De Tomaso Returns!

2012 De Tomaso SLS Concept

De Tomaso's been gone since 2001 and most Italian fans have missed it ever since. The Pantera was one of their most famous creations. Elvis Presley had one and it was a fast and quite powerful car. Well, I'm here today to tell the Italians and you guys that De Tomaso is back bringing more luxury to Italy. They're restarting it with this, the SLS (Sports Luxury Sedan) Concept car. Now if you're a beemer fan, you may be looking of this car thinking that it has some similarity to the BMW 550i Gran Turismo. That's because it is, unfortunately. What they've done here is just dumped the German stuff and put Italian goodness in. All of the German techiness has been replaced with drinks-globe Italian luxury. But, honestly, from me, this is just a big, fat humpback whale. I hope the production model turns out better than this. Anyway, if you're on a different position with this car, it will be on display at Geneva this week. Check it out there.

Build a Beemer Workshop

2012 BMW 650i Convertible

If I had enough money and wanted to buy a BMW 650i, it would definitely look like this. Beautifully isn't it? But hey, your BMW 6 doesn't have to look like this. BMW of America has officially launched their BMW 6-series configuration website. So go have fun making your own BMW. And if you have enough money, your dream 6 convertible could become real. Get started here.

Twin-Turbo Goodness

2012 BMW Alpina B5 BiTurbo

BMW's new F10 M5 is almost here and there are a lot of people who can't wait for it. But, when it comes out later this year, and you think you can't afford it, BMW will have an alternative 5-series that you can enjoy. They call it the Alpina B5 BiTurbo and although it might not have as much power as the new M5, it's just as good. The 4.4-liter Twin-Turbocharged V8 engine produces 500 horsepower. 0 to 60 is done in just 4.8 seconds on its way to a limited top speed of 186 MPH. This sounds like a good car, right? But, what if you need something like this that will carry a months supply of groceries? Well, BMW has thought of that as well.

2012 BMW Alpina B5 BiTurbo Touring

This is the B5 BiTurbo Touring. It has all the same statistics and features that the regular saloon has, except this has 5-doors and large trunk space. Unfortunately, to own this Über Wagon or the saloon, you'll have to have a big wallet and a house in Europe. BMW never planned to release the Alpina B5 over here in the U.S. But, do not despair. The Alpina brand does exist in America, in the body of a 7-series.

2011 BMW Alpina B7 BiTurbo

This executive sedan is for the man who wants his own "M7". It has the same engine as the B5, only with more luxury, better looks, more speed, and all-wheel drive. But, if you love the 5-series, the good 'ol M5 will be out soon, and that's more powerful and faster than the B5, so everyone's happy.

V8 Harmony

2011 BMW M3 E92 Competition Package

If you're a BMW owner, you probably know that they aren't famous for making cars that love to boast about power. Luckily the M division got tired of making quiet powerful saloons and are now into having cars that make some noise. New for 2011, when you buy an M3 Competition Package, you have the option of souping it up with a new performance exhaust system. For $4,400, you will be able to make your M3 scream at 8000 RPMs allowing the whole world to know just how happy your car is. I must warn you though: when an M3 is happy, you might want to keep back a few feet. And now with this new exhaust system out there, you might want to move a bit further back. Anyway, listen carefully to the harmonious 4.4-liter V8 in the video below and see if you're M3 needs a tune-up. 

Active Electricity

2012 BMW ActiveE

When I first saw the concept version of this car, I thought it was just a preview of what's to come for BMW vehicles. It turns out that that car has been turned into a production model. This is the 2012 BMW ActiveE. Based off the 1-series Coupe, this all electric sports car, BMW say, will revolutionize the efficient dynamics of their cars for a very, very long time. What troubles me though is that it isn't as fast as its potential competition: the Tesla Roadster; but I guess speed isn't really what matters in this car. This car will do 0 to 60 in about 9 seconds. The Tesla will do it in under 4 seconds. It could be that the ActiveE has an electric motor that only produces 170 horsepower compared to the Tesla Roadster's 250 horsepower. But, as I said before, speed is irrelevant with this car. It's all about durability and endurance. While the Tesla's batteries take 16 hours to be recharged, this car's batteries take almost half that time. As for styling, it's a 1-Series coupe with white paint, 16" Rims, and some circuitry vinyl-ige on each side of the car. You'll only be able to lease this car for 3 years in Connecticut and following cities: Los Angeles, New York, Boston, San Francisco, Sacramento, and San Diego. Prices have not been announced yet, but will be soon.

