Audi R8 GT (2010) CAR review

Audi R8 GT

  

This is the Audi R8 GT, a lighter, more powerful (and thus faster) version of Ingolstadt’s finest supercar. Think of the GT as a Superleggera version of the R8, a car to take on the likes of the GT3 RS, M3 GTS, and of course, the real Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera.
So is the Audi R8 GT essentially a German version of the Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera?

Yes, the R8 GT’s biggest rival is perhaps the lighter, more powerful (and thus faster) version of the Gallardo. Audi might own Lamborghini, but as if it wasn’t enough to launch a V8-powered supercar based on the Gallardo, it then launched a V10 version – albeit in detuned form with 518bhp and 391lb ft. And now we have the R8 GT, with exactly the same engine as the base Gallardo.

Audi R8 GT rear

Differences? The Superleggera squeezes an extra 10bhp from its 5.2-litre V10; the R8 GT boasts the same 552bhp @ 8000rpm and 398lb ft @ 6500rpm as the standard little Lambo. The Audi is the porkiest of the pair too, tipping the scales at 1525kg, 95 kilos more than the Italian. Result? 3.4 versus 3.6 seconds to 62mph in Lambo’s favour, a split which will keep the marketing teams happy on paper, but one that won’t be translated into the real world. 

The New 2011 Nissan GT-R

So what's new on the 2011 Nissan GT-R?

2011 Nissan GT-R front view

To help you maneuver at low speeds, a new two-wheel-drive mode will temporarily shift the car to 2wd as long as the speed is below 6mph and the steering wheel is turned more than half way. Bye bye 12-point turns.

The Dunlop SP Sport Maxx GT 600 DSST CTT (yes, really) tire has a new compound to improve grip, says Nissan. And newly designed, lighter and more rigid forged alloy wheels improve tyre responsiveness to vertical load.

Want more nerdy detail of the modest changes? Knurling inside the wheel has been modified to avoid any Tyre rotation deviation caused by the GT-R’s improved engine output, and there’s a new wheel color: Hyper Blue Black Chrome.

2011 Nissan GT-R Rear view

Aero drag hasn't been left alone. Down force has been increased by around 10%, and Nissan claims stability is improved by an enlarged bumper and grille openings.
Two seat choices available

Choose from Recaro Black - leather appointed bucket seat with red side flashes. This comes complete with a dark headlining and red flash on the gear lever.

The second choice is a premium leather covered seat available in black or light grey, a light gray colored headlining providing a lighter feel to the interior.

Plenty of detail changes then. But that price rise? Nearly £11k more proves that Nissan knows it was undercharging for too long. Probably an attempt to squash gray imports - and now the market is filled with official UK cars, that's less of a risk.

Peugeot 3008 Hybrid4 (2010) first details

Peugeot 3008 Hybrid4 (2010)

Peugeot has released details of its new product  3008 Hybrid4, the world's first hybrid  car with a diesel engine under the bonnet. So far all car makers dabbling in hybrid technology have plumped for petroleum  engines, primarily on the grounds of cost and the fact that countries such as the US, Japan and many emerging markets still prefer unleaded to derv.

Peugeot 3008 Hybrid4 (2010)

We saw the concept 3008 Hybrid4 in 2009 at the Frankfurt motor show, and now Pug has turned it into reality.

Peugeot 3008 Hybrid4 (2010)

The Hybrid4 employs PSA's 2.0-liter oil-burner allied to an electric motor, and offers claimed fuel economy of 74mpg and CO2 emissions of 99g/km, slipping – just – under the 100g/km barrier. This enables the Hybrid4 to qualify for the lowest rate of road tax, while making the regular 2.0 HDi-powered 3008's figures of 50mpg and 146g/km seem almost supercar-esque in their profligacy.

When both powertrains are working together, the 3008 Hybrid4 puts out a fairly meaty 200bhp (163bhp from the engine and 37bhp from the batteries).

So the Peugeot 3008 Hybrid4 is basically a diesel Prius?

Not as much as you'd expect, actually. Yes, it's a hybrid, but a key difference with the 3008 (drinking habits aside) is in the way each power plant is deployed. Being four-wheel-drive, the electric motor can power the rear wheels while the engine takes care of the fronts, which gives the Hybrid4 more flexibility.

