BMW X5 xDrive 35d

Introducing the X5 xDrive 35d New generation of diesel technology: Maximum dynamism, minimum emissions.With 3.0-liter. sequential dual-turbocharged, in line 6-cylinder engine, this fuel -efficeint vehicle doesn't make any sacrafices in performance. In fact, it has the strength of a V-8 while still delivering the efficientcy of a 4-cylinder.Featuring:*265 horsepower*425 lb-ft of torque at 1,750 rpm*0-60 mph in 6.8 seconds*26 mpg on the highway*585 miles per tank
Maximum power, supreme efficiency: The first BMW Advanced Diesel with BluePerformance is particularly well-suited to combine the driving dynamics and motoring refinement of a premium automobile with the most current and demanding standards for preserving resources and reducing emissions.Featuring exceptional power and torque, the 3.0 liter inline-six diesel is one of the most fuel-efficient and economical engines in its class. Applying Variable Twin Turbo Technology, a small turbocharger first cuts in at low engine speeds. Thanks to its low inertia, this turbocharger develops boost (and extra power) in response to even the smallest movement to the gas pedal and without the slightest delay. As engine speed increases, the second, larger turbocharger cuts in, developing maximum torque of 425 lb-ft at just 1,750 rpm. Interaction of the two turbochargers is controlled by the particularly efficient, high-performance electronic engine control unit. In addition to the above Variable Twin Turbo Technology, new technical highlights of BMW Advanced Diesel – presented for the first time in 2007 – include an aluminum crankcase and third-generation common-rail direct fuel injection. Featuring precision-quality precise piezo-injectors to deliver the precise dosage of fuel into the combustion chambers with the smallest volume of pre-injection, the third generation system ensures a particularly clean injection process with optimized fuel consumption, emissions figures and running smoothness. Bluetooth TechnologyBluetooth wireless technology puts hands-free calling in motion. Now you can answer calls, browse phonebook contacts and place calls in your BMW by using the multifunction steering wheel, radio or iDrive controls. It’s wireless - all you need is a BMW-approved Bluetooth mobile phone to be connected!For instructions on pairing your phone with supported vehicles, please visit Auto Wireless Solutions, a BMW authorized retailer.

Get more information at: http://www.bmwusa.com/Standard/Content/vehicles/2009/x5/xDrive35d/default.aspx

Diesel Loses Premium to Gas as Jetta Autos Appreciate

Volkswagen Jetta TDI (Diesel)

Feb. 23 (Bloomberg) -- Diesel, which has traded consistently above gasoline in the U.S. since July 2007, will sell at a discount by April as a global recession saps demand for the world’s most-consumed transport fuel and inventories rise. “By April, gasoline is going to cost more,” said Andrew Reed, an Energy Security Analysis Inc. oil expert in Boston. “Once we get past heating oil season, it’s all up to diesel demand” to set distillate prices, he said. “The real weakness is going to be exposed.” - Bloomberg.com

2010 BMW 5 Series : Spied

Car and Driver

Caught in wagon form wrapped in plastic camo, spy images of BMW’s new 5-series show the mid-sizer is taking shape with a broader snout and a larger twin-kidney grille similar to that of the new 2009 7-series. A rounded tail also alludes to a more conservative familial resemblance as the German automaker continues to tone down the controversial flame-surfaced styling of the current 5-series.

While we expect more information at an auto show later this year, the new 5-series will be slightly longer, wider, and lower than the existing car when it arrives in early 2010. It will again feature a hybrid steel-aluminum structure, with the doors, hood, and roof made of the lighter metal. However, this is in contrast to the existing car’s design, which employs aluminum for nearly the entire front half of the vehicle for optimum weight distribution. The new structure is easier and less expensive to manufacture, yet still could aid handling by offsetting the weight of the engine and lowering the center of gravity. Rear-wheel drive is standard and the automaker’s xDrive all-wheel-drive system will again be optional, and expect the torque-vectoring active differential from the X6 crossover to be offered as an option on certain models.

