Tag Archives: v8

Audi, Spy Shots

Audi RS6 Production Prototype – Spyshots (Updated Video!)

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This morning at a cold and soon to be damp Nürburgring in Germany.

We have spied the new Audi RS6 in full production camouflage unlike our previous sighting of the production mule.

It is expected that the RS 6 will use the same 4.0 TFSI bi-turbo V8 as the S6, S8 and even the new Bentley Continental GT V8.

The new V8 engine is expected to deliver 500 HP and 487 lb-ft of torque throughout most of the power range.

It is rumoured that it will be offered with a new close-ratio 8-speed automatic transmission and will sprint from 0 to 60 mph in around 4.3 seconds.

Detailing is pretty much well hidden apart frrom the chamfers around the front grill which is on all the 2012-2013 facelifts.

Enjoy the pics…


Ford

Ford Mustang: Five Generations and Counting

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When the first Ford Mustang went on sale in 1964, the Beatles had just broken America and the post-war baby-boom generation was coming of age.  The Mustang was a product born to serve the times, the classic mix of dynamic style and affordability ensuring its continuing popularity today. 

Conceived in the early 1960’s, the Mustang took the basic design of the Ford Falcon and gave it muscles.  It was a looker too – the famous running horse motif and the long sloping hood, lower roof and low seating produced a slimline effect that had instant appeal.

 Ford sold 97,705 coupes that year and over four times as many the following. In the midst of demand for a racing model that could take on the Corvette, Carroll Shelby modified 100 ‘K-code’ high-performance models which are still highly praised today.  Even as Chevrolet and Pontiac brought out their own new ‘muscle’ cars in the later sixties, they could not rival the Mustang in popularity.  

 The seventies saw a tighter model with smaller power plants: the less-powerful 2.8L V6 engine was a hit and later a V8 engine was also available meaning that in 1975 Mustang II achieved record sales.

 Later in the decade, the Mustang grew in length but lost weight as the lightweight ‘Fox body’ chassis came into being.  There were now also luxury options including the ‘Ghia’ model.

 The eighties gave the Mustang a turbocharged boost and the convertible, missing for almost a decade, made a comeback.  Early nineties saw a redesign and a new 5.0L V8 for the GT, which could gain speeds of 60 miles per hour in around six seconds.

 Mustang, in the early noughties, kept the scalloped sides and taillights split into three, reminiscent of the vintage models. With features like smart suspension which reacts to road surface changes, Mustang took a leap into the 21st century and will continue to do so.

 Next year the 2013 models coming out range from the Mustang GT to the Boss 302, Shelby GT500 and the V6, building on the success the brand has received across generations.

Maserati, Spy Shots

2014 Maserati Quattroporte – Spyshots

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Here are the latest spy shots of a prototype of the Maserati Quattroporte.

This is a pre-production prototype of a complete new chassis hence the four-door is covered in enough camouflage to hide any detailing and any suggestion of new body work features.

Rumour has it that they are also going down the Ferrari route and is touted to house a similar AWD setup as the Ferrari FF as well as the usual RWD.

This is very early stages to talk powerunits for this car but we expect it to carry on with a reworked version of the current V8 powerunit with additional power along a lighter nimbler chassis.

And I will throw caution to the wind and could there be a v12 offering in the works????

Gumpert

Gumpert Apollo Enraged and R Racer revealed in Geneva

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Gumpert unveiled two world premieres at the Geneva Motorshow first the Apollo R and the road legal Apollo Enraged special edition.

Roland Gumpert the former director of Audi Sport informed us it has been 3 years since they got the 7:11 time on the infamous norschleife and is looking forward to beating it with both cars the Road Legal Apollo Enraged and the trackday special the Apollo R.

The Gumpert Apollo R uses the Audi sourced V8 used in both the V8 R8 and the RS4 with added twin-turbo engine producing 860 HP, the power increase is a tribute to the additional boost pressure and lower air gas intake temperatures along with modifications from the manifold and air intake system which will survive hotter ambient temperatures.

The engine considering its anorexic 1100kg is finished off with a single piece of cast aluminium detailing the Gumpert Logo.

The special edition GUMPERT apollo Enraged. Limited to three vehicles worldwide will have 780 hp which is the most powerful street legal Apollo to leave the GUMPERT factory.

We expect Gumpert to be attempting another record of the Nordschleife later this year.

BMW, Spy Shots

BMW M 6 Series Gran Coupe – Latest Spy Photos

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This is BMWs answer to the Mercedes CLS AMG and Audi flagship S7, the M6 Gran Coupe has been spotted in light camouflage during cold weather testing in Scandinavia. With its deep front spoiler and wider fenders it looks really aggressive and the M trademark quad exhaust pipes finish the back off beautifully.

