Top Speed

KTM 200 EXC

Sulthoni@topspeed.com(Sulthoni), Kirby@topspeed.com(Kirby) — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 13:00:00 GMT

Sometimes, enduro bikes need not be the most powerful of the lot. More often than not, you can enjoy the playful handling of a 125 and the engine power of a 250cc enduro all wrapped up into one. And what better bike to do that for you than the KTM 200 EXC?

The KTM 200 EXC is a special bike that is not only built for a specific Enduro World Championship class, but also for those who want to break fee from the competitive class-based society and are looking for nothing more than a fun, rideable, and perfectly ergonomic bike. For 2012, the 200 EXC comes with even more performance than before and a completely revamped chassis, making it a true must-ride for upstart riders everywhere.

At the heart of the KTM 200 EXC is a revamped 193cc 1-cylinder 2-stroke engine, water-cooled, with a reed intake, an exhaust control, a redesigned air box, and a flow-optimized intake flange between the airbox and the carburetor that ensures more powerful revving and even more power in all rev ranges for the liquid-cooled, two-stroke machine.

In terms of handling, the 200 EXC is equipped with the latest WP upside-down fork with wider adjustment ranges and a new setting. The sensitive responsiveness and outstanding damping of the open-cartridge fork with 48 mm (1.89 in) outer tubes are a perfect complement for the 200 EXC’s playful handling and precision. The 200 EXC also boasts of new wheels that come with CNC-machined hubs, Excel rims, zinc/nickel-coated spokes and aluminum nipples, all of which improves the playful handling of the 200 EXC.

Find out more about the KTM 200 EXC after the jump.

KTM 200 EXC originally appeared on topspeed.com on Friday, 10 February 2012 13:00 EST.

Mercedes SLS AMG GT3

Simona@topspeed.com(Simona), Kirby@topspeed.com(Kirby) — Fri, 3 Feb 2012 09:00:00 GMT

While the wait for the Mercedes SLS AMG roadster version continues on, Mercedes is making the wait a little more bearable by surprising us with another SLS AMG: the GT3 version. The sports car will compete in the 2011 racing season.

The SLS AMG GT3 features a new new front apron with a splitter, the bonnet with central cooling air vent, wider front and rear wings, sideskirts with cooling ducts for the rear brakes, a rear diffuser and the adjustable rear aerofoil.

The race car will be powered by the same 6.3-liter V8 engine, but has been tuned to deliver an impressive +600 hp, a pretty significant spike from the road-going version of the SLS AMG which comes with a "standard" 571 hp.

Also on the interior, the SLS AMG GT3 version will drop all of its luxury amenities, including the air conditioning, navigation and upholstery. Instead, the car’s interior will be stripped down to only include a steel rollover cage, a racing bucket seat with a six-point seat belt and HANS system.

UPDATE 09/22/2011: Tobias Moers, Member of the Board of Directors and Head of Vehicle Development for AMG has confirmed that the SLS GT3 would not be racing in the US market because the company did not want to go through the added expense of re-certifying it for use on US soil.

UPDATE 02/03/12: Mercedes is continuing its series on the SLS AMG GT3’s production with a new video on assembling the body of the car. Enjoy!

Full story and press release after the jump.

Mercedes SLS AMG GT3 originally appeared on topspeed.com on Friday, 3 February 2012 09:00 EST.

Citroen C4 sedan

Simona@topspeed.com(Simona) — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 12:00:00 GMT

It’s Citroen’s turn to go out and play in the snow, and they’ve brought their new generation C4 sedan along for the ride. These spy shots were taken in Northern Scandinavia, where the chill - and the risk of being outed - has prompted Citroen to cover a lot of the vehicle in that dread camouflage.

The current C4 Sedan is sold mostly in China, but with a lot of other smaller sedans popping up from different manufacturers (remember the Astra sedan recently spotted?) there may be a chance to see this model working its way to the European market. In countries like Italy, Spain, and countries in eastern European, the smaller sedan segment is rapidly growing, giving Citroen even more reason to make a big move.

Power for the Citroen C4 sedan is expected to come from the same engine range found in the current C4 hatchback, meaning choice of both petrol and diesel engines with power ranging from 90 to 150 HP. A Stop & Start system will also be offered.

Expect to see the new Citroen C4 sedan launched by the end of 2012.

Citroen C4 sedan originally appeared on topspeed.com on Friday, 10 February 2012 12:00 EST.

KTM 50 SX

Sulthoni@topspeed.com(Sulthoni), Kirby@topspeed.com(Kirby) — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 11:00:00 GMT

The KTM 50 SX is a really cute little bike that’s got a lot more attitude than its size will let on. As the smallest bike in the SX line-up, the 50 SX is the ideal enduro ride young people - ages thee to four - can enjoy as they begin their first taste of what enduro racing is all about.

The 50 SX weighs only 88 lbs and was designed to be as fun and as safe as any entry-level bike. After all, it’s important to have a bike that kids can not only have fun in, but also be something that adults can trust with their children.

The KTM 50 SX has everything that impresses riders up to a height of 1.30 m (4.27 ft) while also reassuring the parents that it’s been built with a high-quality chassis with easily applied disc brakes, top-quality components, and a powerful, reliable engine with easy-to-operate centrifugal clutch.

