2003 Bmw M5 on 2040-cars

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Mercedes-Maybach GLS 600 and our new long-term Acura TLX | Autoblog Podcast #661

In this week's Autoblog Podcast, Editor-in-Chief Greg Migliore is joined by Senior Editor, Green, John Beltz Snyder. This week, they talk about the cars they've been driving, including the Mercedes-Maybach GLS 600 and Audi A4, as well as the recently departed long-term Volvo S60 T8 and the new addition to the long-term fleet, an Acura TLX. In this week's news, they talk about the Stellantis merger completion, some more thoughts about GM at CES, BMW announcing an electric M car, an upcoming electric Lincoln Corsair and the possibility of an electric-only Ford Mustang in 2028. Autoblog Podcast #661 Get The Podcast iTunes – Subscribe to the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes RSS – Add the Autoblog Podcast feed to your RSS aggregator MP3 – Download the MP3 directly Rundown What we're driving:2021 Mercedes-Maybach GLS 600 2021 Audi A4 S Line 45 TFSI Quattro 2020 Volvo S60 T8 2021 Acura TLX A-Spec News:Stellantis is a thing now More thoughts on GM at CES BMW announces electric M car is coming this year Electric Lincoln Corsair-E coming in 2026, report says The next-gen Ford Mustang reportedly going all-electric, arriving in 2028 Feedback Email – Podcast@Autoblog.com Review the show on iTunes Related Video:

BMW may show off autonomous concept at 100th anniversary

BMW celebrates its 100th birthday in 2016, and the brand might mark the occasion by showing a concept with a nearly production-ready autonomous system, according to Autocar. Company sales and marketing boss Ian Robertson hinted that the automaker could be close to introducing the next-gen tech. "We've reached the 'feet off' phase of autonomy, and now we're in the 'hands off' and 'eyes off' phase, but only for brief periods," Robertson told Autocar. He thinks fully autonomous driving could be possible in 15 years because the company needs to work out how to make it safe. In addition to talking about autonomous tech, Robertson said the company's March 7th centenary would focus the future. "There will be some products we will share," he told Autocar. "Maybe what I've been alluding to will be the direction of that." BMW has tested autonomous technology for years and already impressively showed an M235i that could drift by itself. An i3 (pictured above) was even able to park without driver assistance in a multi-story garage at CES last year. Recent rumors about Google's piloted ridesharing service suggest this could be the perfect time for the German automaker to take the next step. BMW's bigger challenge could be determining how much autonomous ability to give drivers. Tesla might soon reduce features from its Autopilot system because a few owners aren't responsible enough to use the tech safely. California also proposed regulations that could limit the capabilities of driverless vehicles. Related Video:

BMW i8 Spyder production could still be years away

BMW will still build a convertible version of the i8, but production of the droptop hybrid sports car won't happen for at least a couple more years. That's according to an anonymous BMW insider speaking to Motoring. "There will be no new i models in 2016. Not even the convertible," the insider told the Australian publication. While the i8 Spyder might not arrive for a while, the company still sees a place for it in the model range. "The i8 is selling well enough now, so the lineup doesn't strictly need it," another unnamed BMW insider told Motoring. "We are doing it, we are just doing it slowly because it's not all we are doing." The automaker sold 2,265 examples of the i8 in the US in 2015, which was up from 555 in 2014. BMW first imagined the convertible i8 with the Spyder concept way back in 2012, and a report in 2013 hinted that it was near production, which never happened. The company then sliced off the sports car's doors and roof for the orange I Vision Future (pictured above) at the recent 2016 Consumer Electronics Show. The concept's open design gave BMW an easy place to show off the AirTouch gesture control system at the tech event. These insider claims are a complete reversal from BMW CEO Harald Kruger's assertion in December that the company would soon unveil the production i8 Spyder. The boss didn't indicate the debut's exact timing, but it seemed a lot sooner than at least a year from now. We'll have to wait and see. Related Video: