Spy Shots: The next BMW M5 gets caught in camo in the desert

The current fifth generation “F10” BMW M5 is nearing six years old, which means we’d be ideally expecting a new car within the next couple years. That said, it should be no surprise that some spy shots are beginning to surface of some M5 test mules. But in another surprise, the test mule spotted doesn’t exactly appear to be very new.

The talented team at Motor1 was able to obtain some new spy photos of the latest prototype in the desert. And to be honest, it looks more like a heavily revised version of the M5, equating it to a mid-cycle refresh. But there’s a reason for this.

BMW seeks to evolve the styling of the next 5-Series rather than completely overhaul it, meaning the visual changes for the next-generation model aren’t expected to be table-flipping.

Rumors report a continuation with the use of the current M5’s “S63” twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V8, but massaged and updated to produce 617 horsepower, compared to today’s max figure of 567hp.

But if you were hoping to scoop up an M5 with a manual rower and third pedal, you better stick to the current generation. BMW previously confirmed to be retiring the manual cog swapper for the next-generation M5, despite lack of demand. This is even after BMW made special arrangements for North American M5s and M6s to be the only recipients of a manual transmission. Europe and the rest of the world has to make do with current M5s and M6s equipped with the seven-speed M-DCT dual-clutch automatic as standard.

A diet is expected to take place as well, relieving the new car of 220 pounds from the current M5’s weight. All-wheel drive will be optional with rear- as standard. Altogether, a peak 0-62 mile per hour time of just 3.9 seconds is anticipated.

The next-generation BMW 5-Series is expected to debut later this year.

Head to Motor1 to check out those spy shots.

– By: Chris Chin

Source: Motor1

Photo Source: BMW

Source: egmCarTech http://bit.ly/2bHP8Bi

Report: Audi pitches A9 E-Tron as a competitor to the Tesla Model S

Audi is helping to perpetuate Volkswagen AG’s offensive of introducing more electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids to help shove the recent Dieselgate scandal under the rug. Part of this includes a car to compete directly with Tesla and it’s tentatively called the A9 E-Tron.

In a recent report from AutoCar, word is that Audi’s A9 E-Tron will be a fully electric luxury sedan. And although Audi insiders didn’t specifically mention what specific Tesla model the new A9 will compete with, the fact that the A9 has been rumored to be a flagship sedan leaves the Model S as the only possible rival.

Previously, the Audi A9 was anticipated to come to life as a flagship luxury four-door coupe, like an A7, but only bigger, more luxurious, and more powerful. It was even previewed by the Audi Prologue Concept from 2014 Los Angeles International Auto Show as a competitor to the Porsche Panamera. But that specific project apparently became stagnant as Audi struggled with what direction to take with its next generation of cars. At one point, Audi supposedly even considered making the A9 a softcore flagship crossover, or basically, an enlarged sedan allroad quattro. Let’s also not forget, Dieselgate did shake things up quite a bit at Volkswagen AG and all of its subsequent brands, which includes Audi.

The latest development from the British publication suggests at least 429 horsepower from a network of three electric motors: two for the front wheels and one for the rear axle. They will receive power from a 95-kilowatt-hour battery pack, providing at least 310 miles of range on a single charge, utilizing the European driving cycle. These electric parts will also be used in other Audi EVs, such as the new crossover SUV Audi is planning to complete with the Model X.

Because of the multiple electric motors, engineers programmed the A9 to feature electronically controlled torque vectoring to further replicate the performance of a mechanical all-wheel drive system.

Wireless inductive charging is also not ruled out as an option, as well as some semi-autonomous driving and self-parking technology.

Price? Beats us, but we can’t imagine it to be cheap. With the A9 E-Tron also shaping up to be a competitor to the Model S, it’s safe to bet the price of the A9 will be near the Model S’s.

This is the next step in Audi’s plan to have at least three all-electric vehicles on the road by 2020, according to past statements made by Audi CEO Rupert Stadler.

– By: Chris Chin

Source: AutoCar

Photo Source: Audi

Source: egmCarTech http://bit.ly/2bHKNOf

Report: Tesla introduces new safety features to Autopilot

Tesla Motors is constantly in the process of updating its Autopilot feature for the sake of seeking to improve the system in every way possible like Apple rolls out over-the-air updates for iDevices. Now, Elektrek reports Tesla just added some new safety features as preventative measures in light of recent accidents involving Autopilot.

