Author: autoevolution

BMW has just launched the new orange BMW Cruise Bike, which promotes an active lifestyle, fun and excitement. And apparently the manufacturer is convinced that no other color can make you think positive thoughts like the colour orange.

According to BMW, the bike’s extraordinary color was inspired by the legendary BMW 1802 from the 1970s, which of course back then was also available in orange − the decade’s most stylish color. But that’s the only thing that’s retro about the BMW Cruise B… (read more)

Former 4-time Formula One champion Alain Prost will be part of the stewards’ panel for the season opening Bahrain Grand Prix this weekend. The Frenchman will therefore watch closely the decision-making process within the panel in case a racing incident will arise during the Saturday qualifying or Sunday race.

As part of the new policy implemented by the International Automobile Federation (FIA), the Formula One drivers will have a representative watching over their interest in the stewards bo… (read more)

Ford has prepared a special reward for all its U.S. racing fans: the carmaker’s customer service division has launched the Mustang 5.0 fever Sweepstakes, offering enthusiasts and customers the chance to win a 2011 Ford Mustang GT.

The company stresses the fact that the competition does not require any payment: fans just need to go to the track and register. They can even enter on-line, via Ford’s parts website. The contest has already begun and entries are accepted until November 23. The luck… (read more)

The first practice session of the 2010 Formula One season has ended, and the first blow came from Force India Mercedes’ driver Adrian Sutil. The German surprised everyone by setting the fastest time in P1, managing to end the first one and a half hour of action some 0.138 seconds ahead of Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso.

The first half of the session was dominated by the guys at McLaren Mercedes, who took their highly controversial MP4-25 to the top of the timing reports just before the half hour m… (read more)

Volvo Cars has announced that it will be present at this year’s TechnoClassica Show in Essen, Europe’s biggest show for classic cars and automobilia. Volvo’s theme will be called Volvo PV36 75 years.

At TechnoClasica, which will be held in April 7 to 11, Volvo’s display will focus on the PV36 model, also known as Carioca. Considering the heritage and the place the Carioca has in both the automotive history and in the brand’s history, Volvo decided this was a birthday worth celebrating.

The… (read more)

French manufacturer Peugeot officially presented a pick-up version of the 207 in South America. Dubbed Peugeot Hoggar, the new pick-up is not the ordinary 207 from the European market, but is, in fact, a facelift version of the 206, which is marketed only in South America.

Peugeot Hoggar is a new addition to the 207 line from Brazil, after the saloon, hatchback, SW and SW Escapade versions.

Preliminary data released by the South American division of Peugeot, the Hoggar pick-up has a load … (read more)

Ford announced that it will deliver 2,500 2010 Ford Fusion models to Kraft Foods, as the latter is planing to renew its U.S. car fleet in order to reduce fuel costs.

Kraft Foods has chosen the Ford Fusion after conducting a throughout cost analysis that included multiple vehicles from a wide range of automotive producers. The two companies have been collaborating on vehicle fleet matters for over 25 years.

Transportation and Distribution is one of six sustainability focus areas at Kraft F… (read more)

Renault has finally secured an official partner for the 2010 and 2011 Formula One seasons. After several sponsors left the boat last year as a consequence of the crash-gate in which the French manufacturer was involved, the new Genii Capital-controlled outfit managed to get back in business by signing a 2-year major sponsorship agreement with global technology leader HP.

As part of the agreement, Renault F1 Team will gain access to HP technology in order to further boost on-track performance,… (read more)

US traffic seems to have become safer. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, the number of overall traffic fatalities reported at the end of 2009 reached the lowest level since 1954, dropping for the 15th consecutive quarter.

"This is exciting news, but there are still far too many people dying in traffic accidents," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. "Drivers need to keep their hands on the steering wheel and their focus on the road in order to stay s… (read more)

Daimler Trucks, the world’s largest heavy trucks manufacturer is planing to expand its business to new markets, such as China, in order to maintain its market leader status. The producer is making efforts to compensate its falling market share – last year, the company’s market share dropped from 15.2 percent to 11 percent, as Bloomberg reports.

