In a town where most tans are purchased and delivered indoors, BMW offered the US release of the outdoor Ultimate Tanning Machine, the M3 Convertible.

Strolling Miami and LA beaches for years, the 3 series convertible has become iconic for the look-at-me yuppie set. Many have been delivered to brand-enthusiasts with little care for the vehicle’s performance potential. In recent years, however, BMW has offered up M versions of the coupe and convertible to those drawn to open top tanning and motoring. The coupe M3 launched in 1986 and two years later the first BMW M3 Convertible hit the streets.

Continue reading "New York Auto Show 2008: BMW’s Ultimate Tanning Machine is about to get more interesting." »

Posted by Dan Hall at 01:58 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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The new coupe and sedan will arrive in showrooms this week.

Posted by dbarrett at 05:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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This week, BMW dealers across the United States began receiving the initial run of the new BMW 1 Series Coupe. Previewed on video (watch) by AutoPacific during the Los Angeles International Auto Show, the coupe looks even better on the showroom floor. While some dealers greed factor could be seen on the window sticker (between $2,000 and $5,000 over sticker), the real sales prices are more likely to be at or near the manufacturers price ($28,600 MSRP for the 128i ).

The 1 Series represents a significant step for BMW. As the 3 Series has become larger with each new edition, room has opened up at the bottom of the model range for a new addition. And the 1 Series is only new in America - European models being available since 2004. The 1 Series is currently the only vehicle in its class featuring rear-wheel drive and a longitudinally-mounted engine

Continue reading "BMW 1 Series Arrives Plus Cabrio Update" »

Posted by dbarrett at 10:40 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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X6 Blisters the Eyes

It turns out that others at the North American International Auto Show were agog at the BMW X6. My colleague Jim Hossack related a conversation with senior BMW of North America planner Rich Brekus and it sounded much like my own with him. What is it? "Well, it' a category defining new idea," said Brekus. Who will buy it? "People who want something really different with outstanding performance." I'll give 'em credit, I guarantee the X6 will be wonderful to drive, once you can get into it, but I think living with it will be another matter. Even if you like the styling, ingress/egress is very compromised. Visibility is poor. Cargo room above the beltline is non-existent (BMW's response is that folks rarely stack anything above the beltline - true enough).

Divided Opinions Between Old and Young?

As Hossack was commenting about the X6 in the AutoPacific staff meeting the Monday following the show, Ed Kim, AutoPacific's new Director of Industry Analysis joined in saying that he loved the X6. Being younger than me and 'Sack, and smaller, Ed had a very different take on the X6. Much more positive. Well, he's entitled to his opinion.

In any event, the BMW X6 promises to be among the most controversial new vehicles introduced this year. NEW -- Watch our video montage here.

What are the Germans Smoking?

You wonder what the Germans are smoking, however. Americans must seem very, very conservative to folks who are launching products like the Mercedes CLS (beautiful car you can't live with - almost, if not quite, a failure in the USA), the Mercedes R-Class (Grand Sport Tourer not setting the world on fire), the BMW X6, the rumored Audi A7 (a CLS from Audi), etc. We applaud Audi, BMW and Mercedes pushing the envelope, but they do it at the potential risk to their vaunted reputations for building some of the world's best vehicles.

AutoExtremist Weighs In

Peter DeLorenzo of the AutoExtremist website, wrote this blurb about the X6... we can't help but agree with most of it.

