2011 BMW 550i Review

"Ultimate," as an adjective, means "last or last possible, final" according to the Oxford American Dictionary. Of course, BMW's advertising wizards were thinking about "ultimate" as a noun ("best achievable or imaginable") when they wrote "The Ultimate Driving Machine" tagline.

The adjective applys to the E39, the BMW 5 Series now two generations old, sold here from 1996 to 2003. Like the smaller, less costly 3 Series that made the brand the envy of every other premium automaker, the E39 offered the right balance of suspension compliance, sharp handling, and crisp steering. For its feel, feedback, and precision, the E39's steering became a benchmark for BMW's competitors.

The 2004 E60 5 Series was a disappointment for its new, active steering and BMW's least successful application of Chris Bangle's flame-surfacing design language. The car just seemed bigger, heavier, and more complex. automobile news

with optimism and apprehension. The new sedan shares its component set (similar to platform sharing) with the hatchback 5 Series GT, and with the 7 Series that was new for model year '09. The F10 5 Series is essentially a shorter version of the 7 Series, though the 5 Series remains one of the few cars in its class still available with a manual transmission, negligible as its take rate may be.

Opt for two pedals and you get eight forward speeds, with tall seventh and eighth gears for improved highway speed fuel efficiency (sixth is "direct drive"). With four planetary gearsets and five clutch packs, the new transmission is designed so that no more than two of its clutch packs freewheel at a given time. hot news today

The six-speed gearbox is available with the 535i, which has the single twin-scroll turbocharged 3.0-liter I-6 rated 300 horsepower and 300 pound-feet, and the 2011 BMW 550i with its 4.4-liter twin-turbo V-8, rated 400 horsepower and 450 pound-feet of torque. The 528i, powered by a 240-horsepower naturally aspirated 3.0-liter, comes with the eight-speed automatic, only. And xDrive all-wheel-drive is available on the 535i and 550i, but not the 528i.

Servotronic, or active steering, is back on the F10 5 Series, though now it's an electronic power steering assist, a first for a car in this segment, according to BMW. breaking news today

Dodge today introduced the new Dodge Avenger 2011, totally overhauled for 2011 with an all-new interior, a redesigned exterior and performance attributes that put the "fun" in functional. A new powertrain lineup and completely redesigned and retuned suspension mean drivers will experience Dodge's fun-to-drive dynamics in a front-wheel-drive mid-size sedan.
automobile news
The Avenger's fun-to-drive quotient rises exponentially for 2011 with a significantly upgraded suspension to give drivers agile, confident, handling performance in all driving situations, whether it's a spirited adventure on twisty roads or an emergency maneuver. Dodge engineers retuned or redesigned virtually every part of the suspension for 2011, including 26 of 30 suspension bushings. The suspension and the geometry were completely rethought. The track is an inch wider, tire width increased from 215 to 225 millimeters and the vehicle is 12 millimeters lower in the front and 6 millimeters in the rear for a more aggressive stance. Customers will feel more confident when driving the new Avenger because of less body roll, less vehicle shake, improved isolation, better steering precision, response and feel and the increased grip of new premium tires. breaking news today

A new and improved powertrain lineup also contributes to the 2011 Avenger's driving experience. The vehicles has a standard 2.4-liter World Gas Engine, which has been recalibrated and is now available mated to a new smooth-shifting six-speed transmission for an exceptionally fun and fuel-efficient driving experience. Avenger customers also can opt for the new Pentastar V-6 engine mated to a six-speed automatic transmission that gives customers the best of both worlds – best-in-class 283 horsepower (an increase of 20 percent compared with the engine it replaces) and 260 lb.-ft. of torque (an increase of 12 percent) combined with competitive fuel economy. ferrari 458 italia review

2011 Porsche Cayenne S Hybrid in Dealer Showrooms this November

Next month Porsche begins selling its 2011 Cayenne S Hybrid sport-utility vehicle through its 197 authorized U.S. dealers, giving fuel-efficiency minded consumers who also enjoy performance and handling a clear choice in the hybrid arena. The Cayenne S Hybrid accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in just 6.1 seconds on its way to a top test track speed of 150 mph, yet it delivers an impressive estimated 21 mpg city/25 highway under current EPA regulations. Its base MSRP is $67,700 (excluding destination), and like all Cayenne models, it is not subject to a gas-guzzler tax.

breaking news today

Like most hybrids the Cayenne S Hybrid can drive for a time on electric power alone at speeds up to 37 mph. However, it delivers efficiencies at cruising speeds through its ability to ’sail’ or coast with the combustion engine turned off. It can do this for up to one mile, and this not only saves fuel but also minimizes emissions. automobile news

In the Cayenne and Panamera model lines the ‘S’ designation indicates a V8 under the hood. But the ‘S’ in the Cayenne S Hybrid name is there for a different reason, to indentify the true performance character of this SUV’s highly sophisticated parallel full hybrid system. With a combined power output of 380 horsepower from the supercharged V6 combustion engine and an electric motor, the Cayenne S Hybrid delivers performance nearly equal to the Cayenne S with its 400-horsepower V8 and fuel economy estimates that exceed those of the Cayenne with the V6 engine.

The all-new Porsche Cayenne has earned some significant awards since going on sale this summer. It is the 2011 Motor Trend Sport/Utility of the Year® and also recently received the Auto Pacific Motorist Choice Award for Best Premium Active Lifestyle Vehicle.

