Test Driven: Audi R8 4.2
Posted: January 26, 2012 Filed under: High End & Exotic, TEST DRIVEN | Tags: 4.2, Audi, Cancun, Drive, Exotic, experience, Mexico, Mind, motor, Nick, Over, paddle, R8, race, review, Rides, shift, sound, supercar, Test, TFSi, Track, V8, video, Volkswagen, VW, Walker Leave a comment »
Audi R8 4.2 at Exotic Rides Mexico. Photo by Arturo Sotelo.
This is the Audi R8 in its original form, the V8 model that was designed to slip under the Lamborghini Gallardo (with which it shares its chassis) and compete head to head with the Porsche 911. Anyone who knows cars knows the fierce competition in this area of the market and how deeply rooted the Porsche 911’s success is. The R8 entered the segment boldly though, and was quickly heralded by many as being superior to the almighty Porsche. Since its debut in 2006 Audi has sold over 15,000 R8s, quite a large number for a car costing six figures, so it would seem they have succeeded in making a really great car. I recently had the opportunity to take one for a few laps around the track at Exotic Rides in Cancun, Mexico, so I was excited to see what all the fuss was about. Read the rest of this entry »
Donkervoort GTO, this is what the Lotus Seven has come to
Posted: December 18, 2011 Filed under: Auto Idolatry, SHOWCASE | Tags: 2.5L, 5, 7, Audi, cylinder, D8, design, Donkervoort, GTO, Lotus, Mind, motor, Over, Seven, TFSi, TT-RS, turbo Leave a comment »
Donkervoort D8 GTO
The Lotus Seven offered a bare, simple design for a sports car, even by the standards of the 1950′s, when it came out. Many companies still build Seven based cars, and I must say that this Donkervoort D8 GTO is one of the most far out iterations of the design I have seen. It is powered by the 5 cylinder turbo motor from the Audi TT-RS, and comes in either 340hp or 400hp trims. That is plenty for a car like this, and the whole package seems really well done. Check out the video of the making of the D8 GTO inside. Read the rest of this entry »
Audi’s A8 Hybrid is doing it wrong
Posted: August 26, 2011 Filed under: INDUSTRY TALK | Tags: 2.0, 2.0T, 3.0, 3.0T, A8, all, Audi, Drive, engine, German, Hybrid, LED, lights, Luxury, Mind, motor, Over, power, puny, T, TFSi, wheel, wrong Leave a comment »
Audi A8 Hybrid
This week Audi announced the details on their new A8 Hybrid. It will be powered by the same system as the hybrid Q5: the 2.0T with an electric motor. This setup makes 245hp and 345ft/lbs of torque. While this is “decent” we must not forget that the A8 is in fact the flagship Audi model, so it is not good enough. Read the rest of this entry »
My thoughts on the new VW Beetle
Posted: July 6, 2011 Filed under: INDUSTRY TALK | Tags: 2.0T, 2.5, 2012, Beetle, Diesel, Dr. Ferdinand Porsche, DSG, manual, Mind over motor, TDI, TFSi, Transmission, turbo, Volkswagen, VW 1 Comment »
2012 VW Beetle Turbo Edition
The 2012 VW Beetle is exactly what the Beetle needed to be in this day and age. VW has gotten rid of the cute and overly feminine look for a much more mature look that draws much from Dr. Ferdinand Porsche’s original Volkswagen design. Read the rest of this entry »
