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2015 Green Car Of The Year finalists announced, run alt-fuel gamut

The 2015 edition of the Green Car of the Year award is following right in the footsteps of previous years with a variety of alt-fuel powertrains making the just-announced finalists list. You've got your plug-in vehicle (the BMW i3), your compressed natural gas (the Chevy Impala Bi-Fuel), your high-efficiency diesel (the Audi A3 TDI), your 40+ mile-per-gallon gas engine (the Honda Fit) and, finally, a car that can do a little bit of everything (the VW Golf). The Golf is available – at least in some parts of the US – with three different powertrains: a 2.0-liter diesel, a gasoline engine and all-electric drive. The Impala can burn either natural gas or gasoline in its 3.6-liter engine. The A3 is an efficiency champ, able to get 73.5 mpg on some European tests. The i3 can be a pure electric vehicle or come with a short range extending engine. And the Fit brings 41 miles to the gallon in a practical, affordable package. The GCOY award is announced every year at the Los Angeles Auto Show by Green Car Journal. The committee doesn't just take the fuel-saving technology into account, but also a vehicle's "availability to the mass market." Last year, the Honda Accord Hybrid/Plug-In Hybrid won top honors, following up on wins from the Ford Fusion models (plug-in hybrid and hybrid) for 2013, the Honda Civic Natural Gas for 2012 and the Chevrolet Volt for 2011. FINALISTS ANNOUNCED FOR 2015 "GREEN CAR OF THE YEAR"" Green Car Journal to Reveal Winner of 10th Annual Award at LA Auto Show" Press & Trade Days, November 20 LOS ANGELES, CA (October 21, 2014) – Green Car Journal has announced its five finalists for the magazine's high-profile 2015 Green Car of the Year® program. The 2015 models include the Audi A3 TDI, BMW i3, Chevrolet Impala Bi-Fuel, Honda Fit, and VW Golf. The Green Car of the Year® award, an honor widely recognized as the auto industry's most important environmental accolade, celebrates its 10th anniversary this year. An increasing number of vehicle models are considered for the Green Car of the Year® program each year, a reflection of the auto industry's expanding efforts in offering new vehicles with higher efficiency and improved environmental impact. Green Car Journal has been honoring the most important "green" vehicles every year at the LA Auto Show, since its inaugural award announced at the show in 2005.

BMW 5 Series future: 3-cyl engines and 600-hp M5

What if we told you the next BMW M5 would crest 600 horsepower? You probably wouldn't be too surprised, considering the steady increase in output that's accompanied each preceding generation. Now, what if we told you that the next BMW 5 Series would be available with a three-cylinder engine? Yeah, that'd be a surprise. But it may be a reality, according to a new report from Car. In its roundup of information on the next-gen BMW 5, code-named G30, the Brit mag predicts the new sedan will arrive in the summer of next year riding on an all-new platform that trims nearly 180 pounds of body fat through the use of high-strength steel, aluminum and carbon fiber. That platform, called the CLAR, which is short for Cluster Architecutre will give birth to not only a new 6 Series, but (for some reason) a 5 Series Gran Turismo and a Touring model, which won't likely be sold in the US. It will also underpin the 7 Series, eventually. Under hood, the lighter 5er will be paired with a new 1.5-liter, three-cylinder turbodiesel for the entry level 518d. This is the same three-pot oil-burner found in the 2 Series Active Tourer and Mini Cooper D. Of course, considering how little of BMW's actual engine range is sold in the US, we very much doubt the 518d will make it across the pond. More likely candidates for the US market include a range of a 2.0-liter, four-cylinders, such as the 272-horsepower 528i, and potentially a four-cylinder diesel. Naturally, there will be six-cylinder mills, found on the 530i, 530d, 540i and M550d. At the very top of the range, of course, will be a 600-hp M5. There will even be a range of hybrids and plug-in hybrids that are sure to further annihilate the formerly logical BMW nomenclature. Car expects the new 5er to arrive next summer, which we'd wager would lead to a debut at either the 2016 Geneva Motor Show or perhaps next year's Auto China, in Beijing. Featured Gallery BMW 5 Series Next Generation Spy Shots News Source: CarImage Credit: CarPix Rumormill BMW Diesel Vehicles Hybrid Luxury Sedan

A 1903 Harley is worth how much? Hagerty adds bikes to price guide

Whenever the big auctions begin in places like Monterey, it's hardly a surprise to hear about classic Ferraris or other exotics crossing the block for a few million dollars. But, the record sale price last year for the "Captain America" bike from Easy Rider is just a small sign that there's a growing market to own a piece of motorcycle history, as well. To answer this demand, vehicle insurance and valuation company Hagerty is now including vintage bikes in its price guide. The most expensive cycle there is a 1903 Harley-Davidson Single with a value pegged at an eye-watering $15 million for an example in No. 1 condition. You don't need to be a multi-millionaire to buy a vintage bike, though. If there's an old cycle you're eyeing or there's one already in the garage, you can check what Hagerty thinks it's worth on the company's website, now. The database includes 61 motorcycle makers and 9,200 models from 1894-1996. The pages also have a ton of useful details, including a price history for four conditions. According to Hagerty, the market for classic bikes is up over 50 percent since 2010, and more of them are showing up at auction, as well. The vintage cycles with the biggest demand are Harley-Davidson FLHs from the '60s and '70s. Hagerty Launches Motorcycle Valuation Tools Motorcycle Market Demand Drives Creation of Database Covering Everything from $15 Million Harley-Davidsons to $1,500 Yamahas TRAVERSE CITY, MICHIGAN (October 14, 2015) —Hagerty, the world leader in collector vehicle insurance and valuation tools, is pleased to announce the Hagerty Price Guide now includes motorcycles. The motorcycle guide, published on the Hagerty Valuations Tools website, includes 61 makes, 9,200 individual motorcycles built from 1894 -1996, and pricing for four conditions. Like its vehicle car and truck valuation guides, Hagerty's comprehensive motorcycle guide features model histories, images, current and historic pricing, and recent auction sales. "Motorcycles are one of the fastest growing segments in the collectible vehicle market," said McKeel Hagerty, CEO of Hagerty. "The recent interest is inspiring enthusiasts to pull their bikes out of long-term storage to enjoy again and share with the next generation.