Special edition 760Li celebrates 25 years of BMW 12-cylinder car engines

2013 BMW 760Li: V-12 25 Years Anniversary Edition

Special Limited Edition Flagship Honors 25 Years of V-12 Tradition

Woodcliff Lake, NJ – September 7, 2012 ...Today, BMW launches a very special limited edition 25th Anniversary Edition 760Li V-12 reflecting a rich tradition of V-12 engines that began back in 1987 with the then groundbreaking BMW 750iL when BMW engineers crafted the most Ultimate Driving Machine of its day with the introduction of its first automotive V-12 engine. Only 15 of these very limited edition models will be available to US customers on a special order basis only for BMW Center delivery in early 2013 at a price of $159,695 including destination and handling.

The "V-12 25 Years Edition" BMW 760Li features BMW Individual Champagne Full Merino Leather and, exclusively for this model, black piping. The black floor mats and rear footrests are also complimented by contrasting piping in Champagne. The door sills, headrests and iDrive controllers are all specially badged with "V-12 25 Years Edition". Also included with this special edition flagship model are:

- Rear Seat Entertainment with iDrive control
- 20' Individual wheel style 301 with performance tires
- Alcantara headliner in champagne (sides of headliner in black)
- A/B/C pillars in black leather
- Rear parcel shelf in Anthracite Alcantara
- BMW Individual Piano Black Wood trim
- Piano black wood inlay in steering wheel
- Shadowline exterior trim

A full range of exterior colors is available for this limited edition as well as additional options, making it possible to craft a truly unique automobile.

The 760Li, with its 6.0-liter Twin Turbo V12, remains the pinnacle in the BMW 7 Series line up boasting 535 horsepower, 550 lb. ft of torque catapulting the big Sports Sedan from 0-60 mph in just 4.5 seconds and a limited top speed of 130 mph (155 mph with the M Sport Package option).

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Mini John Cooper Works GP (2012) full specs and stats

By Ollie Kew

First Official Pictures

06 September 2012 09:00

A cynical marketing exercise, or Mini getting back to its pocket rocket best? Say what you like about the new (deep breath) Mini John Cooper Works GP, but there's no arguing with its raw specification.

With slightly more power (up to 215bhp from 208bhp in the standard JCW), it's the fastest Mini yet. It's also one of the priciest, at £28,790.

The power bump of 7bhp isn't especially headline-grabbing, despite what Mini calls 'extensive modifications' to the 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine. At least the internals sound suitably racey to justify that hallowed badge: the block is aluminium, there's reinforced pistons, a strengthened cylinder head, and a lighter crankshaft.

It's a torquey little engine too, thanks to BMW's know-how in twin-scroll turbocharging, and direct injection. Maximum torque of 191lb ft troubles the front tyres from 1750rpm, and there's an overboost function that pushes output to 206lb ft for short periods.

Want some speed numbers? You'll hit 62mph from rest in 6.3sec (0.2sec faster than a normal Mini JCW) and 150mph flat out.

With all that urge being sent through the front wheels, Mini has sensibly upgraded the rubber to give the JCW GP a fighting chance of applying its power to the road. The wider sports-spec tyres are worn by 17-inch four-spoke alloys reminiscent of those fitted to the previous Mini GP, back in 2006.  The natty two-tone rims are also lighter than those on the standard car.

The standard JCW is already a pretty fraught and furious steer, so it'll be interesting to see how the 200 GP examples destined for the UK handle our scarred blacktop, with their 20mm lower ride height and adjustable suspension. Give the Mini GP a smooth surface for best results: Mini are claiming an 8min 23sec Nurburgring lap time.

Track day fans will appreciate the upgraded brakes: 280mm discs on the rear, and 330mm vented discs at the front, grabbed by six-piston callipers.

Under the stickers, you'll spot swollen front and rear bumpers, bigger side skirts, and a rear wing and diffuser combo that Mini claims lowers lift by 90%, and somehow manages to also cut drag (by 6%) as well.

