2010 Audi A6 renderings

he 2010 A6 will feature a multi-material space frame in order to improve handling, economy and emissions in the process. It’s body architecture will be inspired by the new TT. It will be made of aluminum, but there are steel and foam reinforcements where necessary. In addition, Audi is developing lightweight front and rear sub frames which are integral parts of the compact but strong modular nose and tail structures.

The second-generation ASF system will be introduced top-down, starting with the next A6 and A8, along with the new A7. Audi will struggle to use the high-tech solution on its smaller cars, but engineers are examining how alloys can be used on the Mk2 A3 and A1.

The engine line-up will include the following power choices: 2.8 V6 FSI, 190bhp, 2.8 V6 FSI, 224bhp, 3.2 V6 FSI, 265bhp, 4.2 V8 FSI, 350bhp, 5.2 V10 FSI, 420bhp (S6), 5.0 V10 FSI Biturbo, 580bhp (RS7) and two diesel engines: 2.7 V6 TDI, 185bhp and 3.0 V6 TDI, 238bhp.

Alfa Romeo Mille Miglia Special Edition

The Mille Miglia represents a well-known endurance race which took place between 1928 and 1957 and was revived recently as a road rally event. Alfa Romeo took 11 victories in the Mille Miglia race and decided that these victories need some special celebrating: presenting Alfa Romeo Mille Miglia Special Edition.
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Limited to just 11 units, the Alfa Romeo Mille Miglia Special Edition features a special plate between the two seats each containing the name of one of the vehicles which won the well-known endurance race. Each vehicle is painted in special red colour called „rosso 8” and comes with a “Quadrifoglio” logo. The power of the car comes from a 3.2 liter V6 engine, currently the most powerful engine available from the manufacturer. No words about the price yet!

Ferrari Concept 2008

We realize that not everyone will agree with us on this one -- passions seem to run highest over the cars that the fewest number of people will drive -- but if the Ferrari California looked like this concept, we'd put down a deposit right now. Once someone else gave us the money to do so.



Sure, from the A-pillar forward is pure Maserati, and there's no way a front intake like that could or should make it onto a Ferrari. Still, it's a good looking front end, and we don't mind design elements going up as well as down. Besides, a couple of keystrokes can get a proper Ferrari nose in place.

But from the A-pillar to the rear... those are the kind of aggressive, subtle lines we like in our Ferraris. Which is not to say we don't like the California -- we just like this a little better... A coupe, please. That color.

Porsche denies U.S. production of Cayenne

It didn't take long for Porsche to set the record straight about its rumored production plans for the Cayenne in North America. Speaking with Autoweek, Porsche spokesman Albrecht Bamler, refuted a report by Germany's Handelsblatt newspaper that the automaker planned to build Cayenne's at Volkswagen's new factory in the U.S. According to Bamler, there's no need to produce Stuttgart's uber-ute here in the States, since European manufacturers supply parts and Porsche is protected against the weak dollar by currency hedging through 2013. However, Handelsblatt's report said that production of the Cayenne in the U.S. wouldn't begin until after 2015, two years after Porsche's currency hedging expires. Does that mean N.A.-built Cayennes are still a possibility? Bamler says it's too early to speculate on the next Cayenne and Porsche's production plans.

Chevy Camaro getting early unveil at Indy in September

It's true. The production Chevy Camaro will debut at Indy, but not at the Indy 500 race in a couple of weeks. Rather, General Motors has informed various Camaro fanboy circles that production Camaros will be in attendance at the Indy '08, Back at the Brickyard event from September 19-21. The Back at the Brickyard is an event attended by thousands of Camaro and Firebird fans, so it's appropriate that the production Camaro be welcomed into the world by friends. On hand will be a number of different Camaro models sporting the full engine lineup and, of course, all the different colors. Everyone thought GM would wait until the 2009 North American International Auto Show in Detroit to debut its new rear-wheel-drive coupe bearing the iconic Camaro name, but we're hardly disappointed the car will be unveiled more than three months earlier. We may just have to make a special trip to Indianapolis for this one.

2008 Abarth 500 Assetto Corse

Abarth returns to track racing, and it has chosen to do so with its new ‘500 Abarth Assetto Corse’, the baby supersports car from Abarth, due to be produced in a Limited Edition (49 cars).
The new vehicle, designed by the Fiat Group Automobiles Style Centre and produced by a team of Abarth Engineers and Designers will be the star of track races from next year and its creation confirms Abarth’s racing vocation.

The Assetto Corse version of the petite 500 Abarth takes up the baton from its forerunner, the ‘595’ that notched up numerous successes and great victories from 1963 and led to the coining of the description ‘small but deadly’.

The cars sports a full racing outfit: wide track, white 17’ special ultralight racing wheels, low ride, sports racing mirrors and a place for a number on the sides.

Available in pastel grey with red Abarth side stripes, the ‘500 Abarth Assetto Corse’ reveals an assertive front end that houses a badge bearing the Abarth logo and, below this, wide bumpers complete with an aerodynamic spoiler and screen-printed grilles to replace the plastic louvres on the standard production version. In addition to the classic bonnet clips, the bonnet houses two carbon air intakes bearing the Abarth scorpion logo.


The rear part of the car features a white winged spoiler, a badge bearing the Abarth logo and a twin exhaust pipe. The Abarth identity is expressed to the full with a thunderbolt logo on the side representing the brand’s racing image and a red band and four white chequers on the roof, just as on the winning Abarth 850TC version of the 1960s.

Inside, the ‘500 Abarth Assetto Corse’ is equipped with a roll-bar type-approved for racing that is completely hollow to make the car lighter and faster. The car weighs approximately 180 kg less than the road version. The anatomical seats, the steering wheel (special for racing) and the carbon door panels make the 500 Abarth Assetto Corse a real baby sports car with a indomitable character all of its own .

Abarth has also thoughtfully provided a clothing set for the driver, that will be delivered in an original Abarth-branded leather bag. Owners of the ‘500 Abarth Assetto Corse’ will therefore be resplendent in overalls, helmets, gloves and shoes, all meticulously branded with the ultra-new ‘Assetto Corse’ logo produced for the limited edition of the car.

Volkswagen to produce its first-ever motorcycle

Volkswagen is set to team up with KTM to develop its first ever motorcycle. KTM’s first attempt at a road car, the track-biased X-Bow, was developed with help from VW’s engineers, and even makes use of the 2.0-litre turbo from the Audi TT. So is time to return the favor!

The two-wheeler would pitch VW head-to-head with fellow German giant BMW, which is already established in the motorcycle industry.

Also the three wheels GX-3 concept unveiled at the 2006 Los Angeles Motor Show is back on the agenda. And the three-wheeler could be just the vehicle driving enthusiasts of the future are looking for. As it has a lightweight chassis, a frugal 125bhp 1.6-litre engine would provide searing performance – and all this with the ground-hugging stance of a roadster and the manoeuvrability of a motorbike