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Auto execs surveyed say VW, BMW most likely to grow

A new survey of top global automotive executives indicates both Volkswagen and BMW are the most likely to grow their market share over the next five years.
Tax advisory firm KPMG LLP has released its 14th annual Global Automotive Executive Survey, which includes responses from over 200 executives. A total of 81 percent of respondents said they expect to see Volkswagen make gains, compared to 70 percent last year. BMW, meanwhile, saw 70 percent of those surveyed say they believe the company will increase its market share. That's a jump of 7 percentage points over last year. This is the first time in the history of the survey that BMW has claimed the second-place spot.
Meanwhile, Hyundai has seen its perceived market share potential slacken for the third year in a row. Around 61 percent of those surveyed predicted gains for Hyundai, down from 63 in 2012. Toyota also has a surprising year, but for just the opposite reason. While the manufacturer had slipped in ranking since 2011, it enjoyed the largest increase of any company in the 2013 survey, jumping to 68 percent from 44 percent last year.

BMW sets Guinness record for longest drift with new M5 [w/video]

In September of 2011, Chinese drifter Wang Qi broke the Guinness record for the world's longest sustained drift, doing 13 laps inside the Olympic Center Stadium in Tianlin, China for 5,802.3 meters. That was broken in February of this year by Abdo Feghali in Abu Dhabi drifting a new Chevrolet Camaro around a skidpad for 11,180 meters - almost seven miles. In March, BMW decided it wanted the record "back in the US," and set up a course at its BMW Performance Driving School near Greenville, South Carolina to get the job done. On May, 11 it was Mission Accomplished when Performance Center driver Johan Schwartz drifted an M5 around a skidpad continuously for 51.3 miles.
Despite that accomplishment, we're pretty sure that professional drifter Vaughn Gittin, Jr. isn't impressed. The way Guinness defines "drifting" can also describe a donut, which is effectively the kind of drifting that's been done for these last three records. BMW went even further by watering down the surface of the track, reducing the skill required and the need to change tires during the effort. On the other hand, you can't drift a car for long in a straight line, but perhaps there should be some clarification or classifications added to the milestones.
There's a short video below taken during the record-breaking run, and a press release from the company that did it.

Reveal of next-gen BMW 7 Series set for June 10

Executive vice presidents of the world, your next sedan is debuting in just a few days. BMW is finally taking the wraps off the next-gen 7 Series on June 10, and the Bavarian brand's teaser video provides a few early hints about the high-class model. Highlighting a 750Li, the camera in the teaser swoops around the sedan to show off its laser headlights. The badge for BMW's Carbon Core also gets some of the limelight here to proclaim the extensive use of carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic. This clip doesn't give much more away, though. However, BMW has already spilled the beans about some of the other futuristic features for the new 7 Series in an earlier tease. The sedan is essentially a rolling technological showcase and offers functions like remote-controlled parking that's run from the key fob. Inside, using the infotainment system is possible with three-dimensional gesture control by waving your hand in the air in the right area. The extensive amount of CFRP in the passenger cell also helps save 287 pounds over the previous generation. If buyers are really looking for opulence, they can also reportedly order a massive, panoramic glass roof and a leather-covered engine cover. Expect a full rundown of all of the 7 Series' lavish features when the sedan debuts.