Green light for radical BMW sedan

Gerry Malloy

SPECIAL TO THE STAR

BMW has effectively confirmed that its Gran Turismo four-door is headed for production by naming board of management member Gerhard Richter to head the project.

The highly styled car will feature cutting-edge technology and "round off the BMW product range at the top end," the company says.

It was first shown last spring at the Shanghai auto show as the Concept CS.

Meanwhile, BMW Group Canada says the X6 Sports Activity Coupé (SAC) will make its Canadian debut during 2008.

The model is said to be the most sporting and dynamic rendition of BMW's X-line while encompassing the features and design qualities typical of a large BMW coupe.

With the X6, the Munich-based automaker also introduces new nomenclature that includes xDrive in the designation of its all-wheel-drive models.

Accordingly, the SAC will be offered in two versions: the X6 xDrive35i and the X6 xDrive50i.

The former will be powered by a 3.0 L inline-six rated at about 300 hp, the latter by a 4.4 L V8 producing 400 hp.

Both engines will feature twin turbocharging and direct injection.

As the names imply, the X6 will come standard with intelligent xDrive AWD.

It will be the first application of the company's Dynamic Performance Control.

The system varies torque distribution not only between the front and rear axles but also between the two rear wheels.

'MOST ROMANTIC' BUICK SOLD

Decades ago, when I was a young engineer at General Motors of Canada, I stumbled upon a cache of pre-war blueprints while rummaging around the basement of the Experimental Engineering building, where I worked.

Among those drawings were some detailing modifications to a Canadian-made 1936 McLaughlin-Buick limousine, built specifically for the then Prince of Wales.

Among its accoutrements were drink and jewellery cabinets, vanity mirrors, luncheon trays and privacy blinds.

The car was delivered early in 1936, after its recipient had become King Edward VIII. He would abdicate later that year to be with the divorced woman he loved, Wallis Simpson.

They later did marry and reportedly kept the car for three years.

Those blueprints were still in that basement when I left GM more than 30 years ago, but the building has long since disappeared and their disposition is unknown.

There is no mystery, however, about what happened to the big Buick limo.

Once dubbed the "most romantic car" in the world, because of its ties to the great affair, it was recently sold by Bonhams auction house in London, England, with just 42,827 miles (69,000 km) on its odometer.

Expected by Bonhams to fetch in the range of $80,000 to $100,000 (Cdn.), it went for $185,000 – cheap for such a piece of history.

ELEMENT CAPTIVATES CANINES

Proving that there's an award for almost everything, the Honda Element has been named the most dog-friendly vehicle of 2007.

The Element was selected by the editors of DogCars.com, an online car-buying resource for dog lovers created by Good Morning America veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker and his writing partner, Gina Spadafori.

"Surveys show that about half of all car buyers consider the comfort of the family dog when buying a new car – and 65 per cent take their pets on errands," says Becker.

The Element's versatile cargo space, easy-to-clean flooring, cage-friendly rear design and optional all-wheel drive were cited as the key ingredients for the perfect dog car.

RUMBLINGS

A Mitsubishi insider hints that a Lancer compact sports sedan variant less exotic than the hot Evolution arriving in Canada next spring may be coming.

It would compete with the turbo Subaru Impreza WRX.

The hot new S5, now in Audi stores, carries a starting price of $65,900.

The high-performance coupe packs a 354 hp, 4.2 L V8, with direct injection.

The engine is coupled to a six-speed manual transmission and quattro all-wheel drive.

Standard goodies include a Bang & Olufsen audio system, adaptive headlamps and LED daytime running lights.

An S5 variant, with a six-speed Tiptronic automatic gearbox and paddle shifters, bows next spring priced at $67,400.