The New BMW 6 Series Coupe

The new BMW 6 Series Coupe will head up a range of three new 6 Series models, with the 650i representing the top model in the long-awaited line-up. A 'four-door coupe' variant is due to be launched in 2012.

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Buying An Used BMW

There are quite a few things that one who is looking to buy a used BMW car should consider, in order to get the best deal. Everyone would want to own a BMW, but there are many people who cannot afford to buy a new BMW; for them, the next best thing is undoubtedly a second hand BMW. Strangely though, buying some other brand's new car might actually cost you less than buying a pre-owned BMW! Hence, you should be very clear in your mind about what model of the used BMW you want to go for. Also, you must be sure about your source of finances for the big purchase.

The very first thing that one needs to consider before selecting a used BMW is the budget. You don't want to end up with a car that you paid a lot for but wasn't worth the expenditure! To avoid that, do some shopping around. There are plenty of websites listing your dream car and some online calculators as well that can help you calculate your estimated costs, for free. After that, it is time to check out the available used BMW cars. You would obviously be looking for a car that is going to burn the fewest holes in your pocket and bring the biggest smile on your face at the same time!

For that, the car must have got all features working properly. Check the cargo and seating space from the pictures of the used BMW properly. You also need to ask the dealer or seller of the car for a list of the available features and accessories. After this step, you must have narrowed down your search considerably. Next, test-drive the shortlisted cars and check for the car efficiency and the condition of the engine. It is imperative that you are 100% satisfied with the car, because remember, there are no second chances involved here!

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What Makes BMW Special

In 1917 World War 1 was finally coming to an end after nearly 4 years of brutal suffering and intense fighting; it was foreseen that the Germans would lose the war. BMW was originally an Aircraft engine manufacturer, for the Luftwaffe no doubt, was forced to stop immediately due to the 'Versailles Armistice Treaty'. This lead to the change of demographic as the company moved towards producing motorcycles in 1923, only when the restrictions of the treaty began to fade. It wasn't until 1928-9 that the manufacturer started to construct Auto-mobiles.

After many years of hardships the company has barely changed, the logo still stands elegantly above the likes of "FORD" with their new range of 'Focus' patrolling the streets soon. Fear, isn't a factor when it comes to BMW; allowing the company to flourish and design crazy compartments and wacky new wing-mirrors. It seems evident that the company itself has provided many a family with years of comfort and leisure while driving the roads of Britain. It doesn't just stop there BMW has revolutionised the way we perceive cars in our society; If It's not sleek and smart it's not BMW. In 2010 alone the company produced roughly 1.5M Auto-mobiles and nearly 120,000 Motorcycles; displaying BMW's confidence/dominance in the "Motor-Market". It would appear that the company doesn't hide behind their sleek, masculine designs as for last years 'April Fools Day' the company released information telling customers that they could change the colour of the 'BMW' logo to suit correlate to their political party - what a joke.

If producing some of the world's most comfortable cars wasn't enough, owning the right to produce MINI's and ROLLS-ROYCE's just to add that little bit of salt to the recipe. Showing that they can exert works of brilliance to three completely different target audiences; the MINI is for those sporty days when having a roof can be just too much and consequently allowing your hair get all tangled and knotted becomes quite a pleasurable experience and all because, one is in a 'MINI'. In contrast to the 'MINI' the Rolls-Royce is for those lazy days where the rich and famous can drive aimlessly from A to B without a worry or care for the environment or their, now comfortable, bottom. It then places the 'BMW' in between for those middle-upper class customers who work so hard to look genuine and nonchalant.

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New BMW Electric Cars 2012

BMW has long been a leader when it comes to producing high-quality, technologically advanced cars, so it is no wonder that BMW owners have been waiting (sometimes rather impatiently) for a BMW electric car. BMW has researched electric cars for decades, but, like other companies, never made any real strides in the area because of all the politics around the gasoline/electric debate.

