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Never change a winning team.
by Henny Hemmes on Apr.05, 2010
BMW goes for a longer, sportier look with the 2011 3-Series Coupe and Convertible.
Never change a winning team. It’s sound advice that BMW clearly kept in mind as it pulled together the 2011 facelift of the 3 Series Coupe and Convertible.
The new update of the Bavarian success formula give these models a sportier presence, though the changes are subtle. That’s no surprise, since the big changes are still in the works, coming with an entirely new generation of the 3-er due out in 2012.
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The 2011 BMW 3-Series Coupe and Convertible are most readily distinguished by their longer hood and longer front quarter panels, a widened kidney grille with vertical bars that are not as flat as before, and LED corona lights around new, almost grim-looking headlamps. Also the LED tail lights are more easily recognizable at night.
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Tags: 2011 BMW 3-Series Convertible review, 2011 BMW 3-Series Coupe review, BMW 328i review, BMW reviews, auto news, auto reviews, bmw 335i review, bmw news, car news, car reviews, convertible reviews, luxury car reviews, thedetroitbureau
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by Henny Hemmes on Mar.04, 2010
Mazda adopts the flowing, wave-like Nagare design language for the 2011 Mazda5 minivan.
Five is apparently a lucky number for Mazda, at least as for as the Geneva Motor Show is concerned.
The automaker used the annual event, at PALExpo, to celebrate both the 20th anniversary of the MX-5 Miata – and to unveil the all-new Mazda5 people-mover.
The 2011 Mazda Mazda5 stood in sharp contrast to many of the other new products being launche3d at this year’s Geneva Motor Show. Instead of sharp lines and creases, the 7-seater adopts the flowing, wave-like design theme Mazda has been teasing the public with, for several years, something it has dubbed Nagare. The look is almost a bit like capturing sand dunes in sheet metal.
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The 2011 Mazda5 does maintain many of the basics of minivans past and present, however, including dual sliding doors, and fold-down rear seats.
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Tags: 2011 Mazda mazda5, 2011 mazda5, Geneva Motor Show, auto shows, car shows, mazda miata, mazda minivan, paul a. eisenstein, paul eisenstein
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Korean maker adds another trio of premiers at Geneva.
by Henny Hemmes on Mar.02, 2010
The 2011 Kia Sportage is one of several new models the Korean maker is introducing at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show.
Kia celebrated its attendance at the Geneva Motor Show with the world premiere of its compact crossover, the 2011 Sportage.
With an all-new look that moves away from classic SUV design, and a new “ecoDynamics” powertrain, the Korean maker is betting Sportage should keep the momentum going in Europe, as well as its biggest global market, the U.S.
The new body looks more svelte, perhaps because it has been lowered by nearly an inch and put on a diet shaving almost 200 pounds of weight; but it’s actually about an inch longer, which translates into a more roomy interior. Meanwhile, the CUVs aerodynamics have improved which, along with the lower weight, is expected to yield a noticeable bump in fuel economy.
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For the Europe market, Kia will come in with a pair of gasoline engines and another two diesels, Sportage coming to showrooms in either front- or all-wheel-drive configuration. Reflecting the Continent’s increasing focus on global warming, Kia has added a new Start/Stop feature that automatically shuts the engine off while idling. That means the crossover can cut CO2 emissions as low as 138 grams per kilometer, depending on powertrain.
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Tags: 2010 geneva motor show, 2011 kia sportage, auto shows, car shows, kia sportage review, kia venga, paul a. eisenstein, thedetroitbureau
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Could appear on the streets by 2013.
by Henny Hemmes on Mar.02, 2010
BYD is ready to launch the new e6 battery car, and will form a new joint venture with Daimler.
The upstart Chinese car manufacturer BYD is nothing if no ambitious, and it’s willing to take some significant steps to ensure that it can become one of the world’s leading auto companies, including signing up partners such as Volkswagen and, now, Daimler AG.
Short for Build Your Dreams, it remains to be seen if BYD is only dreaming as it lays out a goal to be the number one maker in Asia, by 2013, and world’s biggest by 2020. But, apparently, Daimler AG thinks it may be onto something.
