Along with the unveiling of the new BMW 3-Series comes the new 3-Series M-Sport package, available starting in Summer 2012. The new package will further accentuate the sportiness and dynamism of the 3-Series while allowing potential customers to fully customize it to their liking.
The BMW 3-Series M Sport package includes a new M Sport suspension that drops the ride height by 10mm/0.4 in., 18 or 19-inch M alloy wheels, special body parts, chrome tailpipes, and exclusive exterior paintwork.
For the interior, the M Sport package gets distinctive cloth/Alcantara sports seats, trim elements with blue accent strips, an M Shortshifter (in models with a manual gearbox), M door sill finishers, an M driver’s footrest, and the new M leather steering wheel. The M-Sport package will also allow the driver to use the Driving Experience Control switch to vary the basic suspension characteristics between more comfortable or sportier settings.
Scion is wrapping up its special edition announcements in 2011 with a second model called the xD Release Series 4.0 (xD RS 4.0) for 2012. This new model will be built in only 800 units and exclusively offered in an Blizzard Pearl exterior paint. Prices start at $16,250 when equipped with manual gearbox and $17,050 when equipped with an automatic transmission. Prices do not include delivery, processing, and handling fees of $730.
The special Blizzard Pearl exterior paint on the special edition xD is combined with 16-inch alloy wheels finished in a smoked platinum color. TIt also gets color-tuned trim pieces on the center console, steering wheel, and door panels. The seats are wrapped in a distinctively patterned soft-touch material and feature white stitching. Finally, the xD will include carpeted floor and cargo mats featuring the Release Series logo and white stitching around the border. Each xD RS 4.0 features an individually numbered badge.
For the first time in 16 years, an MG-branded vehicle is returning to the market, only this time, it’s not the old MG we’ve come to know.
MG Motor UK Limited is a British car manufacturer that’s owned by Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation and headquartered in Birmingham, England. It’s not the same MG from decades past, having been founded only in 2006 after acquiring the original MG Rover and all the rights to the MG name.
With a new lease on life, MG went ahead and overhauled their vehicle line-up, starting with the new MG6.
As the first all new MG to come out to the market in 16 years, the MG6 represents the beginning of a new generation of models for the reborn British brand. The model offers modern British sporting style with a spacious and advanced interior that fits right in with the type of cars that are being sold these days.
The name might still be the same, but the new MG6 is a completely different model born in a completely different time.
Find out more about the MG MG6 after the jump
Full story
.
It’s very rare for a company like Seat to have the industry’s attention. But when it comes to a new concept car highlighting the company’s new design philosophy, then we get curious. Even for just a little bit.
The new IBL Sedan Concept accomplishes that and more. Quite frankly, the car’s design is far and away improved from what we’re accustomed to with Seat, which in our books, is a pretty good thing.
"The IBL [Concept] was created from the unique design DNA that will prevail right across our next vehicle generation," said new SEAT design chief, Alejandro Mesonero-Romanos.
The IBL Concept carries a pretty sharp looking profile, that much we’ll tell you. It’s got the look of a sporty four-door saloon that capitalizes on its elegant dynamics to catch your attention.
It certainly wouldn’t hurt to see Seat translate this concept to something a little more production-ready, but we’ll take what we can get from these guys anytime. After all, there aren’t a lot of expectations to begin with and if the IBL Concept is merely the first step in what we hope to be a more stylish future for the company, then sign us up.
Find out more about the Seat IBL Sedan Concept after the jump.
Full story
The Daytona 500 has been about as ’Americana’ as any sporting event in the US today. The only others that are on that level are the Indy 500 and the SuperBowl. So it’s no surprise that in the 50 years that the event has been held, only one of the pace cars involved doesn’t have an American lineage to it.
That is until now.
Joining the Porsche 914 that was used as a pace car in 1971 is the all-new Toyota Camry, which has been tapped to lead-off the Daytona 500 and open the NASCAR Sprint Cup season next February. But that’s only after it makes an appearance at the 2011 SEMA Auto Show.
In an event that has fielded a steady number of Pontiacs, Buicks, Chevrolets, Fords, and so many other US-born automakers, the decision to choose the 2012 Camry as the official pace car of the 2012 Daytona 500 is a testament to the Japanese automaker’s growing influence in the US stock car world.
The Camry Daytona 500 Pace Car is powered by a 3.5-liter six-cylinder, twin-cam engine that produces 268 horsepower at 6,200 rpm and 248 lb/ft of torque at 4,700 rpm that’s aided by a TRD custom stainless exhaust system.
As a pace car, the Camry comes with its share of "pace car features", including a Tein adjustable suspension system, a Whelen LFL Liberty LED lightbar, an on-board fire extinguisher, four-point Simpson racing seat belts, a full roll cage, and a set of 19" BBS RS wheels wrapped in Goodyear Eagle F1 tires with a StopTech Big Brake Kit.