For a long time, American emission and MPG guidelines were stalled. Companies were allowed to continue to produce cars with low-MPR vehicles while other countries made amazing gains in that area. Recently, though, new efforts have been made to reduce the carbon footprints of American vehicles (meaning vehicles driven in America, not necessary produced there). Now the Environmental Protection Agency is placing new, stringent regulations in place that force companies to double their fuel economy within a set period of time. As a result, companies are finally producing environmentally friendly cars that do not pollute the air with their emissions.

Very recently, in 2011, BMW made a definite public commitment to finally produce and release an all-electric car, the ActiveE. This is considered a gamble by some because the company is well known for its powerful gasoline-powered engines. They think BMW owners particularly like the gas-powered engines and will not be interested in switching to electricity. Knowing the skeptics, BMW promises to produce a "BMW quality" electric car that is sure to please owners who are used to great performance. The ActiveE will enter the market in the fall of 2011 and afford the driver approximately 100 miles of gasoline-free riding on just one charge. This is exciting news for the many BMW owners who have grown tired of paying the expensive premium gas prices.

The ActiveE will accelerate from 0 to 60 miles per hour in about 9 seconds. This is not the type of speed sports car enthusiasts are used to, but it is comparable to the average family sedan. Because of the amazing MPC (miles per charge) rating, buyers should not be too disturbed by the reduced acceleration.

All-electric cars are still very new to the market, so they are very expensive, so much so that the average car buyer will not be able to benefit from the gasoline-free ride. However, as industry leaders like BMW continue to create electric cars, lower-end companies will eventually follow suit, offering up more scaled-down, budget-friendly versions of the electric vehicles.

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Where Do BMWs Come From

The BMW, which stands for Bavarian Motor Works, comes from Munich, Germany. BMW actually started as an aircraft engine manufacturer. In fact, the blue and white logo comes from the head-on view of spinning airplane propellers. The company then moved into motorcycle production and, later, to car production. Even from the early years, it became known as a high-quality vehicle manufacturer. The various motorcycle and car editions BMW came out with were entered into many contests and often took first prize. It quickly began to build a name for itself in the German sports vehicle contest arena.

BMW continued to make airplane engines despite its success in the production of personal vehicles. In 1943, it worked on the first ever mass-produced jet engine. This was groundbreaking news and kept BMW in the forefront of the automobile and aircraft production pack. In 1945, it got its first license to repair US Army automobiles in Germany.

BMW experienced some setbacks because of World War I and was not able to produce cars for a few years. The company was discouraged, but did not give up. It had to discontinue production for some years, but came back in 1949 with another successful motorcycle release. BMW went on to become the World Motorcycle Sidecar champion in the '50s and held the prestigious title for 20 years. It was not until the late '60s and early '70s that BMW began to experience significant commercial success with its cars. It continued to produce newer and better cars that rivaled its biggest peer, Mercedes-Benz.

BMW prided itself on dedication to furthering the advancement of car technology. It invested in research until it was able to come out with an on-board microcomputer that improved fuel economy and engine performance. This made BMW a leader in the automobile technology race.

As it grew and began to build and solidify worldwide demand, BMW built additional plants in South Africa, Japan, and, lastly, the US, but its headquarters remained in Munich, Germany. It is still there. Many of the amazing BMW cars and motorcycles are still produced in Germany, but shipped all over the world for luxury car enthusiasts to enjoy. BMW of America, the American division, started in 1975 and continues to operate today. The current American headquarters is located in New Jersey, but the manufacturing plant is in North Carolina. It is the exclusive manufacturers for all X5 and X6 Sports Activity Vehicles.

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BMW 6 Series Parts

The BMW 635i was first introduced in the 1980's as a luxury BMW grand touring coupe. The newest version was reintroduced in 2004 as the 645Ci and updated with the 650i and M6 coupe and convertibles. These grand touring cars are known for their impressive acceleration and performance while maintaining the ultimate luxury and comfort you expect from a high end BMW 6 Series Coupe. Despite the vast amount of technology and engineering put into each BMW 6 Series, there are a variety of aftermarket BMW Parts available to improve performance, handling and looks.

