The styling of the production unit is quite different from the concept versions but it keeps overall silhouette and the unusual fins which according to designers will help with the airflow near the wheels and decrease the drag.

From the rear end, the BMW i8 keeps the wheel housings similar to the previous concept. The airflow goes just behind the rear wheels and then underneath the big tailgate spoilers. The i8′s central tunnel was fabricated from aluminum just like most of its suspension components. The Life Module or the body shell of this BMW creation is made from carbon fiber.

Not looking at the weird aerodynamic setup, the BMW i8 has the likings of a scaled down R8 by Audi and also has the supercar performance . The rear wheels of this ride will depend on the 3-cylinder 1.5L turbocharged engine running on petrol which outputs 215 bhp and has a torque of 220 lb-ft. The front wheels run on electric motors that give out 128 bhp.

Combining the petrol engine and electric motors, the i8 can tap roughly 343 bhp and a monstrous chunk of torque. When the experts did the math, the i8 might sprint from 0 to 60 milers per hour in 4.6 seconds. The i8 can run purely using the juice of the lithium ion pack and run about 22 miles .

According to sources the BMW i3 will be hitting the showrooms first and then the i8 by 2013. It is highly likely that the production versions of the i3 and the i8 will grace the Olympics in London over the summer. BMW is the official supplier of vehicles for the London Olympics.

Last month, these BMW brands showed a 115% increase. Audi, which is currently taking the lead in China, also displayed a pretty impressive sales increase in China, with 61%, selling a total of 19,606 vehicles.

During the first trimester of 2010, Audi was able to sell over 71,000 vehicles. This is a gargantuan 71% sales increase compared to last year. While Mercedes-Benz doubled its sales over the same timeframe, it only sold half as many, with 35,400 vehicles.

Recently, Volkswagen made a $2-billion investment in China, probably riding the wave of good news. Their auto-investment in the country then amounted to $8 billion dollars. This is the biggest global car investment to date. While Volkswagen could hardly be considered a luxury car manufacturer, they reinforce the German car manufacturers’ success in the East.

Comparatively, the sales for luxury cars are shrinking in the Western hemisphere of the world. The sales in North America, because of the global recession, are still under repair. China’s better luck with the economy, though, just might provide enough financial fuel for these German luxury car makers. As long as China’s demand for luxury cars is up, these German auto giants have nothing to worry about.

GM explains that the repeated action in the steering column causes this signal disruption. Should this happen, a warning will flash on the dashboard signaling a “Service Active Handling System”. The brakes will then be applied to one or more of the vehicle’s wheels, causing the car to pull to the right or the left. This is obviously a road hazard.

According to the car manufacturer, this is very dangerous because if the driver doesn’t react fast enough to the car’s change of direction, it can cause a collision. According to the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration, this recall will start on April 30, 2010. The Chevrolet dealers are instructed to repair the vehicles without charging vehicle owners.

For more information, owners may also contact Chevrolet directly through 800-630-2438. They may also go to the nearest GM Owner Center. The best thing to do, though, is to go to your dealer.

Just last March, GM also conducted a safety recall of 5000 Chevrolet Express and GMS Savanna cargo and passenger vehicles. This last recall was caused by a faulty alternator. The vehicles affected were Chevrolet Express manufactured in 2010 and GMS Savana built in the same year. Very few of the affected vehicles were in retail consumer possession. 1,300 were in rental while the rest were still with the dealers.

Blue E-Motion

During the official launch of Germany’s National Electronic Mobility Platform (NEMP) held in Berlin, Volkswagen showcased its Golf blue E-motion vehicle concept to German Chancellor Dr. Angela Markel. The NEMP is the government initiative of Germany to lead the market of electric mobility with its goal of putting 1 million electronic vehicles on the streets.

The Gold blue e-motion and its technical sibling the Jetta blue e-motion will begin sales by 2013. This is after the debut of the Up blue e-motion, Volkswagen’s newly released city driving EV. During the same time, the Lavida blue e-motion will be launched in China. According to Volkwagen, it intends to lead the electric mobility niche by 2018. This will be possible with best sellers like the Golf blue e-motion.

The Golf blue e-motion will be powered by an 85 kW, 270 Nm electric motor paired with an electric engine compartment in front of the vehicle. For driving power, the electricity will be stored in a 26.5 kW li-ion battery pack. The top speed of the Golf is 140 kilometers per hour.

