Audi RS5 (2011) long-term test review

What on earth is Ben Pulman and the rest of the office on? Glance through the comments below and you'd think none of us like the Audi RS5. Nothing could be further from the truth. Fact is, the RS5 has rather split opinion. Those with the words 'road tester' somewhere on their CVs tend to prefer the BMW M3 but many of the rest of us actually have a big soft spot for the fast Audi.
 

In the real world, the extra clarity of the BMW's steering, the ability to slip-slide your way through rounadabouts, is rarely much use. In fact having just covered 500 miles in the RS5 this weekend, I think I prefer the more grown-up nature of the RS5. I'm not alone; managing ed Greg Fountain and I had a pow-wow on this very topic the other day.
The Audi RS5 is such a complete package. It helps that the Audi A5 donor car is one of the best-looking mainstream cars on sale today. Modded every so subtly by the Quattro Gmbh boys, it looks ever so svelte and purposeful. Inside – a killer blow this – it's miles better than the ageing M3's plasticky, dated cabin. It's well equipped, comfortable and I disagree with Ben's comments below about the switchgear being confusing. Spend some time in the RS5 and it all begins to click.
That 4.2 nat-asp engine is a belter, with a real character overload as the revs climb. Powerful brakes, rapid-shift twin-clutch S tronic 'box, and steering with meaty weighting add up to make this an entertaining package. The minority who indulge in tail-out antics on the public road may prefer the adjustability of the M3, but – trust me – most people, most of the time will benefit more from the peerless traction of the Quattro four-wheel drive. Both at this time of year when the roads are baking and especially come winter time when temperatures plunge.
It's that all-rounder spirit than I like. The boot's massive and it made very good weekend away transport. The only real fly in the ointment is the wanton thirst of that V8 and the adaptive damper settings which jiggle annoyingly in anything other than Comfort mode.

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All Ferrari 599 GTO Copies Sold Before World Premiere

All Ferrari 599 GTO Copies Sold Before World Premiere

The Ferrari officials said that all 599 GTO copies were sold before the public debut of the model. Ferrari 599 GTO is the fastest street model ever built by the Italian automaker, and was produced in only 599 copies.
Before the great presentation from the Beijing Auto Show, the Italian supercar could be admired in an event held at the Military Academy of Modena. Ferrari 599 GTO has a V12 engine with a displacement of 6.0-liters which can produce up to 670 HP at 8,250 rpm and the torque developed reaches the value of 457 lb-ft at 6,500 rpm.
The model uses an Formula 1 transmission with six gears able to change gears in just 50 milliseconds. Ferrari 599 GTO’s performance are something to really envy, the car sprinting from 0 to 60 mph in 3.35 seconds, and top speed exceeding 208 mph.

For you to make a general idea of how important the 599 GTO model is for Ferrari and how the event took place within the Military Academy of Modena, here is a highlights video of the supercar’s world premiere on April 14.

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Harley-Davidson and Marisa Miller, what mix could be sexier? 

Marisa Miller may be known as the sexiest women on the planet for her work in Sports Illustrated and Victoria’s Secret catalogs, and in light of her latest ad campaign with the Bar and Shield Company, we’re not here to debate that.Harley Davidson… well no need for me to go into all that you all know to well about Harleys.

So what’s the connection between the two? It seems Harley Davidson got a


new model for advertising their bikes, the idea of a biker and the motivation to start riding one. You guessed right, it’s no one else than Marisa Miller! The executives over in Milwaukee outdone themselves with the whole “Start Something!” campaign, clip foremost, but the interactive site with Marisa guiding you step-by-step is not to be sneezed upon either. Imagine her all dressed in leather, blonde hair flowing, telling you how to get started, how to speed it up, even how to get the license and.. hit the road! Words are futile…
Harley-Davidson will even be giving away a few bikes for amateurs looking to become bad-ass bikers, so hurry to visit! (As if seeing Marisa Miller riding a bike wasn’t enough…).

Curious whether Marisa really is a biker herself, and wether this is the first time she’s wearing a costume and owning (or is it vice-versa?) that Harley? The behind-the-scenes clip below might answer your questions. Or just make you really frisky, so if you’re watching this at work at least invite the boss too. That way he surely won’t mind.
source by mibz

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What can a VIDEO be about that includes a BMW S 1000 RR and the tablecloth myth?

