Hydrogen cars seem to good to be true. They don’t pollute, they don’t use gas. They’re also non-existent on North American roads. Why, you may ask? They’re difficult and extremely expensive to put together - costing hundreds of thousands of dollars to build. You may also have noticed that there are few hydrogen refueling stations (there are three in California). A few companies are hoping that within the next five years they’ll have hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles in their showrooms. However, some experts estimate that with everything involved, the hydrogen car fad won’t likely take-off for decades. Read more…
WatchMojo got to test drive a BMW hydrogen car. Check it out:
And for more background on hydrogen cars, take a look at this:
According to Canoe.ca:
At the Convergence 2008 conference on automotive electronics yesterday, BMW revealed it is looking for partners as it pursues an open-source car computing platform. The German company is enthusiastic about the potential for such an open-source system’s potential to keep up with the rapid advances in technology and features in the multimedia and digital entertainment areas.
Check out WatchMojo’s profile of another BMW innovation - the Hydrogen 7:
September was a very slow month for automakers, thanks to the slow down (grinding halt?) in the US economy. In fact, for the first time in 15 years, auto sales for the month of September fell below 1 million. Check it out:
| Automaker | Sept. 08 | Sept. 07 | Change | Automaker | Sept. 08 | Sept. 07 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Motors | 282,806 | 334,974 | -15.6% | BMW | 18,583 | 24,968 | -25.6% |
| Toyota/Lexus | 144,260 | 213,042 | -32.3% | Mazda | 16,169 | 25,098 | -35.6% |
| Ford | 116,301 | 175,361 | -33.7% | Subaru | 14,491 | 16,457 | -11.9% |
| Chrysler | 107,349 | 159,799 | -32.8% | Mitsubishi | 7,378 | 12,102 | -39.0% |
| Honda/Acura | 96,626 | 127,200 | -24.0% | Suzuki | 4,083 | 7,653 | -46.6% |
| Nissan/Infiniti | 59,565 | 94,269 | -36.8% | Volvo | 4,054 | 8,408 | -51.8% |
| Hyundai/Kia | 42,148 | 57,301 | -26.4% | Porsche | 1,458 | 2,641 | -44.8% |
| VW | 24,504 | 27,601 | -11.2% | Isuzu | 258 | 565 | -54.3% |
| Mercedes-Benz | 20,582 | 22,481 | -8.4% | Industry total | 956,160 | 1,315,402 | -27.3% |
The BMW 1 Series is relatively affordable, small, and as luxurious as ever. Check out WatchMojo.com’s profile to learn more:
BMW AG said Wednesday it was recalling 200,000 vehicles over concerns that the front passenger air bag may not deploy in a crash.The German automaker said the recall involves the 2006 3 Series, the 2004-2006 5 Series and the 2004-2006 X3 compact sport utility vehicles in the United States.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said in a posting on its Web site that small cracks could develop in a seat detection mat and deactivate the front passenger air bags.
NHTSA said the air bag warning lamp and the passenger air bag “on-off” light would remain on. The head protection system, however, would not be affected, the government said. Read more…
According to www.money.cnn.com
You work hard for your money, and the gas prices are certainly not treating you right. Here’s a list of the top ten cars that won’t pillage your pocket at the pump, as compiled by Car and Driver.com.
- 2008 Toyota Prius
- 2008 Honda Civic Hybrid
- 2008 Smart Fortwo
- 2008 Nissan Altima Hybrid
- 2008 Toyota Camry Hybrid
- 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI
- 2009 Ford Escape Hybrid
- 2008 Toyota Yaris
- 2008 Mini Cooper/Clubman
- 2008 Honda Fit
Read more to find out why…
In a contest back in 1954, car designer Alden Giberson came up with a name that would power a hot new Ford product every bit as effectively as its standard V-8 engine. That name was the Ford Thunderbird, and, for his efforts, Giberson won a $95 suit and a $42 pair of trousers.
Even when you adjust for inflation, it has been a long time since a car company paid that little for a name as good as Ford Thunderbird.
