German brand Audi has just announced that it will debut the company's new flagship model on November 30 in Miami in the Audi Pavilion, a temporary museum. Unfortunately, Audi hasn't released details of the car but, if we trust the rumors, the new model is projected to go on sale in 2010. It was believed that Audi will showcase the car for the first time at the Detroit Auto Show in January, in spite of some voices hinting that it could star at Geneva in March.

“Our claim “Vorsprung durch Technik” also embraces design, which is one of the outstanding elements of the Audi signature. And as top design has now emerged as an acknowledged art form, we see the bridge between art and architecture as a logical step in advancing our brand," Rupert Stadler, Chairman of the Board of Management of Audi AG, said about the event.

The future A8 is believed to be offered with a similar engine lineup, but most units will probably undergo an upgrade to become more environmentally friendly and release less emissions. A 2.8-liter petrol V6 and a 4.2-liter V8 FSI will be available, while a 6.0-liter V12 TDI is also considered.

Overall, the car will be developed on an extended platform of A4 and will comprise lightweight materials especially employed to cut fuel consumption and improve engine performance. Aluminum and magnesium are two of the materials likely to be used on the next generation A8.

Source: Auto Evolution

Today's concept study comes to us from Marouane Bembli, a 23-year old industrial design student from Sweden. The futuristic-looking supercar was designed as a 'halo' vehicle for Audi that would in theory, either sit atop or replace altogether the current R8 in the automaker's model range.

"I've designed what I believe will be Audi's new supercar, the R10", Bembli told Car Magazine. "It features a mid-mounted V10 engine and a dry weight of 1200kg. I hope you like it!"

Well, minus the proportions of the passenger cabin area that looks way too small when compared to the rest of the body, we must say that we find the R10 Concept pretty impressive.

Source: CarScoop

As is customary in the West, during the Christmas season, retailers decorate their stores accordingly for the holidays. But while most are content with a tree and some flashy ornaments, a Porsche dealer in The Netherlands came up with the crazy idea of covering a spanking-new 911 Carrera S in milk-chocolate.

Before the chocolate mix was applied on the car, the 911 Carrera S was carefully wrapped in plastic. All in all, Porsche Centrum Gelderland said that the pastry chef in charged used around 175 kilos or about 386 pounds of milk chocolate for the body along with a few kilos of white chocolate for the lights and trim.

The 'sweetest' 911 Carrera S in the world will remain in the dealership until the end of the year and until then, the temperature in the showroom will be kept under 27 degrees Celsius to prevent the chocolate from melting.

Source: CarScoop

Lotus has announced the pricing details on its new 2010 Lotus Evora for the U.S. market, which goes on sale during the first quarter of 2010. As a part of the launch, two Lotus Evoras have started a 44-dealer Open House Tour that began last week.

Prices for the 2010 Lotus Evora in the U.S. will start at $73,500. Standard features include silver cast alloy wheels with 18-inches in the front and 19-inches in the back, Bi-Xenon headlights with headlight washing system, rear wing and diffuser, air-conditioning, Recaro black leather sport seats, Lotus command center with auxiliary trip computer, Alpine CD/MP3/WMA/AUX system with full iPod connectivity and much more.

Buyers can opt for the $1,990 Premium Package, which adds accent lighting, premium floor mats, Evora logo on the dash and a bunch of leather trimmed options. The $1,275 Sports Package gets you enhanced throttle response and RPM limit, sport traction control mode, sports diffuser, titanium exhaust tips, cross-drilled brake discs, blank painted brake calipers. The most expensive $2,995 Technology Package adds Alpine/Lotus IMPRINT Sound, Alpine Mobile Media Station, DVD/MP3/DivX Playback, 7-inch WVGA touch-screen display, rear parking sensors (reverse camera costs $495 extra), Bluetooth connectivity, and much more.

If all that doesn’t matter to you, the base $73,500 will at least let you enjoy the 3.5L V6 making 276-hp at 6,400 rpm and a maximum torque of 258 lb-ft at 4,700 rpm. 0-60 mph comes in just 4.9 seconds with a top speed of 162 mph. Oh, and not to mention, you’ll be enjoying 30 mpg on the highway.