This range already meets the needs of most commuters in Germany. According to the Federal Statistics Office, six out of ten people who work in their offices drive cars. On an average scale, 45.8% of this statistic commute for less than 10 kilometers. Another 45.8% of these commuters drive 10 to 25 km, and the remaining 16.2% drive over 25km. The VW Golf has these covered. The Golf can also “sail” to improve its driving range.

A $30K diesel Audi ride comes as a great buy. The A3 is packaged with a great design of interior as Audi is known for and combines it with a sporty performance. The handling is great which makes it a better choice over compact sedans from other brands. And we’ve seen quite a few car insurance companies who offer very good auto insurance quotes for this particular car. Take our advice and go browsing the web!

The 2.0 A3 TDI engine is also very efficient. It can run along the highway with a mileage of 42mpg and about 30mpg while threading the city streets. These figures are as good as a hybrid like the Lexus HS 250h. Aside from the fuel efficiency it offers, the 2010 A3 TDI also looks better in a lot of aspects aside from being more affordable.

Driving the A3 TDI is very similar to the Q7 TDI. The performance of the vehicle is commendable. The power of the engine is delivered without effort and the response of the engine when you step on the pedal is very crisp. Looking at different angles, this diesel machine reigns supreme than high revving gasoline variants of the segment it is in.

The top speed of the Audi A3 TDI is recorded at 130mp. Its engine can push 140hp with 236lb-ft of torque.

It is still not certain if the 5-series wagon will reach the US soil since it just introduced the 2010 GT but it might have no other choice as the E-Class Estate enters the market.

The BMW 5-Series wagon has a longer wheelbase which naturally gives it more storage space but it is very similar to its sedan sibling when it comes to handling and styling of both the exterior and interior.

The touring wagon also features an excellent weight distribution of 50:50. The luggage cover which automatically lowers and retracts with the tailgate comes standard. The wagon also has an air suspension system which levels by itself to ensure that the Touring remains unaffected while carrying heavier loads.

When the rear seats are up, the storage capacity is about 19.77 cubic feet while it can go as big as 59 cubic feet when they are folded.

Buyers will have a choice between a 3.0L single turbo and from four or six cylinder diesel powerplants. The V8 4.4L engine under the hood of the 5-series sedan is also expected to be installed to the Touring. Consumers can also choose from automatic 8-speed transmission or a six-speed manual. Unfortunately, if you are waiting for an M5 version of the Touring, it will not be coming.

Instead of a battery, the technology centers on a flywheel that spins about 40,000 times per minute and captures the energy reclaimed as the driver steps on the brakes. The mechanism is mounted where the passenger sit should normally be.

With a flick of a switch, the flywheel can release the energy to pump power into a generator that can give out about 8 seconds of electricity to a 60 kW motor that powers the front wheels. The speed boost will be useful when overtaking another car or exiting a corner. The 480 horsepower engine still drives the rear wheels.

Click here to view the embedded video.

The Porsche hybrid 911 GTR 3 will be officially exhibited at the Geneva Motor Show this March on the 110^th anniversary when their founder, Ferdinand Porsche launched the Lohner Semper Vivus which is widely accepted as the first ever hybrid car.

The 911 GTR 3 Hybrid will be joining the 24-hour run at Nurburgring in May. Going to Le Mans by 2012 is also on its itinerary.

Porsche will also use the conventional battery hybrid setup when they release the 2011 Porsche Cayenne and its Hybrid variant. These vehicles are due to be out by the end of 2010. The carmaker will also offering a hybrid version of the luxury sedan Porsche Panamera alongside the legendary 911.

The face of the new C70 reflects some features of the S60 Concept car that we saw during the Detroit Auto Show last January. This might be drawing the new design trim for the next generation of Volvo’s.

The nose of the car gets some revamp to have that three dimensional feel to it. This was achieved by restructuring some elements and giving the front a more wedge-like look. The headlamps get some detailing giving it an angle pointing up and backwards. The lower grille also got some enhancements. Volvo also introduces a new paint scheme to the range through Flamenco Red Pearl.

When you step into the new C70 convertible, you will have a bigger instrument panel before you. The surface of the dash was given a new texture that improves its looks.

The C70 Convertible also has some body engineering and safety features that spell Volvo excellence in the convertible world. A gyro sensor activates hard metal hoops for the rear seat passengers in case the car rolls over. In case, the roof is up, the spikes on the hoops will break through the glass to provide extra protection for the passengers.

The mainstay front airbags are there plus the side curtains to protect occupants from side impacts and roll overs.

The C70 convertible will be offered with engines capable of giving out 136 through 230 horsepower.