Man moons speed camera, fine won't be so funny
 

<p>Filed under: <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/bmw/" rel="tag">BMW</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/uk/" rel="tag">UK</a></p><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" align="right" alt="" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/05/bare-butt.jpg" />There are times in everyone's life when you have an idea that sounds brilliant when explained in the audience of friends, but in practice is "exposed" as pure idiocy. The passenger of a BMW X5 gave a Cramlington, UK speed camera an uncensored view of his backside in an obvious attempt at humor, but in the end (no pun intended) the stunt could result in some hefty fines. Since local authorities weren't amused by the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Braveheart"><em>Bravehear t</em></a> salute, the passenger could receive tickets for public indecency and for not wearing a seat belt. Well, that is if the driver is willing to rat on his or her offending comrade. <br /><br />While we admit this is kind of funny at first blush, mostly because we never before noticed that a BMW grille looks a little like a human butt, mooning a speed camera is stupid for a couple reasons. First, it's not cool to expose yourself in public. That's the kind of thing that will get you on a sex offender list if you're not careful. Second, speed cameras are really good at taking pictures of cars, giving authorities the plates of the vehicle as they pass through intersections. Third, and perhaps most important, why would the owner of a Bimmer want someone to press their bare ass up against their windshield? Lets just hope someone remembered to sanitize the soiled glass. <em>Thanks for the tip, everyone!<br /><br /></em>(Source: <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/tyne/7378695.stm">BBC News</a>)<em></em><p style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;">&nbsp;</p><p><a href=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/tyne/7378695.stm>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/07/man-moons-speed-camera-fine-wont-be-so-funny/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/1188478/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a> | <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/07/man-moons-speed-camera-fine-wont-be-so-funny/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p><hr />

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2008 International Engine of the Year awards announced...
 

<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/bmw/" rel="tag">BMW</a></p><a href="http://www.ukipme.com/engineoftheyear/categories.html"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" alt="" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/05/p0033461_opt.jpg" /></a><br /><br />And the grand winner is not surprisingly an engine from BMW, just like it has been for the last three years going back to 2005. The Bavarian automaker's 5.0L V10 won the award that year and in 2006, and BMW's luscious 3.0L twin-turbo inline six-cylinder engine won it in 2007 and has repeated its performance by winning the International Engine of the Year Award again for 2008. We get it, BMW makes really good engines. <br /><br />There were 11 other categories in which engines from around the world were honored, and no less than five of those were also won by BMW. Check the list below to see what other automakers were able to wrest an International Engine of the Year Award from BMW. <br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Best New Engine of 2008</span><br />BMW 2.0L twin-turbo diesel (123d)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Green Engine of the Year 2008</span><br />Toyota 1.5L Hybrid Synergy Drive (Prius)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Best Performance Engine 2008</span><br />Porsche 3.6L Turbo (911 Turbo, 911 GT2)<br /><br />Check out the rest of the awards for individual displacement classes after the jump, and visit the source below for a lot of good information on why each engine was a winner.<br /><br />[Source: <a href="http://www.ukipme.com/engineoftheyear/categories.html">Internat ional Engine of the Year Awards</a>]<p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/07/2008-international-engine-of-the-year-awards-announced/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>2008 International Engine of the Year awards announced...</em></a></p><p style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;">&nbsp;</p><p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/07/2008-international-engine-of-the-year-awards-announced/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/1188813/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a> | <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/07/2008-international-engine-of-the-year-awards-announced/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p><hr />

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VIDEO: Nick Heidfeld breaks BMW Sauber F1 car while showing off
 

<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/motorsports/" rel="tag">Motorsports</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/bmw/" rel="tag">BMW</a></p><a href="http://www.zercustoms.com/news/BMW-F1-Donuts-Crashing-Video.html"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="0" align="right" alt="" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/05/heidfeld_crash.jpg" /></a>Not that BMW's Sauber F1 car has anything more than three letters in common with cars that bear the propeller logo on public streets, but who's going to argue with the opportunity to lay down the tools early? Hotshoe Nick Heidfeld recently treated a crowd of laborer's at BMW's Munich factory to the spectacle of a big-dollar race car being treated like a hand-me-down Reliant, complete with a body-damaging finale. The shriek of a high-strung F1 racer while it slides around doing lurid donuts is a thing to behold, but the smile quickly fades when the front splitter gets tangled up in the curbing and ripped off the nose. Whoops. <em>Video after the jump - </em><em>Thanks for the tip, Ovidiu!<br /></em><br /><br />[Source: YouTube via <a href="http://www.zercustoms.com/news/BMW-F1-Donuts-Crashing-Video.html">Zercustoms</a>]<br /><br /><br /><br /><p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/06/video-nick-heidfeld-breaks-bmw-sauber-f1-car-while-showing-off/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>VIDEO: Nick Heidfeld breaks BMW Sauber F1 car while showing off</em></a></p><p style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;">&nbsp;</p><p><a href=http://www.zercustoms.com/news/BMW-F1-Donuts-Crashing-Video.html>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/06/video-nick-heidfeld-breaks-bmw-sauber-f1-car-while-showing-off/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/1187627/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a> | <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/06/video-nick-heidfeld-breaks-bmw-sauber-f1-car-while-showing-off/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p><hr />

