Autoblog

The Periodic Table of Sports Cars according to Car and Driver

Noah Joseph — Thu, 16 Dec 2010 19:25:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Humor

So many sports cars, so little time. If only someone would organize them into one succinct chart, categorizing them according to common properties and laying them out in an authoritative graph. Wait, Car and Driver is someone, right?

The geeks over at C/D have created a pseudo-scientific chart modeled on Mendeleev's periodic table of elements. C/D's Periodic Table of Sports Cars covers everything from the Mazda Miata to the Bentley Speed Six, and just about everything in between. Best of all, they've made it available in a downloadable PDF you can print out and hang in your locker, garage, bedroom... wherever. It's science! Take a look over the layout and let 'em know what they got right and what they missed.

[Source: Car and Driver]

The Periodic Table of Sports Cars according to Car and Driver originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 16 Dec 2010 19:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Car and Driver 2011 10 Best winners announced

Zach Bowman — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 10:58:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Marketing/Advertising

Car and Driver 2011 10 Best - Click above for high-res image gallery

Car and Driver has just released its annual list of top 10 vehicles for 2011. Populated by plenty of familiar faces like the Mazda MX-5 Miata, Honda Accord and Porsche Boxster, this year's 10 Best won't bring too many surprises to the table. The newcomers to the crowd won't exactly raise any eyebrows, either. The Chevrolet Volt, Hyundai Sonata and Volkswagen Golf (the GTI did make it last year) are all solid, common-sense picks in our eyes.

Of course, some of the old guard had to fall off to make room for the new metal, and as such, the Audi S4, Ford Fusion Hybrid and Mazda3 are nowhere to be found.

It's worth noting that the inclusion of the Chevy Volt marks the first time that an electric-powered car has ever made the cut, though it's unlikely to be the last. Check out our gallery of the winners below, then hit the jump to have a look at the full press release.

Gallery: 2011 Car and Driver 10 Best

[Source: Car and Driver | Main Image: Car and Driver]

Continue reading Car and Driver 2011 10 Best winners announced

Car and Driver 2011 10 Best winners announced originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 23 Nov 2010 10:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Double Bill - C/D and MT pit Cadillac CTS-V Coupe vs. Audi RS5 vs. BMW M3

Chris Shunk — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 19:58:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Videos, Audi, BMW, Cadillac, Luxury

Click above to watch the video after the jump

The Cadillac CTS-V Coupe has some serious performance chops. The potent angular coupe is loaded with a blown 6.2-liter V8 capable of 556-horsepower, 15-inch front and 14.7-inch rear Brembo brakes and a Magnetic Ride Control suspension setup. Impressive stats to be sure, but does Cadillac's sleek two-seater have the goods to take on the BMW M3 coupe and Audi RS5?

Both Motor Trend and Car and Driver have obviously been pondering the same question, as the competing buff mags dusted off their camcorders and cut up a pair of comparison videos featuring the three super coupes doing a ménage à trois of the automotive kind.

Make the jump to experience both videos. In the first video, MT goes all-out with its comparison, bringing both Editor-in-Chief Angus McKenzie and the spanking new CTS-V Coupe to Germany to take on the pair of well-established Bavarian competitors. The second video shows the unique C/D approach, with no first, second or third place finishers and not a single word is uttered. C/D just let the hot coupes speak for themselves with beautiful pictures and heavenly exhaust notes.

[Sources: Car and Driver, Motor Trend]

Continue reading Video: Double Bill - C/D and MT pit Cadillac CTS-V Coupe vs. Audi RS5 vs. BMW M3

Video: Double Bill - C/D and MT pit Cadillac CTS-V Coupe vs. Audi RS5 vs. BMW M3 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 30 Jul 2010 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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C/D: Cadillac to get new range-topping rear-wheel-drive flagship

Chris Paukert — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 16:28:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Cadillac, GM, Rumormill

According to Car and Driver's Jens Meiners, Cadillac is poised to get a new full-size, rear-wheel drive sedan to slot in above the forthcoming XTS - a model that itself will sit above the CTS when it bows to serve as a combined replacement for the STS and DTS.

To hear C/D's moles tell it, the flagship sedan is still in the early planning stages, but the model is being built at the directive of none other than GM CEO Ed Whitacre. If the rumor is accurate, the forthcoming model is apparently likely to be derived from a stretched Sigma platform, the same architecture that underpins the CTS family. Meiners dismisses thoughts that the car could be built on the much-used Zeta platform that underpins the Chevrolet Camaro, suggesting that it's too heavy and old to support such a vehicle.

