News


	Sep 1, 2010 NEW BENTLEY GT
	Put in a special order with AsankaCars.Com for the Bentley of your dreams in like new condition at a fraction of the original sticker price! Just sold: Bentley Arnage T with only 29K Miles! AsankaCars specializes in challenged credit financing. Your luxury car leader in Florida! British Summer Time on Tuesday 7 September. This will be a week long reveal which will be available to view day and night at ContinentalGT.com, and they promise the drama of a formal motor show ‘unveil’ as well as taking several bespoke and virtual tours of the Continental GT by selecting a range of camera angles and distances. Great! The CGT has been with us for nearly a decade and apparently it’s not going to leave anytime soon. This car will go down in the history books as one of all time greatest. Design Director Dirk van Braeckel, said:“In 2003 we designed a car like no other – a striking, luxury GT coupe combining the craftsmanship and refinement Bentley is renowned for with a purposeful, sporting road presence. Now we’ve taken the opportunity to write a new chapter for the Continental. The styling and design story in 2010 is just as dramatic and we believe this Bentley GT will be as instantly recognisable as its predecessor. We look forward to the moment the cameras are switched on and sharing the new Continental GT with enthusiasts across the world.” Launched in 2003 the first Continental helped to spearhead Bentley’s renaissance by offering an entirely new driving experience; it was a high-luxury 2+2 GT coupe also delivering remarkable levels of everyday usability and the stirring performance (courtesy of a hugely powerful 6 litre W12 engine offering 552bhp) associated with the Bentley marque. Over 22,000 Continental GT models have been delivered to customers since 2003 and the strength of the original engineering and design proposition inspired Bentley to create a 600bhp GT Speed stablemate, the convertible Continental GTC as well as the recently launched Supersports – a muscular 204mph supercar.

Aug 31, 2010

TOP 10 LUXURY CARS

Come see us at AsankaCars.Com in Sarasota, Florida to purchase your dream car at a wholesale price saving you thousands off the sticker of even a new car. AsankaCars.Com is the leader in luxury vehicles including a 5 year 100,000 mile extended warranty with the purchase of a vehicle. Offering in house financing on luxury cars.

Rolls-Royce Phantom

"You don't just buy a Rolls-Royce: you commission it, like a fine piece of art or a super yacht." The car that redefined Rolls-Royce, the Phantom was launched in 2003. The Phantom retains the classic design that Rolls-Royce is famous for. The car has a top speed of 240 kmph powered by a 6749cc engine. The Phantom costs between Rs 3.5 crore to Rs 4.4 crore in India.

In pics: Top 10 ultra-luxury cars

« Previous

Bentley Mulsanne

The Mulsanne is Bentley's new flagship model and it revives Mulsanne brand that was discontinued in 1992. Each Mulsanne takes over two months to build. The 505bhp 6750cc engine generates 1020Nm of torque. Owning a Bentley Mulsanne in India will cost you about Rs 3 crore.

In pics: Top 10 ultra-luxury cars

« Previous

Aston Martin Rapide

Aston Martin is James Bond's choice. Different Aston Martin models appeared in at least nine Bond movies. The Aston Martin Rapide sport saloon was introduced in 2010. The Rapide's 6-litre engine generates 470 bhp of power. The four-seater car has a maximum speed of 296 kmph. Price Rs 2.6 crore.

In pics: Top 10 ultra-luxury cars

« Previous

Maybach Zeppelin

The Maybach Zeppelin is the zenith of the ultra-luxury saloon segment. Available in two variants, 57 Zeppelin and 62 Zeppelin, only limited units of the Maybach Zeppelin will be produced. The car has a top speed of 270 kmph and a 5980cc engine. The approximate price of a Maybach Zeppelin in India is around Rs 7 crore.

Maserati Quattroporte Sport GT S

Maserati's most powerful sedan ever, the Quattroporte Sport GT S is fitted with a 4691cc engine that delivers a maximum power of 440 bhp. Maserati terms it as "a real driving machine in the guise of a luxury saloon." The car has a top speed of 285 kmph. Price about Rs 1.4 crore.

In pics: Top 10 ultra-luxury cars

« Previous

Audi R8

Designed, developed and manufactured by Audi's subsidiary quattro the R8 is Audi's top-of-the line model. The permanent four-wheel drive vehicle has a top speed of 301 kmph powered by a 4163cc engine. Price Rs 1.7 crore.

BMW M6

The BMW M6 is one of the most expensive BMWs. The M6's 4,999cc engine is capable of driving the car to a top speed of 250 kmph and 0-100 acceleration takes only 4.6 seconds. This speed machine is priced around Rs 1.3 crore.

Jaguar XK

A Grand Tourer with the heart and soul of a sports car, the Jaguar XK has a 5.0 litre V8 engine and can accelerate from 0-100 kmph in 4.6 seconds. Jaguar is now owned by India's Tata Motors. The Jaguar XK is priced around Rs 90 lakhs in India.

In pics: Top 10 ultra-luxury cars

« Previous

Mercedes-Benz S-Class

Since its launch in 1972, the S-Class has been the flagship model in the Mercedes-Benz lineup. The "S" in S-Class stands for Sonderklasse (German for special class). The S 500 L comes with a 5.5 lite V-8 engine. Price Rs 97 lakhs.

In pics: Top 10 ultra-luxury cars

« Previous

Hyundai Equus

Hyundai's top-of-the-line luxury car promises Mercedes-Benz S-Class like experience at a fraction of the price. The Equus disel variant has a 3.8 litre V6 engine with 290bhp and the petrol version comes with a 4.6 litre V8 engine with 366bhp. Price Rs 25-40 lakhs (estimated).


	Aug 31, 2010 GOING GREEN?
	Why Are Luxury and Sports Brands Going Green? To Survive AsankaCars.Com in Sarasota, Florida the home of the 5 year 100,000 mile warranty and in house financing on luxury cars. It was so much easier just a few short years ago. Luxury cars wafted and sports machines roared, with nary a thought to gasoline consumed. Hybrids were for weenies, and everyone knew their place. But now? A hybrid Ferrari, a hybrid Porsche race car, an electric BMW … what is the world coming to? And, more seriously, why are the world’s luxury and sports car brands running as fast as they can to slather green over their entire line? Because, frankly, they won’t survive if they don’t. Incentives as carrots … All over the globe, countries are enacting incentives and tweaking tax rates to encourage buyers to opt for greener vehicles. Last summer’s U.S. Cash for Clunkers program was one; it offered rebates of up to $4,000 for consumers trading in older vehicles on newer models with an EPA rating at least 10 miles per gallon higher. Several European countries have had similar programs, most now ending, and Russia recently extended its program into 2011, though it applies only to vehicles manufactured within the country. The U.S. also offers income-tax credits up to $7500 for the purchase of a plug-in vehicle; the United Kingdom grants purchase rebates (which most analysts feel are more effective) to cut the cost of electric vehicles. (See our Electric Vehicle Incentives Guide for a complete list.) France even levies annual registration taxes on a “feebate” system: Within any given car class, vehicles that consume the most fuel pay the highest fees, while buyers of the lowest-consuming cars may even get a rebate on their registration. … and laws as sticks And countries are backing them up these carrots with sticks, in the form of stricter gas-mileage requirements. The U.S. has increased gas-mileage requirements, Europe is moving toward lower carbon emissions, even China has instituted strict fuel efficiency regulations. In other words, the writing is on the wall: Along with the rest of the industry, even luxury and sports brands must improve their fuel efficiency. Some pursue bizarre strategies, like the Aston Martin Cygnet based on a Scion iQ minicar. But the good news is that after dragging their heels–probably backed by customers who confused anything “green” or fuel-saving with the specific attributes of the iconic but divisive Toyota Prius–sports car makers in particular are waking up to a fun fact: Adding electric drive can do remarkable things for performance. 911 Hybrid: Deeper braking, better acceleration Take the reaction of driver Patrick Long, who called the Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid race car an “exciting platform” after testing it on Germany’s Lausitzring circuit outside Berlin. Long customarily drives a Porsche GT3 RSR in the American LeMans Series. Against that car, he said, the hybrid version of the 911 let him brake later into turns and accelerate earlier, giving him up to 160 horsepower on demand to power the front wheels for added thrust out of corners. As is often the case, the initial gloom and doom, the wailing and gnashing of teeth, is starting to give way to a sense of experimentation, perhaps even excitement. Benefits as well as costs Going green isn’t something that automakers do voluntarily–among other things, it’s challenging and expensive–but the engineers are starting to realize it could have unexpected benefits too. And that’s a good thing. Companies: Ferrari, Porsche, Toyota


	Jul 7, 2010 NEW 5 YEAR /100,000 MILE EXTENDED WARRANTY INCLUDED WITH EVERY CAR
	AsankaCars.Com now offers the piece of mind of a 5 year / 100 K mile extended warranty with the purchase of each vehicle from AsankaCars. Call us today and find out how we can put you in the luxury car of your dreams at a wholesale price and with the piece of mind of a 5 year warranty included.


	Jul 7, 2010 CAR FAX USED VEHICLE REPORTS
	Online used car histories provide security blanket AsankaCars.Com in Sarasota, Florida home of the 5 year / 100,000 mile extended warranty, and clean Car Fax guarantee. Although a used car looks great and the price is right, today's shoppers know they must do their homework. A vehicle history report provides important insight on a car's potential hidden problems, such as whether it's been in a wreck or possibly sustained flood damage. Two major Internet competitors — Carfax and Experian Automotive's AutoCheck — provide such reports, both directly to shoppers and in many cases through sellers and dealers who pay for the reports. A vehicle history from Carfax.com costs $34.99, and a report from AutoCheck.com costs $29.99. The reports are a security blanket for one of the major purchases in a consumer's life. Consider that the potential pitfalls are numerous, flooding alone can damage the motor, the car's computer and electrical systems, and brake and airbag systems. A vehicle history can also help detect if the odometer was rolled back, alert you to whether the car is still subject to a manufacturer's repair recall, or possibly has a neglected lien in its past. The reports are based on accessible records, such as data from state motor vehicle departments and vehicle auctions. If something on record is missed, some cars are eligible for buyback protection but costs vary. Sixty-three percent of consumers who bought 2004-2009 model used cars relied on the Internet for shopping help in some way, such as buying vehicle histories and comparing prices, according to a 2009 J.D. Power & Associates report. "They can compare how much they should be paying for a vehicle, how much room they have for negotiation with the dealer and how far they have to travel to get the specific vehicle they want," said Arianne Walker, a spokeswoman for the market research company. Like other used-car dealers who have a paved corner lot full of shiny cars and also work with customers online, Jerry Roden of Roden Motor Co. in Chattanooga, Tenn., said Carfax "is one of our most important selling tools." Roden and his brother, Steve, own and operate the dealership and rely on their reputation after more than three decades in the business. "Half of our business, we've already sold before," Roden said, referring to repeat customers. The dealership has a website and provides vehicle history reports. Roden said a recent customer who bought a truck said afterward that "the reason he bought it was because we offered him the Carfax before he even asked for it." Carfax spokesman Christopher Basso said the Carfax reports can be obtained at no cost to shoppers from among about 28,000 dealers who are members of its vehicle history service that started in 1986. James Maguire, senior director of marketing for Experian Automotive, said "titles don't always provide the clearest picture." Maguire advises shoppers that it is always good to have a car inspected, by a licensed mechanic or third party. There are plenty of instances that are not reported in public records. On a personal note, when shopping for a used car in June, I used the vehicle identification number for a 2009 Hyundai Elantra Touring hatchback to obtain reports from Carfax and AutoCheck. Both reports showed the car had one previous owner in Florida. The reports largely provided the same information, showing no accidents or problems that otherwise could be hidden in a long-distance purchase in Tennessee through an Alabama dealer. I verbally committed to the purchase without seeing the car and went through with the deal. After record Tennessee flooding in May that claimed lives and caused $2 billion in damage to the Nashville area alone, one month later state officials received about 8,500 applications for salvaged vehicles — about 1,500 more than usual. Revenue Department spokeswoman Sara Jo Houghland said in an e-mail statement flood-damaged vehicles were likely the "major contributing factor." State officials warn about "scam artists" possibly trying to sell flood-damaged cars. Christopher Garrett, a Department of Commerce and Insurance spokesman, said he can't "characterize the honesty or untrustworthiness of people" who may or may not report flood damage. He said the department has been encouraging consumers to get the electronic history of the vehicle and to have it checked by a trusted mechanic. If any dealership doesn't want to afford that kind of allowance, Garret said, "We encourage consumers to take their business elsewhere."

Jul 3, 2010

Bentley Continental Supersports Convertible

2011 Bentley Continental Supersports Convertible - First Drive Review

The Flying B adds lightness—oh, and horsepower—to its Continental GT convertible.

Everybody knows that sports are contests of skill in which a winner emerges, but what are supersports? Judging from the Bentley Supersports, which pairs the automaker’s expected refinement and elegance with supercollider acceleration and centrifugal corner stickiness, Supersports are something altogether more strange, like a mixture of various sports. Think WhirlyBall, which mixes bumper cars with elements of jai alai and basketball; or paintball, which mixes participants shooting one another with not dying.

Bentley already has superhero-level Continentals in the family—the Speed versions of the GT, Flying Spur, and GTC—but the Supersports models are more thoroughly changed beasts. This particular one takes the Bentley Continental GTC (GT convertible), strips out nearly 200 pounds, drops the suspension 0.4 inch and stiffens it by up to 33 percent, and wrings another 21 hp out of the 6.0-liter W-12 engine. Weight primarily comes out of the seats, brakes, and wheels. At 5400 or so pounds, it’s still hardly light, but 621 hp does a fine job of overcoming the mass. Bentley claims 0 to 60 mph should take 3.9 seconds, and given the quickest time we’ve wrung out of a Continental GTC Speed is 4.3 seconds, that sounds pretty close. Shifts from the six-speed ZF gearbox are quickened—you can hear how quick they are on the Supersports coupe in our weekly “Name That Exhaust Note” blog feature.

Supersonic Speeds, Super Easy

Like all members of the Continental family, this convertible is relaxed and tremendously composed at supersonic highway speeds. It’s just that it gets to those speeds more quickly and can maintain them through tighter turns and with greater composure. Although the push of 590 lb-ft of torque is never subtle, brief turbo lag and all-wheel drive mean the first half-second or so of this Bentley’s launch is a bit soft. Where it really impresses is at higher speeds, when the 621 hp batter aerodynamics into submission and the car continues to pull to ludicrous velocities. Bentley claims a top speed of 202 mph.

Anything weighing 5400 pounds and turning 20-inch, 275-width Pirellis at each corner is going to feel planted, but other GTCs tend toward understeer when the kinks tighten. Not the Supersports. Its torque split is tweaked from 50/50 front to rear to 40/60, balancing cornering behavior. For the first time in a Continental droptop, really hammering the throttle midcorner can induce some oversteer. Body roll is completely absent. Bentley chairman Franz-Josef Paefgen says the Supersports will turn a Nürburgring lap time similar to a Ferrari’s, but the accuracy of that statement depends on your definition of “similar.” Both are measured in minutes and seconds, but the Supersports time of about eight minutes 30 seconds isn’t going to worry anyone in Maranello.

Heavy cars at high speed need good brakes, and Bentley claims the carbon-ceramic units it fits to the Supersports are the most powerful binders currently fitted to any passenger car. At 16.5 inches up front, they are certainly supersized. Although the pedal feels spongy, the immediacy with which the brakes haul the car down from speed will have your ribcage feeling spongy as well. We measured a 157-foot stop from 70 mph in a Supersports coupe, and the convertible should be able to mimic that feat. Despite the superb braking performance, the driver’s best connection to the Continental Supersports is the steering wheel. Although not providing much in the way of feedback, it is nicely weighted, progressive, and wrapped in leather so fantastically grippy you can steer with your palms.

Superlative Trimmings

The cabin is swaddled in similar tactile treats, with Alcantara everywhere, including the carbon-fiber bucket seats. Manually adjustable thrones in a Bentley might seem appalling, but those seats are responsible for 90 pounds of the Supersports’s weight reduction. The coupe benefits further from the loss of its rear seats, but in the convertible, those seats house the rollover protection hoops. Even if Bentley had removed the cushions, the structure hidden in the headrests would still have to be there, so the engineers left the seats in.

On the outside, the Supersports convertible gets the same visual enhancements as the coupe: additional apertures in the front fascia and hood for better airflow, the sinister black wheels, and a lip on the rear fenders to cover the widened—by two inches—rear track. The net effect is menacing, an adjective not often employed in Bentley reviews. And with contrasting piping and quilting highlighting the Alcantara interior, the car looks as good from the inside as outside.

Super(fluous)sports?

Interestingly, the progression from Continental GT to GT Speed to Supersports seems to have overshot the sweet spot for huffy luxury marques, and its maker knows it. Bentley says fully 60 percent of Continental sales are now Speeds, which carry a $30,000 premium over non-Speed cars. Supersports sales have been somewhat slower; the company sold only 30 coupes last year and plans to import just 80 convertibles this year. That’s probably not so much a function of price—the Supersports adds about $50,000 on top of the Speed’s sticker, for a base price of $286,695—as it is a reaction to the altered character of what used to be essentially a private bullet train.

Although the Supersports is certainly capable, it does neither luxury nor sport as well as other $300,000 cars, and it’s highly unlikely someone spending this much on a car needs one vehicle to fill both of those roles. If you’re going to spend $300,000 on a luxury car, Bentley’s own Mulsanne is far more fabulous than the Supersports. If it’s a sports car you seek, the Italians have some fine vehicles for you. And if what you really want is something unexpected, that sum might also buy you your very own WhirlyBall arena.


	Jul 3, 2010 McLaren to open dealerships in the US
	New Kid on the Sales Block: McLaren Sets Up Dealerships NEWCOMERS Antony Sherrif with the McLaren MP4-12C, which goes on sale next summer. AsankaCars.Com in Sarasota, Florida is your connection to a super car at wholesale pricing. FOR an upstart exotic-car company to make a credible run at Ferrari, its marketing had better be as compelling as its cars. If the venture is named McLaren Automotive, however, the brand custodians can at least forgo embossed key fobs and polo shirts. McLaren, North America’s youngest car company, will already be familiar to millions when it reveals its first product, the MP4-12C sports car, to America at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Élégance next month near Monterey, Calif. (The car makes its world debut this weekend at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in England.) The McLaren Group, based in Woking, England, is responsible for the McLaren F1, the definitive street-legal hypercar of the 1990s — and still on record as the fastest car ever with normal aspiration (that is, without forcing air into the engine with turbochargers or superchargers). McLaren also produced the jointly developed Mercedes-Benz SLR supercar of 2003-9, when Mercedes owned 40 percent of the McLaren Group. And, of course, the McLaren Group also has a hugely successful Formula One racing team. The McLaren Group recently established a North American subsidiary based in Midtown Manhattan, as well as a small nationwide network of dealers. The MP4-12C, to go on sale in the United States next summer, is envisioned as the first in an eventual “full line” of sports cars. While the MP4-12C is not McLaren’s first street car, it is the first to be developed without crucial systems supplied by outside manufacturers. Mercedes provided the supercharged V-8 found in the SLR and its limited-edition variants — the Roadster, 722 and Stirling Moss — and BMW developed the 627-horsepower V-12 that carried the F1 to its record top speed of 240 miles per hour. In contrast, the MP4-12C’s turbocharged 592-horsepower V-8 will be produced entirely at Woking. Unlike the F1, which was bought direct from the factory, the MP4-12C and future McLarens will be sold and serviced at 35 retailers in 19 countries. Five dealers will be the brand’s American beachheads: Miller Motorcars of Greenwich, Conn., the Auto Gallery in Beverly Hills, Calif.; the Park Place dealerships in Dallas; Lake Forest Sportscars outside of Chicago; and the Price Family Dealerships in Palo Alto, Calif. In some cases, the dealers also sell Ferraris and Lamborghinis — brands against which McLaren hopes its 2,865-pound, $225,000 two-seater will compete. But neither McLaren nor the retailers seem to perceive conflicts. “Each of our brands has an individual, standalone showroom,” said Richard Koppelman, president of Miller Motorcars, whose McLaren Greenwich will serve the New York area. “Plus, our clients are so well informed about the models they generally know exactly what they want before ever coming in.” Tony Schwartz, co-president of the Auto Gallery network in the Los Angeles area, cited not only the detached nature of his marques, but his dealerships’ separate senior teams. “There’s no shared management among our brands,” he said. The Auto Gallery sells Ferraris, but in a separate location. “Nobody will walk in expecting to compare a 12C to a 458,” Mr. Schwartz said, referring to Ferrari’s blisteringly quick 458 Italia, perhaps the 12C’s closest competitor. One area in which McLaren officials seem to think they can outdo the Italians is after-sales service. “There are things we can do as a small company that a larger one couldn’t,” Antony Sherrif, McLaren Automotive’s managing director, said in a telephone interview last week from Hong Kong. “Every single technician, whether they’re from Greenwich or Abu Dhabi, will spend significant time at the factory. They might even spend time on the assembly line.” Mr. Sherrif said retailers would be able to stock virtually every part required for maintenance and repairs. Structurally, the 12C distinguishes itself by its carbon-fiber monocoque chassis, a rigid, lightweight structure employed by much more expensive cars like the $1.6 million Aston Martin One-77. To offset development costs, McLaren will increase 12C production after selling the 1,000-car introductory-year run. While a target date has not been announced, McLaren will add a second model “a couple years after the 12C,” Mr. Sherrif said. That car, unlike the 12C, will bear the imprint of Frank Stephenson, McLaren Automotive’s design chief since 2008. Mr. Stephenson’s formidable portfolio includes two successful revivals: the Mini Cooper and Fiat 500.

Jul 3, 2010

New BMW sport wagon

2010 BMW 328i Sports Wagon

BMW AG

Scott Burgess: Auto Review

2010 BMW 328i Sports Wagon hauls in luxury

Scott Burgess

2010 BMW 328i Sports Wagon

Type : Five passenger rear-wheel drive sports wagon

Price: $36,575

Engine: 3-liter I-6

Transmission: 6-speed manual, automatic

Horsepower: 230

Torque: 200 pound feet

EPA gas mileage: 18 mpg city / 27 mpg highway

External dimensions

Wheelbase: 108.7 inches

Length: 178.6 inches

Width: 79.3 inches

Height: 55.8 inches

Interior dimensions

Front/rear

Headroom: 38.5 inches / 38 inches

Legroom: 41.1 inches / 34.6 inches

Shoulder room: 55.4 inches / 55.1 inches

Cargo space: 58 cubic feet

Warranty

Basic: 4 years or 50,000 miles

Powertrain: 4 years or 50,000 miles

Corrosion: 12 years, unlimited miles

Roadside assistance: 4 years, unlimited miles

If you ever need proof that the automotive press is not exactly connected with most consumers, just ask one of us what vehicle we like.

Come visit AsankaCars in Sarasota, Florida home of the 5 year/ 100k mile warranty and in house financing on luxury vehicles.

This is what we'd say: A European diesel wagon with a manual transmission. It's efficient, taut, fun and completely un-American.

Americans, at least the ones who buy cars, eschew wagons -- even if the word sport is attached to it. They dislike diesels and shun manual transmissions.

The 2010 BMW 328i Sports Wagon is as close to that machine as we'll see on American roads. My test vehicle opted for BMW's stalwart 3-liter inline six that runs on gasoline and an automatic transmission that offered paddle shifters for a little sporty fun. But the xenophobe-buying American consumers won't touch this vehicle; well, a couple will. That's a mystery to many of the automotive press, including myself.

This is a great little car. It can haul. And by that, I mean it can carry lots of stuff in the back (there's 58 cubic feet of space behind the second row, so you could stack up a foursome's set of golf clubs and a cooler), as well as carry the foursome. It can also haul, and by that, I mean go fast.

The gutsy little magnesium and aluminum block six-cylinder engine creates 230 horsepower and 200 pound-feet of torque. Sure, lots of cars make more power, but those aren't BMWs. And most certainly are missing that nearly perfectly balanced feel on the road. It weighs just 3,500 pounds and seems to glide along the road. This is in part due to the independent suspension that provides a firm ride, but not one that feels overly aggressive.

Wagon is sporty on the road

My test vehicle included the optional M sport package, which adds 17-inch performance tires, sport seats, aluminum pedals, a different steering wheel and some added aerodynamic features on the body. It's tough to make a wagon look sporty, but BMW manages to do just that.

More importantly, it feels sporty on the road. The steering combines that great firm feel that makes you speed up in curves. The body remains extremely flat through turns and this wagon accelerates out so well.

The Steptronic automatic transmission also adds a nice racy dimension. Typically, I try out the manual override on an automatic transmission a couple of times during testing but then quickly forget about it. But on the BMW wagon, I found myself using it more and more, enjoying the car's quick acceleration onto the highway and stretching the rpm on the engine to enjoy the full torque curve.

There's also a practical side to this car that BMW usually lacks. The wagon, somehow, wipes away a lot of pretentiousness some European cars have, as if the owner knows some secret he refuses to share with his neighbors. No, a BMW doesn't make you better, and tossing down $36,000 won't win you any friends -- if it does, are they a really a friend?

But this car just feels so comfortable. The racing seats hold you in place snuggly and there are a lots of luxury features that you'd expect. Dynamic Cruise control, auto dimming rearview mirror, rain sensing wipers, heated dual power exterior mirrors and heated windshield washer jets are all features designed for drivers.

Other features, such as Bluetooth connectivity for hands-free phone operation, personal music player integration and a two-way power glass panoramic moonroof, add another layer of sophistication.

Interior wraps you in luxury

When you sit inside the BMW Sports Wagon you feel wrapped in a cocoon of leather and luxury. There's a soft red tint to the lights at night and when you gun the accelerator, the car filters out all of the outside sounds except the engine.

The BMW wagon is the ultimate sleeper car for people who like to hide the fact that they love driving. It can help a friend move on the weekend, drop everyone off for school in the morning and still let mom or dad carve up a few mountain roads.

Maybe that's why the automotive press likes these kinds of cars so much. They are the practical racers we can get away with owning because no one is the wiser.

The BMW 3-Series Sports Wagon adds the cache of German engineering, ride and handling to boot.

So automotive journalists were half right -- as it's unlikely diesels will ever really take off in America and manual transmissions are likely to be only a generation away from disappearing all together on American highways.

Still, it's better to be half right, than half wrong. So I'll take the wagon, and keep on driving.


	Jul 3, 2010 BMW ELECTRIC CARS?
	ASANKACARS . COM STOP BY TO SEE THE FULL BMW LINE AND EVERY CAR INCLUDS A 5 YEAR / 100K MILE EXTENDED WARRANTY. It’s difficult to relate an automobile brand like BMW with electric cars but the company has turned a new leaf in history with its new initiative. BMW has unveiled its new class of vehicles powered by batteries and I bent to bring out quite a number of cars by 2013. The launch of the corporate green initiative ‘project I’ by the German carmaker in the year 2007 was seen more as a way to generate sustainability credentials without any actual substantial work. The project was aimed at corporate green ‘project I’ for the urban populations of the world which together constitute nearly half of the world’s total population. The wonder car by BWM is named as “Megacity” and is poised as the best concept cars of the times. The transition between traditional carmakers to switch from gasoline to electricity was earlier seen totally impossible but the managements at BMW beg to differ. The company in an press conference at a plant outside Munich gave their best to convince everyone that the electric cars were actually possible. Not many details are available about the car since there are still two good years till the car can make its appearance on the roads. The zero emission cars by the automobile giant have got everyone pretty excited, the upcoming Megacity will be the first in the series of electric-drive models. The car is touted by the company to be as strong as steel and still weight much less than aluminum about its half in weight. The car will be made of ultra-light, high-strength composite carbon fiber reinforced plastics or the (CFRP). The company has given an altogether new dimension to the carbon fiber use. At a time all major companies have their electric cars built on the existing car models; BMW has gone a step further by developing the “LifeDrive” architecture as it s called by the company. This special structure was necessary for the car as the lithium-ion batteries used in the cars is more suitable with the light weight structure. And besides all this the structure will also open avenues for many more body-styles. The zero-emission car will be able to seat four people. The car is expected to have a rear-wheel drive and a 150 hp (112 kW / 152 PS) electric motor that will be powered by a 35 kWh battery. According to BMW, the Megacity will thus offer a range of at least 100 miles (161 km) and a top speed of 95 mph. AsankaCars.Com in Sarasota, Florida.


	Jul 3, 2010 Mercedes special Designo interior
	Mercedes-Benz ‘Designo’ to Include Matte Finish Come see special custom order Mercedes with the Designo interior at AsankaCars.Com in Sarasota, Florida. How many of you are fascinated by the matte finish? And would you choose it for your Mercedes-Benz? If yes, then you are not the only one who thinks this way. In an official announcement, the German car-maker said that matte paint finish will be offered as a standard option under its Designo program. The customization program aims to extend this service to a number of Mercedes-Benz models. Lately, the matte paint finish for vehicles has become all the rage especially in the tuning realm. Mercedes-Benz wants to cash in on the latest trend by including the matte paint finish in the 2011 Designo program under the name called ‘Magno’. The company claims that unlike street matte paints, their finish creates a better-quality scratch resistance vehicular surface. The factory paint also hides trivial dust/dirt particles better as compared to the traditional finishes. Well, that claim has to be verified in the real world to be believed. So, let’s wait and see. Mercedes-Benz’s official customization program called ‘Designo’ offers exclusive paint finishes and an assortment of custom-made interior features. Some of these features include hand-stitched leather seat/dash finishes and tailored interior trim elements utilizing exotic finishes like deep black piano, glossy, natural stone, wood and lacquer. Some new colors added to the design program include Cashmere white, Allanite Grey, and Platinum. In 2011, more standard models will be covered under the designo program which includes the S-Klasse, E-Klasse, SLS AMG, CL-Klasse, M-Klasse, SL-Klasse, and G-Klasse. President and CEO of Mercedes-Benz Canada, Marcus Breitschwerdt, said, “Owning a Mercedes-Benz vehicle is an extension of personal style. The designo program empowers customers to select from a myriad of exclusive trims, distinctive colors and top quality materials to design a vehicle that reflects their own discerning tastes and individual preferences. The elegant and graceful lines of our sedans, the aggressive styling of our coupes and cabriolet models and the ergonomic and luxurious interiors for all our vehicles provide an ideal starting point for customers to build their own, bespoke masterpiece.”


	Jul 3, 2010 New Mercedes CL Class gets facelift
	New facelifted 2011 Mercedes Benz CL-Class AsankaCars.Com in Sarasota Florida....come in and drive the Mercedes Benz of your dreams at wholesale prices including a 5 year warranty. AsankaCars.Com is the premier pre owned luxury car dealer specializing in Mercedes, BMW, Jaguar, Range Rover, Audi, Porsche, Corvettes, and Mustangs. Mercedes Benz had replaced its CLK with the E-Class coupe that marked the beginning of the German luxury car maker’s new nomenclature though it was believed the new refreshed 2011 CL-Class would be provided with a S-Class Coupe moniker. But that is not to be for the CL coupe that got a minor face lift along with a new bi-turbo V8 engine as per a mid life upgrade package for the car. For the exterior, the front bumpers have been re-designed so that they now incorporates LED strips lined with chrome for the daytime running lights. Then there is the hood that has been reshaped along with new headlamps and a new grille that is more V shaped. Rear bumpers too have undergone restyling which now has been fitted with LED turn indicators and position marker lamps along with new tail lamp cluster. Moving over to the interior, the multifunction steering wheel has been done up with leather and wood. This along with the use of higher quality trim materials together with new exciting color options and extra ambient light spots rounds off the picture in the interior. A new 4.7 liter bi-turbocharged V8 engine featuring BlueDIRECT technology occupies pride of place under the hood of the CL 500, which is going to be christened CL550 in the United States. Transmission duty is performed by the car maker’s revised seven speed automatic gearbox that comes integrated with stop-start system along with brake energy recuperation system. Power output from the eight cylinder engine has gone up by 12 percent in comparison to the engine that it replaces so that it now produces 429 hp. The power generated by the previous model was 382 hp. There has been an increase in torque by 32 percent which stands at 516 lb ft from the previous 391 lb ft. The engine also has a 10-15 percent improvement in its fuel efficiency and had better CO2 emission rating at 23 percent. Both the versions, that is the CL500 and the CL550 4MATIC accelerates from 0 to 100 kmph (62 mph) is 4.9 seconds which is a betterment of 0.5 seconds from the previous version of the car. The CL600 model on the other hand has an even better acceleration figure of 0 to 100 kmph (62 mph) is 4.5 seconds, thanks to its 12 cylinder biturbo engine producing 510 horse power and 612 lb ft of torque. Top speeds for both the cars have been electronically limited to 250 kmph. There is the CL63 AMG and CL65 AMG that Mercedes is going to usher out this year which would have even greater power than the models being reviewed here. Safety features installed on this car are the new Active Lane Keeping Assist safety feature. This system uses a camera which is fitted to the inside of the car windshield and a radar system. The radar system scans the road side and gently applies brake in case it find the car deviating from its prescribed lane. The 2011MY CL-Class is expected to make its way to showrooms in the autumn of 2010.


	Jun 27, 2010 New Bentley model to rival Porsche Panamera
	Bentley likely to pitch a rival to the Porsche Panamera Place your order with AsankaCars.Com in Sarasota for your like new pre-owned Bentley at wholesale pricing. Porsche Panamera has notched up impressive sales figures, something that has not gone unnoticed to other manufactures of fast luxury cars. So much that it has now lured in Bentley that is reportedly having initiated serious considerations of putting in place a car that would rival the German car. Early reports point towards a five-door fastback to the next-generation Continental range of cars might turn out to be the ideal choice to do battle with the Panamera. A reliable source from within Bentley has reportedly said that a sporty hatch will also be less pricey than the conventional four-door sedan. Italian styling house Touring Superleggera revealed, back in March at the Geneva Motor Show, the Continental Flying Star, which is a three-door shooting brake version on the Continental GT. The sources also revealed, in context of this version of car, that Bentley would actually prefer a five-door version of car because of its practical and realistic application. The year 2012 is anticipated to witness the availability of next-generation Bentley Continental for sale. • porsche panamera • panamera • porsche • Bentley • 2010 porsche panamera • cars similar to Porsche Panamera 4


	Jun 27, 2010 Porsche Panamera Convertible?
	Report: Porsche Panamera Cabriolet coming soon AsankaCars.Com premier luxury car dealer and home of in house financing on luxury cars. Four-door Porsche Panamera Sedan is finally on sale around the world in three configurations: Panamera S, Panamera 4S and Panamera Turbo. As Porsche spent tons of money on the new platform we will see more body versions of the Panamera in the near future. First in in the pipeline is a two-door Cabriolet that will cost about 11,000 euros ($16,000) more than the Panamera sedan. Little is known about the car, but according to insiders it will have two doors to increase the rigidity of the car’s body and limit the weight increase from adding the folding-roof mechanism. Engine line-up is expected to stay the same ranging from a naturally aspirated V8 with 400 hp to a twin-turbo V8 with 500 hp. “We have a broad range of 14 derivatives of the 911 that are very successful,” development chief Wolfgang Duerheimer told Automobilwoche. “So it stands to reason we should diversify the lineup for the Panamera as well.” In addition to the Cabriolet we also expect to see a coupe version of the Panamera. Volkswagen will very likely use Panamera platform for other products like the next-generation Bentley Continental GT. • 2011 panamera cabrio


	Jun 27, 2010 BMW 5 Series Sold Out
	BMW Says Revamped 5-Series Sold Out in All Markets Bayerische Motoren Werke AG, the world’s largest maker of luxury cars, has sold out of the revamped 5-Series sedan in all markets, forcing customers to wait three to four months for deliveries. Come see us at AsankaCars.Com in Sarasota, Florida to drive the best Custom BMW's in the south east. “The 5-Series is at the core of the BMW brand and we knew it was going to be a very strong vehicle for us,” Ian Robertson, BMW’s sales chief, said today in an interview at an industry conference in Bilbao, Spain. “In the U.S., where it’s doing very well, it could come to between 15 percent and 17 percent of our business as we ramp up.” The new 5-Series, which abandoned the flared headlights and small kidney-shaped grill of the previous version, starts at $44,550 in the U.S. The vehicle went on sale in the U.S. this week and in Europe in late March. BMW’s flagship model competes with Daimler AG’s Mercedes E- Class and Volkswagen AG’s Audi A6. Audi, which aims to overtake BMW by 2015, plans to introduce a new version of the A6 next year, which will test the strength of the demand for the 5- Series, analyst Georg Stuerzer said. “The 5-Series is likely taking market share from the A6, because it’s in the last year of its lifecycle,” said Stuerzer with UniCredit in Munich, who recommends buying the shares. “BMW’s new design language is more appealing and less controversial than in the past.” BMW fell 3 cents, or 0.1 percent, to 41.49 euros in Frankfurt. The stock has gained 30 percent this year, valuing the Munich-based carmaker at 26.5 billion euros ($33 billion). Increasing Profitability BMW aims to raise profitability by increasing parts sharing among vehicles as Mercedes-Benz and Audi step up efforts to take market share. The new 5-Series shares as much as 70 percent of its technology with the top-of-the-line 7-Series, which starts at $70,150. Demand for luxury vehicles has rebounded after the financial crisis sapped sales last year. BMW’s sales rose 11 percent in May, buoyed by deliveries of the 5-Series, 7-Series and Z4 roadster. Mercedes sales climbed 17 percent as E-Class demand surged 84 percent, while Audi deliveries advanced 15 percent. “The 5-Series has a lot of momentum and will likely have its full impact in 2011,” Stuerzer said. Second-quarter sales of the manufacturers’ BMW, Mini, and Rolls-Royce vehicles are in line with the 14 percent gain in the first quarter, Robertson said today. BMW is sticking to its target of increasing vehicle sales by a high single-digit percentage, Robertson said. The company said in May that it intends to deliver at least 1.3 million cars and sport-utility vehicles this year after selling 1.29 million in 2009, its lowest full-year deliveries since 2004. BMW’s sales through May gained 13 percent to 552,864 vehicles. “A lot of markets are performing well,” Robertson said. “Overall we’re seeing good progress.”


	Jun 27, 2010 Maserati expanding worldwide
	Maserati luxury sports cars launched. AsankaCars.Com is the premier luxury car dealer on the west coast specializing in pre-owned luxury cars at wholesale prices. ITALIAN LUXURY CAR MANUFACturer Maserati S.p.A. has officially entered the Philippines with two of its most prestigious sports cars which are already available here in Florida, in line with the company’s new five-year plan to increase worldwide sales. Although the Philippines in not a big market for now, Francesco Fabbiani, business development director of Maserati Asia Pacific, said the company believed the country has a potential for future growth in the luxury car segment. “We believe that in the future, the Philippine market will grow, that’s why we are now here for the long term. The potential for (market) development is higher here than in some European countries because the European markets are already mature,” he explained. According to Fabbiani, Maserati targets to initially sell 10 to 20 units of the Quattroporte S, the company’s luxury sedan, and of the Granturismo S per year. Of the target, Maserati has already booked seven to 10 units, whose prices range from P9.8 million to P11.8 million. Fabbiani also noted that as part of its expansion plan, the company would like to further strengthen its presence in the Southeast Asian market with its entry into the Philippines. The Italian automaker has already established its presence in Japan, China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Korea, Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand. Under its plan, Maserati will increase the brand’s product offering to increase worldwide sales from 2 billion euros in 2009 to 3.5 billion euros in 2014. “We are confident that we can successfully penetrate our target market. We’ve been getting rave feedbacks. As a matter of fact, we have already sold most of the units that we have pre-ordered,” added Wellington Soong, chair and president of Formula Sports Inc. FSI, which is the official distributor of Jaguar and Land Rover vehicles, is the exclusive importer and distributor of the Maserati cars. “These are exciting times for luxury cars enthusiasts. The Maserati brand caters to our most discriminating clientele. Now is the best time to aggressively market the Maserati, given that other luxury vehicles have been around for a while and buyers are hungry for an alternative,” Soong said. The Quattroporte S is Maserati’s entry in the luxury sedan segment. Its main technical innovation lies under its bonnet, the new and more powerful 4.7-liter V8 engine. In the meantime, the Granturismo S is fitted with the latest version of the wet sump power units, the 4.7-liter V8 engine.

