A sedan car is a four-door vehicle, with a separate hood covering the engine in the front, and a separate trunk for luggage at the rear — the achetypical 3-box car. However, other variations of the body style exist as well, including two-door and hatchback/fastback models.
BMW Canada has announced the launch of the 335i M Performance Edition. This version can be ordered in either a rear-wheel-drive or xDrive format and includes an array of M Performance components designed to enhance the styling and performance attributes of the 335i.
The 335i M Performance Edition receives a new M Performance Power Kit and M Performance Exhaust that increases the engine’s output to 326 horsepower and 332 pound-feet torque. As a result, the sedan will sprint from 0 to 60 mph in just 4.9 seconds – 0.5 seconds faster than the standard 335i.
BMW is also offering a full M Performance aerodynamics kit, including: black kidney grille; front and rear diffuser; side skirts; and 20-inch alloy wheels. The model can be ordered in four exterior colors: Laguna Seca Blue, Valencia Orange, Black Sapphire and Glacier Silver. For the interior, BMW offers either a Coral Red leather or Black leather trim combined with an exclusive Piano Black BMW Individual trim.
The 335i M Performance Edition is priced at $63,300 (rear-wheel-drive version) and $65,900 (xDrive version). The model will be produced in July and August of 2013 but all orders must be received no later than May 17, 2013.
Click past the jump to read more about the standard BMW 335i.
Holden Special Vehicles (HSV) announced today the first details on the Gen-F lineup, which it has dubbed "the greatest performance production cars ever built in Australia." The new Gen-F lineup will include five different vehicles: Maloo, Clubsport /Clubsport Tourer, Senator Signature and the range-topping GTS.
The new Gen-F lineup received a more sophisticated, modern and integrated design, with the GTS version being distinguished by updated bumpers, a larger super-flow performance spoiler finished in body color with “Pitch Black” accenting and 20-inch forged-alloy wheels in Satin Graphite.
Holden is also offering an all-new premium interior with new seats and fabrics, instrument panel, cluster, gauges, center console, trims and finishes. The GTS version if offering tons of standard features, like its 9-speaker Bose premium audio system that includes: an 8-inch high-resolution, color touch-screen display; a USB input; single CD player with MP3 compatibility; hard-drive storage; and full iPod integration.
Click past the jump to read more about the HSV GTS.
It looks like BMW is having all the fun in the world smashing the strangest world records out there. Back in February, a BMW M5 with Johan Schwartz behind the wheel entered the Guinness World Record Book for the longest drift: 76.8 km (47.71 miles). Now, Schwartz managed to smash his own record while driving the same unmodified M5.
This time the record was established at BMW Performance Center near Greenville, South Carolina on Saturday, May 11, 2013. This time, he did a total of 322.5 laps around a circumference of 841 foot circle, providing a total distance traveled of 51.278 miles.
This event is just the first of many during a week of events leading up to the BMW Charity Pro-Am. To date, a total of $20,000 has been raised with benefits going to more than 150 charities.
Those attending the world record were invited to enjoy drives in new BMW vehicles, including the M6 Coupe or received a "hot lap" ride from one the BMW Performance Center Instructors.
Click past the jump to read more about the BMW M5.
If we told you that an electric car outpaced BMW, Mercedes and Audi to start of the year, you would likely be making sure you haven’t figured out time travel by mistake. Well, folks, this is no glimpse into the future; it’s reality (sort of).
During the initial three months of 2013, the Tesla Model S actually managed to beat BMW, Mercedes and Audi in total registrations in the U.S. for similar models. The S-Class saw 3,077 registrations, the BMW 7 Series had 2,338 registrations and Audi pulled up the rear with 1,462 A8 deliveries. In the same amount of time, the Model S saw 4,750 new registrations, beating all three of the German giants.
Sure, the Model S is a totally different kind of car that is prone to seeing sudden spikes in registrations and it lacks the internal competition between models that Bimmer, Benz and Audi all have. Additionally, buyers get a hefty $7,500 tax credit just for buying the model S. But, the Model S is severely handcuffed by its limited sales avenues, thanks to weird laws in most states that prohibit direct builder-to-buyer sale and Tesla refusing to sell independent franchises.
Another handcuff to consider is the fact that the Model S is an electric car that can easily leave you stranded, should you run out of charge.
Despite the fact that this new information only covers the first few months of the year and is likely skewed by other factors, the pure fact that the Model S can hang with the big boys in sale is a promising sign for Tesla and all electric vehicles.
Click past the jump to read more about the Tesla Model S
After revealing the ILX Concept at the 2012 Detroit Auto Show in January, Acura has quickly followed it up with the production version at the 2012 Chicago Auto Show. Carrying the same ILX name, the new sedan will be offered with a choice of two different engines, as well as a Hybrid version for those with a particular love for the environment.
