New York Auto Show
New York Auto Show, Latest Automobiles News, Trucks Ranking, Worldwide Cars Review
Filed under: New York Auto Show, Budget, Sedan, Performance, Europe, Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Hatchback, Subaru
2011 Subaru Impreza WRX STI - Click above to view the video after the jump
Yes, the wing is back, and with it comes even more of the adrenal gland-kicking performance we know and love from the Subaru WRX STI. Fuji Heavy Industries will have you believe this is the fastest STI ever, and judging by the fact that the 2011 model weighs less and uses a revised suspension, they may be right. Sure, there's no extra horsepower on tap, but why add ponies when you can shed pounds?
The company has released a new teaser for the four-door version (2011 will let you pick between the STI wagon and sedan), and we have to say the wide body treatment and that rear wing do much to give the latest WRX body some attitude. Sure, we wouldn't call it pretty, but that's an adjective we reserve for the intake on that devilish little turbo boxer four. Hit the jump to see the flick.
Gallery: New York 2010: Subaru Impreza WRX STI
Continue reading Video: Latest Subaru WRX STI sedan gets new advert
Video: Latest Subaru WRX STI sedan gets new advert originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 07 Apr 2010 15:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsFiled under: New York Auto Show, Podcasts, Audi, Chrysler, Infiniti, Jeep, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Volkswagen
Click above for the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes, RSS or listen now!
Jon Linkov from Consumer Reports joins Chris Shunk, Chris Paukert and Dan Roth to talk about the New York Auto Show, offer insight into how CR rates autos, touch on the possible 16.4 million dollar fine for Toyota and consider the Renault/Nissan deal with Daimler that may happen this week. It's an hour and a half before we run out of steam. Enjoy!
Autoblog Podcast #173: with Jon Linkov from Consumer Reports
In the Autoblog Garage:
Nissan Cube
Subaru Legacy 2.5GT (long-term intro)
Volkswagen GTI
Infiniti G37
Jeep Patriot
Mercedes CL550 4Matic
News:
New York Auto Show
$16.4 million fine possible for Toyota
Renault/Nissan and Daimler lash-up
Hosts:
Chris Shunk, Chris Paukert, Dan Roth
Guest:
Jon Linkov of Consumer Reports
Runtime: 1:28:45
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Autoblog Podcast #173 - with Jon Linkov from Consumer Reports originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 06 Apr 2010 16:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsFiled under: New York Auto Show, Government/Legal
2010 New York International Auto Show - Click above for high-res image gallery
We get pretty excited about auto shows, and our recent trip to the Javits Center for the New York extravaganza was one of the better U.S. shows in recent memory. But while we managed to temper our enthusiasm, it appears some folks got carried away Sunday after Javits closed for the night. The New York Times reports that four people were shot (one with a BB gun) in the city on Sunday and 54 other people were arrested in and around Midtown Manhattan due to post-show violence. Luckily all four who suffered gun shot wounds appear to be recovering from their injuries.
Police reportedly told the NY Times that violence on Easter night has been a recurring problem in past years, with pockets of mini-riots and stabbings marring the evening. At question is whether the violence stems directly from auto show attendees or unruly crowds assembled after the show's completion. Deputy Commissioner Paul J. Browne said the troublemakers go to the auto show every year and "sometimes they get in fights afterward."
New York Auto Show spokesman Chris Sams told the NY Times that there was no trouble during the show, and that the crowd in attendance Sunday was very family oriented with "lots of baby strollers." In fairness to the New York Auto Show and its organizers, the first shooting reportedly occurred at 12:08 am on Monday morning, five hours after the show closed for the day.
Gallery: Random shots from 2010 New York Auto Show
[Source: The New York Times]
New York Auto Show crowds leading to violence in the streets? originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 06 Apr 2010 08:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsFiled under: New York Auto Show, Etc.
2010 New York International Auto Show - Click above for high-res image gallery
At many auto shows there are usually several hundred - if not thousand - images that we've taken that don't make it into our posts. Sometimes we categorize them and create several themed galleries, other times we create megagalleries of all of the random sites from the auto show and the surrounding soirees, sights and scenery. New York 2010 was such a case.At the 2010 New York International Auto Show, we saw some cars that we've lusted after before but now saw in a new light, race cars that didn't necessarily deserve a separate post but still revved our engines, models who smiled just long enough to give us hope... for the future of the industry at least, and just random sights that helped create the overall atmosphere of excitement we felt at this year's event.
