2007 Tokyo Auto Show Preview: Subaru Impreza BEAMS Edition

TOKYO — Subaru has been moderately successful in North America in teaming with outfitter L.L. Bean on outdoorsy versions of several models. Now, Japanese domestic buyers have their own special vehicle: the Impreza BEAMS Edition.

Subaru has teamed with BEAMS, a Japanese purveyor of hip fashions with the advertising slogan of "Art for Everyday." Curiously, the BEAMS Web site promotes clothing with "Clean American Casual Style."

There isn't much more to the Impreza BEAMS than paint and trim. The car is painted orange — the BEAMS signature color — and the black leather seats are top-stitched in orange.

Without elaboration, Subaru says in its Tokyo show teaser that "we aimed to create a car that puts a smile on your face." We have to admit, the orange-and-black theme just before Halloween works for us.

What this means to you: Consider the BEAMS edition as the Japanese equivalent of our L.L. Bean models.

2008 Mansory Rolls-Royce Phantom Conquistador

(from Mansory Press Release) It starts with a newly developed front spoiler with integrated state of the art LED daytime running lights and elongated grille stripes; new side skirts with implemented aluminum flanks; also, the same material for the side fender grilles; the wing mirrors come with integrated flasher lights, and the tail comes with a apron and double over and under stainless steel exhaust ends, and at last the small sporty trunk lid spoiler.

Inside the luxury saloon, MANSORY displays the choicest individuality. Special wide carbon fiber in combination with bright maple wood inlays as well as implemented ambiance-light-effects give the interior an extravagant classy level. Lightening sill plates, chequered quilted ornaments in seats along the line to the carbon fiber structure, Alcantara roof lining, Alcantara dashboard to the point of the forceful designed sport steering wheel. At the back there are the new electrical business tables with seat integrated multimedia monitores as the final statement of exclusive imagination.

2008 BMW 5 Series

(from BMW Press Release) Building on last year’s updates, BMW’s 2008 5 Series Sedans and Sport Wagon receive another significant freshening and, in the case of 6-cylinder models, a major boost in power and efficiency. Complementing the power increase, a thoroughly revised interior, new technological features and a freshened look front and rear ensure this benchmark collection of rear and all-wheel-drive Sedans and Sports Wagon will maintain their place at the forefront of the mid-size luxury class.

These early March 2007 release of the 2008 5 Series models represent the most significant update since their introduction in late 2003 as 2004s. Adopting the new engines introduced in the 3 Series Coupe, the 6-cylinder Sedans and Sport Wagon receive new model designations, reflecting a marked boost in power.

New technological features also make their appearance for ’08. First among these is BMW’s Lane Departure Warning system, a camera-based system that monitors lane placement, and discreetly notifies the driver via mild steering wheel vibration of any motions that might indicate an inadvertent lane change. The convenience of Active Cruise Control is extended via a new Stop and Go feature, which enables the system to function even in heavy traffic. Active Cruise allows the vehicle to come to a complete stop without losing its setting, then accelerate back up to set speed with only a touch of the accelerator pedal from the driver..

With all these changes for 2008, BMW’s 5 Series again reasserts itself as the class leader in the midsize performance-luxury field.

Audi's clean little secret: Audi A1

The European invasion of Japan has begun. This is the Audi A1 concept, set to be revealed at the Tokyo Auto Show and take the premium small car fight to the Mini Cooper.

Actually, Audi isn't calling it the A1 concept, but rather the Metroproject Quattro. It's a three-door, four-seater plug-in hybrid that could reach production some time in 2009 to slot below the A3 in Audi's line-up.

The A1 concept (we're going to stick with that name - Metroproject Quattro sounds like a cheesy Amsterdam rave bar) is powered by a 1.4-litre TFSI petrol engine, which sends 150bhp through the front wheels. There's also a 41bhp electric motor positioned over the rear axle - which, in a rather cool touch, is visible through the rear hatch - driving the rear wheels.

This means that, when the two motors are working simultaneously, the A1 becomes four-wheel drive, but under low loads it can run on either motor independently: the lithium-ion batteries give the A1 a range of some 60 miles in pure electric mode.

Audi quotes emissions of 112g/km of CO for the A1 concept, while fuel economy stands at 58mpg: not bad for a car that'll hit 62mph in under eight seconds.

