german cars
Volkswagen Rumored to Acquire Isuzu
With Volkswagen‘s recent tie-up with Suzuki not going so well, a new report suggests the German auto giant may look to partner or acquire another Japanese company in its bid to become the world’s largest automaker. Rather than put a focus on small passenger cars, however, this tie-up would explore furthering VW’s commercial truck empire….
2011 BMW Z4 GT3 Race Car Now Available for $450,000
Those with a little less than half a million lying around and looking to compete in some GT3-class racing can now get their hands on BMW’s Z4 GT3 race car. After its successful victory in Dubai’s 24 Hours race, BMW did some more testing and aerodynamic tweaking prior to allowing customers to order their own…
BMW to Announce Return of 4-Cylinder Engines to U.S. Lineup at NY Auto Show
BMW will make numerous announcements at its New York Auto Show press conference next week, many of which will deal with ‘sustainable mobility.’ With BMW’s new i Ventures division recently being announced the Munich-based automaker elaborate on plans to renovate two buildings in New York City as part of a larger push towards promoting sustainable…
2012 Audi Q3 Revealed, But Will We Get it?
Audi has finally unveiled the Q3, the compact SUV ready to do battle against the BMW X1. In Audi’s relentless quest to leave no niche unturned, the Q3 is the dinghy to the Q5’s and Q7’s superyachts. At about 14.4 feet long, it’s a tick bigger than the A3, at 13.9 feet, and its styling—which Audi…
2013 Audi A3 Design Sketches Preview Production Models
Audi has released a selection of design sketches, giving a strong hint at the direction the next-gen version of the A3 will take. The three images preview the hatchback and sedan, while also giving a glimpse at what the car’s interior will look like. The four-door versions sticks closely to the A3 sedan concept that…
Mercedes A-Class Concept: a Dual-Clutch Turbo Hatch We Might Actually Get [NY Auto Show Preview]
Marking a distinct departure from the current A-Class, Mercedes has unveiled a new second-generation of the car, transforming it from an urban runabout MPV to a stylish and sporty hatchback. And it’s not just the overall shape of the vehicle either, but its specific styling cues, moving away from a minimalist approach to a design…
Mercedes Recalls 137,000 M-Class SUVs for Cruise Control Fault
Mercedes has announced a recall for approximately 137,000 of its M-Class SUVs for an issue surrounding the vehicle’s cruise control. The issue itself is that in some circumstances applying the brakes does not automatically turn off the cruise control – as it’s designed to. Affected vehicles include the 2000 – 2002 M-Class as well as…
Current M3 Marks the End of Naturally Aspirated M Cars for BMW
With the 2012 M5 set to go into production later this year, BMW brand fans will begin immediate speculation on the next M3. That car, unlike all of its predecessors, will be turbocharged. Yes, the era of the naturally aspirated M cars is over, reports Autoblog. Currently the only NA model left in the M…
BMW i3 Confirmed As Mid-Engine, Rear-Drive Green Machine
BMW’s in-development electric car, the i3 has been confirmed as a rear-wheel-drive vehicle with a mid-mounted electric motor. It is expected to be for sale by 2013. Its motor support platform was developed in house and made mostly of carbon fiber. The motor will be positioned ahead of the rear wheels, and the serviceable battery…
Audi Gives New Quattro Coupe The Green Light, Prototypes Already Running
One of the stars from last years auto show circuits was the Audi Quattro coupe concept. According to the latest reports from Europe, Audi execs have given the concept the green light and engineers are already putting prototypes through the test. Based on the current RS5 platform, the Quattro coupe will benefit from some weight saving measures….
