2012 BMW 3-Series with a New PHOTO GALLERY

BMW's turn to more conservative shapes and styles after the departure of design head honcho Chris Bangle in early 2009, hasn't satisfied all bimmer fans. In fact, some BMW aficionados believe the company should further simplify the designs of its cars.

And even though the design of the new 3-Series saloon is more or less an evolution of the previous model, Carscoop reader Steph S. thinks that BMW's bread-and-butter saloon could do with a bit of a redo up front, which truth to be said, is the only new styling element that stands out in the car.

Here's what Steph told Carscoop:

"My name is Steph, and I represent that percent of conservative people who believe new 3er could have had different headlights. It's clear that BMW's intention was to realise a connection between future design line and actual models and I won't tell you that I dislike the result, but I think some simple detached headlights would have looked better.

As a support of this idea, I added those pics. I'm curious which version would people like better? What do you think?"

You can compare the retouched photos sent by Steph with the original pictures below.

Kudos to Steph for the images!

PHOTO GALLERY

Speed Ticket Survey: Mercedes-Benz SL and Toyota Solara Drivers Top the List

We recently told you about how the angriest drivers in Britain tend to be behind the wheel of a BMW. Now we have some speeding/insurance info from the States, and it's a bit surprising.

According to Quality Planning, a division of Verisk Analytics Inc., American Mercedes SL drivers are at least four times more likely to get ticketed than a run-of-the-mill motorist who presumably drives a Camry Solara or...no, wait, the Camry Solara/Coupe and Scion tC come in at second and third.

Oddly, the Pontiac Grand Prix is still on the list and making waves (scroll down for the full list with stats).

Of the top ten most ticketed cars, Mercedes and Toyota can each lay claim to three: the SL, the CLS63, and the CLK63, and the Camry Solara/Coupe, Scion tC, and xB. In defense of its speedy vehicles, Mercedes' spokesman Robert Moran says, "These are fun-to-drive cars, and sometimes people have a little too much fun enjoying them."

On the other side of the spectrum, people-hauling SUVs were among the least ticketed as long as we exclude the Hummer H2/H3; the lowest was actually the Buick Rainier.

The lesson here, kids, is skip the sex-on-wheels Benzos and just go for an old Buick SUV is you want to avoid tickets. Or, you could just restrain yourself...but where's the fun in that?

By Phil Alex

Source: Verisk Analytics , Via: BusinessWeek

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MPH Show Website Polls Brits on their Ultimate Driving Partner and Cars

We've already reported on the upcoming Top Gear Live show at the MPH: The Prestige & Performance Motor Show at Earl's Court this November. Now the organizers' website has polled some 2,500 men and women on their preferences for dream cars and dream passengers. Details after the jump.

If you are into girls, your choices are U.S. singer Katy Perry, U.K. singer Cheryl Cole, U.K. TV host and model Holly Willoughby, former Friends cast member Jennifer Aniston or Hollywood star Halle Berry.

These lovely ladies will be riding shotgun in either a Lamborghini Gallardo, Spyker C8 Aileron, Bugatti Veyron, McLaren MP4 12C or Pagani [Zonda] Cinque

If, on the other hand, you are into guys you can choose from Twilight star Robert Pattison, action man Jason Statham, the needs-no-introduction Brad Pitt, ex-footballer David Beckham or Hollywood heartthrob George Clooney.

These fine gentlemen will be your co-pilot of choice in a Ferrari 458, Aston Martin One-77, Lamborghini Gallardo, Alfa 8C Competizione or Bugatti Veyron.

Oddly enough, I had to Google two of the girls, yet knew who all the men were. Speaking of which, I have to ask: Katy Perry, Jennifer Aniston, Robert Pattison and David Beckham? Really?

I think I'd rather cruise around with Mayor of London Boris Johnson or Octomom Nadya Suleman then any of them. And that's saying something. At least the polled seem to have better taste in cars than company.

By Tristan Hankins

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Survey Finds that BMW Drivers are the Angriest on Britain’s Roads

If I had a dollar for every time I was honked at, tailgated or called something unsavory on the road, I would be a very rich man. And it seems that the worst for this sort of behavior, at least according to a recent UK survey, are BMW drivers - feel free to insert your own joke about iDrive. If you want to see a frustrated / angry BMW driver in action, check out this... enlightening video.

The results were released by Gocompare.com, a UK insurance comparison site, that asked some 3,000 UK motorists about their opinion on road rage. Scroll down for their findings.

-Over 50% drivers polled said they had suffered a "bad experience" at the hands of a BMW driver.

-17% had a "bad experience" with a motorist in the last week.

-23% confronted a motorist who got out of their car after an altercation.

-10% have been involved in accidents they claim was a direct result of road rage.

