Autoblog

BMW 2 Series coming in 2014

Zach Bowman — Fri, 11 May 2012 13:01:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Performance, Etc., Europe, BMW, Luxury

CAR magazine reports BMW is hard at work on crafting the next-generation 1 Series Convertible. When it bows, the machine is expected to carry with it an all-new nomenclature, doing away with the 1 badge in favor of a new 2 Series emblem. This isn't the first time we've heard of BMW filling in its model line with both 2 and 4 Series models, nor the first hint that the 1 Series Convertible will be reborn as the 2 Series. CAR does supply a few more details however, stating that the 1 and 2 will be separated largely by a few sheetmetal tweaks. That means we can expect to see more or less the same engine options behind the headlights.

Why bother changing the naming structure at all? According to CAR, BMW is attempting to get its fleet more inline with those of Audi and Mercedes-Benz, which use a hierarchical structure to differentiate less premium models from pricier hardware. The report suggests buyers can expect to see the new 2 starting in 2014, complete with a six-speed manual transmission or an optional eight-speed automatic gearbox.

BMW 2 Series coming in 2014 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 11 May 2012 13:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Ferrari FF's first crash caught on video

Zach Bowman — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 13:01:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, Etc., Europe, Hatchback, Ferrari, Humor, Luxury

Ferrari FF crash - Click above to watch video after the jump

This is why we can't have nice things, CAR Magazine. Ferrari recently hosted a passel of journalists from around the globe in Italy to fully introduce the company's new FF to the world. You know, the sexy-as-sin shooting brake with a European price tag of £230,000? Yeah, that Ferrari FF.

Jethro Bovingdon showed up to represent the CAR crowd, but ran into a bit of trouble while trying to work up a video monologue and pilot the obscenely expensive Italian supercar through some narrow country roadwork at the same time.

Shortly after announcing that he intended to demonstrate "just how committed to the throttle you can be on a very twisty narrow road that shouldn't suit this car," Bovingdon managed to bash the FF off of a curb. According to CAR, the damage was limited to both wheels on the passenger side. We're guessing the repairs likely cost more than the tester's fancy sunglasses, but not by much.

Hit the jump to check out the in-cabin video of the incident for yourself. Thanks for the tip, Throwback!

[Source: CAR Magazine]

Continue reading Video: Ferrari FF's first crash caught on video

Video: Ferrari FF's first crash caught on video originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 25 Mar 2011 13:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Sabine Schmitz makes another blonde shriek in BMW M3 Frozen Gray

Zach Bowman — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 12:59:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Etc., Videos, BMW, Humor

Sabine Schmitz and Juliet McGuire in the BMW M3 Frozen Gray - Click above to watch video after the jump

There are a few tried-and-true recipes for car video success out there, but one of our favorites has to be mixing an inexperienced passenger with a skilled driver and a world-class car. The results are nearly always as predictable as they are hilarious. South Africa's CAR Magazine recently found that out firsthand when they strapped their Juliette McGuire into the passenger seat of a ~~Frozen Gray BMW M3~~ South African-market M3 Frozen edition with Nürburgring queen Sabine Schmitz behind the tiller. After a brief bout with the traction control, Schmitz is able to really start wailing on the Bavarian.

The result is well worth a few moments of your day. Schmitz is the hoon for hire in CAR Magazine's 2011 Performance Shootout, and she's put 12 of the world's hottest sports cars through their paces on an airstrip and around the Zwartkops raceway. That issue of CAR hits newsstands on December 20, but if you don't have access to a South African newstand, you can catch the video of McGuire holding on for dear life in the video after the jump.

[Source: CAR Magazine]

Continue reading Video: Sabine Schmitz makes another blonde shriek in BMW M3 Frozen Gray

Video: Sabine Schmitz makes another blonde shriek in BMW M3 Frozen Gray originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 07 Dec 2010 12:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bucking the Trend: Automaker ad spending reportedly up in magazines

Frank Filipponio — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 10:20:00 EST

Filed under: Marketing/Advertising, Earnings/Financials

Here's a sign that things are possibly turning around in the automotive industry - Advertising Age is reporting that the total number of ad pages bought by automotive advertisers went up over the past year. First quarter numbers for American magazines went up compared with the first quarter of 2009, according to a report by the Publishers Information Bureau. This represents the first time that both of those numbers has gone up since 2007.