China meets Bavaria

2012 BMW M5 F10 (Rendering)

It seems we'll see more of the letter M in the mere future. Recent reports have come in that BMW will be showing the concept model of their redesigned four-door five-seater spectacular, the M5, at the Shanghai Motor Show in April. Speculations have been received that the car will ditch the 5.0-liter 500 horsepower V10 from the previous generation, and will inherit BMW's all new 4.4-liter Twin-Turbocharged 600 horsepower V8 engine that was developed from the X5 M. They say that this car will improve fuel consumption and is actually faster. With the release of the concept model this spring, and since BMW have the tradition of making the production models and the concept models of their cars almost alike, this debut will give you the perfect idea of the what the car will look like when it debuts this fall at the Frankfurt Motor Show. This may seem like a long time, but not to worry. Because, if you are a 6-series fan, the Shanghai Motor Show will be unveiling the production model of the all new 6-series coupe, which will be on sale this summer. This is BMW's way of leaving something interesting to make room for something even more interesting.

Evasive Action!

2011 BMW 760li High Security

There are a lot of armored cars out there now that promise the best protection from fatal explosives and gunfire. However, BMW has recently come to the point that it's not only about the car; it's about the driver. They've recently created a clip showcasing some of their armored cars and clever evasive maneuvers when coming in contact with enemy fire. It is quite interesting. Take a look at it below.



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Team Need For Speed

2011 BMW Z4 GT3 Team NFS

If you are a racing fan, it might be a surprise to you to know that one of the most popular racing game series have created a legal FIA GT racing team with real drivers. It might also be surprising to hear that they took first place at the Dubai 24H race. Their wheels was this 483 horsepower BMW Z4 GT3 race car, which is astonishing because the cars that this car outran were a Mercedes SLS AMG GT3 and the brilliantly strong Ferrari F430-GT2. It is quite surprising that a team of four drivers including Tommy Milner, Augusto Farfus, Claudio Hurtgen, and Edward Sandstrom can come from little to winning quite a big race. Well done, Team Need For Speed. Ohh, I forgot to mention that their car will be drivable in the new NFS game Shift 2: Unleashed coming this March.

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BMW Enters the Fourth Stage

2011 BMW 528i

It seems now that BMW is all for the turbo. Coming this year for the 328i, 528i, and the upcoming X1 xdrive28i, BMW will ditch the 3.0-liter 230 horsepower inline-6 engine and go for their all-new 2.0-liter 242 horsepower turbo-4 engine. BMW says that this engine, even though it's more powerful, will save gas, is more energy efficient, will create less CO2 emissions, and will run a lot faster than the old 6-cylinder. The engine will first debut on the X1 over in Europe. Then it will come over here on the 328i and the 528i. Prices may decrease, but BMW suggest that they will be about the same.

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Small Worlds Get Bigger

2012 Mini Cooper D

Since BMW owns Mini, and BMW has gone into the diesel phase, Mini didn't think it was all bad to join them. So, behind closed doors, they worked on creating the first-ever diesel-powered Cooper. And, to our surprise, they've done it. We don't know what it looks like, but the picture you see above is its marking. The Cooper D will make its official debut in Geneva in March. Not much else has been said about this car except that it will feature a 2.0-liter Turbodiesel engine producing 143 horsepower with 225 lb.-ft. of torque making it one powerful Mini. Let's hope this diesel does great things when it launches later this year. That's another Cooper to add to the new Mini family.

