Audi celebrated their centennial at the Goodwood Festival of Speed last weekend and Top Speed previously showed you a teaser image from the German automaker’s centerpiece at the event. Commemorating 100 years of automobile production and over 70 years of rich racing heritage, the four ringed automaker showed off competition proven models like the classic Auto Union Grand Prix cars, Audi Sport Quattro based rally and touring cars as well as their latest alternatively fueled Le Mans competitor. However Audi’s the crown was the sculpture in front of Lord March’s home that showed where the Germans have been and where they are going. At one end pointed an Auto Union streamliner and at the other a V10 powered R8 super car shooting up into the heavens. The two high performance machines are linked by a stretch of road that resemble the historic Avus race track with it’s highly banked, nearly 180 degree curve.
Meanwhile the rest of Audi’s racing fleet was busy entertaining the crowd making passes up the 1.8 Mile hill climb course. Formula 1 and Le Mans legend, Jacky Ickx, and Pink Floyd drummer and Auto Union enthusiast Nick Mason, drove a pair of the 1950s race cars up the hill, the first was a full blown Type D Dual Compressor driven by the professional and D Type with the drummer behind the wheel. This was also the last running of the mostly original 1938 Type D before it goes on permanent display at the Audi Tradition’s museum in Ingolstadt, Germany.
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Volkswagen UK added to its line-up the most fuel efficient Tuareg in its line-up: a BlueMotion version powered by a 3.0-litre V6 TDI common rail diesel engine which develops 225 PS and 550 Nm of torque.
The Touareg BlueMotion has a fuel economy of 34.0 mpg on the combined cycle (down from 30.4 mpg), and CO2 emissions are cut to just 219 g/km, down from 244 g/km. It sprints from 0 to 60 mph in 8.5 seconds and has a top speed of 126 mph.
Prices start from £34,150 on the road RRP for the entry level model and rise to £37,545 for the SE.
Press release after the jump.
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Nobody ever said you had to be a genius to be a police officer. But then again, being stupid isn’t part of the job description either.
That’s the prevailing thought on British police officers these days. The bad thing is, it’s not as if they’re being asked to solve global warming or world hunger, but rather, just put the right type of fuel in their patrol cars.
In the past three years, British police officers have confused the type of fuel they put in their cars a total of 4,709 times. If basic mathematics isn’t a problem for you, you’d know that that’s about four patrol cars per day.
The problem with putting the wrong fuel type not only means that the fuel – already expensive, in its own right – has to be drained. In addition to that, the unfortunate engines that have been filled with the wrong fuel are subjected to repairs, further increasing the bills that, incidentally, tax payers have to pay.
If you’re a British taxpayer, that’s not a very comforting fact to face. You pay taxes just so these people have the money to fix their idiocy. While you’re at it, why not just send these cops to school!
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The luxury German automaker Mercedes Benz is releasing a special edition of their class creating four door coupe the CLS. This ultra exclusive CLS Grand Edition is limited to only 560 units, and for the first time ever is available in palladium silver.
Not only is the CLS being offered in this bold shade of gray, there is also a unique Designo Palladium Silver Matt Paint, finally a factory super with a flat paint job. This even more exclusive finish also has he benefit of being highly scratch and dirt-resistant. The color choice goes well with the car’s 18 inch AMG forged 5 spoke alloy wheels finished in Titanium Grey. There is also a pretty trick lighting kit.
However, a little show would be nothing without a little go. So the Mercedes Benz engineers managed to find and extra 48 HP out of the CLS 350 CDI’s turbo diesel V6 that now makes 272 HP. The added power allows the coupe-like sedan to go from 0 to 60 MPH in just 6.5 seconds while still getting a pretty economical 37 MPG.
If the diesel part didn’t tip you off, then we are sad to inform you that this limited edition CLS is another vehicle that won’t be imported into the U.S. Like the desired Ford Focus RS, this ultra excusive four door coupe is a U.K. only car. Like the Volkswagen Corrado Storm and so many other great classics, we can only dream about a left hand drive version of special editions like the Mercedes Benz CLS Grand Edition.
Press release after the jump.
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We were informed last week of the unfortunate demise of a McLaren F1 that inexplicably burst into flames on Airport Boulevard in Santa Rosa, California after its driver reportedly took it out for a spin after leaving it in storage for the past six months.
