For some time BMWBLOG has been a proponent of M diesels. Why? Because we knew they could do it, and well. Also, because we have a hankering for ungodly sums of torque. Torque is fun. M cars are fun. So why not a diesel M car? Sports car drivers and performance drivers (not often synonymous) are a very demanding sort. In our world, cars must become greater than the whole of their parts. They must transport us to a magical place of acceleration, neck straining cornering, and otherwise mind-bending performance. They must dance with us as willing partners on the racetrack or over a curvy road. They should wink at us naughtily from the sidewalk. And their sound should raise fine dorsal hairs. Sports cars, must steal our hearts. Why else would we buy them?! They are depreciating, impractical assets only slightly less foolish than boats. The obvious question is this: can a diesel be sexy? Posing this question more than a decade ago would have mustered laughter toped with scorn. But times have changed, and so have diesels. The mainstay of commercial heavy equipment and ’18 wheelers,’ they have been heavily developed by the Germans. Well, that is somewhat of a redundant statement since the Germans developed the diesel engine in the first place. Our friend Rudolf Diesel gave us the first diesel engine in 1893, and the monstrous single cylinder whacking at the ground like a pile-driver was impressive and maybe even a bit thrilling (for fear of your life should you get too close), but nothing close to sexy. In the decades that followed the diesel became porridge ordinary and fell well under the radar of sports car designers. The next most obvious question in succession would be: what makes an engine sexy? There’s a freebie for the comment section – go nuts. In my opinion, high revs are a key ingredient in the sex appeal. I want my engine to scream all the way to a lofty redline. Loud screaming is exciting, frankly. And yes we’re still talking about cars. Next, the engine must connect with the chassis and give it life – vibrant, exuberant life. This kind of vitality requires high output, so naturally, high horsepower and torque figures bring cachet and appeal to a sports car. We mentioned screaming in the context of revs, but...

The 2012 Dakar kicked off to a dramatic start Sunday as Argentina’s coastal dunes overtaxed several trucks and even a quad, resulting in multiple fires. The rally is now on its third of 14 stages, covering over 3,000 miles off road in Argentina, Chile and this year, for the first time, Peru. More » Continued here: The Dakar Race Looks Pretty Much Like A Post-Apocalyptic Hellscape [Video] View original here:  The Dakar Race Looks Pretty Much Like A Post-Apocalyptic Hellscape [Video]

The perfect tire would stick to any surface, never go flat, run in any weather, provide plentiful steering feedback, and wear forever. Fat chance we’ll ever get a perfect tire because a big set of those features are mutually exclusive. So tires are about compromise, compromises between traction and wear, traction and wet performance, traction in hot weather and traction in cold. Oh, and they should generate no noise, no vibrations, nor add any harshness to the ride. Impossible. Tires range from wide and sticky for racing slicks and narrow and hard for low rolling resistance e-mobility specials and then everything in between. Putting the right tire on the car for its intended use, and finding a suitable tire that will minimize NVH, increase fuel economy, and yet deliver appropriate traction in dry and wet/hot and cold is the stuff of nightmares. Once the appropriate set of compromises are reached, the tires reach the public (on suspensions tuned to that specific tire – in the case of high performance and luxury cars). And up until recently, that was five tires per car, then four tires and a donut spare, and even more recently, four run flat tires. The run flat tire allowed manufacturers to save weight by eliminating the spare tire, jack and accessories. The weight savings would help with fuel economy, every pound shed adds up to fractions of MPG – the more weight lost, the more MPG improved – and car makers will take MPG gains wherever they can find them. The manufacturers could accurately claim that the use of run flat tires as improves safety. After all, it is dangerous to change a tire on the side of the road. But they could not claim that they improve feel, that ever elusive notion of road information being transmitted from the contact patch up through suspension bits, and finally emerging in the driver’s fingertips. In addition, they couldn’t deliver the ride comfort expected on a luxury car (and of course the suspensions of cars had to be tuned to deal with the harshness of a run flat). And from an enthusiast’s point of view, they just didn’t feel good. The reason they didn’t feel good was the compromise required in the sidewalls of the tire that provides the run flat capabilities. They are extra stiff/thick to provide...

