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Rumormill: BMW 135i "SuperSports" model coming in 2010

According to a report originally posted at Germancarzone and then repeated at BMW Blog, a certain Bavarian automaker is currently working on a new performance version of its 1 Series. Although it wouldn't be called an M1 -- since that moniker is reserved for supercar status -- the so-called 135i SuperSports would get a bunch of improvements, consisting mostly of lightweight body panels, a decontented interior, as well as an upgraded suspension and brake package. Power is said to come from the latest version of BMW's outstanding 3.0L turbocharged inline-six that's rated at 326-horsepower and 332 lb-ft of torque in the 2009 7 Series. We wouldn't be surprised to see the upgraded engine migrate down the line from its placement under the hood of the latest flagship, but we're a bit dubious that an upcoming lightweight SuperSports edition will see daylight beyond that. We'd rather see the 1 Series get these light weight mods (in a tii model perhaps?) along with a smaller four cylinder engine option, complete with a price that's a bit easier to swallow than the current model. We're also still holding out hope for the 123d.
posted : 1/5/2009 @10:18:12 PM
Next Hyundai Equus is one angry stallion

This is the sketch that follows an earlier rendering of the third generation Hyundai Equus, due in 2010. As far as sedans are concerned, it looks like Hyundai is moving toward the Aston Martin school of design -- make something everyone loves, and then make it a little different and give it another name. The coming Kia luxury sedan started it, and beneath the cartoonish anger of this Equus sketch there's a Genesis on a bad batch of nandrolone. Underneath and inside, the car won't be lacking in either power or pleasures. Pushed by the rear wheels this time, an Equus first, initially it will be offered with the Genesis' 4.6-liter V8 and Hyundai's in-house eight-speed automatic transmission. Later, a 5.0-liter V8 will get up to 420 hp, and some speculation hints that the lump will be direct injection and cylinder deactivation. Other chatter suggests that engine will be joined by an optional 5.5-liter supercharged variant. The bulging sheetmetal on the previous rendering won't be the only thing the car shares with the Mercedes S-Class; it will also be loaded with tech. Features will include a Lane Departure Warning System, Pre-Safety Seatbelt System, and LED-equipped headlights and taillights. Hyundai's newest flagship is expected to be in South Korean dealerships in February.
posted : 1/5/2009 @10:15:49 PM
Ecstasy on your Wrist: Corum's 1976 Rolls-Royce timepieceHere at Autoblog, we've reported on a variety of automotive-themed wristwatches. But for all their branding and marketing efforts, few of the timepieces commissioned from Switzerland's finest bear much resemblance or connection to the cars they're meant to compliment. However, in 1976, Swiss watchmaking atelier Corum, known today primarily for their sailing-themed watches, struck an agreement with Rolls-Royce to produce the timepiece you see here. The watch incorporates into its design the iconic Romanesque grille that adorns the front of Rolls-Royce automobiles, complete with a tiny Spirit of Ecstasy hood ornament. The watch face is visible through the slats on the grille, realized in 18-karat gold. The timepiece from over thirty years ago is, of course, no longer in production, but remains a highly-valued collector's item. The closest we've seen recently is the unique wristwatch crafted by Girard-Perregaux to accompany the one-off Pininfarina Hyperion, but the link there between watch and car is no closer than any other's, and nowhere near as direct as Corum's vintage creation. Who knows, maybe the two will revive the partnership and bring the Phantom's grille to a wrist near you in the near future.
posted : 1/5/2009 @10:14:06 PM
Hamilton "honoured" by the Queen2008 was a good year for Lewis Hamitlon. In taking the Formula One drivers' title, he became the youngest champion in F1 history, and the first British champion in twelve years. To cap off his victorious season and start the new one on the right foot, after commissioning Bentley to convert her limos to run on bio-fuel, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II has named Hamilton a Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire. Sounds pretty impressive, doesn't it? Well for starters, Lewis can add the letters MBE to his name, but unlike his predecessor Jackie Stewart, it does not entitle Hamilton to knighthood. The MBE is the lowest rank in the British order of chivalry, and was awarded to Hamilton together with nearly 1,000 other recipients on the Queen's annual new year's list. Still, not bad when combined with his own set of stamps. Oh yeah, and the F1 trophy.
posted : 1/5/2009 @10:08:30 PM
From the archives: Students build their own parallel parking system

Ford's recent announcement of a new, automated parallel-parking system has prompted us to drive down Memory Lane and revisit an oldie-but-goodie. A couple years back, a handful of highly-motivated, up-and-coming mechanical engineers from the University of Toledo designed and built their own parallel parking system that seems to work as well as (maybe better than?) anything available to consumers. Though it might seem ridiculous at first, it's absolutely ingenious. The project takes a donated Toyota Corolla, some hydraulics, a motor, plus extra guide wheels and turns them into a brutally simple-yet-effective parallel parking device that could rival the latest techno-wizardry from Lincoln or Lexus. Okay, okay - it's not perfect. You do have to give up your trunk space, and it sounds like the exhaust no longer benefits from a muffler, but still... Parallel parking takes just 21 seconds with little (if any) help from the driver, and without fancy computers and sensors to monitor all the action. Now as then, this still looks like a winner. Check the two video clips after the jump to see the system in action, and check out the build blog by clicking here. Kudos on the project guys.
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posted : 1/5/2009 @10:07:44 PM
Lancia to cancel top-of-the-line Thesis this year?