With word that a Lambda-based three-row crossover and the BMW 3-Series fighting ATS are on the way for General Motors' Wreath and Crest division, it's becoming increasingly clear that the boys down at The Tubes have hit the product accelerator pedal for their luxury brand. We just hope that this mystery offering means that Cadillac is finally going to cook up something that looks like 2003's showstopping Sixteen concept (above), albeit likely in a scaled-down format.

[Source: Car and Driver]

C/D: Cadillac to get new range-topping rear-wheel-drive flagship originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 11 Jun 2010 16:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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C/D does its own Toyota unintended acceleration tests, compares Camry with Infiniti, Roush?!

Jonny Lieberman — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 16:29:00 EST

Filed under: Recalls

By this point, we are all familiar (if not overly familiar) with Toyota's troubles with floor mats, unintended acceleration, biggest-ever recall, etc. And if you're not familiar with Toyota's woes from reading this site, perhaps you've heard about Consumer Reports' investigation into ToMoCo's troubles. Well, guess what? The gang over at Car and Driver decided to launch their own inquisition into FloorMatGate.

Here's how they set up the tests. C/D took a V6 Camry, a Infiniti G37 Convertible and a supercharged, 540-horsepower Roush Ford Mustang. The Camry is ~~identical~~ very similar to the Lexus ES350 that crashed in San Diego and set off the current brouhaha. Similar in that it has an electronic throttle and push button start. Same brakes, too. The Infiniti also has electronic throttle and push button start, though it's more powerful and has bigger brakes. Also, the Infiniti has a throttle interrupt that cuts fuel when the brake is applied. The Camry - and as far as C/D knows, all Toyota models - does not. As for the Roush, why the hell not? No, actually the reason is to see if a mega-power engine can overwhelm a car's brakes at high speeds.

Here's the methodology: First they recorded each car's 70-0 mph braking distances with a closed throttle (i.e. foot off the gas). Then they recorded 70-0 mph braking distances with an open throttle (foot on the gas). Next, they upped the ante to 100 mph for both closed and open throttle tests. The results are actually quite interesting, and we will share with you that a Toyota Camry under wide open throttle can stop from 70 mph one foot shorter than a 2010 Ford Taurus under normal braking. Also, it's best to take your foot off the gas in a 540-hp Roush when you're going 100 mph and want to stop. Unless you have 903 feet to spare. Just sayin.'

[Source: Car and Driver]

C/D does its own Toyota unintended acceleration tests, compares Camry with Infiniti, Roush?! originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 06 Jan 2010 16:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Car and Driver announces 2010 10Best Cars

Jonny Lieberman — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 09:29:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Etc.

Our pals over at Car and Driver, now helmed by our esteemable buddy Eddie Alterman, just released their 2010 10Best Cars. Quite an undertaking. As they put it, "58 contenders. $2.5 million total. 12,000 test miles logged." For those keeping track, this is the 28th time C/D has published their 10Best. Surprises this year? No not really. The BMW 3 Series continues its unabated drive of dominance to 10Best history with an impressive, will-probably-never-be-duplicated 19th straight win. Not to be too outdone, the Honda Accord also makes the cut for a 24th time, though not consecutive.

Also note that while the Audi S4 makes the grade, the run-of-the-mill (so to speak) A4 does not. We're also pleased to see the Ford Fusion Hybrid getting its just dues (again, it's interesting that the gas-only version doesn't). And of course, you've got your yearly appearance by the Mazda Miata MX-5, Porsche Boxster / Cayman and Volkswagen GTI. Falling off the list this year? The Chevrolet Corvette, Infiniti G37, and the Jaguar XF.

Would we have done things much differently? Probably not much, though we must admit we were pulling for the highly impressive Suzuki Kizashi to make its debut and we're a bit surprised to not see one of the new crop of pony cars on the list. Maybe next year. Alphabetical list of winners after the jump.

[Source: Car and Driver | Image Source: R.S. Owens]

Continue reading Car and Driver announces 2010 10Best Cars

Car and Driver announces 2010 10Best Cars originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 24 Nov 2009 09:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Car and Driver drawing flak over Photoshopped BMW X6 M drag racing pic?

Chris Shunk — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 11:29:00 EST

Filed under: SUV, Etc., BMW, Chevrolet

Hardcore drag racers take their expensive hobby very seriously. Some drag owners cut into their 401k just to knock a couple tenths off of their quarter mile times, while others spend every possible spare moment of their lives holed up in a garage, perfecting their hot rod for just a few chances to take that magical run down the track. Keep that in mind, if you will, as we explain to you why the owner of an altered wheelbase 1963 Chevy II is angry over an apparently Photoshopped photo of its run against Car and Driver magazine's BMW X6 M.

