BMW To Bring 5-Series Diesel Over In Wagon Form?!

Just when it seemed like wagon aficionados were going to have to make an occupy-every-auto-manufacturer movement, BMW swoops in with some exciting news.

If Endras BMW is to be believed (who by the way seems to have taken over representing BMW in Canada from the ever dormant BMW Canada), the 5-series is going to be available on our shore in diesel form! The 550d in Europe gets a tri-turbo 3.0 litre six which makes 375 horsepower and a whopping 546 pound feet of torque all while returning on average 6.3 L/100 kms and producing 167 g/km of carbon dioxide.

But wait, it gets better.

The 550d will also come with BMW’s X-Drive all-wheel drive system optional as well as BMW’s M package being available to spruce things up look-wise.

But probably the best news of all? This can all be had in wagon for as well. BMW had decided to not sell the 5-series wagon on our shores with the 5-series GT stepping in to fill the gap. However, as good as the 5-series GT is, it’s not exactly a sales star.

The 550d with the M-pack and in wagon form was actually Jeremy Clarkson’s pick for car of the year this year and it’s not hard to see why.

All this seems too good to be true and when that happens, it usually is. However, Endras BMW claims an 550d Xdrive M wagon can be available to us Canucks as early as March.

Now, all BMW needs to do is add a manual transmission to that wagon and boy, do we ever have one drool-worthy family hauler.

[Endras BMW]

BMW X6 ActiveHybrid Gets the Axe

For some reason the BMW X6 was a stroke of brilliance from the Bavarian brand. It’s a vehicle that makes aboslutely no sense and that’s probably why it’s so popular. In fact, it is indeed so popular that BMW actually was able to carve out another vehicle segment – one that BMW’s rivals desperately want a piece of with Acura trying its hand not-so-successfully, Audi lning up its Q6 for production soon, and Mercedes-Benz is planning on throwing its hat into the fray.

It isn’t all a complete success story with the X6, however. It seems BMW got a bit greedy by trying to up the X6′s insanity level by just a little too much as they added hybrid technology to make it… not that efficient. Seriously, the X6 ActiveHybrid isn’t significantly better in city driving efficiency than the regular X6, which makes it even more pointless. I actually had the chance to review the X6 ActiveHybrid and concluded that X6 ActiveHyrbid owners should just go buy a Mini Cooper S… which makes no sense either. Perhaps the X6′s crazyness is contageous.

Anyway, that crazyness has apparently met its limit because BMW has decided to pull the plug on production for the X6 ActiveHybrid. BMW just isn’t selling any at all. Considering the fact that the X6 ActiveHyrbid costs only a grand more than an X6 M, that isn’t entirely surprising. If the ActiveHybrid had a much lower MSRP, I could see some potential for sales growth. But it sounds like BMW just wants to forget that the X6 ActiveHybrid even existed in the first place.

This isn’t the first time an automaker tried to make a performance vehicle with efficiency in mind and failed. Honda knows about that all too well (CR-Z anyone?).

Will you miss the X6 ActiveHybrid? If you will, you are due back at Bellevue before 6.

[BimmerFile]

Canadian Fashion Designers Present “Red Mudder” Mini Cooper S

This is apparently what you get when you have two Canadian fashion designers and tell them to make something of a Mini Cooper S. Dan and Dean Caten apparently envisioned an offroading Mini – one obviously more capable than the Countryman. As such this fashionable Mini, dubbed “Red Mudder” is the first Cooper to get Mini’s All4 all-wheel drive system. This may even plant the idea in Mini’s proverbial head to bring the system over to the Cooper family down the road. In addition to All4, the Red Mudder gets a raised suspension, bush guards, rally lights, tinted windows, off-road capable tires (with a hatch mounted spare) and an aluminum plated interior. Since the Catens are apparently quite patriotic, they also put their signature maple leaf on the door and on the headrests of the Red Mudder.

The Catens, who also go by Dsquared, had the opportunity to put their fashion talents to work as a part of Mini’s 11 year sponsorship of the Life Ball initiative which is essentially a European AIDS/HIV fundraiser. Other designers to have the honours over the years include Versace, Kenneth Cole, Diesel and Calven Klein.

