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BMW X6

BMW rolled the dice with the original X6, but soon realized its problem would be lack of production capacity at its plant in Spartanburg, SC than a lack of customers - over 250,000 X6s have found homes since it arrived in 2008. It comes as no surprise that a second-generation model has now arrived, but as much as the first was revolutionary, establishing an entirely new SUV sub-genre, the new X6 appears much more evolutionary. At 4,909mm long, 1,989mm wide and 1,702mm tall, the new car grows by just 34mm in length, 4mm in width and 12mm in height.

Concept Car of the Week: Pontiac Pursuit (1987)

Wheels are an essential element of car design. They contribute graphically by adding a level a rhythm and details. They can also dramatically affect the impression of power and luxury, and even improve aerodynamic performance.

FCA issues warning on logbook loans

VULNERABLE people who use their car as security to take out a loan are finding themselves squeezed even harder financially and even threatened, the City regulator has found. The Financial Conduct Authority warned it will put firms offering logbook loans out of action if they do not "dramatically" improve their standards, after finding evidence of poor behaviour including little or no affordability checks being carried out and some applicants being encouraged to manipulate details of their income. It said lenders are failing to properly spell out exactly how expensive such debts will be, with the true cost often masked by an emphasis on "low" weekly repayments and key terms and conditions buried in small print.

New 2015 BMW X6 Facelift: OFFICIAL – Price from £51,150

The 2015 BMW X6 (pictured) officially arrives Yesterday saw the facelift for the BMW X6 leak out, with a handful of photos showing the styling tweaks BMW has wrought for the updated version of the ‘X5 Coupe’, but we now get the official reveal with full specs and information. As yesterday’s photos showed, BMW has updated the X6 with styling cues borrowed from the new X5 (and, to a degree, from the new X4, the X6′s little brother) with a new treatment for the front and back ends that make the new X6 look less slab-ended than the current model. That means new contours for the front bumper with larger air intakes, a matt aluminium kidney grill and a rear apron with diffuser, stainless steel exhausts with black chrome tail pipes, 20″ alloys and Ferric Grey mirrors on the X6 M50d.

EV charging points 'to top 100,000 by 2020'

THERE will be more than 10 times the number of electric car charging points as petrol stations by 2020 – and that’s just one of the planned networks. According to POD Point CEO Erik Fairbairn, the conditions are beginning to emerge to allow electric and plug-in hybrid cars to flourish, leading to an explosion in charge point installations in the coming years that could top 100,000 just in POD Point’s own infrastructure. There are currently fewer than 9,000 petrol stations on British roads.

One Lap of the Web: Porsche 917, a karting brawl and the premiere of Drive

The Porsche 917, in Gulf livery, is one of most famous racers of all time. Only 65 were built between 1969 and 1973. Petrolicious is looking at #13, which was one of the first 25 examples built.

Chrysler launches 'Born Makers' ad campaign

Chrysler is launching its ad campaign for the 2015 200 sedan on Saturday. The brand gave us a sneak peak of the new Ameri-centric commercial on Friday. The effort will include 30- and 60-second television spots and in-theater ads in addition to activity in print, digital and social media.

Audi welcomes Porsche back to Le Mans

Porsche is returning to the 24 Hours of Le Mans next weekend, and reigning champ Audi figured it would be nice to send a little welcoming committee to Stuttgart, Germany. The committee consisted of one driver in an R18 e-tron quattro LMP1 car. Keen eyes will notice the race car passing a red tractor, also a Porsche design.

Vote: Guess this car review, episode 3

Last week, we brought you a few mystery car reviews and asked you to guess which vehicle was being reviewed. The response was great, and we want to say congrats to @jasoncashatt, @ericvanderiet, @timothyhowes1 and @ljpancakepantry who all guessed correctly. The three reviews were of the Lexus LS430, Jeep Liberty Renegade and the venerable PT Cruiser, all from 2005.

Chevrolet Corvette Z06 actually gets 650 bhp and 650 lb/ft of torque

The new Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Convertible (pictured) gets 650 bhp The American are found of telling us there’s no substitute for cubic inches, but throw in a supercharger to the equation and numbers become even more appealing, and more linear than a turbo too. So the fact the 6.2 litre V8 under the bonnet of the new Corvette Z06 already manages 465 bhp in naturally aspirated guise, it wasn’t a stretch when the car world was expecting around 625 bhp when Chevrolet finally revealed the power for the Z06. But it’s more.

