TopSpeed Daily Update |  |
- More details on the future Audi S8, S7, S6, and RS6
- Lexus LS 460 Touring Edition
- BMW 1-Series M Coupe by TechTec
- Factory Five 818 Sports Car Design Winners Announced
- Jaguar XKR-S
- Renault Megane RS 265 Trophy smashes Nurburgring front-wheel drive lap time record
- BMW M3 Frozen Black Edition
- Audi R8 GT Spyder
- Video: Dallenbach Racer gets pre-Pikes Peak shakedown
- Ice Breakers
| More details on the future Audi S8, S7, S6, and RS6 Posted: 17 Jun 2011 09:00 AM PDT
 Audi is preparing a strong offensive line in hopes of achieving greatness in the sports car market. In the upcoming months, the company plans to reveal four new sports sedans to complete their all-star team. The first teammate will be the S8, which will be launched at the Frankfurt Motor Show this fall. The S8 will feature a new 4.0 liter, twin-turbo V8 engine developed in cooperation with Bentley. This new engine will deliver a total of 493 HP - an increase of about 50 HP over the current S8 model - but will also have a fuel improvement of about 20%. The engine will be mated to an 8-speed automatic gearbox and Quattro all-wheel drive system. About two months after the S8 has its time in the spotlight, Audi will present the S6 and the S7 at the Los Angeles Auto Show. The two models will also get the new 4.0 liter V8 engine with an output of 434 HP in the S6 and 464 HP in the S7. The true all-star on this team, however, will be the RS6. It will also get the 4.0 liter, twin-turbo V8 engine, but with tweaks to increase the power to an impressive 572 HP. The bad news, though, is that Audi will be saving the best for last and we won’t get to see the Audi RS6 until late 2012. The BMW M5 will be able to enjoy its lead in the rankings until then. More details on the future Audi S8, S7, S6, and RS6 originally appeared on topspeed.com on Friday, 17 June 2011 16:00 EST.
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| Posted: 17 Jun 2011 08:00 AM PDT
Lexus wants a piece of the younger market pie just as much as the next full size sedan automaker. However, it seems as if the Japanese luxury automaker doesn’t have much in the way of successful options, so they’re left with attaching the words "Touring Edition" to their bland LS 460. The special, limited edition LS 460 Touring Edition will be available on the US market and will be offered in both Rear Wheel Drive and All-Wheel Drive versions. Sales will begin in late June/early July with prices starting at $73,000. Not much changes for the LS 460 Touring Edition, which falls in nicely with the fact that the standard LS hasn’t changed much with time anyway. What the special edition does get is a Smoky Granite Mica exterior, a sport kit and grille, and 19-inch five-spoke alloy wheels. The interior gets a touch more luxurious with black and tan leather-trimmed sports seats, a wood and leather-trimmed steering wheel and shift knob, matte brown wood trim, and premium floor mats. For a new sport trim, these changes aren’t all that exciting. Mark Templin, Lexus Division group vice president and general manager said: "The Touring Edition adds excitement to our flagship sedan. The package on this car enhances styling and comfort, allowing us to attract younger buyers to the LS line-up. The LS 460 Touring Edition is a unique package of sporty exterior styling and comfort. With limited units available nationwide they'll sell out fast to customers who want an all-inclusive luxury package." Lexus LS 460 Touring Edition originally appeared on topspeed.com on Friday, 17 June 2011 15:00 EST.
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| BMW 1-Series M Coupe by TechTec Posted: 17 Jun 2011 07:00 AM PDT
We’ve already seen a tuning package for the BMW 1-Series M Coupe, but whereas the "Clockwork Orange" was made exclusively for one client, this latest package from TechTec will be the first offered to the general public. BMW’s little sports car already comes with a new twin-turbocharged, all-aluminum, 3.0-liter inline-6 engine that delivers total of 335 HP, but German tuner, TechTec, has reworked that engine to come up with three different power stages. The first stage will bring the pony power up to 380 HP and the peak torque to 427 lb-ft, all for 1,000 euro (about $1,4000 at the current rates). Throw down another 1,500 euro (about $2,100 at the current rates) and that power increase will jump by 20 to 400 HP, but at this point, TechTec would also recommend that the buyer gets their upgraded air cooler for another 800 euro (about $1,120 at the current rates). The third and final stage for the BMW 1-Series M Coupe will boost power all the way up to 450 HP, allowing the BMW to sprint from 0-60 mph in an estimated 4.1 seconds. This is also accomplished due to the fact that the tuner removed the top speed limiter, bringing the top speed up to 186 mph. Additional throaty growls from the M Coupe can be attained with a new titanium exhaust system from Akrapovic and handling can also be improved with the club sport-suspension by KW, both offered by TechTec. For comparison’s sake, the BMW 1-Series M Coupe by TechTec lapped the Hockenheim circuit in 1:13:59, whereas the standard 1-Series M Coupe reportedly did it in 1:14.1 and the BMW M3 followed at 1:14.2. It’s not a tremendous difference, but if that slight lead will get the driver’s juices flowing then the top version of the TechTec package is the way to go. BMW 1-Series M Coupe by TechTec originally appeared on topspeed.com on Friday, 17 June 2011 14:00 EST.