Car and Driver took the 550 hp X6 M to Milan Dragway in Milan, MI as part of an article which featured the beastly Bimmer on the track, off-road, and at the dragway. One of the runs the X6 M took was against said Chevy, which reportedly runs the quarter mile in the high 9's, reaching a scorching 135 mph in the process. The X6 M is no pushover either, as it can hit a sports car like 12.8 seconds at 110 mph. At no time did C/D claim that they bested the heavily modded Chevy (nor did they mention the hot rod at all), but what they did do was publish a photo of the Bimmer and the Bow Tie'd bandit battling nose to nose down the dragway. Actually, judging purely by the C/D photo, it appears that the X6 M may even have a bit of an edge in the high horsepower battle.

After seeing the photo, the owner of the Chevy II is apparently hopping mad. "Rotten Johnny" on the H.A.M.B forums claims to be the owner of the dragster in question, and he was less than thrilled with what he called a Photoshopped pic that deceives the public.

"Alls I can say is the mag,editors and writers are LAIRS,CHEATERS and WANNA BE SCAMMERS. Bring that ol BMW out, title fer title and write an article bout that.I'll be driven around in a little red suv. No wonder the only time i see that mag is in the doctors office, makes me sick."

We can definitely see where Rotten Johnny would be upset over the photo (he says he was actually doing a burnout in the altered pic), but we can also see where it was necessary to bust out Photoshop to get both vehicles into a tight frame. After all, who wants to read a feature of the X6 M with a lead photo of a 1963 Chevy II with a spec of a BMW SUV off in the distance? Then again, was the image really necessary to support the story to begin with?

In any case, C/D has issued a reply that includes a heaping helping of the sort of snark made famous by the mysterious "Ed." in the magazine's monthly reader mail section. To wit:

"John Phillips became so attached to the BMW X6M that it - appropriately enough - triggered many irrational responses. One of these was his insistence that we photoshop the BMW beating the clearly superior Chevy Nova. Any attempt to dissuade him - by telling him, for instance, that only an idiot would believe a BMW SUV could beat a purpose-built drag car - just resulted in heated calls to the suicide hotline and even more foaming at the mouth than usual."

Let us know what your thoughts on the matter are in 'Comments.' Hat tip to Justin E!

[Sources: Jalopy Journal; Car and Driver]

Car and Driver drawing flak over Photoshopped BMW X6 M drag racing pic? originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 05 Oct 2009 11:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VIDEO: C/D channels inner redneck with International LoneStar Harley-Davidson

Chris Shunk — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 12:32:00 EST

Filed under: Truck, Videos, Work, Humor

Car and Driver takes on the LoneStar Harley Davidson edition - Click above to watch the videos after the jump

Over the decades, we've read Car and Driver reviews of just about every high performance vehicle on the planet. While we'd hardly say that we're bored of 200 mph supercars and 3.2 second 0-60 times, it's nice to see C/'D mix it up now and again as well.

In predictable fashion, C/D once again tested a really expensive vehicle with 550 horsepower. But this big rig also hauls loads with 1,850 lb-ft of torque, or enough twist to drop Dorothy's house on some east-side gang banger. The International LoneStar Harley Davidson special-edition is most definitely not typical buff mag cover girl, yet the un-trailered rig managed a 0-60mph time of 20.4 seconds. That's almost fast enough to time with a sundial, but we suppose it's not terrible for a vehicle with an 18-speed manual that weighs 22,100 pounds.

Statistics have little to do with this video, though, and we're pretty sure C/D rolled film just so they could have fun with a life-size Tonka Truck. Hit the jump to view C/D take on the mighty LoneStar. While the 3:22 isn't quite as funny as we were hoping, we still got a decent laugh out of the trip out of the video's happy ending.

[Source: Car and Driver via YouTube]

Continue reading VIDEO: C/D channels inner redneck with International LoneStar Harley-Davidson

VIDEO: C/D channels inner redneck with International LoneStar Harley-Davidson originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 05 Aug 2009 12:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Eddie Alterman named new Editor-in-Chief of Car and Driver

Sam Abuelsamid — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 11:58:00 EST

Filed under: Hirings/Firings/Layoffs

Back in December when Car and Driver magazine first announced that long-time editor-in-chief Csaba Csere was stepping down, among the first names that popped up as a possible replacement was Eddie Alterman, editor-in-chief of Motivemag.com and former EiC of the late MPH magazine. At some point, the whole story seemed to fade into the background as parent company Hachette Filipacchi Media U.S. named one of its staffers as interim editor. This morning, however, Hachette has sent out an announcement that Alterman is being hired as the Vice President and Editor-in-Chief of the Ann Arbor, Michigan-based magazine.

