2010 SEBRING 12 HOURS - QUALIFYING

The drivers named to start Saturday’s 12 Hours of Sebring – the world’s longest race after the Le Mans 24 Hours – are Austria’s Alexander Wurz in the N°07 car (followed by Briton Anthony Davidson, then Marc Gené) and Frenchman Sébastien Bourdais in the N°08 908 HDi FAP (followed by Portugal’s Pedro Lamy and France’s Nicolas Minassian). The field will be flagged away at 10:30am local time (3:30pm CET).

For the third year running, Team Peugeot Total has chosen to begin its preparations for the Le Mans 24 Hours in Florida. This time round, the two Peugeot 908 HDi FAPs having been lapping at Sebring since Saturday March 13 and will remain at the circuit until Tuesday March 23.

The real action is in the GT2 class.........BMW took pole but failed the subsequent technical inspection, promoting The Flying Lizard Porsche to the front.
via:autoblog




Press Release

PEUGEOT ON POLE: GENE LEADS
FRONT-ROW SEBRING SWEEP
Class pole positions Franchitti, Jeannette, Muller and Keen

Marc Gene's first trip to Sebring International Raceway has been a productive one already. The Spanish star qualified on pole position for the 58th Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring presented by Fresh from Florida with a lap of 1:45.214 (126.599 mph) for Team Peugeot Total, beating out teammate Nic Minassian by 0.627 seconds.

The two diesel-powered factory Peugeot 908 HDI FAPs will start from the front row for the opening round of the 2010 American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón. A victory in Saturday will mean the French manufacturer holds current championships in all three of the world's endurance classics.

Gene will drive with fellow reigning Le Mans 24 Hours winner Alexander Wurz and Anthony Davidson. Only Davidson has competed in the 12 Hours while the trio of Minassian, Sebastien Bourdais and Pedro Lamy in the sister car have 18 starts between them.

"I was very worried before coming here because I had heard so much about it," Gene said. "There were the bumps, the fast curves. I tried to play it on video games but I had to play it so much! Then I moved on to videos and Nic helped me a lot. If it weren't for him, I probably wouldn't have won pole position."

The two Peugeots have been utterly dominant this week with the two fastest times in each session. That continued Friday with the 908s locking fellow LMP1 competitors Aston Martin Racing and Drayson Racing out of the front row.

Stefan Mücke qualified third for Aston Martin with a lap of 1:46.079 (125.567 mph). He is driving the Lola B09/60-Aston Martin with Adrian Fernandez and Harold Primat.

Such gaps aren't lulling the Lions to sleep, however. As Gene can attest – even in his limited experience here – Sebring can bite back in a hard way.

"We have lost speed on the straight due to the rules. For sure the Aston Martin will be very tough," he said. "There are a couple of very dangerous corners," he said. "There are no corners like 1 and 17 in Europe. I just came from Bahrain and some of the F1 drivers there would come here and (pull their hair out)."

Marino Franchitti won his second career Sebring LMP2 pole for Patrón Highcroft Racing and Honda Performance Development. The popular Scot qualified the Patrón Highcroft HPD ARX-01c with a time of 1:47.684 (123.695 mph). He will drive with 2009 Series LMP1 champion – and reigning Le Mans overall winner – David Brabham and Simon Pagenaud.

You could throw a net over the three fastest drivers in class. Franchitti was only 0.054 seconds better than Klaus Graf in the Muscle Milk Team CytoSport Porsche RS Spyder; he will drive with team owner Greg Pickett and Sascha Maassen.

Guy Smith qualified Dyson Racing's isobutanol-powered Lola B09/86-Mazda at 1:47.882 (123.468 mph). He will team with Chris Dyson and Andy Meyrick.

"It was certainly very close but we thought our competition didn't show everything they had before qualifying," said Franchitti, who also claimed the LMP2 pole at Sebring in 2004. "We didn't have the best setup but it was good enough. I obviously have two talented and terrific teammates in David and Simon. We have a new big sponsor in GE and it's great to welcome them with a pole. Hopefully we can do that with a win tomorrow."

The Patrón Highcroft entry is an updated version of the ARX-01 lineup that debuted during the 2007 season. Franchitti drove the 01a model for Andretti Green Racing that year and loves the updates the car has received since then.

"There are certainly significant changes that were in the pipeline that didn't come online when I was with Andretti Green," he said. "It was nice for me to get back into a car I know and have everything be better. It's been great. The Highcroft guys have won a lot of races but this is the one race that's eluded them."