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BMW to show X1 and MINI CUV in Paris
 

<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/conceptcars/" rel="tag">Concept Cars</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/paris-motor-show/" rel="tag">Paris Motor Show</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/crossovers-cuvs/" rel="tag">Crossovers/CUVs</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/bmw/" rel="tag">BMW</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/mini/" rel="tag">MINI</a></p><a href="http://www.autonews.com/article/20080602/ANE02/577363008/1177/rss02&rssfeed=rss02"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/06/x6_concept_1280_21_450-op.jpg" alt="" /></a><br /><br />With last week's news that BMW will <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/30/bmw-x1-to-be-built-in-leipzig/">begin producing the new X1 at its Leipzig facility</a>, it was just a matter of time before the Bavarian boys gave us an indication as to when its compact CUV would be unveiled. As suspected, the wraps will be pulled off an X1 concept at the <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/Paris-Motor-Show/">Paris Motor Show</a> this September, but as is often the case with BMW, the "concept" is almost exactly what we'll see when it goes on sale in the fourth quarter of 2009. The new model will be built off the 1-series platform (a shortened 3-series) and according to an unnamed source quoted by <em>Automotive News</em>, "will use the two highest spec gasoline and the two highest spec diesel engines from the 1-series." <br /><br />The source also confirmed <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/27/paris-unveiling-rumored-for-mini-suv/">earlier reports</a> that the MINI SUV/CUV will debut in Paris with power provided by the Cooper S' turbocharged 1.4-liter or the Cooper D's oilburner. Sales of the MINI 'ute will begin in the second quarter of 2010.<br /><br />[Source: <a href="http://www.autonews.com/article/20080602/ANE02/577363008/1177/rss02&rssfeed=rss02">Auto motive News</a> - Sub. Req.]<p style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;">&nbsp;</p><p><a href=http://www.autonews.com/article/20080602/ANE02/577363008/1177/rss02&rssfeed=rss02>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/02/bmw-to-show-x1-and-mini-cuv-in-paris/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/1212734/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a> | <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/02/bmw-to-show-x1-and-mini-cuv-in-paris/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p><hr />

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What? Car & Driver says M3 better than GT-R and 911 Turbo
 

<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/etc/" rel="tag">Etc.</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/bmw/" rel="tag">BMW</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/nissan/" rel="tag">Nissan</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/porsche/" rel="tag">Porsche</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/opinion-editorial/" rel="tag">Opinion/Editorial</a></p><a href="http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/comparison_test/coupes/2008_bmw_m3_vs_2009_nissa n_gt_r_vs_2008_porsche_91 1_turbo_comparison_test"> <img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" alt="" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/06/2008_bmw-m3coupe_hi011_opt.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/comparison_test/coupes/2008_bmw_m3_vs_2009_nissa n_gt_r_vs_2008_porsche_91 1_turbo_comparison_test"> <em>Car & Driver</em></a> is a common choice as bathroom reader around Autoblog HQ, though thumbing through the latest issue had us contemplating using the glossy pages for TP. <em>C&D</em> got its hands on Nissan's new GT-R and its development benchmark, the Porsche 911 Turbo. That's great so far, as everyone wants to know how the Nissan stacks up against its bogey. The trouble comes when a BMW M3 gets tossed into the mix. What? The M3 is a hell of a car and it clearly earns its perennial 10-Best status, but it's outgunned and mismatched in this company. Somehow it managed to win a three-way comparo with two supercars anyway.<p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/03/b-what-b-i-car-and-driver-i-says-m3-better-than-gt-r-and-91/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em><b>What?</b> <i>Car & Driver</i> says M3 better than GT-R and 911 Turbo</em></a></p><p style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;">&nbsp;</p><p><a href=http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/comparison_test/coupes/2008_bmw_m3_vs_2009_nissa n_gt_r_vs_2008_porsche_91 1_turbo_comparison_test>R ead</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/03/b-what-b-i-car-and-driver-i-says-m3-better-than-gt-r-and-91/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/1212928/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a> | <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/03/b-what-b-i-car-and-driver-i-says-m3-better-than-gt-r-and-91/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p><hr />