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On the eve of the annual Geneva Motor Show, the Chinese maker signed a Memorandum of Understanding, or MOU, with Daimler to form a technology partnership with two key goals. The first is to develop a new electric vehicle for the booming Chinese market, and the second is to establish a new brand that the two makers will jointly operate. BYD will also establish a technology center in China for developing, designing and testing the new battery car.
“With this announcement, we have created a win-win business model with complimentary competences,” declared BYD Chairman Wang Chuanfu – showing that business clichés know no language barrier.
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Tags: BYD, Geneva Motor Show, auto news, auto shows, battery-electric vehicles, byd daimler, byd daimler battery car, byd e6, car news, daimler byd, mercedes byd, paul a. eisenstein, paul eisenstein, thedetroitbureau
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Balancing performance and fuel efficiency.
by Henny Hemmes on Jan.25, 2010
Taking the new 2011 BMW 535i for a drive along the Portugese coast.
While the 3-Series may be BMW’s “bread-and-butter” car, accounting for the lion’s share of its sales, the 5-Series is the brand’s soul, the fulcrum of the Bavarian’s balancing act of passionate performance and luxury. So, we jumped at the chance to get behind the wheel of an all-new 2011 BMW 5-Series in Portugal, this week.
The 5-er has been around since 1972 and hasn’t done badly for BMW, selling more than 5.5 million copies, over nearly four decades. The outgoing model launched in 2003, and has been the most successful yet to display the 5-Series badge. So developing a replacement has been a challenge, to say the least.
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The 2011 BMW 5-Series moves away from the edgy extremes developed by former BMW Design Director Chris Bangle — who left the company a year ago, but still played a critical role in its development. Bangle’s approach was to stage a styling competition between 120 of BMW’s designers. Set in motion three years ago, the first round of the battle resulted in five initial exterior designs and four interiors. Eventually, after a series of shoot-outs,
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Tags: 2011 BMW 5-series review, 2011 BMW 5351 review, BMW reviews, Henny Hemmes, auto news, auto reviews, bmw sedans, car reviews, european luxury cars, luxury car reviews, thedetroitbureau
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Beehive hairdos make a comeback in Detroit?
by Henny Hemmes on Jan.12, 2010
A claimed first, the Aircap electric wind deflector.
Mercedes-Benz launched the new E-Class Cabriolet with much pizzazz and a fashion look from the past.
The car rolled on the stage with three female passengers – all with “beehive” hairdos once the height of fashion in the sixties.
With this demonstration the Germans wanted to draw attention to the fact that the new convertible is equipped with what is claimed to be a world first, the Aircap electric wind deflector.
It pops up from the top of the windshield frame by the touch of a button and greatly reduces turbulence in the interior. Mercedes says it also “creates a pool of warm air.” The system consists of a wind deflector with a net that extends to some 2.5 inches and another deflector between the rear head rests.
Bienenstock Frisur?
This latest development “enhances” the Airscarf, which Mercedes patented earlier and functions like a scar to keep the head and neck warm. It is integrated into the back rests of the front seats and lets warm air flow through outlets in the head restraints. For the E-Class Cabriolet, the system has been updated with adjustable outlet vents.
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Tags: Detroit Bureau, Henny Hemmes, Mercedes e-Class, NAIAS, TheDetroitBureau.com., auto industry, auto marketing, zetsche
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Here comes an Impreza hybrid in 2012 we predict.
by Henny Hemmes on Jan.12, 2010
"We have to have our own hybrid, because of our boxer engines."
Here in Detroit, Subaru showed a concept that tells the world, once again, that they are planning to bring a hybrid vehicle on the market in the near future.
Taken into account the size of the company, that will be a vehicle for worldwide markets, we think.
We asked Masatsugu Nagato, Director of the Board and Corporate Executive vice president about Subaru’s strategy with respect to hybrids and electric vehicles. He said that some five years ago they thought about making an EV.
“But it got evident that the EV is too far, it’s not that close, due to the price of the batteries and the infrastructure,” Nagato said.
