Car Throttle

Pictured above is a rendering of an RS version of the Q3. Hot or not? Definitely hot; if maybe a but pointless. The Q3 was born to compete against the BMW X1, a very successful model brought forth by BMW's segment-bending exploits. In Europe the X1 has proved to be a big hit for its crossover-like looks, small size and practicality. Audi rushed to provide an answer with its Q3 crossover, and it has gone on sale in markets around the world. Audi seemingly ruled out sales of the Q3 in the U.S at launch. BMW, on the other hand, has announced the X1 will be sold here. Despite being on sale since November 2009 in Europe, a U.S launch date has been pushed back until

Sometimes progress is slow and steady.  Sometimes, though, it just pops out of nowhere. A good example of this is BMW's latest engine, which has been rumored for a while, and they just released some juicy details on.  Called the N20, it's a 2.0L turbocharged inline four cylinder, and it will be replacing the 3.0L naturally-aspirated I6 in many base model BMW's.  It pulls off a pretty neat trick - faster car, better fuel mileage and emissions figures.  Read on for more details. The new N20 motor is a 2.0L all-aluminum inline four cylinder that borrows a lot of technology from BMW's TwinPower Turbo engines - namely, the N54 and N55 Turbo straight-sixed that can be found in the 1, 3, 5, Z4, X3, X5, X6,

Finally!  It's here!  The BMW X1 has arrived! Ok...  that's all the fake excitement I can muster.  BMW's released the first details and high-resolution official photos of the new (and seemingly totally pointless) X1 SUV, and oh boy are they fantastic. By which I mean, if it weren't for BMW SUV's, what else would I make fun of constantly?  Look at that!  Absolutely hideous, just horrible.  It really looks like a Hyundai Sante Fe had a fight with a Nissan Qashqai, and they both lost. Questionable appearance aside, the X1 will come equipped with a wide range of appealing powertrains.  Rather than complaining about how awful it looks, let's take a look at those. X1 xDrive and sDrive18d - comes equipped with a 2.0L all-aluminum common-rail direct-injection turbodiesel

While BMW overpopulates it's lineup with segment-melding, identity-confused vehicles like the X6, 5-Series GT and X1, Audi is taking a different tack in it's goal to hit 1.5 million sales by sometime around the middle of next decade. Audi is diving head first into the emerging "4-door coupe" with it's new segment line Sportback. I think the blending of sedans with a coupe-roofline is a good idea. Audi debuted the Sportback Concept at Detroit 2009 that previewed what to expect from future Sportback models and more specifically, the upcoming A7 Sportback. The teaser is pretty standard; offering a good view of the back but not showing any of the side or front in actual pictures. Audi is trying to build excitement for the vehicle. But along

As if having a vehicle to compete in nearly every class isn't enough, BMW is continuing it's product march by creating new segments all together.The X1 is one such vehicle, joining other BMW's other segment-bending vehicles like the 5-Series Gran Turismo, and X6 Crossover. Like Volvo, BMW is aiming for an X vehicle for every accompanying vehicle class (like X3, X5, X6...could an X7 be near?). BMW recently released a teaser of the X1 and now new spy shots have caught the vehicle with nearly no camoflauge. Interesting fact: the upcoming X1 shares it's platform with MINI's Crossman wagon. From the pictures the X1 seems interesting, with a crossover-ish front and hatchback rear, Definitely a melding together of the different classes, and hard to pinpoint exactly what

Acura first showed it's ZDX Concept at the New York International Auto Show only about 2 months ago. I've always seen the vehicle as a step forward for the brand in styling and design. Much better then the recent designs we've seen coming out from the company. However, while Acura made it clear that it was just a thinly-veiled production preview, I commented that things could get ugly pretty fast in the transition between concept and production. From the spy shots at least, it seems like they are hewing as close as possible to the concept and that's a good thing. You can't see much in the way of details but it's looking pretty close to the concept. The ZDX is part of a new strategy for increasing Acura's volume. Acura hasn't been

Regardless of the fact that "teaser" implies something is being teased that will be looked forward to with baited breath, BMW saw fit to put out some "teaser" shots of the upcoming X1 sport-utility thing, which I admittedly already hate.  And it's not even out yet. Is it too soon to pass judgement on a car we haven't even seen decent pictures of yet?  Perhaps not, but I feel that the X1 might be one too many stuffed niches for BMW's lineup.  Then again, they don't pay me to make the decisions at BMW, so what do I know? The X1 slots below the X3 in BMW's lineup of painfully pointless "sports activity vehicles" - so if you've been thinking an X3 was just too darn

BMW's latest niche-stuffer, the X1, was caught undisguised by an intrepid photographer during a photo or video shoot for advertising purposes.  This latest pointless SUV from BMW slots below the X3, X5, X6, and X-god-knows-what else to provide an entry level-point BMW for the young upwardly types who still want SUV's.  All three of them, then. Cynicism aside, the rumors are that the X1 shares it's chassis with the upcoming (and equally pointless) Mini SUV, dubbed the Crossman.  Expect a range of silky-smooth inline fours and sixes in gas and diesel variants.  The styling is a departure from current BMW trends, and I'd have to say it looks a bit Japanese.  Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, and the Nissan Rogue/Qashqai is blushing. I know, you