Rally Champ Heads To Goodwood

FRENCH car maker Citroen has confirmed that nine-time World Rally Champion Sebastien Loeb will attend the 2014 Goodwood Festival of Speed, making a comeback behind the wheel of his DS 3 WRC rally car. Loeb will be putting in appearances on the famous Goodwood Hillclimb, as well as the popular Forest Rally Stage on Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 June. Commenting on the news, Lord March said: "It's very exciting for all of us at Goodwood to be welcoming Sebastien Loeb back to the Festival of Speed.

Call for reform over road repair funding

FUNDING patterns mean most road maintenance is being carried out in "less-efficient, cold and wet" times, a report from a Government spending watchdog has said. The current pattern of funding, combined with the need to spend money within the financial year, means that most maintenance work goes on between September and March, said the report from the National Audit Office (NAO). It went on: "Although this is less disruptive for road users, it is less efficient than carrying out the work at other times of year because materials can be more difficult to handle in cold and wet conditions, and daylight hours are shorter." The report went on: "As a result of the additional funding for emergency repairs, which is made available at the end of the financial year, almost all highways authorities need extra capacity from the market at the same time, which makes it less likely that they will get value for money." The NAO report said there was a "lack of predictability" over road spending adding that historically, local highway authorities spent more revenue on maintenance, but were now carrying out fewer routine activities such as clearing gullies which are essential to preventing water seeping into roads' sub-structure.

Project Car Hell, 1940s Plutocrat Edition: 1940 Chrysler Imperial or 1946 Lincoln Sedan?

Project Car Hell is back for another matchup of appealing-yet-appalling project choices. Sometimes we like rusty old trucks suitable for fire roads in Idaho or hunting trails in Kenya, but such Hell Project choices always make the Hell Garage Demons itch for something much different. And, really, what could differ more from boxy, half-century-old 4x4s than great big luxury sedans with model years bookending American involvement in the war that blew up all of Detroit's serious global competitors for a good couple of decades?

Motorcycle Gear Review: Alpinestars T-Jaws Air Jacket and Oxygen Air Overpants

For motorcycle riders, it's rarely the perfect temperature. Winter means plugging in to an electric-warming vest. Summer means risking road rash with less gear because it gets too hot.

Subaru prices 2015 Outback

People of the Pacific Northwest, rejoice: Pricing has just been announced for the 2015 Subaru Outback. It comes with a host of upgrades for all of your outdoor adventures. The base 2.5i model, packing a 175-hp four-cylinder engine, now starts at $25,745, which is a $1,000 premium over the outgoing model.

CAR top 10: the 10 best cars with three seats

By Chris Chilton Motor Industry 05 June 2014 17:15 Did anybody ever achieve greatness merely by re-arranging the chairs? Maybe not, but this lot gave it a good go. World’s most famous three-seater’s central driving position was claimed to offer perfect weight distribution, but Gordon Murray’s main-frame brain must have calculated that he could save hours giving demo rides to all his friends and neighbours if he installed an extra chair.

High-five for Mini's new, larger hatchback

THE LONG-RUMOURED five-door Mini hatchback has finally been unveiled, featuring an extra seat, more legroom and a larger boot than the three-door. By using a longer and wider body, the five-door is able to offer 72mm more legroom for rear passengers, who can also now access the new row of three seats via small but useful rear doors. Boot space is up to 278 litres, which although still comparatively low is 67 more than the three-door hatch can boast.

London rush hour 'worst in UK'

ANALYSIS of in-car telematics data has revealed that London commuters get the worst deal in rush hour, with average speeds 30% slower than those across other British cities. The study of 20 million miles of telematics data by Direct Line Drive Plus shows that despite London having more congestion-fighting measures than anywhere else in the country, its road-based commuters suffer worse peak time traffic misery than anywhere else. During peak times, cars in Westminster travel at an average speed of just 10.06mph, compared to a figure of 14.38mph across the biggest British cities.

2015 Lincoln MKC fuel economy figures released

Fuel economy figures for the upcoming 2015 Lincoln MKC crossover have been released. ”So what?” you ask. Well, the MKC is a big deal for the luxury automaker, which is still struggling to reinvent itself.

One Lap of the Web: Datsuns, Alex Lloyd at the TT and Veyron vs. P1

-- We've got Datsun! We've got an unmolested Datsun here! And as opposed to Cameron Thor's character in "Jurassic Park," people do care.