Perhaps the most interesting thing about this appointment is the fact that for the last several years, Alterman has been operating largely in the digital space thanks to his work at Motive. Car and Driver and other print magazines have struggled in recent years with increasing costs and falling advertising revenue, and Eddie's background in the online world could help the storied magazine bridge the gap between its print publication and online presence. The offficial press release is posted after the jump.

[Source: Hachette Filipacchi Media U.S.]

Continue reading Eddie Alterman named new Editor-in-Chief of Car and Driver

Eddie Alterman named new Editor-in-Chief of Car and Driver originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 25 Feb 2009 11:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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C&D performs first instrumented testing of Corvette ZR1

Michael Harley — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 14:30:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Supercars, Chevrolet

Click above for our high-res ZR1 burnout gallery!

Car and Driver recently strapped its test gear to the new Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 and, as expected, recorded some impressive numbers. All eyes have been on the supercar Vette as it enters the boxing ring to duke it out with the heavy-hitting Dodge Viper SRT10 ACR, Nissan GT-R and Porsche GT2 (among others), and it looks like the latest Corvette will more than hold its own. According to C&D's trusty electronic gear, the supercharged 638-hp beast knocked off a 0-60 mph time of just 3.4 seconds as it continued towards a blistering 7.6 second 0-100 mph run. The quarter mile was cracked in 11.5 seconds @ 128 mph (Chevrolet claims 11.3 seconds, but the guys at C&D didn't believe in "...that sort of drivetrain abuse" to get lower numbers). The top speed also remains unverified as the team "ran out of room" before they could hit the claimed 205 mph. Under braking, the ZR1 set a new C&D record as it hauled itself down from 70 mph in just 142 feet. Of course, we must mention the obligatory claimed Nürburgring lap time of 7:26 (at the hands of Chevrolet). So you don't have to Google the competition's best-claimed Ring times yourself, here they are: Porsche GT2 - 7:32, Nissan GT-R - 7:29, and the Dodge Viper ACR - 7:22. Of course, we'd like to see all four on the track under identical conditions, and with some digital timing gear!

Gallery: Covette ZR1 burnouts

Gallery: First Drive: 2009 Corvette ZR1

[Source: Car and Driver]

C&D performs first instrumented testing of Corvette ZR1 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 09 Oct 2008 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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One MPG is not enough: Automakers desperate to make a gallon go further

Jonathon Ramsey — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 09:33:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Budget, Green, Technology

If anyone were to come along and do an updated version of Dire Straits' "Money for Nothing," the could change the background vocal from "I want my MTV" to "I want my MPG" or "I want my low Cd." Coefficient of drag, that is. Carmakers are taking every step they can, starting with aerodynamics, to give cars better gas mileage right now while they wait for more substantial technologies to come online in the near future.

But the tweaks don't stop with aero finessing. The 2009 Dodge Ram spent 200 hours in the wind tunnel, and it also received tweaks to its ECU, which means it spends more time in its cylinder cutoff mode. That, plus eighty pounds of weight savings, adds up to one more MPG on the EPA sheet. Said Ford's Derek Kuzak, "We need to treat every joule of energy in a vehicle like a precious commodity."

In fact, that song hook could also be "I want my XFE." The Cobalt XFE, developed over 18 months to offer the best gas mileage in the Cobalt line, is selling six percent better than expected. Fuel economy, instead of design, is the number one reason people buy a Cobalt now. And the XFE has the lowest on-the-lot time of any Cobalt model. That's how important the price of gas has become.

[Source: Automotive News, sub req'd]

One MPG is not enough: Automakers desperate to make a gallon go further originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 22 Jul 2008 09:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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What? Car & Driver says M3 better than GT-R and 911 Turbo

Dan Roth — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 10:57:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., BMW, Nissan, Porsche, Opinion/Editorial

Car & Driver is a common choice as bathroom reader around Autoblog HQ, though thumbing through the latest issue had us contemplating using the glossy pages for TP. C&D got its hands on Nissan's new GT-R and its development benchmark, the Porsche 911 Turbo. That's great so far, as everyone wants to know how the Nissan stacks up against its bogey. The trouble comes when a BMW M3 gets tossed into the mix. What? The M3 is a hell of a car and it clearly earns its perennial 10-Best status, but it's outgunned and mismatched in this company. Somehow it managed to win a three-way comparo with two supercars anyway.

