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Audi

Audi RS5: Australian pricing & specs

Audi RS5

Audi Australia has launched the RS5 with a manufacturer’s list price of $175,300. You’ll still need to pay a few statutory charges, but that’s about $4600 less than the AUSmotive prediction. A small saving, however, you still sense that price point is going to ensure Audi has to fight hard for every sale. Okay, it’s probably a bit tired to continually make this comparison, but you can bet the words BMW M3 will cross the lips of most RS5 buyers at some stage.

The RS5 has received extensive coverage on AUSmotive, so there’s no great need to go over the details again. The basics remain, that is the RS5 is powered by a 331kW 4.2 litre V8 driven by a quattro system featuring trick terms like torque vectoring and crown-gear centre differential. You can find out more on that technology here: quattro 101.

After the break you can read Audi’s press release and check out their latest gallery of images. It’s a great looking car, that’s for sure. Also included for download are the following items, all correct at time of publication:

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Alfa Romeo Fiat Volkswagen

Volkswagen CEO admits “we’d be interested” in Alfa Romeo

Volkswagen-Alfa Romeo-Fiat

In late August news emerged that Volkswagen insiders had confirmed a keen interest in buying Alfa Romeo. Back then people were willing to talk, but they weren’t prepared to give their names. Now, word has come straight from the top with Martin Winterkorn, Volkswagen Group CEO, admitting, “Alfa is a very emotional brand. If Fiat considers selling, we’d be interested.”

Winterkorn went further, offering a critique of the Alfa brand and highlighting where improvements could be made, “It’s a beautiful brand but there are quality issues with the engines and suspension systems for example. I’m quite sure we could make a beautiful brand out of Alfa again.”

According to the Volkswagen CEO they no interest in making a bid for Alfa and would only be willing to deal if Fiat expresses an interest to sell.

[Source: Autocar]

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Ford Motor Shows WRC

Paris 2010: Ford Fiesta RS WRC

Ford Fiesta RS WRC

Ford has made it a trifecta of WRC reveals with these new images of their race-prepped Fiesta RS. The car has undergone 3000km of limited testing in Britain and France already. Next week the Fiesta RS WRC will be in Spain for more test sessions, the first with full 2011 specs.

Gerard Quinn, Ford of Europe’s Motorsport chief, says, “We’re delighted to preview the Ford Fiesta RS WRC in such a prominent Motor Show as Paris. There are significant visual differences from the Fiesta S2000 base car as well as major changes under the skin. The biggest, of course, is the 1.6-litre Ford EcoBoost turbo engine -the original version of which was developed by Ford’s Powertrain Engineering team.”

More pics and details after the break. Unfortunately the last three pics are only available in 1024px sizing. The first three can be viewed as 2000px super images and if I stumble across full versions of the other pics I will update them accordingly.

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Citroen Motor Shows WRC

Paris 2010: Citroën DS3 WRC

Citroen DS3 WRC

Citroën has just fired back at MINI by releasing new images of its 2011 DS3 WRC. It looks pretty cool, too, but I think the MINI WRC is still a bit better. Of course, with eleventy-times champion Sebastien Loeb at the wheel, the DS3 WRC is sure to be the car to beat next year.

The full reveal of the DS3 WRC will take place very soon at the Paris Motor Show. More pics after the break.

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MINI Motor Shows WRC

Paris 2010: MINI WRC

MINI WRC

MINI has just revealed its new Countryman-based WRC car in Paris. It looks pretty mean in that first pic, too. Will this be the coolest car in world rallying?

After the break you can see more pics, brief technical details and a couple of short interviews with Ian Roberston, Member of the Board of Management, Sales and Marketing BMW Group and David Richards, Prodrive Chairman.

Update 4 October: Extra pics from the Paris stand can be seen HERE.

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Audi Green Machines Motor Shows

Paris 2010: Audi e-tron Spyder

Audi e-tron Spyder

This is the Audi e-tron Spyder, it’s the latest in the e-tron range from Ingolstadt and joins similar concept models previously shown at Detroit and Frankfurt. Featuring a fuel efficient 221kW V6 diesel engine the e-tron Spyder is complemented with a a pair of electric motors, one each to drive the front wheels, offering a further 64kW in all.

By using its Audi Space Frame technology weight has kept to 1450kg, or about the same as a current model TT. That’s not especially light, it must be said, but at least the addition of the electric motors hasn’t bothered the scales too much. Audi has managed to distribute that weight evenly over both axles, aiding handling and road holding.

The V6 TDI provides 650Nm of torque, the electric power adds a further 352Nm, meaning the Spyder concept can propel itself to 100km/h in 4.4 seconds. Sedate driving is rewarded with fuel consumption of just 2.2l/100km. CO2 emissions are kept low as well, producing just 59g/km. If you want to play the zero emission game you can, but to achieve the maximum 50km range you need to keep your speed below 60km/h.

At just 1100mm high, thanks to its gangster looks, the e-tron Spyder adds to the successful design legacy of Audi’s recent concept models. There’s plenty of other trick details included with this car, too, so make sure you check out the complete press release. Full details, pictures and video available after the break.

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Motor Shows Volkswagen

Paris 2010: Volkswagen Passat

Volkswagen Passat

Volkswagen revealed their new Passat at the Paris Motor Show overnight. It is the seventh generation Passat and worldwide sales have amassed 15 million since the first model was introduced in 1973.

Frankly, after the Audi quattro concept and the Lamborghini Sesto Elemento, the new Passat is a bit ho-hum. In truth, it is exactly what you would expect from Volkswagen’s mid-size nameplate. You know it will have a class leading interior. You know it will be well built. You know it will be a safe bet.

The styling is not cutting edge, but there’s enough smart detailing to ensure the overall look is not boring. Mind, the metallic bronze paint and brown leather interior probably tell you a lot about the target market for this new Passat.

