BMW Latest Plans Electric ‘Megacity’ Car

BMW 450 Mini E, electric cars running in a yearlong trial in metropolitan New York, New Jersey and Los Angeles.

There should be more cars on the roads. But after more than six months of addressing regulatory hurdles, Mini has yet to get approval to install more than 30 additional fast-charge boxes in New Jersey. With a 240-volt box, the Mini E can be recharged in three hours rather than the 21 hours needed using 110-volt power.

“If you are in a house with a normal supply and you want to bring a 240-volt [charger], you have to have an agreement from the power utility,” O’Donnell says. “New Jersey is the most difficult because there are so many local authorities.”

2009 BMW 750Li

The new 750i is powered by BMW's 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8, which first appeared under the hood of the new X6. Rated at 400 horsepower and 450 pound-feet of torque, the engine will be the only one powering the two U.S.-bound models, the 750i and the 750Li, with a wheelbase that is 5.5 inches longer than the previous model. The 6.0-liter V12 of the outgoing model, rated at 438hp and 444lb-ft., has been dropped. European models also get a 3.0-liter twin turbo diesel delivering 242 hp and 399 lb-ft and the familiar twin-turbo gasoline 3.0-liter inline-six upgraded to 323 hp and 332 lb-ft. A six-speed automatic transmission will be mated to the V8 engine, with the shifter moved from the steering column back to the center console.

The new 7er will roll on 18-inch alloy wheels shod in all-season run-flat tires in a 245/50R18 size. Two styles of 19-inch wheels with performance-oriented rubber will be optional.

Weight-saving measures have shaved about 120 lbs thanks largely to increased use of aluminum in the body as compared to the previous generation car despite the new car carrying more standard equipment. Another detail change meant to improve fuel consumption by reducing drag is a flap in the grille that eliminates unneeded airflow.

Four-wheel steering will be included on the 7-Series option list, with an all-wheel drive option slated to be offered in a few years. The rear wheels will turn in the opposite direction as the front ones at speeds below 35mph, and will turn up to three degrees in the same direction as speeds climb above that.

A new active chassis management system BMW calls IMS will give users the choice of Comfort, Normal, Sport and Sport Plus settings, changing settings such as shock settings, steering effort, gear change speed and smoothness, and the sensitivity of the stability control system.

A new night vision system promises to increase safety for pedestrians. The new system will be able to detect human presence in front of the vehicle and then flash a warning symbol on the display. Moreover, the system will be able to tell if a pedestrian is in the road or safely on the sidewalk, although it's not clear how the system can differentiate the two.



The new system is so advanced, it's also able to read speed limit signs and warn drivers when they are driving too fast. However, this feature will only be available in Europe for the time being. A lane departure warning system will notify drivers of cars in their blind spots via a vibrating steering wheel and a message on the dashboard-mounted screen, which now grows to 10.2 inches from 8.8.

The big BMW will also be keeping an eye on your speed during inclement weather. The camera can detect fog or rain, and will warn drivers when they are approaching an unsafe speed. Despite the warning, the system has no control over the speed of the vehicle so those with lead feet need not worry.

The 2009 7-series will be available for purchase in European showrooms starting this November, although prices have not been announced, with BMW saying only they will stay close to current levels. In the U.S., the car will debut at the Los Angeles International Autoshow in November before arriving at dealers in the spring of 2009.

Top 5 luxury Cars to Drive

2009 Rolls-Royce Phantom

Ah, the Phantom. This Rolls-Royce is an attention-getter if there ever was one, a gigantic 5800-lb. sedan that has become the ride of choice for pro athletes, celebrities and pop stars, not your typical old-school Rolls buyers. These nouveau riche folks must be on to something, because beneath the aluminum skin the Phantom truly is a great car, tuned with a magic carpet ride that's not the least bit wallowy when the road starts to turn left and right. Powering this lavishly appointed sedan is a huge V-12 engine that's perfect for the part — the Phantom always has power in reserve, as any dignified car should.

That dignified nature carries over inside the Phantom, where this English 5-seat sedan is covered in the finest hides and veneers, and those in back will want to take off their shoes, just so they can feel the softness of the lamb's wool carpeting.

With its mix of bold in-your-face styling and a classically hand-crafted interior that has a thoroughly modern multifunction controller for the navigation system, stereo and climate control, the Rolls-Royce Phantom is an artful blend of the then and now. Simply put, there is no other car quite like it.

Five Reasons To Buy:

1. It's a Rolls

2. Serenely smooth V-12

3. Quiet

4. Makes a bold statement

5. Opulent interior

2009 Lexus LS 460 L

The LS model put Lexus on the map in the late 1980s, back when it was a brash newcomer trying to prove it could compete with large sedans from BMW and Mercedes-Benz. It did so, with ease. And now, roughly 20 years later, the LS remains the company's flagship, with the 460 L long-wheelbase model doing a great job of competing with the Germans and keeping the cruel world at bay.