The engine isn’t a monster by any stretch of the imagination, making it an ideal ride for young ones everywhere. And since the clientele for this bike revolves around kids, KTM designed the 50 SX to carry a centrifugally controlled automatic clutch that doesn’t put the onus on junior racers worry about changing gears. All they need is to hit the gas and the bike’s ready to go.

A high-quality, aluminum alloy, Renthal handlebars was also designed specifically for the 50 SX to create the ergonomic conditions for optimum control of the vehicle. In particular, the new, two-component rubber grips on the handlebars provide a secure hold for the hands, with the center strut bearing a crash pad should the worst come to the worst.

It’s easy, as a parent, to worry about your kids anytime they ride a motorcycle, but if there’s one bike that parents know will treat their little ones right, it’s the KTM 50 SX.

Find out more about the KTM 50 SX after the jump.

KTM 50 SX originally appeared on topspeed.com on Friday, 10 February 2012 11:00 EST.

Arrinera Venocara Supercar

Kirby@topspeed.com(Kirby) — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 11:00:00 GMT

For the most part, most of today’s supercars call the European continent their home. The growing trend of these high-powered machines has stretched far and wide in the continent with established countries like Germany, Italy, and the UK being joined in the supercar arms race by Sweden, Denmark, and Spain, among other countries.

Now you can add Poland to the mix.

The country best known for their polish sausages is set to introduce their very first supercar courtesy of Arrinera Automotive. The name for this Lamborghini-inspired beast hasn’t been announced yet, but Arrinera has nonetheless released a number of renderings to give us a first look on what to expect when this Polish hammer hits the streets in the future.

UPDATE 02/10/12: Arrinera has unveiled a new video that takes us behind the scenes of the official video previously unveiled. The video depicts the enormous effort made by the producer Lazniak.com as well as the Arrinera team. Hit the jump to watch the video.

This review has been updated with official details of the Arrinera Supercar

Arrinera Venocara Supercar originally appeared on topspeed.com on Friday, 10 February 2012 11:00 EST.

Audi TT-RS Plus

Simona@topspeed.com(Simona) — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 10:00:00 GMT

Audi is preparing to bring out the new generation TT-RS in 2013, but before that happens, the company is sending the current generation out with a more powerful bang. Called the TT-RS Plus, this new model will be offered in both coupe and roadster versions. In Germany, the TT-RS Coupe equipped with a manual transmission will be priced at €60,650 ($80,500 at the current exchange rates) and €62,800 ($83,500 at the current exchange rates) with the seven-speed S tronic . The TT RS Plus Roadster has a list price of €63,500 ($84,500 at the current exchange rates) with the manual transmission and €65,650 ($86,000 at the current exchange rates) with the seven-speed S tronic.

The Audi TT-RS Plus will be the most powerful TT-RS model launched on the market. It is powered by a 2.5 liter five-cylinder turbo engine that delivers a total of 360 HP - an increase of 20 HP over the standard version. As a result, the model will sprint from 0 to 60 mph in 4.1 seconds with a top speed that has been increased to 173 mph.

UPDATE 02/10/2012: This review has been updated with the official details and images for the Audi TT-RS Plus.

Hit the jump to read more about the Audi TT-RS Plus.

gallery: 2012 Audi TT-RS American model

Audi TT-RS Plus originally appeared on topspeed.com on Friday, 10 February 2012 10:00 EST.

Opel Astra Sedan

Simona@topspeed.com(Simona) — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 09:00:00 GMT

Opel is preparing to expand its Astra line-up with the addition of a new sedan set to make its official debut at the Paris Auto Show later this year. The new version will go on sale next to the standard Astra hatchback, the GTC, and the OPC version set to be released next month at the Geneva Motor Show.

These spy shots reveal that the sedan version of the Astra is heavily inspired by its hatchback brother in terms of its design, until you get to the rear end. The back of the Astra has been adapted to a sedan style, seemingly inspired by the Opel Insignia.

The engine line-up for the Astra sedan will be carried over from the hatchback, meaning a choice of eight different engines mated to a six speed transmission. The diesel options will range from 1.3 to 2.0 Liters producing anywhere from 95 HP up to 160 HP. The gas burners will displace from 1.4 to 1.6 Liters and will pump out anywhere from 100 HP to 180 HP.

More details on the future Opel Astra sedan will be coming soon, so stay tuned!

Opel Astra Sedan originally appeared on topspeed.com on Friday, 10 February 2012 09:00 EST.

KTM 690 Duke

Sulthoni@topspeed.com(Sulthoni), Kirby@topspeed.com(Kirby) — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 08:00:00 GMT

It wasn’t that long ago that the KTM Duke was the embodiment of a pure, unadulterated single-cylinder motorcycle. After being under the radar recently, the Duke is looking to return to prominence with a line-up that makes your jaws drop to the floor.

Judging by the latest 690 Duke, someone can make a case that they’re looking at a ride that offers smoothness, room for a pillion passenger, and long-distance ride-ability.

