Audi R8 leaks, looks oddly familiar

Stay tuned for live shots of the Audi R8 Spyder

Audi's extraordinary R8 supercar is a superb handler that accelerates faster than myths about health care reform and offers a cabin that, for an exotic sports car, is surprisingly easy to live with. Everyone in the automotive press agrees on that much.

But it looks unusual. Huge, contrasting-color "blades" running behind the doors make it one of the most unique looking cars ever built. It's a look that either works for you or doesn't, but few people can sit on the fence about it.

Unless, of course, it doesn't have them.

Edmunds Inside Line reports, "With a little less than a week to go before its official unveiling at the Frankfurt auto show, images of the Audi R8 Spyder have surfaced." The drop-top version of Audi's high-performance machine is notable for many things - but if you're familiar with the coupe edition, the first thing you'll notice is the missing blades.

Jalopnik explains, "Gone are the trademark sideblades on the coupe, creating, what we feel, is a much cleaner execution." They are replaced by functional side air scoops. Without its distinctive blades, the R8 looks almost like a smaller, smoother Lamborghini product, with a subtle curve to the lines that makes it, arguably, sexier than anything the Italian company has put out. Both Audi and Lamborghini, we should point out, are owned by Volkswagen.

Mechanical details are sparse. Autoblog reports, "Without any official information to go off of, we can't comment on weights and measures, but we do know Audi will only be offering the Spyder with the Lambo-derived 5.2-liter V10, putting out 525 hp and 390 lb-ft of torque."

Edmunds Inside Line adds, "We have no word as to whether Audi will produce a V8 version of the Spyder. Our earlier spy reports said no. But we expect that the 5.2 Spyder will be available with a proper manual transmission or the jerky R Tronic, just as on the coupe. All-wheel-drive will, of course be standard." Pricing has not been announced, but Edmunds speculates that the sticker will sit "somewhere in the $180,000-200,000 range."

Aston Martin Builds Limited Edition V8 Vantage Roadster

All seven cars will also feature a striking triple-black color scheme--body, roof, and interior--as well as some unique chrome and glossy black wood veneer trim elements. There’s also a three-spoke steering wheel borrowed from the V-12-powered DBS flagship and a bespoke luggage set designed exclusively for the Robb Report cars.

Under the hood remains the 420 horsepower 4.7-liter V-8 engine from the standard Aston Martin V8 Vantage Roadster, which you can read about in our review by clicking here. Matched to a paddle-actuated six-speed automatic Sport Shift Transmission, the all-black roadster will hit 60 mph from rest in just 4.7 seconds and reach a top speed in excess of 180 mph.

Aston's Vantage V12 supercar

Aston Martin recently shoehorned its largest-calibre engine into its smallest-calibre car and produced the Vantage V12, a limited edition run of just 1000 units. Want one?

South African units are available by special order only, at a price of R3 050 000.

THIS ENGINE BITES: The V12 in this Vantage means the driver is not playing with a watered-down, one-size-fits-all sports car but a real hardcore machine.

It creates some new excitement in a range that was launched back in 2005, originally with a 4.3-litre V8 engine and then a 4.7 that raised outputs to 313kW and 470Nm. The monster 6-litre V12 now brandished by the Vantage is the same engine used in the larger Aston DBS and DB9 models, and the front-mid mounted unit fires 380kW and 570Nm of "hell-yeah" to the rear wheels.

Aston Martin Rapide

News of Aston Martin joining the four door saloon race is heating up with the news of the Aston Martin Rapide being unveiled at the Frankfurt motor show later this month.

In a trend that has seen Porsche create their own version to compete with the like’s of the BMW 7-Series, Aston Martin seem to have come up with a much more handsome version of what is an elongated Aston Martin DB9 as the Porsche Panamera is an elongated 911.

From first glance of the Aston Martin Rapide one could be forgiven for thinking it was an Aston Martin DB9, with its trademark long bonnet, slanted panther eyes, and chrome air intakes finished off with that badge. From the side view, the one which lets the Porsche Panamera down so badly, the Aston Martin Rapide sits well with it’s new size and can quite happily pull off its new cosmetics, while the derrière looks as nimble as the DB9.

Swing open the Rapide’s upwards opening ‘Swann Doors’ and as you would expect the interior is both elegant, and stylish with its ‘highly tailored individual cockpit. A transparent polycarbonate roof brings an increased sense of spatial aw

Alfa Romeo MiTo

Having loved the old MINI’s and Fiat 500’s and revelling in their return to the car market with fantastic cars I was keen to set my eye on a car which was not only a supermini but also an Alfa Romeo.