These features are new fail-safe alerts for those who don’t listen to the car’s warning tones. Yes, while we car enthusiasts hate the constant nanny and warning tones that new cars come with, this is all to make sure that drivers are still paying attention while behind an Autopilot-capable Tesla. Driving is still driving and it requires attention.

For instance, if the driver insists on ignoring the Autopilot’s reminder to intervene with the Autosteer system, the Autosteer will disengage, a bunch of warning tones will sound off, and Autopilot will disable itself until the vehicle is stopped and put into park. This is a precautionary measure to make sure the driver is still paying attention instead of solely relying on the car to keep itself tracking properly along the road. To keep the Autosteer system from disengaging, the driver has to input steering effort to remind the car that you’re still paying attention, or at least we’d hope.

Autosteer is Autopilot’s key feature that helps keep the equipped Tesla vehicle in lane with traffic. It’s the arm of Autopilot that primarily controls the semi-autonomous steering when you decide not to do it yourself. When it’s engaged, Autopilot will remind the drivers to replace their hands back on the steering wheel. If the driver fails to comply within 15 seconds, the warning shut-down presafe will engage and commence a shutdown of Autosteer.

Autopilot’s other key feature, Tesla’s Traffic Aware Cruise Control, which is basically radar-guided cruise control and is in no way a new form of tech, is still accessible if Autosteer is disabled.

Tesla didn’t officially admit it, but these features are believed to be in response to the recent accidents involving Tesla vehicles and potentially, Autopilot. The last crash involved a Model X on the Pennsylvania Turnpike. From the data Tesla was able to pull from the vehicle for analysis, researches claim the victim’s Model X had commenced its similar procedure for Autopilot shutdown eleven seconds before impact. This implied the driver in the latest incident ignored the alerts and prompts to put its hands back on the wheel.

Other updates to the Tesla software also feature now enable Autopilot-equipped cars to enter and exit highways by navigating on- and off-ramps on its own.

– By: Chris Chin

Source: Electrek

 

Source: egmCarTech http://bit.ly/2bSlE6j

Report: Volkswagen to introduce EV concept at Paris, 300 miles on one charge for the people

There’s no doubt that Volkswagen’s image is horribly tarnished following the infamous Dieselgate emissions scandal, which continues to affect the company today. That said, the outlook for future diesel passenger cars from the People’s Car doesn’t look too positive and to compensate, Volkswagen’s shifting its focus heavily towards production electric vehicles. One of these electric vehicle ideas was just recently confirmed to be showing up at Paris this year in concept form.

WirstshaftWoche, a German magazine, spoke to Volkswagen’s current chairman, CEO Matthias Müller, according to a report by AutoCar in the UK. Müller confirmed that Volkswagen will be showcasing its latest attempt to produce a new electric car for the masses, one that will be as iconic as the Golf.

The goal is to have this new EV feature a driving range of 500 kilometeres, or 310 miles, while only taking 15 minutes to charge. To top it all off, one of the project stipulations is that it cost less than a traditional gas-powered car. Our best guess is that Volkswagen is trying to make an EV that’s just as popular but cheaper than a Polo, Golf, or Beetle.

These sound like pretty high-strung feats. Bfut then again, this is coming from the company known to set oddly high engineering standards–something entirely reminiscent of the legacy of Ferdinand Piech. Projects with high standards of recent past from Volkswagen AG include the Bugatti Veyron and the Volkswagen Phaeton luxury sedan. But like the Veyron and the Phaeton, Volkswagen wants this new EV to “make a statement.”

Originally, Müller announced this plan to create a new electric car at the Geneva Motor Show this past year. Subsequent reports suggested a launch date of 2019. Müller himself however only officially confirmed a target of 2025. The first hint of the project was revealed by AutoCar earleir this year after speaking to Volkswagen’s brand manager, Herbert Diess. Nonetheless, both Deiss and “We are using the current crisis to fundamentally realign the group,” he said. “I feel we now have the chance to build a new and better Volkswagen.”provide proof that an EV for the people is to be one of the next biggest things from Volkswagen.

“It will make a huge statement,” a senior engineer in Volkswagen’s R&D department said on a separate occasion, supporting the prospects. “It’s planned to use cutting-edge technology but at a price that makes it attainable for the average motorist.”

