New 2012 Audi TT RS

After giving the green light to the U.S. specification TT RS last year, the flagship version of Audi’s sports coupe has finally arrived in the States. It will go on sale within the next few weeks with prices starting at $56,850 (*) excluding destination charges, taxes, title, options and dealer charges.

Interestingly, the North American version of the TT RS is more powerful than its European sibling as the 2.5-liter turbocharged five-cylinder TFSI engine is said to deliver 360-horsepower and 343 lb-ft of torque between 1,650 and 5,400 rpm. The European market model is rated at 340HP and 450 Nm (331.90 lb.-ft.) of torque.

Power is channeled to all four wheels through Audi’s quattro system and a 6-speed manual gearbox. The brand with the four-rings says the TT RS accelerates from 0 to 60 mph (96km/h) in just 4.1 seconds en route to a top speed of 174mph (280km/h).

The TT RS also gets the Audi magnetic ride, which allows the suspension characteristic to be actively altered, bespoke 19-inch alloy wheels, a fixed rear wing, prominent body sills and exterior mirror housings in matte aluminum.

Standard features include special interior appointments such as the contoured 3-spoke sport multifunction steering wheel, aluminum door sills with the RS logo, and RS-specific interior door handles, along with 10-way power sport front seats with three-step heating, leather seat coverings, brushed aluminum interior inlays, and available LED ambient lighting.

Specifications
ENGINE: 
Type: 2.5 liter turbocharged, in-line five-cylinder, spark-ignition engine with TFSI direct injection, four valves per cylinder, double overhead camshafts [DOHC], turbocharger with intercooler.
Arrangement: Front mounted, transverse
Bore: 3.25 in (82.5 mm)
Stroke: 3.65 in (92.8 mm)
Displacement: 151 / 3.25 / 3.65 (2480 / 82.5 x 92.8)
Compression ratio: 10:01
Fuel: Unleaded Super, 95 RON (unleaded regular, 91 RON, as an alternative with slight reduction in performance)
Horsepower (SAE): 360 hp @ 5,500 - 6,700 rpm (265 kW)
Max. torque: 343 lb-ft @ 1,650 - 5,400 rpm (465 Nm)
ENGINE DESIGN:
Cylinder block: Cast iron
Cylinder head: Aluminum
Valve train / intake: DOHC, 4 valves/cylinder
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:
Battery: 380 amp, 80 amp/hr
Alternator: 140 amp
DRIVETRAIN:
Transmission: 6-speed manual, fully synchronized
Gear ratios:
1st 3.570
2nd 2.160
3rd 1.890
4th 1.430
5th 1.160
6th 0.097
Reverse 4.500
STEERING:
Type: Eletromechanical steering with speed-dependent power assistance
Ratio: 16.9 : 1
Turns (lock-to-lock): 2.9
Turning circle
(curb-to-curb): 35.96 ft (10.96 m)
SUSPENSION:
Front: MacPherson strut (gas charged) with aluminum 3-point lower control arm, aluminum sub frame, tubular anti roll bar, track stabilizing steering roll radius
Rear: Four-link rear suspension with separate spring/shock absorber arrangement
BRAKES:
Service brake: Dual-circuit brake system with diagonal split, ESC, hydraulic brake assistant, front and rear disc brakes ventilated
Front size: 14.6 in (370 mm)
Rear size: 12.2 in (310 mm)
Parking brake: Mechanically actuated at the rear wheels
WHEELS (standard only):
Size: Aluminum, 9Jx19
TIRES (standard only):
Size: 255/35 R19 Y
BODY:
Material: Hybrid ASF construction: Lightweight construction concept, which is a mixed construction using aluminum and steel
Corrosion protection: Multi-step anti-corrosion protection
CAPACITIES:
Engine oil: 6.9 qt (6.5 l)
Fuel tank: 15.90 gal (60 l)
EXTERIOR DIMENSIONS:
Wheelbase: 97.2 in (2,468 mm)
Track front / rear: 61.2/ 60.9 in (1,555/ 1,546 mm)
Overall length: 165.3 in (4,198 mm)
Overall width: w/o mirrors 72.5 in (1,842 mm)
Height: 53.1 in (1,348 mm)
Curb weight, quattro: 3306 lb (1500 kg)
Drag coefficient: 0.32
INTERIOR DIMENSIONS:
Seating capacity: 2 + 2
Head room
front / rear: 37.7/ 32.6 in (957/ 829 mm)
Shoulder room
front / rear: 53.2/ 47.5 in (1,352/ 1,206 mm)
Leg room
front / rear: 41.1/ 29.3 in (1,044/ 743 mm)
Int. vol. (EPA)
front / rear: 47.7/ 26.2 cu ft
Luggage capacity
standard / seats folded: 13.1/ 24.7 cu ft (290/ 700 l) 
PERFORMANCE: 
0-60 mph 4.1
Top speed 174 mph
EFFICIENCY/ENVIRONMENT:
EPA estimate:
City mpg: Not available at present time
Highway mpg: Not available at present time
Combined mpg: Not available at present time

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Aston Martin V12 Zagato Priced from £330,000 / $528,000

It’s official; Aston Martin has not only confirmed plans to build a strictly limited number of the new V12 Zagato show car, but it is also accepting orders with first deliveries expected from the second half of 2012.

Production of the British firm’s new supercar model, which is the collaborative work of Aston Martin and Italian design house Zagato, will be limited to 150 examples that will be hand assembled at Aston Martin’s global headquarters at Gaydon.

