BMW 6-SERIES COUPE TO DEBUT IN SHANGHAI

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By Drew Johnson

Most automakers tend to unveil hardtop models before their convertible counterparts, but BMW is shaking things up a bit with its new 6-Series. The German automaker pulled the sheet on its 6-Series convertible at January’s Detroit Auto Show, but the car’s hard-top variant won’t make its public debut until April’s Shanghai Auto Show.

Although we have yet to see any official photos of the new 6-Series coupe, it seems safe to assume it will closely follow the design of the recently unveiled convertible. The 6-Series’ coupe variant was also previewed by the Concept 6-Series Coupe.

The 6-Series coupe will likely arrive in base form as the 640i. Like the 640i convertible, the 640i coupe will be powered by a 320 horsepower version of BMW’s turbocharged 3.0L six-cylinder. BMW’s 407 horsepower 4.4L V8 will also be available in the 650i coupe.

The 6-Series coupe and convertible should be on dealer lots by spring. Pricing has yet to be announced, but expect a slight premium over the current car.

http://www.leftlanenews.com/report-bmw-6-series-coupe-to-debut-in-shanghai.html

Review: 2008 BMW 128i Convertible

Credit: CNET Networks)

Except for its price, the 2008 BMW 128i Convertible may be the least BMW-like car from the automaker. Oh, it does have all the cutting-edge tech found in BMW's other models, including a pop-up LCD that is surprisingly immune to glare. But where its turbo-charged brother, the 135i, feels glued to the road, the 128i Convertible's wheels seem to stretch away from the car in the corners. And where the 135i leaps forward with smooth and hard acceleration, the 128i Convertible's power delivery feels uneven.

Read the review.

Originally posted at The Car Tech blog

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Crave.com

2007 Frankfurt auto show: Day three roundup

The Porsche 911 GT2 is one of the new models on display at the 2007 Frankfurt auto show
(Credit: CNET Networks)

The 2007 Frankfurt auto show officially opens to the public on Saturday, but we've been getting a preview of the automotive delights on display for the past couple of days. CNET Car Tech Senior Editor Wayne Cunningham has been busy scouring the show floor to bring you a whole slew of picture galleries. His roundup of the show's speed kings includes close-ups of the V-8 BMW M3, the Porsche 911 GT2, and the Mercedes C63.

Meanwhile, Frankfurt is showing off its fair share of concept cars, including the futuristic Nissan Mixim and the Porsche Cayenne hybrid. Among the new models on show, BMW's 1-Series sedan and updated 6-Series coupe have been real crowd-pleasers, as has the production version of Volkswagen's Tiguan crossover. As ever, you can check out all the coverage from the show on our new, dedicated Car Tech blog. [...]

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Kevin Massy. CRAVE

2007 Frankfurt auto show: Day two roundup

Mercedes' F700 is being used to demonstrate prototype cabin technology at Frankfurt
(Credit: CNET Networks)

The new models and concept cars just keep on coming at the 2007 Frankfurt auto show. One notable trend at this year's event is the willingness of luxury German automakers to finally embrace hybrid technology, with Audi, BMW, Porsche, and Mercedes all either announcing production hybrids or showing off advanced hybrid concepts. Meanwhile, the 2009 Jaguar XF shows that concept technology can make it off the auto show floor, as the latest Big Cat retains its futuristic shifter for production. On the subject of cabin gadgetry, automotive equipment manufacturer Siemens VDO showed off its next-generation in-car touch screen technology, among other things, while Mercedes used its F700 research vehicle to demonstrate a prototype of a new version of its COMAND interface. All this plus a badass million-dollar Lamborghini, a look at the clean diesel-hybrid vehicles of the future, and tons more from the show can be found over on our new Car Tech blog, right here. [...]

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Kevin Massy. CRAVE

Photos: BMW Hydrogen 7

BMW rolled into town last night with a fleet of Hydrogen 7 sedans for us to test drive. Having already driven hydrogen cars from Honda and GM, we were intrigued to get behind the wheel of a hydrogen Bimmer, which differs from most other hydrogen-powered cars in that it doesn't rely on a fuel cell and electric drive train. Instead, it uses a modified version of the BMW 760Li's V-12 internal combustion engine to burn hydrogen in the cylinders in the same way as gasoline. It also differs from the pack in that that the hydrogen is stored in a liquid state rather than as a gas. Check out our gallery of the experience and more details on the car here.

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BMW tops carbon-conscious list

Besides Toyota Motor and BMW, automakers haven't done a great job of building fleets that emit less carbon dioxide, according to an Environmental Defense report.

The organization's 80-page report, called "Automakers' Corporate Carbon Burdens" (PDF), evaluated the carbon dioxide emissions of vehicles from major automakers between 1990 and 2005. Companies graded were: Ford Motor, General Motors, DaimlerChrysler, Toyota, Honda Motor, Nissan Motor, Hyundai Motor, Kia Motors, Volkswagen, BMW, Subaru and Mitsubishi Motors.

"The rate of carbon dioxide emissions from new cars and light trucks in the U.S. dipped for the first time in two decades, but their overall contribution to global warming has continued to grow steadily since 1990," Environmental Defense said in a statement.

BMW achieved a 12 percent reduction in carbon dioxide emissions across its entire fleet of cars, more than any of the other car companies included in the study. Environmental Defense attributes the drop to the company's addition of the low carbon dioxide-emitting Mini Cooper to its lineup, as well as efficiency improvements made across its entire line of cars.

Toyota was rated the second best, reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 3 percent overall during that period, due in large part to its introduction of the Prius hybrid to its lineup and efficiency improvements made to the Corolla.

The report also rated the overall "carbon burden" that automakers placed on the environment, based on factors that included the emissions of their cars and the number of cars sold.

In this area, GM ...

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