Predictably, the A1 concept is more restrained in appearance than the Mini Cooper it'll be aiming to steal buyers away from. That said, there are still some neat touches: those wrap-over aluminium arches give an almost Fiat 500-esque curve to the coupe's glasshouse, while the front end is dominated by that huge, trapezoidal front grille.

The cabin is functional, without many of the retro touches of other premium small cars. The A1's big trick is the iPhone-inspired Audi Mobile Device, a handheld unit that plugs into a slot on the centre console.

We'll get a closer look at the A1 concept in Tokyo next week, where we'll be dreaming of an RS1. No idea how it'd work, but we want one.

2008 Le Mansory Bentley Continental GT

from Mansory Press Release) LE MANSORY, the limited edition of the widebody customization components. The word combination MANSORY and the famous french racetrack Le Mans are building the title of this modification range. And with the popular 24 hours race event coeval the limited quantity of 24 sets is figured out based on your Bentley Continental GT. A complete new front spoiler integrated with state of the art LED permanent daylights, extrem air intakes and so on the striking carbonfibre elements gives the bolide a true bred racing car trait.

The side skirts and the fender attachments express clearly the motoring appearance and honours the widebody definition. Likewise the front there are large air intakes and carbonfibre elements which supporting the sporty impression. The complete redesigned rear skirt with the rear trunk spoiler incorporates the double quad chromium plated stainless steel exhaust system which makes the vehicle unforgettable and the sport air filters and the sportcatalysor completed system will give a sonouros dominating unique sound. With the MANSORY electronic engineering package the performance grows up to 641bhp, 650PS, 478 kW at 6100rpm on to a top speed of 205 mph or 330 km/h evolving in a gigantic peak torque of 780 Nm, 575 lb ft by only 1.600 rpm. The acceleration is 0 - 100km/h 4.6 seconds respectively 0 - 60mph/h 4.4 seconds. To restrain this amazing power performance, there is the special developed brake system with MANSORY’s high end co-operation partner BREMBO. Dimensions of the systems are 412/38 rotor discs with 6 piston aluminium fixed calipers in front and disc dimensions 405/22 with 4 piston calibers for the rear with the integrated electronical handbrake.

First Drive: 2008 Aston Martin DBS.Be James Bond at 191 mph

Low, sleek and yet self-consciously aggressive, the 2008 Aston Martin DBS is the ultimate expression of the contemporary Aston Martin.

The 2008 Aston Martin DBS is the car that Aston CEO Dr. Ulrich Bez describes as "thunder and lightning." Aston Martin must achieve the prestige of Ferrari to survive as an influential manufacturer of sports cars, and that means the DBS must measure up against the Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano.

A Surprising Start
For the DBS, Aston Martin presents you with a plastic controller topped with a crystal, described as an ECU — Emotion Control Unit. (Well, it'll be stainless steel and a sapphire if you actually pay the $265,000.) It slots into the center of the starter button, which then glows warmly red as the 5,935cc V12 comes to life.

This is the same Ford-designed engine featured in the DB9, still assembled by hand in Cologne, Germany. It's been slightly revised for the DBS, and the changes include a taller 10.9:1 compression ratio and a bypass valve in the intake tract that opens at 5,500 rpm to admit more air into the engine at peak rpm. The upshot of this is a 60-horsepower hike in power from the DB9's 450-hp calibration to 510 hp at 6,500 rpm. The torque output remains unchanged at 420 pound-feet, available at 5,750 rpm.

The deep, rich tone from the V12 engine is instantly familiar, now a signature of Aston Martin. Reach out for the shift lever of the six-speed manual transmission (an automated sequential manual will be available later), and slot into 1st gear. The shift action is heavy, as you would expect from a rear-mounted transaxle required to process so much power, yet it's precise and manageable, while the clutch action is light and linear. The DBS might be powerful, but it's not intimidating.

Female Car Insurance Have to Cost More

When you see a car driving fast, racing through the streets, it would seem that it is usually a young male at the wheel. Young men are known for driving cars fast, being a little reckless, and not quite so considerate of others on the road. So, shouldn't their car insurance cost more? Unfortunately for many women, it doesn't. Female car insurance often costs more than it does for men, but not for the reasons that you may think.