Driving BMW's Amazing Hydrogen 7 Series on Green Car Journal Online

San Luis Obispo, CA (PRWEB) March 20, 2007 -- Green Car Journal Online editors put the BMW Hydrogen 7 through its paces in Berlin. With a formidable 6.0-liter V-12 beneath the hood, the high style of BMW's popular 7 Series sedan, and the joy of zero emission motoring…what's not to like?

It's no easy thing to predict the future. Yet, that's just what automakers are tasked with doing as they plan their way to an evolving automotive market that promises to include cleaner vehicles and fuels. Hydrogen is clearly a front-runner as a future fuel because of all the advantages this sustainable energy source brings. This alternative fuel has widespread buy-in among auto manufacturers and has driven substantial development of hydrogen fuel cells and the vehicles that will run on them. But at least one major automaker, BMW, figures on going a different route.

"BMW clearly has its sights set on internal combustion as the engine of choice for hydrogen," says Ron Cogan, editor-in-chief of Green Car Journal Online and editor/publisher of the Green Car Journal auto enthusiast magazine. "Engines like BMW's 6.0-liter V-12 run well on liquid hydrogen, as Green Car's testing of Hydrogen 7 sedans on Germany's autobahn and U.S. roads have shown." This testing experience is now shared in a Top Stories feature at Green Car Journal Online (www.greencar.com).

According to Cogan, it's not that this automaker doesn't see the value of fuel cells. Rather, "BMW's fuel cell development is focused on using these efficient electrochemical powerplants as auxiliary generating devices for on-board electrical needs, rather than propulsion." This strategy was showcased in BMW's 740hL hydrogen demonstrator first shown in the U.S. seven years ago.

Green Car Journal, the industry authority that's reported extensively on this field since 1992, began covering BMW's early hydrogen work long before hydrogen was the high-profile alternative fuel that it is today. BMW has been working on hydrogen vehicle technology since 1978.

Green Car Journal Online offers nearly 300 features and news items on hydrogen, hybrid, E85 ethanol, clean diesel, natural gas, and other alternative fuel vehicles and technologies. The site draws on 16 years of Green Car experience and extensive archives - unique in the industry - to provide unparalleled depth in "green car" reporting. An ongoing, multi-part series drawn from the archives is currently detailing the path that's led to today's ethanol vehicles.

###

So where do you start looking for the best luxury car? You should first look for dealers available in your area. If you live near a big city, you should have plenty of options for luxury car dealerships. If you live in a more remote area, you will probably have more difficulty finding a local dealership, and will need to travel to your nearest metropolis. Either way, keep in mind that it will be easier in the future if you find a dealership that is close to your home or work. It will be more convenient to drop your car off for routine maintenance or service if it is close to your normal routes.

After you have checked your local area, be sure to do a lot of research on the Internet. Look for the models that your local dealerships may have available. Consider what type of luxury car might be best for you. Some cars will focus more on presenting an aura of success and wealth (like Lincoln) while others (like Subaru) target people who want a powerful engine under the hood.

Narrow down your choices, and look at the history of the models you are still considering. It is well worth buying a Consumer Reports magazine, or the annual new car buying guide, to look at that model over the last several years. Consumer Reports does a very thorough job researching the quality of the cars they review, and you can get a lot of good information on problems that model has had through the years, as well as the positive aspects of that model.

One thing to keep in mind when choosing the best luxury car for you is gas consumption. In the last year or two, this has become more of a major concern in car buying at any level. A few years ago, it was not much of a factor, which is why half the people you see driving around today own gas guzzling SUVs. There is no end in sight to rising gas prices, so try to find a car that can maintain decent gas mileage at standard city and highway speeds.

When doing your research, look at the resale value of the car. You can get that information from the Kelley Blue Book or other sources. If you really want to play the depreciation game, buy a car that is one to two years old, where the majority of the value is already lost. You will be spending a lot of money buying the best luxury car you can afford, but that's no reason to invest poorly. Finally, consider how much money you will need to spend on routine maintenance or potential repairs. This may take some additional research, as the dealerships are not generally forthcoming with that information.

By doing your homework thoroughly, you will find the best luxury car for you. Don't buy more than you can afford, and get the best deal you can. Enjoy the ride!

Learn all about buying the best luxury car for you. It's not just about the money, it's about the image. Learn more at http://www.newyorkcarmart.com.