Gunnar Jeannette will go down in the history books as the first pole-winner in the new Le Mans Prototype Challenge class. He won out in a terrific qualifying battle with a lap of 1:55.279 (115.546 mph) driving the Green Earth Team Gunnar ORECA FLM09. The former Panoz factory pilot outpaced Ryan Hunter-Reay in the first of Level 5 Motorsports' two FLM09s by just 0.118 seconds.

"It was really exciting," said Jeannette, who will drive with Christian Zugel and Elton Julian. "It's an honor to have the first class for a new car in the series. Our G-Oil car was really hooked up. We skipped the morning practice to do race prep. We were comfortable with our qualifying setup."

The competition between the top three cars in the class has been as tight as any other during the week. The top three qualifiers were within 0.822 seconds; Christophe Bouchut ended the session third in the second Level 5 entry at 1:56.101 (114.728 mph).

Jeannette admitted there is some uncertainly about debuting a new car and new class at America's most grueling race.

"Even though the basis of the car is an endurance racing machine, there are some bits that aren't race-tested," he said. "I think we're all going to aim to get to the finish. Christian did about a stint-and-a-half at the test so we know Michelin has given us a good multiple tire so we'll be doing double- and triple-stints hopefully we can keep doing it lap after lap."

Flying Lizard Motorsports Jörg Bergmeister qualified on pole for GT2. He originally placed second before Dirk Müller's pole-winning BMW M3 was excluded from qualifying after failing a post-session stall test in technical inspections.

Bergmeister's best lap was a 2:01.150 (109.946 mph) pass in the Porsche 911 GT3 RSR that he will drive with fellow factory pilots Patrick Long and Marc Lieb.

"We made a really aggressive tire choice today but we were surprised that the competition wasn't as fast as they were earlier in the week," Bergmeister said. "We're pleased to be on the front of the grid but we know it's a long race."

Müller had set a lap of 2:00.782.

Porsches held the top two spots with an impressive performance for Team Falken Tire. Factory driver Wolf Henzler set a lap of 2:01.201 (109.900 mph) in the car he will drive with Bryan Sellers and Porsche works driver Patrick Pilet. The team is competing in its first full season in the Series for 2010.

Risi Competizione's Jaime Melo qualified third with a lap of 2:01.236 (109.868 mph) in the Ferrari F430 GT that he will drive with Gimmi Bruni and Pierre Kaffer. Risi hasn't lost an endurance round since Sebring 2008.

The top seven cars were under the 2:01 mark, and eight entries – not counting Müller's time – broke the class qualifying record.

Alex Job Racing entries swept the top three positions in GT Challenge with Leh Keen turning a best lap of 2:05.959 (105.749 mph) in the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup car he will share with Butch Leitzinger and Juan Gonzalez. Keen, whose only other start was at Petit Le Mans in 2005, bested Patrick Kelly by 1.159 seconds.

Kelly will drive with Ricardo Gonzalez and last year's LMP2 co-champion Luis Diaz.

"I've never done this race before and only have done Petit Le Mans a few years ago," Keen said. "The class of drivers here is very high. Now that we can run the GTC class, it brings a few more cars in. My laps were pretty clean. Our guys set up the car really well. The car is going to have more of a race setup now. It's like a 24-hour race squished down into 12."

AJR is a six-time winner at Sebring in GT classes and obviously knows how to get around at Sebring. But there are some new dynamics such as the new car and new class running 12 hours on such a demanding circuit.

"The one that has the cleanest race will have the best chance," Keen said. "We were setting up the car and had a little bit of a push early this week. Turn 17 and 1 are pretty bumpy and that's just the way the track is. Some of the understeer in 14 and 15 was bad. I think we're close to getting something we're comfortable with and can drive for the full race."

Romeo Kapudija qualified the AJR Porsche he will share with Bill Sweedler and Jan Dirk-Lueders third with a lap of 2:07.205 (104.713 mph).

The Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring presented by Fresh from Florida, the opening round of the American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón and America's greatest sports car race, starts at 10:30 a.m. ET on Saturday. The green flag will fall at 10:30 a.m. ET with live coverage on SPEED starting at 10 a.m. ET. Live coverage also will be available on American Le Mans Radio, as well as Sirius Channel 127 and XM Channel 245.Visit the Series' schedule page for ticket and accommodation information. Live Timing and Scoring, track schedule, entry list and much, much more will be available on Racehub at americanlemans.com.

You can follow the Series on Twitter (almsnotes) and on our Facebook page and the official YouTube channel.

