This latest video from Autocar sees cuddly Steve Sutcliffe head to the track to find out if Audi’s pocket rocket, the A1 quattro, has the chops to keep pace with the Nissan GT-R.
The A1 is propelled by the company’s delightful 2.0 TFSI engine, which develops 188 kW (256 hp) and 350 Nm of torque, while its Japanese rival uses a 3.8-litre twin-turbo V6 to produce 404 kW (542 hp) and 632 Nm and features the weight-saving Track Pack.
So, it should be a walk in the park for Godzilla, no?
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While its customers will have to wait until 2014 to get their hands on the 991 GT3 RSR racecar, Porsche has announced that it will compete at next year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans and World Endurance Championship with the newest generation of 911.
Two cars will be fielded in the GTE category by Porsche AG Team Manthey, with Olaf Manthey given the role of team manager. Porsche is the most successful manufacturer in Le Mans, securing 16 overall victories and it was Manthey who oversaw five of them.
“The new 911 RSR is currently being developed by our engineers and tested by our works drivers, and what better time could there be to introduce the new car than the Porsche 911’s 50th anniversary?” said Hartmut Kristen, Porsche Head of Motorsport.
Check out Motor Authority for a gallery of actual photographs rather than our terrible attempt at a rendering.
We’ve witnessed some impressive parallel parking in the past, but this is f-word insane. Filmed at at Flugplatz Kindel in Eisenach, for the Guinness World Records TV show, Ronny Wechselberger managed to place a 3.54-metre Volkswagen up! into a 3.68-metre parking space. Yes, you read that right.
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Earlier this year, Bugatti invited the French Conceptual artist Bernar Venet to design a piece of work for the Art Basel Miami Beach 2012 (December 6-9), and this is the result.
Renowned for his striking, abstract sculptures, New York-based Venet used a Veyron Grand Sport to create the “fastest artwork ever”. From a distance, the front fascia and flanks of the Grand Sport almost appear to be rusted metal panels, but on closer inspection it is merely a copper-coloured pattern made up of mathematic and scientific formulas which the company’s engineers had used to make the Veyron a reality. The front wheels were also colour-matched.
Moving inside, the artist’s signature adorns the central tunnel and the algorithmic theme continues with the door panels receiving the same numerical treatment, making this the most expensive Sudoku puzzle in the world.
Propelled by a quad-turbocharged 8.0-litre W16, producing 746 kW (1,001 hp) and 1,250 Nm of torque, the Grand Sport hits 100 km/h in a mere 2.7 seconds and a 407 km/h (252 mph) top speed, or 361 km/h (224 mph) with the roof removed. And toupee tape in place.
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If rumours are to be believed, Porsche may reveal a four-cylinder turbocharged Cayman at next year’s Frankfurt motor Show (September 10 – 22).
Taking a leaf out of the 356’s book, which also used a flat-four, the flagship Cayman would not only benefit from a lighter, more compact boxer unit, but the 2.5-litre displacement and forced induction could realistically see an output of 261 kW (350 hp) and 500 Nm of torque, resulting in the perfect combination of performance and efficiency.
[Source: 0-100.it]
The latest episode of CNBC’s Overdrive sees Shubhabrata Marmar head over to Italy’s Misano World Circuit to sample the new Audi R8 V10 plus.
Differences on the plus include CFRP mirrors, side blades, splitter, larger diffuser and adjustable bucket seats. Carbon ceramic brakes come as standard, while the improved output of 404 kW (550 hp) and 540 Nm of torque allows a 3.5 second 0-100 km/h time and a 317 km/h (197 mph) top speed.
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