Jun 27, 2010

Porsche to build a crossover

AsankaCars.Com in Sarasota, Florida home of in house financing on luxury cars. Premier pre-owned dealer of Porsche, Audi, Mercedes, BMW, Lexus, Range Rover, Jaguar, and Bentley on the west coast of Florida.

Berlin - Porsche, now a division of Volkswagen, is planning a crossover model that would be more compact than its bullish Cayenne sport utility vehicle, a German newspaper, the Handelsblatt, said Friday.

Originally a maker of just two sports-car models, Porsche later added the SUV and the Panamera sedan to its range.

Porsche has said its target is to increase annual unit sales to 150,000 vehicles by adding a fifth model.

Handelsblatt quoted sources inside the company but gave no details about the off-road vehicle, though it would likely be cheaper than the Cayenne. Audi, another Volkswagen subsidiary, already makes such a vehicle, the Q5.

Scaled-down SUVs which are closer to ordinary road cars are described in the industry as crossovers and appeal to family customers seeking something with a sportier look than a station wagon.

Porsche turnover jumped in the quarter to April 30 thanks to strong sales of the Panamera.

Porsche's two sports-car families are the 911 and the Boxster/Cayman range.


	Jun 24, 2010 Luxury for the newly Rich Sports stars
	Peddling Luxury at the NBA Draft AsankaCars.Com in Sarasota, Florida the premier luxury car dealer on the West Coast of Florida. With the NBA draft in New York two days away, Sean (P. Diddy) Combs' Fifth Avenue clothing store was transforming into a showroom for cars, home sound systems and other high end goods, readying for the arrival of players and agents with top of the line stuff befitting the latest basketball millionaires. The economy hasn't been kind to makers of luxury goods recently. One solution? More special marketing at major events to create buzz. Exclusive brands Maserati, Steinway Lyngdorf, and Paris-based men's grooming products maker Hommage were all camped out at Diddy's Sean John store on Tuesday afternoon, expensive goodies on display. None are strangers to private events, but each was taking its first steps into sports. "People look at this as a showcase," said Maserati spokesman Jeffrey Ehoodin of the growing popularity of the draft. "It's an event that shows what players are wearing and what they're doing." But it's not a typical showcase. Tying luxury promotions to sporting events a new wrinkle, experts say, designed to grow awareness among the masses while acknowledging that many of today's wealthy consumers are of the self-made, new money class that grew up in modest surroundings. It's a description that fits many basketball fans. "It's very rare, I never get word of an event tied to sports unless it's tennis, golf or polo," says Milton Pedraza, CEO of the Luxury Institute, a research and consulting firm that tracks the luxury market. His streak was recently broken, he says, when he received an invitation from Hublot, a luxury watch maker, for a FIFA World Cup event. As a car maker whose goods were set up outside, Maserati clearly had the most buzz to gain on Tuesday. Officials parked a half-dozen of the expensive rides along the avenue, turning the heads of hundreds of passersby over the next couple of hours. As pedestrians posed for impromptu cell phone pictures next to the hot car of their choice, Ehoodin acknowledged that the luxury economy has affected his company along with everyone else, spurring more buzz marketing through special events. "More companies are coming around to what we're doing," he said before professing his hope that Combs might be persuaded to take a test drive. Event planners were touting the expected presence of Combs along with soon-to-be high draft picks DeMarcus Cousins, John Wall and Al Faroug Amino to come and try out the toys before their big night, though through the first three hours only Cousins had shown. The 19-year-old seemed game if not completely comfortable being paraded by handlers to the Maserati Gran Turismo, a five-week old model that's only put a half dozen cars on the road so far. Suggested retail price: $145,000. Cousins posed inside the car (both top up and top down) as both professional and amateur photographers snapped away. Cousins didn't say whether he plans to put down a deposit, but he drew some attention to Maserati Still, the Grand Turismo wasn't even the most expensive item on hand. Inside, P. Diddy tunes blared from a Steinway Lyngdord home stereo system, complete with 7-foot speakers and surround sound processor. Sold at only 17 North American dealers, the system goes for $188,000, tax not included. Also on hand: high end men's shaving products from Hommage, which typically retail and only 20 points of sale in the U.S., including Barney's, Bergdorf Goodman and various golf resorts. The moisturizer, shaving gel and other goodies for $100 to $500 a pop, with a lifetime guarantee thrown in for the hand crafted razor. With luxury sector sales just barely above last year's horrendous levels, the PR buzz from the NBA draft can't hurt. "It pays to make consumers aware you're best in class," says Pedraza. "But it's still not a good situation for luxury consumption out there." Even the next wave of NBA stars will need time to change that. Tags: luxury, Maserati, NBA, NBA Draft, P. Diddy, Sean John


	Jun 24, 2010 Home run for Audi A8 and A1
	Audi planning to increase production to meet A1 and A8 demand Did Audi just hit the jackpot with the new A1 and A8 models? Apparently yes, as Automotive News reported that the German manufacturer will increase production to meet the higher demand for the A8 sedan and new A1 hatchback. Audi will add Saturday shifts at its plant in Neckarsulm, Germany in order to meet the demand for the new A8 flagship sedan while the sales of the A1 compact is expected to exceed the planned annual target of 100,000 vehicles. For those who don’t know, Audi is planning to dethrone Bmw as the world’s largest maker of luxury cars by 2015. Audi wants to exceed 1 million deliveries in 2010, which means reaching the same level from 2008 when it sold 1 million vehicles. Last year, Audi sales fell 5 percent to 949,729 units. In order to achieve this target, Audi will roll out as many as 12 models and upgrades in 2010, including a coupe dubbed the A7. ASANKACARS.COM in Sarasota, Florida is home of in house financing for luxury cars such as Audi, Mercedes, BMW, and Jaguar` Audi planning to switch to lightweight aluminium construction Production of batteries not fast enough to meet the demand for Prius Ford increases production after strong cash-for-clunkers demand Caterham increases production due to strong demand for its Seven sportscar Audi sales rose by 15 percent in May Report: Electric Audi A1 won't be produced Boeing to increase monthly production of 737 passenger jet on growing... Audi A1 e-tron concept wins 2010 "e-car-award" Automaker Audi's 1Q revenues rise 23.3 percent 2009 Audi A4 Audi, audi a1 production increase, audi a8 production increase, car news


	Jun 24, 2010 Germany Luxury Car sales very strong again
	Germany's auto industry again thriving Come see us at AsankaCars.Com in Sarasota, Florida and test drive the largest selection of one of a kind luxury cars such as Mercedes, BMW, Bentley, Range Rover, Porsche, Audi, Jaguar, and Cadillac, along with Corvette and Mustang muscle cars. BERLIN — Germany's car industry, the backbone of Europe's largest economy, is booming again. Fueled by the huge appetite for German luxury cars in China and the fact that the plunging euro has made European products cheaper abroad, manufacturers say they are shaking off the last of the economic downturn, adding extra shifts and hiring more workers to meet increasing demand. Mercedes, Volkswagen, BMW and Audi all told The Associated Press this week that order books are full and some plants are operating at full capacity, and that they are bullish on their outlook for the full year. It's a remarkable turnaround for an industry that last year had to take advantage of a government plan to reduce their workers' hours to avoid large-scale layoffs. BMW AG says demand started increasing at the beginning of the year and the company has increased its number of temporary workers from 1,500 to 5,000 since January. "We're currently negotiating with employees to add extra shifts because order books are full," said Marc Hassinger, a spokesman for the Munich company. BMW's traditional rival, Daimler AG's Mercedes Benz unit, is already operating several plants at capacity production and mandatory summer holidays — introduced during last year's downturn — have been scrapped or shortened. The number of temporary workers has doubled from 900 to 1,800, the company says. Mercedes, based in Stuttgart, now expects to post an overall double-digit growth figure for the second quarter, partly fueled by rising demand from China. "China is already our third most important market and number one for the S-class," spokeswoman Verena Mueller said, referring to Mercedes' flagship cars. Sales from January to May in China grew by 107 percent, she added. Mercedes plans to sell more than 100,000 cars there in 2010, up from 70,000 a year earlier. BMW is also counting on China where it sold 34,179 cars in the first quarter, an increase of 106 percent on last year and where sales are forecast to increase from 90,000 last year to 120,000 in 2010. Much of the industry worldwide has seen gains this year amid the global auto sales recovery — General Motors Co. roared back from bankruptcy to a quarterly profit, while Toyota also returned to profit in the latest quarter. But the growth in the Chinese premium car market is expected in particular to help the growth and profitability of German carmakers, accounting, for instance, for 15-20 percent of BMW pretax earnings and 10-15 percent at Mercedes, CreditSuisse analyst Arndt Ellinghorst said in a research note last week. Even as competition in China is getting fiercer, the London-based analyst sees German carmakers as well positioned there. "Premium brands still command luxury status insulating them from potential competition that is becoming ever more apparent in the mass market," he said. For Volkswagen AG, Europe's biggest carmaker, China is already the single most important market and an important growth driver. In the first quarter, sales there — already at a high level — rose by 48 percent to 777,800 units, the company said. That helped offset sales in Germany, where demand for the group's Volkswagen, Seat, Skoda and Audi cars dipped by 12 percent to 436,900 units. The bulk of growth for Volkswagen's luxury brand Audi also lies in China, which is slated to become the brand's most important market — even over the company's home turf. "There will be a neck-and-neck race between Germany and China this year," said Audi spokesman Juergen De Graeve. Currency effects have also been a huge boon for the German auto industry, as the declining euro makes European cars cheaper in the U.S. and in countries with their currency linked to the dollar such as China. The euro, which traded above $1.50 in December, hit a four-year low below $1.19 on June 7. It's "the biggest stimulus package" for Germany's carmakers, Ellinghorst said. The positive impact from currency movements in 2010 could boost earnings by euro242 million at BMW and euro368 for Daimler for 2010, he estimated. The latest announcement by China's central bank to allow greater flexibility in its exchange rate could also be beneficial for German carmakers. If the Yuan gains strength against the euro, Chinese could more easily afford German cars.


	Jun 24, 2010 Hyundai putting owner's manuals on apple Ipads!
	Hyundai putting owners manuals in cars on Apple iPads AsankaCars.Com in Sarasota Florida is home of in house financing on luxury vehicles. Hyundai is putting the owners manual of the Equus on an Apple iPad Since Hyundai announced that its new luxury sedan will come with an Apple iPad to hold its owners manual, the automaker is now starting to figure out just how it's going to pull it off. An independent developer is involved in the process to produce and load how-to videos, text and pictures covering every facet of the large Equus sedan's operation into an iPad app.It's meant as an alternative to encyclopedia-thick owners manuals, which these days can run past 1,000 pages on luxury cars. "If I'm in the car and I can't get the Bluetooth to hook up, I can look into the manual and find the video and text about how to work it," says Hyundai spokesman Miles Johnson. But there's more. The iPad will also come loaded with an app to let owners tell their dealer to come to their house to fetch their car for serving: It's called "valet service." A representative will come to the house, drop off a loaner car and take the car in for servicing. Owners won't have to go to the dealer to get their oil changed anymore. Hyundai is also developing a fancy case for the iPad, which typically will be kept in the car's glove box. Although it's extremely cool to get an iPad with a luxury car, owners aren't getting the most expensive 3G model. Instead it's the wi-fi capable, 16-gig model. Equus arrives in showrooms in September. Come visit us at AsankaCars in Sarasota Florida to drive off in the luxury car of your deams at an affordible price! Tags: Apple iPad Hyundai Equus

Jun 3, 2010

AFTERMARKET ACCESORIES MAKE LUXURY CARS ONE OF A KIND

Style and Power, At a Price, for 2010 BMW M3

Want your E92 BMW M3 faster, or more carbon-fibery? Two aftermarket tuners have you covered.

ASANKACARS.COM

specializes in one of a kind luxury cars with aftermarket tuning and accessories such as Strut, Asanti, and DINAN

On the speed side, wheel tuner Emotion Wheels has expanded its business to include full tuning packages. In the case of the E92 M3, Emotion has eked out 707 horsepower from the V-8 that usually produces 414, claiming "significant" improvement in straight-line performance. Emotion's full upgrade also includes 19-inch black matte wheels, exterior styling enhancements, and a carbon-fiber hood.

Speaking of carbon fiber, aftermarket supplier Arkym is now offering a hood, trunk, and spoiler made from the lightweight stuff

Arkym's kit will set you back $1999 for the single-side hood (add $500 to make it a double), and $1249 for the single-side trunk (add $450 for the double). No pricing information has been released for the Emotion power and appearance package.


	Jun 3, 2010 BMW M3.....just too much car for the average road but do we care?
	2011 BMW 335is and Z4 sDrive35is The BMW 335is is an admission of guilt. It is a reparation payment to America for building one of the best sports cars on the planet, the M3. Come put in your special order for the BMW M3 of your dreams at AsankaCars.Com.....when we get them in stock they are lucky to last 24 hours! Yep, this is how BMW thinks. Like many high-performance cars, the 414-horsepower M3 is simply too much car for most roads. To even come close to making it – or your hands – sweat, you have to push it to the kind of super-legal speeds that incite Congressional hearings. Its buff, boy racer looks conspiring to make it difficult to convince the highway patrolman that you were just trying to merge into traffic. The M3’s natural habitat is a racetrack, where many owners take it. But others don’t, at least not that often. Instead, they buy it for the muscular appearance, or the extra kick it provides over the 300-hp 335i, even if they don’t need all of either. The 335is was designed with these people in mind. Exclusively offered in North America, the $50,525 335is bridges the gap in both price and power between the M3 and 335i. Its engine is a 320-hp version of BMW’s 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged inline-six-cylinder engine and represents a swan song of sorts for the motor, which is being phased out in favor of the new single-turbo unit found in the 335i. The twin-turbo twins. Click here for full story. Video The 'Is' Have It The latest coupes from BMW An extra radiator added behind the left air intake, and an oil cooler on the right, presented the opportunity to redesign the front façade, both for aerodynamics and appearance. The black rimmed grille – a first for BMW – simply makes the car look a little meaner, as do the black side view mirror housings and black chrome exhaust tips on either side of the functional rear diffuser, which helps prevent lift at high speeds. Available as a coupe or convertible, power is sent to the rear wheels of the 335is through either a six-speed manual or seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission that can be shifted manually with the nice big paddles mounted behind the M Sport steering wheel. As is the case with two-door versions of the 335i, the suspension is also from the M Sport parts bin, featuring a lower ride height with firmer shocks and dampers that connect the car to its unique 18-inch light alloy wheels. It’s no surprise that on the road, driven like a good citizen, the two cars feel nearly identical. Only the standard sport seats with adjustable bolsters, gauges with grey backgrounds and other M Sport trim details scattered about the cabin of the 335is are there to tip you and your passengers off. Even on the track there’s little difference in the departments of braking and turning. It’s only when you put the spurs to the 335is that it reveals its true essence. While the engine in the 335is produces a healthy 332 pound-feet of torque – 37 lb-ft more than the high-revving V8 in the M3 – floor it, and an overboost function cranks up the turbo pressure from 11.6 psi to 14.5 psi for a seven-second burst, increasing output to 369 lb-ft. That’s muscle car prodigiousness and makes a huge impact when you’re accelerating out of corners, or just trying to get by that RV in the middle lane. On the front straight of the Lightning circuit at New Jersey Motorsports Park the 335is reached speeds close to those of the M3, while giving drivers of the 335i a nice view of those exhaust pipes popping away as delayed ignition during shifts sent a little unburned fuel in their direction. The suspension isn’t adjustable, but there is a Sport button in front of the shifter that quickens gear changes, increases throttle response and firms up the variable rate steering. Even without any major changes to its architecture, the chassis of the 335is is more than able to handle the power at its disposal. A 50/50 weight distribution gives it spot-on handling with just a touch of understeer as you reach the ultimate limits of grip. That is, unless you engage the Dynamic Traction Control setting that allows for just enough wheel slip to hold the car in an almost perfectly neutral set through curves. Push it as hard as you can, and the 335is never gets out of whack or feels skittish. As with many precision-tuned sports cars, it’s almost boring when driven correctly…but not quite. Still, if you love the engine in the 335is, but are interested in a little more hairiness – and mussed up hair - BMW is more than happy to oblige. The Z4 sDrive35is may have a clumsy name (the sDrive part means it’s rear-wheel-drive in BMW speak), but it has graceful moves, is drop dead sexy and not unlike countrywoman Heidi Klum in any of those regards. The new-for-2010 Z4 is currently the only two-seater in BMW’s lineup, and unquestionably its most attractive vehicle. With the seats set way, way back almost between the rear wheels, and a hood as long as a Mrs. Seal’s legs, the little devil is as close as you’ll get to a classic British roadster this side of the Mazda Miata. (Maybe one day the Brits will start sending us these kinds of cars again so we don’t have to use a Japanese car as a point of reference for such things.) Previously available only with a choice of 255hp and 300hp engines, for 2011 the Z4 has been given the “is” treatment courtesy of an even more potent 335hp version of the twin-turbocharged six in the 335is. Overboost carries over, and the torque peak remains the same, but what’s under the hood is about all that the two cars have in common. The $61,925 Z4is - as I’ll call it - is only available with a seven-speed dual clutch automatic, and comes loaded with M Sport pieces inside and out. Here, that includes a suspension with electronically adjustable dampers and three settings from Comfort to Sport. A press of a button transforms the hip-high scoot-about from an old-school softy with a pleasing amount of body movement that lets that big hood peek into your line of site under acceleration into a stiff little speedster that’s not too far out of place in pit lane. On the track the Z4is is a joyful handful with the dynamics of a tightrope walker. At its edge you almost feel that you could turn it by simply leaning, though steering with the throttle is slightly more effective. It’s so much livelier than the 335is that even passengers pick up on the fully-controllable dartiness of it. Ultimately, I may not be the fastest car out there, but this thing is simply a blast, especially in the real world. When’s the last time you actually felt like you were ‘driving’ a sports car and not the other way around? Fantastic. That said, if you’re wondering why BMW didn’t just go whole-hog and offer a true M version of the Z4, as it did with the previous generation, the answer is that they didn’t sell very well. So, like with the 335is, it split the difference with the Z4is. Both of these cars carry base prices that are about $10G than the models below them, which seems like a lot of dollars per horsepower – or, in this case, pound-foot – but when you take into account all of the performance and trim pieces that are standard on the “is” the price gap is closer to four grand. Not a bad premium to pay for the chance to say “nyah nyah nyah” to the rest of the world while cruising around in “our” 335is, or experience the pure bliss of the Z4is. Consider any debt BMW may have owed us paid back with double interest. ---------- 2011 BMW 335is Base Price: $50,525 Type: five-passenger, front-engine, rear-wheel-drive, two-door coupe Engine: 3.0-liter twin turbo inline-six Power: 320 hp, 332 (369 w/overboost) lb-ft torque Transmission: six-speed manual/seven-speed automatic MPG: 18 city/26 hwy 2011 BMW Z4 sDrive35is Base Price: $61,925 Type: two-passenger, front-engine, rear-wheel-drive, two-door roadster Engine: 3.0-liter twin turbo inline-six Power: 335 hp, 332 (369 w/overboost) lb-ft torque Transmission: seven-speed automatic MPG: 17 city/24 hwy


	Jun 3, 2010 New Mercedes Clean Diesel S-Class
	2011 Mercedes-Benz S350 Bluetec Adds Clean Diesel to S-Class Come drive the full line of Mercedes luxury automobiles at AsankaCars.Com June 3rd, 2010 Continuing to diversify the green powertrain options it offers to buyers, Mercedes-Benz will add a clean-diesel model to its largest sedan line, the S-Class. The new 2011 Mercedes-Benz S350 BlueTEC sedan joins this year's S400 Hybrid, which adds a mild hybrid system with a 15-kilowatt electric motor to a 275-horsepower 3.0-liter V-6 gasoline engine (the only V-6 offered in an S-Class this year). The new S350 BlueTEC model is the only diesel S-Class that will be offered in the U.S., and the first in roughly 15 years. Its 3.5-liter V-6 turbodiesel is the same one already sold in Bluetec versions of the ML, GL, and R-Class sport utilities. Models for the U.S. will be fitted with the advanced version of the company's BlueTEC exhaust aftertreatment system, including the use of AdBlue urea injection. This is needed to meet U.S. emissions requirements, which are now the most stringent in the world. This re-tuning means the U.S. S350 BlueTEC produces more power (241 horsepower) and torque (429 pound-feet) than the European S350 model (at 235 hp and 398 ft-lb). Power is delivered to all four wheels via the traditional Benz 4Matic all-wheel-drive system. The S350 BlueTEC should equal or outdo the S400 Hybrid on fuel efficiency, but we'll wait for the EPA to render its decision. The hybrid S-Class is rated for 2010 at 19 mpg city, 26 mpg highway. No word yet on pricing, but at $87,950, the S400 Hybrid is presently the least expensive model (and the only V-6) in the 2010 S-Class lineup. The 2011 S350 BlueTEC should come in at roughly the same level, or lower than any gasoline V-8 model in the big luxury sedan. The 2011 Mercedes-Benz S350 BlueTEC will arrive at dealers early in 2011. [Mercedes-Benz] Enlarge Photo Continuing to diversify the green powertrain options it offers to buyers, Mercedes-Benz will add a clean-diesel model to its largest sedan line, the S-Class. The new 2011 Mercedes-Benz S350 BlueTEC sedan joins this year's S400 Hybrid, which adds a mild hybrid system with a 15-kilowatt electric motor to a 275-horsepower 3.0-liter V-6 gasoline engine (the only V-6 offered in an S-Class this year). Dashboard - 2010 Mercedes-Benz S Class 4-door Sedan 5.5L V8 RWD Enlarge Photo The new S350 BlueTEC model is the only diesel S-Class that will be offered in the U.S., and the first in roughly 15 years. Its 3.5-liter V-6 turbodiesel is the same one already sold in Bluetec versions of the ML, GL, and R-Class sport utilities. Models for the U.S. will be fitted with the advanced version of the company's BlueTEC exhaust aftertreatment system, including the use of AdBlue urea injection. This is needed to meet U.S. emissions requirements, which are now the most stringent in the world. This re-tuning means the U.S. S350 BlueTEC produces more power (241 horsepower) and torque (429 pound-feet) than the European S350 model (at 235 hp and 398 ft-lb). Power is delivered to all four wheels via the traditional Benz 4Matic all-wheel-drive system. The S350 BlueTEC should equal or outdo the S400 Hybrid on fuel efficiency, but we'll wait for the EPA to render its decision. The hybrid S-Class is rated for 2010 at 19 mpg city, 26 mpg highway. No word yet on pricing, but at $87,950, the S400 Hybrid is presently the least expensive model (and the only V-6) in the 2010 S-Class lineup. The 2011 S350 BlueTEC should come in at roughly the same level, or lower than any gasoline V-8 model in the big luxury sedan. The 2011 Mercedes-Benz S350 BlueTEC will arrive at dealers early in 2011. [Mercedes-Benz]


	Jun 3, 2010 Lexus sales up 31% in may leading Mercedes
	Sales Lead of Lexus over Mercedes Grows in U.S. Market Come see us at AsankaCars.Com in Sarasota, Florida and test drive all of the Mercedes and Lexus to see for yourself which one is the leader in luxury! Toyota Motor Corporation announced that sales of its luxury Lexus vehicles rose 31 percent in the U.S. market in May as aggressive incentives widened the automaker’s lead over competitor Mercedes-Benz. Last month, Lexus sold 22,216 units in the United States, raising its year-to-date sales total to 90,098 cars and trucks, an increase of 23 percent from May 2009. Mercedes-Benz sales increased 23 percent to 18,548 during the month of May and rose 22 percent to 85,405 vehicles sold in 2010, Daimler reported. The news was not so rosy for BMW AG—sales of the German brand dropped three percent in May to 17,859. Luxury-vehicle sales fell behind those of the general U.S. auto market as Porsche and Lincoln also experienced sales drops, explained Jessica Caldwell, Edmunds.com’s senior analyst. Automakers are trying to sell off the present model year’s inventory, thus attracting more buyers looking for a bargain than genuine luxury-vehicle buyers, Caldwell noted. “We expected Lexus to have a strong month because of its incentive programs,” Caldwell reported yesterday. “The ES and IS both did well. Those buyers are a little more price sensitive.” Lexus provided reduced-rate auto financing and discount leases to generate the sales spike that surpassed the total U.S. market’s 19-percent rise. Benz Rolls Back Incentives The existing incentive programs will be discontinued in June and July as Lexus transitions to a more brand-focused marketing campaign, said Mark Templin, Lexus’ general manager. “We think the luxury market will grow at a faster rate than the overall market,” Templin added. Mercedes continued to expand due to the success of its revised E-Class sedan, the sales of which more than doubled to 5,476 units. During the same period, Mercedes reduced its incentives to $2,834 per vehicle, a 54-percent decrease. The automaker will continue to try to reduce incentives, according to Ernst Lieb, Mercedes-Benz USA’s CEO. Lieb explained that it will be difficult to do so because competitors like Lexus continue to offer aggressive incentives. Lexus spent $1,656 per vehicle in May on incentives, which is 38 percent more than the same month last year, Edmunds.com reported. Lexus dealerships have larger gross margins than Benz dealerships, so they have the ability to reduce prices to seal a deal, Lieb explained. “Lexus is definitely pushing this issue right now,” he commented. “Lexus dealers have higher margins and more flexibility on pricing than dealers at a competitor.” Lexus does not comment on dealership margins, spokeswoman Alison Takahashi explained. Dealerships have the ability to adjust prices to close a sale, she reported.


	Jun 3, 2010 Hope for increase in future Lamborghini sales in 2011
	Lamborghini sees turnaround in 2011 AsankaCars.Com the place to special order the super car of your dreams at a wholesale price! Italian luxury sports carmaker Lamborghini sees flat sales this year and does not expect the market to return to pre-crisis levels before 2012 as the United States will take time to pick up speed, its head said. This year is one of transition, helped by continued growth in China, Stephan Winkelmann, the company's president and chief executive, told the Reuters Global Luxury Summit in Paris. "I see that for the total (sports car) market, with the ups and downs, there will be a growing market, not before 2012 I see levels back to the levels of 2007/08," he said on Thursday. Since 1998, Lamborghini has been a unit of the Audi brand (NSUG.DE), owned by top European carmaker Volkswagen (VOWG_p.DE). Lamborghini, known for its raging bull logo and sleek design with high top speeds, was severely hit by the crisis last year, during which sales fell 41 percent to 281 million euros ($345.6 million), Winkelmann said. Deliveries fell 37.7 percent to 1,515 units worldwide in 2009. Lamborghini sold 2,430 cars in 2008, its record year. Lamborghini prices range from 180,000 euros to 400,000 euros. Winkelmann said he expected European Union countries' austerity measures to hurt consumer spending and hit sales this year, while the U.S. economy would remain weak. "We see zero growth in Europe and the U.S. this year," the CEO told Reuters Insider Television. CHINESE PUSH Winkelmann said he expected to sell more than 100 cars in China in 2010, up from about 80 last year, even though custom duties more than doubled the retail price. Lamborghini will also increase the number of dealers in China from 7-8 to 12 this year, he said. However, the premium carmaker does not expect China to replace the U.S. as its first market. "Taxation is heavy in China, and rules can change from day to night," Winkelmann said. Lamborghini is among 10 brands including Bugatti and Bentley that will become part of a group co-owned by Porsche SE (PSHG_p.DE) and Volkswagen. Winkelmann said the new organization would not dilute the brand. Volkswagen took a further step in its multi-stage integration with Porsche in December when it acquired a 49.9 percent stake in Porsche's sports car business for 3.9 billion euros. Lamborghini competes head-on with Ferrari, owned by Italian carmaker Fiat (FIA.MI). Lamborghini said it was on track to reach an individual target to cut emissions from its cars by 35 percent by 2015. A Lamborghini produces more than 400 grams of carbon dioxide per kilometer, while an average car produces 150-160 grams. The European Union's target for most car makers is 120 grams by 2012. Based in Sant'Agata Bolognese in central Italy, the company was founded in 1963 by Italian Ferruccio Lamborghini, a visionary self-made man with a passion for fast cars. AsankaCars is located in Sarasota, FL but ships cars nationaly and internationaly.

Jun 3, 2010

Bentley Contimemtal Supersports ......rival for a Ferrari?

Bentley Continental Supersports: Enough to win over a Ferrari fanatic

AsankaCars.Com in Sarasota Florida specializes in affordible luxury automobiles and super cars.

If the Supersports Coupe is Bentley's way of making up for all the lukewarm Continentals it has produced, it has absolutely outdone itself.

The car is fun to drive from the word go, with more torque than you know what to do with and enough aural appeal to win over any Ferrari fanatic.

And it is not just the sheer immensity of its performance, which in itself is an achievement. I am talking about a vehicle weighing 2.24 tonnes (empty) reaching 100kmh from standstill in 3.9 seconds.

Mind-blowing as it is, the manic acceleration and effortless progress are par for the course in such a car. Powered by a 6-litre 12-cylinder turbocharged engine that produces 621bhp and 800Nm of hip-displacing torque, it makes you pant.

The Supersports also has other ingredients that make for a deep, meaningful relationship. Take its steering for example: Direct, beefy and so in control and at the same time, easy and communicative, so you almost feel what the tyres are doing.

The steering wheel is suede-lined, which not only feels heavenly, but it also offers an unrivalled grip.

Fussy to maintain but worth the trouble. Because nothing is more devastating than your palm slipping, even a little, when correcting a straying tail.

Not that this is likely to happen. Not without extreme provocation anyway. The Supersports' chassis is sturdier than many marriages. Low slung, wide tracks and fat rubbers acquaint the extraordinary Bentley with the tarmac intimately.

The car feels balanced and nowhere as hefty as its weight suggests. It is light on its feet, with a manoeuvrability that would shame some smaller cars. And it is no more intimidating to drive, either.

Its full-time all-wheel-drive system helps, no doubt. But the amazing thing is that it behaves more like a well-sorted rear-wheel-drive. Thoroughly enjoyable and way, way better than any of the preceding Continentals.

It is so poised that it is actually hard work to get the tyres to squeal or the traction control to kick in.

The brakes are marvellous, too - well-assisted and perfectly calibrated. They make hauling the heavyweight to a stop as effortless as breathing.

BENTLEY CONTINENTAL SUPERSPORTS COUPE

Price: $998,000 without COE

Engine: 5,998cc W12 turbocharged

Transmission: Six-speed automatic with paddle shift

Power: 621bhp @ 6,000rpm

Torque: 800Nm @ 2,000-4,500rpm

0-100kmh: 3.9 seconds

Top speed: 329kmh (electronically limited)

Fuel consumption: 16.7 litres/100km (city-highway)

Agent: Malayan Motors

You know the Supersports means business when it has semi-bucket seats (leather and suede, not motorised), no rear seats (instead, extra luggage space fortified by anti-flex bars) and no sunroof.

Yet it is far from austere. Dual-zone climate control, steering-mounted cruise control, soft-closing doors, keyless access and ignition - these are some of the luxuries still intact.

Despite a stiffened chassis, the ride is pliant. It is firmly sprung but never harsh.

If there is one other thing that makes driving this over-indulgent two-seater an occasion, it must be the song it sings. Booming, bassy and pulse-racing. In a word, beautiful.

And that might be the same word that perfectly describes the car. Except the Supersports is dressed more aggressively than its more ordinary siblings. Check out the gaping intakes, bonnet air vents and blackened alloys. This time, it has real substance beneath the shiny veneer and hallowed badge. The only thing I can think of that needs fixing is the car's awful parking beepers.


	Jun 3, 2010 Bentley's new flagship the Mulsanne.....
	AsankaCars.Com in Sarasota, FL the only place to special order the Bentley of your dreams at a wholesale price. Bentley gives a vote of confidence to the venerable overhead-valve engine design with the V8 that powers its new $285,000 flagship, the Mulsanne luxury sedan. Most performance cars have switched to a dual overhead cam layout, but Bentley engineers stuck with OHV because it fits the car's low hoodline and produces more of the low-end torque that's among the brand's hallmarks. The Chevrolet Corvette has retained an OHV engine for much the same reasons. Bentley's 6.75-liter V8 uses twin turbochargers to produce 510 horsepower at 4,200 r.p.m. and a massive 752 pound-feet of torque from just 1,750 r.p.m. The ability to produce peak power at low engine speeds is among OHV's most appealing characteristics. Linked to a ZF eight-speed transmission, the engine accelerates the 5,700-pound Mulsanne to 60 m.p.h. in 5.1 seconds. Top speed is 184.5 m.p.h. The Mulsanne goes on sale in the U.S. in November.


	Jun 3, 2010 EXTENDED WARRANTIES
	Remember AsankaCars.Com is the home of the 2 year 30,000 mile extended warranty included with the price of our vehicles. AsankaCars.Com specializing in affordible luxury vehicles such as Mercedes, BMW, Audi, Lexus, Jaguar, Porsche, Range Rover, and Acura.


	Jun 3, 2010 June is the month for "IN HOUSE FINANCING" where everyone can afford a luxury car!
	In June AsankaCars.Com is pushing our "In House Financing" program to cover as many customers as possible. Down payments start at $4900 for our large selection of luxury cars. As always, we accept trades in the down payment as well. Stop by today and drive home in a like new luxury car and be the envy of all of your friends.


	Jun 3, 2010 FRESH NEW STOCK OF MERCEDES AND LEXUS FOR OUR IN HOUSE FINANCING PROGRAM
	AsankaCars.Com in Sarasota Florida is the only dealer that offers "IN HOUSE FINANCING" on luxury vehicles such as Mercedes, BMW, Audi and more. We have a whole stable of vehicles that qualify for our in house financing program which includes a 2 year/30K mile extended warranty with the price along with tax, tag, and title......or design a custom in house financing program with one of our wholesale representatives on another vehicle in our inventory.


	May 25, 2010 Super car sales Bentley, Ferrari, Aston Martin, Rolls Royce up with economic recovery in 2010
	SUPER CAR SALES UP IN 2010! -- Trader Craig Poler couldn’t hold out any longer. Browsing at the Miller Motorcars dealership in Greenwich, Connecticut, he spotted the $130,000 Aston Martin Vantage Coupe he had been dreaming about for months. “The second I saw it I knew I was going to buy it,” said Poler, 48, who trades oil and petroleum products. “I’ve wanted one for a long time, since I started seeing them in London when I went on business.” AsankaCars.Com wholesale to the public... give us a call to special order the super car of your dreams at a wholesale price and save tens of thousands off of the sticker price! Super-luxury cars, whose sales plunged after Lehman Brothers Inc.’s collapse and the ensuing financial crisis, are making a comeback. Fiat SpA’s Maserati and Ferrari brands, Bayerische Motoren Werke AG’s Rolls-Royce and Daimler AG’s Maybach are moving out of the lots again as taboos over conspicuous consumption fade with the recovering economy. U.S. sales this year of cars priced at more than $100,000 may jump 42 percent after falling 30 percent in 2009, according to automotive industry researcher IHS Global Insight. U.S. gross domestic product has expanded on average an annualized 3.7 percent a quarter since the middle of last year after the biggest economic slump since the Great Depression. Demand for the most expensive car models plummeted in the fall of 2008 after the bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers and the arrest of Bernard Madoff for a $50 billion pyramid scheme, the largest investment fraud in history, set in motion a financial crisis that prompted wealthy consumers to rein in spending. ‘Poor Taste’ “It was poor taste to be flashing greenbacks around,” said Rebecca Lindland, an IHS Global Insight analyst in Lexington, Massachusetts. “You don’t think of this segment as having pent-up demand, but there is. These buyers are people that need to be the first ones on the block to have the latest model.” The U.S. is the largest market for the most expensive luxury cars, often referred to as supercars. A rebound in stocks and bonuses has revived demand for such vehicles. The U.S. stock market posted its biggest gains last year since the 1930s and bank earnings soared, including record profits at Goldman Sachs Group Inc., leading to bigger bonuses. Average compensation and benefits at Goldman Sachs last year was $498,246 per person compared with $316,928 a year earlier. Five-Hour Polish Lindland estimates Rolls-Royce will increase U.S. sales almost 20 percent this year on demand for the new Ghost, which is 17 inches shorter and nearly 600 pounds lighter than the Phantom. The “baby” Rolls sports a 12-cylinder, 563-horsepower engine, is hand-polished for five hours before delivery and has leather from bulls raised in barbed-wire-free pastures. Other models in demand are Maserati’s GranCabrio convertible and Aston Martin’s $198,000 Rapide, analysts said. “These are very emotional vehicles,” said Jeremy Anwyl, who runs the automotive Web site Edmunds.com. “The people who were holding back had money, but needed a good reason to buy.” Waiting lists for Ferrari Californias and 458s are growing again, said Richard Koppelman from the Miller Motorcars dealership, explaining he’s sold out of the 458 and has a waiting list of 180 people. “People who still have jobs are saying that things didn’t get as bad as they could have been,” Koppelman said. “Earnings are good on Wall Street. People are getting tired of doing without and are saying, ‘Why not?’ Demand is definitely strengthening a lot.” Swarovski Seats Daimler AG, which makes the Maybach, the 1930s-era ultra- luxury brand reintroduced by the German carmaker in 2002, expects premium demand to improve faster than the rest of the auto market, Chief Executive Officer Dieter Zetsche said. The Maybach was updated this year with a new grille and a more-powerful 12-cylinder engine. The updated version also includes seats that can be adorned with Swarovski crystal and an optional perfume atomizer in the rear compartment. Maybach models, whose owners include Donald Trump and Madonna, start at $358,000. The brand delivered 200 vehicles last year. “During the crisis, premium declined because the mood wasn’t there, while mass-market demand declined because money wasn’t there,” Zetsche said in an interview. “Mood is something that can change faster, and this has certainly proven to be the case.” The new Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG, which starts at 177,310 euros ($218,960) went on sale in the U.S. on May 10 and orders have been better than expected, said spokeswoman Silke Mockert. “We’ve seen very strong demand” for the 571-horsepower, gull- wing sports car, she said. U.S. sales of the top-of-the-line S- Class sedan have risen 11 percent to 3,771 vehicles in the first four months of the year, Mockert said. Tuxedo or Business Suit? Still, the revival in luxury-vehicle demand is spotty, Edmunds’ Anwyl said. Buyers are enticed by the newest models, while older ones, such as the Continental from Volkswagen AG’s Bentley brand, which starts at $177,600, are being sold with the help of incentives of as much as $30,000, he said. “The U.S. market is still very challenging,” said Annette Koch, a spokeswoman at Bentley Motors Ltd. “We would expect to see some growth this year, yet a modest growth.” Rolls-Royce sales are up 50 percent in the U.S. so far this year thanks to the new Ghost, which was introduced at the Frankfurt auto show in September, said Paul Ferraiolo, Rolls- Royce chief for North America. Priced at $245,000, it’s about 55 percent cheaper than Rolls-Royce’s most expensive model, the Phantom Drophead. “It’s all about the product,” Ferraiolo said. “The Phantom is like the tuxedo you put on for special occasions. The Ghost is like the business suit you can wear to work.” ‘A Little Guilty’ Others are still reluctant to splash out. Tim Leuliette, Executive Chairman of Dura Automotive Systems Inc. in Rochester Hills, Michigan, already owns an Audi R8 coupe and is “considering the new R10,” which sells for $175,000. “I feel a little guilty, so I’m not sure yet,” he said, adding that he’s heard of at least one super-luxury car, a Bentley Flying Spur, that was scratched along its sides by someone with car keys while the car was parked in Birmingham, a suburb of Detroit. “There is a revival of interest in exotics, as well as classics and muscle cars, but this has nothing to do with the underlying car market,” said Marino Marin, an investment banker specialized in consumer and luxury goods at Laidlaw & Co. Ltd. in New York. “These cars are true luxury goods, somewhat better-compared with the collectible or art market.” Poler, who chose a “deep, dark gray” 2010 Aston Martin Vantage Coupe, said although consumption isn’t back to where it was three years ago, people are becoming less reluctant to splash out on expensive cars and other luxury merchandise. “Some people were affected by the recession and others weren’t going to buck the trends in their social circles,” he said of the cutbacks. “Up until about six months ago you were an a-hole if you bought fancy toys.”


