Audi goes X3 hunting

Q7 suv gets a baby brother

Audi is poised to introduce two crossover sport-utility vehicles in the next years.Late in 2008,the midsize Q5 is expected to debuton the same arhitectures as the '08 A5 coupe and next generation A4 sedan.A year after the Q5 goes on sale,Audi will follow up with the smaller and sportier Q3 previewed by the Cross Coupe Quattro concept shown at the Shanghai auto show.Built on the same platform as the '09 Volkswagen Tiguan,the Q3 will have a transversely mounted engine and all-whell drive provided by an electonically controlled center clutch pack.Additionally,an electronically controlled locking rear differential similar to that of Saab's XWD system may find its way into the Q3.To distance the Q3 from its Volkswagen brother,the Audi will offer on-road performance,won't have a speck of off-road ability,and will be firmly entrenched in the $30,000 range.
Surprisingly,the Q3 will be packed with several features that Audi generally reserves for ots sportiiest cars,the RS4 and R8.Those options will include ceramic composite brakes like those of the R8,cross-linked dampers similar to the system on the RS 4,and driver-selectable suspension settings.In addition, a so called drive-select program will give the choice of three different modes(sport,efficiency,and dynamic)that affect suspension tunning,throttle response,transmission shifts,and steering effort.As one would expect,in efficiency mode the Q3 will work toward maximizing fuel economy:The engine will shut off when idling and minimize the use of air conditioning.Audi claims efficiency mode will boost fuel economy by 20 percent.
A new 2.0-liter turbocharged diesel four-cylinder will power the Q3.This engine will be introduced in the redesigned A4.Expected to meet emissions standard in all 50 states,the new engine will produce about 200 horsepower and 295 pund-feet of torque.Coupled to Audi's S tronic dual-clutch gearbox,the powertrain is purported to be able to return 40 mpg,in addition to the diesel,the 200-hp gas-powered turbo four from the Audi A3 will be offered.
At the 172,4 inches long,the Q3 doesen't promise Chevy Suburban levels of interior room, but Audi claims that pushing the wheels toward the corners will maximize interior volume.Other differences from the Tiguan will be a more aggressive exterior design with a large Audi-style grille,large wheels,and Q7 styling cues.One problem that remains is the name.Infiniti unleashead its legat office on Audi for using the letter "Q" for the Q7.Audi settled with infiniti and the Japanese automaker agreed to let Audi have the Q7 and Q5 names,but thr future of the Q3 name remains in limbo.

2008 Lamborghini Reventón

Deciding not to wait until a coachbuilder picks up a Murciélago to convert it into something different, Lamborghini decided it could do the job better and started work on project code LP640/2, aka the M.O.A., which stands for "Meanest of All." Spokesman Dominik Hoberg said the designation was decided on because the car is expected to have "at least" 650 bhp. However, we now know the final name of the car to be the 2008 Lamborghini Reventón.
We all agree that the look is stunning. All body parts are new, except for the windshield. Edgy, metallic-gray carbon panels form an extreme appearance inspired by modern aircraft design. The Reventón sports LED lighting front and rear, an all-new fuel inlet and black alloy wheels topped with carbon blades.

True to stock dimensions, the Reventón was designed in-house by Centro Stile Lamborghini and "embodies a compression of the brand's DNA," as CEO Stephan Winkelmann points out. Underneath, the Reventón is all Murciélago with a 6.5-liter V-12 drivetrain.

The interior is as special as the exterior. Instead of the stock instrumentation, you'll find functional 3D displays including a g-force meter. By pressing a button, instruments can be changed to a classic analog readout.

The 20 slated for production next spring carry a price tag of €1 million. Eleven cars are destined for the U.S.

