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Thursday, September 1, 2011

It’s Light, Jim, But Not as we Know it: BMW Looks Ahead with Laser Lighting Technology



Most car manufacturers have already adopted the use of LED (light-emitting diode) technology for the lights on their new models – at first for the rear and subsequently for the front daytime running lights. Premium carmakers are even offering full LED headlamps on some of their models, like BMW in its new 6-Series coupe and convertible.

But the Bavarian firm's engineers didn’t put out the lights (pun intended) and head home after their latest achievement. Instead they started working on what they say is the next logical step in car light technology: laser.

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Frankfurt Show Preview: VW Nils is a Single-Seater Electric City Car Concept



The VW Group is pulling out the…small guns at this year's edition of the Frankfurt auto show with a variety of Lilliputian electric car concepts.

Following the announcement on Audi's two-seater Urban Sportback and Spyder studies, the Volkswagen brand today revealed the first images of its new Nils concept, a tiny single-seater electric vehicle designed primarily for use in an urban environment.

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SsangYong XIV-1 Concept Comes into the Light



After teasing us with a trio of smoked out artist's renderings a couple of weeks ago, SsangYong has released two new images of the Frankfurt motorshow-bound XIV-1 concept study, this time without the shade effect.

The South Korean automaker, which is now part of India's US$12.5 billion Mahindra Group, supports that the XIV-1 as a "premium crossover utility vehicle (CUV)" designed for the global market.

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New MINI Celebrates 2 Million Units, British PM Joins the Party



One Mini is born every minute - or one minute and eight seconds to be exact. That’s not a joke, but a fact. And that’s how 10 years after production of the new model began in 2001, the two millionth MINI, a White Silver Convertible with a denim roof, rolled off the Oxford Plant production line with British Prime Minister David Cameron sitting behind the wheel. Read more »

APP Europe Turns up the Wick on BMW 1 M Coupe with 410HP Tune



The new BMW 1 M Coupe is by no means a slow car but for those looking to push themselves into new arenas of performance European tuning house APP has assembled a new package comprising of mechanical and styling mods.

To improve performance, APP Europe turned to MR Car Design that developed a new kit for the 3.0-liter turbocharged straight six, which includes a larger intercooler, ECU upgrade and a lightweight, titanium sport exhaust system boosting output from 340-horses to 410-horses.

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