BMW X1 Petrol Side Profile

The entry level 18i sDrive petrol variant of the X1 crossover has been carefully designed to suit the Indian roads. The car is equipped with a 2-litre 4 cylinder petrol unit. The engine churns a great power of 150Bhp and a great torque of 200NM. The engine is tuned to an efficient six-speed automatic transmission which empowers the dynamic car which can achieve 100kmph in 10.5 seconds. The top notch speed of this crossover stands 200kmph. This elegant petrol version of X1 gives an great fuel economy of 11.25kmpl.



Soon to hit the Indian roads, BMW will be offering a new facelift variant of X1 which is expected to flaunt of its extravagance with some refreshingly new additional inputs that will speak volumes for the car’s elegance. The new version might feature brushed up interiors, 8 speed automatic transmission unit, start-stop button etc. there could be more features that are yet not revealed but will be known shortly. Luxury car maker BMW is shifting gears in order to maintain its numero Uno position. The company is facing a stiffer competition with fast rising luxury car brands such as its most tough competitor Audi.

We’ve tested the BMW R1200GS extensively throughout the years, learning to appreciate its workhorse nature that plods mile after mile in comfort. The GS’ strongest attribute is it’s the “complete package.” There’s nothing glamorous in that description and it’s not a bike that gets splattered with drool from gawking passersby. It goes about the business of seeking adventure with a very Germanic attitude – calculated, steadfast and reliable. It’s a proven machine, but it’s also getting dated. The 2012 model might be the last before a major redesign of the air-cooled Boxer Twin.

So, with hopes of bigger performance numbers from the engine on the horizon, it’s still notable that the GS is no slouch. Against the competition from recent years, the Beemer has been at or near the top of the dyno charts. We coaxed 98.3 horsepower and 76 lb-ft of torque from the opposed cylinders – a slightly better day on the dyno than our 2011 bike. Smack those throttle bodies in the ass and the BMW responds.

TEXT-S&P rates BMW Floorplan Master Owner 

Trust 2012-1 notes

 

-- BMW Floorplan Master Owner Trust's issuance is an ABS securitization
backed by receivables from designated revolving floorplan accounts between BMW
Financial Services N.A. LLC and BMW dealers. The accounts were established to
finance the dealers' inventory of new and used automobiles, light trucks, and
motorcycles.
 -- We assigned our 'AAA (sf)' rating to the class A notes.
     -- The rating reflects our view of the transaction's credit support, 45%
payment rate "step-up" trigger, and underlying payment structure, among other
factors.

NEW YORK (Standard & Poor's) Sept. 19, 2012--Standard & Poor's Ratings
Services today assigned its 'AAA (sf)' rating to BMW Floorplan Master Owner
Trust's $750 million class A floating-rate vehicle loan-backed notes series
2012-1.
The note issuance is an asset-backed securitization backed by receivables from
designated revolving floorplan accounts between BMW Financial Services N.A.
LLC and BMW dealers. The accounts were established to finance the dealers'
inventory of new and used automobiles, light trucks, and motorcycles.

The rating reflects our view of:
     -- Our view that the transaction's 19.26% hard credit support is
sufficient to withstand our stress scenarios commensurate with the 'AAA (sf)'
rating assigned to the notes. Our stress scenarios assume the payment rate
declines to approximately 45%-55% of the applicable early amortization trigger
within six months after the transaction enters an early amortization period.
Our assumptions also include an increase in the frequency of dealer defaults

BMW launcing new BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe

 

Details regarding this year’s most eagerly anticipated all-new model launch from the world’s leading manufacturer of premium vehicles, the BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe, have been revealed ahead of its official launch.

Confirmation of an impressive list of standard equipment combined with renowned driving dynamics ensure the very first four-door Coupe in the history of BMW is a breathtaking combination of sports car meets luxury sedan.

"The new model reaffirms BMW’s position as creator of the Ultimate Driving Machine and further enhances the appeal of the BMW range," said the Managing Director of BMW Group New Zealand, Mark Gilbert.

"It is a stunning new model which unites extraordinary dynamics and the sheer good looks of a classic BMW Coupe with luxurious appeal."

"No other premium model combines so many innovations in its drivetrain, chassis and electronic networking. The result is an extraordinary driving experience that is unparalleled by any competitor."