What can a VIDEO be about that includes a BMW S 1000 RR and the tablecloth myth?
You guys just have to see the video. It’s the least wasted 1 min of anyone’s life. Not being a great fan of Mythbusters or the like, I don’t know if they ever tried to bust the old pull-the-tablecloth trick, or if they did or did not bust out the myth. Back in the day when medieval princes where bored as hell and they came up with this stunt, I’m not sure they had 193 horsepower in a single machine. Unless maybe, earlier in history though, good old Hercules had too much mead or something…

Back to the subject. A long elegant table full of high-class dishes and all sorts of tabelware, flowers along of course, a white stylish down-to-the floor long cloth. Add in a BMW S 1000 RR, the 193 horsepower that hits 60 mph / 100 kmh in under 3 seconds – and of course the human factor – a pro driver with a quick set of wrists and lots of anger in his eyes, be they under the casket.

What happens? See for yourself in the clip. BMW takes you out! By the way, you can own such a beauty and bring the house down at parties trying the trick for yourself (well, or just drive down those streets like a normal sports biker, it’s up to you…) for around $ 13-14k.
source by mibz

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Frankfurt Auto Show ladies – must see gallery of glamour hostess girls

Frankfurt Auto Show ladies – must see gallery of glamour hostess girls
Give it to Germany to make killer cars, killer music, but this old center Europe territory is not too bad when it comes to … women either. Well, each company brought its best looking assistants to the Frankfurt Auto Show, but local managers surely had their say too -  so a big thumbs up for German fems!
Without further (needless) ado take a glance (or two) at the gallery below. Just the perfect thing to take your mind a bit off wheels, steers and engines. Hehe.

By the way, my favourite femme-fatale would be the school-girl look one next to the Lancia Ypsilon. Thought I wouldn’t say no to a couple of others either. Which is your pick? Do not hesitate to use the comment section on the bottow of this article.

source by mibz

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First Pictures Of The Extreme Lamborghini Gallardo LP570-4 SV

First Pictures Of The Extreme Lamborghini Gallardo LP570-4 SV
Lamborghini will unveil at Geneva an extreme version of the Gallardo model, named LP570-4 SV, characterized by low weight and increased power.
Last days of 2009 were announcing an important premiere at Lamborghini stand at the Geneva Motor Show. Unofficial sources spoke of a performance version, named LP570-4 SV, of the Gallardo model. It seems that the rumors were true, Italians released today the first two pictures of the new version that will become the star of the Swiss auto salon in March.
Unfortunately for fans of sports brand, the images that appeared in the press today are not accompanied by  the information on power and performances that supercar will be capable of. Unofficial sources say the current 5.2-liter engine unit will provide 10 extra horsepower, power indicated by the name – Lamborghini Gallardo LP570-4 SV – the previous LP560 featuring 560 HP. The resources will be sent to both axles, which will benefit, among others, from a recalibrated suspension for extreme behavior.

 To control the 570 horsepower beast, the driver will have a new set of ceramic carbon brakes, custom made for this car. On the outside, the SV version will have a new aerodynamic package, which includes a new front bumper and a huge carbon fiber rear spoiler.
source by mibz

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Lamborghini Gallardo Twin Turbo “Race Version,” An Incredible 1,875 HP Supercar

Lamborghini Gallardo Twin Turbo “Race Version,” An Incredible 1,875 HP Supercar

We’ve seen some amazing cars so far. Whit a lot of power and the number expressing the horsepower having 3 digits. No, we are not talking about trains, we are talking about cars. You can see them on Youtube instantly, just search for “fast supra with 1400 hp” or “viper twin turbo 1900 hp” or “1300HP GTR 7.92” and the list can continue. But the next car is something I’ve personally never seen before. But, let’s cut the rambling and get to the subject.

Underground Racing presented its latest creation, a Lamborghini Gallardo with a V12 twin turbo 1,875 HP engine, named “Race Version.” The unimaginably powerful vehicle was custom made for a client, Jonah, and runs with a special fuel name VP c16, used in the race cars combustion. The engine of the supercar is helped by a 6-speed transmission. The lucky possessor of this amazing piece of engineering managed to make a quarter mile in less than 10 seconds, with a speed of 162 mph.
We should mention that this was the first time when the Underground Racing’s client drove his car after it was tuned. The first time after more than 10 years.

source by mibz

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Obama denied the hybrid presidential limo he wanted!