Speaking of arrogant Germans in the car business (btw, is there a more accurate and time-honored descriptor than that? Uh, no - ed.), you gotta hand it to BMW. I swear these guys don't understand the word "restraint" in the English language. These guys are inventing niches within niches, and in their obsessive quest to become all things to all people, I believe they get lost in their own talking-to-themselves brilliance to the point that they can't even see the Black Forest for the trees. Add to that their annoyingly unhealthy habit of believing half the shit that Chief Designer Chris Bangle shoves their way, which just compounds matters, and you have a recipe for a truly ugly little bundt cake. Once again, some of my esteemed colleagues (cough, hack) in the media just couldn't wait to gush over Bangle's latest atrocity, the BMW X6, but believe me, it will not "redefine the category" or "set the standard for crossovers for years to come" or any other such nonsense. On the contrary, as a matter of fact. The X6 is nothing more than a German-accented Pontiac Aztek, a vehicle for Bangle's self- aggrandizement, a rolling monument to one man's mediocrity and an unmitigated P.O.S. that is "beyond category" tedious. Trust me on this one, the only inspiration other designers will take away from the X6 is the inspiration to turn their heads in horror and then walk - make that run - away. If it weren't for the perfect albeit overpriced 1 series, I'd be worried that BMW has finally gone off the deep end.

Posted by George Peterson at 03:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

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According to AutoPacific's annual survey of new car and light truck acquirers, the BMW 3-Series, Acura MDX, Lexus RX, Honda Accord, and Infiniti QX56 attract the most tech savvy buyers. Tech savvy consumers made up approximately 5% of the new car buying population in 2007, up from just 2% in 2006. As Gen Y matures and enters the new vehicle market in greater numbers, AutoPacific expects these numbers to continue their growth. Tech savvy car buyers were defined utilizing a collection of data filters from AutoPacific’s Research Suite® database.

Continue reading "What Are The Top Vehicles Purchased by Tech Savvy Buyers?" »

Posted by Dan Hall at 10:57 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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BMW Joins the Effort to Spread the Diesel Gospel
If there’s one company out there whose powertrain reputation is beyond reproach, it’s easily BMW. Some underwhelming 4-cylinders from the 80s and 90s aside, it’s hard to point out any BMW motors that weren’t powerful, engaging, soulful, and indestructible. Except for the indestructible part, those descriptors certainly don’t describe diesel, at least in the minds of North American drivers.

In case you hadn’t heard, the Europeans are firing their first volleys in their attempted diesel revolution in the US. They’ve actually tried for years to sell Americans on diesels, touting their economy and longevity as advantages. But thanks to some really notably awful diesels from the 70s and 80s (and consumers’ long memories), the only takers have been automotive eccentrics. Today though, in the days of rising fuel prices and international instability, there is a significant increase in interest in fuel-saving technologies.

You can’t blame the Europeans for using diesel to spearhead their efficiency strategies. After all, Europe has already embraced diesel as a mainstream fuel (67% of BMWs sold in Western Europe are diesels!), and as such they have made tremendous advances in diesel power, refinement, and cleanliness. And, if anyone can help erase that diesel stigma in America, it’s BMW.

Impressive Specs and Power
BMW’s Advanced Diesel strategy in the US starts with their internationally lauded 3.0L inline-6 diesel with twin turbos, pumping out 268 horsepower and a truly stump-pulling 425 lb-ft of torque. This is while delivering 25% better fuel economy than a comparable gasoline engine. The engine is 50-state legal, thanks to an SCR catalyst and AdBlue urea injection.

To start, this fire-breathing yet eco-friendly diesel will be available in the 3-Series and X5. You can expect to see other diesel variants in the coming years.

High Fuel Economy…But Likely High Cost
Despite these impressive specs, diesel’s got a real uphill battle to contend with. Even without considering diesel’s image in the US, there’s the cost – both in terms of hardware and the fuel itself. In Southern California, diesel’s running about 20¢ higher than gasoline, and these new diesel engines themselves are inherently very costly due to their beefy innards and all that expensive exhaust aftertreatment. BMW (and other diesel hopefuls) certainly won’t be able to play the “save money” card with their diesels; they’ll have to find some other unique way to position these powertrains.

There is a real and growing trend among leading edge affluent consumers to equate green with chic. BMW will need to work hard to market diesel’s benefits to these leading edge consumers – and convince them to pay more for the privilege of being green. If they can pull this off with these opinion-leading consumers, diesel just might have long-term hope in North America.