Maserati GranTurismo

Geneva Auto Show is the host for The brand-new, long-awaited Maserati GranTurismo, styled by Pininfarina.The key words that describe the interior style are: modernity, elegance, craftsmanship, sportiness, liveability.Starting with the qualities that make it very pleasant when speaking of every day enjoyment (more room in the back than the average for the segment, the rear seats that have been designed to accommodate two adults comfortably even on long journeys, attractive design, wide range of materials, leather, woods and colour combinations available) and continuing with the strong visual impact inspired by the lines of the Pininfarina Birdcage 75th concept car, you can say that Maserati GranTurismo is definetly a car that outshines many other manufacturers.
The attention to detail exudes from a number of features such as the subtle chrome inlay that elegantly decorates the buttons on the dashboard and steering wheel, the Trident logo hand-crafted on the seat headrests, the Alcantara trim lining the back of the gear change paddles, the leather belt fitting, front seats, beautifully handcrafted.
As technical specifications that makes this high-performance sports car very exciting to drive, we can mention:
- V8 4.2 engine with 405 hp at 7,100 rpm and maximum torque of 460 Nm at 4,750 rpm, of which 75% is already achievable at 2,500 revs. Its maximum speed is 285 km/h, and it accelerates from 0-62 mph in 5.2 seconds.
- Weight distribution is 49% on the front, 51% at the rear.
- The gearbox is automatic with self-adjusting controls which adapt the gear change to the driving style and conditions.
- The car is 4,881 mm long with a wheel base of 2,942 mm. The standard wheel rim is 19” or 20” as an option.
Once again, the the Maserati - Pininfarina team has produced an exciting car whose construction, unique and inimitable style sets it apart from the competition, which makes the name of the new model - Maserati GranTurismo- not to seem as a coincidence at all.

2007 Callaway C16 Corvette

On March 16 2007, Callaway Cars has announced that the C16 Convertible will be unveiled at the New York International Auto Show.
The new car is based on the Chevrolet Corvette platform and it incorporates an impressivelineup of exclusive, ultra-high performance characteristics.
The designer of the C16 Convertible is the experienced Paul Deutchman, the same one that has also drawn and modeled the C16 Coupe and that has a 20 year portfolio with Callaway designs. He has managed to achieve an integrated look of the C16 Convertible by remodeling the original design, by redrawing every panel of the standard body while maintaining the easy to operate power top.
The engine is a supercharged 6.0 liter V8, with 560 hp. But if requested, the C16 convertible has also an optional performance Package which brings 616 supercharged horsepower and 582 lb-ft of torque at 4,750 rpm.
The Callaway C16 Convertible can reach 60 in 3.5 seconds and 11.2 seconds for a quarter mile. You will find 3 transmission options on the Callaway Convertible : 2 six speed manual transmissions or 1 six speed automatic with paddle shift.
The brake system is especially made for Callaway. In order for the car to be able to go from 200 mph+ to instant rest, the system will be using 6-piston front and 4-piston rear calipers gripping 355mm diameter rotors.
On the inside you will be amazed by the fine German leather and Alcantara which covers the convertible’s cockpit. Recaro has chosen and manufactured the extremely stylish seats. The clients will have a great importance in how the car will exactly look like, because the cars are built only at order and they are serialized and identified by its build plaque; also top and interior appointments will be chosen by the client.
The car has an advanced spring/damper system (developed by /Eibach Multi-Pro coil-over suspension) which features ride height, corner weight, and pitch angle adjustability. The dumpers are made from aluminum and have mounted on remote reservoirs that give to the driver the possibility to customize by his likings settings for track or road conditions.
If you want to be one of the exclusive customers for this car you will have to have waiting and ready to roll in your bank account about 128 765 $.

2008 Shelby Cobra GT500 KR

The most powerful Mustang ever, the 2008 Shelby GT500 KR is to be unveiled at the New York International Auto Show. This new car will mark once again Mustang as KING OF THE ROAD, at the 40’th anniversary of the 1968 Shelby Cobra GT500KR.
The one who has been responsible for keeping the original Shelby muscle car spirit is Doug Gaffka, Ford SVT chief designer, together with his team and Shelby team.The carbon composite hood has been custom designed and it was mainly supervised by Gary Davis, vice president of production and product development for Shelby Automobiles. He has managed to give a visual indication of the extra horsepower that lies underneath the hood, by sculpting a modern version of the original hood scoop.
The polished aluminum, Shelby-designed 20 inch, forged and polished wheels bring once again the exclusive spirit to front. The models that will enter production will arrive at the customer with the 18-inch version of the design.The engine is a 5.4 L supercharged V8 which brings the “King of the Road” to 540 horsepower and 510 lb-ft. of torque. A six-speed tranny helps power to get to the rear wheels.The Shelby Team has worked closely with Ford’s SVT and Racing teams in order to recalibrate suspension and to bring improvement to the steering and handling. Features of recalibration include advancing the ignition timing and also re-mapping of the electronic throttle settings. This will bring a quicker throttle response for better off-line and middle range acceleration.As expected, the production will be a 1000 units limited one and it will start arriving to Ford Dealers in the spring of 2008. Every single one of the limited 1000 KR models will be identified 40’th anniversary KR badges on fenders and grille.