Continue reading What? Car & Driver says M3 better than GT-R and 911 Turbo

What? Car & Driver says M3 better than GT-R and 911 Turbo originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 03 Jun 2008 10:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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How To: Measure your vehicle's Cd without a million-dollar wind tunnel

Michael Harley — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 11:01:00 EST

Filed under: Gadgets, Etc., Technology

At highway speeds, your vehicle is fighting an invisible foe trying to hold it back. The nemesis is wind resistance, and it is an automobile's worst enemy. Overcoming the resistance of the air is the key to increasing acceleration, top speed, and improving fuel economy.

Wind resistance is often measured with sophisticated computers in multi-million dollar wind tunnels. The result is usually expressed as a number called the "drag coefficient" (Cd). While having a low drag coefficient is important, the size of the vehicle (expressed as "frontal area") is also important. In general, as drag coefficient and frontal areas decrease, a vehicle becomes easier to push through the wind. Automakers are well aware of this, so they go to great lengths to ensure a low Cd on vehicles designed for high efficiency. Some approximate Cd values for well-known vehicles.

.25 Honda Insight
.26 Toyota Prius
.27 Nissan GT-R
.34 GMC Acadia
.36 Bugatti Veyron (spoiler retracted)
.36 Chevrolet Suburban
.48 Classic VW Beetle
.65 Tractor Trailer (with fairings)
.75 Formula 1 Car (downforce = high drag)

There are a couple of ways to determine the Cd of your vehicle. If your vehicle is stock, simply look it up on the Internet. If you have modified your car with wider tires, spoilers, roof rack, or changed the ride height, then your Cd has changed. To determine whether your mods are hurting or helping you at the pump (or the track), why not calculate it yourself with a few household items and an Excel spreadsheet? Of course, this requires a bit more effort... but, if you have any geek in your bloodstream, this will really get your juices flowing. The process is too long to detail here, but check out the simple instructions, grab your household items, and let us know what your results are. Thanks for the tip, Farris!

[Source: Instructables]

How To: Measure your vehicle's Cd without a million-dollar wind tunnel originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 22 Apr 2008 11:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Good riddance: The demise of the in-dash CD player is nigh

Dan Roth — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 10:53:00 EST

Filed under: Gadgets, Trends, Etc., I.C.E., Technology

A few short years ago, getting a CD player or better yet, a multidisc changer in your car was an upgrade. Now, the little silver disc has taken up residence with cassettes as cast-off technology. Even with the cheap digital to analog converters that are in car stereos, CDs have a sound advantage over lossy data codecs like MPEG, but only us geeks seem to care that hi-hats sound like someone whisking an egg. Besides, portability and flexibility easily trumps esoteric sound quality. Truth be told, even though the original CDs sound better, my mp3 player is so much more convenient that I'll be adding an auxiliary input to my factory stereo - no small feat on some cars.

Ward's Automotive Interior show, currently underway at the Cobo center, is allowing automakers to show their wares to the masses over the next few days, with the realization that future vehicles are bound to dispatch that awkward center control unit for something more intuitive and user-programmable. Several automakers have already realized that people have all sorts of portable devices, and as such, new car interiors bristle with input jacks and 12-volt power sockets.

[Source: Detroit News]

Continue reading Good riddance: The demise of the in-dash CD player is nigh

Good riddance: The demise of the in-dash CD player is nigh originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 08 Jun 2007 10:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BMW mystery device

Damon Lavrinc — Sun, 31 Dec 2006 20:28:00 EST

Filed under: Gadgets, Etc., BMW

Click image to enlarge

If you follow the "read" link your eyes and ears will be under full assault as BMW hypes up a soon to be released gizmo. What is it? We're a bit baffled, but according to the trailer it has the ability to play MP3s, DVDs and CDs, has USB and Bluetooth connectivity, can recognize voice commands and has a 65,000 color LCD. But alas, no nav.

We're still a trifle confused as to why an automaker would begin producing personal electronics, but then again, BMW has a tendency to throw the occasional curve ball, with its products and marketing tactics.

Until it's released in Mid-January 2007, we're just going to call it the "Highend," since that's the only discernable thing we could see in the URL.

A few more images are posted after the jump.

Continue reading BMW mystery device

BMW mystery device originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 31 Dec 2006 20:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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