For 2011 the entire GT-R range – previewed at the Paris Motor Show and due to hit North American dealers around February – the upgrades come from a range of enhancements outside, inside and underneath. Although the 2011 car shipping may look almost identical to the outgoing version, Nissan has labored arduously to improve aerodynamics – increasing downforce by 10% while reducing drag by a hundredth of a G – with new bumpers front and rear, larger vents and an enlarged diffuser. LED running lights are most notably integrated into those strakes on the front corners, while inside the cabin gets a new car transport instrument panel and carbon fiber trim.

But it’s the 2011 GT-R’s guts that set it apart: the boost has been increased, the valve timing adjusted and the ECU recalibrated to bump output up to 523 horsepower and 451 pound-feet of car transportation torque – an increase from the outgoing model’s 485 hp and 434 lb-ft. The engine also gets a glowing red cover to set it apart, along with a strut brace links the suspension towers. The suspension has also been retuned, and mounted to new 20-inch Rays wheels barely hiding the redesigned brake discs that promise to fade less and last longer.

All those improvements are fitted to the standard GT-R and to the SpecV, which otherwise carries on pretty much unchanged. New to the auto transport family are the Club Track edition and the Egoist version. The former has been developed specifically for driver training and specially-organized track events, though few details have been released as to what those competition-oriented modifications entail. The Egoist model, meanwhile, (previously thought to be called the SpecM) gets a unique quilted leather interior (pictured at right) crafted by Germany’s Seton Company from a choice of 20 colors, further set apart on the exterior by the carbon spoiler, wheels and titanium vehicle shipping exhaust from the SpecV. There’s a whole load of fine details to assimilate, so follow the jump for the full press release, and don’t forget to have a stroll through the brand-spankin’-new car transport gallery of 48 high-resolution images showing the new GT-R family from every angle.

According to an Autocar source, a Mini city car shipping concept may debut within the next year. Part of the impetus for the reversal is BMW’s backing of a three-cylinder engine, as well as a heavy focus on component sharing with the upcoming BMW MegaCity and other auto transport models under the BMW umbrella, along with new production techniques. The car transportation should be smaller than the current Mini, though larger than the Smart. Details like chassis layout and styling have not been divulged, though back in the Rover days, Mini showed off the Spiritual concept (pictured above) and there was talk of a production version. However, how it fares in the vehicle shipping marketplace will hinge on how well BMW packs value and the trademark Mini verve into its tiny shell.

That’s all fine and good, but what about this car shipping? The publication cites an unnamed company board member as saying that the Transport platform will spawn multiple variations. Combine that with word from Crowley that the Bavarian auto shipper is mulling the creation of a genuine car transport to compete with the likes of the car transportation, and you’ve got a recipe for a genuine moving company. Word has it that the creation would be sculpted in the image of the car transportation concept.

The car shipping crew also says that there’s also plenty of indication that the ever lovely car transport will inspire the replacement model for the current 6 Series by late 2012. That’s no bad thing in our shipping book.

Keep in mind that all of this is still quite a ways off, though. The Car transport isn’t expected to see the light of day until 2013 at the earliest, and any other progeny would crop up in the years to follow. In the automotive shipping universe, a lot can change in two years.

Rejoice, Bimmer fans. If you thought the new BMW Auto Transport interest in the world of hybrids and EVs spelt the beginning of the end for your favorite driving machine, think again. Word has surfaced that the company is planning a multitude of different versions of its Megacity EV, including at least one sports car. While chatting with Autocar, Ian Robertson, the head honcho of sales and marketing for the company, said that the Megacity will be made primarily of carbon fiber in order to hit weight targets, and that it will in fact be sold under the BMW banner instead of a newly-minted nameplate.

That’s all fine and good, but what about this sports car? The publication cites an unnamed BMW board member as saying that the Megacity platform will spawn multiple variations. Combine that with word from Inside Line that the Bavarian automaker is mulling the creation of a genuine sports car to compete with the likes of the Audi R8 and Mercedes-Benz SL, and you’ve got a recipe for a genuine EV bruiser. Word has it that the creation would be sculpted in the image of the Vision Efficient Dynamics Concept.

The IL crew also says that there’s also plenty of indication that the ever lovely Grand Coupé will inspire the replacement model for the current 6 Series by late 2012. That’s no bad thing in our book.

Keep in mind that all of this is still quite a ways off, though. The Megacity isn’t expected to see the light of day until 2013 at the earliest, and any other progeny would crop up in the years to follow. In the automotive universe, a lot can change in two years.

[Source: Autocar, Inside Line]

Report: BMW Megacity to spawn EV, Sport models, Gran Coupe coming in 2012 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 04 Jun 2010 13:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Here in the U.S., the Smart ForTwo Auto Transport
has proven less than successful considering the needs of most of drivers. Sold here on the merits of its efficiency, the Smart’s true element is in the cities of Europe, where the small size allows nose-in parking and a diesel powertrain that’s actually pleasant to drive. Mini and its BMW parents think that there may be something to Smart’s success, even though the company has said in the past that small city cars aren’t profitable.

