The German automobile manufacturer BMW entered the market for sports utility vehicles (SUV) in 1999 with its introduction of the BMW X5. The German car maker, however, describes the X5 as a sports activity vehicle (SAV) in a market-positioning attempt to give emphasis to the vehicles’ on-road ability despite its being a mid-size SUV. All X5s sold worldwide are manufactured in Spartanburg, South Carolina.

An all-wheel drive, the BMW X5 is marketed in a range of V8 and gasoline inline-6s engines, as well as 3.0 L diesel engines. The production of the X5’s late 2000 generation marked the SUV shift to sedan-based crossovers from truck-based body-on-frame used in earlier models. BMW X5 competitors which have also shifted to sedan-based crossovers include the Mercedes Benz M-Class and Lexus RX 300. BMW continued to use the X prefix to its SAVs with its introduction of the BMW X3 in the Detroit Auto Show in 2003.

Estimated Price Range for Used BMW X5: $500-$17,000
Estimated MPG for BMW X5: 14 City/20 Hwy
Available Trims: 4.4i, 3.0i, 4.8i
Below are Pre-Owned BMW X5 from Ebay and 7 of the top used-car sites on the web:

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Used BMW X5 on Yahoo Autos	Used BMW X5 on Oodle
Used BMW X5 on AOL Autos	Used BMW X5 on Motortrend
Used BMW X5 on Usedcars	Used BMW X5 on Internetautoguide
Used BMW X5 on Autotrader

BMW X5 Test Drive BMW X5 vs Porsche Cayenne GTS BMW X5 Review

You got to give it to the marketing people of BMW for their creativity. In the second quarter of 2008, the German car manufacturer unveiled its BMW X6 which has been positioned in the market as a Sports Activity Coupé (SAC). Earlier, BMW employed the same marketing tack by calling its sports utility vehicle BMW X5 as a Sports Activity Vehicle (SAV).

It isn’t only in the marketing direction that the BMW X6 and the X5 have some commonalities. Both share the same platform and both are manufactured in BMW’s plant in Spartanburg, South Carolina. The X6 is a combination of the features of an SUV and a coupé. The BMW X6 adopts the SUV’s all-wheel drive, high ground clearance, large tires and wheels and all-weather driving capability. As a coupe, it has bold styling with dramatic sloping roof. But the X6 by itself is unique in that it is BMW’s first SUV (or SAC or SAV) to be equipped with an automatic transmission.

Estimated Price Range for Used BMW X6: $20,000-$40,000
Estimated MPG for BMW X6: 16 City/23 Hwy
Below are Pre-Owned BMW X6 from Ebay and 5 of the top used-car sites on the web:

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Used BMW X6 on Yahoo Autos	Used BMW X6 on Oodle
Used BMW X6 on AOL Autos	Used BMW X6 on Motortrend
Used BMW X6 on Internetautoguide

BMW X6 Review and Test Drive

BMW X6 Promotional Video

BMW X6 xDrive35d Compares to the BMW X5

In demand of its success Continental GT Speed coupe in 2007, Bentley has now released the 600bhp W12 power train in the new Continental Flying Spur Speed to deliver a more powerful blow to Bentley’s customers driving experience. The Speed engine has developed 15 percent more torque and also light-weight materials and a new engine system.

With a top speed of 200 mph, and could reach 0-60 mph in a very awkward 4.5 seconds, surprised most customers. Improving from the original tires, this new car has upgraded its wheels to 20-inch in different colors ranging from bright silver to darkened tungsten.

The Speed offers a “Dynamic Mode” to allow wheels to slip for higher speeds. Dr. Ulrich Eichhorn, Member of the Board Engineering, comments: “The new Flying Spur advances its Bentley performance credentials while delivering outstanding refinement and comfort through our unique application of advanced technology and traditional craftsmanship.” People who like to enjoy life to the fullest and cruise down the highway in a luxurious manner should.

Specifications
Vehicle Type: production car, 4-door sedan
Price: $180,395 (Flying Spur); $204,795 (Flying Spur Speed)
Fuel Mileage: 10/17 mpg
Configuration: Front Engine/RWD
Engine: Twin-Turbo W12
Displacement: 5998 cc
Horsepower: 600 bhp @ 6000 rpm
Torque: 553 lb-ft @ 1750 rpm
Transmission: 6-Speed Automatic
Weight: 5456 lbs
Height: 57.7 in
Length: 208.3 in
Width: 83.4 in
Wheelbase: 120.7 in
Track (f/r): f: 63.9/r: 63.3 in
0-60 mph: 4.5 sec
0-100 mph: 10.4 sec
Top Speed: 200 mph

Video of 2009 Bentley Continental Flying Spur Speed

Alfa Romeo S.p.A traces its origins to a company called Societa Italiana Automobili Darracq situated in a town in Italy. It was headed by Ugo Stella. Stella restructured the company so that it would be able to churn out original racing cars of the finest quality. Stella employed an engineer from another large automobile manufacturer to design his first pet project, an open-body 24CV which can seat five, that makes 42 horsepower. There was also another version, the 12CV which made 22 horsepower. These were Alfa Company’s main offerings before the war.

War temporarily halted the company’s operations, which faced financial difficulties. In 1925, Nicola Romeo took on the reins of automobile production with the purchase of the Alfa Romeo firm.

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Victories in the world racing circuit transpired. Sometime in the 50s, the firm commissioned an engineer to create a racing car that had a family car’s features. Alfa Romeo Ti and the enhanced version, the Ti Coupe Sprint and Ti Sprint Super Sports models, were born.

In the 1960s, Alfa Romeos were used as preferred vehicles of the Italian Prime Minister. In 2007, Fiat Auto S.p.A. faced reorganization and four new car companies came into being.

Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione Test Drive

The Mercury Villager is a result of a joint venture between Mercury’s parent company Ford Motors, and Japanese automaker Nissan Motors. This join venture produced the minivan Villager, as well as another minivan, this time marketed as a Nissan product, Nissan Quest. The public first saw the Villager in Detroit’s North American International Auto Show in 1992. The Quest and Villager are almost similar, sharing the same Nissan engine, with aesthetic differences such as a signature Mercury feature of having a lightbar between the two headlights. Production of the two minivans was done in the Avon Lake, Ohio Ford plant.

The Villager was introduced with three trim choices available the basic GS trim, LS trim, and the Nautica Special Edition, the luxury trim. The Nautica Special Edition model was set in two-toned combinations either blue and white or red and white color scheme. The nautical theme was furthered with designs such as captain’s chairs in the second row and a yellow pinstripe.

Estimated Price Range for Used Mercury Villager: $1,200-$7,000
Estimated MPG for Mercury Villager: 16 City/22 Hwy
Available Trims: Base, LS, GS, Sport
Below are Pre-Owned Mercury Villager from Ebay and 6 of the top used-car sites on the web:

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Used Mercury Villager on Yahoo Autos	Used Mercury Villager on Oodle
Used Mercury Villager on AOL Autos	Used Mercury Villager on Motortrend
Used Mercury Villager on Autotrader	Used Mercury Villager on Internetautoguide

At the start, sales figures for the Villager were promising, but in the late 1990s, it suffered from competition with newer minivans introduced in the market. The Villager lasted two generations, with the second generation available in base, Sport, and the luxury Estate trims. After 2002, Ford decided to discontinue the line while Nissan continued with the production of a 2004 Nissan Quest. Mercury, meanwhile became busy marketing a minivan that Ford passed on to it, the Freestar, which was renamed the Monterey (not to be confused with another full-sized car branded Mercury Monterey that was available in the 1960s).

Mercury Villager Commercial