The first official images of the new BMW 3-Series Convertible (E93) are out on the net, anticipating the official announcement, which is awaited later today.

For the first time, the 3-Series adopts a folding metal roof, joining the Coupè-Cabrio category (C+C). The roof opens in 22 seconds. Once open, the trunks’ capacity goes down from 350 to 210 liters.

As anticipated, at first the E93 will feature two 6-inline gasoline engines: the 325i, with the 2.5 liters engine, (218 ps, from 0-100 km/h in 7.6 seconds, top speed 245 km/h) and the 335i, with the 3.0 liters biturbo (306 ps, 0-100 in 5,8 s, 250 km/h), both with a 6-speed manual gearbox or, optionally, with a robotized gearbox. Later on, we’ll see a 320i (4 cylinders, 170 ps), the 330i (6-inline, naturally aspirated, 272 ps) and the 330d (3.0 turbo-diesel with 231 ps). Below the fold you can find a table with performance data, together with the full text of the BMW UK Press Release.

The 3-Series Convertible will be shown in public at the next Detroit Auto Show (january 7th). Sales on european markets will start in the spring. Prices: from 50.000 euro for the 325 Ci, 56.000 euro for the 335 Ci.
Via | E90Post

Continue reading: First official images of the new BMW 3-Series Convertible

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The usually well informed Carscoop talks of an announcement next week for the BMW 3-Series Coupè-Cabrio. The big novelty of the E93 will be the folding metal roof.

Initially there will be two engines available, both inline 6-cylinders: the 2.5 liters, with 218 ps (325i) and the 3.0 bi-turbo with 306 ps (335i). The 3.0i naturally aspirated engine should be available later while the 4 cylinder 2.0i with 150 ps will be available later yet. Nothing is known, as of now, about the availability of diesel engines for the C+C.

The public debut will be at the beginning of december at the Los Angeles auto show, together with the X5 E70. Sales should start in the spring of 2007.

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From the index of the next issue of Auto Bild, a photo of the Renault Z20 Concept: a long and sleek cabriolet that has something of a “soap-bar on wheels” look. Waiting for higher-resolution images to get a better idea of how this car looks like.

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Mercedes has announced a new engine for the CLK 500: the old 5-liter V8 with 3 valves per cylinder by the new 5.5-liter V8 with 4 valves per cylinder. Power goes up to 388 ps (from 306 ps) while maximum torque is now 530 Nm (up from 460).

The new engine and the new 7-speed 7G-Tronic automatic gearbox combine to give a nice boost to the CLK 500’s performance data: the sprint from 0-100 km/h takes only 5.2 seconds (5.9 for the old CLK 500), while the top speed is still the “same old” electronically limited 250 km/h.

Viene da chiedersi a cosa serva la CLK 63 AMG …

Despite the 26% boost to the engine’s power fuel consumption is unvaried: on average 11,4-11,5 liters / 100 km on the combined cycle.

Continue reading: Mercedes CLK 500 m.y. 2007

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After the Jaguar XKR Coupè, it’s the Convertible’s turn. An incredibly elegant profile, with the roof down.

Un auto da grandi emozioni. Fortunati quelli che potranno permettersi i 110.000 € necessari per comprarla.

Performance is just a bit down compared to the Coupè (5.3 seconds from 0-100 km/h against 5.2 for the Coupè), but it will be an incredibly emotional car, for those lucky enough to afford the 105.000 € it will cost (92,000 $ in the US).

Continue reading: Jaguar XKR Cabrio - official pics

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Auto Motor und Sport appears sure that Mercedes-Benz is going to show a pretty strange concept car at the Detroit Motor Show in January ‘07: a convertible version of the S-Class. With 4 doors and a soft top.

The S-Class Cabrio will allegedly have the longest soft-top in history, the cockpit will be “pure luxury” and the engine will be a 6 liters V12. We shall see.

Meanwhile, the CL-class is coming too (and wouldn’t a cabrio version of the CL be that much less of a lunacy ?): on the market at the end of september with prices starting from 105.000 €, going up to 150.000 for the V12 CL 600. Expect at least 70.000 € more for the upcoming CL 65 AMG.
Via | Jalopnik

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After the leak last week, finally BMW has released official photos and data on the M6 Convertible. You can find the full text of the press release, and many photos, below the fold.

Continue reading: BMW M6 - all the data

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As often is the case, official pictures of the BMW M6 Convertible have “escaped” on the net: starting from a Czech site, sent on to us by the Dutch friends at Autoblog.nl, here they are, in a sneak preview before the official presentation at the British International Motor Show next month.

The engine is the same V10 with 507 PS that you can find under the hood of the M5 and of the M6. Sadly, the weight grows by about 200 kg, this being a Convertible (and what a convertible): the 1.900 kg add 0.2 seconds to the time for the 0-100 km/h sprint (now 4.8 seconds). Top speed is, as usual, electronically limited to 250 km/h.

The convertible versions of 6-Series BMWs cost about 10.000 € more than the coupè, so we can expect a price around 120-125.000 € in continental Europe (over 105.000 $ for the US).

Via | Autoblog.nl

Continue reading: BMW M6 Cabrio - leaked photos

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A nice commercial for the TwinTop Vauxhalls, seen surfing on giant ocean waves …

Via | Motorpasion

Continue reading: English commercial for the Vauxhall Astra Twin-Top

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BMW will premiere a new “secret” model at the British Motor Show at the end of july. It will be the first time that a new BMW debuts in the UK.

It shouldn’t be the new 3-Series Coupè (already announced) or the new Mini Mk II (too soon ?). Amongst the possibilities, according to What Car are the M6 Cabrio and the three door 1-Series. The X3 Facelift is expected soon, so it might be a possibility too.
Via | Leftlane News

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