BMW New Grand-Touring Coupe

We’ve already seen the Convertible version, and now BMW has released pictures and details of its new 6-Series Coupe. The hard-topped Six is again a two-plus-two GT car aimed at rivals such as the Jaguar XK and higher-end versions of the Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupe. It’s 75mm longer, 39mm wider and 5mm lower than its predecessor.

BMW’s newest, 5-Series-based Coupe will arrive in local showrooms later this year offering the same engines initially as the Convertible. The 650i is fitted with the 4.4-litre turbocharged V8 with 300kW and 600Nm, sprinting from 0-100km/h in 4.9 seconds and using 10.4 litres of petrol per 100km on average.

There’s 235kW and 450Nm produced by the 640i’s 3.0-litre turbocharged six-cylinder, resulting in a 0-100km/h time of 5.4 seconds. Stop-start technology helps to reduce fuel consumption to an official 7.7L/100km.

Both engines are teamed with an eight-speed automatic. A 640d twin-turbo diesel model is anticipated further down the line and the M6 flagship model will materialise in 2012 – powered by a twin-turbo V8 that should be good for about 410kW.

The new 6-Series Coupe features LED headlamps and tail-lights, with options – including variable suspension – in line with those offered on the Convertible. The outgoing V8-powered 6-Series coupe starts at $227,300.

Controversial mascots for the 2014 Olympics

A snowboarding leopard, a figure-skating bunny and a polar bear wearing a scarf will be the three mascots for the 2014 Winter Olympics in Russia. Though those are some of the safest choices imaginable, the decision has led to charges of plagiarism, corruptibility and vote-rigging.

The winners were announced on a live television show broadcast throughout the country. Viewers cast over 1 million votes for the nine candidates and officials selected the top-three to serve as Sochi's official mascots. The snow leopard came out on top with 28 percent of the vote.

The announcement was not without some controversy. Ded Morez, the Russian equivalent of Santa Claus, had led in early polling but was pulled from the ballot at the last second when Russian organizers feared that their country's folk hero would become official property of the IOC. That decision left room for the following three winners, which are said to "encapsulate much of Russia's self-image."

Ronaldo Leaves Son with Mother to Top up His Famous Tan

Fatherhood doesn't appear to be cramping Ronaldo's style - what little of he possesses anyway. The world's foremost metrosexual footballer was out taking a boat cruise with friends yesterday in a pair of skimpy green shorts and white vest.

The Portuguese star, whose son Cristiano Junior was born on June 17, appeared not to have a care in the world as he enjoyed a cruise in the Algarve. Former Manchester United hero Ronaldo wore a pair of flip-flops, shades and a back-to-front baseball cap as he relaxed with a fair-sized entourage.

Now playing for Real Madrid, it's more important than ever that the 25-year-old works on his sun tan during the summer recess as the club plays in an all white strip.

His mother Dolores was believed to be looking after the £200,000-a-week star's new son back at the Algarve villa the family are renting. He is thought to have met him there for the first time after spending time with his girlfriend, Irina Shayk, in New York, last week.

Quite what she makes of the revelation that he bought sole custody of the child from a waitress he slept with in the U.S. last year is not on record. He allegedly met her in a Los Angeles restaurant during a trip to the U.S. last summer, charming her with the memorable line: 'Me, you, f*** f***', it was reported in the Sunday Mirror.

When she failed to understand his direct approach, Ronaldo drew a love heart on a misted-up window and said: 'Me, you, kiss!'

Psychic 'Paulo' Now An iPhone App

Paulo (or people prefer to call Paul) the psychic octopus who predicted World Cup matches with uncanny accuracy, is now an iPhone application. The Brazilian software developer behind the program, uTouchLabs, describes it as a "fun way to randomly choose between two options."

"Cinema or theatre? Pizza or sushi? Skirt of dress? Marcia or Andrea? Ask the Octopus?" it says.

The user types in the options and a cartoon octopus chooses between them. The program costs US$0.99 to download from Apple's iTunes.

Paul, an octopus at an aquarium in Oberhausen, Germany, earned worldwide attention during the World Cup with his predictions, which included Spain's victory in the final against the Netherlands.

Spain beat Italy in Euro penalty shoot out

VIENNA, Austria (CNN) -- Spain beat world champions Italy 4-2 on penalties to reach the semifinals of Euro 2008 after Sunday's match in Vienna had ended scoreless.

Spanish captain and goalkeeper Iker Casillas saved penalties by Daniele de Rossi and Antonio Di Natale to leave Cesc Fabregas to beat Gianluigi Buffon with the deciding kick.

David Villa, Santi Cazorla, Marcos Senna also scored for Spain, but Dani Guiza had his effort saved by Buffon.

Fabio Grosso and Mauro Camoranesi scored their penalties for Italy who won a shoot out to beat France in the final of the 2006 World Cup.

"Clearly losing on penalties after working so hard doesn't leave us happy," Italy coach Roberto Donadoni told the Associated Press.

"We all spent a lot of energy. You've got to recall those who didn't play tonight. They've got to be the most disappointed, and I'm sorry for them."

Spain will return to the Ernst Happel stadium on Thursday to play Russia for a place in the final of the tournament. Germany play Turkey in the first semifinal in Basle the previous night.

"I would like to congratulate first of all my players for their remarkable behavior and maintaining their morale during the match," said 69-year-old Spanish coach Luis Aragones after the penalty drama.

"It was very difficult because the Italians closed down all the spaces, which made it difficult to play our natural game."

Aragones' side were bidding to become the first group winners to progress to the semifinals after the upsets of the previous quarterfinals, but were unable to create much momentum in a first half stalemate.

It took over half an hour for David Silva to test Buffon in the Italy goal and after Luca Toni had a dangerous header blocked at the other, Silva shot just wide with a second attempt.

The teams went off the whistles at half-time and the second half was barely a more open spectacle with Italy sitting deep to frustrate the Spaniards,

Just after the hour mark saw the best chance to date with Toni making a nuisance of himself in the Spanish penalty area, the ball falling free to substitute Mauro Camoranesi whose shot was blocked by the legs of Casillas.

Spanish substitute Fabregas had an immediate influence on the game and his midfield colleague Marcos Senna twice tested Buffon with long range efforts.

Buffon punched the first, a free kick clear, but in the follow-up attack was nearly embarrassed as the ball squirmed under his body and hit the post.

Toni was the focal point of most of the Italian attacks, but ironically it was his touch that deprived Fabio Grosso of a clear cut chance from a Di Natale cross.

The opening moments of the first half of added time provided rare goalmouth action at both ends with Silva shaving the post with Buffon beaten and Gianluigi Zambrotta crossing for Di Natale to bring a fine save out of Casillas.

But there was an inevitability about penalties where Spain put disappointments of the past firmly behind them to earn a deserved place in the last four.

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