The all new BMW 6 Series Gran Coupé sets new standards in sporting performance combining with appealing aesthetics, resulting in a commanding road presence

The interior exudes a luxurious ambience, while EfficientDynamics technology contributes to impressive fuel efficiency of the six cylinder diesel and V8 petrol powertrains, both of which are coupled with an eight-speed sports automatic gearbox with Driving Experience Control.

Innovative ConnectedDrive features benefit the driving experience from safety and infotainment perspective. Segment-leading features fitted as standard include Cruise Control with braking function, full colour Head-Up Display, Park Distance Control (PDC), Surround View including Top View and Side View, Parking Assistant, Speed Limit Device, Lane Departure Warning, Lane Change Warning, Internet functionality, Navigation System Professional and Music Interface for Smartphones.

"The BMW 6 Series Gran Coupé is the new benchmark in the four-door Coupe segment thanks to athletic design, sporty appeal and exclusive equipment features," said Mr Gilbert.

"It typifies what is expected of a BMW - a luxurious interior loaded with premium appointments combined with a dynamic on-road experience."

 

2012 Lambogini Gallardo Lp550-2 GZ8 Limited  Edition

 

While everyone is waiting for the final edition Gallardo, Lamborghini has decided to offer its faithful Chinese customers a new special edition called the Gallardo LP550-2 GZ8 Edizione Limitata. The name is quite a mouthful, but it has a purpose. The GZ stands for Guangzou, while the number 8 indicates the number of units that will be built. The downside to this special edition is the price tag usually associated with a limited special edition; all eight customers will have to fork over 4 million Yuan (or about $600,000 at the current rates) to park this baby in their garages.

For that kind of money, they’ll get a very special set of orange wheels and a carbon fiber rear wing, matte black engine cover, and glossy black roof borrowed from the Super Trofeo Stradale Edition. The package continues with carbon fiber exterior rear view mirrors, carbon fiber side skirts, special black and orange striping in the Superleggera style on the side, and a new front bumper. Since this is a special edition, there will be "’GZ8 Edizione Limitata" logo on the outside of the super car, as well as aGZ8 logo on the headrests, to further differentiate them from the rest.

So far, we don’t really see anything that warrants a $600,000 price tag, except for the fact that only eight will be built. Those orange wheels must be expensive! (Insert sarcasm here)
 

Lambogini Gallardo recalled due to potential fluid leak

Lamborghini is currently working on the successor for the Gallardo - rumored to be called the Cabrera - but the "old" Gallardo just isn’t ready to step out of the spotlight. Lamborghini has just issued a recall for the 2004, 2005, and 2006 model years, stating that some of the power steering hoses are defective which could lead to potential fluid leak. From all the units sold during that period, a total of 1,491 were delivered to the US.

Lamborghini explains that the high pressure hoses for the hydraulically-assisted power steering system may leak in certain driving situations and when this gets in contact with a fluid, a fire could occur.

Each client that is driving a model that is from these model year should contact the closest Lamborghini dealer for a free safety update of the steering system. For more details contact National Highway Traffic Safety Administration at 1-888-327-4236 or Lamborghini at 1-703-364-7042.

2012 Lambogini Gallardo Project Mastermind 

by SR Auto Group

 

We don’t know if it’s a case of separation anxiety but considering that the Lamborghini Gallardo is nearing its end, there appears to be a growing number of aftermarket programs for the Italian super car.

Not one to be left out on the loop, SR Auto Group is back with another project and surprise, surprise, it’s for the Gallardo Spyder.

Called "Project Mastermind" - love the name! - the program doesn’t carry any performance modifications because SR Auto Group doesn’t roll like that. What they’re adept at, though, are aesthetic enhancements and that’s exactly what they did, dressing up the Gallardo Spyder in a Modern Matte Black paint finish to go with a new set of spicy 20" PUR 2WO Monoblock wheels.

Despite not having any engine upgrades, the Gallardo Spyder still packs quite a wallop, thanks to a 5.2-liter V10 engine that produces 550 horsepower and 398 lb/ft of torque. That translates to a 0-62 mph of just 4.2 seconds with a top speed of 198 mph.

Lambogini Sesto Elemento Shows off its Throaty Exhaust

Oh the Lamborghini Sesto Elemento, how we love thee. At $2.5 million and not even legal for street use, it is a pipe dream for 99.9 percent of the world. And only about 1 percent of that 0.1 percent would actually buy one.
So that makes it one of the sickest cars to date.