BMW 6 Series Suspension

The OE BMW suspension is good but still oriented to comfort. This provides significant body roll under cornering and thus does not make the car as responsive as possible. H&R Sport Springs for the M6 are available to sharpen handling without compromising daily comfort. KW, Bilstein and H&R Coilovers are a more comprehensive BMW suspension upgrade that replaces the factory suspension system with a height and in some cases rebound and compression adjustable suspension system. These are the ultimate in handling upgrades that allow you to dial in specific settings depending on your preference.

BMW 6 Series Exterior Parts

The BMW 6 Series has an edgy look but can be vasty improved with subtle upgrades like BMW matte black grills and matte black side gills. These direct replacements are a matte black finish to provide contrast and a more aggressive look. The Vorsteiner M6 aerodynamics line are direct carbon fiber upgrades to the factory look to give your BMW M6 and even more race inspired look while saving weight. The Vorsteiner VRS Front Add On for the M6 is a direct dry carbon front lip add on to the factory M6 bumper. Vorsteiner also offers a carbon fiber rear bootlid for the M6 that will save weight and provide better downforce at higher speeds. Finally, the rear diffuser can be upgraded with a carbon fiber rear diffuser that features a finned designed for better air flow and downforce.

The other option to upgrade are the BMW angel eyes with the WeissLicht LED Angel Eyes. These are direct plug and play LED upgrades that will change the color to a xenon white for a cleaner look that matches the original xenon headlights.

6 Series Performance Parts

The BMW 6 series features a V8 engine with impressive acceleration throughout the range. The factory exhaust can be upgraded with the Eisenmann Exhaust for the M6 to give your V10 engine a deeper growl and better performance. In addition, the aFe Intake System will maximize gains by improving flow that works well with an aftermarket exhaust system. Finally, it is best to optimize the factory ECU for the upgraded modifications with the Active Autowerke Software Tune that can be customized per vehicle and modifications.

6 Series Wheels

The BMW 6 series comes with high performance wheels from the factory but looks just like any other 650i out there. There are a variety of custom forged wheels available that are 100% produced to order and will give your M6 a unique look. They are designed to be lightweight and wider to improve traction and not decrease performance- the reason you bought the V10.

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2013 Mercedes Benz SL550 Announced

Get ready to short Pfizer stocks, because the brand new 2013 Mercedes Benz SL550 will be putting Viagra out of business. The 2013 Mercedes Benz SL550 continues a tradition that was started 60 years ago. A tradition that is synonymous with sport, style, and comfort. The 2013 SL550 is no different, although Mercedes is touting a slightly different tune about the all new and improved SL: it's lightweight, athletic and luxurious.

Lightweight, an aspect that is very critical to a performance vehicle. This is something that Mercedes Benz did not discount with the 2013 SL. Being built almost entirely out of aluminum the new SL is significantly lighter than it's predecessor, while at the same time features enhanced rigidity, body-roll and agility. The new body shell weights around 242 pounds less then it's steel counterpart. The change from steel to aluminum shell has also allowed Mercedes to focus on enhancing other aspects of the car structure such as optimizing safety points and adding additional rigidity to reduce vibration and thus, increase comfort. In all, the new 2013 Mercedes Benz SL550 weighs 275 pounds less than it's predecessor, bringing in the final weight to approximately 3,925 pounds (1780kg) from 4,200 pounds (1,905kg). Still a fairly high weight for a roadster, especially considering that a 2012 BMW 750i, a very large V8 luxury sedan, weighs 4,564 lbs (2,070kg). However, BMW'sV8 Twin Turbo roadster, the 2012 BMW 650i weighs in at 4531 lbs (2,055kg), significantly more than the 2013 SL550. Don't worry though, we'll point out the fact that the high weight doesn't necessarily limit the 2013 SL550 from achieving it's two other important qualities of being athletic and luxurious.