	May 25, 2010 Lifestyle of a Mercedes S class sedan
	To fully represent the image of the Mercedes S-Class, I'm writing this review from a Mexican lakeside villa. I've got opera music wafting in the background and a view of the mountains ahead. One part of the mountain is on fire, but never mind that. This is the S-Class lifestyle you read about in dealer brochures-relaxed and richly appointed, yet subtle enough not to attract too much attention. I'm on vacation, two hours west of Mexico City, next to some of the best back roads the world has to offer. I'm glad I don't have a car. Had I followed these roads back to la capital in a $107,000 Mercedes, I would have written "Carjack Me" on my forehead. Mercedes would tell you the same thing. In March, they paid the Mexican federal police to protect journalists driving a convoy of $200,000 SLS "Gullwings." Any luxury car, especially a huge one like our S550 tester, doesn't hide well here. In the U.S., no one gets stirred up at the sight of an S-Class sedan. They're the anonymous black cars favored by Goldman Sachs executives and other big suits in need of a quick, private escape. Driving one, let alone riding in its bedroom of a back seat, lets you turn off reality. The actual world — sirens, trucks, the unemployed — is but a few millimeters of double-paned glass away, yet it stays outside. If you smothered your face with pillows and jammed in a pair of earplugs, you could achieve a similar effect in the Nissan Cube. AsankaCars.Com in Sarasota, FL is home of in house financing on luxury vehicles and the only dealer to offer a 2 year 30K mile extended warranty with the price of the car. What's not easily mimicked is the adjustable air suspension — also pillow-like, but controlled — or the front seats with side bolsters that inflate as you round bends, keeping your torso straight. While you're at it, you might as well order up a back massage, heated, or chilled. Of the four choices displayed on the main LCD panel, I take mine "Fast and Vigorous." Do enough short sales to tick off the SEC, and you may want it "Slow and Gentle" instead. Most times the 5.5-liter V-8 acts accordingly, loafing this 4,630-pound sedan along through a sedate 7-speed automatic. Gear changes are imperceptible, until you nail the throttle, commanding a 7-to-3 shift to bring all 382 horsepower on tap. It's enough to hustle this 17-foot-long car to 60 mph in 5.4 seconds, impressive until you're near another S-Class with the letters "AMG" spanked on the back. That's proof of 500, or even 600-plus horsepower under the hood. In Germany, Mercedes offers a "badge delete" option that strips the model designation off the trunk lid. It's a nod to European socialism, so factory workers won't key the CEO's 12-cylinder S65 AMG, thinking it could be a base S350 with the turbodiesel six. The S350 owner, sans badge, can also pretend he's in a model costing $20,000 more, merely by upgrading his rims. But in America we like to show off our labels. You don't work 80 hours a week on Wall Street to be equal with the next luxury sedan. Or any car, for that matter. Xenon headlamps and two thin sets of LED strips — the top for parking and turn signals, the bottom as marker lamps — pierce into every rearview mirror on I-84 on my two-hour trip from central Connecticut to Boston. As airline pilots like to say, I was "making time," the radar cruise control set to repel every car out of the left lane. They obeyed. I switched on the night vision controls, which helped me see beyond the car's far-reaching swath of blue-white light. It's neat to see the analog speedometer — actually a widescreen, customizable LCD display — transform into a black-and-white infrared scan, but at highway speeds it confuses your depth perception. The camera is zoomed ahead, which makes everything appear slower. Look up at the windshield and back down again and you'll get disoriented. On the BMW 7 Series, the night vision is less intense and easier to watch, but neither car projects this image on the windshield, where it has potential to be the least distracting. Other necessities include a power-closing trunk, motors that seal the doors should you close them too softly, and quad-zone climate control with power-reclining rear seats. Yet it's the obsessive details that distinguish the S-Class from competitors. The rear headrests — which can cradle your neck like those on an airplane — rise automatically with the click of a seat belt. Instead of a rotary dial that keeps turning, the one on the Mercedes center console has stop points that adapt to every menu on the infotainment system. If you have only three radio presets, for example, the dial will only click three times. Browse an iPod with 571 songs and it'll be 571 clicks to the end. From that dial you can set a separate temperature for the front foot wells and choose how rear passengers should breathe. That last one was particularly useful when my girlfriend's Golden Retriever, Jack, started panting. Too hot, buddy? Just a few twists and Jack got his desired temperature, fan speed, and air direction. He fell back asleep. While the S-Class is aging well, newer competitors like the 2011 Audi A8 have emerged. In a nod to fuel economy, they're all getting more horsepower from less engine displacement. Their navigation and multimedia systems are less cluttered by the hard-to-find, sometimes duplicated menus in this car. Even $20,000 Fords have superior voice recognition, and the same can be said for every luxury brand. For the price, a Lexus LS 600hL is a better buy. It's equally cavernous, just as quiet, parks itself, and comes as a hybrid. But it doesn't drive as sweet as a BMW 750Li, nor does it look as good. The Benz makes a terrific compromise, straddling the line between Lexus isolation and BMW involvement. Plus, it carries Maybach presence for a third of the cost.


	May 25, 2010 Mercedes C class lineup growing
	Report: Mercedes-Benz C-Class lineup set to expand in U.S. AsankaCars.Com specializing in affordible luxury automobiles: Mercedes, BMW, Audi, Lexus, Porsche, Jaguar, Corvette, Mustang. AsankaCars is home of the 2 year 30,000 miles extended warranty and In House Financing on luxury vehicles. Mercedes-Benz C-Class sedan – click above for high-res image gallery Mercedes-Benz has a pretty ambitious goal to grow its U.S. sales by 30 percent over the next five years, and execs apparently think they will need to expand downmarket to do it. According to Automotive News, Ernst Lieb, CEO of Mercedes-Benz USA, feels that the bringing in the B-Class hatchback and introducing additional C-Class derivatives will provide the best possibility of attracting more customer since growth opportunities for the E-Class and S-Class are likely limited. Arch rival BMW already offers coupe, convertible and station wagon variants of the 3 Series in the States, along with the less costly 1 Series range, not to mention its ever-expending array of Mini products. In North America, surging Audi offers its A4 in sedan and wagon formats, along with the closely related A5/S5 Coupe and Cabriolet, and it also offers the less costly A3 hatchback. For its part, Mercedes currently only offers the C-Class in a four-door sedan bodystyle in the States. A C-Class coupe is reportedly due to arrive here in 2011 with a convertible coming in 2013 off of the revised C-Class that's due in 2012. And while the C-Class expansion makes sense, critics have feared for years that introducing the B-Class in America could lead to brand dilution (which is part of the reason that parent Daimler's teetering Smart franchise has remained so distinct). By comparison, in spite of its relatively slow sales here, the 1 Series arguably makes more sense in the context of the BMW lineup of performance luxury cars. So why isn't brand dilution an issue for Mercedes overseas? In Europe, where the A and B Class have been available for a decade, Benz has a different, more mainstream image, with a much more comprehensive model range. Despite a comparative dearth of entry-level products, Mercedes' sales remain on a pronounced uptick in America, with sales through April increasing by 26 percent to 68,826 units. In 2009, Benz dealers sold through 190,538 units. Gallery: 2010 Mercedes-Benz C-Class sedan Convertible, Coupe, Wagon, Mercedes-Benz, Luxury b class, b-class, b-klasse, BClass, BMW 1 Series, bmw 1-series, Bmw1-series, Bmw1Series, c class, c-class, c-klasse, CClass, Ernst Lieb, ErnstLieb, mercedes, Mercedes Benz, mercedes benz b class, mercedes benz c class, mercedes benz expansion, mercedes-benz, MercedesBenz, MercedesBenzBClass, MercedesBenzCClass, MercedesBenzExpansion


	May 21, 2010 The Mercedes featured in Sex and the City 2
	Mercedes-Benz hotties co-star in Sex in the City 2 by Keiichi (RSS feed) May 21st, 2010 at 10:49 am Alright, settle down boys and girls. No need to get all fired up right now. We know you’re crazy about Mercedes-Benz. We also know you’re waiting to see Sarah Jessica Parker in yet another starring role in her sequel to the first Sex in the City movie. But for heaven’s sakes, take time to check out the merchandise that’s going to be flaunted alongside Carrie, Samantha, Charlotte and Miranda. AsankaCars.Com in Sarasota, Florida The list of special talents include the Maybach uber-luxury line, the rowdy yet classy Mercedes-Benz G-Class, the flagship S-Class, an S400 Hybrid and THE sexy 2011 E-Class Cabriolet we told you about earlier. Of course, Mercedes-Benz USA couldn’t help but give their say on the entire deal, especially since the first movie gave them untold marketing benefits: “Sex and the City 2 is a natural fit for Mercedes-Benz.” Well said, Mr. Vice President for Marketing MB USA Steve Cannon. There couldn’t be a more appropriate movie to show your brand’s exclusivity. Being a company that recognizes talent, Mercedes-Benz did not let the opportunity pass. You’re going to get a glimpse of what it’s like to be in the high side of society, and discover what it takes to travel around in style. Just a week to go, folks! Hold your high heels.


	May 15, 2010 Mercedes E class wins top safety rating
	Mercedes-Benz E-Class earns this year’s Top Safety Award AsankaCars.Com in Sarasota, Florida come drive and E class Mercedes for yourself and feel the luxury and safety first hand. Both large luxury cars Hyundai Genesis and the Mercedes E Class were awarded the 2010 top safety pick awards by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. This award distinguishes top vehicles that gets the best rating of good for front, side, rollover and rear crash protection. It also needs to have an electronic stability control which is one of the many features of both cars. Hyundai officials are very happy as they were recently awarded with the top safety pick for their luxury sedan. What made the occasion more thrilling is that they shared the award with their much expensive rival, the Mercedes E Class. While the Genesis cost a lot less than the Mercedes E Class, this is the first time the E Class model earned the top safety award. Earlier this year, minor modifications were done to the padding in the front door to increase their protection when a side impact crash occurs. According to the Insurance Institute Highway Safety, the Genesis, who underwent some structural changes this year has also enhanced its roof for more protection in rollover crashes. The recent top safety pick award applies to Genesis models that were made since January 2010, and also the award that pertains to the E Class model are the cars that were built since March 2010.


	May 15, 2010 Luxury cars sales up led by BMW
	BMW profits put luxury car sector in the fast lane AsankaCars.Com the permier dealership for pre owned luxury cars in Florida. AsankaCars is home of the two year 30K mile extended warranty and the only dealer to offer in house financing on luxury cars such as BMW, Mercedes, Audi, and Jaguar. A surge in demand for luxury cars and a doubling of sales in Florida has helped the German car-maker BMW to return to profit in the first three months of the year. The group, which owns the Mini and Rolls-Royce marques, reported net profits of €324m (£276m) for the first quarter yesterday, against a loss of €152m in the same period in 2009. The group, which ranks as the world's biggest upmarket car brand, said it delivered more than 315,000 new cars in the first three months of the year, an increase of 14 per cent. Revenues were up 8 per cent, on a constant currency basis, at €12.4bn. "The BMW group has made a good start to 2010. We increased earnings significantly in the first quarter and are now back on a growth course on almost all car markets," said Norbert Reithofer, BMW's chairman, who added that the company is "well on its way" to hitting its annual targets. "We are aiming to achieve significantly higher group earnings in 2010 than in 2009, thus making a tangible step towards achieving the targets we have set for 2012," he said. BMW is looking to cut spending on supplies and components by €4bn over the next two years, which it hopes to achieve partly by pooling various purchasing projects with Daimler's Mercedes Benz. The group is also targeting an Ebit (earnings before interest and tax) margin for its automobiles segment of 8 to 10 per cent. Despite the upbeat results, European markets were the company's softest during the period. Sales increased by 4.4 per cent across the Continent, compared with a 7.5 per cent jump in the United States and a huge 55.7 per cent gain in Asia. In China, BMW reported the sale of 36,607 of cars, an increase of 100.5 per cent on first quarter sales last year. Overall sales were helped by a 54 per cent surge in sales of BMW's 7-Series range. The car shares about 70 per cent of its parts with the revamped version of the cheaper 5-Series, which went on sale in March in Europe. Yesterday's figures will come as a huge relief to the company, and to the wider luxury car market, which was dealt a body blow during the recession. "It's good news that [BMW was] able to beat expectations given the runout of the 5-Series," said Mike Tyndall, an analyst at Nomura. "Listening to Mercedes and Audi, it appears pricing pressure has eased somewhat." There is terrific competition in the upmarket car sector. Audi has said it is planning to replace BMW as the biggest group in the industry by 2015. BMW also showed that it has been able to restore prices after the downturn, and clear out stocks of the old 5-Series at higher than expected prices. "They are massively restoring pricing. Just from the latest monthly data, their discounts per unit in the US are now 31 per cent below the same level of last year, and this is even before the new 5-Series hits the US," said Credit Suisse's analyst, Arndt Ellinghorst. In what will be seen as a fillip for its UK arm, the sale of Minis increased by 13.6 per cent, with the group saying that it expects additional sales towards the end of the year when its "Mini Countryman" goes on sale. The Rolls-Royce brand recorded its best first-quarter sales volume performance to date, with sales up by 60.3 per cent to 279 vehicles. BMW described sales of 158 of the new Rolls-Royce Ghost as "extremely successful". Several versions of the Mini are manufactured at BMW's plant in Oxford, while Rolls-Royce has a factory at Goodwood in West Sussex.

May 12, 2010

New US built Super Car

Rapier Superlight: Custom-built Sports Car Made in USA Debuts

Luxury Cars: Look at those gull-winged doors! This sharp super sports car is the Rapier Superlight by Rapier Automotive. It is a heavyweight performer with a lightweight frame that has performance figures that aligns it favorably with the world’s most elite super sports cars.

It’s light on its tires with a curb weight of just 2,375 pounds, making it nearly 1,000 pounds lighter than a Corvette ZR-1. Speaking of the Corvette, the Rapier Superlight is powered by one of three Chevrolet-derived engine options and features a Ricardo six-speed manual transmission. With the 7.0 liter LS7 engine, the Rapier Superlight does a quarter mile in 10.6 seconds and has a top speed of 222 mph. Its zero-to-60-mph stat in 3.2 seconds is flabbergasting.

Many of the Superlight’s dimensions are sized according to its buyer, including the size of seat, the floor level, headroom clearance, the steering wheel, and the positioning of the pedals.

Just like a baby, it takes nine months from order date to deliver a custom-built mid-engine Rapier Superlight from the Boston-based carmaker. Pricing on the custom-built super sports car begins at $179,000.

Rumor has it that the Rapier will debut in Sarasota, Florida. Keep checking back with us at AsankaCars.Com for all of the details.....


	May 12, 2010 The new Rolls Royce Ghost
	Sarasota, FL-- When you mention the name Rolls-Royce to most people, they think "old school." AsankaCars.Com will special order any exotic car for you at wholesale pricing with a small deposit.....pick your own Bentley, Rolls Royce, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Maseratti, etc. at a fraction of the retail price! "Rolls-Royce has been around and known as Rolls-Royce as the best cars in the world since 1906, with the birth of the original Silver Ghost," said Lionel Falvet, general sales manager of Rolls-Royce Palm Beach. The Silver Ghost quickly became known as the most luxurious driver-oriented car ever made. Now let’s jump ahead a hundred and four years, to the new face of Rolls-Royce simply called the "Ghost." "This is the most driver-oriented Rolls-Royce ever. It has an exceptional power delivery," said Falvet. So, how much power are we talking about? "It has a brand new 6.6 liter twin turbo, with 563 horses," said Falvet. To put that into perspective for you, the 2010 Toyota Camry has 169 horsepower. Yeah, this is more than three times that. "It's like driving a jet plane really," said Falvet. And it's not just the ride; it's the little things too. "With night vision, heads up display, lane departure warning, bird’s eye view cameras all over the car," said Falvet. So how much will it take to put you into a new Rolls-Royce Ghost today? "You're looking at a $270-to-300,000 car, which is a tremendous offering due to the exceptional equipment, said Falvet." That's a lot of money, but more of these cars have been pre-sold in West Palm Beach, than anywhere else in the world. And whether you can afford one or not, Lionel urges you to at least take one for a test drive just for the experience alone. It's massive performance, massive power, but you hear nothing and feel nothing," added Falvet. Visit us at AsankaCars.Com to special order the super car of your dreams.


	May 12, 2010 BMW 7 series up sharply in April
	BMW April sales increase 15% on top-end 7-Series, Z4 Wholesale luxury cars to the public specializing in one of a kind vehicles such as Mercedes, BMW, Lexus, Audi, Porsche, Jaguar, Range Rover and Corvettes. May 's biggest maker of luxury autos BMW, said sales rose 15 percent in April as the top-end 7-Series sedan and Z4 roadster won customers. The maker of BMW, Mini and Rolls-Royce models sold 116,391 cars and sport-utility vehicles in April compared with 101,591 a year earlier, the Munich-based company said today in a statement. Four-month deliveries jumped 14 percent to 432,037. AsankaCars.Com home of In House Financing on pre-owned luxury cars and the two year 30K mile extended warranty included with vehicles. BMW remains "confident for the next months" as a revamped 5-Series sedan and the new four-door Mini Countryman car win buyers and the company's main sales regions recover from the recession, sales chief Ian Robertson said in the statement. The German manufacturer is seeking to raise profitability as Daimler AG's Mercedes-Benz brand and Volkswagen AG's Audi luxury division step up efforts to take market share. BMW will "significantly" surpass a goal of cutting spending on components and supplies by 4 billion euros ($5.2 billion) by 2012, Herbert Diess, the head of purchasing, said on May 5. BMW rose as much as 1.72 euros, or 4.9 percent, to 37.20 euros in the biggest intraday gain since April 20, and was up 4 percent as of 11:49 a.m. in Frankfurt trading. The stock has increased 16 percent this year. Sales by the main BMW brand increased 17 percent to 98,494 cars and SUVs, with deliveries of the Z4 surging sixfold and demand for the 7-Series gaining 62 percent. The Rolls-Royce Motor Cars division's sales more than tripled to 179 cars, boosted by the introduction of the new Ghost model in December, BMW said. Mini sales rose 2.3 percent to 17,718 vehicles. Deliveries in Europe increased 3.8 percent last month to 64,583 cars and SUVs, with BMW's German home market posting a 7.1 percent gain, the company said. U.S. sales rose 9 percent to 21,111 vehicles. Sales more than doubled in Brazil, where deliveries jumped to 816 from 331 a year earlier, and in China, where sales surged to 12,440 units from 5,789.


	May 12, 2010 BMW 5 series Hybrid
	BMW Plans to Offer 5 Series Hybrids, Diesels in U.S. (Update1) BMW AG’s 5 Series, the automaker’s most profitable car, may be offered in hybrid, diesel and 4-cylinder versions to meet U.S. fuel-economy rules. AsankaCars.Com in Sarasota, Florida carries a full line of one of a kind customized BMW's for the descriminating client. AsankaCars offers an extended warranty included with the price of each vehicle and still offers wholesale pricing! A hybrid may be available in the U.S. in 2011, Willem Rombauts, product manager for the 5 Series, said yesterday at a test-drive event in Philadelphia. Diesel and 4-cylinder models might reach BMW’s second-largest market “in the next few years,” he said. Automakers are preparing to revamp their lineups to meet U.S. standards that target industry average fuel economy of 34.1 miles (54.9 kilometers) per gallon by 2016. BMW’s cars and light trucks averaged 27.5 mpg and 23.1 mpg last year, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. “There are different ways to lower fuel consumption, and we’ll probably use most of them,” Rombauts said in an interview. “You can bring hybrids, you can bring diesels. With us, it’s going to be a broad range in every area.” The maker of BMW, Mini and Rolls-Royce vehicles doesn’t offer a 4-cylinder engine in any model in the U.S., Rombauts said. A turbocharged 4-cylinder under development offers performance similar to that of the 6-cylinder engine in the new 528i, he said. ‘Good Chance’ “Four cylinder will come to the U.S., and there’s a good chance it will also come on the entry model of the 5 Series,” Rombauts said, referring to the 528i. Company executives on a March 18 conference call said BMW would have a 5 Series hybrid in 2011, without identifying the markets where it would be sold. They also said Munich-based BMW was developing 4-cylinder and diesel vehicles to be offered in the U.S., without specifying what models might have them. BMW rose as much as 50 cents, or 1.3 percent, to 38.68 euros and traded at 38.67 euros as of 10:32 a.m. in Frankfurt. The shares have gained 21 percent this year, valuing the carmaker at 24.7 billion euros ($31.4 billion). BMW said in January that it would sell its 7 Series large sedan with a 6-cylinder engine for the first time in 18 years. The company also said it would resume using 4-cylinder engines, without giving specifics. BMW’s last four-cylinder U.S. car was in the 3 Series in 1999. The 5 Series is BMW’s most profitable car, according to Rich Brekus, the company’s general manager for sales in North America. It generates fewer sales than the 3 Series, while selling for about $15,000 more. Come visit AsankaCars.Com the premier luxury car dealership on the West Coast of Florida. Wholesale to the public specializing in affordible luxury automobiles.

May 12, 2010

Rolls Ghost

2010 Rolls-Royce Ghost: Fusion of technology, strong design

AsankaCars.Com in Sarasota, Florida home of premier one of a kind luxury cars.

The Rolls-Royce brand has a rich background. Based in Goodwood, England, the British manufacturer of luxury automobiles, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Limited, began manufacturing cars in 1903. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of the BMW Group. It is therefore not by accident that its products are classified among the trendy vehicles for the super rich. Even in Nigeria, in the late ‘70s and early ‘80s, when many aspired to own luxury rides in the class of Rolls-Royce, you could almost count the number of influential people having the luxury ride in their garages on your fingertips.

The 2010 Rolls-Royce Ghost is the latest model to come from the manufacturer, and it is positioned as the brand‘s entry-level vehicle.

It is guaranteed to embody class-leading performance and comfort.

Based on a BMW 760Li (BMW owns Rolls-Royce), the new vehicle, is described by MSN Auto‘s analysts as a fusion of a clever fusion of technology, strong design and solid craftsmanship. But of course, it is only a fascinating choice for shoppers with financial means.

Rolls-Royce says the Ghost only shares about 20 per cent of its construction with the big BMW. Rolls-Royce is also quick to point out that everything you see and touch is all-new and exclusive to the brand.

As with all Rolls-Royce vehicles, the new Ghost surrounds occupants in top-notch luxury and unmistakable style.

Some regard the 2010 Rolls-Royce Ghost as a ”21st-century Silver Shadow,” referencing the popular R-R models of the 1960s and ‘70s--the first unibody Rollers.

Under the Ghost‘s long hood lies a larger version of BMW‘s new twin-turbo V12. This potent yet silky-smooth power plant produces a ”sufficient” 563 horsepower and 575 pound-feet of torque.

Equally impressive is the fact that all of that torque is available at only 1,500 rpm, which makes this substantial automobile feel light on its tyres. An eight-speed automatic transmission – also sourced from BMW – provides quick, smooth and nearly imperceptible gear changes.

Though it will be Rolls-Royce‘s volume leader, the Ghost will be a relatively rare sight.

The company bills the Ghost as a Rolls-Royce that is ideal for daily driver duty, whereas the massive Phantom is more a car for special occasions or one to be chauffeured around in.

To put it into terms that its clientele will readily relate to, think of the Ghost as the power suit to the Phantom‘s tuxedo.

The Ghost luxury sedan comes in a single four-door body style in one well-equipped trim level.

Its standard feature highlights include 19-inch alloy wheels, an active air suspension, a sunroof, front and rear parking sensors, keyless entry/ignition, auto-dimming mirrors, rain-sensing wipers, automatic xenon headlights, power-closing rear doors, leather seating and trim, a pair of umbrellas stored within the front doors, heated front and rear seats, 10-way power and massaging front seats, four-zone automatic climate control, Bluetooth, a navigation system, adaptive cruise control and a 16-speaker premium audio system with a 12.5GB hard drive music server, satellite radio, a CD/DVD player and USB/auxiliary audio inputs.

The Driver‘s Assistance Systems package adds lane departure warning, automatic high beams, a head-up display and a night-vision camera. Although the manufacturer says a dozen exterior colours, along with a choice of eight-leather and five-wood trims will be offered as standard fare, those seeking more exclusivity will be able to customize their Ghost any way they see fit through the company‘s bespoke programme.

All Ghosts also come with a turbine-smooth 6.6-litre twin-turbo V12 that produces 563 hp and 575 lb-ft of torque. Power is sent to the rear wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission.

Company estimates put the 2010 Rolls-Royce Ghost‘s fuel economy at a relatively impressive 13 mpg city and 20 mpg highway.

The specific safety features include stability/traction control, antilock brakes, active front head restraints, side airbags for front occupants and full-length side curtain airbags.

The Driver‘s Assistance Systems package adds lane departure warning, automatic high beams, a head-up display and a night-vision camera.

For interior design and other special features, the vehicle has exotic wood veneers and metallic accents used liberally throughout the cabin, where passengers are cosseted in the finest leathers.

In keeping with tradition, rear seat passengers are pampered with well-shaped and supportive seats that also provide a clear view ahead. A large fold-down armrest and a measure of privacy afforded by the thick, rearmost roof pillars are two other benefits to sitting in the rear.

Though plush carpeting is standard, one may opt for genuine lambs-wool mats that will have you taking your shoes off.

Despite the dizzying array of high-tech luxury features, the Ghost presents a relatively clean dash and console. Part of the reason is that the multi-display screen is hidden when not in use behind a wood panel. The BMW-sourced multi-controller knob is mostly intuitive (unlike the earlier versions of BMW‘s iDrive) and elegant buttons and knobs recall the keys of musical instruments such as a flute or saxophone.

In terms of driving, the 2010 Rolls-Royce Ghost‘s twin-turbo V12 is exceptionally smooth and silent. The benign first bit of throttle travel makes for smooth, lurch-free takeoffs, but lean into it and you unleash a smooth, steady, turbine-like thrust that continues to swell effortlessly into triple-digit speeds. The eight-speed automatic transmission is spot-on as well.

The active air suspension goes about its duties with similar transparency, smothering bumps and ruts that would have you grimacing for a harsh impact in lesser cars.

Despite a curb weight of 5,455 pounds, the Ghost never feels ponderous, the light and precise steering makes maneuvering the big car a breeze, once you have adjusted to its dimensions.

At speed on an open highway, the Ghost quietly and rapidly covers ground, with passengers feeling that perhaps they are ensconced in a private jet or luxury railway car. On a curving road, the Ghost will roll a bit at lower speeds, but as the pace gathers, so does the suspension‘s alertness and road feel remains acceptable.


	May 12, 2010 Cars that talk
	Come visit AsankaCars.Com to test drive all of the top luxury car brands such as Mercedes, BMW, Lexus, Audi, Porsche, and Jaguar. Cars to warn of obstacles and jams, and talk to each other Cars that talk are no big deal. For years, they've been telling us to buckle up or close the door or get some gas. But listen up: If the U.S. Department of Transportation has its way, our cars will soon be talking to each other, and when they do, they'll have a lot more to tell us, too. The government expects cars within a few years will be able to tell you when you fall asleep at the wheel, will automatically apply the brakes when you don't notice the stalled truck ahead of you and will give you a head's up about the traffic jam on Central Expressway – an hour before it happens. Welcome to the smart car of the future. And it's nearer than you think. Some of the technology is already in use and available as options on some new cars. But what government researchers are developing would take those motion detectors and other gadgets to a whole new level. Federal officials say your car should do more than just detect obstacles in its path: It should talk to the other cars on the road, even if they are out of sight. Early pilot programs are under way across the country. And in other places, including Dallas, transportation officials are spending federal money to build networks of real-time information about traffic and accidents – systems that would be greatly expanded once cars begin sending data about their speeds and routes. "We are fully committed to dedicated short-range communications that can deliver real-time information and data to and between vehicles on the road," Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said at a recent gathering of government officials, academics and tech firms seeking clients. The push for new technology in cars and trucks – and commercial vehicles and ships, too – is not without controversy. Some safety advocates wonder whether making our cars smarter will end up making their drivers dumber, or at least less likely to pay attention to the road. That's a big issue because LaHood has launched a closely followed national campaign to get drivers to stop using cellphones, one that has triggered 25 states to fully ban texting while driving. Last week, he went further, scolding car companies for enabling hands-free wireless devices for drivers. "The voice-activated devices in the car are distractions," he said. Still, LaHood said the government's research will trigger "countless commercial applications." And other top federal officials said they grapple daily with striking a balance between research that enhances safety and research that leads to further driver distractions. Still, the momentum is clearly on the side of the research, which LaHood and business leaders said has enormous potential for improving safety. Making cars notice when a motorcycle is speeding up from the rear or detect a stalled car around the next curve that a driver can't see is only the start, said Samuel Palmisano, chairman and chief executive of IBM. The real benefit for traffic-weary places like Dallas, Palmisano said, will come when local officials learn to take data emitted from thousands of cars and use it to make better real-time decisions about how traffic should be managed. "Out of those mountains of data can come insight," said Palmisano, whose firm has invested billions of dollars in analytics, a science that processes billions of pieces of data to make quick decisions. Some of the fanciest uses for the technology are probably years away, officials said, but other ideas, including creating ways for cars to continuously talk to each other, are much closer. Some of the grander concepts – such as developing a whole corridor of traffic into a "network" that can predict jams up to an hour before they happen – are still several years out, said Peter Appel, who runs the $1 billion annual research program for the U.S. Department of Transportation. "But we don't have to wait to get started. Some of these ideas are much closer than that." Here's the basic idea: Put communication devices in sealed-off boxes in cars and let them constantly emit signals about their speed and trajectory – and eventually whether they are using headlights or wipers – that can be read by nearby cars. That way, even if you can't see a vehicle stopped ahead, your car can. It will trigger an alert, and if that doesn't get your attention, it could apply the brakes itself. Appel said costs aren't yet known, but he said the government believes the vehicle-to-vehicle communication boxes will be much cheaper to install than the commercial line-of-sight detectors some luxury cars already have. How soon can that happen? Within the next year or so, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration will decide whether Appel's team and others have advanced the technology enough to evaluate requiring manufacturers to install the vehicle-to-vehicle communications devices. That would take three years or more, but experts say the private sector will probably move earlier than that, with boxes that could be retrofitted for cars already on the road. Other applications are already being tested across the country, including by transit agencies. Transit officials in Minnesota, for instance, wanted a light-rail line but couldn't afford it. They then considered a bus rapid-transit service, which requires a dedicated highway lane. They couldn't afford the new lane, either. Instead, they are testing a system that speeds 91/2-foot-wide buses along a 10-foot highway shoulder. A GPS system maps the route down to the inch and loads it into the bus's computer. Drivers then look through a screen to see the road ahead along with bright yellow digital lane markers, like the digital first-down lines that broadcasters use during pro football games. If the bus strays a few inches from its path, the markers turn red, and, if needed, the steering wheel tugs the other way. Research soon will take on a Texas flavor. IBM announced last week that it will team with the Texas Transportation Institute to test real-life application of some of the federal endeavors.


	May 11, 2010 New BMW 5 series
	BMW Paring Incentives Ahead of U.S. Debut for Revamped 5 Series Bayerische Motoren Werke AG, the maker of BMW, Mini and Rolls-Royce luxury vehicles, is paring incentives as it prepares to sell a revamped version of its most profitable car in the U.S. next month. Come and drive every luxury car brand at AsankaCars.Com in Sarasota, Florida. BMW cut incentives by 31 percent last month, to $3,545 a vehicle from the year-earlier $5,140, according to Autodata Corp. That’s almost four times the reduction of 8 percent that was the industry average in April, the Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey-based research firm said. “We want volume, but we also need profit quality so that we can continue to invest in new products,” Rich Brekus, Munich-based BMW’s general manager of sales for North America, said in an interview. “This whole year, you’ve seen a clear reduction” in incentives because “the market’s improving.” The automaker is counting on a remodeled 5 Series sedan to compete with Toyota Motor Corp.’s Lexus and Daimler AG’s Mercedes-Benz, brands that have each had more than twice the U.S. sales growth of BMW this year. Lexus sales climbed 21 percent and Mercedes-Benz sales rose 22 percent this year through April, exceeding BMW’s 8.8 percent. “They’re pretty much in a dogfight,” Aaron Bragman, an analyst at IHS Global Insight in Troy, Michigan, said of the three brands in an interview. “The 5 Series is going to be one of the main factors as to whether BMW’s able to maintain or regain market position.” The 5 Series’ main competing sedans are the Mercedes’s E- Class redesigned last year, and Lexus’s LS, said Jim Hall, principal of consulting firm 2953 Analytics in Birmingham, Michigan. Late Model Slump Slumping sales of the 2010 5 Series have tempered gains for BMW this year. Deliveries fell 31 percent in the first four months of the year from a year earlier ahead of the changeover, according to Autodata. Supply is short because production of the previous generation model ended in late 2009, BMW spokesman Thomas Kowaleski said. “Our dealers have been fighting a good fight with one arm behind their back this first quarter,” Brekus said in an interview at a test drive in Philadelphia. BMW wants the new 5 Series, followed by the redesigned X1 and X3 sport-utility vehicles coming out early next year, to propel the company to the top-selling luxury line in the U.S. by 2012, Jim O’Donnell, president of BMW of North America LLC, said in March at the New York International Auto Show. Lexus has had the best selling lineup in the luxury segment for 10 consecutive years. Profit Goal BMW’s six-cylinder 535i starts at $50,475 and the eight- cylinder 550i will sell for $60,575, including shipping, according to the company’s website. A rebound by the 5 Series, positioned between the 3-Series and the 7-series in size and price, in BMW’s second-largest market would help the company follow through on Chief Executive Officer Norbert Reithofer’s expectation that the automotive division returns to profit this year. “We’re on a path that we’re pretty comfortable with in terms of sales growth, and we find we can do that with some reduction in sales support, which is being reflected in the profitability,” said BMW’s Brekus. BMW this month reported better-than-expected profit of 324 million euros ($421 million) for the first quarter. Net income beat the 264 million-euro average of eight analyst estimates Bloomberg compiled. Incentives this year through April fell 8.3 percent from the year-earlier period, according to Autodata. The 5 Series is BMW’s most profitable car, according to IHS Global Insight’s Bragman and 2953 Analytics Hall. Sales are less than the 3 Series, though a 5 Series sells for about $15,000 more.


	May 11, 2010 Mercedes sales up 15%
	Mercedes-Benz continues to grow; sales up 15% in April We have a full line of Mercedes Benz at AsankaCars.Com in Sarasota Florida home of wholesale luxury cars. Mercedes-Benz is continuing its growth path. As in previous months, sales increased at a double-digit rate in April. Customer deliveries totaled 93,100 units (April 2009: 80,700), an increase of 15%. According to the Executive Vice President Sales and Marketing of Mercedes-Benz Cars, Dr. Joachim Schmidt, their products have a lot satisfied customers, which is why their rates constantly grows in almost all divisions. They have achieved positive results during the second quarter where they also plan to up their sales. With regards to the development of their sales, incoming orders have considerably grown as well. According to the reports, they have a high demand in China and US and an outstanding sales result of their E and S-Class line. Based on their data, the new models of their E-Class sustained its growth due to their rising sedan deliveries of up to 17,200 units or around 52 percent. The outcome, again put them in front of their peers. Another very popular model was the E-Class convertible, which was presented in their showrooms last March 27. It is reported that around 4,700 S-Class sedans were delivered to clients last April, which went up by around 7% compared to last year. Their C-Class line is also another great line that got an eight percent increase or 19,600 units sold, even their deliveries of station wagon had a sales boost of 19 percent. With regards to their smart fortwo line, around 9,000 units were delivered across the globe last April. Mercedes-Benz is very positive that when they present the new-generation smart fortwo in the market, the said model will get much higher sales compared to their last recorded data.


	Apr 29, 2010 BMW replaces Toyota as most valuable Car Brand
	BMW Replaces Toyota as Most Valuable Global Car Brand BMW, News, Toyota Come and test drive BMW, Lexus, Mercedes, Audi, and Jaguar at AsankaCars.Com in Sarasota, Florida the premier pre owned luxury car dealer on the west coast. At AsankaCars.Com you can test drive all of the premier luxury cars all at one location. Auto News reported today in their survey compiled by the market research company Millward Brown, that BMW Group has replaced Toyota in rankings as the most valuable automotive brand. Toyota was sitting pretty for a while outselling most car companies and gaining a staple in history as one of the “best” car brands out their including their Lexus and Scion brand names. With all of the recent news and reports of recalls it is obvious that Toyota has seen better days. Now to take another jab in the gut, Toyota has been dethroned as the most valuable global car brand replaced by BMW. In 2009 BMW value ranking declined 9% estimated at $21.8 billion. Toyota’s brand value has dropped an astonishing 27% to $21.8 billion where the major contributing factors are from the massive recall campaigns. That put Toyota just below BMW. Other auto manufacturers that have improved brand value are Ford and Volkswagen. VW increased by 20% and of course Ford improved value by 19%. “Both carmakers are viewed as trustworthy brands with style, global distribution, German engineering and lower prices than prestige makes such as BMW and Mercedes,” Millward Brown said in a statement. Worthy brands World’s most valuable car brands in $ billion; rank in top 100 1. BMW $21.82– (25) 2. Toyota $21.77 — (26) 3. Honda $14.30 — (46) 4. Mercedes $13.74 — (53) 5. Porsche $12.02 — (65) 6. Nissan $8.61 — (86) 7. Ford $7.04 — * 8. VW $6.99 – 9. Audi $3.62 – 10. Renault $3.26 –


	Apr 29, 2010 BMW 7 SERIES MOST POPULAR EXECUTIVE RIDE
	Asanka Cars always has a full selection in stock of BMW 7 series specializing in sport and one of a kind models. Bumper to bumper, the BMW 7-Series cars are as long as sport utility vehicles. They weigh as much as SUVs, too. But despite starting retail prices over $80,000 and dismal gasoline mileage, the big BMW sedans continue to sell. Come into AsankaCars and drive the flagship of the BMW line the 745, 750, and 760 and decide for yourself if it beats the Mercedes S Class vehicles at AsankaCars. In fact, in the first quarter of this year, 7-Series sales in the United States tripled from the year-earlier period to total nearly 3,000. The 7-Series' U.S. sales surpassed those of major competitors — the Mercedes S-Class and Lexus LS sedans. Some of the appeal has to do with the serious, sleek BMW look and roomy, leather-swathed interior that remain in fashion with captains of industry who patronize these cars. And even in economically distressed times, some people and companies can afford to fill the tank on a car that's rated 16 to 17 miles per gallon in combined city/highway driving by the federal government, incurring a federal gas guzzler tax. The rear-wheel drive 750i with 400horsepower, twin-turbocharged V-8 and automatic transmission has a starting manufacturer's suggested retail price, including destination charge and mandatory gas guzzler tax, of $83,875. An all-wheel drive 750i xDrive model starts at $87,175. This is the first time that BMW's xDrive all-wheel drive system has been installed in the 7-Series. The competing 2010 Mercedes-Benz S550 has a starting retail price of $92,475 with rear-wheel drive and 382-horsepower V-8 and $96,475 for a model with all-wheel drive. The 2010 Lexus LS 460 starts at $66,255 with rear-wheel drive and 380-horsepower V-8. It starts at $69,780 with all-wheel drive. Neither the Mercedes nor the Lexus incurs the federal gas guzzler tax. The hallmark of the BMW 7-Series is a palpable sense of solidity. The doors of the test 750i xDrive sedan feel heavy. There's nothing flimsy here, and the doors' serious way of closing, with an automatic "soft-touch" mechanism that's part of a $1,700 option package, adds to the vault-like feeling inside. I heard the twin-turbocharged V-8 start as soon as I pressed push-button start, but the sound insulation for the car's interior made the engine seem distant — at least until I pressed the accelerator. The power from the 4.4-liter, direct-injection V-8 with BMW's variable valve timing was awesome. It moved the more than two-ton car briskly in all kinds of traffic and up twisty mountain roads. The forceful "oomph" whenever my foot pressed the accelerator was almost addictive; it was difficult to keep the car at legal speeds (top speed, it should be noted, is 150 miles an hour). Mated to a six-speed, electronically controlled automatic transmission with quicker shifts between gears this year, the engine puts out 400 horsepower, which is more than either the Mercedes S550 or the L S460. Torque is forceful, peaking at 450 foot-pounds starting at a low 1,750 rpm and available all the way to 4,500 rpm, so there's no real lagging in this car. And given that this all-wheel drive sedan can go from standstill to 60 mph in just 5 seconds, gasoline consumption akin to that of a Cadillac Escalade SUV is understandable. Still, the driving range is only about 380 miles, and premium gas is specified. The ride is first-class, with supportive, wide and comfortable seats and a suspension that manages road bumps impeccably. A nearly 200-mile round trip amid busy highway traffic was not taxing. Yes, the car had BMW's iDrive system, which uses a large knob on the center console to scroll through menu screens on large, colorful dashboard display and adjust everything from navigation to audio and ventilation. But there are enough redundant controls, if needed, on the center stack, and BMW made the system more intuitive. The 7-Series owner's manual even is accessible through iDrive. The onboard hard drive has 80 gigabytes, including 12 gigs for music storage. xDrive provides power to all four wheels, generally distributed 40 percent to the front and 60 percent to the rear. In fractions of a second, power can be redistributed where needed if a loss of traction is detected. The driver doesn't have to do anything. Electronic damping control ensures the shock absorbers adjust for the car's load of passengers and cargo as well as road conditions. The test car's brakes worked well, aided by a long list of electronic brake features including cornering brake control and brake fade compensation. Though the U.S. government hasn't provided crash test ratings for the 7-Series, there is a lot of standard safety equipment, including extra-bright Xenon headlights and front, side and head air bags. A final note: BMW is adding to the 7-Series line with turbocharged, six-cylinder-powered 7-Series cars with 313 horsepower. Available as early 2011 models, they start at $71,025 for a 740i.

