2014 BMW 3-series Five-Door Hatchback, Could Be 3-series GT
July 20, 2012 at 6:47pm by Alexander Stoklosa
What It Is: A covered-up 3-series five-door hatchback, which we believe to be a revised 3-series GT test mule. When we last spotted a 3-series GT—basically a pseudo 3-series wagon/hatchback—it looked dangerously like the larger 5-series GT that inspired it. That car featured a longer roofline than seen here, plus a tall, strange buttock; again, it looked mostly like a smaller 5er GT. The car in these spy photos clearly is a five-door hatchback, so although it could be a 3-series GT, it’s remotely possible that it is some kind of 4-series Gran Coupe—just check that sultry roofline.
Why It Matters: Assuming the car in these photos is in fact the upcoming 3-series GT, it represents some quick thinking and action at BMW. Our most recent 3 GT spy photos hit our desks more than a year ago, and the car in those photos surely represents at least a few years worth of development efforts—which would have begun right around the time the 5-series GT launched in 2009. Of course, BMW’s initial expectations for that ugly duckling far outpaced reality; it could be that public response sent the engineers back to the drawing board to pen this far-more-attractive shape.
Platform: Without a doubt, this 3-series hatchback will ride on some form of the latest F30 3-series’ rear-drive platform. Front and rear styling look as though they could differ slightly from that of the 3-series sedan and wagon. It isn’t obvious from the photos whether the five-door sports the same hatch/trunk contraption as the 5-series GT; half of that car’s back end can open up like a traditional trunk, or the trunk and rear glass can move out of the way as a single unit.
Powertrain: We expect this 3-series hatch likely will offer the same choice of turbocharged four- and six-cylinder engines, rear- or all-wheel-drive, and eight-speed automatic transmission as the 2012 3-series sedan. That means a standard 240-hp, 2.0-liter four and an available 300-hp, 3.0-liter six.
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The 2013 Toyota Venza: Pricing Starts at $28,690
Today, Toyota introduced the latest version of its popular crossover with some style changes and a few improvements. Better yet, the 2013 Venza retails at $ 700 less than last year’s model.
The restyled exterior now features new rear tail lights, and heated, convex blind-spot mirrors with built-in turn signals. The grille and the fog lamps have also been updated.
The 2013 Venza also offers more cargo space, faux-wood paneling, a three-spoke telescopic steering wheel and 7 airbags. Plus, the vehicle comes standard with automatic climate control.
The combined fuel rating for the 4-cylinder is 8.6 L/100 km. Toyota has not yet released fuel ratings for its 6-cylinder model.
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Report: Caterham working on a new sports car, US may get a slice
Small British carmaker Caterham is reportedly working on a new sports car in hopes to move upmarket. According to WhatCar?, Caterham’s boss Graham MacDonald confirmed that their new project “two-seater sports car” will be pegged above the traditional model Seven.
The new model, unlike the Seven, will come with a fixed roof and will be more comfortable and luxurious. MacDonald was also reported to say that it’ll utilize a range of Ford’s four-cylinder engines, maintaining an already long-standing relationship. Though the powerplants will most likely be fitted with superchargers. A V6 engine is also being considered, but was said to be described as “less likely to hit production.”
But if you were thinking that Caterham is working on a near-$ 100,000 sports car, so is not the case as MacDonald apparently said that it’ll cost around £40,000 or roughly $ 56,745.
MacDonald also said that this new sports car will have a more global reach for Caterham, particularly in the Asian markets with a distinct possibility for some US-bound versions as well. If all goes as planned, manufacturing is most likely to take place in Asia.
- By: Chris Chin
Source: WhatCarUK
New Renderings: 2014 BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe
BMW will continue to expand their most successful product family, the 3 Series. As we mentioned in the past, the Munich-based automaker will launch next year a “new badge”, 4 Series. The new designation will be reserved for the Coupe and Convertible variants of the 3 Series, which will retain the sedan and touring models. But, 4 Series family will grow in 2014 with a new member: 4 Series Gran Coupe.
The F35 four-door is scheduled to come to market in 2014 and will follow the same design principles, at a smaller scale, as the recently launched 6 Series Gran Coupe. Insiders refer to the the 4 Series Gran Coupe as a “very sexy looking four-door coupe model which will bring the sleek sportiness , premium image and ambiance of the 6er Gran Coupe to the Premium entry sports segment.” The 4 Series Gran Coupe will compete against the Audi A5 Sportback.
The overall dynamic design would appeal to a younger demographic as well and will be a viable alternative to the high-end 6 Series Coupe.
As expected, BMW will price the vehicle slightly higher than the coupe and convertible variants, similar to how the 6 Series Gran Coupe is being positioned. In the U.S., the entry-level 640i Gran Coupe sells for $ 87,395 while the 650i variant starts at $ 90,395.
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Porsche 918 Spyder at The Nurburgring – Video
With the new 918 Spyder Porsche has made such a magnificent super car, you’d forgive them for all those ugly Cayennes and Panameras they make. It is a hybrid super car with no less than three electric motors, but as you can hear in this video of it sporting a cool Martini livery, going around the Nurburgring – apparently with Walter Rohrl at the wheel – it sounds more like a spaceship. it also looks superb, we’d say even better than the Carrera GT.
Check it out in action after the jump.
Technical Specifications
- Body: Two-seater Spyder; carbon fibre reinforced plastics (CFRP) monocoque interlocked with CFRP unit carrier; two-piece Targa roof; fixed roll-over protection system.
- Drivetrain: Parallel full hybrid; 4.6-litre V8 mid-engine with drysump lubrication; hybrid module with electric motor and decoupler; electric motor with decoupler and gear unit on front axle; electrical system recuperation; four cooling circuits for motors, transmission and battery; thermal management.
- Engine Power
- V8 engine: >570 hp
- Hybrid module on rear axle: ~90 kW
- Electric motor on front axle: ~80 kW
- Combined: >770 hp
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Spy Shots: 2013 Dacia Sandero Stepway is a Junior Duster
What we have here is next year’s replacement to the Dacia- and in some countries, Renault-badged, Sandero Stepway, which is a high-riding version of the Sandero sub-compact hatchback, also due for a release in 2013.
The more adventurous Sandero Stepway is a lite, smaller sized and lower-cost alternative to the Dacia brand’s Duster SUV.
Like the current model that was launched back in 2008, the new Stepway will feature all the usual SUV styling cues seen in these kind of “hybrid” models.
These include the pronounced roof bars, front and rear skid-plates, plastic moldings on the wheel arches and side sills plus a raised ground clearance and changes to the suspension to justify the crossover moniker.
Both the regular Sandero and the Stepway variant will share their enlarged underpinnings as well as the diesel and petrol engine lineup with the upcoming Logan budget sedan.
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How Do Public Charging Stations Fit Into Better Place Service?
Renault Fluence ZE charging at Better Place pubic charge spots in Israel [photo: Brian of London]