Posted by Ed Kim at 01:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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Continuing its tongue-in-cheek marketing party MINI USA unveiled the 2008 MINI Clubman at the Los Angeles Auto Show. In true self-deprecating MINI style, the diminutive wagon backed onto the stage, showing off its rear barn doors to the enthusiastic press. Vice President of MINI James O’Donnell led the tour of MINI’s latest model. (Look for VehicleVoice’s video podcast of our personal interview with James McDowell.)

Continue reading "Clubman: Super-Sized MINI" »

Posted by Dan Hall at 10:06 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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Sun and Sky for 1-Series, Too
Back in July, we brought you the first official photos and details on BMW's new baby, the 1-Series. And as if you weren't looking forward to it enough already, a convertible version has been confirmed. The convertible will arrive in spring 2008 in 128i form first, with the 230HP 3.0L I6. The convertible will also be available with the 300HP version of that I6, just not until later in 2008. Though these photos are of a 125i Euro-spec version, the convertible looks promising.

Instead of a retractable hard top, the less expensive and smaller 1-Series gets a softtop, which BMW says drops in a mere 22 seconds. Even better, the 1-Series will be available with BMW's convertible-specific climate control system (which factors exterior temperature and sunlight in deciding fan speed) and the Sun Reflective Technology that helps keeps seating cooler. (We had the chance to experience a 3-Series convertible with the feature followed by a week in the Z4 without the feature; the difference was impressive.) iDrive and navigation will be available on the 1-Series, but not a power wind deflector.

Personal Note

All in all, 2008 is shaping up to be a good year to buy a BMW. For me, the hot spots are the M3 sedan and 135i coupe; actually, that coupe is probably the vehicle I'm looking forward to most next year. It's small and light, should be nimble and relatively fuel efficient. I like small cars, and this one on paper seems perfectly sized for our two-person household. But the M3 sedan has its own draw. I can go for the practicality of the four-door over the two-door in the larger M3 package, and the extra 120HP over the 135i should deliver a rush all its own.

Posted by George Peterson at 12:42 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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2002 Reincarnated, M3 Brings Back a Four-Door
September and October brought plenty of BMW news, all leading up to a hot spring/summer 2008 for BMW dealers. The X6 Concept and X6 ActiveHybrid Concepts shown at the 2007 Frankfurt auto show, previewing a vehicle due by the end of next year, and the show was the backdrop for the formal introduction of both the M3 coupe and the new 1-Series coupe. Also in Frankfurt, a 1-Series convertible was confirmed, with initial photos released shortly afterward. If that wasn't enough, the M3 sedan returns with a worldwide introduction at the 2007 Tokyo Motor Show. Just to keep you interested, here are the first photos of the M3 sedan. See a following story for photos of the new 1-Series convertible.

Continue reading "BMW M3 Sedan Returns to BMW Lineup" »

Posted by Stephanie Brinley at 08:22 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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At the 2007 Frankfurt Auto Show, BMW Introduced The "First" Sports Activity Coupe
Technically, BMW is right. This is the world's first Sports Activity Coupe. But that seems a matter of degrees, as Infiniti's FX is really the world's first SUV Coupe (and that was introduced back in 2003). The difference between an SAV and an SUV is in the mind of BMW, not the mind of the consumer.

Claims to world's first aside, two X6 Concepts, one with an undefined but implied large conventional powerplant and another with BMW's also largely undefined two- mode hybrid powertrain, were shown at the 2007 Frankfurt show in September. The X6 Concept and X6 Concept ActiveHybrid preview a vehicle we'll see on the roads in 2008, built alongside the X5 at the company's Spartanburg plant. Both gathered strong interest at the show, though the real test will be seeing the X6 on the autobahn, freeways, and suburban and city roads next to everything from the most sedate family sedan to the largest SUV to the smallest sports car. Will its striking roofline be enough to draw attention and appreciative looks or just look out of place? Though given graceful and dynamic surfacing, below the beltline the X6 looks every bit the SUV it is.

