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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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Volkswagen

VW Polo GTI spotted in Sydney

Volkswagen Polo GTI

Thanks to AUSmotive reader Brendan for sending in these pics of a new five-door Volkswagen Polo GTI, spotted near Maroubra beach in Sydney. It seems almost certain now that the Pogo will be joining the Golf GTI adidas on the Volkswagen stand at the Australian International Motor Show next month.

The sighting follows news of the basic specification levels and options for the Polo GTI, which have been circulating for a couple of weeks now. Volkswagen dealers are, at this stage, keeping pricing information very close to their chest.

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Range Rover

Range Rover Evoque gets early showing

Range Rover Evoque

Well-to-do urban hipsters of the world are smiling today following the release of new information from Range Rover about the company’s “smallest, lightest, most fuel-efficient Range Rover ever.”

You and I will call it the Evoque, but the hipsters will probably stick with SLMFERRE. The Evoque will have its first public showing in Paris at the end of the month.

Does the world really need a new two-door urban assault vehicle, or do Range Rover simply need to lower the emissions output of their fleet? You be the judge.

Secretly, though, it does look pretty cool, don’t you think? But don’t tell anyone. And if you do want to save some shred of credibility, don’t, under any circumstances, get the front-wheel drive version.

Full details after the break.

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Volkswagen

Australian launch of Volkswagen Polo GTI imminent

Volkswagen Polo GTI

Volkswagen’s mini-me GTI, the Polo GTI, is due for local release prior to the end of 2010. October has always seemed the most likely month for the car to find its way into Aussie showrooms. Perhaps the Polo GTI might even make an appearance at the Australian International Motor Show, which kicks off in Sydney on 15 October.

This scenario now seems all the more likely following the revelation of basic specification levels posted on the VWwatercooled forum earlier today. The information is from a customer who has pre-ordered a new Pogo and is expecting to take delivery in early October.

The information reveals the Polo GTI will be available in three and five door platforms, both come standard with a 7-speed DSG transmission. The Polo GTI is currently not available with a manual gearbox. It will be available in five colours, Candy White, Flash Red, Reflex Silver, Shadow Blue Metallic and Deep Black Pearl Effect.

Other standard equipment includes 17″ Denver alloy wheels—wearing 205/45/17 rubber, cruise control, ESP, XDL (Extended electronic Differential Lock), daytime running lights, leather multifunction steering wheel with gearshift paddles and an MP3 compatible stereo system featuring six-stack CD player and aux in plug.

If you fancy ticking a few options boxes, you can choose from touch screen Sat Nav, xenon headlights with LED daytime running lights, climate control, Alcantara/leatherette seat trim and more. Interestingly, there is no mention of a sunroof option.

Follow the source link below for the full list. Once official details have been released by Volkswagen Australia you’ll be able to read them here at AUSmotive.

[Source: VWwatercooled]

Categories
Porsche

Porsche 911 Carrera GTS

Porsche 911 Carrera GTS

Porsche has made the shock discovery that 0.01% of the sportscar market has been left unattended. Fear not, they are about to release the 408hp 911 Carrera GTS. This seems like the fifty-seventh variation of the 911 offered by Porsche and they say it is designed to close the gap from the regular Carrera to the GT3.

The GTS will make its worldwide premiere in Paris very soon and you can read all about it after the break.

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Categories
Ford

Ford Focus ST gets 184kW after being hit by the ugly stick

Ford Focus ST

Ford has released a few images of the new Focus ST ahead of its public reveal Paris Motor Show. The ST will complete the Focus line up on the stands in Paris, making it the first time all varitations of the next generation C segment platform car have been seen in the one place.

With this new hot hatch ST version Ford has certainly got one thing right, the power. There will be 250PS (184kW) on offer from a 2.0 litre turbocharged four cylinder. The lack of a five pot engine will force the XR marketing team at Ford Australia to scratch their heads – the current Focus ST is called an XR5 here. The XR4 name plate has been used for the Fiesta. Maybe sanity will prevail and we’ll get the call it the ST like everyone else on the planet.

Sadly, however, Ford got one thing horribly wrong, the looks. Perhaps that face won’t look as sad and shark-like in person. In pictures, it’s simply diabolical. Even the official name for the paint colour you see above is in on the act – “Tangerine Scream”.

Anyway, Ford hopes the new ST can become a global hot hatch player and it will go on sale around the world in early 2012. That’s some lead time, given the show car will make its debut more than 12 months ahead of the sales launch.

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Categories
Mercedes-Benz

Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG – Australian pricing & specs

Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG

The latest Mercedes ‘Gullwing’ model, the SLS AMG, has now landed in Australia. If you want to get your hands on one of these beauties you’ll need to pony up the cash for the $464,000 list price, and then some. AUSmotive is a massive fan of this car and if you do have a lazy 500 lying around that you feel like handing over to your local Benz dealership, would you mind lending me the keys!

One can only imagine the sensation the Gullwing’s 420kW and eight angry cylinders would provide. The interior looks fantastic, too. This is a very special motor car.

Mercedes-Benz Australia have obliged with some stunning images and you can see over 40 new pics after the break. You can also download a couple of PDFs, including full pricing details. Thirty grand for carbon ceramic brakes anyone?

