Chevrolet has shown off two interpretations of a sports coupe at Detroit and Scion debuted the FR-S recently. Now its Hyundai’s turn to focus on performance with two debuts at the Detroit show. The first is the 2013 Hyundai Genesis Coupe, which received a mid-cycle enhancement. Styling wise. we’ve see quite a bit of it over the past few months – full shots have leaked out. Needless to say, it hasn’t been the best kept secret of the show. The styling changes update the car to give it a more aggressive and modern face inline with the Veloster. It is more youthful than the previous Genesis, and it ditches the cheap-looking grille that car had. Underneath the hood is where the most important changes are though – there is huge boosts in power in store for buyers of the 2013 model. This isn’t just a tweak here and there. The proof is in the numbers. The Genesis Coupe has always had a turbocharged four-cylinder as its base model. The four-cylinder gets a new turbocharger and intercooler setup that is good for 275 horsepower and 275 pound feet. That is up by 74 hp (!) and 52 lb-ft of torque. Whoa. With prices like they are on the Genesis Coupe, that is a serious value proposition. Consider that its chief competitor, the Scion FR-S, has 197 hp and things are looking good for the Genesis indeed. The 3.8-liter V-6 gets a boost in power as well, up to 348 hp and 296 lb-ft. The current car makes 306 hp and 266 lb-ft. A new eight-speed automatic replaces the previous unit, and is good for a slight fuel economy boost. As for prices, Hyundai hasn’t released any new figure. The Genesis Coupe is a big step forward for Hyundai performance, and it shows the company is serious about continuous improvement. Bring it on! Related posts: Hyundai Adding Turbocharged Veloster, Refreshed Genesis Coupe Hyundai Genesis Superbowl Ad Photos Hyundai Genesis Coupe Concept Unveiled Automoblog.net – A Car Blog for Auto Enthusiasts Read the original here: Detroit: Hyundai Genesis Coupe Adds Serious Power

Debuting the New Beetle concept at the North American International Auto Show back in 1994, Volkswagen either has a special place in its corporate heart for Detroit or realizes the automotive exhibit is the location to show up the leading American automakers. With intrigue building for what automakers had in store for the auto show, Volkswagen entered with a certain degree of stealth. Without drawing too much attention or tempting to auto press with tidbits of information, the German-badged car company presented a product important to compete with the current North American family sedan market. Only Volkswagen’s second production hybrid vehicle, the 2013 Jetta will feature an electric-assisted model. Drawing down their price for the sixth-generation model, the Volkswagen Jetta sedan succeeded to capture a larger piece of the four-door vehicle segment in 2011. In association with value, space, equipment and safety, a modern sedan sold in the United States appears to require a hybrid variation. The 2012 Toyota Camry and Kia Optima come with hybrid options while the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu Eco will receive the ‘mild hybrid’ equipment categorized as eAssist technology. Unveiled at the very same 2012 North American International Auto Show, the 2013 Ford Fusion elevated the bar in electric-assisted motoring providing both a common hybrid as well as the Energi plug-in hybrid. The Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid sedan will give the German auto company a chance to more deeply embed themselves with the American automotive culture. Though the Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid is assembled within the same four-door frame as the convention Jetta, the gasoline/electric powertrain running at slow speeds will give the first defining clue to some drastic mechanical technology. Making the Jetta Hybrid coast at slower speeds will be the electric motor power coming from a 60-cell lithium-ion battery holding a total capacity of 300Ah. Gasoline propulsion will come from the smallest such engine to be made available on the new Jetta. Sold in Europe on a convention gasoline version of the Volkswagen sedan, the Jetta Hybrid will receive the award-winning 1.4 liter TSI powerplant. Together, the electric motor and turbocharged motor are handled through a 7-speed dual clutch gearbox. Despite the high-tech...

If you’re a die-hard inline-6 aficionado, and are looking for something to finally replace that aging AMC Hornet, you’re in luck, as the new 2012 BMW 3 Series looks to be an engaging new way to drive around behind a sextet of lined-up cylinders. More » More here: 2012 BMW 3 Series Sedan: Detroit Auto Show Photos, Info [Detroit Auto Show] Original post:  2012 BMW 3 Series Sedan: Detroit Auto Show Photos, Info [Detroit Auto Show]

Ford kicked off its 2013 Ford Fusion press conference in Detroit by referring to the midsized-sedan market as a “battleground.” Sleepiest battleground ever, you say? Perhaps not if Ford brings out an ST version (hinted in a quick image flashed on the Huge Press Conference Screen). More » Read the original post: 2013 Ford Fusion: Detroit Auto Show Photos, Info [Detroit Auto Show] See the original post here:  2013 Ford Fusion: Detroit Auto Show Photos, Info [Detroit Auto Show]

Ford CEO Alan Mulally’s “One Ford” initiative, aimed at creating a global product portfolio with a consistent look and mission, has certainly been fruitful. A quick stroll through a Ford showroom will reveal models like the Fiesta, Focus, and upcoming 2013 Escape , a trio of vehicles whose genetics evidently were extracted from a common Petri dish. Ford wisely chose to let the inbreeding continue, this time with designers swabbing a touch of the corporate DNA on the all-new 2013 Ford Fusion. Keep Reading: 2013 Ford Fusion – Official Photos and Info See the original post here: 2013 Ford Fusion Official Photos and Info: Three Models, Including Plug-In Hybrid (Plus, It Looks Great) Original post:  2013 Ford Fusion Official Photos and Info: Three Models, Including Plug-In Hybrid (Plus, It Looks Great)

