Official: New Mercedes E300 BlueTEC Hybrid and E400 Hybrid to Debut in Detroit

Carmakers’ research and development departments around the world are focusing most of their attention not so much in performance as they used to in past years, but in improving fuel consumption and lowering CO2 emissions as much as possible.

Mercedes-Benz claims to set new standards in the executive segment with the development of two new hybrid versions of its latest E-Class sedan and estate models, both of which will receive their world premiere at next month's Detroit Motor Show.

The E 300 BlueTEC Hybrid combines a four-cylinder turbodiesel engine producing 204HP and 500 Nm (368.7 lb-ft) of torque with an electric motor that has an output of 20 kW (27HP) and 250 Nm (184.3 lb-ft). It also features an auto stop/start system, regenerative braking, a pure electric mode and a “sailing” function.

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Lexus Won't be Getting BMW Diesels Despite Toyota's Tie-Up with the Bavarian Brand

Earlier this month, Toyota and BMW signed an agreement to share engines and hybrid technology to spread the cost of developing low emission vehicles. Under the new deal, BMW will supply Toyota with 1.6-liter and 2.0-liter four-cylinder diesel engines starting from 2014.

At the time, many were wondering if Toyota's premium brand Lexus, which competes with BMW, would also receive diesel engines from the Bavarian firm. As it turns out, the answer is no.

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Britain gets Limited Production Volkswagen Caravelle Edition 25

A new special edition version of Volkswagen's Caravelle passenger van has been introduced in the UK. The German company will produce only 225 examples of the Caravelle Edition 25 for Britain, all exclusively finished in Candy White, or an optional Reflex Silver metallic paint.

The Edition 25 comes with a host of extras and bespoke styling cues such as the revised front bumper with contrasting satin black styling accents in the lower sections, xenon headlights with LED running lights and black highlights along the length of the vehicle and on the roof, side sills and the tailgate.

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Second Video Teaser on BMW's New X6 Powered by M, Likely Sports a Diesel Engine

While BMW officials remain extremely tight lipped on what's hiding under the hood of their brand new X6 Powered by M model, the company has published a second video teaser of the sporty crossover.

This time, along with the new blurred views of the X6 Powered by M, we also get to hear some statements from BMW M's people.

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2012 Fiat Panda: New Mega Gallery with 171 Photos

We have already seen the 2012 Fiat Panda at its world premiere at the Frankfurt Motor Show this past September, but the Italian brand has just dropped a massive gallery comprising of more than 170 high-resolution photos, some of which are quite picturesque.

To refresh your memory, this is just the third iteration of the Panda in the model's 31-year history. It's predecessor were extremely successful and popular throughout Europe having sold some 6.5 million units over the past three decades.

Fiat hopes to build on the success of the Panda's predecessors with the new model, which is available exclusively with five doors and comes with a slightly larger body that measures 3,650 mm long, 1,640 mm wide and 1,550 mm tall for improved passenger space.

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Audi Introduces New Entry-Level Q7 with 204PS 3.0 TDI in Britain

The Audi Q7 has just become more attainable for buyers in the United Kingdom with the presentation of a new entry-level model powered by a 3.0-liter V6 turbo diesel engine that produces 204PS (201bhp) and 450Nm (31.6 lb-ft) of peak torque.

The 204PS 3.0 TDI model comes standard with Audi's quattro all-wheel drive system and an 8-speed tiptronic transmission and it complements the existing 3.0 TDI quattro 245PS version.

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New BMW 6-Series Range Grows with the Addition of the Four-Door Gran Coupe - Car Photos

