BMW 750i Sedan



4.4-liter, V-8 engine with TwinPower Turbo technology
400 horsepower Rear-wheel drive 22 mpg hwy*

The 7 Series sedan is both instantly recognizable and punctuated with new style. We began with the trademarked BMW roof slant and the Hofmeister kink in the rear, long hood in the front and short overhangs throughout the body. We then supplemented the traditional look with a sporty panel along the side, chrome highlights, deep-seated handles on the doors, and an uninterrupted shoulder line for a new, dynamic profile. Additionally, the large, trademarked kidney grilles sit alongside updated BMW quad-headlights. All of these bring a subtle new style to its already dominant stance.


Dramatic wood trim accent pieces add style across the dashboard, doors, center console, and cup holders. The subtle intensity of the trim encases an array of technological conveniences, including programmable memory keys, in-dash CD controls, the Black Panel LCD screen, center console shift lever, and the iDrive. Nappa leather adorns both doors and the 20-way multi-contour front seats. Interior design also brings an ambience of well-appointed style with a leather-covered, double-lid storage compartment. Of course, the style isn’t without purpose. In addition to storage, it also acts as a supple armrest for both driver and passenger.
When the ignition is off and the doors are closed, the only hint of the advanced technologies and entertainment systems along the smooth, black panel are the raised chrome gauge rings and needles. When the door is opened, the gap at the bottom of the chrome rings fills in graphically, and the dials and other displays begin to become visible. Once the engine is started, the black panel instantly comes to life. Where before the display’s borders were ambiguous, now the screen is clear, displaying onboard information and controls with intensified clarity. At night, the instrument panel displays change color from white to BMW amber.
If it’s the driver’s job to drive, it’s the passenger’s job to relax. To that end, we’ve made the rear seating more comfortable and spacious than ever. The BMW 750Li enjoys a longer wheelbase and a noticeably larger door to make it easier to enter the vehicle. The interior space is the most generous in the luxury sedan class with a redesigned roofline for additional headroom. Along with ample room to stretch, the rear seats in the 750Li model include an optional 12-way massager to soothe back muscles by producing a wave motion from the top of the back to the bottom. At the same time, six rotating massage elements work in the shoulder and lower back areas. Furthermore, Optional Rear Comfort Seats are not only individually adjustable, but are heated and ventilated to provide climate comfort as well. In the end, the ride itself just may be the destination.
Safety & Security
Optional BMW Night Vision allows drivers to see animals and pedestrians over 900 feet (or 300 meters) ahead—in the dark. Utilizing infrared technology from the vehicle’s built-in, front camera, the 7 Series displays potential road hazards on the navigation system monitor so that drivers might avoid them well before they are visible to the naked eye. In the 7 Series, Night Vision Pedestrian Detection technology distinguishes between animals and humans and alerts the driver accordingly. At a closer range, it identifies their position and the direction in which they are moving. If a pedestrian approaches or crosses the road, thermal imaging technology alerts a 7 Series system to display a symbol in the control panel and, if equipped, on the Head-Up Display.
Source by BMWUSA

BMW X5 M

X5 M 

Uncompromisingly Different.

 4.4-liter, 32-valve, M TwinPower Turbo V-8 engine 555 horsepower M tuned xDrive all-wheel-drive system 17 mpg hwy*

Model Highlights

 

 


Looks like an X5, behaves like an M.

The BMW M has begun a new chapter with the all-new BMW X5 M. Featuring the first M Power V-8 Turbo, 555 hp and 500 lb-ft of torque, this powerful vehicle comes fully equipped with M Dynamic Performance Control for impressive handling. The power of M has a whole new look. 
 Comfort & Convenience
Heated Front Seats 
A welcome feature for both driver and front passenger in cooler weather. With the touch of a button, seat surfaces and backrests are heated to quickly radiate comfortable warmth in your choice of three settings.  
Panoramic Moonroof
Dual-glass-panel Panoramic Moonroof features fully electric slide and lift control. Includes trap release, comfort opening/closing function, a wind deflector to help keep the wind out and an electric sunshade to help shield cabin from excessive heat.  
Adjustable Front M Sport Seats
14-way power-adjustable front M sport seats include 4-way lumbar support; 2-way manual thigh support; and 3-setting driver's-seat memory system. Plus, with extended leather and trademark M stitching throughout, driver and passenger have a subtle reminder of M lineage at their fingertips.  
Onboard Navigation System with Real Time Traffic Information
With the route taken care of, you can concentrate on more important things, like enjoying every twist and turn along the way. Our onboard navigation system, controlled via iDrive, uses GPS satellites, a digital map and, where available, Real Time Traffic Information (RTTI) to guide you to your destination. Choose the fastest route, the shortest route or the one that avoids traffic. Traffic information is received by a separate radio tuner and then displayed on the glare-free monitor, mounted neatly in the dashboard. You don't even have to listen to a specific radio station, or have the radio on, to receive updates every few minutes.  

