Audi Shows its new R8

Today, Audi has released details on its new and improved 2013 Audi R8. Some improvements include LED headlights with new technologies now standard on all models. There are also many LEDs at the rear with one new innovation from Audi which are the indicator the indicator lights with dynamic display at the bottom edge of the lamp. This basically means that the turn signal always move to the side the driver is going to turn, similar to the turn signals on the Mustang. Audi will offer various colors on the new R8 from Ibis White to Brilliant Red. There is also a matte effect color available as an exclusive feature.

Audi will offer 2 engines on the new R8. The first engine is the 4.2 FSI engine which produces 430 hp. With this engine, the R8 accelerates from 0-62 in 4.3 seconds with a top speed of 186 mph. There is also a V10 engine available which has 525 hp and accelerates from 0-62 in 3.6 seconds and has a top speed of 195 mph. The average fuel consumption for the V10 is 17.96 mpg, not bad considering it is a big V10, but definitely not a car you would want to get if your going "green". Audi will also be adding a new model to the lineup called the Audi R8 V10 plus. This version of the V10 is a little more powerful with 550 hp and 0-62 time of 3.5. Top speed for this model is 196 mph.

Audi also tries to add comfort to the R8 with electronically adjustable sports seats optional on the V8 and standard on the V10. The seat upholstery in the car is Alcantara/leather combination or Fine Nappa. On the R8 Spyder (convertible) there is a special pigmentation which reduces heating from direct sunlight. There are also bucket seats available which provide better lateral support, these come standard in the R8 V10 plus.

The R8 V10 and the V10 plus also come with features like a navigation system and a Bang & Olufsen sound system. Other options for all R8 models include high beam assistant, a cell phone preparation, with belt microphone and voice control and a parking system with a reversing camera.

The new R8 will reach European customers at the end of this year, and according to Carscoop, sales in the US are expected to start early 2013. Prices for the R8 in Europe range from EUR 113,500 for the V8 coupe to EUR 173,200 for the V10 plus.
Photos: Carscoop

                                                                                       

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BMW i8 Concept Car

The BMW i8 Spyder has recently won the  2012 Concept Car of the Year Award at the eleventh annual Concept Vehicle of the Year Awards. This award is given to the vehicle that is likely to influence future models in the automobile industry. The list included a total of 34 cars, all of which were introduced during the past year's auto shows in Los Angeles, Detroit, Chicago, Toronto, and New York (the only one i got to attend). Other awards in the show include the best Production Preview Vehicle, Concept Car, Concept Truck, and to the most significant Concept Vehicle.

One of the jurors, Bill Schaffer, stated, " With lines that remind me of icy water in a mountain stream, the BMW i8 takes open top driving into a new realm of environmental responsibility, with the image of ultimate driving machine firmly embedded". The BMW i8 is definitely one of the best concepts from recent auto shows. Tell me what you think of the i8 in the comments section below.

New York: How and Where to Park...

We all know that New York is not the best city to own a car in. Finding a parking spot when you desperately need it can be a real challenge. And when you finally find one, you find out that your car is too big to fit in the space. So what do you do? You force your car into the parking space of course... New York style. That's exactly what the driver of this older Toyota Camry did in the following video. He just had to park there and he was going to do anything in his power to get his car into that spot.

But what about that time that you really can't find a spot? Besides regreting not taking public transportation, be sure to park in a place that you are actually allowed to. The picture after the video might be familiar to some people in New York. Seems a little harsh just for parking in a place your not suppose to, but i wouldn't recommend trying to see if the property owners actually keep their word. For those of you that would like to try it out, according to Jalopnik the parking space is on the corner of Washington and Bank streets.

Source: Jalopnik

New York: Bicyclist Chased and Pulled Over by NYPD Unmarked Police Car

Following the laws while driving can keep you out of trouble. It can save your life and keep you from getting a ticket. This could be even more important when driving in a crowded city like New York. But should cars be the only ones following traffic laws? Apparently not as you see a bicyclist getting pulled over for braking the law in this video.

The YouTube post says that the bicyclist ran the red light at the intersection of 6th Avenue and West Houston Street. Wondering how much the fine was? He is said to have received a $270 fine. So next time your ride your bike, think twice before running that red light.

The Dark Side of the Mercedes Benz C63 AMG Black Series

One of my favorite cars has got to be the Mercedes Benz C63 AMG. This model is a more powerful version of the popular C-Class. The C63 AMG has V8 engine with 451 hp and 443 lb-ft of torque, plenty of power to have some fun from stoplight to stoplight. But if that is not enough for you, Mercedes has made an even more powerful AMG called the Black Series.

The Black Series has AMG's 6.3 liter V8 engine but in this car it has an output of 510 hp. The power gets to the rear wheels through the AMG SPEEDSHIFT MCT 7 speed multi-clutch transmission. Mercedes Benz says that the Black Series has a 0-60 acceleration time of 4.2 seconds, a considerable improvement over the 4.4 seconds of the regular C63 AMG.

The C63 AMG Black Series is said to have a price around the $100,000 which is kind of steep for when you remember that a base C-Class starts around 35K. But the car will be built on a limited number and expected to start sells later this year. I just wished i could get one.....

 

 

Juke-R beats 458, Lamborghini, and SLS??

The Nissan Juke-R i posted about recently is certainly not the best looking small crossover out there. But its GT-Rish transformation sure turns it into something that can turn heads. The first video shows the Juke-R racing three well known super cars. The Ferrari 458 Italia with 562hp, the Lamborghini Gallardo LP 560-4 with 560hp and the Mercedes-Benz SLS Amg with 563hp. The Juke-R in the video is the concept which has 485hp. The driver can definitely have a lot to do with who wins the race and behind the wheel of the Juke-R was the 2008 GT Academy winner Lucas Ordonez from Spain.

The other video is a test between the Nissan GT-R and the Juke-R. Check them out and tell me what you think about Nissan's powerful Juke-R.

Nissan's Cool Juke-R

One of the coolest concept cars i have seen recently is definitely that Nissan Juke-R. This concept model is a combination of Nissan's small crossover and the powertrain of Nissan's sports car, the GT-R. This vehicle will be available in very limited numbers as it will be built on an order basis. 

Another cool thing is that the Juke-R that will be available to the public will actually be more powerful than the concept. The concept had the 2010 GT-R's engine which was a 485hp V6. But that impressive power for such a small crossover was not enough for Nissan as they will sell the Juke-R with the 2013 GT-R's engine which has 545hp. Certainly must be one of the funnest small crossovers you can drive. 

Nissan has already gotten 3 orders for the Juke-R and they will be taking more orders in the coming month. The pricing for the Juke-R has not been announced but one should expect a similar price point as the GT-R, maybe more, so one might expect a six figure number. High price for a small crossover but its certainly not an ordinary one.

Photos: Carscoop