Autoesque

Audi has confirmed that its UK dealers will be accepting orders for the new TT RS Plus from early May, with the first deliveries due to follow over the summer. 2012 Audi TT RS Plus Coupé. Scroll down for more images. Available in both Coupé and Roadster guises with a choice of manual or S tronic dual clutch transmissions, on the road prices have been set £3,085 higher than the equivalent TT RS models: · TT RS Plus Coupé manual - £48,945 · TT RS Plus Coupé S tronic - £50,285 · TT RS Plus Roadster manual - £50,925 · TT RS Plus Roadster S tronic - £52,265 Power comes from a 2.5 litre, five-cylinder TFSI petrol engine that has been tweaked to produce 355 bhp (265 kW / 360 PS) and 465 Nm (342 lb/ft) of peak torque. The results might not be too spectacular (the zero to 62 mph / 100 km/h times only fall by 0.2 seconds, for example), but they do reinforce the TT’s performance superiority over both the BMW 1 Series M Coupé and Porsche Cayman R. Standard specification for the...

Indian motorcycle firm TVS might not be particularly well known outside of its home market, but during the year to March 2012 it sold over two million machines. To help maintain that kind of popularity, the company has just announced a series of updates to its Apache RTR series. The changes mainly focus on the looks of the bikes , and include redesigned tank side panels, a more aggressively styled belly pan, LED running lights and refreshed instruments that get blue backlighting. Lead-in model for 2012 is the Apache RTR 160, which features a 14 bhp (11 kW / 15 PS) engine and is capable of 73 mph (118 km/h). Available in green, grey, red or yellow dual-tone colour schemes, it is priced at Rs. 67,505 (ex-showroom in Delhi), which is around £790 / €970 at current exchange rates. For those wanting a little extra power, the Apache RTR 180 can reach 77 mph (124 km/h) thanks to its 16 bhp (12 kW / 17 PS) engine. Costing Rs. 72,090 (about £840 / €1,030), paintwork choice is black, g...

Outputs from the 5.8 litre, supercharged V8 that powers the 2013 Ford Shelby GT500 have been SAE-certified at an impressive 662 bhp (493 kW / 671 PS) and 855 Nm (631 lb/ft) of torque. Those figures are slightly more than Ford estimated when the GT500 was first announced back in February, and reinforce the claim that it features the world’s most powerful production V8 engine. Developed by Ford’s SVT division, the performance Mustang has been engineered to be driveable right through the rev range, and to that end ninety percent of peak torque is usefully available from 2,200 rpm up to 5,800 rpm. Although no acceleration stats have been released, Ford is saying that the GT500 coupé is capable of hitting 200 mph (321 km/h). Fortunately the chassis has also been tweaked to cope, despite the presence of an archaic live rear axle set-up. That comprehensive approach is summed up by Jamal Hameedi, SVT chief engineer, who said: “Our goal is to create outstanding all-around performanc...

As the majority of North Americans seem stubbornly resistant to the idea of diesel power for their cars, most manufacturers have simply not bothered offering anything apart from gasoline engines. The price disparity between the two types of fuel certainly hasn’t helped diesel’s cause, but some of the refusal to change also stems from perceived noise and refinement issues. Now, to help dispel some of the myths, Chevrolet has embarked on a campaign extolling the benefits of diesel. Of course, there is an ulterior motive behind this work: last year, it was announced that a diesel-powered Cruze is to be launched in the United States sometime during 2013. Whether buying habits will be changed remains to be seen, but in a market where diesel cars currently account for just three percent of sales, Chevrolet is going to have a tough task convincing customers to switch. Images © General Motors. Related post: Diesel for American Cruze

After three rounds, Aprilia rider Max Biaggi is leading the 2012 World Superbike Championship by a single point. So it’s either brilliant foresight or merely pure coincidence that the Italian manufacturer has decided to produce a couple of Biaggi replicas. Perhaps surprisingly, the bikes that Aprilia has selected to receive the treatment are the smaller capacity RS4 125 and RS4 50, rather than the 999 cc RSV4 Factory that’s used to compete in WSB. While both feature a fancy paintjob, the RS4 125 version also gets a single seat cowl, wavy discs, Pirelli Diablo Rossi II tyres and a quickshifter. It’s priced at £4,299 in the UK, which is only £200 more than the standard model. The RS4 50 replica meanwhile costs £3,099, an increase of just £50. Deliveries are expected to start in June. Related posts: Aprilia SRV 850 revealed Aprilia Dorsoduro 1200