Entertainment

HD Radio

HD Radio™ broadcasting is the new, digital standard for AM and FM radio stations. Across the United States, over 1300 AM/FM stations have upgraded to HD Radio technology, with over 600 of the FM stations also offering new, HD Radio-only "multicast" channels, vastly increasing programming choice. HD Radio stations are broadcast in crystal-clear digital sound and offer innovative data services, such as song artist and title scrolling across the screen. HD Radio is totally subscription free from your local AM and FM radio stations. (For further information on HD Radio receivers and to discover HD Radio AM/FM stations near you, go to www.HDRadio.com.)  

 Premium High-Fidelity 16-speaker Sound System

This 16-speaker system is comprised of one center bass speaker sub-woofer below each front seat, one mid-range and one high-range speaker each in the door trim panels, one mid-range and one high-range speaker each in the D-pillar, one mid-range and one high-range speaker in the instrument panel, and a digital amplifier with nine channels that produce a 600-watt output. In short, our most powerful sound system guarantees unparalleled quality that’s nothing short of stunning. 

 
iDrive System, On-board Computer and Controller
Whether it's across town or across the country, your favorite drive will be even better with BMW iDrive, an innovative system linking your vehicle's Communications, Navigation and Entertainment functions. Make calls, listen to music, plot routes and find places to stop along the way - all with just one Controller. The more intuitive iDrive responds to your every need, even communicating with the On-Board Diagnostics computer to provide clear, detailed service information to drivers and technicians on its easy-to-view screen. The completely redesigned iDrive Controller features: more intuitive controls; and four direct-entry buttons for accessing radio, CD, telephone, and navigational features. iDrive is so simple to use, you won't have to take your eyes off the road. 

Performance & Efficiency
6-Speed M Sports Automatic Transmission
Fully equipped with a little something we like to call 6-speed M Sports automatic transmission with paddle shifters, the BMW X5 M holds nothing back. The M Sports transmission offers three modes: Drive, Sport, and M Manual Shift. Drive runs like a normal automatic transmission, Sport allows for paddle shifting and maintains gears at the red line so long as the driver’s foot is on the pedal, while paddle shifting in M Manual mode locks the transmission in the selected gear and provides remarkably fast shift times across all six gears. 
 Adaptive Drive with Electronic Damper Control
Adaptive Drive with Electronic Damping Control settings ensures a smooth ride, providing unsurpassed dynamics, comfort and safety. Body roll is reduced and steering is optimized. 
M-Tuned xDrive with Dynamic Performance Control
Paired with the xDrive, all-wheel-drive system, M Dynamic Performance Control distributes power between the front and rear axle to maximize agility, improve traction and provide extreme cornering performance.
M-Power V8 Turbo Engine
The first M Power V-8 Turbo comes from the M side of the family. Which means the all-new BMW X5 M is genetically blessed with an impressive 555-hp. The engine provides direct power pulses from the exhaust to the intake through the turbos, providing the high power output with virtually no turbo lag. Brace yourself. 
Safety & Security
Adaptive Brake Lights
Bumper-to-bumper collisions most often occur when the driver behind you didn't realize how hard you were braking. Our Adaptive Brake Lights help eliminate that scenario by emitting a larger, brighter light with the more force you use. It allows those behind you to clearly see whether you're lightly tapping the brakes to slow down, or applying full force for a sudden stop.
 
BMW Assist with Bluetooth® Wireless Technology
BMW Assist provides you with a suite of safety, security and convenience services that add peace of mind, confidence and convenience throughout your day. BMW Assist intelligently integrates the driver, the vehicle and the environment as part of BMW's global ConnectedDrive initiative. Combining GPS location technology with hands-free wireless communication, BMW Assist connects you to a response specialist for help with almost everything, from an emergency situation to directions and traffic information. The BMW Assist Safety Plan is part of Ultimate Service, included at no cost for 4 years from your BMW's in-service date. Your BMW Assist system also includes Bluetooth® hands-free calling capability with speech recognition.  
 Airbags and Restraint System 
We call two-stage, front-impact airbags "Smart Airbags.” Why? With impact-measured deployment, they release in different patterns and levels depending on the crash. Front Head Protection Systems, Rollover Protection Systems, Active Knee Protection, and front passenger airbags, ensure you are just as safe as your passengers. In a crash, restricting passenger movement is just as important as airbag deployment. BMW automatic front safety-belt tensioners work in conjunction with the Smart Airbags to provide the right amount of tension at the right moment, helping to keep everyone secure. 
Park Distance Control, Front and Rear
So intuitive, it helps you see things you normally can't. Park Distance Control uses eight sensors—four in the front, four in the rear—to measure exactly how far you are from other vehicles and unseen objects when parking. As your bumper approaches a stationary object, the image on the iDrive screen changes and beeping becomes faster, turning into a constant tone when the distance is less than 12 inches.
Gallery
Source by BMWUSA

Lamborghini Sesto Elemento Concept - Car News

Showcasing the benefits of less weight, while delivering more of everything else.

