BMW new 5-series will re-invigorate the brand

Posted on March 13, 2010
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Among the thousands of cars on display at the Geneva Motor Show, there is one that stands out, if not with its beauty as for its importance to the company that it does.

For the first time since 2003, BMW has redesigned its 5-Series executive range of models. No other model on display at the Geneva motor show meant so much to be on his mark, as the sixth-generation 5-series – with the obvious exception of small producers with only one or two models in its arsenal.

Where are the 5-Series is right for BMW of crucial importance, since it is the biggest single contribution to the bottom line of the company. Done something wrong and the world’s largest automaker to almost certainly will again knocked out of first place by its main rivals, Mercedes and Audi.
Brand Builder

As a brand builder is to shine the 5-Series’ job a bright light on other BMW models.

“The 5-series is, for me right in the center of the brand”, Ian Robertson, BMW Group Board Member responsible for sales and marketing, told BBC News in an interview. So far, we have more than 2,500 jobs, and before anyone even it is driven.
Thus, if the sixth generation of the 5-Series deemed desirable, then so will its smaller sibling, as the new 3-Series, which is up for renewal in 2012, and his little 1-series will be renewed, next year.

Profit Drivers

But the 5-Series is more than just a driver of sales of the BMW brand. It is also much more profitable than their siblings. It costs roughly the same to the more expensive 5-series to make than it costs, the better 3-series, in essence, it is much harder to make decent profit margins of small cars.

Mr. Robertson is committed to the myth that the 5-series for more than 50% of the profits of the BMW Group, although it released only 25% of turnover. But he acknowledges that it bears “a substantial portion – if that is gradually being phased out, like the British Mini and Rolls-Royce Group reduces subsidiaries continue to grow, and as a separate model of the BMW line-up will be expanded.

Sales Drivers

The 5-series is, however, increase of central importance to BMW’s strategy, its profit margin to be about 8-10% by 2012 in part because it is less expensive than its predecessor, making despite being longer, wider and heavier.
BMW invests one third have less to get the car into production and manufacturing costs reduced by 15% compared to its predecessor.

The 5-Series will also help increase sales of the BMW Group’s history of more than 1.3 million cars this year, wants to 10.4% after a decline in sales in 2009, the company. Although the fifth-generation 5-series sold 1.1 million cars in the course of his life BMW keeps the new one could beat that record.

“So far we have pre-orders for the next two-and-a-half-past three months, before anyone even it is driven,” says Mr Robertson. Crucially, as well as in Germany, the 5-series is produced in China, has overtaken the U.S. as the largest car market in the world. There, the current 5-series has been popular with private owners will have the drivers, allowing BMW to increase sales in the country by 37.5% in 2009.

Small cars

The 5-series has changed over the years, but the biggest new development is the growth of the family of the series of derivatives. Last year, the BMW 5-Series GT, which is larger and probably more than the traditional luxury sedan models.

And it is also a sport utility vehicle in the series, the X5. Such variation can be seen on the luxury segment, with German rival Audi, for example, to the number of models has increased from 32 last year to 42 in 2015.

Above all, this is in his little Audi A1 at the fair, a car that is widely seen as the first serious competitor to BMW Mini, with the exception of his own 1-series. Mercedes, however, is still relatively weak in the small car market, where demand is expected to grow quite rapidly in the coming months and years ahead.

But neither the main competitor of BMW stand still. All three are investments in new model development, so there is no guarantee that BMW retained the top position in the future.

Carz Supercar: Nissan 370Z GT Convertible

Posted on March 12, 2010
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What is it?

Nissan 370Z GT Convertible. The convertible version of the Nissan 370Z sports car. Like the coupe, the 370Z Roadster is shorter and wider than the old 350Z Droptop and is driven by a larger 3.7-liter V6, producing 326bhp.

Moreover, it is a pretty honest take on a standard sports car: rear-wheel drive, a large capacity naturally aspirated engine, rugged mechanical gear change and a soft top. Nissan 370Z GT Convertible

Here we find out how it is in the United Kingdom.

We know the 3.7-liter engine good for the 370Z and Infiniti EX37. It is ideal for precise six-speed manual transmission, you often find themselves bouncing off the rev limiter in the first three gears, as you make your way down the road.

The SynchroRev match that automatically point to downshift, it seems to remove one of the less troublesome aspects of driving, but it’s too easy to turn off, the button next to the gear lever.