The Acura ILX addresses the young buyers that are looking for their first luxury vehicle. Acura has promised the ILX will be a cheaper alternative to models like the Buick Verano and the Audi A3.
"First-time luxury buyers tend to place a high value on exterior styling, affordability and environmental issues, and that’s what we have created with the new Acura ILX," said Jon Ikeda, head of the Acura Design Studio. "The strategy behind this new model is to position ILX as the first opportunity for many young buyers to enter the luxury market."
UPDATE 05/13/2013: Acura has announced prices and some minor upgrades for the 2014 ILX. See more after the jump.
Hit the jump to read more about the 2013-2014 Acura ILX.
The BMW M5 was first introduced at the Amsterdam Motor Show in 1984, so if you do a little math you’ll find that in 2014 the model will celebrate its 30th anniversary. To mark the event, BMW is unveiling a special-edition M5. Or at least this is what a strange M5 prototype caught testing near the M factory in Garching suggests, as it was wearing a “30 Year Limited Edition” badge on its dashboard.
From the same plaque, it appears that the special edition will be limited to only 300 units. Everything else seems to be identical to the standard M5, except some dark chrome gills added to the exterior. Also, the prototype seems to be an American version, judging by the U.S.-only manual option and the orange markers on the front fenders.
Before this special edition gets the opportunity to hit the market, the M5 will receive a revision and the addition of a new Competition Package.
Click past the jump to read more about the standard BMW M5.
The production-version CLA-Class made its world debut at the 2013 Detroit Auto Show and even though it’s a young model, it already received lots of tuning kits. The latest kit comes from Piecha Design, which decided to offer the luxury four-door coupe a sportier appearance while retaining the car’s overall elegant appearance.
The kit is based on the CLA 250 fitted with the Sport cosmetic package. The tuner adds an aerodynamic package that includes a restyled front bumper with a chin spoiler and a pair of matte-silver air splitters. The kit continues with new front wings and side skirts, new roof and trunk spoilers and for the rear, a new diffuser that hides the four 90 mm (3.54 inches) tailpipes. These tailpipes can also be applied to all the other models in the CLA lineup.
The new Mercedes CLA GT-R by Piecha Design was unveiled at the Tuning World Bodensee in Germany.
Click past the jump to read more about the Mercedes CLA GT-R by Piecha Design.
For all the attention the Bentley Continental GT Le Mans Edition models are getting - and rightfully so - it’s important to note that Bentley also released a Le Mans Edition model for its flagship model, the Mulsanne.
For this model, Bentley really went to work on giving the Mulsanne Le Mans some unique styling cues, particularly the interior. Diamond-quilted hide seat coverings are just the start. There are also diamond-quilted hide door panels, illuminate tread plates, drilled alloy foot pedals, a Le Mans Edition clock face, an embroidered Le Mans badge on each headrest and tread plates with the limited edition name.
Outside, a new sport-tuned suspension and ‘Quad’ Effect Tailpipe Finishers were added and rounding out the whole package are a new set of two-piece five-spoke dark tint alloy wheels.
While the Continental Le Mans Edition models are getting more of the love, don’t sleep on the Mulsanne Le Mans, either.
Click past the jump to read about the Bentley Mulsanne
We don’t want to be mean, but the Mercedes models are missing something very important: their individualism. Basically, if you are not a real car addict it can be pretty difficult to differentiate the classes. Los Angeles-based tuner Misha Designs has found a solution to significantly improve the look of the C-Class to help set it apart.
Its body kit is inspired by the look of the most powerful and aggressive C-Class ever: the C63 AMG Black Series. The best part is that it can be applied to any model from 2008 to 2013.
The kit includes a new front bumper with three larger air intakes, a sportier hood, new front fenders, side skirts and rear fender flares. The rear was also updated with a new bumper, a trunk spoiler and a roof spoiler.
As a final element, Misha Designs also offers a set of 19-inch wheels in a 14-spoke design and painted in gloss black.
Click past the jump to read more about the new Mercedes C-Class by Misha Designs.
It looks like Volkswagen Group has prepared quite a lineup for this year’s Wörthersee show. Earlier today, we brought you the first details on the Seat Leon Cup Racer, now is time to talk about another concept, this time around it’s from Škoda.
Škoda’s concept is based on the most recent addition to its lineup: the Rapid. Called Rapid Sport, this new concept sets out to prove the tuning capabilities of the new sedan. The concept is painted in a combination of "Corrida Red" and ’Steel Gray" exterior colors and sits on 19-inch alloy wheels.
Because it’s a "sport" concept, it also receives an aerodynamic kit that adds spoilers and a sporty-looking air intake in the front skirt up, large fenders and massive rocker panels. On the backside, the Škoda gets a large bumper and two integrated tailpipes.
For the interior, Škoda added a sport-type steering wheel, Recaro seats and illuminated door sills.
Click past the jump to read more about the standard Škoda Rapid.