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Porsche most desirable brand among stinking rich
 

<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/acura/" rel="tag">Acura</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/bmw/" rel="tag">BMW</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/infiniti/" rel="tag">Infiniti</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/lexus/" rel="tag">Lexus</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/mercedes-benz/" rel="tag">Mercedes Benz</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/porsche/" rel="tag">Porsche</a></p><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/06/911-aero-kit.jpg" alt="" /><br /><br />The <a href="http://www.luxuryinstitute.com/">Luxury Institute</a> surveyed 1,642 affluent Americans to see which brands stood out among the crowd of luxury automakers, and Porsche made out as the overall winner. The survey participants make an average of $349,000 per year and have a net worth of $3.7 million, and they're surveyed on customer service, quality, exclusivity, and that overall warm and fuzzy feeling one gets about a given brand. Porsche received high marks for its uniqueness in the marketplace, as well as for the company's strong focus and attention to detail.<br /><br />Lexus and Mercedes rounded out the top three, with Lexus achieving the highest overall purchase consideration and Mercedes receiving demerits for its past ownership of Chrysler. Ouch. BMW finished in fourth place, due in part to Bimmer fans' displeasure over the brand's styling and overly complicated tech like iDrive. Japanese automakers scored highest with regards to customer satisfaction, with Lexus, Acura, and Infinity landing in the top three overall. Cadillac, which was ranked first in customer satisfaction last year, fell into a tie for fourth place in this year's survey. Lincoln was deemed to have the least desirable brand status in the survey, as Ford's luxury arm finished dead last in the field of 12. Maybe the new MKS sedan will drive Lincoln out of the basement in next year's survey.<br />
<p>[Source: <a href="http://publications.mediapost.co m/index.cfm?fuseaction=Arti cles.showArticleHomePage& art_aid=83731">Marketing Daily</a> via <a href="http://www.motorauthority.com/cars/porsche/porsche-tops-luxury-institutes-brand-status-survey/">Motor Authority</a>]<br /></p><p style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;">&nbsp;</p><p><a href=http://publications.mediapost.co m/index.cfm?fuseaction=Arti cles.showArticleHomePage& art_aid=83731>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/03/porsche-has-top-brand-status-according-to-survey/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/1212840/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a> | <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/03/porsche-has-top-brand-status-according-to-survey/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p><hr />

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Rumormill: 2009 BMW 7-series coming July 7th
 

<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/spyphotos/" rel="tag">Spy Photos</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>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/rumormill/" rel="tag">Rumormill</a></p><a href="http://www.bmwblog.com/2008/06/03/latest-information-and-photos-on-the-new-bmw-7-series/"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" alt="" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/06/thumb-bild017_450op.jpg" /></a><br /><br />The crew at the BMWBlog supposedly has the scoop on the next generation BMW 7-series, and in addition to a July 7th reveal date, they've procured a handful of details about BMW's flagship sedan.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.bmwblog.com/2008/06/03/latest-information-and-photos-on-the-new-bmw-7-series/"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" align="right" alt="" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/06/thumb-bild016_250op.jpg" /></a>Two, twin-turbocharged engines will be available: a V12 and the V8 currently found in the X6, with power being sent to the rear wheels via an eight-speed transmission. Four-wheel steering will be an option, along with all-wheel-drive later in its lifecycle. Dynamic Performance Control, ConnectDrive and an improved iDrive interface will form the majority of the technical changes inside and the new 7's interior will supposedly mark the return of the driver-oriented controls of yore, with a center console canted in to face the person behind the wheel. We'll believe it when we see it.<br /><br />BMW will offer four new colors for the 2009 7-series, including Cashmere Silver, Imperial Blue, Mineral Whit and Sophisto Grey and BMWBlog's sources say that the V8 model will be sporting a duo of square tailpipes, while the higher-end version will get four squared tips.<br /><br />[Source: <a href="http://www.bmwblog.com/2008/06/03/latest-information-and-photos-on-the-new-bmw-7-series/">BMWBlog</a>]<p style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;">&nbsp;</p><p><a href=http://www.bmwblog.com/2008/06/03/latest-information-and-photos-on-the-new-bmw-7-series/>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/04/rumormill-2009-bmw-7-series-coming-july-7th/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/1215473/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a> | <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/04/rumormill-2009-bmw-7-series-coming-july-7th/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p><hr />

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