Apr 29, 2010

Benz to include Carbon Fiber in production models

The Carbon Fiber Diet: 2012 Mercedes-Benz SL to Slim Down

Automakers are looking for ways to strip weight out of cars, allowing them to improve performance and fuel economy with a single step. Mercedes-Benz’ solution, it seems, is to use more carbon fiber composite materials -- and it seems the next-generation 2012 SL-Class will do just that.

2010 Mercedes-Benz SL550 front three-quarter view top down

2010 Mercedes-Benz SL550 rear three-quarter view top down

2011 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG front three-quarter view

2011 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG rear three-quarter view

Drive the full line of Mercedes Benz at AsnakaCars.Com in Sarasota, Florida. Buy a pristine pre-owned Mercedes at a fraction of original retail and with the piece of mind of an extended warranty included at Asanka Cars.

Daimler AG has partnered with Toray Industries, a Japanese textile maker, to develop and produce car parts made from carbon fiber composite materials. The move mirrors BMW’s partnership with U.S.-based carbon fiber supplier SGL Automotive Carbon Fibers, which is designed in part to supply components for the 2013 Megacity electric vehicle. Toray is the world’s largest carbon fiber supplier, supplying automakers that include Ferrari.

Together, Toray and Daimler will work on lightening some of Mercedes’ vehicles through the use of carbon fiber reinforced plastics. Although Mercedes has not disclosed what parts will be made from the material, they’re likely currently made from metal. Carbon fiber parts will therefore significantly reduce the car’s weight, but may carry a substantial cost premium.

Carbon fiber could replace a number of metallic parts, but some suggest the SL’s folding roof may be be fabricated from the material. The current steel roof is rather heavy, and also requires a large hydraulic mechanism to stow and deploy the structure. Using a carbon fiber roof could potentially allow the SL to shed some pounds and utilize a smaller folding mechanism, which could subsequently improve cargo space.

We’ve yet to see finite details on the new SL, but based upon spy photos of the car, it appears the next-gen roadster will bear resemblance to the SLS AMG. In fact, many upcoming Mercedes-Benz models will ape the SLS. According Hans-Dieter Futshik, director of Mercedes’ passenger car design, the SLS will influence the shape of the company’s sports cars, including the SL and SLK.

2010 Mercedes-Benz SL550 front three-quarter view top up

Categories: Auto News, Mercedes-Benz


	Apr 29, 2010 New electric car from BMW
	New Electric Car from BMW Come see and drive the full line of BMW's at AsankaCars.Com specializing in pre-owned luxury vehicles. Ask about our "In House Financing" on luxury vehicles. German luxury car maker BMW announced that its first electric car will be ready to hit the international market in the year 2013. The company intends to begin mass production of electric vehicles from this year itself and hundreds of electric Mini’s or Mini E’s are expected to roll out from early next spring. The company has taken into account the growing popularity of hybrid and electric vehicles globally. Thus, it plans to launch all-urban vehicle designed for metros and urban driving conditions. Apart from the electric Mini’s BMW also intends to bring a brand new EV dubbed as “Megacity.” It will be a 5-seater car that will rival VW Volt and will be the size of VW Golf. Volkswagen is already ahead in electric vehicle market and will launch its EV this year. The new Megacity will have the rear mounted motor and rear-wheel drive as well. BMW plans on using extensive amounts of high tech carbon fiber to make their Megacity EVs stronger, safer, lighter and faster than any other electric cars on the road.


	Apr 29, 2010 NEW HYUNDAI LUXURY CAR COMES WITH IPAD
	Hyundai Motors America has launched its 2011 Hyundai Equus, a large, rear-drive luxury sedan. Equus has been launched in competition with the Mercedes S-Class and Lexus LS. Once this new Hyundai comes out....you can place your special order for it at AsankaCars.Com in Sarasota, Florida. Equus will be the first paperless car – as it would include an iPad, loaded with a digital version of the 300 page thick owner's manual. Apple Inc.'s sleek tablet computer, iPad, will be included as a part of the package for the consumer’s who buy the new Hyundai Luxury car. The owners will also be able to use one of the tablet's pre-loaded applications to make service appointments. Hyundai, which is well known for its budget cars like the Accent and Elantra, is trying to break into the high-end market with Equus, which the manufacturer is comparing to the LS 460 and Mercedes-Benz S550 sedans. These vehicles are similar in respect the horsepower of the engines used as well as the size of the car. The exact price of Equus has yet not been revealed, and will be announced closer to sales launch, but it would definitely be way lesser than what consumers pay for an equally equipped Lexus or Mercedes-Benz. AsankaCars.Com specializing in affordible luxury cars. Home of the 2 year 30K mile warranty and the only dealer that offers in house financing on luxury vehicles.


	Apr 29, 2010 Bugatti Veyron Asain Debut
	ASIAN PREMIERE FOR BUGATTI VEYRON 16.4 GRAND SPORT Bugatti Bugatti debuts with the new Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport before international media, officials and invited VIPs in Beijing on April 23. The event takes place on Auto China International Automotive Exhibition, at which Bugatti participates for the second time. The long-awaited open top version of the classic Bugatti Veyron 16.4 will be on... AsankaCars.Com in Sarasota, wholesale luxury cars to the public ...display at the Bugatti exhibition stand from April 25 to May 2, alongside with a classic original Veyron model, showcasing the fine artisan design legacy of the world’s premium luxury car brand to the elite of China. Attending the launch are senior executives from Bugatti Automobiles S.A.S and Bugatti China, affirming the company’s confidence in the future of China’s ultra-luxury sports car market. The Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport is the latest version of the already-legendary Veyron model series. With a formidable 16 cylinder engine operating alongside four turbo-chargers, the Grand Sport can achieve a power output of 1,001-horsepower. Four turbochargers and four valves per cylinder, 1,250 Nm at 2,200 rpm and permanent 4-wheel drive for a top speed in excess of 400 km/h (250 mph) with its roof in place. Because of this impressive power unit, the Grand Sport boasts an acceleration rate of 0-100 Km/h (0-62mph) in less than 2.7 seconds: greater than that of any production car in the world. It decelerates from 100 km/h to 0 in 2.3 seconds. Full braking from 407 km/h brings the Bugatti Veyron 16.4 to a halt in less than 10 seconds. It consists of a high-performance brake unit generating up to 180 bar brake pressure with ceramic discs and 8-cylinder monoblock brake calipers. The resilient and weight-efficient body design of the Grand Sport marks a milestone in the history of automobile safety technology. With its exterior shell consisting of a carbon fibre monocoque suspended from an aluminium frame at the front of the chassis and carbon fibre/stainless steel frame at the rear, the open top version of the renowned Veyron coupe can justifiably claim best-ever crash performance for super-sports cars of its class. Complete driver and passenger cockpit protection is also enhanced by the strengthened carbon design of the A frame and doors. A seven speed double-clutch gearbox and carbon-ceramic brake discs ensure optimum performance in conjunction with the maneuverability and flexibility provided by the innovative Bugatti Electronic Stability Program (ESP). Interior features include accessible gear-change paddles on the steering wheel, Puccini audio system (designed especially for the demands of driving a convertible) and quilted leather upholstery for an elegant and classically sporty interior. Design features such as a new swept-back windshield and refashioned running lights minimize turbulence while improving visibility to further distinguish the Grand Sport from the original Bugatti Veyron 16.4. Selecting Auto China 2010 as the venue for the landmark launch of the Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport in the Asia Pacific region is the latest step in the continuing success of Bugatti China. Since the March 2008 agreement between Bugatti Automobiles S.A.S and Bentley China – a subsidiary of the Dah Chong Hong Group- authorizing it as the exclusive distributor of Bugatti in China, the brand has enjoyed continuous and steady growth. Widespread economic development, coupled with increasing appreciation for finely crafted, luxury sports cars among premium consumers has made China to a strategically highly important market for Bugatti worldwide. The Grand Sport arrives at Auto China 2010 at the tail-end of two successful years for Bugatti in the Chinese market. A first appearance at Beijing International Auto Show in 2008 made headlines worldwide, as an eager sports car enthusiast became China’s first owner of a Bugatti Veyron 16.4 less than two hours after the model’s Asia Premiere. Other Bugatti masterpieces have also found an appreciative audience in China, with the successful launch of such beautiful and innovative models as the Bugatti Veyron 16.4. Centenaire Edition car “Malcolm Campbell” and Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Fbg Par Hermès: the product of a collaboration with classic French luxury fashion house Hermès of Paris. Following these events, the 2009 opening of the world’s first Bugatti showroom in Beijing provided a platform for Bugatti to establish its reputation for excellence in the Chinese market. Furthermore, with highly-exclusive customer relations events such as the VIP Shanghai Test Drive, Bugatti truly distinguished itself as the luxury sports car for drivers of refined and sophisticated tastes. Reflecting on the projected future development of Bugatti in China, Mr. Kingston Chang, Business Director of Bugatti China said, “We believe the operations systems that Bugatti China has in place will bring new levels of efficiency and synergy to the relationship between our sales and after-sales service teams. Also, by making use of Bentley China's excellent distribution network and state-of-the-art after-sales service centre in Shanghai, we will be able to offer Bugatti owners in China the ultimate in personalized service and customer care.” With China’s ultra-luxury car market set to reach new heights in 2010, Auto China 2010 and the launch of the Grand Sport demonstrate the commitment of Bugatti to its devotees in China. Following the exhibition in Beijing, the Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport will tour the country, appearing in Shanghai and other major cities. In the future, Bugatti will continue to bring the best in ultra-luxury sports cars to China, and offer even more opportunities for lovers of the world’s most sophisticated sports cars to sample the driving experience of a lifetime. After celebrating a remarkable 100 year history last year, Bugatti continues with the purpose in mind to cement the luxurious and noble image of the brand for all those in China that appreciate the spirit of Bugatti: ‘Art – Forme – Technology’.


	Apr 27, 2010 BMW vs. Lexus sales
	BMW unlikely to grab sales crown in U.S. in 2010, despite Lexus’ recall woes : BMW, Industry News, Lexus Come drive the full line of BMW and Lexus at AsankaCars.Com in Sarasota to compare for yourself. BMW, which has trailed behind Lexus as the No.2 luxury brand in the U.S. for the past decade, is unlikely to benefit from the Japanese brand’s recall woes. Analysts say that BMW will probably come in at the No.2 spot again in 2010. BMW sales will be suppressed this year by the wind down of the old 5-Series, says BMW AG global sales chief Ian Robertson. The 5-Series accounts for about 25 percent of BMW’s sales volume in the United States. “Effectively, we’ve run out our existing 5 Series and won’t launch our new 5 Series until June,” Robertson said. “So a full-year effect won’t be felt. We still see we will have some growth this year, but it’s a few digit points. How that turns out with competitors’ volumes remains to be seen.” Analysts say that Lexus has been hurt by parent Toyota’s recall issues and the recent recall of the Lexus GX. However, Lexus sales were still up 42 percent to 20,219 vehicles in March, compared with 2009. During the first quarter of 2010, Lexus sales were up 18 percent to 49,523 vehicles.


	Apr 27, 2010 2011 Maybach
	2011 Maybach: 2010 unveiled Asanka Cars Sarasota Will a modest face-lift, a bit more power and additional high-end features be enough to rescue Daimler's flagging Maybach super-luxury brand? Let's just say that it's no coincidence that the German automaker unveiled its face-lifted Maybach 57 and long-wheelbase 62 sedan. Virtually every European premium brand is unveiling one or more special models here this year. AsankaCars.Com in Sarasota, Florida home of the 2 year 30K mile warranty. In the case of Daimler, this may be the last gasp for the struggling Maybach brand. The cars get a modest touchup, with oversize chrome grilles and mildly reworked bumper, hood, mirrors and taillamps. The 57 and 62 feature new 19-inch wheels, while the sportier 57S and 62S are fitted with standard 20-inch wheels. Daimler has bumped engine output on the S models to 621 hp. New creature comforts include a 19-inch video screen, a custom perfume flask and fancy seat piping that can be ordered with hand-braiding or Swarovski crystals. Customers can order the cabin trimmed in a variety of accents, including dark bird's-eye maple, brilliant porcelain piano lacquer and carbon fiber. Maybach unveiled slightly reworked versions of its luxury cars at the Beijing show. New exterior bits and interior trim are part of the updates. Output from Maybach S models has been increased to 621 horsepower.


	Apr 27, 2010 Fastest Ferrari Yet!
	Fastest Ferrari yet Ferrari has unveiled its fastest ever roadster, the 599 GTO, a limited edition vehicle of which 599 will be produced. It is the most high profile of dozens of luxury cars being launched during Beijing Auto Show. The 599 GTO is the fastest consumer car in history, with a top speed of over 335km/h. The limited edition car was unveiled to the public for the first time at the Beijing Auto Show, in the country which has the second-most billionaires in the world, after the United States. Ferrari GTO spy video - Place your order for a special order super car such as Ferrari or Bentley at wholesale pricing at AsankaCars.Com Ferrari chief executive Amedeo Felisa at the Beijing Show said: "We expect to be stable, more or less, in Europe and the United States but we expect China and Asia Pacific to be the region where we can evolve." The world's top luxury car makers all have huge displays vying for attention in the world's biggest car market. Ferrari chief Amedeo Felisa details the 599 Aston Martin entered China in 2007, and says sales are so strong it will become their number one market in Asia within 18 months. Analysts say there is plenty of scope to increase as luxury cars make up just 5 percent of auto sales in the country, compared to roughly three times that in the United States. Rolls Royce, the maker of some of the world's most expensive cars, sold around 100 vehicles here last year and say they expect to triple that number in 2010, making this their number two market behind the US. The Phantom can be customised with a variety of options from a gold-plated version of its famous Spirit of Ecstasy hood mount, to engraved door plates, and thousands of colour options for the interior. Rolls Royce Asia Pacific regional director Paul Harris said: "It's a market where we need to be, its a market where we see potential, its a market where we have much customer demand, and basically we are where our customers want us to be." China is developing its own car industry, aimed largely at the emerging middle class, but lacks its own high end vehicles. So the world's fastest and most luxurious car makers are racing to get a piece of this booming market.


	Apr 27, 2010 Mercedes SLS AMG Black Series ...Your SLS update from Asanka Cars
	Mercedes-Benz working on SLS AMG Black Series AMG, SLS AsankaCars.Com leading the way in pre owned luxury automobiles. It is being reported that Mercedes-Benz is developing a performance enhanced version of the SLS AMG – an SLS AMG Black Series to be exact. The car is expected to hit the market by 2013, and would be a totally different breed than the current SLS AMG. Their plan is to increase the engine power and reduce the weight, which as you know is always a good way to increase performance of a vehicle. The current SLS AMG has 563 hp and 479 lb-ft of torque, now compare that with the expected 600 hp and 500 lb-ft of torque, which they’ll get by using a larger intake manifold, higher compression ration, high performance camshafts and others things. AMG engine boss Friedrich Eichler was quoted as saying to Autocar: “We’re not at the limit with what’s out there the moment. There’s still a good deal more to come from the engine, we’re saving the best until last.” The weight reduction will be about 50kg, so if we combine that with the increase in horsepower, we could expect a 0 to 62 mph in about 3.5 seconds, compared to the 3.8 seconds for the SLS AMG. The top speed would be raised from 208 mph, from the current 195mph. You can expect the price tag to be 40 to 50% more than the current SLS AMG, which if we take the announced $183,000 price tag for the SLS AMG, would mean that the Black Series would cost around $274,500.


	Apr 27, 2010 BMW TUNING!
	Hamann releases tuning kit for the BMW E89 Z4 Come visit us at Asanka Cars in Sarasota to see and drive your dream Mercdes, BMW, Porsche, Audi, Lexus, Jaguar, and Corvette. Remember that AsankaCars.Com is the only dealer to provide in house financing on luxury vehicles such as Mercedes, BMW, and Audi. The tuning firm famous for giving us the excessive BMWs recently released an E89 Z4 tuning kit. The Hamann Z4 receives an aerodynamic treatment to further optimize the airflow along its body. The engineers at Hamann replaced the stock front spoiler with a custom development that also has LED day lights. The side skirts of the E89 was also modified to give the car a longer and lowered look. The lift force on the BMW Z4’s rear axle was decreased by installing a especially developed spoiler by Hamann. They also gave a nice rear apron that has some space for the 4 tailpipe that give this roadster an aggressive throaty sound from the exhaust system of Hamann. The engine specialists of the tuning firm also boosted the performance numbers of the Z4 that lifted its limited speed of 250 kilometer per hour. The improvement was achieved by tinkering on the control device installed during production upping the numbers to 360 horsepower while revving at 5230 rpm. This is a good improvement from the stock’s 306 hp. Simultaneously, the torque also improved dramatically from 400 Nm to 540 Nm achieved during revs between 1,300 and 5,000 rpm. The speed of the Hamann Z4 is pegged at 285 km/hr. To complete the BMW package, Hamann installed a matt black Edition Race lightweight alloy rims. The twenty-inch rims lives by the sporty attitude of the Z4. The wheels are hugged by 235/30ZR29 tires in front and a wider 295/25ZR20 for the back. Special springs for the chassis were also installed and these allow the car to be lowered by as much as 30 millimeters. The handling of the Z4 Roadster was consequently enhanced. The interior of the car was subtly improved. Hamann installed a gear knob made of aluminum and foot mats customized with the silver logo of the tuning firm. There is also an optional set of leather fittings to complete the look of the Z4. 2010 Range Rover Sport tweaked by Hamann to fit the bill as Conqueror II BMW Z4 E89 tuned by Hamann Vath tricks out G55 AMG, gives the G-Class 680 horsepower Geneva 2010: Hamann Tycoon Evo M with 670 hp based on BMW X6 M GeigerCars boosts power of Grand Sport from Corvette near ZR1 performance Hamann Typhoon based on Mercedes-Benz G55 AMG


	Apr 27, 2010 New 2011 BMW X5
	ASANKACARS.COM SARASOTA FLORIDA SPECIALIZING IN AFFORDIBLE LUXURY AUTOMOBILES. First uncovered in 2000BMW called the X5 a Sport Activity Vehicle (SAV), a term which has reportedly grabbed some general currency during the years. However, most consumers still refer to it and similar vehicles as SUVs. Its outside looks changes include repositioned fog lights, varied headlights, refigured under-bumper air intakes, matte silver inserts in the front chin spoiler and lower rear valance, restyled tail lights, refigured exhaust tips. The X5 is basically a SUV, though, and the 2011 model year witnessed a model refurbishment that involves a new inline-six cylinder (I6) engine, a V8 engine transplant from the X6. In addition, it shows an unceasing application of the X5 diesel powerplant, with a new-for-X5 eight-speed automatic transmission system for gasoline-powered models. The $74,300 BMW X5 xDrive50i, the flagship X5, now comes with the 4.4-litre engine introduced in the X6 in 2008 Introducing a 400 horsepower and 450 pound-feet of torque capacity, horsepower is raised by 14 per cent from 350 hp, and torque is made up by 28 per cent, from 350 lb.-ft. in the outgoing 4.8-litre engine. Looking form the mechanical prospect; the 2011 X5 is highly better choice than the model it replaces. 2011 BMW X5 models will hit the stores on sale in May, 2010.


	Apr 27, 2010 Recal on 2010 Luxury cars
	Recall Round Up: Porsche Panamera, BMW X5 M and Volvo XC90 AsankaCars.Com in Sarasota, Florida specializing in affordable luxury automobiles at wholesale prices. Home of the 2 year 30K mile warranty and In House Financing on luxurly cars such as Mercedes, BMW, Porsche, Audi, Lexus, and Jaguar. A new batch of recalls is out, and this time several luxury models are affected. BMW is recalling 2010 X5 M models for failing to comply with requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 108. According to NHTSA’s recall notice for the X5 M, “These vehicles were equipped with side marker lamps, but not the power supply cables leading to the lamps. As a result, the side marker lamps do not illuminate.” BMW has not yet provided a remedy and has not begun to notify owners. X5 M owners can contact BMW at 1-800-525-7417. “BMW has not yet said what its fix will be, and this likely does not affect a large number of vehicles,” says Kicking Tires. “Still, it’s startling that BMW built an $85,500 vehicle without attaching power lines to the blinkers.” Porsche is recalling 2010 Porsche Panamera S, 4S and Turbo sedans due to a defective seat belt mount. According to NHTSA’s recall notice for the Panamera, “If the front seats are adjusted towards an extreme position…it is possible that the function of the locking mechanism of the seat belt mount can no longer be guaranteed.” That means the seat belt mount could detach, and in the event of a crash, “may not provide adequate protection for the seat occupant, which may increase the risk of injury or death.” Dealers will install an additional locking element free of charge. Owners may contact Porsche at 1-800-545-8039 (PORSCHE recall number AA01). Volvo is recalling the 2010 XC90 due to a leak in the fuel line. According to NHTSA’s recall notice for the XC90, if a leak develops in the fuel line between the line and a connector, “a fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can lead to a fire at the right front wheel.” Dealers will replace affected fuel pressure lines free of charge. Owners may contact Volvo at 1-800-458-1552. If you're in the market for a new car, check out the U.S. News rankings of this year's best cars as well as this month's best car deals.


	Apr 25, 2010 NEW FERRARI MODELS
	Ferrari announces six new models, including hypercar, to debut before 2013 ASANKACARS.COM FERRARI AND SUPER CAR SPECIALISTS. PLACE YOUR ODER FOR A SUPER CAR AT WHOLESALE PRICING Ferrari will produce six new models before 2013 as part of Fiat’s restructuring plans and they include a successor for the Ferrari Enzo hypercar and a hardcore version of the 458, like the 430 Scuderia. According to the Italian luxury sports car manufacturer, a new variety of the entry-level 458 Spider will be debut the new offerings and is scheduled for 2011. A new generation of the 612 Scaglietti will follow and likely provide the base for Ferrari’s first hybrid model. Codenamed F151, the 612 Scaglietti successor’s name is still unknown. In 2012, the next hypercar Ferrari will debut, based on the small production mystique of the Enzo. A new version of the 599 GTB Fiorano, currently known as F152, will also debut in 2012. AsankaCars.Com The Ferrari California will receive a major facelift in 2013 and is referred to as the California M. The sixth new model will also debut in 2013 as a variant of the 458 Italia, most likely called the 458 Scuderia. In its announcement, Ferrari said it will not build more than four standard production models. The next Enzo will not be included in the standard range. The carmaker also said it wants to continue the differentiation between its sports cars and its grand tourers. As such, will be no crossover models between the 458 and 599 supercars and the 612 and California cruisers. Related Car News and Reviews Ferrari Sees (More) Red In ‘07 — And It’s All Good Ferrari initiates two-year certified used car Power Warranty Ferrari Red will also be “Green” says company president Ferrari confirms its hybrid will debut at Geneva Auto Show in March Ferrari prepares for two new car debuts, automaker’s new London retail location opens Tags: Ferrari, Luxury cars, Sports Cars Acura Audi BMW Buick Cadillac Chevrolet Chrysler Dodge Ferrari Ford General Motors GMC Honda Hummer Hyundai Infiniti Jaguar Jeep Kia Lamborghini Land Rover Lexus Lincoln Lotus Mazda Maserati Mercedes-Benz Mercury Mitsubishi Mini Nissan Oldsmobile Peugeot Pontiac Porsche Saab Saturn Scion Subaru Suzuki Tata Toyota Volkswagen Volvo


	Apr 25, 2010 Plans for Ferrari and Maserati
	Fiat Plots New Directions for Ferrari and Maserati Visit us at AsankaCars.Com to place an order for your new super car such at Ferrari, Maserati, or Bentley at wholesale pricing. An “affordable” Maserati? A new Enzo supercar? Those were just two surprises that emerged Wednesday from a daylong conference call in which Fiat laid out its five-year plan. Sergio Marchionne, chief executive of Fiat and Chrysler, spoke after the Fiat Group issued its quarterly report, detailing an elaborate plan for Fiat and Chrysler to combine to produce six million vehicles annually by 2014 — a figure he said was crucial in keeping the company solvent. The revamp will include major moves by Fiat’s two luxury sports car brands, Maserati and Ferrari. Mr. Marchionne said that Maserati would create a new entry-level model, priced at less than $75,000. Currently, Maserati’s lowest priced car is the Gran Turismo at around $115,000. According to Maserati, the new car will have “a completely new style.” A new Enzo supercar will highlight six new models that Ferrari is considering for production in the next three to four years. According to Autocar, the reinvented Enzo will be powered by either a direct-injection twin-turbo V-8 or a direct-injection twin-turbo V-6. It will also show off a new technology called active aerodynamics that pumps air out through the body to influence the way air flows over and under the skin. The four-year Ferrari plan calls for the introduction of a new model every year and increased product differentiation to “target a wider customer base by stretching further trade off between versatility and extreme performance.” Ferrari’s standard range of cars — the Enzo is a special edition — will feature a convertible 458 Spider next year and a new 599 GTB in 2012. In 2013, it is expected that Ferrari will update the California, which would become the California M. Mr. Marchionne also said that Alfa Romeo would return to the United States market by 2013. Also this week, the chairman of the Fiat Group, Luca Cordero di Montezemolo, was succeeded by John Elkann, 34, the vice chairman and grandson of the former chairman and company patriarch, Giovanni Agnelli, who died in 2003.

Apr 25, 2010

New BMW Gran Coupe

A Gran (Coupe) Affair: Surprises from BMW Design Night

Filed under: Asia, The Lohdown, BMW, Coupes, Misc. Auto Shows

Place your special order for a like new BMW Gran Coupe at AsankaCars.Com in Sarasota, Florida as soon as it is availible from BMW and remember, you will be paying wholesale!

BMW Design Night in Beijing took place Friday evening as the grand finale of the first press day of Auto China in Beijing. And what a grand finale it was. Not only was it the world premiere of BMW's Gran Coupe concept, but it was also an interesting and educational look at how BMW approaches design.

BMW Gran Coupe Concept front three quarter

The event took place at the opulent Park Hyatt Hotel in the Chaoyang District of Beijing. Local and international media, gathered with BMW engineers, designers and board members under the soaring ceilings of the Hyatt’s moodily styled ballroom.

BMW's development chief (and member of the board) Dr. Klaus Draeger kicked off the evening with some insight into how important design is to BMW. "Design is access to the customer," said Draeger, before describing how over 10,000 engineers work hand-in-hand with 300 designers at BMW Group’s headquarters in Munich.

Draeger then called upon BMW's director of design, Adrian von Hooydonk (AvH) to elaborate on the fundamentals of BMW design. For those who love cars, this was an excellent primer into how car designers think and an opportunity to see the world through the eyes of one the industry’s most import taste makers.

BMW Design DNA is comprised of three elements: proportions, surfaces, and details. Using the ballroom's large video screen and some animated elementary shapes (boxes and circles), AvH artfully illustrated how simply moving a cars' boxy greenhouse backwards can create forward-moving tension and how stretching the wheelbase gives an appearance of stability.

To highlight the importance surfacing and details, AvH discussed some of the principles of BMW design -- design icons he called them. Most of them you already know, like the double kidney grille in combination with double round headlamps. Body-length crease lines and the signature Hofmeister kink of the greenhouse are additional reasons why "a five-year old can recognize a BMW in traffic," says AvH.

But when you really start to look at the differences in the surfacing and details between BMW models, it becomes clear that designers are not just carrying over things like headlights and grilles for brand identity, but as a way to highlight the individuality of the specific model as well.

BMW Gran Coupe Concept rear three quarter

Take the 7 Series, or as AvH called it, "the CEO sedan." With its balanced proportions and upright grill, the 7 Series is more about standing tall and being in control. The 7 Series crease line sits higher on the shoulder, emphasizing stability. In contrast, everything about the new 5 Series is tighter and more dynamic. It is "the tailored suit" says AvH. You can see it in the way the LED-lit eyebrows of the headlamps are more focused and how the 5 Series grille is lower, wider, and closer to the road. Even the 5 Series' lines are more aerodynamically styled and aggressive, creating a wedge shape in the shadows as they move from front to rear.

The quick comparison between these two models served to highlight one of BMW's design tenets: "One family, different characters."

The importance of another tenent was made clear by AvH's frequent references to the style BMW's iconic 3.0 CS. That car showcased BMW’s signature long wheel base proportions and Hofmeister kinked greenhouse, two themes that continue to resonate today. Indeed, AvH believes BMW must be "rooted in history, moving forward in design."

AsankaCars.Com specializing in luxury vehicles at wholesale prices.

To help illustrate how BMW designers put this theory into action, AvH then got onto a video chat with his design team as they worked in a studio -- apparently far away in Munich. The team quickly took us through parts of the design process, showing how they turn paper sketches into clay models and 3D computer models. It was a cleverly-executed whirlwind tour, but the big surprise would come only moments later, after AvH told the audience that we would be able to directly question his team later on in the evening.

Then AvH summoned Draeger back to the stage and they and introduced the Gran Coupe concept in dramatic fashion. The wall holding the screen upon which much of the presentation and video chatting took place slowly split to reveal not only the coupe, but the entire design studio.

Not your run-of-the-mill concept car reveal and an excellent end to day of one Auto China in Beijing.


	Apr 25, 2010 NEW BMW GRAN COUPE SPORTS CONCEPT
	BMW Unveils Gran Coupe Sports Concept...Challenges Mercedes-Benz CLS BMW has always been about combining performance, prestige, and luxury into one single, no-compromise package. Now, they have introduced a new concept vehicle that may be the best example of this ideology yet. AsankaCars.Com ....wholesale luxury cars to the public and home of the 2 year 30K mile warranty and in house financing on luxury cars. BMW Gran Coupe The new Gran Coupe concept was introduced at the Beijing Auto Show and features a new, sleek design combined with a handful of iconic BMW traits. The unmistakable double kidney grill opens for the aggressive body lines that have been refined and accentuated to make a very clean, yet professional exterior. The Gran Coupe's sizing will likely place it between the 5-Series and the 7-Series in BMW's lineup, which will assumedly be how the pricing is determined as well. Although there has been no official decision regarding production, it would make sense for BMW to move forward the new concept to compete directly with the CLS recently brought forward by Mercedes-Benz. No engine or transmission options have been discussed, but with the recent push toward increasing fuel economy it would likely be a smaller turbocharged engine similar to the 335i and 535i. BMW Gran Coupe Concept


	Apr 25, 2010 New Mercedes Models
	Mercedes-Benz E-Class L Launched In China April 25th, 2010 Hot on the heels of last week’s unveiling of the BMW 5-Series Long Wheelbase is the all-new Mercedes-Benz E-Class L, which like its Teutonic rival, will be sold exclusively in the Chinese market. The stretched E-Class has now made its world debut at the 2010 Beijing Auto Show. With a length of 197 inches and a wheelbase of 119 inches, the new model for China has gained an extra 5.5 inches. As a result, in the rear of the five-seater vehicle passengers can enjoy an extra legroom compared with the regular wheelbase E-Class. Another added touch of comfort are the electric adjustment for the rear seats. Unique features include the PRE-SAFE occupant protection system, Rear Seat Safety package with belt force limiters on the outer seats and rear side airbags, as well as ATTENTION ASSIST drowsiness detection. A luggage compartment volume of 19.1 cubic-feet and a compact turning circle of 36.9 feet also represent class-leading values for this segment. Two engines are on offer, a 204 horsepower unit and a 245 horsepower one, both with six-cylinders. Additional engine variants are expected to become available at a later date. First sales will start in the Chinese market this June. [Mercedes-Benz] You can drive all of the Mercedes flagships at AsankaCars.Com in Sarasota, Florida or put in your special oder for that one of a kind Mercedes. We also offer in house financing on specific Mercedes models and include a free extended warranty. Mercedes-Benz E-Class LGallery AsankaCars.Com home of in house financing on luxury vehicles. Hot on the heels of last week’s unveiling of the BMW 5-Series Long Wheelbase is the all-new Mercedes-Benz E-Class L, which like its Teutonic rival, will be sold exclusively in the Chinese market. The stretched E-Class has now made its world debut at the 2010 Beijing Auto Show. With a length of 197 inches and a wheelbase of 119 inches, the new model for China has gained an extra 5.5 inches. As a result, in the rear of the five-seater vehicle passengers can enjoy an extra legroom compared with the regular wheelbase E-Class. Another added touch of comfort are the electric adjustment for the rear seats. Unique features include the PRE-SAFE occupant protection system, Rear Seat Safety package with belt force limiters on the outer seats and rear side airbags, as well as ATTENTION ASSIST drowsiness detection. A luggage compartment volume of 19.1 cubic-feet and a compact turning circle of 36.9 feet also represent class-leading values for this segment. Two engines are on offer, a 204 horsepower unit and a 245 horsepower one, both with six-cylinders. Additional engine variants are expected to become available at a later date. First sales will start in the Chinese market this June. [Mercedes-Benz]


	Apr 25, 2010 New Mercedes Wagon Design shows radical departure of things to come from Mercedes Benz
	Mercedes Benz exquisite new estate AsankaCars.Com in Sarasota, Florida is the premier dealer for luxury cars on the West Coast of Florida. Stop in to drive the full line of Luxury Cars such as Mercedes, BMW, Lexus, Audi, and Jaguar along with the iconic American Corvette and Mustang badges. Mercedes are entering a new era. There's a ton of stuff going on in Stuttgart at the moment, with the firm at its most creative and dynamic for decades. Witness their new CLS Shooting Break. Radical enough for any car manufacturer - let alone the three-pointed star - it's the horniest estate for miles. Forget any ideas of competing with the E-Class, and hauling dogs, children and dirty nappies to and from the local gymkhana. This is a new genre altogether, a Merc tourer that's low, aggressive, irresistible, and swathed in uptown materials and technology. Traditionalists will like the oak and hide cabin with its art deco flourishes, while there'll be new, ultra-efficient and frugal 3.5 V6 and 4.6 V8 petrol engines mated to a seven-speed box, plus possible hybrid and electric versions. The slippery styling's likely to become current across the whole range and will form a major element of MB's aesthetic grammar. So don't think this is just another concept, spinning pointlessly on a Beijing turntable. I'll bet my trousers the sensual CLS Shooting Break won't just make into production. It will be the signpost for a vastly different Mercedes-Benz brand that is going to frighten the socks off the entire global motor industry. AsankaCars specializing in luxury cars at wholesale prices.


	Apr 25, 2010 NEW MERCEDES G CLASS
	Benz G-Class to return to UK markets this Autumn Come put in your special order for a low mile Mercedes Benz G Class at Wholesale pricing at AsankaCars.Com in Sarasota, Florida.....Home of the 2 year 30K mile warranty and in house financing on luxury cars. The iconic G-Class celebrates it's 30 th birthday last year and is returning to the UK market this Autumn according to the luxury car builder. The one pictured above is stunning example with black exterior and red leather- a sexy combo on a Benz. There are over 200,000 G-Classes currently on the road across the world since 1979. Dermot Kelly, Managing Director, Mercedes-Benz Cars said: “Despite G-Class being the longest-serving passenger car series in the history of Mercedes-Benz, we are delighted to welcome it as a ‘new model’ in right hand drive for UK customers. The long wheelbase version in particular blends style, technology, practicality, impeccable build quality and unbeatable off-road credentials in a shape that is as seductive today as it was when originally launched”. The G-Class will be offered with diesel and supercharged petrol engines in the UK. Our choice would have to be the G 55 AMG KOMPRESSOR. Source:Mercedes-Benz UK Luxury, Mercedes-Benz Technorati Tags: G 55 AMG KOMPRESSOR, G-Class, Mercedes-Benz


	Apr 21, 2010 Mercedes Benz highlights recovery
	Daimler highlights luxury car recovery AsankaCars.Com Sarasota, Florida Daimler has highlighted the strong comeback of the premium car market with the German group saying it returned to an operating profit of €1.2bn in the first quarter, almost double the amount that analysts were on average expecting. The profit before tax and interest payments compared with a loss of €1.4bn in the first three months of 2009 and it was twice the amount that Daimler posted for the previous quarter. The pre-released preliminary figures prompted to the German carmaker to double the full-year profit forecast for its Mercedes-Benz car unit and to triple the expectation for its truck unit. Daimler now expects Mercedes to post an operating profit of €2.5 to €3bn from its ongoing business in 2010. Daimler trucks forecasted an operating profit of €500m to €700m. The news took investors by surprise and sent Daimler’s and other European carmakers share prices higher on Tuesday. Daimler’s share price shot up by more than 7 per cent to €38.90 in early trading. “The extent of the Q1 beat and guidance hike is enormous,” Max Warburton, analyst at Sanford Bernstein, wrote in a report. Analysts said the raised guidance for the two units made it inevitable that Daimler would also lift the full-year forecast for the whole group when it will present the final first-quarter results next week. Dieter Zetsche, Daimler’s chief executive, in February became the first car manager to dare give a concrete outlook for this year when he said the company expected an operating profit of at least €2.3bn from its ongoing business. Analysts estimate that Daimler’s renewed full-year profit forecast could be somewhere around €4bn. Daimler’s figures underscored how the global luxury market, driven by a sharp demand rebound in emerging market, has made a phoenix-like comeback in recent months. In the past year, the premium sector had been battered by a hefty demand shock. Daimler said the results had been driven by its Mercedes car brand. “This was due to strong sales, a strong model mix and good price setting in addition to a favourable cost structure in the first quarter,” the carmaker in a statement on Monday evening. Mercedes-Benz Cars, which combines the Mercedes premium car, Smart small car and Maybach luxury saloon brands, accounted for the lion’s share of Daimler’s results with an operating profit of €806m. Daimler trucks, which had been hit particularly hard by the economic crisis in the past year, swung back to an operating profit of €130m in the first three months of 2010. The carmaker said that restructuring costs in the trucks business and other negative effects in the financial services business had weighed on the results. The carmaker added that the windfall from the sale of its stake in Indian carmaker Tata and the negative effect from higher costs at minority-owned aerospace company EADS were outbalancing each other. The car and truck maker’s revenues came in at €21.2bn in the first quarter. The German premium carmaker has been the only German carmaker – apart from ailing GM subsidiary Opel – to post a loss in 2009. Daimler made a net loss of €2,6bn in the past year, its first negative result in nine years.


