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World Exclusive First Drive! Lamborghini Reventon 2007-11-04 08:39:00 The "jet fighter for the street" concept has been around since the late 1970s, the ill-fated, never really worked Vector being the most obvious attempt. Three decades later it has finally arrived, thanks to Lamborghini
. The otherworldly Reventon is named after a particularly feisty fighting bull. With just 20 production cars to be made (11 coming to the U.S.), it'll be Lamborghini's most exclusive road car ever. Other "mosts" include price ($1.4-plus million at current exchange rates), and speed (210-plus mph).The main inspiration for this most arresting of automotive shapes was the F22 Raptor. Well, duh! Manfred Fitzgerald, Lamborghini's director of brand and design and the man who's carefully guided the company's resurgence over the past decade, was at a European NATO base with his design team."We had a good contact with the base manager (and) sat in Tornados and different aircraft to get some inspiration," Fitzgerald says. "We took these impressions of their world and came back Read more:Exclusive
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White Flash: Edo Competition 599/630 GTB 2007-11-04 08:26:00 The sorcerers at Germany's Edo Competition have cast their spells on the Ferrari 599 GTB, and as usual, the results are impressive. The Edo Competition GTB comes in two flavors, but let's cover the common ground, first. The car gets lowered 40mm in back, 40 mm in front, and gets added stick courtesy of an Edo/KW adjustable sport suspension. 20" wheels with stainless outer rims can be custom-painted in any shade the owner desires, and the V12's song is newly amplified thanks to a sport exhaust with a driver-controllable butterfly valve. Want it to be louder? Just dial it up, baby.Of course, the most important piece of the puzzle is the 6.0L Enzo-derived V12 under that long hood. In stock trim, it blasts out 620 horsepower. Edo customers can opt for the Level 1 "F599 GTB" engine upgrade, which combines intake and exhaust work with ECU reprogramming to boost output to 650 horses. Those with deeper pockets and/or looking for a more extreme level of tune can opt for the Level 2 "630 GTB" Read more:Flash
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Honda S2000 Type S at 2007 Tokyo Motor Show 2007-10-28 12:09:00 The TokyoMotor
Show is about to burst at the seams and manufacturers are dropping names left and right. The latest of these is the Honda
S2000 Type S which is based on the highly praised S2000 but adds a huge spoiler and a new aerodynamic package. In fact, it seems to be the US Honda S2000 Club Racer which made its debut at the New York Motor Show.The Type S is powered by Honda's 237 hp 2.2 liter 4-cylinder DOHC engine and is, as the US press office so nicely stated, 'The S2000 CR is the closest thing you can get to a Honda-built racecar with license plate holders and a horn'.Pricing in Japan starts at 3,800,000 (just over 23,500 EURO) and Honda hopes to sell 100 units every month and can be had in ten different colours with black and yellow interior, just like its US counterpart. [Source: WorldCarFans]More Eecellent Articles about 2007 Tokyo Motor Show:+ 2007 Tokyo Motor Show:Mazda Taiki Concept+ Tokyo Motor Show 2007: Subaru EXIGA Concept best 7-seat Legacy ever
The Dodge looks interesting, but simply doesn’t feel like a modern SUV 2007-10-26 09:37:00 The Dodge
offers a thirsty 3.7-liter V6 petrol engine, or a suitably grunty 2.8-litre diesel; with 460Nm of torque, it isn’t short of pulling power. It’s smooth enough at idle, but is not terribly refined. The five-speed auto gives reasonably smooth changes, though, and the brakes have good feel and impressive performance. Sadly, the handling is a letdown, and the ride is uncomfortable. It seems to make no attempt at smoothing out bumps, crashing into them instead. At speed, the steering feels disconcertingly light either side of the dead-ahead position, yet at parking speeds the wheel becomes heavy. There’s also a fair degree of body roll to contend with in corners. If you’re going to name a car Nitro, you can hardly give it insipid styling. Dodge’s designers haven’t done that – it looks like a great big toy truck. It’s not subtle or sophisticated, but certainly has presence. The all-American off-roader is packed with character, and is a stand-out budget rival to the L Read more:interesting