Obama denied the hybrid presidential limo he wanted!
President Barack Obama declared (there were initially only some rumours about such a plan from the White House) today that he originally wanted his presidential limo to boast a hybrid drivetrain, sustaining the more efficient and less environmental hazardous approach to personal transport that the American Convergent wants.
So what happened to prevent this from happening? The men in black.  The Secret Service said that the  hybrid engine couldn’t produce the kind of power necessary to scoot the massive Cadillac away from danger in an emergency situation. That’s saying something, considering the Cadillac Escalade Hybrid boasts a V8 with enough power to have a 7,700-pound towing capacity.
Most probably, the Secret Service did not make public all reasons for the denial of a hybrid powertrain presidential limo for the Obama administration. Hybrid systems may be more easily interfered with electronically, and are yet to have resisted the test of time in secured, armoured or simply important vehicles.
Obama’s pining for a hybrid limo came to light during a speech about the government’s recent purchase of 5,000 of hybrid cars and trucks for federal use. No word on whether or not the executive branch got the General Motors employee discount.
There are no figures available on the actual mileage of the limousine, nor of the reduction a hybrid model would have one. Surely, in direct consequence the difference wouldn’t have been important compared to other presidential costs, but the example it would have stood as is something else.
source by abc new

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BMW Inline Six Motorcycle Concept

The EICMA Milan Bike Show debuts a number of motorcycle models, most often from the European marques. Most of the time the bikes have been spied and rumored well before the official debut, but BMW pulled off a surprise with its Concept 6 – a six-cylinder design which the Bavarian firm hints may soon power a touring motorcycle.
The Straight Six powering the Concept, says BMW, “follows the well-known Straight Four in the K1300 model series.” Not all the details are in but it’s identified as a 1.6 liter displacement via a “slightly oversquare bore:stroke ratio with relatively long stroke and very small gaps between cylinders.” Like the K-Series, the Concept 6’s cylinders are tilted forward by 55 degrees.

No hard peak horsepower or torque numbers are cited. BMW does promise, however, that 96 lb-ft of torque are available as low as 2000 rpm. And the Six revs up “almost to 9000 rpm.” Stressing its torque performance, the Concept 6 does not feature a tach at all, instead offering a digital readout of available torque production on the LED display.

The Inline Six engine centers the design of the Concept 6, surrounded by a “light-alloy bridge frame” that looks to be of the twin-spar aluminium variety.  BMW’s Duolever and Paralever suspension units are present and it is highlighted by their trademark shaft-drive, beefy six-piston front calipers and 17-inch stylish hoops shod with Pirelli's latest Diablo Supercorsa sticky rubber. The Six theme carries over to the exhaust, which features a six-chamber system, three outlets on each side.
As for its future? BMW says this in its PR announcement: “The new BMW straight-six will further expand the K-Series in the foreseeable future. The first model to be introduced will be an innovative and luxurious BMW touring machine. Reflecting the tradition of the BMW K-Series, this will of course be a genuine top-of-the-line product.” 

source by motorcycle-usa

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Upcoming Baby AMG May Get Supercharged V-6, Not Turbo Four

Upcoming Baby AMG May Get Supercharged V-6, Not Turbo Four
British magazine Autocar reports that the upcoming B-Class-based AMG sedan will be powered by a 3.2-liter supercharged V-6, not a turbocharged four-cylinder as previously thought.

The mill is based on the upcoming 3.5-liter engine that'll first make its home in the new CLS350. Also like the CLS, the smaller AMG (codenamed the *** EVO) will get similar coupe-like styling, meaning four frameless doors and a steeply raked profile.


Force feeding the engine is said to be an electronically operated pressure wave supercharger. The technology is widely used in tractor and big diesel applications, and utilizes pressure waves from the exhaust to boost engine induction.

Rumors persist that a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission will handle what is believed to be around 400 horsepower.  Though the car will be based on a front-drive platform, AMG will likely opt for an all-wheel drive setup to help put power down.