Source: eGMCarTech

Underneath its attractive new sheetmetal, the GTI is pretty much the same car as it was before, but a bigger rear antiroll bar effectively eradicates the car's understeer on the racetrack. VW also added so-called XDS programming to the stability control system to mimic a limited-slip differential, helping the GTI put its power down more efficiently. And as good as the GTI is on the road, with crisp steering, a supercommunicative chassis, and a firm but well-damped ride, on the track the car is a revelation.

During our Automobile of the Year and All-Stars evaluation drive program, we drove a rich selection of the hottest new cars for 2010 during a day at GingerMan Raceway in southwest Michigan, including a Chevrolet Camaro SS, a Ford Mustang GT, a Porsche Panamera S, a Jaguar XFR, a BMW Z4, and a Porsche Cayman S. As exhilarating as they all were, the GTI was not in the least bit out of its league as it jostled among them on GingerMan's entertaining road course. Check out the logbook commentary from pit lane: "Remarkably competent on the track," said tech editor Don Sherman. "Superb handling and good feedback," seconded road test coordinator Mike Ofiara, who has a Mark 3 and a Mark 5 GTI at home. "Oodles of fun," enthused contributor Preston Lerner, adding, "front-wheel drive never seemed to be an issue."

Copy editor Rusty Blackwell ordained it "the best slicer and dicer on the market today," while editor-in-chief Jean Jennings succinctly called it "a superb little rocket." Before we hit the track, Cammisa bemoaned the fact that stability control cannot be fully switched off, but even he admitted, at the end of the day, that "it's really a nonissue, as it still lets you get away with murder." Full read at the source...

Source: Automobile Magazine

Today we got some optimistic news from BMW on the future of diesels in the United States. In talking to journalists at the BMW University program at the company's U.S. headquarters in New Jersey, Tom Baloga, vice president of engineering for BMW of North America, expressed confidence that a four-cylinder diesel will show up in a range of U.S.-bound models during the next decade.

"You're going to see it of course in the 3 Series," he said, "and the 5 Series is a good possibility. If the performance [of such an engine] is sufficient in the X3, U.S. customers would likely accept it in the X5 as well."

Said diesel four-cylinder would be a 2.0-liter (as in the European 320d shown above), but BMW wouldn't be targeting the bargain end of the market.

"This engine needs to match the acoustic qualities of a 6-cylinder, and it needs to match the performance, as well as performing better in terms of fuel economy and emissions.

"Our four-cylinder diesel will be so good that people will readily accept it as a replacement for six-cylinders. The target is to produce enough horsepower to be comparable [in performance] to our N54/N55 six-cylinder turbos."

Source: Inside Line

BMW has substantially cut the price of its Sirius Satellite Radio factory option from $595 to $350 on select 2010 vehicles (excludes 5 Series, 6 Series and X3) while also adding functionality. Customers who choose Sirius will continue to receive "The Sirius Everything" package for one year, along with some of the most popular XM channels available including Oprah Radio, XM Public Radio and several sports channels.

Beyond cheaper hardware and expanded channels, BMW and Sirius have also made the satellite radio more user friendly. Users can now view the channel list as a channel name, artist and a new "Instant Replay" function allows you to replay a favorite song or program. You can also choose favorite songs and receive an alert when one of your favorites is being played, which is one of those good ideas somebody should have thought of long ago.

Source: AutoBlog

This is it; the BMW M3 that we've all been waiting for after the demise of the previous, E90 M3 CSL. The hardest ever production M3 that gets the GTS moniker is a track-focused yet completely road-legal, limited edition model and it comes with many weight saving measures, more power from a larger capacity V8 engine and lots of juicy upgrades that you normally find on aftermarket tuned cars.

It doesn't take long to see that this isn't your 'every-day' M3. The car is distinguished by several unique features ranging from the Porsche 911 GT3-like orange finish and the numerous matte-black applications, to the adjustable front splitter and rear wing that can provide a higher level of downforce and the unique 19-inch wheels with ample 225/35 tires at the front and 285/30 at the rear.

A closer look at the car also reveals the beefy fixed caliper brake system with six pistons at the front and four at the back as well as the new yellow springs with a small M logo. BMW says that the M3 GTS features a special threaded suspension, adjustable in compression and rebound. More in the jump!