The Red Mudder will be auctioned off with proceeds going towards the cause.

Congrats guys, looks awesome!

[Autoblog]

Ultimate Comparo: Nissan 370Z vs Mexican Chicken

Ah, where would we be without marketing? Probably way better off, but every now and then those marketing kids come up with something entertaining and funny. Case in point, Nissan decided to pit its 370Z against a Mexican chicken.

Random? Yes. Funny? Yes. Should you try to race a chicken too? No. I know that probably goes without saying but considering I saw a guy on the highway attempting to secure the canoe on his roof using his, wait for it…. arm, I suppose human beings think almost anything is a good idea.

Check out the chicken take on a 3.7 litre V6 in the video above.

Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays!

From CarDriven.ca!

(And Lewis Hamilton)

Quattro FAIL: BMW’s xDrive System Humiliates Audi’s System

The two German heavyweights are duking it out again and this time BMW is claiming victory.

It’s unclear where this event is or who is holding it, but judging buy the outcome, it’s safe to say this is BMW’s doing. They pitted Audi’s Q5 with Quattro AWD against their new BMW X3 with xDrive AWD. The results are actually quite surprising.

If you don’t know, Audi’s quattro system is world renowened, in fact Audi has been perfecting its system for over 25 years. As a result, quattro has helped Audi win many rally races over the years. Today, buying an Audi without quattro AWD is like cheating on Beyonce with Tara Reid. It just doesn’t make any sense.

BMW, on the other hand, has been using xDrive AWD for 25 years as well, but have had little to show for it – until now that is. It’s not that it was a bad AWD system, it’s just that Audi’s system clearly garnered the most attention.

Well BMW is hoping to shift that attention towards itself as the video above has the Q5 and X3 take on a metal ramp with some ‘slippery spots’ to test each AWD system.

The Q5 embarrassingly couldn’t even make it up the ramp! The X3 on the other hand had no problem at all, not even any wheel slippage and finished the small course without a hitch. Ouch.

As mentioned, since this is likely a BMW event, take the results as you will, but there is really no denying what you see with your own eyes. Check it outin the video above.

In any event, Audi will likely have to do a bit of damage control, but you can bet that they won’t take this sitting down.

The BMW vs. Audi rivalry continues.

[Youtube]

A Lot Of Car Names Are Funny If You Put “Anal” In Front Of Them

Despite technically being the age of an adult, I am still very immature and thus, stuff like this deserves a blog post from me.

There has always been great debate as to whether car companies should use the alphanumeric naming system for their models (i.e Volvo C30) or whether using an actual word is better (i.e Ford Focus).

Well, Rumours On The Internets just posted the list of the top 25 car names that are hilarious if you put the word ‘anal’ in front of them. My personal favourites are:

1) Anal Ram

2) Anal Intrigue

3) Anal Odyssey

Come to think of it, there are many other good ones that didn’t make the list such as ‘Anal Explorer’, ‘Anal Tribute’ and ‘Anal Journey’.

Click here to see their full list. Good stuff.

[Rumours on the internets]

Six Speed Manual Only for BMW 1-Series M!

Amazing!

BMW has just announced that there will be no automatic transmission option on the 1-series M! That is how you know BMW is serious about this being a true performance car. On top of that, they finally put the horsepower rumours to rest. The 1-series M will come with 340 horsepower from a 3.0 inline six. No torque numbers are released yet, but expect them to be in the 300 range as well. Drool.

And if all that weren’t enough, it will also have a chasis, braking system and rear differential identical to the M3. BMW claims the 1-series M is faster than the M3 around the Nordschleife track!

BMW has released the image above as well, which is less exciting since it’s still all swirly camo’d out. Expect an official reveal in December.

I am seriously in love. I seriously need this car. And I will seriously sell my soul to own it. Not really. But maybe. Probably.

[Top Speed]

JCW Mini Countryman Cometh?

On September 23rd BMW will introduce a new mini model and the pic above is the only indication they will gave as to what it will be.