That's right, this Lexus is an isolation chamber, incredibly quiet inside and smoothing out all but the harshest bumps in the road. What's more, it's a spacious car, especially in the back seat, where three adults can sit in good comfort, all while being treated to some rich sounds from the Mark Levinson audio system, which is way better than the stereo in most homes. This car exudes quality inside, and the powerful V-8 is strong yet silent, just the type of engine you want in a luxury ride.

The Levinson sound system is part of a $4630 option package that includes the "Advance Parking Guidance System." Yes, this Lexus will parallel park itself, provided you line the car up correctly and operate the brakes as instructed. We think it's a bit gimmicky, but that's the only aspect of this incredibly opulent Lexus that makes us furl our brow.

Five Reasons To Buy:

1. Lexus quality

2. Extremely quiet

3. Mark Levinson sound

4. Lexus Link communications

5. Power rear seats with optional Luxury Package

2009 Audi A8 L

Audi's long-wheebase A8 L model is for the guy in the know, that person who wants a big luxury sedan but wants to be a little different. So what makes the A8 so different? For starters, its whole chassis is made of aluminum, which saves weight and greatly adds to the car's agility. Moreover, it has Quattro all-wheel drive, which makes this sedan your best friend in areas such as the Northeast, where there's real weather, and on that ski trip you're planning to Vail.

This German-built sedan also has plenty of power, thanks to a direct-injected V-8 with 350 bhp. And when you order the optional $4300 Sport package, the A8 is fitted with 20-in. wheels and a leather-covered sport steering wheel whose shift paddles help keep the driver's hands on the steering wheel, where they should always be. Other options worth considering are the $6400 Leather Appointment upgrade, which makes an already handsome interior that much richer, and the Bang & Olufsen sound system. At $6300, the system is not cheap, but it turns your A8 into a concert hall on wheels, and it's especially fun to watch the tweeters pop up out of the dash.

What's perhaps most special about the A8 is its rarity. You won't see yourself coming and going in the Audi A8, and that's exactly how owners like it to be.

Five Reasons To Buy:

1. High technology

2. Quattro all-wheel drive

3. Beautiful interior

4. Bred on the Autobahn

5. Exclusivity

2009 Bentley Continental Flying Spur Speed

So, you're in love with the Bentley Continental GT but practical concerns mean that you need a pair of rear doors? Well, the Continental Flying Spur Speed is your answer, a decadently luxurious sedan that's among the fastest cars in the world, with a top speed of 200 mph.

That kind of speed is possible only with a powerful engine, and the twin-turbo W-12 in this all-wheel-drive Bentley is just that, a smooth gem that puts out 600 bhp. But contrary to what you might think, this Bentley is a gentle beast around town, aided by a smooth-shifting 6-speed automatic transmission.

As you'd expect of this expensive British ride, the interior is as rich and warm as an old English study, replete with lots of burl walnut trim and the finest leather hides. Of note, it takes 11 hides to do the interior of a Flying Spur sedan, and the leather comes from Scandinavia where barbed wire that might scar the product is not used.

That's indicative of the attention to detail that goes into this Bentley, which blends the engineering might of Volkswagen (Bentley's owner) with the finest in English hand-craftsmanship. Indeed, the Bentley Continental Flying Spur Speed is one of the world's finest (and fastest) sedans.

Five Reasons To Buy:

1. Beautiful styling

2. Sumptuous interior

3. Fast, Fast, Fast

4. Unique W-12 engine

5. Available radar cruise control

2009 BMW 750Li

For years, perhaps decades now, BMW's slogan has been "The Ultimate Driving Machine." For the most part, the Bavarian company has been true to its word. And even though this new 7 Series sedan has a softer, more comfortable ride than the outgoing 7, this new BMW still has an agility that belies its ubstantial 4735-lb. weight.

And beneath the more conservative skin, the new 7 Series is a technological tour de force, with electronic controls that monitor and adjust several aspects of the car, such as throttle response, power-steering assist and even how quickly the standard stability control system kicks in to keep the car on its desired path. Let's just say it all works very well, and the Munich-based company has managed to this without removing the mechanical feel so cherished by BMW drivers.

On duty under the aluminum hood is a twin-turbo V-8, an engine that propels the 750Li to a limited top speed of 150, which this car could manage all day, provided you're in Germany and traveling on the Autobahn. An option worth considering is the $4900 Sport package, which actually steers the rear wheels a tiny amount in corners for added stability. And if you're a tech-head, the $2600 Night Vision camera will provide hours of fun. But with this being a BMW, the sporty overall driving experience is what's most impressive about this large sedan.

Five Reasons To Buy:

1. Still a driver's car

2. Potent twin-turbo V-8

3. Loaded with technology

4. Optional Rear and side-view cameras

5. Available head-up display