Athletic: if anyone knows anything about Mercedes Benz and SLs, they know that they're most definitely athletic. From 700 torque producing biturbos to raw naturally aspirated V8s, the SL is always on the forefront with power, handling and athletic capabilities. The 2013 SL550 is not any different, featuring a 4.7 liter V8 that spews out 429 horsepower and 516 lb-ft of torque. "That's great" you say, "but my Mustang can do the same thing," in which you fail to recognize that the power increase from the outgoing 2012 SL500 improved by 12% despite a 0.8 liter drop in displacement. Torque on the other hand, improved by 32% up from a puny 391 lb-ft. Combine the weight drop with a smaller, more efficient engine, then take some other fancy components like steering enhancements and suspension tweaks and you get a fat roadster with enough torque to open your pickle jar that can do 0 to 60 mph in 4.5 seconds. That's AMG territory!

Let's not forget that despite being lightweight and athletic that the Mercedes Benz SL550 is still a vehicle of luxury. While the rev limiter is ringing in your ears you'll be able to appreciate the longer, wider and taller dimensions of the new SL. While the exhaust note will wake your neighbors, you'll be appreciating the FrontBass system that is integrated into the body of the car, making for a concert hall experience even with the top down. While your friends gloat about their Prius' gas mileage you'll be laughing for 20 seconds as your retractable hardtop drops down for you to enjoy the open air driving experience.

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Tata shows eMO Ev concept at Autoshow Detroit

Tata has showcased its latest engineering wonder, the eMO EV concept as a part of the Michellin Challenge Design at the Detroit Auto Show. The eMO (Electric MObility) has been engineered and developed by more than 300 engineers from the Tata Technologies centers based in Pune, Detroit, UK and Germany.

The eMO architecture emphasizes on right size personal urban transportation by minimizing its exterior footprint and maximizing interior space, and this includes seating for four adults. And based upon research of city and urban usage, eMO has the flexibility endash with rear seats articulated endash to do double-duty as a personal cargo carrier, without the mass and cost of a dedicated trunk.

The concept features a liquid-cooled, dual-motor, front-wheel-drive drivetrain coupled with an air-cooled 18.4 kW high-energy/density battery. It is capable of travelling 161 km on a single charge, with a top speed of 105kph. Additional features include nine air bags, a full steel safety cage, a dashboard touchscreen interface, and easy-access rear suicide doors, combined with forward-opening front doors.

On the mechanical front, it gets an independent front lower A arm and MacPherson struts. The rear suspension has a semi-trailing link with separate mounting shock absorbers and springs. Front disc and rear drum brakes are antilock with electronic stability control. Steering is provided by an electric power-assisted rack-and-pinion system.

It also reportedly has more aerodynamic surfaces and shorter overhangs than conventional internal combustion-powered vehicles. To further reduce carbon footprint, its assembly process forgoes traditional painting methods for mold-in colored body panels, and it incorporates recycled building materials.

Despite having an estimated price tag of USD 20,000, the eMO concept has no plans of being mass produce. However, Warren Harris, Tata Technologies President and Global COO states, "We developed it strictly as an engineering study with no particular automaker in mind. If there are auto companies interested in exploring the potential of the eMO, we would, of course, welcome that opportunity."

"The eMO project symbolizes the coming of age of Indian automotive engineering," according to Harris.

Kevin Fisher, President, Tata Technologies' Vehicle Programs & Development (VPD) Group, explained the beginning of the eMO program. "In mid-2010, in anticipation of the April 2011 launch of VPD, we researched numerous concepts for an internal engineering study that would highlight both the Tata Technologies dedication to environmental responsibility and sustainability, and showcase our global experience, knowledge, capacity and innovation."

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Autocar India Awards 2012

                                                                                                  Car of the Year endash  Maruti Suzuki Swift

The Swift won our Car of the Year in 2005. And it wins it yet again this time. Though the new Swift looks exactly like the old model, this car is a grounds-up new generation of the Swift. This model is based on an all-new platform and is now both longer and wider. The Swift s interior styling, which is heavily borrowed from its Kizashi sibling, is now plusher.

