Import Modified

OK all you yuppies, the latest model of your favorite way to convey Buffy and Trevor to soccer practice is here: The 2011 BMW X5. Yes, it’s got all the features you liked before, but only more so. And since this is BMW, there’s even more C & C gee-gaws to make you happy.

First off though, BMW hastens to point out that the 2011 BMW X5 is NOT an SUV. No, it’s a “Sports Activity Vehicle®”, got that? And yeah, ..read more

That’s right, after a long four years, we’ve finally updated out busted old design and gave Automoblog.net a fresh new modern look.

So, what do you think!? The old design is up there on the left, compared with the new look on the right.

The changes are obvious, but here’s what it means to you:

The whole Automoblog.net brand has been redesigned, with a new logo and theme. It’s a more modern, European style text with modern colors and more of a focus ..read more

0 Emissions, 5 Passengers, 90 MPH Top Speed, 100 Mile Range, 2010 Launch

That’s Nissan’s marketing slogan for their new fully-electric, zero emission LEAF, which is being promised delivery some time later this year. Nissan is currently on a 22 city tour to show off the car, and invited current Nissan owners to come take a peek and brief test drive. We attended the Raleigh, NC Leaf tour stop to get a closer look and feel of the car, and to ..read more

Just as things seemed like they couldn’t get any worse for Toyota, what with the runaway cars accelerating out of control, Toyota is experiencing more problems with the Prius’ regenerative braking system. The problem, which drivers describe as “an inconsistent feel during slow and steady application of brakes on rough or slick roads when the antilock brakes engage,” or the brakes failing completely, only momentarily.

Mike Omotoso, senior manager of global powertrain for J.D. Power & Associates, said the culprit is ..read more

Looks like someone is trying to be different. With seemingly every car manufacturer out there making some sort of hybrid, or announcing plans to offer one in the near future, Porsche is bucking the trend. Ferrari has a hybrid version of their 599 coming out at Geneva this March, but Porsche has said no way to making any sort of hybrid sportscar.

Who says Porsche won’t be doing hybrids? Porsche CEO Michael Macht, that’s who. Or at least Porsche will not ..read more

With any economic downturn, we see lots of negative trends start. One trend that gets my blood boiling on a regular basis is the overwhelming amount of monochromatic cars on the road. Next time you’re out driving, pay attention to the color of vehicles going by. You’ll start to notice the majority of them are white, black, gray, silver…all monochrome colors. Most of the ones that are an actual color are a dull and boring version of it; forest green, ..read more

So a while back, Ferrari made a rather trick version of their 550 Maranello, called the SuperAmerica. They resurrected the name form a 1960s model, but essentially, all it was normal 550. What was cool was that it was a power retractable hardtop. But rather than folding and stowing, the whole rook panel simply flipped over backwards. When it was up, it could be used as a sunroof thanks to photo chromatic glass and a knob that could darken or ..read more

It is an odd occurrence when two of my great loves, cars, and art, can get combined. So it was with great trauma and foreboding that I looked upon an email that dropped into my AutoMoBlog inbox with the subject line of “Jeff Koons to Create New BMW”.

“Jeff Koons?!” I said, as I regained consciousness, trying to ignore the huge, throbbing vein I could feel standing in relief on my temple. “They can’t be serious?!”

They were, they are, and if ..read more

Each year, the folks at the Chicago Auto Show put up a few live web cams around McCormick Place to allow anyone to take a look at what’s going on and even manipulate the cameras.

The show, which runs from Feb. 12-21, goes from nothing to complete in very short time. Log on to the live web cam site to take a look around. Not much to see right now, but check again in a few days and you’ll see them ..read more

So Alpina is still out there. I should actually say ALPINA (all caps), because that’s the way they spell it. I used to see ALPINA stroked 3 Series now and again, and then they more or less disappeared. I thought that ALPINA was gone, but no, they’re still out there. They’ve had a go at BMW’s top of the line 7 Series sedans, with impressive results.

Even more impressive is the amount of coin you’re expected to shekel out for ..read more