Cars

2010 BMW 5-Series

Power, handling, comfort and luxury are all associations one could make when shopping for the 2011 BMW 5-series, BMW’s mid-range sedan. This 5th generation of the BMW sedan slots above the BMW 3-series but only slightly below the 7-series having been designed on the same chassis as the se7en. BMW has done away with the majority of the Bangle design, most notably, the “Bangle-Butt.”

Comfort in the 5-series including the HVAC, audio, system functions and Sat/Nav system is handled mostly by the iDrive system. Now in its fourth-generation iDrive has been improved and is much more intutive, less distracting and easier to control than the previous generations.

Power in the 5-series is handled by either a naturally-aspirated inline-6 with 258HP (528i), a turbocharged inline-6 pushing just over 300HP (535i) or a twin-turbo 4.4L V8 producing 400HP (550i) allowing a sprint to 60 in just 5.0 seconds. Two transmissions are offered, this being German and all, a 6-speed manual and an 8-speed automatic for fuel economy… obviously.

Interesting technologies in the mid-level BMW include the aforementioned iDrive system, adaptive cruise control which can maintain a constant speed based on other cars speed, lane departure warning system, head-up display, park distance control which displays a sort-of birds-eye view of the car, is visible on the Sat/Nav screen and blind spot protection lights an indicator in the outside mirrors to let you know you’re merging into traffic. As part of the continuing BMW Efficient Dynamics campaign the car’s battery gets recharged during braking using brake-regeneration without even a hybrid system.

In relation to handling, TheAutoChannel.com reports that, “what is most appealing about the 550i though is its road manners.” Allowing those superb road manners are an overall length gain of the body with a 3-inch longer wheelbase and slightly wider track but then it would be bigger since its based on its big brother. The 5-series comes in sevreal variants: a four-door sedan, wagon, Gran-turismo body-style and expect a sporty M5 to follow.

2010 Ferrari 458 Italia

Modern supercars are often badgered as being pointless specifically because you can’t use the speed in modern day traffic. The argument is a moot point even when discussing the most basic transportation on the market including Toyota Prius drivers being charged with speeding over 100MPH, trying to defend a Ferrari’s power or maximum velocity is rough. The Ferrari 458 Italia (see Review Roundup) specifically, Ferrari’s latest entry-level mid-engined supercar, has a top speed of over 200MPH while still achieving a respectable 17.6MPG in some tests. There’s a dealership in New York that wants to help you dream the dream before purchasing your next Ferrari.

Today’s eBay find is one of the first Ferrari 458′s on Ebay available in America for sale is listed for $354,995 and is available in downtown Chicago, IL. But the most interesting thing about this Ferrari 458 is the incriminating (or flattering) trip computer showing that even a supercar from Chicago can achieve over 100MPH even in the first 80 miles of ownership (the car is listed in “used” condition). It’s capable, yes, and without restriction and can be propelled on to another 100 after your bid of $355K.

2010 Porsche Panamera Turbo

A German sedan with 500 horsepower is nothing new; nor is a twin turbo or controversial Porsche new to the automotive landscape. But what happens when all those traits combine? You get the Porsche Panamera Turbo, a 500 horsepower twin-turbo V8, 4-door Porsche controversy not-withstanding. Porsche purists cried and moaned when the car was released hoping Porsche wouldn’t follow the same route they took with the Cayenne. Well, after releasing an SUV some say a sedan was the next logical step to compete with Porsche’s other German rivals from Mercedes, BMW and Audi.

And compete they will with the quickest 4-door production sedan accelerating from 0-60MPH in 3.4 seconds. That’s quicker than any AMG Mercedes sedan, BMW M sedan, and even the venerable Cadillac CTS-V sedan, the quickest American-made 4-door sedan, which is powered by the supercharged V8 from the Corvette ZR1.

Reviewers all found something to complain about with the Porsche Panamera Turbo but no one claimed it was underpowered. U.K.’s CAR Magazine claims Porsche missed an opportunity by claiming the car’s design focus oriented it too much towards comfort and not enough on lightness. Road & Track magazine attempts to explain the styling  as the “elephant in the room” referring to the “ungainly roof and awkward slope of its hatch,” neglecting to mention the Panamera’s “elongated 911″ appearance the Porsche styling designers were aiming for. Overall, however, the reviews were generally positive complementing the speed and the cocooning interior most of all. Check out the reviews, videos and gallery below and decide for yourself before you buy!

Reviews:

Autoweek (an AutoWeek Drivers Log)
Car and Driver (Review)
Popular Mechanics (Test Drive)
Road & Track (Road Test)
Motor Trend (First Drive)
Edmunds.com (Road Test)
National Post (Canada, Road Test)
Times Online (UK, Jeremy Clarkson Drive)
AutoBlog (blog, First Drive)
AutoGuide (First Drive)

Video Reviews:

iMotorMag (UK, YouTube)
Fifth Gear (UK, YouTube)
AutoCar (UK, YouTube)
Drive Time (Review, YouTube)

2010 Mercedes-Benz E63

When a 4-door sedan has an optional “performance Package” you know it means business. The 2010 Mercedes-Benz E63 is the mid-level rocket-ship performance sedan in the Mercedes portfolio slotting slightly above the C63 entry-level sedan and slightly below S63 top-of-the-line sedan. All share the same door count, sub-4.5 second 0-60 acceleration time, similar AMG refreshes and the same AMG 6.2L V8. When installed in an E63 the 6.2L’s specific output is pegged at 518 HP or a 10 HP increase over the outgoing 2009 model.

AMG breathes new life into each E63 with an emphasis on improving the overall driving dynamics, and it shows. Each sedan retains the air suspension but only in the rear while replacing the front bags with steel springs in increasing the track to improve overall handling. The transmission is still a slush-box 7-speed but features a wet-disc clutch in lieu of a torque converter and a mighty switch on the center console with options for Controlled Efficiency, Sport, Sport+ and Manual, very un-Mercedes-like words.

Even more unbecoming of a Mercedes is the Performance Package which raises the speed-limiter to 186 MPH (up from 155) as well as the ceramic brakes option (cleaning your wallet of another $8800) but they’re squeal and fade free. Reviewers find this car to be the “end of horsepower wars” since its so powerful and enjoy the spectacular chassis dynamics. Read on to find out how the E63 compares to the rest of the 4-door uber-sedans.

• Automobile (First Drive)
• Car and Driver (First Drive)
• Motor Trend (First Drive)
• MBWorld.org (Review)
• AutoGuide.com (First Drive)
• Jalopnik (blog, First Drive)
• Inside Line (Full Test)