BMW exec confirms electric city car

BMW exec confirms electric city car

Filed under: Economy, Hybrids/Alternative, Green, BMW

Fuel-efficient city cars are being created at automaker R&D departments the world over, and even BMW plans on getting in on the action. BMW CEO Norbert Reithofer has confirmed that the German automaker was working on a 'mega city car' that will carry an all-new look, and two powertrains. One micro car will receive motivation with the aid of standard combustion, but the other will be pure electric. The electric vehicle will also comply with a California mandate that by 2012 there must be a fuel cell or battery-powered car that can travel 200 on a single charge. For comparison sake, GM promises at least 40 miles for the Chevy Volt, and Mitsubishi is looking at 100 mpg for the iMiEV.

It's also worth mentioning that the BMW CEO specifically pointed out that it meets California regulations, signaling that the vehicle would be available Stateside. There is still no word regarding which of BMW's three brands would be used for the vehicle, but we're still very sure it won't be a Rolls Royce.

[Source: AutoCar]

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Saab adds XWD to 2.0T 9-3, pricing goes up

Filed under: Convertibles, Coupes, Sedans/Saloons, SUVs, Saab

Hooray - the Saab 9-3 2.0T Sport is getting XWD, the Swedish automaker's cross-wheel-drive system. Boo - you're going to pay more for your Saab whether or not you get XWD. The rear-wheel-driving traction-enhancer was previously available only on upper crust models like the Aero and SportCombi, but Saab has announced it will hobnob with the hoi polloi on the 2.0T for 2009.

Any XWD models will also come with a moonroof, the Winter Package and an automatic transmission, though a 6-speed manual is also available. The Convertible will not be offered with XWD, since its platform can't accommodate the necessary mechanicals.

As we mentioned, the Saab range also gets price bumps. A new 9-3 2.0T Sport Sedan (without XWD) goes up $420, to $29,610, while the 9-3 SportCombi adds $680 to hit $31,040. General Motors did not list a price for the XWD option alone, but it appears to add a hefty $5,000 surcharge - the 9-3 2.0T XWD Sport Sedan will run you $34,870, and the 9-3 Aero V6T XWD Sport Sedan will list for $41,885.

[Source: GM]

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Mercedes CL and CLK names say "Auf wiedesehen..."

Filed under: Convertibles, Coupes, Mercedes-Benz

Mercedes-Benz may decide to call a coupe a coupe starting next year. If you want a CLK after 2009, you might have to settle for an E-Class Coupe or E-Class Convertible. Want a 2-door S-Class around the same time? Then you're after the S-Class Coupe. We don't know the reason for the potential name changes, especially since the cars have such great equity -- and taking eight minutes to say E-Class Coupe Black Series doesn't have nearly the to-the-point hotness of CLK Black Series, even though it's the same number of "syllables". The CL change might make more sense as the car wasn't a huge sales success, but drop those letters in conversation and you still get a forceful point across. We can only hope that the bard was right, and that a rose by any other name...

[Source: Benz Insider]

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