2009 Audi RS6 Coming To America, Relevant Eddie Murphey/Arsenio Hall Quotes Too Numerous To Include

The V10, twin-turbo, 2009 Audi RS6 is confirmed as U.S. bound and upon it’s arrival, will be challenging the Mercedes-Benz AMG and BMW M-series to a steel caged/no holds barred/money in the bank match [another dark secret of mine, I watch WWE Smackdown...make fun of me for it, I dare you]. Sporting Audi’s new exterior styling but still largely a sleeper, Audi claims the RS6 roars from 0-60mph in 4.5 seconds, but I’m holding out to see what kind of results real-world applications yield.

Despite it’s all-wheel drivetrain, the RS6’s revised Torsen center differential sends 40% of power to the front wheels and 60% to the rear, providing for all the white-knuckle acceleration and virgin-tight cornering of a RWD sports car.Peaking at 580-hp at 6,250 rpm with a tire-shredding 479 lb-ft of torque at 1,500 rpm, it seems almost criminal that Audi would electronically limit the car to 155mph, but they do. Offering a small consolation, Audi has tentatively planned to offer a boost option with the RS6 [in addition to the already twin turbo-charged engines] that is expected to raise the speed allotment, but only to 174mph. With track-worthy specs like a power to weight ratio of 7.5lbs per hp and a 4,991 cc engine, I’m a little puzzled over why Audi would put a cap on the speedometer like that, but given Audi’s rich history as a German speed demon, I’m willing to trust they know exactly what they’re doing.

Pricing has yet to be announced but official press releases indicate that Audi is using the BMW 7-series as a point of reference for pricing, yet still intends to flex its muscles on the track next to the likes of super machines like the BMW M5. Bottom line, the final price tag will probably wind up being somewhere in the neighborhood of $90k - not so expensive that it alienates the “working” upper class, but not so attainable as to make you think that you with your middle income job and quaint PTA meetings could ever afford one.

[Photo Source: EGMCarTech]

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In Celebration of 100th Birthday, GM Releases List of Top 10 Concept Cars

Narrowly escaping the “blatant self promotion” tag under the shield of their centennial celebration, yesterday GM released a list of the 10 most innovative, groundbreaking concept cars they’ve designed over the past 100 years.

1. 2007 Chevrolet Volt

Scheduled to go from concept to reality in 2010, the Chevy Volt is an extended-range electric vehicle expected to produce zero emissions and consume absolutely no gasoline when averaging about 40 miles a day.

2. 2002 AUTOnomy

The first vehicle designed “from the ground up”, the AUTOnomy was GM’s answer to CEO Rick Wagoner’s question: “What if we were inventing the automobile today instead of a century ago?”

3. 1990 Impact

The precursor to the Chevy Volt, the Impact was GM’s first sport step into the Electric Car field. Some auto enthusiasts speculate that the Impact’s, well, impact, extended beyond GM itself, citing the design similarities between it and the Toyota Prius.

4. 1987 Sunraycer

GM’s solar-powered concept car that won the first World Solar Challenge in Australia, video of which became the most heavily watched film footage in elementary school science classes ever, scandalously upstaging Bill Nye.

5. 1970 Vauxhall SRV

Reportedly never intended for production, the Vauxhall SRV was a media stunt of sorts [albeit an expensive and meticulously engineered one] intended to publicize the Vauxhall line as being on the cutting edge of automobile design.

6. 1965 Experimental Opel GT

An aerodynamic sports coupe, when the Opel GT hit the market abroad in 1968, it became the first European concept car to ever reach actual production.

7. 1961 Chevrolet XP-755 Mako Shark

With Chevy Volt production still 2 years away, the 1961 Chevy Mako Shark is undoubtedly one of the most successful concept cars, at least in terms of longevity and popularity. As a concept car, the Mako Shark served as Chevy’s blueprint for the Corvette, introduced 2 years later in 1963.

8. 1954, 1956, and 1958 Firebird series

Heavily influenced by the aggressive design of early fighter jets, GM’s Firebird concept cars were designed by Harley Earl and were intended to serve no other purpose other than showcase the exceptional talent and skill GM’s design arm possessed.