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Über Coupe

2012 BMW 1 Series M Coupe

With stunning, aggressive looks combined with exhilarating power, the 1 Series M Coupe is one for the history books for being the next best thing to the 80's BMW M3. Under the hood is a 3.0-liter Twin-Scroll Turbocharged 340 horsepower Inline-6 engine connected to a 6-speed Manual transmission. 0 to 60 is reached in under 5 seconds on its way to a limited top speed of 155 MPH. When on scene at the NAIAS today, it stood out amongst a crowd of wannabe's. I truly believe that this car will revolutionize BMW through the letter M. Prices start at about $47,000 which seems expensive, but for a car that's powerful and light at the same time, this is pretty good value.

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Take Your Checks Out!

2012 BMW 650i Convertible

BMW's new 6 series made its official debut in Motor City with, as usual, its top off. It now features the same 4.4-liter Twin-Turbocharged V8 engine that you get in a BMW 750i. Because of this, 0-60 is reached in under 5 seconds on its way to a limited top speed of 155 MPH. What's also remarkable is that the roof folds from the top to inside the trunk in less than 28 seconds. The new 6 features BMW's new iDrive Multimedia System, BMW's new 8-speed automatic gearbox, and some new luxurious amenities. Luckily, if you are a successful business, or if you've just won the Mega Millions Jackpot of over $300 Million, you can now right your checks of $91,375 to BMW and they'll have your new 6-series convertible ready for you by this summer. No seriously: it is that expensive.

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Boss of the Resarch Foundation

2012 Ford Mustang Boss 302 Laguna Seca Grabber Blue

This Boss is a very special Boss. You see the Boss Laguna Seca is available in orange, black/red, and blue/white. However, it has never and will never be available in Grabber Blue. This special One-off Mustang will be auctioned off at Barrett-Jackson this month, and the proceeds will go to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation to help with their research in fighting diabetes. 

"Since this Boss Mustang will have a very low production number and be specially built for our 40th anniversary event, the new owner will have a special piece of performance history for their collection." - Steve Davis, President of Barrett-Jackson

The color may be special, but this car is still a Boss. Its new 5.0-liter V8 engine produces 440 horsepower and is connected to a 6-speed Recaro Manual Transmission. 0 to 60 is done in 4.4 seconds and it will reach a top speed of over 170 MPH. Its currently one of the fastest cars to go round the Mazda Laguna Seca Raceway thrashing the time set by the BMW M3. So, if you're a Mustang fan that has a lot of money and wants his own piece of history, head on down to Barrett-Jackson to place your bet on this awesome blue Boss.

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Girls Can Drive, Too Boys!

Sabine Schmitz

I know that there's been some stig lately about girls being the worst drivers in the world because of their bad phone habits or nervousness behind the wheel. But, truth be told; there are some good feminine drivers out there. Danica Patrick is one of them, but there's another one that you probably haven't heard before. Her name is Sabine Schmitz and Germany has heard of her. Some drivers call her "The Queen of the Nürburgring", and I can see why. She's taken first place twice in the 24 Hour Nürburgring Race in a BMW M3 GT Racer in the 1990's. Now, she serves as the popular "Ring Taxi" Driver for BMW driving the BMW M5. She's appeared on Top Gear three times; once taking Clarkson around the Nürburgring, a second time racing the Audi R8 against The STIG in a Porsche 997 GT3, and a third time receiving the Top Gear Award for Coolest German. She's really done a lot with her career as a racer. Here are some videos of her in action.






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2011 Mercedes-Benz C300 4Matic Sport Review

2011 Mercedes-Benz C300 4Matic Sport

With the economic crisis hurdling down on us, its hard for most of us to achieve our dream and buy that fancy luxury you've wanted since you were a kid. However, Mercedes-Benz, which is always two steps ahead of everything, came to the rescue with this rather peppy luxury-sports sedan. From the face of it, the C-Class does look rather pretty. It has some facial features similar to that of the S-Class. It might not have as much features as the S-Class, but you can have its face and a lot of other things for a whole lot less.

