For the past eight years, Audi has created a special model to be auctioned off at the EJAF White Tie & Tiara Ball. Last year, Elton John’s charity was able to pull in £350,000 (about $522,500 at the current rates) by auctioning off the pink Audi A1 designed by renowned British artist Damien Hirst. This year, Audi doubled its efforts by providing not one, but two one-off chromed R8 Spyders for the auction, one from Audi Group Germany and one from Audi UK. In total, the two cars were auctioned off for an impressive £620,000 - or almost $1 million at the current exchange rates.
The chrome look is something we’ve seen before on an Audi R8. The German automaker brought a chrome-domed R8 5.2 FSI V10 coupe to the Frankfurt Motor Show back in 2009. It received plenty of attention at the auto show, so we’re not surprised it was such a rousing success at the charity event.
"We are absolutely delighted to have been instrumental in raising such a magnificent sum for Sir Elton’s charity," commented Jeremy Hicks, Director of Audi UK. "We couldn’t, of course, have done so without the incredible generosity of Sir Elton’s guests, to whom we owe an enormous vote of thanks" he added.
In the past few years, Kia’s success on the market has increased significantly with models like the SOUL and the Forte becoming leaders in their segment. Taking this under consideration, it’s no wonder that the Korean manufacturer is expanding their market - which as of now consists of coupes, sedans, crossovers, and SUVs - to include a small roadster. The Kia Roadster - name unknown - will set out to compete against one of the only lower end roadsters on the market: the Mazda MX-5.
The new Kia Roadster will weigh no more than 2200 lbs and will come with a rear wheel drive system. Engine specifications are not exact, but we should be getting about 200 HP out of a turbo petrol engine. About a year after the Kia debuts, we should also be seeing a Hyundai version of the same vehicle. Think along the lines of the relationship between the Toyota FT-86 and Scion FR-S.
The path has been set, but don’t expect this sporty model to show up anytime before 2013; building a model that will be "fun, dynamic and addressed to young buyers" will surely take some time.
Hit the jump to read more about the future Kia Roadster.
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We’ve been having plenty of tuning programs for the BMW Z4 recently, including two projects done by Japan’s 3D Design, including the ’Z4 for North America’.
Today, the BMW Z4 is once again front-and-center in the tuning world, only this time, the program comes courtesy of Kelleners Motorsport. Unlike the works made by 3D Design, which were largely based on aerodynamic improvements, Kelleners Motorsport offers the whole gamut of upgrades, including on the powertrain.
With a 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged inline six-cylinder engine already under the hood of the Z4, Kelleners Motorsport gave it a jolting boost, raising the sports car’s output from 335 horsepower and 332 lb/ft of torque all the way up to a mighty impressive 400 horsepower and 398 lb/ft of torque.
In addition to the engine improvements, Kelleners Motorsport also dressed up the Z4 with a set of 19" and 20" Hamburg or Berlin rims, as well as a lowered ride height by 20mm at the front and 10mm at the rear. Inside, there’s also a new three-spoke sport steering wheel, aluminum pedals, velour floor mats, and bespoke interior finishes in leather with wood trims that can be requested as a customer order.
Japan has had more than its fair share of natural disasters over the years, with scientists predicting that a "big" quake was bound to hit some time soon. That being said, no one could predict the massive 8.9 magnitude quake followed by the tsunami that recently struck the country. The footage was a sight that was horrifying to watch, but even more so to live through. Japanese companies are still struggling to regain their balance, but 3D Design is out to prove that the country will not just sit back and allow negative things to happen to them. They are out to make positive things happen for themselves. This realization is what made 3D Design, along with a number of Japanese and US tuning firms, create the BMW Z4 tuning package that illustrates that hope and determination.
The BMW Z4 by 3D Design by a number of players who contributed the many different elements of the vehicle. The overall design theme was worked on by WSTO and IND with 18" wheels from BBS inspired by the BMW’s M3 GT4 program and wrapped around Yokohama tires, size 235/40/18 front and 255/35/18 rear. The exterior of the vehicle is transformed by 3D Design’s own aggressive, full carbon fiber aerodynamic package.
The inner workings of the vehicle were also changed with an upgraded turbo kit from ESS, a KW variant suspension system, and a handbuilt exhaust system from Eisenmann. Other features include a Dinan camber plate, an upgraded brake package from Brembo, and a gauge package from Stack.
The most inspirational aspect of the vehicle is emblazoned on the passenger side of the BMW Z4: "Don’t give up, Tohoku." I think it is clear that no one is giving up. In fact, they will end up being stronger than ever.
There is always an automaker who is turning things upside down in order to spice up sales and get them moving in the right direction. In the past few weeks, it has been made clear that it’s Lotus’ turn to mix things up a bit. Fresh off of their delaying the Esprit supercar and announcing plans to build their own V6 and V8 engines, the British sports car manufacturer has now let loose plans to create more versions of the Evora sports car.
During the launch of the Evora S in San Jose, Lotus Cars USA PR boss, Kevin Smith, confirmed the company’s plans to bring about more version of the Evora beginning with the Evora IPS. This model will add an automatic transmission to the Evora’s list of goodies and will be launched by the end of 2011. Shortly after that, in late 2012, Lotus will produce the Evora S IPS, followed by the biggest announcement of the day: a convertible Evora.
Smith said that the company would like to add an open-top model to the Evora range, but the company is still not sure whether it will feature a targa top or if it will be a roadster. Either way they choose to go, the convertible Lotus Evora won’t find its way to the streets until 2013.