While the number of press conferences seemed down, the number of debuts actually seemed to increase (see here). There wasn't the sense of gloom and doom we've felt at other recent shows, the parties actually felt like celebrations for a change and the announcements didn't sound like words of desperation. Perhaps it's the spirit of the city that never sleeps, but New York 2010 seemed like a signal that the industry is really starting to make a turnaround. Click below to get started on your tour of the rest of the show's random impressions.
Gallery: Random shots from 2010 New York Auto Show
New York 2010: Random sights from the Big Apple originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 02 Apr 2010 19:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsFiled under: New York Auto Show, Etc., Safety, Ford
2011 Ford Edge - Click above for high-res image gallery
When is a dog a 2,700 pound projectile? When little Muffy is riding shotgun, big old fuzzy head stuck out the window, tongue lolling in the breeze and all of a sudden master crashes the darn thing into some unforseen obstacle. In the interest of keeping pets safe, Bark Buckle UP, a pet travel safety organization, has some recommendations. Among endorsement of the Doggie Seat Belt and exhortations to take steps toward pet safety in the car, are some vehicular mentions. While pet safety is a laudable goal, this announcement leaves us feeling a little dirty, like it's mostly a thinly-veiled ploy to sell stuff.
In any case, Bark Buckle UP gave its Top Dog awards away at the New York Auto Show, and the Ford Edge has trotted away with the Pet Safe Vehicle of Choice Top Dog award. "The Ford Edge is perfect for those traveling with pets," says Ford Edge marketing manager Brett Burin upon the Edge's crowning. Bark Buckle UP agrees, citing the vehicle's combination of space, ease of ingress and egress for Fifi and Fido, rear ventilation and adaptability to pet gear as reasons for the win. Ford vehicles took four of the award's 'choice' slots for 2010, with the Transit Connect, Flex, and Lincoln MKT also making the list. The other alternative is to avoid either having a dog altogether (they're smelly, and they lick their butts) or don't chauffeur your pooch around if you have opened your home to canis domesticus. If you're a dog lover, though, you might want to check out the official press release after the jump.
Gallery: 2011 Ford Edge
[Source: Bark Buckle UP]
Continue reading Ruff Ride: Ford Edge named Pet Safe Vehicle of the Year
Ruff Ride: Ford Edge named Pet Safe Vehicle of the Year originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 02 Apr 2010 17:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsFiled under: New York Auto Show
Part Deux. Our men on the scene are now safely on their way back home as Day Two of the New York Auto Show has come to an end, and our obsessively compulsive ways were in full effect this year in the Big Apple. See for yourself: 24 brand new production vehicles were unveiled along with a veritable cornucopia of fresh news. Got any favorites, or think something should have been left on the drawing board? Feel free to share with the rest of the class in the Comments. No foolin'.
Production Vehicles
2011 Subaru WRX STI sedan
2011 Kia Optima
2011 Hyundai Equus
2011 Kia Forte hatchback
2011 BMW Alpina B7 xDrive
2011 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport
Cadillac CTS-V Sport Wagon
2011 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid
2011 Mercedes-Benz R-Class
2011 Subaru WRX sedan
2011 Infiniti QX56
2011 Nissan Juke
Mercedes-Benz E350 Wagon
2011 Suzuki Kizashi Sport
2011 Scion tC
2011 Hyundai Sonata Turbo
2011 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid
2011 Scion iQ
2011 Chevrolet Cruze Eco
2011 Kia Sportage
2011 Chevrolet Cruze RS
2011 Acura TSX Sport Wagon
2011 VW Touareg Hybrid
2011 Kia Sorento SX
Other News from New York:
2011 Hyundai Equus replaces owner's manual with "multimedia tablet" (iPad)The big surprise during the Hyundai Equus reveal today at today's New York Auto Show was the automaker's announcement that it would supply each new Equus owner with a "multimedia tablet" (likely to be an iPad) to replace the owner's manual.
