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Road ready: The new Audi R8 V10

Road ready: The new Audi R8 V10

The new and improved Audi R8 is due to hit the roads at the end of the month, and features a wide range of technological and styling improvements.  Equipped with either the V10 or V10 Plus engine, the new R8 is lighter, faster, and more powerful than before – capable of 0-62mph in 3.2 seconds and a top speed of 205mph.

The V10 has been ramped up to 532bhp and the V10 Plus to 602bhp, while also improving economy.  The powerplant is still a 5.2-litre unit, with four-wheel drive and a seven-speed dual clutch gearbox, however the new R8 benefits from a stronger, stiffer Carbon/Aluminium chassis.  The Dynamic Drive on both models offers Comfort, Auto, Dynamic and Individual modes, with the Plus model also offering Wet, Dry and Snow settings.

The interior has been completely redesigned, adding to the new R8’s edge and appeal.  There’s a digital dashboard with a 12.3in TFT display, new seats and cabin design and optional laser light headlamps.  

The V10 is priced at £119,500, the V10 Plus is £134,500.  Both are on sale now and are expected to gain even more attention than their first generation predecessors. 

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Range Rover set to launch new Evoque Convertible

Range Rover set to launch new Evoque Convertible

Land Rover has released full details and images of the new Range Rover Evoque Convertible.  The new model is the world’s first soft-top luxury compact SUV, and the brand’s first ever convertible.  Described as ‘a convertible for all seasons’, Land Rover’s latest model is based on the Evoque and features the same cruising and off-road capabilities.

Four-wheel drive will be available, along with Terrain Response, Wade Sensing and All-Terrain Progress Control, ensuring the driving performance remains focused on utility and the off-road experience.  Performance is expected to be similar to the Coupe – 0-60mph in 7.6 sec – with the 178bhp 2.0-litre Ingenium diesel and 237bhp 2.0-litre turbo petrol being the most likely engine options.

The roof folds down and stows flush with the car’s bodywork in 18 seconds, and takes 21 seconds to raise, at speeds of up to 30mph. The Convertible will include a host of luxury features, such as a 10.2 inch touchscreen with the latest InControl Touch Pro, smart phone integration, a premium sound system and a 251-litre boot.

The New Evoque Convertible will be on sale from spring 2016 with a starting price of £47,000.

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Rare Ferrari Enzo and F40 set for Paris sale

Rare Ferrari Enzo and F40 set for Paris sale

Two special Ferraris are going on sale in Paris during RM Sotheby’s third annual auction in February 2016. The two supercars in question have drawn notable attention, and are expected to be the highlight of the Paris sale.

The first is a 2004 Ferrari Enzo in a rare Nero Daytona colour. The Ferrari Enzo is highly-specced with red ‘Cartier’ upholstery with Enzo monograms, carbon fibre wings and mirrors, tinted windows and a high-end Alpine GPS system. The black Enzo, currently undergoing Ferrari Classiche certification, is in great condition and is expected to fetch a cool €1.5m-€2m.

The second star of the show is a 1989 Ferrari F40 with an interesting history; it was originally purchased by Stefano Casiraghi, a famous offshore powerboat racer who was married to Princess Caroline of Monaco. The red F40 is in prime condition, with a very low mileage of 4300km, and comes with the original tool kit. An estimate of €1m-€1.2m has been set. 

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Mercedes SL gets a facelift

Mercedes SL gets a facelift

Mercedes has revealed the first images of its redesigned 2016 SL, which is due to debut at the LA Auto Show later this month.

The new SL features significant design improvements, and now falls in line with the AMG and other recent Mercedes lines, with a more modern and aggressive look.  The headlights and body of the car have been rounded off to look less boxy and angular, giving the new SL a sleeker look.  The new diamond-shaped pattern on the grille makes a statement – larger and softer than before, and based on the A-Class in its design.  It’s accompanied by a redesigned front bumper.

Mechanically, the new SL will be very similar to the current car, with the V12 AMG SL65 still topping the range.  Full details and specifications will be released by Mercedes after the LA debut.

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Ferrari 488 GTB boosted to 779bhp

Ferrari 488 GTB boosted to 779bhp

Tuning specialists Alpha-N Performance have boosted the power of the Ferrari 488 GTB, increasing its output to an incredible 779bhp and 643lb ft of torque, which takes it beyond Lamborghini’s Aventador SV and even Ferrari’s F12tdf.

Alpha-N’s software modifications allow the turbocharged supercar to outstrip its standard counterpart by 118bhp and 74lb ft, verging on hypercar performance.  The unmodified Ferrari can already sprint from 0-62mph in 3 seconds, with a top speed of 205mph.

Alpha-N are offering the remap for £2,116, which will void the car’s manufacturer warranty, but will not doubt tempt many wealthy owners, given the significant performance improvements. 

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A TechArt ‘Makeover’ for the Porsche CayenneTurbo.

A TechArt ‘Makeover’ for the Porsche CayenneTurbo. 

Porsche tuning specialist Techart has announced a new powerkit for the Cayenne Turbo that will significantly increase its performance and driving dynamics.