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Ford Mustang Bullitt to Debut at 2007 LA Auto Show 2007-10-26 08:01:00 Ford have decided help us start our weekend off with a bang by announcing the Ford MustangBullitt
will make it's world debut at the Los Angeles Motor Show next month as well as releasing a first teaser image (see above). The new Bullitt will deliver a perfect balance of power, performance and a look of quiet intensity, and will hit dealership in early 2008.That is all Ford have told us so far, fortunately a few specifications were leaked to various forums earlier this month, which we suspect was done intentionally by Ford. Now we also know the Bullitt will feature a “FR Power Pack” with an estimated power output of 312hp which is obviously nothing to get too excited about. However the exterior and interior will have a number of modifications giving it the authentic Bullitt feel as well as an improved suspension system, production will be limited to 7000 units for the US and 700 for Canada.[source: WorldCarFan]More excellent articles about LA Motor Show 2007+ 2007 LA Auto Show
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Tokyo Motor Show 2007: Nissan R.D:B.X Concept 2007-10-25 11:53:00 The R.D:B.X... as in Round Box. Could this be a hint of what will replace the (currently) JDM only Nissan
Cube? Japan's youth, who are already way too cool for the current model, let alone the Toyota Bb (Scion XB), should certainly hope so.Check out that amazing interior, complete with a totally digital dash, in our high-res gallery of live shots below [source: AutoBlog]More Eecellent Articles about 2007 TokyoMotor
Show:+ Honda confirms production FCX and car based on CR-Z Concept
+ Tokyo Motor Show: Mitsubishi previews next Galant in the Concept-ZT+ 2007 Tokyo Motor Show: Getting intimate with the Nissan Intima+ 2007 Tokyo Motor Show: 2008 Honda Fit gets Civic-minded makeover+ Tokyo Motor Show 2007: Toyota Hi-CT+ 2007 Tokyo Motor Show: Toyota’s unreal i-Real+ Mini Cooper killer? Audi A1 Metroproject Quattro Tokyo show concept+ Tokyo Motor Show 2007 Preview: Audi unveils A1 concept before debut+ Tokyo Auto Show 2007 Preview:Official specs of Nissan GT-R reve
Tokyo Motor Show: Mitsubishi previews next Galant in the Concept-ZT 2007-10-25 11:46:00 Mitsubishi's star at the show might have been the new Evo X, but the new Concept
-ZT is the more important car as it previews the next-generation Galant, which is a big seller for the company. Styled like a large Lancer, the ZT features the same jet-fighter grille but is overall a more stylish and elegant vehicle. We particularly liked some of the small styling touches such as the side mirrors and detailed wheels. Under the hood is Mitsu's 2.2L diesel engine mated to a twin-clutch gearbox, which Mitsubishi seems to be introducing throughout their lineup.By combining a high-powered, fuel-efficient, 2.2-liter clean diesel engine and Twin Clutch SST, and using significant quantities of Green Plastic in the interior, a high level of running and environmental performance is achieved. In addition to advanced active safety technology, Concept-ZT achieves a high level of passive safety. Features include pre-crash safety; a lane-drift warning system; driving assistance technology, including ne Read more:Mitsubishi
