World Concept Cars

This is Audi's facelifted TT Coupé and Roadster, though rather than referring to the tweaks as full-blown changes (which they're not), Ingolstadt is taking a more subtle approach and merely calling the revisions '2011 Model Year' tweaks.

I really can’t tell what’s new on this ‘new’ Audi TT!

Well it’s an Audi, so all TTs now come with a set of LED daytime running lights. As for the rest of the car, come on, can’t you see the changes?

Er, no...

Oh, well Audi says the interior and exterior have been 'revised with great attention to detail'. By now you must have spotted the 'imposing new bumper design' that adds 20mm to the length, the chrome trim surround on the foglights, the revised lattice of the single-frame grille, and the new diffuser-style rear bumper? No? Clearly you’re not looking hard enough...

Other visual tweaks are predominantly limited to new colours inside (three) and out (four), and some trim changes that bring a few more lashing of aluminium to the interior. It's not stunning stuff, but it is probably enough to get your average TT customer frothing over their frothy coffee.

Anything else new on the 2010 Audi TT range?

This is more like it - there's a completely new engine. The old 2.0-litre turbo and naturally aspirated 3.2 FSI have been junked for the same 2.0 TFSI found in the Mk6 Golf GTI. Power goes up from 197bhp to 208bhp, the 0-62mph time tumbles half a second to 6.1sec, the top speed climbs three notches and the engine is more efficient (42.8mpg and 154g/km against 36.7mpg and 183g/km).

The 158bhp 1.8 TFSI and 168bhp 2.0 TDI are unchanged, but Audi promises they're up to 14% more efficient than before thanks in part to a clever decoupling alternator that recharges the battery only under braking and coasting.

The hotter TTS gets a new grille, but otherwise it and the TT RS remain unchanged, the former with a 268bhp 2.0T, and the latter with a blown 2.5 five-pot producing 335bhp and 331lb ft.

The only dynamic tweak of note is the addition of a Sport button. Available (for a little more cash) on cars fitted with magnetic shock absorbers (which are standard on the TTS, an option on lesser models) the Sport button tweaks the steering and engine noise appropriately.

The revised Audi TT range will be unveiled at the 2010 Leipzig motor show this week. It's available to order now in the UK, and first deliveries to customers commence in summer 2010.

Source: Carmagazine.co.uk

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Aston Martin has shown off the new race-spec version of its Rapide sports saloon. It's bound to make its competition debut at the 24-hour race at the Nurburgring on 15-16 May 2010.

The Rapide will be driven by Aston CEO Ulrich Bez, who has a history of competing at the Nordschleife in his part-time role as a gentleman racer. It's in virtually road-car spec, upgraded merely to strip out weight (bye bye snug rear seats), retune the suspension and meet FIA race rules with cut-out, cages and fire extinguishers. Slick tyres are fitted too to help this four-door grip like a limpet.0

Dr Bez's pet project

Bez explained the rationale behind entering a saloon into the gruelling 24-hour race in Germany. 'This race represents the ultimate final engineering durability test for any sports car – it subjects the car to the toughest possible assessment under public scrutiny,' he said.

'The Rapide has the capability to carry four people in comfort but first and foremost it is a sports car and we will subject it to the same tests we would our other sports cars. We already have a proven track record at the Nurburgring, racing our road cars with limited modification and in recent years we have enjoyed success in winning the SP8 class both in 2008 and 2009.'

Seems a strange choice of race car... why not enter a Vantage again?

Good point! Gaydon will enter a V12 Vantage at the Nurburgring event. The coupé won its SP8 class in 2009's race debut and finished 21st overall.

Is entering a Rapide merely a gimmick? Probably. But the Nordschleife race is a usefully low-cost billboard to announce the arrival of its first four-door for a generation – and will attract some useful publicity on television and among enthusiasts worldwide.

The first customer Rapides land in Aston's 125 showrooms worldwide later in April 2010.