At the beginning of the year, the German company announced that it had won the Chinese government’s approval for a joint-business with China’s No. 1 … (read more)

Although Red Bull Racing and Ferrari don’t seem to care too much whether McLaren’s aerodynamic tricks are given the all clear by the FIA or not – the ruling body ruled them as legal after the Thursday scrutinizing process in Bahrain – it seems the danger of a what could be called a knee-gate is to come from Renault.

Earlier this week, we had presented to you some aerodynamic features that the Woking based team implemented on their MP4-25 during the latest test in Barcelona, that adds some 6 m… (read more)

Toyota and the AFC champion Indianapolis Colts have just announced that they signed a new three-year contract which maintains the automaker’s status as Official Vehicle of the Indianapolis Colts. This has happened after a successful one-year partnership.

Our Central Indiana Toyota dealers are excited to be extending this partnership with the Indianapolis Colts, said Michael Rocco, General Manager of Toyota’s Chicago Region. This past season was fantastic for Toyota because we were given the o… (read more)

Following the International Automobile Federation (FIA) approving McLaren’s aerodynamic features implemented on the MP4-25 during the course of Thursday, the Woking based team’s boss Martin Whitmarsh is convinced that the rival team will copy them in the near future.

People will look at what we have got on our car and I would imagine that most teams are now looking for how they would implement such a system, said Whitmarsh, according to Autosport.

Earlier this week, it has emerged that the… (read more)

The motorsport division of BMW seems to be getting involved in all means of transportation and doesn’t stop at cars, as the two-wheeled vehicles from BMW also have an M touch here and there. The BMW S 1000 RR motorcycle is also considered to be an M on two wheels.

But the division took things further and also meddled with BMW bikes. The German manufacturer released the BMW M Bike, available in a special limited edition at select BMW dealers starting June 2010, with the price tag still to be r… (read more)

Yokohama has just announced that it will introduce its new all-position waste and sanitation tire, called MY627W, at the Mid-America Trucking Show (MATS). The show will take place in March 25-27, at the Kentucky Expo Center in Louisville, Kentucky.

The new MY627W is meant to replace the Y773 model. Yokohama says that the new tire will have a longer life cycle, will be more durable and will have lower operation costs. The tire is designed especially for vehicles that require a high lead-carryi… (read more)

Celebrating the launch of the fourth model in the brand’s lineup, MINI has kicked-off an international design competition that invites creative people to design potential tools for the unique MINI Centre Rail in the new MINI Countryman.

Participants can enter the design competition via the MINI Space internet platform.

The Centre Rail runs in a straight line between the seats of the Countryman, linking the front and rear of the interior, and offers a multifunctional platform on which to f… (read more)

Everything it’s for sale, as long as you have enough money, at least that’s what Aston Martin thinks. According to autoexpress.co.uk, at the launch of the new Cygnet and DB9 UB-2010, Aston Martin design director Marek Reichman said that he was looking for new ways to upgrade the levels of personalization of their cars.

The aim is to form a team of engineers that would be able to make any of your dreams come true. Reichman said that this could be accomplished using Aston’s historic Works Servi… (read more)

The new media is developing some wonderful informational back road, that often bring pieces of news much sooner than automotive manufacturers intend to release. This is the case of the Mercedes SLS AMG Roadster, a highly anticipated supercar that has partially been revealed through a set of leaked European patent office drawings, surfaced by Auto Bild.

Judging by the images, we can say that the car sees to be using a soft top, a feature that would allow it to keep the weight down and thus off… (read more)

Some ten years ago, Volkswagen made the decision to build an automobile themed park that would strengthen the ties between German carmaker Volkswagen and its customers and also to attract potential buyers to the brand. Dubbed Autostadt, the car city in Wolfsburg quickly became a vital part among the German travel destinations and one of the biggest employers in the region.

In its ten years of existence, the Autostadt has attracted more than 20 million visitors, an average of 2 million visitor… (read more)

The upcoming all-electric version of the Ford Transit Connect, the 2011 Transit Connect Electric will use BorgWarner’s 31-03 eGearDrive transmission.

The commercial vehicle, Ford’s first all-electric production application, will offer a range of 80 miles per charge and reach a top speed of 75 mph. The small van will be converted to an electric model by Azure Dynamics, who will install its electric engine that sends the power to the front wheels via BorgWarner’s single speed eGearDrive transmi… (read more)