ABT Audi RS4

Top Speed increase for the Audi RS4

Wondering how fast your precious Audi RS4 could go without that darned electronic speed limit that the Germans impose? Is a 250 km/h top speed not enough for you? Well, no problem with that as the German car specialist ABT just came out with a solution that’ll get rid of your problems. With the help of ABT, the potential top speed of 420 hp V8 RS4 from Ingolstadt now totals to a more appropriate, 282 km/h. More information here: ABT

Technorati Tags: ABT, Audi, RS4, autos,, auto+news

BMW HP2 Enduro

Although this is site dedicated to everything that stands on four and maybe sometimes on three wheels, I found this interesting press release at the BMW site. Don’t really know about its capabilities, but this Bavarian enduro sure has that “Bangle” look we all “adore” on BMW cars…

Press Release: The HP2 Enduro is without question the most extreme BMW off-road bike ever made and is the first in a new 'high performance' range of motorcycles from BMW Motorrad. Putting a tuned 105 hp Boxer engine in a stripped-down, purpose-built chassis has brought big-bore thrills to many dirt bike riders. However, the big advantage that the HP2 enjoys over its competitors is that it is 100 per cent road legal.

As such - and in response to customer demand - a 17-inch set of street wheels is now available for the HP2, giving owners maximum riding pleasure on tarmac, with the added bonus of being able to quickly and easily change the bike back to enduro specification for off-road riding.

With sticky road rubber and more than 100 horsepower available, this high-performance BMW will be great fun to ride on the kind of twisty, bumpy, undulating surfaces that tie sports bikes up in knots. In town, its long-travel suspension and 920mm seat height will provide excellent visibility in traffic, while the massive amount of torque generated by the tuned 1,170cc Boxer engine (115 Nm at just 5,500 rpm) will undoubtedly make the journey to and from work the best part of the day.

Available after BMW's New Season Launch weekend celebrations on 25-26 March, customers who purchase an HP2 Enduro can choose to have a set of street wheels included for an all-inclusive price of £12,595 on the road. The good news for existing HP2 owners is that they will be able to purchase a set of street wheels for a special price until the end of December 2006 - on submission of the appropriate vehicle documentation to their dealer. And for true off-road aficionados (who have no intention of riding their HP2 Enduro on tarmac) it is still possible to buy the HP2 Enduro without the street wheels option at £11,955.

BMW, HP2, Enduro, motorcycle, news

2007 Audi TT Coupe, Roadster & Shooting Brake

Coming Soon

Audi announced its official site for the 2007 TT models

As with the Q7, Audi is opening a new “mini” site for its second generation TT model, where the German company will start revealing bit by bit, all aspects of its new sports coupe, or actually shall I say, all three editions of it. See, the 2007 Audi TT will get three body types instead of two, as the coupe and roadster version will be accompanied by a shooting break edition, previewed in the Tokyo Motor Show last year. The TT production versions will be heavily based on this prototype with the range consisting of a variety of 4cylinder and 6cylinder petrol and diesel engines. Audi's new model will make its public debut at the Paris Motor Show in September

Petrol Range
2.0 FSI	150 hp
2.0 TFSI	200 hp
2.0 TFSI	225 hp
2.0 TSI	260 hp (same as the 2007 Audi S3)
3.2 FSI	250 hp
3.6 TFSI	360 hp (estimated)
Diesel Range
2.0 TDI	170 hp
3.0 TDI	233 hp

Press Release: The new Audi TT Coupé - coming soon!

The opening of the "Audi TT Lounge" will take place on March 8th. We would be pleased to welcome you again here: TT site Link

The "Audi TT Lounge" offers you initial insights into the new interpretation of the Audi TT design icon. If you provide your mobile phone number, you will be reminded automatically of the world premiere - and can look forward to a small surprise. With a bit of luck, you will not only be able to experience the Audi TT Coupé on the screen, but also test it yourself: win an unforgettable driving experience in the new Audi TT Coupé!