The car is now sportier to drive and the 1.2 K-series petrol gets variable valve timing (VVT) to bump up power to 86bhp. The 74bhp 1.3 diesel Multi-jet engine remains largely unchanged but the carmaker s effort to make the cabin a quieter place is evident. Maruti Suzuki has taken an already good car and made it even better by ironing out the flaws in the older car. Despite stiff competition this year from among nearly all the world s majors, Maruti Suzuki s new Swift shows the competition a clean pair of heels to pick up the prestigious award of the Bloomberg-UTV Autocar Car of the Year 2012.

Bike of the Year endash Honda CBR250R

The Honda CBR250R came like a breath of fresh air for Indian motorcycle enthusiasts long stuck between underpowered city commuters and horrendously expensive imported superbikes. Here was a motorcycle that offered great styling, zippy performance, street-friendly handling with a price tag that did not need you to mortgage your house. The CBR250R has all the big bike visual cues with its VFR 1200 inspired headlamp and CBR1000RR fairing. It ticks all the right boxes in the design and styling department. For its combination of style, performance, streetfriendly handling as well as advanced technology at a decent price, the Honda CBR250R is the Bike of the Year.

Compact Car of the Year endash Maruti Suzuki Swift

The Swift was already a favourite in the competitive compact car market. And the new Swift promises to continue Maruti Suzuki s winning streak. Though the new Swift looks the same as the old car, it is a completely new model built on a new platform. Ride and handling have been tweaked and they are even better now. The new Swift is larger, more spacious, delivers better performance, has better driver dynamics and gives you enhanced fuel economy. The Swift, always a great car, is now even better and is quite definitely the Best Compact Car of the Year.

Mid-size Saloon of the Year endash Skoda Rapid

Under the skin the Skoda Rapid is a VW Vento. However, dig deeper and the Rapid proves to be much more than a Volkswagen clone. Skoda has ironed out many of the Vento s shortcomings. The diesel engine is more linear but just as punchy, the shorter geared petrol now works much better and ride and handling are much improved as well. Spacious, fast, frugal, reasonably well-built and good value, the Rapid has a lot going for it. In fact, it actually beats its twin to win the crown of the mid-size saloon Car of the Year.

SUV of the Year endash Mahindra XUV500

The XUV500, designed and developed completely in-house, is a quantum leap forward by Mahindra & Mahindra endash it s the company s first serious attempt at developing a global product. The price at which Mahindra has launched the SUV makes it shattering value-for money. You get a lot of car for the price. You get a fantastic-looking SUV that dominates the road with its presence. An excellent package makes the XUV500 a worthy winner.

Winners for the rest of the categories are as follows:

Best Styling & Design endash Hyundai Verna

Best Value for Money endash Mahindra XUV500

Best Variant of the Year endash Chevrolet Beat Diesel

Best Driver's car endash Ford Fiesta

Manufacturer of the Year endash Toyota

Technology and Innovation award endash  Audi A8

Sub-compact car of the Year endash Honda Brio

Best Compact car of the Year endash Maruti Suzuki Swift

Best Saloon car of the Year endash  Skoda Rapid

Best Executive Saloon of the Year endash VW Jetta

Luxury Saloon of the Year endash Audi A6

SUV of the Year endash Mahindra XUV500

Luxury SUV of the Year endash BMW X3

Best Automobile Ad of the Year endash Volkswagen Jetta 'Flyboy'

Bike of the Year 2012 endash Honda CBR250R

Premium Bike of the Year endash Kawasaki Ninja 650R

Import Bike of the Year endash BMW K 1600 GTL

Green Car Award endash VW Passat for BlueMotion technology

Man of the Year endash Pawan Goenka

Viewer's choice award - CAR endash Mahindra XUV500

Viewer's choice award - BIKE endash Honda CBR250R

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