It’s been over two years since Audi unveiled the R8 sportscar the Paris Auto Show. Since then its been a hot seller, but in the idea of ‘if it ain’t new, it through’ Audi is going debut some awaited versions of the R8 in 2009.
Although some car companies are pulling away from January’s North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Audi will use that venue to debut the V10 version. The new engine is expected to make 520 horsepower (up 100 hp from the V8). The rumor is that the arrival of the V10 (and later V12 diesel) will spell the beginning of the end for V8 powered R8s.
Later next year, the Spyder version should make an appearance. The fully convertible version (or still possibly a targa) of the R8 should be in European showrooms by the end of 2009. It will likely arrive first with the V8 engine of the standard R8 with a possible upgrade to the V10 in the future. North America may have to wait a until 2010 for the drop top because the coupe is selling stronger here, and so Audi doesn’t need as much sales help in the U.S.
The Mini convertible is now playing catchup to the hard top. The second generation has been available as a fixed roof and wagonish Culbman since 2007, and so now its time to complete the line. So the most noticeable elements on the 2009 Mini Cooper Cabrio when it appears at the Detroit auto show will be the updated bodylines and interior panels that match the rest of the family.
The updated convertible top can be lowered at speeds up to 20 mph, and the large rear roll bar that slithered across the back headrests has now been replaced with a pop-up unit. Like the soft-top on the previous model, there is still a large sunroof that can be created when the top is stopped half-way through the convertible process.
If you’ve driven the coupe, there’s nothing too special underneath the skin of the convertible. It features the same 1.6-liter units from the coupe, making 118 hp and 175 with a turbocharger.
Orders for the drop-top Mini are being taken now, and deliveries should begin by the end of March. Pricing for the 2009 Mini Cooper Cabrio should start at $24,550 for the regular version, and $27,450 for the turbocharged Cooper S model.
Press release after the jump.
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Ford has just revealed the 2010 Mustang at the Detroit Auto Show, but is already preparing a new chapter in the Mustang story for the 2009 Detroit Auto Show. According to AutoBlog, Ford will reveal a new version of the muscle car in January.
There are no details on what model we will see, but there are two possibilities: the next generation Shelby GT500 or an all-new variant of the Mustang, most likely a concept that would later hint at a production version.
But this are just speculation, we’ll need to wait for the show to see exactly what will be.
As reported last week, Jaguar is planning an assault on the sports car market. It is going after new segments with coupes and convertibles. Cars like the Audi A5 will have new a competitor as one of the first new Jags will be a coupe version of the XF sedan.
The coupe version will be heavily based (of course) on the current XF sedan. It will keep the same look of a "menacing cat" as the sedan, but will is rumored to take on a sportier personality. It will likely get a revised suspension and headlamp shape. Engine choices will likely remain the same as the sedan, so the XF coupe will probably top out with the 4.2-liter 400 hp supercharged V8 (possibly an 500 hp "R" version will appear in the future.)
Jaguar already has its hands full with the XF sedan, so don’t expect to see the coupe before 2010. Jaguar still has to debut the 500 hp XF-R sedan in January at the Detroit Auto Show before focusing the coupe.
First was Ferrari, Rolls-Royce, Land Rover and Suzuki. Now its Mitsubishi. It seems that Detroit is just not the place anymore! Mitsubishi decided to pull off the Detroit Show to save money in light of global economic problems and an industry-wide sales decline.
The Detroit show’s press days are only eight weeks away, but there might still be automakers to surprise us! Pulling out of the Detroit show doesn’t prevent Mitsubishi or the other automakers from returning in future years. Mitsubishi still plans to have displays at the Los Angles, Chicago and New York auto shows.
The Detroit show is considered one a handful of the most prestigious in the world. But like other recent shows, including the Los Angeles auto show and SEMA, it is being hit as companies restructure their operations and cut back on expenses.
Detroit will have about 45-50 debuts this year.
Volvo will unveil the S60 Concept at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show, and here’s the first preview photo of the car. The S60 concept gives a clear indication of what the all-new Volvo S60 will look like when it is introduced during 2010.
The first picture reveal the coupe-inspired silhouette that gave the original S60 its unique stance. It is now being even further accentuated. The sleek coupe-like roof line is accompanied by entirely new shoulder contours - a gentle double wave from the headlamps at the front to the tail lamps at the rear.
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It seems that some people got a little trigger-happy and released the pics and info about the Porsche Panamera before the Monday’s press embargo expired. That just means some early fun and speculation for us about Porsche’s first sedan.
The car sits on a 9.6 foot long wheelbase, and the total dimensions should be 16.3 feet long, 6.3 feet wide and 4.6 feet tall. The sedan should have optional PDK dual-clutch transmission as well as all-wheel drive. Although engine specifications have not yet been confirmed, what we do know is the front-engine Panamera will likely start out with a power range of about 300 to 500 hp through a range of V6 and V8 engines. A hybrid powertrain and diesel version may also be in the works.
The car will be seen in the flesh in January at the Detroit Auto Show. We will have plenty of updates until then, but for now enjoy some closure from all the speculation and renderings (AutoBild got it pretty close) with some official pics.
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Most of the big premieres for the Los Angeles Auto Show have already happened, and one that has been quietly absent was the new BMW Z4. Now it seems that those who were waiting breathlessly for the new coupe/roadster from BMW will have to hold on until next year.
The BMW Z4 is the latest victim of the delay until the Detroit Show. But unlike the development slowdown that has delayed other cars until January, the Z4 just seems to be stuck in red tape. The guys over at BMW Blog seemed to discover the BMW is having an issue with the sDrive trademark name.
It seems the slowdown in cars sales is also hurting the car shows. Ferrari, Rolls-Royce, Land Rover and Suzuki announced they will not make it to the Detroit Auto Show in January.
Ferrari decided it will have pretty much shown all it needs to after the LA Show, where it will premier the namesake 193-mph California. Rolls-Royce, Land Rover and Suzuki have similar excuses. "We are cutting back," said Paul Ferraiolo, president of Rolls-Royce North America, which puts a $407,000 price tag on its Drophead Coupe. "Motor shows are expensive."
Neither the Chicago Auto Show in February nor the New York International Auto Show in March has completed its exhibitor lists. Organizers for both shows say they are confident that few carmakers will drop out, but some changes are clear.
Before its official unveiling at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show, the Jaguar XF-R has been scoped in Sierra Nevada mountain range in southern Spain. While there’s no new info, and really not that much in this spy shot, it’s just a good excuse to show off a little from one of our favorite sports sedans.
Jaguar currently offers supercharged engine for the XF, but that is with the 4.2-liter V8. The XF-R will take advantage of the V8 enlarged to 5.0-liters with supercharging, which is expected to be the engine of choice across Jaguar’s "R" line of cars. Total power should be between 500 and 510 hp. The blown engine should give the XF-R a 0-60mph sprint in less than five seconds and a top speed of 155mph.
Like most "R" line cars from Jaguar, understatement will be the key word. The big visual difference between the the XF and the XF-R will be larger air intakes in the front bumper and the hood vents (same as the XKR). So although it may be hard to distinguish the XF-R from the regular XF sedan, it will be running with the cars like BMW M5, Audi RS6 and Mercedes E63 AMG.
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