Bavarian maker has unveiled the official details on the station wagon version for the sixth generation 5-series. Of course, there is no news if the new 5-Series Touring will ever be offered on the US market or not.

Later this year, the new model will go on sale with a choice of two straight-six petrol engines as well as a four-cylinder and a six-cylinder diesel. The base version, BMW 523i Touring is powered by a straight-six engine developing a total of 204 bhp, while in the 535i Touring the output is raised to 306 hp.

As for the diesel versions, the 520d Touring is powered by a four-cylinder turbo diesel engine that develops 184 hp and the 530d Touring features a straight six-cylinder diesel with a 245 hp output. All engines are mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission.

The new 5-Series Touring will offer a long list of features: BMW Connected Drive comprises, inter alia, a Parking Assistant, Surround View, collision warning with brake activation in conjunction with Active Cruise Control, Lane Change Warning, Lane Departure Warning, Speed Limit Info, High-beam Assistant, BMW Night Vision with detection of persons as well as Head-up Display.

Auto 2011: 2011 BMW 5-Series Touring is a post from: Auto Source Media

Lexus’ new supercar, the race-bred engine, is the heart of Lexus and off-limits to the rest of the model range. And according to ex-F1 engine designer, Takamitsu Okamoto, that’s the official line from the powerplant’s designer.

According to Okamoto, whose portfolio includes engines of the Le Mans Group C prototypes, Group B rally cars, CART turbo V8s and F1, the hand-assembled V10 is simply too expensive to be used in other Lexus models.

Yamaha, the motorcycle specialist, has assembled the compact race-style dry-sumped V10 and features a block that is cast and machined by Toyota’s own F1 operation in Toyota City in Nagoya, Japan.

Design of the engine places oil, water and scavenger pumps at the rear of the engine for compactness while the power steering and aircon units like ancillaries are mounted low on the front of the power unit to allow servicing.

The engine V10 is smaller than the V8 used in Lexus’ only other dedicated performance model, the IS F, says Okamoto, and also added that it is more expensive to build.

Lexus engine’s internal use includes titanium rods and valves, and forged alloy slipper style pistons. The engine’s rocker covers are magnesium and the headers are works of art in stainless steel.

Instead of steel or alloy cylinder liners, the V10 takes a leaf out of motorcycle engineering text books and uses a ‘thermal sprayed’ cylinder coating.

The F1 engine inspired the new LFA powerplant has the potential to rev significantly higher than its current 9000rpm limit save for the “heavy” variable valve timing hardware, Okamoto says.

THE engine would likely feature fixed cam timing in a race application, which would dispense with the mechanism.

Its peak torque is substantial at 483 Nm, though not in the league of cars like Benz’s new SLS. And according to Okamoto, the torque could be boosted if the engine was used in an application that demanded it.

New Toyota boss Akio Toyoda’s patronage, and his belief that the LFA is a halo car Lexus needs, appears to have been crucial to the car’s fortunes. Lexus insiders suggest even over a short two-year life span its money well spent, despite the high cost.

Auto Engine: V10 off-limits for time being is a post from: Auto Source Media

Despite industry pressures to create more economical engines, Mazda intends keeping its rotary engine on the boil.

According to the company executive, the relatively thirsty powerplant will remain at the “technology core of the Mazda brand”.

Mazda’s Director and Senior Managing Executive Officer, Masazumi Wakayama said the rotary will continue to be the Mazda’s symbol in the future.

Mazda has also applied eco-friendly development to its rotary by way of hydrogen fuel.

The rotary engine boasts advantages over a conventional reciprocating engine, as it is currently used by the RX-8 and Premacy models for test purposes in Norway and Tokyo, because the combustion chamber is separated from the intake chamber, preventing incidence of pre-ignition of the highly flammable hydrogen fuel.

As far as the brand’s performance edge goes, its Zoom-Zoom — fun to drive — philosophy will remain, as too models like the sports-oriented MPS.

Mazda wants to expand MPS offerings in the future, but however Wakayama could not elaborate on Mazda’s future product details.

According to Wakayama, MPS is one of the symbolic models of the Zoom-Zoom strategy. It’s not an advertising campaign.

Wakayama can speak with some authority on the subject of rotary engines, having joined Mazda two years after the introduction of the powerplant in 1967 via the Cosmo Sport grand Tourer — the Japanese company’s original ‘halo’ model.

Auto Engine: Mazda rotary, MPS safe is a post from: Auto Source Media