You'd be forgiven for not knowing much about the Lancia Thesis. Or perhaps mistaking it for something like a SsangYong. The range-topping luxosedan from Fiat's quirky cousin was never sold in North America, and even in the European market has remained something of an anomaly. We had a chance to ride in one on the way to the airport after driving the Alfa MiTo in Italy and were generally impressed, but with its homely, oddball styling and less-reputed badge, it never really stood a chance against class-leaders like the Mercedes E-Class, BMW 5 Series or Audi A6. Now, after less than seven years on the market, Fiat is reportedly set to pull the plug. As it is, the Thesis is only made on demand, which has been relatively ( and understandably) low. Until the introduction of the Maserati Quattroporte in 2004, the Thesis was the largest and most luxurious sedan in the Fiat Group portfolio, but with dismal sales amidst difficult economic times, the Italian auto giant can no longer justify its continued production. Despite having no replacement in the pipeline, Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne reportedly announced the model's discontinuation for this past year, but production is now tipped to drag out until the Spring. The Lancia Thesis may have its small cadre of fans, but by and large it's not likely to be especially missed as it rolls towards the sunset.
posted : 1/5/2009 @10:06:14 PM
CES 2009 Preview: FLIR helps BMWs detect pedestrians

FLIR, the maker of BMW's night-vision system, will be at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas next week showing off its PathFindIR thermal imaging camera. The company says its system isn't confused by oncoming headlights, works well in cold weather and can even see through fog, dust and smoke. FLIR also says its camera is based on the same technology used by the military to provide a 36° field-of-view of the road ahead. We plan to check out the company's claims in the 6 Series they're bringing to CES. Maybe they'll even let us take it out and recreate that urban rumor of 200-mph desert highway sprints with no headlights. No, probably not.
posted : 1/5/2009 @10:04:47 PM
Video: Robbie Maddison jumps a motorcycle 120 feet to top of Arc de Triomphe in Vegas

Ever since Evel Knievel made jumping a motorcycle into a national phenomenon, there seems to be an endless supply of insane (and inane) stunts with which to occupy our imaginations. The latest feat was performed in Las Vegas on New Year's Eve and involved launching Robbie Maddison -- the man who performed a different jump in Sin City last New Year's Eve -- over 100 feet and landing at the top of the Arc de Triomphe at the Paris hotel. Of course, what goes up, must come down, and so did Robbie. Fortunately, he managed to stick the landing but he reportedly injured his hand in the process. Watch the whole bit go down on the video -- complete with the obligatory cut-shots to his rightfully concerned significant other -- after the break. In related news, Robbie Knievel also made a (less impressive) Vegas jump that night, and that video can also be seen after the break.
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posted : 1/5/2009 @9:49:28 PM
Vehicle recalls down 30% in 2008After such a gloomy 2008, automakers are looking anywhere they can for a ray of sunshine. One such glimmer came in the form of a preliminary report by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that recalls were down 30% last year compared to 2007, and at their lowest levels since 1994. It's not all good, though. While automakers recalled a combined 10.2 million vehicles in 2008, the total number of recall campaigns hit a record number of 642 -- a 9% jump over 2007 - and also included a 233 safety investigations last year, up from only 98 in 2007. David Kelly, acting NHTSA administrator, said his agency is attributing the drop in recalled cars to an early warning system used to alert manufacturers to problems as quickly as possible. Early fixes in a product's production puts fewer flawed cars on the road. Among the top six automakers, Chrysler had the fewest recalled cars in 2008 at 360,000. That's a huge drop from the 2.2 million it recalled in 2007. GM, on the other hand, recalled 1.9 million in 2008, up from 538,000 in 2007. Honda and Toyota both saw their recall numbers increase, while Nissan's dropped.
posted : 1/5/2009 @9:48:14 PM
2009 Kia cee'd gets Intelligent Stop & Go

Stop/start technology is like a trial membership for hybrids: it lets drivers in on the fuel savings and lower carbon emissions without forcing them to become a card-carrying member of the hybrid brigade. Kia is will be offering buyers just such an opportunity by introducing ISG, or Idle, Stop, and Go (also called Intelligent Stop & Go) on the new cee'd. The ISG will be available on the 1.4- and 1.6-liter gasoline-engined c'eeds, and unlike other stop/start technology, this ISG shuts the engine down not only when the car is stopped, but when it's moving less than four mph. To engage the ISG while the car is moving, the driver puts the car in neutral and depresses the clutch, the engine is shut down, and he or she will be rewarded with 15% better fuel economy in the urban cycle. The frugal-ized cee'd also benefits from a lighter five-speed gearbox and low-rolling-resistance tires as standard fitment. Later in 2009, the 1.6-liter diesel c'eed will be offered with ISG technology.
posted : 1/5/2009 @9:45:02 PM
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