Volkswagen first began to tease the idea physically with the Budd-e MPV Concept from the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas earlier this year. The Budd-e is Volkswagen’s way of showcasing the company’s new MEB modular architecture, specifically designed to build electric cars. Ultimately, Müller previously told us to expect at least 20 electric or plug-in hybrid vehicles in Volkswagen Group’s range by 2020. The Budd-e also happens to be one of those intended production EVs.

“We are using the current crisis to fundamentally realign the group,” he commented. “I feel we now have the chance to build a new and better Volkswagen.”

– By: Chris Chin

Source: AutoCar

 

Source: egmCarTech http://bit.ly/2c5g3IA

Report: The BMW Z4 subtly goes off into the sunset, ends production

Remember the BMW Z4? So do we, but if you’re thinking, “barely,” you’re not alone. The current generation BMW Z4 is hardly remarkable, despite its suave looks. The Z4 simply is a case of, it looks better than it drives.

Because the current E89 Z4 isn’t the greatest thing in luxury sports roadsters, especially when the Porsche Boxster is a far easier choice, its low popularity explains why BMW didn’t send it off into the sunset with a big celebration. Instead, BMW quietly ended production for the Z4 and nobody seems to have batted an eye.

Part of the reason why nobody gives a darn is attributed to BMW and Toyota’s latest collaboration, which is expected to produce a midsize sports coupe hyped up to be the second coming of the Toyota Supra. This initial project immediately received instant recognition upon announcement to become one of the most highly-anticipated future vehicle releases of the new millennium. Because of the added hype, BMW and Toyota added added potential for a Z4 successor to be spawned off of this project, further overshadowing any potential the outgoing Z4 ever had.

The successor, rumored to be named the Z5, is projected to arrive in showrooms as 2018 model, meaning an introduction in 2017 is very plausible.

As for the Z4, only 115,000 in total were sold through the car’s seven-year production run. Seven years, which is a very long time in car generations. Usually a car is kept around that long because it’s successful, but the E89 Z4 hardly was. It just seemed like BMW totally forgot about the Z4 themselves and simply didn’t care about it enough to make it worthwhile.

Let’s hope the story changes with the new Z5.

– By: Chris Chin

Source: BimmerToday.de (if you know German or know how to use Google Translate) via AutoGuide

Source: egmCarTech http://bit.ly/2bVayyk

2016 Porsche Cayman GT4 - First Ride

The 2017 Chevrolet Colorado gets a slightly revised V6 and standard eight-speed auto

Chevrolet is rolling out some considerable updates for its Colorado midsize pickup, despite being only a year old. But don’t expect them to be too involving with the exterior and interior aesthetics since the updates are related to the power and drivetrain.

Instead of new visual cues, the 2017 Chevrolet Colorado comes with a slightly revised naturally-aspirated V6, while Chevy also made its in-house eight-speed automatic standard, replacing the original car’s six-speed box.

Click here for more news on the Chevrolet Colorado.

On top of the new motor and transmission, the Colorado comes outfitted from some new package and option bundling.

“Customers made the Colorado an overnight success and it remains one of the industry’s hottest-selling products,” said Anita Burke in the statement, Chevy’s chief engineer for the Colorado project. “That fast success has justified our continued investment in midsize pickups, introducing new features for our customers such as the class-exclusive diesel engine, advanced technologies like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and now a class-leading V6 and eight-speed automatic powertrain combination.”

The revised V6 benefits from an optimized variable valve timing setup for both the intake and exhaust ports, an improved direct fuel injection system, and the addition of GM’s patented Active Fuel Management cylinder deactivation. Active Fuel Management was not initially available on the Colorado when t was launched last year and the new engine now produces 308 horsepower and 275 pound-feet of twist, a very modest, if not negligible, increase from the previous variant’s 305hp and 269 lb-ft.

The updated 2017 Chevrolet Colorado will commence sales later this year at the beginning of the fourth quarter.

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– By: Chris Chin

Source: Chevrolet

Photo Source: Chevrolet

Source: egmCarTech http://bit.ly/2bHpEZH

Report: Lamborghini anticipates sales hike by 2019 following launch of crossover SUV

Lamborghini is really betting on the success of the soon-to-be launched Urus crossover SUV to boost the company’s global sales figures.

Clearly reminiscent of the persistent sales wars, Lamborghini anticipates sales could double worldwide to 7,000 units annually by 2019 once the Urus gets launched. The crossover is meant to not only to compete with the Bentley Bentayga, but to also help Lamborghini sell more cars as companies continue to reference mass sales volumes as the benchmark for superiority.

