2005 Bmw 645ci Base Convertible 2-door 4.4l on 2040-cars

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Recharge Wrap-up: BMW i8 markups declining, Nissan offering discounted Leaf lease buyouts

Zipcar has published the results of an independent study on "Urban Boomers." KRC Research surveyed city-dwelling, healthy adults aged 50 to 69, and found that they are fond of technology and are more active – but drive less – after moving to the city. Many still feel car ownership is important, and often don't get rid of a car they already own, but they find alternative forms of transportation important, too. Even though it is often thought of as a bigger draw for millenials, Zipcar feels that these findings indicate that Urban Boomers are an important demographic for carsharing companies. See the results of the study in the slideshow from Zipcar. Nissan is offering lease buyout credits of up to $5,000 for its Leaf EV. Depending on the region, 2012 and 2013 models get a Leaf Gross Payoff discount of up to $5,000, with 2011 models garnering up to $1,500 off. Some dealers may also offer an additional $1,500 discount. It's possible that Nissan wants to encourage lessees to purchase their Leafs after residual values of the car dropped by about six percent in May. Some potential long-term owners could also be concerned over battery life, or be tempted by the updated Leaf slated for the 2017 model year. Read more at Green Car Reports. Dealership markups for the BMW i8 are dwindling. Actual costs of the attractive plug-in hybrid are nearing sticker prices after high demand and short supply led many dealers to exact a higher price for the car. BMW recently announced it would double production of the i8 to help meet demand, which could be behind the declining markups. The i8 has a base MSRP of $136,500, plus $950 in destination fees. Read more at Green Car Reports. Featured Gallery 2015 BMW i8 in Petoskey, MI Related Gallery 2013 Nissan Leaf: First Drive View 15 Photos News Source: Slideshare, Green Car Reports, Green Car Reports via ZipcarImage Credit: Copyright 2015 AOL Green BMW Nissan Green Automakers Transportation Alternatives Ownership Electric recharge wrapup

BMW 1 Series dead for 2014

BMW is temporarily abandoning the increasingly competitive and popular compact luxury segment, as it's announced that its 1 Series Coupe and Convertible will be discontinued for the 2014 model year, marking an ignominious end to a line that spawned a pair of excellent high-performance models during its life. Production on the Coupe officially ended in August, while convertible production was taken offline in June.
And while we're mourning the loss of the 1 Series, we're left wondering about the status of its replacement, the 2 Series. That car, which we've already seen inside and out and know the specs on, is expected to make its debut at the 2014 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, although it's unclear just how quickly BMW will get it to showrooms. Assuming BMW doesn't have a bumper crop of already-built 2013 models to hold them over, that leaves Munich-based manufacturer somewhat vulnerable, particularly as Audi and Mercedes-Benz are both launching new models in the compact-premium space vacated by the 1 Series. Any delay in the arrival of the 2 Series could be bad news for BMW, especially if the public is receptive to the new Audi A3 and CLA-Class (early signs suggest that the baby Benz has traction).
In addition, BMW has made a number of changes across the rest of its lineup which are listed below in the official press release. Some of the notable changes, though, include a revised 445-horsepower twin-turbocharged V8 on the 5 Series, a limited-edition Frozen Brilliant White Edition for the 6 Series and the rollout of a new, touchpad-equipped version of iDrive on a number of BMW models. Scroll down for the full press release from BMW.

There's no substitution for BMW's E30 Mmmmm3

If you told someone that you had a friend with a four-cylinder BMW who "would let me wash the car," and in exchange for the privilege then let you drive that clean BMW once around the block, your first question would probably be "What kind of BMW is this?" There's a chance you wouldn't be surprised once you found out the coupe in question was the E30 M3, a car our own Zach Bowman dubbed the "Mmmmm3."
Petrolicious talks to Gabor Mester about the car he fell in love with, a black version of the original "Munich mauler" that was owned by the parents of a high-school friend - oh, and Mester was also in high school when this washing and driving took place. When the original owners were ready to sell, Mestor was ready to buy, and he hasn't had a single regret about it since.
You can enjoy his story in his words in the video below.