Autoblog

Top ten most and least expensive cars to insure in 2011

Jeff Glucker — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 19:02:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Aston Martin, BMW, Chrysler, Ford, Honda, Jeep, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Porsche, Toyota

With the calendar year changing from 2010 to 2011, insurance adjusters have recompiled their actuarial tables and that means a new list of the cheapest and most expensive vehicles to insure for the new year. In this case, Insure.com recently conducted a survey of the nations six top insurance carriers and complied a list of 40 vehicles that take top honors in each category.

The study goes past the specific model and narrows down vehicles by trim. Somewhat unsurprisingly, the least expensive vehicles are dominated by minivans, while the most expensive list is filled with high-powered German machines. We cut down the list of 40 to show you the top 10 from each side of the fence and included the average annual premium for each vehicle after the jump.

[Source: Insure.com]

Continue reading Top ten most and least expensive cars to insure in 2011

Top ten most and least expensive cars to insure in 2011 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 11 Jan 2011 19:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Autoblog Podcast #178: GM Profit, Civic Redesign, 40 mpg Fiesta

Dan Roth — Tue, 18 May 2010 17:19:00 EST

Filed under: Podcasts, Etc., BMW, Ford, GM, Earnings/Financials

Click above for the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes, RSS or listen now!

Our iTunes feed for the Autoblog Podcast is still busted, thanks to the TV Squad debacle with an update gone wrong. We're still waiting on resolution of the issue, and the real fix may involve each and every one of you having to resubscribe. We'll let you know.

In the meantime, if you subscribe to The Autoblog Podcast via iTunes, you may not automatically receive this week's episode. The easiest workaround until we get this fixed is to use the link below to download the MP3 file directly and drag it into iTunes. We're terribly sorry for the inconvenience, thanks for your ongoing patience.

For Episode #178 of the Autoblog Podcast, Chris Shunk, Sam Abuelsamid, and Dan Roth cover GM's profit announcement, the delayed Honda Civic redesign, the 40 mpg fuel economy rating for the Ford Fiesta, and wistfully pine to have been part of our recent sports car comparison test. It starts with the Autoblog Garage and ends with a couple questions, with 82 minutes between snippets of theme music. See you next week!

Autoblog Podcast #178: GM Profit, Civic Redesign, 40 mpg Fiesta

In the Autoblog Garage:

BMW 750Li
BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo
Toyota Tacoma

Hosts:
Chris Shunk, Sam Abuelsamid, Dan Roth,
Runtime: 1:22:04

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Autoblog Podcast #178: GM Profit, Civic Redesign, 40 mpg Fiesta originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 18 May 2010 17:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2009 BMW 750i dyno'd, proven under-rated power

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Fri, 01 May 2009 10:01:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, BMW

2009 BMW 750i - Click above for high-res image gallery

Somehow, we doubt that dyno numbers are quite as important to individuals who are in the market for a new BMW 7 Series as they are to someone shopping for a new Camaro, GT-R or Corvette. As casual observers, though, we'll always be interested to see what happens when a twin-turbo V8 from Bavaria's finest gets a chance to stretch its legs a bit. Fortunately, we're not disappointed with the results.

BMW rates the 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 at 400 horsepower at 5,500 rpm and 450 pound-feet of torque at 1,800 rpm as it leaves the factory. According to the lucky crew over at Inside Line, BMW's brand-new 750i managed to put down an impressive 391 horsepower at around 5,500 RPM and 434 lb-ft of torque at about 3,500 RPM. Those numbers are at the rear wheels, so drivetrain losses of around 15% must be factored in to find the true power output of the engine itself.

In other words, this engine puts out considerably more ponies than BMW claims. Interestingly, the same is true of BMW's 3.0-liter twin-turbo inline six-cylinder engine. We don't know about you, but this is an error we can forgive.

Gallery: Review: 2009 BMW 750i

[Source: Inside Line]

2009 BMW 750i dyno'd, proven under-rated power originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 01 May 2009 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Review: 2009 BMW 750i

Sam Abuelsamid — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 11:58:00 EST

Filed under: In the Autoblog Garage, Sedan, BMW, New Car Reviews, Luxury

2009 BMW 750i - Click above for high-res image gallery

The BMW 7 Series and the Mercedes-Benz S-class are two vehicles utterly defined by their birthplace. Each was spawned in Southern Germany, where massive stretches of autobahn honed their ability to cover boundless distances at high velocities, cosseting occupants in Teutonic luxury. But they're decidedly different beasts. In spite of their similarities, the two brands have always had distinct personalities. BMW followed its tag-line of the "Ultimate Driving Machine," while Mercedes stuck to its more sober image, focusing on its "Best in German engineering" meme.

As so often happens, automakers feel compelled to grow and expand beyond traditional audiences, and at times, the result is a diluted product that strays from its roots. When everyone is attempting to cater to the broadest possible audience, overlap is inevitable and distinctions begin to disappear. Look no further than the American mid-size sedan segment, or in this case, the last generation 7-series. So for 2009, BMW sought to re-focus its uber-sedan on what it does best. Read on to find out if BMW succeeded or if the new 7 suffers from further dilution.