Prices, not including local taxes, start at £330,000 GBP, which comes to around US$528,000 or €369,000 at the current exchange rates.

The V12-powered supercar was created by Italian coachbuilder Zagato to celebrate its partnership with Aston Martin in the 50th anniversary year of the DB4GT Zagato.

It made its first public outing at the Concorso D’Eleganza at Villa D’Este in May, winning the Design award for Concepts and Prototypes, and then went on to successfully complete the grueling 39th Nürburgring 24 Hour race.

Based on the existing Aston Martin V12 Vantage, the Zagato model features a bespoke, handcrafted aluminium and carbon fibre body with power provided by the British firm’s 6.0-litre V12 engine producing 517-horses and 570 Nm (420 lb ft) of torque.

“The V12 Zagato is an elegant yet brutal design which reflects the great balance between race performance and pure Aston Martin style,” said Marek Reichman, Aston Martin’s Director of Design.

“The original DB4GT Zagato was a true icon, powerful and graceful; the new design is a true representation of the spirit of DB4GT Zagato. The muscular organic forms define the thoroughbred nature of the car’s racing credentials," he added.

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Land Rover Announces U.S. Prices for the 2012 Evoque

Land Rover’s Evoque, the smallest model in the Range Rover lineup, will go on sale in the USA this fall, however, the company has already released pricing information, with the 3-door model starting at $44,995, and the 5-door at $43,995, including destination.
The Indian-owned British company also announced preliminary fuel consumption figures with the Evoque rated at 28mpg on the highway and 19mpg in the city.
The U.S.-specification Range Rover Evoque is powered by a 2.0-litre turbocharged engine and is designed to be a direct rival to premium compact SUVs like the BMW X1 and the recently launched Audi Q3.
Like its rivals, the Evoque’s orientation is more towards on-road performance and refinement, as well as cabin luxury.

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Chevrolet Prices for the Camaro UK, Starts from £34,995 (US$56,040)

The Camaro is the centerpiece of Chevrolet’s display at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, which begun today. And the company thought it was the perfect opportunity to announce the pricing of its UK-bound muscle car that will be available in early 2012.
The Camaro with the V8 engine starts from £34,995 (US$56,040) in coupe trim and from £39,995 (US$64,060) for the convertible, both with a manual transmission. If you want an automatic gearbox, you’ll have to add another £1,500 (US$2,400). In the U.S., the V8 model starts from US$31,070, which is equal to £19,400.
Available only in left-hand drive, the Camaro is powered by a 6.2-litre V8 which is rated in Europe at 432-horses, while Chevrolet claims that the suspension has been specifically tuned for European roads.
The UK-specification Camaro boasts a comprehensive standard equipment list that includes Brembo brakes, 20-inch alloy wheels, rear parking sensors, full leather upholstery, a Boston Acoustics 9-speaker audio system and Bluetooth connectivity.
And then there’s, of course, the options list with things like a choice of premium bodywork colors, bonnet stripes, interior trim, a sunroof and polished alloy wheels.

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Nissan Leaf vs Chevrolet Volt In Sales Battle: Who Will Win !!??

Even though the new Nissan Leaf and the Chevrolet Volt are two very different cars when it comes to details, they do have a common denominator: they are the most technologically advanced eco-friendly vehicles that are mass-produced and readily available in the U.S. market. That said, it’s interesting to see how they’re doing in sales this year.

Believe it or not, it’s a fierce neck-to-neck sales battle so far in 2011 with only 17 cars separating the Leaf from the Volt. Nissan has delivered 2,184 examples of the pure-electric Leaf from January to the end of May, while GM has sold 2,167 units of Chevrolet’s extended range electric vehicle in the same period.

However, that may soon change as Chevrolet has just expanded the availability of the Volt from seven states plus the District of Columbia to all 50 states in the USA. GM also lowered the base price of the 2012MY Volt by $1,000 to $39,995 (or $32,496 after applying a $7,500 federal tax credit), but the Chevrolet is still significantly more expensive than the Leaf which retails for $32,780 ($25,280 with the tax credit).

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VW Releases Golf GTI Edition 35 Specs and Price

Developed to celebrate 35 years since the launch of the original Volkswagen Golf GTI in 1976, the GTI Edition 35 will make its premiere at the Worthersee Tour (June 1-4) in Austria. A 2.0-liter turbocharged petrol engine that develops 235-horsepower and 300 Nm of torque (221 lb-ft), 25HP and 20 Nm more than the standard GTI, powers the limited edition hot-hatch.
However, Volkswagen says the engine is not an upgraded version of the standard GTI's unit but a detuned version of the AWD Golf R's four-pot, adapted for a FWD setup. With 25 more horsepower than the standard GTI and a power-to-weight ratio of 6 kg/hp, the Golf GTI Edition 35 reaches a top speed of 247 km/h (153 mph) and accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 6.6 seconds (gains of 7 km/h and 0.3 seconds respectively).
Like the standard GTI, the Edition 35 is equipped with the XDS electronic differential lock for improved handling and can be fitted with the optional six-speed DSG transmission. The average fuel consumption is rated at 8.1 liters/100 km (29 mpg) for the manual model and 8 liters/100 km (29.4 mpg) for the DSG version.
The VW Golf GTI Edition 35 has a starting price of €30,425 ($43,750) in Germany. To mark the debut of the new model, VW has released a commercial entitled "Are you GTI enough?” which highlights the intense feelings drivers get from the car. Scroll down to see the anniversary GTI raising the adrenaline levels of a female driver.
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