BMW Reveals New M6 Coupe and Cabriolet
As far as I'm aware, our government frowns on private ownership of liquid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missiles. Not to worry, just buy a BMW M6 instead.
And here it is, the latest iteration of BMW's blisteringly fast uber-coupe. Powered by the same 560hp, twinturbocharged engine that you can find in the M5, this new car says goodbye to the old F1-style hollerin' V10 in favour of a more efficient turbocharged V8.
Wait, did I just say "more efficient turbocharged V8"? And with a straight face?
Either way, as already seen in the new M5, turbocharged teutonic titans are the wave of the future for one main reason: torque. While the outgoing car needed to be revved up, this new model puts out 500lb/ft of thrust starting at a low 1,500 rpm.
Result? Zero to 100km/h in 4.2 seconds, also partially due to the new lighter chassis. Aside from the straight-line stuff, expect all the usual BMW M trickery to make the big sedan take to the curves and shrug off the laws of physics in a manner that should have Isaac Newton eating his own hair.
Tesla Launches Model X Prototype
Moving away from Sports-Panzers propelled by liquified dinosaurs for a moment, it's the latest-ahem-electrifying concept from California-based Tesla Motors.
Resembling an Infiniti EX35 with the face of a parrot-fish, the Model X has a super-cool name but is, in essence, yet another dang cute-ute cross-over. Or is it?
For one thing, the Model X runs only on electrons: it's a full plug-in electric car. What's more, the low-slung lithium-ion battery packs mean that you've got just as much room (if not more) than you would in a normal CUV: 7seater capacity and room for luggage, too.
Then there are the "falcon"-style doors that open like - well, Tesla probably wants me to say they're like the iconic Mercedes-Benz SL300's gullwing doors, but really they remind me of Doc Brown's Back-to-the-Future DeLorean.
Even better, this innocuous-looking machine will run up to 100km/h in 4.4 seconds. Even better-er, you can make that sprint with a clean conscience and with plenty of friends aboard.
Aston-Martin Reunites with Bond Franchise
No Mr. Bond, I expect you to drive... this classic 1964 Aston-Martin DB5. No, it doesn't have an iPod connector.
So might the notoriously sarcastic "Q" be instructing that most destructive-of-gadgets secret agent, James Bond, for the latest in the series of movies. In Skyfall, due to be released sometime after umpteen months of trailers give all the best bits of the plot away, Jim will be back at the helm of the DB5 from Goldfinger, arguably one of the most recognizable cars in the world.
Bond fans will no doubt note that a DB5 already appeared briefly in 2006's Casino Royale. That was just a loop around the block; this time, expect the classic Aston to dust-off the Ben-Hur axle blades and really go to battle with the baddies.
