New Alpina B6 Bi-Turbo with 507HP to Bow in Frankfurt

For more than four decades now, German tuning house Alpina has been modifying BMWs cars. The Bavarian luxury carmaker has a tight relationship with the tuner going as far distributing the high-performance models through its official network.

 

Alpina's newest creation is the B6 Bi-Turbo Cabrio based on the latest 6-Series Convertible, which will make its world premiere at the rapidly approaching Frankfurt auto show on September 13.

At the heart of the Alpina B6 Bi-Turbo Cabrio is specially modified 4.4-liter twin-turbocharged V8 engine capable of delivering 507-horsepower and a monstrous 700Nm (516.3 lb-ft) of peak torque delivered between 3,000 and 4,750 rpm.

Power is channeled to the rear wheels through an eight-speed automatic Switch Tronic transmission, with Alpina claiming 0-100km/h (62mph) sprint time of 4.8 seconds and a top speed of 311km/h (193mph) with a combined fuel consumption of 10.9lt/100km (21.6mpg US) for the Convertible model.

In comparison, the factory 650i Convertible features a 4.4-liter turbo V8 producing 407HP and 600Nm / 443 lb-ft. It completes the standard sprint in 5.0 seconds while reaching an electronically limited top speed of 250 km/h (155 mph), and returning an average fuel consumption of 10.7lt/100km.

Along with the powertrain modifications, the Alpina flavored 6-Series Convertible gains the tuner's trademark multispoke alloy wheels plus carbon fibre trim bits, front apron and rear spoiler as well as bespoke interior parts.

The B6 Bi-Turbo Cabrio model will soon be followed up by the coupe derivative.

 

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BMW Tops Competitors for 5th Consecutive Month in the U.S

BMW continues to expand its lead in the US luxury car market against its main rivals and Lexus. August was the fifth consecutive month in which the Munich-based carmaker was at the top spot with 20,815 deliveries, an increase of 6.5% compared to the same month of 2010.

 

On the contrary, Mercedes’ sales decreased by 1.9% in August, to 18,477 units while Lexus, which still suffers from the aftermath of the March 11 earthquake, dropped even more, by 7% to 18,103 cars. Thus, it is almost certain that, after 11 years at the top, Lexus will be relegated to second or perhaps even third place among luxury car manufacturers.

“This has been a very strange August for our industry, with both difficult news and unfortunate events –consumer confidence down and an earthquake, hurricanes and floods in the Northeast”, said head of BMW North America, Jim O’Donnell.

Despite this, BMW expanded its sales lead from the beginning of the year with a 12% increase, delivering 155,929 units. Its August sales were boosted considerably by the 41% increase in 5-Series deliveries and by the new X3, which almost tripled its sales, from 892 cars in 2010 to 2,382 this year.

Mercedes-Benz' year-to-date sales have also increased, albeit at half the rate (6.1%) to 148,409 units and Lexus, as we said, faced a sharp decrease of 17% to 120,652 cars.

Analysts, such as TrueCar’s Jesse Torpak, comment that the increased incentive spending has also contributed to BMW’s rise: “They are being aggressive: $299 a month for a 3-Series versus what you’re going to get for an Accord? Of course you’re going to get a BMW. It is selling down its inventory before offering a new version next year, as well as trying to secure the sales race victory over Mercedes.”

Story source: Bloomberg

 

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It Came from eBay Hell: The Diabolical Lambieroghini [with Video]

With the amount of free publicity I give Pontiac Fiero-based replicas on eBay, I think the sellers should be paying me…ahem…a commission.

From the vulgar depths of eBay Hell comes this...thing...this yellow-painted monstrosity that wants to pass as a Lamborghini. There are kids in Nepal, kids who have never seen a car before that would spot this fake from a mile away. Let’s run down our eBay Bad Buy™ checklist, shall we?

 

1. Based on a Pontiac Fiero? CHECK


2. Has the original motor? CHECK


3. Seller isn’t the original builder? CHECK


4. Needs a respray? CHECK


5. Needs new shocks? CHECK


6. Gauges not working? CHECK


7. A/C broken? CHECK


8. Power windows broken? CHECK


9. Seller asks for, “Serious bidders only”? CHECK


10. Pick up only? CHECK

Wow, that’s 10 out of 10! There are the usual howlers one would expect like, “original owner invested over 30,000 to get it going,” and, “Car is a replica will not ever drive like a real Lamborghini in any way what so ever. only a replica. Everywere I go people fall in love with it!!”

The asking price was a low, low US$10,000 – yes, someone actually bought it by the time we posted the article. I won’t even bother asking the, “Would you / wouldn’t you?” question.

You can check out our full gallery below and leave your comments.

By Tristan Hankins

Story, image source: eBay

 

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Fisker Signs Deal to get BMW 2.0-liter Turbo Engines

The man behind the design of BMW's Z8 roadster and now the owner of the brand that bears his name, Henrik Fisker, has announced a new deal with BMW that covers the supply of engines and other components for future Fisker models.

Under the agreement, BMW will supply its new 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder gasoline engine for the next generation of Fisker cars, code-named ‘Project Nina’, which are scheduled to enter production in the re-commissioned former GM plant in Wilmington, Delaware at the end of 2012 and be on sale the following year.

Fisker said that the agreement calls for up to 100,000 engine units per year at peak volume.

The first derivative of the ‘Project Nina’ series will be a mid-size premium sedan that utilizes Fisker’s EVe range-extending hybrid system.

Henrik Fisker commented on the deal: “The BMW engine was an obvious choice for us, as BMW is known for producing the best and most fuel efficient gasoline engines in the world. We are very pleased to have signed this agreement.”

It has been reported that Fisker will unveil a new model at this month's Frankfurt motor show, though it is still unclear if it will be the mid-size sedan or as some sources suggested, a new crossover model.

 

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Mercedes Drops a Barrage of 2012 M-Class Photos ahead of Frankfurt

Mercedes-Benz is getting ready to wow the crowds that will storm the 64th Frankfurt Motor Show with a bunch of world premieres. Visitors will see, among others, the brand-new B-Class, the supercar-munching C63 AMG Black Series, and of course the third generation of Merc’s luxury SUV.

So less than two weeks before the IAA’s opening Mercedes decided to released a fresh batch of pictures of the new M-Class. We’ve already covered the model extensively since its launch, but for those of you who may have missed of forgotten about it, we’ll just lay down the basics once more time.

In Europe, the new M-Class will initially be available with a new 2.1-liter four-cylinder turbodiesel delivering 204HP and 500 Nm (368.8 lb-ft) of torque while retruning an average consumption of just 6.0 lt/100 (39.2 mpg). Next up is a 3.5-liter petrol V6 with an output of 302HP, 34HP more than the outgoing ML 350.

Then there is the ML350 BlueTec diesel powered by a 3.0-liter V6 with 240HP and 616.2 Nm (455 lb-ft) of torque that returns a highway fuel consumption of 9.4 lt/100 km (25 mpg).

All models are equipped with a seven-speed auto gearbox as standard, while an On&Off-Road pack which changes the transmission and air-suspension settings to adapt to the conditions whatever the surface beneath the wheels may be, is optional.

Finally, later in the model's life cycle Mercedes is expected to add even more powerful versions, including an AMG-fettled X5M competitor with a twin-turbo 5.5-liter V8 – most likely the same unit that powers the Frankfurt-bound new SLK 55 AMG.

 

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