The owner of the car, who spent a staggering $2 million, escaped without any physical injuries but it remains to be seen how he’s doing emotionally after such a traumatic experience.
Fortunately for him, his prized vehicle was insured for $3 million dollars – a cool million more than what he had to pay for it – so you could definitely say that he may not be all that upset about losing his car.
In addition to that, the burned down McLaren is now on its way to England, back to its factory where engineers will figure out if there’s anything salvageable with the supercar. For the sake of the owner, let’s just hope that the McLaren F1’s chassis remains intact.
Either way, it’s still a sickening feeling to see one of rarest cars in the world – only 100 has ever been made – meet its maker far too soon.
Rolls-Royce is in trouble. Yes, you read that right. But before you start quivering in disbelief, consider first why one of the world’s most prestigious car company’s is in such a conundrum. When it seems like all you are hearing are bankruptcy reports and news of impending sales of entire manufacturers, it is comforting to know that there are still a few other brands out there that have managed to keep their heads above water.
In Rolls-Royce’s case, being able to meet the demand for their upcoming Ghost sedan is a comforting problem. On the wake of having over 10,000 individuals express their interest in purchasing a Ghost and over 1,500 of them making serious proposals, the English automaker is doubling their efforts with the hope of matching the public’s demand for the Ghost. The company has already added more shifts for their employees and has already extended work hours just to be able to maintain the same production rate they have had in the past, but it apparently, these efforts are still not enough.
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Renault has unveiled today two new special editions for the UK market: the Renault Clio World Series and the Renault Megane World Series. Both models will debut at Silverstone on 4th and 5th July.
Clio World Series by adds an extended front spoiler, side skirts, a sports rear bumper plus WSR badging. Customers can choose from the 1.2 16V 75, the highly efficient TCe 100 or the frugal dCi 86 engines. Prices for this special edition start from £12,170.
Megane Hatch World Series adds an extended front spoiler, Coupe-style bumper inserts, side skirts, a sports rear bumper, rear spoiler, WSR badging and 17” alloy wheels. Customers can choose from the 1.6 16V 110 or the dCi 106, both with a six-speed gearbox. Prices for this special edition start from £16,595.
Press release after the jump.
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Anybody who’s ever gone through childhood must have, at one point, been transfixed to the Hanna Barbera’s classic cartoons, Wacky Races. The unforgettable ensemble of characters – including Peter Perfect, Dick Dastardley & Mutley, and Penelope Pitstop – have all left us wishing to become race car drivers driving our very own wacky race car.
If you’re going to the Goodwood Festival of Speed, then your wishes are about to come true. Almost, that is.
A full set of 11 real-life Wacky race cars will be displayed at the aforementioned car festival providing fans of the cartoon from all shapes and sizes the opportunity to see their favorite wacky race cars up close and personal.
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Do you remember the Mitsubishi Evolution FQ 330 that we showed you last week, well that was nothing compared to this, the FQ 400. Whereas the 330 HP version seemed to be nothing more than an EVO MR with a reflashed ECU, the FQ 400 is a whole different animal.
Starting off with the basics, Mitsubishi’s 4B11 receives four new high-flow fuel injectors, a new hybrid turbocharger that reduces lag, an upgraded intercooler to handle the additional boost and a full 3 inch stainless steel exhaust that spits the spent gasses out of a centrally mounted tail pipe. The result is a peak output of 403 HP and 387 lb-ft of torque. Enough thrust to move the FQ 400 from 0 to 60 MPH in just 3.8 seconds.
Getting back to the “all new animal” topic. The FQ 400 receives a couple of body mods, that not only make the car look as impressive as the old EVO VI TME, but their composite construction saves some unnecessary weight and makes the factory tuned EVO even more capable. The engine is hidden away by a new hood with larger opening for even better cooling; the front bumper, side skirts, rear bumper and diffuser are all made from lightweight composite material.
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The Italian sports car builder Maserati has just announced their UK pricing for the Quattroporte Sport GTS luxury sedan. The powerful four door is now on sale and can be yours starting at £89,865.
The Quattroporte Sport GTS is powered by a 4.7 Liter V8 that delivers 440 HP at 7,000 RPM. All that power sends the saloon sprinting from 0 to 60 MPH in just 5.1 seconds, and the car won’t stop until it reaches a top speed of 177 MPH.
Press release after the jump.
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