BMW | autoinsane

The largest Mini, Countryman, debuts at NY Auto Show

Thursday, April 1, 2010

It may sound like an play on words - being the biggest Mini ever made - but Mini's all-new Countryman will boast 4 doors, 4 seats, and a 4-wheel-drive system (caooed Mini All4), a 102.2-inch wheelbase that's about 6 inches longer, stretch out to 161.3 inches long and nearly 40 cubic feet of cargo space, when it debuts early next year.

[NY Auto Show] BMW launches new, fourth-gen 2011 X5 with 4,000 new parts

Wednesday, March 31, 2010

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[NY Auto Show] BMW launches new, fourth-gen 2011 X5 with 4,000 new parts

It's often called the Ides of March - a tough and cruel time of year - moreover referred to unfavorable seasonal weather patterns. Yet, the weather in South Carolina - where the all-new BMW X5 is made - might have stirred the wishes for both good and bad weather for the consumers desirous of this premium SUV that's been under way for the previous 18 months. BMW used to call it an SAV - in perhaps a nod to it being a Sport Activity Vehicle - which it is - or perhaps to correctly break it free from the then-widening SUV nomenclature that's now changed course to CUV - but, I digress.

BMW sets prices of 2011 535i ($50,475) and 550i ($60,575) all-new sedans ahead of debut at New York Auto Show

Friday, March 26, 2010

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In an effort to excite, and surely drive - pun intended - (foot) traffic to the New York Auto Show, BMW announced the prices of its 535i ($50,475) and 550i ($60,575) sedans ahead of the show's opening its doors to the public at the cement palace known as the Javits Center in the Big Apple.

McKeel Hagerty lists Top 10 Collectibles of past decade

Thursday, January 7, 2010

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McKeel Hagerty lists Top 10 Collectibles of past decade

The end of the calendar year is the time for reflection and inspection and lists. Lots and lots of list. Good times. Bad times. So-so times, people, places and spaces. The lists make interesting reading and if nothing else provide easy talk-show fodder for radio and TV shows. While Mr. Blackwell's "worst dressed" list draws reviews for what many consider the wrong reasons - that being to snicker and poo-poo the designs and outfits dared to be worn by stars at events - any list in automotive circles draws similar guffaws for those who believe a different car was faster, smoother, and click-snicked its gears with greater ease than a competitor.

Tell Santa: What Features Aren’t Automakers Giving You?

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

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Tell Santa: What Features Aren’t Automakers Giving You?

There’s really a disappointing trend going on in the car industry if you’re a car but, the death of the manual transmission. It’s not just the “average” car that can’t come with the ability to row your own, but some high powered beasts that only mount power through a slushbox...

Insane automotive photography, Part II: Hillbilly HDR, Corvette Z06, Ford GT Burnout, and rigshots

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

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We've re-invented our insane automotive photography feature as a weekly format of the best and most amazing automotive related pictures posted to our Insane Automotive Photography Group on Flickr. This week we have hillbilly HDR, Corvette Z06, a Ford GT Burnout, and some amazing rigshots.

BMW Bringing Trio of Hybrids to LA Auto Show

Thursday, November 26, 2009

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BMW recently announced pricing for its ActiveHybrid X6, but they aren’t done just yet. In addition to the 480-hp crossover, BMW is bringing its ActiveHybrid 7, and Vision EfficientDynamics concept car. As you might have guessed the ActiveHybrid 7 is a hybrid 7-series. The hybrid 7 features a twin-turbo “High Precision Direct Injected” V8 with a 3-phase electric motor that gives the eco-luxury ride a total combined output of 455 hp and 515 lb-ft of torque. Along with the 8-speed automatic transmission the ActiveHybrid 7 gets 15-17% better gas mileage. According to our calculations, that translates to about 26 mpg. But this hybrid is no slouch, sprinting to 60 in 4.7 seconds. That’s a little quicker than the Lotus Evora that was just announced.

2010 BMW ActiveHybrid X6 will start at $89,725

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

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Just in time for that hard to shop for lug nut on your list who has an empty bay in his multi-room garage, BMW is offering its polarizing 2010 X6 Active Hybrid with destination and shipping for $89,725.

IIHS Releases Safest New Vehicles for 2010

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

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The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety released its list of cars awarded Top Safety Pick. The 27 vehicle list includes 19 cars and 8 SUV's. The Big Winner? Subaru, with five of its cars winning the awards from the IIHS. The Subaru Forester, Subaru Impreza (except WRX), Subaru Legacy, Subaru Outback and Subaru Tribeca were selected, that's almost Subaru's entire lineup. Volvo and Volkswagen also cleaned up with four cars a piece taking home a trophy. Detroit was not to be out done, each Big Three Automaker had at least two cars make the list. The IIHS points out that Toyota and it's subsidiaries were absent from the list after receiving 11 awards last year, as well as BMW, Mazda, Mitsubishi, and Saab for not having qualifying vehicles. Other big surprises include the Honda Accord and Ford Fusion missing the grade for only meeting 'acceptable' standards in the new roof safety standards.

Consumer Reports’ 2009 Reliability Survey- Ford Fusion tops Honda Accord and Toyota Camry

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

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Ford scored big in this year's Consumer Reports 2009 Car Reliability Survey. As the only Detroit automaker to be labeled with "world-class" reliability, 46 of 51 Ford/Lincoln/Mercury products scored average or above average. General Motors did well with some of its new offerings but Chrysler continued to struggle. Who took home the "most reliable" and "least reliable" titles? Read on and find out...