Luxury Cars Straightline Archives

The latest installment in the never-ending story of the sportscar that will never die, the 2010 Porsche 911 Turbo S is exactly what you might expect. It's essentially a slightly higher spec version of the standard 911 Turbo for those buyers who think the "standard" Turbo just isn't enough.

This time around, the 911 Turbo S features a 530-horsepower version of Porsche's 3.8-liter flat six. Not impressed? Then consider that it also puts out 516 pound-feet of torque and does so without any decrease in mileage, or so says Porsche.

The Turbo S will come with Porsche's PDK dual clutch transmission only which shouldn't be a problem as Porsche says it's good for a 0-60mph sprint of 3.3 seconds so equipped. It also comes standard with carbon ceramic brake discs, so stopping should be much of a problem either. Top speed is 195mph if you're into that sort of thing.

Available in either coupe of convertible bodystyle, the 2010 Porsche 911 Turbo S goes on sale in May. If you have to ask the price, it's not for you.

2010 Geneva Auto Show

Categories: Convertibles,Coupes,Future Vehicles,Geneva Motor Show,Luxury Cars,Porsche,Sports Cars

We've been following development of the Tesla Model S sedan ever since it was officially unveiled in March of last year. The car shown that day was a slick-looking concept, one that would surely draw plenty of attention, and money, to the project.

On the flip side, the car didn't reveal much about the actual development of the Model S. Sure it could drive around and all, but it was clearly for show as most of the car's engineering was still to be done. Where it would be built was also up in the air, but Tesla officials promised they had a site in mind and would announce it soon.

Well, here we are almost a year later and how is the Model S progressing?
 

Continue reading Is the Tesla Model S Any Closer to Production? .

Categories: Future Vehicles,Luxury Cars,Tesla Motors

Information on the refreshed 2011 BMW X5 came out today. There are no big surprises, just a mild exterior update along with a couple new engines and additional features.

As expected, the top-of-the-line X5 now offers the same 4.4-liter, twin-turbo V8 found in the X6 and it's rated at 400-horsepower and 450 pound-feet of torque. Base models get the new N55 3.0-liter single turbo inline-six cylinder. The new 3.0-liter is being rolled out as a replacement for the previous twin-turbo inline-six cylinder and offers a similar 300 horsepower while improving emissions and mileage. Both engines get BMW's latest 8-speed automatic transmission first introduced in the 5 Series Gran Turismo. The diesel X5 remains in the lineup with no mechanical changes.

New features for the 2011 X5 includes active cruise control and a lane departure warning system.  

Categories: BMW,Luxury Cars,SUVs

The camouflage is starting to thin out as the 2011 Audi A1 gets closer to its official debut. Like the Mercedes-Benz B-Class we showed you yesterday, the Audi A1 is a small hatchback that has been considered for the U.S. market but will likely remain in Europe.

Like Mercedes-Benz, Audi is wary of getting spread too thin in the American market. If the A1 were to come in at the bottom around say $24-25K, the brand would stretch from there all the way to $155K for the R8 V10. That's quite a spread.

It begs the question: Do you consider Audi and Mercedes-Benz to be pure luxury brands only? Or would you consider an Audi or Mercedes that was priced more like a mainstream brand like Ford or Honda?

Categories: Audi,Future Vehicles,Geneva Motor Show,Hatchbacks,Luxury Cars,Spy Photos

Remember the Mercedes-Benz B-Class? It's a tiny little hatchback thing that almost made it to the U.S. a few years ago. The prototype you see here is the next-generation version, and like its predecessor, it has a chance of coming to the U.S.

Not a very good one mind you, mostly because Mercedes-Benz is a little unsure whether Americans are ready for such a small vehicle with a three-pointed start on the back. Then again, it would be a big help in terms of lowering the company's fleet-wide fuel economy numbers, so that could convince Dieter that's its worth the trouble.

Categories: Future Vehicles,Hatchbacks,Luxury Cars,Mercedes-Benz,Spy Photos

At first blush, the idea of running a hybrid on a chassis dyno is silly. A dyno is all about power and performance, and a hybrid, well, isn't.

