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.