BMW 128i Coupe

What sets the 1 Series apart is what sets BMW apart—an unyielding dedication to the joy of driving. The BMW formula is succinct: Power. Performance. Premium design. Executed with innovation and efficiency.


More specifically—and unlike our competition—BMW maintains an unwavering belief in rear-wheel drive for superior handling. Near-perfect 50:50 weight balance for maximum agility, traction, and control. And a lightweight chassis and finely-tuned suspension for a sporty, yet comfortable ride.

All driven by independent thinking and an uncompromising culture of ideas. It’s how all BMWs become Ultimate Driving Machines.

Trust BMW Assist to help you with your busy life through the optional Convenience Plan, available to all Safety Plan subscribers. When you're on the road, the Convenience Plan offers a helping hand 24/7.

Whenever you need it, receive personalized Directions, Traffic and Weather reports, BMW Search and Concierge services to not only recommend restaurants and hotels, but then send the destination address and phone number right to your BMW. You can make up to four operator-assisted calls per year with Critical Calling if your cell phone is not available or its battery is discharged.

Source by bmwusa

Read more »

TomTom Launches GPS Device With Capacitive Touchscreen

TomTom has announced the Go Live 1000, a next-generation navigation device with a capacitive touchscreen, just days after Garmin unveiled its own capacitive touchscreen-based PNDs.

The connected Go Live 1000 features a 500 MHz ARM11 processor, a redesigned WebKit-based user interface, and the ability to easily integrate third-party apps, plus a full year of free Internet service. TomTom also upgraded its back end server systems to improve delivery of rich content and downloadable apps.

This all means the company is leaving behind its formerly closed, difficult-to-expand OS, and is at least delaying, if not eliminating, the expensive monthly fees surrounding the TomTom XL 340-S LIVE and other current connected devices.

The Go Live 1000 also includes improved IQ Routes and HD Traffic, a high resolution display, a new magnetic windshield mount, and a Park Assist feature for finding places to park (as opposed to the park assist you'd find in some of today's cars that actually helps you parallel park--this is different).

So far, TomTom has partnered with Vodafone to provide connectivity in Europe, and plans to release the device there sometime in the summer. No word yet on pricing or availability in the U.S.

source by gearlog

Read more »

Legacy

Ferruccio Lamborghini founded the factory that produces the cars that bear his name in 1963, at the age of 47.

A self-made man, some say he was unhappy with the treatment he received from the producers of GT cars, others that he was motivated to produce, in his own words, "the perfect car". Whatever his reasons, he progressed from being a successful manufacturer of tractors and air-conditioning equipment to create the world's most exotic cars.


The various superb Diablo models drove Lamborghini onwards to the 21st century and both the Murciélago and Gallardo are continuing the bloodline and are, like the great cars of the past, lauded with high praise for the sheer power and intensity of the driving experience they offer.

Automobili Lamborghini has had a turbulent and eventful history. Sometimes events seem to conspire to give the impression that soon these great cars would be no more... now, that raging bull that is the badge every Lamborghini carries still roars in mighty defiance!

350 GTV

Original show car for Lamborghini in 1963
Engine: front mounted 3,463cc, DOHC, 60° v12
Fuel system: 6 Weber 36 IDLI twin choke carburettors
Gears and drive: 5 speed ZF box rear wheel drive
Performance: (estimated only!) 360bhp@8,000rpm 174mph / 280kmh
Production: only 1 car built!

350 GT

First production Lamborghini in 1964
Engine: front mounted 3,463cc, DOHC, 60° v12
Fuel system: 6 Weber 40 DCOE twin choke carburettors
Gears and drive: 5 speed ZF box rear wheel drive
Performance: 320bhp@7,000rpm 155mph / 250kmh
Production: 120 cars built

400 GT

2 seat and 2+2 (pictured) seat versions built (performance ?gures considered identical)
Engine: front mounted 3,929cc, DOHC, 60° v12
Fuel system: 6 Weber 40 DCOE twin choke carburettors
Gears and drive: 5 speed Lamborghini box rear wheel drive
Performance: 320bhp@6,500rpm 155mph / 250kmh
Production: 273 built, both types

MIURA

First of the Lamborghini mid-engined cars,
3 versions of production cars were built: 400, 400S, 400SV (pictured)(SV ?gures shown below)
Engine: mid mounted 3,929cc, DOHC, 60° v12
Fuel system: 4 Weber 40 IDL triple choke carburettors
Gears and drive: 5 speed Lamborghini box rear wheel drive
Performance: 385bhp@7,850rpm 186mph / 300kmh
Production: 754 built, all types

ISLERO

2 versions built: GT (pictured) and GTS (GTS ?gures shown below)
Engine: front mounted 3,929cc, DOHC, 60° v12
Fuel system: 6 Weber 40 DCOE twin choke carburettors
Gears and drive: 5 speed Lamborghini box rear wheel drive
Performance: 350bhp@7,700rpm 162mph / 260kmh
Production: 225 built, both types

ESPADA

3 versions built: Series I, II (pictured) and III (Series III ?gures shown below)
Engine: front mounted 3,929cc, DOHC, 60° v12
Fuel system: 6 Weber 40 DCOE twin choke carburettors
Gears and drive: 5 speed Lamborghini box rear wheel drive
Performance: 350bhp@7,500rpm 155mph / 250kmh
Production: 1,217 built, all types