The roof has an interior lining, which reduce little wind noise, but is a lot to improve the atmosphere in the cabin. With him down, that only the driver press a button and takes about 20 seconds, the car a bit of turmoil to drive vehicles. Nissan 370Z GT Convertible.

Drivers, the open-top driving are often put up with to take some compromises, and as you would expect, the Roadster is simply not as stiff as the 370Z coupe love, but there is a much greater differences than between, say, a Porsche Boxster and Cayman.

The slower turn-in and represent the shimmering of the chassis in bumpy corners, the car never felt as complete as the coupe, even though, in what feels like a growing trend is to go for the rear to unwelcome if They are game for a laugh, as it is always together and predictable. Nissan 370Z GT Convertible.

You can use all those who live, but I found the constant squealing angrily as the glass of the windows, rubbing the rubber seals. Nissan 370Z GT Convertible.

The only way to cure this is to go with them has been slightly reduced, or better yet, fold the roof when the weather is kind to be.

Is it worth it?
Price: £33,200
That depends on what you want and what kind of person you are. If you are open-top fun is guaranteed that the car offers, but you must be aware of what you have to sacrifice in return.

Tags: 2010, 370Z, Convertible, Nissan, Supercar

Carz Review: Volkswagen VW Touareg V6 Hybrid

Posted on March 12, 2010
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Volkswagen Touareg V6 Hybrid. This is the hybrid version of the new Volkswagen Touareg. It is the area’s most fascinating model, although it is not the best-seller list. It is the only gasoline Touareg, it would in the UK, but it has the lowest CO2 emissions and the highest performance from one area, which is 3.0 V6 and 4.1 V8 diesel engines.

In the heart of the Hybrid’s 328bhp, turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 gasoline engine with a 45bhp electric motor is coupled. They work in parallel, like a Lexus RX450h can close the motor from the drive to be completely decoupled. Volkswagen VW Touareg V6 Hybrid.

Unlike the Lexus, which has an electric motor for the rear of the Touareg engine / engine combination, both have a say on all four wheels via an eight-speed automatic gearbox and a Haldex AWD system.

The new gearbox contributes much to the headline-grabbing Touareg 200kg weight loss between the generations. A heavy duty vehicles called 4XMotion option is only available on the V6 TDI, but a low ratio, and a center differential lock for serious off-road use has. Volkswagen VW Touareg V6 Hybrid.

Another major weight savings comes to steel-sprung versions, whose suspension is 47kg lighter than before. Optional air suspension cars, like our test car, including losing 20kg. It is about the same as the body itself, leading to a significantly revised first-generation Touareg shell instead of a completely new architecture.

Inside, the Touareg is new and above all decent appointed. A few interior surfaces of the lower – and a couple on the top – part of the cabin are disappointing brittle, but it is strong on everything. Space is also improved. The rear seats slide and the boot is big, but there is no way to seven seats.
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Tags: Hybrid, Review, Touareg, Volkswagen, VW

Quietly unveiled Lexus CT 200h 2010

Posted on March 9, 2010
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Media brochure for the new Lexus CT200h – the Japanese firm response to the 1-series – has expired before the scheduled premiere of the vehicle at the Geneva Motor Show 2010th It’s Lexus, the first five-door compact hatch and pitches well into the company dumped into this to become the world’s largest premium segment within 12 months.

This is the first time we’ve seen the finished car, and it has been watered down considerably from the concept car Lexus LF-Ch. While the dimensions and the silhouette changed little, the details are much more range than LF-Ch. Lexus CT 200h 2010.

What is the history of new technology on the CT200h?

The brochure details the numerous leaks CT200h. We now know that the suspension is a McPherson-strut front set-up can double wishbones in back and the driver choose Eco, Normal or Sport driving programs to calibrate the car dynamic systems and power delivery.

The Lexus Hybrid Drive system, the same 1.8-liter VVT-i petrol engine and nickel-metal hydride as the Prius uses a full-hybrid engine, which is a zero-emission electric mode for up to 2 km in the city to use at speeds of up to 30mph has committed. Lexus CT 200h 2010.

Many dimensions are in the brochure made available to. The CT200h is 4320mm long, sits on a 2600mm wheelbase, the wheels 17in span in diameter, and the boat is located at 345 liters.

What will be in Geneva on the Lexus?

The same press brochure shows that run a front-drive Lexus RX450h in selected European countries. Dumping of the rear drive axle helps strip of weight and complexity to reduce the CO2 emissions of the Lexus premium SUV from an already remarkable 148g/km into a deeply impressive 140 g / km. Lexus CT 200h 2010.