2012 BMW 5-Series M Sport Goes Chrome Green : Hulk Mania

Vinyl wraps can be had in all sorts of colors and designs, but while the majority of drivers usually select normal colors in metallic or matte shades, some owners gravitate towards extreme solutions.

And what could be more extreme than a chrome green wrap around a 2012 BMW 5-Series F10 sports saloon?

The car you see pictured here was created in Russia by applying a chrome vinyl wrap at first and then a translucent green wrap on top to create the flashy green chrome effect. And if you're wondering, the owner ordered the saloon in an Alpine White finish.

We're told that aside from the change in color, the 5er also sports additional parts from BMW's own M Sport Package program as well as from independent tuners Hamann Motorsport and AC Schnitzer.

Story References: Bimmerpost

PHOTO GALLERY

Odds Of Mythbuster: Are Modern Truck and Car Emissions Comparable to that of Lawn Blowers? [Video]

With government agencies enforcing stricter emission regulations every year and auto manufacturers doing their best to prove that their cars are as eco-friendly as possible, hyperbole is part of the game.

A common saying is that the modern cars are cleaner than lawn equipment and that the carbon dioxide emissions they release are actually lower than that present in the air that comes into the combustion chamber.

Edmund's Insideline decided to put the theories to the test. Since cars come in all shapes and sizes, they chose two examples from the opposite side of the spectrum: a Fiat 500 mini and a Ford F-150 SVT Raptor Crew Cab pickup.

The diminutive Fiat is powered by a 1.4-liter four with 100HP, while the big and menacing-looking Raptor sports a 411HP 6.2-liter V8.

They also bought along two leaf blowers: one with a single-cylinder 50.8 cc two-stroke engine and the other with a 30cc four-stroke engine.

The contest took place at the Automotive Research Center of the American Automobile Association Auto Club of Southern California, which runs the FTP 75 emissions cycles test that is one of the primary standards in U.S. light-car emissions and fuel economy certification.

So what do you think? Are modern cars and trucks as clean as their makers claim them to be, beating even a common lawn blower? No spoilers here: just watch the video to find out the answer.

Ford Mustang GT, A Car Without Wings Jumpes from the Third Story of Swiss Parking Garage

An unnamed 24-year old driver of a new Ford Mustang 5.0 GT from Switzerland turned a humdrum parking job into a life-threatening situation when he went through the concrete wall of the third story of a parking garage in the Swiss city of Lugano on Monday.

The car fell from a height of around 15 meters (approx. 50 feet) before it came crashing down to the ground on some protective metal bars and a small tree.

Miraculously, the young man suffered only minor bruises and abrasions from the plunge and was released from the hospital he had been taken in.

Local police are still investigating the cause of the crash, though Swiss media are speculating that the man probably mistook the throttle for the...brake pedal.

For more pictures of the accident, check out Swiss news site "20min".

Story Source: 20min via Mustang Evolution

Thanks to Michael Leifels for the tip!

Automatic Transmission Of Cadillac CTS-V With A Super Model

The first thing most of our readers [sic…] may notice about this video is that the featured Cadillac CTS-V Coupe is equipped with an automatic transmission. Do we really need to tell you what else your eyes will rest upon after that?

And oh, it's probably a good idea to tell you that both videos are somewhat NSFW (probable less about Work, more about Wife). If staged clips about girls taking a ride in a fast car is your kind of thing, all you have to do is follow the jump to watch Gisele and her ride in the automatic Caddy.

Deserted Video: Middle East Drifting Gone Stumblingly Wrong

Needless to say, for every few successful -or accident free, to be more precise- drifting acts performed on the streets or deserts of the Middle East, there's at least one with a crappy or disastrous ending.

The scene you're about to watch in the short video clip after the break, belongs to the second category as the driver either hit something on the side of road or fell into a hole, sending the car tumbling at a high speed.

Let’s just hope nobody was seriously injured during the incident.

Video:

Super Fast Car Video: New BMW M5 Hits 300 km/h on the Autobahn

Hans, a German native who happens to be the president of the M Flight Club, had the chance to drive the brand-new, BMW M5 F10 powered by a 560HP twin-turbocharged V8. And like any car-nut living in Germany, he took the sports saloon to the Autobahn.

