Hamman Motorsports is a world renowned company for its tuning programmes used on different exotic cars. The company has been well recognized for giving extensive, top quality refinement on different luxury cars as well. The new 2011 BMW 6 Cabrio f12 is the latest upgrade from Hamman.

You have the option when choosing your wheels, from 21-inch alloy wheels in either Design Edition Race “Adonized” which features a high-gloss plate with chrome rim flange, screws made from titanium, and black spokes or Design “Anniversary Evo” silver, or black wheels at 20 or 21 inches.

Using progressive suspension rings, Hamman Motorsports have lowered the center of gravity for this model by 30mm in the front and 25mm in the rear for better fitting with the new alloy wheels. They have also given this model a sporty sounding engine by incorporating a stainless steel exhaust system which contains a system of four exhaust pipes and a middle silencer. The interior is never left out of course as the pedals and footrests are upgraded with aluminum and can is available in silver or anodized black colors.

Combining the refinement specialties of Hamman and the craftsmanship of BMW, this car truly is amongst the cars to enjoy.

Specifications

Sedans and sports wagons were first imported to the USA in 1975, since then, these cars have become favorites among driving enthusiasts. BMW considers its 5-Series, which includes sports wagons and luxury midsize sedans, its most successful models. In 2004, the sedan in this lineup was redesigned, while its sports wagon sibling was reintroduced in 2006. In 2008, the sports wagon was given a new name, the 530xi Sports Wagon. It had updates to its interior and exterior. It also had more power with its 300-horsepower engine compared to its predecessor, making it BMW’s most powerful sports wagon ever offered in the USA.

Performance

The 2010 BMW 5-Series Wagon offers plenty of power and outstanding handling dynamics. It has a turbocharged 3.0-liter six-cylinder engine. This engine produces 300 pound-feet of torque at 1,400-5,000 RPM, and 300 horsepower at 5,800 RPM. It has a standard six-speed manual transmission, and an optional STEPTRONIC automatic. Its city/highway fuel economy is 16/23 MPG for manual transmission, while automatic transmission is at 16/24 MPG.

The 5-Series Wagon handles great. Included in its standard features are the Dynamic Stability Control, Brake Drying, Dynamic Traction Control, and Brake Fade Compensation.

Exterior

The Wagon exterior dimensions are: 113.6 inches wheelbase, 191.2 inches overall length, 72.7 inches width, 58.7 height, 61.3 inches front width, and 62.2 inches rear width. Its passenger capacity seats 5. Its safety and reliability on the other hand, is a treat.

Safety

The 5-Series has many standard safety features. It has front and side airbags, and BMW’s xDrive all-wheel drive system – perfect for rough weather. These safety features earned the 5-Series 3 and 5 stars for driver and front passenger protection respectively. Front and backseat protection were given 5 stars on the other hand. Meanwhile, the 5 Series has been given the highest possible rate of Good for front impacts by the insurance industry, but it only got the second lowest rating of Marginal for side impacts if no side airbag protection is provided. For the 5-Series’ warranty, BMW provides a 4-year/50,000-mile limited warranty, and 4 years 24-hour roadside assistance.

Competition

This vehicle has been compared to the Audi A6 Avant, Infiniti EX35 (MSRP $27,952; 17 city / 24 hwy), and Mercedes Benz E-class wagon (MSRP $37,494; 16 city / 21 hwy).

In all of its competitors, the Audi A6 Avant (MSRP $43,672; 18 city / 26 hwy) is the 5-Series Wagon’s top competitor. For many, it will make a great choice. Like the 5-Series Wagon, it has a 300-horsepower engine, approximately 58 cubic feet cargo room, complex multimedia interface system, and standard all-wheel drive. It’s less costly, too, starting at almost $3,000 less and, it looks much sleeker.

The 2010 BMW 5-Series Wagon is stylish, yet reliable and most importantly, comfortable. Anyone driving or riding in it will enjoy its comfort during long trips. It has plenty of room for a family with 4 members, but drives nothing like a family wagon, but more like a sports car. It has more lavish features than any car of its kind. It runs smoothly and quietly. The I-Drive system is easy to operate. The car is pricey, but you will get legendary BMW quality in terms of performance, reliability, and features. Buyers will definitely get what they pay for when the competition spends less time on the road.

There’s not much to dislike about the 2010 BMW 5-Series Wagon. However, a little more rear legroom wouldn’t hurt. Moreover, its keyless entry/drive should not be an option at all, but rather a standard.

Overall Rating
76 out of 100

What others say:

“Whether as a sedan or wagon, the 2010 BMW 5-Series is a distinctly sportier, tech-savvy alternative to luxury rivals-without giving up any comfort.”Car Connection

“Even with the optional Sport Package, the 550i does a reasonable job of smothering bumps with the adjustable suspension set in Normal mode. ”Consumer Guide

“Exceptional ride and handling, smooth and vigorous engines, premium cabin furnishings, sublime multicontour seats, strong resale value.”Edmunds

Specifications

The 2011 Volvo S40 is classified as an upscale small car and is ranked 6 out of 10 based on Reviews, test drives and car specification analysis. Like most Volvo’s the S40 is plagued with criticism regarding performance, reliability, limited cargo space but is praised for its interior and exterior design as well as its superior standard safety features.

