BMW and Mini are on a collision course after it was announced that the German manufacturer are looking to introduce a new series called the 0-Series. As it suggests the new mini car will be designed to be smaller than the current 1-Series which means that it is likely that it will go into direct competition with the current Mini, which strangely is also owner by BMW.
It really does seem that the company is almost shooting itself in the foot with this latest move, admittedly having two cars competing in the market should mean that the company will grab large shares of the market, however it could of course backfire and the companies could end up taking sales off of each other.
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Honda is looking to use India as its springboard to launch a new series of small cars before bringing then to the European market. The new breed of Honda cars are set to be launched to compete directly with their Japanese counterparts, Suzuki, who currently occupy over 50% of the current car sales within the country with their highly successful Suzuki Swift and Suzuki Alto.
This is a bold strategy for the Japanese manufacturer to take at such a delicate time in the economy, but it is clearly something that they feel will benefit them in the long run. India has a love affair with the car and Honda is very keen to capitalise on a slice of this market.
BMW have just released a new car that is set to take the performance car world by storm. The new BMW M3 GTS is a hardcore version of the BMW M3.
The German manufacturer has decided to follow in the footsteps of Lamborghini, Porsche and Aston Martin in making an extreme race version of their supercar. This new M3 has been stripped of any weight and tips the scales at just 3300lb including the internal roll-cage and six-point race harness.
Lexus Dealerships around the world will be holding their breath this week as the new GX460 SUV is about to be unveiled at the China motor show. The car/van has been produced to replace the GX470 and from browsing the spy shots of the car online one thing is very apparent and that is that this car hasn’t been built with style in mind.
It is quite possibly one of the ugliest looking SUV’s I’ve seen and that is bearing in mind that there are a number of appalling SUV’s out there at present. The Lexus GX460 seems very square and boxy and appears to lack any sense of sporty qualifications, with the Porsche Cayenne leaving it for dust in the looks stakes.
G-Power may sound like a brand of washing detergent, a Marvel comic character or a member of D12, but it is actually the name of a German tuning company responsible for breaking the world record recently for the fastest coupe on the planet.
These crazy Germans managed to force 740 horses under the hood of a BMW M6 and managed to create an absolute beast! The twin supercharged 5 litre V10 powered M6 flys from 0-62mph in just 4.4 seconds and 0-124mph in a staggering 9.6 seconds with a top speed of 230mph.
That great British Icon, the Mini celebrates its 50th birthday this year and during the recent celebrations at Silverstone BMW launched three new limited edition Mini models that will have fans of the hot hatch drooling.
Two of the new models – The Mini Camden and Mini Mayfair – will be in production for one year only with the first batch rolling off the production line in August. Both models will be available in Cooper, Cooper S and Cooper D, with the Camden starting from £18,165 and the Mayfair from £18,415.
Lexus LF-A Roadster” width=”300″ height=”200″ />Lexus look set to take on the best supercars having unveiled the updated 217mph LF-A in a bold attempt to target Porsche, Lamborghini and Maserati.
The latest LF-A will be powered by a beast of an engine, the most powerful ever seen in a Lexus vehicle – a V10 engine similar to that used within Formula One likely to output up to 400kW.
With the ability to hit 0-60mph in under 4 seconds, the new LF-A has made a progressive step from the original LF-A concept car developed by Lexus in 2005.
Two years later Lexus released an updated 2007 version of the concept car at the Tokyo motor show and is reported to resemble that of the LF-A supercar when it leaves the production line later this year, making it the most exclusive, and indeed expensive, Lexus model yet.
Honda may be in the Press of late for the wrong reasons – having to introduce a pay cut at their Swindon plant in order to avoid job cuts – the Japanese giants continue to lead the way in terms of motoring innovation!
The Honda Insight hybrid vehicle has been a huge success since entering the market a month ago, so successful that it has become Japan’s best selling car! And now Honda have unveiled a sports car like no other: it runs on hydrogen!
Motorbike nuts have been waiting for this news for a while now: BMW are set to launch the production line version of their S1000RR superbike in 2010.
The road legal version of BMW’s fastest superbike was launched at Monza, home of motorcycle racing – at the weekend amid fanfare and anticipation.
The BMW SS1000RR will weigh just 204kg and with 193 horses at a seat-of-yer-pants 13,000rpm is sure to have speedsters everywhere salivating.
The engine – a compact straight four – weighs just 60kg and is similarly designed to those used in BMW’s F 1 engines, comprising two exhaust valves per cylinder.
Release dates are yet to be confirmed but watch this space to find out exactly when you will be able to feel the force of the SS1000RR between your thighs!
BMW have released their latest convertible following on from the new Z4, the 650i Convertible, and it will not disappoint. The 6 series oozes class as we all know and this latest offering is no different.
The 650i Convertible boasts a 4.8-litre V-8 engine – that’s 360 horses under the bonnet! It does 0 to 60 mph in just 5.7 seconds.
The engine is attached to a six-speed automatic gearbox, with Sport mode and paddle shifters. A six-speed manual transmission will be available also.
Cornering is made easy thanks to BMW’s Active Roll Stabilization technology, using hydraulic antiroll bars to counteract body roll which works a treat!
Honda have released details of their new Goldwing touring bike – the GL1800! If you’re looking for a tourer that’ll be a joy to cruise on over longer distances then this is most certainly the bike for you!
The 1832cc engine offers effortless power and with its low centre of gravity the new Goldwing offers driving comfort, yet receptive feedback from a meaty engine.
The anti lock braking system and airbag mean that the Goldwing is one of the safest motorcycles available and with a whole host of luxuries available the new Goldwing will have many two-wheel fans drooling.
The current economic climate has affected the car industry as much as any other industry, mainly because even those who can still afford to buy a brand new car are refraining from doing so at the moment simply as they don’t want to take the financial hit in terms of depreciation.
The government scrappage scheme has divided opinion as to whether it will kick-start sales and help out the car industry, but if potential purchasers do indeed take up on the 2 grand discount then value is there to be had…
The new Lexus RX 450h has taken in-car technology to a new level by implementing a centralised control unit aimed at being more functional and safer than using a touch screen panel.
The Remote Touch is a computer mouse-like control device that sits below the gear stick with a screen positioned at a safe position close to the windscreen to enable the drivers’ eyes to divert only fractionally below the view of the road.
The Remote Touch controls the navigation system, audio, climate, mobile phone and set-up functions of the vehicle and is simple and efficient to use.
In a bid to provide ultra-low carbon transport for the nation, the UK Government have pledged between £2000 and £5000 towards the purchase of electric cars for each customer. Supporting this project is BMW Mini and to show their support they are now trialling the Mini E in the UK.
Forty cars are to be produced for the UK market, following successful trials in the US and Germany and Mini see it as a good way of marking their fiftieth anniversary – by showing how they are moving forward in direct demand from the consumer and their environmental concerns.
Honda are pampering to those feeling the credit crunch and have launched their latest creation on two wheels. Already having announced the 2010 Fury, Honda have also announced the early introduction of the SH150i scooter. Ok, it may not be to the taste of all you petrol heads out there but it’ll save you a packet on purchase and on fuel consumption getting from A to B, particularly good when you use your wheels for commuting.