The X6 and X6 ActiveHybrid Concepts show what to expect from the exterior, though the interior and powertrain and mechanicals details are yet under wraps. We expect conventional X6 powerplants to be pulled from the X5, and the ActiveHybrid Concept confirms BMW's intent to offer the jointly developed two-mode hybrid system (after the fragmenting of DaimlerChrysler, this is a four-way venture between GM, Daimler, The Chrysler Group, and BMW). BMW will use their own engines with the two-mode hybrid system, as do the other partners, and may call the system ActiveHybrid in production.

Continue reading "BMW Concept X6 and X6 ActiveHybrid: BMW X DNA Defined" »

Posted by Stephanie Brinley at 09:20 AM | Permalink

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In Europe, BMW dealers have offered a 1-Series variant since fall 2004. But BMW of North America took a pass on the hatchback, which first also offered only four-cylinder power. BMW of North America was wise to wait for the four-seat coupe given American tastes.

The wait is almost over. The new coupe is due for a formal reveal at the 2007 Frankfurt auto show, but photos of the 135i and initial details have been released. U.S. sales are set for spring 2008.

Continue reading "2008 BMW 128i/135i: First Photos of BMW's Baby Coupe" »

Posted by Stephanie Brinley at 06:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (6)

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Lexus LS and BMW 7-Series Tied for AutoPacific 2007 Vehicle Satisfaction Award for Premium Luxury Car:

"Owners of the all-new Lexus LS460 return the Lexus flagship to its accustomed place at the top of the Premium Luxury Car rankings. The new LS460 received especially high ratings from owners with respect to Quality, Reliability, Durability, Quietness, Innovative Technology and the Dealership Experience. Tied for first place was the BMW 7-Series, which received high ratings for being Fun-to-Drive, Handling, Braking, and Driver’s Seat Comfort, but was marked down for Controls Easy to Understand and Use – a reference to BMW’s iDrive system,” said AutoPacific president George Peterson

Posted by Keagan Patrick at 09:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

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There have been rumors circulating recently about BMW buying Volvo Cars from Ford. Ford Motor Company stated on May 29, 2007 it is not in discussions with BMW or any other company regarding the sale of Volvo Cars.

But sometimes where there is smoke, there is fire. This rumor has been circulating for a few weeks now. The rumor goes like this... BMW has been conducting due diligence about the possibility of acquiring another brand. Volvo Cars and Alfa Romeo have both been included in the rumor, but Volvo appears to be the strongest candidate.

Why Would BMW Need a Second Car Company?

From 1994 through 2000 BMW owned Rover - including Rover, MG, Rolls Royce, Bentley, Mini, Land Rover and the defunct names Austin, Morris, Riley, Triumph, Wolesley. Whoa, what a lineup!? BMW practically owned the British motor industry with the exception of Jaguar. Termed "The English Patient", Rover and BMW never gelled. In 2000, BMW sold Rover Cars (MG Rover) to Phoenix Holding Group for £10. They sold Land Rover to Ford for a hefty chunk of change. They got snookered out of the Bentley name and somehow Volkswagen ended up with it. They kept Mini and have made it a great success. They kept Rolls Royce and are presently building modest numbers in Goodwood in sourthern England.

But, BMW needs additional volumes to help its economies of scale. A second company would help BMW in negotiations with components suppliers. Volvo has the heft to help handsomely.

BMW Fiercely Proud of its Independence

BMW is advertising the advantages of its independence. They look down their nose at Lexus - part of Toyota, Infiniti - part of Nissan, Acura - part of Honda, Audi - part of Volkswagen, Mercedes - part of DaimlerChrysler. So, the idea of BMW acquiring some other premium brand has to be considered from the position of strength.

European media reports have speculated that BMW wants to expand its product portfolio, and would like to add a premium brand with front-wheel-drive models to help spread out development costs for its Mini range. (BMW has been spreading some costs already co-developing the new Mini engine with Peugeot).

