Last month, the 2014 Audi A8 was caught testing for the first time on the public roads in Germany. Today, the car changed landscapes and went for high-altitude testing in the Alps.
Just like in the previous testing session, Audi chose to heavily camouflage this A8 prototype; but even so, we expect to see the same updates that we have seen in all of the recently launched Audi models.
These updates will include: new headlight units; new grille; and small changes to the bumper. On the rear, the revisions include: new taillights and a revised bumper. The interior will also receive some small updates, plus an updated infotainment system.
Under the hood, Audi will focus on reducing fuel consumption and lowering CO2 emissions.
We expect the revised Audi A8 to be unveiled in September at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show.
Click past the jump to read more about the Audi A8.
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Now that Volkswagen unveiled both the standard and GTI version of the seventh-generation Golf, the next model we expect is, of course, the R version. We’ve brought you plenty of spy photos of the 2014 Golf R, but this time we present to you a video showing the upcoming Golf R taking a beating on Nürburgring.
The upcoming Golf R will be powered by a revised version of the 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine mated to a DSG or a six-speed transmission. The revised engine will deliver 256 horsepower in the U.S. version and 270 horsepower in the European model.
As for aesthetics, the next-gen Golf R will receive the same R treatment as the current model, but it will get the some of the design improvements seen on the other seventh-gen Golf variants, including: revised headlights and taillights; a new grille and front bumper; and a revised backside.
Stay tuned for more information and spy shots on the new Golf R as we slowly approach its debut.
Earlier this year, the SRT team announced that the new-generation Viper is preparing its return to the famous 24 Hours of Le Mans race after an absence of 13 years. Now it looks like the company has big hopes for the 81st edition set for June 22nd and 23rd at Circuit de la Sarthe in Le Mans, France.
SRT, in cooperation with Riley Technologies, is preparing two identical SRT Viper GTS-R models for the race. The two cars were rigorously tested during four ALMS races in 2012 and during the full 2013 racing season. Car No. 91 managed to obtain three consecutive top-five finishes, including a position on the podium at Long Beach, where it finished third.
The two Viper GTS-Rs will be driven by Marc Goossens, Dominik Farnbacher, Jonathan Bomarito and Kuno Wittmer, joined by Tommy Kendall and Ryan Dalziel for the endurance events.
Click past the jump to read more about Viper’s experience at Le Mans.
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The Kia Quoris or K9 was unveiled by the South Korean automaker in 2012 as a replacement for the Opirus sedan in its home market. The Quoris is already sold in many countries around the Globe and it looks like the U.S. will be next.
In an interview with Automotive, one Kia official confirmed that the Quoris will arrive is the U.S. in 2014 and will be priced somewhere between $50k and $70k. If you are wondering how a company can sell models with such a wide price spectrum, Executive Vice President of Marketing and Communications, Michael Sprague, has the answer: "How is that any different than Mercedes-Benz selling cars from $30,000 to $150,000?"
While we await the Quoris arrival, Kia will remain busy by unveiling seven refreshed or all-new vehicles, plus slightly updated 2014 Kia Sedona minivan that Kia hopes will help improve sales.
Click past the jump to read more about the Kia Quoris.
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A few weeks before the 2012 Geneva Motor Show, Lotus announced they would "blow the top off" at the show. Back then, we all thought that we would see a Convertible version of the Evora, but we were so wrong. Lotus has decided to bring out the fastest roadster ever: the Exige S Roadster.
Based off the new Exige S, the roadster model will be powered by the same supercharged 3.5-liter V-6 engine that delivers a total of 345 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. This engine sprints the car from 0 to 60 mph in just 3.8 seconds and to 100 mph in 8.5 seconds. Being that this is a Roadster, safety precautions deem it necessary to lower the top speed to 233 km/h (145 mph).
The Exige S Roadster weighs just 1,166 kg (2,570 pounds) and features the same design elements as the coupe, except of course for its factory-fitted soft top roof that makes the car look even more muscular than the coupe.
Now for the bad news: the new Lotus Exige S Roadster won’t make it to the U.S. market, as it will only be offered in markets like Europe and Asia.