But there's more than meets the eye to this M3. Since the serial-production model is already weight-optimized with a bevy of measures such as the carbon lightweight roof that was previously reserved for the GTS's predecessor, the E90 M3 CSL, BMW's M division had to come up with new solutions to lower the car's weight.

The weight-saving measures adopted on the new 2011 M3 GT3 include a new set of light body-contoured front seats, optimization of the insulation, the use of lightweight parts in the interior, the use of Macrolon for the car's windows in the back, the removal of the air conditioning, navigation and radio systems and the rear seats that have been ditched altogether - who needs them anyway on a car like this.

Furthermore, the GTS features a new titanium rear silencer that not only promises to produce a more race car-like symphony but it is also much lighter than its serial production counterpart.

According to BMW's M division, the M3 GTS tips the scales at around 1,490 kilograms (3,285 pounds). That's more than impressive given that the standard M3 (U.S.-spec model) weighs in at 1,680kg (3,704 lbs).

As a track focused model, the M3 GTS has been prepared for installation of 6-point seatbelts for use on the race track while there are also mounts for the roll-over protective structure bolted on from the B column plus a fire extinguisher and a battery master switch/emergency shut-off preparation.

Which brings us to the heart of the M3 GTS; the engine bay. The serial production M3 gets a naturally aspirated 4.0-liter V8 engine pumping out 420HP. For the M3 GTS, BMW's M department enlarged the displacement of the V8 to 4.4-liters thus promising an output of around 450 horsepower. Power is sent to the rear wheels through a 7-speed M dual clutch transmission with adapted shift characteristics.

BMW says that it intends to shatter the lap time of the iconic M3 CSL on the Nürburgring Nordschleife with the M3 GTS. "The test runs certainly give grounds for optimism," the firm said in a statement.

We're still waiting for BMW to release performance figures and more technical details on the new M3 GTS, but we can tell you that the price of the custom ordered model is expected to be €115,000 (US $170,000) for delivery in Germany, including 19% VAT.

BMW said that the first examples are due to be supplied in Germany in May 2010 while according to current planning, registrations in other countries will be possible from Summer 2010.

Source: CarScoop

Porsche, the once unassailable leader in the sports car segment, has proven that it's not completely immune from global economic conditions but the brand is at a crossroads and a raft of new models could see it rise to the top once again.

This turn around is being led by the new 2010 Porsche Panamera, which has already racked up 983 firm orders and will allow the automaker to record flat or slightly increased sales this year. This has got to be very good news for Porsche, which is coming off a year that saw sales in the U.S. drop 32% to 14,310 units through September after declining 25% in all of 2008 to 26,035 units.

The information comes from Michael Bartsch, COO of Porsche North America, who explained that the Panamera is bringing new customers to the brand and helping boost traffic numbers in showrooms.

Porsche expects to sell just 1,000 Panameras this year, with an additional 200 being kept as demonstrators. Next year, the automaker plans to sell between 4,000 and 6,000 Panameras in the U.S., accounting for roughly a quarter of all sales.

Source: Motor Authority

BMW has joined forces with carbonfibre specialist SGL Group to produce lightweight parts for its new MegaCity electric vehicle. MegaCity will take on Daimler's struggling Smart division with a range of affordable urban vehicles, in both two- and four-wheeled forms. Two plants will be built in North America and Germany to manufacture carbonfibre parts on a “large scale” for the first time.

"We will enter into a new dimension in the use of carbon-fiber reinforced plastics, both in terms of volume per car and in vehicle numbers," a BMW spokesman said.

The companies are said to be investing 230million euros ($500mil.) in total.

Source: AutoCar

Get ready for a blast from Porsche’s past! The German firm is developing a luxurious, front-engined grand tourer – a spiritual successor to the 928 built between 1977 and 1995. The ‘new 928’ will be a fifth model line, and is designed to sit above the sportier 911 in the range.

With the compact Boxster and Cayman, the 911, the Cayenne SUV and four-door Panamera, Porsche would appear to have most bases covered. But it’s notable for its absence in the front-engined GT segment. The newcomer will allow the brand to take on rivals such as the Ferrari 599 GTB, Bentley Continental GT and Aston Martin DB9. And our exclusive pictures show exactly why the curvy, Panamera-based coupé is set to stun the competition.