The refined Cayenne will be equipped with the new Techart TA058/T2 engine, which will increase its power output to 690bhp and 679lb ft of torque, allowing the car to manage 0-62mph in 3.9secs, reaching a top speed of 191mph.

The full 690bhp is accessed via a sport mode button, and Techart says that despite the massive power increase, fuel consumption only rises by 1% and emissions by an even smaller amount.

On the exterior, the new Techart Aerokit sharpens the dynamic design of the Cayenne with a more aggressive front spoiler, new side skirts, a muscular roof spoiler, rear hatch trim and a particularly powerful rear diffuser.  

The interior of the SUV is handcrafted and features an extraordinary level of quality and accuracy with quality materials and nicely coordinated colours.

The new engine kit will be available as part of Techart’s ‘Magnum’ Porsche Cayenne range, the latest generation of which is expected to arrive before the end of 2015. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Ultra-Luxurious £200K Range Rover Coming Soon…

Ultra-Luxurious £200K Range Rover Coming Soon…

A £200K Range Rover is on the way, as Jaguar Land Rover prepares to take on Bentley’s new luxury Bentayga SUV.

John Edwards, JLR’s Special Vehicle Operations managing director, said that JLR sees the Bentley threat as an opportunity ‘to grow the segment’ and revealed that a new ultra-luxurious version created by the division will become the ultimate Range Rover.  He added that JLR has “…created a segment and it is flattery that Bentley and Rolls-Royce soon want to join in.”

Currently, the maximum price for a Range Rover is £164,600 for a long-wheelbase SV12 Autobiography, whereas the Bentayga has a starting price of £160,200. Edwards revealed that even though the new luxury Range Rover could reach £200K, you could still get an entry car for £75K.

The ultimate Range Rover is expected to be available next year, and will offer more personalisation than ever before, with bespoke paint jobs and tailored interiors. 

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The 45th Anniversary Limited Edition Nissan GT-R.

The 45th Anniversary Limited Edition Nissan GT-R. 

Nissan has launched a limited-edition version of its GT-R to celebrate the famous designation turning 45.

The 45th Anniversary GT-R is based on the 2015 model and Nissan says ‘ it features ride quality that has been specially tuned to exhibit a more mature, better refined feel.’

The exterior of the anniversary model is exactly the same as the standard model, and gets the same 3.8-litre V6 twin-turbo engine, which produces 542bhp and 465lb-ft of torque. The supercar is capable of 0-62mph in just 2.7 secs, reaching a top speed of 196mph.

The interior of the car gets a premium black trim that features a 45th Anniversary Limited Edition plaque on the centre console and a bespoke plate in the engine bay with the car’s limited edition number.  Sat-nav, climate control, Bluetooth, a colour reversing camera, cruise control, heated seats and keyless entry all come as standard.

Only 100 of these Champagne limited edition GT-Rs will be produced worldwide and just five of them will make it to the UK, priced at £79,780. 

 

 

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€1.1m Ferrari F40 the star of the show at Auctionata sale

€1.1m Ferrari F40 the star of the show at Auctionata sale

A 1991 Ferrari F40 and a 1977 512 BB were the stars of the show at Auctionata’s ‘Ferrari Only’ sale – the first of its kind held by the German auction house.

Achieving €1.1m, the F40 broke the record price paid for a 1991 model, while the 512 BB sold for €434,264.

Live-streamed on the 26th September, the auction was the highest grossing sale in Auctionata’s history, with €4.5m achieved from an assortment of 25 Ferraris.

The F40 was the highest priced car at the sale, the winning bid coming from the floor at the auction in Munich.  The 1991 car is one of the later models built by Ferrari, before production of the famous car ended in 1992.

The 512 BB was introduced in 1976, succeeding the 365 GT4 BB, and featured a larger 4942cc 12 cylinder engine with a dual-plate clutch added to manage the extra torque.

Other highlights of the sale included a 2015 Ferrari 458 Speciale, with an estimate of €240,000, which achieved a stunning €373,184 and a 2011 Ferrari 599 GTO, sold for just under £600,000.

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New BMW X4 M40i Revealed.

New BMW X4 M40i Revealed. 

Following a series of leaked photos, BMW has announced the M-Performance version of the successful BMW X4 SUV.

Based on the crossover coupe, the X4 M40i is powered by a newly developed 3.0-litre TwinPower Turbo inline six-cylinder petrol engine that delivers 360 hp and a maximum torque of 465 Nm. The sporty SUV can accelerate to 62mph in 4.9 secs and can reach a top speed of 155mph.

The exterior of the new X4 M40i stands out, with exclusive accents of colour on the front and metallic Ferric Grey side mirrors. The powerful X4 also gains a sports exhaust system with valve control and Chrome Black tailpipes on both sides.

The typical character of the BMW M prevails throughout the interior, with an M leather steering wheel, M gear shift lever, sport seats and model-specific door sills.

The new BMW X4 M40i will make its first public appearance at the upcoming LA Auto Show, followed by its market release in Europe and the US at the start of 2016. 

 

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