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Video: BMW takes its autonomous 5 Series onto the autobahn

admin — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 14:37:55 +0000

Filed under: Safety , Technology , BMW Last May we went for a high-speed run around Laguna Seca in BMW’s Track Trainer , a modified 3 Series that can click of two-minute laps without the driver touching the controls. Now, BMW has packed a 5 Series with the next iteration of the technology and taken it on to the open road. This latest ConnectedDrive experiment uses much of the same tech, but beyond the radar and camera systems on the 3er, it includes new ultrasonic scanners and lasers to re-read the road surface, lines and surrounding vehicles. We say “re-read” because like the system we sampled at Laguna, this version needs to have the road data downloaded into the car before it can drive sans human intervention

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Video: BMW takes its autonomous 5 Series onto the autobahn

2013 BMW X6 gets a facelift, M Performance package

admin — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 14:37:22 +0000

BMW has released the first images and details for the new facelifted X6 Sports Activity Coupe. Changes are minimal but the highlight is the introduction of the new M-Performance package.

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2013 BMW X6 gets a facelift, M Performance package

Official: BMW updates 2013 X6, introduces M Performance Package

admin — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 01:43:02 +0000

Filed under: Performance , Crossover , BMW , Luxury BMW , which still insists on using the term Sports Activity Coupe to describe its least practical ‘ute, has updated its X6 for the 2013 model year. And with good reason – BMW says it has sold over 20,000 X6 crossovers in the States since its launch three years ago and over 150,000 worldwide, making it an important model for the German automaker. First and foremost, the 2013 X6 offers available power from both the 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged inline six and 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 through its M Performance Package (which is not the same thing as the X6M that carries on for 2013 with its 555-horsepower V8 and six-speed automatic transmission). By ticking he appropriate box on the order sheet, the X6 xDrive35i is blessed with 315 horsepower (a gain of 15 over stock) and 330 pound-feet of torque (a 30-lb-ft gain).

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Official: BMW updates 2013 X6, introduces M Performance Package

Report: Chrysler considering entry into Australia’s V8 Supercar series?

admin — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 01:42:41 +0000

Filed under: Motorsports , Chrysler , Australia Wherever you find General Motors and Ford going at it, Chrysler is seldom very far behind. Except in Australia. The Land Down Under has its own unique touring car championship in the form of its popular V8 Supercars series, but the only contestants these days are Ford (with its FPV Falcon) and GM subsidiary Holden (with its HSV Commodore).

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Report: Chrysler considering entry into Australia’s V8 Supercar series?

Teased: 2013 Ford Escape configurator powers up, prices subject to change

admin — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 23:11:21 +0000

Filed under: Car Buying , Crossover , Ford The configurator for the 2013 Ford Escape is live – or rather, a survey masquerading as a configurator. On the introductory page of small print, there are three crucial bits Ford wants you to know: that “the information on this site is for survey purposes only,” that “features and prices for the final 2013 Ford Escape will only become available when the vehicle goes on sale in 2012 and are subject to change,” and that “information on this site may change frequently, so don’t be surprised if things look different next time you visit.” Once you get past all that you can do a little bit of configurating, from the $22,470* base Escape to the $32,120* Titanium Escape with the 2.0-liter EcoBoost and all-wheel drive. Checking all five options boxes, the biggest price tag we could come up with was $36,595*, which got us treats like a full-leather interior, navigation and Class II trailer tow. Many have made comments on the styling of the new Escape, but we won’t be surprised if we see quite a few of these on the road.

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Teased: 2013 Ford Escape configurator powers up, prices subject to change