Hybrids!
Upon our question if the company has decided yet if the upcoming hybrid will be a new model or a version of an existing model, Nagato said he did not want to reveal that secret yet. However, with the new Impreza being confirmed for 2012, we think there is a better than even chance that this model will be the first to also get a hybrid power train.
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Tags: Detroit Bureau, Henny Hemmes, Impreza hybrid, Masatsugu Nagato, TheDetroitBureau.com., auto news, electric cars, hybrid cars, subaru
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Set for a North American International Auto Show debut.
by Henny Hemmes on Dec.31, 2009
A claimed 100 mile range to empty.
Conventional wisdom suggests that luxury automakers will have an especially tough time meeting ever-stricter emissions and fuel economy regulations. BMW has made a history of bucking conventional wisdom, and if the ActiveE concept is any indication, it hopes to do that again.
Set to debut at the North American International Auto Show, in Detroit, this coming month, the all-electric concept is based on the 1-Series Coupe that also will also take its bows at the Detroit Auto Show. Following the strategy of the battery-powered Mini E, the ActiveE is the second model in Project-i, which was meant to explore the possibilities for bringing a zero-emissions vehicle to market before 2015.
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Where the Mini E is a front-wheel-drive two-seater — the batteries occupying the place where conventional rear seats would go — the electric BMW offers space for four adults and even has a 7 cubic foot. truck, barely big enough for two golf bags. With a weight reduction similar to that of the standard Coupe, the EV should not only achieve emissions-free driving (if you neglect how the electricity is generated), but, the maker claims, deliver the sort of driver-oriented road manners BMW aficionados worship. (more…)
Tags: 2010 BMW ActiveE, BMW ActiveE, Detroit Auto Show, Henny Hemmes, NAIAS, auto news, auto shows, automotive news, battery cars, car news, car shows, concept cars, electric vehicles, green cars, green machines, lithium batteries, north american international auto show, show cars, thedetroitbureau
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50the anniversary year for Mini with talking Camden, Roadster and Coupe.
by Henny Hemmes on Dec.03, 2009
Mini staged several North American debuts, including this sporty Coupe concept, and the roadster to the rear.
Even if it is no Centennial, turning 50 is a milestone for a car brand – and reason to celebrate, which Mini did in style over the summer, at Britain’s Silverstone race track, with the introduction of two new models, the Mini 50 Mayfair and the Mini 50 Camden.
Both downsized offering are making their North American premiers at the 2009 L.A. Auto Show.
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If the names sound familiar, that’s because they honor two well-known London neighborhoods. In car language it means that the Mayfair is comfortable and sophisticated and the Camden looks into the future.
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Tags: Henny Hemmes, LA Auto Show, Los Angeles Auto Show, auto news, auto shows, automotive news, car news, car shows, mini, mini convertible, mini cooper, small cars, thedetroitbureau
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Said to be more dynamic, less formal.
by Henny Hemmes on Nov.24, 2009
Familiar look, but there's a new mid-size sedan coming from Bavaria, the 2011 BMW 5-Series.
The Germans have a way of making the simple sound serious. Officially, the imposing building in the center of Munich is known as the Forschungs- und Innovations Zentrum FIZ of the Group. But Klaus Draeger prefers to just call it “the Project House,” as it’s where some of BMW’s most important projects go from concept to customer.
Like the new 5-Series, which the automaker pulled the wraps off this week, during a formal presentation at the Project House, where Draeger, the BMW board member in charge of R&D, keeps his main office.
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First impressions count, said Draeger, admittedly worried about making sure the new car would win over the sceptical media hordes. Introduced in 1972, the 5-Series may not be the Bavarian brand’s biggest seller , but along with the ever-popular 3-Series and the new 1-er, “They account for just over half of our profit margin,” conceded the executive.
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Tags: 2011 BMW 5-Series, 2011 BMW 5-series review, BMW 550, Henny Hemmes, auto news, auto reviews, automotive news, bmw 540, bmw twinforce, car news, car reviews, german car reviews, luxury auto reviews, luxury car reviews, thedetroitbureau
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