58th Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring
presented by Fresh from Florida
Sebring International Raceway, Sebring, Fla.
Saturday's lineup
1. Marc Gene, Spain; Anthony Davidson, England; Alexander Wurz; Peugeot 908 HDI FAP (P1), 1:45.214, 126.599
2. Pedro Lamy, Lisbon Portugal; Sebastien Bourdais, France; Nicolas Minassian, England; Peugeot 908 HDI FAP (P1), 1:45.841, 125.849
3. Stefan Mücke, Germany; Harold Primat, Switzerland; Adrian Fernandez, Mexico; Lola B09 60/Aston Martin (P1), 1:46.079, 125.567
4. Paul Drayson, London, UK; Jonny Cocker, UK; Emanuele Pirro, Italy; Lola B09 60/Judd (P1), 1:46.460, 125.117
5. David Brabham, Australia; Simon Pagenaud, France; Marino Franchitti, Scotland; HPD ARX-01c (P2), 1:47.684, 123.695
6. Greg Pickett, Alamo, CA; Klaus Graf, Germany; Sascha Maassen, Germany; Porsche RS Spyder (P2), 1:47.738, 123.633
7. Chris Dyson, Pleasant Valley, NY; Guy Smith, England; Andy Meyrick; Lola B09 86/Mazda (P2), 1:47.882, 123.468
8. Bryan Willman, Kirkland, WA; Tony Burgess, Canada; Pierre Ehret, Santa Rosa, CA; Lola B06 10/AER (P1), 1:54.441, 116.392
9. Christian Zugel; Gunnar Jeannette, Palm Beach Gardens, FL; Elton Julian, Los Angeles, CA; Oreca FLM09 (LMPC), 1:55.279, 115.546
10. Scott Tucker; James Gue, Athens, GA; Oreca FLM09 (LMPC), 1:55.397, 115.428
11. 12. Scott Tucker; Christophe Bouchut, France; Mark Wilkins, Canada; Oreca FLM09 (LMPC), 1:56.101, 114.728
12. Mitch Pagery, Deerfield Beach, FL; Brian Wong; David Ducote; Oreca FLM09 (LMPC), 1:59.580, 111.390
13. Jörg Bergmeister, Germany; Patrick Long, Oak Park, CA; Marc Lieb, Germany; Porsche 911 GT3 RSR (GT2), 2:01.150, 109.946
14. Bryan Sellers, Centerville, OH; Wolf Henzler, Germany; Patrick Pilet, France; Porsche 911 GT3 RSR (GT2), 2:01.201, 109.900
15. Jaime Melo, Brazil; Gianmaria Bruni, Italy; Pierre Kaffer, Germany; Ferrari 430 GT (GT2), 2:01.236, 109.868
16. Jan Magnussen, Denmark; Johnny O'Connell, Flowery Branch, GA; Antonio Garcia, Spain; Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 (GT2), 2:01.358, 109.758
17. Olivier Beretta, Monaco; Oliver Gavin, England; Emmanuel Collard, France; Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 (GT2), 2:01.628, 109.514
18. Scott Sharp, Jupiter; Johannes van Overbeek, San Francisco, CA; Dominik Farnbacher, Germany; Ferrari 430 GT (GT2), 2:01.914, 109.257
19. Bill Auberlen, Hermosa Beach, CA; Tom Milner, Leesburg, VA; Dirk Werner, Germany; BMW E92 M3 (GT2), 2:01.922, 109.250
20. Ed Brown, Las Vegas, NV; Guy Cosmo, Long Island, NY; Joao Barbosa, Portugal; Ferrari 430 GT (GT2), 2:02.242, 108.964
21. Andrea Robertson, Ray, MI; David Robertson, Ray, MI; David Murry, Cumming, GA; Doran Design Ford GT (GT2), 2:03.622, 107.748
22. Butch Leitzinger, State College, PA; Leh Keen, Dublin, GA; Juan Gonzalez, Mexico; Porsche 911 GT3 Cup (GTC), 2:05.959, 105.749
23. Tracy Krohn, Houston, TX; Nic Jonsson, Sweden; Eric van de Poele, Belgium; Ferrari 430 GT (GT2), 2:06.680, 105.147
24. Ricardo Gonzalez, Mexico; Luis Diaz, Mexico; Patrick Kelly, Minnestrista, MN; Porsche 911 GT3 Cup (GTC), 2:07.018, 104.867
25. Bill Sweedler, Westport, CT; Romeo Kapudija, Lincolnwood, IL; Jan-Dirk Lueders; Porsche 911 GT3 Cup (GTC), 2:07.205, 104.713
26. Shane Lewis, Jupiter, FL; Gerry Vento, Palm Beach, FL; Lawson Aschenbach, West Palm Beach, FL; Porsche 911 GT3 Cup (GTC), 2:07.412, 104.543
27. Brett Curtis, Valencia, CA; James Sofronas, Newport Beach, CA; Andy Pilgrim, Del Ray Beach, FL; Porsche 911 GT3 Cup (GTC), 2:07.751, 104.265
28. Darren Law, Phoenix, AZ; Seth Neiman, Burlingame, CA; Richard Lietz, Austria; Porsche 911 GT3 RSR (GT2), 2:07.874, 104.165
29. Richard, Henri, Los Altos Hills; Lally, Andy, New York, NY; Duncan Ende, Los Angeles, CA; Porsche 911 GT3 Cup (GTC), 2:11.371, 101.392
30. Joel Feinberg, Ft. Lauderdale, FL; Kyle Marcelli; Tom Weickardt, Whitefish Bay, WI; Oreca FLM09 (LMPC), 0, 0
31. Paul Gentilozzi, Lansing, MI; Marc Goosens, Belgium; Ryan Dalziel, Scotland; Jaguar XKRS (GT2), 2:04.804, 106.727
32. Robert Rodriquez, Zephyr Cove, NV; Galen Bieker, Burbank, CA; Cory Friedman; Porsche 911 GT3 Cup (GTC), 2:10.312, 102.216
33. Andy Wallace, England; Tom Sutherland, Los Gatos, CA; JR Hildebrand; Oreca FLM09 (LMPC), 1:55.579, 115.246
34. Dirk Mueller, Germany; Joey Hand, Sacramento, CA; Andy Priaulx, Germany; BMW E92 M3 (GT2), 2:00.782, 110.281

