Cross Cars Audi RS6 becomes fastest car on ice

In all honesty, people go out of their way on a daily basis to avoid driving through some of the insane driving conditions professional drivers seem to float on. So, really, who in the world cares how fast any vehicle can drive while scooting around on some ice? The answer, dear friends, is anyone who can appreciate the art of driving and the thrill of speeding down a sheet of ice at record-breaking speeds. In other words, Audi. Or so we thought...

Earlier this month, Bentley smashed the world speed record on ice by getting the luxury car up to a scintillating 205.48 mph. Now, an Audi RS6 has taken the record away from Bentley with its speed of 206.05 mph. The new record was set at Gulf of Bothnia in Oulu, Finland and, more importantly, was set not by an automaker wanting to take the reigns from Bentley, but by a tire manufacturer that wanted to prove that their Nokian Hakkapeliitta 7 studded tires were better than the Pirelli SottoZero II tires used on the Bentley Continental Supersports Convertible.

“We wanted to take the record back to us because Bentley used competitor’s tires, and we, of course, could not let that be,” the statement Nokian sent AutoEvolution reads. “As for the car, we just used one of our own high speed test cars (which happened to be an Audi RS6). So, Audi has not taken part in this attempt in any way. Also, there are no separate records for tires, cars or drivers etc, just one "fastest car on ice."

Cars Red Audi works on a more powerful TT-RS Plus

Just recently, Audi announced that the TT-RS would also be offered on the US market, and the fact that it is going to deliver 20hp more than the European version was just music to our ears. Now we’re hearing rumors about a TT-RS version getting that same 20hp boost up to 360hp for the European market. What the hell?! And here we thought we were special....

A leaked internal Audi document - the Ersatz Teile Katalog Audi (ETKA) to be exact - revealed details about this new TT-RS Plus version. In addition to the the extra 20 HP, it will also get a 7-speed automatic transmission and carbon fiber parts like the ones used in the R8 GT. With the extra horse power and the weight reduction, this model will become the fastest TT-RS on the market. The document also suggests that this new version will be added in May 2011.

Cars Design 2011 Sportec SPR1 FL

The Porsche 911 is a car that needs no introduction and is one of the main reasons people are forgiving Porsche for their awkward and uncharacteristic sedan, the Panamera. With these reasons in tow, it always makes us a little nervous to hear that a tuning firm has picked up a 911 to undergo their own transformation of the car. We’ve seen our fair share of tuning disasters, but we must say one of the best types of tuning upgrades for a sports car is when the tuners decided to only bump up the power. Now that is something we can always get on-board with.

So hitting up the 2011 Geneva Motor Show floor was Swiss tuning firm, Sportec, and their package for the Porsche 997 Turbo. The package is called the SPR1 FL and includes an impressive horsepower update for the standard 3.8-liter flat-six engine. Sportec has taken the 500 hp up to a phenomenal 858 hp. No changes were made on the exterior - except for a new rear wing needed to improve the aerodynamic, - but who needs them with that amount of powerunder the hood, right?

In order to obtain that incredible 378 HP upgrade, Sportec added new hybrid turbochargers with a high performance intercooler, a smooth flow air inlet, a carbon fiber ram air induction system, a new exhaust system, titanium connecting rods, and continuous camshaft phasing. With this power under the hood, the SPR1 FL will sprint from 0 to 60 mph in 3 seconds, to 124 mph in under 8 seconds, and to 186 mph after only 10 seconds. Top speed goes up to an incredible 236 mph.

New Cars 2011 Artega SE

German automaker, Artega, unveiled their latest work, the Artega SE, at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show, showing the promise of what a German electric sports car could look like, as well as giving the US-based Tesla and their pride and joy, the Roadster 2.5, something to think about.

While expectations are understandably high for the SE, Artega is tempering its expectations on the car, leaving it with a concept tag while it still undergoes testing and development.

Ultimately, the company has made no bones about its intention of bringing the Artega SE into something more than just a concept car. Artega chief executive, Peter Müller, put it in simple terms: "Our aim is to combine environmental responsibility with the passion for automobiles."

The Artega SE is an electric version of the company’s initial offering, the Artega GT. The two cars sport the same body and aluminum spaceframe with the only notable difference being the powertrain fitted under its hood.

New Cars Desing 2011 Vauxhall VXR8

If a car was able to have chest hair sticking out of their front bumper to illustrate the testosterone hidden in the panels, then this Vauxhall VXR8 would definitely be needing a trimmer. Coming into the 2011 model year, the VXR8 will be one hot little performance sedan with some styling modifications and some new technology. But we can’t get too excited because this Vauxhall is obviously only available in the UK. Stupid Atlantic Ocean.

The 2011 VXR8 is powered by the fourth generation 6.2-liter LS3 unit that delivers an impressive 431 HP and 550Nm of torque. This is just enough to sprint the VXR8 from 0 to 60mph in 4.9 seconds and to hit a top speed limited to 155mph.

