BMW to roll out new Z4 in 2010

Gerry Malloy

SPECIAL TO THE STAR

BMW plans to introduce a next-generation Z4 sports car for the 2010 model year. It will differ dramatically from the current model with the adoption of a folding hard-top, like that of the Mercedes-Benz SLK.

Spy shots reveal a look that leaves no doubt as to what it is, although they suggest some of the current model's edginess may be softened just a little. Given that it will share many of its mechanicals with the 3-Series, expect a similar powertrain lineup, including an M version.

For the first time ever, the Z4 will be built in Germany. Production will shift from Spartanburg, South Carolina, to Regensburg, when it starts up late in 2009.

Toronto students tops in U.S.

A student team from Central Technical School in Toronto beat 35 U.S. teams in an international car repair competition held at the New York auto show last week.

Central Tech's Julien Predas and Janos Mann claimed first place in the U.S.-based National Automotive Technology Competition, after winning a similar competition at the Toronto show in February.

Predas and Mann, the only entry from Canada, claimed the top spot in the two-day event, after first applying their theoretical knowledge in a series of challenging one-hour work-station tests on individual vehicle components and systems.

Then they had to diagnose and repair a car that was rigged with a number of computer and mechanical bugs, including one or more that caused a "no-start" condition.

The calibre of the competitors was exceptional, but the Toronto pair performed flawlessly, according to Dave Samalea, co-ordinator of automotive and motorcycle programs at Centennial College, which organized the Toronto event.

The pair learned what vehicle they would be working with – a Mazda3 – when they won the Toronto event, for which the subject vehicle had been a Volkswagen GTI. So in the intervening month they had to learn everything they could about the Mazda, on top of their regular school work.

For their victory in New York, Predas and Mann won a Snap-On tool set, various other tools and equipment, scholarships to a wide choice of U.S. post-secondary educational facilities, and a Pontiac Solstice for each of them – to be received only when they finish their post-secondary educations.

Their win also earned their teacher, Tony Rende, a five-day ocean cruise for two, with Carnival Cruise Lines, and Central Tech gets a choice of either a Hunter wheel-balancer or tire-changer.

$10M for fuel-efficient car

The X Foundation, best known for its competitions promoting space flights, is offering $10 million (U.S.) to the team that can come up with the most production-ready vehicle capable of achieving the benchmark of 100 miles per U.S. gallon (2.35 L/100 km to us) or better.

More than 60 teams from nine countries have completed letters of intent to participate. At this year's New York auto show, the Progressive Casualty Insurance Company was announced as the sponsor for what is now known as Progressive Automotive X Prize. The prize will be divided among two winners: $7.5 million for a mainstream (four-wheel, four-seat) category and $2.5 million for an alternative class.

One of the teams already on board is British Columbia-based Fuelvapor Technologies and more Canadian entries are expected, including at least one from Ontario.

In addition to the fuel-consumption goal, the competition places a major focus on affordability, safety, and the environment. It is about developing real, production-capable cars that consumers want to buy, not science projects or concept cars.

Details are online at www. progressiveautoxprize.org.

Sat radio merger closer

The proposed merger of satellite radio competitors Sirius and XM is one step closer to completion as it has now received approval from the U.S. Department of Justice. The two proposed the merger more than a year ago, and it has been in regulatory limbo ever since.

To win this first step of approval, the two argued that rather than forming a monopoly, they needed to join forces to compete with other in-car entertainment sources such as regular radio, high-definition radio (available only in the U.S.), and MP3 players.

Neither company has yet turned a profit on its own.

The next step is approval by the U.S. Federal Communications Commission.

Whatever happens in the U.S. won't necessarily follow through here. While the U.S. satellite providers each have a stake in their Canadian counterparts, they are independent, Canadian-controlled companies.

More videos from Wheels.ca and our partners