Abt Sportsline gets its hands on Audi R8 Spyder

Whenever Audi introduces a new model, chances are that the folks at Abt Sportsline are going to get their hands on one. The German company has been tuning Volkswagens and Audis since the 1970s and has enjoyed success racing the Audi A4 in DTM and more recently the new R8 LMS. Needless to say, Abt knows how to properly modify cars bearing the four rings.


Abt's latest project is the droptop version of the Audi R8. Visually the car gets a new front grille, front fascia with carbon fiber spoiler, side sills, rear fascia, rear spoiler and lightweight five-spoke wheels. Even more importantly, the 5.2-liter V10 has been massaged to provide 600 horsepower, good for 0-100 km/h in 3.8 seconds and a top speed of 199 mph. Finally, Abt provides a sport suspension system for improved handling.

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Press Release


The R8 Spyder is not just a cabrio, it is a teasingly beautiful open-top sports car of the top class, a real dream car - in particular ABT Sportsline's version. Their designers have contoured the lines of the open-top model athlete, and using the ABT R8 Spyder has redefined the word "roadster" with Bavarian thoroughness: the result is a vehicle whose power can be seen even when it is at a standstill. The front grill, front apron, side sills and rear apron with the rear spoiler as well as the dual-colour coated ABT BR alloys have been adjusted to the dynamic design of the car. As with the closed R8 versions from ABT, the team has designed all the components in order to achieve the sports car's optimum distribution of weight; all the parts are therefore made from carbon. As a result the performance can be converted into a maximum of driving enjoyment. Anyone who wants to systematically reduce the weight of their Spyder should use the new ABT CR Superlight alloys, as they also excellently suit the character of the ABT R8.

The V10 with 5.2 litre cubic capacity is used in the ABT R8 Spyder: this provides 600 welltrained horses (441 kW) – while in the series version there are 525HP (386 kW). The Spyder is able to sprint from 0 to 100km/h in just 3.8 seconds and achieves a top speed of 320 km/h. The roadster is therefore a hurricane for the road, giving lovers of fresh-air a new "tangible" term. Suspension springs from ABT provide even better handling, which in particular has a positive effect in the threshold regions of the Spyder. In addition the lower centre of gravity gives the mid-engine sports car an even more aggressive appearance. When you take a look at the car you can see that it is one of the fastest of the fast - and is really ready for anything, as you would expect from an ABT R8.