Volkswagen Mid-Size Sedan to launch with TDI in 2011 Here at the New York Auto Show, VW's North American CEO, Stefan Jacoby, let slip that the yet-to-be-named Passat replacement - currently known as the "New Mid-Size Sedan" (NMS) - will be available with a diesel engine when it goes on sale in 2011.
Volkswagen Polo wins 2010 World Car of the Year awardAfter whittling the fields down to three finalists in each category, the panel of 59 international journalists voted one last time to crown the World Car of the Year with the 2010 VW Polo taking the trophy. World Performance car of the Year: Audi R8 V10.
New York 2010: Chrysler shows off new SafetyTec package for Town & CountryChrysler has just unveiled its "SafetyTec" package as an option on the 2010 Chrysler Town & Country Touring and new Touring "Plus" models, and it will be standard on the Town & Country Limited. It seemingly every one of Chrysler's latest safety and security features.
New York 2010: Five Axis mods the 2011 Scion tCWe happen to think the new 2011 Scion tC looks just fine, but for a youth oriented brand, perhaps a little bit more aggression might have been nice. Meet the Five Axis tuned Scion tC, a car that couldn't get much more aggressive unless it was holding a gun.
Hyundai Sonata Hybrid gets unique look and 37/39 MPG rating [w/video]It wasn't that many years ago that no one really took the engineering capabilities of Hyundai all that seriously. Thanks to recent introductions like the Genesis coupe and sedan, the Tucson and the Sonata, the Korean automaker is rapidly gaining respect.
2011 Hyundai Sonata turbo with 274 HP and 34 MPG! Ever since Hyundai announced at the Los Angeles Auto Show that it would add a turbocharged variant to its all-four-cylinder lineup in the new Sonata, there has been considerable speculation about how much power the engine would produce.
Mazda6 diesel confirmed with hybrid-like 43 MPGIf there's one thing we're clamoring for here in the U.S., it's more diesel engines in passenger cars. Mazda will soon be answering our cries, as it plans to launch its all-new SKY-D powertrain in its "next-generation mid-sized car" (read: Mazda6) sometime in 2012.
Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG priced at $183,000 for the U.S.Mercedes-Benz announced pricing today for its all-new, homegrown gullwing. We don't have an official MSRP breakdown yet, but our man on the NY Auto Show floor tells us that the 2011 SLS AMG will start at $183,000 in the U.S. when it begins to go on sale this summer.
2011 Suzuki Kizashi Sport lands on show floor, V6 and hybrid not happening"You'll turn blue in the face if you're holding your breath waiting for a V6 Kizashi." That was the word from a Suzuki spokesman at last night's insider preview of the 2011 Suzuki Kizashi Sport. Don't count on the hybrid anytime soon, either.
Ford and Microsoft announce Hohm electric vehicle charging partnershipAt this year's New York Auto Show, Ford announced an extension of its partnership with Microsoft (see also: Sync) into the electric vehicle (EV) recharging realm: The free Hohm energy management application.
We obsessively covered the... originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 01 Apr 2010 19:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsFiled under: Aftermarket, New York Auto Show, Coupe, Budget, Scion
2011 Scion tC by Five Axis - Click above for high-res image gallery
Yesterday, Scion revealed their brand spankin' new 2011 tC to the world's automotive press here at the New York Auto Show. We happen to think the car looks just fine, but will admit that for a youth oriented brand such as Scion, a little bit more aggression might have been nice. Meet the Five Axis tuned Scion tC, a car that couldn't get much more aggressive unless it was holding a gun. A really big one. \ If you don't know, Five Axis is mostly known for their show car offerings.
The "Blood Shot Red" paint is slathered over a four-inch wide body kit. The lower grill is just plain nuts. Sadly the doors of this concept were locked, but we could see (but not really photograph) that the interior's stuffed with all sorts of customized good stuff, with lots of what appears to be leather and suede. The suspension is made up of Tein adjustable coil-overs. The brakes are ginormous (especially for a 180-horsepower tC), measuring 14-inches in front and 13-inches in the rear. But the brakes aren't the crazy part.
