Recent Comments:
BMW 520d beats Prius in gas mileage {Autoblog}
Mar 23rd 2008 7:09PM Addressing the but a Prius is smaller can cheaper. Over in euroland where this test was done BMW sell the 1 series as a 5 door hatch, one particular option is the 118d which retails for £18,800 as whilst a basic Prius T3 is £17,777. So approx £1,000 more for the BMW. Both cars are in the same size class yet the official fuel consumption figures are:
Prius 65mpg (imperial), 109g/km
118d 62mpg (imperial), 119g/km
I'd bet that under a real world test the 118d would substantially beat a Prius. The offical figures for a 520d are:
55.4mpg (imperial), 136g/km
It must be noted that the co2/km figure is calculated from the combined cycle fuel economy figure so any test that over states economy will understate co2 emissions.
BMW mystery device {Autoblog}
Dec 31st 2006 10:30PM For some strange reason the first picture made me think of iDrive... hmm new iDrive controler?
Citroën offers boy-racer-look C1 Chrono {Autoblog}
Dec 31st 2006 8:12PM Look ma it's an uglifed Aygo+
BMW M3 featured in Feb. issue of CAR {Autoblog}
Dec 31st 2006 5:19PM £48k sounds about the right price. UK prices can not and should not be used as straight exchange rate conversion, cause they'll always come out far to expensive.
For comparision the current M3 Coupe 3.2 SMG costs £43,493 in the UK so a £5,000 (10%) increase would be inline with previous increases going from E46's to E9x's cars.
Google Earth exposes automakers' secret test tracks around the world {Autoblog}
Dec 14th 2006 8:07PM #8. BMW does have its own test track complex near Aschheim, Germany and an additional facility near/at Miramas, France. But yes BMW also have a testing support facility near the Nürburgring.
BMW officially acquires the John Cooper Works brand {Autoblog}
Dec 14th 2006 1:23PM Makes a lot of sense considering the production plan based around JCW spec R56's to being built online rather than a dealer retrofit or factory off line build.
Peugeot 207 CC: drop-top good looks {Autoblog}
Dec 6th 2006 6:09PM It is not that the Peugeot range doesn't comply with emissions and/or construction regulations that causes their website to say "Automobiles Peugeot does not manufacture vehicles that conform to current United States regulations" rather it is simply a case of the vehicles not having been tested for conformance. When it comes to dealing with the EPA is really is a case no testing = not conformant = no sale.
VW for example don't bring 1.6l, 2.0l FSI or 1.4 TSI golf/rabbit's over because they have not done the emissions test which would cost a few million dollars per vehicle/engine.
Furthermore you realise that is car will be priced around 21,000 euros (about $27,978 USD). Even the standard hatchback in GT trim costs around 17,000 euros ($22,649) for comparison:
- Renault Clio Dynamique 2.0 €17,000 ($22,649)
- VW Polo 1.6 €17,700 ($23,581)
- Ford Fiesta Ghia 1.6 €14,900 ($19,851)
All these cars are about the same size as a Honda FIT, incidentally that car in European spec costs €15,000 ($19,984).
Which likely explains why it is rare of European targeted car models to be exported to the US, Ford NA not taking the European Focus is a case in point.
Bugatti moving ahead with Veyron successor {Autoblog}
Dec 1st 2006 8:34PM 4# Why doesn't Porsche take the gearbox out of the Veyron to use on the 997 911 Turbo.
Cause the Veyron transmission is a $40,000 dollar component, each box is hand built by Ricardo at rate of 2 units per week on the same "line" as their high end motorsport boxes (e.g. F1). I'd be amazed if Porsche where prepared to pay that sort of dollar for a production box, Porsche competition boxes built by Ricardo actually cost less.
REPORT: News from inside Ford's secret product reveal to employees {Autoblog}
Nov 27th 2006 10:19PM Below 2.0 litre you say well ford europe has:
Gasoline (european premium unleaded 94/95 RON)
- 1.25 16v 75BHP
- 1.4 16v 79BHP
- 1.6 16v 99BHP or 113BHP
- 1.8 16v 123BHP
- 2.0 16v 148BHP
Diesel (European >50ppm ULSD)
- 1.4TDCi 67BHP
- 1.6TDCi 89BHP (without DFP), 108BHP (with DFP)
- 1.8TDCi 113BHP
- 2.0TDCi 134BHP (with DFP)
So plenty of choice to pick from.
Ling Valentine: I AM BEST! I human being, not robot! Full green data here, a web first! {Autoblog Green}
Nov 22nd 2006 10:39AM Alternatively, if you want to compare emissions data without having to read that site then there is always http://www.vcacarfueldata.org.uk/ which is where she is actually getting the data from.
Should you be shopping for a new car within the UK you could just go visit a physical car showroom where they are required (by their trade body as condition of membership) to display the emissions data on every display vehicle.
Even the online new vehicle sellers/renters/leasing companies are required to publish emissions and fuel economy data, her particular first is to colour code the data as physical sticker would be.