 

The world expected Lamborghini to unveil its Murciélago replacement at this year’s Paris auto show—production of the wildest bull has already ended—but the supercar maker chose instead to tease us with this concept, saving its new flagship for next March’s Geneva auto show. Ah, you must now be thinking, so this smaller car previews a Gallardo replacement! Nope, it’s not that either.
What, then, is the Sesto Elemento? Let's have a look at the exterior first. Despite the mid-engine layout, this concept seems compact, with a very short rear overhang. Wedgy shapes are typical for Lamborghini, but this car is even more extreme than the super-angular Reventón, the ultra-low-volume Murciélago spinoff from a few years ago. A plethora of spoilers, air vents, and triangular elements protrude from or perforate its body. There is a racing-type quick-refueling system. The rear end is open, to give spectators a clear view of the transmission and the exhaust system, the latter of which, remarkably, exits through the engine cover above the taillights.
The front end and roof are marked by sharp, seemingly folded creases, and the rear part of the roof is graced by two intake ducts and two parallel lines of five holes arranged above the cylinder banks. Below the ten openings sits, obviously, a V-10. The hexagonal shape of these elements is a nod to an obsession of former Bertone designer Marcello Gandini, who penned the Miura and Countach.
Seems Familiar and Futuristic
Despite an overt familiarity to its shape, the Sesto Elemento is nevertheless detached from the brand's current styling language. The wild details turn it into something you’d expect only in a video game, or in some crazy tuner's showroom, but not quite from Lamborghini, not after the brand has been working hard to overcome the styling clichés of its past. In fact, we hear there was a considerable amount of discussion within Lamborghini and at parent Audi about showing such an extreme concept car. In the end, the view prevailed that it wouldn't hurt to deviate a bit from the production models' somewhat aloof and architectonic proportions and design—traits that will apply to that Murciélago replacement, by the way.
One of the most striking features of the Sesto Elemento is that its entire body is constructed from visible, matte-finish carbon fiber (the so-called "sixth element” indicated by translating the concept’s name from Italian), as expensive a material as it is light. In fact, the curb weight of the entire car is claimed to be a mere 2200 pounds. That's 1100 fewer than our estimated curb weight for the supposedly “superlight” Gallardo Superleggera.
Wicked Quick
Combine the low weight with the V-10’s 570 hp at 8000 rpm—torque stands at 398 lb-ft at 6500 rpm—and performance should be explosive; Lamborghini says the car is capable of reaching 62 mph in 2.5 seconds. Top speed—only mentioned, says Lambo, "in the interests of completeness,” as top speed has been downgraded to the fourth-highest priority for its products—is said to be “well over 185 mph.” We suspect this modesty belies a terminal velocity north of 200 mph.
The use of carbon fiber extends beyond exterior panels: The passenger-holding monocoque, front subframe, crumple zones, and wheels are made of the material as well. The rear subframe, by contrast, is made of aluminum. Most anything else has simply been omitted. There is no dashtop—the underlying structure itself is laid bare—and the seat cushions are glued to the monocoque. One element we wish had been included is a clutch pedal. The Sesto Elemento is equipped with the e-gear six-speed automated manual transmission; power runs through it to Lambo’s all-wheel-drive system.
Foreshadows Future Lambos
If the sinister design won’t redefine Lamborghini styling, the Sesto Elemento is nevertheless significant as a rolling testament to the brand’s commitment to carbon fiber; all future Lambos will make extensive use of the stuff. AWD systems and heavy, ten- and twelve-cylinder engines take their toll on curb weights, and eliminating hundreds of pounds through the use of carbon fiber will give Lamborghini a potent weapon in the fight to create the most extreme supercars.
It's good politically for the brand within the VW Group, too. With its sales numbers taking a dive, Lamborghini needs another leg to stand on, and carbon-fiber expertise will for the first time make the raging bull a technology leader among VW’s brands. Lamborghini is working with the University of Washington in Seattle to develop its carbon-fiber tech, and aircraft maker Boeing is a partner in the university's Lamborghini Advanced Composite Structures Laboratory, too.
Yes, we were hoping to see the next Murciélago, but we’ll admit the Sesto Elemento is one hell of a substitute, and it further raises our expectations for the next production Lambo. This thing is so over the top, it’s almost too much—just as any proper Lamborghini should be.