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Honda confirms production FCX and car based on CR-Z Concept 2007-10-25 09:46:00 Honda's green concepts on display in Tokyo are destined for showrooms. The automaker has officially confirmed that both the FCX and a car based on the CR-Z that was unveiled just hours ago will make the transition to production. Regarding the FCX, there won't be long to wait, as the automaker will pull the covers off tof he production-spec car at next month's LA Auto Show, with sales to commence sometime in 2008. In 2009, it'll be joined in showrooms by both a production car based on the spiffy CR-Z hybrid and a "global hybrid" family car, the latter of which which we know little about at this time. If the CR-Z makes the trip from concept to road car relatively unscathed (well, except for that aardvark-like schnoz) and lives up to its mission statement of ecologically responsible performance, both green car and sport compact fans should have something to look forward to a couple of years down the line. [Source: Honda, lead photo by TORU YAMANAKA/AFP/Getty]More Eecellent A Read more:Concept
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2007 Tokyo Motor Show: Live shots of the Nissan GT-R! 2007-10-24 08:25:00 A press event has never been so well attended, or dangerously overcrowded. But we got to the front in time to watch in car footage of a GT-R lapping the Nurburgring in 7:38.5, then out came Carlos to claim that his new baby is the best that Nissan
has ever produced – and we're inclined to agree. Unsurprisingly the show car is silver, and, well looks pretty much like it did in the spy shots
, but the shock was that Mr. Ghosn committed to Nissan fielding GT-Rs in next year's Super GT Championship. Could this be the start of another R32-like Godzilla race track domination?Deliveries start in next month, and to the rest of the world by the end of 2008. Check out the gallery, we'll have tech specs up soon.More about 2007 TokyoMotor
Show:+ Tokyo Motor Show 2007: Nissan GT-R to Debut in Gran Turismo 5 - Jalopnik+ New Mazda Taiki Concept will debut in the Tokyo Motor Show 2007+ Mugen-tuned Honda Fit To Hit Tokyo+ Tokyo Motor Show: Practical performance with BMW's M3 Sedan+ Toky
Tokyo Motor Show 2007: Subaru WRX STI debut 2007-10-24 08:18:00 We've gone from being disappointed by the new Impreza, to pleasantly surprised by the WRX, to smitten by the STI. It looked OK in silver as the dust sheet came off, but stunning in metallic black on the Subaru
stand's floor. The new STI's exterior details that set it apart from lesser siblings do not appear to be afterthoughts tacked on to a standard family car, but rather the way the family car was supposed to look in the first place.The interior, too, is better put together and uses better materials than previous offerings from Subaru Tecnica International, but the dash will look pleasingly familiar to fans of the brand. Click below for a gallery taken at the live launch and view Subaru's official press release with all the specs after the jump.More about 2007 TokyoMotor
Show:+ Tokyo Motor Show 2007: Nissan GT-R to Debut in Gran Turismo 5 - Jalopnik+ New Mazda Taiki Concept will debut
in the Tokyo Motor Show 2007+ Mugen-tuned Honda Fit To Hit Tokyo+ Tokyo Motor Show: Practic
Tokyo Motor Show: Practical performance with BMW's M3 Sedan 2007-10-24 08:08:00 There hasn't been a BMW M3 sedan since the E36 generation, but that doesn't mean BMW has forgotten how to build a fast saloon car. The M3 Sedan takes everything good about the M3 coupe and adds two doors to the mix, allowing you to better justify the purchase with your significant other. BMW has thrown out the standard headlights on the sedan and replaced them with the lights found on the coupe, giving it a more sporting design in the process.The basic specs are all the same as the coupe, but you should check out our previous post on the M3 Sedan to find out more.More about 2007 TokyoMotor
Show:+ Tokyo Motor Show 2007: Nissan GT-R to Debut in Gran Turismo 5 - Jalopnik+ New Mazda Taiki Concept will debut in the Tokyo Motor Show 2007+ Mugen-tuned Honda Fit To Hit Tokyo+ Tokyo Motor Show: Practical
performance with BMW's M3 Sedan+ Tokyo Motor Show 2007: Subaru WRX STI debut+ 2007 Tokyo Motor Show: Live shots of the Nissan GT-R!
