New Alpina B6 Bi-Turbo with 507HP

For more than four decades now, German tuning house Alpina has been modifying BMWs cars. The Bavarian luxury carmaker has a tight relationship with the tuner going as far distributing the high-performance models through its official network.
Alpina's newest creation is the B6 Bi-Turbo Cabrio based on the latest 6-Series Convertible, which will make its world premiere at the rapidly approaching Frankfurt auto show on September 13.
At the heart of the Alpina B6 Bi-Turbo Cabrio is specially modified 4.4-liter twin-turbocharged V8 engine capable of delivering 507-horsepower and a monstrous 700Nm (516.3 lb-ft) of peak torque delivered between 3,000 and 4,750 rpm.
Power is channeled to the rear wheels through an eight-speed automatic Switch Tronic transmission, with Alpina claiming 0-100km/h (62mph) sprint time of 4.8 seconds and a top speed of 311km/h (193mph) with a combined fuel consumption of 10.9lt/100km (21.6mpg US) for the Convertible model.
In comparison, the factory 650i Convertible features a 4.4-liter turbo V8 producing 407HP and 600Nm / 443 lb-ft. It completes the standard sprint in 5.0 seconds while reaching an electronically limited top speed of 250 km/h (155 mph), and returning an average fuel consumption of 10.7lt/100km.
Along with the powertrain modifications, the Alpina flavored 6-Series Convertible gains the tuner's trademark multispoke alloy wheels plus carbon fibre trim bits, front apron and rear spoiler as well as bespoke interior parts.
The B6 Bi-Turbo Cabrio model will soon be followed up by the coupe derivative.

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BMW Tops Competitors for 5th Consecutive Month

BMW continues to expand its lead in the US luxury car market against its main rivals Mercedes-Benz and Lexus. August was the fifth consecutive month in which the Munich-based carmaker was at the top spot with 20,815 deliveries, an increase of 6.5% compared to the same month of 2010.

On the contrary, Mercedes’ sales decreased by 1.9% in August, to 18,477 units while Lexus, which still suffers from the aftermath of the March 11 earthquake, dropped even more, by 7% to 18,103 cars. Thus, it is almost certain that,after 11 years at the top, Lexus will be relegated to second or perhaps even third place among luxury car manufacturers.

“This has been a very strange August for our industry, with both difficult news and unfortunate events –consumer confidence down and an earthquake, hurricanes and floods in the Northeast”, said head of BMW North America, Jim O’Donnell.

Despite this, BMW expanded its sales lead from the beginning of the year with a 12% increase, delivering 155,929 units. Its August sales were boosted considerably by the 41% increase in 5-Series deliveries and by the new X3, which almost tripled its sales, from 892 cars in 2010 to 2,382 this year.

Mercedes-Benz' year-to-date sales have also increased, albeit at half the rate (6.1%) to 148,409 units and Lexus, as we said, faced a sharp decrease of 17% to 120,652 cars.

Analysts, such as TrueCar’s Jesse Torpak, comment that the increased incentive spending has also contributed to BMW’s rise: “They are being aggressive: $299 a month for a 3-Series versus what you’re going to get for an Accord? Of course you’re going to get a BMW. It is selling down its inventory before offering a new version next year, as well as trying to secure the sales race victory over Mercedes.”

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Mercedes prepara cupê do Classe M para rivalizar com BMW X6

Mercedes prepara cupê do Classe M para rivalizar com BMW X6 Modelo estaria pronto para produção nos EUA em 2015A Mercedes-Benz está planejando uma nova versão com carroceria cupê do utilitário- esportivo Classe M para rivalizar com o BMW X6, uma variante cupê do SUV X5, nos Estados Unidos.De acordo com informações do site Auto News, o modelo, conhecido pelo código C166, poderia se