Today the right name can easily cost a car company $50,000, though for a sum like that, the naming consultant might throw in a few extra letters, such as XT, XL or maybe even a ZZ, into the deal
The per-letter prices of $5,000 or $10,000 are about the greatest rewards of authorship around. And there’s a reason the prices are high. It’s quite a trick to come up with a good name when so many are already taken. One option is to coin an entirely new word. Another is to set off in search of the absolutely perfect characters to add to and electrify an existing name. Still another is to do both.
But in their extreme form, the results can look like untidy snippets of mutant gene code or meaningless debris from some Martian game of Scrabble. Some consultants point to examples like the Cadillac STS, the Pontiac G6, the Honda Civic Si Coupe, the BMW X3 SAV, the Taurus X, the Nissan Xterra, and many more.
It’s as though consumers “are going to go on vacation to outer space,” says George Frazier, a partner at naming firm Idiom in San Francisco.
“If there’s a pattern, it’s to appeal to younger buyers,” Frazier says. “Xterra is clearly a part of the whole X Games phenomenon. If you go down the scale from cars to mountain bikes to snowboards and skateboards, the names get wackier and wackier.”
Automakers wouldn’t be taking this approach if they didn’t think it was paying off, says Frazier. He believes their goal is to push the envelope and appeal to the market that really matters to them: the youth market. Those appeals often work with older buyers, too.
“Auto buffs love to rave about burled walnut, custom rims, and V-12 engines, but most car buyers just want a pleasant car at a good price. Especially now. With the housing-boom excesses dragging down the economy and a possible recession looming, extravagance is out. Like investors fleeing exotic securities for the safety of gold or T-bills, it’s time for car shoppers to make safe, practical purchases that will hold up through tough times, if necessary.
So we’ve scoured our data on hundreds of models and highlighted the cars that offer the best mix of value, performance, and curb appeal. These aren’t necessarily the cheapest cars or the most priggish gas misers—standard-issue econoboxes tend to lose their value quickly, plus they’re usually dull and joyless. Instead, we’ve included cars that offer lots of conveniences and safety features for the money, get decent mileage, handle well, and score above average in the U.S. News Best Cars and Trucks rankings. Those scores account for important factors like expected resale value and the long-term costs of maintenance and repairs—things that can affect your wallet directly down the road.” - Rick Newman on www.usnews.com
| Model | Base MSRP | Mileage (city/highway) | Strong Points | Weak Points |
| ECONOMY CARS | ||||
| Honda Fit | $13,950 | 28/34 | Versatile seating; good standard features; fun to drive | Subpar seat comfort and support |
| Kia Rio | $10,890 | 27/32 | Six air bags; good gas mileage; perky engine | Spartan interior; spotty crash-test results |
| Toyota Yaris | $11,300 | 29/36 | Cute design; decent storage; spacious front seats | Slushy pickup; poor crash-test results without optional curtain air bags |
| Hyundai Accent | $10,775 | 27/32 | Good entry-level value; strong set of safety features; long warranty | Weak acceleration; dull design; cramped rear seat |
| Nissan Versa | $12,630 | 26/31 | Seats five comfortably; decent cargo space; cool six-speed manual | Wimpy engine; noisy; worse mileage than competitors |
| Honda Civic | $15,010 | 26/34 | Stable, comfortable, and quiet ride; chipper interior; good handling | Minimal storage space |
| Hyundai Elantra | $13,525 | 24/33 | Fun to drive; comfy seats; lots of safety features; strong crash-test results | Iffy handling; tricky manual transmission; bland interior |
| Mazda3 | $13,895 | 24/32 | Peppy pickup; sporty handling; bold design | Cramped interior; weak crash-test results without curtain air bags |
| Saturn Ion | $12,300 | 23/32 | Better power than some competitors; dent-resistant polymer body | Bland interior with low-quality materials |