Mugen-tuned Honda Fit To Hit Tokyo 2007-10-24 07:53:00 A Fit 'without limits' joins the line-up at the Tokyo
Show in the coming days with the premiere of tuning firm Mugen
Motorsport's version of Honda
's 2008 model Fit. Engine tuner and parts manufacturer Mugen, the name of which translates to 'without limits', was founded in 1973 by the son of Honda Motor Company's founder Soichiro Honda and remains closely associated with the car maker to this day.Sales of the Fit start this Friday in Japan and so the opportunity to grab the attention of potential bodykit buyers at the Tokyo Show is high, with visitor numbers estimated to be in excess of 1.5 million. Mugen offer the styling enhancements as seperate entities in themselves, but the full works, according to Mugen's Japanese-only website, costs a smidgen under 200,000 yen, equating to some $1,750. There are two Mugen-styled Fits. The first, the RS (painted yellow in photos), does away with the Honda 'boomerang' grille, instead favouring a more slender 'sports grille' design. Styl
Luxury Lexus offers an eco-friendly choice for business high-flyers 2007-10-23 10:02:00 No car maker has embraced hybrid technology quite like Lexus
. While rivals moan about high development costs and technical inefficiencies, the Japanese manufacturer is committed to combining petrol and electric power – and the next vehicle in its highly charged line-up is the LS600h.We have already tried the technology in a left-hand drive version of the new car (Issue 958). But how does it work here on the UK’s roads? The first impression with any LS is its vast scale – especially in this long-wheelbase guise. Apart from its subtle badging, the hybrid shares the sombre styling of other variants. Even the twin chrome exhausts remain, hinting at its performance potential.Under the bonnet is a 389bhp 5.0-litre V8. Add to that the thrust of an electric motor, and output is boosted to 439bhp. The final technical flourish is to feed power to all four wheels.The cabin features the familiar LS dashboard with its huge array of buttons. While German rivals have opted for a central co Read more:Luxury
Newcomers: 2008 Porsche 911 GT2 2007-10-20 13:26:00 It's not commonly known, but jet lag is cured by high-speed injections of German autobahn, a volksremedium we discovered long ago, at 180 mph in a Porsche
928 S4.And it still works. Better than melatonin, mile-high liaisons, or other familiar folk remedies, there's no surer cure for jet lag than redlining a Porsche on an unrestricted autobahn-as we're about to reaffirm in the 2008 911 GT2, the best Porsche ever unleashed on an undeserving everyman. (Don't even think about owning one if you can't handle full opposite lock or payments on an MSRP of $191,700.)Driving the 530-horsepower two-seater at 180 mph doesn't cure our jet lag as much as expel it violently from the car, but heavy rain means reaching the GT2's top speed of 205 mph is out of the question. Even with double the previous GT2's downforce from the new Le Mans racer-inspired body and rear wing, and excellent grip from the 19-inch Pirellis, the GT2 is too much car for the conditions. We also keep Porsche's spectacula Read more:Newcomers
Is the new Mazda 6 2.0 TS2 a viable alternative to Ford's Mondeo 2007-10-20 13:16:00 There’s a revolution on the way in the new car market. Although sales in the large family class are dwindling, the quality of the models available has never been better.The latest Mondeo
is one of the best cars Ford has ever produced, while the next-generation Vauxhall Vectra – due in dealers in autumn next year – promises to be a big step forward, too. So do the new Citroen C5 and Honda Accord.From January, Mazda
will add the new 6 to the mix. Available in hatchback or saloon form (with an estate following in March), and priced from £15,500, it’s bigger and better looking than before, and also offers more quality and standard equipment.Penned by Youichi Sato, who also designed the last-generation RX-7 coupe, the 6 is certainly attractive. The deep, V-shaped grille, angular headlights, pronounced wheelarches and LED tail-lamps are particular highlights.Mazda says it’s trying to develop a design language that’s home-grown, rather than Euro-inspired. Alth
2007 Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG 2007-10-20 10:40:00 Los Angeles, California - As the LA morning fog slowly burned away, I wheeled the silver Mercedes