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| Factory Five 818 Sports Car Design Winners Announced Posted: 17 Jun 2011 06:00 AM PDT
Replica cars are nice and all, but originals are, and will always be, the way to go. Factory Five, one of the finest replica makers of Cobras and Daytonas in the business, is working on building their very own sports car, a new and original design that will be the basis for the very first "818 Sports Car" to be built. To help in the brainstorming process, Factory Five and its co-sponsor Grassroots Motorsports, held a design-making contest for the future 818. The rules were pretty simple: each contestant was given a donor Subaru WRX, a space frame with a 95" wheelbase, and a target weight of just 1,800 lbs. Similarly, the design of the two-seater sports car had to give way for it to be built with a budget of just under $15,000. After the contest, Factory Five and Grassroots Motorsports singled out Nouphone Bansasi as the winner of the competition with a design that offers a classic look on a modern two-seater sports car. For beating out over 700 entries, Bansasi pocketed a cool $5,000 for his efforts. In addition to Bansasi’s winning work, Factory Five and Grassroots Motorsports also awarded Rodney Olmos second place, and Xabier Alibizu third place for their entries while a number of other awards, including several sponsor awards were given out. Full specs and details of the future 818 Sports Car are still being kept under wraps, but at the very least, we have a pretty good idea on what to expect as far as the design language of the car is concerned. Check out the video of Factory Five President Dave Smith presenting the winners of the Factory Five-Grassroots Motorsports Project 818 Body Design Contest after the jump. Factory Five 818 Sports Car Design Winners Announced originally appeared on topspeed.com on Friday, 17 June 2011 13:00 EST.
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| Posted: 17 Mar 2011 09:00 AM PDT
It wasn’t that long ago when, in the middle of their brand reinvention, Jaguar released the refreshed XKR sports car at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show. A year after the new XKR made its debut to the public, Jaguar is headed back to Geneva with another XKR model. Only this time, it’s the hot-as-a-scorching-summer’s-day XKR-S. The new XKR-S features exclusive new paint colors that reflect Jaguar's racing heritage. As with competition Jaguar cars of the past, the exterior of the XKR-S adheres to the principle of form following function. Adrian Hallmark, Jaguar's new Global Brand Director, describes the car as a "bold and exciting new model for Jaguar". He adds: "The styling of this car isn't about image, it's about true performance. Like other iconic Jaguar cars before it, the styling has been driven by geometry and aerodynamics for genuine design purity." UPDATE 03/14/2011: A new online configurator is up and running for Jaguar’s latest and impressive model. According to the configurator, Jaguar will offer four exterior colors and not two as previously believed. These colors are Stratus Grey Metallic, Ultimate Black Metallic, Italian Racing Red, and French Racing Blue. However, no matter what color you choose, the XKR-S is still kickass! UPDATE 03/17/2011: Jaguar has revealed new images of their most impressive model: the XKR-S. Coincidentally, this white and red model is the model they will be taking to the Goodwood Festival of Speed on June 30, 2011. UPDATE 06/03/2011: Jaguar has unveiled a new video of the XKR-S featuring the car in action on the Autodromo Internacional Algarve race track in Portugal. Behind the wheel there is Mike Cross. Enjoy the beatiful sound of this amazing car. Hit the jump for the video. UPDATE 06/09/2011: The British magazine Autocar got behind the wheel of the hardcore Jaguar XKR-S and had all the fun in the world. Hit the jump to watch Jamie Corstorphine driving it on the limit. UPDATE 06/10/2011: Jaguar has unveiled a pretty cool online configurator for the recently launched XKR-S. You will be able to select exterior and interior color, but also all the options and accessories for the car. Have fun! Details on the Jaguar XKR-S after the jump. Jaguar XKR-S originally appeared on topspeed.com on Thursday, 17 March 2011 16:00 EST.
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| Renault Megane RS 265 Trophy smashes Nurburgring front-wheel drive lap time record Posted: 17 Jun 2011 04:00 AM PDT
It’s only been a short time since the Renault Megane RS 265 Trophy’s official launch and it has already added a very impressive achievement to its record; it established an amazing Nurburgring lap record for a front-wheel drive vehicle with a time of 8 minutes 7.97 seconds. The previous record was held by the Megane Renaultsport R26.R which completed the lap in 8 minutes and 17 seconds on June 23, 2008. The time posted at the Nürburgring puts the Mégane Renaultsport 265 Trophy on a completely new level of performance that allows the vehicle to be put alongside supercars with power outputs at or greater than 500 HP. This was done with an extra 14.7 HP (11kW) on tap, careful set-up work, and specific Bridgestone RE 050A (235/35 R19) tyres chosen by RenaultSport engineers. These things, plus the vehicle’s "carefully-tuned Cup chassis, the dampers, the fade-resistant brakes, the Recaro seats, the power of the 265hp engine, the ready availability of torque between 2,500 and 5,000rpm" is what development driver, Laurent Hurgon says helped achieve the new record. In Hurgon’s words: "The Nordschleife is a legendary course. Its length and layout, which is very different to that of a conventional circuit, make it a unique and technically demanding challenge. Its difficulties are extremely varied, ranging from fast and even very fast in places to much twistier and slower portions. Turns like 'Karusell' and 'Pflanzgarten', for example, make huge demands of the car and driver alike, yet Megane Renaultsport Trophy is very much in its element here and feels particularly reassuring despite the uncompromising nature of the terrain." Renault Megane RS 265 Trophy smashes Nurburgring front-wheel drive lap time record originally appeared on topspeed.com on Friday, 17 June 2011 11:00 EST.