Mazda has decided to give its RX-8 coupé a stay of execution. When the final run-out version, the RX-8 Spirit R , was announced late last year, the intention was to build just 1,000 examples. But now, thanks to strong demand, that production volume is going to be doubled. Availability will still be restricted to Japan, though. The Spirit R’s specification includes red brake calipers, piano black trim for the transmission tunnel, curtain and front side airbags and a choice of Aluminum Metallic, Sparkling Black Mica or Crystal White Pearl Mica paintwork. Models equipped with a six-speed manual gearbox also get Recaro front seats and 19” bronze alloy wheels, while those with a six-speed automatic transmission feature larger brakes, sports suspension, leather upholstery and gun metallic alloy wheels. Related posts: Mazda RX-8 Spirit R The end of the RX-8

Aston Martin has unveiled three Dragon 88 Limited Editions at the Auto China show in Beijing. Based on the DBS Volante, Virage Coupe and V8 Vantage S Coupe, the specification changes are limited to gold-plated badges, embroidered head restraints, special sill plates and a choice of unique colours for the paintwork and leather upholstery. Just 88 examples will be produced, although prices have yet to be announced. Significantly, these special versions signal the increasing importance of the Chinese market to Aston Martin. Having taken full control of the local sales operation last year, the marque is now planning to open a further eleven dealerships during 2012, taking the total to twenty. Related posts: Aston Martin is still coolest V8 Vantage S launched DB9 special editions

Škoda has announced that its new compact hatch will be called the Rapid, a name that was last seen in Europe during the late 1980s on a widely acclaimed rear-engined, rear-wheel drive coupé. Not to be confused with the recently introduced Indian-market Rapid saloon (which is essentially a rebadged version of the locally-produced Volkswagen Vento), the European Rapid will slot between the Fabia and Octavia in Škoda’s range. Although it has yet to be revealed in production form, the new model’s looks are said to be strongly influenced by last year’s MissionL concept. If that’s the case, it’ll bear more than a passing resemblance to the next-generation Seat Toledo , which appears to have been based on the same design. Sales of the European-spec Rapid are due to begin before the end of 2012. A separate version is being developed for China, and it is expected to be launched sometime during 2013. Related posts: Seat Toledo Concept Škoda Vision D - more pics Škoda MissionL concep...

The recipe for the new Eterniti Artemis is quite simple: take one Porsche Cayenne Turbo, tweak the engine, tinker with the bodywork, re-trim the interior and then triple the price. Unveiled today at the Auto China show, there’s no doubt that the amount of work done goes well beyond what most tuning firms do, and the result certainly blurs the lines between mere conversion and total remanufacture. London-based Eterniti describes the Artemis as ‘the world’s first Super-SUV’ and cites its competitors as future sport utility offerings from Bentley, Lamborghini and Maserati. Interestingly though, no mention is ever made of the vehicle upon which it is based. Changes to the exterior include the replacement of the original body panels with hand-made carbon composite items and the fitment of huge 23” forged alloy wheels. On the inside, the rear cabin gets two individual reclining seats that are both heated and cooled, and their configuration means that there’s 100 mm of extra leg...

The Auto China event in Beijing will see Volkswagen showing off an electric-powered, two-seat speedster version of its Beetle. Known as the E-Bugster concept, drive comes from a 113 bhp (85 kW / 115 PS) motor that delivers a 0-62 mph (100 km/h) time of 10.8 seconds. Not particularly rapid then, but the 28.3 kWh lithium-ion battery pack is claimed to offer a useful urban range of at least 111 miles (180 kilometres). Recharging can be achieved via either a normal domestic AC supply or a DC quick charge station, a process which takes thirty-five minutes. Top-ups are also provided on the move by the car’s onboard brake energy recovery system. Although the same length as the Beetle upon which it’s based, the E-Bugster enjoys a sportier stance thanks to a lower screen height and wider arches that house 20” ‘Twister’ alloy wheels. Other bodywork changes include a redesigned front bumper and the fitment of LED headlights. There’s no word yet on whether the Bugster will make it in...

Images of the Fiat Viaggio saloon have been leaked ahead of its public debut at the Auto China show in Beijing. Just over a week ago Fiat released some teaser shots , but these latest photographs show the new model - which is essentially a rebadged Dodge Dart - in its entirety. Power is going to come from a 1.4 litre T-Jet turbo petrol engine producing either 118 bhp (88 kW / 120 PS) or 147 bhp (110 kW / 150 PS), while the gearbox choice will comprise a five-speed manual or Fiat’s Dual Dry Clutch Transmission. Chinese sales of the Viaggio are due to begin during the third quarter of 2012. It’s not known yet whether it’ll also be offered in other markets. Related posts: Fiat Viaggio teased Dart GTS 210 Tribute 2013 Dodge Dart leaked