The road is the Autobahn 62 towards Trier and this particular M5 had the 250 km/h (155 mph) speed limiter removed. The driver pushed the pedal to the metal and hit 300 km/h (187 mph). However, he was a bit disappointed, as he couldn’t reach the M5’s 330 km/h (206 mph) top speed due to –ahem- traffic.

We bet that he won’t rest until he does hit the car’s actual top speed, so expect another video sooner rather than later. For the time being, you can watch the in-car 300 km/h run video after the jump.

Sources: Youtube via F10post

Video:

Yahoo Texas ....Cowboys and F1 Drivers: Red Bull Racing Saddles Up for Texas F1

So how do you promote a Formula One race in the United States? Well, depends on whom you ask. For Red Bull Racing, the answer to that question is a bizarre mixture of lasso-wielding cowboys, helicopters, former F1 driver David Coulthard and an F1 racecar doing donuts on a rural dirt road in Texas.

For those not up to date with the F1 developments, Austin Texas will serve as the host city of the Formula 1 United States Grand Prix from 2012 through 2021.

The event will take place at a new racetrack that is currently under construction near Austin.

Video:

New BMW M5 gets an Acoustic System that Replicates the Engine Sounds in the Cabin

As with any new BMW, the latest V8-powered M5 F10 comes packed with an array of gadgets and gimmicky features, some of which you may like, some of which you may not.

One of the sports saloon's new features that may dismay purists is the Active Sound Design. To explain, this system is designed to –according to BMW- "accurately replicate" the sounds of the bi-turbocharged V8 engines inside the cabin through the vehicle's audio system.

BMW says that the electronically controlled system evenly spreads the sound across all five seats and that it takes into consideration a variety of factors including the performance mode settings. More details on the new feature in the press blurb after the jump.

Story sources: BMW via Jalopnik

From BMW Press Release:

Active Sound Design delivers precise feedback.

M5 drivers will be given an even more direct reminder of their car’s performance capability by technology that brings the distinctive sound of the high-performance V8 – in all its glory – into the cabin of the new BMW M5. The Active Sound Design technology specially developed for the new BMW M5 takes its cues from the driving situation at any one time to deliver an accurate reproduction of the engine’s sound through the car’s audio system.

The system’s digital signal processing exchanges data directly with the engine management, allowing it to reflect the engine’s revs and torque, and the car’s speed over the road. The result over a smoothly driven journey is a discreet soundtrack in keeping with the harmonious and assured characteristics of the V8 powerplant. A stamp on the accelerator, meanwhile, prompts an immediate audible response to match the instantaneous – and typically M – burst of power from beneath the bonnet.

In generating its signals, Active Sound Design takes its cues from the firing sequence of the eight-cylinder engine and the frequency range of the exhaust system. This gives the driver an extremely accurate impression of current engine load and an even more intense sensation of the V8’s high-performance characteristics.

At the same time the Active Sound Design control unit ensures an even spread of sound across all five seats of the new BMW M5, while observing the legal guidelines governing noise emissions inside and outside the car. The characteristics of the sound produced by the technology also adjust to the engine settings selected by the driver. For example, switching to “Sport” or “Sport+” mode sharpens not only the engine’s responsiveness but also the acoustic experience inside the car.

Video:

DIY: Loading a Tractor In and Out of a Dump Truck

Unlike the crane operator we showed you on Thursday, the man (or woman, there's no way of telling from the clip) controlling the excavator in this video sure knows a thing or two about the machine he or she is operating.

Follow the break to watch the short clip and you'll see what we mean.

Video:

Video: Why You Shouldn't Buy a Fake Nardi Steering Wheel

An online aftermarket shop in Britain named Driftworks released a humorous video to inform consumers on why they should avoid buying cheap knockoffs from the internet.

After buying a fake Nardi-style steering wheel for about £70 (US$108 / €80) on eBay, compared to around £220 (US$338 / €252) for a genuine, made in Italy Nardi wheel, they put it to the test fitting it on a Nissan 200SX laying around in their garage.

As for the results, well, let's just say the faux Nardi wouldn't make the cut for a replacement on your Logitech G25 wheel, let alone your car… Video follows after the break.