	Apr 21, 2010 Bentley unveiled, first stop Pebble Beach next stop Sarasota
	Bentley 2010 Mulsanne, one beast fit for a king Bentley 2010 Mulsanne AsankaCars.Com in Sarasota, Florida home of the 2 year 30K mile warranty specializing in affordible luxury automobiles. The 2010 Bentley Mulsanne was finally rolled out at Pebble Beach last month. But we didn’t get much detail on the oily bits. That was saved for the Mulsanne launch at Frankfurt last week. It’s now official and widely known that the new Bentley Mulsanne offers a very healthy 505bhp, but more importantly it has the huge lump of torque we expect from a big Bentley – 752lb/ft. All this comes from the pumpin V8 engine that will power the beast. This luxury car offered by Bentley Motors Limited got it’s name from from Bentley’s famous history, which included five victories at the 24 Hours of Le Mans — the Mulsanne Straight being the stretch of the Le Mans racing circuit where cars reach their highest speeds. To go on sale sometime in mid 2010, the Mulsanne will come in Coupe and convertible variants are expected to follow at some point as replacements for the Arnage-based Brooklands and Azure respectively. Bentley 2010 Mulsanne The Mulsanne is also notable as it is the first flagship car to be independently designed by Bentley Motors in nearly 80 years; the last being W.O. Bentley’s iconic 8 litre model in 1930. Hot Trivia (already, yeah): While the price of the car has yet to be announced, the first vehicle to be produced has already been sold at an auction at the Pebble Beach event for $550,000.


	Apr 21, 2010 Audi sales up
	Audi U.S. chief says sales to top 90,000 in 2010 AsankaCars.Com in Sarasota, Florida specializing in affordible luxury automobiles. U.S. sales for German luxury automaker Audi will increase to at least 90,000 this year, and would be 5 percent to 7 percent higher than that if it had more cars to sell, Audi of America President Johan de Nysschen said on Monday. Audi, the best-performing premium brand in the U.S. market so far this year, is constrained by lack of vehicles in U.S. showrooms with just 33 days of supply -- compared with the 60 days it normally carries -- De Nysschen told reporters after a speech to the Automobile Press Association. De Nysschen said his estimate for 2010 U.S. sales is conservative, noting that the company's U.S. sales in the first quarter of 21,315 units was a record and up 35 percent from the first quarter in 2009. Audi U.S. sales would increase about 9 percent if it sold 90,000 units this year. Audi's vehicles sold in the United States are made in Europe. Audi increased the allocation to the U.S.-bound vehicles by 3,000 units for 2010, which still won't be enough to match demand, de Nysschen said. "In America, we are experiencing what you'd call an enviable problem: we're constrained by supply," de Nysschen said. "We have been running short since around August of last year." About 30 percent of Audi's U.S. sales come from pre-orders: customers signing to buy before vehicles arrive at dealers. NO U.S. AUDI PLANT PLANNED Audi's parent, Volkswagen (VOWG_p.DE), is preparing to open an assembly plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee. There are no plans "in the foreseeable future" for Audi models to be built in Chattanooga, he said, adding that an Audi assembly line could share a paint shop with Volkswagen at the site "at some point." But that remains well off, if ever, he said. Audi cannot share assembly lines with Volkswagen because the two are constructed on different vehicle platforms. Audi's lineup of luxury cars, crossovers and sports-utility vehicles worldwide outsold Bavarian rival Daimler's (DAIGn.DE) Mercedes-Benz in the first quarter. It was the first time Audi outsold Mercedes-Benz on a quarterly basis. Audi first-quarter global sales of 264,100 vehicles were up 26 percent from 2009. Audi is counting on diesel-powered vehicles to help it meet stricter emissions standards. It sells two vehicles in the U.S. market now that run on diesel fuel. Diesel-powered cars account for 54 percent of A3 luxury compact sales and 45 percent of the Q7 SUV sales. "We see diesel growing to 15 percent of our total volume within the next five to eight years," de Nysschen said of U.S. sales.


	Apr 20, 2010 New Bentley revealed
	Official:Bentley Mulsanne Is Revealed Rumor has it that the new Bentley Mulsanne may be unveiled in Sarasota, Florida. Come to AsankaCars and place your order for the Bentley of your choice at wholesale pricing! Bentley Mulsanne, probably, does not need any advertising, for this reason the first promotional clip doesn’t try to convince customers, but it presents the development of the latest Bentley model. After several months of waiting, the British manufacturer, Bentley, took care to keep us in suspense with an interesting series of teasers, now is the moment for the official reveal of the new model Bentley Mulsanne. Although at first glance you would be tempted to think that this was simply an Arnage with a more powerful facelift, officials were careful to point out clearly that the new Mulsanne is not a substitute for the above mentioned model. They even wanted to emphasize that not even one piece remained unchanged compared with those mounted on what was until now, the flagship of the Bentley. The new Mulsanne is inspired directly from the 8 liters models from the period before the entry of Rolls-Royce property, when Bentley models were considered the most luxurious in the world. From there were the optical blocks configuration, which have brought a few modern changes, such as the LED circle beam that borders the central headlights. From the side you can admire the huge rear pillar throughout his megalomania, and, the rear lights to remind us of the Continental series. The dimensions are impressive, with a length of 219 inch,a width of 76 inch and a height of 60 inch. The massif model has huge 20 inch wheels that emphasize the portliness of the Bentley limousines. The interior was also completely changed, but the technique followed the same recipe. Thus the new model will have a V8 engine, a sharp revision of the famous 6.75-liter, developing 505 hp and torque of 752 lb-ft. The unit is connected to a ZF automatic box with 8 reports. The price has not been notified.


	Apr 16, 2010 The new Green 3 Series
	Best car: BMW 320d Efficient Dynamics The BMW Efficient Dynamics takes green motoring to a new level Asankacars.com located in sarasota, florida is home of the 2 year 30k mile warranty and in house financing on luxury vehicles. It isn't electric, it isn't a hybrid, and it doesn't run on bio-fuel. Here we have a perfectly conventional BMW 3-Series, but one that has emissions that rival the most environmentally efficient machines on the market today. For with the BMW 320d Efficient Dynamics you have to make few compromises with the familiar joys of driving – if you want or need to drive your BMW hard it will take you to 60mph in around 8 seconds and on to a top speed of 137mph (though obviously the planet, and your bank balance, will pay a penalty for such self-indulgence). Driven more sensibly it can return an impressive 68.9mpg, and pump out a mere 109 grammes of carbon-dioxide per kilometre travelled. That's around the same as the last generation model of the Toyota Prius, the default green choice for so many, and not very far behind the current model Honda Insight hybrid. Yet with the BMW you don't have to give up any boot space for batteries. You don't have to drive something a little bit awkward-looking. And you don't have to give up your premium badge, if you're bothered about such things. The reason the BMW is so green is because the engineers have concentrated on taking its diesel power plant to yet a further pitch of perfection. Slimmer wheels and tyres and a stop-start function also help. The old internal combustion engine gets an unsympathetic press, but in the right hands it can be green. The Honda Insight and the Toyota Prius are also sound choices, as are small diesels such as the Smart and Citroen C1, and electric vehicles such as the Vauxhall Ampera and Nissan Leaf, when they arrive; but the BMW has the best blend of abilities, if you can afford it. The ultimate green driving machine, you might say. Available to order now for autumn delivery.

Apr 16, 2010

New BMW 5 Series

All-New 2011 BMW 528i Sedan Priced From $45,425

ASANKACARS.COM HOME OF THE FULL BMW LINE AT WHOLESALE PRICES AND MOST QUALIFY FOR IN HOUSE FINANCING. COME VISIT US IN SARASOTA, FLORIDA OR LET US SHIP YOUR DREAM CAR DIRECTLY TO YOUR DOORSTEP! .........ASANKACARS.COM HOME OF THE 2 YEAR 30K MILE EXTENDED WARRANTY.

After rolling out pricing for its new 2011 535i and 550i sedans, BMW revealed pricing for its entry-level 5 Series model -- the 2011 528i -- will start at $45,425, including an $875 destination fee.

2011 BMW 528i Sedan - front-three-quarters-view

For those keeping score, that’s almost $5000 cheaper than the 535i, and nearly $1400 less expensive than the outgoing 2010 528i. That’s an impressive feat, considering the 2011 model is an all-new design, and incorporates a number of improvements over the outgoing vehicle. The all-new vehicle architecture is reportedly 55-percent stiffer than the last 5, yet is notably lighter -- BMW says the 2011 528i weighs 355 pounds less than the 2010 model.

While the 535i and 550i both use forced-induction engines, the 528i is powered by BMW’s venerable normally aspirated, 3.0-liter inline-six. The automaker has, however, retuned the engine to boost power to 240 horsepower and 230 pound-feet of torque. Mated to a standard eight-speed automatic transmission, the tweaked 528i is reportedly capable of sprinting from 0-60 mph in 6.6 seconds -- yet another improvement over the 2010 model, which did the same dash in 7.4.

We’ve yet to see detailed pricing for the 2011 528i model, but BMW does suggest that options and packages on will closely resemble those offered on the 2010 car. The Sport package adds larger 18-inch aluminum wheels and high-performance run-flat tires, along with other subtle appearance tweaks. Unlike the sport package offered on the 535i and 550i, it won’t add dynamic driving control or dynamic suspension controls -- although both systems will be offered in a standalone “Dynamic Handling” package.

Look for more pricing information on the 528i to emerge closer to July, when it -- along with the new 2011 535i and 550i sedans arrive at BMW dealers nationwide.

Source: BMW

gmwillmakeit (Today 02:53 PM)

im kinda liking BMW's new design theory it looks just like a mini 7 series

as usually this car is all proffesional

while the new e-series is about the bling

Yukon=5series

Escalade=e-class

the e class is definantly the look at me kinda car while the bimmer is that subdued (not as far as audi) kinda look but still has lots of presence

good job on this one BMW

bcbunn (Today 03:00 PM)

more power, less weight, lower price. quite the combination.

Captain.Awesome (Today 03:25 PM)

It's just a matter of time now until the "special" people start chirping about how this is ugly. I call that Imaninsecuregirlthatjustsawagirlthatshotterthanme Syndrome.

This car is wonderfully designed.

VRsicks (Today 03:27 PM)

Bravo!

theguard (Today 03:34 PM)

I thought that the 535i weighed 400lbs more than the outgoing model yet performed the same... How is this near 400lbs less than the outgoing? I'm confused at their scales... Does the dynamics package add that much weight? That seems to be the only different here...

Rangerwalker24 (Today 03:35 PM)

I love this new design! The old model was hideous in my opinion, I did like the M5 but because it was a scalding fast hauler... design sucked.

tmoney35 (Today 03:36 PM)

bcbunn - I totally agree. That's something I think is awesome, and you never see it. You might see 2 out of the 3 things you listed, but I can't remember ever seeing all 3 in a new model. Amazing

tmoney35 (Today 03:39 PM)

gmwillmakeit - I understand the analogy, but please don't compare the 5-series to a Yukon...that just wrong

IBx1 (Today 03:58 PM)

For the money, that's very little engine. My Riv destroyed a 328i, so a 528i will be no match.

I liked the E60 design much better than this next one, as it has a lot more of the styling BMW designers swore to walk away from, but this car has the first interior I've ever liked from BMW. It's very well designed.

Sino52C (Today 03:59 PM)

Didn't Merc lower prices on the E-class a bit more?


	Apr 16, 2010 BMW M3 vs. Mustang GT
	2011 Ford Mustang GT vs. 2010 BMW M3: Tie Game? [w/poll] OMG....Two of our favorites here at AsankaCars.Com! This should be good...... Come stop by and see us at AsankaCars.Com in Sarasota, Florida for all of your sports car and luxury car needs at a wholesale price! Ford Mustang GT and BMW M3 – Click above for high-res image gallery Alright, fan boys (and girls), prepare for battle. The ever keen-eyed Sam Smith over at Jalopnik has spied an interesting phenomenon in the car universe. The new 2011 Ford Mustang GT performance figures are within spitting distance of the mighty 2010 BMW M3. The Bavarian bruiser produces 414 horsepower out of its milky-smooth 4.0-liter V8 and hits the scales at 3,652 lbs. Meanwhile, the 5.0-liter Mustang serves up two less horsepower, but weighs 40 pounds less, too. At this point, odds are your blood is pumping no matter which side of the ring you happen to find yourself on. Stats that close yield frighteningly similar numbers when the two cars hit the track, too. The M3 can clip off the 0-60 dash in 4.3 seconds. The Mustang can do it in 4.4. Quarter mile? Deadlocked at 12.7 seconds at 111.3 mph. It's true, a quarter mile doth not a sports car make, which is why these next figures are so important. While the M3 can come down from 60 mph in 105 feet, the Mustang can do the same in 104. And here's the real shocker: Both cars hold onto the skidpad at .97 g. Now, before the comments go superfly TNT, it's worth noting that the as-tested BMW will set you back an eye-widening $28,180 more than the Ford. We could think of a thing or two to do with an extra 30-large. So the question remains, which would you take home? E92 BMW M3 or 2011 Mustang GT? BMW M3Mustang GT Gallery: First Drive: 2011 Ford Mustang GT Gallery: Review: 2008 BMW M3 Filed under: Coupe, Budget, Performance, BMW, Ford, Luxury Tags: 2010, 2010 BMW M3, 2010BmwM3, 2011, 2011 Ford Mustang GT, 2011FordMustangGt, 4.0, 4.0 V8, 4.0V8, 5.0, 5.0 V8, 5.0V8, BMW, BMW M3, BmwM3, Ford, Ford Mustang GT, FordMustangGt, M3, Mustang GT, MustangGt, V8


	Apr 15, 2010 Awsome Mercedes CLS 63 AMG
	Mercedes CLS 63 AMG (2011) scooped again AsankaCars.Com is known for the most exclusive pre-owned luxury vehicles...Mercedes, BMW, Lexus, Audi, and Jaguar. The new Mercedes-Benz CLS 63 AMG is increasingly spotted out on test ahead of launch in 2011. We've been scooping the regular C218-generation CLS for some time – and the AMG once back last autumn – but now we've seen the clearest spy photos yet of the four-door 'coupaloon'. As we reported in 2009, the new CLS 63 will feature AMG's new 5.5-litre twin-turbocharged V8 in place of the outgoing car's naturally aspirated 6.2-litre lump. The 63 badge will remain, however, to reassure buyers that they're still buying top of the pile. How quick is the new Merc CLS 63 AMG (2011)? It won't be short on grunt, this new engine. The 5461cc lump packs 544bhp/590lb ft in standard form, and an AMG performance pack upgrade will nick that upwards to nearer 563bhp and 663lb ft. A smaller turbo ensures instant response at low speeds while the larger blower kicks in higher up the rev range for Boeing-spec thrust on the autobahn. The CLS family is based on E-class mechanicals, which bring a seven-speed transmission and the potential for floaty comfort and sharp handling when on back roads. Let's hope there's also a dash more style inside; the new E models are unremittingly sober inside, although the quality has climbed from the previous E-class. Talk about downsizing! From 6.2 to 5.5... what are the benefits? Direct-injection and a dunk in cc's should cut consumption and emissions, which are claimed to fall by around a quarter in its S-class AMG application. We'll see the new CLS 63 AMG four-door coupé/saloon mash-up at the 2010 Paris motor show. However, a new 'wagon' concept CLS is tipped for next week's Beijing motor show.

Apr 15, 2010

Luxury car market in Isreal

AsankaCars.Com in Sarasota, Florida is your friend in the wholesale car business. We can beat any dealers price by passing our wholesale prices directly on to you. Or special order the luxury car of your dreams at wholesale prices. AsankaCars.Com is also home of the 2 year 30K mile extended warranty so that you can have the same piece of mind as buying a new car at a fraction of the sticker price.

The market for luxury cars saw only a 3.6% decline in sales in Israel in 2009 compared to 2008. This was over a time when car sales as a whole dropped by 11% and importing of cars by individuals, which primarily involve high-end models, grew. This year car sales have already grown by 39% compared with the same period last year.

The reason is not a sudden influx of wealth in the population of the country but rather a new market niche for lower-priced luxury cars, the so-called entry-level luxury models.

There are many makes of cars abroad that are in this upper-middle class. Buick and Mercury, for instance, offer models that fit the bill. The latest examples are the Lexus CT200h hybrid compact and the small Audi A1.

In Israel, the picture is even simpler. They take a luxury car model, provide slightly fewer accessories and lower the price by tens of thousands of shekels. Volvo did that with the S60 and Alfa Romeo did it with the 159.

Other high-end manufacturers, such as BMW and Audi, are stepping up their marketing efforts on basic versions of their cheaper models.

One might ask whether this really represents a new market segment or just a series of sales promotions.

Aviv Tzur, the CEO of Champion Motors, which imports Audi and Volkswagen, says "there is such a market at the moment. We are looking into whether it was caused by the economic slowdown or whether it is an ongoing thing."

Nir Ben-Shlomo, who is the Alfa Romeo brand manager at the auto importing firm Samlat, agrees.

"Abroad it's a sub-segment," he says. "There's the less expensive MiTo Giulia with 75 horsepower. At Alfa [Romeo] they wanted to offer luxury at a mass-market price. The bottom line is that we are managing to attract customers that wouldn't have bought an Alfa otherwise."

Yaron Gortler, who is deputy CEO for marketing at UMI, which imports Cadillac and Buick, calls the market "inexpensive luxury," in a price range of NIS 200,000 to 250,000.

"These are cars," he says, "for customers who drove mass market automobiles like the [Honda] Accord, [Volkswagen] Passat, [Ford] Mondeo and the Mazda 6 and got a promotion, so they want a luxury car. On the other hand, there are those who drove more luxurious cars who want value for their money. If the brand is strong enough, customers like that don't see it as a step down."

A different view is expressed by Uzi Gonen of the marketing department of Mayer's Cars and Trucks, which imports Hondas, Volvos and Hyundais to Israel. He says the phenomenon is not limited to the luxury market.

"Every manufacturer and every model has an entry-level version for the luxury market," he says. "You might call it 'models starting at... ' directed at a new target audience. The Seat promotion [at which the Ibiza was sold at a low price] was designed to bring in new customers."

Senior officials in the industry say the people being targeted by the marketing for these cars currently own more popularly-priced vehicles. They include professionals and young people, and they even offer special promotions through professional organizations like those representing lawyers and accountants.

The CEO of BMW importer Kamor Motors, Israel Ben Haim, says "the primary target is professionals who have reached a certain income level and can do more. It's a small step beyond leased cars."

"Most of the customers come 'from below,' but there are also those who give us expensive cars and even get a refund from their trade-in," says Alfa Romeo's Ben-Shlomo, the Alfa Romeo brand manager.

"This is in addition to another phenomenon in the marketplace involving personalizing," according to Tzur of Champion Motors: "People want to express the uniqueness in themselves and go beyond the standard leased models. At the same time, there is an effort to avoid ostentation ... Customers are asking me to give them a car in the same color they had before so the neighbors won't know they switched cars."

At a time when people are stepping up to luxury cars, the size of cars is dropping. According to Gonen of Mayer's Cars and Trucks: "In the premium sector, the logo many times compensates for the size. A customer will prefer buying a [compact all-terrain] Volvo XC60 rather than the Toyota Land Cruiser, whose price is similar."

"A more sober view has developed over size," says Tzur, "but the drop won't be too sharp and someone who drove a larger luxury model won't drive a compact. Cars like the Audi A3 are designed for young people and the children of people who drive Audis."

At the same time, the low prices could be liable to hurt the brand image and put off buyers who purchase cars for at least half a million shekels.

"We were concerned about that, but the concerns have been unfounded," Ben-Shlomo says. "Such a process couldn't have taken place without the support of trade-ins and the maintenance of second hand sale prices. It's important to us that Alfa sell around its price-list [value] when it's a used car. To do that, we stick to a policy of not discounting new cars."

Ben Haim adds that the category lets people grow within a brand. "A dad who drives a Series 7 BMW not long ago bought Series 3 cars for his children. In any event there is a hierarchy among brand models."

On the other hand, importers that don't have entry level models think the image of prestige is being eroded with each reduction in price.

"Customers come to me who don't feel comfortable with the promotions and reductions. They want to feel like they really purchased something special," said one importer.

Tzur says he doesn't believe the luxury category's popularity is a temporary phenomenon. "From a market segment of 2.5%, premium [car sales] will reach 5% of sales in Israel," he says. "New clientele will come and they will bring other clientele. It's a phenomenon that snowballs."


	Apr 15, 2010 Luxury car maker BMW sales jump in March
	Come to AsankaCars.Com and drive the full line of BMW's. Specializing in Schnitzer, Dinan, M package, and other specialty BMW's. AsankaCars.Com the home of In House Financing on luxury cars. BMW Car Sales Jump In March; Sees Further Growth FRANKFURT (Dow Jones)--German luxury car maker BMW AG (BMW.XE) said Monday that global car sales in March rose 12.1% on the year to 141,701 vehicles, driven by soaring demand in emerging markets, and it expects second-quarter sales to come in above last year's level as well. "We are back on our growth track in nearly all the automobile markets ... We intend to continue improving on last year's figures throughout the second quarter-???thanks not least to the new BMW 5 Series sedan and new models such as the 3 Series coupe and convertible," BMW executive board member Ian Robertson said in a statement. "For 2010 as a whole, we are aiming for healthy growth in the single-digit percent range to reach more than 1.3 million vehicles," he added, reiterating previous comments. The world's best-selling premium car maker sold 315,614 cars in the first quarter, up 14% compared with the same period last year. The Munich-based company's core BMW brand saw sales rise 12.7% to 117,696 cars in March and by 14% to 265,809 vehicles in the first quarter. The brand maintained its lead over Daimler AG's (DAI) Mercedes-Benz marque and Audi AG (NSU.XE). Audi, the premium unit and key earnings contributor of Volkswagen AG (VOW.XE), continued to narrow the gap with 264,100 vehicles sold in the first quarter, up 26% compared with the same period 2009, and outpaced Mercedes-Benz' sales of 248,500 cars. Audi wants to overtake both BMW and Mercedes-Benz to become the world's leading luxury car maker. BMW's compact Mini brand last month posted a 9.1% increase in sales to 23,880 vehicles and a 14% rise to 49,526 cars in the first three months of the year. BMW said it achieved new quarterly sales records in Brazil, Russia, India and China, the closely watched BRIC countries, and posted an increase year-on-year at home in Germany as well, even though the market faces a sharp decline since scrapping incentives expired. The auto maker sold 56,617 BMW and Mini-branded cars in Germany in the first quarter, up 1.4% compared to the same period last year. BMW's larger vehicles fueled the sales increase in the first quarter. Sales for the revamped flagship BMW 7 Series sedan climbed to 14,245 cars, up 54% year-on-year. The BMW X5 and X6 models combined accounted for 33,723 vehicles, up 9.5% compared with the first quarter 2009. "New orders for the two newly launched X1 and 5 Series sedan models are looking very good," Robertson said. The new-generation BMW 5 Series sedan has been available in Europe since late March and will launch in the U.S. in June. The 5 Series is BMW's most important model launch this year and is expected to foster the sales recovery in coming months after a gloomy 2009. Demand for luxury cars contracted sharply last year amid the economic downturn and tightening credit markets. Deliveries of the new-generation BMW 5 Series Touring version and the new Mini Countryman model are set to start in fall 2010. Revamped versions of the company's best-selling BMW 3 Series, which have been available since late March, also are expected to aid the sales momentum.


	Apr 15, 2010 Luxury Cars Maker BMW sales jump in March
	AsankaCars.Com offers the full line of BMW cars specializing in Dinan, Schnitzer, M package, and other speialty BMW models. Come to AsankaCars.Com in Sarasota, Florida to drive the BMW of your dreams at wholesale prices. AsankaCars.Com is home of In House Financing on luxury vehicles. BMW Car Sales Jump In March; Sees Further Growth FRANKFURT (Dow Jones)--German luxury car maker BMW AG (BMW.XE) said Monday that global car sales in March rose 12.1% on the year to 141,701 vehicles, driven by soaring demand in emerging markets, and it expects second-quarter sales to come in above last year's level as well. "We are back on our growth track in nearly all the automobile markets ... We intend to continue improving on last year's figures throughout the second quarter-???thanks not least to the new BMW 5 Series sedan and new models such as the 3 Series coupe and convertible," BMW executive board member Ian Robertson said in a statement. "For 2010 as a whole, we are aiming for healthy growth in the single-digit percent range to reach more than 1.3 million vehicles," he added, reiterating previous comments. The world's best-selling premium car maker sold 315,614 cars in the first quarter, up 14% compared with the same period last year. The Munich-based company's core BMW brand saw sales rise 12.7% to 117,696 cars in March and by 14% to 265,809 vehicles in the first quarter. The brand maintained its lead over Daimler AG's (DAI) Mercedes-Benz marque and Audi AG (NSU.XE). Audi, the premium unit and key earnings contributor of Volkswagen AG (VOW.XE), continued to narrow the gap with 264,100 vehicles sold in the first quarter, up 26% compared with the same period 2009, and outpaced Mercedes-Benz' sales of 248,500 cars. Audi wants to overtake both BMW and Mercedes-Benz to become the world's leading luxury car maker. BMW's compact Mini brand last month posted a 9.1% increase in sales to 23,880 vehicles and a 14% rise to 49,526 cars in the first three months of the year. BMW said it achieved new quarterly sales records in Brazil, Russia, India and China, the closely watched BRIC countries, and posted an increase year-on-year at home in Germany as well, even though the market faces a sharp decline since scrapping incentives expired. The auto maker sold 56,617 BMW and Mini-branded cars in Germany in the first quarter, up 1.4% compared to the same period last year. BMW's larger vehicles fueled the sales increase in the first quarter. Sales for the revamped flagship BMW 7 Series sedan climbed to 14,245 cars, up 54% year-on-year. The BMW X5 and X6 models combined accounted for 33,723 vehicles, up 9.5% compared with the first quarter 2009. "New orders for the two newly launched X1 and 5 Series sedan models are looking very good," Robertson said. The new-generation BMW 5 Series sedan has been available in Europe since late March and will launch in the U.S. in June. The 5 Series is BMW's most important model launch this year and is expected to foster the sales recovery in coming months after a gloomy 2009. Demand for luxury cars contracted sharply last year amid the economic downturn and tightening credit markets. Deliveries of the new-generation BMW 5 Series Touring version and the new Mini Countryman model are set to start in fall 2010. Revamped versions of the company's best-selling BMW 3 Series, which have been available since late March, also are expected to aid the sales momentum.

Apr 15, 2010

Mercedes Benz goals to stay on top of luxury car market

Daimler sets tough target to keep rivals BMW, Audi at bay

You can drive the full line of Mercedes, BMW, Audi, Jaguar, and Lexus at AsankaCars.Com in Sarasota Florida.

DAIMLER, the maker of Mercedes- Benz vehicles, aimed to increase deliveries twice as fast as the world’s vehicle market grew this year, CEO Dieter Zetsche said yesterday.

“Our global sales target for the year is ambitious but realistic,” Zetsche said at the annual shareholders meeting in Berlin.

Global car-industry deliveries would increase 3%-4% this year, Daimler said in February.

The Stuttgart-based manufacturer is seeking to close the gap with luxury-car market leader Bayerische Motoren Werke (BMW) while fending off efforts by Volkswagen’s Audi division to become the world’s biggest high-end vehicle maker by next year.

Zetsche did not specify Daimler’s car-sales target for this year.

Daimler is targeting earnings before interest and taxes of at least à 2,3bn this year after a loss of à 1,51bn last year. The manufacturer forecast on February 18 that revenue this year would exceed last year’s à 78,9bn but be “significantly” below the à 98,5bn of 2008.

Sales at the Mercedes-Benz Cars division, which includes the Smart mini-car and Maybach luxury nameplates, rose 11% to 271200 vehicles in the first quarter, the company said last week. Including deliveries to dealers, sales at the Mercedes-Benz brand increased almost 27% in the period, Daimler said yesterday.

Daimler rose as much as 40c, or 1,1%, to à 36,40 yesterday. The stock has declined 3% this year.

The manufacturer, seeking to expand its line-up of small cars while holding back costs, announced plans on April 7 to co-operate with the Renault-Nissan alliance on developing compact Mercedes and Smart vehicles.

After losing ground to Munich- based BMW in reducing vehicle emissions, Daimler aims to almost double annual spending to develop batteries and fuel-saving engines, to à 1bn in the next two years from an average à 567m in the past three years, group development chief Thomas Weber said on March 3.

Daimler also plans to develop an electric car for China with BYD, the Shenzhen-based car maker backed by billionaire Warren Buffett.

Daimler is also building a factory in eastern Germany to produce lithium-ion batteries by 2012 and has taken a stake in Tesla Motors, a California manufacturer of electric sports cars.

The German firm reported a net loss of à 2,64bn last year, prompting cancellation of its dividend for the first time since at least 1999, as the global financial crisis caused a drop in vehicle sales. Daimler posted the loss, its first for a full year since 2001, even after reducing spending by à 5,3bn by building fewer vehicles and cutting pay.

Zetsche said yesterday Daimler would reduce business ties to Iran amid growing pressure on the Islamic republic to curb its nuclear programme. Among other measures, he said Daimler would relinquish its 30% stake in Iranian Diesel Engine Manufacturing, a subsidiary of Iranian Khodro Diesel.

AsankaCars.Com specializing in affordible luxury automobiles at wholesale prices......AsankaCars.Com is your friend in the car business.


	Apr 15, 2010 New 2011 Audi A8 L sets the new standard for luxury
	2011 Audi A8 L arrives with 500-hp W12, seating for a king-maker 2011 Audi A8 L – Click above for high-res image gallery Come and drive the whole Audi line at AsankaCars.Com in Sarasota, Florida or special order your own new Audi A8L once they go on sale at large discount off of the retail price. AsankaCars.Com your inside wholesale luxury car connection and home of the 2 year 30K mile warranty. Audi is pulling out its biggest gun yet for the Beijing Motor Show, and while the big news for the A8 L might be the 6.3-liter W12 and the sedan's longer wheelbase, it's the rear seat accommodations that have us frothing at the mouth. Seriously, just look at it. With an overall length of nearly 17 and a half feet, the A8 L is almost a half-foot longer than its standard sibling, with a wheelbase of 10.24 feet. Those extra inches are put to good effect, with an interior that's enough to make a Maybach look downright spartan. Open the lengthened rear doors and occupants are greeted by acres of leather, a full-length center console and two power-adjustable, heated and ventilated seats that not only move fore and aft, but include adjustments for cushion depth, lumbar support and seat back angle. Ten remote-controlled air-bladders massage your cares away, and if the front passenger seat – with its power-adjustable folding ottoman – cramps your style, you can move it forward with the flick of a switch. The standard four-zone automatic climate control is manipulated by no less than 25 adjustable motors, and the massive center tunnel contains everything from a folding table to a refrigerator. It's all first-class, from the ambient lighting to the Valonea leather, and when the time comes to put the laptop away, crank up the 1,400-watt, 19-speaker Bang & Olufsen Advanced Sound System and enjoy a movie on one of the two 10.2-inch LCD displays. If you're ready to give your chauffeur a rest, take solace in the fact that the W12 puts out 500 horsepower and 461 pound-feet of torque through Audi's new eight-speed automatic transmission and Quattro all-wheel drive. The result is a remarkably quick 4.9-second run to 60 and a electrically-limited top speed of 155 mph. The W12 will be the standard engine at launch, with a few diesel and petrol-powered engines available further down the line. We'd expect pricing for the A8 L to be revealed shortly after its official debut later this month, but in the meantime, make the jump for the full details. Gallery: 2011 Audi A8 L The new A8 is a concentrated high-tech package that confirms Audi claim to technical leadership – "Vorsprung durch Technik". And now the brand is introducing the top version of its flagship model. The A8 L W12 quattro, with a long wheelbase and a twelve-cylinder engine, sets new standards of luxury, dynamism and efficiency in the top automobile manufacturing league. The Audi A8 L is being launched with a twelve-cylinder engine, but by the end of the year will be available with all the engines currently offered for the A8. What's fascinating about the A8 L is its supremely powerful presence; its design is clearly derived from the brand's genes and yet has undergone further refinement. The long wheelbase does not disturb its taut outlines, which remain as athletic as they are elegant. With an overall length of 5,267 millimeters (17.28 ft), the new Audi A8 L is 130 mm (0.43 ft) longer than the regular version. The wheelbase has grown by the same amount, to 3,122 mm (10.24 ft). The width remains unchanged at 1,949 mm (6.39 ft); the height has increased by 2 mm (0.08 in) to 1,462 mm (4.8 ft). Audi's new top model is both longer and wider than its main long-wheelbase competitors. The A8 L has a body built from aluminum using the Audi Space Frame (ASF) principle and therefore weighing about 40 percent less than a comparable steel body. The ASF body structure is built up from cast elements, extruded sections and sheet aluminum, with integral B-posts made from form-hardened ultra-high strength steel. This body's tremendous rigidity is the key to the car's precise handling, low interior noise levels and high passive safety for the occupants in the event of an accident. Among the high-end technologies featured on the A8 model line are the optional LED headlight units (standard on the A8 L W12 quattro) with all lighting functions performed by LEDs. With this bright, high-efficiency light, Audi opens a new chapter in the history of automobile lighting technology. Subtle visual details distinguish the A8 L W12 quattro from the other cars in this model line. The single-frame radiator grille with integral grid structure has a high-gloss black paint finish and special chromed horizontal bars. There are also chromed inserts of new design in the air inlets, and chromed applications on the exterior mirrors. W12 badges are displayed on the single-frame grille and at the rear of the car. The exhaust system has two trapezoidal-pattern tailpipe trims neatly integrated into the rear bumper. Abundant space: Rear-seat area The full extra length of this sedan benefits rear-seat passengers. The back doors are longer, for even more convenient entry, and the space available inside can only be described as opulent. Rear passenger comfort can be enhanced even more if two separate power-adjustable seats are ordered. These can be heated, ventilated and adjusted in a variety of ways: forward and back, seat cushion depth and seat back angle with top section adjustable separately. There is also a fully adjustable lumbar support. The front passenger's seat can also be moved from the rear if extra space is needed. Between the individual rear seats that are standard equipment in the Audi A8 L W12 quattro a full-length console can be ordered as an optional extra; it extends back from the center tunnel to the rear shelf, and can be specified with integral items such as a folding table or a refrigerator. Separate controls for the rear air conditioning are also standard. The luxury four-zone automatic air conditioning is controlled by no fewer than 25 adjusting motors. Another high-end feature of the long-wheelbase Audi A8 is the reclining seat behind the front passenger's seat. The angle of the seat cushion can also be adjusted. The occupant can be massaged by ten air-filled compartments; four programs can be selected at a remote control. The feet rest on a power-adjustable support at the base of the front passenger seat back. Heating, ventilation and the luxury head restraint are integral features of the reclining seat. A folding table, additional wood and leather trim, a refrigerator and a Rear Seat Entertainment system with two 10.2-inch screens are among the features that promote relaxed travel or alternatively concentrated work in this mobile lounge. Fine materials: Interior design The quality of workmanship in the A8 L is simply first-class – from the restrained ambient lighting through the accurately fitted switches with their precise click action. Fascinating aspects of the car's interior are the slim, clear outlines and the stylish materials with their modern look. Audi design selection brass beige carefully combines well-matched colors with individual materials and comfort-oriented equipment items. The roof-mounted grab handles and rear console have additional fine wood trim. Valonea leather is tanned exclusively with plant extracts and is especially soft and able to "breathe" actively. Audi also supplies a loose cushion for rear-seat passengers' use. Like the head restraints and the selector lever for the eight-speed tiptronic automatic transmission, it is trimmed with buckskin that is exceptionally soft and supple but also hard-wearing. Another optional extra, the panoramic glass roof, has two glass panels that allow plenty of light to reach the car's interior. Both sections can be tilted up and the front one also opened extra-wide. Sun blinds are provided for both panels to keep out direct sunlight. The Audi A8 L W12 quattro: Splendor and efficiency Twelve cylinders are the ultimate engine configuration, a tradition that still applies in the large luxury car class. The first-generation A8 was available with an engine of this type from 2001 on, and a developed version could be obtained from 2004 on in the following model. Audi's engineers have now thoroughly revised the W12. Its displacement has been increased, and gasoline direct injection boosts its output and its efficiency. The 6.3 FSI engine has an output of 368 kW (500 hp) and delivers its peak torque of 625 Nm (460.98 lb-ft) at engine speeds at 3,250 rpm. It gives the long-wheelbase Audi A8 the kind of performance normally expected of a sports car: it sprints from 0 to 100 km/h (62.14 mph) in only 4.9 seconds and effortlessly reaches its governed top speed of 250 km/h (155.34 mph). A fascinating flow of power is available in every situation, but the fuel consumption too sets new standards: the EU cycle test result is only 12.0 liters per 100 kilometers (19.6 US mpg), a figure well below that of competitors' cars with V12 engines. The previous 6.0-liter engine, which had a power output of 331 kW (450 hp), recorded a fuel consumption of 13.6 l/100 km (17.3 US mpg) – the difference of 1.6 l/100 km is equivalent to a 12 percent improvement. The engine is known as the W12 because of its unusual layout: it has four rows of three cylinders with a 15-degree included angle between the two offset rows of cylinders in each broad cylinder block. The V angle between the two blocks is 72 degrees. This layout makes the W12 engine exceptionally compact: only just over 50 centimeters (19.69 in) long and therefore distinctly shorter than a V8. Height and width are both in the region of 70 centimeters (27.56 in). The W12, in its latest form with a displacement of 6,299 cc, is an undersquare design. Its bore and stroke are 86.0 and 90.4 millimeters (3.39 x 3.56 in) respectively. Compared with the previous version the engineers have enlarged the cylinder bore. The forged crankshaft has a 12-degree angle of crankpin offset, so that the mixture in the 12 cylinders is ignited at the ideal interval of 60 degrees. The engine therefore runs exceptionally smoothly, and the car's occupants are unlikely to sense any of this supreme power at work unless it is at high engine speeds and severe loads. The W12 engine weighs only 247 kilograms (545 lb), an impressive value to which the crankcase makes a major contribution. This is a lightweight, high-strength aluminum-silicon alloy casting with a gray cast iron lower cross-member into which the bearing pedestals are embedded. The pistons are forged from a high-strength light alloy and have angled crowns because of their V position in the cylinder blocks. Each of the W12 engine's aluminum cylinder heads contains two camshafts; these can be repositioned hydraulically by an amount equivalent to 52 degrees of crankshaft rotation. Altogether, the four camshafts operate 48 valves by way of low-friction roller cam followers, and are themselves driven by chains from an intermediate shaft. For use in the long-wheelbase A8, Audi's engineers have converted the W12 engine to FSI gasoline direct injection. This involved considerable modifications to the cylinder heads. Fuel is injected into the combustion chambers at a pressure of up to 130 bar. A high 11.8:1 compression ratio boosts power output and efficiency. The inlet ports are specially shaped to impart swirl to the incoming airflow and make combustion more efficient. The W12 engine's low fuel consumption compared with its competitors is to a large extent due to Audi's modular efficiency platform. These are used in the entire A8 model line. The crankshaft and timing chains have been intensively optimized to reduce friction, and a recuperation system recovers energy that would otherwise be wasted when the car is braked. The innovative thermal management system shuts down the coolant circuit for a time after the cold engine has been started. This warms up the engine oil more rapidly and shortens the operating period in which friction is still high. Safe and sporty: Transmission The transmission makes a major contribution to ensuring the high efficiency of the Audi A8 L. The eight-speed tiptronic shifts smoothly and quickly, with the individual gears closely spaced but with a generous overall spread from low to high. Gear shifts are performed electronically ("shift by wire") from an elegant yacht-style selector lever or at steering wheel paddles. The center differential, the main component in the quattro permanent all-wheel drive train, divides the torque flow from the engine in a sporty manner, with 60 percent to the rear axle and 40 percent to the front in regular driving conditions. But if the situation changes, up to 60 percent of the torque can be sent to the front, or 80 percent to the rear. An optional sport differential splits the torque input actively between the left and right rear wheels. Maximum precision: Chassis Thanks to its advanced chassis design, the long-wheelbase Audi A8 brings together the silky, refined smoothness of a true luxury car and the handling of a sport sedan. The wheel control arms are made of aluminum. The front suspension uses five locating arms at each wheel; the controlled-track wishbone rear suspension ensures a supremely comfortable ride. The servotronic power steering system has a direct operating ratio and operates at high efficiency. The adaptive air suspension with controlled damping is standard equipment and is integrated into the Audi drive select dynamics system. With this system the driver can choose between four different operating settings of the engine, the eight-speed tiptronic transmission, the servotronic power steering, the optional sport differential and the Audi pre sense basic safety system. An additional module is the dynamic steering system, which varies its gear ratio steplessly according to road speed. The A8 L W12 quattro runs on 19-inch alloy wheels with a 15-spoke design reserved for this model, and size 255/45 tires. As an optional extra 20-inch wheels can be chosen, and even 21-inch wheels can be obtained from quattro GmbH. The A8 L W12 quattro, the new top model, naturally has a high-performance brake system, with ventilated disks at all four wheels. The front disks are 400 mm (15.75 in) in diameter, with 356 mm (14.02 in) disks at the rear. To dissipate heat and reduce weight, stainless steel pins connect the steel friction rings with the aluminum disk centers. The calipers have a matt black paint finish. Dynamic intelligence: Communication and assistance systems This large sedan features an exemplary control concept. Although there are so many functions available, they can be selected in an easily understood, ergonomically correct way. Two large monitor screens, one on the instrument panel and one on the center console, acts as control centers and display their information as high-resolution 3D graphics. The A8 has a pioneering innovation on board: the optional MMI navigation plus, which operates with the aid of a high-capacity hard disk, has a touch-sensitive control panel known as MMI touch. The driver inputs his or her navigation destination or a telephone number simply by writing the letters or numerals on the pad with a finger. Acoustic feedback makes this possible without taking one's eyes of the road. The high-end navigation system cooperates with the assistance and safety systems in an innovative way. It registers the topography of the road in advance and makes this data available to the control units for the automatic transmission, headlights and adaptive cruise control with Stop & Go function. Thanks to their advanced intelligence, these systems can identify complex scenarios and offer the driver support in good time. The adaptive cruise control system operates at any speed up to 250 km/h (155.34 mph) and responds even more flexibly and smoothly than before. The Audi side assist system, which helps the driver to change lanes, and Audi lane assist which detects any departure from the chosen lane, also have new and additional performance features. The night view assistant uses a thermal imaging camera to identify persons on the road ahead of the car. If it considers the situation to be potentially dangerous, the image of the person on the road is shown in red and a warning signal is heard. The Audi pre sense safety system is also closely linked to the assistance systems. It is available in several stages: the full version brakes the car automatically in order to minimize the consequences of a nose-to-tail collision. In the multimedia area, Audi can also supply many attractive modules. These include a Bang & Olufsen Advanced Sound System with an output rating of more than 1,400 Watts and 19 speakers, and the Rear Seat Entertainment system. This has an MMI control panel on the console between the rear seats and provides access to all the infotainment functions on board this large luxury sedan. The new Online services in cooperation with Google use the car phone to capture news and current information on the weather or points of interest (POI) from the Internet. Later this year an UMTS module will be available: this fast data link can supply images and information from Google Earth to the monitor screen and combine them with the navigation route. The driver can use all these services with his or her cell-phone contract. Filed under: Sedan, Audi, Beijing Motor Show, Luxury Tags: 2011, 2011 audi a8 l, 2011 audi a8l, 2011AudiA8L, a8 l, a8l, audi, beijing, beijing 2010, beijing motor show, Beijing2010, BeijingMotorShow

Apr 10, 2010

Brabus Mercedes E550

Brabus Tunes the Mercedes-Benz E550 Cabriolet

The Mercedes-Benz E550 Cabriolet has yet to reach dealers in North America, but the team at Brabus has already had its way with the drop top.