The Alfa Romeo MiTo, designed in Milan and built in Torino (hence the name) has built their first ever supermini based on the simple principle of sexy styling with an £11,000 price tag, tempting for any mere mortal.

The exterior of the MiTo takes hints of inspiration from the achingly beautiful Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione, with similar if not softened front air intakes, and lights. Much like it’s range topping cousin, the MiTo has an immense challenge of competing in a well established market. Give me Ferrari and Lamboughini to compete with any day over what the Alfa Romeo MiTo has however. The daunting challenge of competing with a giant seller such as the BMW MINI and the heart warming FIAT 500, not to mention the Vorsprung durch Technik of the new Audi A1, this is a dog eat dog market. All we need now is an American challenger and we will have the car equivalent of WW2 (although they will probably join in a few years time when the MINI has nearly won).

The Alfa Romeo MiTo does have a lot on its side however, most importantly a badge which signifies in its self

2010 Acura RDX Review

One might draw similarities to the Honda CR-V but the 2010 Acura RDX is in a completely different league to its corporate cousin. The sportier ensemble with the new Acura corporate grille and sloping rear gives credence to the styling approach aimed towards a sleeker looking vehicle. The 2010 offering adopts 18-inch wheels, revised front and rear bumpers, and more modern tail lights. Inside, the RDX is a lot more driver oriented with the makeover boasting a more upmarket-tech look that includes new climate controls, ambient lighting, leather seats and a generous use of metallic trim.






The fourth incarnation of the RDX is equipped with a turbocharged 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine incorporating computer-controlled ‘intelligent’ i-VTEC adjustment of the intake and exhaust valve actuation. The end result is an output of 240 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 260 pound-feet of torque at 4,500 rpm. Teamed with a sequential 5-speed automatic transmission, which allows the transmission to function in a conventional automatic mode or controlled manually via steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters, the RDX will sprint from 0-60 mph in just under seven seconds.

Acura TSX Sports car with luxury feel

Acura's 2009 TSX is all new with larger exterior, more interior space and a more powerful powertrain. Now in its second-generation design, the TSX is Acura's entry level luxury/sports sedan and is a good combination of sporty handling and features designed to pamper.
2009 Acura TSX


Acura TSX 013


Acura TSX Center Console
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Available in three trim levels, the TSX pricing starts at $32,900. A premium package ups the ante to $36,200 and our fully loaded TSX with technology package comes in at $39,000 plus destination charges. We tested the TSX with technology package, which includes voice-activated navigation system, 10-speaker premium audio system with steering wheel controls, six-DVD changer, satellite radio and dual zone automatic climate control. It also includes all the features of the premium package such as leather seating with heated front seats or the memory power driver's seat. It certainly feels like a luxury car when you slide into the driver's seat.

Outside, the TSX is the first Acura model to use the new bolder grille design that will be the styling direction used by the rest of the Acura lineup. The large air intake below the body-coloured bumper is flanked by fog lights, widening the look of the air intake. Straight body lines run from the front wheel arches to the rear quarters and impart a sporty look, while the wheel openings are close to the tires and wrap most of the way around so the car looks closer to the ground. The a-pillars are narrower and forward visibility is excellent from the driver's seat.

The new TSX body design is 78 mm wider and 66 mm longer. Both increases are used to advantage. The width not only provides more interior room but also allows a wider track width for improved lateral stability. The longer body enables a longer wheelbase, which translates into better ride comfort on dips and bumps and more leg room inside. Additional structural bracing stiffens the body structure and this shows in the quiet interior noise levels.

Larger 17-inch wheels cover larger disc brakes and are fitted with P225VR50/17 performance all season tires. The tires combined with the electric power steering direct the car precisely around corners and lateral grip feels solid. The low profile tires do make the ride firmer, almost to the point of being harsh over bumps and rough surfaces. This is one area where the sporty image is stronger than the luxury image.

Under the hood the 2.4 litre engine has a wider powerband and five per cent more torque than last year's TSX. A higher compression ratio, changes to valve timing and improvements in breathing provide the power increase while reducing emissions at the same time. The engine revs freely throughout the rpm range and throttle response is quick.

A six-speed close ratio manual transmission is standard equipment fitting the sporty image of the TSX, but the five-speed automatic is just as sporty. Formula 1 style paddle shifters on the steering wheel can be used to operate the transmission manually at any time when the shifter is in drive. Move the shifter to "S" and the paddle shifters provide full manual control. Even in drive mode, the transmission uses grade logic programming to retain gear selection on hilly or winding roads.