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| Posted: 10 Jun 2011 02:00 PM PDT
This time last year, BMW was teasing their all new M3 Frozen Gray Edition with the high maintenance exterior paint job and 30 unit limit. It didn’t matter how irrational the purchase was, all 30 units were immediately sold out - it only took 12 minutes - and BMW is hoping to have a repeat performance with the special edition 2011 Frozen Black Edition M3 Coupe. That’s right, BMW just made the frozen paint that much hotter by slapping on some black paint. The Frozen Black Edition M3 Coupe will be distinguished by BMW’s Individual Frozen Black exterior paint with a deep metallic luster to accentuate the athletic lines of the legendary M3. The interior will look much like last year’s model with Novillo Leather and unique red-contrast stitching. The package will also add M3 GTS black wheels, red brake calipers, and gloss black exterior trim elements. The engine powering this bad boy will also go unchanged, so expect to see the same 4.0-liter, 414 HP M V8 engine equipped with BMW's M Double Clutch Transmission (M DCT). The 2011 Frozen Black M3 will be limited to only 20 units, but one model is going to be held back at BMW North America to no doubt make a killing at an auction at a later date. However, if you want to be one of the lucky 19 to pick one up, then call BMW at 1-800-245-4269 no earlier than 11:30AM Eastern Time (8:30AM Pacific) on Thursday, June 16, 2011 and make sure you have $79,650 to part with. We’d put several reminders on your smartphone too because something tells us those 19 units will be eradicated in less than 12 minutes. Hit the jump for the full equipment list. BMW M3 Frozen Black Edition originally appeared on topspeed.com on Friday, 10 June 2011 21:00 EST.
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| Posted: 13 Jun 2011 10:00 AM PDT
Okay, so this isn’t exactly the most surprising news of the day, but it sure ranks up there with the coolest. Audi is said to be launching a Spyder version for the R8 GT at the Frankfurt Motor Show this Fall. As with the coupe version, the Spyder will be limited to 333 units and should be priced at about $20,000 higher than the coupe, which is sold for about $196,800 in the U.S. The similarities will even extend to the number of units available in the U.S. We last heard that we were getting 90 units of the GT Coupe and we expect the same number for the Spyder version. Under the hood, Audi will place the same 5.2 liter V10 engine that delivers a total of 560 HP and 398 lbs-ft of torque. The Spyder version will sprint from 0 to 60 mph in 3.8 seconds and will be capable of a top speed of 196.97 mph. Thanks to body parts made in carbon fiber the R8 GT Spyder is 187 lbs lighter and in the same time delivers performance numbers that makes it the top-of-the-line version of the high-performance sports car. UPDATE 06/13/11: Audi has unveiled new images of the R8 GT Spyder from the car’s official debut at the 24 hours of Le Mans. Enjoy! More details on the Audi R8 GT Spyder after the jump. Audi R8 GT Spyder originally appeared on topspeed.com on Monday, 13 June 2011 17:00 EST.
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| Video: Dallenbach Racer gets pre-Pikes Peak shakedown Posted: 17 Jun 2011 02:00 AM PDT
In the weeks leading up to the 2011 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, one team that’s entering the ’Unlimited Class’ of the event is shooting for the stars, bent on being the first team to break the 10-minute hill climb mark. The Dallenbach Racing Team, together with its partner, Banks Power, is in the final stages of their preparation for Pikes Peak with their 1,307-horsepower machine, the "DallenBach Special". The car that boasts of the eye-popping output also carries 1,206 lb/ft of torque, providing it with enough power to have as good a chance as anybody in breaking the 10:01 record set by Nobuhiro Tajima. In Part 2 of the two-part video filmed by Banks Power, the Dallenbach Special is put through the paces by Paul Dallenbach through a series of test runs done on the Pikes Peak course. There’s some added commentary featuring Dallenbach and Gale Banks on the video, too, providing us with an inside look at the testing being done on the car leading up to the car being unleashed on June 26. If you missed the first video, check it out by clicking here! Video: Dallenbach Racer gets pre-Pikes Peak shakedown originally appeared on topspeed.com on Friday, 17 June 2011 09:00 EST.
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| Posted: 16 Jun 2011 11:57 PM PDT |
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