UPDATE 5/22/2013: Lotus has just unveiled the official pricing for the Exige S Roadster and is now available for order. See more after the jump
Hit the jump to read more about the Lotus Exige S Roadster.
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It’s been a while since we last caught the upcoming BMW M4 Coupe testing, but it’s definitely worth the wait. Today, our spy photographers managed to catch the car testing at the famed Nürburgring racetrack in some slippery conditions.
As you can see, the car is still heavily camouflaged but it is still pretty easy to see that for the first time, the M4 Coupe is wearing something other than its typical black paint. This may seem insignificant on the surface, but it is a sign that BMW has reached the next level of testing and that an official unveiling is drawing near.
BMW also tipped its hand by equipping this particular model with a set of gold-colored calipers, which indicates that this 4 Series features the M Carbon Ceramic brakes.
As for the engine, rumors indicate that the M4 will be powered by a S55 3.0-liter in-line six-cylinder engine with an output of 415 horsepower.
Click past the jump to read more about the BMW M4 Coupe.
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For all of you that have a Mercedes CGI turbocharged engine in your late-model Mercedes – engine codes M270, M271EVO and M274 – Carlsson has announced that it now offers CB kits to help bump power by up to 28 percent.
The base CB kit is an adapter plug that goes between the vehicle wiring harnesses and the factory ECU. This little nugget of joy communicates with the various electronic systems within your Benz, assessing the driving situation and conditions, and making adjustments to optimize power.
There’s no need to worry about reliability when you install this kit, as it includes safety checks that help prevent damage that some other tuning kits may cause. First, the CB kit waits for the engine oil temperature to reach 50 degrees Celsius (122 degrees Fahrenheit) before the performance boosts activate. Secondly, the CB kit closely monitors the limits of the CGI engine (oil temperature, coolant temperature, etc.) and drops the ECU to its normal performance if these limits are reached.
This kit’s improvements range from a 24-horsepower gain in the A 180 and B 180 to a 42-horsepower gain in the A 250 and B 250.
For those that want some extra power from the M271EVO engine lineup, the CBS kit is available too, which adds a larger and freer-flowing intercooler to the base CB kit. The power increases from the CBS kit range from 35 horsepower in the C 250, E 250 and SLK 250 to 45 horsepower in the C 180.
When you purchase this kit, Carlsson further shows its dedication to keeping your Benz running by taking over the manufacturer’s drivetrain warranty for two years or 100,000 km (62,137 miles).
Click past the jump to see the full specification sheet
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Don’t look now, but Orlando-based tuner Ultimate Auto is back at it with yet another fantastic aftermarket program.
We’ve seen what the company can do when presented with a sports car. Imagine what kind of work it can produce with a muscle car, like the 2013 Chevy Camaro ZL1?
Well, we won’t have to wonder anymore because the Camaro ZL1 is precisely the subject of Ultimate Auto’s latest program. Aesthetically, the upgrades were mostly contained on the interior. The metallic black exterior is complemented by touches of grey and candy red with the latter being used as housing inserts for the custom JL Audio HD amplifiers and the 2 W7’s inside the cabin.
But that’s not all of it; Ultimate Auto also added a Borla cat-back exhaust system and headers to enhance its exhaust note and relieve any back pressure. From there, a K&N carbon-fiber intake system was also installed to go with that absolutely scintillating NOS system.
Just imagine the kind of damage this Camaro ZL1 can do when it’s taken to the drag strip. We can already see it leaving some poor car in a cloud of tire smoke and shame.
Click past the jump to read more about the Chevrolet Camaro ZL1
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Microsoft’s next-generation Xbox was officially announced today and along with the new Xbox One, Turn 10 Studios dropped the first teaser video for its debut game on the Xbox One: Forza Motorsport 5. According to the first details we received, the game was specially designed for the Xbox One and will be available exclusively for Xbox One at launch.
Talking about the new Forza Motorsport, Turn 10 Studios said: "Built from the ground up to take advantage of Xbox One and the infinite power of the cloud, no game better delivers the sensation of being behind the wheel."
Full details on the Forza Motorsport 5 will be announced in Los Angeles during the 2013 Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) and will be put on sale later this year. Until then, enjoy this tantalizing trailer that puts the McLaren F1 and its successor, the P1 supercar, head to head.