The crazy part consists of the wheels. Ready? The front wheels are so big they require 245/30/20 rubber. The rear? 295/30/20. That's right, the rear wheels are 10.5-inches wide. Remember this car's a front-wheel driver. Sort of gives new meaning to the phrase, "all show and no go," eh?
Gallery: New York 2010: Scion tC by Five Axis
Photos by Drew Phillips / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.
New York 2010: Five Axis mods the 2011 Scion tC originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 01 Apr 2010 19:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsFiled under: New York Auto Show, Minivan/Van, Etc., Safety, Chrysler, Specialty
2010 Chrysler Town & Country SafetyTec - Click above for high-res image gallery
Although the Chrysler Group still has a rather large amount of floor space here at the 2010 New York Auto Show, the company didn't have a lot to offer this year...at least not just-baked stuff for the assembled media. Instead of showing off a new 300 or maybe even a 200C hybrid, they merely gathered up a bunch of older concepts and special editions and dropped them off at Javits. Chrysler at least had the good sense not to have a press conference. To be fair, the Pentastar is struggling and we don't mean to kick them when they're down so we'll focus on the positive instead.
One new vehicle we found amidst the recently unveiled specials was a 2010 Chrysler Town & Country with seemingly every one of Chrysler's latest safety and security features. The press release, which you'll find after the jump, says the package includes the company's Rear Cross Path (RCP) and Blind-spot Monitoring systems (BSM) to help drivers in making "safe lane changes and backing out of high-traffic parking situations." Both features are apparently firsts in this segment.
This new "SafetyTec" package, as it's known, is an option on the 2010 Chrysler Town & Country Touring and new Touring "Plus" models, and will be standard on the Town & Country Limited. The grouping includes standard and optional safety and security features like multi-stage airbags, seatbelt pretensioning, constant-force seat-belt retractors (CFR), active head restraints and supplemental side-curtain air bags. There are also accident-avoidance features like Smart Brake and Electronic Stability Control (ESC), plus security features like an anti-theft alarm and the Sentry Key engine immobilizer among other things. If Chrysler knows anything, it's minivans and the importance of safety to minivan buyers.
The new SafetyTec package will be available late spring at an undisclosed price. Follow the jump to read the long laundry list of included features and take a look at our gallery below.
Gallery: Chrysler Town & Country SafetyTec live in NY
[Source: Chrysler]
Continue reading New York 2010: Chrysler shows off new SafetyTec package for Town & Country
New York 2010: Chrysler shows off new SafetyTec package for Town & Country originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 01 Apr 2010 17:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsFiled under: Motorsports, New York Auto Show, Coupe, Performance, Europe, Mercedes-Benz, Rumormill
Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3 - Click above for a high-res image gallery
The gossipmongers at Autocar are reporting that the race-bred Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3 that's getting its American debut at the New York Auto Show this week may be the foundation for a street-legal SLS AMG Black Series. We've heard rumors of a racier SLS for some time, but this is the first time we've heard heard the BS *ahem* designation attached to the project, and we expect a production roadster debut before we see a harder-core version of the coupe, so it'll probably be a bit of a wait.
Naturally, we're always down with hotter versions of our favorite supercars, and if the reports turn out to be true, the wicked gullwing shouldn't disappoint. Supposedly the boffins at AMG will find a way to squeeze even more power from the standard 6.2-liter V8 and will do their best to pare down the coupe's weight at the same time.
The report reckons all the extra speed will set buyers back quite a bit, with early guesses saying the SLS AMG Black Series will cost somewhere around $275,000. Steep? Sure, but the good news is you've got some time to save your pennies. Autocar says the car won't see production until 2013.
Gallery: Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3
[Source: Autocar]
Rumormill: Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3 to spawn Black Series originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 01 Apr 2010 16:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsFiled under: New York Auto Show, Etc., Celebrities, Specialty
The A-Team van shines in New York - Click above for high-res image gallery
Are these the ultimate performance cars? Maybe not in 0-60 or quarter mile times - although we wouldn't count a few of them out at the dragstrip - but in terms of actually being performers. Some of the random cars and trucks we found at this year's New York Auto Show are perhaps just as famous as their on-screen co-stars of the human variety.