Inside, the rear seats have been junked – though there's no weight saving due to the additions elsewhere. Other changes in the cabin are Recaro front seats, and a smattering of sporty stitching and badging. Unlike regular Minis, the GP won't be subject to the usual smorgasbord of expensive options – this is very much an enthusiast special, a one-size-fits-all spec. GP owners want less accessories, and more performance, according to Mini.

Just a few points you should know if the GP has rocketed to the top of your wish list. Firstly, you'll have to have it in grey just like the last GP. Second: despite the hardcore spec, there's no mechanical limited-slip differential – just a computer-controlled mimic act that replicates a proper LSD by sending power to the wheel with most grip when the electronics sense wheelspin.

And, if you want to clap eyes on one of the strictly limited run of 2000, you'll find the GP on display at the Paris motor show later this month. Chequebooks at the ready...

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KillaCycle's Eva Breaks 216 MPH at Bonneville

In brief: Eva Håkansson broke 216mph in the KillaJoule at the BUB Motorcycle Speed Trials at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah.

The KillaJoule is an all-electric streamliner motorcycle racing in the Sidecar Motorcycle category. It was hand-built by the KillaCycle engineering team of Bill Dube and Eva Håkansson, the husband and wife team behind the ElectraCat that climbed Pikes Peak and the KillaCycle dragster that has won so many awards and records.

This is the KillaJoule's second year on the Flats and it measured a top speed of 216.504 MPH and set a new record for the class at 191.488 MPH over the flying mile.

This new record was just the start. Eva also took home the Fastest Sidecar Motorcycle prize and the Female Rider Award at BUB this year.

Eva is a graduate student of engineering at the University of Denver. You may recall we saw the KillaJoule during its build back in 2010.

Eva has set her sights on the highest record in this class, currently held by a combustion engine motorcycle, at 219 mph. She hopes to break that next year.

Photo credits: KillaCycle Racing

This site follows the emergence, application and development of transportation innovation. Reference to manufacturers, makes and models, and other automotive-related businesses are provided for informational purposes only and do not constitute an endorsement by FutureCars.com.

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Kia Ceed Sportswagon (2012) first official pictures

By Ollie Kew

First Official Pictures

10 September 2012 09:00

Kia will launch an estate version of the Ceed family hatch in the UK on 10 September 2012, with an unashamed focus on grabbing crucial fleet sales. As such. the Ceed Sportswagon range is turbodiesel only, to try and entice fleet buyers in with low tax rates.

The Ceed Sportswagon kicks off at £16,895 for the entry-level, car, rising to £24,795 for the highest spec car. Read on for the full run-down of the Ceed Sportswagon range.

For a start, all models get the same 528-litre bootspace, which expands to 1642 with the back seats folded. A Focus estate musters only 476 and 1502 litres respectively, and an Astra Sports Tourer a piffling 500 and 1550 litres. The Hyundai i40 Tourer which shares a platform with the Ceed gets - you've guessed it - exactly the same bootspace, seats up or down.

Kia's trimlines couldn't be more logical (or unimaginative) in name: it's simply 1, 2, 3 and 4. Ceed '1's get electrically adjustable heated door mirrors, a height-adjustable driver’s seat, air-con,  front electric windows,, remote central locking, cooled glovebox, flat-folding 60:40 split rear seats, ambient front lighting, Bluetooth connectivity and an iPod-friendly audio system.

Ceed '2' models come with LED running lights, leather steering wheel, gearknob and handbrake, a splash of chrome, all-round electric windows, luggage net, cruise control and rear parking sensors.

Upgrade to a Ceed 3 and there's privacy glass, automatic headlights, automatic front wipers, an auto-dimming rear-view mirror, dual-zone climate control, and a seven-inch touchscreen sat-nav interface, which doubles as a reversing camera screen.

And to be the envy of your fellow fleet drivers, talk the boss into speccing you a Ceed 4. The top-of-the-range Ceed is treated to 17-inch alloys, heated black leather seats and steering wheel, an electronic parking brake, a starter button for the engine, and rear air ventilation. Opt for the further loaded Ceed ‘4 Tech’ and there's a panoramic sunroof, 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat,  front parking sensors, lane departure warning system and xenon headlights.

