Beautiful Design BMW Minicar Conceptual Drawing

Despite no official word yet out of Munich, rumors persist that BMW is developing an electric-powered minicar that should be ready by 2012, just in time to meet a California mandate for the production of zero emissions vehicles.

The impending California regulations call for automakers to sell a number of clean vehicles on a credit-based scale that weighs their share of California's new car market and the type of vehicle offered. Although the requirement will focus on zero emissions vehicles powered by electricity and hydrogen, an automaker will also be able to meet the mandate by selling traditional and plug-in hybrids.

Because BMW's market share in the U.S. is relatively small, it won't need to build too many examples of the car, which has yet to be named. BMW has an alphabet soup of monikers in its vault that it acquired when it bought Rover, as well as Isetta, which has been bandied about on the Internet. Other possible names include "Metro," after the Austin Metro, though in the U.S., that name may still be owned by GM from the Geo days, and "City," which would be in keeping with the car's mission as a small, city commuter.

BMW has chosen to develop the car alone rather than with a partner, but the automaker may base its new minicar on Magna Steyr's MILA Alpin Concept, which was shown earlier this year at the Geneva Motor Show, to save money and speed up development. The platform could also be later adapted to develop a more traditional city car powered by an internal combustion engine, possibly one taken from a BMW motorcycle, to compete with the likes of the Volkswagen's up!, Toyota's iQ, and smart in Europe.

VW's up! (which may end up being called Lupo) is expected to be sold worldwide and should arrive in either 2010 or 2011 as a family of vehicles that could eventually include electric and hydrogen fuel cell variants. It's possible that Volkswagen could build a version of the up! along the lines of what BMW is planning to fill its share of the ZEV requirement. Toyota's iQ minicar, on the other hand, is too small to fit a battery pack, but should be a solid competitor in a segment that is sure to grow as gas prices continue to rise. The iQ is likely to go on sale in 2009, but isn't expected to come to the U.S.

Audi A3 TDI Clubsport Quattro Concept

Audi's diesel-powered factory Eurotuner to bow at Worthersee

Audi likes to use the Lake Worther Tour, held annually in southern Austria at the end of May, as a place to show off some fresh ideas. Last year, the automaker brought out the radically styled TT Clubsport Concept. Bowing this year is the A3 Clubsport Concept, a rehash of the not-for-U.S. A3 three-door that would drive any Eurotuner green, or perhaps red, with envy.

First up is the business end. Under the hood is a clean, Euro 5-compliant 2.0L four-cylinder turbodiesel pumping out 224 hp and 332 lb-ft of torque, which propels the hatch to 62 mph in 6.6 seconds on to a top speed of 149 mph. The gearbox is a six-speed manual, and power is sent to all four wheels via Audi's famous quattro all-wheel-drive system.

Stopping power at the front comes courtesy of potent six-piston calipers gripping lightweight, carbon-carbide 14-inch discs. Strangely enough, however, Audi couldn't be bothered to upgrade the rear brakes, which are straight from the production model. At least the brakes aren't drums.

Audi also equipped with A3 Clubsport with a stiff sport suspension that reduces the ride height by 1.42 inches and fitted it with the automaker's drive select driving dynamics system and magnetic ride adaptive damper control to maximize handling when necessary and ride comfort when not.

2011 Nissan 370Z Buyer's Guide

The highly-successful Nissan 350Z is getting long in the tooth, and rumors about its replacement have been circulating for some time. Expected to arrive in sometime in 2009 as a 2010 model, the new 370Z, codenamed Z34, will be smaller, lighter, and more agile than the current model.
2010 Nissan 370Z Illustration
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Changes begin with the shortened wheelbase and reduced overall length. The wheelbase will be shrunk by about four inches to just over 100 inches, with length dropping by some five inches to around 164 or so. Sources indicate the wheelbase was shortened by removing the the strut tower brace that dominated the rear cargo area and by shrinking room behind the seats.

These dimensions will make the 370Z roughly the same size as a Porsche Cayman or BMW M Coupe. Styling will be more aggressive, with heavily flared fenders, rocker panels and new fascia with updated lighting. The cabin will likely feature better materials and improved ergonomics.

On the engine side, the extra 0.2-liters of displacement are going to translate into a substantial power boost on the order of at least 45 horsepower, giving the 370Z at least the 330 horses under the hood that the Infiniti G37 coupe has, possibly more. Transmission choices will include a six-speed manual and a seven-speed automatic.

Additionally, there is word that Renault is considering the possibility of using the new Z platform to resurrect the defunct Alpine brand, with technical aid from Porsche.