While the A-Team van parked right smack dab in the middle of the entryway was an easy target, we delved a little deeper and found a Mach 5, K.I.T.T., Batmobile, Monkeemobile, and Grandpa Munster's Dragula sitting in a booth in the lower level of the Javits Center. Oh, and your eyes aren't deceiving you...that is the VW Beetle from Uncle Buck that was on eBay last year...just in time for Easter. After the star car turnout at Chicago, this was a nice encore.
Gallery: Star cars of the 2010 New York Auto Show
Photos by Frank Filipponio / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.
New York 2010: Hero cars invade Gotham originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 01 Apr 2010 16:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsFiled under: New York Auto Show, Budget, Japan, Crossover, Mitsubishi
2011 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport - Click above for high-res image gallery
Let's just go on ahead and make that much needed volume leader. The great economic collapse of 2009 smashed Mitsubishi in the teeth with a much larger brick than most other manufacturers. Thinks have slightly improved, but their February sales were still down 10 percent, and from an already frighteningly low level. Obviously, something must be done.
Meet the 2011 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport, or as they're calling it in alphanumeric-loving Europe, the ASX. We've covered this particular small crossover pretty extensively already, so here's the U.S. spec deal. It's 15 inches shorter than the Outlander GT. Like its big brother, it gets magnesium paddle shifters. However, they are connected to a CVT instead of Mitsu's sweet dual-clutch gearbox. Now, no one has driven the Outlander Sport yet, and CVTs have gotten massively better in the last few years, so don't bunch your panties up quite yet.
The real upshot of that CVT is the Outlander Sport's 31 mpg highway figure, a right respectable number for a small crossover. In fact, that means the Outlander Sport is competitive with a small CUV we like a whole bunch, the new Hyundai Tucson. Besides the CVT, Mitsu has installed weight-saving plastic front fenders, electric power steering and has sculpted the Outlander Sport down to a admirably slippery 0.33 Cd. The Outlander Sport can also be shifted from front-wheel drive to all-wheel drive and yes, you will be able to order yours in this particularly vibrant shade of show car blue.
Gallery: New York 2010: Mitsubishi Outlander Sport
Photos by Drew Phillips / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.
New York 2010: Mitsubishi hopes 2011 Outlander Sport will be their volume leader originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 01 Apr 2010 14:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsFiled under: New York Auto Show, Crossover, Kia
2011 Kia Sorento SX - Click above for high-res image gallery
Kia officially debuted the new SX trim level for the 2011 Sorento at this year's Atlanta Auto Show, but they also brought the dolled-up crossover to New York for a larger-scale unveiling. The Sorento is already off to a good start in the U.S. - it has already become Kia's top-selling vehicle for the first few months of 2010 - and the SX, which goes on sale this Summer, offers up a bit more standard equipment and style to the lineup. The revised front fascia is a bit buffer than lesser trims and the ride height has been lowered by about one inch, giving it a more aggressive stance.
Under the hood is Kia's 3.5-liter V6, which produces 276 horsepower. Upgrades over the lesser LX and EX models include things like sharp 18-inch wheels and Dual Flow Damper shock absorbers. Inside, leather seats are standard, as is a back-up camera, Infinity audio system and voice-activated navigation. Look for Kia's all-new UVO infotainment system to debut in the Sorento later this year. Check out our galleries below to see the SX in high-res glory.
Gallery: New York 2010: 2011 Kia Sorento SX
Gallery: 2011 Kia Sorento SX
Live photos by Steven J. Ewing / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.
New York 2010: 2011 Kia Sorento SX offers more standard kit, added visual flare originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 01 Apr 2010 14:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsFiled under: New York Auto Show, Sedan, Volkswagen, Diesel
Volkswagen New Mid-Size Sedan - Click above for high-res image
During yesterday's North American debut of the 2011 Volkswagen Touareg Hybrid at the New York Auto Show, VW's North American CEO, Stefan Jacoby, let slip that the yet-to-be-named Passat replacement - currently known as the "New Mid-Size Sedan" (NMS) - will be available with a diesel in both the U.S. and Canada when it goes on sale in 2011.