Powered by the same high revving turbocharged V8 engine as the M5 and the just revealed M6 Coupe and Convertible, the M6 Gran Coupe has atleast 560 wild horses to play with. Rumors are even talking on a 20-40 hp power boost for the M6 Gran Coupe, making it 580-600 hp in total.

All this power will be sent to BMW M´s latest seven-speed Double Clutch Transmission with Drivelogic.

Chevrolet, Spy Shots

Camaro ZL1 – The Nurburgring Story

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Here is a fantastic little insight to the development of the flagship Camaro undertaking handling development on the Nordschleife in Germany.

The 2012 Camaro ZL1 is the highest-performing production Camaro of all time.

Built to be track-capable right from the showroom, and tested on some of the most rigorous tracks around the world, including the Nürburgring, where it clocked in at 7:41.27. This is the car every engineer dreams about building. Every racer dreams about tearing around the track.

The 580-horsepower, 556 lb.-ft. of torque, 6.2-liter supercharged V8 engine can be mated to a Tremec® 6-speed manual (MG9) or HydraMatic® 6L90 automatic transmission. This aluminum-block engine is based on GM’s legendary small block V8 architecture and features an intercooled supercharger system and premium heat-resistant aluminum alloy cylinder heads.

Enjoy the Video and the Spyshots Taken on this very development cycle.
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BMW, News

BMW M6 Coupe and Convertible Official

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After numerous sightings and ahead of the Geneva Autoshow Munich’s BMW have made the 2012 M6 official in both Cabriolet and Coupe form.

And with all the rumors it is .2 of a second faster than the M5.

• New edition of the BMW M6 in the body styles Coupe and Convertible; outstanding intense M feeling, combined with fascinating aesthetic design, luxurious appearance, four seats and innovative features, high performance sports cars with superior performance characteristics, and specially exclusive character; BMW M6 Coupé and BMW M6 Convertible each with a unique position in the premium segment of the luxury class with superior driving dynamics and M typical design harmony with high everyday practicality, groundbreaking evolution of both vehicle concepts due to significantly increased efficiency, streamlined operating structure for the individualization of the car set-ups and enhanced diversity in the range of driver assistance and infotainment functions from BMW ConnectedDrive .

• Expressive exterior design with dynamic elegance of line and trademark M athletics as an authentic visualization of high-performance features, the BMW M6 Coupé with distinctive contoured roof made of carbon fiber-reinforced plastic; BMW M6 convertible with a high-quality soft top in a characteristic fin look.

• High-rotating 4.4-liter V8 engine with M twin-turbo technology, consisting of Twin Scroll Twin Turbo Technology, zylinderbankübergreifendem exhaust manifold, fuel injection High Precision Injection and fully variable valve control VALVETRONIC, M typical power delivery with its eager responsiveness and long-lasting thrust; highest performance in the segment, 412 kW/560 hp at 6000-7000 min-1, maximum torque: 680 Nm ab1 500 min-1, Maximum speed: 7200 min-1; engine power by 10, maximum torque increased by 30 percent as previous models.

• Acceleration: 0-100 km / h in 4.2 seconds (BMW M6 Coupé) or 4.3 seconds (BMW M6 Convertible), 0-200 km / h in 12.6 (13.1) seconds, electronically limited top speed 250 km / h (305 km / h with M Driver’s Package).

• Exceptionally low compared to previous models significantly optimized balance of performance and fuel economy, average fuel consumption in the EU test cycle of 9.9 litres/100 km (BMW M6 Coupé) and 10.3 litres/100 km (BMW M6 Convertible), Auto Start Stop function and other EfficientDynamics technology as standard, fuel consumption in comparison with the former models by more than 30 percent.

• seven-speed M double-clutch transmission with Drivelogic traction optimized automatic gear selection, launch control and low-speed assistance; specific M gear selector; newly designed M leather steering wheel with shift paddles.

KIA, Spy Shots

Kia K9 – Winter Spyshots

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The Kia K9 Prototype has been spied in Sweden, the Kia K9 will be the new successor to the Opirus in South Korea as Kia’s flagship model, and will extend their K5 – K7 line. It will be styled to have the same look of the German manufacturers, thanks to chief designer Peter Schreyer.

It shares its chassis ant the transmission platform as the rear wheel propelled Hyundai Genesis sedan.

Powering this line of car will be a choice of one of three engines:-

3.8-liter V6 engine that generates 333hp
5.0-liters V8 generating a respectable 429 hp.

We have no news of when this car will become official but by looks of the form and the fact its a production prototype we are expecting it to be very soon.