Though smaller and less powerful than its siblings, the "baby Benz" (the nickname was originally applied to the shown 190 E EVO II) will not be a cheap means to gain access into the premium performance segment. It'll still carry all the premium bits - and driving characteristics -- AMG customers are used to, but at a slightly lower price point in order to make way for newer, younger buyers.

Source: Autocar

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Mercedes Announces New C-Class Coupe is Coming in 2011

Mercedes Announces New C-Class Coupe is Coming in 2011
The previous Mercedes-Benz C-Class "Sports Coupe,” as it was called, never exactly set the sales charts on fire, and was criticized for being a little too entry-level. But Mercedes apparently is ready to make a go of it again, announcing today that it will build a new C-Class Coupe starting sometime in 2011.


The C-Class Coupe will enter production at Mercedes’ Bremen plant in Germany on the same line as the rest of the C-Class lineup. (The 2010 C-Class sedan is pictured.) The Coupe's arrival coincides with the coming C-Class refresh expected for the 2011 model year, which will see changes to the front and rear bumpers, taillights, hood, and LED running lights. Expect to see the refreshed sheetmetal fitted to the Coupe.

While no official specifications have surfaced, the upcoming C-Class Coupe will likely port over at least some of the same engine options as its sedan brethren. In the U.S., the C-Class currently offers a 228-horsepower, 3.0-liter V-6, a 268-horsepower, 3.5-liter V-6, and the high-output 451-horsepower, 6.3-liter V-8 from the superbad C63 AMG model. Powertrain revisions are also expected for 2011, but details are unclear. Also unclear is if the Coupe will come to our shores, but we'd be surprised if it didn't make it to the U.S. market.

In terms of pricing, the 2011 C-Class Coupe should not be too far off the C-Class Sedan. The 2010 C-Class starts from $34,475 for the C300 Sport Sedan, which includes a $875 destination charge.


-By Benson Kong

Source: Mercedes-Benz

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Mercedes-Benz Considering Making S-class Hybrid-only?

Mercedes-Benz Considering Making S-class Hybrid-only?

With mostly large V-8s and twin-turbo V-12s in its lineup, the Mercedes-Benz S-class isn’t particularly fuel-efficient. In light of upcoming fuel economy standards, Daimler executives reportedly are considering making the S-class a hybrid-only lineup.

According to Automotive News, inside dealer sources said Daimler executives are considering the switch to all gasoline-electric models for the next-generation S-class. If the switch is made, the dealer sources say that no S-class will be offered with only an internal combustion engine -- including the high-performance AMG versions. The fact that even the Autobahn-storming AMG models would become hybrids has drawn criticism from U.S. dealerships because they worry hybrids are not perceived as true performance cars in this market.

As of right now, only a few U.S. Mercedes dealerships have been briefed on the proposed plan. Those dealers will meet with Joachim Schmidt, head of sales and marketing at Mercedes-Benz Cars, this week at The Masters golf tournament in August, Georgia. Mercedes is a tournament sponsor.

Currently, the most fuel-efficient S-class is the recently introduced S400 Hybrid with a fuel economy rating of 19/26 mpg (city/highway). From there, the ratings continue to decline all the way down to 11/17 mpg for the top-of-the-line S65 AMG. According to Tommy Baker, chairman of the Mercedes-Benz dealership board in the U.S. and owner of a Mercedes dealership in Charleston, South Carolina, this doesn’t matter to S-class buyers. He says that for S-class buyers, the “goal is not gas mileage.”

“The most important thing in the American market -- regardless of hybrid, lithium, or electric cars -- is that we Americans are different than any market and we are going to want those gasoline engines,” Baker told Automotive News. To that end, Mercedes-Benz has already announced a new, more fuel-efficient 5.5-liter twin-turbo V-8 to replace the company’s 6.2-liter V-8 in its “63” AMG models.

Although Baker says the all-hybrid S-class lineup may not fly with U.S. consumers, an average combined rating of 16 mpg and emissions of a similar level won’t fly with the government’s upcoming fuel economy and emissions standards. Two Daimler sources told Automotive News that the move is being considered to help Mercedes reach the strict European CO2 emissions laws and the U.S. fuel economy standard by mid-decade. A final decision on the matter is expected within three months and, if approved, would be implemented on the next-generation S-class due out in Europe in 2013 and a year later in the U.S.

Source: Automotive News (Subscription Required)

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