Technorati Tags: Audi, TT, Coupe, Roadster, Shooting+Brake, autos, auto+news

Alfa Romeo 8c Competizione Production Version

It’s Alive…!

Alfa Romeo’s 8c Competizione Concept heading for limited production according to the latest reports from Geneva. Plus, CEO Antonio Baravalle, confirms rumors of a rear wheel drive replacement for the 166 sedan

The stunning Italian concept Alfa Romeo 8c Competizione seems to be heading for a limited 500-unit build run, with the production-ready car scheduled to appear at the Paris Motor Show in Septembe, according to the Brit magazine 4Car which quotes comments from Alfa Romeo’s new CEO Antonio Baravalle made in Geneva last week.

Baravalle did not stop there however as he revealed that the company is thinking of replacing the unsuccessful 166 sedan (BMW 5 size) with a more upgrade 4door-coupe model based on the rear wheel drive platform of the Maserati Quattroporte. I think I speak for many that we all pray to God to see these two models come to life.

SOURCE: 4CAR

Remember the Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione concept car? The V8-powered, carbonfibre-bodied, front-engined supercar everyone said Alfa should build? Now, over two years since the concept was revealed at the 2003 Frankfurt show, it really could happen.

'It is my dream to do it,' said Alfa's recently-arrived CEO, Antonio Baravalle. 'We have cut the budget for our advertising campaign and will do the 8C instead, because it is a perfect way to promote the Alfa brand. Sergio Marchionne says if the figures add up, do it.' The plan is to have a production-standard 8C ready for the Paris show at the end of September, and to take orders for a 500-car production run then.It will be a coupé, like the concept car, but another of Baravalle's 'dreams' is to make a Spider version later.

Final details of the construction are still to be worked out, but it will most likely be a carbonfibre body over a spaceframe chassis, like the concept. The engine will be based on the block used by the current Ferrari and Maserati V8s, and the end result will be 'more like Ferrari than Maserati' according to Baravalle. That means a flat-plane crankshaft and engine which screams instead of throbs. Target power is 440bhp, target price is as yet undisclosed.

Antonio Baravalle also revealed that Alfa Romeo will decide within the next month on the underpinnings for the forthcoming Alfa 149. The style has already been through customer clinics, but the engineering choice is between a modified version of the next Fiat Stilo/Lancia Delta platform or a shortened Alfa 159 base. Baravalle prefers the second option, because it would make for a 'purer' Alfa, but it depends on costs.

A replacement for the Alfa 166, to be called 169, is also under consideration. It will be a joint venture with Alfa affiliate Maserati because, says Baravalle, the Modena company 'needs a car this size'. It will have a V6 engine, mounted longitudinally to give rear-wheel drive or four-wheel drive. If it goes ahead, the 166 will be the first rear-wheel drive Alfa for well over a decade.

Technical specifications of the Concept

ENGINE
position	front, longitudinal
type	V8, 32V, 4.244 cc, supercharged
max. power output	over 400 bhp at 7000 rpm
peak torque	over 45 kgm at 4500 rpm
TRANSMISSION
gearbox	mechanical 6-speed, position rear axle
CHASSIS
front / rear suspension	dual wishbone
brakes	front 380x34, rear 330x28mm
tyres	front 245/40 R 20, rear 275/35 R20
DIMENSIONS - WEIGHT
Length X width X height X wheelbase	4278 X 1900 X 1250 X 2595 mm
Track Front X Rear	1610 X 1580 mm
weight empty	approx. 1500 kg
fuel tank capacity	90 litres
PERFORMANCE
top speed	over 300 km/h
0-100 km/h (0-62 mph)	4.5 sec

Technorati Tags: Alfa+Romeo, 8c, Competizione, production+version, autos, auto+news,

BMW Z4M Coupe Racing Kit

No, don’t be afraid, Bangle did not attempt to design the Batmobile 2007, as this is BMW’s new racing car for customer motor racing. The Racing Version of the BMW Z4 M Coupe, is the first two-seater BMW Motorsport offers for customer teams. The new motorsport coupe can be used by private BMW customer teams in the German Endurance Championship and in the Nürburgring 24Hour Race. The power unit of the coupe is a BMW Motorsport designed 3.2-litre in-line 6-cylinder engine delivering about 400bhp, with the suspension area in particular benefiting from the knowledge gained from the successful BMW M3 GTR project.