Nissan recalls 2.1 million vehicles

Dodge Charger Prototype : first drive

the single most remarkable thing about the 2011 Nissan Leaf: It’s mostly unremarkable as a “Car of the Future.” And while that may seem like damning it with faint praise, it’s really the highest praise this car can be given. Nissan could’ve built a car that looked like it belonged in Star Wars, and four people would’ve bought it. Instead, it’s built a car that’s just different enough to stand out, but not enough to alienate potential buyers. As unfamiliar as the concept of a non-gasoline car may be to Joe Customer, the car itself is surprisingly familiar. To make the point, Nissan invited us to drive the car in the towns and farms surrounding its Franklin, Tennessee, headquarters, and this time it would be a real drive. No more “take it around the block” quick tests. I strapped into a production-spec Leaf with a full battery and a guidebook that, after two driving loops, would take us on a 50-mile tour of central Tennessee. Time to find out what the Leaf is like in the real world…



you need to get the latest news today?

Southtowne Hyundai of Newnan releases the all new 2011 Hyundai Sonata

Not counting full-size trucks, the meat-and-potatoes of the American car market remains the mid-size family sedan. For the past two decades, the undisputed kings of this particular segment have been the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord, especially since the Ford Taurus fell off its pedestal right around 1992. Many have tried to knock the two Japanese heavyweights (now figuratively and literally) off the hill – and almost as many have failed. And while those two titans have remained atop the sales charts, other family sedans have met with considerable success. Perhaps most notably, the Hyundai Sonata, an unassuming car that has found its way into 1.2 million homes.  update news today

With beaming grins and news of Hyundai being named the most fuel efficient brand in America, Hyundai's brass took the wraps off their new-for-2011 Sonota. What strikes you instantly is the Sonata's curvy, slightly-hefty, almost organic shape. Hyundai calls the design language "Fluidic Sculpture," and while not quite as in-your-face as Mazda's signature Nagare styling language, we have a feeling it might prove nearly as polarizing. That's not to say the new Sonata is bad looking or ugly. But it is highly-stylized in a mid-size market that tends to reward the bland and middle-of-the-road.
hyundai sonata 2011 turbo
But Fluidic Sculpture is what we've got – and not just on the Sonata. Hyundai's North American President and CEO John Krafcik promises that this design language will define the brand moving forward. Not surprisingly, Fluidic Sculpture originated right here in Southern California in Hyundai's Irvine design center. We really appreciate some of the finely wrought detailing, such as the grille, door handles, headlights and taillights (though those taillights appear to be lifted directly from the BMW 3 Series). We're just a wee bit uncertain of how the new Sonata will play in Peoria.

As for the non-design aspects of the 2011 Sonata, the big car news is under the hood. Gone is the 3.3-liter V6, or for that matter, any V6. Instead Hyundai is offering consumers a choice of three four-cylinder engines. The first is a 2.4-liter Gasoline Direct-Injection (GDI) motor called the Theta II good for 198 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque. That much power from a 2.4-liter essentially puts the Sonata at the head of the four-cylinder class. But what about those pesky V6 cars? No problem, as Southtowne Hyundai of Newnan will introducing a turbocharged version of the GDI Theta II. If direct-injection and turbocharging sounds a little EcoBoosty to you, well, it is. And that's a very, very. automobile news

Dodge Charger Prototype : first drive

As Chrysler pulls itself back from the brink for the
eleventy-seventh time, it's poised to roll out 16 new or significantly revamped
cars in the coming months, six of which will be Dodges. Most will wear the
brand's remodeled crosshair grille, and all will be better differentiated from
their Chrysler siblings in terms of ride, handling, and basic attitude. Leading
this charge is the refreshingly reskinned Charger.

you need to get the latest news today?

The new RCZ

At the 2009 International Automobile Festival the RCZ won hands-down ahead of the BMW Z4, Citroën DS3 and Nissan 370Z to take the highest honour – The Most Beautiful Car of the Year. By winning this prestigious award – the fourth time for Peugeot - the RCZ strikingly perpetuates the tradition of pleasure vehicles that have shaped Peugeot's image and history, while holding out great promise for the future. The new RCZ officially went on sale October 1st and the Australian International Motor Show was its first public appearance.

you need to get the latest news today?

Cadillac XLR Platinum Edition

Many on staff have been enjoying the top-down sportiness of the 370Z Roadster. The seat heaters and coolers were given high marks, making it easier to work on a tan while making full use of the transmission's synchro-rev-matching feature. This Nissan also got high marks for its power, steering, and handling. And while it's harder to hear the excellent stereo with the top stowed, putting the top up reveals some shortcomings with the Z. As is the case with many drop-tops, visibility is poor and there's too much tire noise. And, as associate Web editor Kirill Ougarov explains, "Unlike the superpowered seat heaters, the seat coolers seem to operate normally. While the trunk is comically small, it's partitioned and you don't have to worry about the top crushing your cargo as it comes down." A small price to pay for the pleasure of driving a RWD two-seat roadster with a manual transmission.

you need to get the latest news today?

Honda Fit Hybrid

This is the final piece in the Fit puzzle we’ve been waiting for — the Honda Fit Hybrid. It’s the third hybrid from Honda in as many years, after the Insight and CR-Z. According to chief engineer Kohei Hitomi, Honda wanted to test the hybrid waters before. automobile news

Peugeot’s award winning peugeot 3008 Crossover is now available with extra standard specification on Sport and Exclusive models and a more fuel efficient Euro 5 HDi 112 diesel engine. Since its launch in November 2009 the Peugeot 3008 Crossover has been