Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[BMW plant in Spartanburg, SC produces 1.5 millionth vehicle]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/10/bmw-plant-in-spartanburg-sc-produces-1-5-millionth-vehicle/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/10/bmw-plant-in-spartanburg-sc-produces-1-5-millionth-vehicle/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/10/bmw-plant-in-spartanburg-sc-produces-1-5-millionth-vehicle/#commentsFiled under: ,



BMW invaded the South in 1993, and it's first U.S.-made product was popped out in September a year later. Fifteen years after that there have been five factory expansions, 5,000 jobs created, a methane gas pipeline installed, a center for automotive research created, a golf tournament started, and 1.5 million combined versions of the 318i, Z3, Z4, X5 and X6 run over the factory threshold. The 1.5 millionth vehicle was an Oyster Blue and Ivory X6 for a Hong Kong customer. Just goes to show those Confederates might have been right: the South is rising again... You can read all about it in the presser after the jump.

[Source: BMW]

Continue reading BMW plant in Spartanburg, SC produces 1.5 millionth vehicle

BMW plant in Spartanburg, SC produces 1.5 millionth vehicle originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 10 Sep 2009 09:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bmwbmw x5bmw x6bmw z3bmw z4BmwX5BmwX6BmwZ3BmwZ4factoriesmanufacturingmilestonesplantssouth carolinaSouthCarolinaspartanburgx5x6z3z4Thu, 10 Sep 2009 09:28:00 EST<![CDATA[RR of the Day: 2001 BMW M Coupé]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/01/29/rr-of-the-day-2001-bmw-m-coupe/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/01/29/rr-of-the-day-2001-bmw-m-coupe/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/01/29/rr-of-the-day-2001-bmw-m-coupe/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Everyone has a list of vehicles that they want to drive before they die, for me, today's RR of the Day is a vehicle that I've vowed to own. The first time I saw an M coupé in person at a strip mall in my hometown, I waited 20 minutes for the owner to come out, interrogated him for a half an hour and then talked him in to giving me a ride. Unlike today's example, his black 2000 model housed a 240 HP, S52 engine that provided ample motivation for the three-door oddity. CT57's, however, is equipped with an S54, the same 330 HP mill found within the E46 M3 that we know and love.

The rest of the details are after the jump, along with instructions on how to get your own ride featured here.

Continue reading RR of the Day: 2001 BMW M Coupé

RR of the Day: 2001 BMW M Coupé originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 29 Jan 2007 09:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bmwm coupem3MCoupes52s54z3Mon, 29 Jan 2007 09:56:00 EST<![CDATA[Cross-Dresser: Miata fronts as Z3 on eBay]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/01/04/cross-dresser-miata-fronts-as-z3-on-ebay/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/01/04/cross-dresser-miata-fronts-as-z3-on-ebay/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/01/04/cross-dresser-miata-fronts-as-z3-on-ebay/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



When does a 1995 Mazda Miata cease being a Miata? We're not sure it ever truly does, but the owner of this particular example put in a Herculean effort to try and make it happen. No folks, your eyes do not deceive you: despite all the Bimmer-look trickery, the car you see here is a '95 Miata with 85,000 miles on the odometer, and if you want it, it's just a click away at eBay.

Sporting an engine and tranny that reportedly have under 40,000 miles on them, the pseudo-Z3 is painted Atlanta Blue and actually sports authentic BMW lights (front and rear), grilles and badging. The winner will also get an assortment of other accessories, including a set of underdrive pulleys, thrown in on the deal. Click the image above to view the auction, where the seller has several more photos loaded.

[Source: eBay via Carscoop]

Cross-Dresser: Miata fronts as Z3 on eBay originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 04 Jan 2007 10:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>miatamiata zeMiataZemx-5mx-5 Z3Mx-5Z3z3z3 cloneZ3CloneThu, 04 Jan 2007 10:07:00 EST<![CDATA[South African website names "gayest, straightest, and sexiest" cars]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/12/13/south-african-website-names-gayest-straightest-and-sexiest-c/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/12/13/south-african-website-names-gayest-straightest-and-sexiest-c/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/12/13/south-african-website-names-gayest-straightest-and-sexiest-c/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

And to think, VW/Audi is at the forefront of marketing its vehicles to LGBT audiences...

