2011 Lamborghini Murcielago Preview

In the 70s it was the Miura to excite the imagination of every teenager in the world, followed in the 80s by the Countach, and in the next decade by the famous Diablo. Nowadays, since Lambo is being owned by Audi, they have presented us the Murciélago, offered with AWD in standard, but as ruthless as all of its ancestors.

For 2011 Lamborghini are preparing a come-back, with a new supercar. The name of the future car is hard to be predicted, as by tradition, each new Lambo gets to be named after a famous fighting bull. Murciélago, as an example comes from a bull that survived 245 sword strokes in an 1879 fight at the arena of Cordoba, and fought with such passion and spirit that the matador chose to spare its life, a rare honor. In another Lamborghini tie-in, the bull was later presented as a gift to Don Antonio Miura, a noted breeder, and went on to sire a line of famous fighting bulls.

2011 Lamborghini Murcielago

We can easily preview in the new car, the Traditional LP (Longitudinale Posteriore, Italian for “rear longitudinally-mounted) V12 engine, with a displacement increased probably to 7.0 liters. Power is expected to increase accordingly, and offer up to 700 bhp, for the “base version”. Transmission is expected to be AWD, as in the recent Audi developed Lamborghinis. 

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Real Life Photos: 2012 BMW 1 Series in Alpine White

New real life photos of the 2012 BMW 1 Series surface from Germany. An Alpine White F20 hatchback was spotted on the Autobahn giving us a closer look at the exterior design from different angles.

At launch time, the F20 1er is offered in a variety of exterior colors: Black Sapphire, Alpine White, Crimson Red, Mineral Gray, Midnight Blue, Deep Sea blue, Glacier Silver, Mineral White, Liquid Blue, Valencia Orange. In the fall, the M Sport package becomes available and among the usual exterior and interior upgrades, will also include the historical Estoril Blue paint.

Styling wise, the F20 1 Series follows the design language initiated by BMW back in 2009 when the new 7 Series came to market. The car features a bold front that aims to stand out with what we believe are a pair of oversized headlights surrounding a flat and smaller than expected kidney grille. The hood sports the creases seen on all the new BMWs and facelift models.

In the back, the taillights are a bit too busy for our taste with an integrated LED L-shape. The car continues to feature a similar hatch-look as the previous generation with a lower positioned trunk and a a more emphasized trunk-lid.

According to sources that have seen the car from up-close, the design could potentially grown on you, but we will have more on that soon after spending some “quality time” with the car.

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Exclusive: 2011 BMW Frozen Black Edition M3 Coupe coming to the US

BMW of North America announces a new limited edition BMW M3. The 2011 BMW Frozen Black Edition M3 Coupe will be launched on June 16th and will be limited to twenty (20) units due to high global demand.

BMW M enthusiasts may call to reserve the first nineteen 2011 Frozen Black Edition M3 Coupes by dialing 1-800-245-4269 no earlier than 11:30AM Eastern Time (8:30AM Pacific) on Thursday, June 16th, 2011. Nineteen of the twenty Frozen Black Edition M3 Coupes will become available for delivery in late June 2011, and the production run will be completed by the end of July 2011. The twentieth car will be held by BMW of North America and may be sold at a later date.

The base price for the 2011 BMW Frozen Black M3 Coupe is $79,650 plus Destination and Handling ($875).

BMW Individual Special Equipment, 2011 Frozen Black Edition M3 Coupe:
• BMW Individual Frozen Black Exterior Paint
• Black Extended Novillo leather with Red Contrast Stitching on seats, headrests, door inserts,
armrests, middle console, and door pulls.
• Black M3 GTS wheels, 19” diameter with high-performance summer tires
• Red brake calipers
• Gloss black kidney grills
• Gloss black side-gill elements
• Gloss black exhaust pipe tips

Each identical 2011 Frozen Black Edition M3 Coupe has M3 standard equipment plus:
• M-DCT Transmission with Drivelogic
• Competition Package
o Lowered suspension
o Sport mapping for EDC/DSC
• Premium Package 2
o Power folding auto-dimming mirrors
o Universal garage-door opener
o Power front seats
o Carbon Leather interior trim
o Interior mirror with compass
o BMW Assist with Bluetooth
• Convenience Package
o Anti-theft alarm system
o Comfort Access keyless entry system
o Park Distance Control (rear)
o Navigation System
o Voice-command
o iPod and USB adapter
o Real-time Traffic Information
• Heated Front Seats
• Satellite Radio with 1-year subscription
• BMW Individual Enhanced Premium Sound System

Stay tuned for more information in the upcoming hours!

