The new BMW M5 was introduced last week, but today the first video has hit the Web showing off the new M5’s 560-horsepower, high-revving, TwinPower turbocharged V8 engine. The M5 high-performance sports car line was first introduced in 1988, and the new fifth-generation model once again attempts to redefine performance in a luxury sedan. The previously mentioned turbocharged V8 provides the 2012 M5 with 500 lb-ft of torque and enough power to race from 0 to 62 mph in 4.4 seconds and 0 to 124 mph in 13 seconds. Even with all that power, the new M5 doesn’t throw fuel efficiency to the side, as it will consume roughly 30 percent less than its predecessor.
No pricing has been announced, but expect to see the 2012 BMW M5 at authorized US BMW Centers in the spring of 2012.
BYD has launched the third-generation Qin Plus DM-i in China, and the first thing that caught my eye is its price. According to CarNewsChina, the plug-in hybrid sedan starts at 79,900 yuan, which is about $11,980. That’s an incredibly low price for a brand-new car, especially by US standards.
What’s even more impressive is the range. The Qin Plus DM-i can drive up to 137 miles on electricity alone, which should cover most people’s daily commutes without using a drop of gas. Once the battery runs out, the 1.5-liter engine takes over. Thanks to its 17-gallon tank and roughly 91 mpg with a drained battery, the combined range reaches up to 1,423 miles.
Apple won the PC market’s worst quarter, but that’s not the entire story. It won the race by stumbling less than everyone else.
PC makers shipped just 57 million computers worldwide in Q3, which might look good, but it’s a 21% year-over-year plunge (via Counterpoint Research). And despite Apple’s Mac shipments falling by 11%, to 5.6 million, its market share rose from 8.7% to 9.8%. How did that happen?
Update (October 22 23:54 PT): In response to our query, GM clarified that offline recording support is already available on eligible vehicles. Like Tesla's Sentry Mode, it requires owners to connect a USB drive to save incident recordings, which can be viewed on the vehicle's infotainment screen. The upcoming Connected Cameras feature will build on this by giving owners remote access to these recordings via the revamped OnStar app, allowing them to check footage without walking out to their car.
General Motors has announced plans to add a new Connected Cameras feature to its OnStar service starting next year, giving drivers a way to monitor parked vehicles remotely and capture footage of certain incidents.