-Benz SL roadster away from the swank Beverley Wilshire Hotel and onto Rodeo Drive. With the folding hardtop packed away, the big Merc’s velvety exhaust note bounced back from the houses of Georgio Armani, Michael Kors, Hugo Boss and Harry Winston (sadly, no friends of mine). Riding shotgun was the requisite sun-kissed shade-wearing blond.Nothing to see here, folks. Just a page ripped from the California-cliché handbook. But all was not as it appeared. Impersonating the solvent LA dude was this pasty Canuck journalist. Playing the part of the blond was a nice Mercedes PR lady, and headlining the act was the $248,000 2007 M-B SL65 AMG – a car so adept at concealing its formidable talents that an Oscar for Best Poker Face is in order. Only those in the know would spot the subtleties that distinguish the SL65 from lesser SL-Class cars: the exclusive five-spoke 19-inch alloys, a more aggre
2007 Los Angeles Auto Show Preview: Acura shows drawings of a future fuel cell Le Mans racer 2007-10-17 21:48:00 Diesel power is the hot ticket at Le Mans right now after the dominant win by Audi's R10 this year and Peugeot coming next year. But technology always moves on in racing (unless you're talking Nascar, but that's a whole other story). By the middle of the next decade, racers will likely have moved on to something else, and Acura
is playing off of parent Honda's fuel cell efforts by showing drawings
of a potential fuel cell powered Le Mans racer. It's unlikely a racer will look much like any of these drawings, but some of the technology could make it to the track. More drawings and a press release after the jump.More excellent articles about LA Auto Show
+ Los Angeles
Auto Show 2007 Preview
: Quick test drive in BMW 535d+ LA Auto Show 2007: Honda Civic GX quick test drive+ LA Preview: Volkswagen to unveil plug-version of the Up! mini Read more:Los Angeles
Los Angeles Auto Show 2007 Preview: Quick test drive in BMW 535d 2007-10-17 21:38:00 This is the BMW I wanted to drive
, not the hyped-up Hydrogen 7. I first saw a 535d more than a year ago in the back shop of Gale Banks Performance. The car was the diesel-tuner's facility for research and evaluation but wasn't available for a spin around the block during my visit. The guys in the shop, however, were nearly speechless with regards to its performance. Fast-foward to the LA Auto Show
and BMW announces it will offer performance diesel engines in North America, starting in 2008. BMW did not reveal which engines or vehicle models will be introduced. One has to expect, however, that the 535d in some form will be one of the first. The move comes as BMW says its Advanced Diesel will meet the strict 50-state emissions standards. Nearly 70 percent of BMW sales in Europe are diesels, so consumers must demand that their BMWs be as fast as they are clean.A 535d was available as part of the Green Car Journal magazine's ride-and-drive of environmentally friendly vehicles during the Read more:Angeles
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LA Auto Show 2007: Honda Civic GX quick test drive 2007-10-17 21:05:00 I arranged to drive
the HondaCivic
GX in an extended test after the holidays, but I wanted to offer a capsule review following a short 5-minute drive during the LA Auto Show
. I'm a fan of natural gas as a fuel and have been interested in the practical week-to-week possibilities of a CNG-powered car since Honda started promoting Phill, the home-based refueling station.Cost and convenience aside, my first impression of the GX is the lack of snap in the throttle. There is a reduction of power when using natural gas in the 1.8-liter 4-cylinder engine. The GX is rated at 113 horsepower while a gas-powered model pumps out 140 horsepower. The GX is also heavier, so the car seems lazy or sluggish at times.But the real values in the GX are fuel costs and peace of mind knowing you're driving perhaps the cleanest production internal combustion engine available. I'll need more seat time in the GX and then some time with a calculator, but in a future report you can expect a full breakdown of th Read more:Honda Civic
LA Preview: Volkswagen to unveil plug-version of the Up! mini 2007-10-17 20:41:00 After unveiling their new Volkswagen
up! mini-car at the Frankfurt Motor Show last month, VW is set to show two more variants in the next month and a half. The Tokyo Motor Show at the end of October should see a small five door mini-van based on the up! which would be a spiritual successor to the old Micro-Bus. On this continent we should be getting a plug-in version
of the car at the Los Angeles Auto Show in November. It's not know at this point if this will be a straight battery electric car or a hybrid, but the former is far more likely because of the small size. An electric motor could be easily packaged in place of the rear engine and a compact lithium ion battery pack could go alongside it. Range would probably be very limited by the small battery size but we'll see soon enough.[Source: Automotive News - sub. req'd] Read more:Preview
