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Preserving automotive history costs big bucks

$1.8 million is spent each year to maintain GM's fleet of 600 production and concept cars.
When at least two of the Detroit Three were on the verge of death a few years back, one of the tough questions that was asked of Ford, General Motors and Chrysler execs - outside of why execs were still taking private planes to meetings - was why each company maintained huge archives of old production and concept vehicles. GM, for example, had an 1,100-vehicle collection when talk of a federal bailout began.

BMW 225xe and 330e get official ahead of Frankfurt

BMW is going green at the 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show with the launch of the 225xe and 330e plug-in hybrids, but the Bavarians are spilling the beans about them early. The models are the latest to use Bimmer's eDrive tech that's derived from the i3 and i8. The modular system allows the automaker to roll out PHEVs through its range. For the new 225xe, eDrive makes for an all-wheel drive, PHEV version of the brand's usually front-wheel drive wagon. Other than the door hiding the charging point, the vehicle looks the same as other versions. Underneath the skin, it uses a 134-horsepower, 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder to spin the front-wheels through a six-speed automatic. An 87-hp electric motor with a 7.7-kWh lithium-ion battery turns the rear, and the result is a total system output of 221 hp and 284 pound-feet. BMW claims a sprint to 60 miles per hour in 6.7 seconds, but this 2 Series shines in fuel economy with between 112 and 118 miles per gallon on the European cycle. Multiple driving modes let the driver find the right mix of power and mileage, but the electric range is only 25 miles. Like the standard version, there's no chance of the 225xe coming here, but prices in Germany start at 37,800 euros ($42,050, at current rates) later this year. For buyers wanting BMW's iconic 3 Series as a PHEV, there's the 330e. Again, the only major styling difference is the charging door on the front fender. Its 87-hp electric motor and 181-hp, 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder both send power to the rear wheels. The result is a total system output of 248 hp and 310 lb-ft. The 330e maintains a 50-50 weight distribution, and fuel economy on the European cycle is rated between 112 and 124 mpg. Even with that efficiency, the 330e can get to 60 in 6.1 seconds. The 7.6-kWh lithium-ion battery allows for 25 miles of EV range, too. BMW's gargantuan press release goes into exhaustive detail about every technological element in the two new models. You can check out all of those details below ahead of the Frankfurt reveal, below. BMW eDrive – the latest generation. 1. BMW eDrive technology. Setting a new benchmark for efficiency. The innovative BMW eDrive technology in the new BMW 225xe and new BMW 330e once again underlines BMW's leading role in the premium segment when it comes to powertrain electrification. BMW eDrive technology includes a number of cutting-edge plug-in hybrid components and makes a significant contribution to reducing fuel consumption and emissions.

Mercedes fights off late BMW surge to claim 2013 luxury sales crown

The king is dead - long live the king. Mercedes-Benz is now your new US sales champion in the fiercely competitive luxury market, deposing the champ BMW, which has enjoyed annual supremacy for the past two years.
Thanks in no small part to the dynamite launch of the new, affordable CLA-Class, not to mention a redesigned E-Class and hot-selling S-Class, Mercedes moved 33,007 units in December alone, while sales in 2013 were up 14 percent, to 312,534. BMW, meanwhile, managed to sell 309,280 units in 2013. It was far from a sure thing for the Stuttgart-based brand, though, as BMW managed to nearly halve its rival's sales lead heading into the last month of 2013.
"We saw record sales, flexed our muscles across the entire product line from top to bottom and brought the customer experience to an all-time high," said Steve Cannon, Mercedes USA's CEO. While we don't have individual figures, it seems at first blush that the CLA was really the car that pushed Mercedes over the top.