Automotive News

Filed under: Coupes, Euro, Videos, Supercars, Audi, BMW, Bugatti

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We found a couple great Fifth Gear videos for you from the new season, so we decided to put both into one post. First (above), Vicky Butler-Henderson pits two of the hottest luxury sport coupes, the all-new Audi S5 and the BMW 335i. These two vehicles show just how far the sport coupe market has come in the past few years, and Vicky took both to the track to see which vehicle was quicker. The rear-drive Bimmer had it all over the S5 in the handling department while also weighing a few hundred pounds less, but the S5 used its over 50HP advantage courtesy of its brute-force V8 engine to even the score. Click play above to see who won the time trial by a minuscule .6 seconds.

Hit the jump to view the second Fifth Gear video, and see what could be a teaser of the Veyron cabrio.

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading Autoblog Night Watch: Needell hints at Veyron ‘vert, 5th Gear pegs Audi A5 vs. BMW 335i

 

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Filed under: Frankfurt Auto Show, Spy Photos, Wagons/Estates, Videos, Audi

The details surrounding the Audi RS6 are out, but that doesn’t mean that testing has ended. The RS6 has been sighted donning heavy camo all over the free world, and after the jump we have video of a virtually undisguised RS6 Avant doing a powerslide at a bend of the famed Nürburgring Nordshcleife. The video is almost as quick as the RS6, but if you like screaming engines and squealing tires, it’s worth a watch. Heck, part of the reason we’re flying all the way over to the Frankfurt Motor Show is to see Audi’s fastest ever sedan and wagon.

[Source: Carscoop]

Continue reading VIDEO: Audi RS6 Avant drifting round the ‘Ring

 

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Filed under: Convertibles, Coupes, Sedans/Saloons, Alfa Romeo

A month after announcing that Alfa Romeo would finally return to the US market next year with the 8C Competizione, more information about further products is now coming out. Maserati North America will be acting as the US distributor for the Italian brand when three more models join the lineup in 2009. The gorgeous 8C will have very limited availability with only the final 99 samples of a 500 car production coming to the US at a steep $200,000.

The other models will be somewhat more accessible probably in BMW territory. The three car lineup will be topped by the 159 sport sedan in front and all wheel drive configurations. Joining the 159 will be the Brera coupe and the open top Spider. The Spider uses the Brera platform with a shorter wheelbase. Existing Maserati dealers will be the first to get Alfa franchises.

[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req.]

 

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Filed under: Frankfurt Auto Show, Supercars, Lamborghini

“Regular” LP640 used for demonstration purposes

Jalopnik has busted the lid off the super-secret Lambo supercar that has been little more than a whisper campaign until now. Looks like Lambo leader Stephan Winkelmann has finally admitted what we’ve know for a little while. Up in Monterey we heard people talking in hushed voices about a new $1.5 million supercar based off the LP640, but with styling “inspired by jets.” Winkelmann confirmed those rumors while announcing that we’d be seeing something special from Sant’Agata Bolognese at the Frankfurt Auto Show next week. We’ve heard that although the exterior is rather exceptional, it’s what’s on the inside that really matters the most. Something about a truly innovative dash that has folks abuzz. It better be good to command 5 times a normal LP’s price tag.

[Source: Jalopnik]

 

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Filed under: Frankfurt Auto Show, Sports/GTs, Wagons/Estates, Euro, Audi

Click image for high-res gallery

Mere hours after the first round of Audi RS6 Avant info and photos landed on the web, Audi released all the official deets. We covered the essentials for you last night, but if you follow the jump, you can now read the press release in full. There are a few new shots added to the photo gallery as well, so click and enjoy. In case you missed it the first time around, here’s the RS6 Avant in brief:

• 580-horsepower/480 lb-ft V10 TFSI
• 0-62 mph in 4.6 seconds, 0-124 mph in 14.9 seconds
• Top speed of 155 mph (electronically governed)
• 17 mpg combined-cycle
• quattro permanent four-wheel-drive
• Unique bodywork, interior trim
• Up to 58.6 cubic ft of cargo space
• Optional ceramic composite brakes
• 6-speed tiptronic
• Exclusive new colors
• Available in Europe April 2008

And here we thought the regular V10 FSI, as seen in the S6 and S8, was awesome. Silly us.

[Source: Audi]

Continue reading Officially Official: Audi RS6 Avant

 

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Filed under: Spy Photos, Mercedes Benz

With Mercedes-Benz having revamped the C-Class this year and reports of a new E-Class due next year, the CLK is due the year after. The first spy shots of the new coupe have surfaced and it looks like it will be inheriting some styling cues from the new C including a grille and headlight shape like the Sport version of the sedan.