Audi R8 V10 Proto Returns to the Ring 2007-10-16 09:08:00 After the unfortunate incident of the Audi R8 V10 catching on fire last April, a new anti-reflective matte black prototype has returned to “the Ring” to complete its testing. With the prototype cost estimated at half million Euros, Audi's sport division, quattro GmbH, has now installed an electronic fire suppression system as indicated by the white “E” (foam based extinguisher) sticker and two red buttons seen next to the driver's side rear view mirror. In case of a fire, the first reaction is for the driver to get out of the vehicle and if risk is minimal, the fire suppression system can be activated from outside the vehicle by pressing the two red buttons.The super high performance R8, which is rumored to be called R10, R8 S or RS8, will use the same V10 engine from the Lamborghini Gallardo but slightly detuned to produce 490 – 500hp. As seen in this prototype completely devoid of camouflage, the R8 V10 gets larger air intake tunnels just behind the front doors, revised r Read more:Returns
Car Reviews: First Drives:Saab 9-3 Aero driven 2007-10-16 07:45:00 If you’re thinking the ‘new’ Saab 9-3 looks incredibly similar to its predecessor, you are not alone. The firm says it has made more than 2,000 changes to its top seller, but unless you’re a real Saab fan, you’ll be hard-pressed to notice all of them.True, many of the revisions have taken place under the skin. However, this is more akin to a mid-life nip and tuck than a brand new model. The fresh looks are inspired by the Aero X show model, and are adopted on all 9-3s, including the SportWagon and convertible variants.The biggest changes come at the front, where a clamshell bonnet sits above new headlamp lenses, with a distinctive eyebrow light across the top of the main lamp. There are reshaped bumpers all-round, and the smarter styling continues with clear light clusters at the back. To give a cleaner look, Saab has also removed all rubbing strips, although we’re a little disappointed by the new door handles, which come from Vauxhall. Last year saw the introduction of a r Read more:First
Speculation: Maybach 62 Landaulet 2007-10-12 10:18:00 The usually well informed AutoTelegraaf.nl released a short article today about the upcoming Middle East International Motor Show (MEIMS) in Dubai and that Maybach
is planning to debut a brand new Maybach 62 Landaulet there.The 'landau' was made popular in the '20s and '30s and was basicly a fixed soft-top roof instead of a metal one. The 'landaulet' has a fixed soft-top roof from the A-pillar to the B-pillar (covering the driver) and becomes a retractable soft-top from the B-pillar to the rear.The Maybach 62 Landaulet will be limited to 20 units and seems to be aimed mainly at the superrich in the United Arab Emirates. The 62 Landaulet will be launched on 13 November during the MEIMS press day and on show from 14 until 18 November during the public days.Attached is a Maybach Cabrio computer rendering. The Maybach 62 Landaulet will most likely look nothing like the image.
Latest Volvo XC60 SUV adds style to a practical 4x4 package 2007-10-11 23:29:00 Think Volvo, think safe and sensible. Functional with a capital ‘F’, the Swedish firm’s cars have always been big on practicality – but lack the sense of fun offered by some rivals.All that looks set to change when the XC60 goes on sale in 12 months’ time. It will join the C30 as part of a new generation of models aimed at appealing to people’s hearts before their heads. To find out what’s in store, we jumped behind the wheel of this sensational concept – which points the way to the final production version. Lining up next to the upmarket XC90, the XC60 will be a lot more than a scaled-down version of the larger car.The way the light plays over its carefully sculpted flanks is reminiscent of a BMW X5, while the shape of the lower front grille is similar to the Ford Kuga’s – a car with which the XC60 shares some of its engine and gearbox technology. The aggressive design combines with the 20-inch wheels to give the lower half of the model a beefy, aggressive loo Read more:package
Lexus IS F: Details (JA) 2007-10-09 09:15:00 In order to drive the new IS F by New Years Eve in the States you will have to buy your car through Neiman Marcus, but in Japan you can just stroll down to a Lexus
dealership to pick up your 423 hp sports car. The new Lexus IS-F will go on sale 25 December with a starting price of yen 7,660,000 (EURO 46,286 or USD 65,268).Lexus is aiming to inject 'the joy of driving' into the premium sports car, something which many enthusiasts claim the Japanese manufacturers lack (and even Toyota themselves seems to think so). The IS F is based on the IS series and comes with a new engine and transmission, an exclusive suspension and special aluminium wheels. The F refers to the Fuji Speedway on which Lexus has been extensively testing the car. The transmission is an 8-Speed Sport Direct Shift transmission which can be operated either as an automatic or clutchless manual, a world first for an 8-speed transmission.The 5,0 liter V8 (model 2UR-GSE) engine (a D-4S direct injection four-stroke gasoline