According to an Autocar source, a Mini city car concept may debut within the next year. Part of the impetus for the reversal is BMW’s backing of a three-cylinder engine, as well as a heavy focus on component sharing with the upcoming BMW MegaCity and other models under the BMW umbrella, along with new production techniques. The car should be smaller than the current Mini, though larger than the Smart. Details like chassis layout and styling have not been divulged, though back in the Rover days, Mini showed off the Spiritual concept (pictured above) and there was talk of a production version. However, how it fares in the marketplace will hinge on how well BMW packs value and the trademark Mini verve into its tiny shell.

[Source: Autocar]

Report: Mini working on city car originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 03 Jun 2010 16:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

BMW has just dropped a few juicy details about the 2011 X3 on the web along with a few camo’d photos. With the addition of the X1 in European markets, the Bavarian automaker is looking to give its middle child a little extra interior space, so the 2011 X3 will be slightly wider and longer than the beasts currently prowling the Costco parking lot. Even so, weight has been slimmed by around 55 pounds and in a nod to ever-increasing fuel economy concerns, the automaker has also decided to switch the power steering on the X3 from pneumatic to electric to reduce drag on the engine.

Speaking of engines, there won’t be any major surprises under the hood. UK buyers will be able to choose between a total of four engines – the standard fair available here in the land of the free plus two turbo-diesel mills. We wouldn’t exactly hold our breath waiting for those to show up in our neck of the woods at launch.

Interestingly enough, Autocar reports that BMW is currently investigating a turbocharged four-cylinder variant as well as an AcitveHybrid flavor, though who knows if either of those are slated for U.S. consumption. Look for a full unveil at this year’s Paris Motor Show.

We’ve seen plenty of spy shots showing heavily cloaked Auto Transport prototypes of the 2011 Dodge Charger before, but our spy photographers just found the holy grail. Who knows how it happened, but the cover on this Charger prototype (we’re guessing it’s an R/T model) got flipped back to reveal the redesigned sedan’s new snout for the first time and our spies snapped the hell out of it.

The Charger’s new look will apparently be an evolution more than a revolution, with the current sedan’s squared off front end and angry expression receiving several tweaks. The grille, for instance, appears slightly taller and juts out farther creating a schnoz not unlike what you’ll find on the front end of a Mitsubishi Lancer (not a fan of the faux chrome, though). The Charger’s headlights always made the car look pissed off, but the new model appears to be in an even worse mood with a more aggressive scowl. The hood is definitely more chiseled as well, with what appears to be two recesses stamped in on either side of a center spine. Finally, the lower bumper receives new fog lamps and a larger lower air intake.

There were rumors that Dodge passenger vehicles would soon be sporting new badges that ditched the horned ram, in light of Ram trucks being spun off as its own brand. This prototype, however, is wearing a traditional Dodge badge with the hooved mammal’s head in relief like always. That doesn’t mean the brand couldn’t swap out badges at the last minute, but if that’s their plan, there’s no evidence here.

You remember the Lexus LFA auto transport, right? The world hasn’t heard too much from the Toyota supercar since the carbon fiber wonder hit the scene last year, but that doesn’t mean the company hasn’t been playing with its new toy. Toyota just released a new spot featuring the V10 beast roaring to life and shattering a champagne glass with nothing but its exhaust note. We’re well aware that skepticism is the internet’s middle name, but Toyota claims that it hired a physicist to figure out exactly what kind of glass would resonate at the same frequency as the LFA exhaust.

From there, the car was just a dyno pull away from sending the flute to the recycling bin. According to the press release, there’s zero CG at work here – just pure science. Hop the jump to see the whole shebang for yourself and to check out the press blast. You can also cruise over to the LFA site to download a special V10 ring tone.

It’s certainly no secret that BMW auto transport is working on a high-powered version of the darling 1 Series coupe. After all, we’ve seen different mules and prototypes testing on many, many, many occasions. And while the speculation continues as to what the end result will be called (M1? 1M? 135is?), executives within BMW’s M division have reportedly confirmed that the car will go on sale in the second quarter of next year.

Regardless of nomenclature, we’re pretty stoked over what this potent little 1 Series will bring to the table, and we wonder how it’ll fare compared to BMW’s grandaddy M3. If the 2011 Q2 on-sale date is to be believed, we won’t be surprised if the production car debuts at either the Paris or Los Angeles show later this year.

If you were wondering whether there was a auto transport market for a $375,000 Lexus, wonder no more. Automotive News reports that all 500 copies of the 552-horsepower LFA are officially sold out. Not a surprise if you ask us, considering the fact that there always seems to be a healthy market for ultra-rare exotics with a ridiculously low production quota. But the fact that the LFA is resonating with the European elite is a bit of a shock, as the report claims that one-third of pre-sold LFAs are heading straight for the land of Porsche, Mercedes-Benz and BMW. Lexus even brought eight of the German LFA owners to the 24 Hours of Nurburgring race for some wining and dining.

Lexus hasn’t announced how many LFAs would go to which regions of the globe, but an earlier Wall St. Journal report quoted Lexus as saying that Toyota’s luxury arm would hand-pick which perspective buyers would gain the right to own the LFA. Looks like we didn’t make the cut, not that we had the $375k to spend one anyway.