That is, unless the hybrid is the 2010 BMW ActiveHybrid X6, of which its creators reckon is the most powerful in the world. Have a look at its stats as claimed by BMW -- 480 horsepower and a staggering 575 lb-ft of torque.

This prodigious output comes by way of a 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 and a two-mode hybrid system. The product of the now-defunct collaboration between GM, DaimlerChrysler and BMW, this hybrid system is fundamentally similar to that of the Chevy Silverado Hybrid and Tahoe Hybrid. Pairing these two power generators together is like dashing creatine powder onto a medium-rare strip steak.

This ActiveHybrid X6, then, is a hybrid with a chip on its shoulder, just begging to have its claims put to the test. And test it we did, strapping it down to a chassis dyno and making it sing. Er, whir and hum quietly.

Dyno charts and photos after the jump.

Continue reading Inside Line Dyno Tests the 2010 BMW ActiveHybrid X6.

Categories: BMW,Car Tech,Crossovers,Green Tech,Hatchbacks,Hybrids,Luxury Cars

Spyker has outlined its plans for Saab as the deal with General Motors inches closer to reality. There aren't any real surprises, unless you think continuing with Saab's current lineup is somehow shocking.

According to Spyker officials, it will run Saab as a separate company and it aims to send the 9-3, 9-4X and 9-5 to the U.S. market. The redesigned 9-5 is expected to arrive this summer while the 9-4X will come in early 2011 and the 9-3 in early 2012.

IL News: Spyker Outlines Saab Future Product Plan

Categories: Auto Industry,Future Vehicles,General Motors,Luxury Cars,Saab,Sedans

It's the closest thing we get to an M7 and the 2011 BMW Alpina B7 is priced accordingly. Standard wheelbase models start at $122,875 while the one with the big back seat goes for $126,775.

The new super sedan will make its official debut the 2010 Chicago Auto Show next week and go on sale in the spring. Based on the latest 7 Series, the B7 is tuned to produce 500-horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque.

2011 BMW Alpina B7

Categories: BMW,Chicago Auto Show,Luxury Cars,Sedans

Photo Illustration by Nick Wilcox, automotiverenderings.blogspot.com

So now that the 2011 BMW 5 Series is out in the open, it's time to move on to the really good stuff. We're referring to the next BMW M5, of course, you know the one we spotted on the Nurburgring late last year?

Now that we know the final shape of the standard model it's not too hard to fill out the details on the Motorsport-tuned M5. Unlike the M3, the M5 is always a bit more subtle. A deeper front air dam, extended side skirting and four pipes out back are the obvious cues along with lightweight wheels and a quarter-panel badging.

The big inlets up front are needed to feed the twin-turbo power plant that will reside under the hood. We received confirmation on that one from a BMW executive last year, so the only real question at this point is the final output. The 4.4-liter V8 will be the same motor used in the current X5/X6M models, so the M5 is guaranteed at least 555 horsepower. And the chances of BMW leaving it at that are slim, so something more in the range of 570-590 horses is a good bet.

Various rumors have also indicated that BMW is considering some type of electric assist for this M5 e.g. a production KERS system of sorts. That may have changed in the last year or so now that BMW is no longer participating in Formula 1. We asked our sources inside BMW anyway and they didn't have much to say. So either it's not going to happen or it hasn't been fully approved at this point.

One thing that is for certain is the use of BMW's M Double Clutch Transmission (DCT) in place of the current SMG setup. It could gain a gear over the M3's seven-speed setup, but either way it will be a huge upgrade over the single-clutch SMG.

Given that the standard 2011 BMW 5 Series is scheduled for its debut at the 2010 Geneva Auto Show, don't expect to see the 2012 M5 until either late this year or early in 2011.

Categories: BMW,Future Vehicles,Geneva Motor Show,Luxury Cars,Sedans

As proof that car companies no longer make showcars just for giggles, a senior BMW authority out of Munich has assured Inside Line that the Vision EfficientDynamics plug-in pure hybrid 2+2 concept car rolled out in September at the 2009 Frankfurt Auto Show is earmarked for production. No ifs, ands, or buts.