The siamesed round headlights are definitely history and the cut line of the hood has moved from the top surface to the side of the fender, making a continuous line from nose to at at least the back edge of the side glass. It looks like the front edge of the hood is also a bit taller, probably to meet the latest Euro pedestrian safety standard.

[Source: Jalopnik]

 

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Filed under: Trucks/Pickups, Honda

If you’re looking to buy a Honda Ridgeline, you might want to grab one of the remaining ’07s on the lot. Honda has released the details on the 2008 models, and though not much on the award-winning truck has changed, the price on all trims goes up a little bit.

According to Honda’s press release, the only thing different on 2008 Ridgelines is a wheel upgrade choice. Instead of chrome alloy wheels on the RTS and RTL tiers, customers get machine finished alloys.

The RT and RTX models get a $200 bump in price to $28,000 and $28,500. Honda adds $150 to the price of the RTS, $30,425; RTL, $33,090; and the RTL with navigation, $35,090.

The destination and handling fee also goes up, to $635, a $40 increase over the 2007 fee. EPA’s new rules give the Ridgeline a slightly worse fuel economy rating, at 15/20 instead of 2007’s 16/21.

Full press release after the jump, see our gallery for more photos.

Continue reading Honda releases 2008 Ridgeline details

 

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Filed under: Frankfurt Auto Show, Spy Photos, Hatchbacks, FIAT

The Fiat Punto Abarth — the tarted up version of the Punto by Fiat’s in-house tuning arm — has been seen on the roads of Turin, and it’s hot hot hot. The car looks every bit as good as the concept, perhaps even better, having swapped the white mirrors for red ones.

It will have a turbocharged 1.4-liter engine with 155 HP and a 6-speed manual. However, buyers will be able to request an Abarth tuning kit that gets 180 HP. It will also have a lower, stiffer sport-tuned suspension. Going against other minis like the RenaultSport Clio 197 and Vauxhall Corsa VXR, which outdo it by at least 39 HP in stock form, it will probably need every last horse and suspension tweak to compete with its rivals.

The car premieres at the Frankfurt Auto Show next week. It will run £15,000 in the UK. Why, why, why can’t we get these cars here?

[Source: Auto Express]

 

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Filed under: Concept Cars, Frankfurt Auto Show, Hyundai

Hyundai will be making three unveilings at next week’s Frankfurt Auto Show, two of them are new and the other is something we’ve seen before. The highlight of Hyundai’s stands will undoubtedly be the new hydrogen-powered i-Blue crossover concept. In line with the show’s theme of sustainability and climate protection, the i-Blue is a visual representation of the carmaker’s efforts to have a fully fledged hydrogen fuel-cell vehicle on the market within the next ten years. Developed in Chiba, Japan, the new concept emits no emissions whatsoever and was designed from the ground up as dedicated fuel-cell vehicle.

Joining the i-Blue will be the Veloster sports coupe concept, already displayed at the Seoul Auto Show back in April. Though strictly a concept, there’s talk that the Veloster could make it to production but if not we’re sure some of its styling elements will feature on the upcoming RWD sports coupe currently in the works.

Rounding out Hyundai’s Frankfurt trio is the new i30 estate. Based on the current i30 5-door hatchback, the new estate offers even more storage space thanks to its stretched wheelbase and is scheduled to go on sale in Europe early next year.

[Source: Hyundai]

 

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Filed under: Car Buying, Coupes, Euro, BMW

While it’s impossible to accurately judge the cost of vehicles in the U.S. based off pricing in Europe, Autocar gives us a brief glimpse of what to expect. According to the Brit website, the diesel-equipped models will span the financial spectrum between £21,585 for the 175 HP 120d to £26,290 for the 201 HP M-Sport 123d. Since we’ll probably see none of the oil-burners here in the States, the one figure that stood out to us was £29,745. That’s the price in pounds for the M-Sport equipped 135i.

Using some creative math, £29,745 is just under $60,000 U.S. at current exchange rates - far from what we’ll pay when the 135i makes its way across the pond. For comparison, the 335i in the U.K. comes in at £31,550, or about $63,500 in U.S. dollars (again, at today’s exchange rate). So if the base 335i here in the United States comes in at $38,900, then would it be safe to assume that the 135i should be under $35k? And if so, is that too close to the 3-series pricing to make it worthwhile? Our answer: Maybe. Although we bristle with excitement at the prospect of a small(ish) vehicle with a 300 HP twin-turbo’d straight-six, such a small pricing discrepancy might cause us to upgrade. What say you?

[Source: Autocar]

 

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