BMW M5 manual mess-up

By Chris chilton Motor Industry 27 January 2007 01:34 North American customers were delighted when BMW bowed to their demands for a full three-pedal manual version of the current V10 M5 super saloon, but aren’t quiet so enamoured with the finished product. The issue is not with the gearbox itself – BMW successfully replaced the European model’s seven-speed SMG box with the old-shape M5’s six-speed manual – but with the compromises that were needed to get there. Without the benefit of computer control for the opening and closing of the clutch plates, M division’s engineers couldn’t eliminate axle tramp under hard take-offs.

Rolls-Royce 'art deco' models (2012) first official picture

A Rolls-Royce Phantom is already a special machine, but for the Paris show Rolls-Royce has outfitted its display cars in Art Deco-inspired livery and trim. The Phantoms and similarly tweaked Ghost sister get special paint finished and interior trim, and will inspire a production run of Art Deco style cars made available to Rolls-Royce's most faithful clients What's different on the Art Deco Rolls Royces? On the Phantom, the black exterior is twined with a black and white-trimmed cabin, complete with hand-finished steel inlays in the picnic tables and phone compartment.

Chevrolet is taking orders nationwide for the 2012 Volt

Chevrolet has opened the order window for the 2012 Volt to buyers in all 50 states. The 2012 model carries a base price of $39,995, including an $850 destination charge. That's $1,005 less than the base price of the 2011 model because the navigation system is now optional instead of standard equipment.