Volvo could be a good candidate to fill that objective. One of the reasons Ford acquired Volvo was because of its excellent front-wheel-drive large car platform that underpins the S80, XC90, S60, V70, XC70. Ford uses this platform for its Taurus (Five Hundred), Sable (Montego) and Taurus X (Freestyle) vehicle lines. The lower Volvo models have platforms shared between Ford, Mazda and Volvo. How a BMW acquisition of Volvo could untie these relationships must be a central part of any acquisition strategy. (Remember, BMW V8s powered the Range Rover until the 2006 model year - a hang over from BMW's ownership).

Volvo Part of Ford's Premier Automotive Group

Ford acquired Volvo in 1999 for $6.5 billion and made it a cornerstone of its Premier Automotive Group which also includes Jaguar and Land Rover (purchased for $2.7 billion in 2000). Ford has sold the fourth PAG brand - Aston Martin - to investors for slightly less than $1 billion. PAG lost $327 million in 2006.

Reports say that Merrill Lynch estimates Ford could raise over $9 billion by selling the remaining PAG brands.

Nobody's admitting anything yet, but lets see if the denials hold up over time.

Posted by George Peterson at 03:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

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Sporting Luxury: Four-Door, Four Seat Coupe Blends Sport and Luxury, Emphasis on Sport
As Porsche prepares the Panamera and Aston Martin the Rapide and as Mercedes-Benz saw some success early with the CLS four-door coupe, BMW is developing their own take on this recent sporty, luxurious four-door coupe formula. In an indication of automaker's growing interest in China, as well as the penchant of China's wealthiest population for ultra-luxury vehicles and BMW, BMW's first worldwide concept car introduction in China was of the CS concept at the April 2007 Shanghai auto show. (CS for Coupe Sedan.)

EDITOR's 2¢: The BMW Concept CS evolves BMW's sporty flame surfacing to a much more mature and sophisticated look. The car looks taut and serious from the sides. VehicleVoice and AutoPacific see a fundamental problem with the approach being taken by the European carmakers. They are abandoning function for form. Clearly, the CLS, Panamera, Rapide and CS are beautiful cars, but as Mercedes has found with the CLS, they are difficult for a driver to live with. The rear seat in these cars is practically useless. And the rear doors in the 4-door bodystyle are only good for tossing a briefcase in. Our prediction: the buff books will love these cars, they will sell well at first to the Rodeo Drive crowd, but in the long run, they will act like sporty cars - popular for 12 to 18 months before fading out.

BMW's upcoming four-door, four-seat coupe will go up against the Porsche and the Aston, as well as bridge a bit of the gap between 7-Series and Rolls-Royce. We wouldn't be surprised to see it called 8-Series when it arrives, though this is not confirmed. The Concept CS is wider than the current 7-Series, though with a similar wheelbase and not quite as much overall length, and larger than the E-Class-based Mercedes CLS. The production car will look to 7-Series components for a platform, but indications are that BMW is planning this car as a low-volume proposition.

More will come as we learn it, but for now we're happy to bring you the first official photos. The CS evolves the famously controversial BMW flame surfacing, resulting a crisp and dynamic look from the side and rear. The vehicle's face, however, is simply awful. The kidney grille is much too large, and it looks more or less as though BMW is trying to create a wide-mouth, deep grille look similar to the one Audi is cultivating. The headlights sport a new technology that gives them a hooded look, and we can't imagine why you'd want your sports tourer to look sleepy. BMW says the huge kidney grille is functional and would serve as the primary air supply to the engine, it just doesn't work with the traditional BMW kidney grille. (BMW declined to indicate which engine was under this terrifically long hood, only saying that the need for such a large grille was obvious because "a power unit befitting the dynamic character of such a sports saloon most probably requires an ample flow of cooling air." The long nose and short rear overhangs work well, and the interior does look fabulous.

