Autoblog Podcast #123
 

<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/conceptcars/" rel="tag">Concept Cars</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/podcasts/" rel="tag">Podcasts</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/hybrids/" rel="tag">Hybrids/Alternative</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/etc/" rel="tag">Etc.</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/government-legal/" rel="tag">Government/Legal</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/plants-manufacturing/" rel="tag">Plants/Manufacturing</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/bmw/" rel="tag">BMW</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/cadillac/" rel="tag">Cadillac</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/chrysler/" rel="tag">Chrysler, LLC.</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/gm/" rel="tag">GM</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/toyota/" rel="tag">Toyota</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/fiat/" rel="tag">FIAT</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/opinion-editorial/" rel="tag">Opinion/Editorial</a></p><div align="center"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/17/autoblog-podcast-123/"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/07/autoblog-podcast.jpg" /></a><br /></div>
<div align="center"><em><stron g><small>Click above for the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes, RSS or listen now!</small></strong></em><br /></div>
<br />What better way to kick off your weekend than a new podcast, full of incisive commentary and rapier wit, delivered by well informed, articulate experts? Instead, we bring you Episode #123 of the Autoblog Podcast. Chris, Sam, and Dan hash it out for this installment, covering such gems as the Toyota's expectations for the new Prius, Bill Gates and his fantastical patent and the Fiat/Chrysler deal, as well as other assorted gems as the conversation rambles. Friday's the perfect day for 70 minutes of the Autoblog Podcast's dulcet tones, so enjoy, and thanks for listening! Drop us a line at <span style="font-weight: bold;">podcast at autoblog dot com</span>, and hit our <a href="http://twitter.com/therealautoblog">Twitter feed</a>, too.<br /><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/17/autoblog-podcast-123/"><br />Follow the jump</a> to subscribe to the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes, add the show to your RSS aggregator or listen to it right now!<p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/17/autoblog-podcast-123/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Autoblog Podcast #123</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;backgr ound:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/17/autoblog-podcast-123/">Autoblog Podcast #123</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblo g</a> on Fri, 17 Apr 2009 16:45:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/17/autoblog-podcast-123/>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/17/autoblog-podcast-123/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/1520036/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/17/autoblog-podcast-123/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>

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Billboard War Redux: Audi shoots back, BMW turns away
 

<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/marketing-advertising/" rel="tag">Marketing/Advertising</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/audi/" rel="tag">Audi</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/bmw/" rel="tag">BMW</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/humor/" rel="tag">Humor</a></p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/audi-bmw-ad-war-on-santa-monica-blvd/1499834/"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/04/billboards-006_opt.jpg" /></a><br />
<div align="center"><em><stron g><small>Audi vs. BMW billboards - Click above for high-res image gallery</small></strong></em><br /></div>
<br />The billboard war taking place between Audi and BMW in Southern California has taken yet another turn today. After Audi called out its cross-country rival by saying "Your Move, BMW" on a billboard overlooking Santa Monica Blvd. advertising the new A4, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/13/audi-bmw-ad-war-takes-to-the-streets-of-socal/">BMW responded</a> by renting its own billboard across the street that simply showed the M3 and "Checkmate." Audi then had some fun <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/17/audi-invites-fans-to-respond-to-la-billboard-war/">collecting photoshopped billboard responses</a> from fans on its <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Audi-USA-News/78006150114?ref=nf#/pages/Audi-USA-News/78006150114">Facebook page</a> before revealing its own retort. The new billboard, which reportedly went up today, shows the R8 supercar next to this proclamation: "Time to check your luxury badge. It may have expired." <br /><br />Huh?<br /><br />While the R8 is a great weapon with which to defend yourself against an M3 attack, the battle cry beside it makes no sense to us whatsoever. If this were a Yo Mama competition, BMW would be chest bumping Wilmer Valderrama right now and Audi would be crawling back into its hoopty for the long ride home.<br /><br />BMW did actually have a response for Audi. At some point the brand removed its M3 advertisement from across the street and didn't replace it. Audi is now battling with <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/audi-bmw-ad-war-on-santa-monica-blvd/1499835/">an ad for Barney's CO-OP</a>... and losing.<br /><br /><br /><div class="postgallery"><p><s trong>Gallery: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/audi-bmw-ad-war-on-santa-monica-blvd/">Audi vs. BMW Billboard War</a></strong></p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/audi-bmw-ad-war-on-santa-monica-blvd/1499834/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/04/billboards-001_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/audi-bmw-ad-war-on-santa-monica-blvd/1499833/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/04/billboards-002_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/audi-bmw-ad-war-on-santa-monica-blvd/1499832/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/04/billboards-003_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/audi-bmw-ad-war-on-santa-monica-blvd/1499835/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/04/billboards-005_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/audi-bmw-ad-war-on-santa-monica-blvd/1499831/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/04/billboards-006_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a></div><p style="padding:5px;backgr ound:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/17/billboard-war-redux-audi-shoots-back-bmw-turns-away/">Billboard War Redux: Audi shoots back, BMW turns away</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblo g</a> on Fri, 17 Apr 2009 18:58:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/17/billboard-war-redux-audi-shoots-back-bmw-turns-away/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/1520692/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/17/billboard-war-redux-audi-shoots-back-bmw-turns-away/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>