There are a raft of engine choices available to European customers. It’s not sure when will be offered to the Australian market just yet, or when the new Passat will arrive. There’s also some new nifty seat/cargo configurations available. And you’ll also find a number of electronic safety systems to ensure the car achieves the expected five-star EuroNCAP crash rating.

Full details after the break.

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Lamborghini Motor Shows

Paris 2010: Lamborghini Sesto Elemento

Lamborghini Sesto Elemento

Yesterday it was the leaked image. Today it is the real deal—the Sesto Elemento concept car. Lamborghini has shown that it’s not only Japanese that have perfected the art of origami, as surely this is the only explanation for the creation of this radical concept? A few afters at the Sant’Agata local, a bit of paper folding and voila—we have a new concept car. “Brilliant!” was the cry, “Let’s make it.”

And they did. There’s more angles and hard edges here than David Coulthard’s jaw. But there’s also substance beneath that highly chiselled exterior. Substance to the tune of 570 horsepower, no less. The 5.2 litre V10 engine has been nicked from the Gallardo 570-4, along with the permanent all-wheel drive system.

As expected, the weight is a mere 999kg. Lamborghini claim the Sesto Elemento can reach 100km/h from rest in just 2.5 seconds. All this means, of course, that this car should provide one hell of a thrill when you plant your foot to the floor.

Speaking of which, the highly visible use of carbon fibre reinforced plastics has extended to the seats, as well. In fact, there are no seats in the usual sense of a separate seat being bolted to the floor. The seats form part of the monocoque and it is the steering wheel and pedals that move fore and aft to provide the best driving position. Indeed the whole interior is completely stripped back affair with virtually no soft materials at all.

It’s an utterly bonkers creation this Sesto Elemento; crazy, almost unfathomable and therefore everything a Lamborghini should be.

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Audi Motor Shows

Paris 2010: Audi quattro concept

Audi quattro concept

It is 30 years since Audi first released the original Quattro. And it now turns out that camouflaged machine we saw a couple of weeks ago is this new quattro concept, which Audi revealed in Paris overnight. Two words: do want!

The engine found beneath the snarling bonnet has been sourced from the TT RS; a 2.5 litre 5 cylinder turbo paying its respects to the Ur Quattro. Audi’s lab coats have also found the time to boost power to a new high of 300kW (408bhp). The weight of this car is a reasonably light 1300kg, too. Zero to one hundred is despatched in just 3.9 seconds.

Built on an RS5 platform the wheelbase for the quattro concept has been shortened by 150mm. The car also sits 40mm lower than its RS5 donor body. The overall look is a great success and the AUSmotive tick of approval is definitely given to this car.

Audi are often criticised for erring on the side of conservatism with their hero models. This extroverted quattro concept, though, gets the mix just right. The aggressive front nose is complemented by the 1980s inspired bonnet scoop and flutes. Even the subtle Audi badge on the C pillar is a perfectly executed detail. The side profile, beautifully understated on the one hand, bullish on the other.

Let’s hope this concept goes into full series production.

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Categories
BMW

Another BMW 1M Coupé rendering

BMW 1M Coupé rendering

Despite looking like the real thing, this image is, apparently, a rendering prepared by forum user Alpine325ci. You may remember he also created the earlier renderings of the 1M Coupé. There’s still no official date for release, so you’ll just have make do with goose pimples for now.

[Source: 1addicts]

Categories
Lamborghini

The sixth element

Lamborghini Sesto Elemento

The leaked image above is believed to be a V10 powered Lamborghini Sesto Elemento concept car. You may remember a couple of weeks ago we posted one of the teaser images released by Lamborghini in the lead up to the Paris Motor Show. Accompanying that pic was a statement from Lambo saying they think lightweight cars are the way forward for them, not outright speed and massive power. Clearly, a way to achieve lightweight is with a reliance on carbon fibre for body work.

Lamborghini has released five teaser images in all now (see them after the break) and the use of carbon fibre is there for all to see. Sesto Elemento is Italian, obviously, but when translated it says Sixth Element. Remember that periodic table back at school? No prizes for guessing what the sixth element is on that chart.

So, back to the car, apparently this concept weighs in at 999kg. In modern day terms that is super light, or should that be, superleggera! Despite Lamborghini saying they don’t want to chase headline grabbing power numbers you’d reckon any V10 they make is going to have some grunt, especially when it only has 1000kg to haul around. It’s been suggested the Sesto Elemento can sprint to 100km/h in a mere 2.5 seconds while going on to a v-max of 350km/h. So much for the comment “Speed is not as important anymore”!

Supposedly there are six teaser images to come from Lamborghini, with five now released and this leaked image on the loose, perhaps the sixth teaser image will be the final reveal? We shall wait and see.

[Source: Jalopnik via Blog Automobile]

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Categories
BMW Saab

SAABMW

Saab - BMW

Recent media gossip suggesting Saab is set to announce a technology and parts sourcing arrangement with BMW has forced parent company Spyker to release the following statement:

“Zeewolde, The Netherlands, 27 September 2010. Spyker Cars N.V. (“the Group”), a holding company that owns subsidiaries which produce and sell premium automobiles under the Saab and Spyker brands, has noted recent press speculation about the possible supply relationship with BMW. The Group confirms that talks are ongoing and will give further details once a final agreement has been reached.”

A BMW spokesman has said they often talk to other manufacturers from time to time, but did not confirm or deny discussions are in place with Saab.

Reports have speculated that Saab could source engines from BMW as well as building the new 9-2 platform using MINI architecture. The Swedish car-maker has a press-release scheduled for Wednesday, so it’s a fair bet we’ll have more info on this story then.

[Source: autocar]