Turbos and Technology
Although Europeans will be able to opt for the company’s slick 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged diesel, U.S. buyers will likely only be able to choose from gasoline-fueled six- and eight-cylinder engines. A naturally aspirated 3.0-liter inline-six may make for an entry-level option, but count on the 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged inline-six as the volume powerplant, with a 400-hp, 4.4-liter twin-turbocharged V-8 (currently used in the X6 and new 7-series) replacing the existing 360-hp, 4.8-liter V-8 in the 550i.

A ZF six-speed automatic transmission may be offered initially, but expect a new eight-speed version, as well as a hybrid model, to follow shortly after launch. Nearly all 5-series variants also will sport start-stop systems, which use a larger starter motor to allow the engine to quickly shut down and restart after prolonged stops, but BMW has declined to offer such systems in U.S. market cars in the past. Also sure to be included is the latest version of iDrive with updated menu buttons, along with a head-up display and the 7-series sedan’s pedestrian-recognizing night vision and roadsign recognition technology, although it has yet to be confirmed if these features will make it to the U.S.

What About M?
While it likely is too early to begin speculation of a new M5, a boost in power and a more user-friendly transmission are safe bets. M5 mules have been spotted with cutouts in their front fascias, indicating they may be packing a pair of turbos and intercoolers underhood. And given the criticisms leveled on the current M5’s clunky SMG single-clutch automated-manual transmission, the adaptation of the M3’s seven-speed M DCT dual-clutch unit would be a boon to performance, drivability, and efficiency. As always, stay tuned for additional details.

Click here to see spied photo: http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/hot_lists/car_shopping/suvs_family_haulers/2011_bmw_5_series_spied

BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo Concept

BMW is back at it again with the 5 Series Gran Turismo concept, inventing categories that don't yet exist with a vehicle that isn't quite a sedan, wagon, crossover or SUV. Instead, the Bavarian automaker refers to its new vehicle as a Progressive Activity Sedan, which apparently means that it's a fastback wagon that sits a bit higher off the ground than normal sedans. If you love the shape of the X6 but don't need the ground clearance, you'll probably find little to complain about from the 5 Series GT.While we're not quite sure we're on board with the new bodystyle, one feature we do admire is the two-piece, double-jointed tailgate. It's a clever take on the classic problem of how to access the rear hatch in tight quarters. Once open, that space can hold a cavernous 58 cubic feet of stuff with the rear seats folded down. Regardless of the total amount of room, we've got to wonder if that oddly shaped opening will severely limit what can fit in the boot.

Read the entire article at : http://www.autoblog.com/2009/02/13/geneva-preview-full-details-emerge-on-bmw-5-series-gran-turismo/

First Look: 2010 Kia Forte

There's a new Kia and town, and its name is Forte -- finally putting an end to months of Internet speculation surrounding the official moniker of the long-awaited Spectra successor. Now that the name game's out of the way, upon initial examination, the Forte badge is affixed to a familiar Kia package, but with lots of welcome additions.

The first thing you'll likely notice about the new 2010 Kia Forte (pronounced FOR - TAY) is its styling, which appears to crib several cues from competitors Honda and Toyota. While a clear departure from the outgoing Spectra, the new look is relatively conservative from a design standpoint and likely won't prove controversial. The new car's grown an inch in wheelbase, length, and width, but the Spectra's MacPherson-strut front suspension and torsion beam rear suspension are still there and the interior volume has changed less than a cubic inch. Cargo volume is up though to 14.7 cu ft from 12.2 cu ft.

Read the complete article at: http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/sedans/112_0902_2010_kia_forte_look/index.html

Most carmakers' sales plunge, Subaru gains

DETROIT – General Motors' U.S. vehicle sales plunged 49 percent in January while Ford's sales dropped 40 percent, starting 2009 at an abysmal pace for the whole auto industry as lower sales to fleet buyers like rental car companies weighed down the results.

Toyota's sales dove 32 percent for the month, Nissan's dropped 30 percent and Honda's fell 28 percent, putting the overall industry on track for its fourth straight month in which U.S. sales plunged 30 percent or more.

But Subaru bucked the trend of declines for a second month in a row, posting an 8 percent sales increase. - Yahoo.com

Read the entire article at: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090203/ap_on_bi_ge/auto_sales

See our New and Pre-Owned Subaru line at: www.newmotorsautomallsubaru.com