| Refreshed X3 holds the sport-ute high ground
WHEN it comes to sport-utes, my dad is what could be called "old school," and that's no dig at his 80 years on this planet. It's just that he started driving SUVs when there was no sport to them, only utility -- discovering the superior traction of Jeeps during his stint in the Canadian army during the Second World War. And, for the next 40 years, numerous Jeeps of various size and description graced his driveway. So, when he opined that the optional sport suspension on the BMW X3 was "silly," I wasn't surprised. To Dad, sport-utes (or, in BMW's case, sport activity vehicles) are rough and tough. They don't have handling characteristics similar to those of a first-class sports sedan. Despite my dad's disdain, some SUVs and car-based crossovers are taking on similar performance characteristics to their automotive brethren.
BMW introduces Qiblah arrow in navigation system
BMW Group Middle East has become the first premium car manufacturer in the region to introduce the arrow to Qiblah in Makkah in BMW navigation systems, operational from March 2007. "We have realised the changing needs of many of our customers in the Middle East, whose busy lifestyles mean they are spending more time on the roads travelling between one city to the other," BMW Group Middle East managing director Guenther Seemann said. The arrow towards Qiblah in Makkah will be available in the BMW 7 Series, X3, Z4, Z4 Coupe and MINI Cabrio from March 2007, and will also be available for RetroFit in the existing BMW 7 Series, BMW X5, BMW 3 Series and MINI models.
BMW X3 Gets Very Good Rating in Consumer Reports' Tests of Sporty SUVs
Yonkers, N.Y. - Consumer Reports - infoZine - Consumer Reports rated the BMW X3 best overall in tests against two of its competitors-the Acura RDX and Mazda CX7-for the January issue. The X3 achieved a "Very Good" score in testing conducted at Consumer Reports' Auto Test Center in East Haddam, Connecticut. The RDX and CX-7 finished with lower overall scores, though still in the "Very Good' range. Consumer Reports' ratings for sporty SUVs emphasize a comfortable ride, well-appointed interior, and quickness, agility, and responsiveness on the road. Separately, CR also tested the rugged new Toyota FJ Cruiser against the redesigned 2007 Jeep Wrangler. In CR's view, SUVs with low-range gearing like these should be capable off-road but still have a compliant ride, good road manners, and comfortable accommodations.
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2007 BMW X3 Specifications
|
| Year |
2007 |
| Make |
BMW |
| Model |
X3 |
| Engine Location |
Front |
| Drive Type |
AWD |
| Production Years for Series |
2003 - |
| Price |
MSRP: $38,000.00 |
| Weight |
4012 lbs | 1819.8 kg |
| MPG City |
18 |
| MPG Highway |
26 |
| Performance |
| 0-60 mph |
6.9 seconds. |
| Top Speed |
130 mph | 209.2 km/h Similar top speeds |
| Coefficient of Drag |
0.35 |
| Engine |
| Engine Configuration |
I |
| Cylinders |
6 |
| Aspiration/Induction |
Normal |
| Displacement |
3.00 L | 183.1 cu in. | 3001 cc. |
| Horsepower |
260.00 HP (191.4 KW) @ 6600.00 RPM |
| Torque |
225.00 Ft-Lbs (305.1 NM) @ 2750.00 RPM |
| HP to Weight Ratio |
15.4 LB / HP (Vehicles with similar ratio) |
| HP / Liter |
86.7 BHP / Liter |
| Bore |
3.35 in | 85.1 mm. |
| Stroke |
3.46 in | 87.9 mm. |
| Compression Ratio |
10.7 :1 |
| Fuel Type |
Gasoline - Petrol |
| |
Vehicles with similar horsepower and weight |
| Dimensions |
| Standard Payload |
1036.001 lbs |
| Exterior |
| Ground Clearance |
8.001 in | 203.2 mm. |
| Brakes |
| Front Brakes |
Vented Disc |
| Rear Brakes |
Vented Disc |
| Front Brake Size |
12.801 in | 325.1 mm. |
| Rear Brake Size |
12.601 in | 320.1 mm. |
| Tires / Wheels |
| Tires |
235/55R-17 All-season |
| Wheels |
17x8.0 Cast Alloy |
BMW finalises pricing plan for India
NEW DELHI: German luxury car maker BMW is stepping on the gas pedal in India, literally. As part of its entry plans for Indian market, BMW has decided to roll out five of its brands — 3-Series, 5-Series, 7-Series, X5 and X3 ” in the country within four months. .