Check out more news on the Lamborghini Urus.

Despite the expectation to double global overall sales, Lamborghini executives pledged to limit the yearly production of its supercars to just 3,500 units around the world. This is most likely in a move to avoid diluting the brand’s value by maintaining exclusivity.

To help support the product expansion, Lamborghini is in the process of increasing brand presence with their dealership network, boosting the total number of dealerships in the US to 160, up from 132 currently. The United States is currently Lamborghini’s most successful market with a record 3,245 cars sold around the world last year. Almost a third of those sales happened in the US.

This growth also means the addition of new jobs, 500 to be exact, especially at the company’s Sant’Agata Bolognese assembly line, where the facility is even receiving a massive investment boost to double its size and production capacity.

As a refresher, the Lamborghini Urus is expected to go on sale in 2018 with a starting price of around $200,000. Power is expected to be supplied by a twin-turbo Audi-sourced V8 as the base model with other variants, such as plug-in hybrid variant, due by 2020. Other rumors point to even a full-electric version of the Urus, in a likely attempt to compete with the Tesla Model X.

– By: Chris Chin

Source: Reuters

Source: egmCarTech http://bit.ly/2brZCnL

Video: This 1959 Cadillac Sedan DeVille on an autocross is one of the craziest things you’ll see today

Whenever you think of cars to bring to track days, or even autocrosses, you would probably think of ones with ample power and good handling characteristics. You’d also think cars with a small- to medium-sized footprint would increase the chances for better performance to keep maneuverability and weight low. Cars like a Volkswagen GTI, or even a Porsche 911. But not nearly nineteen-foot-long, 5,100-pound 1959 Cadillac Sedan DeVille.

Regardless of what you would think would be considered “kosher” as an autocross toy, this one guy thought his big ‘ol Caddy would traverse the autocross just fine. And it did so in absolute spectacular fashion, looking magnificent the entire way–just with a boat ton of body roll.

The car is owned by an individual named, Laurie B, who is a fairly renowned car collector and owner. Located in Dubai, Laurie B decided to thrash his Sedan DeVille at a local gathering.

Watch the results below and the moral of the story, be more like Laurie B. I’m pretty sure he wins today’s automotive “hero” status. I’m also pretty sure his arms are sore from the amount of times he had to go hand-over-hand.

– By: Chris Chin

Source: YouTube via BangShift

Photo Source: Screenshot

Source: egmCarTech http://bit.ly/2bXFwTY

Video: MotorTrend pins the 2016 Mercedes-Benz S-Class against the BMW 7-Series in Head2Head

The arch rivalry between the BMW 7-Series and Mercedes-Benz S-Class is like Nikon versus Canon, Apple versus Microsoft, Boeing versus Airbus. The two Teutonic titans have a long-vetted history of clashing and duking it out in a fierce battles ever since both automakers made full-size luxury sedans. The latest Head2Head video from MotorTrend continues this battle to see which reigns superior.

Is it the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, the single most widely known benchmark in luxury flagship sedan history, or is it the more driver-focused BMW 7-Series, which just entered its sixth generation last year?

MotorTrend’s Jonny Lieberman and Jason Cammisa come together to figure it out.

As a refresher, the 2016 Mercedes-Benz S-Class is in its sixth official generation of being the S-Class after being introduced in 2013 as the 2014 W222 chassis. BMW’s direct competitor, the 2016 BMW 7-Series, was just introduced late last year as the G11 chassis. Both cars are completely new from the ground up.

In this episode of Head2Head, Lieberman and Cammisa both pay attention to comparing the 2016 BMW 750i to the 2015 Mercedes-Benz S550. While it might be more fun and entertaining to see how the Alpina version of the 7-Series compares to the S63 AMG, the 750i and S550 are the two most popular selling variants to both lineups, making the advice in this video more applicably relevant.

The 2016 BMW 750i comes with an all-new twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V8 with 445hp and 480 lb-ft of torque, while the S550 comes with a bi-turbo 4.7-liter V8. Both come with all-wheel drive and enough cogs in the automatic transmission to challenge a mountain bike.

Watch the competition below.

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– By: Chris Chin

Source: MotorTrend

Photo Source: Screenshot

 

Source: egmCarTech http://bit.ly/2bW0RhL