There have been several cosmetic and performance improvements to the BMW 3 Series for 2009. The most noticeable design changes to the 3 Series sedans and sport wagons are the new headlight housings, the switch to LED tail lamps and turn signals, and the re-styled bumper and trunk.

But the real story with the 2009 3 Series is the diesel option. The 2009 BMW 3 Series will offer the 335d in the wagon and sedan models, featuring a 3.0-liter inline-6 cylinder diesel engine. This 6 cylinder engine produces 265 horsepower at 4,200 rpm and 425 lb-ft of torque at 1,750 rpm, powering the vehicle to 60 mph in only 6 seconds. Even with the sportiness of the car, you won’t be sacrificing fuel economy, averaging 23 mpg city and 33 mph highway. For the 3 Series coupe and convertible, get excited for the new 7-speed sport automatic transmission with double clutch.

Stay tuned for more information on the 2009 BMW 3 Series.

The 2007 Lexus GS450h represents a new era in the hybrid car category: a hybrid with a luxury sport sedan’s performance. However, it’s going to cost you: the price of the Lexus GS450h starts at $54,900 but if you add features like the touch-screen navigation system and Mark Levinson audio system, the price quickly rises to $59,955.

Performance-friendly AND environmentally-friendly, the 2007 GS450 is powered by the 3.5L V6 engine from the base-GS350 matched with a small electric hybrid motor. Combined, the two motors put out 340 horsepower @ 6,400 rpm and 267 lb-ft of torque @ 4,800 in the first-ever rear-wheel drive hybrid. The CVT has three setting options: snow, normal, and sport while the shocks also have a performance setting that you can choose with a push of the button on the middle console. Even with a 0-60 time of 5.2 seconds, the GS450h produces respectable MPG numbers: 25 city/28 highway.

Watch our 2007 Lexus GS450h Video and let us know if it’s worth the nearly sixty thousand dollar price tag or if you’ll just stay with a more affordable hybrid, like the Prius.

You can also watch the 2007 Lexus GS450h Video on YouTube.

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