Gallery: Review: 2009 BMW 750i

Continue reading Review: 2009 BMW 750i

Review: 2009 BMW 750i originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 23 Apr 2009 11:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Top BMW designer Karim Habib defects to Mercedes-Benz

Dan Roth — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 10:28:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Europe, Hirings/Firings/Layoffs, BMW, Mercedes-Benz

Both Mercedes-Benz and BMW have seen recent design-chief departures, and now there's been a defection. Karim Habib, who had a hand in the F01 7 Series while at BMW, has left the Roundel for the three-pointed star. Habib's move to Mercedes has him overseeing Mercedes' advanced design studio in Stuttgart, working with MBZ design chief Gorden Wagener.

Tasked with the brand's F cars, Habib's work will be looking two generations ahead, to the cars after the next new ones. Let's hope that the F700 goes on the same kind of de-uglification program as the 750 went on before it becomes an S-Class. Thanks for the tip, Horatiu!

[Source: Autocar via BMWBlog]

Top BMW designer Karim Habib defects to Mercedes-Benz originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 16 Mar 2009 10:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Alpina teases with sketch of next B7 sedan

Jonathon Ramsey — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 14:01:00 EST

Filed under: Tuners, Sedan, BMW, Specialty

This is a sketch of the coming Alpina B7, to be based on the new BMW 750i. Outside, there won't be much happening -- nor necessary -- beyond Alpina's new front lip, rear wing and trademark wheels. Inside, Alpina might have some minor cluster mods in store, but we wouldn't expect too much change there, either. As with the 2007 B7 and its 500 hp and 4.8-second 0-60 time, we figure the engine and suspension will be heavily redressed on this next version. Alpina could opt for the centrifugal supercharger routine again, but whatever they do will surely put healthy distance between the B7 and the 400 hp of the donor car's 4.4-liter V8. The B7 might also get BMW's rumored 8-speed transmission. It will definitely get a stratospheric price tag.

[Source: Next Autos]

Alpina teases with sketch of next B7 sedan originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 22 Dec 2008 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LA 2008: 2009 BMW 7 Series and Concept 7 Series ActiveHybrid unveiled LIVE

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 16:26:00 EST

Filed under: LA Auto Show, Green, BMW

Click above for high-res image gallery of the 2009 BMW 7 Series

We already knew pretty much everything there is to know about the U.S. 2009 7 Series, but BMW pulled the covers, both literally and symbolically, off its new range-topper right on schedule anyway. In person, the new 7 has much more presence than it appears to have in photos, with an eye-catching crease that runs the length of the car and incorporates the large protruding door handles. The only engine option at the time of launch is the twin-turbo 4.4L V8 that's capable of launching the big 7 to 60 mph in just 5.1 seconds, but we'd be surprised if a force-fed 3.0L gas-powered inline-six didn't make an appearance sooner or later, as well. The Bavarian automaker also revealed that it has production plans for a hybrid 7 Series as previewed by its Concept 7 Series ActiveHybrid and believes it can get it launched within a year. What's more, BMW made a big deal about its upcoming diesel technology, so we could definitely see an oil-burning 7 Series on our shores before too long.

Gallery: LA 2008: BMW Concept 7-series ActiveHybrid

Gallery: 2009 BMW 750Li

Gallery: 2009 BMW 7 Series ActiveHybrid

LA 2008: 2009 BMW 7 Series and Concept 7 Series ActiveHybrid unveiled LIVE originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 19 Nov 2008 16:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LA 2008: Twin-turbo V8 slated for BMW 7 Series

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 11:58:00 EST

Filed under: LA Auto Show, Hybrid, Sedan, BMW

Click above for a high-res gallery of the 2009 BMW 750i

BMW is launching its latest 7 Series flagship in the United States here at the LA Auto Show and has decided to whet our appetites a bit before the official unveiling by releasing an early press release about its latest offerings. As expected, the new 7 is equipped with a direct-injected twin-turbo 4.4-liter V8 as its sole engine option here in the States. That's not really a bad thing, though, as the force-fed mill pumps out 400 horses and an impressive 450 lb-ft of torque. We've driven the X6 with this powerplant in the past, and are confident it'll have no problem whatsoever getting the big sedan moving at a very brisk clip.

Also new for 2009 is BMW's first ever use of a multi-link double wishbone front suspension, which breaks from the German automaker's usual habit of front struts. As you'd expect, there is a long-wheelbase model of the new 7 as well, known as the 750Li, for those who wish to be driven rather than to drive. Perhaps the Concept 7 Series ActiveHybrid, which will also be unveiled in just a bit, will foretell a production hybrid version of BMW's range-topper. Stay tuned for live shots of the new 7 in just a few hours.

Gallery: LA 2008: 2009 BMW 750i

Gallery: 2009 BMW 7 Series

Continue reading LA 2008: Twin-turbo V8 slated for BMW 7 Series

LA 2008: Twin-turbo V8 slated for BMW 7 Series originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 19 Nov 2008 11:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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