Audi RS 5 Engine Speculation and Rendering 2007-11-10 02:13:00 Following Audi's self imposed schedule of having only one RS model on the market at a time, deliveries of the brand new 573hp twin-turbo V10 RS 6 Avant are getting underway for 2008 as the B7 RS 4 ends its production. With RS cars typically having a two year life cycle, the next RS model is expected to debut in 2010 as MY 2011. The most likely candidate to take over from the RS 6 is the RS 5 Coupe since - by that time - it will be in the second half of it's life cycle, although too early for the all-new B8 A4.With regards to the horsepower wars amongst the German auto makers, Audi had positioned previous RS and S models just above and below the competition, the BMW M3 (420hp) and Mercedes CLK 63 AMG (480hp). And much of the chatter lately in the media seem to be supporting that - as the figures put the RS 5 between 450 and 500hp.Earlier this year Car Magazine reported the RS 5 will receive the 4.2 liter V8 currently in the RS 4 with the addition of two small turbochargers for an addi Read more:Engine
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More details on BMW's future 4x4 lineup 2007-11-08 08:13:00 BMW appears to be angling to become a truckmaker. Okay, crossovers, not trucks. Whatever you want to call the tall, heavy wagons, that's your business. Within the next five years, BMW's planning on adding three new truck-type things to their lineup
. The X6 will arrive next year, followed by the 4x4 version of the MINI in 2009, and the also-small X1 in 2010. The MINI 4x4 will run a Getrag-developed AWD system, and we'd expect the X1 to use the basic component set of the forthcoming 1-series. The Concept CS is also headed for production, and it will be positioned above the 7-series sedan carrying 8 and 12 cylinder powerplants. Imagine that, instead of the 7-series heading up the Ultimate Driving Machine lineup, there'd be a long-hooded GT-looker with a fastback roofline. Even the news that BMW is following the money into SUVs and committing bigtime with multiple new models, it could be worse. The X5 is handsome, and that general motif is present on the X6, and we'd expect it to scal Read more:details
Alfa Romeo 159 TI revives a historical sporting badge on its latest 159 variant. 2007-11-06 08:07:00 A legend is back at Alfa Romeo. The TI badge now appears on the 159 saloon. Short for Turismo Internazionale, the discreet two-letter label is reserved for only the most sporty and luxurious models in the range.To mark the occasion, the Italian manufacturer has fitted the newcomer with an upgraded version of its 2.4-litre JTD diesel engine. It now produces 210bhp - up 10bhp on the old unit. Sports suspension has also been added, alongside cosmetic up-grades inside and out.However, the Alfa faces stiff competition from prestige challengers such as the accomplished BMW 3-Series and new Audi A4. So are the revisions enough to allow the 159 to take on these premium class leaders?If the answer was based on looks alone, the Italian should have its rivals well and truly beaten. At the front is the traditional heart-shaped grille, flanked by six circular headlamps sitting beneath a menacing brow. Move around the car and you'll be struck by the neat design details - such as Read more:revives
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LA Auto Show 2007: 2009 Lincoln MKS brings new look to American luxury 2007-11-14 06:43:00 For the past two decades, the only thing consistent about Ford's Lincoln
division has been its inconsistency. To put it lightly, the brand has struggled to find it's place in the automotive landscape. The vehicles from Ford's premium domestic division haven't had a coherent look since the early '80s. Several of its models, such as the LS and the Navigator, have sold well at times, but the absence of a Lincoln DNA hasn't helped. In 2006, North American
Design chief Peter Horbury set about changing all that. He gave his team the task of examining past Lincolns to determine what set them apart.The first new model intended to set Lincoln on it's path to rebirth is the 2009 MKS, which is making its debut in production form at the LA Auto Show
later today. The MKS first appeared as a concept at the 2006 Detroit Auto Show. It's based on the same platform as the Ford 500/Taurus, which originated at Volvo under the S80/XC90. When the concept first appeared it was reasonably well receive
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