Audi A8 Hybrid

The Audi A8 is a four-door, full-size, luxury sedan car manufactured and marketed by the German automaker Audi since 1994. Succeeding the Audi V8, the A8 has been offered with front wheel drive or permanent four-wheel drive, with multitronic or tiptronic automatic transmissions — and in short and long wheelbase variants. Previous generations employed the Volkswagen Group D platform with the current generation using the D4 platform.
Beginning in 1997, The A8 was the first mass-market car with an aluminum chassis, marketed as the Audi Space Frame and co-developed with Alcoa.

The power of a six-cylinder model, the fuel consumption of a four-cylinder version: Audi will be starting series production of the Audi A8 hybrid in 2012. Its gasoline engine - a 2.0 TFSI - and an electric motor develop peak output of 180 kW (245 hp) and 480 Nm (345.03 lb-ft) of torque. Average fuel consumption is below 6.4 liters per 100 km (36.75 US mpg). The sedan can travel at speeds of up to 100 km/h (62.14 mph) on electric power alone, and cover around three kilometers (1.86 miles) with zero local emissions at a constant speed of 60 km/h (37.28 mph).

The Audi flagship model is designed as a highly efficient parallel hybrid. The 2.0 TFSI, which has been modified in some areas, generates an output of 155 kW (211 hp) and 350 Nm (258.15 lb-ft) of torque, which is available between 1,500 and 4,200 rpm. The combustion engine works together with a disc-shaped electric motor which develops 40 kW (54 hp) and 210 Nm (154.89 lb-ft).

The permanent magnet synchronous motor is mounted in the space usually occupied by the torque converter in front of the modified eight-speed tiptronic. A multi-plate clutch that operates in an oil bath connects or disconnects the electric motor and the TFSI engine. The clutch operates ultra-precisely and gently in all situations. The highly comfortable and fast-shifting hybrid transmission guides the torque to the front wheels; with its wide gear spread it contributes to the efficiency of the Audi A8 hybrid.




Info provided by Wikipedia.org and Netcarshow.com.

BMW 1 Series

The BMW 1 Series is a line of small family cars manufactured by the German automaker BMW since 2004. Successor to the BMW Compact, it has been produced in four different body styles.

The 1 Series was launched globally in Autumn 2004 and shares many structural, chassis, powertrain, hardware and electronic elements with the larger 3 Series. The model was started to provide a lower point of entry into the BMW range as the 3 Series moved gradually up-market. Initially launched as a 5-door hatchback, a 2-door coupe version was also launched in July 2007. The 1 Series is priced between the MINI and the current E90 3 Series. Because the hatchback is the only rear wheel drive vehicle in its class, it is often considered the successor to the BMW 2002. The 1 Series line is produced in Leipzig, Germany at BMW's factory.

The 1 Series coupe (E82) and convertible (E88) went on sale in the United States and Canada in model year 2008 (30 June 2007)^[1] as the 128i and the 135i. Other countries received the 120i and 125i in both platforms. The convertible, unlike the 3 Series convertible, uses a soft-top instead of a folding hardtop. This is lighter and preserves more boot space than the folding hardtop would allow.
The North American introduction of the coupe and cabriolet was during the second quarter of 2008, which was credited for helping BMW overtake Lexus as the top luxury brand.

1 M Coupe

Main article: BMW 1 Series M Coupe

BMW M Boss Dr. Kay Segler officially announced the making of the M variant of the BMW 1-Series Coupe on July 9, 2010, via an official YouTube video and press release.^[4]

1 Series ActiveE

Main article: BMW Concept ActiveE

F20

BMW 1 Series

Production	2012-
Body style	2-door coupe 2-door convertible 3-door hatchback 5-door hatchback
Engine	1.6 L I4 2.0 L diesel I4
Transmission	6-speed manual 8-speed automatic

The next full revision of the 1 Series is expected on sale for the 2012 model year based on the platform F20. The 5 door was unveiled by BMW on 6 June 2011, powered by a new 1.6 petrol and revamped 2.0 diesel engines, both featuring twin-turbos ^[5] Three-door, coupé and convertible versions will follow in due course. There is also expected to be a special hatchback version with a coupé-like style similar to the 5 Series Gran Turismo, and this will slot above the regular 1 Series hatchbacks. The new F20 platform also has support for a front wheel drive layout and this will underpin the next Mini and as-yet undisclosed BMW model to slot in below the 1 series.