Hot News: New Acura TL Will Debut at Chicago Show 2011

Perhaps Acura’s most controversially styled car with the power plenum grille is the 2011 TL sedan. The car has been a consistently good seller for the brand and we’ll see a restyled 2012 version at the Chicago Auto Show on February 9.

Acura isn’t releasing any information on the 2012 TL just yet, but it’s safe to say the car’s front grille will be revised from the 2011 model shown here. Now that the MDX and ZDX have received the six-speed automatic transmission, don’t be surprised if the TL gets it, as well. Currently, the 2011 TL is rated 18/26 mpg city/highway in front-wheel-drive form, with a five-speed automatic. A six-speed automatic would likely increase those figures.

We’re guessing that style, more than fuel economy, will increase TL sales, which were flat in 2010. What details do you hope to see in the 2012 TL’s new design?

Thanks to: Motor Trend

Hot News: Daihatsu Stop Selling in European Market

Daihatsu has announced that it will withdraw sales from the European market by 2013.

The decision has been taken because of the strength of the Japanese Yen against the Euro and GBP, which now makes export to the region unprofitable.

Daihatsu sales in Europe have declined significantly, with just 19,300 vehicles sold in 10 EU countries last year, compared with 58,600 in 2007.

Sales in Europe will end as of 31 January 2013, but the company will continue its after-service.

There is no stock of new cars in the UK, and no further orders are expected to be placed.

Thanks to: Autocar

Hot News: Renault Launches Bizu Limited Edition Range

Renault is out to become a value for money champ with its new Bizu range of entry-level models. Available until June, the limited edition versions run across the Twingo, Clio, Mégane and Scénic ranges, with prices up to £3,870 lower than the entry-level versions of the same model.

The Twingo 1.2 75, is available for £6,595, £2,300 lower than the standard Expression model, while the Scénic 1.6 VVT Bizu costs £12,595 - £3,755 less than the regular car.

Every Bizu model comes fitted with ABS, Brake Assist and electric front windows, plus Bluetooth and an aux input for plugging in the latest tunes.

Clio versions get body-coloured rear spoilers and chrome-effect front fog light surrounds. The Mégane and Scénic models also benefit from CSV understeer control, electric heated door mirrors, ESC, air conditioning and keyless go.

On sale now, the Twingo Bizu starts at £6,595, Clio at £8,595, Mégane at £11,595 and Scénic for £12,595. For more details click here.
Thanks to: Auto Express

Hot News: Cadillac Plans 7 Models

Cadillac is set to explore a seven-model expansion plan as part of a new initiative.

Following a sales boost last year of 35 per cent year-on-year for 2010, GM’s luxury brand aims to attract more buyers to its showrooms and hopes to build on the fastest sales growth seen amongst premium car manufacturers in the US.

According to insiders, the firm is looking into a small SUV, a large flagship saloon, a subcompact car to rival the Mini Cooper (inspired by LA's ULC concept) and a Cadillac take on Chevrolet’s Traverse model and Buick's Enclave – both SUVs. Next year will also see the introduction of a larger XTS saloon and a compact car.

The company’s sales rise was led by the SRX SUV and the CTS coupe – which made up 66 per cent of its sales - so the new model line-up is hoped will ease the firm’s reliance on these versions.

Cadillac’s first step will be adding to high-volume luxury models, followed by more specialised variants. According to Don Butler, the brand’s U.S. marketing vice president: “We have got to get the core covered with a compact, a mid-sized luxury car, a mid-sized crossover SUV and a large car.”

As well as new models, the company is also making special efforts in its marketing department to reduce its average customer age of 62, to a younger and more affluent demographic.

Thanks to: Autocar

Hot News: Ferrari to Debut 612 Estate at Geneva Show?

Ferrari turns practical? That’s the 
shock news from Maranello, where a shooting brake concept based on the 612 Scaglietti is being prepared for 
the Geneva Motor Show in March.

The first result from a new, in-house styling team, the estate has been overseen by Fiat Group design boss and ex-Pininfarina head Lorenzo Ramaciotti. Although its name has not yet been confirmed, the two-door, V12 concept has been produced for two reasons: to see how far Ferrari can stretch its brand away from its traditional supercars, and to give the 612 Scaglietti a fitting send-off as the four-seat super coupé, launched in 2004, nears the end of its run.

“We know there can never be a Ferrari SUV,” one source insisted. “But we would like to find out what we can put the marque’s DNA into and still have it accepted as a Ferrari.” The replacement for the 612 Scaglietti is also imminent. Codenamed F151, the new two-door coupé will join Ferrari’s GranTurismo line-up to sit alongside the California, but it will be priced at around £230,000 – considerably more than the £143,870 currently charged for the drop-top.

Ferrari sources have described the forthcoming car as “more versatile”, hence why the designers are testing the water with this radical and roomier concept version of its predecessor. With the firm also ruling out a four-door saloon earlier this year, a fastback design for the next-generation GT makes the most sense.

Despite its revolutionary looks, the 612 Scaglietti concept car isn’t the first Ferrari wagon. The company has built plenty of one-offs for wealthy Middle Eastern and Asian buyers, including a 456 GT-based Pininfarina-bodied shooting brake in the early Nineties for the Sultan of Brunei. For more details click here.
Thanks to: Auto Express

Hot News: Mercedes Plans BMW Mega City Rival

Mercedes-Benz has kicked off styling studies into a range of new alternative-drive city cars as part of a project known internally under the working title Mega City Mobility.

Aimed at providing Mercedes-Benz with an answer to the much-hyped BMW Mega City Vehicle and a new all-electric Audi model set to come off the same platform as parent company Volkswagen’s new Up city car, the car is being styled at the company’s Yokahama-based studio in Japan under the direction of Holger Hutzenlaub.

Autocar’s exclusive photographs reveal a range of ideas that have already come out of the Mega City Mobility project, including sketches and a clay model of a stylish new one-box offering that’s thought to have been conceived to sit on the rear-engined underpinnings of the upcoming second-generation Smart ForFour.

Mercedes-Benz says the decision to base the Mega City Mobility project in Japan stems from the country’s acute lack of space and the solutions that are being generated to provide an increased standard of living in large cities. “We been looking outside the automotive industry, including the trend towards mini city houses, to generate new ideas on space utilization and packaging,” Hutzenlaub told Autocar.

One of the first products to stem from Mercedes-Benz’s Mega City Mobility project will be the new Smart E-scooter, which has now been granted production approval following its unveiling at last September’s Paris motor show.

Thanks to: Autocar

Hot News: Aston Martin to Build Next Maybach

Aston Martin could be set to build Daimler’s next-generation Maybach luxury saloon, according to reports.

The Financial Times, citing sources close to Aston and Daimler, said that Aston would also carry out design work of the new saloon as part of the deal.

German magazine Auto Zeitung has even claimed that Daimler has already created a mock-up Maybach using know how and parts from Aston.

An Aston source told Autocar the firm had good relations with Mercedes and discussions between the pair were always ongoing, but described the FT report on it building the next Maybach as speculative although anything was possible.

In return for building Maybachs, the FT reports that Aston would gain access to Mercedes engine technology and the GL’s all-wheel-drive system to underpin a production version of its 2009 Lagonda concept, a concept that our source said had never died.

Thanks to: Autocar

Hot News: Mercedes Plans 320 hp Hatchback

Mercedes-Benz is planning to enter the hot hatch market in 2012 with a 320bhp AMG-badged A-class.

The hot AMG version of the new, third-generation A-class will have a turbocharged 2.0-litre engine and four-wheel drive. It is being developed by Mercedes’ AMG performance arm under the direction of its new boss, Ola Källenius.

The hot A-class is due on sale in the UK in September 2012. It will be priced to compete with the Audi RS3, Volkswagen Golf R and an M Sport-badged, turbocharged four-cylinder version of BMW’s second-generation 1-series hatchback — which suggests that it could be around £35k.

The new A-class will be based on Mercedes’ MFA (Modularen Frontantriebs-Architektur) platform — a newly developed unitary construction structure that ditches the heavy and expensive ‘sandwich floor’ of today’s model.

Codenamed W176, the car is radically different from its tall predecessor. It takes on a much lower and more conventional two-box silhouette, overlaid with taut surfacing and styling cues first seen on the F800 Style concept car.

The racy new look will be previewed on a concept at next year’s Shanghai motor show. It is designed to attract a younger customer than today’s A-class.

The look will be further embellished on the AMG version by uniquely styled bumpers, pronounced sills, chromed tailpipes and 18-inch wheels. The car is likely to be badged A25 AMG, according to insiders.

AMG had planned to use a 2.0-litre, direct injection engine running an electrically operated turbocharger from Swiss firm Hyprex. But concerns over its complexity and related production costs have forced a switch to a more conventional powerplant using a mechanical twin-scroll turbo.