Clearly it is a Countryman under that car cover. Right now educated guesses have the mystery Mini pinned as either a two door version of the Countryman, or a John Cooper Works edition of the Countryman. Since the whole point of the Countryman was to offer Mini loyalists the option of four doors in the first place, it’s unlikely that a two door Countryman would ever exist. You might as well just buy a regular Mini is you want two doors. Besides, there’s clearly a rear door handle sticking out in the pic above. So, John Cooper Works it is.

One troubling thing is that this image was taken from Mini UK’s website. Mini Canada or Mini USA have not been promoting this or any new Mini products so that leaves the possibility of a JCW Countryman being for Europe only.

[Top Speed]

FAIL: Not-So-Safe Safety Car

The picture says it all.

FAIL.

[Edmunds]

Introducing the Cheapest Infiniti You Can Buy

Infiniti is introducing a new model to the Canadian market and it just so happens to be the cheapest as well.

The G25 will now be a part of the G37 sedan and coupe lineup, though it will be available only in sedan body style. The G25 will also use a smaller engine than the G37. It will use 2.5 litres and it will develop 218 horses along with 187 pound feet of torque. The G25 will be available in either rear wheel drive or all-wheel drive. Infiniti has mentioned a seven speed automatic being available, but more worryingly, there is no mention of a manual transmission option.

The hope with the new G25 is to offer a competitor to BMW’s 323i, Mercedes-Benz’s C230 and Lexus’ IS 250 and will help usher people into the brand.

The G25 will have a starting price of $36,360.

[Infiniti Canada]

Saabs Back On Canadian Roads in September

Saabs have not been sold in Canada since 2009 and contrary to popular belief, the reason why had little to do with the brand being put on life support before Spyker could fall back on the tired cliche of saving Saab just in the nick of time.

What actually happened was its dealer and government importation agreements expired here and they weren’t renewed since it looked like Saab was done like dinner.

As a result, Spyker pretty much needs to start from scratch bringing Saab back to our country. According Saab Cars of North America president Mike Colleran, “Canadian Saab consumers are fiercely loyal. I get letters on a daily basis from Canadians asking ‘when’s Saab coming back?”

Didn’t know Canadians had such a thing for Saabs. In any event, the first model to be sold on our soil will be the newly redesigned 9-5 flagship sedan meant to be a 5-series, E-Class, A6 and S80 competitor. It will arrive at the end of September.

Next up will be a revised 9-3 in October, then the 9-4X crossover. Can’t wait to try them all out!

[The Globe & Mail]

Happy Canada Day!

Happy birthday Canada!

While I won’t do this to my car, I will celebrate by going on a drive on part of this great land!

Happy Father’s Day From Car Driven!

Happy Father’s Day to all the dad’s out there, many of whom I’m sure were instrumental in helping us getting our driver’s licenses through driving lessons. And if you’re dad was like mine, you need to take special time to thank him on this day for making you learn how to drive a manual transmission. Thanks, dad!

Automakers Loving Obama Again

This is a bit of a turn around, isn’t it.

Just a short while ago, automakers were up in arms with the new, more stringent fuel efficiency standards that were going to come into play in 2016. Some thought they were too short on time to develop the technology necessary to meet the new standards, while others even asked to be exempted from the new standards.

However, with newly announced mileage requirements for light trucks and vehicles running through 2018 to 2025, automakers are breathing a sigh of relief as the pressure is relieved slightly with the extension. On top of it all, the new standards will be national which means manufacturers won’t need to abide by different state laws. For instance, California has the strictest emission laws in Amurrica and they have long been a thorn in the side of automakers.

This is an interesting move. Something definitely needs to be done with how much gas our cars use, but time is rapidly running out for a solution, especially considering how much oil is being lost as you read this post from the leak of the States shoreline. Is it better to force automakers into coming up with fuel efficient cars in a short period of time and risking unforeseen problems because they were rushed? Or is it better to give them time to develop good technology while we suck up more and more of the earth’s non-renewable resources?

What do you think?

[Autoblog Green]