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Photo Gallery: 2011 BMW Frozen Black Edition M3 Coupe for the US

Press Release: BMW of North America today announced a production run of twenty identically-equipped 2011 Frozen Black Edition M3 Coupes for the United States. The 2011 Frozen Black Edition M3 Coupe features BMW Individual Frozen Black exterior paint with a deep metallic luster to accentuate the athletic lines of the legendary M3. Extended Novillo Leather with unique red-contrast stitching is also specified, as are M3 GTS black wheels, red brake calipers, and gloss black exterior trim elements. With the Frozen Black Edition M3 Coupe, BMW is celebrating the availability of its exotic Frozen paint colors under the custom-tailored BMW Individual program. MSRP will be $79,650, and a complete equipment list is provided at the end of this press release.

BMW M enthusiasts may call to reserve the first nineteen 2011 Frozen Black Edition M3 Coupes by dialing 1-800-245-4269 no earlier than 11:30AM Eastern Time (8:30AM Pacific) on Thursday, June 16, 2011. Nineteen of the twenty Frozen Black Edition M3 Coupes will become available for delivery in late June 2011 through Authorized BMW Centers, and the production run will be completed by the end of July 2011. The twentieth car will be held by BMW of North America and may be sold at a later date.

Each 2011 Frozen Black Edition M3 Coupe will be powered by the award-winning 4.0-liter, 414-horsepower M V8 engine, equipped with BMW’s M Double Clutch Transmission (M DCT) which lowers the 0-60mph acceleration time of the M3 to 4.5 seconds from 4.7. Redline is a breathtaking 8,400 rpm.

The 2011 Frozen Black Edition M3 Coupe continues the tradition of innovation and passion for driving by incorporating key changes to the M3’s dynamic qualities. The included Competition Package reduces vehicle ride height by 10mm and includes M3 GTS 19” wheels (in black for this Edition) with wider offset for enhanced stability, standard Electronic Damping Control with enhanced programming, and higher-threshold programming for the M Dynamic Mode.

About BMW Individual Frozen Paint Colors.

The special BMW Individual matte paintwork on the Frozen Black Edition M3 adds a rare metallic luster to the vehicle. Compared to conventional exterior colors with gloss finish, the sculpture-like character of Frozen Black paint highlights the athletic contours of the M3. To achieve this luster, a special BMW-developed silk matte clear coat is applied over the Black Metallic base coat. BMW Individual’s Frozen paints meet or exceed all BMW standards for durability and longevity, and feature a full factory warranty. Special care guidelines are provided to customers and authorized BMW centers to prevent the finish from becoming glossy.

Equipment List, Frozen Black Edition M3 Coupe:

• BMW Individual Frozen Black Exterior Paint
• Black Extended Novillo leather with Red Contrast Stitching on seats, headrests, door inserts, armrests, middle console, and door pulls.
• Black M3 GTS wheels, 19” diameter with high-performance summer tires
• Red brake calipers
• Gloss black kidney grills
• Gloss black side-gill elements
• Gloss black exhaust pipe tips

Additional specified equipment from M3 catalog:

• M-DCT Transmission with Drivelogic
• Competition Package

1. Lowered suspension
2. Sport mapping for EDC/DSC

• Premium Package 2

1. Power folding auto-dimming mirrors
2. Universal garage-door opener
3. Power front seats
4. Carbon Leather interior trim
5. Interior mirror with compass
6. BMW Assist with Bluetooth

• Convenience Package

1. Anti-theft alarm system
2. Comfort Access keyless entry system
3. Park Distance Control (rear)
4. Navigation System
5. Voice-command
6. iPod and USB adapter
7. Real-time Traffic Information

• Heated Front Seats
• Satellite Radio with 1-year subscription
• BMW Individual Enhanced Premium Sound System

Including $875 Destination & Handling and excluding $1,300 federal gas guzzler tax.

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Fifth Gear’s Tiff Needell reviews the BMW 1 Series M Coupe

British racing driver, television presenter, former co-host of Top Gear and current co-host of Fifth Gear, Tiff Needell delivers a new video review of the BMW 1Series M Coupe. The positive is once again nothing short of positive with Needell naming the 1M as the “enthusiasts’ dream”.

