Audi A4 Avant

The speed and handling of this beautiful car is only surpassed by its impeccably prepared polished aluminum exterior. The body panels are all alloy. The roll cage is built to FIA specifications. The car was purchased in the UK. It was then prepared by the Jaguar factory, but when the owner was ready for further development, he turned the car over to Gordon Brown of Red Rose Racing. Brown fitted the car with all the components to make the car a racing legend. The owner had the support of the Jaguar Factory, which in 1966, replaced the original 3.3l engine with the 4.2L engine which still powers the car today. Since coming to the US in December of 1993, it has raced at Sebring, Road Atlanta and Texas World Speedway with excellent results. In 1995, it set the record for the fastest Jaguar in North America. Read more…

Alfa Romeo once again unveils its new models onto the world market at the Geneva event. Indeed, following on from the Alfa 159 and Brera in 2005, the 159 Sportwagon and Spider in 2006, and its Personalisation Programme going by the name of 'Alfa Unica' in 2007, it is now the turn of the alluring Alfa 8C Spider. Undisputed centre stage on the stand, this new car inherits its coupe sibling's winning formula that shook the motoring world. Put together by Alfa's Centro Stile and production limited to 500 cars, this new open top immediately entices with that unmistakable 'Italian elegance', a unique and inimitable style that hints at its typically sporty Alfa handling. Under the bonnet is a powerful 8 cylinder 4.7 litre engine producing 450 HP, matched to a 6 speed robotic gearbox, the new Alfa 8C Spider is truly beautiful, powerful and rock solid, where its gracious lines and dimensions gel perfectly with typical Alfa Romeo engineering and drive-ability. Needless to say, alongside this attractive Spider is the Alfa 8C Competizione, the epitome of Alfa Romeo's innovation in the fields of engines and engineering, heightened competitiveness and continuous technological research. Read more…

Abarth The return of the Abarth brand continues to bring new challenges. The 'Scorpion' philosophy, which is conveyed in all the brand's activities with passion and tradition, continues to excite sports car lovers everywhere. As envisaged by the plans to revive the brand, the Abarth & C. Spa company has set up new premises in the Mirafiori complex in Turin, bringing together the manufacturing, design and management functions for the whole company, as well as the staff of the Racing Team who were formerly housed in the historical plant in the nearby town of Chivasso. This fully-fledged industrial structure was put up in record time, just eight months, and stands in an area of more than 23,000 square metres, where all the brand's activities are concentrated. It employs more than 100 people. The inaugural ceremony is also an excellent opportunity to present the 2008 season of the Abarth Racing Team. Read more…

For 2008 Lotus Sport, the motor sport division of Lotus Cars Ltd, has unveiled the Lotus Sport Exige Cup 260. A direct development of the 2007 Exige Cup Car, this year's car has a revised engine management system to take the maximum power output to 257 hp (260 PS), up by nearly 5 hp (5 PS) over last year. Bespoke performance enhancements created to offer a car with even greater levels of handling and acceleration capable of taming Europe's most challenging race circuits. The Exige Cup 260, once again represents Lotus' most radical version of the Exige, with the track environment being its home and for 2008, the Lotus Sport Exige Cup 260 has full European homologation for road use (a must have for some competitive environments where a road legal car has to be entered). There are further product changes: all Lotus Sport Exige Cup 260 cars now have a number of the 2008 Model year improvements from the road versions of the Elise and Exige. Read more…

In 2006, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars unveiled 101EX, an experimental car hand-built to explore an exciting new design direction for a modern coup?. Wrapped in a sleek, rakish body, 101EX was an engineering-led study, showcasing the technical and architectural innovation inherent in the quintessential modern Rolls-Royce car. Both handsome and elegant, it encapsulated the essence of contemporary coup? style. So positive was the worldwide reaction to 101EX that, in autumn 2007, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars announced that a series model would go into production in the summer of 2008. This coup? would complete the Phantom family, standing alongside the Phantom, Phantom Extended Wheelbase and Phantom Drophead Coup?. Revealed at the Salon International de l'Automobile, Geneva in March 2008, the Phantom Coup? is the third new model from Rolls-Royce Motor Cars since BMW Group became custodian of the marque in 1998. The Coup? is the most driver-orientated model in the Phantom line. A number of subtle but significant modifications have been made that change its character. It is noticeably more dynamic, whilst still offering incredible levels of comfort a balance not easily achieved. The Coup? marries cutting-edge technology with a beautifully proportioned, muscular body that exudes power and style. Utterly contemporary in appearance, it nonetheless incorporates timeless Rolls-Royce design cues such as the long bonnet, large-diameter wheels, short front and long rear overhangs and the classic dynamic, rising profile. Read more…