Video:

Lamborghini Owner Wanted to Warm up his Car in Malaysia: What Do You Think…

The owner of a relatively new Lamborghini Gallardo in Malaysia wanted to "warm up" his topless supercar but got much more than what he bargain for when the Italian vehicle burst into flames along Jalan Beringin in Bukit Damansara on Friday.

"I was driving up a slope when I noticed smoke coming out of the engine," told the local media the owner of the car, who preferred to stay anonymous. "I had the car for three years and it was heartbreaking to see it go up in flames," he added.

The man, who is in his 30s, told reporters he suspects a fuel leak is to blame for the fire incident that resulted in his car burning to the ground.

Story and Photo sources: The Star & Isupanas

PHOTO GALLERY

Car Game Review Racing Car Games Lover : "Driver: San Francisco"

Picture this: you’re chasing down an escaped con in a stolen police van when one of his buddies rams your police cruiser off the road. No matter, as you can jump out of your body and into that of suburban soccer mom, using her minivan to disable the escapee and complete the mission.

This is the main gimmick of Driver: San Francisco, the latest in a long-line of cops ‘n’ robbers driving games from developer Ubisoft. And it works, thanks to intuitive game play mechanics and missions that encourage thinking outside the box.

You play as John Tanner, a no-nonsense cop of the Nick Nolte / Bruce Willis variety. After an accident leaves him in a coma, you essentially spend the rest of the game “dreaming” that you’re on the trail of mass murdering psychopath Rip Torn Jericho and his cronies.

The voice acting is good – not great – and the story missions are well paced. You’ll also get distracted by a heap of “win this race”, “stop this person” and “escape the cops” missions that are as numerous as they are varied.

There’s never a dull moment, and with cars ranging from the AMC Pacer to the Aston Martin Rapide you’re unlikely to run out of things to do. The attention to detail in both the cars (inside and out) and the city of San Francisco is excellent, though the real star of the game is Taggart’s orange and black 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T, which helps give the game a real Starsky & Hutch meets Life on Mars vibe.

With a dash of Grand Theft Auto-style arcade racer handling and a pinch of Quantum Leap-style body jumping, Driver: San Francisco is a refreshing twist to a somewhat stale franchise.

It’s no GT5 or Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit 2, but it is a lot of fun. 4 stars out of 5.

By Tristan Hankins

Video:

Photo Gallery:

Who Love Icey Poles :Ferrari Offers Winter Driving Course in Aspen for the Low Price of $11,399

Some things just don't make sense, no matter how vivid your imagination is. Envision Land Rover racing at Le Mans, or Maserati manufacturing an SUV. Doesn’t it sound absurd? Actually, scratch the last example about Maserati: it will actually happen.

Well, up until recently, you wouldn’t imagine a four-wheel drive Ferrari either. Thankfully, despite sporting the 4RM AWD system, the FF remains a pure sports car. Now, Ferrari wants to show its versatility to its American customers, so it’s adapting its “Pilota on Ice” driving program for the US.

From January 2012, Ferrari owners and their guests (strictly – no interlopers allowed) will get the chance to experience a two-day driving course in Aspen, Colorado. Eight specially prepared examples of the new Ferrari FF will be waiting to show both students and their guests the dynamic abilities of Maranello's newest V12 GT on even the most treacherous conditions.

Just make sure you already own a Ferrari and have US$11,399 to spend. Ferrari will accommodate participants at the Nell Resort in Aspen where they will enjoy, apart from the two day driving program, champagne receptions and two group lunches at the track. And oh, there's also a photo package and event memorabilia.

Guests get to pay much less, only US$950, but they won’t be driving the FF and will instead be taken for a ride by a professional driver.

So if you’re interested just pick up your Vertu [sic] and call Ferrari Concierge at 865-551-2828 to sign up for the program.

Program Specifications

• $11,300 USD program fee
• Two-day winter driving program training
• [8] Ferrari FF vehicles
• 10-12 students per program
• Two-nights lodging at the Little Nell Resort, Aspen, Colorado
• Champagne reception and two group dinners
• Two group lunches at race track
• Photo package
• Event memorabilia

Guest Package Specifications

• $950 USD guest fee
• Two nights lodging with registered student
• Shuttle transfers to/from snow/ice track from Little Nell Resort
• All meals with registered student
• Hot lap of snow/ice track with professional driver

PHOTO GALLERY