Chevrolet adds a little edge to its smallest SUV
General Motors Corp. on Wednesday showed off a sport version of its compact Equinox sport utility vehicle, expected to hit showrooms next summer. The made-over Equinox will come equipped with a more powerful engine and six-speed automatic transmission, larger wheels and some cosmetic features designed to give the plucky vehicle a more aggressive look. The original Equinox went on sale in mid-2004 with little fanfare and has been a solid seller for GM. But the SUV could use a boost with consumers. Sales this year are down 13 percent from year-ago levels, with 105,000 vehicles sold through November, according to Autodata Corp., a New Jersey company that tracks car and truck sales. Giving car buyers a sport option, which Chevy has also done with vehicles such as the Impala, Cobalt and Malibu sedans, should help set the Equinox apart in the increasingly competitive market, Chevrolet Marketing Director Cheryl Catton said.
Business News
IRVINE, Calif.-(Business Wire)-December 21, 2006 - Allergan Inc. (NYSE:AGN) today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued an approvable letter for COMBIGAN(TM) (brimonidine tartrate/timolol maleate ophthalmic solution) 0.2%/0.5% for the reduction of elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) in patients with glaucoma or ocular hypertension who require adjunctive or replacement therapy due to inadequately controlled IOP. An approvable letter outlines the remaining conditions that a company must meet in order to obtain FDA final marketing approval. "We remain committed to the program and to working diligently with the FDA on any remaining issues," said Scott M. Whitcup, M.D., Allergan's Executive Vice President, Research and Development. "In its approvable letter, the FDA suggested an additional confirmatory study to address certain questions posed by the Agency.
X5 is BMW's most family-oriented vehicle
(12-22) 04:00 PST Spartanburg, S.C. -- Friday night football and Sunday morning church services are taken seriously in this town of 40,000 people, located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. If you want to find local shakers and movers on most fall Friday evenings, you're likely to track them down at a football stadium hosting the Spartanburg High School Vikings. If you're looking for people on a Sunday, you'd be wise to know their religious affiliation. Spartanburg has many churches. Ask anyone here or within a 30-mile radius of this town how to find the sprawling, $2 billion BMW global manufacturing facility and you're likely to get precise directions to the plant's doorway fronting a stretch of I-85. In these parts, BMW is family, and the people here take family seriously, too.
Scoop pricing info: New X5
Recently Wheels24 was one of the first publications to drive the all-new BMW X5, now we can tell you more about this SUV's SA pricing. BMW South Africa will launch the second-generation X5 here in May 2007. Initially two models, the 3.0d and 4.8i, will be available with the possibility of the 3-litre petrol joining the range at a later stage. The 4.8-litre thrusts out 261 kW at 6 300 r/min and a healthy 475 Nm of torque. Paired with a new quick-shifting six-speed automatic, BMW claims the V8 should reach 100km/h in 6.5 seconds. The diesel version of the X5, the 3.0d, develops a power output of 173 kW while peak torque is 520 Nm. According to Wheels24's info the indicative price tag for the 3.0d model will be R574 000. The expected pricing for the range-topping 4.8i is R662 000.
Dodge Dart GTS Muscle Car Junior
Mention the words “muscle car" to most enthusiasts and they conjure visions of Tri-Power GTOs, Hemi Road Runners and 454 Chevelles. True, the big block pavement pounders did make up the majority of the market, but they were also the favorite targets of insurance companies. If the engine exceeded 400 cubic inches, it was a sure bet a hefty surcharge was added to the premium. Many an under 21 consumer was faced with insurance premiums that outstripped the monthly payments. Uncontrollable insurance payments in the late 1960s were one of the contributing causes of why the muscle car market literally imploded in less than two years. There were however, alternatives to the mega cube monsters that provided more than adequate performance and cost considerably less. These were compacts with smaller, high performance engines that remained under the insurance company's radar screens.
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