Skoda drives along Popular memory lane

A EUROPEAN car enthusiast is recreating a remarkable British journey first completed 90 years ago by a famous Czech writer, and is driving a 77-year-old Skoda Popular. The milestone car, Skoda's first to sell in big numbers across Europe, is well into a three-week journey around the UK in the hands of car nut Zdeněk Vacek, starting and finishing at the Czech Embassy in London and visiting many of the cities featured in famous Czech writer Karel Čapek's 1924 tome Letters from England. The Popular itself can celebrate its 80th birthday at the same time, having first appeared to widespread acclaim in 1934.

New Mini Hardtop 4-door: First look

Meet the Mini Cooper Hardtop 4-door. The company has followed the surprise unveiling of its one-off Superleggera Vision roadster concept at the recent Villa d'Este Concourse d'Eleganza in Italy with this, a five-door production hatchback that is planned to join its North American lineup later this year. The new Mini model shares its front-wheel-drive mechanical package with the latest three-door Mini Cooper hatchback launched earlier this year but aims to provide more everyday practicality than its popular sibling through a combination of extended external dimensions and a pair of stubby rear doors.

McLaren P1 track version confirmed for 2015

By Tim Pollard Motor Industry 05 June 2014 12:08 Wrapped up in yesterday's announcement about McLaren Automotive breaking into profit for the first time was the news that a new, hardcore McLaren P1 track version will be launched next year. It seems incredible to think that anyone would want an even faster, more focused McLaren P1. But Woking has consulted the 375 owners and found out that their appetite for speed apparently knows no bounds.

Mercedes' mystery building revealed!

Last year, Mercedes-Benz USA was working out a lease on a huge 1.1-million square-foot former aircraft factory across the street from the Long Beach Airport that used to build DC-10s, MD-80s and Boeing 717s. Mercedes wouldn't say what it planned to do with the massive space. Was Benz building airplanes?

Ariel Atom 3.5R police car joins UK Constabulary

We never pictured the Ariel Atom as a police car, but now that Ariel Motors has actually equipped one with all the appropriate police gear, it makes perfect sense. It's light, it's highly visible, it's relatively cheap to run on a daily basis and it's wickedly fast. Ariel Motors has teamed up with the Somerset Constabulary in the south of England to equip an Atom 3.5R, which features a 2.0-liter 350-hp engine from the Honda Civic Type R, with the necessary police gear.

BMW X6 (2015): first photos of the X6 Mk2

By Tim Pollard First Official Pictures 05 June 2014 23:00 BMW has shown its new 2014 X6 crossover - the second-generation of the SUV that puts style over space. The low-slung BMW X6 again uses X5 mechanicals, but wrapped in a squashed, coupe-influenced silhouette. The X6 is a niche product in the UK, selling some 1700 in 2013, around a third of X5 volumes in a good year.

GM fires engineers, executives after ignition switch recall probe

Update: New story containing new information, additional details of terminations added. General Motors has dismissed 15 employees, including at least eight executives, after an internal investigation found “a pattern of incompetence and neglect” that led to 11 years of delays in recalling millions of cars for a fatal defect, CEO Mary Barra said today. Barra promised that the company would address future safety issues far differently, warning employees that failing to report risks would make them “part of the problem” and even inviting them to contact her directly if they couldn't get potential defects addressed themselves.

Lamborghini Countach LP400 breaks $1 million sale barrier

A 1975 Lamborghini Countach LP400 "Periscopica" sold for $1.21 million at the Bonhams auction held in conjunction with the Greenwich Concours d'Elegance on Sunday, June 1, setting a record for the model. Named for the roof-mounted periscope-style rearview mirror that adorned the first 150 Countach models, the stunning "Blu Tahiti" example was the first example of the Countach to break the $1 million mark. We can probably guess what you're thinking: The Countach hadn't broken the $1 million barrier until now?

Audi A8 sedan gets light refresh for 2015

The 2015 Audi A8 will come in at $78,325 when it rolls into dealerships in June. The new model gets a gentle refresh including new LED lights and a restyled grille, bumper and splitter. The top-of-the-line A8L W12 starts at $138,825.

BMW celebrates 25th anniversary of the 8-series

BMW is celebrating the 25th anniversary of the debut of the BMW 8-series, which premiered at the 1989 Frankfurt Motor Show. That's right, the 8-series has been with for 25 years. And yes, 1989 was a quarter of a century ago, as if we needed another reminder of just how old we're getting.