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BMW ready to shift small coupes, convertibles to even-number nameplates

Reports in Europe say that BMW is planning a shake-up in the naming strategy for its smaller coupes and convertibles, as well as planning to shift its 1-series cars onto a front-drive platform. The nameplate shake-up will have coupe and convertible variants of the 1-series become the 2-series, while coupe and convertible variants of the 3-series will become the 4-series. The changeover is expected to start in 2013, according to a report on the Web site of Car magazine.

BMW 135is coupe and 135is convertible available for order

BMW announced that it will expand its 1-series lineup with the addition of the 2013 BMW 135is coupe and 135is convertible. The enthusiast-oriented 135is models will be powered by BMW's TwinPower 3.0-liter I6 engine that will produce 320 hp and 317 lb-ft of torque after factory tuning. That's a 20-hp and 17-lb-ft increase over the 2012 135i, but BMW claims that the vehicles will maintain both the fuel-economy and emissions ratings of the 135i.

500 hp Lexus LX 570 answers question no one asked

We never thought of the Lexus LX 570 as being particularly short on power. Apparently the team at Hennessey Performance had a different opinion and took matters into their own hands, creating a supercharger package for the full-size SUV. The standard Lexus LX 570 already pumps out 383 hp and 403 lb-ft of torque courtesy of its 5.7-liter V8 engine, with power going to all four wheels.