City Cruising

First off, there's the engine, which is 3.0-liter V6 producing 228 horsepower. It doesn't sound like much, but it means something to this car. You can get the engine connected to a 6-speed manual transmission (Standard) or a 7-speed automatic transmission (Available on rear-wheel drive models, standard on 4Matic models) which will get the car from 0 to 60 MPH in less than 6 seconds. That's pretty quick for quite a small luxury car. It weighs just 1.5 tons so it should feel light when driving it. And thanks to its lightness and non-powerful engine, the car will do an EPA estimated 22 MPG, which makes it very good when saving money on fuel.

Red Hot!

As a city cruiser, the ride is very comfortable and rather cozy for a cheap luxury car. In comfort mode, the suspension is softened up and helps remove all the nasty bumps and jolts that you might come across if you're strolling a place like Manhattan. I tested out its suspension in a very bumpy place in New Jersey known as Plainfield. It was surprisingly soft, although it isn't recommended that you drive one like an idiot, which I saw one person do the other day. I don't have a picture to show you what he did to his C-Class, but let's just say don't think you're car is invincible, because it isn't. Anyway, the ride is very comfortable on very harsh roads, and that includes snowy roads like the ones we've received a few days ago.

Speedy Getaway

As for handling, that was very surprising as well. Since this car is very light and has the power directed to all four wheels, expect to make turns on a dime. Truthfully speaking, this car has the ability of out-gripping a BMW 328i X-Drive, which is also very good. In sport mode, the suspension is stiffer and throttle responses are sharper if you want to do some sporty driving. I tested this mode out on some very windy roads in Franklin (yes, there are some windy roads there). The car feels very light and in the same way, very composed. I was making sharp turns at 60 MPH; no understeer or oversteer at all. It's so fast and so grippy, it literally made me sick. My stomach was doing well. I was rushed to the hospital. My leg still hurts from fainting. That's how sick this car is. It wasn't a pleasant sick, but it was a good sick.

Picturesque Moment

So, price-wise, this is car is 70% affordable. You can get the new C-Class now with 4Matic All-Wheel Drive, Satellite Navigation, Sirius Satellite Radio, COMAND System, iPod Integration, 6GB Hard Drive, Enhanced Voice Control, Heated Front Seats, and over 100 more features for just $42,600. Now, that does sound like a lot, but compared to its rival, the BMW 328i X-Drive M Sport, you can get all of this for $47,650, more than $5,000 more than this one. So, price-wise, the new C-Class is the perfect buy in this economic crisis. You'll be able to feel luxurious and somewhat sick at the same time.

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Real Racing 2 Shenanigans

2010 BMW M3 GTS (Real Racing 2)

I never knew iPhone racing games could be this fun, especially this one. 29 beautifully designed cars, 15 gorgeous tracks, millions of racers around the world, tons of stuff to share with your friends; that's Real Racing 2. I recently had some fun in a very peppy M3 with a roll cage and a rear wing. This special track-ready M3 is only available in Europe in the real world and costs over $100,000. It's much lighter (3,300 lbs.), much faster (187 MPH), and much more powerful (450 horsepower). Luckily you can drive one of these in this portable racing game. I was able to. Check out the pictures below.

Boxing Day Present

Top Gear in the Middle East

I hope you guys had a great Christmas and got everything on your list from Santa. Now it might be over, but the holidays aren't over yet. Today's Boxing Day in the UK making it the perfect day to watch an all new episode of Top Gear UK. In this episode, Jezz, Dick, and Jim journey to Iraq and act as the three wise men following a star in the sky looking for Baby Jesus. This time, however, the producers had an idea of having the wise men go modern and drive three cabriolets from Fiat, Mazda, and BMW from Iraq to Bethlehem to meet Jesus. Do you think these three are up to the challenge? Let's find out. The episode airs tonight in the UK, but it will be available on YouTube later today.

Edit: It's on YouTube right now!! Here's the video

New Year = New Cars

2011

Well, Christmas is here and the new year is upon us, which means it's time to make changes with our lives and the world. Out with the old, in with the new, and in this case, new cars. 2011 is coming and it's bringing an array of fancy new wheels with it. Here are some of them.

