Buick LaCrosse reaches 100,000th milestone (CN)

GM has no problem making a racket about Buicks success in China. Now, the American carmakers Chinese division has another reason to rejoice as sales of the all-new Buick LaCrosse sedan has reached 100,000 units in less than a year after its launch.

According to GM, the LaCrosse is "the quickest-growing member of China's premium upper-medium sedan segment” – whatever that’s suppose to mean, with the 3.0 litre SIDI petrol model accounting for nearly 80% of the segment in the first six months of 2010.

GM is aware that the LaCrosse has received several awards in China.
 

Mercedes CLS production comes to a finish

Mercedes has ended the production of a car which effectively started an industry-wide trend of "four door coupes", the CLS coupe. The last ever model of the current generation – a black CLS550 w/ bi-xenon headlamps and AMG body-kit is destined for a U.S customer – rolled off the production line today.

However, CLS enthusiasts needn’t worry as the second generation of the coupe is on its way, and is expected to premiere at the Paris motorshow in early October.

2005 Mercedes CLS500

The CLS was available with a range of V6 and V8 petrol engines as well as a V6 turbo diesel. In the six years of its production, Mercedes sold more than 170,000 units of the car globally, primarily in Australia and the U.S.

2007 Mercedes CLS350 CGI

 

2007 Mercedes CLS350 CGI

Photo Gallery: 2011 BMW X3

The all-new 2011 BMW X3 will be among the most economical and fuel-efficient mid-sized SUV’s when it arrives in the UK in late November. The entry-level 2.0 litre 181bhp manual X3 xDrive20d will offer combined fuel economy figure of 50.4mpg and CO2 emissions of 149g/km, 147g/km with automatic transmission. The X3 eclipses the Audi Q5 2.0 TDI 170 by 4.8mpg and 14g/km.

The new SUV is bigger than the outgoing model. The 2011 X3 is now measuring at 4,648mm, more than 75mm longer, width decreases by 4mm at 1,855mm and height rises by 14mm at 1,675mm. The wheelbase is also bigger by 15mm to 2,810mm, enough to increase by boot by 70 litres, to 550 litres.

As well as the 181bhp 2.0 litre, 4 cylinder diesel in the xDrive20d, BMW will add a 3.0 litre 302bhp, turbocharged straight six petrol dubbed xDrive35i, rivalling directly with the Land Rover Freelander 3.2i T6, Audi Q5 3.2 FSI Quattro and Volvo XC60 3.0 litre T6. The xDrive35i will emit 204g/km and will return around 32.1mpg combined and will be mated to a ZF 8-speed automatic transmission.

The diesel will come with the choice of either a 6 speed manual or an optional ZF-engineered 8 speed automatic. Both gearboxes offer a standard stop-start function and operate with the brake energy recuperation system.

More X3 variants are in the pipeline; a 254bhp 3.0 litre xDrive28i petrol and a 201bhp xDrive23d twin-turbocharged, 4 cylinder diesel. These engines are due in Summer 2011. A FWD is available, however, no rear-wheel-drive is planned for the UK, although BMW is still considering launching the model in North America.

Production of the new X3 will take place at BMW’s Spartanburg facility in North America alongside the X5 and X6. Prices in the UK start from £30,490 and for that, you get 17” alloy wheels, x6 airbags, stop/start, cruise control, front & rear fog lights, DSC (Dynamic Stability Control) w/ hill-start assist & hill-descent control, heated windscreen, gear-shift efficiency indicator, tyre pressure warning system, front & rear parking sensors, automatic rain & windscreen sensor, leather interior w/ 60:40 split folding rear seats, roof-rails, automatic climate control, ambient lighting, auto-dimming rear-view mirror and multi-function leather steering wheel as standard.