-11% were forced to make an insurance claim after an encounter with an angry motorist.

-90% claim men are more likely to show signs of road rage than women.

-65% claim they encounter one intimidating driver every hour.

-The most frightening behavior on Britain's roads is tailgating (58%), other drivers pulling out in front (40%) and speeding (39%).

-40% get worried when they see others undertaking or driving faster in the inside lane.

-37% feel nervous when others flash their headlights to indicate they want to overtake.

-32% are shocked to receive a rude hand gesture.

AND... THE TOP 10 ANGRIEST DRIVERS IN BRITAIN ARE:

1.BMW

2.White van

3.Audi

4.Ford

5.Land Rover

6.Lorry

7.Vauxhall

8.Range Rover

9.Volkswagen

10.Mercedes

Lee Griffin, Gocompare.com's Chief Operating Officer said about the poll:

"There really is no excuse for bad behavior and loss of tempers on the road, and we would recommend anyone who is feeling angry or emotional thinks twice before getting in the car. It only takes one wrong decision or thoughtless maneuver to cause a really serious accident - and if you're thinking about waving an angry fist at someone, your full attention isn't on the road."

By Tristan Hankins

Via: Telegraph

Survey Finds that BMW Drivers are the Angriest on Britain’s Roads

Survey Finds that BMW Drivers are the Angriest on Britain’s Roads

Tuesday, October 12, 2010 | Categories | BMW, Carscoop Poll, Offbeat News, Reports |

5 Comments

If I had a dollar for every time I was honked at, tailgated or called something unsavory on the road, I would be a very rich man. And it seems that the worst for this sort of behavior, at least according to a recent UK survey, are BMW drivers - feel free to insert your own joke about iDrive. If you want to see a frustrated / angry BMW driver in action, check out this... enlightening video.

The results were released by Gocompare.com, a UK insurance comparison site, that asked some 3,000 UK motorists about their opinion on road rage. Scroll down for their findings.

-Over 50% drivers polled said they had suffered a "bad experience" at the hands of a BMW driver.

-17% had a "bad experience" with a motorist in the last week.

-23% confronted a motorist who got out of their car after an altercation.

-10% have been involved in accidents they claim was a direct result of road rage.

-11% were forced to make an insurance claim after an encounter with an angry motorist.

-90% claim men are more likely to show signs of road rage than women.

-65% claim they encounter one intimidating driver every hour.

-The most frightening behavior on Britain's roads is tailgating (58%), other drivers pulling out in front (40%) and speeding (39%).

-40% get worried when they see others undertaking or driving faster in the inside lane.

-37% feel nervous when others flash their headlights to indicate they want to overtake.

-32% are shocked to receive a rude hand gesture.

AND... THE TOP 10 ANGRIEST DRIVERS IN BRITAIN ARE:

1.BMW

2.White van

3.Audi

4.Ford

5.Land Rover

6.Lorry

7.Vauxhall

8.Range Rover

9.Volkswagen

10.Mercedes

Lee Griffin, Gocompare.com's Chief Operating Officer said about the poll:

"There really is no excuse for bad behavior and loss of tempers on the road, and we would recommend anyone who is feeling angry or emotional thinks twice before getting in the car. It only takes one wrong decision or thoughtless maneuver to cause a really serious accident - and if you're thinking about waving an angry fist at someone, your full attention isn't on the road."

By Tristan Hankins

Via: Telegraph

Hot Hatch Smackdown Poll: Ford Focus ST vs Opel GTC

With both the Ford Focus ST and Opel GTC set to debut in Paris, the hot hatch world is astir. If you're in a "global" market and interested in going fast on the cheap, these are looking to be two serious contenders.

The big difference here is shaping to be extra output in a traditionally showy hot-hatch package, or a sleek and sophisticated ride with potentially less power. But first, a joke: what would a diesel Ford Focus ST be called? Think about it.

On to the point: it boils down to either a world-hot hatch from GM or Ford. To make it even simpler for the numbers-geeks, here are the basics (feel free to read all the deets in our previous Paris posts on the Focus ST and Opel GTC, you fiends): output is looking to be 250 horsepower for the ST and possibly well over the 250HP mark for the OPC version of the GTC (Opel has not yet released output numbers). Both show cars are equipped with 2.0-liter turbocharged fours.

While the ST is likely to appear in the States in one form (ST) or another (SVT), there's still no word on whether or not the GTC could appear here (Buick's mini-Lexus fighter, anyone?).

However, that's neither here nor there at the moment. The big question for our readers is this: would you be more interested in the boy-racer Ford ST or a more conservative (and possibly Buick in the States) Opel GTC? Vote your hearts out in the poll below.

Which hot hatch do you like more?

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Opel GTC Paris Show Car

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Ford Focus ST Paris Show Car