Insiders with knowledge of the 2.0-litre, aluminium-block engine suggest that AMG’s powertrain department is aiming for a power output in excess of 300bhp. One source told us: “Something in the region of 320bhp is realistically possible with the technology at hand.”

By providing the car with a new six-speed, dual-clutch gearbox and a Haldex-style four-wheel drive system with a multi-plate clutch, Mercedes is hoping to dispel any concerns about traction. But in a bid to provide the A25 AMG with the dynamics to match its badge, the new driveline will feature a positive rear-drive bias, together with an electronically operated torque-vectoring clutch to juggle drive between each of the rear wheels.

Thanks to: Autocar

Hot News: Lancia's 300C to be Called Thema?

A Chrysler Delta isn't the only Italian-American concoction destined for the 2011 Geneva Motor Show. In fact, reports suggest Lancia's new full-size sedan, based heavily off the forthcoming 2011 Chrysler 300, will also make its world debut at the Geneva Motor Show.

Fiat's luxury brand has been struggling to maintain momentum in the past several years; sales in 2009, for instance, fell to 112,000 vehicles in total. Still, the brand has hopes of tripling its sales within three years, thanks to a number of new products -- many of which may be shared with the Chrysler brand.

Chrysler management hinted months ago that the 300 could be sold as a Lancia, but Automotive News now suggests the final product, which may bear the revived Thema nameplate, could launch in Geneva by March. Apart from a new grille and revised bumpers, the 300 isn't expected to change much for its European tour of duty, although Thema buyers will have a few different engines to choose from. A 3.0-liter turbo-diesel V-6 may be offered with Chrysler's new 3.6-liter Pentastar gas V-6, but the majority of Themas will likely be built with the diesel offering.

Unlike previous Euro-spec 300s, which were built under contract by Magna Steyr in Austria, the Thema will likely be built alongside its LX platform siblings in Brampton, Ontario, Canada. Thema production will only account for 10,000-15,000 units annually, but Lancia hopes the car will boost its image.

Look for the Thema to debut alongside Chrysler's rebadged Lancia Delta at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show in March, and ultimately roll into European showrooms later next year.
Thanks to: Motor Trend

Hot News: 2012 Subaru Impreza Coupe

Subaru is turning on the style! In a bold departure, the Japanese firm has an all-new coupé waiting in the wings – and it’s seeking to reignite enthusiasts’ passion for rally-inspired models, such as the Impreza, by reinventing the brand for a new audience. Our exclusive pictures show how the car will look when it hits UK roads.

The 2+2 coupé is being jointly developed with the Toyota FT-86. In a move to help reduce costs, Subaru will contribute the hardware for both cars. The chassis is a modified version of the Legacy’s platform, while the firm’s famous 2.0-litre four-cylinder boxer engine appears under the bonnet.

This unit currently produces 148bhp in the Impreza hatch, but a new cylinder head with revised camshafts, pistons and valves will raise that figure to 200bhp. The 0-62mph sprint will take less than seven seconds, while a top speed of 140mph is expected. Using Toyota’s expertise in fuel efficiency, economy of 40mpg should be feasible, too. However, we can expect a more powerful 300bhp turbo version to follow.

The suspension, steering and brakes will all be tuned to deliver the sharpest driving experience possible, and again will be shared between the two models, as will the rear-wheel-drive layout. It’s a leap of faith for Subaru, a company famous for using 4WD, but one that’s necessary for lightness and agility. For the same reason, both cars will use a six-speed manual gearbox, instead of a heavier dual-clutch unit.

Displaying a striking new look, the production model will take its inspiration from the Impreza Design Concept shown at the Los Angeles Motor Show last month. Specifically, the hawkeye headlights and front air vents with integrated LED running lights will be carried over, giving the car a purposeful face to match its performance.

Marking the Subaru out will be a prominent rear diffuser with twin tailpipes, body-coloured A-pillars – instead of the wraparound windscreen seen on the FT-86 – and a huge bonnet scoop to help cool the engine. The production version of Toyota’s coupé is scheduled to debut at the Tokyo Motor Show next October.

However, considering the common components of both cars, expect the newcomers to debut as a pair, and cost around £25,000 when they reach UK showrooms early in 2012. For more details click here.
Thanks to: Auto Express

Hot News: A New Concept Car from Mini at Geneva Show 2011

Mini is likely to show a super-small city car at the Geneva show next March, according to hints from the brand’s boss, Wolfgang Armbrecht.