ENCO Exclusive Audi Q5

The Audi Q5 is available on the German market since November 2008. Since that time, was successful with the fans of SUVs and the tuners are adding their own touches to the five-door model. And Enco Exclusive shows probably the most incredible interpretation of the Q5. This is ENCO Exclusive Audi Q5


Among the features included in ENCO Exclusive’s Q5 kit includes large blackened air inlets to both sides of the radiator grille, a new hood with a sublime mid-section with two chrome air outlets, a new front spoiler, a rear bumper skirt with exhaust pipes and a rear spoiler. The package is finished by brand new silver monoblock set of 22-inch wheels in Enco "Jura" design.


Carbon fiber has been used throughout the interior. Also thrown into the mix are 10x22-inch monoblock wheels wrapped in Pirelli Scorpion Zero tires. Wheels come standard in silver and can be painted if desired.


The new chassis kit for the ENCO Exclusive Audi Q5 is based on his older brother or particularly Q7 TDI V12. The price is $ 130,000.

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Press Release

ENCO Exclusive Audi Q5

Quick change artist

The Q5 from Audi has been available on the German market since November
2008. Since then it has extremely successfully cast a spell over the Compact
SUV fans and also vehicle finishers are adding their own mark to the popular
five-door model. Enco Exclusive shows probably the most impressive Q5
interpretation to date.

The newly developed Q5 body kit by the Chemnitz manufacture company is
based optically on its big brother the Q7 or in particular here the V12 TDI.
Therefore anyone who does not want to fork out 130,000 Euros for the top
model or can but still loves the visual appearance of the Super SUV should
directly contact the Enco Exclusive team.

The Saxons' project adds another low dominantly designed front bumper
with the V12 TDI typically large blackened air inlets to the left and right
of the radiator grille into which LED daytime running lights are integrated.
The professionals also installed a new hood with a sublime mid-section with
two chrome air outlets alongside it arranged lengthwise in the driving
direction. On the Q5's sides there are now mudguard and door extensions,
which lend the elegant five-door model a sturdier appearance. The Enco
Audi's rear is dominated in turn by a new skirt, in which the well-known
oval end exhaust pipes from the V12 TDI are integrated, the perfect mix of
optical elegance and sportiness. The finish in terms of updated bodywork is
a body-coloured spoiler above the rear windscreen.

The perfect complement to the whole package is the brand new silver
monoblock set of wheels in Enco "Jura" design with its seven drawn out and
vaulted spokes in imposing 10x22 inch with 285/30 Pirelli Scorpion Zeros
which on request (as in the example of the vehicle shown) can of course be
painted in black or other colours.

Enco Exclusive also updates the interior of the compact SUV on request
with carbon parts which replace the original design elements mounted ex
factory. This and in particular the extensive and stylish body kit turns the
Q5 into a unique eye-catcher and at a clearly more favourable price than is
required for the Q7 V12 TDI top model.

Prices

Complete body kit: 4,165 Euros

• front spoiler: 1,130 Euros


• rear bumper skirt with exhaust pipes: 952 Euros


• muffler right/left: 595 Euros


• mudguard, door parts: 1,130 Euros


• rear spoiler: 1,125 Euros

Hood: 1,785 Euros

Assembly/mounting: 1,190 Euros

Painting: 1,488 Euros

Lowering springs incl. installation and measurement: 595 Euros

Set of wheels 10x22 inch silver with 4,641 Euros

285/30R22 incl. adapter tyres:

Extra charge for painting set of wheels: 476 Euros

Carbon interior: 1,428 Euros

2010 Audi TT RS Coupe

2010 Audi TT RS Coupe

Audi might be the hottest brand among luxury carmakers—more styling-oriented and more sporty than others, but still something of an insider's tip. What the brand doesn't have is a history as rich as that of Mercedes-Benz, or even BMW. Audi can be traced back to a number of companies originating as early as 1899, but the brand, as we know it today, did not surface until the 1960s—with some rather bland cars.

took Ferdinand Piëch, now head of Volkswagen's supervisory board, to turn Audi into a high-tech, premium carmaker. As Audi's chief engineer, he pushed for projects such as the charismatic five-cylinder engine, Quattro all-wheel drive, turbocharged engines, and, ultimately, Audi's advance into the luxury segment with the all-aluminum A8.

Almost 30 years after the launch of the original Quattro, Audi is unveiling the TT RS. We have tried this car, which is unapologetically playing the theme of that legendary Audi 4000–based coupe named Quattro that dominated the international rally scene for years.

And here we thought the 265-hp Audi TTS was just fine. Its high-output, turbocharged four-cylinder gives the Porsche Cayman a run for the money, and it is a credible, sporty alternative to the silky 3.2-liter V-6 TT.

