Vince Burlapp Car Page

2014 BMW 5 Series

2013-05-19T10:33:00.002-07:00

It's time for the 5 series useless and almost invisible changes. At least it doesn't ruin anything.
Especially on the hatchback GT version where the new tail lights look a lot better.
Otherwise, it's mostly more chrome here and there. I guess this will appeal better to the Chinese market...

A new model for the US is the 535D. The 3.0 Liter diesel produces 255HP and 413 lb-ft of torque. Which should be quite fun to drive.

Next Audi A4/A6 ?

2013-05-17T21:42:00.001-07:00

This was sent to me as an illustration for the next A6.

But the next sedan Audi will redesign is the A4. So I am not really sure what this is supposed to be.
My guess would be the next A4.
Although as we know, they will pretty much have the same lines in different sizes, as usual...

It was just the 2014 XC60...

2013-05-17T12:40:00.003-07:00

The teaser we've been seeing from Volvo for the past few days.
Just the XC60 they already showed us a while ago.
Nothing new....

Thanks Volvo!

NOT a BMW: Chinese Jinbei Haixing X30 Van

2013-05-16T13:43:00.002-07:00

This is quite amazing.
Jinbei Haixing is a subsidiary of Brilliance. Which is BMW's partner in China.
So they just think it's OK to splatter BMW details all over their assy X30 van, I guess.

The grille, headlights, fog lights. There is even a BMW feel in the tail lights.
And look at the lettering used in the back.

They are ripping off their own business partner!

Volvo teaser video

2013-05-16T10:52:00.001-07:00

Here is the official video teaser from Volvo.
Still hard to tell what it is...

We'll know soon enough since the reveal is tomorrow.

"Small overlap" test results: Scary...

2013-05-16T08:02:00.001-07:00

Pretty bad results for everyone here. Except Mitsubishi and Subaru.

I am also surprised that this type of crash represents only 25% of injuries. It would seem that most crashes don't involve the whole front end...

New Volvo teaser. What is it???

2013-05-15T18:18:00.002-07:00

So Volvo just released this thing. Which will be unveiled in just a few days. But what is it?

Sharpening the picture doesn't help much...

Most people seem to think this is just the 2014 XC60 pictured above. The one with a new front end.

But the teaser does look a bit different up front. And the rear quarter window doesn't seem to have the exact same shape.
Does it look big enough to be the all new XC90?

What do you think???

2014 S-Class: the back seat.

2013-05-15T12:53:00.002-07:00

I have to say this is pretty sumptuous. Or borderline ridiculous, depending how you see it....

Finally the real thing: 2014 mercedes S-Class

2013-05-15T10:15:00.000-07:00

Here it is. Real and better pictures of the all new big Mercedes sedan.
Which is pretty bland and to me, doesn't look more modern than the current one. Which I always liked.

Remember when the S-Class would stand out because it looks so modern and different?
Like the 1st one actually called the S Class. That came out in 1972.
You can still see many of them around. And many were used as "rich bad guys" cars in 70's TV shows.
That car looked so modern and different than what came before it.

Not anymore....

Another picture of the 2014 Mercedes S-Class

2013-05-14T12:52:00.003-07:00

Being transported in a plane.

We've pretty much seen the whole thing now.... All we need is better pictures of it.

BYD e6. Taxi only in the US

2013-05-14T09:31:00.001-07:00

BYD has decided not to sell its all electric e6 model to consumers in the US after all.
But, it will be available as a Taxi. So we will see them around.

The range of 186 miles seems really good and could work for a Taxi, I guess.
The claim to be concentrating on building their electric buses for the US market. In the new Cafifornia desert factory.

2014 Chevrolet City Express

2013-05-14T09:20:00.002-07:00

It took them a while, but GM will finally have some competition for the Ford transit Connect.
Even if it isn't a Chevy at all, but a Mexican built Nissan NV200 with a Chevrolet front end.
The whole thing is not nearly as attractive or cure as the Ford.

A bit sad that GM cannot find its own thing to compete. As even the little Opel Combo in Europe is actually a Fiat with an Opel grille.