Performance

The Volvo S40 provides an exciting and safe ride that had a lot of reviewers surprised. However, in contrast with its impressive 227 horsepower motor the S40 lags behind its rivals in responsiveness and excitement in terms of driving. The all wheel drive which improves performance is only available in pricier trims/models such as the T5 but transmission, especially automatic is smooth and surprisingly responsive.

Also the S40 has a standard Geartronic transmission which is basically a semi-automatic transmission. Therefore enthusiasts who want an all automatic transmission will be disappointed.

The S40 comes in four door and a Front Wheel Drive Automatic Turbocharged inline-5 2.5Liter engine. Mileage is 21 miles per gallon in the City and 30 miles per gallon in the Highway.

Exterior

Receiving a lot of kudos in terms of exterior styling, every reviewer has come to appreciate the refined yet sporty exterior of the S40 which easily turns heads of professionals and sports enthusiast alike. This is in marked contrast to the Volvo of several years ago that was square and old.

Interior

Two words come to mind when looking into the S40 interior, minimalist and classy. There are rarely any complaints in the front end of the cabin, but passenger legroom, head clearance as well as cargo capacity leaves a lot to be desired for, especially considering that this is a mid ranged automobile.

Safety & Reliability

This is a Volvo after all, known for their attention to safety, though the federal government has not yet set any crash tests on the 2011 Volvo S40 but since most of the S40 features remain unchanged then the five out of five stars of the 2010 S40 results is still applicable. This coupled with Good and Acceptable insurance standards indicate Volvo is still synonymous to safety. Preventive safety include auto-off rear fog light, anti-skid system, anti-lock brakes , side marker lights, stability control, traction control, blind spot information system, and did we mention there are six additional airbags.

People have come to trust the reliability of Volvo made vehicles. This is based on three years product trending. Basic Volvo warranty means 4 years or 50,000 miles and five year complimentary factory maintenance.

Competition

However, regardless of the S40’s stellar performance it is still outclassed by the BMW series-1 (MSRP $29,450; 18 city / 28 hwy) which has a very rich interior. The Volkswagen GTI (MSRP $23,695; 21 city / 31 hwy) is a cheaper alternative and provides a diesel engine for added fuel economy but in terms of styling and creature comforts GTI pales in comparison to the S40. The Audi A3 (MSRP $27,270; 21 city / 31 hwy) is probably its worst competitor because of the price, but it provides for a classier interior, sportier exterior and a lot more driving excitement than the S40. The S40 like most Volvos is a car rooted in safety and that is probably its greatest asset.

Overall Rating
63 out of 100

What others say:

“The 2011 Volvo S40 is unremarkable from a styling standpoint, though it’s even by today’s fashion sense a well-sculpted small sport sedan.”Car Connection

“Volvo says the S40 does 0-60 mph in 6.7 seconds. These turbocharged premium compacts are snappy and suffer little irksome lag. The automatic transmission is generally smooth and responsive.”Consumer Guide

“Not quite a luxury sedan despite premium pricing; handling falls short of that seen in true sport sedans; awkward navigation system interface.”Edmunds

“If you’re looking for a premium compact sedan loaded with features at a very modest price, spend some time behind the wheel of a 2011 Volvo S40.”KBB

Specifications

The 2011 Ferrari World Design Contest was held for all university students who were tasked to create their concept of the future car and build 2D and 3D models of their dream car. The 3D models were built in 3D Autodesk Alias. Entrants to the contest submitted car designs with novel designs like hybrid engines which offer combinations of alternative power sources. The use of new car materials to optimize car weight and driving comfort were also conceived by the youthful designers who submitted creative body designs and elegant car forms.

Three major awards were given to the Hongkik University in Seoul, South Korea, IED in Azerbaijan and RCA in London, UK, whose students won the first, second and third prizes, respectively. Two special design awards were also given to the students of Hongkik University and the students of Jiangnan University in China. Officials of the Ferrari group conferred the awards to the winners.

The car industry was astounded by the results of the 2011 Ferrari World Design Contest which displayed the 1: 4 car models for the world to see. Ferrari Chairman Luca di Montezemolo was impressed by the passion and commitment that went into creation of the car models and hinted that some ideas from the contest might take form in future Ferrari models.

BMW is a key player in manufacturing and producing one of the best and most coveted luxury cars every year. The BMW M3 CRT (carbon racing technology) is the newest addition to the ever-so luxurious and elegant range of cars from BMW. It is the epitome of a perfect blend of state of the art expertise in development and a lightweight design made intelligently.

This model debuts the innovation in production process in cars using carbon-fiber reinforced plastic components in the industry of automobile. This process will pave the way for CRFP to be introduced in the production of high-performance saloon-based BMW sports cars.

This model will be produced in limited edition with only 67 units to be sold in the market. This model will enter the automobile market by 2013 and is fully equipped with BMW Active Hybrid drive system technology and a body comprised of CRFP entirely in the passengers’ area. The new development process allows for excess cuttings used in the production of one unit to be reprocessed and used for the production of the next unit.

This innovation in the manufacturing process of cars creates a considerable potential for the new materials that helps lowering the weight of cars. Truly, this car is an innovation and the new breed of sports cars.

Specifications

*Modified Specifications*