Alright, time to travel back into the murky waters that is the Volkswagen Group’s lineup mash-up. Here’s what we do know: Audi will get a version of the Volkswagen BlueSport concept. How it fits into Audi’s family is the debate.
Audi has been using a codename R4 on a mid-engined project. The thought was that the R4 would be the Audi based off the BlueSport. This rumor itself was already pretty tricky, and was explained last month. Now Auto Express is using the codename R2 for the VW based roadster, which could move the playing field.
If plans for a R2 and R4 both exist then, it could mean multiple cars coming from both Porsche and Audi. Porsche is possibly getting a version of the BlueSport chassis that could go to a 914 revival. An earlier rumor pegged the R4 to share many pieces with the Porsche Boxster. So one possibility is that the R4/Boxster/Cayman could play big brother to the BlueSport/R2/914 chasis.
But all this is speculation also would mean that the Volkswagen Group is laying out a lot of money on new designs at a time when cash is tight. Plus there are plenty of questions still to be answered: Is there really room in the Audi lineup for a R2 and R4? How many chassises will Audi be utilizing? Is this just a case of one car going under two names?
Only time and Ritalin will give us the answer.
Lamborghini finally revealed today the special edition Murcielago LP 650-4 Roadster. It will be limited to only 50 units and the price will be around $400k.
The LP 650-4 Roadster is powered by a 6.5 litre V12 engine that produces 650 hp and a peak torque of 660 Nm. It makes the 0 to 60 mph sprint in 3.4 seconds and can hit a top speed of 205mph.
On the exterior the car combines grey bodywork with a special bright orange Arancio LP 650-4 featured on the front spoiler and sills. Also the special edition is being distinguished by LP 650-4 logo applied to the car’s exterior.
On the interior continues the same grey-and-orange paint scheme with an asymmetric dash design, with black Alcantara Nera on the driver’s side, including door panel and central tunnel, and black leather Nero Perseus on the passenger’s side.
Press release after the jump.
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It only makes sense that Mercedes would choose Detroit in January to debut the windowless and topless SLR Stirling Moss edition, right? This snow-in-your-hair super roadster will make its first public showing at the North American International Auto Show.
The last and most extreme version of the Mercedes SLR will be limited to 75 units and cost €750,000 (about $1.07 million at direct current rates.) The only thing separating the drive from nature in this speedster is the sleek carbon fiber bodywork, and a tonneau cover that can be applied over the passenger area à la old school topless racers.
The SLR Stirling Moss comes with the 5.5-liter supercharged V8 from the 722 SLR, which makes 650 hp. Without a windshield, this roadster can still hit a rip-your-face-off top speed of 217 mph.
More pics and press release after the jump
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Mercedes has just revealed a new image gallery for the SLR Stirling Moss, the last variant of the carbon fiber bodied McLaren built supercar. The SLR Stirling Moss will have a limited production run of only 75 units, priced at around $1 Million each.
The super-roadster is powered by the 5.5-liter supercharged V8 from the 722 SLR, which generates 650 HP. With no glass surrounding the driver, this open air monster will can still reach a top speed of 217 MPH. Hold on to your toupee!
By now you have most likely heard about the world’s smallest 4 passenger car that comes with a 1.0 liter engine that gets 54 miles per gallon. The iQ is what Toyota likes to call a premium minicar, that is because even though the car is diminutive in size, weighing about 2,200 pounds, it is still priced around 1.5 million Yen (about $15,000). What you may not know is that Toyota has been planning on producing an open air version of the iQ for quite some time.
The Japanese publication, Motor Magazine, released this rendering of the funky roadster that sources at Toyota claim is scheduled to make its world debut at the Tokyo Auto Salon that will be held from October 23 through November 8, 2009.
Mercedes can’t seem to keep its future sports cars under wraps. Not only have we seen a lot of spy shots and new info on the future SLS (formerly SLC), but now we’ve got one of the smaller, more afforadable future SLK.
When the new SLK hits the market in 2012, it will likely get a design updated to look more like the latest Mercedes family line. This should include a flatter grille like the one from the SL, and LED lights will be integrated into the lower half of the front bumper.
Some of the biggest news may be in the engine bay where Mercedes may offer an oil burner for the hardtop convertible. If given the green light, the likely candidate would be the 2.2-liter diesel unit already in service in the E-Class and C250. The engine produces 202 hp and 368b ft of torque, which could give this SLK a 0 to 60 mph time of about six seconds.
No word yet if the U.S. will be included in the new diesel SLK, but considering North America’s fear of diesel and love of power, we may just keep the 3.0-liter 224 hp gas engine for the base model.
Fiat was the first one to launch a special edition 500 to celebrate Barbie’s 50th Birthday. Today is time for Beetle to go pink. The car was transformed by customization artists ABD Racing Werks, Katzkin Leather and Interiors and FoamMolders.
From top to bottom and interior to exterior, Barbie® doll’s New Beetle convertible has left no detail unfinished. From the white custom leather interior and convertible top to the hand stitched floor mats and pink quilted leather lined door pockets and arm rests, even the dipstick is painted to resemble her favorite lipstick.
The New Beetle convertible is equipped with a motorized vanity in the trunk and plenty of rhinestone accents and vanity mirrors. Over five shades of paint were mixed together to create the perfect pink color for Barbie doll’s car.
Press release after the jump.
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This is definitely not the first time you’ve heard about a future baby R8, known as the R4. The last reports suggest that the Audi R4 will be in fact the production version of the BlueSport concept revealed by Volkswagen at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit.
This is the first time that anyone has said that the R4 will use a smaller powerplant than the ones found in the TT. This means that we will see a range of 1.4 TSI, 1.8 TSI and 2.0TDI engines. The engine from the newly launched TT RS might also be used in a powerful high-performance version of the R4.
The Audi R4 will be offered in both coupe and roadster bodies. The baby R8 will be priced between the Volkswagen production version of the BlueSport concept and a Porsche based on the same architecture. Can you say 914?
The German coachbuilders at Wiesmann revealed their MF4 Roadster at the Geneva Motor Show; it is a completely new vehicle that pays homage to the classic MF3. Like the MF3 Roadster, the MF4 is also hand-built and will be priced at 128,900 euros ($163,000) for a standard version and at 137,900 euros ($174,500) for the higher performing MF4-S Roadster.
Weismann is offering two BMW engines for their new model. The first powers the standard version: a 4.8 liter V8 that produces 367 HP and for the MF4-S: a V8 with 420 hp and a displacement of 3999 cm3. The engines are mated to either a traditional automatic transmission or a 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox.
The MF4-S Roadster can sprint from 0 to 60 mph in just 4.4 seconds and will hit a top speed of 186 mph.
Mercedes revealed today at the Geneva Motor Show the special edition SLK 2LOOK, a model offered in either black or white colors. The special edition can be ordered with immediate effect in the engine variants SLK 200 KOMPRESSOR, SLK 300 and SLK 350 Sports Engine and adds an extra cost of 2100 euro. It will be limited to to 300 vehicles worldwide.
The SLK 2LOOK Edition is painted in either obsidian black metallic or the special finish designo mystic white and features 18 inch 5-twin-spoke light-alloy wheels, discreet emblems on the wings.
The same contrasting black-and-white color scheme continues in the interior: sports seats in nappa leather – with the seat center panels in white and the contoured bolsters in black, the doors and center armrest are also in a contrasting black-and-white scheme.
Press release after the jump.
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