Source: Carmagazine.co.uk

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The Astra VXR (OPC for the rest of Europe) will soon be replaced by an all-new model based on the next generation of the firm's C-segment hatch, but for now, Vauxhall is adding to the allure of the current version with the presentation of a limited production model called "Arctic Edition".

Only 500 units of the Arctic Edition are offered in the UK with prices set at £23, 595 on the road, or £720 more than the standard Astra VXR.

All are painted in Olympic White with a contrasting black painted roof, mirror covers, front V-grille and tailgate trim. Each Arctic Edition also gets £1965 worth of options including heated leather Recaro front seats, tinted glass and Black 19-inch multi-spoke alloy wheels.

In addition, for the first time on a VXR product, customers can also specify their Arctic Edition with the Panoramic Windscreen that costs £920.

There are no changes under the hood with the Astra VXR Arctic Edition featuring a 240HP 2.0-liter turbo engine that propels the hot hatch from 0-60mph (96km/h) in 6.2 seconds and on to a top speed of 152mph or 244 km/h.

Source: Carscoop

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Jaguar will use the upcoming "World Mobility Forum" exhibition in Stuttgart, Germany (April 15-18), to show off its XJ "Limo Green" hybrid study that was teased for the first time last September.

The 2011 XJ-based Limo Green makes use of a Chevy Volt-like hybrid powertrain with a range extending gasoline engine that was developed in conjunction with Lotus, MIRA and Caparo.

The vehicle uses an electric motor producing 145kW and 295 lb-ft of torque for propulsion. A lithium battery pack offers about 30 miles or close to 50 kilometers driving range with a full charge.

Once the battery is depleted, a Lotus-developed 1.2-liter three-cylinder gasoline unit kicks-in to produce enough energy to power it for another 600 miles or about 970 kilometers.

The XJ Limo Green prototype is said to return a combined fuel economy of 5.0lt/100 km (equal to 57mpg UK and 47mpg US) with CO2 emissions of juts 120 g/km.

Even though the study is billed as a one-off concept, it is believed that Jaguar will use the technology on its future production models.

Source: Carscoop

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There's something about the AMG version of Mercedes-Benz's timeless G-Class that makes tuners go haywire. This time, it's Mercedes-Benz tuning specialist, Vath, that has presented a fully tricked-out G55 AMG.

In stock form, the über G-Class is powered by a 5.5-liter supercharged V8 churning out a completely respectable 500HP and 700Nm (516 lb-ft) of torque. After Vath gets its way with the V8 engine, output is lifted to 680HP and 800Nm (590 lb-ft) allowing the G55 AMG to reach a top speed of 265km/h or 165mph.

The German tuner has also fiddled around with the suspension adding new shock absorbers and lowering the 4x4's ride height by 35mm.

A new sports braking system with 390 mm discs and 22-inch alloy wheels shod in 295/35R22 Yokohama ADV ST tires round off the performance upgrades.

On the outside, Vath modified the G55 AMGH's looks by adding a hood scoop, a new front bumper with larger air-intakes, LED daylight lamps and Xenon units, a roof spoiler and a new pair of exhaust pipes under the rocker panels.

The vehicle's interior has been decked-out with leather, alcantara and carbon fiber applications along with a new sports steering wheel and revised instrument gauges.

Source: Carscoop

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Dodge's Viper SRT10 will be going out with a bang, or in this case, a limited run of 50 "Final Edition" models starting production this summer.

The Final Edition package will be available on all three variations of the Viper (Coupe, Roadster, ACR) and will consist of the body painted in a Graphite Clear Coat with a center-mounted black racing stripe highlighted in red.

The coupes and ACRs will get a "black windshield surround" and all models will get the oh-so-expected "unique side sill badges" proclaiming that YOU, sir, are more unique than every other Viper owner.