The German tuners started with the E550's (already potent) 5.5-liter V-8, which normally makes 382 horsepower and 391 pound-feet of torque. Brabus increased the bore and stroke, added new camshafts, a unique exhaust system, and a reflashed ECM. The result is a 6.1-liter V-8, which produces a tire-smoking 462 horsepower and 453 pound-feet of torque. The E-class Cabriolet with the revised engine can sprint from 0-62 mph in 4.7 seconds, and ultimately reach a top end of 186 mph.

In addition to the extra power, Brabus offers buyers both lowered springs (which drop the ride height 1.2 inches) and a set of fully adjustable coil-over dampers. Brabus adds 14.2-inch front brake rotors, mated with six-piston calipers in front and four-caliper units in back. Monoblock wheels, available in sizes ranging from 17 to 19 inches, can also be fitted to the car.

Buyers can also opt for a unique full body kit, which incorporates LED daytime running lamps into the aggressive front fascia. Brabus says the kit is more than cosmetic -- the new nose reportedly helps increase downforce to keep the front wheels planted on terra firma while at speed.

Like all Brabus-tuned Mercedes products, the modified E550 won't be entirely covered by the original warranty, but will be covered by Brabus' 3-year/ 62,000-mile guarantee.


	Apr 10, 2010 A new look for the Mercedes R Class
	New York Auto Show: 2011 Mercedes-Benz R-Class The refreshed 2011 Mercedes-Benz R-Class gets an E-Class nose job. Come drive the Mercedes of your dreams at a fraction of the retail cost at AsankaCars.Com in Sarasota, Florida. Introduced on Wednesday: 2011 Mercedes-Benz R-Class Wagon What is it? A hurried midcycle freshening of some of the more unfortunate aspects of the Mercedes-Benz R-Class “sports tourer.” Help couldn’t come soon enough. And apparently more than a “freshening” was needed for this styling bomb. How’s it look? Hearselike — still — from the back. An E-Class nose job helps disguise the R-Class coming, but liposuction is still sorely needed to camouflage it going. Even with new taillights and bumper, everything from the C-pillar back remains wrong, proportionately. The interior, which was downright handsome in the lighter optional colors, needed little to improve it -– and that is what it gets. Next time, the interior and exterior design teams should swap assignments.


	Apr 10, 2010 Inside look at Mercedes super cars
	BenzInsider at the Mercedes-Benz Brand Workshop – Day 2 Come over and drive the full line of Mercedes Benz Luxury cars at AsankaCars.Com in Sarasota, Florida Just like they did on day 1 of the Brand Workshop, Mercedes-Benz picked us up with a half-dozen Viano shuttle buses from our Le Meridien Hotel in downtown Stuttgart and took us straight to the Design Center in Sindelfingen. Driving by the manufacturing plants, we spotted around 40 or so brand new Mercedes-Benz SLS’ parked and awaiting delivery to their customers (pic available here). Upon arrival to the Design Center building, we had to surrender all our cameras and phones. A professional photographer took the below pictures, which of course were later reviewed by the Mercedes directors to see that no vital information were to be leaked. After a small lunch break, we were whiskered into the media room (which is the dark room in the pictures) for some short presentations about the design process as well as what Mercedes-Benz is working on when it comes to green technology and sustainability. Everything was moving fast as they had a lot more to show us. Next was a visit to the interior design department, where everything is designed. When I say everything, then I mean it because Mercedes-Benz makes all of their interior parts. Before we knew it, we returned to the auditorium, where now all the cars had their covers removed. As you can see in the pictures, the latest Mercedes-Benz models were showcased here, as well as some concept vehicles. The F700 was there, which had it debuted at the Frankfurt Auto Show in 2008, as well as the F800, which was first shown to the world a month ago in Geneva. Christoph Horn, who is the head of Global Communications for Mercedes-Benz Cars, and Steffen Kohl, head of the worldwide Mercedes-Benz Advanced Design Studios, took us on a tour of each vehicle that was in the hall and gave us an insight of on the manufacturing and design process of each vehicle. A few hours later and overloaded with information, shuttle buses picked us up again and took us straight to the Malmsheim Airport, which is now being permenantly leased by Mercedes-Benz for all their driving tests that can’t be performed on normal roads (great spy shots location). After a three course meal (we ate a lot of food during the 3 day stay, as you probably noticed) we were given the chance to drive any of the 20 or more cars available for us. Not just drive it around the airfield, but actually go out into the city and Autobahn. The only car that was not available for testing was the SLS AMG, which is why Matthew (SLS AMG Reporter) and I picked the next best thing – the Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG. Words or even pictures can’t describe the awesomeness of the car. Never in my life had I experienced so much fear and joy at the same time, especially at the beginning when Matthew took the wheel. He knew the area and was very familiar with the local roads, which made the test drive especially fun as he was maneuvering the vehicle with highway speeds on very narrow and two way back-roads. We were exceeding speeds of around 100mph on roads that had speed limit of 35mph. Now, can you image what kind of speeds we hit on the Autobahn. I won’t even mention the speeds Matthew was able to hit on the Autobahn, as I was partly busy trying not to puke. The one speed that does matter though was the one I was able to achieve – 160 mph or 260 km/h – pretty impressive when you consider that this is the fastest I have ever driven a car. Like I said above, there are just no words to describe this experience that will do it justice. It was simply amazing, not just because I got to spend two days with the people I adore and with the company I love, but because I have met some great friends. I can’t thank Mercedes-Benz and all the people responsible for making this happen. Thank you Tobias, Kristina, Melanie, Lefti, Matthew, Thilo and everyone else at Mercedes-Benz for an awesome week.


	Apr 10, 2010 Mercedes Benz SLS Gullwing update
	With its appealing proportions and upward-opening doors, the 2011 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG revives the spirit of the iconic 300SL Gullwing sports car, albeit in a much faster and more comfortable form. Come see and drive the whole Mercedes Benz line at AsankaCars.Com in Sarasota, Florida.....and if you want we can even order you your very own 2011 Mercedes SLS Gullwing at wholesale pricing guaranteed to beat any franchise Mercedes dealership in the nation! As always we also have an ever changing inventory of luxury vehicles so that you don't have to make up your mind until you come see us. What's New for 2011 The 2011 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG is all-new. 2011 Mercedes-Benz SLC Vehicle Overview Introduction With the 2011 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG set to arrive in dealerships around May of 2010, those desiring a new Mercedes sports car with a measure of exclusivity not possible with the popular SL-Class will have their wish granted. Despite its name, the SLS AMG is not some special version of an SL retractable-hardtop roadster, but rather a unique sports car wholly designed and built by Mercedes' AMG high-performance division. Inspired by the 300SL Gullwing sports car of the mid-1950s, the new SLS shares that icon's long hood, short deck proportions and upward-opening doors. The gullwing doors allow easy access to the car's interior. The cabin is instantly recognizable as something from Mercedes, but the sporting quotient has been upped with handsomely stitched upholstery, racing-style bucket seats and carbon-fiber accents. Of course, there are plenty of luxury features as well, including a superb Bang and Olufsen audio system. Behind the classic grille is a hand-built, naturally aspirated 6.2-liter V8. The latter is a tweaked, dry-sump version of the V8 in the SL63 (and other AMG Benz models) that cranks out 563 horsepower and 479 pound-feet of torque. A seven-speed automated dual-clutch manual transaxle (the first for a Mercedes-Benz) that sends the power to the rear wheels is the sole transmission choice. The SLS is about 4 inches longer and nearly 5 inches wider than an SL63 AMG, yet weighs 700 fewer pounds. Those properties, along with the V8's prodigious output, give the SLS noticeably sharper performance overall. All this helps to further differentiate the SLS from the SL63 – the former is a true sports car, while the SL63 -- though capable -- is more of a grand touring car. Though we have yet to fully test the 2011 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG, we did have the opportunity to briefly drive one on a racetrack. We found the SLS's performance to be quite impressive, highlighted by potent acceleration, precise steering and well-balanced handling. Mercedes estimates the car can accelerate from zero to 60 mph in 3.7 seconds. AsankaCars.Com is home of the "Dealer Payment Program" or buy here pay here for luxury cars.


	Apr 9, 2010 New BMW luxury hatch
	BMW's luxury hatch suits its niche well 550i Gran Turismo offers sophisticated utility Come see and drive the entire BMW line at AsankaCars.Com in Sarasota, Florida and compare them with Mercedes, Audi, Lexus, and Jaguar all under one roof. For North Americans, it might come as a shock to learn that we are not the primary target for BMW's Gran Turismo. Though the German luxury carmaker will surely deny it, GT sales in the U.S. and Canada are an afterthought, and the big sedan/crossover/ station wagon is designed for Europeans who value a measure of practicality with their luxury. For us, the GT is mostly a car we don't understand from a car company we thought we knew. The 550i Gran Turismo will be a polarizing standout in BMW showrooms, with its fans praising its utilitarian purpose, while more traditional BMW owners will wonder what happened to their 5 Series. It's very difficult from the front seat to tell whether the GT is anything other than just another mid-sized, mid-priced (for BMW) luxury car. Oh, sure, it's a whopping 255 kilograms heavier than a 550 sedan, but for the most part, those great, huffing twin turbochargers perched beside the 4.4-litre double overhead camshaft V-8 render that problem moot. Indeed, pump the 550's throttle in any regard and all that massive torque -- 450 pound-feet of the stuff -- pushes the GT ahead with all the elan one could ask from something selling itself on its utilitarian virtues. BMW claims a 5.7-second zero-to-100-kilometres-an-hour time, and even the incredibly smooth way it hustles to that speed doesn't conceal the fact it's pretty darned quick. My only complaint is that the new eight-speed automatic transmission could occasionally be clunky at startup. It only happened when cold, and it felt as if the computer was initially suggesting a second-gear startup (for a smoother takeoff). There shouldn't be many complaints about the GT's handling. No, you can't manhandle it as you could a 1 or 3 Series. Yes, it's a little softer in the suspenders compared with a 5. But BMW's legendary steering precision and feedback are there. Ditto the adjustable suspension, which, when cranked up, offers enough firmness to all but banish body roll during cornering. As long as you remember that this is essentially a 7 Series (the GT and the short-wheelbase version of the 7 share the same dimensions between axles -- 3,070 mm), the handling is lively. Besides, if I am reading BMW's intent for the Gran Turismo right, it is not simply pace, but pace with grace, that is more important in this instance. The GT rides very nicely. If you want even greater dynamism from the GT, you can order the Dynamic Handling package that includes adjustable damping and drives up the price by $3,900. The GT's big advantage, says BMW, is its adjustable interior and unique trunk arrangement. Essentially, the first part of the equation is rear seats that not only adjust but also have quite a bit of travel fore and aft. Thus, you maximize cargo space by having the seats forward or allow the long-legged some serious headroom. Factor in the fact that the rear perches can be heated or cooled (though this last requires opting for two option packages -- Executive and Rear Comfort Seats) and the rear-seat passengers receive attention beyond anything in BMW's lineup save the 7 Series. Said comfort seats are actually twin rear buckets replacing the standard bench and are power actuated, while the standard items are manually adjustable. The other part of that utilitarian question is the rear hatchback that, with the touch of a button, opens as a regular sedan-like trunk and, by activating another, the entire hatch opens. A wall separates the cargo area and the cabin, but when you're in hatchback mode, you can fold down the rear seats, remove the wall and, bingo, you have a (semi-flat) cargo space worthy of, say, an SUV. It should be noted that while the entire hatchback is power operated, the trunk-lid portion of it must be opened manually. In the end, that will be the GT's attraction. It is neither a wagon nor an SUV, but it offers at least some of the practicality of both. - - - THE SPECS 2010 BMW 550i Gran Turismo Type of vehicle: Rear-wheel-drive luxury hatchback Engine: Twin-turbo 4.4L DOHC V-8 Power: 400 hp at 5,500 r.p.m.; 450 lb.-ft. of torque at 1,750 r.p.m. Transmission: Eight-speed automatic Brakes: Four-wheel disc with ABS Tires: P245/45R19 front, P275/40R19 rear Price: $79,600 base, $91,895 as tested Destination charge: $1,995 Transport Canada fuel economy L/100 km: 14.4 city, 9.1 hwy. Standard features: Power door locks, windows and mirrors, Automatic Air Recirculation with activated carbon micro-filter, 600-watt AM/FM/DVD/MP3 player with 16 speakers, Hard Disc Media Storage, steering wheel-mounted audio controls, DVD navigation system, cruise control, information display, tilt and telescopic steering wheel, leather seats, 16-way adjustable front seats, heated front seats, auto headlights, Active Xenon Technology, Dynamic Stability Control, Corner Brake Control, Dynamic Braking Control, Dynamic Traction Control, electronic brake-force distribution (EBD), tire pressure warning system


	Apr 9, 2010 Spyker and Saab together
	Spyker CEO On Saab Takeover AsankaCars.Com in Sarasota, Florida can special order any super car for you to your exact specs at a wholesale price. The car market is seeing signs of relief and many luxury car companies are scrambling to regain market share. One CEO taking quick action is Victor Muller. He heads Spyker Cars which acquired Saab from GM earlier this year. He realizes the small window of time car companies actually have to regain consumers' attention. Muller is now intensely focused on reigniting the Saab brand by bringing back cars consumes can actually see in their driveways. "Saab lost customers because we didn't make the products they wanted," says Muller. "We didn't make any crossovers or forward drive, and we had a 13-year old 9-5. We lost customers to Audi and BMW.” In my interview with him, Muller admitted that Spyker is now more famous for saving Saab than anything else. He hopes that having such a strong brand name behind Saab will show people that "Saab of today is a new Saab." Saab will come out with a suite of new models in the next year and a half, including the new 9-5 which recently went into production. Next, will be the 9-4X—the first crossover that Saab has ever made, which will be released later this year or early next year. Muller did have one concern weighing on his mind: whether a W-shaped recession is still possible. Yet, he remained very upbeat on the company's profit potential this year. "I'm looking at our sales figure since we did the acquisition. We are looking at more than doubling our sales this year. We went from making 20,000 cars and selling 39,000 cars last year. This year we will be making 50,000 to 60,000 cars and selling all of them. So we are looking at a massive increase compared to last year. And next year, we should be back at the 100,000 car level."

Apr 9, 2010

As Millionairs increase so do Luxury car sales around the world

Mercedes-Benz's Q1 sales jump 105% in China

For international shipping at AsankaCars.Com contact our director of international affairs Jose Marin. We can set up shipping from Sarasota, Florida to anywhere all over the world on all luxury cars such as Mercedes, BMW, Audi, Jaguar, Lexus, Maserati, Bentley, and Ferrari.

Apr. 9, 2010 (China Knowledge) - Luxury car maker Mercedes-Benz, a unit of Daimler AG, said Wednesday that its first-quarter sales in mainland China and Hong Kong more than doubled from a year earlier to 24,100 units.

The growth in sales was greater than that of any other premium car maker in the world's largest auto market, the company said on its website.

In March, Mercedes-Benz sold 8,500 vehicles in China, 57% more than the corresponding period a year ago.

Mercedes-Benz sold 68,500 vehicles in China last year, 77% more than in 2008.

China has become the most important market for luxury car makers as demand for high-end vehicles surged in 2009 despite a global slump, according to an industry researcher, China Knowledge reported earlier.

Demand for luxury cars in China will increase as the number of wealthy individuals increases. China had 450,000 millionaires by the end of 2009.


	Apr 9, 2010 Mercedes to join forces with other car makers to share their green technolodgy
	Carmakers join forces in green new world AsankaCars.Com in Sarasota, Florida is home of the wholesale special order car. We can order any "green" vehicle for you and pass along our wholsale pricing .....and remember, we ship all over the nation and overseas. Since regulators began cracking down on cars' carbon dioxide emissions in earnest during the past two years, industry and environmental lobbyists have traded conflicting claims about whether Brussels and Washington have been tough enough to force real change. One of the most powerful answers came this week when Daimler, the maker of Mercedes-Benz luxury cars, agreed to swap equity stakes and share swathes of its prized technology with Renault and Nissan in order to buy into the Franco-Japanese alliance's small-car business. Under the deal, Daimler will share costs, engines and manufacturing of forthcoming two- and four-seat models made for its Smart small-car brand with Renault for its next Twingo subcompact. The German carmaker and Renault-Nissan will take 3.1 per cent mutual stakes and develop engines and vans together. The partnership will also involve the joint purchasing of parts and the building of electric cars. The pairing of the Stuttgart-based premium carmaker with Renault, the junk-rated volume carmaker, raised eyebrows when word of it surfaced last month. Daimler's most recent big tie-up with a rival was its merger with Chrysler of the US, a relationship dissolved in 2007 after nine years marred by mistrust, missed opportunities and losses. Dieter Zetsche, Daimler's chief executive, acknowledged the emissions legislation was a deciding factor in the Renault-Nissan partnership. "For Daimler, this played a very significant role," he said. "We have a great opportunity to become benchmark in the area." Carlos Ghosn, Renault and Nissan's chief executive, said the two groups were forging a partnership that fell short of a full merger or alliance but went well beyond the smaller pairings on single models or engines favoured by their competitors PSA Peugeot Citroën and BMW. "We benefit from the bigger whole, but each maintains its own autonomy, its own brand," he said. Analysts agreed with Mr Ghosn's assertion that more partnerships were in the offing as carmakers sought to share multibillion-dollar investments in cleaner cars. "These technologies are utterly expensive and almost impossible to shoulder alone for carmakers like Daimler or BMW," said Gregor Matthies, partner with the consultancy Bain & Company. Max Warburton, analyst with Sanford Bernstein, went so far as to say that the European Union's CO 2 legislation had "undermined the German [premium] auto business model. "I think the political score on this so far - thanks to Brussels' rulemaking - is France 1, Germany 0," Mr Warburton said. Europe is demanding that carmakers cut their fleets' average CO 2 levels to 130 grams per kilometre by 2015, and 95 g/km by 2020 from about 150 g/km at present. Last week, US President Barack Obama's administration unveiled new fuel-economy standards requiring the industry to reach an average 35.5 miles per gallon by 2016, up by almost 10mpg. Industry analysts say carmakers will reach the European emission targets only with the help of smaller cars and electric and alternative vehicles. Most analysts said the three-way tie-up would benefit Renault-Nissan disproportionately by giving the French and Japanese carmakers, including Nissan's Infiniti luxury brand, access to Mercedes' prized engine technology at the risk of diluting the German carmaker's image. But Daimler arguably needed the deal more. Mercedes-Benz cars had volume-weighted average CO 2 emissions of 176 g/km last year - the highest of Europe's 10 top-selling car brands, according to JATO Dynamics, the automotive data group. "For Mercedes-Benz, the EU rules mean an almost 50 per cent reduction in CO 2 emissions by 2020," said Bain's Mr Matthies. "This will only work with radically new concepts." The Smart car has one of the lowest CO 2 averages of any brand. However, Daimler has struggled to turn a profit on either Smart or Mercedes' small A and B Class cars, because their sales were too small to recoup its investments. The stricter emission rules have already produced more unlikely-sounding deals than the DaimlerRenault-Nissan one, including sports car maker Aston Martin's tweaking of Toyota's tiny iQ city car as its forthcoming Cygnet model. For Porsche, whose flagship 911 model has CO 2 emissions of 230 g/km, the tougher standards were one of the main reasons for its audacious takeover attempt of Volkswagen, a bid that collapsed last year. The sports car maker is set to be integrated into VW in 2011. The stricter CO 2 limits look to have been behind Ford's decision to rid itself of its luxury brands. Ford Motor in 2008 sold its higher-emission Jaguar and Land Rover brands to India's Tata Motors for $2.3bn and last month agreed to sell Volvo to China's Geely for $1.8bn.

Apr 8, 2010

Luxury Car sales strong in China

BERLIN - German luxury car makers Audi and BMW said on Wednesday that both companies enjoy boom sales in China's mainland, Hong Kong and Taiwan during the first quarter of 2010.

AsankaCars is the home of German luxury car sales in Sarasota and the west coast of Florida. Come drive all of the luxury car nameplates under one roof and decide for yourself who is the best.

Audi said its first quarter sales in China's mainland and Hong Kong rose 77 percent compared with the same period in 2009. It totally sold 51,449 cars to China's mainland and Hong Kong during these three months, which is the best quarterly performance for Audi in China.

The sales of BMW in China's mainland, Hong Kong and Taiwan also doubled during the first quarter, said BMW. It altogether sold 36,579 cars including its core brand BMW and its urban Mini cars in these three markets.

Another German luxury carmaker Mercedes-Benz also see a high rise of car sales in China's mainland and Hong Kong during this period, said the company on its website Tuesday.

It sold a total of 24,100 cars in these three months, increasing 105 percent on a yearly basis, Mercedes-Benz said.


	Apr 8, 2010 BMW goes Retro
	AsankaCars.Com in Sarasota, Florida always has a full line of luxury BMW's in stock and even offer our In House Financing on Luxury Cars such as BMW, Mercedes, Lexus, Audi, and Jaguar. As much as cars, particularly high-performance and luxury cars, are about innovation and the advance of technology and capability, there's a lot of value in looking to the past for inspiration. The lesson definitely isn't lost on BMW, as they company has released a barrage of classic car-related activity this week, including a showing of some of the brand's best work at the Concorso d'Eleganza coming to Lake Como later this month and the launch of the BMW Group Classic Motorsport division. Due to kick off festivities April 23-25, the Concorso d'Eleganza is a place where BMW has frequently tapped into its history, including the showing of the M1 Homage design study revealed there in 2008. This year, BMW dives even deeper into its heritage with the 328 Mille Miglia Concept Coupe, the car that won the Mille Miglia in 1940. Also on show will be the 328 Kamm Coupe, a racing car that previewed the development to come in aerodynamics and lightweight construction. The Kamm Coupe was relegated to the rubbish bin in the early 1950s after an accident, but the car has been undergoing an extensive rebuild since the 1990s, with this being its official return to the show circuit. Perhaps even more exciting for vintage racing fans, BMW Group Classic has formed a new Motorsport division to assist in everything a vintage BMW racer needs: parts, repair, restoration and service. The core of the Classic Motorsports division will focus on cars from the 1960s through the 1980s, though any classic racing BMW will be able to find aid from the program. To highlight the program's kickoff, Mini Cooper and BMW 1602 demonstration models will be rebuilt from the ground up. This will show off the division's capabilities and return two racing classics to their former glory. For more on the Concorso d'Eleganza, check out the official site here.


	Apr 7, 2010 Luxury Car Sales and Super Car Sales up overseas
	March sales show luxury cars back in favour Come and drive all of the luxury car brands at AsankaCars.Com in Sarasota, Florida or let us sprcial order the super car of your dreams and deliver it directly to your door! AUSTRALIANS have turned back to luxury vehicles with sales surging as part of a revival in the car market. The car industry recorded its best March result and is on track to break the 1 million mark for this year, according to figures from the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries. Five of the 10 brands that recorded the biggest sales growth in the first three months of this year were sports, luxury or premium brands, with buyers taking advantage of a reduction in import duties that caused the price of a $1 million Rolls-Royce to fall by $50,000. Lamborghini, Ferrari, Porsche, Audi and Jaguar benefited most during the sales period. Thirteen Lamborghinis hit the road, seven more than last year. Ferrari (28 cars), Porsche (332), Jaguar (274) and Maserati (34) all shifted plenty of expensive new metal this year to be up on last year's results. BMW and Mercedes-Benz's small car brands, Mini and Smart, have also recorded big growth with the former notching up its best sales for the month of March. A total of 94,744 new cars were sold last month, up 25 per cent (38,857) on March last year, taking the total number of cars sold in the first three months of the year to 251,827, according to the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries. The result puts the new car market only 3241 vehicles off the pace of the record set in 2007, when almost 1,050,000 vehicles were sold. The result is a big boost for the industry with some insiders predicting a slowdown now that government incentives have dried up. Although business sales were down slightly, private buyers were back with a vengeance. Market leader Toyota continued its run at the top with March sales of 20,306, almost double those of second-placed Holden (11,795), although the Holden Commodore was the top-selling vehicle. Fast-growing brands 1. Lamborghini(13 sold, 116.7% increase) 2. Proton (601 sold, 108.7% increase) 3. Ssangyong (353 sold, 82.9% increase) 4. Smart (124 sold, 69.9% increase) 5. Jeep


	Apr 7, 2010 Luxury Car Sales Around the world
	AsankaCars.Com in Sarasota, Florida ships luxury cars all over the world.....if interrested in shipping overseas be sure to ask for our director of international relations Jose Marin. MUMBAI: Just eight cars, that's all that's keeping Mercedes-Benz India, the maker of super-luxury cars, from reclaiming its title as number one deluxe car maker. The German player just reported first quarter numbers for 2010 and appears to be back on track with new model launches and a revamped image. Mercedes Benz's aggressive product launch and marketing strategy for 2010 seems to be paying off. The company's first quarter numbers are out and it is very close to being back on top. Here's how it's playing out, BMW is holding on to the top with 1,314 cars, Mercedes is just 8 cars behind at 1,306 units and Audi is third with 778 cars. Executives with Mercedes say strong sales have poured in from virtually every segment. In addition, to meat and potatoes products such as the ML class and the S-class, Mercedes' newly launched E-Class coupe will also serve to showcase the company's trendier designs and target a younger demographic something that rival BMW has done so well. Even as Benz and BMW go bumper to bumper, the next nine months will see fierce competition in terms of marketing strategies and new models by both makers. All three luxury players reporting strong sales and quantum growth, one thing's clear, no matter who comes out on top at the end of 2010, the luxury car pie in India has moved along extremely fast and shows no sign of slowing down.


	Apr 7, 2010 Luxury Car Segment Changing
	Luxury Segment Changing, Not Slowing Down AsankaCars.Com in Sarasota, Florida the home of affordible luxury vehicles in every make modle and color. AsankaCars is also the home of "In house financing" for luxury cars such as Mercedes, BMW, Jaguar, Audi, and Lexus. Don't believe anyone who tells you the luxury-car market is dead. Despite the economy's struggle to get moving again, you only have to visit the New York International Auto Show to know there's plenty happening in this segment. From SUVs and crossovers to wagons and sedans, the auto show played host to numerous luxury models including the U.S. debut of the redesigned 2011 Porsche Cayenne, 2011 BMW 5 Series and 2011 Volvo S60, which were joined by newcomers like the 2011 Acura TSX Sport Wagon and 2011 Lexus CT 200h hybrid. The features and technology available in these and other luxury models will no doubt drum up interest among people shopping for their first luxury car, but it may well be social considerations that keep current luxury-car owners in the fold. "It's awfully hard to leave luxury once you're in luxury," said Rebecca Lindland, director of industry research at IHS Global Insight. "You just get used to projecting a certain image and you're used to a certain look in your vehicle, a certain touch and feel. "If you still have your job and you're OK with your mortgage and you are in premium [cars], it's just a lot easier to stay there … rather than explain to your friends why you're driving non-premium." Even though the desire to remain in a luxury car may be strong, some automakers believe the definition of luxury is changing, and that spells opportunity. "Luxury is no longer about being the most expensive, the most popular, the most opulent," said John Mendel, Acura executive vice president of sales, during the introduction of the brand's new TSX Sport Wagon. "It's about smart choices. We're starting to see a whole new attitude as luxury-car buyers are looking to make more intelligent, more relevant purchase decisions. "At Acura, we've been studiously avoiding excess, refusing to build behemoth vehicles that exceed all practical needs. Because of our intelligent approach, we're now really in the sweet spot of this evolving market." Audi, for one, has weathered the economic storm exceptionally well; the brand recently recorded its best first-quarter sales ever in the U.S. New models like the A5 coupe and Q5 crossover have helped, and it's also been buoyed by new technology like its TDI diesels. "We have done quite well in these difficult times," said Loren Angelo, manager of marketing and advertising for Audi. "We're continuously demonstrating how Audi is a brand that is readdressing and redefining what the new luxury marketplace is for consumers" through technology features and engineering. There's no question other brands have had some trying months. Sales for ultra-luxury purveyor Bentley, which showed its new $280,400 Continental Supersports convertible at the New York auto show, were down 39 percent worldwide last year. "At the end of the day the biggest problem in this market category is confidence -- and lack of confidence -- and confidence has to come back," said Christophe Georges, Bentley Americas president and COO. To know when it does, you'll only have to look to the car market. "As Americans, I think that we tend to want to celebrate we've recovered from this. We've recovered from the worst recession," Lindland said. "We're getting back on our feet again, and cars have always been a way to express emotionally that success that we're feeling."


	Apr 6, 2010 New Lotus debut into the Qatar
	At a launch held on 6th April at its luxurious showroom on Salwa Road, Horizon Automobiles Est has announced the signing of an agreement with Lotus Cars Limited to be the exclusive importer of the world-renowned Lotus super sports cars into the Qatari market place. We here at AsankaCars.Com are known for special orders on very high end super cars such as Ferrari, Bentley, and Lotus. With a small deposit, we can locate any car at guaranteed wholesale prices in like new condition. Please give us a call here in Sarasota, Florida and we will locate the car of your dreams and pass our wholesale cost along to you in the process. This marks a magnificent coup for Horizon Automobiles as they are only the second dealership in the entire GCC to have signed an agreement with Lotus Cars. Salman Abdullah Abdughani, Chairman of Horizon Automobiles, said, "I am very excited to introduce the celebrated Lotus sports cars into Qatar. There is a strong demand for exotic automobiles here, and the Lotus brand is already very well-known locally because of its racing involvement and its spectacular performance. I am also delighted to be able to announce that we are planning to develop the first Lotus Race Academy in this region to showcase the performance and handling of Lotus' innovative cars. This exclusive Race Academy will provide a wonderful platform for promoting the Lotus brand in Qatar." Andreas Prillmann, Chief Commercial Officer for Lotus Cars said, "Horizon Automobiles has joined Lotus at a very exciting time with the fabulous new multi-award winning Lotus Evora joining the iconic Lotus Elise and Lotus Exige in its product portfolio. We consider Horizon Automobiles with its passion for, and experience in, hand built British Sportscars as the ideal organisation to develop a prosperous business together with Lotus Cars Limited in Qatar. The new appointment of Horizon Automobiles demonstrates our further commitment to the growing Middle East market." The first Lotus car was built in 1948, by legendary engineer Colin Chapman. The Lotus Engineering Company was founded in 1952 and Lotus quickly developed into an innovative and pioneering company and with a long and proud history in motorsport. Lotus has a reputation for creating real sports cars that embody a perfect balance between the technical and the aesthetic. With its breathtaking performance, nimble handling, innovative chassis technology, fuel-efficient design and dramatic visual impact, the first Evora to be seen in Qatar made its debut at Horizon Automobiles' launch of its Lotus partnership on 6th April 2010. The multi-award winning Evora is the first all-new Lotus since the legendary Elise was unveiled in 1995. The Evora is hand-crafted and built on a dedicated assembly line at the Lotus manufacturing facility in England. It is the world's only mid-engine 2+2 sports car, and its exclusivity is assured as production will be restricted to approximately 2,000 cars per year. The Evora promises exhilarating performance from its Lotus-tuned 3.5-litre V6 engine producing 276 hp, 6-speed manual transmission, and lightweight construction. The Evora can sprint from 0 to 60mph in 4.9 seconds, and is the only car in the world which offers an estimated 30mpg on highway that has achieved this feat. Contemporary technology features in the Evora's cabin, with a newly developed Alpine multi-media system with a 7-inch touch-screen providing advanced audio, video, Bluetooth hands-free telephone, iPod connectivity functions and satellite navigation. No wonder that the new Evora has won many awards around the world, including the coveted "Car of the Year 2009" award announced by EVO magazine and BBC Top Gear Magazine's Sports Car of the Year 2009 Award, beating models from manufacturers like Lamborghini, Ferrari and Porsche. "Horizon Automobiles is thrilled to have the opportunity to present the stunning Lotus Evora sportscar to the driving enthusiasts of Qatar for the very first time. The Evora showcases all that is exceptional about the Lotus brand," commented Salman Abdullah Abdughani, Chairman of Horizon Automobiles.


	Apr 6, 2010 Luxury Hybrid News
	Lexus says the GS 450h fits into a genre they call “performance luxury hybrid.” It may be the only one out there, although Mercedes and Infinity are rumored to have comparable models in the pipeline. Stop by and see us at AsankaCars.Com in Sarasota to compare Mercedes, Lexus, Audi, BMW, and all of the best luxury car brands under one roof. What’s the purpose of hybridizing a performance luxury car? Good question. Let’s run some numbers. What you get, essentially, is the performance of a V8 and the fuel economy of a V6. In order to do that a high-output, permanent-magnet electric drive motor along with all the electronic controls and some extra content is added to the V6 GS. All that stuff adds a little more than $11,000 to the sticker price of the standard V6 and it costs about $2,500 more than the V8 version of the same car. If we calculate fuel savings based on EPA numbers and divide that into cost differential we show a payback period of about 11 years when compared to the V8 and 132 years compared to the V6. So, I guess we can safely say that saving on the cost of fuel is not the reason most folks would have to buy this luxury hybrid. But, what is the selling point, then? Like many hybrids on the road today, the point is more about making a statement. – a “green” statement, that is. As our Europen colleague, Henney Hemmes says, “any self-respecting manufacturer now has to have electrics and hybrids in their fleet to establish their green credentials.” Lexus, by the way has hybrid models in nearly every line of cars including the flagship LS and Toyota/Lexus has had hybrids longer than just about any manufacturer. The big Lexus LS600h costs around $111,000 and the least expensive Lexus hybrid, the HS250h, costs about $35,000. Styling, both outside and in, is conservative but attractive and elegant. Introduced in 2005 at the New York Auto Show, the GS450h looks identical to the regular, rear-wheel drive, gasoline-powered GS sedan. A softly rounded nose leads around to a smooth contour. If you’re one of those folks that think all cars these days look alike, this might be one to which you refer. The side and rear views are dominated by the long slope of the C-Pillar which reaches all the way to the tail – sort of a fast-back design, very much in tune with cars in the luxury class. Inside, this GS feels rich and opulent if not particularly stylish. Fine quality leather and wood surrounds us. Everything we touch and see, makes us feel like royalty. (Though, I suppose, a real royal would have a driver and be in the back seat.) A couple of niggles need mentioning. The trap door, wherein resides the mirror adjusters and dash light controls, is hidden on the dash left of the steering wheel and behind the multi-purpose stalk, nearly impossible to see from the driver’s position. And, it seems to me that a car of this scale ought to have an analog clock. And, what’s up with the cruise control? It bumps up and down in 5-mph increments instead of the conventional 1-mph at a time. I couldn’t find anything in the manual to indicate that function is programmable and a query to the Lexus PR office shed no light on the issue. Standard inside are heated and cooled perforated leather seats, Smart Access (keyless door unlocking) and push button start, rich wood and leather steering wheel, lots of wood trim, power moonroof, dual-zone HVAC, 8 airbags, and everything you would expect from such an upscale car. Because of the space taken up by the hybrid battery pack we loose about a third of our trunk space. The regular GS has 15.2 cubic-feet of trunk space and the hybrid has just 10.3. If you like to travel by car and need to pack lots of luggage you’ll miss that extra 5 cubic-feet for sure. If this isn’t your traveling car it will probably make little difference. Thrust is great from this amazing powertrain. Of course, the powertrain is the big news for this car. The standard 3.5-liter V6 is augmented by a high-output, permanent-magnet, electric drive motor integrated between the engine and the CVT (continuously variable transmission). The total output is 340 horsepower and 267 pound-feet of torque. What that boils down to is a zero-to-60-mph time of just 5.2 seconds for this 4,100-pound car. That’s .2 seconds quicker than the V8-powered GS. All this power comes with admirable fuel economy – again considering the size, complexity and weight of the car – at 22-city and 25-highway. That’s best in class for full-size performance luxury sedans. Ride and handling are not as tight, quick and firm as the German competitors – for many customers that’s a good thing. Steering is considerably lighter and the ride is a bit softer. Suspension is a double wishbone design in front and multi-link system in the rear with coil springs, gas shocks and stabilizer bars at both ends. A full compliment of airbags and all the expected chassis dynamics along with Automatic Collision Notification to go with the adaptive cruise control keeps the GS in the safety game. The basic warranty covers the Lexus for 4 years or 50,000 miles, 5 years of 70,000 miles on the powertrain and 8 years or 100,000 miles on the hybrid components. The Lexus GS450h is an efficient, luxurious and likeable car. If your interest is in making a statement about your ecological credentials, and you really like the thrilling acceleration of a V8, and you have relatively deep pockets, this might be your only choice right now. But judging from the Geneva Auto Show and other tidbits of news around the industry there may soon be serious competitors.