| MIDSIZE CARS | ||||
| Nissan Altima | $18,230 | 23/32 | Sporty; good 4- and 6-cylinder engines; stylish interior | Antilock brakes not standard; cramped back seat; complex options |
| Mazda6 | $18,990 | 21/29 | Sporty, zippy acceleration; good handling | Cramped interior compared with competitors |
| Hyundai Sonata | $17,670 | 21/31 | Spacious; good standard features and safety features; long warranty | Spongy handling; weak base engine; generic design |
| Honda Accord | $20,360 | 22/31 | Roomy; stylish; superb engine choices | Limited trunk space; no folding rear seat |
| Chevrolet Malibu | $19,345 | 22/30 | Bold, sporty styling; spacious rear seat; tasteful interior | Outdated 4-speed transmission |
| Kia Optima | $16,995 | 21/31 | Good mileage; spacious; cheaper than competitors | Sluggish on highway; key safety features optional instead of standard |
| Ford Fusion | $17,770 | 20/29 | Pleasant Euro-handling; classy interior; large trunk | Fine-print instrumentation; no standout qualities |
| Saturn Aura | $19,745 | 22/30 | Pleasant road manners; good power for the price | Plasticky interior parts |
| LARGE CARS | ||||
| Hyundai Azera | $24,535 | 18/26 | Luxury feel; loads of features; good engine choices | Squishy handling; no navigation or Bluetooth options; not a Bimmer |
| Dodge Charger | $21,675 | 18/26 | Bossy styling; spacious cabin; decent handling | Weak base engine; some cheap materials; poor rear visibility |
| Chevrolet Impala | $21,310 | 18/29 | Can seat six; thoughtful interior; good engine options | Blasé design; ho-hum handling; old 4-speed transmission |
| Chrysler 300-Series | $24,595 | 15/22 | Vast interior; dramatic styling; tasteful interior | Lethargic base engine; some key safety features not standard |
| UPSCALE CARS | ||||
| Audi A4 | $28,900 | 20/31 | Great handling and acceleration; classy cabin | Gets pricey with options; requires premium fuel |
| Lexus ES | $33,720 | 19/27 | Quiet ride; luxurious cabin; top safety features | Bland styling; uninspiring handling |
| BMW 3-Series | $32,400 | 18/28 | World-class performance; great safety features | Complex electronics; gets very pricey with options |
| SPORTY CARS | ||||
| Mazda MX-5 Miata | $20,585 | 22/27 | Primo handling; easy-to-manage convertible roof; high fun-per-dollar ratio | Cramped (duh); weak base stereo |
| Hyundai Tiburon | $16,875 | 20/28 | Good power and handling; sleek design; good value | Small rear seats; key safety features not standard |
| Volkswagen GTI | $22,730 | 21/29 | Powerful; great handling; strong standard features; convenient hatchback | Economy-car design; requires premium fuel |
| WAGONS | ||||
| Toyota Matrix | $15,510 | 26/33 | Versatile seating; good mileage; higher seating than other wagons | Noisy engine; inscrutable gauges |
| Kia Rio5 | $12,915 | 27/32 | Six air bags; good mileage; funky design | Spartan interior; options quickly inflate price |
| Scion xB | $15,650 | 22/28 | Good safety features; spacious cabin; cheap, oddball design | Noisy, underpowered engine; oddball design |
| Subaru Outback | $21,995 | 19/26 | Powerful engines; right height; smooth carlike handling | Tight rear seat |
| Volkswagen Passat-Wagon | $25,115 | 21/29 | Fun to drive; friendly cabin; strong safety features | Pricier than competitors; spongy brakes; spotty reliability history |
| COMPACT SUVs | ||||
| Ford Escape | $18,770 | 22/28 | Muscular styling; quiet interior; comfortable seats | Stale driving dynamics |
| Honda CR-V | $20,700 | 20/27 | Lots of space and storage; sleek design; smooth ride | Lacks third-row seat option; no V-6 available |
| Hyundai Tucson | $16,995 | 20/25 | Cheaper than CR-V or RAV4; decent features; long warranty | Sluggish engine; cheap materials; road noise |
| Jeep Patriot | $15,475 | 23/28 | Boxy Jeep styling; versatile and roomy interior; simple controls | Cheap interior materials; uncomfortable rear seat |
| Toyota RAV4 | $21,100 | 21/27 | Great handling; feisty 4-cylinder engine; optional (if cramped) third row | Hinged rear door can be awkward; no navigation option |