Reaction to the 356-horsepower and 590 pound-feet of torque plug-in electric (one lithium-polymer battery stack + 2 electric motors) with dedicated lighter weight three-cylinder diesel range-extending engine mounted amidships has been off the charts. Now we're all waiting for more details and, of course, that sticky price issue.

Our executive source goes on to say that total volume is being debated, but that it will fall between 5,000 and 10,000 units. The prototype's powertrain and basic sub-3,000-pound assembly will remain intact, but, says the source, "there will be less of the synthetic glass and more solid structure added to the final design." Uh-oh. We know why these alterations are needed, but does this mean it's going to migrate toward being a sort of sleek Toyota Prius? Let's hope not.

When we asked if this could finally be BMW's second true production supercar after the Giugiaro M1, the response was a firm "quite probably." So maybe our Prius/Honda Insight fears are overreaching. It'd be nice to maintain that 0.22 drag coefficient and the hellacious looks.

IL also learned that the BMW future product engineers are also noodling non-stop with the hybrid drive system in order to make our test of the Vision EfficientDynamics prototype come this summertime in southern France a real-world high-speed thrill. It should be even quicker than the previously quoted 4.8 seconds to 62 mph.

"And that name that the marketing people forced on us," says our mole, "that's going to change for sure." -- Contributor Matt Davis reporting from Portugal.

2009 Frankfurt Auto Show: BMW Vision EfficientDynamics

Categories: BMW,Concept Vehicles,Coupes,Frankfurt Auto Show,Future Vehicles,Hybrids,Luxury Cars,Sports Cars

When he's not telling Nico Rosberg what to do, Michael Schumacher likes to drive the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG through tunnels.

Categories: Celebrities,Coupes,Luxury Cars,Mercedes-Benz,Sports Cars

The next-generation BMW 3 Series is out testing again. This time it emerged from BMW's test facility in the Arctic Circle which kindly reserves plenty of parking for the camouflaged test mules.

Trying to discern changes on this prototype is near impossible though. Judging from the latest 5 Series redesign we're not expecting big styling changes anyway.

First Drive: 2011 BMW 5 Series
  

Categories: BMW,Future Vehicles,Luxury Cars,Sedans

No big secret here. Buick gave us a glimpse of its upcoming small sedan at the L.A. Auto Show late last year, so the fact that prototypes are running around Detroit is no big surprise.

Based on the same platform as the Cruze, this new Buick will mostly likely share drivetrains and suspension components. Most of the Buick-ness will be baked into the final suspension tuning and cabin isolation. Safe to assume it will get a big ol' list of standard features too. Look for an official debut sometime later this year.

Buick Gives Sneek Peek of New Sedan at L.A. Auto Show

Categories: Buick,Future Vehicles,Luxury Cars,Sedans,Spy Photos

It was a rumor at first, then a definite maybe from BMW. The 5 Series wagon would be killed, at least in the U.S. It never sold in big numbers anyway they said, and with the introduction of the 5 Series GT the wagon seemed even less likely to appeal to U.S. buyers.

Well now it's official, sort of. According to our correspondent on hand at the international press launch, BMW officials said there would be no 535xi sport wagon sold in the U.S. Can't blame them either as BMW only sold 878 5 Series wagons in 2009.

Interestingly enough, those same officials said that the possibility of a 535d sedan for the U.S. hasn't been written off yet, this despite weak sales of the 335d. Part of the optimism comes from the fact that the X5 diesel has started to gain some traction. Apparently the idea of diesel power seems palatable in a family vehicle more so than a sport sedan.

Only problem is price of course. The 335d already starts at $44K, so a 535d would mostly likely push up against the 550i in terms of pricing. Could be interesting to see which vehicle buyers in that class prefer.

First Drive: 2011 BMW 535i

Categories: BMW,Luxury Cars,Wagons

Here's the next installment of the BMW X5 M, X6 M "Snow Action" series. This time, there's no actual snow action, per se, as the vehicles have been let loose on an ice rink. At first, it's Dynamic Stability Control this, DSC that, but then the drivers switch it off and do some "pirouettes." Er, donuts.

Categories: BMW,Crossovers,Luxury Cars,SUVs