For comparsion, an equivalent Ford Focus estate equipped with a 1.6-litre TDCi engine produces 113bhp and 199lb ft, giving 0-62mph in 11.1sec and 120mph flat out. Interestingly, a 1.6-litre diesel Focus returns a claimed 67.3mpg and 109g/km - identical figures to the lower-powered 1.4-litre Kia.

'4 Tech’ 1.6 CRDi six-speed manual

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Lexus IS (2013) spy shots

By Ollie Kew

Spy shots

07 September 2012 14:00

Sent in from our spy photographer in the United States, these spy shots show Lexus’s next-generation IS saloon testing ahead of a 2013 reveal.

It’s been a long time coming – the current IS has been on sale since 2005, with only mild trimline changes and tweaks to keep it fresh. During the same period, Mercedes has heavily revised the C-class, and BMW has come along with the brand new best-in-class F30 3-series.

Absolutely. The new IS is sure to get Lexus’s current ‘spindle grille’ arrangement, as seen on the LF-LC concept car, and latterly the new LS and GS saloons. An F-Sport version with lowered suspension, sporty wheels and more flared bodykit is also likely too – even the flagship LS limo got the ‘F’ treatment in its recent reveal.

Whether or not there’ll be more than just the saloon seen testing here is up for debate – the first-gen IS also came in a rare estate format, but the current car shunned pet-carrying capacity. It’s not been a one bodystyle range – Lexus does offer a convertible IS with a folding hard-top roof, but it’s so rare we’d forgive you for ever having set eyes on one outside of a Lexus dealership.

As the spy shot camo-striptease continues, there’ll be more clues on what models of IS we’ll see in the UK, so stay tuned to CAR Online. Here’s hoping for a return for the flagship IS-F to keep the next twin-turbo M3 honest…

The current IS is the sore thumb of the Lexus range – it’s the only model that Toyota’s posh arm doesn’t offer as a hybrid. There are electric motors in their family hatch (CT200h), limo (LS) and even full-size SUV (RX) but the fleet-market-friendly IS makes do with conventional internal combustion only. It’ll be interesting to see if Lexus goes down the hybrid route with the next car.

Or could piston engines depart from the IS altogether? CAR recently scooped a US-makret Lexus HS testing a hydrogen fuel cell drivetrain – click here for the spy shots and full story. If trials are successful, one imagines there’s no reason why (most likely in the US) hydrogen power couldn’t migrate into the next IS.

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2012 Nissan Maxima – The Luxury of Economy

The Maxima is Nissan's luxury sedan that represents the highest combination of sport and luxury the company has to offer before going to their premium brand's lineup. It's a plush, comfortable, and fun drive that engages you immediately. 26 mpg on the highway doesn't hurt either.

Are you looking for some soul in your sedan? Welcome to the 2012 Maxima,® the 4-Door Sports Car.® Fender flares crouched over 19" wheels are your invitation. A 290-hp V6 is ready to reel in the horizon. Inside, room for five and all the luxuries and technology you’d expect. But you won’t confuse Maxima with any other 4-door. Because at heart, it’s a sports car. And that makes all the difference in the world. The 2013 Maxima is ready to rev up your life.

The Maxima is the top-line car for the Nissan model lineup before going to the Acura brand. It is an extremely luxurious ride that, with all those posh accoutrements, still manages a respectable 19mpg in the city and 26mpg on the highway. It's a true mid-sized sedan in size and space, marking it apart from some others in the segment which are much smaller.

The Maxima sports a refined, but aggressive look. Inside, it's all about comfort and ergonomics, with plush seating, smooth lines and tones, and luxury perks like a shaded rear window and optional Dual Panel Moonroof – which opens the rooftop to the sky in a way you have to see to believe. It rides comfortably, but not so thickly that you can't feel the sportiness under the hood and on the road.