The long-rumoured concept is expected to be the same size as the original Mini, competing directly with the Toyota IQ. It’s likely to be based on a version of today’s Mini platform, making it a candidate to be built in the UK.

Armbrecht was also quoted in a Financial Times Deutschland interview as saying that another, larger, Mini concept would be shown at the Detroit show in January.

However, industry reports say that BMW’s development chief Klaus Draeger has warned that the Mini brand should not build too many large cars, because of the potential risks to the brand.

Autocar sources have said that some in BMW’s senior management are cautious about the likely success of the Countryman project.

The five-door model would need to be judged a successful addition to the brand if it is to survive and become part of the next-generation Mini family based on the upcoming BMW group front-drive drive platform.

Thanks to: Autocar

Hot News: 2014 BMW 1-Series

Two roomy and highly practical front-wheel-drive BMWs are set to broaden the reach and appeal of the forthcoming second-generation 1-series.

The new front-drive models will be aimed squarely at the Audi A3. They will also provide added environmental credentials to BMW’s entry-level line-up through the introduction of a ground-breaking new three-cylinder engine.

Based around a modified version of the Mini Countryman’s front-wheel drive platform and aluminium-intensive chassis, the new entry-level BMW models will be a traditional five-door hatchback and a sporting estate. They are scheduled to begin arriving in UK showrooms in September 2013.

BMW’s first modern-day front-wheel-drive models are known internally under the codename UKL (an acronym for the German words Unter Klasse). They are totally separate from the company’s high-profile MegaCity Vehicle project and form part of a new six-strong 1-series line-up.

Included are a three-door hatchback, a five-door hatchback, a coupé and a cabriolet, all with rear-wheel drive, plus the five-door hatchback and estate versions running on the new front-drive architecture.

In its design and packaging, the UKL is a vastly different proposition from the second-generation rear-drive 1-series that will make its world debut at the Geneva motor show in March. The primary difference between the two is that the front-drive car has its engine mounted transversely under a comparatively short bonnet rather than longitudinally under a typically long bonnet.

With drive being sent to the front wheels rather than channelled via a propshaft to the rear wheels, the layout has given BMW’s designers the freedom to dispense with the transmission tunnel running back through the interior. This should increase the amount of available space, especially in the rear.

The new layout has also allowed BMW to rethink the car’s proportions, with the front bulkhead and A-pillars being brought further forward. This will increase the volume of the cabin to a level comparable with Europe’s best-seller, the Volkswagen Golf, and the Audi A3.

Thanks to: Autocar

Hot News: Rolls-Royce Plans 3 New Models

Rolls-Royce is ramping up three variations of its new Ghost saloon: a long-wheelbase version, a drophead coupé and a coupé. All three variants are due to go on sale within the next three years.

Rolls-Royce has previously confirmed that the Ghost lends itself to body variations, and this stretched version is expected to arrive first. All of the extra length is added aft of the B-pillars, requiring a new roof and elongated rear doors. The wheelbase is expected to grow by up to 150mm. The 6.6-litre, twin-turbo V12 powertrain remains unchanged.

The pair of two-door models will follow, although it’s not yet clear in which order they will appear. Unlike the Phantom Drophead Coupé, which was previewed by the 100EX concept, there will be no show car introduction.

Rolls-Royce is also exploring the possibility of greener models. “We will evaluate alternative propulsion next year,” Rolls-Royce CEO Torsten Müller-Ötvös told Autocar. “We want to find out what our customers expect.”

The company is less pressured than some on ‘green’ issues, at least in terms of corporate average CO2 emissions, because it’s counted within the BMW Group. The relatively high emissions of Rolls’ low-volume range are easily counterbalanced by the Mini and EfficientDynamics BMWs.

Müller-Ötvös also predicts long lives for its models. “Our customers don’t expect to be at the forefront of technology. Our cars are about arrival and departure,” he said. “They need to have long lives because they’re icons. Our customers are not interested in quick change, because that costs a lot of money.”

Thanks to: Autocar

Hot News: Jaguar Reveals Crossover Plans

Jaguar is considering giving the green light to a crossover SUV according to well placed sources inside the company.

New boss Adrian Hallmark is firmly behind the plan too. “We need a crossover and we need to stop being a saloon-based company,” he told Autocar at a private dinner last night.

Hallmark also revealed that four-wheel-drive saloons will need to be part of the company's future in order to boost its appeal on the east coast of the US and parts of Europe.