	Apr 6, 2010 LEXUS BEATS MERCEDES IN LUXURY CAR SALES
	Lexus overtakes Mercedes-Benz in U.S. luxury vehicles sales AsankaCars.Com in Sarasota Floarida specializing in affordible luxury vehicles at wholesale prices....home of "In house financing" on luxury cars. Lexus led in the US luxury car segment during the first quarter with sales of 49,523 units while Mercedes-Benz trailed with 49,229 units. For March, Lexus sold 20,219 vehicles while Mercedes-Benz sold 20,023 cars and SUVs. And while Lexus recorded a 42% gain, Mercedes-Benz had a 28% increase from a year earlier. Lexus has been the leading luxury-auto brand in the US for the past decade but Mercedes-Benz moved ahead of both Lexus and BMW in the first two months of 2010. This surge by Mercedes-Benz is attributed partly to sales of the revamped E-class sedan. *Continued after the jump!* Sales of the E class more than doubled while the C class, its highest-volume model, increased by 20%. It should be noted though that the Mercedes tallies do not include the 1,337 Sprinter vans sold in the first quarter (this model was formerly sold by Dodge). Meanwhile, sales of the BMW brand rose by 3% in March to 18,060 and it finished the quarter at 46,323. The entire US car industry experienced a 24% rise in March, pushing the market 16% ahead of a gloomy 2009 after the first quarter. [via autonews - sub. required] Jessica Caldwell, a senior analyst at Edmunds, a provider of industry data, considers the luxury market to be “doing pretty well.” She revealed that there had been expectations that luxury sales would fall when the economy is rough but surprisingly, the luxury segment has “held its share of the market.” Toyota Motor Corp.’s Lexus benefited from a tripling of sales of its redesigned GX mid-size SUV, as well as increases of 31% for the RX SUV and 29% for the IS car.


	Apr 4, 2010 APRIL INVENTORY SPECIALIZING IN ONE OF A KIND LUXURY CARS
	In April AsankaCars.Com is specializing in one of a kind high end pre-owned luxury cars....you won't see another Beemer or Mercedes like these! Just browse our inventory to see vehicles like a special BMW 645 convertible Schnitzer with F1 paddle shifters, black out package and low miles.....you will never hear another BMW that sounds like this, watch out Ferrari! Or if you are looking for a 4 door sedan we have the brother to this in a BMW 745 Li long wheel base sport with a full Strut body kit and grills with 22" Asanti wheels and black out package. If you prefere Mercedes check out our stable of rare CL coupes with specialty wheels and AMG packages! Just in........SL 55 AMG convertible with chrome package and special chrome sport wheels. Another option is to take one of our stock models and let us customize it for you with body kits, performance and exhauset kits, and wheels for that one of a kind look. Guaranteed to turn heads everywhere you go, choose one of these one of a kind luxury vehicle, who says perfection can't be inproved? AsankaCars.Com specializing in affordible luxury cars in Sarasota, Florida.


	Apr 1, 2010 Mercedes SLS AMG Gullwing
	Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3 - Auto Shows Mercedes-Benz takes to the track with its fast and fabulous new supercar. The Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG is so fast it’d really be a shame if the company didn’t race it. Apparently Mercedes agrees and has developed a go-faster version of its already iconic gullwing supercar that is ready for homologation for the FIA’s GT3 class. The SLS AMG GT3 made its auto-show debut in New York, wearing a sexy matte-white paint job with what appeared to be a 10-foot-wide carbon-fiber rear wing—plus some orange stripes, just for fun. A smooth underbody tray leads to a carbon-fiber diffuser in the rear, and the car also gets a full skirt of carbon-fiber lower aero add-ons. The GT3 features a two-inch-wider body (still rendered in aluminum) that does not resort to tacked-on fender extensions to cover the wider racing rubber. The wheels are 18-inch, center-locking units per homologation regulations, and thus don’t allow room for the standard car’s optional carbon-ceramic discs; in their place are composite brakes with cast-iron discs and aluminum hats. The side and rear glass is swapped for lighter polycarbonate, and the windshield can be as well if the customer chooses. Quick-refueling ports are found on both B-pillars to make the car compatible with a variety of different racing venues, and a full cage is fitted to the stripped cabin. The AMG 6.2-liter V-8 engine, however, is virtually unchanged from the roadgoing version in accordance with FIA rules. The dual-clutch transmission is swapped for a more racing-friendly paddle-shifted six-speed sequential manual. Mercedes says the GT3 should hit 60 mph in 3.7 seconds, which curiously matches its claim for the standard car, and go on to a top speed of 186 mph (or lower, depending on what rear-end gearing is selected). Mercedes will start taking orders beginning this fall. So why was the GT3 shown in the States when its earliest appearances will be in Europe? “Because it was ready,” was the short answer. The long answer is that it can build excitement for the SLS AMG in the wealthy New York–area market, and that Mercedes-Benz also is eyeing an entry in the American Le Mans Series with this car, but not until at least next year.


	Apr 1, 2010 March sales up for Mercedes-Benz
	Come in and drive the top of the line Mercedes S class and CL class at AsankaCars.Com in Sarasota, Florida the home of in house financing on luxury vehicles. MONTVALE, N.J. — Mercedes-Benz USA said Thursday that its March sales rose 28 percent on higher demand for its luxury sedans and sport utility vehicles. The German automaker reported monthly sales of 20,023 vehicles. It posted big gains on models like the C-Class sedan and GL-Class SUV. TOP SELLER: The Mercedes-Benz C-Class, with 6,006 sold. The company considers its lowest-priced sedan a "gateway" vehicle for younger and first-time Mercedes-Benz buyers. HOT MODELS: The E-Class. A step up from the C-Class, buyers picked up 5,042 of the luxury sedans, a 154 percent increase over March 2009.


	Apr 1, 2010 In House Financing on Luxury Cars
	Here at AsankaCars.Com we are the only dealership to offer IN HOUSE FINANCING on luxury vehicles. Because we offer the option of in house financing to our clients, we are able to guarantee financing for individuals that are unable to secure financing through traditional avenues such as banks and credit unions. AsankaCars.Com in Sarasota, Florida one source for guaranteed financing and in house financing on luxury vehicles.


	Apr 1, 2010 Lexus sales beat Mercedes in first quarter
	Lexus Tops Mercedes in U.S. Luxury-Auto Sales in March, Quarter April 2 (Bloomberg) -- Toyota Motor Corp.’s Lexus increased its U.S. sales 42 percent in March to finish the first quarter with the luxury-vehicle lead over Daimler AG’s Mercedes-Benz. Stop by AsankaCars.Com in Sarasota Florida to test drive the best of what Lexus, Mercedes, BMW, Audi, and Jag have to offer and decide the top luxury car maker for yourself! Lexus sold 20,219 cars and sport-utility vehicles last month and 49,523 for the quarter, according to a statement today. Mercedes reported sales of 19,637 for March, a 26 percent increase from a year earlier, and 49,229 for the quarter. Toyota’s division has been the top seller of luxury vehicles in the U.S. on an annual basis for 10 years in a row. Mercedes, helped by its revamped E-Class sedan, had moved ahead of Lexus and Bayerische Motoren Werke AG through 2010’s first two months. The BMW brand posted a 3.1 percent increase in March to 18,060 and finished the quarter at 46,323. “The luxury market is doing pretty well,” said Jessica Caldwell, a senior analyst at Edmunds.com, a Santa Monica, California-based provider of industry data. “We assumed when times were tough that luxury sales would fall. It has held its share of the market.” Lexus benefited from a tripling of sales of its redesigned GX mid-size SUV, as well as increases of 30 percent for the RX sport-utility vehicle and 29 percent for the IS car, according to the statement from Toyota City, Japan-based Toyota. At Mercedes, sales of the E-Class more than doubled while the C-Class, its highest-volume model, rose 20 percent, the unit of Stuttgart, Germany-based Daimler said in a statement. ‘Not Holding Back’ Mercedes expects more increases from the E-Class as it adds a convertible version in May and a diesel E-350 in October, said Ernst Lieb, chief executive officer of the brand’s U.S. unit. “We’re not holding back,” he said. “We have newer products than some of our competitors. We’re going after whatever we can get.” BMW intends to pass Lexus for the No. 1 rank in the U.S. by 2012 on the strength of new models, Jim O’Donnell, president of the Munich-based company’s North American unit, said yesterday. In March, BMW spent an average of $4,797 a vehicle on incentives, compared with $3,527 for Mercedes and $1,778 for Lexus, according to Edmunds.com. “BMW has a lot of good lease deals,” Caldwell said. “They’re trying to hold onto the market.” Cadillac, the luxury brand of Detroit-based General Motors Co., reported a 42 percent increase to 11,639 for the month as sales of its redesigned SRX crossover sport-utility vehicle surged more than sixfold. Cadillac spent a per-vehicle average of $4,307 on incentives, third among luxury brands behind BMW and Ford Motor Co.’s Lincoln, according to Edmunds.com. Lincoln sales rose 19 percent to 8,693 vehicles, Dearborn, Michigan-based Ford said in a statement. Infiniti, Audi Nissan Motor Co.’s Infiniti sold 9,942 vehicles, a 37 percent increase from a year earlier and the brand’s best month since August 2008, the Yokohama, Japan-based company said in a statement. Volkswagen AG’s Audi division said it sold 8,589 vehicles in March, up 34 percent. The total was a record for the month, beating the previous high in 2007, Ingolstadt, Germany-based Audi said in a statement. Sales at Honda Motor Co.’s Acura brand gained 30 percent to 11,722 cars and SUVs, according to the Tokyo-based automaker. Tata Motors Ltd. said sales for the Mumbai-based company’s Land Rover brand increased 21 percent to 2,726 vehicles and reported a 16 percent drop to 983 cars for Jaguar.


	Mar 30, 2010 Luxury car comparisson
	Cars Powered by Take a seat in the lap of luxury! Such choices -- names alone are enough to dazzle you By Bob McHugh, The ProvinceMarch 28, 2010 At AsankaCars.Com in Sarasota Florida you can come in and drive all of the top luxury brands all in one place which is always the best way to compare apples to apples....and don't forget about our in house financing on pre-owned luxury cars. Province test driver Bob McHugh looks at five prestige cars, for those considering the purchase of a semi-luxury vehicle. 2010 Audi S4 Based on the A4 sedan, the new S4 is a perfect example of Audi's lean and athletic new definition of luxury that it calls "progressive luxury." Fast yet fuel frugal, technically advanced yet sensibly priced, the new S4 is a sophisticated high-performance sedan. A start price of $52,500 is almost $20,000 below its predecessor and the new S4 has a more refined powertrain that allows it reach 100 km/hour in about five seconds. 2010 Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon The CTS Sport Wagon is the first (production) station wagon ever made by Cadillac. That alone has got to give it some collector status, but there are lots of other reasons why you might consider this luxury class wagon. Its styling is distinctive and edgy plus its performance and rear-wheel driving dynamics have made the CTS sedan a formidable adversary for the very best European sport sedans. The Sport Wagon essentially doubles the cargo capacity of the sedan. 2010 Lexus HS 250h The new Lexus HS 250h is currently the only dedicated full-hybrid sedan in the luxury-class market segment. While first and foremost the HS 250h is a luxury car, Lexus minimizes its environmental impact on the planet by using ecologically advanced materials, eliminating waste during the manufacturing process and achieving outstanding fuel economy performance. Two trim levels of the HS 250h are offered, Premium has a base suggested retail price of $39,900 and an Ultra Premium trim starts at $48,750. A 5.6 L/100km city fuel consumption rating is 50 per cent or better than most of its luxury car competitors. 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Sedan One of the all-time great luxury class sedans, the E-Class is no longer the biggest or best-selling car made by Mer-cedes-Benz, yet it's still considered a cornerstone model of the brand. New Canadian pricing starts the E-Class at $62,900, which is $11,600 less than its 2009 counterpart, plus it now offers more. A silky smooth long-distance driving delight, the redesigned E-Class has an all-new "intelligent" body structure, which provides up to 30 per cent greater rigidity. New technology features abound, improved power and fuel efficiency, a newly-developed suspension and new safety features. 2010 Porsche Panamera Panamera is the first all-new Porsche in seven years and surprise, surprise it's a four-door, four-passenger sedan. More accurately, it's a very unique luxury sports sedan with a lightweight body made with boron steel, aluminum, magnesium and composites. Low and aerodynamic, the Panamera looks like a four-door 911 and has an exquisite interior that offers full-bucket seating for all four occupants. Power comes from a twin-turbo, 4.8-litre V8 engine that can produce 500 horsepower and comes with an auto-stop system (similar to a hybrid) that saves fuel.


	Mar 26, 2010 Big changes for Mercedes S Class
	Come experience the Flagship of Mercedes, the luxury S Class sedans and coupes at AsankaCars.Com in Sarasota Florida. New reports on the possibility of big shakeups in the Mercedes-Benz S-Class lineup are beginning to break loose, and our sleuths have laid down the digital shoe leather to bring you the latest inside news: there's a new direct-injection BiTurbo V-8 engine coming to the S-Class, and an all-hybrid take is also being seriously considered. The best part: it all starts with the 2011 model. It's still not yet 100 percent that the S-Class will go all-hybrid, though that's definitely a "strong consideration" according to a Mercedes-Benz spokesman. What is certain, however, is that the current 5.5-liter naturally-aspirated, 382-horsepower S550 will get a new direct-injection, twin-turbocharged V-8 engine from the MoVe family of engines. The new V-8 S-Class will be officially unveiled in about six weeks. The CL-Class is due for a facelift later this year (spy shots and info here), and will also get the new BiTurbo V-8 engine among other upgrades. Currently the S-Class lineup consists of the S400 Hybrid, the S550, the V-12-powered S600 and the S63 and S65 AMG cars. Boosting the S550 to a direct-injected twin-turbo (or in Mercedes-speak, BiTurbo) V-8, and presumably something more like 450 horsepower, narrows the gap to the S600, perhaps indicating further ripples through the S-Class pond are yet to come. Right now the S-Class is poised at the middle of its product lifecycle, so updates to the line are more likely to be evolutionary than revolutionary. That said, there's already a hybrid system in the S400 Hybrid--though that's packaged with the smaller and less-powerful 3.5-liter V-6 engine for a combined output of 295 horsepower. With the impending strict fuel economy standards starting from 2012, however, it may make sense to find a way to stick a hybrid into the entire range. Whatever happens, we'll bring you the latest as we dig it up.


	Mar 25, 2010 AND YOU THOUGHT YOUR CAR WAS EXPENSIVE TO FIX! TOP 10 MOST EXPENSIVE CAR ACCIDENTS
	Supercar crash: 10 most expensive luxury car accidents A driver crashed a £528,000 supercar after spinning out of control on a test run down a country lane near Aberdeen, leaving an expensive insurance bill. Here are some other expensive crashes involving luxury cars. AsankaCars.Com Sarasota, Florida specializing in wholesale luxury cars to the public. Home of In House Financing for luxury cars. The Aberdeen crash could leave a final bill of more than £300,000 once all the repairs are completed, insurers said. Photo: PA The car has now been sent for repair to Modena in Italy, where the vehicles are made. Photo: JEFF GILBERT 1 Ferrari 1962-64 250 GTO: £19 million. The car’s British owner, who has never been named, was participating in an historic car race when he crashed into the back of another car in slow traffic. He had bought the car at auction in 2008 for $28.5 million. 2 Ferrari 250 GT Spyder: £6.7 million. The 1961 car was bought at auction in 2008 for $10 million. But the unfortunate owner, who has not been named, stored the car near a Californian beach and it was wrecked in a hurricane. 3 1959 Ferrari 250 GT TDF: £1.1 million. The unnamed owner of this $1.65 million car, nicknamed "Tour de France" crashed into a wall during the Shell Ferrari-Maserati Historic Challenge in 2003 at the infamous Lime Rock race track in, Connecticut, United States. 4 Ferrari Enzo: £1 million. Swedish businessman Bo Stefan "Fat Steven" Eriksson was involved in the spectacular accident in 2006, when he lost control of his $1.5 million Ferrari at 196mph on the Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu and crashed into a pole. He later pleaded no contest to a drunken driving charge in connection with the crash and embezzling two other fancy cars and illegally possessing a gun. At the crash site, Eriksson claimed he had been a passenger in the Ferrari and that a German he knew only as "Dietrich" was driving the car, but had fled into the hills. He was deported back to Sweden in 2008. It was one 20 crashes involving the same make of car, one of about 400 ever made. 5 Jaguar XJ220: £900,000. The unnamed owner crashed this car at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, the world's biggest historic motorsport event. The front bonnet crumpled in the crash. 6 Bugatti Veyron: £830,000. Away Soni, 39, was driving his older brother’s rare car at 100mph in the pouring rain along a 40mph stretch of the B375 near Chertsey, Surrey in March 2007. He collided into a Vauxhall Astra, whose driver was seven-months pregnant woman and had just returned from hospital after tests, before crashing into a three feet bank. His millionaire brother, Kumar Soni, 41, from Shepperton, Surrey, who had only had the car for about a week after waiting a year for its delivery, had planned to rent out the car as a £20,000 “driving experience”. The car is one of the world's most expensive and fastest street-legal vehicles with just over 100 built from the 300 planned productions. 7 Pagani Zonda: £669,000. The car’s owner crashed his vehicle in Hong Kong in December last year when an out of control truck forced him into a row of parked cars. He had been driving back from racing track event. Just over 100 of the cars were ever produced of the car. A similar car was involved in a crash in the Asian city several years ago. 8 McLaren F1: £640,000. Rowan Atkinson, the actor, in October 1999 crashed his 240mph machine, one of the fastest production cars in the world at the time. The former star of Blackadder and Mr Bean collided with the rear of a Metro driven by Margaret Greenhalgh, 62, as he was driving north on the A6 near Lancaster, Lancs. The impact tore off the McLaren's bonnet and front wing, while the £1,000 Metro suffered a dent to the rear sill. The comedian was unhurt while Mrs Greenhalgh was treated for whiplash injuries. The actor “greatly regretted” the accident but was never charged. “The prang was embarrassingly low-speed and therefore not related to my handling of the car, thank God. I was very, very lucky,” he said in an interview with The Observer in 2003. 9 Pagani Zonda S: £528,000. The unnamed driver crashed the supercar after spinning out of control on a test run down a country lane near Aberdeen. The final insurance bill could be more than £300,000 once all the repairs are completed, Aviva said, making it one of the highest ever payouts in the UK. 10 Mercedes Benz SL 300: £500,000. One unnamed owner was involved in a crash with a Seattle council landscape truck, which had the name “impact landscaping” on the side.


	Mar 25, 2010 MARCH MADNESS BLOWOUT NOW THROUGH THE END OF THE MONTH! EVERY CAR HAS BEEN REDUCED $1000!
	Come and see our March Madness Blowout to make room for new inventory!!! Every car has been reduced by $1000 and still comes with warranty! Only at AsankaCars.Com in Sarasota, Florida will you find these crazy prices on a pre-owned luxury car WITH WARRANTY INCLUDED! Remember, we ship nationwide and pass on our wholesale shipping prices directly to you. Why buy new when you can purchase a luxury car at a fraction of the new sticker price and have the piece of mind of a warranty included?


	Mar 25, 2010 ARE ONLY REAR WHEEL DRIVE REAL LUXURY CARS?
	Come enjoy the BMW experience at AsankaCars.Com in Sarasota, Florida specializing in wholesale pre-owned luxury vehicles. When BMW AG Chairman Norbert Reithofer declared last week that his company would start making front-wheel-drive BMWs, there were screams from Stuttgart to Sacramento. BMW, after all, had built the Ultimate Driving Machine franchise on rear-wheel-drive cars. Now Mr. Reithofer appears to be chipping away at what made luxury cars so luxurious. Auto enthusiasts—including many automotive designers and engineering executives, as well as wealthy car buyers—generally prefer cars to have the driving wheels in the back. It makes a difference in the way a car handles and steers. That difference is instantly recognizable but hard to define. A rear-drive car is "livelier, it's more direct-connected to the road," says Dave Leone, global vehicle chief engineer for General Motors Co.'s rear-wheel-drive and performance cars, including the Cadillac CTS, Chevrolet Camaro and Chevrolet Corvette. Mr. Reithofer's challenge is fueling the debate over what makes a luxury car special. It's a question that luxury-car buyers and luxury-car brands have been struggling with ever since volatile oil prices and environmental regulators began pressing car makers to evolve away from the "bigger is better" approach to marketing premium vehicles. The advantages of front-wheel drive are mainly practical. Because the drive train, engine and steering gear are all packaged together under the hood, it's easier to give more space to passengers or cargo inside. Front-wheel-drive cars are usually better in snow, because the engine weight is located over the driving wheels. And they typically get better fuel economy and thus emit less carbon dioxide than similar-sized rear-drive vehicles—although today's rear-wheel-drive cars are closing the gap. Still, front-wheel-drive cars suffer from being pegged as relatively unexciting to drive. Driven hard into a curve, they tend to plow sideways. They can also be susceptible to annoying "torque steer," which occurs when unequal amounts of power are sent to the left and right front wheels, causing the car to lurch in one direction or the other. The success of BMW and Mercedes-Benz over the past 30 years helped burnish the idea that true premium cars were driven by their back tires. In 2002, after years of losing market share with front-wheel-drive models, Cadillac relaunched itself with a new rear-wheel-drive car, the CTS, to compete with the BMW 3 series. "For the last 60 years we have defined performance as the number of cylinders and cubic capacity," says Ian Robertson, BMW's global head of sales and marketing. Eight cylinders and five liters was better than four cylinders and two liters. In the future, Mr. Robertson says, what makes a "premium" car will be equated with technology. "The number of cylinders will not be irrelevant," he says. "But we are moving toward that." To survive in this new world, he says, BMW must build more small models without breaking the bank. Purists won't like it, but that means sharing the front-wheel-drive systems of future Mini models with future subcompact BMW models. Japanese luxury brands have been divided on the issue. Honda Motor Co.'s Acura brand launched with a front-wheel-drive flagship car, the Legend, and derived most of its other cars from front-wheel-drive chassis. More recently, Acura has promoted all-wheel drive, which resolves the debate by asking a different question: Wouldn't you rather have driving power from all four tires? Toyota Motor Corp.'s Lexus brand has both rear-wheel and front-wheel-drive cars—the former aimed at potential BMW customers, the latter more at defectors from Detroit. Nissan Motor Co.'s Infiniti brand revived itself in the past decade with a performance-oriented, rear-wheel-drive strategy represented by the Infiniti G37. The financial crisis, the 2008 oil-price shock and the resurgence of social and governmental concern about the amount of oil cars burn and the carbon they emit is now forcing another rethink. To comply with the tough new greenhouse-gas and fuel-economy rules in the U.S. and Europe, car makers need to build smaller models that both sip fuel and make money. "It's a different world," says Jim Hall, an automotive-industry consultant. BMW is getting some help from its rivals as it moves away from rear-wheel-drive fundamentalism. Volkswagen AG's Audi brand, which has long sold mainly front-wheel and all-wheel-drive cars, has worked to make front-wheel drive more appealing by moving the engines closer to the front axle, designing more-sophisticated suspensions and engine mounts to manage torque steer, and using systems such as stability control to make cars less apt to plow through curves. Cadillac switched its SRX sport-utility vehicle to a front-wheel/all-wheel-drive chassis from a rear-drive setup—and sales of the model took off. The old SRX got three awards from the car-enthusiast magazine Car and Driver, says GM's Mr. Leone, but real customers appear to like the new model much better. Now, Cadillac is showing a prototype for a front-wheel-drive midsize car called the XTS, which would appeal to consumers who value comfort over speed. Rear-wheel drive may not even be that important for some of BMW's new customers. Mr. Reithofer told analysts last week that BMW had a survey that found 80% of the customers for the BMW compact 1 series, which in Europe is sold mainly with four-cylinder engines, didn't know it was a rear-wheel drive car. Mr. Hall, the consultant, says the truth is that most drivers probably can't tell whether they are driving one kind of car or another. As technology narrows the performance differences, he says, "luxury cars don't have to be defined by which ends drive them."


	Mar 22, 2010 Scientific Proof that women dig men with expensive cars
	Wholesale to the public specializing in affordible luxury cars...AsankaCars.Com in Sarasota Florida with in house financing on luxury vehicles. We put all other news on hold to bring you this groundbreaking report: Apparently, having an expensive car makes men more attractive to women. In other automotive news, hurling a bowling ball at your windshield could result in damage. Seriously, the British Journal of Psychology took the time to conduct a study of what every guy who has ever picked up a date in a Toyota Corolla already knows: Women will find you more attractive with a pricey car. The study "manipulated status" by showing the same model with identical facial expressions in either a "high status" car (such as a Bentley Continental GT) or a "neutral status" car (such as a Ford Fiesta). Participants then gave each model a rating on a scale of 1 to 10, and female participants rated models in the high-status vehicles as significantly more attractive. Men, on the other hand, are apparently as shallow as everyone says they are and concerned strictly with physical appearance. The status of the vehicle that the female models were in made absolutely no difference to that woman's attractiveness rating. When it came to status symbol cars, "Males," the study said, "unlike females, remain oblivious to such cues."


	Mar 22, 2010 BMW to equip police cars in US
	AsankaCars.Com Sarasota Florida specializing in affordible luxury automobiles wholesale to the public The contract with BMW calls for the delivery of more than 240,000 six-cylinder commonrail diesel engines, automatic transmissions and low-emissions exhaust systems. “The German powertrains will help US police forces reduce fuel consumption and carbon emissions by 40 percent,” said BMW sales director, Ian Robertson. The components will be built for a new police squad car called the “E-7″, which is being exclusively developed by Carbon Motors for US and Canadian police forces. BMW said the engine for the car would be its three-liter, six-cylinder turbodiesel produced in Steyr, Austria. The Bavarian automaker also emphasized that the engine would use 40 percent less fuel. No roll-out date has been set for the vehicle, which will feature advanced video surveillance equipment and ballistic protection, but Carbon Motors CEO Santana Li said more than 12,500 cars had already been ordered. BMW has been working for some time to expand its components business and the order comes at just the right time. The standard US “cop car” of the past 20 years, the Ford Crown Victoria, will no longer be built starting next year. But the competition is not asleep either. Ford is developing a new vehicle called the Police Interceptor, General Motors is selling a special version of its Chevrolet Caprice and Chrysler is offering the Dodge Charger. The effort is worth it. US police forces drive a fleet of 450,000 vehicles, 75,000 of which need to be replaced very year.


	Mar 17, 2010 WILL THE MAYBACH SURVIVE?
	Mercedes-Benz could be killing off its Maybach luxury car brand By Michael Taylor 17th March 2010 Mercedes-Benz could be about to admit defeat in the super-luxury battle by killing off Maybach. Even as the paint is still drying on Rolls-Royce’s new Ghost and Bentley’s new Mulsanne, a senior Daimler executive recently raised the possibility that its Maybach brand may be ‘abandoned’. Daimler’s Vice-President of Design, Gordon Wagener, admitted that his department had not yet been asked to sketch design ideas for a new Maybach. ‘We have not started to design its replacement, if that’s what you are asking me,’ said Wagener. ‘That’s because we (the board) have not finally decided on how to continue that brand. We could continue with the car we have or create additional cars or even abandon that brand, but we have not made that decision.’ While rumours about Maybach’s future have circulated for months in the face of poor Daimler financial results, it is the first time a Daimler board member has brought up the possibility that it could walk away from its flagship brand. Even if Wagener’s team were to begin sketching work tomorrow, normal design timelines would not put a replacement for the current car into production until at least early 2014. Given that the current Maybach 57 (evo review here) and the longer 62 went on sale in 2002, it’s hard to see buyers maintaining interest in the same model for 12 years – especially when its sales have suffered a serious decline since the global financial crisis. Maybach has become something of an embarrassment in Stuttgart, and has never reached the heights expected of it. The brand was revived in response to a flurry of luxury car launches from its German rivals, with Bentley falling into the Volkswagen Group’s hands and BMW taking Rolls-Royce. Rushed into production, the Maybach was clearly a long-wheelbase version of the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, but each car took up to seven months to build and cost around three times as much money. The twin-turbo V12 limo arrived with two wheelbases, but its sales have never risen to sustainable levels and it is widely considered to be such a disaster that it’s not even considered a rival by Rolls-Royce for its Ghost and Phantom or Bentley for its Mulsanne.


	Mar 17, 2010 GERMAN LUXURY CAR DEMAND STILL HIGH
	Coming out of a major recession, one might think that German luxury-car makers would still be smarting. But the lesson of BMW and Audi is that luxury still makes money, and the makers of low-priced cars will face a tough market for several more years. Low-priced cars always come with lower profit margins than luxury vehicles, so they have to sell in volume to be successful. Meanwhile, BMW has to sell fewer 7 Series sedans to turn a buck, or a euro. The 7 Series saw a 36% surge in sales in 2009 to become one of the German automaker's most profitable vehicles. BMW finished strong in 2009, returning to profitability in the fourth quarter and generating a net profit of $286 million — well beyond analysts' predictions. Volkswagen didn't have quite as good a year, but its luxury brand Audi was responsible for almost all of the company's operating profit in 2009. All of Volkswagen's volume brands had to fight to break even. Now luxury brands are focused on emerging markets such as China and Brazil, jockeying to sell expensive cars to upwardly mobile customers. GOOD REASON TO BUY A LUXURY CAR PRE-OWNED AND LET SOMEONE ELSE TAKE THE HIT ON DEPRECIATION!! When you buy a pre-owned luxury car through AsankaCars.Com in Sarasota, Florida, you get a pristine car at a fraction of the original sticker price with a warranty included......essentialy all of the perks of a new car without the high price!


	Mar 17, 2010 BMW TO MAKE HEADWAY INTO SMALL CAR MARKET
	BMW accelerates into small car market By Daniel Schäfer in Munich Published: March 17 2010 15:02 \| Last updated: March 17 2010 15:02 BMW on Wednesday announced a strong push into the small car segment, as the premium carmaker sought to brush off fears that the shift towards compact cars would lead to an erosion of its profitability. Norbert Reithofer, chief executive, said BMW was developing a modular platform for small cars. The front-drive architecture, set to be launched in 2014, would enable the carmaker to expand its Mini range and bring small BMW models to the market. “The smaller segments of the premium market are set to grow by 4-6 per cent each year until 2020. But there are only a few models on the market, so we want to further push into that segment,” Mr Reithofer said. The move underscored how premium carmakers are forced to catch up with rapidly changing demand patterns in their industry. Customers in the developed countries have started to turn their back on large gas-guzzling sedans. Audi, on a quest to overtake BMW as the world’s largest premium carmaker by sales, is expanding into the small car segment with its A1 model launched this month. Mr Reithofer said BMW would think about sports cars and a model below its currently smallest 1 series compact car. Such BMW front-drive cars would come close to a revolution for the German carmaker, which had always been a fervent defender of rear-drive cars. The premium carmaker’s foray into the small car segment spurred fears that its medium-term profitability could suffer. Small cars usually have lower margins. Analysts have also warned that premium carmakers such as BMW and Daimler lack the scale to make profitable small cars. But Mr Reithofer countered that the new platform would enable BMW to achieve its profitability aims in the small car segment, and that it could increase the scale further by sharing the platform with other carmakers. “We will have to ask the question: What can we do on our own to create economies of scale? Once we have built our own modular platforms, we can approach others and ask them to participate,” he said. Rival Daimler is in talks with French carmaker Renault about shared small car platforms, other joint projects and even a possible cross-shareholding. BMW, which aims for a 8-10 per cent operating profit margin by 2012, recently extended its co-operation with French volume carmaker PSA Peugeot Citroën on 1.6 litre engines. Talks over a platform partnership were abandoned at an early stage last year, but could be revived once the front-drive platform exists. “We will surely talk first to those we already have a partnership with,” Klaus Draeger, head of development, told the Financial Times. Mr Draeger said the front-drive platform could reach a scale of 600,000 to 800,000 cars in the future, even without sharing it with another carmaker.


	Mar 15, 2010 SABB-SPYKER TO BUILD SUPERCAR
	Last December, Spyker CEO Victor Muller spoke about his affection for the Saab Aero X concept, a futuristic yet definitively Saab design with a 400-horsepower, ethanol-drinking heart and all-wheel drive. Now, rumors on the Internet hint that a Spyker C8 Aileron-based Aero X may see limited production. In an interview with AOL during Spyker's not-then-complete purchase negotiations of Saab in December, Spyker CEO Victor Muller said the Aero X "deserves to be built," because of its purity of design. If rumors circulating the Web today prove true, Muller and the new Saab-Spyker Automobiles may already be planning a version of the car based on Spyker's existing C8 Aileron. In almost polar-opposite design premise, the C8 Aileron is an agglomeration of go-fast parts and appearances that jars the eye into submission, rather than coaxing it into admiration like the Aero X. But its power, weight, and size all lend the platform to use as a basis for underpinnings worthy of hanging the attractive Aero X skin over. According to Autoblog.it, the plans for the car include assembly at Spyker's recently relocated lines in Coventry, England. Beyond that, little is even speculated about the possible Saab-Spyker Aero X. The concept car, shown originally at the 2006 Geneva Motor Show, was powered by a 400-horsepower ethanol-burning twin-turbo V-6 mill, with all-wheel drive laying the power to the ground. Unlike the 400-horsepower, mid-engine C8 Aileron, however, the Aero X's design is clearly a front-engine layout. How that might work into the mix is not clear, though it would require a substantial redesign of either the Aero X or the C8 Aileron platform to accomodate the mash-up. Saab Aero X Concept Enlarge Photo One common theme between the two cars is their aeronautically-inspired design themes. The Aileron is named, and designed, after the functional parts of an airplane. The Aero X features a pillarless, door-less cockpit canopy inspired by fighter jets. Whether there's any merit to the rumors remains to be seen, as the still-struggling Saab-Spyker works to turn out its 9-5 sedan, 9-4X crossover and, eventually, a new 9-3. Might Muller see an Aero X supercar as a halo draw for the new brand to help drive sales? Or is it a project to be undertaken once Saab is on firmer footing, crowning the return of the brand to its design roots? Only time will tell, but in the mean time, you be the judge--is a C8 Aileron-based Saab Aero X a good idea? Would you prefer a purely new car, built from the ground up? Or is it worth pursuing whatever incarnation of the car proves most realistic? Let us know below.


	Mar 15, 2010 LUXE CAR SALES IN HIGH GEAR
	Luxe car sales in high gear I’m certain I was told there was a recession. Indeed, I’m almost certain the brochure for this most recent economic malaise promised that this recession was different, more egalitarian than any we had suffered since the Great Depression. Even though it was probably in the fine print, I’m pretty sure it stated the über-rich (that would be them) were to be as equally indisposed by the fiscal crisis as the plebeian multitudes (that would be us). American stockbrokers, British bankers and Russian potentates were losing their jobs (and even, my gosh, their fortunes) as rapidly and frequently as us, the great unwashed. It was their comeuppance for having so rigorously and righteously screwed up the world’s financial system and, though many complained it was too long in coming, supposedly, the Great Recession of 2008/2009 had at least delivered a message. Now, I don’t know diddly about economics and I don’t even truthfully understand the nature of the message that was supposedly delivered. But, with the news that Wells Fargo’s CEO John Stumpf was getting a US$21.3-million compensation package for 2009 (while the poor, hard-done-by Goldman Sachs chief had to make do with just nine million smackeroos), I’m not sure anybody was listening. What I do understand is cars, and what is becoming obvious to me is that the luxury car market, especially the rarefied segment above the entry-level Mercedes C-Class/BMW 5 Series/Audi A4, seems to have been affected far less than the segment containing the desultory schlepmobiles the rest of us drive to work each day. For instance, anyone thinking that luxury automakers would throttle back their new model introductions this year are sadly overestimating the dampening effect of this not-so-great recession. It is barely two months into the year and already Audi has introduced a new A8, BMW and Jaguar have, respectively, revamped their 5 Series and XJ, and Aston Martin forayed into uncharted territory with its four-door Rapide, while Rolls-Royce expanded its lineup with the Ghost. A new BMW 760Li has been sprung upon us, Bentley souped up its Continental into a Supersports and Lexus has unveiled a new topline GX 470 SUV. Whew! And that doesn’t even count what’s coming in the short term. Audi, in the midst of perhaps the greatest lineup revamp in luxury segment history, will have me driving its new R8 Spyder in two weeks, Infiniti’s M56 goes even further upscale and there’s an all-new and reputedly even more luxurious BMW X5 on the horizon. And that’s just before April. Some time after that, Hyundai — realizing its experiment in brand extension with the Genesis was not overly ambitious but rather not ambitious enough — will venture even further upscale with the Equus. Double whew! While some brands such as Cadillac (and Porsche to a lesser extent) that depend on the United States for a preponderance of their sales have been hard hit, the sales of many luxury brands are doing surprisingly well. At the press presentation of its new Ghost, Rolls-Royce’s marketing mavens lamented that 2009’s sales were down from the company’s peak of 1,212 units in 2008. But, what was readily apparent to anyone who can read a pie chart was that Rolls’ 2009 sales were all but equal to 2007’s, itself a very profitable 12 months, thank you very much. And Aston Martin’s weeping that sales, despite the addition of the phantasmagorical Rapide, might only hit 6,000 units worldwide — far short of the 8,000 sales once envisioned — sounds like so much sour grapes. Remember, back in 1982, Aston sold less than 50 cars. Yes, that was for the entire year and, yes, it was worldwide sales. If Dr. Ulrich Bez, Aston’s CEO, had known a decade ago he might sell 6,000 units in 2010, he would have wet himself with glee. Closer to home, hardly a month goes by without BMW or Mercedes-Benz Canada (sometimes both) announcing record sales. Sure, a lot of it is the result of cash-on-the-hood leasing deals that might make an ultra-conservative accountant blanch, but, then again, Mercedes Canada isn’t having any trouble selling the new SLS — and its $198,000 price tag is hardly bargain basement. Audi Canada keeps setting benchmarks, its sales seemingly only hindered by the lack of availability of its most popular models. Even previously downtrodden Jaguar is sounding encouraged, recently announcing its first profitable quarter in more than two years, with managing director Mike O’Driscoll predicting a slow, steady return to the heady days of 300,000 Jaguar/Land Rover combined annual worldwide sales. Of course, all that optimism could easily be derailed by another economic aftershock (such as the terrestrial ones being suffered by those poor Chileans), but it appears the fabulously well-to-do — and the auto companies servicing them — have weathered yet another financial crisis without having to resort to driving Toyotas.


