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BMW 2 Series Scooped

August 24, 2011 /

With the new BMW 1 Series hatch already released, everyone is waiting to see what the coupe will look like. This is important for us since the U.S. only gets the coupe version of the 1.

The 1 series was always the BMW meant for people yearning for smaller bimmers of old, but its styling was a serious drawback. This new on appears much improved with sleeker lines and less of the potbelly look that the old one had. However, these are just Auto Express’s renderings and not the real deal.

The new 1 series will be powered by BMW’s new turbo 4, which will replace their iconic inline 6 in the base models. Six cylinders will still be available in the higher spec models, but will be turbocharged. If you want more power, there will probably be a new generation of the 1M.

The name of the car might change as well. Auto Express guesses it will be called the 2 to differentiate the model from its hatch siblings. They back this up with rumors that the entire BMW lineup may receive a naming shakeup. Solid details are not yet known though.

With the 3 and 5 series getting more expensive and larger, the new 1 series looks to be the BMW to get. The coupe should be launched for the 2013 model year, so more concrete details should be coming out soon.

Source: Auto Express

BMW, New Cars

The Subaru BRZ is Coming

August 23, 2011 /

What you see above is not a promo shot from an 80s era Arnold Schwarzenegger movie, but a teaser for Subaru’s new sports car.

The BRZ is a RWD, boxer-4 engined sports coupe that shares its platform and drivetrain with the Toyota FT-86. However, both models will be styled differently. Much has been seen of the Toyota version in concept form, but no one has a clue on what the Subaru version will look like. The closest we have gotten was some odd plexiglass cutaways shown last year that only highlighted the mechanicals of the car.

“BRZ” is marketing speak for “Boxer Rear-drive Zenith” and will be seen at the Frankfurt Auto Show in “BRZ Prologue Technology Concept” guise. Yes that is the actual name, I did not randomly develop keyboard tourettes. Clunky name aside, the BRZ will hopefully look like a winner when it debuts in Frankfurt.

Source: Subaru

New Cars, Sports Cars, Subaru

Cadillac Ciel Concept

August 22, 2011 /

Luxury cars as of late are all about flash, status, and specs. But nowhere to be found is the heritage, craftsmanship, and pedigree of luxury cars of old. Cadillac looks to bring some of those features back with the Cadillac Ciel Concept.

The Ciel is a large, seductively styled four door convertible that recalls the classic luxury cars of yesteryear, while looking ahead to the future. It’s cabin is swathed in leather wood, and jeweled gauges. It is made of nicer materials than most billionaires’ suits. The exterior is chiseled and masculine, but also subdued. The motor is a twin-turbo V-6 with hybrid electric drive. Every ounce of this car oozes class, without the gaudiness of new Bentleys and Rolls Royces.

It may be just a concept, but this is just the type of car Cadillac needs. Reason being, it is a Cadillac in the truest sense, a refined, luxurious, traditional, American luxury car. These cars were enjoyable to drive, beautiful to look at, and exquisitely crafted. This doesn’t mean they were the soft, wobbly, vinyl monstrosities like the Cadillacs of the 1980s wanted us to believe, but gentleman cruisers that buyers in the 1920’s-1960s would have had. Watch Boardwalk Empire or Mad Men and you’ll see what I mean.

However, in the 1970s, the Germans came along with their cars that needed to be the fastest accelerating, harshest riding, and most “sporty” luxury cars. They were like this in order to get from point A to point b as quickly as possible. In other words they changed the luxury game and, in the process, completely veered everyone off the entire point of what a luxury car is.

Luxury isn’t about getting somewhere quickly, its about enjoying the drive no matter how long it takes. You’re rich you make your own schedule. You shouldn’t have to drive fast to get around the proletariat, you should have them in so much awe of your car they move out of the way naturally. Cadillac needs to bring this car, and the traditional luxury car way of thought, back with the Cadillac Ciel.

Source: GM

Cadillac, GM, Luxury Cars

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