2012 Volkswagen Beetle to Debut Simultaneously on Three Continets Courtesy MTV
Volkswagen has announced a partnership with MTV to help debut the all-new 2012 Beetle simultaneously on three separate continents. Premiering first in Shanghai om April 18th, VW will then reveal the car in New York and Berlin with ‘World Stage’ events with performances by The Black Eyed Peas and Belgian duo 2manydjs. “The Beetle is…
2012 BMW M5 Concept Officially Revealed Ahead of Shanghai Debut [Video]
After leaked photos hit the web this past weekend, BMW has released official images of the 2012 BMW M5 Concept. Set to debut at the Shanghai Motor Show in just two weeks time, this concept car is a near visual match to the production model, with the gaping M front fascia, flared fenders, huge wheels…
Mercedes Tops Lexus in U.S. Luxury Sales Race for Q1
If the current trend goes unchecked, Mercedes-Benz is poised to overtake Lexus as the luxury sales leader in the U.S. But the bad news for Lexus doesn’t end there, as it might not even end up in the second-place spot. It’s still early to start making predictions, but with the first quarter numbers in, Mercedes…
Carlsson Super GT C25 Royale: Custom Mercedes SL65 the Ultimate in Exclusivity
A Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG is a rather nice car. It combines luxury and power in a hard-top convertible package that would please just about anyone. However, some people want more, like more power and more exclusivity. For those, renowned Mercedes-Benz tuner Carlsson has the answer. It’s newest creation is called the Super GT C25 Royale,…
Georgia Tech Students to Compete in World Solar Challenge with Custom Audi TT Race Car
A team of Georgia Tech students has put together a dual-battery, solar-powered Audi TT to compete later this year in the World Solar Challenge in Australia. One of the car’s batteries is charged by solar panels, and energizes power brakes, windows and steering. The second battery puts out 120 volts which is directed to an…
BMW Concept M5 Leaked Ahead of Shanghai Debut [Breaking News]
BMW‘s next M5 might just be the most eagerly anticipated car of the year and thanks to some leaked photos from a recent event in Munich, you no longer have to wait until the Frankfurt Auto Show this fall to see what it looks like. Truth be told, this is not the actual 2012 M5,…
2012 Audi A6 to Get 4-Cylinder Engine in North America
With the introduction of the 2012 A6 luxury sedan, Audi will for the first time ever offer a 4-cylinder version in North America. That engine will be, unsurprisingly, the automakers one-size-fits-all 2.0 TFSI turbocharged 4-cylinder powerplant, although it’s not clear if Audi intends to up the output from the roughly 200-hp it currently produces in…
BMW M3 Pickup is a Joke That’s in Poor Taste – Happy April Fools
It would have been a great April Fool’s joke, had spy photographers not already revealed the new BMW M3 Pickup. Yes, it’s real. But no, you won’t ever be able to buy one – not unless you manage to stumble across this thing on eBay a decade from now. Easily the best idea since the…
Autobahn May Lose Sections Of De-restricted Highway Located Near Porsche, Mercedes-Benz
The world famous Autobahn, known for its sections of speed-limit-free roads, looks set to lose some of its famous stretches of highway, with the election of a new, environmentally focused government in the home state of manufacturers like Mercedes-Benz and Porsche. With the Green Party having emerged victorious in a regional election in the state…
Porsche Panamera Turbo S Ups the Thrust With 550-hp
As rumored, Porsche has revealed a new Panamera Turbo S model as the new highest-performance sedan in the sports car maker’s range. With a 10 percent increase in power (50-hp) the Turbo S now delivers 550-hp from its twin-turbo 4.8-liter V8 engine with torque increasing from 516 lb-ft to 553 lb-ft. Plus, in the Sport…
Porsche Panamera Turbo S to Debut at Shanghai Motor Show
Any Porsche fan will tell you that there’s always something better than a Turbo – a Turbo S. This rule is about to apply not just to the 911, but also the Panamera, with forum chatter indicating that just such a model will launch as early as next month. No details of the car’s performance…
2012 Audi S8 to Get 520-hp Turbocharged V8
Destined for dealers some time in 2012, the Audi S8 could debut as early as the Frankfurt Auto Show this Fall. Along with what will no doubt be the largest grille ever fitted to a production car, the S8 will be powered by the company’s new turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 engine making an impressive 520-hp. Past…
Mercedes Plans Six Debuts for NY Auto Show; SLS AMG Roadster Likely
Mercedes has announced a total of six debuts at the upcoming New York Auto Show, two of which will be world premiers. The first of those two has already been revealed as the C63 AMG Coupe, while the second is still unknown. Mercedes has, however, said the car will be from its high-performance AMG division,…
2012 BMW M5 Rumored to Get 6-Speed Manual in North America Only
Usually when it comes to high-performance vehicles the discussion almost always has to deal with the car’s engine. Not so with the upcoming 2012 BMW M5. With a twin-turbo 4.4-liter V8 all but confirmed, the interwebs has been all atwitter about what transmissions will be offered. Assumed to be a dual-clutch unit all along, then…