There are four 'driving modes' from which to choose. The most popular for town driving will be 'Auto', which is more or less self-explanatory, and 'ZEV', which enables – battery charge notwithstanding – the 3008 to be driven on electric power only; the diesel motor will cut in if you mash your foot to the floor.

There's also a 4WD mode, the selection of which enables the permanent engagement of both petrol and electric motors for effectiveness in tricky conditions, and a 'Sport' option, which optimises gearchanges to probably not quite turn the 3008 into a B-road monster.


Why have we not seen a diesel hybrid before?

Good question. You'd think that combining battery power with a derv engine rather than a more thirsty petrol would be the optimum choice when it comes to chucking the least amount possible out of your exhaust. And you'd be right. The problem has come with the cost of producing such a combination – which has so far pushed the theoretical price of diesel hybrids to a point where you'd have to drive to the moon and back to recoup the cost.

So how much will the Peugeot 3008 Hybrid4 cost?

They've yet to release details on pricing for the 3008 Hybrid4; with the non-hybrid model coming in at just shy of £20,000, though, we'd probably expect Peugeot to charge about £25k for the Hybrid4. That may seem somewhat steep for what is essentially a large hatchback, but if you cover enough miles, the gains in economy will justify the extra outlay, insiders promise.

What with Peugeot's new styling direction, the drop-dead gorgeous RCZ and now this hybrid diesel tech, it seems that the formerly dowdy French brand is finally firing on all cylinders. Let's hope the renaissance continues.

TDV8 Range Rover 2011 model

TDV8 Range Rover 2011 model

Here it is, the new TDV8 Range Rover 2011 model , yours from £67,495 for the entry-level Vogue, the top-spec Autobiography coming in at £81,395 – a rise of £855 and £3515 respectively. Headline changes are the introduction of an all-new 4.4-liter turbo diesel V8 and a new eight-speed automatic ZF gearbox.

TDV8 Range Rover 2011 model

Engine
The engine is noticeably quieter and smoother, and the extra capacity makes it feel far healthier and better able to shrug off what remains a pretty obscene kerb weight – 2.8 ton

TDV8 Range Rover 2011 model

Newer is Greener
Absolutely. The car industry’s rush to slash C02 never seems to impact on performance, and the new TDV8 Range is no exception. Power rises from 268bhp to 309bhp, torque from 472lb ft to 516lb ft, which drops the 0-60mph by more than a second and adds 6mph to the top end. Meanwhile, C02 falls from 294g/km to 253g/km (shaving £200 off your first year’s tax, a tenner a year thereafter), while mpg rises from 25mpg to 30mpg. No doubt the tall eighth-speed helps with all that.

Ferrari 458 Challenge (2010)

This is the new Ferrari 458 Challenge, the newest  in a line of racers to emerge from Maranello. It was unveiled at today's annual dealer meeting in Italy and is destined to join the race in the 2011 Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli series. It's the 5th Ferrari designed to racing in the Pracing Horse's one-make series.

The new 458 Challenge is a mix of stock 458 Italia and new competition spec upgrades. The 4.5-litre V8 is road car legal and develops the same 562bhp at a neck-tingling 9000rpm, but it'll soar to that epic redline more frequently thanks to shorter gearing.

The twin-clutch gearbox is re calibrated again to ensure more torque at lower speed, too. But amateur race hands be relieved: the E-DIff electronics remain on hand to curb the worst tail slides on track.

So what makes the Ferrari 458 Challenge a racer?

One of the chief differences between the 458 Italia road car and this Challenge racer is a diet, says Ferrari, although it has yet to issue a kerb weight. The bodyshell panels are thinner in most places and much of the glasswork is replaced by Lexan plastic.

The Challenge should corner on the obligatory tramlines, thanks to a thorough overhaul of the already-not-at-all-shabby suspension. Out go the rubber bushes replaced by solid aluminium bushing; the springs are stiffer and dampers recalibrated; the ride is dropped 30mm all round; and Pirelli slicks are fitted to the new quick-release 19in rims.

Brembo's latest CCM2 brakes from the 599XX are donated to the 458 Challenge to wipe off all that speed. And to help you pile the clicks back on, an upgraded F1-Trac traction control system is added with dry and wet settings to put the ponies to the track. Yet more settings on the manettino steering wheel switch to befuddle the driver mid-corner.