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Categories
Fiat

Abarth Punto EVO photo gallery

Abarth Punto EVO

The Abarth Punto EVO has just gone on sale in the UK. It is powered by a 1.4 litre turbo four with “MultiAir technology”. The feisty Punto can punt its way to 100km/h in 7.9 seconds. Peak power from the Punto EVO engine is 165bhp (123kW), which is complemented by 250Nm of torque from 2250rpm. A 180bhp+ esseesse upgrade will also be made available in the future.

Inside there’s race-style front seats, a smart looking interior and a bloody big sport button that sharpens up the EVO’s responses. You also get Brembo brake calipers and sticky Pirelli rubber wrapped around model specific 17″ alloys.

Fuel consumption for this car is around 6l/100km and CO2 emissions are a relatively responsible 142g/km. And it’s all packaged up in a pretty decent looking hatchback body. The Abarth Punto EVO has the makings for a very tasty city car, then. The only disappointment is that the Punto EVO is currently not on the local importer’s radar.

So you’ll just have to make do with a press release and a raft of images, which are all yours after the break.

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Categories
Peugeot

Peugeot 508 – due in Australia mid-2011

2011 Peugeot 508

Peugeot has just released these images of their new 508 saloon and wagon. The 508 will be launched in 2011 and Peugeot say this is the first of their models to take styling cues from the SR1 Concept (well, they both have four wheels I suppose).

A mix of petrol and diesel e-HDi engines will be offered with the 508. Also joining the range will be a HYbrid4 option. This eco-warrior model has headline specs of 200bhp, all-wheel drive and a CO2 figure of just 99g/km.

Peugeot reckon the interior of the 508 is pretty flash saying, “Every detail has been chosen to offer indisputable perceived quality, both visually and to the touch.” The interior does look quite nice at first glance, although a closer inspection shows there are a lot of buttons and it could be a bit fiddly.

Outside, we’re being told the look is “timeless” and typical “French chic”. To be honest, it’s a bit hard to tell from these pics. More than usual, the 508 is one of those cars that needs to be judged in person and not from images. In the photos supplied the 508 looks svelte and smooth, while at the same time looking bloated and not quite right.

Take a look at the pics after the break and judge for yourself.

UPDATE 14 July: Peugeot Australia has just sent out the following info, “The 508 is being developed for a local market release by mid 2011… [it] will be unveiled to the public at the 2011 Melbourne International Motor Show.” Full release below.

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Categories
BMW

Last hurrah for BMW E60 M5

BMW E60 M5

As the door for a new M model opens, the door for the mighty E60 M5 has closed. With 373kW (507bhp) from its normally aspirated 5.0 litre V10 the most recent M5 was properly quick. In the opinion of AUSmotive it was also the best looking M5 ever made. By far.

In all, a total of 20,548 E60 M5s were sold, making it the highest selling M5 of all time. It may also be the only time we see a V10 stuffed under an M5 bonnet. Rumours suggest the forthcoming F10-based M5 will be powered by a twin-turbo 4.4 litre V8.

Joining BMW’s press release below waving goodbye to the E60 is an image gallery, along with a couple of YouTube clips courtesy of Top Gear.

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Categories
BMW

A closer look at the 1 Series M Coupé

BMW 1 Series M Coupe soyshot

BMW were kind enough to give us an official tease of the 1 Series M Coupé on Friday. However, aside from the name, they’ve not given much else away, especially in the case of the car’s specification or equipment. That means we need to take a closer look at the pics available and start the guessing game.

Above you can see an interior shot of the car (or one of the cars) used in Friday’s tease. Keep in mind this is clearly a prototype and details are likely to change. The first things you can see are the steering wheel and front seats from the M3. On the dash are two-tone dials which might not make final production, but you can just make out an indicated redline of 7000rpm. Does that really tell us anything? Probably not, but it does match the current redline of the 135i.

Which brings us to the engine that will power the 1M. At initial launch the 135i was powered by the N54 twin-turbo 3-litre six, producing claimed figures of 225kW (300bhp) and 400Nm. It has since been replaced by the N55 single turbo 3-litre six, with twin scroll technology. Rated power and torque figures remained unchanged from the N54.

There seems to be some debate as to which engine the 1M will feature. For what its worth, the US spec 335is uses a tweaked N54 producing 243kW (320bhp)/502Nm. German publication Autobild is estimating the power of the 1M will be 340PS (250kW). Hmm, sounds suspiciously like the engine specs of the Z4 sDrive35is. Would BMW really adorn the M badge to an engine already found in a non-M model?

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Categories
BMW

25 years of the BMW M3

BMW E30 M3

It doesn’t matter what criteria you judge it against, the BMW M3 is a genuine motoring icon. The M3 nameplate is about to turn 25. Four generations on the reputation carved by the original E30 M3 has been upheld at every step.

AUSmotive will be adding a large image gallery soon. In the meantime you can download BMW’s full press release and engine specs for every car to wear an M3 badge over the last 25 years. You might also enjoy reading over our previous Past Master article on the E30 M3, which includes images of an early M3 sales brochure from the United States.

UPDATE: Dr Kay Segler, AUSmotive’s new best friend has been busy announcing the 1 Series M Coupé, but he has also said a few things about the M3. You can read those words at the end of this article.

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