SEMA 2009: 0-60 takes the Scion xD rallying




0-60 Magazine/Sparco Scion xD Rally car - Click above for high-res image gallery

Screw convention! Why do you have to build a rally car out of something sporty? Or powerful? Or off-road-worthy? According to 0-60 magazine at least, you don't have to. You can build a rally car out of just about anything. Take this Scion xD for instance. It's probably among the last cars you'd picture

taking off-road, but seeing what it looks like after 0-60 and Sparco got their mitts on it, you might want to reconsider. They added a ton of safety gear, enough lights to rival the nearby Luxor's candlepower, and basically just butched it up enough to make it look less like... well, an econobox. It should be a blast to drive. Maybe we'll try to find ourselves an Irish copilot and take it out for a spin.

Details on Project PUMA

NEW YORK - General Motors Corp. and Segway today demonstrated a new type of vehicle that could change the way we move around in cities.
Dubbed Project P.U.M.A. (Personal Urban Mobility and Accessibility), GM and Segway are developing an electrically powered, two-seat prototype vehicle that has only two wheels. It could allow people to travel around cities more quickly, safely, quietly and cleanly - and at a lower total cost. The vehicle also enables design creativity, fashion, fun and social networking.
GM and Segway announced their collaboration, while demonstrating the Project P.U.M.A. prototype in New York City this morning.
“Project P.U.M.A. represents a unique solution to moving about and interacting in cities, where more than half of the world’s people live,” said Larry Burns, GM vice president of research and development, and strategic planning. “Imagine small, nimble electric vehicles that know where other moving objects are and avoid running into them. Now, connect those vehicles in an Internet-like web and you can greatly enhance the ability of people to move through cities, find places to park and connect to their social and business networks.”

Trends indicate that urbanization is growing, and with that comes increased congestion and more competition for parking. Cities around the world are actively looking for solutions to alleviate congestion and pollution. Project P.U.M.A. addresses those concerns. It combines several technologies demonstrated by GM and Segway, including electric drive and batteries; dynamic stabilization (two-wheel balancing); all-electronic acceleration, steering and braking; vehicle-to-vehicle communications; and autonomous driving and parking. Those technologies integrate in Project P.U.M.A. to increase mobility freedom, while also enabling energy efficiency, zero emissions, enhanced safety, seamless connectivity and reduced congestion in cities.
“We are excited to be working together to demonstrate a dramatically different approach to urban mobility,” said Jim Norrod, CEO of Segway Inc. “There’s an emotional connection you get when using Segway products. The Project P.U.M.A. prototype vehicle embodies this through the combination of advanced technologies that Segway and GM bring to the table to complete the connection between the rider, environment, and others.”
Project P.U.M.A. vehicles will also allow designers to create new fashion trends for cars, and to focus on the passion and emotion that people express through their vehicles while creating solutions that anticipate the future needs of urban customers.
The Project P.U.M.A. prototype vehicle integrates a lithium-ion battery, digital smart energy management, two-wheel balancing, dual electric wheel motors, and a dockable user interface that allows off-board connectivity. The result is an advanced and functional concept that demonstrates the capabilities of technology that exists today.
Built to carry two or more passengers, it can travel at speeds up to 35 miles per hour (56 kph), with a range up to 35 miles (56 km) between recharges.
Since the introduction of the Segway Personal Transporter (PT), Segway has established itself as the leader in the small electric vehicle space. Its approach to congestion and environmental challenges is balanced with a strong understanding of the functional needs of its customers, enabling them to do more with less. Segway has delivered more than 60,000 lithium-ion batteries to the market.
GM has been a leader in “connected vehicle” technologies since it introduced OnStar in 1996. Today, this on-board communications package connects six million subscribers in North America to OnStar safety and security services. GM has also pioneered vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communications systems and transponder technology. These and additional connected vehicle technologies could ultimately enable vehicles that don’t crash and drive themselves.
“Imagine moving about cities in a vehicle fashioned to your taste, that’s fun to drive and ride in, that safely takes you where you want to go, and “connects” you to friends and family, while using clean, renewable energy, producing zero vehicle tailpipe emissions, and without the stress of traffic jams,” said Burns. “And imagine doing this for one-fourth to one-third the cost of what you pay to own and operate today’s automobile. This is what Project P.U.M.A. is capable of delivering.”
Source: General Motors