Back in February, the Media Industry Newsletter reported that although it was the smallest drop during nine consecutive quarters of decline, there was a 5.7-percent dip in ad pages compared to 2009 figures. The Publishers Information Bureau shows an even bleaker picture, with a reported decline of 9.4 percent from the first quarter of 2009. And lest we forget, the first quarter of 2009 was already pretty dismal, with drops of more than 25 percent over 2008 numbers. Still, the automotive sector is apparently stronger than several others, at least as far as magazine ad pages go.

Although Advertising Age says that financial, insurance and real estate figures have actually increased by 11.3 percent, with toiletries and cosmetics going up by 7.6 percent, the auto sector is still better off than several others. Apparel and accessories were down 15.7 percent, drugs and remedies dropped 15.6 percent, technology dipped 14.7 percent, media and advertising declined by 13 percent, as did public transportation, hotels and resorts.

[Source: Advertising Age]

Bucking the Trend: Automaker ad spending reportedly up in magazines originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 13 Apr 2010 10:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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REPORT: Renault to relaunch Gordini performance brand in 2010

Chris Paukert — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 18:27:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Performance, Europe, Hatchback, Renault, Specialty

While it may seem like an inopportune time to exhume a performance marque, that's just what Renault is up to, says Car. According to the U.K. glossy, Renault will relaunch the Gordini brand in Europe next year with a new Twingo variant. You may recall that it was recently revealed that the French automaker's plans to bring back its storied Alpine product line has been axed, but the decades-dormant Gordini is apparently a different matter altogether.

The new lineup of hot hatches will slot in above current Renaultsport offerings, with the aforementioned Twingo reportedly being followed by Clio and Megane Coupe models. Like the Gordini-tuned cars of yore, the new models are tipped to wear blue paint and white stripes along with various performance upgrades that will make them a likely foil to Fiat's reborn Abarth lineup.

[Source: Car]

REPORT: Renault to relaunch Gordini performance brand in 2010 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 06 Mar 2009 18:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Automakers tapped by CAR to redesign Santa's sled

Jonathon Ramsey — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 09:58:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Europe, Bentley, Ford, Nissan, Rolls-Royce, Toys/Games, Specialty

Click above for a high-res image of Santa Claus' Bentley Continental GTC

Thanks to CAR and a few masters of vehicular design, Santa is bringing some serious automotive enthusiast cheer. The glossy euro mag asked designers from Ford, Bentley, Nissan and Rolls-Royce to design some sleighs for Santa, and while a few of them look to be from the land of misfit toys -- and one of them looks like Santa's Death Star -- it's a fabulously cool exercise. Nissan's intergalactic sleigh is pulled by a GT-R, Bentley's got a W12-powered sled, Ford's got some popout snowboard action happening, and the Rolls sleigh looks, of course, like Santa should have a snifter of Louis XIV in one delicately gloved hand while an elf named Jeeves tends the Smythson leather reins. Check them all out here.

[Source: CAR]

Automakers tapped by CAR to redesign Santa's sled originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 18 Dec 2008 09:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Car puts together its favorite commercials

Jonathon Ramsey — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 17:31:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Marketing/Advertising, Videos

Car has listed what it considers ten of the "best, funniest, and cheesiest" UK car adverts. Those of us Stateside aren't likely to have seen many of them, like that for the Austin Allegro -- called "The new driving force from Austin" -- but there's enough old and new for everyone. Even Steve McQueen and the Rocky theme make an appearance (but not together). Even with some of the newer ones, however, you occasionally wonder: is that really what the greatest minds of our generation have come up with to sell a car? And there's the inevitable follow-up: did that commercial actually get me to buy that car?

[Source: Car]

Car puts together its favorite commercials originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 19 Sep 2007 17:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spy Shots: Porsche 911 Turbo cabrio undisguised

Alex Nunez — Wed, 02 May 2007 14:56:00 EST

Filed under: Spy Photos, Convertible, Performance, Porsche

With its official introduction just a week away, Britain's Car magazine has snagged photos of the new Porsche 911 Turbo cabriolet sans any disguise whatsoever. The monster ragtop will have all the goodness of its closed-roof sibling, while adding the ability to work on one's tan at (high) speed. Expect performance statistics that are nearly on par with the regular 997 turbo, and a price that eclipses it. We've been looking forward to this one, and it's not too far off now.

[Source: Car]

Spy Shots: Porsche 911 Turbo cabrio undisguised originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 02 May 2007 14:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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