Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Rumormill: BMW Z2 still in the works]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/02/19/rumormill-bmw-z2-still-in-the-works/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/02/19/rumormill-bmw-z2-still-in-the-works/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/02/19/rumormill-bmw-z2-still-in-the-works/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Is the rumored little roadster from BMW on track for a 2011 debut? Auto Motor und Sport seems to think so. They even have a rendering by renowned artist Mark Stehrenberger to prove it. If we are to believe the rumors, the BMW Z2 should be closer to what the original Z3 was. That is, more of an entry level roadster to compete with the premium versions of the Mazda MX-5, compared to the more upscale Z4 that just debuted, which is more of a Porsche Boxster rival.

As we've told you before, the BMW Z2 would be based on the 1-series platform. To simplify things, BMW is rumored to be using a soft top rather than a retractable metal lid. The car will feature turbocharged and naturally aspirated four-cylinder powerplants in the 1.8-2.0 liter range. Horsepower should start around 150 and climb to 300 assuming an M version follows. There's even a rumored hybrid variant with its gearbox positioned between the engine and an e-motor pack. Active steering, a dual clutch gearbox and active suspension could be part of the package with a base price rumored to be around $30,000. The BMW Z2 could make its debut as early as latet 2010, which would give it a healthy head start over the rival SLA from Mercedes-Benz.

[Source: Auto Motor und Sport]

Rumormill: BMW Z2 still in the works originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 19 Feb 2009 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-class roadsterA-classRoadsterbmw z2BmwZ2mercedes slamercedes-benz slaMercedes-benzSlaMercedesSlaz2Thu, 19 Feb 2009 14:30:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/1465515/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2009/02/19/rumormill-bmw-z2-still-in-the-works/1465515/article-detail.xml 1465515 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/02/bmwz2_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/02/bmwz2.jpg <![CDATA[The Reset Button: New reports say Mercedes SLA roadster on-track for 2012]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/19/the-reset-button-mercedes-to-offer-sla-roadster-by-2012/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/19/the-reset-button-mercedes-to-offer-sla-roadster-by-2012/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/19/the-reset-button-mercedes-to-offer-sla-roadster-by-2012/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


Click above to see the Mercedes-Benz Vision SLA concept in high-resolution

Small countries with fledgling economies are prone, upon occasion, to scrap their currency and start over again. Inflation rises, their currency is devalued, so they simply press the "reset" button. And looking at the history of the Mercedes-Benz roadster, we wonder if they haven't been doing the same thing. First came the original SL - "sporty" and "light weight" - which by now has swelled to massive proportions and SUV-rivaling weight. So Mercedes introduced the SLK, a smaller version with the added K for "kurtz" or "short". But as the SLK has by now grown at least as big as the original SL, officials have been mulling over the idea of making an even smaller roadster.

Actually, they've been mulling it over for nearly a decade. Mercedes unveiled their Vision SLA concept way back in 2000, and they've been toying with the idea ever since. But new post-Detroit Auto Show reports suggest that the long-rumored SLA-like droptop is alive and well, and may finally come to market as a response to growing demand for smaller, more efficient vehicles. Although the current A and B-Class platform utilizes novel sandwich underbody construction that would preclude use in a short roadster, the next generation of Mercedes front-drive compacts is expected to forgo the unusual configuration in favor of a more conventional front-engine/front-wheel-drive set-up. Even a small-displacement AMG version could be in the cards. Sources continue to suggest we could see a production SLA slot under the SLK by 2012, just in time to face off with BMW's rumored 1 Series-based roadster.

Gallery: Mercedes-Benz SLA Concept


[Source: Drive.com.au]

The Reset Button: New reports say Mercedes SLA roadster on-track for 2012 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 19 Jan 2009 17:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Click above for high-res gallery of the Mercedes-Benz SLA Concept

Rumors that the Mercedes-Benz A-Class may come to America have been swirling around for years. The question revolves around whether or not the car is consistent with the image in the U.S. that MB has worked so hard to cultivate for years. As an economy car, the A-Class clashes with the rest of the brand's upscale line-up and doesn't seem appropriate to put in the same dealership where upper-crusters are shopping for the latest S-Class. One possible remedy could be reducing the number of seats and the losing the car's top, an idea first broached by the SLA Concept (above) that debuted in 2000. A roadster would make sense for the German automaker, as BMW, its main rival, is rumored to be thinking hard about launching a similarly-small Z2 roadster based on its 1 Series platform. Although production plans have already been considered, no decisions have been made. The next redesign of the A- and B-Class from Mercedes is scheduled for 2012, so there's still plenty of time to get it all sorted.

Gallery: Mercedes-Benz SLA Concept


[Source: Autoweek]

Mercedes-Benz considering A-Class roadster for the States originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 05 Dec 2008 15:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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