Month: April 2013

Audi R8 e-tron spotted testing

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Audi R8 e-tron
Even though Audi denies that the company’s R8 e-tron won’t make it into production, Will Lillo from Spain recently spotted a prototype version testing on the streets around Barcelona.

The 49 KWh lithium-ion battery feeds a pair of electric motors generating a total output of 230 kW (308 hp) and 820 Nm of torque, with around 490 Nm transferred to the rear wheels from a near-standing start. A range of 215 kilometres (134 miles) is possible, with energy recovery during coasting and braking also providing a charge.

We know it will be in Iron Man 3 and looking back, the previous two films have seen Tony Stark behind the wheel of an R8 Coupe and an R8 Spyder, so we don’t see why Audi would want to put such a vehicle as the R8 e-tron on a global pedestal – without making it available to the public. We also think it would be a great shame if it wasn’t built.

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Audi 80 quattro with four-wheel steering

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Audi 80 quattro with four-wheel steering
Norwegian amateur filmmaker and automotive enthusiast Marius Hesleskaug has just released this video of a tuned Audi 80 quattro track car – with four-wheel steering.

The system, which improves agility and stability by steering in the opposite or the same direction as the front wheels depending on the speed, has also been adopted by Porsche for the 991 GT3.

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BMW M6 vs Porsche 911 Carrera S

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BMW M6 vs Porsche 911 Carrera S
Last night’s Fifth Gear saw Tiff Needell and Nurburgring queen Sabine Schmitz heading to the track armed with BMW’s M6 Coupe and the latest Porsche 911 Carrera S.

The M6 uses a 4.4-litre biturbo V8, developing a mammoth 412 kW (560 hp) and 680 Nm of torque; enough for a 0-100 km/h time of 4.2 seconds, while the 991 Carrera 4S is propelled by a 3.8-litre straight-six developing 294 kW (400 hp) and 440 Nm, allowing it to crack 100 km/h in 4.3 seconds.

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TopCar Porsche Cayenne Vantage 2 Red Dragon

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Porsche Cayenne Vantage 2 Red Dragon
Russian tuning specialist TopCar has revealed its latest creation, the Vantage 2 Red Dragon, which is based on Porsche’s chunky Cayenne.

Built as an individual design project, the Cayenne wears the company’s Vantage 2 aero package, which consists of a replacement front bumper spoiler, rear bumper with air outlets and integrated diffuser, wheel arch and sill extensions, tailgate spoilers and an aggressively vented hood. There’s also a quartet of jaunty tailpipes and a set of questionable two-tone alloy wheels.

Moving inside, the largely red cabin has been reupholstered in quilted leather on the seats, with the dashboard also receiving a coating of hide, while carbon fibre elements adorn the door panels, centre console, steering wheel and gear knob.

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High Octane Racing’s Audi breaks 1000 hp barrier

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High Octane Racing Audi quattro
The Audi Sport quattro clone created by Netherlands-based High Octane Racing has finally passed the 1000 hp mark, recording a figure of 1005 hp on the rollers at DP Engineering.

The 2.2-litre five-cylinder powerplant, which is fed by a Garrett GT4202R turbocharger, is encased by a pretty convincing replica of the homologation special. As well as the shortened bodyshell, the Coupe also uses the more upright Saloon windscreen section along with Kevlar/carbon panels for the roof, front wings, rear quarter panels, bonnet and bumpers.

The car is scheduled to appear on the quarter mile at Zandvoort this Saturday.

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