Rumormill: BMW's production Vision Concept to be called i8

We have heard that BMW has has registered a series of "i+number trademarks (i1, i2, i3, i4, i5, i6, i7, i8 and i9) to use for its fuel efficient MegaCity range of vehicles. BMWBlog is now saying that it has heard a rumor that the combination that will be applied to the upcoming (read: 2013 or 2014) version of the Vision EfficientDynamics Concept will be i8. This makes some sense, as a BMW i8 would conjure up images of the never-seen M8 supercar, but BMWBlog is unconvinced. After all, why bring back memories of gas-guzzling supercars when you're trying to reinvent what one can be? Plus, since the vehicle is so far away, there's probably no name set in stone yet anyway. Whatever BMW decides on, it'll be better than the name that the car was given when we first saw it at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September 2009. Vision EfficientDynamics is just way, way too long.

Volkswagen offering lockable sat-nav system abroad

Volkswagen has come up with an unconventional solution for a rash of navigation thefts afflicting Dutch vehicle owners. From what we can gather, thieves are particularly fond of the company's RNS 310 and RNS 510 navigation systems, resulting in an apparent break-in epidemic. To help get the situation under control, VW is now offering its customers an RNS Navi Lock. The system locks a large metal plate over the entire navigation system, theoretically obscuring the hardware and making it more difficult to steal in the process. When owners are ready to use their nav screen, they simply unlock the plate using a key and go about their business.The system is available for the Golf, Passat and CC in Europe, but it's not exactly cheap. Buyers hoping to protect their precious navigation systems can expect to shell out around 219 euro for the armor plating. Pricey? Sure, but it's likely less than the cost of repairing break-in damage and replacing the whole system.

2012 BMW 6 Series Convertible drops its top (again) ahead of Detroit debut

With dozens of automakers churning out hundreds of different models on a continuous basis, the automotive industry has the potential for being downright chaotic. What saves it from such an eventuality is a measure of order: cars categorized into groups, segments, markets and bodystyles. That, and a certain measure of chronology.You see, when an automaker is about to introduce a new vehicle – whether production-ready or conceptual – they typically (though not necessarily) do so at a major auto show. But before they pull the tarp off the car on the show floor, they often release some photos and details to let us know what to expect. BMW, however, played by different rules when it came to the new 6 Series. The Bavarian automaker released images and info on its new convertible around the time of the Los Angeles Auto Show, but didn't unveil the car there. Instead, it'll be doing that at next month's Detroit Auto Show. There, we'll have our first chance to see the new model (along with the new X3, the revised 1 Series coupe and convertible and the new 1 Series M Coupe) up close and personal for the first time, after mulling over that first batch of shots and specs for the past month or so. And just to keep things hoppin', Munich has dropped a new batch of photos of the 2012 droptop, which we've placed in an embiggened gallery below for your viewing pleasure. Here in the States, the first of the new generation Sixers we'll see will be the 650i Convertible, with a turbocharged V8 giving 400 horsepower. Backed by either a six-speed manual or an eight-speed auto, the four-seat convertible figures to be a compelling performer.

Kia steams ahead with 100,000th Sorento

Kia is setting up the streamers and the champagne is on ice. The 100,000th Sorento crossover just went home with a new owner and it marks the first U.S.-built Kia vehicle to pass that milestone. For the past 11 months, the Sorento has been the brand's sales leader and it was only a matter of time before 100,000 of the crossovers took up residence in American driveways.The Kia Sorento is built at Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia, which is located in city of West Point. KMMG has an annual capacity of 300,000 units so perhaps the 100,000th sale is just the beginning of many more Sorento sales for the United States.

Spy Shots: Are you the 2012 Volkswagen NMS?

For all of secrecy surrounding the New Midsized Sedan, we may have just scored our first unfettered glimpse at the new Volkswagen four-door. The quick-eyed crew over at JokeForBlog managed to lay their hands on a scant few images of what appears to be the NMS, and the vehicle looks to take more than a few cues from the 2011 Volkswagen Jetta. Using the German carmaker's revised corporate face up front and the same hexagonal license plate inset on the trunk deck, the similarities are almost overwhelming. We've got to wonder exactly what VW has planned to differentiate the two models other than size.

VW Jetta TDI tops Consumer Reports eco roundup, Honda CR-Z scores too low to recommend

Fuel efficiency is rapidly becoming one of the most influential determining factors when new car shoppers go looking for their next vehicle. And, as our friends at Consumer Reports correctly point out, earning top fuel efficiency marks generally means shopping in one of three categories: diesels, hybrids or subcompacts.As such, the consumer-oriented magazine has pitted four fuel-sippers against each other in their upcoming January, 2011 issue: the 2011 Ford Fiesta, Honda CR-Z, Mazda2 and Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen TDI. Of these four models, the Jetta is the only one that's currently Recommended – the Fiesta and Mazda2 are too new to have adequate reliability data and, though expected to be reliable, the last-place CR-Z scored too low in CR's own road testing to recommend. CR tested two versions each of the Mazda and Ford subcompacts, one with a manual transmission and the other with an automatic. The Fiesta was ranked slightly higher than the Mazda2 overall, though the magazine seems to like both vehicles. Of the Honda, CR writes that "the ride is choppy, noise levels are high, and on-limit handling can be tricky." Couple those unfavorable traits with lower-than-expected fuel mileage of 35 mpg and limited utility, and it's understandable why CR wasn't particularly impressed with the CR-Z.Though somewhat pricey at $27,204, the Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen TDI performed admirably, delivering 36 mpg overall and a superb 49 mpg on the highway in the hands of CR's testers. As an aside, CR also took a look at the Fuel Doctor FD-47 fuel-saving device, and rather predictably, found that it basically did nothing at all.

Kia teases 2012 Picanto ahead of Geneva debut

Kia has been hard at work, gaining credibility and sales in seemingly all market sectors over the past couple of years. What was once derided as a cut-rate brand has come back with higher quality and attractive styling, but the Picanto has until now been largely left out of the fun. An update for the overseas subcompact came in 2007, but that didn't do much for the diminutive city car. What Kia has in store for the next-generation model, however, stands to improve its lot.With a debut scheduled for the Geneva Motor Show this coming March, Kia has released two sketches of what we might expect from the new Picanto. And if the new model carries over the edgy styling from these sketches with reasonable accuracy, the Picanto could emerge as a real player in the city car market.