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.
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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
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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
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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.
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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.
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A few months ago, Elon Musk announced Tesla’s intention to develop an optional package that would put Tesla Model S on same level as the McLaren MP4-12C. Quite an interesting decision, but it finally came to life – sort of – with the announcement of a new "Plus" package priced at an extra $6,500.
The new package can only be ordered with the 85-kWh Performance version of the Model S and, according to Tesla, it improves "performance, comfort and efficiency."
The package will add revised suspension dampers and bushings, updated stabilizer bars and tires. The rear tires are 20 mm (0.78 inches) wider and staggered for improved acceleration on low-grip surfaces. Range improves 6 to 12 miles with 21-inch wheels.
Alongside to the new Plus package, Tesla also plans to offer a Plus Retrofit package for current Model S owners. It will be available this summer and will cost $13,500. According to the first details, this new package will "provide the enthusiast driver with a more responsive car and added cornering grip while maintaining excellent ride quality."
Click past the jump to read more about the standard Tesla Model S.
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It’s only been a few months since Mercedes revealed its pocket rocket, the CLA-Class,, and the car is already getting the attention of one of the world’s best Mercedes tuners this side of AMG.
German aftermarket company Brabus has presented its first tuning program for the CLA-Class and while it looks a little too subtle for our liking, we have no doubt that Brabus is still in the process of completing this program.
When it does, we expect nothing less than the stamp of awesomeness that can only come from a Brabus-tuned vehicle.
There’s a lot to like about the CLA-Class, particularly its stature within Benz’s lineup of being the affordable luxury sports sedan that’s geared toward the younger market. To its credit, Mercedes didn’t take any shortcuts in developing the car, giving us a car that looks worthy of the Silver Arrows emblem while also fitting it with a 2.0-liter inline-four engine that can produce up to 208 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque with a 0-to-60 mph time of 6.7 seconds with a top speed of 149 mph.
Click past the jump to see what Brabus did to the CLA-Class and read the accompanying press release
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