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What's German for "bargain?" BMW S 1000 RR superbike to be priced close to Japanese competition
 

<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/bmw/" rel="tag">BMW</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/motorcycles/" rel="tag">Motorcycles</a></p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/bmw-s-1000-rr-streetbike/1500082/"><img hspace="4" border="1" vspace="4" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/04/2009_bmw_s1000rr_580.jpg" alt="" /></a><br />
<div align="center"><em><stron g><small>BMW S 1000 RR - Click above for a high-res image gallery</small></strong></em><br /></div>
<br />The street-going version of BMW's upcoming <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2008/10/11/bmw-reveals-race-ready-s-1000-rr/">S 1000 RR</a> is scheduled to debut at the World Superbike race on May 29th at Miller Motorsports Park. That's exciting news in and of itself, but we're especially intrigued after hearing that the German manufacturer plans to price the premium machine within spitting distance of its Japanese rivals.<br /><br />"We intend to take the four Japanese head-on. We did not intend to build a motorcycle like Ducati does or KTM does. We wanted to build a mainstream motorcycle," says Pieter de Waal, Vice President of BMW Motorrad USA. That would put the price of the BMW well under that of other European superbikes like the Ducati 1198 or KTM RC8.<br /><br />The figure we've been hearing is that the S 1000 RR will be priced within 10% of the Japanese liter bikes, which would put the German machine at around $15,000, but we're not likely to know for certain for at least the next few weeks. Still, consider our interest piqued.<br /><br /><br /><div class="postgallery"><p><s trong>Gallery: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/bmw-s-1000-rr-streetbike/">BMW S 1000 RR streetbike</a></strong></p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/bmw-s-1000-rr-streetbike/1500082/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/04/2009-bmw-s1000rr_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/bmw-s-1000-rr-streetbike/1500083/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/04/2009-bmw-s1000rr-2_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/bmw-s-1000-rr-streetbike/1500084/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/04/2009-bmw-s1000rr-3_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a></div><br /><div class="postgallery"><p><s trong>Gallery: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/bmw-s-1000-rr-race-livery/">BMW S 1000 RR race livery</a></strong></p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/bmw-s-1000-rr-race-livery/1091067/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/10/bmw_s_1000_rr_large_2_thu mbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/bmw-s-1000-rr-race-livery/1091068/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/10/bmw_s_1000_rr_large_3_thu mbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/bmw-s-1000-rr-race-livery/1091064/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/10/bmw_s_1000_rr_large_5_thu mbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/bmw-s-1000-rr-race-livery/1091063/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/10/bmw_s_1000_rr_large_1_thu mbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/bmw-s-1000-rr-race-livery/1091066/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/10/bmw_s_1000_rr_large_4_thu mbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a></div><br /><br />[Source: <a href="http://www.dealernews.com/dealernews/Breaking+News/BMW-Relying-on-US-for-Future-Growth/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/593391?contextCategoryId= 2704">Dealernews</a> via <a href="http://www.asphaltandrubber.com/news/bmw-s1000rr-priced-japanese-superbikes-cheaper-ducati-ktm/">Asphalt and Rubber</a>]<p style="padding:5px;backgr ound:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/19/whats-german-for-bargain-bmw-s-1000-rr-superbike-to-be-price/">What's German for "bargain?" BMW S 1000 RR superbike to be priced close to Japanese competition</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblo g</a> on Sun, 19 Apr 2009 09:34:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.dealernews.com/dealernews/Breaking+News/BMW-Relying-on-US-for-Future-Growth/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/593391?contextCategoryId= 2704>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/19/whats-german-for-bargain-bmw-s-1000-rr-superbike-to-be-price/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/1520782/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/19/whats-german-for-bargain-bmw-s-1000-rr-superbike-to-be-price/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>

