Late last year, mark the propeller showed the replacement of a particularly important model in its range: the Series 5. A novelty that made its first public appearance in the Detroit and found on the BMW stand at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show. But on this occasion, the German automaker will also present a completely new variant.

While some would have preferred the worldwide presentation of the terrible version “M” is announced with no fewer than 578 horses, but it will be a model much wiser option ActiveHybrid.

A few years ago, BMW decided to change its strategy and launched the sports development of a Motorsport version for both its range of SUVs, the X5 and X6. The purists cried necessarily mark the scandal but the conversion 4×4 has at least one advantage: it becomes much easier to have fun with a BMW M in the snow. The evidence with these two videos. 

Rain coats a narrow road winding through Burgundy, the French region renowned for tart mustards and young wines, where on this route hillside vineyards gleam with the fresh green sprigs of spring.

The wet pavement retards local traffic as drivers try to maintain traction on slick asphalt, but not the vehicle used for our test because it simply refuses to slip.

A computerized mechanism applies the forceful power of a six-cylinder engine to all four wheels.

This device normally divides the engine’s torque with forty percent sent to front wheels and sixty percent to the rear ones, but in slippery conditions a viscous coupling automatically transfers more force to whichever set of wheels — front or rear — can hold a better traction bite.

Then factor into this physics equation the car’s weight distribution biased toward front wheels by sixty percent — which is a reverse of the torque split.

The result: There’s uncanny balance with the vehicle in motion, so much so that wet pavement and tight road curves fail to upset it.

Feature for feature, the Jaguar XJ then represents one of the best values among full-size luxury cars. Jaguar’s flagship offers features and comfort comparable to the top-line luxury ago from Audi, BMW, Lexus, and Mercedes-Benz for thousands less.

Sporting a new two-mode hybrid powertrain, the 2009 Cadillac Escalade Hybrid promises to offer a 50-percent increase in fuel economy around town and at least a 25-percent increase overall. The Escalade Hybrid goes on sale this summer.

The Escalade Hybrid will be available with rear-or four-wheel drive. The hybrid powertrain will be available only on the standard-length Escalade, it will not be offered on the long-wheelbase Escalade ESV or the Escalade EXT sport utility truck.

The soon-to-be-released 2009 BMW Z4 will look familiar to sports car enthusiasts, but fresh and striking as well. The next-generation Z4 will also be better by several key measurements.

With its next two-seat sports car, expected in showrooms by late March 2009, BMW has combined effect in two models: the previous Z4 roadster, with its folding soft top, and the fixed-roof Z4 coupe.