Car Sangarz

Today is a day that ends in the letter "y" which means an Ebay search is inevitable.  After checking the usual lust worthy subjects, I stumble upon a hallowed mark that has had some rough patches over the years, Maserati.  To my surprise, it isn't the current Gran Turismo or Quattroporte that grabs my attention.  It isn't even the sexy lines of a coupe or cabrio.  It's this:

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Considering this Maserati Biturbo is on Time magazine's list of 50 worst cars of all time, most of you probably think I'm crazy for liking it.  It's inexplicable really.  There was a Biturbo coupe on Ebay just a couple days ago and the lines looked so clean.  Now, I see the sedan and it isn't far off the mark.  It just exudes a kind of Italian style that is terribly hard to put into words.

Styling is nice but most of you are aware that I primarily like to talk about drivetrain and performance.  Well, I won't disappoint today.  Depending on year and trim, the Biturbo housed anything from a 2 to 2.5 liter V6 which made anywhere between 180 and 290 horsepower.  The lower end of this range is comparable to an E30 M3!  All the physical dimensions are within a stone's throw of the M3 also.  In addition, it was naturally a rear driver.

So what's the catch?  This isn't titled the The Rich Man's 3-Series for nothing!  The reason behind it being on Time's worst car list is largely due to a plethora of service advisories and reliability issues.  I'm sure after dumping a bunch of cash into the car, it's a sweet ride.  Here's one on Ebay to get you started. 

Driving the Alps - BMW 335is European Delivery Trip from Janitha on Vimeo.

When the CAFE regulations were passed last year, the automotive world was turned on its head.  How could an auto manufacturer achieve an average fuel mileage of 35 mpg across its entire lineup?  Recently BMW released its first salvo into the fuel mileage war and it comes in the form of a four cylinder.

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The BMW 3-series is what many consider to be the finest driver's car on the market.  For the past three generations the car has been primarily powered by inline-6 motors.  The bookends of that argument would be the current V8 powered M3 and the less than stellar 318.  Let's not dwell on those.

With BMW's release of the X1 xdrive28i, a new chapter is about to be written about "The Ultimate Driving Machine."  This is the first car that will be powered by BMW's new 2.0 liter turbocharged inline-4.  Everyone let out a sigh of relief because this motor isn't giving anything up to the 3.0 liter in the current 128i and 328i.

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While the straight-6 produces 230 horsepower and 199 lb-ft of torque, the turbo four makes 245 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque.  Considering this motor will be put into the entry level 1 and 3-series models, the power delivery is probably as smooth as a teenager's face after a treatment of Proactiv.  Add in the lighter weight and smaller dimensions and future Bimmers will be untouchable in the corners as well as at the pumps.  If the next generation 1-series goes on a diet, a proper 2002 or E30 M3 successor could be in the works.

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Another small car that could benefit from this would be the Mini.  The entire range is powered by 1.6 liters in the U.S.  Many have said the Countryman feels underpowered.  If this motor can be used in a front wheel drive application, BMW has definitely found its new cash cow.