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Review: 2009 BMW 750i
 

<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/garage/" rel="tag">In the Autoblog Garage</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/sedans/" rel="tag">Sedans/Saloons</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/bmw/" rel="tag">BMW</a></p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/review-2009-bmw-750i/1513647/"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/04/001_7series_review_opt.jp g" /></a><br />
<div align="center"><em><stron g><small>2009 BMW 750i - Click above for high-res image gallery</small></strong></em><br /></div>
<br />The BMW 7 Series and the Mercedes-Benz S-class are two vehicles utterly defined by their birthplace. Each was spawned in Southern Germany, where massive stretches of autobahn honed their ability to cover boundless distances at high velocities, cosseting occupants in Teutonic luxury. But they're decidedly different beasts. In spite of their similarities, the two brands have always had distinct personalities. BMW followed its tag-line of the "Ultimate Driving Machine," while Mercedes stuck to its more sober image, focusing on its "Best in German engineering" meme. <br /><br />As so often happens, automakers feel compelled to grow and expand beyond traditional audiences, and at times, the result is a diluted product that strays from its roots. When everyone is attempting to cater to the broadest possible audience, overlap is inevitable and distinctions begin to disappear. Look no further than the American mid-size sedan segment, or in this case, the last generation 7-series. So for 2009, BMW sought to re-focus its uber-sedan on what it does best. Read on to find out if BMW succeeded or if the new 7 suffers from further dilution.<br /><br /><br /><div class="postgallery"><p><s trong>Gallery: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/review-2009-bmw-750i/">Review: 2009 BMW 750i</a></strong></p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/review-2009-bmw-750i/1513662/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/04/000_7series_review_thumbn ail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/review-2009-bmw-750i/1513647/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/04/001_7series_review_thumbn ail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/review-2009-bmw-750i/1513645/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/04/002_7series_review_thumbn ail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/review-2009-bmw-750i/1513644/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/04/003_7series_review_thumbn ail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/review-2009-bmw-750i/1513643/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/04/004_7series_review_thumbn ail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a></div><br /><em><strong><small>Photo s Copyright (C)2009 Sam Abuelsamid / Weblogs, Inc.</small></strong></em><p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/23/review-2009-bmw-750i/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Review: 2009 BMW 750i</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;backgr ound:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/23/review-2009-bmw-750i/">Review: 2009 BMW 750i</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblo g</a> on Thu, 23 Apr 2009 11:58:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/23/review-2009-bmw-750i/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/1526001/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/23/review-2009-bmw-750i/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>

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VIDEO: Audi Q7 V12 TDI versus BMW M5
 

<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/sedans/" rel="tag">Sedans/Saloons</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/sports/" rel="tag">Sports/GTs</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/suvs/" rel="tag">SUVs</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/etc/" rel="tag">Etc.</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/videos/" rel="tag">Videos</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/audi/" rel="tag">Audi</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/bmw/" rel="tag">BMW</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/uk/" rel="tag">UK</a></p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/23/video-audi-q7-v12-tdi-versus-bmw-m5/"><img hspace="4" border="1" vspace="4" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/04/m5vq7v12.jpg" alt="" /></a><br />
<div align="center"><strong><e m><small><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/23/video-audi-q7-v12-tdi-versus-bmw-m5/">Click above to watch</a> the Audi Q7 V12 TDI take on the BMW M5</small></em></strong><br /></div>
<br /><em>Autocar</em> decided to find out which was faster among two unlikely bedfellows sharing one common trait: 500 horsepower. In one lane you've got the BMW M5, with ten petrol-powered cylinders. In the adjacent lane there's the Q7 V12 TDI, with twelve oil-burning cylinders. The M5 is much lighter. The Q7 has Quattro. And being England, of course it's wet. Follow the jump <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/23/video-audi-q7-v12-tdi-versus-bmw-m5/">to see who won</a> and by how much.<p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/25/video-audi-q7-v12-tdi-versus-bmw-m5/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>VIDEO: Audi Q7 V12 TDI versus BMW M5</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;backgr ound:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/25/video-audi-q7-v12-tdi-versus-bmw-m5/">VIDEO: Audi Q7 V12 TDI versus BMW M5</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblo g</a> on Sat, 25 Apr 2009 12:24:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8uJ-qLPzXxg>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/25/video-audi-q7-v12-tdi-versus-bmw-m5/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/1526110/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/25/video-audi-q7-v12-tdi-versus-bmw-m5/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>

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