| TESTED: Lexus IS250
It is hard not to take notice of the fresh Lexus onslaught on the local market with a complete range of new cars which all feature striking designs. The model that stands out most, and which is also the brand's "bread and butter" derivative, is the IS250. This car is Lexus's main weapon against the German gang as it attempts to steal sales from the BMW 3 Series, Audi A4 and Mercedes C-Class. The IS is an all-new car and takes over from a model which has been around for seven years but which was never really competitive to take on the Germans. However, the new model is not only bigger and better looking but also stiffer, making it a more realistic rival. Currently one engine derivative, a 2.5-litre V6 is available, but buyers can choose from two trim levels. Our test car was the range-topping SE version.
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The New BMW 3 Series Convertible: World Premiere at NAIAS in January
Woodcliff Lake/Detroit - December 20, 2006 -- The fourth generation of BMW's 3 Series four-seat convertible will make its world debut at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in January. A new dimension in the world of motoring comes with the introduction of a retractable hardtop for the first time on a BMW.Made of lightweight steel, the three-piece roof opens in just 22 seconds and folds smoothly into the rear compartment of BMW's newest convertible. The new roof structure ensures a lower level of noise even at high speeds while the ultra-stiff platform provides extreme torsional strength for rigidity and the superb handling inherent to all BMWs. .
259km/h M3 driver 'surrenders'
A 32-year-old man handed himself in to police on Monday after he was caught driving at 259km/h on the East Rand, said Ekurhuleni metro police. The man, driving a BMW M3, was stopped by police on Linksfield Road in Edenvale on Sunday, but drove off before he could be arrested, said inspector Jimmy Maboko. "He told us that he was speeding because someone had broken into his factory and he was going to check it out." The man then drove off and police could not find him. "Because we had his licence details, we were able to contact him to tell him he was now a wanted criminal." The man handed himself in at Edenvale police station and was arrested. He was charged with reckless and negligent driving and failing to obey a police officer. Two other motorists were arrested on Sunday after they were caught driving at 193km/h.
BMW Hydrogen 7 Prototype
If you don't sweat the details, it might seem like hydrogen cars are a reality in the U.S. market. The important details are that the fuel-cell cars presently in the hands of consumers are on lease and worth roughly $1 million each, and that the BMW Hydrogen 7 isn't a fuel-cell vehicle. Rather than using hydrogen to generate electricity in a fuel cell, it burns hydrogen gas in its conventional V-12 engine. It also can burn gasoline at the flip of a dashboard switch.Hydrogen gas burns cleanly, producing only water vapor, which is the claim made for fuel cells, too. That's not really the point here. Neither is cost; burning hydrogen currently costs more than burning traditional gas. The point behind burning hydrogen in an engine is to give energy and distribution companies another incentive to provide hydrogen.
Lexus IS spawns M3 rival
Lexus hopes to add performance credentials to its reputation for refinement with a sporty V8 version of the IS compact exec in 2008. Think of the IS-F as Japans answer to Audi RS, BMW M and Mercedes AMG models. Its the first in a range of high-performance Lexus models designed to compete head on with German and British sports saloons. The F badge has been revealed in this teaser image ahead of the full unveil at the Detroit Motor Show in January. The regular IS has a sharp-suited but conservative design, and it looks like the IS-F will be given a dose of the butch pills to give it more attitude: the wheelarches are more flared to accommodate wider tyres, and unusual, double-decker oval exhaust pipes give the rear a distinctive character. These spy shots taken at the Nurburgring last summer reveal how the rest of the car will look.
New BMW 3-Series convertible preview
The 4th generation BMW [BMW quotes] 3-Series convertible will debut at the North American International Auto Show in January. The car will feature an electronic folding roof that opens and closes in 22 seconds, and will provide increased visibility through rear and side glass windows. The prospect of burned bottoms will also recede with Sun-reflective technology leather seats containing special pigmentation that reduces temperatures by up to 20 degrees. Two petrol engines are initially available with further petrol and diesel models to follow. The BMW 335i Convertible accelerates to 60 mph in just 5.5 seconds for the six-speed manual, and in 5.7 seconds for the six-speed Steptronic automatic transmission. Top speed is electronically-controlled to 130 mph and on vehicles equipped with the Sport Package, top speed is governed at 150 mph.
Want current traffic data? Good luck
Some in-car systems, like those in the 2007 BMW X5 and M5, receive and decode that traffic data at no cost. Makers of portable navigation devices, however, charge as much as $60 a year for the service. Competing with Clear Channel are the satellite radio companies XM and Sirius, which charge about $10 a month for a traffic-only plan or an additional $4 for current subscribers. XM NavTraffic is the larger of the two, covering 44 major urban areas. The data channel of a cellular network works with cell phones, but the service usually means additional monthly charges starting at about $10. GPS devices are promising But no matter how drivers receive the information, the time delay means that when the sultry voice of the navigation system warns of trouble ahead, drivers may already be tapping their toes stuck on a bridge.
Formula BMW USA Announces 2007 Schedule
BMW of North America, LLC announced today an impressive schedule for the 2007 Formula BMW USA season. Its fourth season in North America, Formula BMW USA has put together a dream season for aspiring open-wheel drivers. The 14-round championship will visit seven circuits, competing in front of the Champ Car World Series and the American Le Mans Series, in addition to both North American Formula One Grand Prix races.
Returning drivers will benefit from the fact that the 2007 championship will go back to six race tracks that hosted testing or racing last season. One new venue - Road America - has been added to enhance the variety of challenging race tracks that will enable the young talents to gain even more valuable racing experience. Formula BMW USA visited Road America in its inaugural season in 2004.
Idafar wins as leaders crash
THE first day of the two-day fourth round National Race Championship began yesterday on an exciting note at the Bahrain International Circuit. Salah Salauddin won the Bapco Caterham Challenge and Michael Spahn the Mini Cooper race while the first race of the three-race final round in the Thunder Arabia series was action-packed as leaders Mohammed Al A'ali and Oman's Ahmed Al Harthy crashed out. Bahrain's 15-year-old Menasheh Idafar won this race to leave the title hanging in balance with the final two races set for today. It was the third round of the seven round Bapco Caterham Challenge and the Mini Copper series. Meanwhile, Hassan Al Wazzan clocked the fastest lap (1:10.720) during the qualifying round of the Formula BMW Group A.
Welsh Secretary's wife hurt in M4 car crash
The wife of Welsh Secretary Peter Hain was taken to hospital after a serious car accident on the M4. Elizabeth Haywood crashed on the motorway near Bridgend on Monday evening while driving her husband's BMW in heavy weather. She was taken to the town's Princess of Wales hospital, but was discharged yesterday and returned to London. Mr Hain cleared his diary yesterday morning to be at her bedside. Dr Haywood is understood to have broken a bone in her foot. A spokesman for the Welsh Secretary said Dr Haywood was 'shaken up and bruised, but other than that she is fine. The car was a write-off. She had to escape through the windscreen.' No other cars were involved. Dr Haywood runs the recruitment and head-hunting firm KMC International. The couple married in 2003.
Exclusive Video and Spy Photos: 2009 BMW 7 Series
Although covered in plastic from nose to tail, our latest spy footage still gives the best look yet at the 2009 BMW 7 Series. Caught during testing on the streets of Munich, the 2009 7 Series looks as though it will maintain a size similar to the current model while cleaning up some of its controversial styling. Expected to start production in late 2008, the 2009 7 Series will ride on a new platform with an internal designation of F01. In order to increase passenger space without adding more bulk, the new sedan will get a longer wheelbase without adding any significant length. An even bigger "L" version dubbed F02 will be offered that adds an additional 5.5 inches of length. Slight bulges around the rear wheels of this prototype also suggest a slightly wider track. Most of the styling changes will be evolutionary as this prototype shows an overall shape very similar to the current model.
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