During our recent coverage of the F30 BMW 328i launch in Barcelona, Spain, we were smitten by the new turbo 4 cylinder on offer. It’s a phenomenal engine – checking off all the boxes systematically. Power? Check. Efficiency? Check. Refinement? Check. Reliability? We expect so, but time will tell. International engine of the year awards? We’d bet the farm on it. For a closer look at BMW’s all new 3 series live from the launch in Spain, check out our road review, and racetrack review articles. As we inch closer to the launch of the new F30 BMW 335i model, the question looms larger in our windshield: Which BMW is the one to buy – the turbo 4 or the turbo 6? Consider the following food for thought: The 328i is said to give up only 2 tenths of a second in acceleration from 0-60 mph to its bigger brother, the 335i. For that very marginal performance advantage, you sacrifice significant efficiency when purchasing the 335i. You will also pay more for insurance premiums, and you will pay more in the initial purchase price. Most drivers would be hard pressed to feel the difference of 2 tenths from 0-60, and the turbo 4-cylinder is so torquey, flat across the rev range, that most drivers would also be hard pressed to determine which car sports the 6 in a double blind test. Not only does the 328i offer superior efficiency with similar performance, but it also triumphs at the track with a lighter front end and slightly lighter curb weight – all of which make for a more nimble car on-track. The plot thickens. As if the above was not enough to convince you, BMW even kept the 328i badge so as not to humiliate you with the 320i moniker – sure office-fodder and back yard BBQ ammunition for the nosy Nancys in the group, and jealous neighbors. Still unsure? We highly recommend a test drive once the 328i is available at your local dealership. You’ve got to feel this engine to understand its performance, flattered by the brilliant 8-speed ZF-sourced automatic transmission. A 6-speed manual transmission is still on offer (thank you BMW, and the Driving Gods). Stay tuned for BMWBLOG’s live coverage from the new 335i launch in due time. Would YOU chose BMW’s new 328i or 335i? Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please...

It’s been some time since we’ve talked winter tires – three seasons to be exact. For those of us living in the Northern hemisphere, snow and ice have given us the gift – or curse – of slippery roads. I say gift because slippery roads can be fun-filled treasures covered in solid water. If you have a wild side that loves to explore the performance of your car, then you likely look forward to a good snow fall. In fact, you may even hope for it, checking the weather periodically to see if the sky’s ultimate gift to winter roads is on its way. A slippery road surface decreases the traction coefficient such that you can reach the limits of grip at much slower (and safer) speeds. If you’ve ever wanted to learn how to drift, or control understeer, no better venue could be had than a snow covered road or parking lot. It’s the perfect time to learn performance driving, this blustery time of the year. Being the procrastinating sort that I am, I’ve still got the Yokohama Advan Neova AD08′s firmly wrapped to my car. These, after countless track days and months of on-road driving, are looking somewhat worn. Summer performance tires should never be driven in the cold, much less over snow or ice. There is simply, no grip. Worse yet, on the phone with Yokohama, a chemist told me that my tires will actually shatter if I hit a bump well below 0′ Celsius. The nano technology engineered into these tires for wicked high-temperature grip means that at low temperatures, they will literally solidify as water turns into ice, and shatter, forever destroyed. That sounds so cool I almost want to try it – minus the expensive price tag that experiment would carry. And so, for a second year I am prisoner to the cold, only able to drive my car when it’s warm enough not to shatter my tires. I need to sneak down to Southern Ontario where my Blizzak LM-25s are stored, carefully orchestrating my schedule with the weather forecast. Once they’re mounted, the winter is mine to enjoy. I should probably get on that, as the Detroit Auto Show, better know as the NAIAS is soon to be underway, and on January 9th, I’ll be there reporting live. I’ve never been to a Detroit Auto Show where it didn’t snow –...

Drivers longing for simpler ways of buying fuel at the gas station pump, there may be good news. A gasoline station in Saginaw, Mich., is testing a new pump technology called Post-Pay that allows cash-paying customers to unlock the gas pumps with a mere swipe of a driver’s license. When they’re done fueling the car, drivers can pay for fuel with cash at the station’s register. But, if they “pump and run” without paying, the information captured from the license swipe is transferred to the police. Post-Pay eliminates the need for station customers to first pre-pay—say, with $60—to fill up with fuel and then return to the register for change—because they only needed $52.36 for a completely full gas tank. Bob Hohn, president for Paxson Oil Company and inventor of the Post-Pay system says information from a driver’s license can’t be viewed by the cashier in the store nor is the data recorded in any matter. That is, unless a driver attempts a pump-and-run theft. So far, the technology—which Hohn has applied for a patent—is being tested only at two gas stations owned by Paxson Oil. ABC News report on Post-Pay technology from WJR-TV in Flint, Mich. Gas drive-offs drastically reduced with new invention [WJRT-TV ABC12 News] New pump technology prevents gas theft, lets you pay after pumping [Autoblog] Read the original: Fill-up your car with gas…by swiping your driver’s license?