| Honda Element | $18,980 | 20/25 | Cargo space; easy-to-clean interior; low ownership costs | Awkward “suicide” doors in rear; uncomfortable rear seats |
| Kia Sportage | $16,050 | 19/25 | Sound handling; stylish, classy interior; roomier than most small SUVs | Weak base engine |
| MIDSIZE SUVs | ||||
| Hyundai Santa Fe | $20,945 | 17/24 | Good standard features; strong crash-test results; long warranty | Subpar handling and braking |
| Toyota FJ-Cruiser | $22,545 | 16/20 | Cool retro design; real off-road capability; decent ride on pavement | Big blind spots; awkward rear “suicide” doors; marginal gas mileage |
| Mazda CX-7 | $23,750 | 17/23 | Sporty, carlike handling; quick engine; aggressive styling | Cramped rear seat; sleek design compromises cargo space and visibility |
| Nissan Murano | $27,750 | 18/23 | Smooth handling; modern styling; strong engine with good mileage | Sleek design cuts into cargo space |
| Ford Edge | $25,330 | 16/24 | Quick acceleration and smooth ride; intuitive controls; roomy | Gets expensive with options; no third row available |
| Honda Pilot | $28,395 | 16/22 | Loaded with standard features; spacious; carlike ride | Bland design; mediocre fuel economy |
| Saturn Outlook | $27,820 | 16/24 | Strong engine with decent mileage; spacious; third row; nimble handling | Clunky transmission |
| Toyota Highlander | $27,300 | 18/24 | Versatile seating; third row; good standard safety features | Soft handling; little cargo room with all seats in use |
| MINIVANS | ||||
| Chrysler Town & Country | $22,460 | 17/24 | Smooth ride; buslike interior space; numerous seating configurations | Sluggish base engine; nerdy square styling |
| Kia Sedona | $20,695 | 16/23 | Generous standard features; strong safety ratings; long warranty | Middling cabin; no navigation system available |
| Honda Odyssey | $25,860 | 16/23 | Great handling for a minivan; versatile seating; can fit eight passengers | Bland styling; it’s a minivan |
During the day, the sun reflects across the long lines of the hood’s contour before being absorbed by the convex-concave surfaces and protruding wheel arches. At night, city lights rebound off the muscular profile. When the softtop is open, the focus shifts to the wide and elegant rear. When closed, the impact is compact and powerful. Embodying a unique approach to life, the BMW 1 Series Convertible offers the most inspiring open-top driving experience in its class.
In harmony with the exterior, the interior presents a clear, light and agile design which is distinguished by dynamic, horizontal contours that create a formal link between the front and rear. Together with the car’s high-quality materials and wide variety of upholsteries and interior trims, the interior design contributes to the feeling of total freedom. And with such choice available, the face of next year’s summer is completely up to you. Experience driving pleasure in its purest form.
Feel the wind at the touch of a button: the electronic softtop opens and closes in just 22 seconds, even while the car is moving at speeds of up to 40 km/h. When closed, the reinforced, integrated rear window helps to better block out noise. With a weight of 1,260 g/sqm, the strong roof material ensures improved noise insulation and offers the same comparable level of winter comfort as a permanent roof. The softtop is also available in anthracite with silver effect lending it a unique sparkling finish.
BMW is laying off 8,000 people, but says it will be “socially acceptable.”
BMW does not have any trouble selling cars. Sales of BMW Group, which includes Mini and Rolls-Royce, rose 13.2 percent in November, compared with the previous year, and are running 8.3 percent ahead of 2006 for the year to date. BMW delivered almost as many cars in the first 11 months of this year - 1.347 million vehicles - as it did in all of last year.
But BMW’s profitability has sagged as the cost of producing each vehicle has risen. At roughly 6 percent, its return on sales trails that of Mercedes, which is on track to earn more than 8 percent in 2007.
Read more.
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