It might seem odd that the two German companies, well-known for high-performance and sporty cars, waited to announce their coupes at the same time. The answer lies in why they introduced the roadsters in the first place.

Porsche wanted a new, smaller model to increase its market coverage. Not everyone likes the 911, and not everyone wants a coupe. So it made sense to opt for the mid-engine layout - the 911 is rear-engined - and the better balance that gives in designing the Boxster. At the same time, the addition of an open-top roadster would also increase sales. And both tricks worked.

But what about BMW? Well, BMW wanted to build cars in the USA, and did not want to build the same cars it built in Germany as that would increase costs. So it decided to build a roadster for the US market, although it would be marketed elsewhere.

At that time there was more potential volume for a boulevard cruiser type of two-seater than an out-and-out sports car in the USA, so the BMW Z3 was born. It was a rather tall car for a sports car, and although a hardtop was offered, it looked odd, making the car look even taller than it was.

Z4 more sporty than Z3

The BMW Z3 did not really catch on in Europe, so the Z4 was designed as a more sporty car than the Z3, and with its 3-liter engine which develops 265 bhp, is a good match in performance for the Porsche Boxster. Meanwhile, Porsche decided to fill out its range with an extra model, to be priced between the Boxster and the 911. In fact, the Cayman is based on the Boxster, but has more sporty suspension, and has a larger engine. Now, though you can get a Cayman with a 2.7 liter engine as well as the 3.4 liter job. The Boxster gets 2.7 and 3.2 liters.

Because Porsche makes flat-six engines, it can easily produce engines of different capacities from 2.7 to 3.8 liters, and many parts are common to all of them.

If you are looking for a sporty car, then you will want to look at the Z4 3-liter, which produces 265 bhp, and reaches 60 mph in 5.5 seconds, a time matched by the Boxster 3.2. The Cayman is a fraction quicker, getting to 60 mph in 5.3 seconds. Mind, if you want maximum performance from these cars, you can get the BMW Z4 M, with over 300 bhp on tap.

Choosing between Z4 and Cayman

But when it comes to the choice between the Z4 and Cayman coupes,you will be influenced by which one looks better. Although the Z4 looks a lot better than the Z3 it does have a few quirky lines, which don't appeal to everyone, and the coupe is no better.

The Cayman has the usually slick Porsche lines, with a long tail and built-in spoiler which looks pretty good. On the road performance is not much different, and both have super engines and gearboxes, but they don't do things in quite the same way. The Cayman is a beautifully balanced car that can be driven fast with confidence, but if you want to hang the tail out, the Z4 might be more to your liking.

Both are great sports cars, and will give you a lot of fun. What else should you consider? Nissan's 350Z is also quite a car, with a lusty V-6, the Mercedes-Benz 350 SLK 350 and new Audi TT are also worth looking at.

John Hartley is editor of http://www.fast-autos.com, an online magazine devoted to fast cars and supercars, where you can read the latest articles about fast cars. He has written from many of the world's top auto magazines, and has written many books about cars and the auto industry, including 'Susp

The technology has been improved inside too, with the introduction of active steering, a system which reduces steering motion at low speeds, and makes handling much more direct when travelling faster. Put simply, it helps the driver steer more smoothly, and is considered to be such a step forward that its arrival has been greeted comparably with that of ABS man years ago. The xDrive technology means this BMW can also perform well in wintery conditions, snow and ice are no longer such a problem due to the new all wheel drive element which works hand in hand with other features to achieve a secure grip to the road. Also BMW have integrated an improved and less complicated iDrive system, which is used to control the in-car entertainment, navigation, communication and climate options, and is linked to a dash mounted display. Cruise control is another function to have been updated, with a Stop-Start function for use when moving in slow traffic. The new head up display option, which projects information onto the windscreen in the driver?s line of sight, adds a superior touch to the updated models. Another new and innovative feature is the Night Vision thermal imaging camera on board, which can pick out pedestrians/animals clearly in the dark, to avoid any possible collisions/accidents. The new radio system brings near digital quality to radio broadcast, meaning a much clearer listening experience.

Insuring the BWM 5 series depends on the model, but can go from a just above average group 15, to the most expensive possible of group 20.

The BMW 5 has all the comfort, style, features and technology you would expect from a luxury executive saloon, and also the character of smaller sports cars, such as speed, power and handling, which makes it a benchmark for the rest of the industry.

Mike Cain is a freelance webmaster writing, covering topics such as Automotive Articles. Please feel free to republish this article provided a working hyperlink remains to our site.