Anyone would be just about insane not to want a piece of this action so some must-have information is where one can find the 2011 Vauxhall VXR8. It will be available through just six specialist VXR dealers in the UK, though a total of 34 VXR outlets will be authorized to maintain the model.

New Cars Design 2012 Infiniti G37 Coupe

Nissan’s Infiniti brand is poised to introduce the new 2012 Infiniti G37, including a coupe variant that’s scheduled to be launched to the market around 2012. The move to release a new G37 isn’t all that surprising considering the brand’s apparent intention in building cars that are more aesthetically pleasing to the eye in today’s car market. There have been talks that the G37, specifically the coupe version, will be designed using the Infiniti Essence concept that was debuted by the company at the Geneva Motor Show a year ago.

Though nothing has been confirmed yet, we’re expecting nothing less from these guys considering that if they really are using the Essence concept as a peg for how the new G37 looks like – just so you know, we were totally smitten over the Essence when we saw it in Geneva – then it’s safe to say that the G37 is poised to definitely knock our socks off when it is officially unveiled.

Cars Design 2011 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1Hero Edition

Anytime you have a car that is being sold at a fund-raising event for a charity like the Kids Wish Network HERO program, then it’s a great source of pride for those behind the initiative. Having a car that’s been worked on by a tuning firm like Lingenfelter is extra gravy.

The car, a Chevrolet Corvette ZR1, that has been designated as the ‘Brad Paisley Hero Edition ZR1’, is a one-off Corvette that’s powered by an LS9 supercharged 6.2 liter V8 engine with a Lingenfelter performance upgrade system that nets in over 700 horsepower, up from the 638 horsepower the stock Corvette comes in. This Corvette is then mated to a six-speed manual transmission with a twin-disc clutch that provide exceptional clamping power.

Apart from Lingenfelter’s engine upgrade, this special edition ZR1 also comes with a signature under its hood of no less than the man to which to car was named after, country music star Brad Paisley. As part of the 2010 Corvette Dream Giveaway, this one-of-a-kind Corvette will be up for grabs together with a fully-restored 1967 427 Corvette Roadster.

But the best part about these two cars is that the proceeds of the initiative will be used to help support the Kids Wish Network HERO program that’s currently active in over 150 pediatric hospitals across the country.

In the end, Brian Landgren, a businessman from Washington, walked away as the winner of the 2010 Corvette Dream Giveaway, where he will be presented the keys to his two new sports cars at the tail end of February. Landgren, however, wasn’t the only winner of the entire program. More important than him, the young children that are part of the Kids Wish Network HERO program all walked away as the biggest winners of them all. And considering that the Lingenfelter-tuned Corvette played a big role in the program, we’re pretty sure that the boys at Chevrolet and Lingenfelter were pretty happy about the fund-raising turned out too.

New Cars Design S-Class Rival For Cadillac

BMW has introduce the high-performance sDrive35is mode of the new 2011 Z4. Spying testing a the epoch before, the car is a twin handle for BMW fans who also longed for the profit of the “is” badge. Improvements are not just in the engine bay but also in the outdoor and interior appointments.

The M Sports Package includes a new front plentiful with a very distinctive M look and external air intakes ended in matt aluminium, everyday 18-crawl light alloy rims (19-inch possible), a new rear buffer with specially accentuated surrounds on the tailpipes and a two-example diffuser. The exhaust wrote is imaginary to be reflective of the car’s repute in the ploy of gear. The adjustable suspension is lowered by 10 millimetres and provides a good assess between sporty and comfortable.

The new Volkswagen Up! Lite Concept has revealed at the 2009 Los Angeles Auto Show. The VW company say it’s the most fuel-efficient car in the world. The Up! Lite is sincerely a precise wing of the L1 Concept that has unveiled in September at the Frankfurt Motor Show.

The new VW Up! Lite Concept powered by two sources. The first is a 2-cylinder 0.8-litre TDI engine making 38kW (51hp) at 4,000rpm and 120Nm between 1,800rpm and 2,250rpm. The other is a 10kW (14hp) electric motor working with a lithium-ion battery. Together they produce a 65hp.

New Cars Design S-Class Rival For Cadillac

If imitation is the highest form of flattery, than consider the Mercedes-Benz S-Class completely flattered. Volvo has already made it clear that they want to build an S-Class rival, and now Detroit automaker General Motors wants to build one for Cadillac. Let’s just hope it’s more CTS than DTS.

The luxury playing field has been expanding over the past few years. The Germans were all over the segment, with the 7-Series, the A8, and the S-Class. Toyota came along and released the Lexus LS and the Infiniti Q45, Jaguar released the new XJ, and Hyundai is about the drop the Equus.

Reports are indicating that the top dog, CEO Ed Whitacre, would like Cadillac to create a premium luxury sedan. We would expect this new car - if the rumors are correct - to be slotted above the XTS around 2014. In total, that will give Cadillac nine vehicle modes on offer, from the ATS down to the Escalade. That being said, Whitacre has some time before he gets a new ride to be driven around in.