It took BMW 20 months from the presentation of the Concept Gran Coupe at the 2010 Beijing Auto Show in April of 2010 to present the production version of its foray into the premium four-door coupe segment., the all-new 6-Series Gran Coupe.
The new model is essentially a four-door version of the latest 6-Series Coupe and will allow the Bavarian automaker to compete head on with the likes of the Mercedes-Benz CLS, Audi A7 Sportback and Porsche Panamera sports saloons.
Given that the original concept was production ready, it doesn't come to much of a surprise that the only styling changes made concern the lower part of the front bumper, the re-positioned reflectors on the rear bumper and the different tail pipes.
The Gran Coupe's exterior styling builds on 6 Series Coupe adding an extra pair of doors while keeping the low-slung appearance.
Measuring 197 inches (5,007mm) long with a wheelbase of 116.8 inches (2,968 mm), the Gran Coupe is 4.4 inches (111mm) longer than its 2-door coupe sibling, with most of the extra length going towards the rear passengers.
The 6-Series Gran Coupe is also 74.6 inches (1,894 mm) wide and stands 54.8 inches (1,392 mm) tall. For comparison purposes, the Gran Coupe is 4.0 inches (102mm) longer, 1.3 inches (34mm) wider and 2.8 inches (72mm) lower than the BMW 550i sedan.
For the most part, the interior design is identical to the 6-Series Coupe, though BMW has used exclusive materials and trims while the seating position is slightly higher. The German company describes the Gran Coupe as a "4+1" as the center tunnel extends to the rear seat. The luggage compartment has 16.24 cu. ft (460-liter) of space, which is exactly the same as the 6-Series coupe.
The new Gran Coupe will launch with three engines, all linked to a standard 8-speed automatic transmission. The 640i comes with a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six petrol delivering 320HP, while the 640d features a 3.0-liter turbo diesel with 313HP. Finally, the 650i gets a 4.4-liter turbocharged V8 gasoline engine that churns out 450-ponnies. The 650i will be available from launch in both rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive flavors.
BMW said that in the States, the series would launch with the 640i early in the summer of 2012, with the 650i and 650i xDrive to be available a couple of months later.
More engines, including a twin-turbocharged V8 with around 560 horses linked to a dual-clutch seven-speed gearbox for the flagship M6 Gran Coupe, will join the lineup down the line.
The Gran Coupe will make its world premiere at the next Geneva Motor Show in March of 2012.

SPECIFICATIONS

BMW 650i Gran Coupe (BMW 650i xDrive Gran Coupe) : V8 petrol engine, BMW TwinPower Turbo technology with two turbochargers and High Precision Direct Petrol Injection, VALVETRONIC.
Displacement: 4,395 cc, output: 330 kW/450 hp at 5,500 – 6 000 rpm,
max. torque: 650 Nm / 479 lb-ft at 2,000 – 4,500 rpm.
Acceleration [0 – 100 km/h / 62 mph]: 4.6 seconds (4.5 seconds),
top speed: 250 km/h /155 mph.
Average fuel consumption*: 8.6 – 8.8 (9.2 – 9.4) lt/100km / 32.1 – 32.9 (30.1 – 30.7) mpg imp,
CO2 emissions*: 199 – 206 g/km (215 – 219 g/km), exhaust standard: EU5. BMW 640i Gran Coupe: Six-cylinder in-line petrol engine,
BMW TwinPower Turbo technology with twin-scroll turbocharging,
High Precision Direct Petrol Injection and VALVETRONIC.
Displacement: 2,979 cc, output: 235 kW/320 hp at 5,800 – 6 000 rpm,
max. torque: 450 Nm (332 lb-ft) at 1,300 – 4,500 rpm.
Acceleration [0 – 100 km/h / 62 mph]: 5.4 seconds,
top speed: 250 km/h (155 mph).
Average fuel consumption*: 7.7 – 7.9lt/100km (35.8 –
36.2 mpg imp),
CO2 emissions*: 179 – 183 g/km, exhaust standard: EU5.
BMW 640d Gran Coupe: Six-cylinder in-line diesel engine,
BMW TwinPower Turbo technology with two-stage turbocharging and common-rail direct injection.
Displacement: 2,993 cc, output: 230 kW/313 hp at 4,400 rpm,
max. torque: 630 Nm (465 lb-ft) at 1,500 – 2,500 rpm.
Acceleration [0 – 100 km/h / 62 mph]: 5.4 seconds,
top speed: 250 km/h (155 mph),
Average fuel consumption*: 5.5 – 5.7lt/100km (49.6 –
50.4 mpg imp),
CO2 emissions*: 146 – 149 g/km, exhaust standard: EU5.
* Figures according to EU test cycle and depending on tyre format;
BMW 650i Gran Coupe: provisional figures

PHOTO GALLERY