There’s a real reason why the 690 Duke is considered one of the most cutting-edge series production single-cylinder of our times. Combining an impressive 690cc twin ignition and a precision chassis with a wealth of outstanding components has resulted in a bike that boasts of incomparable versatility.

The engine features plug-selective mapping for the best and most effective combustion, plus extended service intervals of 10,000 km and even lower fuel consumption. All that and you get a bike that produces an impressive 69 horsepower. The finely balanced crank drive of the 690 single-cylinder converts terrific combustion pressure into unrivaled single-power - thanks to its balancer shaft, which eliminates vibration even better than ever without having any detrimental effect on the life of the super-single. The 690 Duke also possesses active engine casing ventilation and the anti-hopping clutch that effectively prevents rear wheel chatter when down-shifting hard.

Speaking of its lightweight qualities, the 690 Duke comes with a 9 kg/20 lbs lightweight tubular space frame made from chrome-molybdenum steel and a 4 kg/9 lbs lightweight, high-quality, pin-jointed, die-cast swing arm that’s been built with extreme levels of torsional stiffness.

Find out more about the KTM 690 Duke after the jump.

KTM 690 Duke originally appeared on topspeed.com on Friday, 10 February 2012 08:00 EST.

KTM 990 Super Duke R

Sulthoni@topspeed.com(Sulthoni), Kirby@topspeed.com(Kirby) — Thu, 9 Feb 2012 21:00:00 GMT

Have you ever pictured what the perfect bike is like? You know, the kind of uncompromising riding machine that, in its purest form, just speaks to how perfect engineering could give birth to something so beautiful?

Open your eyes and you’re looking at the ultra-sporty KTM 990 Super Duke R.

With its muscle-flexing V2 and perfectly controllable power, the 990 Super Duke R has been regarded as the ultimate scourge of the superbike. The bike’s performance capabilities means serious business. After all, when you have a 999cc water-cooled V-engine that packs a powerful punch to the tune of 123 horsepower, you’re controlling a bike that can just wallop anything it sets its eyes on. The 990 Super Duke R’s engine also comes with state-of-the-art four-valve cylinder heads, each with flow-optimized ducts, two overhead camshafts, and an electronic Keihin engine management system that regulates the modern fuel injection system on the 990 Super Duke R, focusing on maximum power, efficient, and spontaneous responsiveness.

As far as handling characteristics are concerned, the 990 Super Duke R’s orange, powder-coated tubular space frame that’s made from chrome-molybdenum steel with a bolted-on, light alloy subframe is as strong and sturdy as any in the market. On top of that, it provides a steeper steering head angle in the "R" setup than the Super Duke and therefore slightly less trail for even greater maneuverability. The sports bike also has an upside-down telescopic fork with TiAlN-coated sliding surfaces and a directly connected shock absorber from WP Suspension with a TiAlN-coated piston rod that allows optimum individual adjustment of the chassis to suit load, riding style, and track.

From front to rear and top to bottom, the 990 Super Duke R possesses the kind of all-world capabilities that makes it a true sports bike in every sense of the word.

Find out more about the KTM 990 Super Duke R after the jump.

KTM 990 Super Duke R originally appeared on topspeed.com on Thursday, 9 February 2012 21:00 EST.

KTM 1190 RC8 R

Sulthoni@topspeed.com(Sulthoni), Kirby@topspeed.com(Kirby) — Thu, 9 Feb 2012 19:00:00 GMT

The baddest bike in the KTM line-up certainly needs no introduction. Not when KTM designers pulled out all the stops to ensure that it keeps its menacing reputation in the industry.

That’s what the 1190 RC8 R is all about. The bike comes loaded with one of the most powerful V2 engines of our times and one of the best chassis in the world. And the best part: the bike is completely street-legal.

The RC8 R not only offers extraordinarily relaxed ergonomics for all its supreme sportiness, but it also comes with more setting options than any other series production super bike, including the footrests, each with two positional variants, the foot levers with variable lever operating angle and lever length, the seats, hand levers, and a two-height adjustable handlebar.

Mechanically speaking, the 1190 RC8 R boasts of an insanely powerful V2 twin-engine that produces a mighty output of 173 horsepower. The KTM engine impresses with an extremely broad rev range and spontaneous throttle response, while supplying supreme ride quality. If you’re looking for reasons as to why the RC8 R has such an impressive engine, look no further than the state-of-the-art cylinder heads with twin plug ignition, flow-optimized ducts and cam follower drive, each with two overhead camshafts for four valves, as well as the electronic Keihin engine management system with twin throttle valves that regulate the modern electronic fuel injection system on the RC8 R. This features focuses on maximum power with predictable engine characteristics and spontaneous responsiveness with controllable throttle response.

Handling is also an important part of the RC8 R package, thanks to an intricately made light alloy swing arm that contributes in providing outstanding traction of the RC8 R. The position of the swingarm can be adjusted by means of an eccentric on the lever linkage, allowing for minimized compression and preventing squatting anytime the bike accelerates out of corners.

Find out more about the KRM 1190 RC8 R after the jump.

KTM 1190 RC8 R originally appeared on topspeed.com on Thursday, 9 February 2012 19:00 EST.