He also confirmed that an estate XF was imminent - the wagon will account for a fifth of the model’s sales - and said that lightweight cars are part of “our future DNA”. That’s likely to add fuel to rumours that the next-gen XF and sports cars will be made from aluminium.

Jaguar Land Rover boss Ralf Speth also revealed that Jaguar’s Castle Bromwich plant was the factory under threat from closure before the decision was made to save it earlier this year. Earlier reports had suggested that the Solihull plant was the most likely to go.

Thanks to: Autocar

Hot News: Lamborghini to Produce Sesto Elemento

The wild and wicked Lamborghini Sesto Elemento is a concept and nothing more, correct? Perhaps not. Although the Italian sports car manufacturer insisted at the time that its 2010 Paris Motor Show star was simply a display of the company's future technologies, executives now suggest the firm could build a few examples to enjoy on a closed course.

In a recent interview with Autocar, Lamborghini CEO Stephan Winkelmann suggested the company is considering building the concept for its truly well-heeled clientele, noting the firm does not want to "produce and show cars just for a museum.

"It will, however, produce cars simply for the race track -- and that may be precisely what happens to the Sesto Elemento. In order to build the car exactly as shown in Paris, along with avoiding the requisite airbag installation and crash testing required to certify a car for sale in virtually every market around the globe, the Sesto Elemento may be offered to customers strictly as a race vehicle.

Certainly, the car could have an advantage on the track. As its name suggests, the Sesto Elemento contains plenty of the sixth element on the Periodic Table: carbon. The vast majority of the car is constructed from carbon fiber composites, allowing the vehicle to tip the scales at roughly 2200 pounds. The Sesto Elemento also utilized a new material Lamborghini dubs forged carbon-fiber, a non-continuous, fiber-reinforced composite that is shaped at cold temperatures and under extreme pressure, and is capable of holding up to increased strain.

The light curb weight, coupled with the 570-horsepower 5.2-liter V-10 cribbed from the Gallardo Superleggera, will likely render the Sesto Elemento a veritable rocket. We imagine the car will sell out just as quickly as it accelerates, despite an estimated base price of nearly $1.4 million. If the program is approved, Winkelmann suggests no more than 20 examples will ever be built.

Thanks to: Motor Trend

Hot News: Honda Brio

Honda’s all-new small car will be christened the Brio. Showcased at the Auto Expo in Delhi earlier this year, Honda’s small car concept (codenamed 2CV), will compete against arch rival Toyota’s small car Etios.

Honda will showcase a prototype of the Brio, which will be very close to the production version, at the 27th Thailand International Motor Expo, starting November 30, 2010. Based on a completely new platform, the Brio will be an entry level compact car that will be four meters long with an engine similar or smaller to the 1.2-litre motor of the Jazz. Honda is working on a 3-cylinder version of the same motor, but without the VTEC technology.

Expected for an early 2011 launch, the ‘2CV’ will boast of cutting-edge technology that would help return good fuel economy. Honda is hopeful of producing a car that will be the most economical car in its segment. While Honda has completely denied a diesel engine for its small car, the company has hinted towards a Hybrid version of the '2CV', following feasibility reports.

Interior packaging on the car is expected to be in line with the Jazz, so expect it to be high on comfort and space. If Honda could price the Brio competitively – unlike the Jazz – it could have a winner in its hands. Fitted with safety features like ABS and Airbags, Honda wants to tactfully price the Brio and has set a price target of under Rs 5lakh. Let's hope they achieve it!

Thanks to: Autocar India

Hot News: Porsche Cajun Gets Green Light

The Cajun is go! Porsche has confirmed that its next model line will be a new SUV, which will slot into the range below the Cayenne. In a statement from yesterday’s board meeting, Porsche confirmed a new model “under the working name "Cajun"… will further expand the world’s most successful Porsche segment in the SUV sector.”

The new car will form what Porsche describes as “an attractive entry model in the Porsche world.

The "Cajun" will attract new and even younger customers to the premium brand along with the Boxster, the market leader in the segment of two-seater, mid-size sports cars.”

The Porsche Cajun will be based on the Audi Q5 and will go into production in 2013. The move makes plenty of sense, as the recently introduced new Cayenne is selling extremely well. In the first full quarter of sales of the new car, the Cayenne shifted more than double the number of cars in the same period last year.

Porsche also confirmed that Wolfgang Hatz will be promoted to its board as the new head of research and development. Hatz moves from his position as the boss of Engines and Transmissions Development for the Volkswagen Group and replaces Wolfgang Dürheimer who has moved to take charge of Bentley, Bugatti and VW Motorsport. For more details click here.