But deep within Audi, engineers wouldn't rest. Few of them understood why the legendary inline-five was ever dropped from the lineup. They wanted a new five-cylinder powerplant. Of course, the TT, based on VW’s flexible PQ35 platform, still had potential. Audi's Quattro GmbH performance division came up with a plan.

The Mexican inline-five is based on VW's venerable four-cylinder engine code-named EA113. Michael Dick, Audi's board member for R&D, remembers: "For the Mexican engine, we added one cylinder to the four-cylinder unit, and we used a cylinder head basically coming from the Lamborghini Gallardo V-10. The focus was low cost." Dick smiles as he describes how Audi engineers added direct-fuel-injection technology, an intercooler, and a turbocharger with up to 17 psi of boost to create an adequate TT RS powerplant. The result: 340 hp at 5400 rpm and a 7000-rpm redline, twice the power of the naturally aspirated engine.

Source:-carslegend.blogspot.com

2010 Audi R8 V10

2010 Audi R8 V10

This Audi probably would have never happened had Porsche gained control of the VolkswagenGroup five years earlier. But now the Audi R8 5.2 is out, larger than life and even better than expected. True, the Gallardo is sharper. The SL63 AMG is wilder. And the 911 Turbo is all that in a more compact package. But in terms of total dynamic balance; anyone-can-do-it, A-to-B ground-covering ability; and that all-important blend of confidence, compliance, and comfort, the 5.2-liter V-10-powered R8 is the new leader of the pack.

That's the inescapable conclusion after a memorable day in which even losing my driver's license ten times over would not have dimmed the sparkle in my eyes. In the morning, I left Marbella, Spain, for the remote, privately owned Ascari racetrack in a Suzuka gray R8 with a three-pedal transmission and magnetic dampers (standard in the U.S.). After lunch, I chased the warm winter sun through the rolling hills of the Costa del Sol in a brilliant red coupe that featured the R tronic automated-manual transmission and the conventional chassis setup. My pick? The manual version, even though it is a little less aggressive on the track and a little thirstier overall.

When we first tried the R8 a couple years ago, the last things it seemed to need were two more cylinders and 100 extra horses. Which only goes to prove that even the finest sports car can always do with more power. In the case of the R8 5.2, the 420-hp, 4.2-liter V-8 was replaced by a 525-hp, 5.2-liter V-10. Redlined at 8700 instead of 8000 rpm, the engine dishes up 391 instead of 317 lb-ft of torque. Although the torque curve peaks at a tall 6500 rpm, more than 350 lb-ft are on tap all the way from 3500 to 7500 rpm. Perfectly spaced and mated to a creamy yet meaty clutch, the six-speed gearbox combines short throws with sensuous connectivity and the classic aluminum gates. The R tronic works very well in paddleshift operation and in superquick sport mode, but when the lever is stuck in Drive, the transmission responds jerkily and somewhat reluctantly to impatient throttle orders.

Source:-carslegend.blogspot.com

Audi RS5 Sport

On a motor show in Geneva Germans have presented top of modelling scale Audi5 - sport RS5.

The car has received huge wheels, the big air intakes, and also a fringing of a radiator enclosure and a spoiler of a front bumper from matte aluminium. Behind – traditional for RS two oval branch pipes of an exhaust system. Audi RS5 has kept atmospheric V8 in volume 4,2 litres! That is in Ingolstadt have even more strongly confused a situation with motors. Judge: at coupe S5 – 354-strong V8, and at cabriolet S5 – 3 litres compressor "six", as well as at S4! And RS6 can brag turbo V10.



But it is not necessary to complain of shortage of capacity. Under cowl Audi RS5 this engine develops 450 "horses" and 430 Nm a twisting moment. As a result the 1725-kilogramme coupe reaches "hundreds" for 4,6 seconds, and the maximum speed as usually, have limited on a mark of 250 km/h. However, for surcharge "collar" will kindly slacken to 280 km/h.

Pair of words about an all wheel drive. As it was nowadays moved, quattro distributes a twisting moment in the relation 40:60. Certainly, in favour of a rear axle to which now helps also interwheel differential with electronic control. In general to go RS5 should very adequately. Especially, on optional wheels with tyres Pirelli P Zero of dimension 275/30 R20 (in the standard – 19-inch disks).