In the UK, BMW will offer 450 units of the 1M. The US customers will receive anywhere from 600 to 800 units by the end of this year when production stops. BMW sources stated that the company has no plans to continue producing the 1M in 2012 as well. Expectations are that an M2 model built on the next generation 1 Series will appear within five years.

BMW 1M is powered by the N4 twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter I-6 engine. For the 1M, the turbocharger, exhaust system, and ECU have been revised to produce 335 horsepower and 332 pound-feet of torque, though up to 369 pound-feet are available temporarily in overboost mode. Redline is found at 7000 rpm.

In the U.S., the 1M went on sale in May for a base price of $47,010.

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Porsche 911 Carrera GTS video

This video of the new Porsche 911 Carrera GTS is way too brief for our liking (but still long enough to know it’s on our wish list). The Carrera GTS fills a space between more extreme and everyday models in the 911 line-up, and will be a rear-wheel-drive model in both coupé and cabriolet versions. It can be distinguished from its counterparts for the black trim and different wheels, and obviously the Carrera GTS logo.

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Lexus Hybrid Hatchback

Toyota announced over the weekend that the all-new 2011 Lexus CT 200h—the first luxury hybrid hatchback—will be rated with a combined city-highway mileage of 42 mpg.

For comparison, the Audi A3 TDI clean diesel hits 41 mpg on the highway while only managing 30 mpg in the city. The upcoming Lincoln MKZ Hybrid will reach 41 mpg in the city, but is rated at 36 mpg on the highway. The EPA has not released official numbers for the CT 200h, but according to Toyota, it will become only the fourth car on the U.S. market that has a combined rating above 40 mpg. We expect city mileage close to 45 mpg.

The 2011 Lexus CT 200h compact hybrid—like the 2010 Toyota Prius—features a 1.8-liter 98-horsepower gas engine and 80-hp electric motor for total system power of 134 hp. It’s capable of accelerating from 0-60 mph in 9.8 seconds and can reach a maximum speed of 112 mph.

Pricing for the new Lexus hybrid, which goes on sale next year, has not yet been announced.

With the CT 200h, Lexus combines sporty attributes, luxury features and class-leading fuel economy. Honda made a similar but less successful attempt in the entry-level category with the Honda CR-Z. Whereas the CR-Z sacrificed on practicality (just two seats) and fuel economy (only 37 mpg combined), the Lexus CT 200h could illustrate that a gas-electric car needs to earn its hybrid badge by reaching at least beyond 40 mpg. Again, we don’t yet know about pricing for the CT 200h, so it’s hard to comment on value for the money.

The decision to emphasize dynamic driving or eco-friendliness is somewhat up to the driver—thanks to four different driving mode selections. Sport mode maximizes the CT 200h’s performance and handling. Engine revs are held higher, and throttle and power steering settings give a faster response to driver inputs. ECO mode maximizes mileage, but minimizes throttle response from the accelerator pedal, and reduces power of air-conditioning.

The Lexus CT 200h also offers “EV mode,” which promises a full mile on electric power alone, at speeds less than 25 miles per hour. As we have reported, the value of EV mode on conventional no-plug hybrids is overrated. Sure, it’s fun to go EV for a few blocks, but you pay the efficiency price when the gas engine chugs gas to recharge the batteries. Nonetheless, it is a convenient feature for creeping through parking lots.

Normal mode strikes a mid-way balance between ECO and Sport. Yet, even when in normal or ECO mode, the Lexus CT 200h tries to offer a sports-like driving experience, due to careful interior design. Lexus describes it like this: “A low driver’s seat with enhanced lateral and lumbar support, a sporting, wide grip steering wheel and a driver-focused instrument binnacle housing large, high-visibility, triple dials.”

The Lexus CT 200h gets high marks for aerodynamics. The drag of coefficient is 0.28, the lowest in the compact luxury category—yet not as good as the appliance-looking Prius. Lexus says the aerodynamics of the Lexus CT 200h are not only to support efficiency, but also the quality of its handling, ride comfort and stability at high speed.

The production-ready full hybrid Lexus CT 200h—the fifth hybrid offered by Lexus—will be unveiled at the Paris motor show on September 30. U.K. sales are scheduled to start in early 2011, and in the U.S. later in the year.

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