The 2012 Maxima is powered by a 3.5-liter V6 putting out 290 horsepower. This pipes through a continuously variable transmission (CVT) which has driver-selectable modes for driving style and situation. For most drivers, putting it into Drive mode will mean better economy and a smooth drive, but for those times when exhilaration is what you want, DS is the way to go. Optional paddle shifters add to this experience.

The suspension and handling of the Maxima are a perfect blend of sports and luxury car, meeting somewhere in the middle to provide both comfort and fun. The steering system responds dynamically to the driver based on vehicle speed, with less play at higher speeds and more play during lower, city speeds. This gives less driver "wobble" on the road and improves both fuel economy and road feel.

Most of the Maxima's appeal lies in its mix of luxury and sport driving. Yet the underlying fuel economy standard it holds seems to belay the normal perception in both luxury and sport vehicles. Most of the economy is thanks to the high-performance engine and the next-generation CVT. The Maxima is not a light car, weighing in at nearly 3,600 pounds, so the mileage gained by the engine and transmission are significant. In the mid-sized luxury market, 16/26 is about average, though some other competitors (most at a higher price) beat this by 3 or 4 mpg.

Extreme luxury for a small price when compared to some of the competition. The Maxima is at the low-end of the luxury mid-sized sedan price range, but delivers some excellent competition for the higher-priced competitor.

A fun drive all around, with a sporty feel and strong acceleration. Despite being a luxury car, it's still fun to drive.

Fuel economy could improve and likely will with successive model years. The engine and CVT have really come into their own, though, and economy improvements are likely to come from light weighting.

Not easy to eco-drive in this car. While putting the transmission into Drive mode does most of the work for you, in order to maximize economy, you must work for it by feathering the pedal and taking it easy despite the definite need for speed this car exudes.

The Maxima is a great car that sells extremely well in this class. Once you sit in one, it becomes obvious why this is. Definitely a well-built car with a lot of appeal.

Test Period Length and Limitations
Car was driven at a Nissan-sponsored ride-and-drive event. We had the car for about forty-five minutes and drove it on both city streets and highways.

This site follows the emergence, application and development of transportation innovation. Reference to manufacturers, makes and models, and other automotive-related businesses are provided for informational purposes only and do not constitute an endorsement by FutureCars.com.

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Used cars: how to buy a second-hand Audi RS2 Avant (1994-95)

By Ben Pulman

Used Cars

07 September 2012 09:00

RS2 Audi’s Quattro division was formed in 1983, but Chairman Mao wouldn’t have been impressed by the work ethic: it took until 1990 before an ‘S’ model appeared, and another four years for the first RS to arrive.

The Audi 80 Avant underpinnings were humble, but with help from Porsche the RS2 was transformed into an über-estate that could hit 30mph quicker than a McLaren F1. The turbocharged five-cylinder engine and red brake calipers proudly wear the Porsche name, Stuttgart’s sports cars donated alloys and doors mirrors, and the inspiration for the huge rear light bar (which you expect to pulsate like KITT) is obvious.

Turbo lag means the power takes more time to arrive than a Boris Johnson reply but from 3500rpm the RS2 is genuinely fast – and there’s no tyre scrabble thanks to the Quattro system. It made estates cool, having children suddenly appealed, and something special was started: it’s the reason there are five chunky silhouettes on the pages before you. Hurrah for bootspace.
Just 2881 RS2s were ever built – with a mere 182 officially coming to the UK – so the pool of cars is small if you want one today. Most boast over 100k miles but still cost at least £10k. Thankfully, according to Sunny Bhamra, service manager at Audi specialist Fontain Motors, besides corrosion damage, the need for an oil change every year or 10,000 miles, and the general wear expected on a car over a decade old, there are no surprises to be wary of. This is the ur-RS.

Engine 2226cc 20v turbo 5-cyl, 311bhp @ 6500rpm, 302lb ft @ 3000rpm Transmission 6-spd manual, 4wd Performance 4.8sec 0-62mph, 163mph, 18.8mpg Original UK price (1994) £45,705

One we found: RS2 Avant, 1995, 110k miles, RHD, Polar Silver, FSH, 12 months’ MoT, four months’ tax, private. Trade £11,500

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