Drivers longing for simpler ways of buying fuel at the gas station pump, there may be good news. A gasoline station in Saginaw, Mich., is testing a new pump technology called Post-Pay that allows cash-paying customers to unlock the gas pumps with a mere swipe of a driver’s license. When they’re done fueling the car, drivers can pay for fuel with cash at the station’s register. But, if they “pump and run” without paying, the information captured from the license swipe is transferred to the police. Post-Pay eliminates the need for station customers to first pre-pay—say, with $60—to fill up with fuel and then return to the register for change—because they only needed $52.36 for a completely full gas tank. Bob Hohn, president for Paxson Oil Company and inventor of the Post-Pay system says information from a driver’s license can’t be viewed by the cashier in the store nor is the data recorded in any matter. That is, unless a driver attempts a pump-and-run theft. So far, the technology—which Hohn has applied for a patent—is being tested only at two gas stations owned by Paxson Oil. ABC News report on Post-Pay technology from WJR-TV in Flint, Mich. Gas drive-offs drastically reduced with new invention [WJRT-TV ABC12 News] New pump technology prevents gas theft, lets you pay after pumping [Autoblog] Original post:  Fill-up your car with gas…by swiping your driver’s license?

The holidays are upon us and while you may be searching for last-minute gift bargains for the family, it’s also a good time to find a holiday deal on a new car. The end of the year can be a good time to buy and take advantage of manufacturer incentives and rebates. Dealers are anxious to sell what they can now because the winter months are typically their slowest season. Plus, automakers, too, are hoping to close the year with strong sales. All these factors put the car buyer in a good position to negotiate and come out with a great deal on a good car. For our December selection, we have listed CR recommended 2011 and 2012 models that offer the best discounts. Prices on the models selected are between 15 percent and 20 percent below MSRP, but dealers may be interested in negotiating further if inventory is available. A few of the models — Chevrolet Traverse, Honda Pilot, Lincoln MKZ, and Mazda6 — have been on lots over 100 days and are ripe for negotiations. Buying a 2012 model instead of a leftover 2011 might get you the latest safety features and technology and more inventory to choose from at the dealership. However, buying a 2011 model may get you the best price as dealers are more willing to negotiate an outgoing 2011 model. Of course, the downside to buying a leftover 2011 is that it already has a year’s worth of depreciation under its belt. But if you drive your car a long time, short-term depreciation won’t matter much. The models listed below are just a few of our Best New Car Deals, meaning there are notable discounts on models that meet Consumer Reports’ criteria to be recommended. These vehicles scored well in our testing, had average or better reliability in our subscriber survey, and performed well in government or insurance-industry safety tests, if evaluated. See our full list of deals for 2011 and 2012 models. Make & model Expires MSRP Invoice price Customer rebate Dealer incentive Bottom line price See original here: Best new car deals for the end of 2011

The holidays are upon us and while you may be searching for last-minute gift bargains for the family, it’s also a good time to find a holiday deal on a new car. The end of the year can be a good time to buy and take advantage of manufacturer incentives and rebates. Dealers are anxious to sell what they can now because the winter months are typically their slowest season. Plus, automakers, too, are hoping to close the year with strong sales. All these factors put the car buyer in a good position to negotiate and come out with a great deal on a good car. For our December selection, we have listed CR recommended 2011 and 2012 models that offer the best discounts. Prices on the models selected are between 15 percent and 20 percent below MSRP, but dealers may be interested in negotiating further if inventory is available. A few of the models — Chevrolet Traverse, Honda Pilot, Lincoln MKZ, and Mazda6 — have been on lots over 100 days and are ripe for negotiations. Buying a 2012 model instead of a leftover 2011 might get you the latest safety features and technology and more inventory to choose from at the dealership. However, buying a 2011 model may get you the best price as dealers are more willing to negotiate an outgoing 2011 model. Of course, the downside to buying a leftover 2011 is that it already has a year’s worth of depreciation under its belt. But if you drive your car a long time, short-term depreciation won’t matter much. The models listed below are just a few of our Best New Car Deals, meaning there are notable discounts on models that meet Consumer Reports’ criteria to be recommended. These vehicles scored well in our testing, had average or better reliability in our subscriber survey, and performed well in government or insurance-industry safety tests, if evaluated. See our full list of deals for 2011 and 2012 models. Make & model Expires MSRP Invoice price Customer rebate Dealer incentive Bottom line price Original post:  Best new car deals for the end of 2011

