It's become something of spectator sport over in Europe and chiefly in London: people equipped with a handy cam waiting for a hot car to pass by to record it and upload the video on Youtube.As with anything else in life, sometimes it pays off, sometimes it does not and our amateur producers are left with a bitter taste in the mouth.This particular video sent in by one of our readers caught our attention mainly due to the fact that there were two young females in the red Ferrari F430 and to a lesser extent, the rather mediocre parking job. If you have a few minutes to spare, watch it after the jump.VIDEO
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The bosses over at BMW's British division have released pricing on the second-generation 1-series hatchback before it goes on sale in the UK on September 17, 2011.The redesigned five-door hatchback will launch with a choice of three diesel and two petrol engines, with on-the-road prices starting from £19,375 for a 116i ES rising to £24,720 for a 120d Urban or a 120d Sport.The new 1er is 83mm longer, 14mm wider and 30mm longer in the wheelbase than its predecessor, with BMW saying it offers increased cabin dimensions and greater interior comfort.In addition, 2012 1-Series has 30 litres more luggage space compared to its forerunner, for a total capacity of 360 litres, which can be increased to a maximum of 1,200-litres by lowering the rear seats.There are five available engines at launch, all turbocharged. The petrol lineup includes a 1.6-liter unit delivering 136HP in the 116i for a 0-62mph (100km/h) sprint time of 8.5 seconds and a combined fuel consumption of 49.6mpg UK, and 170HP in the 118i (0-62mph in 7.4 seconds, 47.9mpg UK).The diesel range comprises of a 2.0-liter turbo diesel available in three flavors with 116HP in the 116d, 143HP in the 118d, and 184HP in the 120d.All models are rear-wheel drive and available transmissions include a six-speed manual or a new eight-speed automatic.BMW UK said it expects to sell approximately 20,000 1 Series five-door models in its first full year on sale.
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Earlier in July, Mercedes-Benz outline the shape and detailed the powertrain lineup for the new 2012 B-Class MPV. Now, the Stuttgart-based automaker is providing us with our first look at the tall compact model's inner works.Looking at these photos, if there's one thing that stands out it’s that, unlike the exterior, which is an evolution of the current B-Class, the interior has been completely redesigned and features a more modern styling and premium feel than the sober cabin of today's model.Mercedes-Benz says its new Advanced Design Studio in Como, Italy played a significant role in the interior design of the new B-Class.The company added that the cabin also sports higher-quality materials and can be customized with numerous features and options such as covering the dashboard in hand-stitched ARTICO man-made leather.The new B-Class, which continues to use the current versions sandwich floor, will be making its world premiere at the IAA in Frankfurt in mid September before Mercedes-Benz rolls it out to European dealerships in November this year.PHOTO GALLERY
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The new 2012 Explorer SUV will be the first Ford model in North America to be offered with the company's new 2.0-liter, 4-cylinder EcoBoost engine. But you already knew that.What's new today is the release of the EPA fuel-economy numbers for the 4-cylinder Explorer which is rated at 20 mpg (11.8 lt/100km) in the city and 28 mpg (8.4lt/100km) on the highway. The cheaper -by around a grand- Explorer V6 with its naturally-aspirated 292HP, 3.5-liter engine returns 17mpg/city and 25mpg/highway.Ford is quick to make a comparison with some of the Explorer's rivals saying that on the highway, it beats the 2011 Honda Pilot (a redesigned model is on its way) and Jeep Grand Cherokee by 5 mpg, Chevrolet Traverse by 4 mpg and Toyota Highlander by 3 mpg, while also boasting that it returns the same fuel efficiency as the BMW 328i sedan.The Explorer's 2.0-liter four-banger produces 240 horsepower at 5,500 rpm and 270 lb.-ft. of torque at 3,000 rpm, and is hooked up to a six-speed automatic transmission.PHOTO GALLERY
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