The steady stream of London-inspired Mini special editions continues. This time around, two Royal Parks get the treatment: Hyde Park and Green Park. Both are based on the existing Cooper, Cooper S, Cooper D and Cooper SD models, and buyers will get a choice of either hatch or Clubman body styles. Disappointingly, neither are particularly exciting, and it almost seems as if Mini might be running out of ideas. The Mini Hyde Park comes in Pepper White with a Hot Chocolate finish for the roof, mirror caps and various body stripes. Apart from clear indicator lenses and, on the Clubman, painted lower C-pillars, that’s the extent of the exterior changes. On the inside, the only difference is that some of the surfaces are painted Pepper White. Exactly the same alterations are applied to the Mini Green Park, except that British Racing Green is used instead of Hot Chocolate to provide the colour contrast. These latest Mini special editions are going to be available worldwid...

The new M3 Coupé Frozen Silver Edition is being launched to celebrate the 40th anniversary of BMW’s M division. Well that’s the official line, although it does have the air of being a ‘run-out special’ to mark the last days of the E92 M3… Just 100 examples will be offered in the UK, with each priced at £58,720 on the road. That makes it exactly £4,000 more than a regular M3 Coupé, but included in the Frozen Silver Edition’s standard specification are a seven-speed M Dual Clutch Transmission and Electronic Damper Control. Usually on the options list, those two items alone add up to £3,970. Obviously, Frozen Silver metallic is the only paintwork choice, and it’s complemented by matt black alloy wheels, high-gloss Shadowline exterior trim, jet black bonnet intakes and a dark chrome finish for the side gills, exhaust tips and grille frames. The interior features Black Novillo leather upholstery with bluish-grey Palladium inserts. Among the extra items of kit are an Alcantara-...

Last week Mercedes-Benz announced a series of  updates to its perennial Geländewagen, but neglected to publish any images or performance figures for the two new AMG versions. Now though, both of those omissions have been addressed. 2013 Mercedes-Benz G 63 AMG. Scroll down for more images. There’s very little chance of the 2013 AMG models being mistaken for a lesser G-Class, thanks to their prominent front bumper, unique ‘twin blade’ grille design, 20” alloy wheels and extended wheel arches. The G 63 AMG takes over from the G 55 AMG in the range, and it uses a 5,461 cc biturbo V8 connected to a seven-speed automatic transmission. With 536 bhp (400 kW / 544 PS) and 760 Nm (560 lb/ft) of torque, outputs from the new engine are up on its predecessor. On paper it’s not much quicker though, as the 0-62 mph (100km/h) acceleration time is reduced by just 0.1 to 5.4 seconds, and the top speed continues to be electronically limited to 130 mph (210 km/h). However, those figures mig...

Audi has revealed the RS Q3 concept, which is set to make its public debut at the upcoming Auto China show in Beijing. Power comes from a turbocharged 2.5 litre TFSI engine borrowed from the recently announced TT RS Plus Coupé . Developing 355 bhp (265 kW / 360 PS), its output is sent to the quattro all-wheel drive system via a seven-speed S tronic dual clutch transmission. The result is a zero to 62 mph (100 km/h) time of 5.2 seconds, while the top speed is 164 mph (265 km/h). So in terms of acceleration, that means the RS Q3 is 0.6 seconds slower than the RS 3 Sportback, despite having 19 bhp (15 kW / 20 PS) more. Such a shortfall in performance (and probably fuel consumption too, although Audi has yet to publish any figures) is clearly the price to be paid for the extra bulk and inferior aerodynamics of the Q3. Visually, the most obvious differences compared to the regular Q3 are a lowered ride height, the huge 20” alloy wheels, a redesigned front bumper and a unique bla...

Mini has confirmed pricing and specifications for its new Roadster, which is due in UK dealer showrooms next spring. Unlike the existing Mini Convertible, the Roadster is strictly a two-seater, although it does boast a reasonable 240 litre luggage capacity. Mini Cooper S Roadster. Scroll down for more images. All versions are to carry the Cooper nameplate and, for the UK at least, operation of the fabric roof will be semi-automatic. Standard equipment includes a rear spoiler that automatically rises at 50 mph (80 km/h) and retracts at 37 mph (60 km/h), stainless steel rollover bars, rear park distance control and a Sport button on the dashboard that sharpens both the steering and throttle responses. Among the various fuel saving features are an automatic start-stop system, brake energy regeneration and electric power-assisted steering. Prices will range from £18,020 to £24,860: Mini Cooper Roadster On the road price £18,020 Engine Type Four-cylinder pet...