BMW M Diesels

If you live in the states you’re not going to have to worry about replacing a diesel injector or a diesel turbocharger for your new BMW M550d, because this car not going to be available for sale in the U.S.  Also not available is the other M Diesel cars that BMW just announced; the X5 M50d, and the X6 M50d. You can go ahead and add these vehicles to a long line of sweet rides available to rest of the world, but not available to us.

Ok… I have calmed down. I am no longer upset, and have realized that even if I had the opportunity to buy one of these, I couldn’t afford it anyways.  So, instead of whining about not having one of these great cars, let’s discuss what makes them so great. Each one has all-wheel drive and is powered by what BMW calls Performance Twin Turbo technology.  “Twin Turbo Technology,” Ha! These cars actually have three turbos.  Two smaller turbochargers deliver responsive power down low in the rpm range, and then there is a bigger turbo that adds top-end thrust. The engine is a 3.0-litre inline six, which has 381-hp.  The M-Diesels will all go from 0 to 62-mph in less than 5.4 seconds, and gas mileage will range from 36.7 to 44-mpg.

The cars also get the M treatment on the outside of the vehicles too.  This includes side mirrors and vent bars with a grey metallic finish.  The exhaust is highlighted with trapezoidal tips, there is high-gloss shadow line trim, and alloy wheels ranging from 19 to 20 inches.

No pricing was announced, and the vehicles will be debuted at the Geneva Motor show in March.

Porsche Goes to New Heights

One of the downfalls of living in a high-rise building is that you have to park your diesel turbocharged VW in the garage, and take an elevator all the way up to your floor.  How many times have you wished that you didn’t have to park in that dark concrete maze, which smells like someone’s old diesel fuel pump? Well, it looks like Porsche has figured out a solution.

A new building in Miami, Florida called the Porsche Design Building is about to take residents directly to their apartments.  It doesn’t matter if you are on the first floor or the 50^th.  The high-tech car elevator will take you right to your front door.  Think of the elevator as one of those claw machines at the local arcade that your kid wastes $100 bucks on to get a stuffed animal, but instead of a stuffed animal it’s your car.

The apartments are going to have windows in the front, so you can see your car while lounging in your living room.  This also means when you pull in, you can wave hello to your family. Just like all the people living out in the burbs. The only thing missing is the annoying neighbor, demanding that you trim you hedges.

Each car elevator ride to an apartment which may cost a mere $9 million, will last approximately 45 to 90 seconds.  That sure is one expensive ride.  For that amount a money they better have some really good elevator music.