I’ll be the first to admit that my opinions, tastes and preferences represent a minority of the driving community. As a purist that favors connectedness over comfort and dynamics over, well… efficient dynamics, I find myself sitting among an ever shrinking crowd of enthusiasts. To borrow a line from Jack Johnson: “where’d all the good [drivers] go?” While it’s true that my tastes have softened somewhat, I’d still delete many luxury features to save weight, and take curbs at offensively slow speeds thanks to a suspension on the stiff side of town. I’ve taught several friends how to drive manual and all of them have come away with a smile and second thoughts of buying another automatic. BMW’s DCT has incrementally improved, but it’s still no where near Porsche’s PDK, so while the 7 speed DCT suits certain cars very well (namely the new M5), I would still ditch it for a raw, hands on manual. Please don’t be offended by my efficient dynamics comment; I do appreciate efficiency, and protecting the environment as well as our lungs. Further, high efficiency and low emissions are a testiment to engineering competence – it’s no easy feat to extract huge power with low pollution. To that end, I’m willing to compromise on a naturally aspirated engine with a highly responsive turbo. One thing I will never, ever compromise on however, is steering feel. If driving is your art, and the racetrack or back road is your canvas, then the contact patches are your eyes. Blurring your vision of what the tires are doing with numb steering feel and feedback is like forcing bottle-cap glasses on an artist. The painting will become somewhat “abstract”… and so will your driving. Both art forms may involve strangely shaped trees. It’s no laughing matter. Not only is it imperative to performance driving that a car offer up precise steering input and feedback, but such connectedness with the road surface is a core element of driving pleasure. To illustrate it another way, driving a new BMW with electric power steering is a bit like having sex wearing a condom. It’s still a great time, but you’re missing that intimacy that makes it spectacular. Sorry to all our underage...

Image via CrunchBase Ernst Lieb, the well-liked CEO of Mercedes-Benz USA since 2006 was relieved of his post, according to Automotive News. Since Lieb handled the company, the sales went up to 10.4% for that year, trailing ahead of the US car market revival. The company also became the leading brand in the USA, well past Lexus, and this all happened under his wings. To add on to all that is his experience and contribution to Daimler because he has been with the company since 1976, joined in as a spare parts specialist. So it has surprised everyone when Daimler announced that he will be relieved of his duties. Rumor has it that he did not leave the company in his own volition, especially since it’s so sudden, proven by being replaced temporarily by Herbert Werner, the CFO and VP of Finance, Controlling and IT. View original here: Mercedes-Benz USA CEO was Fired

Okay , this may be a premature welcome. The ball hasn’t dropped yet, in fact I don’t think Dick Clark has had a chance to mount it yet. But here in the final quarter of 2011, we approach a new year that brings many new things with it. Ever heard the phrase, “Four on the Floor” – commonly found in sentences of the 1960s? Well, thanks to the engineering folks at Porsche, we can usher in the new year with not four, but eight speeds on the floor! Many of us will drive to times square at least partially on battery power – gliding along silently in the night air. Others will ride downtown on the fastest and most feared production superbike in the world: the BMW S1000RR. Were you expecting a Japanese name? Times certainly have changed, and in the motoring world, they’ve mostly changed for the better. Nonetheless, as we near 2012, it’s fair to ask, “what’s next?” It is also prime time to ponder whether or not we should embrace the cars and technologies of tomorrow, or cling stubbornly to the jerry-can mounted on our Jeep. No one pictured us to be here, quite where we are, just a few short decades back. Our battered globe is worse for wear, and bearing the weight of the largest population demand it’s ever fed, clothed and sheltered. We’ve nearly sucked our way to “peak oil” – some would argue we’ve recently hit it, and it’s time to look for alternative sources of energy to fill the void oil will inevitably leave behind. Subsequently, fossil fuel consumption and emissions are on the radars of every major automotive manufacturer. Engines are shedding cylinders, dawning turbos, and shrinking in displacement while the ‘horsepower war’ of the ’90s has morphed into the ‘efficiency war’ of late. Alternative drive concepts – new and old- are sprouting like dandelions on your neighbor’s lawn. But there are other winds of change that are blowing automotive designs in new directions. Population shift toward extra-urban living has created ‘Super Cities’ or ‘Mega Cities’ as some have coined them. A mega city is defined as a city with a population in excess of 10 million people. There are over 20 cities around the...