2011 McLaren MP4-12C

1. 2011 McLaren MP4-12C

McLaren is back after it's hiatus with the F1. Now, they're releasing this swoopy, Twin-Turbocharged 600 horsepower V8 supercar aiming for Ferrari and Lamborghini. McLaren are already certain that this car will go over 200 MPH. It's already received praise from Jay Leno and Vodafone McLaren Mercedes F1 drivers Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton. I like it, too because it looks as good as it handles. Let's see how well it will do next year.

2011 Chevy Camaro SS Convertible

2. 2011 Chevy Camaro Convertible

After months of anticipation, the Camaro finally takes its top off. New for 2011, the Camaro Convertible comes with all the perks of the regular hardtop coupe, but with no top. You still get the same engines, including the new 312 horsepower 3.6-liter V6 base engine. Prices start at $29,150, but if I were you, I'd pay extra to hear a growling 426 horsepower V8 under the hood.

2012 Nissan GT-R

3. 2012 Nissan GT-R

Next summer, Godzilla returns with more power and more insanity. It's all new 523 horsepower Twin-Turbocharged 3.7-liter V6 engine gets the monster from 0 to 60 in 2.9 seconds. With that much power and acceleration, who knows? The GT-R could just about pass the 200 MPH mark. This is one crazy Japanese import!

2012 BMW 6 Series Convertible

4. 2012 BMW 6 Series Convertible

This luxurious and sporty convertible returns with sexier looks and bigger engine. It now uses the same Twin-Turbocharged 400 horsepower V8 that you get in the 750i sedan. You will feel this power as you accelerate from 0 to 60 in less than 5 seconds. Another fast thing about this car is its folding roof which opens in 19 seconds and closes in just 24 seconds. Look for this car next summer with a big price tag and its top down.

2012 VW Golf R

5. 2012 VW Golf R

Finally! This turbo-nutting Golf is making its way to our shores WITH its 270 horsepower 2.0-liter Turbocharged Inline-4. Accompanied with all-wheel drive and a 6-speed manual or DSG transmission, this Golf will accelerate from 0 to 60 in 5.5 seconds on its way to a limited top speed of 155 MPH. It will be available in 3-door or 5-door variants. Any way or another, this is one cool Golf.

2012 Ford Mustang BOSS 302 Laguna Seca

6. 2012 Ford Mustang

Since 2010, the Mustang has gotten better, adding more power, better styling, and better performance. New 2012, the mighty Mustang GT gets a new lower price tag of just under $30,000 to make room for this massive muscle: the BOSS 302. Coming next Spring, it will be available in regular or Laguna Seca variants starting at $44,000. This is definitely ideal money because this car was able to beat a top Laguna Seca lap time held by the BMW M3 E92.

2012 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Roadster (Courtesy of Road & Track)

7. 2012 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Roadster

We've seen the SLS reveal itself earlier this year. Now it's time for it to take the top down for next summer. The car will still feature its 6.2-liter 563 horsepower V8 engine from the regular coupe, but since most convertibles are heavier than the regular coupe models, it might reach 60 MPH from 0 in a slower time. No matter. Convertibles are always more sexier than coupes.

2012 Ferrari 458 Spider (Courtesy of teamspeed.com)

8. 2012 Ferrari 458 Spider

This might just be a rendering, but rest assured Ferrari does plan to release a top-down version of their sexiest Ferrari, the 458, next summer. It might be slightly heavier than the original, but it will still feature its 562 horsepower Ferrari V8 engine so you can hear the harmonious engine more clearly.

2012 Ford Focus ST

9. 2012 Ford Focus ST

Since its birth, the Focus ST has always been in Europe. Now, Ford has come to its senses and have planned to bring the Turbo-hatch over to our shores. The new Focus ST will feature a 2.0-liter Turbocharged Inline-4 engine connected to a 6-speed manual transmission. 247 horsepower will power the front wheels of this car. This is just a first move of the many changes Ford has planned for the company. What's next? A Focus RS?