There have been very few videos of this ultra-rare, ultra-expensive supercar and even fewer that actually show this beast running and moving. We got to see only a few seconds of it running and revving whenJay Leno met up with the Lambo Brass, but that just wasn’t enough for us. Now a fine videographer, BrianZuk, has managed to get us the shot we all want – The all carbon-fiber, 999 kg (2,202 lb) Sesto Elemento running and moving.

n the video, you not only get to hear its 570-horsepower race-tuned Gallardo engine, which makes a phenomenal noise, but you may also notice the taillights doing a little strobe deal. No, Lambo isn’t planning on rolling out the Sesto rocking strobe lights in full rave-party fashion. Rather our investigative skills discovered that LED lights actually multiplex (flash) when they are run at 60 Hz, which helps save power. The average camera’s frame rate is too slow and actually picks up this flashing though you will never see it in person.

Disclaimer: We know precisely jack squat about LED lights. We got this information courtesy of some dude that claims he owns an LED shop.









What makes the video is at about the 54-second mark we also get to see the Sesto Elemento hit the streets, though the driver never gets it over about 20 mph. It’s funny to see the driver needing guided over a very, very low bump in the road – no larger than two No. 2 pencils laying on top of each other. That just shows how low this car really is.


What an impressive hunk of machinery. We can’t wait to see these things on GT Circuits around the world. We wonder how long it’ll be before someone puts up a hoon video featuring this multi-million-dollar beast.

2004-2008 Lamborgini gallardo SOHO by DMC

 

 Let’s say you picked up a 2004 to 2008 Gallardo only to fall in love with the Gallardo LP-570-4 when it hit showrooms in 2012. Instead of taking a huge hit trading up to the LP-570-4, DMC – no, not THAT DMC, the German car tuner – has a solution for you in the form of its Gallardo SOHO upgrade

DMC starts off by eliminating the Gallardo’s front fascia and adding in a replacement piece that has more of the pointed nose, like the LP-570. On the bottom of the fascia are the signature air intakes and lower lip spoilers. On each end of the front fascia is the same diffuser you’ll find on an LP-570, showing DMC’s attention to detail.

The rear end is another part of the Lamborghini Gallardo that has obvious differences between the LP570 and the base model, so DMC completely revised it. DMC began by ripping off the entire rear fascia and replacing it with one that boasts the same lengthwise grated opening that the LP-570 boasts. Under the fascia, DMC added in a rear diffuser that very closely mimics that on the LP-570, including the lower brake light assembly and the cutout near the center.

Also on the backside DMC also includes a pair of dual-exit exhaust tip, just like the LP-570, and even a twin-pedestal wing with center high-mounted stoplight. Every body piece added to the Gallardo is made from lightweight carbon fiber, to avoid adding too much weight to the base car.

The interior boasts an overhaul as well. DMC will fit your Gallardo with carbon fiber and Italian leather to complete the aesthetic overhaul.

n the engine compartment, the 2004 through 2008 Gallardo gives up 58 to 73 horsepower, depending on the year. DMC’s engineers helped compensate for that with some engine management mods that bump the Gallardo’s up about 40 horsepower making its new top speed 322 km/h (200 mph). For a little extra scratch, you can add in the DMC sport catalytic converter and get an extra 28 ponies.

Overall, this is a pretty sweet build, but we can’t find pricing anywhere on it. We have reached out to DMC for pricing information.

Video: Jay Leno interviews Lamborghini CEO 

Stephan Winkelmann

 Pebble Beach 2012: Lamborghini Concepts - 

Jay Leno's Garage

 concept cars.

Usually each episode of the Jay Leno’s Garage is about reviewing a very cool car currently launched on the market, or a concept car you will never have the chance to drive. However, this latest episode is a little bit different.

Jay Leno has a special guest: Lamborghini CEO Stephan Winkelmann! He walks around the Urus andSesto Elemento concepts, and lays out plans for the marque’s 50th anniversary celebration. And we have to admit this celebration looks pretty impressive: a Grand Tour of Italy with over 300 Lamborghini invited from all around the world.
Winkelmann is talking about the Urus concept and offers a few details on the Urus SUV production version. All you have to do is watch the video and you will find out new things about Lamborghini and these two amazing concept cars.