9. 1951 Le Sabre

GM’s first post-war concept car, the Le Sabre was pitched as “an experimental laboratory on wheels.” All of it’s technologically advanced designs, like a rain sensor that automatically raised the roof and windows during inclement weather, were fully functional and admittedly impressive, even against today’s standards.

10. 1938 Buick Y Job

A pre-war offering from GM, the Buick Y-Job was the brainchild of Harvey Earl and is generally viewed as the first “concept car” ever completely created. When Early retired from GM in 1959, he explained his design philosophy which had catapulted GM into the realms of tremendous success, “You will never know what the industrial products of the future will be like, but the secret is to keep trying to find out.”

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Exec Doubtful of 2011 Cadillac’s Success, Says Americans Don’t Want Another Small Car - Makes Him A OK In Our Book

2009 Cadillac BLS sedan

Despite sales that have been lackluster at best, there are rumors that the European Cadillac BLS might make an American debut in 2010 as a 2011 model. Currently, Cadillac as affirmed speculations that they will begin producing a 4-cylinder car for the North American market in 2010, but the finer details are still under heavy debate. The primary source of contention surrounding the mystery small car: whether or not to offer an optional V-6 upgrade. Part of Cadillac’s design team believes future government fuel economy regulations and the growing small car trend mean that Cadillac must break tradition, even if only slightly, in order to stay relevant as a competitor in the market. To them, this means it’s 4-cyl small, or nothing. Cadillac’s general manager Jim Taylor isn’t quite as sold on the idea. According to Automotive News, Taylor said, “There is a big debate as to whether it is four only. I think that is a bridge too far.” Taylor’s reluctance stems from the anticipated resistance from U.S. buyers. Even if the U.S.-bound BLS is fitted with a turbocharger for its 4-cylinder engine, Taylor isn’t certain buyers will be receptive of such bland performance. “[Americans] still want power,” Taylor reasoned, “We still have big open roads. People do not want to stop enjoying driving.”

2009 Cadillac BLS wagon

So if we here in American wind up staring down the grill of a modified BLS, exactly how much performance will we be sacrificing? According to specs, the 2009 BLS isn’t quite as uninspiring as Taylor makes it out to be. Drawing very heavily from the Saab 9-3, the 2009 BLS is offered in Europe as either a sedan or a wagon with 3 engine options: a 2.0L 4-cyl turbo, 2.8L V6, or 1.9L diesel. The interior is stock Cadillac luxury - leather, DVD, nav - and the price is typical Caddy too, starting around £21,500 [about $40,000]. Bottom line: We advise Taylor to offer the V-6, he seems to have a pretty good grasp on exactly how much change we Americans will tolerate before we put our collective foot down.

[Source: Automotive News]

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The 2009 Alfa Romeo: Unrequited Ride Lust

The term “affordable luxury” is thrown around a lot by luxury car manufacturers, but what it usually translates to is “affordable only if you summer in Monte Carlo and are regularly featured in Forbes.”Anyone else would have to take up a lucrative career in the narcotics trafficking industry before they could even begin to afford one.

Alfa Romeo, however, has actually managed to put its money where its mouth is.

The Alfa Romeo Mi.To, unveiled in Milan last month, is the newest addition to the Alfa family and features a base price of about 21k. Considered to be the baby brother of the Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione, the Mi.To is roughly the same size as the Mini Cooper and was designed to compete in Europe’s exploding upscale compact market.

The Mi.To is offered with 6-speed manual transmission and two engine options; 1.6L turbo diesel 120 hp or 1.4L turbocharged gasoline 150 hp. The Mi.To also features a DNA feature, allowing the driver to alter the Mi.To’s handling capability be selecting Dynamic, Normal, or All-Weather mode.

Too good to be true? Of course it is. Alfa Romeo hasn’t officially competed in the U.S. market since 1993, and that fact isn’t going to change now. The Mi.To is slated for a European debut in 2010, but Alfa Romeo doesn’t have plans to bring it stateside.

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