As part of its annual CES kick-off press conference, OnStar unveiled a next-generation concept using Verizon’s high-speed 4G LTE network. Inside the Chevy Volt display vehicle is a pair of tablets that allow rear-seat occupants to access streaming content from the web and engage in Skype video chats. Of course, in-car connectivity at 3G speeds is already available with AutoNet Mobile (the supplier for Cadillac’s in-car Wifi and Chrysler’s UConnect Web) and in a growing list of Audi products. And video chat and streaming content via 4G are already possible on a number of smartphones or using a 4G card paired with Ford’s Sync platform. But fully integrating all of these functions into a car’s cabin is somewhat novel, and OnStar hints at potential for further applications for the connected car. Since most of the pieces are already in place, we hope that a production version of OnStar’s concept isn’t too far away. OnStar also announced that it is opening up its application program interface (API) to select developers for new applications similar to the one announced by RelayRides earlier this year. See the original post here: OnStar Shows Possible Future In-Car Applications with Verizon 4G Connection Read more from the original source: OnStar Shows Possible Future In-Car Applications with Verizon 4G Connection

After brief opening remarks from General Motors CEO Dan Akerson, head of design Ed Welburn, and President of GM North America Mark Reuss at the College for Creative Studies, America’s biggest automaker dropped the sheets off the Cadillac of compacts — the 2013 ATS ahead of tomorrow’s Detroit Auto Show . More » View original post here:  2013 Cadillac ATS: 2012 Detroit Auto Show Live Photos [Detroit Auto Show] See original here:  2013 Cadillac ATS: 2012 Detroit Auto Show Live Photos [Detroit Auto Show]

Lexus has released more images of the LF-LC 2+2 sports coupe concept bound for next week’s Detroit auto show . The car’s proportions and profile are as sultry as they appeared to be in recent teaser images , and we’re really digging the complex surfaces that dive and flow down the body sides. The front end, however, is pretty tragic. In the words of one Car and Driver editor, the overly fussy fascia looks like someone chucked a grenade into the front bumper. We hope it looks better in person. Keep Reading: Lexus LF-LC Concept – Auto Shows Original post: Lexus Releases More Photos of LF-LC Concept: Great Body, but the Face! Read the rest here: Lexus Releases More Photos of LF-LC Concept: Great Body, but the Face!

Filed under: Humour Car companies live or die by the strength of their brands. It’s the reason Audi produces the R8 and, more successfully, Aston does the Cygnet . But what if you love Audi but can’t afford an R8, or love Aston Martin but can’t think of even one reason to buy a Cygnet? Branded merchandise, that’s what if. Nothing says “I’m a phenomenal person” like wearing or using something with a car company’s name on it, or with some sort of link to cars in general. Nothing. So, we’ve pooled together some of the very greatest automotive-inspired accessories for your perusal, with links and everything, so you can buy them for someone you don’t like you love this Christmas… Ferrari keyring The Ferrari House of Rubbish Merchandise has been open for many years, swelling monthly to include ever more trinkets of superfluous tackiness. We could dedicate an entire series to Ferrari stuff, but we’ve chosen this because it encapsulates everything that’s wrong with Ferrari-branded stuff. “Whoah, dude, you got a Ferrari?” they’ll ask. “Nah, just this keyring. I use it for the van keys. It did cost £124 quid, though.” “You’re two times an idiot.” Choclolate road signs Who among us doesn’t love a good road sign? And who among us doesn’t love cheap chocolate? So put those two things together and you have the best way we can think of to spend £10. It’ll have Boxing Day in your house sewn up: lay out two parallel rows of caramel barrels, stand a few noisette triangles up at either side, then stick a couple of these road signs at each end of the row. What have you just made? A Quality Street. Boom! Gear stick bottle stop The genius of the gearstick bottle stop is that it looks like a gearstick, but it works like a cork. If only someone would invent a gearstick that looks like a wine bottle. That someone would find themselves very wealthy come next Christmas. Fact. Car thong If Sisqo was an accountant and was speccing up his new company car, this would be the first box he’d tick on the options list. Dumps like a truck. Truck Nutz Seriously. You can’t make this up. Lamborghini paperweight It’s disconcerting...

Spy photographer Palbay brings us the first spy photos of next year’s BMW X6 M50d. The first diesel-powered M was teased just two weeks ago and now we see it on U.S. soil at the BMW factory in Spartanburg. The X6 M50d will debut next year and BMWBLOG learned from sources that the M diesel will run from 0 to 62 mph (100 km/h) in 4.9 seconds. Furthermore, we learned that the car will output 381 horsepower and 545 lb-ft of torque (740Nm). The X6 M50d will come equipped with an innovative and unique engine, a tri-turbo six-cylinder diesel. As seen in the photos below, the M50d features a power dome hood, and new facelifted airiIntakes and LED headlights. The internal code for the BMW X6 M50d is FH81 and production will begin in April 2012. Even though the car was spotted here at Spartanburg, we don’t expect it to be available for U.S. customers. Here is the original post:  Exclusive Spy Shots: BMW X6 M50d