2011 Dodge Durango

10. 2011 Dodge Durango

The Durango is back and better than ever. Based off the platform of the all new Jeep Grand Cherokee, the all new Durango features better styling and more sportier looks. It looks more like sporty wagon than an SUV if you ask me. Under the hood is the traditional 5.7-liter HEMI V8 producing 370 horsepower making it very powerful for a very heavy SUV. Look for this SUV in the showrooms in a couple months.

2012 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class

11. 2012 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class

In 2005, Mercedes-Benz invented the 4-door coupe by bringing in the CLS. Now, for 2011, it's back with more power, sexier looks, and more technology. Its all new 5.5-liter Twin-Turbocharged V8 engine producing 402 horsepower projects the car from 0 to 60 in 4.8 seconds making it very fast. When it comes out, it will be the first car ever made to offer full LED lighting for all of its dynamic lighting functions. In fact, there's 71 LED lights all around the car making it very energy saving. Not mention, it looks much sexier now than it did before. Look for this coupe next summer.

So, there's your list of cars coming out next year. Let's start the waiting...NOW!

What would Santa drive?

Santa's Sleigh

Well, Christmas begins in a couple hours and Santa's already packed his sleigh with toys and such and headed our way as we speak. But, what if ol' Saint Nick ditched the old sleigh and went modern with a car? What would Santa drive: a Sedan, a Sports Car, or an SUV?

2011 Mercedes-Benz SL63 AMG

Well, Mercedes made it easy for us by showing us commercials with the big guy driving one of these delivering silver new Benz's to homes. But, what if he really drove this around delivering toys and gifts to children? It would make him look a lot cooler, wouldn't it? Big kids would respect him more, and little kids will look at him as if he were a hero. But there is a small problem. There are over 3,000,000 kids on this planet, which means over 3,000,000 toys Santa has to deliver. I don't think this peppy SL has room in the boot or the Passenger seat for a big sack of toys. Then again, Santa is a magical being.

2011 BMW 5 Series

What about the new BMW 5 Series? It rides comfortably for Santa's old body, it's powerful and fast so he can get to all of the houses in time, and it has a big boot space to keep all the 3 Million toys for the children. So, all together this sounds like a perfect car, but there's one small problem why it isn't the right one: it doesn't come in RED.

2010 Land Rover Range Rover Sport Lux

The Range Rover Sport, however, does come in RED, rides comfortably, is powerful and fast, and has big boot space. Not to mention it's a very good looking SUV. The Queen of England will definitely respect him if he drove this. So, in my opinion, the RR Sport is the perfect car for Santa if he ever goes modern. But, that's my opinion. What's yours?

Fly Like a G6

2012 BMW 650i Convertible

No, the Pontiac G6 isn't making it's comeback. Pontiac is dead, and there's no way GM is bringing it back. But, the BMW 6 Series isn't dead. In fact, they just re-did it, and that's the picture you see above you. This is the all new 2012 BMW 6 Series Convertible. If you thought the old one looked nice, check out this one. From the front, it looks almost like the gorgeous 7 series that's been coupe-ified.

Rear View

The rear has also gone through a makeover as well. Most of the stylings of this car was based off the old BMW CS Concept Coupe. When it came out, a lot of people loved it, and now BMW have added some features onto their premier luxury Coupe.

Interior View

The interior has changed as well. The car now uses the all new BMW steering wheel, the iDrive System has been updated, and the car is longer so people in the back now have more room. There's more stuff in this car, but I can't tell you what it is because I'd be doing something illegal. But, what I can tell you is that this car now uses BMW's 4.4-liter Twin-Turbocharged 400 horsepower V8 engine. That engine will be connected by either the traditional 6-speed manual shifter, or BMW's new 8-speed Automatic Transmission. Get ready to save some money because the all new 6 comes out next year and will make it's official debut in Detroit at the North American Auto Show. The first batch of 6's will be convertibles. The exhilarating coupe will follow afterwards.