BMW X3 (2010)

Here are the first official pictures of the new 2010 BMW X3. At first look, it's a shrunken X5 and looks smarter and larger than the outgoing, first generation X3 which never quite lived up to its promise.

It's all change with this new X3 in more ways than one. The new 2010 SUV will be built by BMW in Spartanburg, South Carolina, USA, and not by Magna in Graz, Austria. That should help fix the quality glitches that blighted the original X3,is it?

BMW X3 2010: an overview

There's a squarer aesthetic at play here. Just check out the horizontal lines marking out the front lights  and a long character line along the flanks further distinguishes X3 from X5. The new X3 is bigger than before, but now the latest X5 has swollen to accommodate three rows of seats, there remains clear water between BM's two large SUVs.

Munich says the new X3 has the lowest emissions of any 4wd model in this segment. Very zeitgeisty. How have they achieved low CO2? By fitting stop-start and an eight-speed transmission to lower the revs.

The line-up

The big seller – hogging 80% of sales – will be the X3 xDrive20d. It has a 2.0-liter aluminum four-cylinder, mustering 182bhp and 280lb ft from 1750-2750rpm – enough for 0-62mph in 8.5sec and 130mph. Yet thanks to stop-start, CO2 stands at 149g/km and average economy 50.4mpg.

BMW has beaten Land Rover to market with a stop-start auto; the eight-speed 2.0d is actually marginally cleaner, at 147g/km of CO2. All other figures are identical to the manual listed above. Other engines will be confirmed later.

This likely best-seller will cost £30,490 – £115 less than the outgoing X3. Standard equipment includes leather upholstery, twin-zone climate control.

Aston Martin DB9 Coupé

At the weekend's 2010 Le Mans 24-hour race you might have seen elsewhere that CAR was embedded in the Which meant that we were well placed to pilfer one of the facelifted DB9s on display at the Aston Martin customer hospitality unit at the French  circuit and drive it back to Blighty.

A 'face lifted' 2010 Aston Martin DB9? It doesn't look very different!

Yes, let's call it the 2011 model year DB9. Aston types hesitate to use the word 'face lift', it's just part of the continuous improvement that's gradually spruced up the DB9 since launch back in 2003.

CAR bumped into Aston Martin design director Marek Reichmann in the AMR pits at Le Mans and he gave us the lowdown on the 2011 DB9. 'We are continuing the elegant feel of the DB9: there's a new front bumper, new side skirts, new colours,' he explained. 'These are mild changes – we've made 12,000 DB9s since launch and don't feel the need to start afresh. There are also plenty of under-the-skin changes.'

Mini to return to the WRC in 2011 with 4x4

Mini is back in rally again, more than 50 years vacuum after it ruled the roost at Monte Carlo and beyond, giving a huge shot in the arm to the WRC.

In typically audacious style BMW has announced this car will campaign the Countryman SUV rather than the standard Mini, starting with selected WRC rounds in 2011 followed by the entire 2012 WRC season.
It’s also a return to WRC for Banbury-based Prodrive, the outfit behind Subaru’s legendary WRC success, who will develop the car and run the whole team. Prodrive last campaigned in the 2008 season, and have been developing the Countryman since early 2009.
The car is based on the production Countryman, and will run the BMW Motorsport 1.6-litre, four-cylinder turbocharged engine, to comply with the new Super2000 regulations. Being an SUV, it will also have four-wheel drive – ironically the only car in the field to do so.

Audi R8 Spyder

These three are the first pictures of the Audi R8 Spyder, after those images were leaked  into the net ahead of the car’s debut at the Frankfurt motor show next week. 

What do we know about the new Audi R8 Spyder?

The power is only expected to come from the 5.2-liter V10 engine, so the Spyder will send 518bhp and 390lb ft to all four wheels via either a six-speed manual or an automated-manual R-tronic gearbox, choose what you prefer.The R8 Spyder also has the same double-strake front intakes and rear vents as the V10, plus the chrome-surrounded central grille and twin oval exhausts.
The obvious difference is the loss of the fixed roof, which folds away under the rear deck ahead of the engine, a la the Gallardo Spyder. Twin vented flying buttress break up the expanse of bodywork, the side blades are now absent and the windscreen surround is brushed aluminum.
The R8 Spyder is expected to go on sale in early 2010, and cost at least £120,000.

