2006 Bmw M5 Interlagos Blue on 2040-cars

Auto blog

Translogic 189: 2015 LA Auto Show

The LA Auto Show has become known for its green cars and concepts, and 2015 was no exception. Translogic host Jonathon Buckley gets all the details on BMW's 330e plug-in hybrid straight from BMW President of North America Ludwig Willisch. Then we get up-to-date on Honda's latest FCX Clarity hydrogen fuel cell car. We round out our tour with a stop at the Elio Motors booth for a look at their updated, three-wheel P5 concept and a chat with CEO Paul Elio. But first, we jump in a time machine at the Volvo booth to discuss Concept 26, an interpretation of how car interiors might evolve in the era of self-driving cars. "The reason why we talked about it as a time machine [is] because, really, Concept 26 is giving you back something that is so precious," explained Volvo senior director of design Tisha Johnson. "We're letting you delegate driving to the car, so that you can then have that time to yourself." Click here to learn more about our host, Jonathon Buckley.

BMW spied testing new Alpina B7

Just last month BMW released the 2016 7 Series, ushering in a new era for the Bavarian automaker's flagship luxury sedan. And fans of big European performance sedans know what that means: Yes, a V12 model to follow, and maybe an M Performance variant at some point in the future. But before that, we're getting a new Alpina B7. Spied leaving BMW's test center at the Nurburgring, this camouflaged prototype for the new B7 appears to be wearing Alpina's signature low-key visual enhancements. Those include a subtle aero kit and upgraded rolling stock. Though we're only looking at it from the outside, you can expect the interior to feature some similarly discreet upgrades as well. The bigger question is what Alpina will have done to the new 7 underneath the bodywork. The outgoing B7 packed a 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 with 540 horsepower and nearly as much torque, netting a 0-60 time quoted at 4.3 seconds and an autobahn-crunching top speed of 194 miles per hour. Hardly a slouch, then, but the new Alpina B7 is tipped to pack 600 horsepower or more, which ought to give the high-powered, high-speed, and high-end likes of the Mercedes-AMG S63, Audi S8, Maserati Quattroporte, and Jaguar XJR a run for their considerable money. We smell a battle heating up amidst all that burning rubber and sumptuous leather.

Why BMWs are cheaper than Hyundais in Korea

Bloomberg reports shifting tariff regulations have upended the traditional automotive pecking order in Korea. Thanks to cheaper import taxes, foreign brands have seen market share jump from 28 percent to 41 percent over the last two years. BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Audi have all capitalized on the shift, with domestics like Hyundai and Kia suffering at the hands of their German rivals.
Taxes on European imports have fallen from 8 percent in 2011 to just 3.2 percent today. Over the next few years, tariffs will all but be eliminated for most imports, and taxes on US-made vehicles are expected to fall to just 4 percent in 2014. By 2016, that number will be zero. Needless to say, Hyundai and Kia are concerned about the shift.
Hyundai has seen profit fall by 15 percent last quarter, and the company says it is on pace to see the slowest sales growth since 2007. The company's shares have fallen by 12 percent. In order to stem the losses, Hyundai has discounted its midsize sedans and started working on diesel engine options.