Audi quattro concept heading into production?
Remember the Audi quattro concept that was shown at the 2010 Paris Motor Show? Now we have news that Audi may put the coupe/3-door hatch into production, according to a recent post by Jalopnik. Apparently a reader of the motoring website spotted a quattro running around with design studio license plates in Malibu, Calirfornia.
It was definitely for a photo shoot as a classic quattro was also present and there was police escort as well. The reader then asked one of the crew members some questions and he or she ‘confirmed’ that the quattro concept is going into production. There is nothing official about this and it will be interesting to hear what Audi has to say.
As mentioned before, the all-wheel-drive Audi quattro concept weighs 1,300 kilograms and it is powered by a turbocharged 2.5 liter 5-potter which makes 402hp and 480Nm of torque. Naught to 100km/h can be reached in 3.9 seconds. You can read more about it here.
335hp Audi RS 3 Sportback – official footage!
Following the official unveiling of the RS 3 Sportback, Audi has released an official footage showcasing the high-performance hatch. The video is 6 minutes 30 seconds long and contains several beauty and driving shots. You can also hear the ‘rumble’ of the engine but to be honest, it wasn’t what I expected. A bit too mundane. Nevertheless it shouldn’t stop you from watching the video after the jump.
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2012 Hyundai Azera – initial official images!
It was just about a week ago when Hyundai released initial sketches of the 2012 Azera (also called the Grandeur) and now we have official images of the real thing! The new Azera is treated to Hyundai’s current design language and I must say that it has worked out well for the company.
The new Azera is a good looking vehicle. Unfortunately the images did not come with juicier details on the specifications. We only know that the Azera is a front-wheel-drive vehicle unlike the Hyundai Genesis. The Azera is expected to hit American shores late next year.
European pricing for McLaren MP4-12C revealed
McLaren has officially announced the European pricing for its MP4-12C sports car. You would be able to walk away with this 600hp monster for £168,500 including 20% VAT. This price is slightly cheaper compared to the price of the Ferrari 458 Italia in the UK, by approximately £1000.
In Germany it would cost €200,000 while France/Monaco, Italy and Belgium will sell it for €201,000, €201,680 and €203,360 respectively. The MP4-12C will go on sale sometime next year. For wealthy Singaporeans who plan to drive this home, don’t worry as there will be an official McLaren dealership in the country by 2011.
As mentioned previously, the new McLaren is powered by a 600hp twin-turbo 3.8 liter V8 which is also capable of cranking out 599Nm of torque. The powerplant is mated to a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission and 0-100km/h takes slightly less than 3.8 seconds while top speed is figured at over 300km/h.
You can read everything you need to know about the McLaren MP4-12C here.
Opel facelifts the Corsa, add new EcoFlex engine
After giving us the facelifted Antara, Opel has revealed the facelifted Corsa the very next day. The super mini has been updated with a sharper front incorporating a new grille and front bumper along with new fog lights housings. Talking about the front, don’t you think there are similarities with the Mazda2? Moving on, the exterior update is also complemented by new wheels (six of them) as well as a larger Opel Blitz logo on the tailgate.
The interior now has a more textured dashboard and the trim levels have been upgraded with new fabric and decor options. Opel has also introduced a new trim level for the European market called Color Line Series. This trim level can be equipped with an optional Linea package which adds two racing stripes and matching 17-inch wheels and door mirror caps.
There is also a new navigation option called Touch & Connect with a five-inch touch screen display which can propose alternative routes in case there are traffic problems. It is also Bluetooth, iPod as well as USB compatible too.
There is also a change under the hood, an addition to be more precise. The new Corsa now comes with a new diesel engine called the EcoFlex 1.3 CDTI featuring an engine start/stop system as standard. This engine makes a decent 95hp and allows the Corsa to offer a combined fuel economy reading of 3.6 liters per 100 kilometers and emits only 95 grams of CO2 per kilometer.
The 3-door variant with this engine only uses 3.5 liters per 100 kilometers while emitting 94 grams of CO2 per kilometer. The new Opel Corsa which is also sold as the Vauxhall Corsa in the UK is set to go on sale next January. Continue reading to view an image gallery.
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Luca di Montezemolo tries out the New Stratos
Ferrari CEO Luca di Montezemolo managed to try out the New Stratos at Ferrari’s Fiorano circuit in Italy. Following the test drive, Montezemolo was quoted saying ‘congratulations’ and also suggested Roberto Fedeli, Ferrari’s technical director to take a look at the car.
The New Stratos is a one-off unit that was designed by Pinninfarina and has been already presented to its owner Michael Stoschek. The car which is based on the Ferrari F430′s running gear will be officially unveiled to the press at the Paul Ricard circuit in France next week.
The car was then driven by chief test driver Dario Benuzzi and he said that the only issue with the car was that its rear axle becomes a bit “agitated” at the high speed cornering. However the cure is pretty simple, which is by increasing the toe-in on the rear wheels. Continue reading to watch the video.
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2012 Volkswagen Beetle teased on Oprah, 275 units given away!
Volkswagen has decided to tease the 2012 Beetle on one of most watched daytime talk shows, The Oprah Winfrey Show. The outline of the new model was shown and the shape didn’t come as a surprise. It definitely looks like a Beetle if you as me! The shocker is that Oprah gave away 275 units of the yet-to-be-launched 2012 Beetle to her audiences as part of her “Favorite Things” episode.
The press release by Volkswagen that accompanied the photo above talks about how aggressive and sportier the 2012 ‘bug’ is. Perhaps Volkswagen is trying to shed the “for ladies only” image that has been cemented on the Beetle.
The new Beetle has a dual-exhaust system, 19-inch wheels, sports seats along with other features such as Bluetooth, touch-screen radio, unique ambient lighting and more. The company also confirmed that the Beetle will be launched in the US by spring next year before being available in showrooms by fall.
Continue reading to view a high-res version of the image above.
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