Report: BMW to develop 5 Series-based electric sedan for Chinese market

The China's Beijing Youth Daily reports that BMW, along with joint venture partner Brilliance China Automotive Holdings Ltd., will develop a 5 Series-based electric sedan targeted specifically at the Chinese market. The report claims that a battery-powered 5 Series concept will make its debut in China sometime in 2011, likely at the Shanghai Motor Show in April.

BMW Brilliance Automotive Co., the joint venture between BMW and Brilliance, currently manufacturers both the 3 Series and 5 Series sedans in the Chinese city of Shenyang. In 2010, the BMW Group sold 169,000 vehicles in China, a surge of 87 percent over the sales it tallied in in 2009.

Report: Lotus to overhaul Exige, Evora ahead of Esprit production

It's no secret that Lotus has monumental plans in the coming years, announcing no fewer than four new models at the 2010 Paris Motor Show that it says will gradually roll out over the next several years. But there's no denying that the British firm's current level of success was built on the excellence that is the Lotus Elise, Exige and, most recently, Evora.

That being the case, we're hoping that a report from Autocar in the UK is accurate and that Lotus has plans to overhaul the Exige and give the Evora a heavily updated interior before the Esprit goes into production in late 2012. We certainly wouldn't expect wholesale changes to either machine – engineering budgets are surely being diverted elsewhere – but a little something to keep its current models fresh in the eyes of consumers would go a long way towards bridging the gap between the present and the Ferrari-fighting future.


[Source: Autocar]

Mazda MX-5 production hits 900,000 units

After 21 years, 10 months and countless hair dresser jokes, the 900,000th Mazda Miata has rolled off the assembly line in Hiroshima, Japan.

Originally created to capture the essence of classic British roadsters, the 1989 Miata won critical acclaim for its simplicity and fun driving dynamics.

According to Nobuhiro Yamamoto, the program manager of the current MX-5, "Since Mazda launched the original MX-5, it has undergone two complete product redesigns and a series of upgrades. Its enduring success is due to the strong support it enjoys from MX-5 fans around the world. Going forward, I will strive to keep the MX-5's spirit alive while evolving it into a car that will be loved by even more people."

Source: Mazda

Happy New Year - Audi jacks up prices for 2011

Audi is hiking prices on certain models for 2011.

In Germany, Audi prices for the TT, Q7, A8 and R8 models will rise by an average of 0.9 percent and those hikes can be expected in most other European markets too.

For the flagship R8 supercar, starting price on the 4.2 liter V8 variant will be €110,000 instead of €109,100. The R8 Spyder goes up by €1,000 to €122,100.

The A8 3.0 TDI will start at €79,900 - a €700 bump. But base price on the Q7 3.0 TDI stays put at €51,800. The Q7 3.0 liter petrol gets a €600 hike to €53,500.

The entry-level Audi TT with the 160 PS 1.8 liter petrol will go up by €300 to start at €30,500.



Price hikes take effect as of January 17, 2011.

Source: Auto Bild

Chevy Camaro platform underpins new GM vehicle in Chicago

General Motors has big plans for the upcoming Chicago Auto Show. At the exposition opening this week, GM will unveil a pair of new vehicles, although details on what form they'll take remain scarce.
The news comes from reports quoting GM's North American president Mark Reuss. All he's revealed at this point is that one of the two cars will be based on the Chevrolet Camaro's platform. That tells us it will be a front-engine/rear-drive vehicle, but little else. So, commence speculation: Camaro Z28? Chevy Zeta-platform sedan? (Which we think should be called Chevelle, because hey, if Dodge can call its sedan Charger...)

As for the second car slated for the Windy City salon, your guess is as good as ours. So we'll just have to sit tight and see what the General has got in store for us.



[Source: The Detroit News] 

Chicago 2011: 2012 Buick Regal eAssist live in the Windy City

We received the first details about Buick's new Regal eAssist earlier today, but we've just returned from seeing the car in person before the Chicago Auto Show officially kicks off tomorrow. Visually, the more fuel-efficient Regal looks no different than the standard car, save the addition of eco-friendly 17-inch alloy wheels and low-rolling-resistance tires.

What's most important about this car is what's under the hood – a 15-kilowatt electric motor that offers 15 horsepower and 110 pound-feet of torque for initial acceleration thrust, matched with Buick's 2.4-liter direct-injected inline-four. Combine that with regenerative braking and a start/stop system for the engine, and the end result is a Regal that's capable of achieving 26 miles per gallon in the city and 37 mpg highway.

Buick's new eAssist system first debuted on the larger LaCrosse sedan, where it will serve as the base powertrain for 2012 model year vehicles. With the Regal, however, the eAssist model will slot just above the base 2.4-liter car and below the Regal Turbo, which uses the automaker's 220-horsepower 2.0-liter Ecotec inline-four. Pricing will be announced closer to the eAssist's official launch later this year.

Toyota debuts modestly refreshed 2011 Matrix in Chicago

Toyota will not be having a formal press conference at this week's Chicago Auto Show, but the automaker will still have something fresh on its stand. The 2011 Matrix hatchback has officially bowed, with a slightly retouched exterior (new wheels, different paint choices, etc.), a touched-up interior with a new steering wheel and seat fabrics, and a new standard brake-override system called Smart Stop.

The 2011 Matrix is only available in two trim levels – base and S – and is powered by either a 132-horsepower 1.8-liter or 158-horsepower 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine. Transmission choices include a four- or five-speed automatic, as well as a five-speed manual, and all-wheel drive is available on the Matrix S when paired with the 2.4-liter powerplant.

New sport packages are available for both Matrix trims, with the S Sport Package incorporating things like 17-inch alloy wheels, front and rear underbody spoilers, a roof-mounted rear spoiler and, of course, 'S' badging. Pricing has not been released for the 2011 Matrix as of this writing, but we expect the starting MSRP to be just under $17,000. Follow the jump for the official details.


[Source: Toyota]