I guess they do save money that way...

Audi Q3 now considered for the US.

2013-05-13T15:58:00.002-07:00

After claiming it would never happen, Audi is saying they would like to bring the compact Q3 to the US.
I guess they were just waiting to see how the BMW X1 was doing before committing...

The Q3 is based on the same platform as the VW Tiguan. In Europe is is offered with the regular 2.0 Liter Turbo or the TDI 2.0 engine.
7 speed S-tronic would be the only transmission offered in the US, of course.

Why not. If BMW can sell the X1 here, why not this.
It just looks like any other Audi model out there. And for some reason, it seems to be what people want...

2014 Peugeot 308

2013-05-13T10:06:00.002-07:00

An all new French competition for the Golf. And it looks really nice.
Not as overdone as some other recent Peugeot models I've seen.

The interior seems almost futuristic. It's like a Golf with style.

Some more leaked pictures of the 2014 Mercedes S-Class

2013-05-11T15:53:00.003-07:00

This time, from the official brochure. Looking really luxurious. Now that they don't have Maybach anymore, I guess they went all out.
An even more luxurious, and longer, version will follow next year. Maybe badged the 600. Just like in the old days...

More pictures of the all new Maserati Quattroporte S Q4

2013-05-11T14:00:00.002-07:00

It sure looks good, although maybe not better than the previous model...

The interior is, of course, very nice and plush. But again, not really an improvement.
Especially the tiny sunroof that starts behind the driver's head. Which makes it pretty useless.

The V8 model is supposed to start at around $135 000.
For that much money, I don't think the interior is that special, really. A new S Class is coming out really soon, and THAT has quite a stunning interior.

Also, I really hate to compare an Infiniti to a Maserati. But a while ago I did drive a loaded M56 V8 costing about $75000. With an amazing V8 producing 420HP. I have to say the Infiniti's interior looked really good when compared to these pictures...

But, sure.... Infiniti is no Maserati....

Nissan Altima test drive.

2013-05-09T17:14:00.001-07:00

I do like the design of the new Altima. I have to admit I was suspicious when I saw the 1^st spy shots. But in real life, I really like the car. It has a nice upscale look to it. For a car that starts at about $22 000.

It really makes life very tough for the $37 000 Loaded maxima. As a loaded V6 Altima is about $5000 less.

The model I drove for a week was the 2.5 SV with Convenience package, for a total of $27 005.

The interior is also a very nice place to be. My car did not have leather. But a very nice looking tan cloth interior. Which is actually refreshing, as I am not such a big fan of leather. The top of the dash and doors are black, which gives it a nice upscale look.

And, no fake wood! At least in my car...

A few nice details make the interior quite interesting too. This is such a better place to be than the Passat I was driving the week before.

The seats are comfortable, everything feels solid and the stereo sounds really nice.

The back seat is pretty much in between the Malibu and the Passat. There is plenty of room for most people, front and back.

I just wish the doors didn’t sound so tiny when you close them. This is really too bad. Especially since the new Sentra does much better in that area. It is a small thing but it just doesn’t give the sense of quality you’d expect…

The steering is firmer than many other family sedans out there. Even though it still feels pretty artificial.

At least it is better than most on long freeway trips. As most new cars these days have such light steering feel.

The suspension is fine. Nothing special. The car does feel a bit light in general. So it doesn’t have this “heavy” reassuring feel I like in European cars.

But it does a fine job. There is a bit of road noise at some freeway speed, but cruising is mostly quiet.

The engine has enough power for most uses. But nothing more.

It gets quite a bit noisy and rough when pushed. This is not, from far, the smoothest operator around.

As I mentioned before, the worst part is the really bad vibration you hear and feel at around 1500 RPM. Which is apparently due to the calibration of the CVT.

It just feels like there is something wrong with the car.

Mileage is a big selling point for Nissan with the new Altima. It is rated at 27/38.

I was never able to get close to 27 in the city. No matter how slow I was driving. The best I got was 23.

But on the freeway, I was able to get over 40 without any problem.

The new Altima is a good choice for an affordable, roomy family car.