With its varied component ranges, BMW Motorsport and BMW Racing Parts Distribution offer customer teams a new technology platform for use in many miscellaneous international racing and club sport series, with the Nordschleife enthusiasts not being the only interested party, as the brawny coupe also represents the perfect car for use in the Belgian Belcar series and other, non-European, endurance series.

The kit can be ordered from May 2006 at BMW Motorsport and will be available for an estimated € 250,000 (plus VAT).

Technical Data BMW Z4 M Coupé Motorsport Version

Length x Width x Wheelbase	4415 mm x 1880 mm x2493 mm
Overhang:	Front 865 mm/ Rear 774mm
Rear Wing Width:	1504 mm
Ground Clearance:	Front 80 mm/ Rear 90 mm
Tyres:	Michelin 27/65-18, 28/71-18
Front Brake:	Grey cast iron disc dia. 380 mm / 6 pot
Rear Brake:	Grey cast iron disc dia. 320 mm / 4 pot
Drive Line:	sequential 6-speed gearbox,
Engine	3246 cc, six cylinder in line
Comp/on Ratio:	12,5:1
Max. Power:	approx. 400 PS at 8200 rpm
Max. Torque:	approx. 400 Nm at approx. 5750 rpm
Max. RPM:	8400 rpm
Intake System:	Six single throttle valves, Carbon fibre Air box with resonance induction optimised inlet pipes
Exhaust System:	Multiple pipe manifold with silencer and catalytic converter
Fuel System:	Inlet-Pipe Injection, one Injector per Cylinder, 5 bar injection pressure
Fuel Tank :	120 litres
Weight:	1200 kg in Nürburgring Specification
Steering-wheel:	multiple function Steering-wheel with Quick-Release mechanism and display control

Technorati Tags: BMW, Z4M, Coupe, Racing+Kit, press+release, autos, auto+news, Geneva+Show

Sbarro Alfa Romeo Concept Geneva 2006

Sbarro's radical concept of a mid-engine AlfaRomeo at the Geneva Motor Show

Based on the theme of “interpreting Alfa’s glorious history”, this fully operational prototype, is one of my personal favourites at this years Geneva Auto Show. Although Sbarro concepts aren’t usually characterized as setting trends, this prototype revives Alfa’s fabulous styling history.

Designed as a mid-engined sports coupe, the concept is far more extreme than anything to come out in the future from Alfa Romeo’s own Centro Stile. Included on the Sbarro show car is an interesting approach to the front spoiler, incorporating an aerofoil positioned across the nose, broken only by the traditional Alfa Romeo ‘scudetto’ grille. The nose section also feature large individual scoops for cooling the front brakes, as well as spolier moulded into the bottom of each fender.

The concept car also incorporates gull wing doors, the top section of which being fabricated totally from glass, separated only by a central beam to provide an H pattern when viewed from above. Generous rear intakes, similar in shape to those on the Ferrari Enzo, feed air to Alfa’s 3.2 JTS V6 engine

Technorati Tags: Sbarro, Alfa+Romeo, Concept, Geneva+2006, autos, auto+news

2007 Dodge Avenger

Dodge’s Geneva Presentation Video unveils a new model, which may be the new Avenger

While I was watching the press conference video of Dodge Geneva Presentation, I noticed something very interesting. At the 29th second of the video (Exactly after the clip of the new 2007 Jeep Compass and the Autoweek magazine cover with the Chrysler 300C) there are two snap shots of an unknown car which is neither a Caliber nor a Charger.

To prove this, look at the rear and front view of these two models and compare them with the video pictures. This unknown car may very well be Dodge’s new mid sized sedan, Avenger, programmed for production latter this year or early 2007.

To see the video click here: LINK

Technorati Tags: 2007, Dodge, Avenger, Dodge+Avenger, autos, auto+news