The 2009 Volvo C30

The pace of previews for the 2009 Frankfurt motor show gathers pace. Today it’s the turn of Volvo to show off its new car, gently facelifted for 2009 C30.
They are trying to sport up the C30 type, so there’s fresh front and rear styling in this car, in line with the revised C70 and taking its inspiration from their S60 concept car. Think curvier lights, more rounded surface treatments and you get the picture.

There’s also a new Sports chassis with faster steering, 30% stiffer springs and re calibrated dampers, while Volvo’s even now calling it the C30 Sports Coupé. Yes, yes – we get the idea!

What else is new on the 2009 Volvo C30?

Those head lamps have been melted by oxy acetylene torch, and the grille has a new honeycomb pattern sitting within what Volvo calls ‘an iron mask’.Out the back, there’s a new color-coded valance while you can pick the new vibrant orange flame colour depicted here. Inside is refreshed with some new colours, too, including some very un-Scandinavian oragnes, greens and blues. Very edgy!

Engine line-up in the new Volvo C30

• 1.6, 99bhp, 40.4mpg, 167g/km
• 2.0, 143bhp, 38.2mpg, 177g/km
• T5, 227bhp, 32.5mpg, 203g/km
• 1.6D DRIVe, 108bhp, 62.8mpg, 119g/km (72.4mpg, 104g/km with stop-start)
• 2.0D, 134bhp, 49.6mpg, 151g/km
• D5, 178bhp, 45.6mpg, 164g/km
Sales start in November 2009, after its debut at next week’s 2009 Frankfurt motor show

Nissan GT-R Spec M

The ‘Gentle Man's specs’, or Spec M, Nissan GT-R has been the focal point of speculative net rumor since the original product was launched three years ago. Now we've scooped the new GT-R Spec M that's UK-bound, This lightly disguised prototype car was spotted testing at its second house, the Nurburgring in Germany. As clearly shown in our spy photos, the GT-R Spec M is not too dissimilar from the current GT-R: (the devil), most definitely, is in the detail.

 So what's all this about a new, more luxurious Nissan GT-R Spec M?

Essentially a softer riding and comfier version of the GT-R, the Spec M brings extensive leather, plusher interior fittings and reams of extra kit. However the car sticks with the handcrafted VR38DETT V6 engine and running gear as the 'regular' GT-R, so the ballistic performance will remain – albeit slightly blunted by the extra weight.
The Spec M will sport different style and size alloy wheels to the GT-R. Accompanying these will be the addition of a new grille, revised headlights and a new front bumper design. Round the back, a new diffuser layout and bumper complete the exterior makeover.
The Spec M and subtly revised 2011 GT-R are both expected to make their debut at the 2010 Paris motor show this autumn and we expect a significant price hike across every GT-R in the range.

Why the price rise? Because the car has been a runaway success (Nissan's sold 1500 here since UK launch in April 2009, and you'll have to rush to buy one of the remaining few dozen cars left of the current stock). The new GT-R rolls into British showrooms in the first half of 2011.

Oil change tips

Probably one of the first safety tips to talk when you're going to do an oil change on your car engine is to be ready for the oil spills, the grease, and the dirt. If you're a very  clean kind of person, then maybe you would rather bring your automobile  to an auto repair shop and let them do that for you. But of course, do it yourself is more practical and you can save more money every year as change the oil periodically.

Now before starting out on the task of changing the oil in your engine, prepare the tools you need first. A preparation of all the things you need will make the job easier and with no hassle. You will especially need lots of old newspapers or cardboards to cover the floor and protect it from spills. Oil filters, wrench set, an oil container, a funnel, and new oil are a given in this task, of course. Do not forget to wear gloves, too. Some people change the oil with bare hands but there is always the option of wearing gloves for extra protection.

Make sure that the spot where you're going to do the oil change has a level, flat, and solid ground. Drive around your neighborhood first to heat the oil and make it thin and easy to drain from the engine. Once your engine is warm enough, you can then park your car on the spot for the task at hand.

You can wait a while to cool the engine a bit. Thin oil that is easily drained is good but we wouldn't want to burn our hands now, do we? Make sure you've placed your car in gear and the parking brake is set firmly. You can block the tires with a rock or brick for extra measure. You then jack your car up, but do not settle only for that. Use jackstands to keep the car aloft to help keep it firmly there. Don't get under the car unless you are very sure that the car is stable being held up.