You could do much worse. It is not nearly as engaging as the Buick Regal (and the Malibu Turbo) to drive. But, at least to me, looks much better, inside and out, than the Camry or the Accord.

The CVT vibration being its main problem. (Although some people here have mentioned that Nissan dealers can fix this)

2014 Porsche 911 Turbo

2013-05-05T21:20:00.000-07:00

Legendary car. The 911 Turbo, really.

And it's all new for 2014. Available in "regular" Turbo or Turbo S.
With 520hp or 560hp. Quite amazing from a 3.8 liter engine.

BUT!!!
Now with a 7 speed automatic. Only!
The "PDK" they call it.

I call it an automatic dictatorship on a sports car legend.
Otherwise known as blasphemy. They should at least give a choice...

Top of the line 2014 Chevy Silverado High Country

2013-05-05T18:18:00.002-07:00

Apparently, this will be around $45 000. The GMC Sierra Denali clone costs a bit over $47 000.

It comes with a 5.2 Liter V8 with 355HP. Good for 23MPG on the freeway.

You get Special brown leather seats, Bose speakers and more chrome!
What you also get is the 1950's column shifter. Something that should have been retired decades ago, and has no place in a "Luxury truck".

And the cheap 80's looking dash. Even now it looks like it's covered in stitched leather-like material.
(Just like a $25 000 Malibu)

Looks like this will be a big profit machine for GM....

2014 Mercedes S-Class video.

2013-05-04T14:50:00.001-07:00

Looks like someone hangs out pretty close to the factory.

Here are a bunch of the new 2014 S-Class .
Still with various degree of camouflage. Most lights are still partially covered.
We this gives us a good idea.

2014 Nissan Qashqai/Rogue

2013-05-03T11:24:00.002-07:00

I hear the European Qashqai and US Rogue are supposed to share the same design for the next generation due out late this year.
This illustration supposedly shows the European model.

Which is not bad at all. Quite modern..

2014 Kia Sedona. Yes, 2014....

2013-05-03T10:57:00.001-07:00

If it looks like the 2012 model, that's because it is.

For some weird reason, Kia chose to take a year off and sell the same minivan again for 2014.
Just when you though it would return with an all new design.
Go figure...

Here is some of the official PR BS:

New lighting and grille highlight the latest version of Kia’s 7-passenger minivan
Premium touches added to Sedona’s fun and functional design

The "not quite 2014" new VW Turbo engine.

2013-05-03T09:14:00.003-07:00

It now replaces the "old" 2.0 Turbo in the Beetle and Jetta GLI.
It makes just 10hp more. Uses about 8% less gas.

Let's hope it's also a lot smoother and quieter than the current engine. Which sounds too much like a diesel.
Many blame Direct Injection for this. But GM and Ford also have 2.0 Liter turbo engines with direct injection. And they are always very smooth and quiet.

Here is a list of the changes to the engine:

Engine weight has been reduced by eight pounds, to 290 pounds overall. Among the improvements on this engine are: a thinwall crankcase casting; exhaust headers that are integrated into the cylinder head; smaller diameter main bearings; roller bearings for the twin balancer shafts; and a crankshaft that has four counterweights instead of eight.

Mystery Mercedes prototype

2013-05-02T19:03:00.001-07:00

This picture was taken at a Mercedes facility, as a 2014 S-Class prototype was coming back from a test drive.

The left car in the background is another 2014 S-Class prototype.
But what is the car next to it?
At first it does look like another S-Class. But the headlights are higher. Side windows more angled.
And why is it still fully covered?

Anyone care to guess what this is?

Jaguar F-Type Coupe

2013-05-02T18:14:00.000-07:00

We all knew it was just a matter of time. The "non-convertible" version of the new F-Type is on its way.
And looking almost exactly like the C-X16 Concept from 2011. Which was expected.
Also expected is the new 2.0 Liter Turbo as a base engine. Available with a manual transmission.

What was not expected was the $69 000 starting price. (When a Porsche Boxster starts at $50 000...)

Here is the concept from 2011. Pretty much the same car.