Not only that, but there's a dash plaque in case people didn't get the memo on those sill badges. The rest of the interior gets the Darth Maul treatment with red stitching, red halos painted on the gauge cluster, and other shiny bits here and there. Coupes and Roadsters will roll on anthracite 6-spoke rollers, while ACRs will get black 5-spoke Sidewinders.

Number breakdowns for the 8.4 liter, 600-horsepower Final Edition beasts are like this: 20 Coupes, 18 Roadsters, and 12 ACRs. Get 'em while they're hot.

Source: Carscoop

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As a possible precursor of things to come, Toyota displayed a customized version of the all-new 2011 Scion iQ prepared by Five Axis at the New York International Auto Show.

The car's exterior appearance has been beefed up with an aero kit that includes front and rear aprons, side skirts and fender extensions that allow the use of eye-catching 18-inch alloys wrapped in 215/40R18 Yokohama tires.

Inside, the special iQ show car gets custom leather-trimmed seats and door inserts and an Ultrasuede EcoDesign headliner.

As for the performance upgrades, Five Axis installed a TRD Custom Big Brake Kit and a Tein sports suspension.

Source: Carscoop

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Renault's UK division has released pricing and specification details for its Wind Coupé-Roadster. Customer ordering for the Wind, which is offered with the choice of two engines, a 133HP 1.6-liter or a 100HP 1.2-liter turbo, opens in May for first deliveries in July with prices ranging from £15,500 to £18,200.

In addition, the new two-seater model will be available to pre-order later in April in an exclusive, range-topping "Collection" limited edition guise, of which only 200 examples will make their way to Britain.

The standard range is offered in two trim levels. The base Dynamique comes equipped with ABS with EBD (Electronic Brakeforce Distribution), front and lateral driver and passenger airbags, brake assist, ESC, immobiliser and electric retracting hard top roof as standard

Moving up to the Dynamique S adds 2x35W radio CD MP3 reader with fingertip remote control, 17-inch alloys, auto lights and wipers, alarm system, Bluetooth connectivity and multi-functional TunePoint (USB connection).

Finally, the limited edition Collection includes several more standard goodies such as electrically adjustable and heated chrome effect door mirrors, carbon black leather-faced heated seats, gloss black retractable roof, red and chrome dash inserts, leather sport wheel and gearknob, aluminium pedals, subtle 'Collection' side and boot badges, plus double chrome roof cover cowls.

Full pricing for Wind Coupé-Roadster is outlined below. Insurance groups have yet to be finalised, but are expected to be competitive.

Version	Engine	OTR Price
Dynamique	1.2 TCe 100	£15,500
	1.6 VVT 133	£16,400
Dynamique S	1.2 TCe 100	£16,400
	1.6 VVT 133	£17,300
Collection limited edition	1.2 TCe 100	£17,300
	1.6 VVT 133	£18,200

Source: Carscoop

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During last week's press days of the 2010 New York International Auto Show, Kia took the veils off the all-new 2011 Optima mid-size sedan that will carry the same name in all markets outside Korea.

While the new Optima will arrive in Kia's U.S. showrooms this fall, European buyers will have to wait until Spring of 2011 to get their hands on the Korean firm's D-segment sedan that will compete with the likes of the Ford Mondeo and Citroen C5.

For Western Europe, the new front-wheel drive Optima will be available with a choice of 2.0-litre CVVL gasoline and 1.7-litre VGT turbo-diesel engines, with output and performance numbers to be released at a later date.

In Russia and some Eastern European markets, Kia will also offer the new Optima with a 2.4-litre MPI gasoline engine producing 178-horsepower.

Oddly enough, Kia's initial plans for Europe do not include the firm's new 2.0-liter turbocharged unit with 278-horsepower that will be offered in the U.S. along with a 203HP 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine with direct injection.

Depending on the model, European customers will have the choice of a six speed manual gearbox or a six-speed automatic transmission featuring Kia's "Sport-matic" clutchless manual shifting or fully automatic operation.

Source: Carscoop

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