2008 Bmw 135i Base Coupe M-sport Pkg Xenon Leather Xenon Sunroof Clean Carfax on 2040-cars

Auto blog

What would you drive in 1985?

Bereft of live baseball games to watch, I've turned to the good ship YouTube to watch classic games. While watching the 1985 American League Championship Series last night, several of the broadcast's commercials made its way into the original VHS recording, including those for cars. "Only 8.8% financing on a 1985 Ford Tempo!" What a deal! That got me thinking: what would I drive in 1985?  It sure wouldn't be a Tempo. Or an IROC-Z, for that matter, despite what my Photoshopped 1980s self would indicate in the picture above. I posed this question to my fellow Autobloggists. Only one could actually drive back then, I was only 2 and a few editors weren't even close to being born. Here are our choices, which were simply made with the edict of "Come on, man, be realistic."  West Coast Editor James Riswick: OK, I started this, I'll go first. I like coupes today, so I'm pretty sure I'd drive one back then. I definitely don't see myself driving some badge-engineered GM thing from 1985, and although a Honda Prelude has a certain appeal, I must admit that something European would likely be in order. A BMW maybe? No, I'm too much a contrarian for that. The answer is therefore a 1985 Saab 900 Turbo 3-Door, which is not only a coupe but a hatchback, too. If I could scrounge up enough Reagan-era bucks for the ultra-cool SPG model, that would be rad. The 900 Turbo pictured, which was for auction on Bring a Trailer a few years ago, came with plum-colored Bokhara Red, and you're damn sure I would've had me one of those. Nevermind 1985, I'd probably drive this thing today.   Associate Editor Byron Hurd: I'm going to go with the 1985.5 Ford Mustang SVO, AKA the turbocharged Fox Body that everybody remembers but nobody drives. The mid-year update to the SVO bumped the power up from 175 ponies (yeah, yeah) to 205, making it almost as powerful (on paper, anyway) as the V8-powered GT models offered in the same time frame. I chose this particular car because it's a bit of a time capsule and, simultaneously, a reminder that all things are cyclical. Here we are, 35 years later, and 2.3-liter turbocharged Mustangs are a thing again. Who would have guessed?

BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer is a minivan by any other name

The Ultimate Driving Mini Minivan? Too early to say, considering that we've not yet driven it and so we don't know if it's the ultimate anything. But the BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer definitely slots into place as a small MPV in the European market, hence the mini minivan designation, though it doesn't have sliding doors. We don't have any indication that this 2 Series variant will come to the United States, in case you were wondering. With the option of a third row, this seven-passenger, front-wheel-drive (or optionally, all-wheel-drive) machine from BMW is sure to ruffle a few enthusiast feathers, but it also has the potential to be a big seller for the German brand. Available with a range of three- and four-cylinder engines offering between 116 and 192 horsepower, the 2 Series Gran Tourer packs a lot of space into a very small platform. It may not be the prettiest vehicle to wear the Roundel, but it may be the most practical. See it for yourself from every angle in our high-res gallery of live images above, and feel free to read more in the press release below. The new BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer. 11.02.2015 With the new BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer, BMW has carved out yet another new vehicle segment. With its generous space, versatility and groundbreaking flexibility, the BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer is the world's first premium compact model to offer up to seven seats and fully meet the mobility requirements of young families. Compact yet capacious. Despite its compact dimensions – measuring just 4,556 millimetres long, 1,800 mm wide and 1,608 mm high – the new BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer offers ample space and a generous luggage compartment that can be extended in capacity from 645 to 805 litres. With the rear-seat backrests folded down, this rises to an impressive 1,905 litres of load space. Ensuring maximum variability is the standard-fitted fore-aft sliding rear seat bench – with a 40:20:40-split backrest that folds down at the press of a button – which allows three child seats to be fitted. Extending the possibilities even further is an optional third row of seats which can be completely lowered into the loading floor. Maximising the vehicle's everyday practicality is a range of storage options for all three rows of seats, as well as rails on the front-seat backrests with fold-out tables attached.

AC Schnitzer ACS4 Sport packs 510 hp under a subdued carbon fiber bodykit

One of the interesting things about the Geneva Motor Show is the breadth of the European auto industry that it covers. Beyond just the stands from major manufacturers and boutique marques, the event also hosts the regions top tuners. Among them this year are the BMW specialists AC Schnitzer, with myriad upgrades for the M4. By the time the company is done, the coupe gets renamed the ACS4 Sport. The M4 is already a potent machine with its 431-horsepower, turbocharged inline-six, but for customers willing to spend the money, more performance is always possible. AC Schnitzer's engine upgrade takes power up to 510 hp and 476 pound-feet of torque, and buyers can also add a new exhaust with carbon-fiber-surrounded tail pipes barely protruding from the rear. The company offers two suspension kits, as well. The first lowers the BMW by 1.0-1.2 inches in front and 0.4-0.6 inches in the rear. However, for drivers who really want to scrape the ground, an adjustable racing option drops the front by 1.2-1.6 inches and the back by 1.2 inches. Of course, AC Schnitzer's buyers also want to show off their cars' added performance, and the company is ready with a host of carbon fiber pieces. Up front, there's a new front spoiler, splitter and side flicks, and the rear is available with a diffuser, roof spoiler and fixed rear wing. A wide variety of wheels finish off the sporty look, including the brand's AC1 BiColor twin-spoke design offered in forged or standard versions. Get a full look at the German tuners fairly tasteful upgrades in our gallery from the show floor, above. ?"Man, Machine & More" – The M4 by AC Schnitzer Aachen-based tuning experts open new dimensions in the field of Motorsport power Man, machine & more - The tuning experts at AC Schnitzer have given the BMW M4 with Motorsport power a further kick of energy. Once again, the Aachen-based tuning specialists have shown that there's no upper limit to power and sporting performance. To build up the muscle power of the BMW M4, AC Schnitzer has provided a performance upgrade containing of an additional control unit which increases the performance from 431 to 510 hp, and from 550 to 645 Nm. Scope of delivery of every AC Schnitzer performance upgrade includes always a two years guarantee which can be upgraded up to three years. After a visit to the Aachen workshops, the powerful energy combustion developed with the AC Schnitzer "Efficient Performance" know-how is also revealed in the exhaust of the M4.