	Mar 15, 2010 CHINA HAS BECOME STRONG MARKET FOR LUXURY CARS
	FRANKFURT (Dow Jones)--Luxury car maker Audi AG (NSU.XE) said Monday that global sales rose 20% year-on-year in February to about 75,900 vehicles as a 62% sales rise in China more than offset a 3.3% decline in its home market in Germany. "We are on course for a strong first quarter ... (This is) mainly thanks to our leading position in China and Western Europe," Audi sales chief Peter Schwarzenbauer said in a statement. He noted that the premium brand and key earnings contributor of Volkswagen AG (VOW.XE), Europe's largest auto maker by sales, "is also performing very well in the U.S." Sales in China, including Hong Kong, climbed to 15,108 cars last month compared with 15,647 vehicles in Germany. Audi's two-months sales suggest that China might outpace Germany as the brand's largest single market this year, underscoring a broader geographic shift among auto makers toward Asian growth markets. In January and February, Audi sold 31,906 cars in China, up 86% year-on-year, compared with 27,304 cars in Germany, up 1.7%. Audi previously has said it expects China to become its largest sales region in 2012 or 2013. China proved to be one of the few bright spots for luxury-car makers when demand evaporated in other major markets amid the economic downturn and is now driving the segment's recovery. Audi emerged from last year's industry gloom relatively unscathed and narrowed the gap to its larger premium-brand rivals BMW AG (BMW.XE) and Daimler AG's (DAI) Mercedes-Benz marque last year due mainly to its strong presence in China and a smaller exposure to the troubled U.S. market. Audi ranks third in global luxury-car sales behind BMW and Mercedes-Benz, but it retains a firm grip on the top position in China, which it gained thanks partly to the early market entry of its parent company. Audi plans to launch its A3 hatchback in China this year and aims to ramp up local production as well as expand its dealership network. Audi's sales totaled 43,127 cars in Western Europe last month, up 6% compared with the same period last year. Audi's sales in the U.S. rose 34% on the year to 6,216 cars in February, with sales in the first two months of the year up 36% at 12,726 vehicles. Audi still lags BMW and Mercedes-Benz in terms of U.S. sales. As part of its long-term growth targets, Volkswagen wants to more than triple annual car sales in the U.S. to 1 million a year by 2018, with the Audi brand accounting for 200,000 sales.


	Mar 15, 2010 BMW AND VW SALES RISE
	BMW and VW Results Show Money Is Still in Selling Luxury Cars Adrian Moser/Bloomberg News A BMW ActiveHybrid X6 vehicle at the Geneva International Motor Show. By JACK EWING FRANKFURT — The market for luxury cars is recovering, but makers of the lower-priced cars that most people drive could struggle with meager profits for years to come. That was the message to be drawn from earnings reports released by Bayerische Motoren Werke and Volkswagen on Thursday. BMW said that its car division returned to profit in the fourth quarter of 2009, as sales stabilized in established markets and grew in emerging countries like China and Brazil. Soaring demand for higher-priced models like the top-of-line 7 Series contributed to the gains. For the full year, net profit at BMW beat expectations, falling 36 percent to €210 million, or $286 million. Analysts surveyed by Reuters had on average forecast a profit of €174 million. Sales fell 4.7 percent to €50.7 billion. Volkswagen also reported a profit for the year and record sales, confirming numbers first released early this month. But a closer look showed that its premium Audi unit accounted for almost all the operating profit of €1.9 billion, which was a 71 percent decline from 2008. Audi last week reported an operating profit €1.6 billion. That means Volkswagen’s volume brands, which also include Skodas from the Czech Republic and SEAT cars made in Spain, barely broke even, according to Ferdinand Dudenhöffer, director of the Center for Automotive Research at the University of Duisburg-Essen in Germany. “VW Group profit is based almost exclusively on the strength of Audi,” Mr. Dudenhöffer wrote in an analysis of the carmaker’s results. “VW Group’s volume brands are headed for a new cost problem.” If Volkswagen is racking up record unit sales but barely making money on small cars, the road to recovery looks longer than ever for other mass-market carmakers like General Motors and its Opel/Vauxhall unit, or Renault, both of which lost billions in 2009. The Volkswagen results are especially bad news for carmakers because the company, based in Wolfsburg, Germany, was considered among the healthiest in the industry, with strong market share in fast-growing developing countries and a broad portfolio of products, including 75 new or improved models last year alone. “Among the European carmakers Volkswagen is certainly the best-positioned globally,” said Georg Stürzer, an analyst at UniCredit in Munich. Including all its brands, Volkswagen sold more than 6.3 million cars and trucks in 2009, a 1.3 percent increase. But the value of those sales fell. Revenue at Volkswagen declined 7.6 percent to €105.2 billion, the company said. “We have to continue to work hard on our cost structures,” Hans Dieter Pötsch, the chief financial officer at Volkswagen, acknowledged in a statement. Few automakers are as strong in China or other emerging countries as Volkswagen, where car sales are expected to grow much faster than in Western Europe. VW sales in China soared 37 percent in 2009 to 1.4 million vehicles, more than VW sold in Germany. Sales abroad will help VW offset weak profit and underutilized assembly lines at home, Mr. Stürzer said, but “the others will not be able to do that.” Volkswagen said it expected to increase profit this year from last year, but warned that sales would not recover to 2007 levels until 2012. BMW is also turning to emerging markets for growth. It said sales in China grew 38 percent in 2009 and doubled in Brazil. Unit sales fell 20 percent in the United States last year, but BMW said that sales had already picked up this year. Particularly striking was the surge in sales of BMW’s most expensive cars. The 7 Series, which starts at €79,000 and tops out at more than €145,000 for a limousine version including rear seats with built-in massage, booked a 36 percent increase in sales to 52,680 cars. The X6 four-wheel-drive car and Z4 sports car also generated big sales increases, BMW said. Its car division, which also makes Rolls-Royces and Mini small cars, was unprofitable for the first nine months of 2009, but returned to an operating profit of €93 million in the final quarter, BMW said. The company remained profitable overall during 2009 because of earnings from its financial services and motorcycle units. “We performed well in 2009 despite difficult market conditions worldwide,” Norbert Reithofer, the automaker’s chief executive, said in statement. BMW came through the financial crisis better than rivals like Daimler, the maker of Mercedes cars, because it cut manufacturing capacity early in 2008 and did not build up large inventories of unsold vehicles. The company has said that it expected sales to improve later this year as it rolled out new models like the redesigned BMW 5 Series and four-wheel-drive Mini Countryman. BMW said Tuesday that unit sales of all its automobile brands rose 14 percent in February from a year earlier, to 92,000 vehicles. In 2009, BMW sold almost 1.3 million cars including the Mini and Rolls-Royce, a 10.4 percent decline from 2008. The company said it would pay an unchanged dividend of 30 cents for every common share and 32 cents for preferred shares. BMW shares rose 1 percent in Frankfurt trading, while Volkswagen’s preferred shares rose 3 percent after the company said it would not sell as much new stock to finance acquisitions as investors had feared.


	Mar 9, 2010 VERY IMPORTANT-CARS CAN TURN INTO OVENS IN A MATTER OF MINUTES!
	FORT MYERS, Fla. - Tuesday morning, a medical examiner performed an autopsy on 17 month old Payton McKinnon, who died Monday when her father accidentally left his in a hot car. No word on when those results will be released. We found it doesn't even have to be sunny and hot for a car to turn into an oven. When we put a thermometer inside a car around noon, it read 70 degrees. Just 3 hours later, it was over 100. "They're just such good people, they're always watching," the McKinnons' neighbor Susan Wright said trying to understand how the unthinkable could have happened to parents like Reginald and Julia McKinnon. But Pediatrician Dr. Annette MacKoul says in today's always-rushed society, this nightmare can happen to the best of parents. "In the first 10 minutes in a car, the degree temperature goes up 19 degrees in 10 minutes, and in the first hour, 40 degrees," MacKoul said. "So that increase is tremendous." Fort Myers Police say Monday morning, Reginald McKinnon of Cape Coral took his daughter Payton for a doctor's appointment. Afterward, he returned to work, forgetting she was still in the S.U.V. The warm temperatures proved too much, and the small child died. Dr. MacKoul says little things like checking your car every time you get out, always locking it, even inside the garage, and having your children drink plenty of fluids can prevent a tragedy. "A lot of times, parents don't realize that they're more worried about their child when they are sick having a fever and getting the temperature too high causing brain damage, where in essence, the biggest cause of brain damage we see are children who have external heat injuries, where their temperature goes up because of their environment," MacKoul said. Some other recommendations: keep a large toy or stuffed animal in the car seat, and when the child is in the car seat, bring the animal up front. Or, just leave your purse or briefcase in the back seat so you'll never leave without checking. Remember that this doesn't just happen in Florida, we here at AsankaCars want to remind everyone of the dangers of rising temperatures in a closed vehicle for children and pets alike. The State Attorney's office and Fort Myers Police will decide whether or not to file charges.


	Mar 9, 2010 AUDI PREDICTS STRONG LUXURY CAR SALES FOR 2010
	INGOLSTADT, Germany—Volkswagen AG's Audi AG unit Tuesday said net profit slumped 40% in 2009 as demand for luxury cars waned amid the economic downturn, but the premium brand is gearing up for a speedy recovery as it aims this year to sell more than a million cars. "We...plan to deliver over one million Audi vehicles to customers as early as this year, with significantly higher revenue and operating profit than in 2009," Audi Chief Financial Officer Axel Strotbek said in a statement. Axel Strotbek, chief financial officer of Audi AG, held an Apple iPhone which displayed the Audi application for the handset during the company's full year earnings press conference in Ingolstadt, Germany on Tuesday. Audi's net profit last year fell to €1.3 billion ($1.77 billion) from €2.18 billion in 2008, while revenue dropped 13% to €29.8 billion from €34.2 billion. Operating profit declined 42% to €1.6 billion from €2.77 billion as unfavorable currency fluctuations, mainly related to sterling and the Russian ruble, added fuel to the fire. Its operating margin shrank to 5.4% from 8.1% in 2008, and the return on capital to 11.5% from 19.8%. Premium auto makers were battered during the economic downturn as demand for luxury cars contracted sharply. But Audi emerged relatively unscathed from the industry gloom, due partly to its large presence in the fast-growing China market and a relatively small exposure to the ailing U.S. market. Audi Monday reported a 20% global sales rise in February to about 75,900 vehicles as a 62% sales jump in China more than offset a 3.3% decline in its home market in Germany. Sales in China, including Hong Kong, climbed to 15,108 cars last month compared with 15,647 vehicles in Germany. Audi sales chief Peter Schwarzenbauer late Monday said China might outpace Germany as the brand's largest single market this year, underscoring a broader geographic shift among auto makers toward Asian growth markets. In January and February, Audi sold 31,906 cars in China, up 86% year-on-year, compared with 27,304 cars in Germany, up 1.7%. Audi previously has said it expects China to become its largest sales region in 2012 or 2013. The Ingolstadt-based auto maker's global sales this year are expected to be fueled by the Q5 small sports-utility vehicle and the launch of the A1, a small car below the A3 hatchback. Audi is poised to enter the fiercely competitive small-car segment and expects 80% of A1 buyers to be new to the brand. It plans to sell 80,000 A1 cars in the first full year of sales and 100,000 vehicles on average in the following years. Analysts regard the ability to generate profit with small cars, which usually have thinner profit margins than larger cars, as crucial for auto makers in coming years amid a broader consumer trend toward smaller and more fuel-efficient vehicles. Audi ranks No. 3 globally among premium car makers with 949,700 luxury vehicles sold last year. The company narrowed the gap to its German rivals BMW AG, which sold 1.07 million at its core brand, and Daimler AG's Mercedes-Benz nameplate, with 1.01 million vehicle sales in 2009. As part of its parent company's global expansion plan, Audi wants to overtake both BMW and Mercedes-Benz by 2015 and become the world's leading luxury auto maker. At AsankaCars.Com in Sarasota, Florida we always have a beautiful selection of Audi A8's, Mercedes S Class, and BMW 7 Series so you can come in and judge the winner for yourself!


	Mar 9, 2010 GANG OF LUXURY CAR THIEVES BUSTED
	SHARJAH — Sharjah Police have arrested an international gang believed to be behind the theft of more than 400 luxury cars and bringing them into the UAE for re-export to other countries. Brigadier Yousef Musa Al Naqbi, head of Sharjah CID, said the gang was using a registered car trade and spare parts company as a cover-up for their criminal activities. “We have managed to recover from them 32 cars, but this is a small fraction of the cars they had stolen,” he said. “Investigations have linked them to up to 400 missing luxurious cars in Europe.” The cars were recovered after a raid on the company warehouse in the Sharjah Industrial Area. Al Naqbi said all the cars in the warehouse were reported stolen by Interpol. Al Naqbi further said the police found in their possession 200 forged car documents they had used to bring various makes into the country recently. He said though the gang mostly comprised Europeans, a number of Asians were being used as intermediaries or employees. Police have arrested six people in connection with this theft, five of them of Asian origin and a European believed to be the ringleader. During the investigation, police learned the gang had just brought into the country four big containers, each containing three stolen luxury cars. “Based on their confessions, we have arrested them and referred them to the Sharjah Public Prosecution,” he said. “Our next challenge now is to determine how many cars were stolen and brought into the country by this gang and how we can (help) retrieve all of them from the countries to which they have already been exported.” He said that the police were working with Interpol to arrest other gang members from Europe and retrieve the cars. Your luxury car is like your baby and at AsankaCars. Com we offer gps devices to locate your car and ease your mind if your baby ever does get stolen.


	Mar 7, 2010 Mercedes -Benz sales up 13% over the same time last year.
	FRANKFURT (Dow Jones)--German carmaker Daimler AG's (DAI) Mercedes-Benz Cars division said Thursday global sales were up 8.9% on year in February, with the core Mercedes-Benz brand posting a 13% rise. Global sales in the Mercedes-Benz Cars division reached 78,700 cars last month, while the core brand recorded sales of 72,100 vehicles. "This sales result is the basis for strong sales in the first quarter and allows us to expand our market position for the full year," Mercedes-Benz's sales chief, Joachim Schmidt, said in a statement published on the company's Web site. In the first two months of 2010, the Mercedes-Benz division and the core brand saw sales come in at 151,200 and 139,100 cars, up 13% and 18%, respectively. The company said it expects the new-generation Mercedes-Benz E-Class models and rising demand in major markets such as China and the U.S. to foster growth in coming months. In March, Mercedes-Benz will launch the revamped E-Class convertible and the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG. Sales at the Smart minicar brand, however, slumped 24% last month to 6,600 cars and were down 28% in the first two months of the year at 12,100 cars. Here at AsankaCars in Sarasota, Florida we have also seen a rise in luxury auto sales including Mercedes, BMW, Audi, Porsche, Lexus, Jaguar, Acura, Infinity and Corvettes automobiles Web site: www.daimler.com


	Mar 7, 2010 BMW'S NEW 5 SERIES UNVEILED IN GENEVA
	BMW 5 Series makes first show appearance Geneva -- In a world first, BMW unveiled a hybrid version of its new 5-Series sedan at the Swiss auto show. The event was also the first auto show appearance for the 5-Series itself. The hybrid model combines a six-cylinder turbocharged engine, electric motor and an eight-speed automatic transmission. It joins other hybrids -- the X6 and 7-Series in BMW's range -- but it differs in allowing electric-only driving mode. The new 5-Series is being well received, said Peter Miles, executive vice-president of operations at BMW of North America. "It's very dynamic looking -- a strong evolution in design from the previous model -- and appears to be moving even when static," he noted. Although the 3-Series is BMW's best-selling model, the 5-Series is very important to the company because its owners are the most loyal, Miles said. The 2011 5-Series is new from the ground up, with fresh powertrains, a larger, more refined interior and many driver aids, such as lane departure warning, heads-up display and night vision. 5- Series buyers can also e-mail Google map instructions to the car before a trip. AsankaCars.Com in Sarasota, Florida is one of the largest sellers of pre-owned BMW in south west Florida....come in and see many of the options featured on this newest future 5 series already available on pre-owned BMW's at a fraction of the original sales price. A model poses next to the BMW 5 Series Tuesday during the first press day at the 80th Geneva International Motor Show. (Miguel Villagran / Getty Images)


	Mar 6, 2010 LUXURY AUTO SALES ON THE RISE
	Wall Street economists, analysts and the media have been focused on the everyday consumer who is more likely to purchase a domestic-made truck or a foreign-manufactured sedan. But it seems the recession may have ended earlier for some as the nucleus of the luxury market – Mercedes – reported another robust month for auto sales. Mercedes-Benz USA said Tuesday that its February auto sales rose 8%. The company reported total auto sales rose to 15,385 vehicles, from 14,199 last year. And, so far for 2010, Mercedes has sold 30,543 cars from 24,632, a rise of 24%. Interestingly, the German auto giant said its GL-Class was the company’s top performer, by posting a 45.5% increase, selling 1,368 units versus 940 last year. The starting list price for a Mercedes GL-Class is $60,000, so consumers seemed willing – and able – to acquire the high-valued item. The uptick in sales of Mercedes-Benz vehicles wasn’t exclusive to the United States, either. Mercedes-Benz Canada reported a record-breaking auto sales total of 2,011 sold in February. The company posted an increase of 28.9% from February of last year, which was the best February ever for the Mercedes-Benz Canada group. Year-to-date, the company has seen its auto sales increase 31%. “We are particularly pleased that our entire product portfolio continues to perform very well with impressive growth on the passenger car side and double-digit sales increases across our entire range of luxury light trucks,” said Marcus Breitschwerdt, President and CEO of Mercedes-Benz Canada, in a statement. “Our products offer unmatched value, while our entire organization and national dealer network remain committed to offering the best ownership experience in the industry as we serve our existing customers and welcome new owners to the Mercedes-Benz family.” And the way the company is going to attract new owners is by designing vehicles that can attract a different clientele: The hybrid car market. Realizing the problems Toyota continues to face, Mercedes-Benz is presenting a vehicle that will challenge the Toyota Prius for hybrid supremacy. Mercedes is launching a diesel hybrid model, the Mercedes-Benz E300 BlueTec Hybrid at this week’s press preview for the Geneva auto show. As bnet.com describes it: “It’s a variant of the Mercedes-Benz mid-sized sedan, the E-Class, and will get almost 60 miles per gallon (or 100 kilometers per 4.1 liters). It is expected to go on sales around the world in late 2011.” The new diesel-electric hybrid is expected to compete with Toyota’s new gasoline-electric hybrid technology that will hit its Lexus luxury division. “We’re driving for victory not only in Formula 1, but also in ‘Formula Green’” were the words of Dr. Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of the Board of Management of Daimler AG. We here at AsankaCars in Sarasota, FL have noticed the same surge in higher end luxury auto sales and do not see a downturn in the near future.


	Mar 3, 2010 NOW ALL VEHICLES AT ASANKACARS INCLUDE A 2 YEAR 30,000 MILE WARRANTY!!
	AT THE REQUEST OF OUR CUSTOMERS ALL VEHICLES AT ASANKACARS NOW INLUDE A 2 YEAR 30,000 MILE WARRANTY THAT COVERS ALL MAJOR COMPONENTS EXCLUDING WEAR AND TEAR ITEMS. NOW YOU CAN HAVE THE PIECE OF MIND THAT YOUR NEW LUXURY CAR IS COVERED!!


	Mar 1, 2010 New Porsche Cayenne body style .....see the pics here first.
	Meet the New Porsche Cayenne By James Rothaar \| 01 March 2010 @ 09:07 am EDT Luxury Cars: There is a new look and a new model in the Porsche family. The family guy's Porsche, that is, the Cayenne, is pulling out all the stops to have the most "ity" of any vehicle in the luxury SUV/crossover class: versatility, agility, and flexibility. It is lighter and sleeker with an elongated hood, new wheel arches, and drawn in flanks. The Cayenne S Hybrid is the new model, joining the fold. The new models, four in all, also feature a reduction in CO2 emissions and better fuel economy. Performance is better, too. However it appears that Porsche is showing its practical side and reaching out to be viewed more as a daily runner than a fire-breathing, asphalt-melting high performance wonder car that seats 2.5 adults ... with condolences to that unfortunate "0.5" stuffed in the backseat. That is not to say the Cayenne carries the Porsche crest lightly. With a top speed in excess of 150 mph, it would add balance and fully complement any of its revving relatives. It is just a tad more practical; that's all. From the back Porsche: Reviews coming in from fans of Porsche's official Facebook page are mixed regarding the new look. You can't please everyone ... so Porsche pleased itself. I want one. How about you? AsankaCars.com in Sarasota, FL always carries a selection of Porsche cars with warranties available at prices the factory dealers can't come close to!


	Feb 23, 2010 A MERCEDES THAT ACTUALLY DRIVES ITSELF!
	Mercedes-Benz's new concept research car, the F800, has a feature that allows the car to drive itself. Oh, we've heard that before, but this is the kind of incremental technology that makes us think that driverless cars are just over the horizon. The car is being shown at the Geneva Motor Show next month. The F800 includes a feature called Distronic Plus Traffic Jam Assistant. The system allows the car to maintain its place while cruising along in a lane and to follow the vehicle in front of it at speeds up to 25 miles per hour -- even through curves. Many luxury cars are able to keep a pre-set distance in front of them without the driver having to work the brake and accelerator. Drivers still have to steer. Not here: The system even recognizes when the car ahead of it is changing lanes and doesn't blindly follow behind. It knows when a curve is really a curve. "The driver can just sit back and relax — with hands on the steering wheel," Mercedes says. When the car's speed starts to creep above 25 mph, it gradually dampens the steering torque and leaves the driving to the driver. The first Distronic proximity-controlled cruise control showed up in the F100 concept in 1991 and made its production debut in the S-Class in 1998. All of our Mercedes at AsankaCars.Com in Sarasota, Florida are top of the line automobiles ordered originally from the Mercedes factory with every possible latest option.....keep posted to see when we receive our first Mercedes that actually drives itself!


	Feb 21, 2010 NEW MERCEDES SLS BRINGS BACK THE GULLWING- RUMOR HAS IT WILL SHOW IN SARASOTA, FL
	Mercedes' timeless coupe built to inspire reverence Gull-wing doors link decades of styling AMG, the division of Daimler AG that’s associated with high performance in Mercedes-Benz automobiles, has produced a drivetrain that launches the SLS to 60 mph in about 3.5 seconds. Close Specifications Model: 2011 Mercedes-Benz SLS 6.3 AMG two-door sports coupe. Engine: 6.3-liter V8, 563 horsepower. Transmission: Seven-speed, twin-clutch automated manual. Overall length: 15 feet, 3 inches. EPA trunk volume: 6 cubic feet. Weight: 3,573 pounds. EPA city/highway fuel consumption: 13/20 miles per gallon (Combined 17.8 mpg). Base price, including destination charge: $200,000 (estimated). Base dealer cost: N/A. Price as tested: $200,000 plus options. Rumor has it that the SLS may be displayed in Sarasota before the nationwide launch. One of the more overused words in the automotive world is icon. Although the word itself simply means an image or a representation, car people take it in a religious sense - as something sacred, like a statue of a saint. Sometimes an automobile is called "iconic," which is more like an unintended insult because it means something that has a conventional, formulaic style. Not so in the car biz. There it means something that is special, even unique, and so desirable as to inspire lust in the hearts of collectors and aficionados. Few cars in the modern history of motor vehicles have had the "iconic" label attached more than the Mercedes-Benz 300SL, a sports coupe with gull-wing doors that was produced for three years in the late 1950s. There's no question that the car was outstanding in its time, though by modern standards it would seem almost tractor-like. That has not prevented collectors from paying many hundreds of thousands of dollars to own one. Now, after half a century, Mercedes-Benz has resurrected the concept with its 2011 SLS AMG gull-wing coupe, a $200,000-plus two-seater that is certain to get the juices flowing among the automotive cognoscenti. In the current parlance, it is a lock to be dubbed countless times as "iconic." Or, perhaps, even "legendary." The new machine, which is about as exciting a ride as you'll find anywhere - on or off a racetrack - was developed entirely by the AMG division of Daimler. Founded 40 years ago, AMG was an independent company that developed high-performance enhancements for Mercedes-Benz vehicles. Now it is part of the company. Although the SLS is all-new and bears no substantive resemblance to the original except for the gull-wing doors, it does have the classic sports car profile of a long hood and short rear deck. With the hood stretching out to the horizon, the driver sits close to the rear wheels and gets a feeling almost of driving from the back seat. Of course, there is no back seat. The SLS is a pure two-seater and, despite its overall length of more than 15 feet, it has a tight cockpit, squeezed by the fat sills necessitated by the gull-wing doors. To get inside, back up, plant the fanny on the wide sill and swing the feet inside. Don't buckle up right away because you have to reach up to pull the door down. It helps to have ape-like arms. A power pull-down was axed because it would have added weight. The SLS, with mostly aluminum construction and a carbon-fiber driveshaft that weighs just 8.8 pounds, checks in at 3,573 pounds. The accommodations are reasonable for most average-sized humans, although if you move the seat bottom way back it forces the seatback into a more vertical position. Power adjustments allow tweaking, and the seats are comfortable with good - even tight - lateral support. As might be expected, interior surroundings have a quality look and feel, although some of the hardware looks as if it came out of the parts bin that supplies other AMG models in the Mercedes lineup. For those with extra bucks to spend, the SLS offers Designo upgraded interior trim. Out of sync with the rest of the interior are two oddly shaped sun visors that are virtually useless in blocking bright sunlight from either the front or side. Christoph Jung, the senior project manager, said they were cadged from the $48,000 Mercedes-Benz SLK. Punch the "start" button and enjoy the aural sensations as the AMG-designed 6.3-liter V8 fires up. It delivers a heady 563 horsepower and gets its power to the rear wheels through a seven-speed, twin-clutch automated manual gearbox, mounted in back with the differential for better balance. Twin-clutch transmissions, with their accompanying computer controls, are uncanny in their capability to snap off quick shifts and, when shifting is done manually, to anticipate whether the driver wants to shift up or down. In addition, the SLS transmission automatically blips the accelerator pedal to match engine revolutions to the selected lower gear. The combination of light weight, brute power and rapid shifts translates into a zero-to-60 acceleration time of about 3.5 seconds. Combine that with adjustable driving modes for street or racetrack and optional carbon ceramic brakes, and you have an exhilarating, balanced sports car that can be flat-cornered around a road-racing track all day. Of course, part of the reason for owning a car like this is to be seen in it, and the SLS is distinctive, especially from the rear. It is so wide - more than 6 feet, 3 inches - that it has a squat, almost distorted look, like a standard TV picture shown on a wide screen. Despite its awesome power, the SLS gets reasonable fuel economy of 13/20 miles to the gallon on the EPA's city/highway cycle. It also can dutifully serve as an everyday driver, docile enough to drive comfortably in heavy traffic. There's even a trunk with 6 cubic feet of space to handle luggage on weekend jaunts.


	Feb 21, 2010 MANY CUSTOMERS TAKING ADVANTAGE OF OUR IN HOUSE DEALER FINANCING
	Today there are many hard working honest people who have been blindsided by the recent economic meltdown including tumbling real estate prices. Historicaly, the real estate market was a place to invest for long term security and guaranteed annual growth. Here at AsankaCars we feel that we have an important oportunity to help our clients own a beautiful luxury car when typical lines of finaning may not be available because of credit issues such as short sales and forclosures. Please call us directly to learn more about our "DEALER PAYMENT PROGRAM". Whether you call it In House Financing, Dealer Financing, or Buy Here Pay Here, we are here to help you out in this difficult economic environment.


	Feb 21, 2010 LUXURY CAR SALES AS STRONG IN 2009 AS IN 2008
	Europe sister publication Automotive News estimates that 600,000 true-luxury cars were sold last year in the United States, about the same number as in 2008. The true-luxury total had dipped 30 percent in 2008. The 2009 leader and new champion was the BMW brand, with 119,219. It was the closest race ever. BMW beat Mercedes-Benz by just 431 units. Mercedes, which had an estimated 118,788 true-luxury sales last year, was the leader in 2006, 2007 and 2008. BMW's 119,219 deliveries meant that 61 percent of its 196,502 sales were in the true-luxury category. Mercedes was a fraction better at 62 percent. BMW and Mercedes finished second and third in the overall luxury segment. Lexus led that group, but 58 percent of Lexus sales were taken by the ES 350, IS 250 and 350 and RX 350 and 450h. All are priced below $45,000.


	Jan 5, 2010 NEW DEALER PAYMENT PROGRAM FOR IN HOUSE DEALER FINANCING
	* *Dealer Payment Program* for luxury vehicles like Mercedes and BMW with approval * Typical downpayment is $3900-$5900 down and $399/month for 24 months tax, tag, and title included and you own the car * Includes 2 year warranty normal wear and tear excluded * Includes towing, lock out service, trip interruption allowance, and free rental Our *Dealer Payment Program* for in house financing or dealer financing (buy here pay here) offers an alternative method of financing on luxury automobiles such as Mercedes and BMW. Cars that qualify for our Dealer Payment Program have a fixed downpayment and fixed low monthly payments for 24 months after which time you own the vehicle. Each vehicle under this program comes with a two year warranty (normal wear and tear excluded), towing, lock out service, trip interruption allowance, and free rental. Please contact our dealerhsip today to find out more about our Dealer Payment Program and how you can be driving a Mercedes or BMW tomorrow!


	Oct 5, 2009 New Auto Sales Tumble Downward as Used Car Sales remain strong
	After the government's Cash For Clunkers program, New car sales drop back to the same low level as before. In the current economic environment, Used car sales are very strong and continue to outpace New car sales as people looking to save money and reinvest in a less expensive automobile. Here at Asanka Cars we have been selling pristine luxury automobiles to people that want to lower their auto expense but still require a luxurious and reliable car. In the Sarasota Florida market, we are still selling as many Mercedes, BMW's, Lexus', etc. as before the economic downturn but they tend to be a few years older and at a more conservitive price point but in the same immaculate condition.


	Oct 5, 2009 Distracted Drivers Kill 6000 people per year
	In West Palm Beach Florida the first Distracted Driving Summit was held by the Department of Transportation addressing the exponential increase in deaths from distracted drivers over the last decade. The leading cause of these fatal accidents is cell phone usage while driving. Other possible Summits are in the works for Sarasota Florida and other areas throughout Florida and the Nation. Here at Asanka Cars we realize the dangers of driving while distracted and strongly discourage the use of cell phones and multi tasking while driving.


	Oct 3, 2009 Luxury Lexus Hybrid to debut in Sarasota
	Rumor has it that Lexus might debut it's new HS 250h luxury hybrid in Sarasota Floida. Lexus has created a new niche in the luxury hybrid division. Asanka Cars has been selling hybrids for some time and we have seen a trend toward customers requesting hybrids in more expensive luxurious vehicles.


	Oct 3, 2009 Favorite car color for 2009
	According to the manufacturers of transportation coatings 25% of all cars sold in the U.S. in 2009 are silver and 35% of cars sold in Europe are silver. We have found at Asanka Cars.Com that we do sell our share of silver vehicles......silver seems to be a color that almost any car looks modern and clean in. We sell everything from Mercedes and BMW's to Corvette's and Mustangs as well as 4 door sedans in silver. The other very popular color for us in Florida and the South East as well as the immediate vecinity of Sarasota is Black....you can never go wrong with a black car, it always looks elegant!


	Sep 30, 2009 Sports Car sales rise for the second month in a row....
	According to Porche, they have seen new sports car sales rise for two months in a row. This is concurent with what we have experienced here at AsankaCars.Com in used sports car sales recently. In the past few months we have delivered a record number of used sports cars such as mustangs, corvettes, porches, mercedes AMG's and BMW M series in the Sarasota, Bradenton, Tampa Bay and Orlando Florida areas. It seems that more people are taking advantage of low finance rates to finally purchase a fun car for additional weekend driving and special occasions.


	Sep 30, 2009 Sarasota Florida pushes electric vehicles
	California and Florida are trying to push electric cars and say that power companies such as FPL will have to prepare for the power that they will pull from the grid hopefully by 2011. AsankaCars.Com has been selling hybrid vehicles for quite some time in the greater Sarasota Florida area but rarely do we get requests for other types of alternative fuel vehicles or used cars.


	Aug 27, 2009 FINANCING FOR ANY CREDIT SCORE...CALL AND ASK FOR MIKE!
	Give Mike a call and ask about the many options that we have for financing for every type of credit. We work with many lending institutions to get you the best terms available. With just a few questions Mike can give you an estimate of down payment and monthly payment or also point you in the direction of cars that might work for your particular circumstance.


	Aug 4, 2009 NEW - LIVE CHAT ONLINE
	If you have a question just ask us on live chat for an immediate answer....it doesn't get easier than that!! Another way that we are always striving to improve our customer service to stay the leader in the business!!


	Aug 3, 2009 HAVE YOU SEEN OUR NEW PROMOTIONS?? FREE NAVIGATION, IPOD, OR TINT WITH THE PURCHASE OF A VEHICLE!!
	With the purchase of any vehicle recieve your choice of either a free navigation, Ipod, or tint!! We have the latest


	Jul 5, 2009 See the new online customer video testemonials on our website!


	Jun 30, 2009 We now have guaranteed financing on vehicles
	In these tough economic times we realize how difficult it can be to secure auto financing with even a decent credit score....that is why we have implemented a new program that enables all of our customers no matter what your credit rating to purchase a vehicle from us with our guaranteed financing. It is our way of helping good people afford exceptional vehicles! CALL 941-727-9666 OR APPLY ONLINE AND GET APPROVED TODAY!


	Mar 3, 2009 AsankaCars.com Gets a New Look!
	AsankaCars.com is proud to show off our new look with an updated website design and user interface. Visitors can now submit video testimonials, get price quotes, apply for financing, order or trade in a car and even a handy payment calculator to help you stay within your budget! As a high volume dealer here in Sarasota Fl our inventory is constantly changing so remember to bookmark our site or register for automatic updates everytime we add a new car to our line up. Thank you Asanka Cars

Home

Inventory

Additional Vehicles

Sold History

Special Order

Trade In

Testimonials

About Us

Links

Parts

Service

Apply For Credit

Sitemap

News

AutoXloo Dealer Management Solutions

2010 ©

Powered By: WebXLoo

Inventory

Why Are Luxury and Sports Brands Going Green? To Survive

Online used car histories provide security blanket

2011 Bentley Continental Supersports Convertible - First Drive Review

The Flying B adds lightness—oh, and horsepower—to its Continental GT convertible.

AsankaCars.Com in Sarasota, Florida is your connection to a super car at wholesale pricing.

2010 BMW 328i Sports Wagon

Scott Burgess: Auto Review

2010 BMW 328i Sports Wagon hauls in luxury

2010 BMW 328i Sports Wagon

Wagon is sporty on the road

Interior wraps you in luxury

New facelifted 2011 Mercedes Benz CL-Class

Bentley likely to pitch a rival to the Porsche Panamera

Report: Porsche Panamera Cabriolet coming soon

BMW Says Revamped 5-Series Sold Out in All Markets

Audi planning to increase production to meet A1 and A8 demand

Hyundai putting owners manuals in cars on Apple iPads

Style and Power, At a Price, for 2010 BMW M3

2011 BMW 335is and Z4 sDrive35is

Video

2011 Mercedes-Benz S350 Bluetec Adds Clean Diesel to S-Class

Sales Lead of Lexus over Mercedes Grows in U.S. Market

Benz Rolls Back Incentives

Lamborghini sees turnaround in 2011

SUPER CAR SALES UP IN 2010!

-- Trader Craig Poler couldn’t hold out any longer. Browsing at the Miller Motorcars dealership in Greenwich, Connecticut, he spotted the $130,000 Aston Martin Vantage Coupe he had been dreaming about for months.

Report: Mercedes-Benz C-Class lineup set to expand in U.S.

Gallery: 2010 Mercedes-Benz C-Class sedan

BMW profits put luxury car sector in the fast lane

Rapier Superlight: Custom-built Sports Car Made in USA Debuts

May 's biggest maker of luxury autos BMW, said sales rose 15 percent in April as the top-end 7-Series sedan and Z4 roadster won customers.

BMW Plans to Offer 5 Series Hybrids, Diesels in U.S. (Update1)

BMW AG’s 5 Series, the automaker’s most profitable car, may be offered in hybrid, diesel and 4-cylinder versions to meet U.S. fuel-economy rules.

2010 Rolls-Royce Ghost: Fusion of technology, strong design

Cars to warn of obstacles and jams, and talk to each other

BMW Paring Incentives Ahead of U.S. Debut for Revamped 5 Series

Bayerische Motoren Werke AG, the maker of BMW, Mini and Rolls-Royce luxury vehicles, is paring incentives as it prepares to sell a revamped version of its most profitable car in the U.S. next month.

BMW Replaces Toyota as Most Valuable Global Car Brand

The Carbon Fiber Diet: 2012 Mercedes-Benz SL to Slim Down

New Electric Car from BMW

ASIAN PREMIERE FOR BUGATTI VEYRON 16.4 GRAND SPORT

Bugatti

AsankaCars.Com in Sarasota, wholesale luxury cars to the public

Fastest Ferrari yet

Hamann releases tuning kit for the BMW E89 Z4

Recall Round Up: Porsche Panamera, BMW X5 M and Volvo XC90

Ferrari announces six new models, including hypercar, to debut before 2013

Related Car News and Reviews

Fiat Plots New Directions for Ferrari and Maserati

A Gran (Coupe) Affair: Surprises from BMW Design Night

BMW Unveils Gran Coupe Sports Concept...Challenges Mercedes-Benz CLS

Mercedes-Benz E-Class L Launched In China

Mercedes Benz exquisite new estate

Benz G-Class to return to UK markets this Autumn

Daimler highlights luxury car recovery

Bentley 2010 Mulsanne, one beast fit for a king

Audi U.S. chief says sales to top 90,000 in 2010

Official:Bentley Mulsanne Is Revealed

Best car: BMW 320d Efficient Dynamics

All-New 2011 BMW 528i Sedan Priced From $45,425

2011 Ford Mustang GT vs. 2010 BMW M3: Tie Game? [w/poll]

Gallery: First Drive: 2011 Ford Mustang GT

Gallery: Review: 2008 BMW M3

Mercedes CLS 63 AMG (2011) scooped again

Daimler sets tough target to keep rivals BMW, Audi at bay

2011 Audi A8 L arrives with 500-hp W12, seating for a king-maker

Gallery: 2011 Audi A8 L

Brabus Tunes the Mercedes-Benz E550 Cabriolet

New York Auto Show: 2011 Mercedes-Benz R-Class

BMW's luxury hatch suits its niche well

550i Gran Turismo offers sophisticated utility

Mercedes-Benz's Q1 sales jump 105% in China

Carmakers join forces in green new world

March sales show luxury cars back in favour

Fast-growing brands

Luxury Segment Changing, Not Slowing Down

At a launch held on 6th April at its luxurious showroom on Salwa Road, Horizon Automobiles Est has announced the signing of an agreement with Lotus Cars Limited to be the exclusive importer of the world-renowned Lotus super sports cars into the Qatari market place.

Lexus overtakes Mercedes-Benz in U.S. luxury vehicles sales

Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3 - Auto Shows