With brakes too an order. In front – 8-piston calipers with 360-millimetric compound disks (the nave is made of aluminium, a rotor – from pig-iron). For solid surcharge – composit carbono ceramics in diameter of 380 mm. And it is possible not only to translate stabilisation system in a sports mode of behaviour, but also completely to disconnect.

In Europe sales of a super-coupe from Audi will begin already till the end of spring of 2010 and under the price (from 77 700 euros) RS5 gets between S5 (from 58 150 euros) and middle motor R8 (from 109 100 euros). To Russia cars will reach only in October. The prices for our market will be known more close by the autumn, but it is possible to assume that will cost RS5 in any way less 3,5 million roubles for a base complete set.

Geneva 2010: Abt R8 GTR

Sure, the R8 is no lame duck, and this is even more so once the sports car has been tuned by ABT Sportsline. The result is a real model athlete, which does not just ooze power, but also doesn't have a single gram of fat on its body. With the limited version R8 GT R (with only 25 units available) engineers and designers have gone one logical step further: experience from motorsport flowed into the design, and all the components have been systematically trimmed to ensure a light-weight construction and optimal weight distribution.


As a result not just the bonnet, front and rear aprons, the adjustable rear wing or the tailgate are made of carbon, but the outline edge on the rear, the external mirrors and the door panel are also made of the same material. The side windows are made of Makrolon - the high-tech polycarbonate does not just reduce weight, but also has impressive strength properties. The result: the ABT R8 GT R is a proud 100 kilos lighter than its series counterpart.


How much motorsport the team, which comprises the current winners of the DTM and the ADAC GT Masters, actually brings to the road can be seen from the details: Recaro racing seats, a 4-point seat belt system, stainless steel roll-over bar with seat belt attachment, hand-held fire extinguisher or an ABT Sports steering wheel made of carbon – the people at ABT have thought of everything. "The R8 GT R is an uncompromising racing car for the road, and provides maximum performance", states Christian Abt.


The successful motorsport racer indicates his responsibility for the development of this extraordinary vehicle and is impressed with the result. "I recommend trying the GT R on a racing track from time to time, as the car is great fun to drive there", says the General Manager of ABT who is responsible for technology. The adjustable front panel allows sports inserts; the ABT driver overalls, helmet, racing shoes and gloves are just as much as part of the effective GT R special equipment as an on-board video system and the expandable data module.


The well-trained sports car has enormous performance potential: instead of the series-standard 525HP (386 kW), the 5.2 FSI in the ABT R8 GT R provides a massive 620HP (456 kW) and as a result the light car travels extremely quickly: the top speed is 325 km/h, it does 0-100 km/h in just 3.2 seconds and the GT R reaches the 200km/h mark in a mere 9.9 seconds. In order to ensure that the power can be optimally applied on the road and on the race track, height-adjustable ABT Sports suspension and adjustable dampers are standard on the ABT R8 GT R.


The ceramic brake system with modified brake pads has been adjusted to meet the enormous performance potential of the super sports car. The extremely light ABT CR alloys round off the package. On the front axle they are mounted in 9x18 inch and on the rear axle in 11x18 inch. The Michelin sports cup tyres are the perfect choice for the car. The ABT R8 GT R is a unique vehicle which provides maximum driving enjoyment. It has been designed for driving at the limit: from the weight-optimised exhaust unit to the ABT Titanium special coating – ABT's love of motorsport can be seen in every detail.

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Geneva Motor Show: Abt R8 Spyder

The R8 Spyder is not just a cabrio, it is a teasingly beautiful open-top sports car of the top class, a real dream car - in particular ABT Sportsline's version. Their designers have contoured the lines of the open-top model athlete, and using the ABT R8 Spyder has redefined the word "roadster" with Bavarian thoroughness: the result is a vehicle whose power can be seen even when it is at a standstill. The front grill, front apron, side sills and rear apron with the rear spoiler as well as the dual-colour coated ABT BR alloys have been adjusted to the dynamic design of the car. As with the closed R8 versions from ABT, the team has designed all the components in order to achieve the sports car's optimum distribution of weight; all the parts are therefore made from carbon. As a result the performance can be converted into a maximum of driving enjoyment. Anyone who wants to systematically reduce the weight of their Spyder should use the new ABT CR Superlight alloys, as they also excellently suit the character of the ABT R8.