Posted by Stephanie Brinley at 01:13 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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During the last week of March 2007, 1,254 VehicleVoice panelists responded to an Internet survey concerning their opinion of major automakers in the USA. VehicleVoice asked these questions because the opinion of buyers and their attitudes towards various aspects of a manufacturer's image are critically important. Managing image and opinion plus understanding what is driving that opinion can influence whether a person will positively consider or reject a brand next time they are in the market.

The key question in the VehicleVoice survey was whether the respondent's opinion of a manufacturer had changed since this time last year. If their opinion had changed, the panel member was given the chance to explain why their opinion had changed. We received over 5,000 comments concerning these manufacturers. Some were as short one word. Some were as long as a page of 10-point type. Folks really had a lot to say and their comments were fascinating.

Discussion for each of the brands is below the fold.

Continue reading "VehicleVoice Panelists' Opinion of Manufacturers" »

Posted by George Peterson at 03:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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Now that BMW has rolled out all four major variants of the 3-Series (sedan, wagon, coupe, and convertible), it is time to move on to the really fun stuff. And the Geneva show timing is no accident, with Audi unveiling their A4-based A5 and S5 coupe at the same show.

Though this concept is close to what the real M3 will look like, hard information is still a little thin on the ground. European deliveries of the M3 are expected in fall 2007, and it's possible that U.S. buyers wait as long as spring 2008. BMW confirmed that their "race-bred and road ready" sporting coupe will take a high-revving V8, but declined to specify which. Our guess? The V8 derived from the M5's V10, with at least as much power as the Audi RS4 (420HP).

The M3 Concept is both stunning and discreet. The M3 Concept carries a strong, aggressive face. Coming up into anyone's rear-view mirror with this nose certainly promises that you mean business. The three extra-large air intakes aren't just for show, though; they are necessary for cooling the V8. The hood, with a bulging powerdome, that rises above the front fascia is made of aluminum for lower-weight.

The side view is dominated by muscular front and rear wheel arches surrounding nineteen-inch wheels, light alloy of course. Were you to be able to get up close, you'd see the high-performance M brakes between the spokes. A subtle boot spoiler graces the decklid instead of a tall, in-your-face piece of composite material, but the M double exhaust pipes promise more is under this body.

Along with the hood, BMW massaged most other body panels to create the M3 concept. The M3 Concept sports a carbon-fibre reinforced plastic roof, like the E46 M3 CSL and the M6 coupe. Only the doors, decklid, headlights, and taillights were unchanged compared with the new 3-Series coupe. The body-color mirrors are meant to be reminiscent of an aircraft wing, with a black double foot. Along with looking great, BMW says they were developed in the wind tunnel to enhance stability at high speeds.

Posted by Stephanie Brinley at 03:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

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500HP, Tweaked Chassis, and Bodykit Create Uber 7
Though announced by BMW North America last year, the BMW Alpina B7 finally arrived at the 2007 Chicago auto show. The B7 Alpina is a superfast version of the regular-wheelbase 750i, created by longtime BMW tuner Alpina from the 750i and fully warranted by BMW. The prior 745i was offered with a 325HP 4.4L Valvetronic V8, and it is this engine that Alpina supercharged to 500HP and 516 lb-ft. of torque. To go along with the power, the B7 Alpina sports cosmetic cues and Alpina badges inside and out.

Along with supercharging a Valvetronic engine for the first time, which required specific engine enhancements, Alpina tweaked the suspension. There is firmer calibration of springs and shock absorbers, created a new exhaust system, the 7's Active Roll Stabilization for countering body roll in corners, the European 760i's larger brakes, and twenty-inch wheels and tires. Alpina strengthened the differential, but the full torque is still limited to the first two gears of the six-speed automatic transmission.

Outside, B7 Alpina's subtle cues include a specific front bumper and spoiler, twenty-spoke Alpina wheels, a rear spoiler, and Alpina B7 badges. As pictured, the traditional Alpina blue metallic paint is available. Interior touches include B7 doorsill trim, blue background color for the instrument cluster, and Alpina lettering. The steering wheel sports an Alpina logo, is trimmed with Lavalina leather, and has upshift/downshift buttons.

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