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 11/16/11: The Audi R8 GT Spyder made its debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show. The lightweight, drop-top German supercar will be available in North America beginning next year and will be limited to just 90 units in the region. Audi is planning on building 333 units of the R8 GT Spyder so 90 models in North America is a pretty sizable chunk of the whole inventory. Interested parties should be on their toes so they can be part of the 90 people that can score the German supercar when it becomes available.
UPDATE 02/02/12: Audi of American has announced that the R8 Spyder will be priced at $210,000 plus a $1,200 delivery fee for the US market. Only 50 units will be offered on our side of the pond.
More details on the Audi R8 GT Spyder after the jump.
Every German car company has their performance tuning arm and Audi is no different. The “S” badging has come to mean something special for Audi fans and the current line of S models compete with the likes of Mercedes AMG and BMW M models. Throughout the past 5 years or so, the automotive industry, especially this high end sector, has seen a never ending horsepower and performance war. The original Audi RS6 could be considered the catalyst for the addition of a Kompressor for the Mercedes 5.4-liter powerplant and for BMW dropping a 500-hp V10 into the M5.
As that mid-size sports sedan war has begun to cool down, the entry level sedans are receiving more attention. The rumors that Mercedes will add a C63 Black Series model to the lineup may end up speeding the production of Audi’s next RS4. The original model was a muscle car in a tight suit producing 414hp from a 4.2-liter V8 that was stuffed in the small engine compartment. This, in addition to a tightened suspension, bigger brakes, and a six-speed manual, make the car very hard to compete with.
Recently, Audi has been spied testing a mule version of the RS4 Avant. Before we get too excited, let’s remember something interesting about Audi. For starters, they like to test their ultra-high performance sedans in Avant (wagon) form before expanding to the more traditional models. In the past Audi has also made models in RS4 Avant form and never brought them to the United States. That being said, this next generation RS4 should be hitting the market within the next several years. Audi has already confirmed the RS5 model will be coming to the United States and when that happens, the RS4 should not be far behind.
UPDATE 01/31/2012: Audi has officially confirmed that the RS4 Avant will be making its world in March at the Geneva Motor Show. The model will be equipped with a 4.2 FSI V8 engine that will deliver a total of 450 HP. Next to it, Audi will also be unveiling the A1 Quattro, the new generation A3, and the A6 Allroad Quattro.
Hit the jump for more details on the Audi RS4 Avant
The 2012 edition of the Bullrun will start to air on MTV2 later on this month and, as a preview of the great things that are to come, the company has unveiled a promo video with highlights of the 2011 event.
The BullRun starts in L.A. and runs for a week around the Western U.S. In this video, you’ll catch celebrities like Dudesons, Ice T., Vanilla Ice, Mr T., and others. Aside from these B-list celebrities, the BullRun will feed viewers more than their share of cool cars and hot girls, as well as some interference from some of the men in blue.
Check out this promo video and don’t forget that the mayhem started on January 26th. The 2012 rally drivers will be the stars of the original Bullrun television show; "Cops, Cars and Superstars". The show will be in its 9th season and currently airs in over 96 countries around the world!
A magnificent blast from the past gets a twin turbo setup and there’s no way we weren’t going to spread it around like wild fire. Robert Himler, creator of the titillating videos of his Underground Racing-tuned Lamborghini Gallardo, has moved on to a bigger and better project: the Lamborghini 670-4 SV Twin Turbo. The project is currently under development, but it is supposed to be ready by March 2012 and aims to be "the world’s fastest and best Lamborghini."
The biggest change for the special Murcielago will be its new RWD system, and not the AWD on the standard LP 670-4 SV. Himler opted to remove the front differentials, half-shafts, and torque tube - all of which allowed for a 125lbs reduction of the car’s weight. The secondary cats and muffler were also removed and the weight was then reduced by 89 lbs. The next part of the transformation was the addition of a pair of turbochargers resulting in an output of more than 1000 RWHP, blasting the standard 670 HP out of the water.
The Lamborghini Murcielago LP670-4 SV Twin Turbo’s step by step build is getting posted on its very own Facebook page, but we’ll keep updating the progress here as well! For now, hit the jump to watch the car being driven by a very hot girl.
Lately, all of Europe has been under piles of snow and, for some automakers, this means that it’s the perfect time to test the capabilities of their newest models. The upcoming Porsche 911 Turbo Coupe is now joining the long list of models taken out to play in the snow. Although the model has dropped some of its camouflage since the last time it was caught on camera, the bumpers and the air intakes on the side are still well hidden, completely hiding their real shape.
Just like the standard 911, the new Turbo version will adopt a sportier appearance, as well as a powerful engine. It will be powered by a 3.8-liter flat-six engine that will deliver about 550 HP. The engine will be mated to an improved manual gearbox as standard, or an optional PDK gearbox. The PDK will have with no less than seven forward gears, combining the driving comfort of a converter automatic transmission with the dynamic gearshift of a sequential racing gearbox. The Porsche will also feature brake regeneration and stop start systems.
The new Porsche 911 Turbo Coupe is expected to make its world debut at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show in March and go on sale later in the year.