Thanks to: Auto Express

Hot News: Spectacular New Vehicle from Porsche at NAIAS 2011

Porsche's vehicles have been absent from the Detroit Auto Show since 2007, but the automaker appears to be setting itself up for a triumphant return with today's announcement. The automaker recently said it will be unveiling a "spectacular" vehicle at the 2011 Detroit Auto Show next month.

"We'll have something spectacular to show there," Porsche spokesman Hans- Gerd Bode told Automotive News today. "You'll have to wait and be surprised.

"The Stuttgart-based automaker made a similar cryptic announcement prior to the Los Angeles Auto Show last month, which was later followed by the unveiling of its Cayman R. This time around, we are left with more questions than answers, but earlier this week, the automaker's board of directors gave the go ahead to a small SUV currently dubbed the Cajun. While the baby Cayenne isn't expected to go into production until sometime late next year or early 2012, Porsche's return to the Detroit show could be an excellent place to debut an early concept.

Conversely, Porsche has recently been seen testing a scantily-clad next-generation 911. With Porsche rolling out the 911 Speedster at the Paris Motor Show in September -- signaling the end of the 997 series -- the next 911 is due anytime now. A new Boxster as well as a production version of the 918 Spyder concept from Geneva, are also said to be in the works.

Unveiling a major model at a United States auto show signals just how important the market is for Porsche. Last year, 25 percent of Porsche's 85,903 deliveries went to U.S. buyers. Through the first eleven months of the year, Porsche has delivered 22,753 vehicles in the U.S., a 29-percent increase over last year's sales. The automaker has set a goal of selling 150,000 units globally by 2013, and with its Cayenne SUV and Panamera sedan leading the way, the introduction of another volume model -- Cajun -- will help it achieve its ambitious goal.

Thanks to: Motor Trend

Hot News: 2012/2013 BMW 3-Series

Meet the must-have executive car that’s heading straight to the top of the sales charts. This sleek saloon is our best look yet at BMW’s all-new 3-Series, which is due 
to make its debut in 
the next 12 months.

Offering more efficient engines, smarter looks, a sharper driving experience and a larger model range than ever – including a Gran Turismo hatch – it’s the most desirable 3-Series yet.

Our spy photographers snapped the all-new model inside and out while it was 
undergoing testing in Germany, which has allowed us to produce these illustrations. As you can see, the newcomer is every inch the baby 5-Series, with a more upright front end featuring wider kidney grilles. Subtle cues that mark out the 3-Series include 
a pointed, aggressive nose, deeper faired-in headlights 
and more scalloped flanks.

The new model is the work of design boss Adrian Van Hoydoonk, and is typical of his approach, which is far less controversial than that of predecessor Chris Bangle. The styling 
is more slippery, too, enclosing as much of the chassis as possible to help reduce drag.

Under the skin 
lies a refreshed rear-wheel-drive platform that’s so versatile it will also underpin the next-generation 1-Series. It uses MacPherson front suspension and a four-link rear layout, and boasts a new electronic power-steering system. Engineers will be keen to make the driving experience as fun as ever, and improve ride comfort, too.

With the sixth-generation car being slightly longer and wider, it’s expected to offer more space inside, while increased use of composite materials will reduce weight. The cabin also nods to the 5-Series, with gadgets such as wireless internet, a lane-
departure warning set-up, infra-red night vision, a system to stop the driver falling asleep and radar-
based adaptive cruise control.

Big-selling models will get a range of new 1.6 and 2.0-litre petrol and diesel turbos. These will feature variable intake and exhaust timing, plus direct 
injection to improve performance and efficiency. A six-speed 
manual box will be standard, 
with an eight-speed auto option.

Factor in the latest EfficientDynamics emissions-
cutting tweaks – such as stop-start, brake energy recovery and clever alternators – and it’s easy to see how the new line-up will cut fuel consumption and CO2 emissions by more than 10 per cent.

But that’s not all! As we reported in Issue 1,111, BMW is also working on a three-
cylinder engine, which promises 75mpg and 100g/km of CO2. Of course, there will also still be the option of the firm’s 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo – a motor that the new 
M3 will use 
to even greater effect.

The new 3-Series is likely 
to debut at the end of 2011. 
We’ll have to wait until 2012 
for the Coupé, Convertible – which is likely to maintain its retractable metal roof – and Touring estate versions to arrive. For more details click here.
Thanks to: Auto Express