Now with the car settled, the ground covered with newspapers or cardboards, the tools prepared, and you protected with gloves and work clothes, you're ready for the task of changing the oil. Just remember to be careful when draining the oil since it may still be hot. Also make sure your face is out of the way when draining it.

When you're done with changing the oil and screwing the engine close, start looking for leaks. Start the engine and run it for five minutes or so while checking if there are leaks or not. Afterwards you can clean up. Throw the newspapers and oil containers away. Place the used oil and container in a sealed bag and take it to the gas station or oil recycling center.

Another important reminder is to remember that oil disposal should be done correctly. Improper oil disposal has been a hot issue, and is considered illegal and damaging to the environment. It is recommended that you drop your old and used oil at gas stations that will accept them, at no charge. There are regulations for proper oil disposal and people doing an oil change on their engines should be well aware of it. 

Ferrari Spyder 250GT

What could be better than bunking off school and spending the day cruising around in the awesome  Ferrari 250GT Spyder? Well that is exactly what Ferris Bueller played by Matthew Broderick, and his buddy  did in the 1986 film Ferris Bueller's Day Off. Usually bunking off school involves lying low, but there is nothing discreet about driving around in a Ferrari Spyder 250GT even if it is only a replica.

The Ferrari 250 GT Spyder California’s name was most appropriate, for the man ordering it was Ferrari’s influential dealer in Southern California, Johnny von Neumann. “He asked us for a simple spyder,” said Girolamo Gardini, Ferrari’s sales manager from 1948 to 1961.

Ferrari-Daytona.co.uk reporting that the late 80s saw classic car value is rocket, with Daytona values going through the roof. The surge in value led to the creation of affordable cars, known as replicas. In the original Miami Vice, Detective Sonny Crockett drove a midnight black Ferrari Daytona Spyder, which complemented his low key, high living identity. What most viewers didn't realise at the time is that the Daytona was in fact a kit replica based on a 1980 Chevrolet Corvette C3 chassis. It just goes to show that the Ferrari-shaped body panels were all it took to give the car its reputable reputation.

Miami Vice spurred a new craze of Daytona's with McBurnie replica Daytonas (as seen in the TV show) leading the way. As one of the most expensive replicas, the Daytona convertibles have been collected through the years and are a great addition to anyone's garage, and the best part is that they come with an affordable price tag.
The RAC website has reported that "Paramount commissioned the red Ferrari 250GT Spyder replica for the film because the original cars were too rare and expensive to be crashed as the script demanded". The replica that was used in the 1986 film is expected to fetch between £30,000 and £40,000 at auction, which goes to show they might not be the real deal but they could save you a fortune.
ClassicCarsForSale.co.uk have reported that a genuine 1963 Ferrrari 250GT Spyder is being sold by Coys Auctioneers for £298,500, which will cost far more than the replica that Ferris Bueller and his friends drove around in while bunking off school, which is apparently in a "ready-to-drive" condition, according to the RAC website.
The replica will be going under the hammer at Bonhams Collectors Motor Cars and Automobilia auction on April 19th 2010 at the RAF Museum, Hendon, North London.

1975 Ford Bronco

Have you Ever wanted a 1975 Ford Bronco to impress the girls? haha! Well meet this 17-year-old Steven Ortiz of Glendora, CA, it took him two years and 14 trades long to make his old cell phone magically turn into a luxurious automobile, and you can do it too! what?

Starting with just an old cell phone a friend gave him, Ortiz (who should go straight to business school) used Craigslist to trade up for a better a phone, he gave up the phone for an iPod Touch, the iPod Touch was traded for a dirtbike.

Continuing on, he traded the first bike for better dirtbikes, the dirtbikes were swapped for a MacBook Pro that was switch with for a Toyota 4Runner, which was then bartered for a custom off-road golf cart. And 14 swaps, 2 years later the 4Runner landed him a nice Porsche Boxster.

Oritz’s story may remind you of Kyle MacDonald,who was able to trade one red paperclip for a house.
But unlike MacDonald who had a fanbase and a huge website, Ortiz did it all alone sitting in his room.
The high-schooler, who is a star in his school has revealed that the Porsche Boxster’s obnoxious maintenance costs have pushed him to start thinking about trading it for a Cadillac Escalade