The Auto Blog

Now this is a car that got a superb reveal – and I’m not just talking about the British Motor Show.  Oh no, this was something far more special.  Sat beneath the tower of St Basil’s Cathedral in Moscow’s Red Square there was the biggest hourglass ever created.  At 40ft, it was bloody massive.  It was filled with silver balls and the new car from BMW.

The new BMW 7 Series was revealed to a truly multinational audience, all who were apparently wowed by this big German saloon.  Is this surprising?  Well, these days you could argue that Audi is more firmly at the top of the tree, yet I personally think that BMW is making the more interesting cars.  The 7 Series is definitely one of them.  Why is that?  Well let’s just take a little look at the offering:

* A 4.3 litre V8 engine with twin turbo-chargers providing a whopping 407hp and 0-60 in 5 seconds
* Less emissions than any other rival in the same class

* Head-up display projected onto the windscreen that can provide speed restriction warnings by scanning the road ahead

* A side view camera that can operate in conjunction with park-distance control to give the safest parking and manoeuvring available by giving information through the iDrive system

* Complete internet connectivity and wifi access for those aboard

* Night vision with individual person recognition with into-path warning system (so you don’t run over any pedestrians at night)

* A vibrating seat will warn the driver if he strays out of his lane – a great feature if you are on an extended drive with this cruiser

* Small cameras on the wing mirrors warn the driver of any vehicle in the blind spot to avoid accidents

* True four wheel drive can be purchased, allowing the car to manoeuvre the rear wheels by up to 3 degrees, giving more composure at higher speeds

* Music can be uploaded to the iDrive system – which can also play video

So, what’s not to like about the BMW 7 Series?  Well, the price is rumoured to be around £60,000 or more.  Not only that, but you’ll have to wait until 15th November to get your hands on the wheel.  Perhaps the biggest shame of all is that these sorts of cars are excellent and perfectly suited to longer hauls – when in reality they probably won’t be covering much distance at all due to the expense and luxury.

Do I want one though?  Oh yes, very much.  I would throw my boy racer aspirations out of the window for lovely long cruises to the south of France.  If I could afford the petrol that is…

Original post by Mr Butterscotch

Now this is a car that got a superb reveal – and I’m not just talking about the British Motor Show.  Oh no, this was something far more special.  Sat beneath the tower of St Basil’s Cathedral in Moscow’s Red Square there was the biggest hourglass ever created.  At 40ft, it was bloody massive.  It was filled with silver balls and the new car from BMW.

The new BMW 7 Series was revealed to a truly multinational audience, all who were apparently wowed by this big German saloon.  Is this surprising?  Well, these days you could argue that Audi is more firmly at the top of the tree, yet I personally think that BMW is making the more interesting cars.  The 7 Series is definitely one of them.  Why is that?  Well let’s just take a little look at the offering:

* A 4.3 litre V8 engine with twin turbo-chargers providing a whopping 407hp and 0-60 in 5 seconds
* Less emissions than any other rival in the same class

* Head-up display projected onto the windscreen that can provide speed restriction warnings by scanning the road ahead

* A side view camera that can operate in conjunction with park-distance control to give the safest parking and manoeuvring available by giving information through the iDrive system

* Complete internet connectivity and wifi access for those aboard

* Night vision with individual person recognition with into-path warning system (so you don’t run over any pedestrians at night)

* A vibrating seat will warn the driver if he strays out of his lane – a great feature if you are on an extended drive with this cruiser

* Small cameras on the wing mirrors warn the driver of any vehicle in the blind spot to avoid accidents

* True four wheel drive can be purchased, allowing the car to manoeuvre the rear wheels by up to 3 degrees, giving more composure at higher speeds

* Music can be uploaded to the iDrive system – which can also play video

So, what’s not to like about the BMW 7 Series?  Well, the price is rumoured to be around £60,000 or more.  Not only that, but you’ll have to wait until 15th November to get your hands on the wheel.  Perhaps the biggest shame of all is that these sorts of cars are excellent and perfectly suited to longer hauls – when in reality they probably won’t be covering much distance at all due to the expense and luxury.

Do I want one though?  Oh yes, very much.  I would throw my boy racer aspirations out of the window for lovely long cruises to the south of France.  If I could afford the petrol that is…

Original post by Mr Butterscotch

Original post by Fraser

Original post by Fraser

There’s no doubt that going ‘green’ is at least somewhere on everyone’s agenda at the moment, whether they are a motorist or not.  I’d certainly recommend though, if you drive a car, that you look again at exactly what it costs.  This includes your own driving style, and whether you’re a bit heavy with the old right foot at times.

It’s a wonderful thing that people are taking more interest in green models, not least because the manufacturers are doing just the same.  This means that you aren’t exactly going to be wanting for choice - even if you are wanting for money due to the state of the economy.  Nevertheless, for those who can afford it, let’s see what some of the major manufacturers are up to and what you could be driving to save you money.

BMW will provide you with something a bit special (as usual, at least if you like their cars) in the form of their ‘efficient driving dynamics’.  This new range contains both efficient diesels and petrols, with stop/start technology to cut Co2 emissions and increase fuel economy.  This has led to their BMW 1 Series 118D car being voted the 2008 World Green Car, and is also the reason for it being the main image with this post.

Citroen are not far behind mind you.  The French are a nation not to be outdone by the Germans (especially at the moment, anyone seen the new C5 advert?  Ooooohhh!), so the fact that they are the winners of the Green Car Manufacturer of the Year should be no surprise.  Their line-up of the lowest Co2 emitting diesel vehicles around should mean there is something for everyone, whatever their size or shape preference (as it were).

Once again, these vehicles are fitted with stop/start technology to keep you clean sailing in a traffic jam.  Arguably the pick of the bunch - certainly for fuel efficiency - is the C1 city car.  This lightweight packs a 1.4 litre turbo diesel that is both fun to drive and emits only 109g/km along with a 69mpg return.  Best of all, you can easily pick one up for under £10,000.  When you look at it that way, what’s not to like?  Well, perhaps you wouldn’t be satisfied with it on a longer motorway journey, but I digress…

Seat is the Spanish brand that shares a lot (including vehicle platforms) with parent company Volkswagen.  This means that they have access to technology in order to create the wonderful ‘Ecomotive’ range.  Silly branding aside, this line-up really does mean business.  Once again, the standout is a smaller car - the 1.4litre Ibiza.  At 99g/km you’re exempt from road tax in this funky little car with the S badge, whilst the 73mpg return will put more pennies in your piggy bank.  An impressive set of figures for a car that costs slightly over £10,000.

Seat is even offering a performance car with superb economy figures - the rather tasty Seat Leon 1.9litre turbodiesel.  Granted, it might not have the badge that you want and it isn’t the most refined of engines, but putting out 148bhp and moving to 60 in less than 9 seconds is pretty good for a diesel.

There are of course a wealth of other manufacturers out there all doing there own thing, but for now, I’ve really just cherry-picked the best of what looks like a bumper crop this year.  So, if you’re in for a new car, why not go green?  Your wallet will thank you for it, as will the environment…

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Original post by Mr Butterscotch

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Original post by Mr Butterscotch