A trend started by BMWBLOG years ago continues today with a new episode. With the launch of a new BMW, we take the time to compare it against the outgoing model. Today, we are giving you a photo comparison between the all-new F30 BMW 3 Series and the E90 3 Series Sedan. The sixth generation of the 3 Series has grown moderately in size compared to its predecessor, with its wide track (front + 37 mm/1.46 in., rear + 47 mm/1.85 in.) particularly prominent, and the car’s length (+ 93 mm/3.66 in.) and wheelbase (+ 50 mm/1.96 in.) also accentuates its sporting allure. Design wise, the styling of the F30 3 Series is an evolution of the outgoing model. The lines follow the design language seen in the new 5 Series, with concave and convex shapes providing a sporty stance and image. The flanks of the car are shaped by an eye-catching double character line running alongside each other. At the front, the headlights have been completely redesigned. For the first time, the lights end directly in the kidney grille, providing a 3D look. The kidney grille also inherits the 3D aspect as seen on the new 6 Series. The rear lights continue the BMW L-shaped design positioned at the outer edges of the rear – accentuate the broad face of the wheels and wide track of the new BMW 3 Series Sedan. Inside, the level of luxury of the new 3 Series moves up a notch. A BMW core value, the driver-focused cockpit, is even more emphasized in the F30 3 Series. The cockpit is angled towards the driver by seven degrees. The materials used inside the car resemble the ones found in the 5 Series Sedan, with small changes for each one of the lines: Sport, Modern and Luxury. The cockpit’s four circular dials (fuel gauge, speedometer, tachometer and oil temperature gauge) come with a black panel display. The car’s larger dimensions ensure rear passengers are welcomed by 0.71 in. /18 mm of extra legroom inside the doors as they climb aboard. Behind the fully contoured front seats, 0.6 in / 15 mm of additional knee room and 0.31in. / 8 mm of extra headroom further enhance the passengers’ comfort on the road. A more details design analysis will be up shortly on BMWBLOG, but in the mean time, please tell us which design do you prefer most. Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit...

Here at The Unofficial Audi Blog, not only do we want to be a source for Audi news and car reviews, but we also want to be a resource to help people buy and sell used Audi cars.  Because many of our readers are from the UK, we want this post to be dedicated to a UK car-related site we just recently found out about: motors.co.uk . Not only can you buy and sell cars on Motors.co.uk, but they offer informative guides including buying and selling guides… Some of the tips offered when selling a car include gathering all paperwork together and putting them in a neat folder, pricing it right, not being pushy, and get the car looking really clean, but don’t go overboard.  You can also read their Audi car reviews and watch videos of specific Audi models… When buying cars online, regardless of what site you’re using, it’s always important to do your due diligence.  I’ve seen many bogus car advertisements on classified sites like Craigslist.  Keep in mind that saying when shopping for a car online, “If it’s too good to be true…”  What’s nice about the Motors.co.uk site is that they check to make sure the car has not been stolen, that it has not been written-off by an insurance company (damaged too seriously), and that it has not been imported or exported.  Have you ever used Motors.co.uk to shop or buy a used Audi?  Share your experience via comments! Excerpt from: Audi Car Buying and Selling Resource: Motors.co.uk

Audi, in association with FX, is kicking off a short TV series similar to any other TV action/drama to help showcase and promote the 2012 Audi A6. As you’ll read below, the plot and trailer isn’t too shabby, but we’ll have to wait and see if it doesn’t just become a cheesy product placement, like Transporter 3, or if it actually will have some decent acting and action scenes. It stays in the fashion of how luxury car manufacturers develops these promotional films– fast, adrenaline-pumping and mind-boggling just like our Mercedes-Benz movie titled “Drive & Seek” that was launched to promote the C-Class Coupe. This one though is a bit different as it is an eight part series, that allows people to find clues about the mysteries and be in the know of the screenplays. Viewers will also be introduced to new characters and storylines and they can also offer suggestion on the title of the series by visiting  www.untitledjerseycityproject.com It will be shown starting September 25 and will air over FX’s Sunday primetime movies. The plot: Frank George and Ray Rahne are partners in their growing architecture office from New York, and they are ready to take their business to new heights. A project of a lifetime comes their way, offering them a job to design a new stadium complex across the Hudson in New Jersey. Their luck, their new client, Larry Tyerman, is a developer. What they do not know is that Tyerman is a shrewd negotiator and businessman who has connections everywhere and anywhere and get everything he wants when he wants it. Everyone owes him a favor, from cops to politicians, no one can stand in his way, especially since money “works” for him. His partners in the project, the young Taiwanese investors have a conflict of interest that can shut the entire project down. The different cast of characters from Philip Haney, the city councilman and his driver Tony Hello. As well as the femme fatale image of Jane Kaplan, a staff writer at the Ledger, all of them will make you rise from your seat from excitement, as you guess who’s the culprit and who’s the victim. It’s all about the money and what power and fame it can give to anyone who have it.   This post is sponsored by Audi and FX Go here...