Essentially it’s a two-door, short-wheelbase version of the Panamera, which will help to spread the £1.1billion development costs of that model. Its front-engined layout has a number of inherent benefits, too. More in the jump!

A rear-engined 911 has barely more than 100 litres of luggage space, but a similarly sized GT with its motor up front would offer a useful 320 litres – a vital attribute if the new 928 is to be taken seriously as a grand tourer.

While the nose is virtually identical to the Panamera, the shortened wheelbase and 2+2 layout mean the 928 features far smoother lines at the back. One of the major criticisms levelled at the four-door Panamera was its bloated rear, but this model’s muscular haunches and neater proportions should attract a new wave of style-conscious customers.

As you’d expect from Porsche, though, driver appeal remains a top priority. The engine line-up will mirror that of the Panamera, so a 4.8-litre V8, with or without a turbocharger, producing 500bhp or 400bhp, will be available. The naturally aspirated variant is set to come with four or rear-wheel drive, while the range-topping turbo model will be 4WD only.

Thirsty V8s aren’t the only power units on the agenda. The Cayenne SUV hybrid is ready to go on sale next year, with a petrol-electric version of the Panamera following closely behind. As the new 928 shares the latter’s platform, it’s sure to get the hybrid drivetrain, too.

An Audi S4-sourced 369bhp 3.0-litre supercharged V6, coupled to a 38kW electric motor, will give the hybrid 928 fuel economy that breaks the 30mpg barrier. That will make it the most frugal petrol-powered Porsche ever, while still providing hair-raising performance.

The 928 will slot into Porsche’s pricing line-up somewhere between the 911 and Panamera. The four-door ranges from £70,000-£95,000, while the 911 starts a little lower, at just over £60,000, but stretches to £128,000 for the GT2.

With this is mind, expect the 928 to be pitched between £65,000 and £90,000 – enough to safely undercut its Ferrari and Aston rivals when it goes on sale in 2012.

Source: AutoExpress

Volkswagen of America released a sketch of its forthcoming new mid-size sedan, which will be produced at the company’s new plant in Chattanooga, TN. The sedan will be introduced to the market in late 2011. Volkswagen has yet to release the official name of the sedan, which will replace the Passat in the United States.

CEO of Volkswagen Group of America, Stefan Jacoby, said that Volkswagen expects to sell about 100,000 units of the sedan annually. Volkswagen also has plans to export the new U.S. built sedan.

Source: eGMCarTech

This car needs to be put out of its misery.

Source: eBay

Porsche is prepared to share the Panamera and 911 platforms with other Volkswagen Group brands, according to new boss Michael Macht.

Macht said Porsche will pursue co-operative projects now that it
is part of VW. “Porsche needs to become a strong pillar of VW, as well as having its own production and research and development capabilities. It is important to 
use synergies as well as having independence,” he said.

These synergies include Porsche components being offered to sister firms. “The Panamera platform could be used by other brands for models that are in development and at the concept stage,” Macht said.

When asked if the 911 platform was also on the table, Macht said it “could be made available to other VW brands”. But apart from the Cayenne’s V6, Porsche will not use any other VW Group engines. “Engine development is a core value for Porsche,” Macht said.

Source: AutoCar

Volkswagen will make Porsche the 10th brand in its stable with a $5.8 billion acquisition of a 49.9 percent stake in the sports-carmaker. The deal was announced in August, was completed Tuesday, and will end in a complete merger by 2011.

The consummation of the merger is the final chapter in a saga that started when Porsche tried to buy Volkswagen — but was unable to raise the money amid a collapsing global auto market. It's also a larger-scale buyout than VW had been expected to make. Porsche had agreed in August to sell 42 percent of Porsche AG to Volkswagen in a $4.9 billion deal.

The 49 percent stake will be effective by year's end, with the full "integration" of the companies effective in 2011.

To finance the deal, The Wall Street Journal reported today, VW will ask shareholders for the go-ahead to issue some $15 billion in new preferred stock. VW will also reportedly put into motion a $6 billion capital increase in the first half of 2010. The Journal says these plans have "revived speculation" that VW has "set its eyes on further expansion."

Source: InsideLine