Thirty years after the movie thriller ?The Spy Who Loved Me' hit the silver screen 'sQuba' is the first car that can actually ?fly' under water. 'Dive it again, James!' If the situation gets too hot for the secret agent he'll go underground - or under water. So demonstrated impressively by Roger Moore in ?The Spy Who Loved Me' in 1977 when he dove below the waves in a sleek vehicle that moments before seemed to be an ordinary car. The only problem: The scene never really took place; it was an animation. With the 'sQuba,' the world's first real submersible car, the movie fake now becomes reality for visitors of the Geneva Motor Show (March 6th - 16th, 2008). Rinspeed boss Frank M. Rinderknecht (52) is known for his extraordinary automotive creations. The acknowledged James Bond enthusiast and Swiss automobile visionary kept revisiting this scene in his mind over and over: 'For three decades I have tried to imagine how it might be possible to build a car that can fly under water. Now we have made this dream come true.' And it is this submerged stabile flight at a depth of 10 meters that sets the 'sQuba' apart from military vehicles. While the latter can go under water, they are limited to driving slowly over the submerged ground. Rinderknecht: 'It is undoubtedly not an easy task to make a car watertight and pressure resistant enough to be maneuverable under water. The real challenge however was to create a submersible car that moves like a fish in water.' Read more…

LIFECar will be based on the Morgan Aero Eight, and is powered by a QinetiQ-made fuel cell, which converts hydrogen ? and oxygen taken from the air around it ? into electrical energy. It will be clean, quiet and economic, and the only waste product from the car will be water. The car's power system will be incredibly efficient, producing significant improvements over current fuel cell prototype vehicles, with the fuel cell powering four separate electric motors, one at each drive wheel. The key to delivering this step change in energy efficiency lies in a combination of factors, including weight reduction and a different design approach. This approach exploits opportunities across the vehicle to reduce energy losses and requirements. Regenerative braking and surplus energy will be used to charge ultra-capacitors, which will release their energy when the car is accelerating. This architecture will allow the car to have a much smaller fuel cell than is conventionally regarded as necessary: it will only be as large as is required to provide cruising speed, approximately 24 kW, as opposed to around 85kW proposed by most competitor systems. Read more…

The Porsche GT3 RSR launches into the new model year with extensive modifications. The most powerful race car based on the Porsche 911, which last year scored wins at the 24 hour races of Le Mans and Spa as well as overall victory at the Nuerburgring 24 hours, competes in the GT2 class at international long distance races. The most distinguishing feature of the new GT3 RSR is the front end which received major improvements to the aerodynamics. The majority of innovations however are hidden under the weight-optimised body. Aside from the easily recognisable additional spoilers on the front apron, so-called flicks, an optimised air ducting with newly-designed side air outlets generates more downforce and reduces drag. The rear end including the rear wing was taken over from the predecessor. Extensive changes to the suspension cinematics increase mechanical grip considerably. The range of possible suspension set-ups was broadened. The 3.8-litre boxer engine of the GT3 RSR remains unchanged apart from slight improvements to details. It delivers 465 hp (342 kW) at 8,000 revs per minute and delivers a maximum torque of 430 Nm at 7,250 revs. The rev limiter of the efficient six-cylinder kicks in at 9,400 rpm. Read more…

After two seasons of racing and development the MT900S has emerged for road use. Weighing in as low as 1,980 lbs. (plus 21 gallons of fuel), and powered by a mid mounted 435 hp Corvette Z06 V8, this ultra light weight high performance vehicle sets new performance standards as it delivers a uniquely exhilerating driving experience. Primary structure is provided by a carbon fiber monocoque integrated into the striking exterior crafted in cyberspace by Unigraphics design. On a typical 2 mile road course, the MT900S is capable of laps many seconds per lap quicker than any other sports car manufactured US legal. In Florida a racing car with road permission is built: The Mosler MT 900 S is converted a remarkable car, not only because of its price of 126,000, - we know EUR. the 5.7 litre engine under the hood from the current Corvette. According to Mosler it is not only bear strong with 411 HP, but can be waited also problem-free by each Corvette dealer. The road performances are impressing with the mating of strong engine and small unloaded weight of 1.000 kg. Degrees times 3.5 seconds offense according to manufacturer with the Sprint of 0 on speed 100. To the comparison: A Ferrari Enzo Ferrari needs 3.7 seconds. Read more…

HUMMER is bringing its unmistakable style and unmatched capability to the truck market with the 2009 H3T. It is based on the architecture of the popular H3, but features a five-passenger crew cab and a separate five-foot-long (1.5 meters) bed. The H3T is bigger than a midsize truck and smaller than a full-size truck, creating its own niche in the market. It also is infused with the attributes expected of a HUMMER, including exceptional off-road capability and a premium interior that is as functional as it is comfortable. 'With its unique size and HUMMER traits, the H3T is ideal for the customer who works hard and plays harder,' said Martin Walsh, HUMMER general manager. 'It offers the combination of truck versatility and HUMMER off-road prowess that delivers customers to the trail in style.' Read more…