Production of the NMS is set to begin within the next year at the automaker's new Chattanooga, Tennessee facility, and it's all but assured that the mill will be the same 2.0-liter diesel four-pot currently outputting 140 horsepower and 236 pound-feet of torque in the Jetta TDI.
Details on the sedan are scant, but Jacoby reiterated that the NMS will be Volkswagen's most focused push into the mid-size segment, where it is set to do battle with the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry. With a launch this important, it's no wonder that the company is still debating names.
New York 2010: Volkswagen Mid-Size Sedan to launch with TDI in 2011 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 01 Apr 2010 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsFiled under: New York Auto Show, Sedan, Etc., Technology, Hyundai, Luxury
var Pad_as_owner_s_manual_for_new_luxury_sedan'; The big surprise during the Hyundai Equus reveal today at today's New York Auto Show was the automaker's announcement that it would supply each new Equus owner with a "multimedia tablet" to replace the owner's manual. While Hyundai USA president John Krafcik didn't explicitly say that the device in question will be an Apple iPad, the image presented above unquestionably the company's latest gadget. Of course, there's no guarantee that the Hyundai tablet will actually be an Apple product by the time the Equus hits dealers this fall.
The idea behind the tablet is to not only replace the traditional owner's manual - a costly book that's grown increasingly more difficult to navigate with the exponential increase in features, particularly in luxury vehicles - but to handle customer/dealer interactions like scheduling service appointments.
Although the iPad (hitting retailers and pre-orderers' mailboxes this Saturday) is the biggest player in the yet-to-be-tested tablet segment, there are several other manufacturers building slate-like devices for consumers. Dell, JooJoo and others have their own units in the works, but Apple is easily the stand-out... for now.
Gallery: 2011 Hyundai Equus
2011 Hyundai Equus replaces owner's manual with "multimedia tablet" (iPad) originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 01 Apr 2010 13:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsFiled under: Aftermarket, New York Auto Show, Sedan, Performance, BMW, Luxury
2011 BMW Alpina B7 xDrive - Click above for high-res image gallery
We dig super sedans. You get 94 percent of the performance of a sports car (or there abouts) plus the ability to take a few friends along for the hair-raising ride. Also, cops don't seem to scrutinize big snazzy sleepers as much as they do bright yellow scissor-doored whatchamacall'em-ardos. It should come as no shock then that when we first heard about the new Alpina B7, we were pretty excited. When we then subsequently learned that an all-wheel drive version of BMW's sportiest big sedan was coming to the New York Auto Show, well, our excitement grew.
Then we saw the car in the flesh.
Let's just say we're now triple excited. A few pertinent stats, if we may. The 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 found in a host of BMWs has been significantly improved to 500 horsepower (up by 100 hp over stock) and 516 pound-feet of torque (up by 66 pound-feet). The B7 is also more aerodynamic than your garden variety 7 Series, comes with zillion-spoke wheels (fine, twenty) and can hit 60 mph in 4.5 seconds. With the Alpina B7 xDrive, you can now toss AWD into that already frothy mix.
But the above stats aren't the crazy parts. It's the details that impress the most. For example, all four of the heavy-duty half shafts come out of the 7 Series High Security. The 60 to 0 mph braking distance is identical to a Porsche Turbo. That last bit is not an April Fools' joke, although it's somewhat mitigated by Alpina's saying, "that's cold braking distance." While not a stat per say, the AWD system is mechanically identical to other BMW xDrive systems, though Alpina has written their own software system, presumably for the better. One last thing that's actually a little to complicated to explain: take a look at the center of the B7's wheel. You'll see that once you've slid the heraldry over, there's a keyhole. Now, if you zoom out, you'll notice no valve stems anywhere on the wheel. In other words, your tire pressure's locked in and can be adjusted to the tenth of a PSI. Pretty cool, no?
High res gallery below, official press release after the jump.
Gallery: New York 2010: Alpina B7 xDrive
Photos by Drew Phillips / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.
[Source: BMW/Alpina]
Continue reading New York 2010: 2011 BMW Alpina B7 xDrive is deeply impressive
New York 2010: 2011 BMW Alpina B7 xDrive is deeply impressive originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 01 Apr 2010 13:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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