Sony Upsets Fans by Delaying Gran Turismo 5 Yet Again

There's an old saying that I think is appropriate here: when it rains, it pours. Sony has announced further delays to its much anticipated Gran Turismo 5 (GT5) arcade racing title. The game, which was scheduled for an early November release, has been once again pushed back, this time to the "holiday season".

In a statement on the official Playstation blog, GT5's North American Producer Taku Imasaki said:

"We sincerely apologize to GT fans for the delay, however, creator Kazunori Yamauchi and the team at Polyphony Digital. I want to make certain they are creating the perfect racing experience, and we are confident that this ambitious game will exceed expectations when it launches."

The release of GT5 Prologue at the 2007 E3 Convention appeared to indicate a release in June of 2008. Further previews of the game followed, but no release date was given. Finally, just last year Sony indicated that GT5 would go on sale in March of 2010. Just three months later, at E3 2010, that date was pushed back to November.

The final specifications and release date were confirmed as recently as last month's Tokyo Game Show. A media event last week seemed to confirm that everyone was set for a November release. This latest delay has come as a shock to everyone, including Sony's North American arm.

Mr. Imasaki told the New York Times in a phone interview:

"We're really close, but this was an executive decision that was made yesterday. Realistically, we thought we had a good date. We're not happy over here."

He went on to suggest the game could be delayed even further, something no fan of the series wants to hear. Carscoop will keep abreast of the issue, and provide updates as they come in.

By Tristan Hankins

Source: Sony & NY Times

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BMW Drives New 2011 X3's Prices Down, Starts from $37,625

BMW has announced U.S. pricing for its all-new, second-generation X3 before the crossover model arrives in dealerships at the end of the year. Customers can choose from two variants, the X3 xDrive28i that comes with a 3.0-liter inline-six engine producing 240HP and a base price of $37,625, or the X3 xDrive35i with a 300HP turbocharged-six priced at $41,925. Both prices include $875 destination and handling fee.

According to the Bavarian firm, the entry price for the X3 is $2,100 lower than the previous generation model [2010 X3] which started at $39,725.

The two new X3 models come equipped with a standard 8-speed automatic transmission and BMW's xDrive intelligent all-wheel drive system, as well as with Bluetooth connectivity, iPod/USB interface, anti-theft alarm system, and on the X3 xDrive35i, standard Xenon Adaptive Headlights.

The new X3 is built exclusively at BMW's Spartanburg, S.C. factory, with the company claiming that customers will be able to make changes to their vehicle order until six days prior to the start of production.

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BMW Confirms Return to DTM from 2012 with M3 after 18 Years Hiatus

BMW has officially confirmed its return to the German Touring Car Masters (DTM) starting from 2012, almost two decades since its departure from the series in 1994. The Munich-based marque said it took the decision after the positive nature of discussions in recent months with the DTM umbrella organization ITR e.V. and the other manufacturers represented in the touring car series on issues regarding the future technical regulations, and the long-term internationalization of the championship.

The company said it plans to make its racing comeback to the series with the M3 model as the firm's basic DTM vehicle.

Dr Klaus Draeger, member of the Board of Management of BMW AG with responsibility for development, says: "The return of BMW to the DTM is a fundamental part of the restructuring of our motorsport activities. With its increased commitment to production car racing, BMW is returning to its roots. The race track is the perfect place to demonstrate the impressive sporting characteristics of our vehicles against our core competitors in a high-powered environment. The DTM is the ideal stage on which to do this."

BMW has won the touring car series twice in the past with Eric van de Poele (BE) and Roberto Ravaglia (IT) who celebrated two DTM titles with the original E30 M3 back in 1987 and 1989, while before that, Volker Strycek (DE) won the DTM premiere in 1984 in the 635 CSi.

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BMW’s South Carolina Factory May Get Fourth Model, Possibly 3-Series

BMW is considering adding a fourth model to its Spartanburg, South Carolina factory in order to further compete with U.S. luxury market leaders Lexus and Mercedes-Benz.

The Bavarian firm's chief, Frank-Peter Arndt believes an additional "volume model" could be added to Spartanburg's production line. The introduction of a fourth model would help reduce BMW's exposure to foreign currency, which presently tops US$14 billion. IHS Automotive analyst Rebecca Lindland believes the 3-Series is the most likely candidate for production at Spartanburg: "The 3-Series is a no-brainer." she said.

Of the 1.07 million vehicles BMW delivered last year, 397,103 of them were 3-series models. In spite of a 9.2% rise in U.S. sales from January to September 2010, BMW is still trailing behind Mercedes-Benz and Lexus.

The Spartanburg factory - which makes BMW's X5 and X6 SUVs - recently underwent a US$750 million renovation to squeeze in the compact X3. The introduction of the latter model meant an increase in BMW's U.S. production capacity by a whopping 50%. Roughly 70% of the vehicles built in Spartanburg are exported, with more than 65% of the component parts sourced from North American suppliers.

Giving further credence to the 3-series at Spartanburg rumor is the December 2009 announcement by rival Mercedes-Benz that it would begin building the C-Class at its Alabama factory. It only figures that BMW would want to face this threat head on.

By Tristan Hankins

Source: Bloomberg

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British Motor Show Canned for 2012, its Future Remains Unclear

After being canceled in 2010, the London-based biannual British International Motor Show has also been ditched for 2012. The announcement was made on Thursday by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), which organizes the event.

"In recent years the show has played a less important role in influencing new car buyers and vehicle manufacturers are focusing their limited resources on events and activities that have a more direct impact on brand awareness and consumer decisions," said SMMT chief executive Paul Everitt.

The first edition of the British Motor Show was held back in 1903, while from 1976 it became a biennial event. It was hosted at the Birmingham National Exhibition Centre from 1978 until 2004 before moving to ExCel in 2006. The last show was successfully staged at London's ExCel arena in 2008 where it attracted around 472,000 visitors. It remains unclear if and when the show will be reinstated.

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