In the latest round of assigning sexuality to vehicles, the Audi RS4 has emerged as the "straightest" car around in the "Alternative Car of the Year" poll, conducted by Wheels24, a South African online automotive publication. Funny, we know quite a few gay guys who drive Audis.

Volkswagen made the cut as well, with its Jetta filling in the fourth spot in the poll. Toyota also racked up two placements in the "straight" column, with its Fortuner coming in second place and the Lexus IS250 rounding out the poll in fifth. Dodge's macho ads for the Caliber have also apparently paid off -- the "not cute" Neon replacement came in third.

To the likely disappointment of many Autoblog readers who have dubbed the MINI Cooper the gayest car in the comments section of our site, Wheels24 readers actually think the Peugeot 207 deserves the title instead, with the BMW 3-series coupe serving as the runner up. The Jaguar XK came in third, with the Honda Civic hatch and Alfa Romeo 159 coming in fourth and fifth, respectively.

Most individuals -- gay or straight -- can appreciate a nice rear end, so Wheels24 included that in its poll as well. Cars with the sexiest rear end include as follows:

1. Alfa Brera
2. BMW Z4 Coupe
3. Opel Astra GTC
4. Renault Clio
5. Nissan Tiida

[Source: Wheels24]

South African website names "gayest, straightest, and sexiest" cars originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 13 Dec 2006 09:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AFAAlfa BreraAlfa RomeoAlfaBreraAlfaRomeoAudiBMWCaliberDodgegayLGBTMINI CooperMiniCooperNissanOpelPeugeotRenaultSouth AfricaSouthAfricastraightVolkswagenZ3Z4Wed, 13 Dec 2006 09:29:00 EST<![CDATA[The Z4 goes bi: Hartge Biturbo Z30]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/12/05/the-z4-goes-bi-hartge-biturbo-z30/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/12/05/the-z4-goes-bi-hartge-biturbo-z30/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/12/05/the-z4-goes-bi-hartge-biturbo-z30/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,



BMW tuner Hartge is no stranger to building fast BMWs. Stuffing the 5.0-liter V10 into a 3-series, and a 4.4-liter V8 into a 1-Series are just a couple of their recent feats of magic. The latest transformation is the H30 Biturbo, taking the twin-turbo 3.0-liter straight six from the 335i and filling the bonnet of a Z3 with boost. Producing 380 horsepower and 332 ft/lbs of torque, the modified motor will get you to 62 miles per hour (100 KMH) in a scant 4.8 seconds on your way to a top speed of 177 miles per hour.

More info and pics after the jump.

[Source: AutoMotorundSport]

Continue reading The Z4 goes bi: Hartge Biturbo Z30

The Z4 goes bi: Hartge Biturbo Z30 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 05 Dec 2006 06:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3.0 liter twin turbo3.0LiterTwinTurboBMWHartge H30HartgeH30Z3Tue, 05 Dec 2006 06:31:00 EST<![CDATA[Wll the next roadster from BMW be a Z6?]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/11/08/wll-the-next-roadster-from-bmw-be-a-z6/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/11/08/wll-the-next-roadster-from-bmw-be-a-z6/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/11/08/wll-the-next-roadster-from-bmw-be-a-z6/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

The original Z3 roadster enjoyed respectable sales numbers. Then along came the Bangle-ized Z4. Sales of the Z4 aren't bad, but haven't set the world on fire either. So is it time for a replacement?

With rumors and speculation swirling, the folks at Hidden Image took the info they had and created a couple of images of just what a Z6 roadster might look like. How about a Z6 with a 500 BHP V10 and a proper 6-speed manual transmission? Hold on to your toupee!

[Source: Winding Road]

Continue reading Wll the next roadster from BMW be a Z6?

Wll the next roadster from BMW be a Z6? originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 08 Nov 2006 13:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BMWHidden ImageHiddenImageroadsterZ3Z4Z6Wed, 08 Nov 2006 13:34:00 EST