JARAMA

2 versions built: GT and GTS (pictured) (GTS ?gures shown)
Engine: front mounted 3,929cc, DOHC, 60° v12
Fuel system: 6 Weber 40 DCOE twin choke carburettors
Gears and drive: 5 speed Lamborghini box rear wheel drive
Performance: 365bhp@7,500rpm 162mph / 260kmh
Production: 327 built, both types

URRACO

4 versions built: 200, 250, 250S (pictured) and 300 (300 ?gures shown)
Engine: mid mounted 2,996cc, DOHC, 90° v8
Fuel system: 4 Weber 40 DCNF twin choke carburettors
Gears and drive: 5 speed Lamborghini box rear wheel drive
Performance: 260bhp@7,000rpm 162mph / 260kmh
Production: 776 built, all types

COUNTACH

5 versions built: 400, 400S, 5000S, 5000 Quattrovalvole and 25° Anniversario (prototype car pictured!)(5000 Quattrovalvole ?gures shown)
Engine: mid mounted 5,167cc, 48 valve DOHC, 60° v12
Fuel system: 6 Weber 44 DCNF twin choke carburettors
Gears and drive: 5 speed Lamborghini box rear wheel drive
Performance: 455bhp@7,000rpm 184mph / 297kmh
Production: 1,983 built, all types

SILHOUETTE

Only one version built, based on Urraco 300
Engine: mid mounted 2,996cc, DOHC, 90° v8
Fuel system: 4 Weber 40 DCNF twin choke carburettors
Gears and drive: 5 speed Lamborghini box rear wheel drive
Performance: 260bhp@7,000rpm 162mph / 260kmh
Production: only 54 built

JALPA

Only one version of the Jalpa was built
Engine: mid mounted 3,480cc, DOHC, 90° v8
Fuel system: 4 Weber 42 DCNF twin choke carburettors
Gears and drive: 5 speed Lamborghini box rear wheel drive
Performance: 255bhp@7,000rpm 154mph / 248kmh
Production: 421 built

LM 002

This car was first developed for military use: ‘Lamborghini Militare’, hence LM 002
Engine: front mounted 5,167cc, DOHC, 60° v12
Fuel system: 6 Weber 44 DCNF twin choke carburettors
Gears and drive: 5 speed Lamborghini box 4 wheel drive
Performance: 450bhp@7,000rpm 130mph / 210kmh
Production: 301 built

DIABLO

11 versions of the Diablo were built: the original Diablo was followed by the VT, the SE30, the Roadster, the SV, the SV Roadster, the SVR, the GT, the GTR the 6.0 litre (pictured) and the 6.0 SE (SE30 ?gures shown)
Engine: mid mounted 5,707cc, 48 valve DOHC, 60° v12
Fuel system: Fuel injection
Gears and drive: 5 speed Lamborghini box rear wheel drive
Performance: 540bhp@7,100rpm 207mph / 335kmh
Production: 2,634 built, all types

MURCIÉLAGO

2 versions of the Murciélago have been built to date with a third, higher power car due in 2006: the original Murciélago (pictured) was joined by the Murciélago Roadster in 2003 (Murciélago ?gures shown)
Engine: mid mounted 6,192cc, 48 valve DOHC, 60° v12
Fuel system: Fuel injection
Gears and drive: 6 speed or e-gear Lamborghini box 4 wheel drive
Performance: 580bhp@7,500rpm 205mph / 330kmh
Production: 1,200+ built, so far!

GALLARDO

3 versions of the Gallardo have been built to date with a fourth, higher power car due in 2006: the original Gallardo (pictured) was joined by the Gallardo SE and Gallardo Spyder in 2005 (Gallardo ?gures shown)
Engine: mid mounted 4,961cc, 40 valve DOHC, 90° v10
Fuel system: Fuel injection
Gears and drive: 6 speed or e-gear Lamborghini box 4 wheel drive
Performance: 500bhp@7,800rpm 192mph / 309kmh
Production: 3,000+ built @ 10.11.2005
source by lamborghinivancouver

Read more »

Spyker Set to Sell its Cars in Select Saab Showrooms

Spyker had promised to keep its chocolate discrete from Saab's peanut butter, but it appears Saab's new corporate parent may soon sell its high-end sports cars in Saab showrooms.

"We are signing up Spyker dealerships left, right, and center," Spyker CEO Victor Muller recently told Bloomberg.


Presently, Spyker has only 35 retail outlets across the globe, but that will soon change. Spyker plans on offering its wares -- including the new C8 Aileron -- through a number of select Saab dealerships. Spyker hopes to nearly double its sales network to 60 outlets by the end of this year, and bump that total to 90 by the end of 2011. Doing so may help Spyker move more than the 36 vehicles it sold in 2009.

Adding Spyker models to Saab showrooms will be a big change for most dealers, as pricing and clientele tied to Spyker cars are quite different from that of Saab vehicles. A 2010 Spyker C8 Aileron costs $219,190, while Saab's new 9-5 Aero -- the most expensive Saab model at this time -- starts at $49,990.

Still, every extra dealer helps -- and the extra showrooms are but one of the many Saab resources Spyker hopes to utilize to its benefit. The automaker has previously mentioned using Saab's engineering staff and resources (including the company's wind tunnel laboratory in Trollhattan, Sweden) for new vehicles, and may benefit from lower prices on generic parts that can be used Spyker and Saab models. Muller hopes these moves will help Spyker turn a profit -- something it hasn't done since going public in 2004.

"Spyker will be profitable in its own right, very much helped by its sister Saab," said Muller. "It's wonderful that the company that saved Saab is also benefiting from having done that in its own business."

Source: automobi

Read more »