The V10 with 5.2 litre cubic capacity is used in the ABT R8 Spyder: this provides 600 well-trained horses (441 kW) - while in the series version there are 525HP (386 kW). The Spyder is able to sprint from 0 to 100km/h in just 3.8 seconds and achieves a top speed of 320 km/h. The roadster is therefore a hurricane for the road, giving lovers of fresh-air a new "tangible" term. Suspension springs from ABT provide even better handling, which in particular has a positive effect in the threshold regions of the Spyder. In addition the lower centre of gravity gives the mid-engine sports car an even more aggressive appearance. When you take a look at the car you can see that it is one of the fastest of the fast - and is really ready for anything, as you would expect from an ABT R8.


ABT ENGINE TECHNOLOGY
Engine: 5.2 FSI, 5204 ccm capacity
Performance tuning: ABT Power
Performance: 600 HP/441 kW (standard: 525 HP/386 kW)
ABT AERODYNAMICS
ABT front grill
ABT front skirt
ABT side skirts
ABT rear skirt with exhaust covers


ABT WHEEL TECHNOLOGY
ABT BR in 20 inches; bicoloured painted
ABT CR in 19 inches
Available also as complete set of wheels with sports tyres.
ABT SUSPENSION
ABT suspension springs
Source: Abt Sportsline via world car fans

Family Ties: Audi Owner Rebadges TT Coupe as a Volkswagen

At a first glance, few would guess that the first generation Audi TT shares a platform, engine and most of its mechanics with parent company Volkswagen's Golf as well as the VW Jetta, New Beetle, Seat Leon, Skoda Octavia etc., etc.







more detail. ...

Audi A1: Pure driving experience [Video]

With its agile handling and direct steering, the new Audi A1 is just a lot of fun. Dr. Horst Glaser, Head of Chassis Development at AUDI AG, tested the A1 together with DTM pilot Markus Winkelhock. The verdict was as follows:





The new Audi A1 offers a very sophisticated chassis, balanced weight distribution and a low center of gravity. "That is a guarantee for maximum driving enjoyment," says Horst Glaser, Head of Chassis Development at AUDI AG. Because it connects the driver to the road, the steering is one of the most important components of a sporty car. The A1 therefore comes standard with electrohydraulic power steering that has a very direct 14.8:1 steering ratio and is also more efficient than a purely hydraulic

system.





Another factor for the agile and safe handling of the A1 is the perfect tuning of the front axle bearings, the stabilizer bars, the springs and the dampers. The rear axle features a torsion-beam suspension with the springs and dampers separated. "The car is very well sprung. It swallows up bumps of almost any size without any amplification of the motions," says DTM pilot Markus Winkelhock when describing his impressions.





One new Audi technology is on board every version of the A1 - the ESP stabilization system with an innovative electronic axle differential lock. The brakes are applied slightly to the inside wheel in a curve, allowing more torque to be transferred to the wheel on the outside of the curve. The vehicle is very agile and the handling remains neutral even longer.





"After driving the Audi A1 for the first time, my opinion is clear: It's the benchmark in the small compact class," says Winkelhock.

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Audi R8 Carbon Limited Edition by Prior Design

There are vehicles that only true designers dare to approach, such as the R8, the incarnation of a real sports car from Audi. Equipped with either a V8 or V10 motor, the R8 is a real feast for the eyes even fresh from the factory, hovering lowly above the street and equipped with beautiful proportions.


And that is why the designers from Prior Design gladly accepted the challenge and, during a month-long process in which they paid great attention to detail, they developed a tailor-made body kit for the powerful model from Ingolstadt. For the front with the huge cooling openings, there is a discreet spoiler with a middle fin and two additional flat openings. The completely newly manufactured car hood is visibly more powerful due to the power dome and additional carbon inlets. Thanks to a new set of curved side skirts, the lateral silhouette appears distinctly more athletic than the serial version. As a real highlight, the C-pillar is painted in the vehicle's colour, giving a decidedly more harmonic overall visual appearance. Prior Design developed a new bumper with a revised carbon fibre diffuser for the rear section of the car that ensures better air exhaustion and, thus, higher contact pressure.


What is more, for the elegant cockpit, the tuners from Kamp-Lintfort made additional trim parts from carbon fibre, such as the complete centre console, including the breathtaking control panel and the handbrake handle. Further carbon fibre applications can be found in the engine compartment where red carbon fibre covers provide a colourful contrast. In addition to the aerodynamic modifications, Prior Design also added a dynamic wheel-set, at the front 9.0 x 20'' 235/30/20 and at the back 11.5 x 20'' 305/25/20.


The complete aerodynamics package will be produced individually for every customer and every vehicle. Additional customer requirements will also be gladly taken into account.


You can find all further information as well as further prices and delivery information at: www.prior-design.de
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