Auto News 5

Alpina debuted the new B7 sedan at this year’s Chicago auto show and the big news was the car’s availability in either short- or long-wheelbase configuration. The previous B7 was only available as a SWB car in the U.S. and ended up stepping on the M5’s toes as a result. With significant revisions to BMW's standard 4.4-liter twin-turbo V-8 that include new pistons, larger intercoolers, and increased boost pressure, the B7 was said to be good for a well-rounded 500 horsepower and a full 516 pound-feet of torque. Hook that type of power up to the B7's rear wheels and the improvements were good for 4.5-second 0 to 60 mph launches when the sun is shining and roads are dry. So what about when conditions aren't quite so good?inline_mediumwraptextright26744771/features/news/1003_2011_bmw_alpina_b7_xdrive2011-bmw-alpina-b7-front-three-quarter-1.jpgTrue

The full-size SUV market may be shrinking, but it's still an incredibly profitable piece of the pie for manufacturers with desirable products. So if you've got a platform to use (such as the Nissan Patrol sold overseas, for instance) it makes a lot of sense to add the requisite luxury features, re-skin it and charge a lot more for it. That's just what Infiniti did to create the 2011 Infiniti QX56 which is bowing at the 2010 New York show.inline_mediumwraptextright28617211/features/news/1003_2011_infiniti_qx562011-infiniti-QX56-front-three-quarter-view.jpgTrue

With the pending CAFE standards on the horizon even sports car manufacturers like Porsche are looking for ways to improve fuel economy. Enter the 2011 Porsche Cayenne Hybrid, which shares its mechanical underpinnings with the Volkswagen Touareg Hybrid. That means a 333-horsepower supercharged V-6 from the Audi S4 and a 47-horsepower electric motor can be found underhood, paired by a decoupling clutch to allow each to run independently. Combined, the two power sources make a solid 380 horsepower and 428 pound-feet of torque and run through an eight-speed automatic transmission.inline_mediumwraptextright28543363/green/news/1003_2011_porsche_cayenne_s_hybrid2011-Porsche-Cayenne-S-Hybrid-front-three-quarter-view-motion.jpgTrue

Though we’ve already seen the Lexus CT 200h at the 2010 Geneva auto show, Lexus decided to bring the little hybrid over to bolster interest in the vehicle before it’s U.S. launch.inline_mediumwraptextright27334394/green/news/1003_lexus_ct_200h_hybridlexus-ct-200h-side-view.jpgTrue